The Reform Club came to Whitehall Place on a cold January evening for our Hamilton Russell Cup match. Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) was captaining for the night and won the toss. Doctor Kirby was a late substitute for Mister Widdicombe who is apparently in his spare time a Senior Civil Servant and had to attend important meetings. Well that’s what he said anyway. (Don’t worry Mister Widdicombe, those Department of Health Christmas Party 2020 & 2021 plans are safe with us…honest).
Anyway, after dinner the visiting Captain Nicholas Cron compared the Reform Club to the 300 Spartans who died at the Battle of Thermopylae. The point being that the Spartans lost the battle, but ultimately because of their sacrifice were able to subsequently win the war with other Greek forces.
Chess is certainly different during the Covid-19 epidemic, with everyone fielding weakened teams, but did this make the NLC the Persian Empire? That would be a first for us as we’ve never been compared to an Empire before. But realistically, the NLC did enter the match as slight favourites, having beaten the Reform Club 3-1 in the friendly.
The Reform army was ground down 3.5 to 1.5 on the NLC’s own efforts, without needing Ephialties to show us a path behind the Reform positions to outflank them. But it shows our cuddly underdog routine may need updating. Two wins and a draw mean we’re heading for mid-table obscurity this season. Not an Empire, but definitely to be reckoned with.
Board 1
Doctor Kirby led off on Board 1 against the experienced Nicholas Cron in the classical variation of the Grunfeld. White has a menacing centre but Black has a solid position, easy development and the raking fianchettoed black-squared bishop. White didn’t play that well but the game fizzled out with exchanges and an early draw was declared.
Board 2
Captain Giffin QC MA (Oxon) faced Hamilton Russell organiser Danny Rosenbaum on Board 2. Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon) normally plays the Dragon variation of the Sicilian but this time essayed the accelerated fianchetto (4…g6) and played an early d5 to try to free his position. It didn’t work well and he found himself a pawn down. He worked his way back in, won the pawn back and was 10 minutes ahead on the clock. However, our skipper couldn’t capitalise and instead went down to defeat.
Board 3
Mister Ioannou played Mark Glover on Board 3. Mister Ioannou was by and large on top but managed to enter the ending a pawn down. However getting his King into the centre fastest meant a won ending and a point in the bag.
Board 4
Miss Widger had Black versus some chap called Gordon Hamme. Sure we’ve seen him before somewhere. Miss Widger was developing some serious K-Side pressure when her opponent blundered a rook. A fine advert for the ‘Jericho’ method of chess – if you march round the walls making an unpleasant din then the walls sometimes fall of their own accord.
Board 5
Board 5 saw the improving Doctor Saldanha play David Saunders. Definite signs of flair and panache on the bottom board with an enterprising K-side attack from our Oxford correspondent. Finally the opponent was tempted into a pawn grab which led to an instant win for the Lib.
Dinner
And so to dinner with a very good set menu – certainly not Spartan fare from the NLC.
And everyone enjoyed themselves and may even have picked up some classical history into the bargain.
