The Cup matches were over, the Libs had achieved their unprecedented mid-table position, and there was a definite end of term feel about this friendly at the RAC.
The Liberals are a growing band with a number of new players coming up through the newly energised NLC social chess scene and slowly but surely being introduced into inter-club matches. This fixture saw two new Liberal debutants, Mister Barnett (fresh from his very solid showing in the NLC Lightning Chess Tournament) and Mademoiselle Pasquet.
So a night of debuts, and a night off for some of the stronger Liberal players. In an unlikely turn of events, Messers Ioannou and Widdicombe found themselves on Board 1 and 2, respectively. Could only have happened in an end of season friendly…
Board 1
Mister Ioannou led the charge admirably, and was on top of his game against Rob Matthews for much of the time. But an outside passed pawn slipped through and very quickly a good position was a lost position. 1-0 to the RAC.
Board 2
Mister Widdicombe had white against Henry McWatters, clearly the stronger player. The RAC man played a Najdorf Sicilian and Mister Widdicombe developed his Bishop to d3 at move 7, which was a little inaccurate, but worse missed an opportunity to exploit a mistake from his opponent – playing 15. Qxd3 when the better move was of course 15. exf6. Don’t take your chance, don’t win. RAC 2-0.
Board 3
Doctor Saldanha was matched up against the very handy Michael Yeoh, turning out for the RAC as it’s a friendly (Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon)) only just having wrestled a point from him at our last Cup match at the Hurlingham). Doctor Saldanha was on top for most of the game, and surely had a winning position, but then swapped queens off (after running down the clock so moves were not being recorded at that point), and later regretted it as he ended up in a dead drawn pawn and bishop ending.
Still, points on the board. 2.5 – 0-5 to the RAC at this point.
Board 4
Mister Dias secured a quick draw against Simon Falla, after going at least a pawn up.
All the points count, and it was now RAC 3 – 1.
Board 5
Miss Birrane fought hard against Antony Field and kept her opponent plugging away for a mighty 55 moves. No one ever won a game by resigning, as they say. But in the end, chess demonstrates what you hope isn’t the case, and a resignation has to be offered. Well fought, Miss Birrane. Better luck next time.
With that the RAC went 4 -1 up now.
Board 6
Board 6 saw the inter-club debut of Mademoiselle Pasquet. Not much is known about the game, but it seems that early on in the evening Scott Samuel with black went up a rook and knight, which eventually proved too much for Mademoiselle Pasquet, quite understandably. But never mind about the result – it’s great to have another debutant for the team.
And so it was 5 – 1 to the home team.
Board 7
So this was Mister Barnett’s first inter-club competitive outing for the Liberals, following his Lightning Chess foray. Once again he distinguished himself with a solid victory. The moves were not recorded but the pugilist reported after the game that both players developed classically, there were some exchanges and then the Liberal managed to fork two pieces with a pawn and win the day, also bagging the only full point for the NLC. Nice work.
So 5-2 to the home team at the close. Not to bad with an experimental team against the mighty RAC.
Dinner
Anyone who’s played at the RAC knows that they’re in for a treat. It sounds basic – meat or fish? But the battered fish that is served up with the chips is so large as to surely count as a whale, and the steak is not much smaller. Always very good food, and always lots of good wine. I might add that the salmon starter was also bloody excellent.
Hang on a minute, where’s the picture of the car?
Long time readers of this journal will know that every NLC chess report of a visit to the RAC is accompanied by a picture of a very pretty automobile in the foyer. There was indeed such a car in the foyer, a very large and very sleek big black thing, if your correspondent recalls.
But in a radical breaking of tradition (a rare event for such a conservative organ as this), we bring you a picture of a motorized bicycle, or a ‘motorbike’ as the youth of today have begun to refer to them. Readers may wish to note the rudimentary hand operated horn for alerting speeding Range Rover drivers to your presence at busy junctions.
Not sure whether that’s ‘toot toot’ or ‘parp parp’.
Anyway well done all. I appreciate I was sending you into the Lion’s Den. You may have been mauled a bit by the RAC Lions but you acquitted yourselves well.
It is always a delight to visit the RAC. Thank you Rob Matthews and fellow RAC team members for a fine evening of chess, conversation and cuisine.