The first match of the new term saw the Chelsea Arts Club turn up at Whitehall Place in the
Hamilton Russell Cup. It was also the first match to be played in the new Lounge, and very
comfortable it is too. Perhaps we’ll experiment next time with a 70s rock soundtrack from the
music system! It was played with a new 6.45pm start time too, as we attempt this season not
to be murdered by the Dining Room Manager for moving to dinner post 9pm.
Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon) started his reign in the best NLC tradition by losing the toss.
Chelsea Arts chose white on odds. Mister Dias on Board 6 was moving towards the black
pieces when he was reminded he had white – ‘but I’m on Red!’ he cried, pointing towards his
large glass of Fleurie. Good to see that he had his priorities straight. That’s the way Mister
Jay ‘Old-Fashioned’ Dias rolls.
It was a hard-fought match as everyone expected. As the smoke cleared and the last
blunder was made, honours were shared in a 3-3 draw. Everyone was more or less happy,
both sides had a point on the board in the Hamilton Russell Cup, and we all wandered off to
an excellent dinner.
Board 1
Doctor Kirby led off as Black against the highly dangerous Richard Black FM. 1 e4 meant a
Caro-Kann and the advance (3 e5) variation. Traumatised by the memory of a previous
defeat, the Doctor played 4…h6 rather than 4…h5 against White’s aggressive 4 h4. After
eight moves, Black surveyed his shattered pawn structure and decided immediate
aggression was the only option. If anything, Black should have been more aggressive as
14…e5 led to a clear advantage. But it’s easy to say when you’re undeveloped and your
King stuck in the middle. Blows were traded, the players entered into time trouble and the
position simplified. A good draw against a class opponent.
Board 2
Captain Giffin K.C. M.A (Oxon) had White against Matthew Flowers in a French defence.
Despite having his King displaced, our skipper was working up pressure with a decent K-
side attack. Then both players entered time trouble and the wheels fell off the bus. Our
skipper turned down a draw offer and then in finest NLC tradition promptly blundered a rook
and was mated by his opponent with five seconds to spare.
Board 3
Mister Ioannou played a Scandinavian Defence against Joe Coles. In Mister Ioannou’s
words ‘nothing very dramatic happened’. Pawns were advanced, pieces were swapped and
both sides cancelled each other out. Another half on the board.
Board 4
Young Master Jacobs essayed a Nimzo-Larsen attack (1 b3) against the wily Chelsea Arts
skipper Mike Radcliffe. The Young Master missed some chances to get on top early on, and
Black managed to build up a K-Side attack which crashed through the defences.
Board 5
Mister Widdicombe had Black in a modern defence against newcomer Luke Williams. White
had a big pawn centre, which Mister Widdicombe spent most of the game chipping away at.
In the end pressure forced the opponent to weaken the centre and give Mister Widdicombe
the two Bishops, so he had a slight edge and fancied his chances in the endgame. Then
White blundered a Queen and resigned. We’ll take that.
Board 6
Finally to Mister Dias and his trusty glass of Fleurie on Board 6 against Mark Wolff. Playing
as red, Mister Dias managed to win rook for bishop and pawn and as the position simplified
the rook became more powerful. Mister Dias wrapped up the match and was very happy –
Beaujolais in fact.
Dinner
And so to dinner, which is never dull with the Chelsea Arts Club. Mister Ioannou had an
especially pleasant evening sitting next to Marc Wolff who told him about working with Tom
Cruise! The rest of us enjoyed the excellent food provided by a non-angry Dining Room.
