It was time for the creme of London’s automobile enthusiasts to don their driving gloves and goggles, fire up their classic motors and speed down Pall Mall, swerving round Trafalgar Square, before screeching to a stop outside Whitehall Place.
It was Tuesday 04 March, and it was the NLC v RAC friendly.
Board 1
A mystery of a game. It had only just begun before the gentlemen were off to the bar. Mister Ioannou is a speed demon, but rumour in the Smoking Room was that his speed was his undoing this time, with an early blunder. One to the away side.
Board 2
A heavyweight encounter on Board 2, with Henry McWatters perhaps the slight favourite, and Mister Giffin still feeling his way back into things, perhaps? No such thing – it was the RAC man that uncharacteristically miscalculated and Mister Giffin KC MA (Oxon) cooly made him pay. One back for the Libs.
Board 3
An even match on Board 3, with the possibility of a draw by repetition around move 25. Mister Stockfish said later that he thought it was all evens through to the inadvised 37...axb4 and later the 42...gxf5, but he wasn't too sure as he was five pints down. Still, something went wrong and Mister Widdicombe, in time trouble, saw his position collapse. RAC 2 - 1 up at this point.
Board 4
Mister Kaya was in fighting form on Board 4. He didn't mess about, with all his moves pointed to the attack. He finished his RAC opponent off in fine style, threatening a direct mate and a back ranker. That's how it's done. Two each in the match.
Board 5
Not much known about this one. It went to mid-distance, compared to the other games, but eventually Mister Sharland came off worst. The RAC had it 3-2 at this point.
Board 6
Could Signore Filosi pull it round for the Libs and save the draw? In what the archivists assure us was the second only outing for Signore Filosi, he couldn't quite push through against Howard Wand, and so in the end the final board went to the RAC, and with it a 4-2 victory to the visiting team.
Dinner
But who cares about the chess? A mere aperitif to the main event. Some salmon, followed by some really excellent lamb. And plenty of plonk.
