The annual inter-club team blitz championship was held a few weeks ago at the RAC. Mister Barton was summoned to Lib Chess HQ and informed he had received a field promotion and would be captaining the team that evening.
Whilst he struggled to lead the team to victory over the board, he provided inspirational leadership for the part of the evening that actually mattered – the end-of-the-evening trip to the bar. In this, the Libs swept all before them.
Here is his report:
The NLC sallied forth on May 6th to the RAC to participate in the annual Sheldon Marshall Trophy. Eleven rounds of 5 minute a player blitz chess with no quarter asked for or given.
The Lib team sent forth consisted of Mister Khan, Mister Barton (c), Miss Widger, Mister Milkias, Mister Kaya & Mister Harsh. Against the combined might of the ‘Big 3’ of Oxford & Cambridge, MCC & the RAC hopes were not high, especially as all three were putting out ‘B’ teams such was their strength. Nevertheless mid-table respectability was sought even if the Champions League places were out of reach [for the benefit of those unsure of this obscure reference, we can inform our readership that this ‘Champions League’ is in fact a form of Association Football that takes place largely on the continent – Editorial Committee].
Matters however did not set off as best hoped as – due to the challenge of flying in from Rome that day – Mister Kaya was a few minutes late. Whilst momentarily befuddled on arrival and with matches already in progress he was led astray by nefarious forces and actually played his first match for the O&C ‘A’ team. Not only playing for them but recording a win on Board 2.
By round 2 Mister Kaya was back playing for the Libs but a series of strong opponents left the NLC with 0 points out of 5 by the time it came for sandwiches.
A notable game was Mister ‘DrawMaster’ Khan versus Bodhana Sivanandan, the 10 year old chess prodigy from Harrow who was top board for the Athenaeum. Bodhana was 9/10 at one point and in his game Mister Khan succumbed on time whilst in a difficult position and with Bodhana still having 3 minutes on her clock. When asked if he had had counterplay, Mister Khan replied ‘No’. An honour to play someone who we will all hear much more of in the future as she continues her ascent.
The second series of games proved more fruitful with wins against O&C ‘B’, a clean sweep of the Reform by 6-0 and then a 5-1 victory over Hurlingham to leave the NLC with 3 points out of 11 and a position of joint 8th. Ensuring Premier League survival for another season [another reference that will no doubt confound our subscribers. This is apparently a reference to the domestic football league – Editorial Committee].
After the trophy was awarded to the MCC ‘A’ team there was a mass relocation to the Bar where we had the opportunity to thank Rob Matthews for hosting on behalf of the RAC. It should be noted that the NLC were the last to leave at 12.45am having outlasted all opposition. At some events we will not be beaten!
Sterling work Captain Barton. We knew you could be relied upon!