When the call to arms went out during the Ludi Romani, asking if our gladiators were ready to step into the arena, the National Liberal Club did not disappoint. Our travelling legion descended upon the Hurlingham Club on Wednesday, 16th September, returning home with a decisive 11-5 overall victory.
Round 1: Winning the toss and electing to take White, the NLC immediately went for the jugular in the 30|0 format. The first round was less a chess match and more a triumph, ending in a crushing 7-1 scoreline for the NLC. Special thanks must go to the Hurlingham combatants on Boards 7 and 8 who, perhaps fearing the wrath of our bottom boards, failed to appear, gifting Miss Vina Sam and Mister Misian Maljoku default victories. Elsewhere, our top and middle boards decimated the opposition with clinical precision. (Captain Saldanha was particualrly pleased to win Mister Clark’s queen, returning the same favour Mister Clark bestowed on him the last time they met over the board.)
Round 2: Swapping colours for the second round, Hurlingham mounted a valiant counter-offensive, but the NLC phalanx held firm. The second round ended in an honourable 4-4 draw, comfortably securing the match for the NLC overall. Captain Saldanha, having secured a win in the first round, fell on his sword in the second against Mister Jack Abel Smith, but the overall damage to our hosts was already done.
Heroes of the colosseum
- Undefeated centurions: Mssrs Mike Ivey (Board 4) and Nicola Filosi (Board 6) showed absolutely no mercy, both delivering a flawless 2-0 record over the board.
- Top-board tacticians: Mister Nigel Giffin MA(Oxon) KC (Board 1) and Mister Andrew Jacobs (Board 2) anchored the squad brilliantly, each securing a win with White and a draw with Black against Hurlingham’s finest.
- Fortunate and the fierce: Miss Vina Sam (Board 7) capitalised on her Round 1 default by proving she didn’t need the head start, dispatching Mister Nicholas Frankopan in Round 2 to claim a full 2 points.
Thank you Hurlingham
The Hurlingham Club were exceptional hosts and took the 11-5 battering with immense grace. We now look forward to meeting them at home in the Hamilton-Russell Cup.
We were certainly entertained over a delicious three-course dinner. Thank you to Captain Michael Yeoh and his fellow teammates for their superb hospitality.
So a convincing second friendly win for the NLC in our 2026/27 campaign.