Wednesday 20th Feb saw the Libs take on the team with a keen interest in the sub-continent. The East India/Oriental Club combined team are a tough prospect, and this five board cup match ran to form.
The Libs lost 4-1, with the victory on Board 5 saving the blushes, meaning the NLC have yet to be whitewashed this season (such are the demanding performance benchmarks we set ourselves).
Board 1
Doctor Kirby took on Sam Franklin. The ORI/EIC board 1 is one of the strongest on the circuit, and this is one of those games for which the Doctor can do little but take a philosophical view. Sometimes the job of a Board 1 is just to soak up the punches for as long as possible before being knocked out. The Doctor held up well for a long time.
Board 2
If Doctor Kirby faced tough opposition on board 1, Mister Chamberlain faced similar quality on board 2. This was always going to be an uphill struggle for Mister Chamberlain.
Of the game, the defeated Lib co-champion said “the game was pretty equal most of the way, until I prematurely took it to a lost endgame. On move 30, if I’d played Be7 instead of swapping rooks, I’d have had an advantage. We were both a bit short of time, so goodness knows what would have happened, but still… “
Board 3
Some cut and thrust on 3. The game see-sawed and could have gone either way at various points, but in the end Mister Giffin QC MA (Oxon)’s King was not as active as White’s and the d pawn (his only remaining trump) fell before the finish line.
Board 4
Mister Widdicombe had white on 4 against Robert McClacaley. He tried to make the most of various pins with his white squared bishop but couldn’t get anything positive. A rash(?) pawn break and the centre opened up. Time trouble started to play a part for Mister Widdicombe and a few poor/rushed moves ended things.
Board 5
An NLC debut for Doctor Saldanha, who is currently a free agent. He faced ex-Lib Luke King, who played his favourite Sicilian-Morra gambit. Doctor Saldanha was wise to such tricks, took it in his stride, and saw off his sharp opponent. The team wonders if it might see more of Doctor Saldanha in the yellow, blue and green…? Whatever happens, thank you for stepping in Doctor – well played, sir!
Dinner
An excellent three course offering awaited. Your correspondent had to rush home and missed it. A fact that still stings. I mean…brushcetta-steak-cheese…
