The Gladstone begins…

That’s right. The race for the Gladstone Trophy, and with it the mantle of NLC Chess Champion, has begun.

Monday 15 May saw a record number of entrants – nineteen! – fight it out in the first round.

Most of the games followed the form book, with few of chess punters in the bar able to make much money from Messers William and Hill. One result was a surprise – NLC chess veteran Doctor Saldanha lost his opening game to NLC chess newcomer Mister Bailey. Whether this was an upset or in fact a sign that Mister Bailey can play a few strokes remains to be seen. In either case, well done Mister Bailey – a cracking start.

Selected games

It was no surprise given the size and importance of the sporting contest that nerves were on edge and hands shaky. As such, a number of scoresheets were indecipherable or otherwise appeared to miss key moves out as players were lost in the battle on the board and overlooked their scoresheets.

But three game scores emerged from the heat of battle just about intact. Here they are.

The first game saw a ding dong battle between Doctor Widdicombe (flying down the kingside) and Mister Barnett (flying down the queenside). In the end, Doctor Widdicombe landed his blow first.

The second of the featured games showed Mister Ng coming off worse to Captain Giffin KC MA (Oxon). Mister Ng, largely a practitioner of speed chess using a miniature Turing device, was perhaps unprepared for the slower form of the game, and against this year’s favourite. But Mister Ng is a strong player and will be out for blood in round 2, no doubt.

And finally, the Doctor Saldanha – Mister Bailey game. The Editorial Committee will let readers make up their own mind.

Results in full

(White listed first)

  1. Ng 0-1 Giffin
  2. Widdicombe 1-0 Barnett
  3. Rhatigan 0-1 Zama
  4. Ioannou 1-0 Purle
  5. Nacouzi 0-1 Jacobs
  6. Widger 1-0 Sharland
  7. Birrane 0-1 Rosenbaum
  8. Saldanha 0-1 Bailey
  9. Kir 0-1 Taylor
  10. Dias BYE

The draw for round 2 will soon be made…hold tight.