It was springtime at 1 Whitehall Place. The leaves were in bud, the terrace was getting busy, and that could only mean one thing – it was time for the 2025 Lightning Chess Tournament.
Wednesday 02 April saw 25 chessers from five different Clubs come together to vie for the most coveted trophy in all of Clubland chess – the Ming Vase.
Many have tried to claim it, few have won through. Only two players have so far managed it twice – Richard Hughes of the RAC and, more recently, Richard Farleigh of that same parish.
But only Mister Farleigh had entered the 2025 tournament so the question on everyone’s lips was: Could he make it a third time?
For those not in the know, Lightning Chess is played in time with a 10 second metronome buzzer. Moves must be made alternately by players in time with the buzzer – not before and not after. Here’s how it looks:
It takes some getting used to as players can’t take any additional time to ponder on a particularly difficult move at a critical moment. The tyrannical buzzer forces ones hand.
It’s the eight year that the NLC has hosted the Lightning Chess Championship (barring a brief interlude in 2021 due to the Great Inconvenience). Some of the players had played in every single event, so there was certainly some experience to bring to bear, not least from the Liberal side.
And the Libs did indeed go into the evening with their hopes high. Messers Khan, Barton, Jacobs and Giffin all, quite justifiably, cast their eyes toward the Vase. Would it be a Lib victory?
Things began well. After three rounds the top of the leaderboard was chock full of Libs:
And whilst some fell away, it was the NLC’s own Mister Giffin KC MA (Oxon) that kept up the chase to set up a massive round 5 clash against Richard Farleigh. With both men on a perfect 4 out of five it was a winner takes all game.
Alas, Gladstone was not smiling. Mister Farleigh’s quality showed through, and despite a tough and close affair, the RAC man won through, to take the Ming Vase home for the third time.
Very well done Richard Farleigh. A perfect 5 out of 5 – a truly deserved victory!
