For all the progress made, the NLC has never quite drawn or won a Hamilton-Russell Cup match. Friendlies yes, but Cup matches no.
The Hurlingham Club came to Whitehall Place primed after their Friendly defeat in November and packing the former Wales International Gareth Pearce on board 1.
The games ebbed and flowed, and the tension was palpable as the clocks ticked on. This was proper match chess and the NLC played its full part. Hurlingham emerged victorious 3.5-2.5 but it could have gone either way.
One day the stars will align and the chess gods will reward our persistence, but this
was mighty close.
Doctor Kirby secured a draw on top board against Gareth Pearce. The Doctor had the initiative in a Queen’s Gambit Declined, but couldn’t make progress. The position simplified and a draw was agreed in a major piece ending.
Mister Whiteley had black against Hurlingham Captain Stephen Quartermaine on board 2. White had the better position in a King’s Indian Samisch variation after Mister Whiteley went two pawns down early on. But Mister Whiteley dug in, defended hard and after white ran badly short of time and a draw was the honourable result. Good fighting chess from Mister Whiteley, who’s showing why he’s our board 2.
Mister Chamberlain continued his solid run with another draw against Michael Yeoh. The game followed the same pattern as the Friendly match, with Mister Chamberlain having the initiative but not being able to break down the opponent’s stubborn defence.
Which brings us to rather uglier matters…Mister Widdicombe had the advantage against Rupert Ratcliffe from the opening. He then showcased the full extent of his outstanding chess skill by pulling off that incredibly difficult and intricate technical procedure known as “buggering up a perfectly good position by back-to-back unforced blunders”.
Mister Widdicombe then announced his immediate and irreversible retirement from all forms of chess.*
On board 5 Mister Dias showed the virtues of persistence against Robert Gordon. A piece down for most of the game, his opponent ran into time trouble, blundered a knight which was ignored, and then blundered away a rook. Even this does not do justice to Mister Dias’s act of larceny.
Mister Osseiran essayed the Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez against Richard Paterson. The opponent managed to get past the Berlin Wall and Mister Osseiran went down to defeat.
And so to dinner. What we lack on the board we make up for at table. The NLC kitchen surpassed itself with three excellent courses and the Hurlingham team were suitably impressed. (The duck egg florentine starter and venison shank main were excellent).
*reviewable in a week. (After all, Chelsea Arts do a good dinner).