MSCL - Knockout Team

First Round, away to Sussex University 2nd November and sad to report, Uckfield could only draw the match 2 1/2 all, whilst needing to score 3 points to win due to the grading handicap.

Last Thursday as previously circulated we took a team to Sussex University for the preliminary round of the MSL Knockout tournament as last year’s champions.  The University is traditionally a surprise package as they each September welcome new students from around the world.  This was also a different time control, 80 minutes with 10-second increments, which is unusual for some of us though juniors use it regularly in Sussex tournaments.  As forecast, my opponent being an Indian regional and national champion was far better than she had been graded, and would give Chaski a good game !  She is also on a Masters degree in cosmology and in my view will soon be conversing with Stephen Hawking and working on the India space programme, unless she is picked up by Nasa first !  She did 31 moves in 16 minutes, and I was much slower and at that very point failed to find the right recovery move, from whence she completely annihilated me.  We were pleased to welcome back Artur for his first game of the season and he and Michael were supposed to be playing students with little or no competitive experience. Whilst that may have been true, both opponents were nothing like the usual novices !  Artur’s game was typically open and interesting, but eventually he won through with very solid play, albeit he felt he was rusty.  Michael had to work hard in a four knight centre battle supported by rooks, and his time went down to 2.45.  However I have seen him do that in tournaments and as in the past, he used the clock well from that point and worked his pieces, gaining a rook then finishing off with a great checkmate.  Needing just a draw from either Chaski or Mark, I felt confident at that stage as both of their opponents were much shorter on time and Mark was a few pawns up.  I went for a walk and when I came back to my horror the times had more or less equalised, and we ended with Chaski losing and Mark having to settle for a draw.  Unfortunately we needed a 3-2 win to progress in the Knockout, so a 2.5-2.5 draw sees us eliminated from the competition !  One had to say well done to the University though, particularly their three top boards, the top two playing off less than three minutes with stressed ease against our two best players. The match was thrilling, and as their captain would confirm we probably could and should have won !  However as an older man whose main career and contribution is done, it is great to meet young adults so good, be inspired and know that the future is more likely to be in safe hands – and minds – than the air of negativity which pervades the media would have us believe. .  

Unfortunately therefore the defending champions (us) didn't get beyond the Preliminary Round this time. Congratulations to Sussex Uni.

Brian