U1 v Sussex Uni

October 9th

Our first match of the season and it was a very exciting evening, with one game continuing to chucking out time.

As I discovered afterwards we were outgraded on all boards except Board 1 and so we put up a very good fight. On Board 5 Artur Mieczkowski played a fine attack based on his pawns penetrating into his opponents position restricting his mobility and finished off in some style.

Simon McDonald, on Board 3 also won, though when I looked he was the exchange down.  My guess is that he had extremely active pieces, won material back and his opponent resigned, possibly not in an absolutely lost position, I hope Simon can confirm.

New player Graham Botfield on Board 4 succumbed to an attack on his king, which simplified into a lost king and pawn ending.  An unlucky start, but better things to come I think.

Mark Attree on Board 2 was the white side of a Burns French.  Not the most exciting opening which was level but rather than simplifying into a basically drawn endgame went for a lovely tactic...that didn't work... and ended up losing the exchange and then the game.  Not a great start, should realise when to hunker down and make the draw...not that the tactic would have given me more than a draw anyway.

Chaski Patrick versus Ollie Wilson on Board 1 saw a tense encounter that went down to the wire and beyond, with both players down to their last minutes in a tricky endgame.  White, Ollie, was a pawn up but they have one rook apiece and it's not clear that white can make progress, the game was adjourned.  My compy tells me that this one is drawn and the players have subsequently agreed a draw.

So  a draw 2 1/2 each.  Excellent wins for Simon and Artur, bad luck Graham, disappointment for me. Fair result for Chaski. Hey ho. we're on the board and as it's the first result of the season we are top of Divison 2.