SCL and SCCA Matches 23-24

Although we have not entered the newly renamed Sussex League this season we have entered a team in the League's Knockout competition and also in the Sussex County Chess Association Paul Watson Trophy, which is also a knockout.  The SCL Knockout runs on a handicap basis whereby, using ECF ratings the stronger team has to score more points to win the match.  The Paul Watson is not handicapped but the average rating of each team is limited to 1825.  Typically the Paul Watson teams can be quite strong overall whilst anything can happen in the SCL Knockout.

Sussex League Knockout

We were drawn away to Haywards Heath and overall the ratings worked out about the same so the match was played without any handicap applied.  Haywards Heath played the current Sussex Champion on Board 1 and Arran got a draw in a very exciting game, the last to finish.  It could have gone either way.  Michael simply outplayed his opponent over the course of the game, winning very smoothly.  Mark had an advantage throughout, messed up a bit but then his opponent blundered in a tricky position.  Brian handily mated his opponent and was first to finish.  So we won a rather emphatic 3 1/2 to 1/2 and will play Lewes away in what turns out to be the semi-final.

Paul Watson Trophy

Hastings visited us for this match and their average rating just crept under the 1825 limit.  So we were actually outrated on all of the boards and again ran out 3 1/2 to 1/2 winners.  This is a very good result.  Arran drew again on top board, whilst Michael, Brian and Oliver all won.  I do hope this score is habit forming.  We will be away to Bexhill in the next round, which is the quarter final.

February 2nd (Friday) was an away match at Bexhill in the Paul Watson Trophy.  This was a quarter final, so still a long way to go.  We have had some tight matches in these cups and this was probably the tightest of all, even if the scoreline was 3-1 to Bexhill.  Mark lost, Brian and Michael drew so because of the way tie-breaks work, if Arran won on Board 1 it would have been 2-2 but we would have progressed on 'board count'.  Arran had a completely winning position (2 pawns up in a rook and pawn ending) and just needed to find the right set up to force a pawn home.  Unfortunately he was playing on the 10 second increment and ran out of time...so lost.  A bad way to lose a game.  It happens, though it doesn't make it any easier when it does.