In contrast to previous seasons where the GOTS has been decided by popular vote, the best game this season has been judged by Toby Cox, a former Bedford A team captain, club and county champion, from a shortlist of eleven games selected from the 30+ published on the website. Thanks very much to all contributors and especially to Toby for his efforts. He has selected a one-two-three but also given some honourable mentions for other games of merit.
(click on links for contextual match reports)
1st – fantastic free-flowing chess from start to finish. Both sides went with guns blazing (there was only one move when a piece moved backwards – move 10), and it seemed as though neither had much regard for their own king’s safety. White, through a fascinating knight sacrifice managed to orchestrate a slightly safer king, and slightly faster attack. Black’s position collapsed spectacularly. Bonus points for such interesting annotations.
Ramsey Dairi v Ravi Arulnandhy
2nd – brilliant tactical play in the opening, with 12.Bxb5 and 15.b4 both being amazing moves (and presumably white spotted the latter when calculating for the initial sacrifice). The game remained very interesting as white navigated the Q v B+B+N imbalance to convert the advantage.
3rd – perhaps loses out to the top two because there is simply less game. Only 16 moves, but a very aesthetically pleasing ending.
Honourable mention for a very nice tactical finish and for playing the hippo.
Paul Habershon v Rob Whiteside
Honourable mention for being such a battle (even after white should perhaps have put it to bed).
Julian Hudson v Richard Bodily
Honourable mention for being a textbook example of how to leverage an advantage in development through the full length of the game.