The C team were at home against Milton Keynes A on Thursday whilst the B Team faced Milton Keynes B. In reality of course Milton Keyne’s strongest players are in their B team, following the A Team’s demotion last year. Nevertheless we were significantly out graded.
Callum Shields on top board was out graded by 182 against Robert Whiteside. Early on I saw that, aggressive as usual, Callum was eyeing up f2 and shortly afterwards he had won. Richard Bodily saw some of the carnage and tells me it was game of the season material. Ed – perhaps this is a little overstated but Callum certainly finishes the game off impressively after Rob loses focus – the bishop sacrifice is nice but the subsequent strategic withdrawal is very pleasant – see game below.
Next to finish on board 2 Robert Walker was playing Peter Edwards. Against the French defence Robert diverted from standard lines and Peter, perhaps in unfamiliar territory, got his King stuck in the middle. Carnage followed!
Richard McMorran on board 3 played (I think) a Dragon Sicilian against former Mastermind Champion Alan Heath. Alan managed to win a pawn and invaded black’s second rank, after which there was no escape for Richard.
My game on board 4 against Luke Singleton was – to put it mildly – not exciting. He played the Caro Khan, an opening which I have seldom met in recent years. Neither of us made much progress and we settled for a draw after 23 moves. My computer engine suggests that I was just a little better and had I been braver (fat chance) I might have launched a promising Kingside attack.
That left the outcome of the match in the hands of Robert Wilson playing his first match for the Club having just joined, and Milton Keynes’ Captain Sumit Bhalla. I was not optimistic having seen Robert fall for a tactic to lose a Bishop for one (or perhaps two) pawns. However as material gradually disappeared it became obvious that Sumit would have difficulty clinching a win. Eventually Robert was able to get it down to King and Bishop against King – draw secured. An excellent debut!
Callum Shields 1 – 0 Rob Whiteside
Robert Walker 1 – 0 Peter Edwards
Richard McMorran 0 – 1 Alan Heath
Peter Gill 1/2 – 1/2 Luke Singlrton
Robert Wilson 1/2 – 1/2 Sumit Ball
3 – 2
Peter Gill, 2nd December 2022