As Surbiton were unable to raise a team to visit us a few weeks ago we weren’t sure what to expect when we visited them. As it happens, they fielded a strong team against us.
Mike Healey reports:
Another close loss I’m afraid. Thanks to Marcel and Ian (reserve) for stepping up at the last minute. I was quite busy with my own game, but here are my recollections:
Marcel seemed to have a decent opening, but something went wrong.
Chris B seemed to have a very decent opening indeed (some kind of French with the bishop outside the pawn chain?) but something went drawish.
Richard J seemed to have a very very decent position, but claims to have forgotten how to win. Finishing off one of Surbiton’s many 190+ players is never easy though.
Andrew seemed to grab a pawn, then go down to an attack.
Bertie seemed to thoroughly outplay his opponent once more – oh to have a team of Bertie clones! Star man once more.
The Chrises had a crisis game as should be expected from two such creative players.
I had an unMikeish lovely opening, then chose several bad moves to ruin it. After much mutual umming and ahing with time trouble madness approaching, a draw was agreed.
Gavin had a Gaviny opening, which he will draw or win 99 times out of 100. This seemed to be the 1 however.
| Surbiton | Richmond A | ||
| 1 | James Holland 224 | 1:0 | Gavin Wall 217 |
| 2 | Mark Josse 212 | ½:½ | Mike Healey 213 |
| 3 | Chris Briscoe 193 | ½:½ | Chris White 175 |
| 4 | Altaf Chaudhry 196 | 0:1 | Bertie Barlow 170 |
| 5 | Jasper Tambini 189 | 1:0 | Andrew Hebron 179 |
| 6 | David Scott 181 | ½:½ | Richard James 167 |
| 7 | Angus James 177 | ½:½ | Chris Baker 165 |
| 8 | Liam Bayly 165 | 1:0 | Marcel Holowienko – |
| 5:3 |
Yes – I reached a winning position with an extra pawn on d7 about to promote, without having any idea what I was doing right or what my opponent was doing wrong. Sadly my brain froze and my d-pawn accidentally fell off the board.
Interesting to note that Surbiton had four RJCC alumni (Boards 2,3,5,8) to our three (Boards 1,2,4). I suppose I count as an honorary RJCC alumnus, though. Chris B was a pre-RJCC Richmond Junior, Marcel an RTCC Richmond Junior, and Andrew was taught chess at school by an RJCC alumnus.