Atticus@4NCL
- Details
- Written by: John Redmond
- Category: Atticus@4NCL
4NCL Online Rounds 9 and 10.
Both Atticus teams had a tough time in the 4NCL. For the individual player, the format requires considerable adjustment of mental and physical habits. After 10 rounds it was something of a relief that the whole thing was over. However, we enjoyed the challenge and we have not played our last match in the competition.
Atticus A 1½ - 2½ Sussex Social Isolators
| Redmond, John P. | 2327 e | ½ - ½ | Cumming, Rhys | 2299 | ||
| Kennaugh, Charles W | f | 2249 | ½ - ½ | Blake, J Morgan | 2147 e | |
| Kee, Steve | 2155 e | 0 - 1 | Bucher, Grant W | 2119 | ||
| James, David J | f | 2147 e | ½ - ½ | Lunn, Matthew | 2087 e | |
| 1½ - 2½ | ||||||
In Round 9 there was another narrow defeat for Atticus A. Meanwhile Atticus B did well to win what turned out to be their last match:
Atticus B 3-1 Harrow 3
| Boumphrey, Luke S | 2020 e | 1 - 0 | Manmay Chopra | 1855 e | ||
| Rothwell, James P | 1892 e | 1 - 0 | Stotz, Martin | 1780 u | ||
| Banerjee, Sanjoy K | 1720 e | 0 - 1 | O'Neill, Richard | 1645 u | ||
| Blasczyk, Martin | 1690 c | 1 - 0 | Stott, David A | 1510 c | ||
| 3 - 1 | ||||||
The opponents of Atticus B, Surbiton, defaulted in the final round after a controversy related to cheating. Atticus A incurred a narrow defeat:
Gonzaga B Sharps 2½ - 1½ Atticus A
| Kanyamarala, Trisha | wi | 2201 | 1 - 0 | Redmond, John P. | 2327 e | |
| Miller, Ioana | wf | 2185 | 0 - 1 | Kennaugh, Charles W | f | 2249 |
| Moran, Stephen | 2195 | 1 - 0 | Kee, Steve | 2155 e | ||
| Jackson, Carl | 2021 | ½ - ½ | James, David J | f | 2147 e | |
| 2½ - 1½ | ||||||
- Details
- Written by: John Redmond
- Category: Atticus@4NCL
You wait seven rounds for a victory, then two come along at once ...
Atticus A 3-1 West is Best 1
| 2327e | John Redmond | 1 | 0 | IM Jack Rudd | 2331 |
| 2249 | FM Charlie Kennaugh | 1 | 0 | FM Jon Blackburn | 2235 |
| 2155e | Steve Kee | 1 | 0 | CM Tim Kett | 2178 |
| 2147e | FM Dave James | 0 | 1 | CM Alex Bullen | 2116 |
| 3 | 1 |
Most of the players in this match knew each other well - the Atticus team contains past and present players for West is Best, as well as the team with they merged with some years ago, the South Wales Dragons. Meanwhile WIB fielded Jon Blackburn, a former Atticus player. Probably this shared history helped the Atticus players as, unlike in some other matches, we 'knew where we stood'. Dave James was a bit unlucky in his encounter with the WIB captain. He built up a nice classical advantage on the Q-side, targeting an isolated c-pawn, but then near the end of the session allowed a tragic fork. My own game say me depart unsuccesfully from theoretical paths and I could have been a good deal worse in the middlegame. Jack, who typically plays quickly and 'all-in', missed a strong continuation then turned down a repetition he should have taken. From that point on his attack on the K-side went rapidly backwards. Charlie and Steve had longer-lasting games which were good value for the spectators. Charlie seemed a bit worse out of the opening, but then Jon seemed to get carried away and, in time-pressue, appeared to sacrifice a Rook incorrectly. Charlie held his nerve to convert. Like me, Steve Kee had faced a perhaps overenthusiastic 'sacrifice' of Bishop and Knight for Rook and pawn and was always going to be better if he could securely anchor his minor pieces. Steve finished the game off with an elegant mating-attack. This confirmed our first match-win.
Atticus B 3½-½ War & Piece
| 2020e | Luke Boumphrey | ½ | ½ | James Ward | 1742 |
| 1892e | James Rothwell | 1 | 0 | Munroe Morrison | 1717 |
| 1720e | Sanjoy Banerjee | 1 | 0 | Stephen O'Neill | 1457c |
| 1660c | Mark Wadsworth | 1 | 0 | Jimmy Blair | 1375c |
| 3½ | ½ |
The second team also won. Luke had an interesting opposite-coloured Bishop ending where his opponent found the resource of going into a 'Bishop-plus-wrong-rook-pawn' ending. Sanjoy acquired a terrible pair of passed c- and d-pawns which ended up steamrollering his opponent. Mark went a few pawns up and converted in the ending. James was successful against the Scotch game, winning a miniature. So a successful night for the club in what has been a tough competition.
- Details
- Written by: John Redmond
- Category: Atticus@4NCL
Although there were some bright spots, Round 7 was a tough experience for the Atticus teams again..
Atticus A 1½-2½ Wood Green Monarchs
| 2327e | John Redmond | 1 | 0 | IM Joseph McPhillips | 2425 |
| 2249 | FM Charlie Kennaugh | 0 | 1 | IM David FItzsimons | 2334 |
| 2155e | Steve Kee | 0 | 1 | IM Jovanka Houska | 2381 |
| 2147e | FM David James | ½ | ½ | FM Michael De Verdier | 2302 |
| 1½ | 2½ |
In this match we were out-rated on every board, and facing a team of three IMs and one FM. Steve had a tough time in his favoured Bird's Opening - he managed to make progress on both wings but IM Houska - who is quite a classical player - made a more decisive breakthrough in the centre. Charlie had good chances to draw a Rook ending. According to him, he had "eight different moves" which drew, but instead played a ninth - which lost. Dave James had more success on the Black side of a Queen's Indian. White emerged from the opening with the two Bishops but Dave had a strong Knight on d4 and always looked actively-placed. In the end White decided to sac an exchange in order to force a draw. In my own game, my opponent went straight down a line where I have had a lot of success - the Delayed Exchange Variation of the King's Indian (I think I am 5-0 with this in 'serious' games.) This is a harmless line if Black is happy to draw, but if Black wants to win (and why else play the King's Indian?) it can be surprisingly harmful. Black went wrong early (arguably, after move 9, he was lost) and the game was over in 22 moves.
Bon Accord B 3½-½ Atticus B
| 1872 | Richard Jennings | 1 | 0 | Luke Boumphrey | 2020e |
| 1820 | Theodoros Vasilidias | 1 | 0 | Steve Burge | 1675c |
| 1757c | Ross Brennan | 1 | 0 | Mark Wadsworth | 1660c |
| 1757e | Alisdair McLeod | ½ | ½ | Jim Wiseman | 1622e |
| 3½ | ½ |
I also did not see anything of the games in our Division 4 match. We had no success on Boards 1-3. Jim Wiseman felt he should have won his game and was a bit disappointed with his draw.
- Details
- Written by: John Redmond
- Category: Atticus@4NCL
Round 4:
Atticus A 2-2 Shropshire 1
Although we should probably have done better, in this match we did collect our first point of the competition. The format seems to induce odd opening-decisions and for no good reason I left my repertoire around move 7 - I ended up thinking for ages and then blundering in the tactical-exchanges. Steve and Charlie had nice voctories while Dave James's good run in the competition came to an end.
Atticus B 1-3 Battersea Howitzers.
Atticus B were outgunned by the Howitzers.
Round 5:
Atticus A 1-3 Oxford
On paper, we were reasonably matched but got soundly beaten.
To Be Decided 4-0 Atticus B
Again, on paper, this should have been an even contest. However, we got steamrollered.
Round 6:
Anglian Avengers 3-1 Atticus A
We were a little out-rated in this match but could have hoped to do better.
Atticus B 2-2 Phone Pals
Atticus B finally got themselves a match-point. This was mainly thanks to Jim Wiseman's timely debut and Mark's return. Luke had a challenging assignment on Board 1 and came off second-best. James Rothwell appeared well-placed in a closed position but then fell victim to a tricky Queen-trap. Mark had a fairly wild-looking game where he held his nerve to bring home the victory. Jim won a piece relatively early and duly converted.
- Details
- Written by: John Redmond
- Category: Atticus@4NCL
Round 2:
Atticus A 1-3 Gonzaga
| w | John Redmond | 2327 e | 0 - 1 | IM Sam Collins | 2457 |
| b | Charlie Kennaugh | 2249 | 0 - 1 | FM T Kanyamarala | 2384 |
| w | Steve Kee | 2155 e | ½ - ½ | FM Killian Delaney | 2303 |
| b | Dave James | 2147 e | ½ - ½ | Stephen Moran | 2195 |
| 1 - 3 | |||||
In the First Division we had another tough match, this time against the second-seeded team. Gonzaga are an Irish side (loosely based around past-pupils of a famous Dublin school) and they have made big inroads into the 4NCL proper. I foolishly tried to improvise in the opening against Sam Collins (who has several GM-norms) and got a bad position quickly. Charlie had chances in his game but unfortunately lost. Steve Kee (who had seemed to be a goner) managed a resilient save in a Rook ending. Dave James continued his good record, drawing with a higher-rated player.
Attius B 1½ - 2½ Catford Cosmonauts
| w | James Rothwell | 1892 e | ½ - ½ | Stakhey Sedykh | 1772 e |
| b | Sanjoy Banerjee | 1720 e | 0 - 1 | Cem Oyvat | 1667 c |
| w | Steve Burge | 1675 c | 1 - 0 | Anthony Foreman | 1532 c |
| b | Mark Wadsworth | 1660 c | 0 - 1 | Cristiano Marchettini | 1382 c |
| 1½ - 2½ | |||||
This was a match where - on paper - we might have expected to do better. Steve Burge showed his prowess in attack as White. Sanjoy went into a Rook-ending from a Qc2 Nimzo which he might have held, but went wrong on the 40th move. James played a Ruy Lopez where he was always a bit better but without getting the full point, Playing sharply in the Sveshnikov Sicilian, Mark got cut down by his opponent's vigorous attack.
Round 3:
Surbiton 1 3-1 Atticus A
| w | FM Koby Kalavannan | 2324 | ½ - ½ | John Redmond | 2327 e |
| b | Ranesh Ratnesan | 2258 | 1 - 0 | Charlie Kennaugh | 2249 |
| w | Mark Josse | 2235 | 1 - 0 | Steve Kee | 2155 e |
| b | Tim Seymour | 2119 | ½ - ½ | David James | 2147 e |
| 3 - 1 | |||||
Not such a good result for us. I was a bit better from the opening against my opponent (who had beaten GM Maze in Round 1.) Charlie had a tough loss. Steve Kee got a bad Marcozy ending as Black and always seemed to be on the back foot. Dave James earned another solid draw.
Manchester Juniors A 2½ - 1½ Atticus B
| w | Ben Clissold, | 2135 | 1 - 0 | Luke Boumphrey | 2020 e |
| b | Sam Parry | 1812 | 1 - 0 | James Rothwell | 1892 e |
| w | Julian Clissold | 1795 c | 0 - 1 | Martin Blasczyk | 1690 c |
| b | Ethan Gardiner | 1795 e | ½ - ½ | Steve Burge | 1675 c |
| 2½ - 1½ | |||||
This was always going to be difficult. I didn't see Luke's game but he did report that he "played like a lemon." James got edged out in a theoretical and complicated Sicilian Dragon. Martin recorded our best reult of the evening with an excellent win. Steve Burge continued his solid start to the competition with a useful draw.
So we remain in pursuit of match-points. Hopefully, we can open our account(s) in Round 4.
- Details
- Written by: John Redmond
- Category: Atticus@4NCL
We had a tough time in the latest round.
Atticus A 1 - 3 Gonzaga
| John Redmond | 0 | 1 | IM Sam Collins | ||
| Charlie Kennaugh | 0 | 1 | FM Tarunkanyamarala | ||
| Steve Kee | ½ | ½ | FM Killian Delaney | ||
| Dave James | ½ | ½ | Stepen Moran | ||
| 1 | 3 |
Our second team also had a tough time.
Atticus B 1½-2½ Catford Cosmonauts 3
| 1892e | James Rothwell | ½ | ½ | Stakhey Sedykh | 1772e |
| 1720e | Sanjoy Banerjee | 0 | 1 | Cem Oyvat | 1667c |
| 1675c | Steve Burge | 1 | 0 | Anthony Foreman | 1532c |
| 1660c | Mark Wadsworth | 0 | 1 | Cristiano Marchettini | 1382c |
| 1½ | 2½ |