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.