|
|
Aigburth |
|
|
|
Atticus 1 |
|
|
|
1 |
b |
R Williamson |
2215 |
1 |
0 |
S Kee |
2089 |
|
2 |
w |
S Lee |
1952 |
0 |
1 |
A Stancak |
2119 |
|
3 |
b |
D Rowlandson |
1966 |
0 |
1 |
D Lawson |
2179 |
|
4 |
w |
D Eisen |
1854 |
0.5 |
0.5 |
D James |
2135 |
|
5 |
b |
I Campbell |
1934 |
1 |
0 |
L Boumphrey |
2016 |
|
6 |
w |
B Kane |
1808 |
0 |
1 |
N Martin |
1972 |
|
|
|
|
|
2.5 |
3.5 |
|
|
Upon arriving at the finals venue Prescot&Knotty Ash, it looked like word had spread and there was a crowd fitting for this occasion - sadly it was there for a league football match decider (no, not Aston Villa v LFC).
When play got underway, tentative moves followed and after an 90 minutes or so positions became a little clearer. First to finish was Dave James, whose position proved to be not advantageous for either side and an agreed draw. Next was Luke's game, who faced his bête noire, and Ian, playing the black pieces was indeed beastly, devouring a vulnerable piece to put Aigburth a point ahead. Then it was Nick, a late replacement for Charlie Kennaugh, who played a nicely-controlled game, manoeuvring his pieces into a commanding position to wing material and even the match score. Then, in quick succession the match was decided by a couple of kingside breakthroughs. Dave on board 3 had carefully locked the queenside and crashed through with a kingside bayonet thrust. Andrej also broke through with a winning king assault, having pressurised harry the h-pawn. My game was just getting interesting (usual when facing the stonewall!) when Roger found a tactic to win a piece and the game. But the day was done, and Atticus had won the John Ripley Cup.
A big thank you to the Prescot&Knotty Ash Club and to our organisers for hosting, and congratulations to Liverpool Chess Club for winning the Knotty Ash Cup.
A reminder that soon Atticus will run our annual Open tournament - details to follow shortly. Report Steve Kee