After the summer hiatus (during which time Atticus members traditionally seek out such exotic spots as the Rivieira, the Algarve and the Wirral), the new season began with a blizzard of fixtures.
It was a renewal of acquaintances with Izzy Abuleela, who migrated Down Under twelve years ago, but was back to head up a stellar Atticus 3 line-up on Monday night against a strong Skelmersdale side. Izzy and Steve Burge drew on the top two boards, while Mike Williams and Mark Wadsworth gained handy victories on boards 3 and 4. Our very own "Captain Tom" (Webb) shared the spoils with Bart McHugh on board 5, and Artur Hrabchak marked his debut for the club with a victory on board 6, taking the tally to 4.5 v 1.5. We are pleased to welcome Artur and his girlfriend Olena to the club.
On Tuesday, Atticus 6000 went one better, by notching up a 4-0 victory away at Prescot & Knotty Ash. With board four defaulted, two of the club's phalanx of Steves did the business on the top two boards (respectively Philp and Winstanley) while another debutant, the fast improving John Pickering, a regular of the Tuesday night crew at Bookbinder in Lark Lane, exploited an ill-timed f6 in the French to land checkmate in 17 moves!
Life was less straightfoward in cyberspace where Atticus kicked-off the new 4NCL online season with a fixture against Plymouth 1. Steve Kee won a nice game, but Roger was ambushed by a FIDE Master on top board, and myself and Neil Tabor were left to lick our wounds, culminating in a 3-1 reverse.
So, the season begins in earnest and it looks as though the new kids on the block have started firing the first shots. It was a pleasure to welcome old friends and new, with Steve Burge's sister and her friend Cosetta from Bologna also attending the club on Monday night.
Well done to all that played, and we look forward to many more fun nights ahead!
Results
| Div 3 | Atticus 3 | 4½-1½ | Skelmersdale 1 | ||
| B | Izzy Abuleela (1842) | ½-½ | Paul Massey (1749) | ||
| W | Steve Burge (1746) | ½-½ | David Stanfield snr (1631) | ||
| B | Mike Williams (1714) | 1-0 | Russell Cowell (1654) | ||
| W | Mark Wadsworth (1699) | 1-0 | Raymond Weedall (1629) | ||
| B | Tom Webb (1678) | ½-½ | Bart McHugh (1616) | ||
| W | Artur Hrabchak (ug) | 1-0 | Peter Temme (1534) | ||
| u6000 League | Prescot & Knotty Ash | 0-4 | Atticus 6000 | ||
| B | Peter Bassett (1414) | 0-1 | Steve Philp (1604) | ||
| W | Chris Ford (1608) | 0-1 | Steve Winstanley (1526) | ||
| B | Bill Beaver (1233) | 0-1 | John Pickering (ug) | ||
| W | default | 0-1 | Natasha May (1380) | ||
| 4NCL Online | Atticus 4NCL | 1-3 | Plymouth 1 | ||
| B | Roger Williamson (2235) | 0-1 | Scott Crockart (2111) | ||
| W | Steve Kee (2070) | 1-0 | Caleb Caleshu (1708) | ||
| B | Sanjoy Banerjee (1714) | 0-1 | Rob Wilby (1686) | ||
| W | Neil Tabor (1362) | 0-1 | Adam Hart-Davis (1666) | ||