Chairman of the Governance Committee’s report to the 2011 ECF AGM

This can be accessed here – C15.7.7.2 Governance Chairman’s report

National Club finals 2011

The finals of the National Club Championships took place on Sunday 10 July, split between a London and a Midlands venue based on the location of the participating team.  I was present at the London venue (Golden Lane Community Centre) as the captain of Wanstead & Woodford Chess Club, and I thought that it would be a good idea to follow the precedent of last weekend’s County finals and provide live updates of the scores as games are completed.

David Sedgwick acted as arbiter, and ECF Director of Home Chess Adam Raoof presented the prizes.

There were 4 events taking place at Golden Lane

Open (6 boards)

This event was a three team round robin involving Maidstone, Mushrooms and Wood Green.  Mushrooms and Wood Green had each defeated Maidstone by 5½ – ½, and the final leg of the round robin to decide the title took place alongside the knockout finals.

Wood Green	v	Mushrooms
Nicholas Pert 237 (W)	1-0	Ian Snape 204 (B)
Neil McDonald 233	1-0	Chris Briscoe 205
John Emms 229	1-0	Ron Harris 185
Chris Ward 230	0-1	Rory O’Kelly 181
Jonathan Friedland 199	0-1	Bill Linton 181
Desmond Tan 200	1-0	David Wilson 164
	4-2

Play gets underway on board 1. 

(1) Pert,Nicholas – Snape,Ian [E62]

National Club Open board 1, 10.07.2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 d6 6.0–0 Nc6 7.Nc3 Bf5 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 c6 10.b4 Nxd5 11.cxd5 Bxc3 12.e4 Bxe4 13.Bxe4 Bxa1 14.bxa5 Qxa5 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.Bxc6 Rac8 17.Ba4 Bf6 18.Bb3 d5 19.Nf3 Rfd8 20.h4 h5 21.Re1 e6 22.Ne5 Qc3 23.Nd3 Qa5 24.Bf4 Rc4 25.Qf3 Rcc8 26.Re2 Bg7 27.Kg2 Qc3 28.Bg5 f6 29.Bd2 Qd4 30.Rxe6 Kh7 31.Re7 Re8 32.Rf7 a6 33.Ba5 Qg4 34.Bxd5 Qxf3+ 35.Kxf3 g5 36.Bb3 g4+ 37.Kg2 Re4 38.Bb6 Rb8 39.Be3 a5 40.Nf4 a4 41.Bc2 1–0

(2) Briscoe,Chris – McDonald,Neil [A85]

National Club Open board 2, 10.07.2011

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 Bd6 7.e3 0–0 8.Be2 c6 9.0–0 Re8 10.a3 Qe7 11.Qc2 Ne4 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Ne5 Nd7 14.f4 Ndf6 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bf3 Be6 17.Kh1 Rac8 18.Rad1 b6 19.b4 Rc7 20.Nd3 Bc8 21.g3 Ba6 22.Be2 Rce7 23.Rc1 Nxg3+ 24.hxg3 Rxe3 25.Rf2 Qh6+ 26.Kg2 Qg6 27.g4 Bxd3 28.Bxd3 Qxg4+ 29.Kh2 Rh3# 0–1

(3) Emms,John – Harris,Ron [B22]

National Club Open board 3, 10.07.2011

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Na3 cxd4 7.Nb5 Qd8 8.Qxd4 a6 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Nbd4 Bd6 11.Bg5 Bd7 12.Be2 Nc6 13.0–0 Kc7 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Nd4 Ne4 16.Be3 Bd7 17.Rad1 e5 18.Nb3 Rac8 19.Bf3 Bf5 20.Na5 Rhd8 21.Nc4 Rd7 22.Nb6 Rcd8 23.c4 Bc5 24.Rxd7+ Rxd7 25.Nxd7 Bxe3 26.fxe3 Kxd7 27.Rd1+ Kc7 28.g4 Ng5 29.gxf5 Nxf3+ 30.Kf2 e4 31.Kg3 g5 32.fxg6 hxg6 33.h4 Ne5 34.b3 Kc6 35.Kf4 Nd3+ 36.Kg5 Kd7 37.Kf6 Ke8 38.Rf1 Nb4 39.Kg7 Nc2 40.Rxf7 Nxe3 41.Rf4 Nf5+ 42.Kxg6 1–0

(4) O’Kelly,Rory – Ward,Chris [A60]

National Club Open board 4, 10.07.2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.Nf3 0–0 9.0–0 Re8 10.Re1 a6 11.a4 Ne4 12.Nxe4 Rxe4 13.Nd2 Rb4 14.Qc2 Nd7 15.Ra2 b5 16.axb5 Rxb5 17.b3 Rab8 18.Bb2 Ne5 19.f4 Ng4 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.h3 Nf6 22.e4 Rb4 23.Kh2 h5 24.Nc4 h4 25.g4 Kg8 26.Na5 Bd7 27.e5 dxe5 28.fxe5 Ne8 29.e6 Qc7+ 30.Kh1 Bb5 31.exf7+ Qxf7 32.Qxc5 Bd7 33.Re7 Qf8 34.Rf2 Rf4 35.Rxf4 Qxf4 36.Rxd7 Nf6 37.Qc7 Re8 1–0

(5) Friedland,Jonathan – Linton,William [A00]

National Club Open board 5, 10.07.2011

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nf3 d6 6.cxd4 Nc6 7.Bc4 dxe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.0–0 Be7 10.a3 0–0 11.Re1 Qd7 12.Bd2 Rd8 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Qxd1 15.Raxd1 Bd7 16.Bd3 Be8 17.Be4 Rxd1 18.Rxd1 Rd8 19.Rc1 f5 20.Bc2 g5 21.Bb3 Kf7 22.h3 g4 23.hxg4 fxg4 24.Nh2 Nd4 25.Bxd4 Rxd4 26.Rc7 Bc6 27.Nf1 Re4 28.Ne3 g3 29.Kf1 Rxe5 30.Nc4 Rh5 31.fxg3 Ke8 32.g4 Rh1+ 33.Kf2 Kd8 34.Rxc6 bxc6 35.Ne5 Kc7 36.Nd3 Kd6 37.Bc4 Bf6 38.b3 Ra1 39.a4 Bd4+ 40.Kf3 Ra2 41.Kg3 Re2 42.g5 e5 43.Kf3 Re3+ 44.Kg4 e4 45.Nf4 Ke5 46.Nh5 Re1 47.Nf6 h6 48.Nh5 hxg5 49.Kxg5 e3 50.Nf4 Rg1 51.Kg4 Bb6 52.Kf3 Rd1 53.g4 Rd2 54.Ne2 Rb2 55.Bg8 Rb1 56.Ng3 Rg1 57.Bc4 a5 58.Nf5 Rh1 59.Ng3 Rh2 60.Ne2 Rf2+ 61.Kg3 Bc7 62.Kh4 Ke4 63.Kg5 Be5 64.Kg6 Kf3 65.Kf5 Rxe2 66.Kxe5 Rg2 67.Kf5 Rxg4 68.Be2+ Kxe2 69.Kxg4 Kf2 0–1

(6) Wilson,David – Tan,Desmond [A00]

National Club Open board 6, 10.07.2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Bc4 0–0 8.Qd2 Ng4 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 Nc6 11.Nce2 Qb6 12.c3 Na5 13.Bd3 Ne5 14.Bb5 a6 15.Ba4 Qxb2 16.Nc2 Nec4 17.Qd3 Qb6 18.Bxe7 Nb2 19.Qxd6 Qxd6 20.Bxd6 Nxa4 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.0–0 Nxc3 23.Nxc3 Bxc3 24.Rac1 Be6 25.a3 Nc4 26.Rfd1 b5 27.Nd4 Bxd4 28.Rxd4 Nxa3 29.f4 Nc4 30.h3 h5 31.Kf2 Re8 32.Kf3 Bc8 33.g4 hxg4+ 34.hxg4 Bb7 35.Re1 f5 36.Rd7 Re7 37.Rd8+ Re8 38.Rd7 Bc6 39.Rc7 Bxe4+ 40.Kg3 Re7 41.Rc8+ Re8 42.Rc7 fxg4 43.Rd1 Bf5 44.Kh4 Re7 45.Rd8+ Kf7 46.Rc6 Rd7 47.Rb8 Rd6 48.Rc7+ Ke6 49.Re8+ Kd5 50.Re1 Kd4 51.Rd1+ Bd3 52.Kxg4 Ne3+ 0–1

Major (5 boards)

This was contested between Metropolitan, who qualified for the final by defeating St. Albans on board count, Ilford 3 – 2 and Hastings & St. Leonards on board count, and Hackney, who defeated Farnham 3 – 2, defending champions Wanstead & Woodford 3½ – 1½ and Brown Jack 4 – 1.

Metropolitan	v	Hackney
Tony Peterson 186 (W)	0-1	Jochen Wittman 194 (B)
Manuel Perez Carballo 183	1-0	Adrian Casillas 186
Petr Vachtfeidl 173	0-1	Nicholas Walker 178
D Ian Calvert 164	½-½	John Reid 180
Noel Stewart 149	½-½	Robin Oakley 136
	2 -3

(7) Peterson,Tony – Wittman,Jochen [A00]

National Club Major board 1, 10.07.2011

1.c4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.d3 d6 6.e4 Nc6 7.Nge2 0–0 8.0–0 fxe4 9.dxe4 Be6 10.Nd5 Ne5 11.Nd4 Bf7 12.Nf4 Bxc4 13.Nfe6 Qd7 14.Nxf8 Rxf8 15.Ne2 Qb5 16.Nc3 Qb6 17.Na4 Qa6 18.f4 Nd3 19.b3 Bb5 20.Be3 Nb4 21.Re1 Bd3 22.e5 Nd7 23.Bd4 Nc2 24.Bb2 Nxe1 25.Bd5+ Kh8 26.Qxe1 b5 27.e6 Nf6 28.Nc3 Nxd5 29.Nxd5 Bxb2 30.Nxe7 Bd4+ 31.Kg2 Qb7+ 32.Kh3 Qf3 0–1

(8) Casillas,Adrian – Carballo,Manuel Perez [A00]

National Club Major board 2, 10.07.2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.a4 Nc6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Bg2 d6 7.0–0 Be7 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7 10.Be3 0–0 11.Nb3 Ne5 12.a5 Nc4 13.Bc1 Qc7 14.h3 Rfd8 15.Qe2 Rac8 16.f4 Bf8 17.g4 d5 18.e5 Ne4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Qxe4 Bb5 21.Qxb7 Qxb7 22.Bxb7 Rc7 23.Be4 Rcd7 24.Re1 Bb4 25.c3 Rd1 26.Kf2 Be7 27.Nd4 Bh4+ 28.Kf3 R8xd4 29.Rxd1 Rxd1 30.Rb1 Nxa5 31.Be3 Rxb1 32.Bxb1 Nc4 33.Bc1 Bc6+ 34.Be4 Bxe4+ 35.Kxe4 Bf2 36.f5 Kf8 37.b3 Na5 38.b4 Nc4 39.Bf4 Ke8 40.Kd3 Nb6 41.Ke2 Nd5 42.Bh2 Bh4 43.Kd2 Bg5+ 44.Kd3 Kd7 45.Bg3 Bf4 46.Be1 Bxe5 47.c4 Ne7 48.Ke4 Bb2 49.b5 axb5 50.cxb5 Nc8 51.fxe6+ fxe6 52.Kd3 Nd6 53.b6 Kc6 54.Bb4 Nb7 55.Ke4 Nd6+ 56.Kf4 Bd4 57.h4 e5+ 58.Kf3 Bxb6 59.h5 Kd5 60.g5 Ke6 61.Kg4 Be3 62.Ba3 g6 63.Bb4 Nf7 64.Ba3 Nxg5 65.Bb4 Bc1 66.Be1 Ne4 67.hxg6 hxg6 68.Ba5 Nf6+ 69.Kg3 Kf5 70.Bd8 Bd2 71.Kf2 Bf4 72.Bb6 Nd5 73.Ba5 e4 74.Kg2 Kg4 75.Bd8 e3 76.Ba5 Bg5 77.Be1 Bd8 78.Kg1 Kf3 79.Kf1 g5 80.Kg1 Bb6 81.Kh1 Bc7 82.Kg1 Ke2 0–1

(9) Vachtfeidl,Petr – Walker,Nick [B00]

National Club Major board 3, 10.07.2011

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Ng4 4.d4 d6 5.h3 Nh6 6.Bxh6 gxh6 7.e6 fxe6 8.Bd3 Bg7 9.c3 d5 10.0–0 Qd6 11.Re1 Qf4 12.b4 a6 13.a4 0–0 14.Qc2 e5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.g3 Qf6 18.f4 Bd6 19.Bxh7+ Kh8 20.Kh2 e5 21.fxe5 Bxe5 22.Re2 Qh4 23.Rg2 Rf1 0–1

(10) Reid,John – Calvert,D Ian [D10]

National Club Major board 4, 10.07.2011

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Bd2 Bg7 6.c5 0–0 7.f4 b6 8.b4 a5 9.a3 axb4 10.axb4 Rxa1 11.Qxa1 bxc5 12.bxc5 Bf5 13.Nf3 Ne4 14.Be2 Nd7 15.0–0 Ndf6 16.Nxe4 Nxe4 17.Qa6 Bg4 18.Ba5 Qa8 19.Rb1 Qxa6 20.Bxa6 Ra8 21.Rb6 Bc8 22.Bxc8 Rxc8 23.Ra6 f6 24.Ra7 e5 25.h3 exf4 26.exf4 Bh6 27.Bc7 Nc3 28.Bd6 Bxf4 29.Bxf4 Ne2+ 30.Kf2 Nxf4 31.h4 Re8 ½–½

(11) Stewart,Noel – Oakley,Robin

National Club Major board 5, 10.07.2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3 Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 Ncxe5 7.Nbd2 0–0 8.a3 a5 9.0–0 Re8 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Nf3 Ra6 12.b3 Rae6 13.Bb2 Nxf3+ 14.Bxf3 Rh6 15.g3 d6 16.b4 Bb6 17.c5 dxc5 18.Qxd8 Rxd8 19.Rfd1 Rhd6 20.Rxd6 cxd6 21.Bc3 axb4 22.axb4 d5 23.bxc5 Bxc5 24.Ra8 Bb6 25.Bxd5 Rxd5 26.Rxc8+ Rd8 27.Rc4 f6 28.Bb4 Kf7 29.Kg2 Rd7 30.g4 Ke6 31.e4 Rd4 32.Rxd4 Bxd4 33.f4 g5 34.fxg5 fxg5 35.Kf3 Be5 36.h3 Bf4 37.h4 Bc1 38.hxg5 Bxg5 39.Bc5 Bc1 40.Bb6 Bg5 41.Ke2 Ke5 42.Kf3 Ke6 ½–½

Major Plate (5 boards)

This was contested between Farnham, who after their elimination by Metropolitan from the main competition defeated Tunbridge Wells on board count, Maidstone 4 – 1 and Wood Green 3 – 2, and Athenaeum who, after being eliminated from the main competition by Ilford, beat Hendon 3 -2 and Gloucester on board count.

Farnham	v	Athenaeum
Clive Frostick 199 (B)	½-½	Daniel Farkas 194 (W)
Ian Sharpe 198	½-½	Charles McAleenan 178
Peter Hasson 196	½-½	Kevin Millward 168
Tim Davis 141	1-0	Jonathan Kay 159
Christian Montinari 132	0-1	Geoff Hermes 156
	2½-2½

Farmham won on board count.

(12) Farkas,Daniel – Frostick,Clive [B22]

National Club Major Plate board 1, 10.07.2011

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.cxd4 e5 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Bd2 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 e4 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Ne7 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qb4 Qc6 14.Rd1 Nd5 15.Qxe4 Nxc3 16.Qxc6 Bxc6 17.bxc3 0–0 18.h4 Rfd8 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Rh3 Rd5 21.f4 Ra5 22.Rd3 Kf8 23.Rd2 Ra3 24.c4 Ke7 25.Bd3 Bxg2 26.Bxh7 Rg3 27.Bc2 Bc6 28.Bd1 Ke6 29.Kf2 Rc3 30.Rc2 Rd3 31.Be2 Rd4 32.Kg3 Re4 33.Bg4+ Ke7 34.Rc3 Re1 35.Bf3 Bxf3 36.Kxf3 Rh1 37.Rb3 b6 38.Kg4 Rc1 39.Ra3 a5 40.Rb3 Rxc4 41.Rxb6 Rc2 42.f5 Rxa2 43.f6+ gxf6 44.exf6+ Kd7 45.Ra6 Rg2+ 46.Kf5 Rf2+ 47.Kg5 Rg2+ 48.Kh6 Rg6+ 49.Kh7 Rg4 50.h5 a4 51.Kh6 a3 52.Rxa3 Ke6 53.Ra6+ Kf5 54.Kh7 Rg1 55.h6 Rg2 56.Kh8 Rg1 57.h7 Rg2 58.Ra8 Kxf6 59.Rg8 Rb2 60.Rg2 Rb8+ 61.Rg8 Rb2 62.Rc8 Rg2 63.Rg8 ½–½

(13) Sharpe,Ian – McAleenan,Charles [B07]

National Club Major Plate board 2, 10.07.2011

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.h3 Bh5 6.Bd3 e6 7.d5 e5 8.Be3 Be7 9.Qd2 cxd5 10.Nxd5 Nxd5 11.Bb5+ Nd7 12.Qxd5 a6 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.0–0–0 Rc8 15.Kb1 Qc6 16.Qxc6+ Rxc6 17.Rc1 Bg6 18.Nd2 0–0 19.f3 Rfc8 20.c4 f5 21.b3 f4 22.Bf2 Bf7 23.Kb2 Bd8 24.Nb1 Bb6 25.Bxb6 Rxb6 26.Rhd1 Rbc6 27.Rc3 Kf8 28.Rd2 Ke7 29.Rcd3 b6 30.Nc3 g6 31.a3 ½–½

(14) Millward,Kevin – Hassan,Peter [B26]

National Club Major Plate board 3, 10.07.2011

1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 c5 3.d3 Nc6 4.Be3 g6 5.Qd2 Bg7 6.g3 Rb8 7.Bg2 Nd4 8.Nge2 e6 9.0–0 Ne7 10.Nd1 0–0 11.Nc1 b6 12.c3 Ndc6 13.Bh6 Bxh6 14.Qxh6 Ba6 15.Qd2 d5 16.Ne3 dxe4 17.Bxe4 f5 18.Bg2 Ne5 19.Rd1 Bb7 20.Bxb7 Rxb7 21.Qe2 N7c6 22.Nc4 Qf6 23.Nxe5 Qxe5 24.Qxe5 Nxe5 25.f4 Nc6 26.Ne2 Rd7 27.Rd2 e5 28.Rad1 Rfd8 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.b3 Kf6 31.h3 g5 32.fxe5+ Kxe5 33.Ke3 Re7 34.d4+ cxd4+ 35.cxd4+ Kd6+ 36.Kf2 Red7 37.Nc3 a6 38.Na4 Kc7 39.d5 Nb4 40.Nc3 Nc6 41.Na4 Ne7 42.d6+ Rxd6 43.Rxd6 Rxd6 44.Rxd6 Kxd6 45.Nxb6 Kc5 46.Nc4 Nd5 47.a3 f4 48.Nd2 fxg3+ 49.Kxg3 Kd4 50.b4 h6 51.Nb3+ Kc4 52.Nc5 a5 53.Nb7 axb4 54.axb4 Kxb4 ½–½

(15) Davis,Tim – Kay,Jonathan [C62]

National Club Major Plate board 4, 10.07.2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.0–0 Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Qe2 g6 7.d4 Bg7 8.Rd1 exd4 9.cxd4 0–0 10.Nc3 a6 11.Ba4 b5 12.Bb3 b4 13.Nd5 Re8 14.Bg5 h6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxh6 Na5 17.Bc2 Qe7 18.Qd2 Rab8 19.Bd3 Bg4 20.Be3 Kg7 21.Qe2 Rh8 22.h3 Bd7 23.e5 dxe5 24.dxe5 Bh4 25.g3 Bxg3 26.fxg3 Bxh3 27.Bg5 Qc5+ 28.Qf2 Qxf2+ 29.Kxf2 Rh5 30.Bf6+ Kh6 31.Rh1 Nc6 32.Be4 Nd8 33.Ng5 Bg4 34.Rxh5+ gxh5 35.Bxd8 f5 36.Bc2 Kg6 37.Bf6 Rb5 38.Bd1 c5 39.Bxg4 fxg4 40.Rd1 c4 41.Ke3 b3 42.a3 c3 43.bxc3 b2 44.Rb1 Rb3 45.Kd3 Rxa3 46.Rxb2 a5 47.Ne4 Kf5 48.Nd6+ Ke6 49.Nc4 Ra1 50.Rb3 a4 51.Ra3 Rg1 52.Bh4 Rd1+ 53.Ke4 Re1+ 54.Ne3 Rc1 55.c4 1–0

(16) Hermes,Geoff – Montinari,Christian [C02]

National Club Major Plate board 5, 10.07.2011

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nh6 8.b4 Nf5 9.Bb2 Be7 10.Bd3 0–0 11.Bxf5 exf5 12.Nc3 Be6 13.0–0 Qd8 14.Rc1 a6 15.Na4 Na7 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.dxc5 Nc6 18.Nd4 Nxd4 19.Qxd4 Qd7 20.Rc3 h6 21.Rg3 Kh7 22.Bc1 g6 23.Qh4 Rh8 24.Qxh6+ Kg8 25.Qg5 Qd8 26.Qe3 Rh5 27.Rd1 Qh4 28.h3 f4 29.Qxf4 Qxf4 30.Bxf4 Rf5 31.Rd4 Kh7 32.Rg5 Rh8 33.Rxf5 gxf5 34.Bg5 Kg6 35.Bf6 Rh5 36.f4 Kh7 37.Kf2 Kg8 38.a4 Kf8 39.b5 axb5 40.axb5 Ke8 41.c6 bxc6 42.bxc6 1–0

Intermediate (4 boards)

This was contested by Bishop’s Stortford, who defeated St Albans 3½ – ½, Bedford 3½ – ½ and Alwoodley 3 – 1, and Wanstead & Woodford, who defeated Hackney on board count and (after a quarter-final bye) Maidstone 2½ – 1½.

Bishop’s Stortford	v	Wanstead & Woodford
Gary Thurston 168 (W)	½-½	Mark Murrell 162 (B)
Paul Kenning 150	1-0	Philip Staniland 157
Jonathan Spencer 149	1-0	Keith Jones 145
Adam Hirst 104	0-1	Andy Lu 105
	2½-1½

(17) Thurston,Gary – Murrell,Mark [B26]

National Club Intermediate board 1, 10.07.2011

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 g6 5.d3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nc6 7.h3 Bd7 8.Qd2 Rb8 9.Bh6 0–0 10.Nge2 b5 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.0–0 b4 13.Nd5 e6 14.Ne3 Ne7 15.f4 d5 16.e5 Nfg8 17.g4 Nc6 18.Rf2 Qh4 19.d4 cxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Qxd4 Ne7 22.Qxa7 Bb5 23.f5 Nc6 24.Qc7 Rbc8 25.Qd6 Qg3 26.fxe6 Qxe3 27.e7 Nxe7 28.Qxe7 Rxc2 29.Qf6+ Kg8 30.Qf4 Qxf2+ 31.Qxf2 Rxf2 32.Kxf2 d4 33.Rd1 Rd8 34.Be4 Kf8 35.Kf3 Ke7 36.g5 Ke6 37.Kf4 d3 38.Rd2 Rd4 39.Ke3 Kxe5 40.Bxd3 Bxd3 41.Rxd3 Rh4 42.Kf2 Ke4 43.Rf3 Rh5 44.Rxf7 Rxh3 45.Kg2 Rd3 46.Rxh7 Rd2+ 47.Kg3 Rxb2 48.Rh4+ Kf5 49.Rc4 Kxg5 50.Rc5+ Kh6 51.Rb5 g5 52.Kg4 Rg2+ 53.Kf3 Rxa2 54.Rxb4 Kh5 55.Kg3 Ra3+ 56.Kg2 g4 57.Rb8 Rf3 58.Rh8+ Kg5 59.Rg8+ Kf5 60.Rf8+ Ke4 61.Re8+ ½–½

(18) Staniland,Philip – Kenning,Paul [A02]

National Club Intermediate board 2, 10.07.2011

1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 Bxd6 4.Nf3 g5 5.g3 g4 6.Nh4 Nh6 7.d4 Nf5 8.Nxf5 Bxf5 9.Bg2 c6 10.e4 Be6 11.Qd3 Na6 12.c3 h5 13.e5 Bxe5 14.Be3 h4 15.Bf2 Bf6 16.Nd2 h3 17.Bxc6+ bxc6 18.Qxa6 Bd5 19.Rg1 0–0 20.0–0–0 Bg5 21.Rge1 Bf3 22.Re5 Bxd1 23.Kxd1 Re8 24.Rxg5+ Qxg5 25.Qxc6 Qf5 26.Bg1 Rad8 27.c4 Re6 28.Qc5 Qxc5 29.dxc5 Rde8 30.b4 Re1+ 31.Kc2 Rxg1 32.b5 Rg2 33.b6 Rxh2 34.b7 Rxd2+ 0–1

(19) Spencer,John – Jones,Keith [C89]

National Club Intermediate board 3, 10.07.2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Be7 7.Re1 0–0 8.c3 d5 9.d4 dxe4 10.Nxe5 Bb7 11.Nd2 Bd6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.Nf1 Re8 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bh4 g5 16.Bg3 Bf4 17.Ne3 Kg7 18.Qe2 Bxe3 19.fxe3 Bd5 20.Rf1 c6 21.Be5 Re6 22.Rf2 Rxe5 23.dxe5 Nd7 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Raf1 Nxe5 26.Qh5 Ra7 27.Rf6 Qxf6 28.Rxf6 Kxf6 29.Qxh6+ Ng6 30.Qh3 Ne5 31.Qc8 Nc4 32.Qd8+ Re7 33.Qxd5 Nxb2 34.g4 Re5 35.Qd8+ Kg7 36.Qd6 Re6 37.Qd5 Kg6 38.Qf5+ Kg7 39.Qxg5+ Kf8 40.h4 Nd3 41.h5 Ne5 42.Qf5 Nf3+ 43.Kf2 Kg7 44.g5 Re5 45.Qf6+ Kg8 46.g6 1–0

(20) Lu,Andy – Hirst,Adam [A07]

National Club Intermediate board 4, 10.07.2011

1.g3 d5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bg2 e6 4.0–0 Nf6 5.d3 Bd7 6.Nbd2 Bc5 7.Nb3 Bb6 8.a4 a5 9.Be3 Bxe3 10.fxe3 0–0 11.Qd2 b6 12.Nbd4 Qe7 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.c4 Qd6 16.Qc3 Nd7 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.c5 Rac8 19.Rfc1 Bc6 20.b3 Rfe8 21.Qe5 Qe7 22.Rc2 f6 23.Qh5 e5 24.Rac1 b5 25.axb5 Bxb5 26.Bxd5+ Kh8 27.Be4 g6 28.Bxg6 Rg8 29.Be4 c6 30.Rf1 Rcf8 31.Rf2 Rg5 32.Qh3 Qg7 33.Rc1 f5 34.Rcf1 1–0

County correspondence chess

I am the ECF’s controller for the County & District Correspondence Chess Championships.  While I have maintained cross-tables for the various competitions on the CDCCC section of my own website, it has occurred to me that there is often a story behind what is going on that is not adequately conveyed by the bare statistics.  I have therefore decided that starting with the run-in for the 2009/10 competitions (for which the adjudication date has been extended to 31 July 2010 to compensate for the delayed start), I will be maintaining a blog on these events.

The state of play on 5 July was as follows:

Ward-Higgs

The Ward-Higgs is the championship event, contested by 12 teams over 22 boards.  The Hutton pairings give each team one White and one Black against each of the other Counties.  11 boards (designated as E1 to E11) are required to be conducted by e-mail: the remaining boards (designated as N1 to N11) are conducted by post unless the players agree mutually to play by e-mail, as an increasing number seem to do.  For the first time this season, games are being graded, and there are straws in the wind to migrate some of the boards to the ICCF webserver.

In recent seasons the event has been dominated by Yorkshire, who have won the last three competitions and seven of the last nine.  While Yorkshire have again performed well, the leaders almost throughout the season have been Sussex, who were last champions in 1999/2000.  At times Sussex have threatened to extend their lead decisively, but both Yorkshire and Essex have kept up their pursuit, and after Essex inflicted Sussex’s first defeat of the season on board E4, matters have become exceptionally tight.  Leading scores are currently:

Sussex 14½/19

Essex and Yorkshire 14/19

Warwickshire 10½/16

Although Warwickshire are some way behind, two of their games still in play are against Sussex, and these are likely to go a long way towards deciding the title.  There is also an Essex v Yorkshire game in play.

Sinclair

The Sinclair is also conducted over 22 boards and is in essence a qualifying competition to enable teams to gain promotion and play in the Ward Higgs with which, at least in theory, a two up two down principle should apply.  Sadly the competition is a shadow of its former self, and only has five entrants this season: three first teams (Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Middlesex) who are eligible for promotion and two second teams (Essex and Warwickshire) who are not.  It is the second teams that are currently leading the way: Essex with 12/16 have their noses in front from defending champions Warwickshire who have 11/16.

Butler Thomas

This is a 10 board event, which was reintroduced in 2005/6 as an experimental all e-mail event, and has attracted 6 entries this season.  Bedfordshire, who were champions in the inaugural season and in 2007/8, are close to clinching the title with 7½/9, although Suffolk with 5½/8 are not yet mathematically out of it.

Brown Pond

This was an established event that was reduced to 10 boards with no mandatory e-mail in 2005/6 as a sister competition to the Butler Thomas. There are five teams participaring.  Defending champions Berkshire, with 5½/6. are well placed to retain their title.

The County whose first teams score most points in the Butler Thomas and Brown Pond combined is awarded the Minor Counties title.  Defending champions Cumbria face are battling with Dorset for this title.

18 July 2010 update

One title has been resolved:  Bedfordshire are the winners of the Butler Thomas as the draw on board 9 between Suffolk and Herts 2 means that their score can no longer be equalled.

No new results for the three leaders in the Ward-Higgs, although Warwickshire inch closer on 11½/17 after a win on board E9.

Essex 2 continue to shade the Sinclair with 12/16, as a draw on board E7 has left Warwickshire 2 on 11½/17.

19 July 2010 update

Three new results in the Sinclair enable Essex 2, who score 2½ points, to tighten their grip on the title.  Essex 2 now have 14½/19 to Warwickshire 2′s 11½/17.

21 July 2010 update

Sussex captain John Dodgson leads from the front in the Ward Higgs by winning his game on board N2 to take his team to 15½/20, with Essex and Yorkshire still on 14/19.  He communicated the result to his team with a characteristic Shakesperian quote:

“Cry ‘Havoc!’ kings; back to the stained field…”

26 July 2010 update

In the Sinclair, the board E11 game between M Nevin (Warwickshire 2) and D Eustace (Essex 2) ends in a draw, leaving Essex 2 even nearer to clinching the title.

27 July 2010 update

A loss on board N2 means that Warwickshire are now mathematically out of contention for the Ward-Higgs, but with two games in play against Sussex and one against Yorkshire the County still has a big part to play in determining the eventual winners.

At the other end of the table Nottinghamshire, who had seemd clear favourites for the wooden spoon, have reported wins on boards N1, N4 and N6, which will have other struggling teams looking anxiously over their shoulders.

29 July 2010 update

In the Ward Higgs I manage to win my own game for Essex on board N11 against Terry Cowling of Hampshire, while Alan Heaton of Yorkshire can only draw against Ashraf Syed of Hampshire.  With two games each to go, the leading scores are now Sussex 15½/20, Essex 15/20 and Yorkshire 14½/20.  The uncompleted games for the leaders are:

E2 Donald Macfarlane (Sussex) v Chris Shephard (Warwickshire)

E8 Steve Williams (Essex) v Peter Catt (Yorkshire)

N2 Paul Byway (Hertfordshire) v Jon Manley (Essex)

N3 Stan Grayland (Warwickshire) v Phil Stimpson (Sussex)

N7 Mel Suffield (Yorkshire) v J S Hart (Warwickshire)

1 August 2010 update

Play should have ceased!

6 August 2010 update

A win for Colin Ramage on board N5 mean that Essex 2 have clinched the Sinclair.

9 August 2010 update

Yorkshire agree draws in their final two Ward Higgs games, one of which is against Essex, and given the board count situation can no longer retain the title.  Leading scores Sussex 15½/20, Essex 15½/21 and Yorkshire 15½/22.

15 August 2010 update

A draw is agreed on board E2 of the Ward Higgs between Donald Macfarlane (Sussex) and Chris Shephard (Warwickshire).  With one game to go, Sussex on 16/21 have their noses in front of Essex on 15½/21, but Essex have the superior board count.

20 August 2010 update

This is the deadline for adjudication claims to be sent to the Controller.  The outcome of the Ward Higgs will depend upon the adjudicator’s decision: Sussex are claiming a draw in Grayland v Stimpson and Essex are claiming a draw in Byway v Manley.

Meanwhile, Berkshire are confirmed as winners of the Brown Pond and Dorset as the Minor Counties champion.

31 August 2010

After some chasing up, all results are in bar the two key adjudications on the Ward Higgs and one adjudication in the Sinclair.

14 September 2010

The adjudication results are in:

Ward Higgs N2 Paul Byway (Herts) 1 – 0 Jon Manley (Essex)

Ward Higgs N3 Stan Grayland (Warks 1) 1 – 0 Phil Stimpson (Sussex)

Sinclair N3 R J McNally (Warks 2) 1 – 0 John Knee (Worcs 1)

Sussex win the Ward-Higgs by ½ point – the County’s first success in this competition since 1999/2000.  Many congratulations to John Dodgson and his team.

Thoughts now turn to next season.  Geoff Harrison and Eric Nowell have stood down as captains of Northumberland and Greater Manchester respoectively, and the controller is keeping his fingers crossed that successors will emerge shortly.  Cumbria have withdrawn their Butler Thomas team, but there will be a Yorkshire 2 playing in this division for the first time.

Wanstead Club Championship shared

After a keenly contested seven rounds of the 2009/10 Wanstead & Woodford Club Championship, Ian Hunnable, Larry Marden and Gerry Hayes had finished tied on 5 1/2 out of 7.  David Smith just missed out on joining the tie when he could only draw with Steve Gilmour in his delayed round 7 tie.  Gerry Hayes opted out of the play off on the grounds that he did not deserve to participate as he had received a 1/2 point bye and had a game conceded to him, so two games were scheduled to be played between Ian and Larry, who had already drawn with each other.  When both of these additional games were drawn, it was agreed that the title should be shared.

Hello world!

Welcome to my new blog.  I will be running this in conjunction with my website at http://www.johnphilpott.freeserve.co.uk