English Chess Forum

Sambuca Sharks.......TOP of the pops.

RD 3 BROWN JACK 2136 v SAMBUCA SHARKS 2158
1 w Truran, Michael C 2215 ½ - ½ Rendle, Thomas E 2382
2 b Richmond, Peter A 2247 0 - 1 Williams, Samuel G 2198
3 w Padilla Cabero, Pablo 2169 ½ - ½ Roberson, Peter T 2221
4 b Headlong, Timothy 2188 ½ - ½ Edgell, Ben P 2100
5 w Girdlestone, Paul C 2135 1 - 0 Varnam, Liam D 2174
6 b Rabbitt, Michael 2074 0 - 1 Purton, Ben J 2144
7 w Richmond, Jane (F) 2118 0 - 1 Russell, Christopher 2065
8 b Hall, Joshua DW * 1939 1 - 0 Khoo, Selina (F) 1981


Both me and Tom Rendle and by the looks on Mike Trurans face during the game , everyone felt Tom was better but Tom's silicon best friend suggested otherwise. Sam Williams won his first game for us in years, the former Ampleforth U16 and British U18 champion I hope can show some of such promise. Roberson was solid against a player who played well at Hastings recenatly. Ben Edgell always draws, thats why he was there and board 1 of 2nds on the Sunday. Liam "the anchor" Varnam is having a bad season and this game he threw away a nice position and just let his opponent have a clear edge in the ending. I forgot my theory because I was a bit drunk but I won with a cheapo. Christ Russell was the star of the weekend as Jane Richmond blundered in time trouble. Selina arrived around 70 minutes late and luckerly her opponent let her play, I thought she had a draw in the ending but then she lost. This is probaly the most critical ending we had so worth looking at.

RD 4 SAMBUCA SHARKS 2158 v WESSEX 1 2134
1 w Rendle, Thomas E 2382 1 - 0 Yeo, Michael J 2153
2 b Williams, Samuel G 2198 ½ - ½ Rutter, Nick J 2189
3 w Roberson, Peter T 2221 ½ - ½ Lock, Gavin R 2188
4 b Purton, Ben J 2144 0 - 1 Kawuma, Steven Male 2187
5 w Varnam, Liam D 2174 0 - 1 Simons, Martin J 2200
6 b Ackley, Peter JE 2095 ½ - ½ Neil, David R 2157
7 w Russell, Christopher 2065 1 - 0 de Coverly, Roger D 2101
8 b Khoo, Selina (F) 1981 1 - 0 Thilaganathan, Jessica (F) 1900
4½-3½


I played like a total numpty , but I guess thats what happens when your up at 7am before a game, next weekend I hope I can get a replacement for myself. The Anchor was the next to lose and we looked in serious trouble when 2.5-0.5 down. However I would like to thank the Wessex captain for helping us win the match. Not only did he get hacked up by Rendle he also annoyed nearly all the Sharks last weekend by suggesting our lady player should not play near her birthday. This is what happens when you deregister players, it haunts you. I have never deregistered a player. De Coverly, Armstrong, Linder Rees, etc all left through their own choice(well the Anchors Puke was a big factor in one of them). So it was 3.5-3.5 and Selina played amazing in the ending. However, in the ending after the Nc5+ move their was a missed penalty reaction from the Sharks as Selina could just swap off nights and sack the pawn for a winning pawn ending. In the end I felt the result flattered Wessex as David Neil should have lost to Ackley.


Both our opponents gave us great matches which were very close. This division is very close and I cannot see me writing many 2/2 reports again, but I hope I do. Our next two matches are against Kings Head, who we actually like as a team. Probaly due to the fact that they are named after a Pub and us a shot. AMCA are sort of rivals due to the fact they are all from our area just alot more matured.


Last year we went 0/11 which is pretty demoralising. This year we have had a Norwich FC esque bounce back and are currently on 7 Match points.

Congrats especially to Chris Russell and Sam Williams for their best performances as Sharks for many years.

Kind regards

Ben

Thanks, Ben.

I think the virtual scissors might be taken to a few of those comments, but most of it looks usable.

Worth mentioning perhaps that Barbican made 6/6 over the weekend! Easily a Club record, though an easier one to establish than in the past because of the general dilution of strength in the top two divisions.

Those who like to discuss the name of our Barbican "youth" team may care to note that six of our eight players were juniors/students; and the fightback from 3.5-0.5 down to win 4.5-3.5 against Anglian Avengers was accomplished by our four "schoolboys"! I think it was also the first time (in over 200 4NCL matches) that any Barbican team has won from 3.5-0.5 down.

By Virtual scissors you mean your going to again edit out the Wessex disgrace at the first weekend.

You going to mention those division 2 teams that defaulted also?