English Chess Forum

Amazingly, after a twenty-two* year reign of dominance, the wheels have fallen off the Wood Green express.

Funded for many years the usual tedious Wood Green 12-0, 10-0 or 8-0 score line has been replaced by a 3.5 - 4.5 "drubbing" by Division One rivals, Hammersmith.

Club Secretary and journalist, Leon Watson, over the moon, wrote at length in:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/22-year ... y-of-chess

*There is debate about the exact time scale.

Strange title to the thread given they actually lost.

Eh? Surely "do not win" means much the same thing (though it does include the possibility of a draw I suppose)

Before the 4NCL kicked in, Wood Green were once defeated by Bedford in the final of the national club championships.

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 12:25 am

Eh? Surely "do not win" means much the same thing (though it does include the possibility of a draw I suppose)

That’s exactly the point given that they’ve drawn games much more recently than they’ve lost any (although still a long time ago). They last drew a match around 2016, they last lost in 2008.

Ah I see, well the loss to Bedford was in 2001.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:00 am

Before the 4NCL kicked in, Wood Green were once defeated by Bedford in the final of the national club championships.

Indeed. Does anyone have the game scores from that match (which, as I recall, was a fairly impressive piece of giant-killing)?
I declare an interest as a former Bedfordian.

Neil_Hickman wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 11:57 am

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:00 am

Before the 4NCL kicked in, Wood Green were once defeated by Bedford in the final of the national club championships.

Indeed. Does anyone have the game scores from that match (which, as I recall, was a fairly impressive piece of giant-killing)?
I declare an interest as a former Bedfordian.

Hi Neil, Andy Ledger might have and Paul Habershon also perhaps?

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 1:05 pm

Neil_Hickman wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 11:57 am

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 2:00 am

Before the 4NCL kicked in, Wood Green were once defeated by Bedford in the final of the national club championships.

Indeed. Does anyone have the game scores from that match (which, as I recall, was a fairly impressive piece of giant-killing)?
I declare an interest as a former Bedfordian.

Hi Neil, Andy Ledger might have and Paul Habershon also perhaps?

A board count 3-3 'victory' but it was enough. Very much the Ledger show on top 3 boards, the brothers scoring 2.5/3 v Turner, Levitt, Pein. I doubt if the score of my irrelevant loss on Board 5 would be of much interest. Mike Smith drew on 4.

Paul Habershon wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 1:14 pm

A board count 3-3 'victory' but it was enough. Very much the Ledger show on top 3 boards, the brothers scoring 2.5/3 v Turner, Levitt, Pein. I doubt if the score of my irrelevant loss on Board 5 would be of much interest. Mike Smith drew on 4.

Yes - my recollection was that Dave Ledger was offered a draw, which he declined (and quite possibly, Dave being Dave, did so in a slightly Fischeresque manner). His (IM? GM?) opponent was reportedly somewhat annoyed by this presumption and in the resulting red mist allowed a cheapo which shed a piece. And it went downhill from there...
It would be good to have Dave Ledger's game score.

Neil_Hickman wrote: ↑

Fri Apr 26, 2024 11:26 pm

[
Yes - my recollection was that Dave Ledger was offered a draw, which he declined (and quite possibly, Dave being Dave, did so in a slightly Fischeresque manner). His (IM? GM?) opponent was reportedly somewhat annoyed by this presumption and in the resulting red mist allowed a cheapo which shed a piece. And it went downhill from there...
It would be good to have Dave Ledger's game score.

By sounds of the game I suspect only Dave ledger would be willing to let it be seen again

A report of the 2001 match. https://sccu-chess.com/archive/0001/nc.htm

1. Andrew J Ledger 225 ½ - ½ Matthew Turner 238 (W)
2. David J Ledger 216 1-0 Jonathan Levitt 229
3. Steve C Ledger 196 1-0 Malcolm Pein 229
4. MD Smith 167 ½-½ Ben Savage 197
5. Paul F Habershon 162 0-1 Chris Maduekwe 176
6. Charles E Bullock 156 0-1 A Kikoyo 173