On Monday 23rd September, Ealing Chess Club held its traditional hors d’oeuvre to the new season in the form of our annual Lightning Tournament. Numbers were slightly down on the past two editions, with fifteen members starting although not all lasted the course.

As ever there were many chaotic games with several lucky escapes for higher ranking players and inevitably some controversy in the time scrambles. But, at the end of the day, the night was a triumph for Johnathan White who defended his title finishing unbeaten with 7½/8.

In second place was Joe Ramundo with 6½/8 while Andrew Harley took third spot with 6/8. As it transpired, the key game was the first of the evening when Jonathan beat Andrew.

Simon Healeas and Hristo Colov scored 5½/8, Mark Winterbotham 4½/8.

Andrew’s game with Daniel Jennings was typical of the roller-coaster play of the evening:

Commemorative trophies were awarded to the top three finishers.