On 19 June we welcomed Kings Head to the Actonians. This was a typical end-of-season encounter in which neither side could win the title or be relegated. In other words, there was simply pride at stake. In terms of playing strength, little divided the teams.
We got off to a grim start when I suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of the Middlesex League Secretary, Colin Mackenzie. A badly played opening was quickly punished with resignation after 23 moves. Andrew’s game also lasted 23 moves, albeit with a much better outcome. As Black, he drew an evenly balanced game in which he played the French Winawer. White thematically took space on the kingside with pawns on e5 and h5; Black countered on the queenside, laying claim to the a-file.
Similarly, Alan’s game never veered out of the drawing zone. He wrote: ”I was White in a Queen’s Gambit Accepted with 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4. For reasons I don’t understand this variation is rarely played by top players. I had a small advantage but in a position where my rooks were needed on c1 and d1 I played the dubious Rad1. After that my chances evaporated and I offered a draw which was instantly accepted.”
As Black, Jason played an unusual game in which both players made early king moves (9.Kd1 Kd8) and hence were denied castling rights. But it was the trapping of the black queen (17.Nd5!) that proved costly with Jason’s resignation following shortly afterwards.
John secured our sole victory, cleverly turning around being on the worse side of a draw to a mating attack. As Black in a Sicilian he commented: “We reached a sharp heavy piece middlegame where White had an extra pawn but a slightly more open king. However my opponent chose the wrong route to exchange queens, thereby allowing a tactical counter blow that led to mate or loss of queen for rook.”
The final game to game to finish was Martin’s on top board. Reflecting on his performance he stated: “I was White in a French Defence and built up a centre and space advantage. Thinking I had an edge, I declined an early draw but over-pressed and lost my centre. A pawn down with all major pieces on the board I was able to generate enough threats against Black’s king to hold on for a draw by repetition.”
This narrow home defeat means we are positioned mid-table (fourth out of seven). With one fixture remaining, it is unlikely this will change.
| Ealing | Rating | Result | Kings Head | Rating |
| Martin Smith | 2291 | 0.5 – 0.5 | FM Rick McMichael | 2258 |
| FM Andrew Harley | 2153 | 0.5 – 0.5 | CM Dave Okike | 2229 |
| Alan Perkins | 2170 | 0.5 – 0.5 | Andrew Gilfillan | 2101 |
| John Quinn | 2167 | 1 – 0 | Nigel Fleming | 2094 |
| Simon Healeas | 1903 | 0 – 1 | Colin Mackenzie | 2038 |
| Jason Obihara | 1767 | 0 – 1 | Alex Bourke | 1845 |
| 2.5 – 3.5 |