Monday 4th November 2024, MW 1/14
| Ealing B | Hounslow B | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (b) | Xavier Cowan | 1908 | 1-0 | Calum Kinloch | 1868 |
| 2 (w) | Matthew Georgiou | 1810 | 0.5-0.5 | Vibhush Pusapadi | 1759 |
| 3 (b) | Aga Milewska | 1767 | 1-0 | Frank Zurstiege | 1726 |
| 4 (w) | Jason Obihara | 1737 | 0-1 | Eugene Gregorio | 1712 |
| 5 (b) | Anthony Braine | 1677 | 1-0 | JJ Padam | 1676 |
| 6 (w) | Daniel Jennings | 1552P | 0.5-0.5 | Barry Fraser | 1438 |
| 4-2 |
The dawn of our new season back in Division 2 was upon us after a one year absence, as a result of a disappointing relegation in 2022/23. Division 3 was a slog to get promoted from last season but we managed to scrape our way to a title win, thanks to a helping hand from our C team in halting our rivals. This time round, the squad looks much stronger than the previous 2, and so I set out a target of mid-table security. A home win for starters would set us nicely along that path, and we managed just that, not without drama of course!
Hounslow B arrived at our venue having played 3 matches already and a win under their belt against their own A team! I expected a very even match and that’s what we were treated to. New member Daniel kicked proceedings off with a draw on board 6. A game he was in control of, he made the interesting decision to go Q vs 2xR, perhaps sensing an edge on the open board, but no edge came to fruition in the end and so a draw was agreed.
Aga then followed with a nice win on board 3 using close co-ordination of queen and knights to land the famous ‘Smothered mate’ position. I could play until retirement (a good 40 years away) and never get the chance to do such a sequence. Have a play through below if you fancy some inspiration for the black side of the French Defence, and of course to see that gorgeous mating net too. The middle-game position is also interesting because of the major strategic crossroads for both sides: White decided to blockade the central IQP, then changed tack and tried to blow up the position with counter-play, but ultimately it was Aga who capitalised.
Next to finish was Jason. I must admit I saw very little of his game, but I did see that he had locked up his opponents queen on the very busy kingside and looked poised to either attempt to trap it or launch a queenside offensive. Unfortunately, whatever he tried didn’t come off this time.
Matthew then followed up with a draw on board 2. An even affair throughout, he navigated the middle game well to neutralise his opponents ominous-looking queenside attack and take things into calmer waters. He now extends his unbeaten run to 7 matches.
Tony then gained a crucial win putting us 3-2 up. He reviews: “I played black in a Stonewall gaining slightly the more threatening position. White then blundered rook for knight. I took the queens off leaving 2R, N, 6p vs R, 2B, 6p. I converted the win rather slowly, far from precisely but pretty safely “. It was yet another commendable performance by Tony in Ealing colours.
It was down to me then on board 1 to hold on for dear life to draw a game I had been losing for around 30 blitzed moves in time pressure. My opponent had done very well to get me on the ropes with an incisive attack, but had chosen a harder path to victory with 2 extra pawns in the endgame shown in the position below.
I had just managed to create a blockade, and was edging closer towards that crucial draw to give us the 3.5-2.5 win, when an enormous slice of luck came my way. My opponent had been trying to push his C pawn for ages and my last move, Kd6-c7 seemed to allow it. Except for the unfortunate Bd6+, which at least forces a draw with c5, but then he compounded the error with Ka4, allowing me to deliver the most undeserved win (Ra3#) opposition captain David White, Leslie, Simon and others had the honour of witnessing.