On 14 November we travelled to the MindSports Centre for a tough match with Hammersmith enjoying a rating advantage across all 6 boards. Matters were made more difficult by my not knowing the start time was 7.00pm and not the usual 7.30pm. Although it would have been nice to receive an email about the change, the mistake was mine and I apologise to all our players who were affected. The first Ealing player to sit down and play was Jack who found himself 15 minutes down on the clock; others began their games with greater time penalties.
As White, I played a 25-move Catalan before agreeing a draw. With a final and somewhat sterile position in which each possessed a queen, knight and 6 pawns, neither of us could realistically claim chances of winning. On top board Andrew also drew, so one-all at this point.
Uncharacteristically Tony blundered in the opening, in no small part due to the time pressure which he felt. As Black, his 6…cxb5? led to a lost position. He resigned after a mere 21 moves.
Next to finish was Jack who also had the black pieces. He writes: “Some unusual opening moves led to a Philidor/Old Indian structure, where White’s b2-bishop bored down on the e5-pawn with additional intensity. Black tried sacrificing the pawn for a kingside attack, but White’s mobile centre and strong bishops carried the day, with mate on g7.”
Reflecting on his game on board two, Alan observes: “As in our home match against Hammersmith, 4 weeks previously, I was White against the Grunfeld. My opening play was even less impressive than in that game and my young opponent (born 2012) put me under pressure in a queenless middle game.
After he committed his two bishops and a knight to the queenside he left himself a little vulnerable in the centre and he blundered, allowing me to trap his rook. I was set to win rook for bishop when he surprised me with a violent tactical riposte. Somehow I missed that this trivially lost the rook for a pawn. Perhaps I assumed that he had calculated correctly. In the game I emerged a bishop up for two pawns and a few moves later I offered a draw. The position was tricky and I was short of time. In the final position my engine gives me an advantage of about +1.3, not quite a winning position.”
The match concluded with the completion of Hristo’s game. Playing White against the French, he lost his d-pawn but had compensation in terms of piece mobility and space. He restored material equality before later losing a pawn. The ending proved tough: bishop, knight and 4 pawns versus his opponent’s bishop, knight and 5 pawns. The threat from Hristo’s extra pawn on the queenside was neutralised; Black’s marching of his kingside pawn majority securing victory.
Overall the match result was not too disappointing given the rating differential. Indeed, Hammersmith has an excellent chance of winning the title, having taken 6 points from 6 matches.
| Hammersmith 1 | Rating | Result | Ealing 1 | Rating |
| NM Ashley Stewart | 2218 | 0.5 – 0.5 | FM Andrew Harley | 2169 |
| Kai Hanache | 2229 | 0.5 – 0.5 | Alan Perkins | 2152 |
| Gaston Franco | 2134 | 1 – 0 | Tony Wells | 2000 |
| Carsten Pedersen | 2090 | 1 – 0 | Hristo Colov | 1859 |
| Cristof Brixel | 2048 | 1 – 0 | Jack Sheard | 1855 |
| Aryaman Ganguly | 2059 | 0.5 – 0.5 | Simon Healeas | 1851 |
| 4.5 – 1.5 |