In our final match of 2025, we travelled to Uxbridge to take on the home side’s A team in the Hillingdon KO . Remarkably, despite an unfortunate default on board one (with Xavier) suffering a “diary malfunction”) we emerged as victors.

Alejandro returned to his normal good form, unphased by his opponent playing inn blitz style: not a good plan against an opponent of Alejandro’s calibre. So, by about ten past eight, scores were level at 1-1.

Tony’s game with Nigel Colter was not destined to set he world on fire. Tony played black in a Stonewall Dutch “which lived up to its name. There was always less than half a pawn in it and no clear way for either player to break through so, I agreed to an offered draw with the position dead even and seeing that my team mates were well positioned to deliver the match win.”

I had one of my better games against old foe, Ian Cross, who was clearly suffering from a bad head cold. Confronting the Scandinavian, I was able to build up strong pressure on Black’s kingside position with all my pieces joining in the attack.

The position above was reached after 18 moves. White already has a near winning advantage. I looked at, but rejected, the powerful move 19.Rxd7! not fully able to perceive its full merit. If Black takes the rook, 20.Ne5 Qd8 (where else?) 21.Bh6 threatening the crushing Nc6 both hitting the queen and mate on g7. If 19…Nd5 White still bulldozes his way through. I instead took a more mundane path which extended the game but still resulted in a Black resignation on move 28.

A quick glance at Simon’s board showed that he had everything under control with an advanced passed pawn. A win looked likely but, having enquired about the match score, Simon, with typical selflessness, offered a draw which Black rapidly accepted.

So, a really good end to the year. We will not know our next opponents until the New Year but some big fish remain in play. I had thought that West London had been beaten by Hatch End but it appears they had played some ineligible players and in the rematch, West London prevailed.