MW 14/14, Monday 1st June 2026
| Ealing B | Hounslow A | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (b) | Simon Healeas | 1840 | 0.5-0.5 | Mateusz Dydak | 1996 |
| 2 (w) | Matthew Georgiou | 1833 | 1-0 | JJ Padam | 1713 |
| 3 (b) | Mark Winterbotham | 1824 | 1-0 | Leon Fincham | 1658 |
| 4 (w) | Devina Bedi | 1792 | 1-0 | Ritesh Tendulkar | 1513 |
| 5 (b) | Rajinder Jhooti | 1748 | 1-0 | Barry Fraser | 1477 |
| 6 (w) | Clive Lawrence | 1589 | 1-0 | Steve Hall | 1401 |
| 5.5-0.5 |
A thoroughly successful season was crowned with a demolition of the Hounslow A, a result that consigned them to relegation. I again wasn’t present but I can at least present the witness accounts.
Simon: “Rather unusually as Black, I faced the Bird’s Opening (1.f4). For the most part it was a level middlegame but, short of time, I lost a couple of pawns and entered an extremely difficult, if not lost, endgame. However, my opponent, whilst playing on increment, was unable to convert his material advantage. Finally, we agreed a draw with each of us only having king and rook”. Simply Solid from Soldier Si. (Sorry).
Clive: “My game had oo many errors, I really could have won quicker. Fortunately, I was able to break through my opponents defence regardless and conure a nice mating attack”. Clinical Clive.
Mark: “Not too eventful of a game. My opponent played a bit loosely on the queenside, first with a4 then with a later b4. This let me win a pawn, and with more active pieces as well, I managed to convert to a win”. There’s no stopping Mark the Mauler of Men when he gets the bit between his teeth.
Further wins from Deadly Devina, Rampant Raj and Marvellous Matthew meant we finish in 3rd place with 16 points, only denied 2nd and a promotion spot by points difference (Maidenhead B +5, us +2). I’d say we smashed this season, wouldn’t you? I have to admit I have greatly benefitted from a wider pool of players this year, using 22 different players in total, 3 more than last season. Long may that continue- a captain’s dream!
Final 25/26 Thames Valley Division 2 League Table:
| Team | Play | Won | Draw | Lost | For | Against | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wimbledon A | 14 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 54 | 30 | 24 |
| Maidenhead B | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 44½ | 39½ | 16 |
| Ealing B | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 43 | 41 | 16 |
| Richmond & Twickenham B | 14 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 47 | 37 | 15 |
| Surbiton B | 14 | 5 | 1 | 8 | 40 | 44 | 11 |
| Staines A | 14 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 36½ | 47½ | 10 |
| Wimbledon B | 14 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 36 | 48 | 10 |
| Hounslow A | 14 | 3 | 3 | 8 | 35 | 49 | 9 |