On Monday, 23 March we welcomed Willesden and Brent to the Actonians for a second division Middlesex match. On paper we had the stronger team. Unfortunately the game is not played on paper but on a 64-square board, to misquote Brian Clough.
It was pleasing to see Clive put in such a convincing performance on his debut for the team. He writes: “I met my opponent’s queen pawn opening with the Bogo/Dutch (1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Bb4). After 14 moves I was clearly winning but did not conduct the attack perfectly, yet still won comfortably in the end.”
On the adjacent board (5), Raj, as White, played the King’s Gambit. In his own words: “My opponent played correctly which led to a blocked middlegame. Although he was a pawn up, there was little chance of a breakthrough. On move 27 he offered a draw which I accepted.”
Although he has enjoyed a good season with plenty of bold and enterprising chess, this was not to be Alejandro’s night. Reflecting on his performance, he states: “I was Black in an unusual line of the Spanish in which he played an early c3. I tried to punish it with a quick d5, to be active as a counter to his slow play. We had an equal position but I blundered an exchange after being a pawn up. I was definitely a little rusty and my position was soon unsalvageable.”
Jonathan comments on his game with characteristic honesty: “My opponent played an attacking game, going straight for my castled king. He gave me some opportunities to refute the attack, but I missed them and he finished it nicely with a series of sacrifices. A somewhat messy game, but he played more imaginatively and deserved the win.”
On top board, many thanks to John for ignoring the pain and discomfort of a broken arm and turning out for the team. As White, he summarises his game thus: “I benefited from the spatial advantage of the Maroczy Bind (white pawns on c4 and e4 coupled with the exchange of Black’s c-pawn for White’s d-pawn). All was equal until Black played the thematic freeing d5 on move 21. White got the better of the ensuing complications and reached a winning position. Black then gave up a piece for active play with White running low on time. This turned out well as I went wrong, failing to keep the extra piece, and simplifying into an endgame which was much better for Black. Just as my opponent looked like winning, he too went wrong, leading to an equal position in which we agreed to split the point.”
So, with Ealing trailing 3-2, the outcome of the match depended on the result of Duncan’s game. As White, Duncan’s Trompowsky (1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5) had led to a slightly better middlegame but his opponent, Xavier, countered and had the slightly better endgame. In my view, a draw was a fair result.
Although disappointing to lose the match by the narrowest of margins, it should not derail our attempt to secure a promotion spot. We still remain well-placed to return to the first division at the end of the season.
| Ealing 1 | Rating | Result | Willesden & Brent | Rating |
| John Quinn | 2033 | 0.5-0.5 | Anthony Fulton | 2016 |
| Jonathan White | 2028 | 0-1 | Ajoy Solomon | 1920 |
| Duncan Grassie | 2000 | 0.5-0.5 | Xavier Cowan | 1907 |
| Alejandro Lopez-Martinez | 1919 | 0-1 | Simon Liebesny | 1736 |
| Raj Jhooti | 1750 | 0.5-0.5 | Keith Jones | 1686 |
| Clive Lawrence | 1580 | 1-0 | Swapnil Tamse | 1533 |
| 2.5-3.5 |