Stuart Wilson Trophy 2002
Games Played
Jun 14
Stuart Wilson 0 Michael Hussey 1
George Flitcroft-Smith 1 Doug Foster 0
Brian Willcock 1 James Hiller 0
Gabriel Boross 1 John Curran 0
Peter Hiller 0 Andrew Robinson 1 (brought forward from Round 9)
The first round of the One Hour Tournament (including a contest for the Maiden Trophy) was staged tonight. Following the late withdrawal of Paul Evans from the tournament there are now 11 entries. The tournament will consist of 11 rounds with a bye for one player each week (unless there is a very late entry!). At the chessboard, congratulation go to Michael Hussey for winning at his first attempt in a full-length rated tournament game.
Selected games from the One Hour tournament will be published each week.
Stuart Wilson (1119) – Michael Hussey (unrated)
1 d4 d5, 2 e3 Nc6, 3 Bd3 Nf6, 4 f3 e5, 5 c3 e4, 6 fxe4 dxe4, 7 Bc2 Bg4, 8 Ne2 Qd5, 9 0-0 Qh5, 10 Qe1 Bxe2, 11 Rf4 0-0-0, 12 Rh4 Qb5, 13 a4 Qg5, 14 Nd2 Bd3, 15 Bxd3 exd3, 16 Nf3 Qd5, 17 Nd2 Bd6, 18 Qf1 Rhe8, 19 Rh3 h6, 20 Qxd3 Ne4, 21 Nf3 Na5, 22 b4 Nb3, 23 c4 Nxc1, 24 Rxc1 Qc6, 25 b5 Qd7, 26 d5 Nc5, 27 Qd4 f6, 28 Rh4 b6, 29 Re1 Re7 white lost on time 0-1
George Flitcroft-Smith (1568) – Doug Foster (1222)
1 e4 e5, 2 f4 Qh4+, 3 g3 Qf6, 4 Nf3 exf4, 5 e5 Qb6, 6 gxf4 Bc5, 7 d4 Be7, 8 Bc4 Nh6, 9 Qd3 d6, 10 e6 Bxe6, 11 Bxe6 fxe6, 12 Nc3 Nc6, 13 0-0 Nf5, 14 Kh1 Ncxd4, 15 Ne4 Nxf3, 16 Qxf3 Nh4, 17 Qg4 Qc6, 18 Qxe6 Qxc2, 19 Bd2 Qc6, 20 Rac1 Qb5, 21 f5 Qd7, 22 Ng5 h6, 23 Qf7+ Kd8, 24 Ne6+ Qxe6, 25 Qxe6 Rf8, 26 Rxc7 Kxc7, 27 Qxe7+ Kc6, 28 Rc1+ Kb6, 29 Be3+ Ka6, 30 Qxd6+ black resigns 1-0
Peter Hiller (1038) - Andrew Robinson (1579)
1 e4 c5, 2 c4 g6, 3 Nf3 Bg7, 4 d4 cxd4, 5 Nxd4 d6, 6 Be7 Nf6, 7 Nc3 0-0, 8 0-0 Nc6, 9 Be3 Bd7, 10 f4 a6, 11 a3 Rc8, 12 b3 Nxd4, 13 Bxd4 Bc6, 14 Bf3 Nd7, 15 Bxg7 Kxg7, 16 f5 Ne5, 17 Bg4 Nxg4, 18 Qg4 Qb6+, 19 Kh1 Qxb3, 20 Nd5 Bxd5, 21 cxd5 Qc3, 22 h4 h5, 23 Qg5 Qf6, 24 Qg3 Rc3, 25 Qg5 Qxg5, 26 hxg5 f6, 27 gxf6 Rxf6, 28 a4 gxf5, 29 exf4 Rc5, 30 Rae1 Kf7, 31 Rb1 Rxd5, 32 Rxb7 R6xf5, 33 Rxf5 Rxf5, 34 Rb6 Ra5, 35 Rb4 e5, 36 Rh4 Kg6, 37 g4 hxg4, 38 Rxg4+ Kf5, 39 Rb4 d5, 40 Rb2 Rxa4, 41 Kg2 e4, 42 Rf2+ Ke5, 43 Kg4 a5, 44 Rf4 Rc4, 45 Kg4 e3, 46 Rxc4 dxc4, 47 Kf3 Kd4, 48 Ke2 c3, 49 Kd1 Kd3, 50 Kc1 e2, 51 Kb1 e1=Q, 52 Ka2 Qd2+, 53 Ka3 Qb2+, 54 Ka4 Qb4# 0-1
Jun 21
John Curran 0 Peter Hiller 1
Harvey Quaresmini 0 Gabriel Boross 1
James Hiller 0 Andrew Robinson 1
Doug Foster 0 Brian Willcock 1
Stuart Wilson 0 George Flitcroft-Smith 1
Michael Hussey bye
On the longest night of the year (winter solstice) - was this why black won all 5 games? - the field separated in the One Hour into two groups – those undefeated and those winless (Peter Hiller the only exception). However some of the games were closer than this disparity in the field would indicate. The foremost example of this was the Wilson v Flitcroft-Smith game. Stuart was a piece and a pawn up with George in all sorts of trouble and marginally behind on the clock in the last 5 minutes. Then, Stuart was unable to increase the tempo of his moves to the necessary pace, and this was compounded by his forgetfulness in hitting the clock after his move! Gabby couldn’t bear watching it towards the end (thinking Stuart would do the other front-runners a favour). However seasoned observers at the club have seen this all happen before (worst example: Wilson v Evans – One Hour 1996, Stuart let his clock fall when 2 pieces up!). At least George seemed relieved to have escaped from the gates of death…
Other games followed form. Andrew beat James who played well, attempting his newly found Torre Attack, until blundering a piece at move 14. Peter’s experience proved too much for John Curran, while Brian showed why he is a much better player over an hour than over the longer Flood Cup time controls. This scribe knew their was something awry with Doug’s games when he was overheard exclaiming "I’m not safe to be let out…".
John Curran (unrated) – Peter Hiller (1038)
1 d4 d5, 2 e3 e6, 3 Nc3 Bb4, 4 Bd2 Bxc3, 5 Bxc3 Ne7, 6 Bd3 0-0, 7 Nf3 f5, 8 Ne5 Nd7, 9 Nxd7 Bxd7, 10 0-0 b6, 11 Bb4 a5, 12 Bxe7 Qxe7, 13 a4 e5, 14 dxe5 Qxe5, 15 b3 c5, 16 f4 Qxe3+, 17 Kh1 Qe7, 18 Re1 Qf6, 19 Re5 d4, 20 Bc4+ Kh8, 21 Qe2 Rae8, 22 g3? Bc6+, 23 Kg1 Be4, 24 Rxe8 Rxe8, 25 Re1 h6, 26 Bd5 Re7, 27 Bc4 g5, 28 fxg5 Qxg5, 29 Bd5 h5, 30 Bc4 h4, 31 Bd5 hxg3, 32 Bxe4 Rxe4, 33 Bd5 hxg3, 34 Bxe4 Rxe4, 35 hxg3 Rxe2, 36 Rxe2 Qxg3+, 37 Rg2 Qe3+, 38 Rf2 f4, 39 Kf1 d3, 40 cxd3 Qxd3, 41 Ke1 f3, 42 Rd2 Qc3, 43 Kd1 Qxb3+, 44 Ke1 c4, 45 Kf2 Qc3, 46 Rd3 Qb2, 47 Kxf3 c2, 48 Rd2 Qb1, 49 Ke3 c1=Q, 50 Ke2 Qe4+, 51 Kf2 Qe1# 0-1
Harvey Quaresmini (1427) – Gabriel Boross (1320)
1 e4 e5, 2 Nf3 Nc6, 3 Bc4 Bc5, 4 0-0 Nf6, 5 d3 0-0, 6 Nc3 a6, 7 Bg5 Be7, 8 a3 b5, 9 Ba7 h6, 10 Bh4 d6, 11 Bg3 Nh5, 12 Nxe5? Nxe5, 13 Qxh5?? Bg4, 14 Qxe5 dxe5, 15 Bxe5 Bd6, 16 f4 Bxe5, 17 fxe5 Be6, 18 b5 Bxa2, 19 Rxa2 Qd4+, 20 Kh1 Qxc3 white resigns 0-1
James Hiller (unrated) – Andrew Robinson (1579)
1 d4 d5, 2 Nf3 Nf6, 3 Bf4 e6, 4 e3 c5, 5 Bb5+ Bd7, 6 Nc3 Nc6, 7 Bxc6 Bxc6, 8 0-0 Bd6, 9 Bg5 h6, 10 Bh4 0-0, 11 Re1 Be7, 12 Ne5 Nd7, 13 Nxc6 bxc6, 14 e4?? Bxh4, 15 Qf3? Qf6, 16 Qe2 cxd4, 17 Na4 Qd8, 18 Rad1 e5, 19 exd5 cxd5, 20 c3 Qa5, 21 Qc2 Rac8, 22 Qb3 Rc4, 23 Qb7 Rc7, 24 b4? Rxb7, 25 bxa5 dxc3, 26 Nxc3 d4, 27 Nd5 Rb5, 28 Ne7+ Bxe7, 29 a6 Ra5, 30 Rc1 Rxa6, 31 Rc7 Rd8, 32 Ra1 Bf6, 33 a4 Nb6, 34 a5 Nd5, 35 Rc5 Nc3, 36 f3 Rd5, 37 Rc8+ Kh7, 38 Rc7 Kg6, 39 g4 Rdxa5, 40 Rxa5 Rxa5, 41 h4 Bxh4, 42 Rc6+ f6, 43 Kg2 Nd5, 44 Kh3 Kg5 white resigns 0-1
Doug Foster (1222) – Brian Willcock (1317)
1 Nf3 Nc6, 2 d4 d5, 3 g3 Bg4, 4 Bg2 Nf6, 5 Nbd2 Qd7, 6 h3 Bf5, 7 a3 Ne4, 8 c4 Qd6, 9 0-0 h6, 10 Nxe4 Bxe4, 11 Bf4 Qd7, 12 Ne5 Nxe5, 13 Bxe4 Nxc4, 14 Qb3 0-0-0, 15 Bg2 g5, 16 Be5? f6, 17 Bxc7 Kxc7, 18 Rc1 Kb8, 19 Rc3? Nd2, 20 Qc2 Nxf1, 21 Kxf1 e6, 22 b4 Bd6, 23 e3 Rc8, 24 Kg1 Rxc3, 25 Qxc3 Rc8, 26 Qd3 f5, 27 Bf3 Qc7, 28 g4 Rf8, 29 gxf5 Rxf5, 30 Bg4 Rf6, 31 e4 dxe4, 32 Qxe4 Qc1+, 33 Kg2 Qf4, 34 Qxf4 Rxf4, 35 f3 Rxd4, 36 Bxe6 Rd3 white resigns 0-1
Stuart Wilson (1119) – George Flitcroft-Smith (1568)
1 d4 f5, 2 e3 Nf6, 3 f4 e6, 4 Bd3 c5, 5 c3 d5, 6 Nf3 c4, 7 Bc2 Be7, 8 0-0 Nc6, 9 Bd2 b5, 10 a3 Bb7, 11 Be1 a5, 12 Nbd2 b4, 13 Ng5 Qc8, 14 Ndf3 b3, 15 Bb1 h6, 16 Nh3 Ng4, 17 Bd2 Kd7, 18 Ne5+ Ncxe5, 19 fxe5 g5, 20 Rxf5! Nxh2, 21 Kxh2 Qe8, 22 Rf1 h5, 23 g3 h4, 24 g4 Qg8, 25 Qf3 Rf8, 26 Qg2 Qg7, 27 e4 Rxf1, 28 Qxf1 Rf8, 29 Qg2 Bd8, 30 exd5 Bxd5, 31 Be4 Qf7, 32 Bxd5 exd5, 33 Re1 Kc6, 34 Re2 Qe6, 35 Bxg5 Rg8, 36 Nf4 Qd7, (now into the last 5 minutes) 37 e6 Qd6, 38 Re5 Bxg5, 39 Qxd5 Qxd5, 40 Nxd5 Kd6, 41 e7 Bxe7, 42 Nxe7 Rxg4 time 0-1 (Final position was: White Kh2 Re5 Ne7 a3 b2 c3 d4; Black Kd6 Rg4 a5 b3 c4 h4. White should win after 43 Re2 holds the fort together)
Jun 28
Brian Willcock 1 Stuart Wilson 0
Andrew Robinson 1 Doug Foster 0
Peter Hiller 0 Harvey Quaresmini 1
Michael Hussey 0 John Curran 1 (from Round 4)
Four games were played tonight. Stuart proved his unpredictability by coming off a massive effort last week against George, to playing Father Christmas twice to Brian. Brian nearly lodged an objection with the DOP claiming copyright on this ‘strategy’ – of luring the opponent into a false sense of overconfidence. Andrew managed to win against Doug who blundered in extreme time trouble. However up to this point it was fairly even with Andrew up the exchange, but Doug with a strong knight and pawn advantage to compensate. Harvey ungraciously claims his 2 previous losses to Peter were due to him falling asleep while Peter took an eternity to make a move. No such thing happened this week although Harvey’s win was hard fought, and Peter missed claiming a draw on repetition as late in the game as move 67.
Congratulations to John for scoring his first win in an intra-club tournament rated game. He managed to force the issue with good king position in a pawn endgame.
Brian Willcock (1317) - Stuart Wilson (1119)
1 e4 g6, 2 d4 Bg7, 3 Bg5 Nf6, 4 Nc3 d5, 5 e5 Ne4, 6 Nxe4 dxe4, 7 Qd2 h6, 8 Bf4 a5, 9 Qc3 Nc6, 10 0-0-0 Nb4, 11 Bc4 b5, 12 Bxb5+ Bd7, 13 Bxd7 Qxd7, 14 Qc4 Ra6, 15 d5 Qa4, 16 a3 Na2+??, 17 Qxa2 0-0, 18 Ne2 Qb5, 19 Nc3 Qc5, 20 Nxe4 Qb5, 21 Qb3 Qxb3, 22 cxb3 Rb8, 23 Nc5 Ra7, 24 Rd3 Rb5, 25 Rc3 f6, 26 Re1 g5, 27 a4 Rb4, 28 Be3 fxe5, 29 Ne6 Bf6??, 30 Bxa7 e4, 31 f3 Bxc3, 32 bxc3 Rxb3, 33 Kc2 Ra3, 34 Kb2 Rxa4, 35 Rxe4 Kf7, 36 Nxc7 Kf6, 37 Bd4+ e5, 38 Bb6 g4, 39 Bxa5 Kg5, 40 d6 and the games malingered on for a further dozen moves or so before black was mated 1-0
Andrew Robinson (1579) - Doug Foster (1222)
1 d4 d5, 2 c4 e6, 3 Nf3 Nf6, 4 Nc3 c6, 5 Qc2 Bb4, 6 Bd2 Nbd7, 7 e3 Qa5, 8 Be2 0-0, 9 0-0 Re8, 10 a3 Bxc3, 11 Bxc3 Qc7, 12 cxd5 exd5, 13 h3 Ne4, 14 Rac1 Ndf6, 15 Bd3 Bd7, 16 Ne5 Rac8, 17 Nxd7 Qxd7, 18 Rfe1 Nxc3, 19 Bf5 Qc7, 20 Bxc8 Qxc8, 21 bxc3 Ne4, 22 f3 Nd6, 23 e4 dxe4, 24 fxe4 Nc4, 25 Qd3 b5, 26 Ra1 a6, 27 Qf3 Qb8, 28 e5 Re6, 29 Rf1 Qa7, 30 Ra2 Nxe5, 31 Qf5 Nc4, 32 Qf2 Rf6, 33 Re1 Qd7, 34 Qg3 h6, 35 Qd3 Rg6, 36 Rae2 Qd5, 37 Ra1 c5, 38 Kh2 cxd4, 39 cxd4 Qd6+, 40 Kh1 Qd5, 41 Qe4 Qxe4, 42 Rxe4 Nd6, 43 Re7 Nf5, 44 Rd7 Ne3, 45 Ra2 Nc4, 46 d5 a5, 47 Rb7 Nd6, 48 Rb6 Kh7, 49 Rb2 f6??, 50 Rxd6 b4, 51 axb4 a4, black lost on time 1-0
Peter Hiller (1038) - Harvey Quaresmini (1427)
1 e4 e5, 2 c3 Nf6, 3 d3 Bc5, 4 Be2 0-0, 5 Nf3 d5, 6 0-0 dxe4, 7 Nxe5, exd3, 8 Nxd3 Bb6, 9 Bg5 Qd6, 10 Bxf6 Qxf6, 11 Nd2 Nc6, 12 Nc4 Be6, 13 Nxb6 axb6, 14 Bf3 Rxa2, 15 Bxc6 bxc6, 16 Nb4 Rxb2, 17 Nxc6 Qxc3, 18 Rc1 Qf6, 19 f3 Qg5, 20 Rf2 Rxf2, 21 Kxf2 b5, 22 g3 Bc4, 23 Na5 Rd8, 24 Qe1 h6, 25 Nxc4 Qc5+, 26 Ne3 Qb6, 27 Rd1 Rc8, 28 Kg2 c6, 29 Nf5 Ra8, 30 Kh1 c5, 31 Rd6 Qb7, 32 Qf2 c4, 33 g4 b4, 34 h4 b3, 35 Rb6 Qc7, 36 Qd4 f6, 37 Qd5+ Kh7, 38 Qxa8 Qxb6, 39 Qf8 Qb7, 40 h5 Qxf3+ (position – W: Kh1 Qf8 Nf5 g4 h5; B: Kh7 Qf3 b3 c4 f6 g7 h6), 41 Kh2 Qf5+, 42 Kh3 Qf1+, 43 Kh2 Qf5+, 44 Kh3 Qf3+, 45 Kh4 Qh1+, 46 Kg3 Qg1+, 47 Kh4 Qf2+? (Qh2#), 48 Kh3 Qf3+, 49 Kh4 Qh1+, 50 Kg3 Qe1+, 51 Kh3 Qh1+, 52 Kg3 Qb7, 53 Qe8 Qc7+, 54 Kg2 b2, 55 Ne7 Qxe7, 56 Qxe7 b1=Q, 57 Qe2 c3, 58 Qf3 Qb2+, 59 Kg3 Qb8+, 60 Kh3 Qc8, 61 Qe4+ Kh8, 62 Qc2 Qc4, 63 Kg3 Qd2, 64 Qg6 Qe3+, 65 Kg2 Qd2+, 66 Kg3 c2, 67 Qf5?? (67 Qe8 Kh7, 68 Qg6 Kg8 or Kh8 draws on repetition) Qe3, 68 Qf3 Qxf3, 69 Kxf3 c1=Q, 70 Kg3.. the game continued until checkmate at which time black had more time, but both players were well within the last 5 minutes 0-1
Michael Hussey (unrated) – John Curran (unrated)
1 e4 d6, 2 Nc3 Nf6, 3 Bd3? Nc6, 4 Nf3 Bg4, 5 Bb5 Qd7, 6 d4 Bxf3 7 Qxf3 a6? (Nxd4 …), 8 Ba4 b5, 9 Bb3 Nxd4, 10 Qd3 Nxb3, 11 axb3 e5, 12 0-0 Be7, 13 f4 exf4, 14 Bxf4 0-0, 15 Rf3 c6, 16 Rh3 h6, 17 Rf1 Nh7, 18 e5 Rd8, 19 Rd1 dxe5?, 20 Bxe5? (20 Qxd7 Rxd7, 21 Rxd7 wins a rook) Qxd3, 21 Rhxd3 Rxd3, 22 Rxd3 Rd8, 23 Rxd8+ Bxd8, 24 Kf2 Bf6, 25 Bxf6 Nxf6, 26 Kf3 g5, 27 Ne4 Kg7, 28 Nxf6? (28 Nc5 gives some chance on queenside) Kxf6, 29 Ke4 h5, 30 h3 h4, 31 b4 Ke6, 32 c3 f5+, 33 Kd4 g4, 34 hxg4 fxg4, 35 Ke3 Kf5, 36 Kf2 Kf4, 37 g3 hxg3, 38 Kg2 Ke3, 39 Kxg3 Kd3, 40 Kxg4 Kc2, 41 Kf4 Kxb2, 42 Ke4 Kxc3, 43 Ke5 Kxb4, 44 Kd6 c5, 45 Kc6 a5, 46 Kb6 a4, 47 Kc6 a3 white resigns 0-1
Jul 5
George Flitcroft-Smith 1 Michael Hussey 0 (from Round 3)
Gabriel Boross 1 James Hiller 0 (from Round 3)
Stuart Wilson 0 Andrew Robinson 1 (from Round 4)
John Curran 0 Harvey Quaresmini 1 (from Round 5)
After tonight’s play there remain 4 undefeated players. The destiny of the tournament would appear to lie among these 4 and Harvey. However there is also another trophy up for grabs – the Maiden. The Hillers together with first time tournament entrants John & Michael will be the 4 to fight for this trophy. The player among them with the highest points total at the end of the tournament will scoop the prize – if there is a tie then a play-off will take place.
In tonight’s games there were fairly straightforward wins to the top 4 seeds in the tournament. Stuart tried something different with an interesting knight sac at move 10 which weakened black’s kingside white squares. However, the exchange of the white squared bishop following his 16th move negated this advantage before he could get his other pieces into the action. In other games, Michael struck disaster at move 5, while John was undone by a blundered piece at move 25. Gabby gained pieces with moves 13 and 30 which accounted for his material advantage at the time of black’s resignation.
George Flitcroft-Smith (1568) – Michael Hussey (unrated)
1 Nf3 d5, 2 c4 dxc4, 3 Nc3 Nc6, 4 e4 Bg4, 5 Bxc4 Ne5??, 6 Nxe5 (threatening 7 Bxf7#) e6, 7 Qa4+ c6, 8 Nd5 Ne7, 9 Nf6+ gxf6, 10 Nxg4 Bg7, 11 Qb3 b5, 12 Bxe6 fxe6, 13 Qxe6 Rf8, 14 d4 Qxd4, 15 0-0 f5, 16 Bg5 Rf7, 17 Rad1 Qxe4, 18 Qd7+ Kf8, 19 Qd8+ Rxd8, 20 Rxd8# 1-0
Gabriel Boross (1320) – James Hiller (unrated)
1 e4 e5, 2 Nc3 Nf6, 3 f4 d6, 4 Nf3 Nc6, 5 Bc4 Qe7, 6 0-0 Bg4, 7 Qe1 Nb4, 8 Bb3 a5, 9 a3 Bxf3, 10 Rxf3 Nc6, 11 fxe5 Nh5??, 12 Bxf7+ Kd8, 13 Bxh5 Qxe5, 14 Qe2 Nd4!, 15 Rxf8+ Rxf8, 16 Qg4 Nxc2, 17 Qh4+ Qe7, 18 Qxe7+ Kxe7, 19 Rb1 Nd4, 20 d3 Rad8?, 21 Bg5+ Kd7, 22 Bxd8 Rxd8, 23 Rf1 Ke7, 24 Rf7+ Ke6, 25 Rxc7 d5, 26 Rxg7 dxe4, 27 Nxe4 Nf5, 28 Bg4 Rxd3??, 29 Nc5+ Kf6, 30 Nxd3 Kxg7, 31 Bxf5 Kf6, 32 Bxh7 Kg5, 33 Nc5 b5, 34 b3 Kg4, 35 Bd3 Kh4, 36 Bxb5 black resigns 1-0
Stuart Wilson (1119) – Andrew Robinson (1579)
1 d4 d5, 2 e3 g6, 3 Bd3 Bg7, 4 f4 Nf6, 5 Nf3 0-0, 6 0-0 Nbd7, 7 Ng5 c5, 8 c3 c4, 9 Bc2 h6, 10 Ne6?! fxe6, 11 Bxg7 Ne4, 12 Qf3 Ndf6, 13 Nd2 Nxd2, 14 Bxd2 Bd7, 15 Qh3 e5, 16 Bf5? e4, 17 Be1 Bxf5, 18 Qxf5 Qd7, 19 Qg6 Qg4, 20 f5 Qxg6, 21 fxg6 Nd7, 22 Bh4 Bf6, 23 Rf4 Bxh4, 24 Rxh4 Kg7, 25 Rg4? Rf6, 26 Rf1 Raf8, 27 h4?? Rxf1+, 28 Kh2 R1f2, 29 h5 Nf6, 30 Rf4 Rxf4, 31 exf4 Nxh5, 32 g3 Nxf4, 33 gxf4 Rxf4, 34 Kg3 Rf6, 35 Kg4 Kxg6 white resigns 0-1
John Curran (unrated) – Harvey Quaresmini (1427)
1 d4 Nf6, 2 Nc3 g6, 3 e3 Bg7, 4 Bd3 0-0, 5 Nf3 Re8, 6 0-0 c6, 7 Ne4 Qc7, 8 Nxf6+ Bxf6, 9 e4 d6, 10 Bg5 Bg7, 11 Qd2 Bg4, 12 Be2 Qb6, 13 Be3 Nd7, 14 d5 Qc7, 15 Bd4 Nf6, 16 Bxf6 Bxf6, 17 c3 e5, 18 dxc6 Qxc6, 19 Qd5 Qxd5, 20 exd5 Rac8, 21 h3 Bf5, 22 Nd2 a6, 23 f3 Bh4, 24 Ne4 Red8, 25 f4?? Bxe4, 26 fxe5 dxe5, 27 c4 Kg7, 28 b3 Rd6, 29 Bf3 Bxf3, 30 Rxf3 e4, 31 Rf4 Bf6, 32 Re1 b5, 33 Rfxe4 bxc4, 34 bxc4 a5, 35 a4 Rb8, 36 Rc1 Rb4, 37 c5 Rxd5, 38 Rxb4 axb4, 39 c6 Bc3, 40 Rb1 Rc5, 41 Kf2 Rxc6, 42 Ke3 Ra6, 43 Kd3 Rxa4, 44 Kc4 Ra2, 45 g4 Rh2, 46 Rg1 Rxh3, 47 g5 Bd2, 48 Rg2 Rh4+, 49 Kb3 Bc3, 50 Rg3 Rh2, 51 Kc4 Rb2, 52 Rf3 Rb1, 53 Rg3 Bd2, 54 Rg2 Bf4, 55 Rg4 Bd6, 56 Rd4 Be7, 57 Rd3 Bxg5, 58 Rb3 Rxb3, 59 Kxb3 Be7, 60 Kc4 white resigns 0-1
Jul 12
George Flitcroft-Smith ½ Brian Willcock ½
Stuart Wilson 1 John Curran 0 (from Round 8)
The club’s regular scribe was unable to attend this Friday night (except for a fleeting appearance), so a report was filed by Mr Willcock himself concerning his pivotal game with Mr Flitcroft-Smith:
"George and I drew in about 55 moves - a forced draw of Bishop v King. Masterly and deep positional play by both. But of course I don't need to tell you that!"
After hearing of the sublime nature of the game, Mr Willcock was prompted to send a further dispatch:
"The highlight of the chess year was undoubtedly the long awaited game between George and Brian. The room hushed as George played as his first move Nf3, clearly the product of many hours of home preparation and designed to secure a psychological advantage. Brian resorted to his now notorious strategy of making his opponent over confident and made a number of moves that novices might have thought inferior. After gaining tempi and driving in Brian's centre, George prepared for what he doubtless thought the final stage by a vain attempt to copy his opponent's deviousness by doubling his pawns and denying himself castling. Scarcely had the applause died down when he made a positional sacrifice of the exchange. Brian countered by sac-ing a Bishop for two pawns and then going on to sacrifice the exchange by allowing a fork of his Rooks. While George was ahead in material he had the advantage of being well behind in time. Neither master could afford to be over confident. Tension mounted as each tried to eliminate dangerous pawns. Unable to bear the pressure any longer, Brian forced the exchange of Rooks, involving the loss of his pawn and reduced the game to the arcane endgame of K+B v. K. With the release of tension the onlookers showered the board with gold coins in appreciation of the brilliance of the fighting chess they had witnessed."
George Flitcroft-Smith (1568) – Brian Willcock (1317)
1 Nf3 d6, 2 d4 Nc6, 3 e4 e5, 4 d5 Nce7, 5 c4 Ng6, 6 Nc3 Be7, 7 Be3 Nf6, 8 Rc1 Ng4, 9 Qd2 Nxe3, 10 fxe3 Nh4, 11 Nxh4 Bxh4+, 12 Kd1 Bg5, 13 g3 Bd7, 14 h4 Bh6, 15 Be2 Qc8, 16 Kc2 a6, 17 Rcf1 Bg4, 18 Bd1 Qd7, 19 Rf5 Bxf5, 20 exf5 Qe7, 21 g4 g6, 22 g5 Bxg5, 23 hxg5 Qxg5, 24 fxg6 fxg6, 25 Ne4 Qe7, 26 Qg2 0-0-0, 27 Ng5 Rdf8, 28 Ne6 Rf6, 29 Qg4 Kb8, 30 Kc3 Qf7, 31 Ng5 Qe7, 32 Ne4 Rf7, 33 b4 Rhf8, 34 Qe6 Qd7, 35 Qxd7 Rxd7, 36 Ng5 Rg7, 37 Ne6 Rff7, 38 Nxg7 Rxg7, 39 c5 Rf7, 40 a4 Rf3, 41 Rxh7 Rxe3+, 42 Kd2 Rg3,43 cxd6 cxd6, 44 Rd7 Rg4, 45 b5 Rxa4, 46 bxa6 bxa6, 47 Rxd6 Rd4+, 48 Ke3 g5, 49 Rxa6 g4, 50 Be2 Kc7, 51 Rc6+ Kb7, 52 Bxg4? Rxd5, 53 Rc4 Rd4, 54 Rxd4 exd4, 55 Kxd4 ½-½
Stuart Wilson (1119) – John Curran (unrated)
1 d4 d5, 2 e3 e6, 3 Bd3 Nc6, 4 c3 Bd6, 5 f4 Nf6, 6 Nf3 Ne4, 7 0-0 f6, 8 Nbd2 f5, 9 Ng5 Nxg5, 10 fxg5 Qxg5, 11 Nf3 Qe7, 12 Bd2 0-0, 13 Be1 e5, 14 Bh4 Qe8, 15 Ng5 Be7, 16 Qe1 Bxg5, 17 Bxg5 h6, 18 Bh4 exd4, 19 cxd4 Ne7, 20 Qg3 c6, 21 Qf3 Ng6, 22 Bg3 Bd7, 23 Rac1 b6, 24 a4 a5, 25 h4 Rc8, 26 Ba6 Ra8, 27 Bd3 b5, 28 axb5 cxb5, 29 Qxd5+ Qe6, 30 Qxe6 Bxe6, 31 Bxb5 Rb8?, 32 Bxb8 Rxb8, 33 Ba6 Rxb2, 34 Bc8 Bxc8, 35 Rxc8+ Kf7, 36 Rxf5+ Ke6, 37 Rcc5 a4, 38 Ra5 Rb4, 39 Rfc5 Kd6, 40 Ra6 Ke7, 41 Rc7 Kf8??, 42 Ra8+ (mate the following move) black resigns 1-0
Jul 19
Brian Willcock 1 Michael Hussey 0
Andrew Robinson 1 George Flitcroft-Smith 0
Gabriel Boross 1 Stuart Wilson 0
James Hiller ½ John Curran ½ (from Round 6)
Doug Foster 0 Harvey Quaresmini 1 (from Round 8)
Peter Hiller bye
This week was a momentous occasion for James Hiller who finally broke his drought in competitive rated chess and ended a 28 match losing streak. Weeks of steady improvement in James’ play (assisted by Nigel Short, no less!) paid dividends when he achieved a draw in his game with John Curran. In fact it should have turned out even better for him when he reached the endgame with a clearcut winning position (R+R+B v R+B advantage after 80 minutes of play by both sides). Then, near the 2 hour mark, he attempted to interrupt the Robinson-Flitcroft-Smith game at a crucial stage with the statement: "I need an adjudication". Harvey was promptly drafted to fill in as acting DOP. He surveyed the board, and announced the verdict in his booming voice: "There are only kings left on the board. It is definitely a draw!" James’ next remark was "does this mean I get a rating?". Much later in the night he provided his Rugby League match of the round style post-mortem: "I must commend John Curran. I was in command most of the game, but he fought it out to the end". John later relayed his comment on the game: "I managed to reel in James for a draw after being a Queen down. That game was full of mistakes. There were 2 Kings left standing at the end."
In other games Brian, Andrew, Gabby and Harvey all had wins. Brian managed to gain a crucial pawn advantage, and capitalised on this when Michael’s play was affected by time trouble. George meant to play quietly, but found himself in positional difficulty in the opening - and this led him to exchange a rook for a knight on f3 to gain some space and tempi. A further knight was sacrificed on h5 in a daring ploy to obtain mate in the corner. Andrew managed to hold on defensively and was assisted by George falling foul of acute time trouble towards the closing stages.
Brian Willcock (1317) - Michael Hussey (unrated)
1 e4 c5, 2 f4 Nc6, 3 c3 d5, 4 e5 Nh6, 5 Nf3 e6, 6 Be2 Be7, 7 0-0 0-0, 8 d4 c4, 9 Be3 Nf5,10 Qd2 f6, 11 Na3 a6, 12 Nc2 Qb6, 13 Rb1 Qa5, 14 a3 Qa4, 15 Bd1 Na5, 16 Na1 Qe8, 17 Bc2 Nh6, 18 Bf2 Ng4, 19 Qe2 Qh5, 20 h3 Nxf2, 21 Rxf2 Bd7, 22 Nh2 Qxe2, 23 Rxe2 Rf7, 24 Rf1 f5, 25 Nf3 h6, 26 g3 Raf8,27 Kh2 Kh7, 28 Rg2 g5, 29 g4 gxf4, 30 g5 hxg5, 31 Nxg5 Bxg5, 32 Rxg5 Rg7, 33 Rxg7 Kxg7, 34 Rxf4 Rg8, 35 Rf3 Nc6, 36 Bd1 Ne7, 37 h4 Kh6, 38 Rg3 Rxg3, 39 Kxg3 Be8, 40 Nc2 a5, 41 Ne1 Bh5, 42 Bxh5 Kxh5, 43 Nf3 (position: W Kg3 Nf3 a3 b2 c3 d4 e5 h4; B Kh5 Ne7 a5 b7 c4 d5 e6 f5) Ng8? (Ng6 is better), 44 Ng5 Nh6, 45 Nxe6 Ng4, 46 Nf4+ Kh6, 47 Nxd5 Ne3, 48 Kf3 Nd1, 49 e6 black resigns 1-0
Andrew Robinson (1579) - George Flitcroft-Smith (1568)
1 d4 f5, 2 c4 Nf6, 3 Nc3 e6, 4 Nf3 d6, 5 Qc2 Be7, 6 e4 fxe4, 7 Nxe4 Nc6, 8 a3 0-0, 9 Bd3 Nh5, 10 0-0 Rxf3, 11 gxf3 Nxd4, 12 Qd1 e5, 13 Ng3 Qf8, 14 Nxh5 Nxf3+, 15 Kg2 Bg4, 16 Be2 Nh4+, 17 Kh1 Bh3, 18 Be3 Bg2+, 19 Kg1 Qf7, 20 Ng3 Qe6, 21 f3 c6, 22 Rf2 Bh3, 23 Bf1 Rf8, 24 Bxh3 Qxh3, 25 Qf1 Qe6, 26 Re1 Qg6, 27 f4 e4, 28 Bxa7 d5, 29 cxd5 cxd5, 30 Bd4 Bd6, 31 Re3 Nf5, 32 Bb6 d4, 33 Qc4+ Kh8, 34 Bxd4 b5, 35 Qc3 b4 (George now into his last 5 minutes), 36 axb4 Rg8, 37 Be5 Nxe3, 38 Qxe3 Bf8, 39 Qxe4 Qg4, 40 Qf3 Qc8, 41 Kg2 Bxb4, 42 Bc3 Bf8, 43 h4 h6, 44 Qh5 (threatening Qxh6#) Qc6+, 45 Kh3 Bc5, 46 Rg2 Kh7, 47 Qf5+ Kh8, 48 Nh5 Bf8, 49 Qg6 Qxg6, 50 Rxg6 Kh7, 51 Rg2 Kh8, 52 Bxg7+ Bxg7, 53 Rxg7 Rb8, 54 Rg2 Kh7 (Position now: W Kh3 Rg2 Nh5 b2 f4 h4; B Kh7 Rb8 h6. Andrew stopped recording as he now reached his last 5 minutes – with George into his last minute. 55 Nf6+ Kh8, 56 Rg8+ will force a quick win for white via the passed pawns, however some time pressure induced play ensued that resulted in black losing on time. Final position: W Kh3 Rf2 Nd4 b2 f4 h4; B Kf5 Rb5 h6 – knight fork check about to force the loss of black’s rook) 1-0
Gabriel Boross (1320) - Stuart Wilson (1119)
1 e4 g6, 2 d4 Bg7, 3 Nf3 d6, 4 Bc4 Nf6, 5 Nbd2 0-0, 6 0-0 Nbd7, 7 a3 c5, 8 c3 Nb6, 9 Ba2 Be6, 10 d5 Bd7, 11 Re1 Ba4, 12 Bb3 Qd7, 13 Nf1 c4, 14 Bxa4 Nxa4, 15 e5 Ng4, 16 Bf4 Nb6, 17 Qd2 Qb5, 18 h3 Qxd5, 19 hxg4 Qxd2, 20 Bxd2 d5, 21 e6 Na4, 22 Rb1 Nc5, 23 exf7+ Rxf7, 24 Ne3 Nd3, 25 Rf1 e6, 26 Ne1 Nf4, 27 f3 g5, 28 N3c2 Be5, 29 Bxf4 Bxf4, 30 Nd4 Rf6, 31 N1c2 Rh6, 32 Kf2 Rh2, 33 Rh1 e5, 34 Rxh2 Bxh2, 35 Nf5 Rf8, 36 g3 e4, 37 N2d4 h5, 38 Rh1 Bxg3+, 39 Kxg3 h4+, 40 Kg2 Re8, 41 Ne3 Re5, 42 Kf2 Kf7, 43 fxe4 Rxe4, 44 Kf3 Re5, 45 Rf1 Ke7, 46 Re1 Kf6, 47 Ndf5 h3, 48 Kg3 black resigned 1-0
James Hiller (unrated) - John Curran (unrated)
1 e4 d5, 2 d3 dxe4, 3 Nc3 Nf6, 4 f3 exd3, 5 cxd3 Nd5, 6 d4 Nxc3, 7 bxc3 e6, 8 Bb5+ Bd7, 9 Qd3 a6, 10 Bc4 Bd6, 11 Nh3 e5, 12 Qe3 0-0, 13 dxe5 Qe8, 14 Ng5 Bxe5, 15 Bxf7+ Kh8, 16 Bxe8 Rxe8, 17 Nf7 Kg8, 18 Nxe5 Nc6 (James is a clear queen ahead at this stage!!), 19 Qg5? (f4 will hold the piece) Rxe5+, 20 Qxe5 Nxe5, 21 0-0 Kf7, 22 Bf4 Re8, 23 Rae1 Kf6, 24 Bxe5+ Kf7, 25 Bxc7 Rc8, 26 Be5 b5, 27 f4 Be6, 28 f5 Bxa2, 29 f6 g6, 30 Rd1 Bc4, 31 Rd7+ Ke6, 32 Rd1? (Re7+ will save the piece) Kxe5, 33 f7 Rf8, 34 Re7+ Kf6, 35 Rd6+? (Rxe7 wins a rook) Kg7??, 36 Rxa6 Bxf7, 37 g4 Kg8, 38 h4 Bc4, 39 h5 g5, 40 Rh6 Rf7, 41 Re8+ Rf8, 42 Rxf8+ Kxf8, 43 Rxh7 Kg8, 44 Rh6 Kg7, 45 Rg6+ Kh7, 46 Rxg5 Bd3 (position W Kg1 Rg5 c3 g4 h5; B Kh7 Bd3 b5), 47 Rxb5?? Bxb5, 48 g5 Bd3, 49 g6+ Kh6, 50 Kf2 Bxg6, 51 c4? Kxh5, 52 Ke3 Be8, 53 Kd4 Kg5, 54 Kd5 Bf7+, 55 Kc5 Bxc4, 56 Kxc4 ½-½
Doug Foster (1222) – Harvey Quaresmini (1427)
1 Nf3 d5, 2 d4 g6, 3 b3 c5, 4 c3 Bg7, 5 Bb2 cxd4, 6 cxd4 Nc6, 7 e3 a6, 8 g3 Qc7, 9 Bg2 Bf5, 10 Nbd2 Nf6, 11 Rc1 0-0, 12 Ne5 Rac8, 13 Nxc6 bxc6, 14 0-0 Qa5, 15 a4 Qb6, 16 Ba3 Rfe8, 17 Bc5 Qb7, 18 Nf3 Nd7, 19 a5 bxa5, 20 bxa Nxc5, 21 Rxc5 Qa8, 22 Qd2 Qa7, 23 Rfc1 Qb7, 24 Bf1 Be4, 25 a6 Qc7, 26 Ng5 Bf5, 27 Rxd5 h6, 28 Nf3 Be4, 29 Rdc5 Bxf3, 30 Bg2 Bxg2, 31 Kxg2 Qb6, 32 Qd3 Rc7, 33 a5 Qa7, 34 Rxc6 Rec8, 35 d5 Be5, 36 Rb1 Rxc6, 37 dxc6 Rxc6, 38 Qd8+ Kg7, 39 Qd3 Rxa6, 40 f4 Bf6, 41 e4 e5, 42 fxe5 Bxe5, 43 Rb5 Rxa5, 44 Qd5 Rxb5, 45 Qxb5 Bxf6, 46 e5 Qa2+, 47 Kh3 Qe6+, 48 Kg2 Qxe5, 49 Qxe5 Bxe5, 50 Kf3 (Final position: W Kf3 g3 h2; B Kg7 Be5 f7 g6 h6) white resigns 0-1
Peter Hiller (1038) bye
Jul 26
Doug Foster 0 Gabriel Boross 1 (from Round 4)
Only one game played this week which sees Gabby join Andrew at the top on 5 wins from 5. Doug remains anchored at the other end with 0 from 5, however it needs to be noted that his 5 games have been against the 5 top players, so he should derive considerably more success on the run home.
Doug Foster (1222) – Gabriel Boross (1320)
No scoresheet available.
Aug 2
Michael Hussey 0 Harvey Quaresmini 1
Stuart Wilson 0 Peter Hiller 1
John Curran 1 Doug Foster 0 (from Round 7)
Several players were away tonight due to mid-winter illnesses. However 3 games were played on the night with Harvey, Peter and John victorious.
Michael Hussey (unrated) - Harvey Quaresmini (1436)
No scoresheet available.
Stuart Wilson (1098) - Peter Hiller (1132)
No scoresheet available.
John Curran (unrated) - Doug Foster (1211)
1 e4 d6, 2 Nc3 Nc6, 3 Nf3 Bg4, 4 Be2 g6, 5 a3 Bg7, 6 d4 Bxf3, 7 Bxf3 Nxd4, 8 Be3 Nxf3+, 9 Qxf3 e5, 10 0-0 Nf6, 11 Bg5 h6, 12 Bxf6 Qxf6, 13 Qxf6 Bxf6, 14 Nd5 Bd8, 15 f4 exf4, 16 Rxf4 0-0, 17 Re1 c6, 18 Nf6+ Bxf6, 19 Rxf6 Rad8, 20 Kf2 Kg7, 21 Rf3 Rde8, 22 Rfe3 f6, 23 b4 a6, 24 c4 f5, 25 e5 dxe5, 26 Rxe5 Rxe5, 27 Rxe5 Kf6, 28 Re3 Rd8, 29 Kf3 g5, 30 g3 h5, 31 h3 b6, 32 g4 hxg4, 33 hxg4 f4, 34 Rc3 Rh8, 35 Ke4 Re8+, 36 Kf3 Rd8, 37 Rb3 Rh8, 38 Ke4 Rh4, 39 c5 b5, 40 Rd3 Ke7, 41 Kf5 Rh7, 42 Kxg5 Rf7, 43 Rf3 Ke6, 44 Rxf4 Rg7, 45 Kh4 Rh7, 46 Kg3 Rg7, 47 Rf5 Rd7, 48 Rf4 Rh7 49 g5 Rf7, 50 Rxf7 Kxf7, 51 Kf4 Kg6, 52 Ke5 Kxg5, 53 Kd6 Kf5, 54 Kxc6 Ke5, 55 Kb6 Kd5, 56 Kxa6 Kc6, 57 Ka7 Kc7, 58 Ka6 Kc6, 59 Ka5 Kb7, 60 Kxb5 Kc7, 61 c6 Kb8, 62 Kb6 Ka8, 63 Kc7 Ka7, 64 Kd7 Kb8, 65 c7+ Ka7, 66 c8=Q Kb6, 67 Qc5+ Kb7, 68 Qc6+ Kb8, 69 Qb6+ Ka8, 70 Qb5 Ka7 black resigned 1-0
Aug 9
George Flitcroft-Smith ½ Gabriel Boross ½ (Round 6, played Monday 5 Aug)
Andrew Robinson 1 Michael Hussey 0 (Round 7)
Gabriel Boross 1 Brian Willcock 0 (Round 7)
Peter Hiller 0 George Flitcroft-Smith 1 (Round 7, awarded on forfeit)
Harvey Quaresmini 1 James Hiller 0 (Round 7)
John Curran 0 George Flitcroft-Smith 1 (Round 9)
Doug Foster 1 Stuart Wilson 0 (Round 11)
George and Gabriel played at Gabby’s residence on Monday 5 August, and this crucial game resulted in a draw. George had sacced a rook on f7 at move 18 to open up the play, but Gabby played safe against this onslaught and a draw was agreed to 8 moves later in a perpetual check situation.
On Friday a full list of 5 games was played (in addition to a forfeited game) with no great upsets. Michael attempted to maintain parity and aim for a draw in his game by exchanging off pieces at every opportunity. Unfortunately for him, positional play resulted in Andrew gaining a rook on the 7th rank and 2 mobile bishops against a rook and 2 knights all pinned to the back row.
Two games were decided by phenomenal blunders which produced instant resignations. Brian and Stuart were the culprits (again!), although both were in slightly inferior positions at the times of their respective disasters. James tried to outdo them however by invoking a disaster at every move. His opponent described this game as "James’ worst game of the year", although there were strong argument put forward by others in favour of his Flood Cup encounter with George…
John Curran played well against George. As late as move 44 he had a chance to force a draw – after the game the various sages of the club concluded that Bxc6 with the resultant queen for white a move earlier than black would force a draw.
George Flitcroft-Smith (1530) - Gabriel Boross (1344)
1 g3 e5, 2 Bg2 Nf6, 3 Nf3 Nc6, 4 d4 e4, 5 Ne5 d6, 6 Nxc6 bxc6, 7 f3 d5, 8 c4 Rb8, 9 fxe4 Nxe4, 10 Bxe4 dxe4, 11 Nc3 Bb4, 12 0-0 Bxc3, 13 bxc3 0-0, 14 Ba3 Re8, 15 Bc5 Rb7, 16 Qa4 Qg5, 17 d5 Rd8, 18 Rxf7 Kxf7, 19 Rf1+ Kg8, 20 Qxc6 (position: W Kg1 Qc6 Rf1 Bc5 a2 c3 c4 d5 e2 g3 h2; B Kg8 Qg5 Rb7 Rd8 Bc8 a7 c7 e4 g7 h7) h6? (an immediate h5 seems better), 21 e3 h5, 22 Rf4 Rb1+, 23 Kf2 Rb2+, 24 Kg1 Rb1+, 25 Kg2 Rb2+, 26 Kg1 draw agreed ½-½
Andrew Robinson (1546) - Michael Hussey (unrated)
1 d4 d5, 2 c4 dxc4, 3 Nc3 e5, 4 Nf3 exd4, 5 Qxd4 Qxd4, 6 Nxd4 Bb4, 7 Bd2 Bxc3, 8 Bxc3 f6, 9 e4 Bd7, 10 Bxc4 Nc6, 11 Ne6 Bxe6, 12 Bxe6 Rd8, 13 0-0 Nd4, 14 Bc4 c6, 15 Rfd1 b5, 16 Bf1 Ne6, 17 Rxd8 Nxd8, 18 a4 a6, 19 axb5 axb5, 20 Ra8 Kd7, 21 Ra7+ Ke8, 22 Rxg7 Ne6, 23 Ra7 Nd8, 24 Be2 h6? (…h5 better), 25 Bh5+ Kf8, 26 Bb4+ Ne7, 27 Bxe7+ Kg8, 28 Bxd8 Rh7, 29 Rxh7 Kxh7, 30 Bxf6 c5, 31 Kf1 b4, 32 Bf7 black resigns 1-0
Gabriel Boross (1344) - Brian Willcock (1195)
1 Nf3 c6, 2 d4 d5, 3 e3 Bg4, 4 Bd3 Nf6, 5 Nbd2 Nbd7, 6 0-0 e6, 7 c3 Bd6, 8 Qc2 Qc7, 9 e4 dxe4, 10 Bxe4 Nxe4, 11 Qxe4 Nf6, 12 Qe1 Bf4, 13 Ne5 Bf5, 14 Ndf3 Bxc1, 15 Rxc1 Bg4, 16 Nxg4 Nxg4, 17 h3 Nf6, 18 Rc2 h6, 19 Ne5 g5, 20 f3 Nd5, 21 Nd3 Nf4, 22 Nxf4 gxf4, 23 Qh4 Kd7, 24 Qf6 Rag8?, 25 Qxf7+ Kc8, 26 Qxe6+ Kb8, 27 Qe5 Rg3??, 28 Qxh8+ black resigns 1-0
Harvey Quaresmini (1436) - James Hiller (925)
1 e4 e5, 2 Nf3 Bd6, 3 Bc4 f6, 4 0-0 Ne7, 5 d4 b6, 6 Nh4 Ba6, 7 Bxa6 Nxa6, 8 Qg4 Ng6, 9 Nxg6 f5?, 10 exf5 Rg8?, 11 Nxe5 Bxe5, 12 dxe5 Qe7, 13 Bg5 Qxe5, 14 Nc3 Nb4?, 15 Rae1 h5?, 16 Rxe5+ Kf7, 17 Qxb4 g6?, 18 Qe7# 1-0
John Curran (unrated) - George Flitcroft-Smith (1530)
1 e4 Nf6, 2 Nc3 d5, 3 exd5 Bf5, 4 d3 g6, 5 Nf3 Bg7, 6 h3 Nxd5, 7 Nxd5, Qxd5, 8 g4 Qe6+, 9 Qe2 Qxe2+, 10 Bxe2 Bd7, 11 c3 Nc6, 12 Be3 h5, 13 0-0-0 hxg4, 14 hxg4 0-0-0, 15 d4 Rxh1, 16 Rxh1 Bxg4, 17 Kd2 Bxf3, 18 Bxf3 Ne5, 19 Ke2 Nc4, 20 Bc1 e5, 21 b3 Nd6, 22 Be3 e4, 23 Bg2 Rh8, 24 Rxh8 Bxh8, 25 Bf4 Nb5, 26 Kd2 f5, 27 f3 exf3, 28 Bxf3 Bf6, 29 Be5 Bg5+, 30 Kd3 c6, 31 b4 Kd7, 32 c4 Nc7, 33 a4 Bc1, 34 c5 a6, 35 Bxc7 Kxc7, 36 d5 g5, 37 d6+ Kd7, 38 Kd4 g4, 39 Be2 g3, 40 Bf3 Bf4, 41 Kc4 Be3, 42 b5 a5, 43 b6 Ke6, 44 Kd3?? (Bxc6 gives white a likely draw) Bxc5, 45 Kc4 Bxb6, 46 d7 Ke5, 47 Kd3 Kf4, 48 Ke2 c5, 49 Bxb7 c4, 50 Bf3 c3, 51 Bg2 Kg4, 52 Kd3 f4, 53 Kxc3 f3 (final position: W Kc3 Bg2 a4 d7; B Kg4 Bb6 a5 f3 g3) white lost on time 0-1
Doug Foster (1211) – Stuart Wilson (1098)
1 b3 e5, 2 e3 d6, 3 Bb2 g6, 4 d4 Nc6, 5 Bb5 Bd7, 6 Bxc6 Bxc6, 7 Nf3 Bg7, 8 dxe5 Bxf3, 9 Qxf3 dxe5, 10 Qxb7 Rb8, 11 Qc6+ Qd7, 12 Qxd7 Kxd7, 13 0-0 Ne7, 14 Nd2 Rhd8, 15 Rfd1 Ke8, 16 Nc4 Nc6, 17 a3 f6, 18 g3 e4, 19 Nd2 Ne5, 20 Bxe5 fxe5, 21 Nxe4 Rd7, 22 Nc5 Rd6, 23 Rxd6 cxd6, 24 Ne6 Bf6, 25 Nc7+ Kd7, 26 Nd5 Bg7, 27 e4 Bh6, 28 Rd1 Bg5, 29 f4 Bf6?? (Final position: W Kg1 Rd1 Nd5 a3 b3 c2 e4 f4 g3 h2; B Kd7 Rb8 Bf6 a7 d6 e5 g6 h7) black resigns 1-0
Aug 16
Michael Hussey 1 James Hiller 0
Andrew Robinson 1 Gabriel Boross 0
Only two games were played tonight, both from Round 8. In the game that may well prove decisive to the final outcome of the tournament, Andrew managed a win against Gabby, but this was only the result of a terrible blunder by black that gave away a rook, triggering an immediate resignation. The other game was seesawing with James having a clear winning advantage after move 17 - he was a clear rook plus the exchange ahead!! But a few gross blunders from James (particularly move 21!) allowed Michael to claw his way back into the game. The turnaround continued to such an extent that it was Michael who was several pieces up at the end and this material advantage allowed him to force black's resignation a move away from checkmate.
Michael Hussey (unrated) - James Hiller (925)
1 e4 d6, 2 d4 Nf6, 3 Nc3 e5, 4 d5 c6, 5 Bc4 Bg4, 6 f3 Bh5, 7 g4 Bg6, 8 h4 Nd7, 9 h5 Be7, 10 hxg6 Bh4+, 11 Ke2 hxg6, 12 dxc6 bxc6, 13 Qxd6 Qb6, 14 Rh2 Qxg1, 15 Bf4 Qxa1, 16 Rxh4 Rxh4, 17 Bxe5 Qxb2 (position: W Ke2 Qd6 Bc4 Be5 Nc3 a2 c2 e4 f3 g4; B Ke8 Qb2 Ra8 Rh4 Nb8 Nd7 a7 c6 f7 g6 g7), 18 Bb3 Kd8, 19 Qc7+ Ke7, 20 Qd6+ Ke8, 21 Bxg7 Rh2+, 22 Qxh2 Nc5, 23 Qe5+ Kd7, 24 Qxc5 Na6, 25 Qa5 Nc7, 26 Kd3 Rd8, 27 Bf6 Ke8, 28 Bxd8 Kxd8, 29 Qxa7 Ne6, 30 Qb8+ Ke7, 31 Qb7+ Kf6, 32 Qxc6 Ke5, 33 Qd5+ Kf4, 34 e5 f5, 35 exf6 Ng5, 36 f7 Nxf7, 37 Qxf7+ Kg5, 38 Ne4+ Kh4, 39 Qxg6 Qe5, 40 Qh7+ black resigns (40… Qh5, 41 Qxh5# is forced) 1-0
Andrew Robinson (1546) - Gabriel Boross (1344)
1 d4 d5, 2 c4 c6, 3 Nc3 Nf6, 4 Nf3 g6, 5 Bg5 Nbd7, 6 Qc2 Bg7, 7 e4 dxe4, 8 Nxe4 0-0, 9 Be2 Qa5+, 10 Bd2 Qd8, 11 0-0 Nxe4, 12 Qxe4 Nf6, 13 Qc2 Bf5, 14 Bd3 Bg4, 15 Be2 Bxf3, 16 Bxf3 Qxd4, 17 Be3 Qd8, 18 Rfe1 Qc7, 19 Rad1 Rad8, 20 Qb3 b6, 21 Qc2 e5, 22 b3 e4, 23 Bxe4 Ng4, 24 g3 Nxe3, 25 Rxe3 Bd4, 26 Re2 c5, 27 Bd5 Rde8, 28 Rde1 Qd6??, 29 Rxe8 black resigns 1-0
Aug 23
Brian Willcock 0 Peter Hiller 1 (Round 8)
Gabriel Boross 1 Michael Hussey 0 (Round 9)
Harvey Quaresmini 1 Stuart Wilson 0 (Round 9)
James Hiller 0 Doug Foster 1 (Round 9)
John Curran 0 Andrew Robinson 1 (Round 11)
The upset of the round saw Peter Hiller firm as favourite to win the Maiden Trophy section of this tournament with a win over Brian Willcock. An error of judgment in the exchanges of moves 16 to 19 saw Brian fall behind a piece. From this disaster he never recovered, finally delivering Peter the match in traditional fashion.
Gabriel managed to capitalise on an early piece advantage against Michael to win, although he had to withstand an all-out assault during the middle game. Stuart blundered a knight at move 22 which precipitated an early defeat through the resultant material and positional deficit.
James slowly but steadily lost material against Doug until the final checkmate on the back row. After the game the veteran Mr Foster gave young James a lecture on the advantages of remaining poker faced during a game of chess (example - don't grimace and sigh after you have just left a piece en pris!).
Andrew maintained a slight but firm advantage throughout the game against John, in terms of material, position, and on time. By the time John got into serious time trouble the game was all but over. However earlier on he may have benefited from less eagerness to exchange pieces when considering the resultant positional problems (example: move 8).
Brian Willcock (1195) – Peter Hiller (1132)
1 e4 e5, 2 Nf3 d6, 3 d4 Nf6, 4 Nc3 exd4, 5 Nxd4 c5, 6 Nf3 Bg4, 7 Bc4 Be7, 8 Qd3 Bxf3, 9 Qxf3 Nc6, 10 Bb5 Rc8, 11 Bg5 0-0, 12 0-0 a6, 13 Bc4 b5, 14 Bd5 Nd4, 15 Qd1 b4, 16 Ne2? (Bxf6 saves the piece) Nxd5, 17 Nxd4 Bxg5, 18 exd5 cxd4, 19 Qxd4 a5, 20 Rb1 Rxc2, 21 Qd3 Rc8, 22 a3 Rb8, 23 Qb3 Qd7, 24 axb4 Rxb4, 25 Qa3 Qb5, 26 Rfd1 Be7, 27 Ra1 Ra8, 28 Re1 Bf6, 29 Qe3 Bxb2, 30 Qe8+?? Rxe8 white resigns 0-1
Gabriel Boross (1344) - Michael Hussey (unrated)
1 d4 Nf6, 2 Nf3 h6, 3 Nbd2 d5, 4 c4 e6, 5 cxd5 exd5, 6 e3 Bb4, 7 Bd3 0-0, 8 0-0 Bg4, 9 Qb3 Nc6, 10 Ne5 Qc8, 11 Nxc6 bxc6, 12 Qxb4 Bh3, 13 Re1 Bxg2, 14 Bf1 Be4, 15 Nxe4 Nxe4, 16 f3 Ng5, 17 Bg2 Qe6, 18 e4 Qg6, 19 Bxg5 Qxg5, 20 exd5 cxd5, 21 Re5 Qf4, 22 Re1 Rb8, 23 Qc3 f5, 24 b3 Rf6, 25 Re8+ Rxe8, 26 Rxe8+ Kh7, 27 Qe3 Qh4, 28 Qf2 Qg5, 29 Re1 Rg6, 30 f4 Qg4, 31 Kh1 h5, 32 Rg1 h4, 33 Bf3 Qxg1+, 34 Qxg1 Rxg1+, 35 Kxg1 c6, 36 Be2 Kg6, 37 Kg2 Kf6, 38 Kh3 g5, 39 fxg5+ Kxg5, 40 Ba6 Kf4, 41 Kxh4 Ke4, 42 Kg3 Kxd4, 43 h4 Ke5, 44 h5 Kf6, 45 Kf4 c5, 46 h6 Kg6, 47 Bd3 Kxh6, 48 Kxf5 Kg7, 49 Ke6 Kf8, 50 Kxd5 Ke7, 51 Kxc5 Kd7, 52 Be4 Kc7, 53 Kb5 Kb8, 54 Ka6 Kc7, 55 Kxa7 (final position: W Ka7 Be4 a2 b3; B Kc7) black resigns 1-0
Harvey Quaresmini (1436) - Stuart Wilson (1098)
1 e4 g6, 2 d4 Bg7, 3 f4 d6, 4 Nf3 f5, 5 e5 Nc6, 6 c3 Nh6, 7 Qb3 d5, 8 Ng5 0-0, 9 Bd3 a6, 10 0-0 Na5, 11 Qc2 Bd7, 12 Kh1 e6, 13 Be3 Ng4, 14 Bg1 Bh6, 15 Qd2 Bxg5, 16 fxg5 Nc4, 17 Bxc4 dxc4, 18 h3 h6, 19 gxh6 Qh4, 20 Bf2 Qxh6, 21 Kg1 Qxd2, 22 Nxd2 b5? (Nh6 rescues the knight), 23 hxg4 fxg4, 24 Ne4 Bc6, 25 Nf6+ Kg7, 26 Nxg4 Rf4, 27 Nf6 Rh8, 28 Bg3 Rf5, 29 Rf2 Kh6, 30 Raf1 Kg5, 31 Rf4 (final position: W Kg1 Rf1 Rf4 Bg3 Nf6 a2 b2 c3 d4 e5 g2; B Kg5 Rf5 Rh8 Bc6 a6 b5 c4 c7 e6 g6) black resigns 1-0
James Hiller (925) - Doug Foster (1211)
1 e4 d6, 2 d4 Nf6, 3 Nf3 Nxe4, 4 Qe2 d5, 5 Qb5+ c6, 6 Qb3 g6, 7 Bd3 Bf5, 8 0-0 Qc7, 9 g3 Bg7, 10 c3 0-0, 11 Bf4 Qd7, 12 c4 e6, 13 cxd5 exd5, 14 Be5 Nc6, 15 Bb5 a6, 16 Bxc6 Qxc6, 17 Nc3 Nxc3, 18 bxc3 b5, 19 Rac1 Qc4, 20 Qa3 Rfc8, 21 Bd6 a5, 22 Ne5 Bxe5, 23 Bxe5 b4, 24 cxb4 Qxb4, 25 Qf3 Qe7, 26 Rc5 f6, 27 Bf4 e5, 28 Rxd5 exf4, 29 Qxf4 Qe4, 30 Qd6 Rd8, 31 Qc5 Qxd5, 32 Rc1 Qxc5, 33 dxc5 Rac8, 34 c6 Be4, 35 c7 Rd7, 36 Re1 f5, 37 Rc1 Rdxc7, 38 Rxc7 Rxc7, 39 Kf1 Bf3, 40 Ke1 Rd7, 41 h4 Rd1# 0-1
John Curran (unrated) - Andrew Robinson (1546)
1 e4 c5, 2 Nc3 Nc6, 3 Nf3 e6, 4 d3 Be7, 5 Be2 d6, 6 0-0 Nf6, 7 Bg5 0-0, 8 Bxf6 Bxf6, 9 a3 a6, 10 Qd2 b5, 11 b4 cxb4, 12 axb4 Nxb4, 13 Rb1 Nc6, 14 d4 Bb7, 15 d5 Ne7, 16 dxe6 fxe6, 17 Bd3 Rc8, 18 Na2 Ng6, 19 Rfe1 Ne5, 20 Nxe5 Bxe5, 21 f3 Qh4, 22 g3 Qf6, 23 Rf1 Bc3, 24 Nxc3 Qxc3, 25 Qxc3 Rxc3, 26 Kg2 d5, 27 exd5 Bxd5, 28 Rb4 Rfc8, 29 Rf2 Bc4, 30 Be4 a5, 31 Rb1 a4, 32 Bd3 Bxd3, 33 cxd3 R8c5, 34 d4 Rd5, 35 Re2 Kf7, 36 Reb2 Rxd4, 37 Rxb5 Rd2+, 38 Kh3 Rxf3, 39 Kg4 Rfd3, 40 Rf1+ Ke7, 41 Rb7+ Rd7, 42 Rxd7 Rxd7, 43 Rf3 Rd5, 44 h4 Ra5, 45 Ra3 Kd6, 46 Kf5 Kc5, 47 Re3 Ra6, 48 Re5+ Kd6, 49 Re2 a3, 50 Rd2+ Kc5, 51 Ra2 Kb4, 52 g4 Kb3, 53 Re2 a2, 54 Re3+ Kc2, 55 Re2+ Kd1, 56 Rxa2 Rxa2, 57 Kg5 Ke2, 58 h5 Kf3, 59 h6 g6, 60 Kf6 Kxg4, 61 Kxe6 Ra5, 62 Kf7 Kh5, 63 Kg7 Ra7+, 64 Kg8 Kxh6 (final position: W Kg8; B Kh6 Ra7 g6 h7) white lost on time 0-1
Aug 30
Brian Willcock 0 Andrew Robinson 1 (Round 6)
Stuart Wilson 1 James Hiller 0 (Round 10)
Gabriel Boross 1 Peter Hiller 0 (Round 10)
The fastest win of the year in tournament play was achieved by Andrew Robinson with a 14 move blitz of the club's rapid play specialist - veteran Mr Willcock - who appears to have run into a bad run of form. Brian's sad demise started with his disastrous ninth move from which he never recovered, although his resignation was perhaps hasty. When Andrew took more than 90 seconds on his 14th move, Brian said "Well if you're not going to make the obvious move then I'm going to resign", not seeing that the obvious move Bd4+ can be met with Kh8. (Note that 14… Qh2+, 15 Kf2 Qxg2+, 16 Ke1 Bg3+, 17 Rf2 Qg1+, 18 Kd2 Qxf2 winning a rook to add to the bishop advantage is forced). Andrew's win equalled Joe Tarnawski's record of 9 consecutive wins (achieved in 1992) and puts Andrew's score for the tournament out of reach of all but Harvey Q. Harvey can reach his total of 9 points - by beating Andrew next Friday and winning against George and Brian in the following weeks to force a play-off.
In other games Stuart avoided the wooden spoon, and James added another one to his collection. James said that he felt he pressed Stuart for most of the match. Stuart said nothing, and just smiled! Gabby beat Peter in a game that did not see a piece captured until move 18. However, Peter was constricted for space and got into all sorts of trouble from move 20. After the game Gabby said that he felt Peter wasn't playing at his best on the night. However Peter still remains favourite to win the Maiden. He needs 1½ points from his remaining 3 games against Doug, James and Michael to be certain of winning the Maiden Trophy.
Brian Willcock (1195) – Andrew Robinson (1546)
1 e4 c5, 2 f4 g6, 3 Nf3 Bg7, 4 e5 d6, 5 Be2 Nc6, 6 0-0 dxe5, 7 dxe5 Nxe5, 8 Nxe5 Bxe5, 9 Bc4?? Qd4+, 10 Kh1 Qxc4, 11 d3 Qh4, 12 h3 Qg3, 13 Kg1 Bxh3, 14 Qe2 white resigns 0-1
Stuart Wilson (1098) - James Hiller (925)
1 d4 d5, 2 e3 Nc6, 3 Bd3 Nf6, 4 c3 Bg5, 5 f3 Bh4, 6 Ne2 Qd6, 7 Ng3 e6, 8 Nxh4 Nxh4, 9 f4 0-0-0?, 10 Qxh4 g6, 11 Qe2 Be7, 12 0-0 Rhg8, 13 Rf3 Rcf8, 14 Nd2 g5, 15 Bxh7 Rh8, 16 Qd3 f5, 17 Bg6 gxf4, 18 exf4 Rfg8, 19 Bf7 Rg4, 20 Qe3 Rgh4, 21 h3 Nd8, 22 Bg6 Rg8, 23 Bxf5 exf5, 24 Nf1 Qg6, 25 Rg3 Qf7, 26 Nh2 Ne6, 27 Nf3 Rxf4, 28 Ne5 Qh7, 29 Nd7+ Kc8 (note: black's king must have walked from c8 to b8 somehow since move 9!!), 30 Qxe6 Rxg3 (Position: W Kg1 Qe6 Ra1 Bc1 Nd7 a2 b2 c3 d4 g2 h3; B Kc8 Qh7 Rf4 Rg3 Be7 a7 b7 c7 d5 f5), 31 Nf6+ Kd8, 32 Nxh7? (white captures the free queen instead of the one move mate: Qd7#) Re4, 33 Qxd5+ Kc8, 34 Bd2 Re2, 35 Bf4 Rd3, 36 Qb5 Bh4, 37 Qxd3 Bf2+, 38 Kf1 (Final position: W Kf1 Qd3 Ra1 Bf4 Nh7 a2 b2 c3 d4 g2 h3; B Kc8 Re2 Be2 a7 b7 c7 f5) black resigns 1-0
Gabriel Boross (1344) - Peter Hiller (1132)
1 d4 d5, 2 Nf3 e6, 3 Nbd2 Bd6, 4 e4 c6, 5 e5 Bc7, 6 Bd3 Ne7, 7 0-0 0-0, 8 c3 a5, 9 Qc2 Ng6, 10 Re1 f5, 11 Nf1 Nd7, 12 Be2 c5, 13 Ng5 Qe7, 14 Bh5 Nh8, 15 f4 g6, 16 Be2 c4, 17 b3 b5, 18 bxc bxc, 19 a4 Bb7, 20 Ba3 Qg7, 21 Nxe6 Qh6, 22 Bxf8 Nxf8, 23 Nxc7 Rc8, 24 Nb5 Qxf4, 25 Nd6 Rc2, 26 Nxb7 Rxb7, 27 Qd2 Qh4, 28 Bf3 Rd7, 29 e6 Re7, 30 Bxd5 g5, 31 Qf2 Qg4, 32 Ne3 Qf4, 33 Qxf4 gxf4, 34 Nxf5 Re8, 35 e7+ Nf7, 36 exf8=Q+ Rxf8, 37 Bxf7+ Rxf7, 38 Nh6 (Final position Kg1 Ra1 Re1 Nh6 a4 c3 d4 g2 h2; B Kg8 Rf7 a5 c4 f4 h7) black resigns 1-0
Sep 6
Andrew Robinson 1 Harvey Quaresmini 0 (Round 1)
James Hiller 0 George Flitcroft-Smith 1 (Round 11)
Two games played tonight. The decisive game to determine the tournament winner was won by Andrew against Harvey in a close game. Andrew managed to secure the game in the end with 2 well placed bishops. This gave him the first picket fence victory in a Gap tournament since 1997.
The other game provided the unusual fare we have come to expect when James takes on George. After the game George was flabbergasted to discover that James had once again played an illegal move that George had not spotted. This is the second week in a row that James has castled queenside and the king has ended up 1 square from the corner instead of 2 – hmmm, a trend is emerging! George used his trademark h5-h4-h3 opening (counter-Hiller variation) to its usual devastating effect. However, the game finished closer than expected with George only up by a rook and 3 pawns vs a rook and 1 pawn when James made the final fateful blunder. James is improving and played well to get this far into the game…
Andrew Robinson (1546) - Harvey Quaresmini (1436)
1 d4 Nf6, 2 c4 c5, 3 d5 b5, 4 e3 bxc4, 5 Bxc4 d6, 6 Nc3 g6, 7 Nf3 Bg7,
8 0-0 0-0, 9 Qc2 Nbd7, 10 e4 Ng4, 11 h3 Nge5, 12 Nxe5 Nxe5, 13 Be2 Bb7, 14 Be3 Rb8, 15 Rb1 a5, 16 Qd2 f5, 17 f4 Nd7, 18 exf5 Rxf5, 19 Bg4 Rf8, 20 Be6+ Kh8, 21 f5 Ne5, 22 b3 Ba6, 23 Rf4 Rf6, 24 Ne4 Rf8, 25 Rh4 Bf6, 26 Ng5 Bxg5, 27 Bxg5 Bd3, 28 fxg6 Bxg6, 29 Rf1 Rxf1+, 30 Kxf1 Bd3+, 31 Kg1 Qf8, 32 Qf4 Ng6, 33 Qxf8+ Rxf8, 34 Ra4 Rf1+, 35 Kh2 Rf2, 36 Bh6! Bf1, 37 Rxa5 Nf8, 38 Ra8 Rxg2+, 39 Kh1 Rf2, 40 Rxf8+ Rxf8, 41 Bxf8 c4, 42 Bxe7 h5, 43 bxc4 Bxc4, 44 a4 Kg7, 45 Bxd6 Kf6, 46 Kg2 h4, 47 Kf3 Bf1, 48 Kg4 Bd3, 49 a5 Bb5, 50 Bc8 Bc4, 51 Bb7 Bd3, 52 a6 Bf5+, 53 Kxh4 Be4, 54 a7 Bxd5, 55 Bxd5 Kg6, 56 a8=Q Kf6, 57 Qf8+ Kg6, 58 Be4# 1-0
James Hiller (925) - George Flitcroft-Smith (1530)
1 d4 h5, 2 Nf3 h4, 3 Bg5 h3, 4 gxh3 d6, 5 Bg2 Bxh3, 6 Bxh3 Rxh3, 7 Nc3 Nf6, 8 Qd3 Nc6, 9 Bxf6 gxf6, 10 0-0-0 (After the game it was deduced that James castled illegally – placing his king on b1 and rook on c1) Qd7, 11 Nd5 0-0-0, 12 Rhg1 Bh6, 13 Rcd1 Re8, 14 Qh7 Bc1, 15 Qxf7 Bxb2, 16 Kxb2 Nd8, 17 Rd3 Qb5+, 18 Rb3 Qxb3, 19 Kxb3 Rxf3+, 20 exf3 Nxf7, 21 Nxf6 exf6, 22 h4 Rh8, 23 Rg4 Kd7, 24 f4 c5, 25 Kc4 Rh5, 26 dxc5 Rxc5+, 27 Kb3 b5, 28 c3 a5, 29 Rg7 Ke6, 30 Rh7 a4+, 31 Kb4 Rf5, 32 h5 Rxf4+, 33 Kxb5 Rxf2, 34 h6 Nxh6, 35 Rxh6 Rxa2, 36 Kb4 Ke5, 37 Rh5+ f5, 38 c4 Ke4, 39 Rh6 Ke5, 40 Rh8 Ra1, 41 Re8+ Kf6, 42 Rd8 Ke7, 43 Ra8 Rb1+, 44 Kxa4?? Ra1+ (Final Position: W Ka4 Ra8 c4; B Ke7 Ra1 d6 f5) white resigns 0-1
Sep 13
James Hiller 1 Peter Hiller 0 (Round 4) – result awarded on forfeit
Michael Hussey 0 Doug Foster 1 (Round 10)
Brian Willcock ½ John Curran 1 (Round 10)
DOP’s note (from Hanoi, Vietnam!): "The Hiller game was scheduled for tonight but not played. As Peter has 3 remaining games unplayed he must forfeit this game according to the rules of the tournament. The Hussey-Foster game went for 38 moves while the Willcock-Curran encounter lasted 58 moves."
Stuart’s report: "Two one hour games played. Brian v John draw with John battling the clock at the end after 58 moves. Michael v Doug with a win to Doug after 38 moves when Michael resigned."
Brian’s report: "I played the longest game of the night and as a consequence can give only my game result and description…
I secured an early advantage positionally but then got ideas beyond my station : a combination that would that would win the exchange and a pawn while making John's uncastled King even more vulnerable. You will be astounded to learn that my analysis was a tiny bit faulty and the combination led to the sac of my Bishop for a pawn ,with some positional compensation. I failed to punish John for his exposed King, suffered his castling and his being able to hang on to a piece superiority into the endgame. Here weaknesses in his knowledge of the endgame lost him any chance of victory. With only two Rook pawns on the Kingside he exchanged off on the Queenside. With about six minutes left on his clock and confident in being a Bishop up he offered a draw. As his Bishop was of the wrong colour and there was an, unlikely, hope of time and my two Kingside pawns giving victory with his King on the other side of the board I saw no incentive to accept. Finally with my two pawns gone and John reduced to Rook pawn and a wrong coloured Bishop, I accepted the inevitable and said it was a draw. John did not believe me. I assured him it was a book draw. John did not believe me. So we played until he delivered stalemate in about two moves. Chris asserted he'd never played such a game. As I chased him with a meat cleaver he claimed that he had meant that he'd never played a game in which there'd been a wrong coloured Bishop and Rook pawn ending. I am not sure I accept his inclination and will not be nominating him as Pres at the AGM. Finally I wish to assure you that there is no truth in the rumour that the club is going to give me a special encouragement ribbon when I finally win a game."
Michael Hussey (unrated) - Doug Foster (1211)
1 e4 c6, 2 d4 d6, 3 Nc3 Nf6, 4 Nf3 Bg4, 5 Be2 g6, 6 d5 cxd5, 7 e5 dxe5, 8 Nxe5 Bxe2, 9 Qxe2 Bg7, 10 Qb5+ Nfd7, 11 Qxb7 Nb6, 12 Nc6 Bxc3+, 13 bxc3 Nxc6, 14 Qxc6+ Qd7, 15 Qxd7 Nxd7, 16 0-0 0-0, 17 Ba3 Rfe8, 18 f4 e6, 19 Rab1 Nb6, 20 Kf2 Nc4, 21 Bc1 Reb8, 22 Rxb8 Rxb8, 23 a4 a6, 24 Ke2 Nd6, 25 Kd3 Rc8, 26 Bd2 h5, 27 h4 Nf5, 28 Be1 Rc4, 29 a5 Ra4, 30 c4 Rxc4, 31 Bf2 Rxf4, 32 Ke2 Rg4, 33 g3 Nxg3+, 34 Bxg3 Rxg3, 35 Rf4 Ra3, 36 Rb4 Rxa5, 37 Rb8+, Kg7, 38 Kd3 Ra4 (Final Position: W Kd3 Rb8 c2 h4; B Kg7 Ra4 a6 d5 e6 f7 g6 h5) white resigns 0-1
Brian Willcock (1195) - John Curran (unrated)
1 e4 e5, 2 Nf3 Nc6, 3 d4 exd4, 4 Nxd4 Nxd4, 5 Qxd4 d6, 6 Nc3 Nf6, 7 Bc4 a6, 8 Nd5 Nxd5, 9 Bxd5 Qd7, 10 Bh6 c5, 11 Qc3 f6, 12 0-0-0 gxh6, 13 Qxf6 Qg7, 14 e5 dxe5, 15 Qb6 Be7, 16 Bxb7 Bxb7, 17 Qxb7 0-0, 18 Rd7 Rfe8, 19 Qd5+ Kf8, 20 Re1 Rad8, 21 Rd1 Rxd7, 22 Qxd7 Bg5+, 23 Kb1 Qxd7, 24 Rxd7 Re7, 25 Rd8+ Re8, 26 Rd5 Rd8, 27 c4 Rxd5, 28 cxd5 Ke7 (Position: W Kb1 a2 b2 d5 f2 g2 h2; B Ke7 Bg5 a6 c5 e5 h6 h7), 29 Kc2 Kd6, 30 f3 Kxd5, 31 Kd3 h5, 32 h3 c4+, 33 Kc3 Be3, 34 b4 Bd4+, 35 Kd2 c3+, 36 Kd3 c2, 37 Kxc2 Kc4, 38 a3 a5, 39 bxa5 Kb5, 40 Kd3 Kxa5, 41 f4 Kb5, 42 fxe5 Bxe5, 43 Ke4 Bd6, 44 Kf5 h4, 45 Kg5 Be7+, 46 Kh6 Ka4, 47 Kxh7 Kxa3, 48 Kg6 Kb4 (Position: W Kg6 g2 h3; B Kb4 Be7 h4), 49 Kf5 Kc4, 50 Ke5 Kc3, 51 Kf3 Kd4, 52 g4 Ke5, 53 Ke3 Bg5+, 54 Kf3 Kd4, 55 Ke2 Ke4, 56 Kf1 Kf3, 57 Kg1 Kg3, 58 Kh1 (Position: W Kh1 g3 h4; B Kg3 Bg5 h4) continued for a few moves until stalemate reached ½-½
Sep 20
George Flitcroft-Smith 1 Harvey Quaresmini 0 (Round 10)
Peter Hiller 0 Michael Hussey 1 (Round 11) – result awarded on forfeit
DOP’s note (from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!): "Peter Hiller once again did not attend on Friday night, putting his straightforward march to the Maiden Trophy at risk. He must now score at least a draw next week against Doug to win the Maiden. Failure to do so will see a 3-way play-off to decide the winner of the Maiden Trophy, between Peter, Michael Hussey and John Curran. In the other game, George clinched 3rd place with his win over Harvey."
Stuart’s report contained results only.
Brian’s report: "Tonight George beat Harvey in a typically aggressive game that lasted about 23 moves. The post mortem suggested that the powerful attack ending in mate was not quite sound, that Harvey could have blunted it with precise play. With George a piece down this could have changed the result. But of course hindsight is not match sight. Harvey then offered to play his game with Brian, who cravenly declined on the grounds that it was 9.10 and he had been playing taxing lightning with Chris for half an hour….
With the 60 minute games over before 9.15 the club turned on the fascistic DOP by taking advantage of his absence to prematurely play Allegro tournament games."
Sep 27
Harvey Quaresmini 1 Brian Willcock 0 (Round 11)
One game played tonight, with Harvey wrapping up outright 4th position. One final fixture remains to be played: Peter Hiller v Doug Foster will be played next Friday night (4 October 2002).
Harvey Quaresmini (1436) - Brian Willcock (1195)
1 e4 e5, 2 Nf3 d6, 3 Bc4 Be7, 4 c3 c6, 5 d4 b5, 6 Bb3 Nd7, 7 0-0 Ngf6, 8 Qd3 0-0, 9 Bc2 a5, 10 Re1 Ba6, 11 Kh1 Ng4, 12 Be3 b4, 13 c4 Nb6, 14 b3 Bh4, 15 Re2 a4 (d5 may be worth a try), 16 h3 Nxe3, 17 fxe3 Bg3, 18 Nbd2 axb3, 19 Bxb3 c5, 20 Nf1 Bh4 (Position: W Kh1 Qd3 Rd1 Re2 Bb3 Nf1 Nf3 a2 c4 d4 e3 e4 g2 h3; B Kg8 Qd8 Ra8 Rf8 Ba6 Bh4 Nb6 b4 c5 d6 e5 f7 g7 h7), 21 Rd1 Na4?!?, 22 Bxa4 Bxc4, 23 Qxc4 Rxa4, 24 dxc5 Be7, 25 Nxe5 Qa8, 26 cxd6 Bf6, 27 Nd7 Bc3, 28 Nxf8 Rxf8, 29 d7 Ra8, 30 Rf2 Rd8, 31 Ng3 g6, 32 Ne2 Qg7, 33 Nxc3 bxc3, 34 Rc2 Qf6, 35 Rxc3 Qh4, 36 Rdc1 g5, 37 Rf1 Rxd7, 38 Qc8+ Rd8, 39 Qxd8+ Kg2, 40 Qf6+ black resigns 1-0
Oct 4
No games were played tonight. The final game of the tournament will be played next Friday (11 October 2002). If Peter Hiller achieves a win or a draw against Doug Foster he will win the Maiden Trophy for 2002. If he loses he will have to compete in a 3-way play-off to decide the Maiden winner.
Oct 11
After discussions with Doug and Peter it was decided that their game should be awarded to Doug on forfeit as he had come on 3 nights to play the game and Peter had not shown up. This meant that a 3 way play-of would now take place to decide the Maiden Trophy. The first game was played tonight, with Peter overcoming John to firm as favourite to win the trophy. Over the next 2 Friday night Michael is scheduled to play Peter and John to complete the play-off round.
Peter Hiller 0 Doug Foster 1 (from Round 5, won on forfeit)
Maiden Trophy play-off:
Peter Hiller 1 John Curran 0
Peter Hiller (1132) - John Curran (unrated)
1 e4 e5, 2 Be2 Nc6, 3 Nf3 d6, 4 0-0 Bg4, 5 Nc3 Bxf3, 6 Bxf3 Nd4, 7 d3 Nxf3, 8 Qxf3 Qf6, 9 Qe3 h6, 10 Nd5 Qd8, 11 f4 Nf6, 12 Nxf6 Qxf6, 13 fxe5 Qxe5, 14 d4 Qe7, 15 c3 c5, 16 d5 Qe5, 17 Bd2 f6, 18 Rf5 Qe7, 19 c4 0-0-0, 20 Bc3 Qf7, 21 a3 Be7, 22 b4 b6, 23 b5 Kc7, 24 a4 Ra8, 25 a5 Rhb8, 26 a6 g6, 27 Rff1 g5, 28 e5 dxe5, 29 Bxe5+ Bd6, 30 Rxf6 Qe7, 31 Bd6+ Qxd6, 32 Rxd6 Kxd6, 33 Qe6+ Kc7, 34 d6+ Kd8, 35 Rf1 Rc8, 36 Rf8# 0-1
Oct 18
Maiden Trophy play-off: --- no games played tonight.
Oct 25
Maiden Trophy play-off:
John Curran 0 Michael Hussey 1
The Maiden Trophy will be decided next week when Michael faces Peter Hiller.
John Curran (unrated) – Michael Hussey (unrated)
1 e4 c5, 2 Nc3 e5, 3 Nf3 Nc6, 4 Bb5 Ne7, 5 0-0 a6, 6 Bxc6 Nxc6, 7 d3 h6, 8 Be3 Ne7, 9 Bxc5 d6, 10 Be3 d5, 11 exd5 Nxd5, 12 Nxd5 Qxd5, 13 c4 Qe6, 14 b3 Bb6, 15 Nd2 0-0, 16 c5 Bc7, 17 b4 Rd8, 18 Nb3 b6, 19 cxb6 Bxb6, 20 d4 Bb7, 21 Qe2 exd4, 22 Nxd4 Bxd4, 23 Rd1 Qe4, 24 Qf3 Qxf3, 25 gxf3 Bxe3, 26 fxe3 Rxd1, 27 Rxd1 Bxf3, 28 Rd6 Be2, 29 Kf2 Bc4, 30 a4 Rb8, 31 b5 axb5, 32 axb5 Bxb5, 33 Rd5 Ba6, 34 Rd6 Ra8, 35 Kf3 Bb7, 36 Kf2 Kf8, 37 Rd7 Rb8, 38 Rc7 Ke8, 39 Bh1 Rc1, 40 Rb3 Rxh1, 41 Rxe3+ Re6, 42 Kf3 Ke7, 43 Rg1 Kf6, 44 h3 g5, 45 Kg4 Re4+, 46 Rh4 Kg3, 47 Kg3 Rh4, 48 Rf1 f5, 49 Kg2 g4, 50 hxg4 Rxg4, 51 Kh3 Kg5, 52 Rf3 Rh4+, 53 Kg2 f4, 54 Rf2 Kg4, 55 Rf3 h5, 56 Rd3 Kf5, 57 Rf3 Rg4+, 58 Kh3 h4, 59 Ra3 Rg3+, 60 Rxg3 hxg3, 61 Kg2 Ke4, 62 Kh3 Kf3, 63 Kh4 g2 white resigns 0-1
Nov 1
Maiden Trophy play-off:
Michael Hussey 1 Peter Hiller 0
Michael Hussey won the Maiden Trophy after a torrid struggle with Peter Hiller. After the opening Michael had developed a slight initiative. Then Peter hit back and was a pawn up with initiative at a stage when both players had 15 minutes left. Michael retrieved the pawn with the rook exchange at f4, but then pieces were exchanged leading to a rook endgame in which Peter had the marauding rook, while Michael's rook was defending pawns. Through the tense final half hour of the game Michael managed his time better and still had over 6 minutes left when Peter had less than 2 minutes. Peter asked the DOP about the rules as he was a pawn up in a rook ending but in dire time trouble. He was informed he could make a draw claim if he wished, but must make the claim with time on his clock. Peter did not make a claim. The game continued until Peter’s flag fell and Michael claimed a win on time. Both players looked like they had just done 10 rounds with Mike Tyson after the game had finished (except that they had both ears fully intact!).
Michael Hussey (unrated) – Peter Hiller (1132)
1 e4 e5, 2 f4 d6, 3 Nf3 Bg4, 4 Be2 Bxf3, 5 Bxf3 Be7, 6 0-0 Nf6, 7 Nc3 0-0, 8 d4 Nc6, 9 d5 Nd4, 10 Be3 c5, 11 Ne2 Nxf3, 12 Rxf3 Nxe4, 13 Rh3 f5, 14 Qd3 Bf6, 15 c3 a6, 16 Rf1 b5, 17 fxe5 Bxe5, 18 Rhf3 c4, 19 Qc2 Qd7, 20 Nd4 Bxd4, 21 Bxd4 Rae8, 22 g4 f4, 23 Rxf4 Rxf4, 24 Rxf4 Ng5, 25 Kg2 Qb7, 26 Qf5 Qe7, 27 h4 Ne4, 28 g5 g6, 29 Qg4 Nd2, 30 Kg3 Qe1+, 31 Bf2 Re3+, 32 Kg2 Qf1+, 33 Kh2 (Position: W Kh2 Qg4 Rf4 Bf2 a2 b2 c3 d5 g5 h4; B Kg8 Qf1 Re3 Nd2 a6 b5 c4 d6 g6 h7) Qe2, 34 Kg2 Qxg4, 35 Rxg4 Re5, 36 Rd4 Ne4, 37 Bg3 Nxg3, 38 Kxg3 Re2, 39 Rd1 Rxb2, 40 Ra1 b4, 41 cxb4 Rxb4, 42 Rc1 Rb2, 43 Rxc4 Rxa2 (Final position: W Kg3 Rc4 d5 g5 h4; B Kg8 Ra2 a6 d6 g6 h7) White won on time 1-0
One Hour Tournament: Final Standings
All players to play 10 games
|
No. |
NAME |
POINTS |
PLAYED |
|
1 |
Andrew Robinson |
10 |
10 |
|
2 |
Gabriel Boross |
8½ |
10 |
|
3 |
George Flitcroft-Smith |
8 |
10 |
|
4 |
Harvey Quaresmini |
7 |
10 |
|
5 |
Brian Willcock |
5 |
10 |
|
6 |
Doug Foster |
4 |
10 |
|
7 |
John Curran |
3 |
10 |
|
8 |
Peter Hiller |
3 |
10 |
|
9 |
Michael Hussey |
3 |
10 |
|
10 |
Stuart Wilson |
2 |
10 |
|
11 |
James Hiller |
1½ |
10 |
Maiden Trophy play-off: Final Standings
All players to play 2 games
|
No. |
NAME |
POINTS |
PLAYED |
|
1 |
Michael Hussey |
2 |
2 |
|
2 |
Peter Hiller |
1 |
2 |
|
3 |
John Curran |
0 |
2 |