Post by admin on Mar 9, 2013 20:07:59 GMT
On Tuesday 5th March, our 3rd team played their Mid-Sussex League division 2 match away to Lewes 2. Headline results were (grades in bracket Jan 13 grades):
1 James Pullan (152) 0 v 1 Ollie Willson (161)
2 Daniel Brooks (139) 0 v 1 Derek Cosens (130)
3 Matthew Britnell (138) 0 v 1 Gary Willson (111)
4 Andy Mitchell (138) 1 v 0 Paul Buswell (106)
5 Keith Osborne (130) 0 v 1 Mason Woodhams (108)
Match won 1 - 4. Average grades: Lewes 140, HSL 123.
We knew it would be a tough match, as they would likely outgrade us on all boards apart from the top. However, we knew that Ollie and Derek have been playing well recently and a win for both of them was not impossible: if they could manage that, then a draw on any of the 3 bottom boards and would steal a half match point.........
I lost the toss as usual, and we played Black on odd boards.
Paul was the first to finish (his first MSL match proper for over 10 years I understand). He unfortunately walked into a line of the Alekhine that his opponent took a liking to, and made it show from early on. With an active black queen rampaging through, it was only a matter of time before the towel was thrown in. I think Paul was being a little harsh on himself saying he played like a double expletive: it can happen like that when you consider the grading difference. At least he was able to keep an eye on the football and keep us updated!
Ollie finished next. He had a very solid Sicilian that seemed to tie all of his opponents pieces up in the centre of the board protecting pawns. The position was level but the pressure was all Ollies. Unfortunately, James tried an elaborate forcing Queen swap which failed to Ollie's intermezzo check, so the lady fell for a song. Game over and an early bath.
Derek finished next with a comfortable solid win. He deliberately castled long to enable his king side pawns to storm down onto black's King, and black had few answers. It was in reality a fairly regulation victory.
With the match score at 2 - 1 to us, it was down to Mason and myself to try and get a half point for the tie. Mason managed to turn a d4 opening into his favourite Dragon Sicilian via a Sniper (erm, I think that's what he said!) and got a comfortable position. It was double edged with chances for both sides when Mason exerted some pressure and a Lewes pawn fell without compensation. Rather astonishingly, Keith resigned a position that whilst difficult was by no means "lost", but it meant we won the match.
My game was a typical Alekhine, with black challenging white to use the space given to him. By move 20 I have managed to swap off 2 minor pieces and was in a comfortable position: my opponent was attacking, but I had no real weaknesses, so I was able to counterattack swiftly and grab a pawn destroying his position. It was only a matter of time before my extra piece activity meant either mate of a decisive loss of material, so he resigned.
All in all an excellent match, with a fine victory against the odds. Many many thanks to the players who were able to stand in at the last moment, all credit to the whole team.
Gary Willson
1 James Pullan (152) 0 v 1 Ollie Willson (161)
2 Daniel Brooks (139) 0 v 1 Derek Cosens (130)
3 Matthew Britnell (138) 0 v 1 Gary Willson (111)
4 Andy Mitchell (138) 1 v 0 Paul Buswell (106)
5 Keith Osborne (130) 0 v 1 Mason Woodhams (108)
Match won 1 - 4. Average grades: Lewes 140, HSL 123.
We knew it would be a tough match, as they would likely outgrade us on all boards apart from the top. However, we knew that Ollie and Derek have been playing well recently and a win for both of them was not impossible: if they could manage that, then a draw on any of the 3 bottom boards and would steal a half match point.........
I lost the toss as usual, and we played Black on odd boards.
Paul was the first to finish (his first MSL match proper for over 10 years I understand). He unfortunately walked into a line of the Alekhine that his opponent took a liking to, and made it show from early on. With an active black queen rampaging through, it was only a matter of time before the towel was thrown in. I think Paul was being a little harsh on himself saying he played like a double expletive: it can happen like that when you consider the grading difference. At least he was able to keep an eye on the football and keep us updated!
Ollie finished next. He had a very solid Sicilian that seemed to tie all of his opponents pieces up in the centre of the board protecting pawns. The position was level but the pressure was all Ollies. Unfortunately, James tried an elaborate forcing Queen swap which failed to Ollie's intermezzo check, so the lady fell for a song. Game over and an early bath.
Derek finished next with a comfortable solid win. He deliberately castled long to enable his king side pawns to storm down onto black's King, and black had few answers. It was in reality a fairly regulation victory.
With the match score at 2 - 1 to us, it was down to Mason and myself to try and get a half point for the tie. Mason managed to turn a d4 opening into his favourite Dragon Sicilian via a Sniper (erm, I think that's what he said!) and got a comfortable position. It was double edged with chances for both sides when Mason exerted some pressure and a Lewes pawn fell without compensation. Rather astonishingly, Keith resigned a position that whilst difficult was by no means "lost", but it meant we won the match.
My game was a typical Alekhine, with black challenging white to use the space given to him. By move 20 I have managed to swap off 2 minor pieces and was in a comfortable position: my opponent was attacking, but I had no real weaknesses, so I was able to counterattack swiftly and grab a pawn destroying his position. It was only a matter of time before my extra piece activity meant either mate of a decisive loss of material, so he resigned.
All in all an excellent match, with a fine victory against the odds. Many many thanks to the players who were able to stand in at the last moment, all credit to the whole team.
Gary Willson