Sussex League 2024-25

After hasty discussions and negotiation with the Sussex League, we have rejoined for the season 2024-25 and we will be rejoining in Division 4.  There was a lot of speculation on what this could mean for the club and effect on club sessions, but fortunately we have joined with some other new teams and the impact is not so bad.  We have now received the League fixtures for the season and they are as follows:-

April Update

Just by way of an update on our recent away semi-final match against Bexhill 1 in The Sussex County Paul Watson Trophy – sadly we lost, but it could not have been much closer !  As expected, we were out-rated by almost 200 on every board bar the top one and they fielded a side the average of which was only judiciously seven under the limit, whereas ours was a good deal more !  Joseph continued his fine form with a convincing win on Board 4, and then midway through the session Arran agreed a draw on Board 1.  This left the match very much in the hands of Michael and I.  Obviously we could not communicate but the looks between us as father and son conveyed what we both felt, that we could win the match only if both of us drew, but as well as studying our own board we studied the other’s and both felt that positionally although even, neither of us looked solid, so one of us might have to win. We then both tried gently to become more aggressive. Michael then lost material so I had to push even harder and separated my queen from the two rooks feeling they would solidly defend the position and enable my queen to maraud for advantage. However my opponent who recently was rated over 400 higher than me completed a devastating sacrifice of a rook, so soon after that both of us lost.  All of that said, this finished off a very strong first season campaign back for the club, so we cannot and should not be disappointed.

This update has no real dates to offer as normal club sessions will continue every Wednesday throughout May. That said, we are looking to run one of our blitz tournaments in May at a club session for some fun and variety. I was thinking of avoiding the half-term holiday and may take a straw poll as I did last week at our club session tomorrow (today the 30th) on any other dates to avoid.  If you wish me to avoid a date, then you can also reply back to this email.

Lastly tomorrow (today the 30th) is the deadline for the quarter-finals of the club’s Knockout tournament, and we have three yet to be played before attendance becomes the deciding factor, so tomorrow is the last day for Mark v Brian, Arran v Farah & Ian v Alex.

I look forward to seeing you soon

March Update - League and Paul Watson Trophy

March has been a very good month for us:-  early in the month we hosted the second team of Bexhill club in the quarter-final of the Sussex County Chess Association Paul Watson trophy.  We were out-rated badly on most boards, but it was one of those occasions where all four of our team found their best chess and we won 4-0, surprising many including ourselves.  OK – my game may have been fortunate as I was down for most of the game having been the exchange down and then sprang a trap not just to equalise but going ahead to be the exchange up. We were both moving towards time pressure and although I am confident because of the practice we have on blitz play in the club that I may have progressed to the win anyway, my opponent became flustered and knocked a piece down, whilst moving his rook. In then pressing the clock after putting his sole rook down, we both realised he had blundered and left it on offer.   Whilst I had every sympathy and was at one point keen for him to make amends, he did resign. Everyone else seemed to be more on fire at the start, with if anything Joseph’s game being the most equal up until the endgame, where again he showed great prowess in finishing the game well for the win. Michael and Arran were more considered, though Arran progressed to his win very quickly.  We have the privilege of moving on to the semi-final – but we now have to go to Bexhill on 11th April and face their first team. I am sure the one word they will have uppermost is revenge, whereas we have nothing to lose having not expected to reach this stage.

Ten days ago we travelled for our last League game of the season away to East Grinstead Bookshop, where hospitality is always good and it is such a great venue. As soon as we walked in to the playing area set-up, my son Michael averred that this was the worst place for his father to play as he would be looking at the books. He was not wrong and I made a deal on one book shortly after entering ! However again our chess as a team went well.  This time Joseph had the most lively game, where gambits failed and he was materially down in the middle game, trying everything to get back into it. At a key moment his opponent touched the wrong piece, and politely Joseph pointed out the rule of `touch a piece, you have to move it’. His opponent entertained the whole room with epithets (expletives deleted) about the stupidity of rules, and stormed off which we all took as a resignation. My game was second to finish and once again I came back from being the exchange down (I have to look at that) but everyone assumed (wrongly) that it was a ploy, as my opponent kindly maintained his central attack, even allowing a generous swap-off, enabling me to advance passed pawns carefully, and by the time he realised the danger it was too late.  Joseph and I then enjoyed the host hospitality for some while, and when I went back to check on Michael and Arran, almost immediately Michael’s opponent surrendered material and resigned, at which with the match over Arran’s opponent offered a draw, which Arran had offered earlier, and so agreement was reached in a closer match.  We therefore won 3.5-0.5.  Now we knew beforehand that a promotion placing as runners-up in Division 4 was out of our hands and required that same night Eastbourne at home to beat East Grinstead, as the former had done to us and Hastings, or even a draw would have sufficed. We did not find out until the next day, but the score was 1.5-2.5 to East Grinstead, so we missed it by half a point !  Half a point is the phrase for our season, as if we had gained that in either of the two matches we lost, or the one we drew, then we would have been not just runners-up, but champions.  Never mind, there is always next year – and we still have a semi-final to play before the season is over.  It has been a good return for the club to competitive play for the first time in four years.  Brian.

Wednesday 16th October 2024 – HOME vs Worthing 3  WON 3-1.  Arran and Joe won, Michael and Brian both drew

For those who want a little more detail of the match, we played Worthing 3 and before the season started I honestly felt they would be the toughest nut to crack in our Division, but I am usually wrong on that as if you follow football invariably the Championship favourites stumble against a supposed minnow.  Anyway the match started well for all four of us and an hour in, was looking good. Before that time, Arran on Board 1 was seemingly being very patient and waiting for an error, but Michael, Joseph and I were all making good progress. On Board 3 from the opening I was playing someone new to the League and went a piece and a pawn up, wondering if they had their board order drastically wrong as their veteran captain was facing Joseph on Board 4. Soon after although I accepted the advantage and had wondered by doing so at the weakening of my defence, I soon had to defend for my life though afterwards he admitted that had not been planned on his part.  In the exchanges we ended up with mostly scattered pawns, although a couple of mine were strong and I had two rooks against his queen. Usually there is a slight advantage to the rooks but I knew it would be a long haul and my opponent offered a draw, so I checked the other games again and just as I did so, Arran’s opponent resigned as he had made a drastic mistake.  Looking at Michael and Joseph’s positions I was fairly confident of both winning, but sure that at least one would so I agreed the draw to put us 1.5-0.5 up as my own progress to a win was fraught. Joseph then went on to complete a massive first win for the club against their captain in which he offered no chances, and planned and executed a great attack on his opponent’s king position.  So we knew we had won as we were 2.5-0.5 up with one game to go.  Michael at one stage was two pawns up but in making progress had to weaken his pawn structure, which made his progress more difficult and as he had been on an early shift and had one to face the next day, he showed tenacity when his opponent first offered a draw, but by the second occasion it was the sensible option.  So we ended up winning our first League game back 3-1, with none of us beaten.

Many thanks to Ian and Alex as our reserves for help with the set-up, and to Tess for helping with the refreshments.  Brian.

Tuesday 29th October 2024 – AWAY vs Horsham 6  WON 3 1/2-1/2.  Arran, Brian and Joe won, Michael drew

Our team travelled to Horsham last week to play Horsham 6, and we returned victorious by a score of 3.5-0.5 and we now sit at the top of the table in Division 4. The match had challenges on most boards, but not on mine. I played a promising junior who became too greedy, yet not enough as he compiled an attack on my castled king with insufficient pieces and ended up losing his queen, when it should have been just a bishop and pawn.  I could have been finished within 40 minutes but despite my queen and two pawn advantage he continued for another 14 moves and nearly 30 minutes and I was accused of showboating from our team by finishing with a pawn checkmate ! Michael had a much more even struggle under a far more sustained attack on his king and defended well – given the balance on other boards, he agreed a draw which was afterwards proved as justified since a possible further attack from his opponent would have netted a two pawn advantage.  Joseph started his game with the whole team in shock that after his victory in our first match he had been allocated a provisional ECF rating of 1776, which would if credible place him on our Board 2.  Horsham initially had a no-show on Board 4 against Joseph and inserted a late substitute. It transpired that he was rated at 1529, so should have been on their Board 2. Their captain drew me aside and we agreed not to restart the match and change boards, as I expressed then every confidence in Joseph matching his opponent. There were times when I questioned my judgement, especially when Joseph lost a bishop, but with really focused play he pushed and defended a passed pawn and his opponent gave up the clear advantage and more in seeking to remove it– but without success and duly resigned.  The game on Board 1 for Arran had for a long time been seen as a banked win by the rest of us, especially when Arran went a rook up – but our greatest player toyed with us and his opponent, but particularly with his clock, as at one stage he went down to 15 seconds in plotting the path home to the win.  Hopefully Arran will continue his domination of opponents, but not repeat the health scare to the blood pressure of his team-mates !  So we are at present undefeated as a team with strong wins, and as yet not one of us has been beaten either !   Brian.

Friday 15th November 2024 – AWAY vs Eastbourne 5

Wednesday 4th December 2024 – HOME vs Brighton & Hove 4

Wednesday 22nd January 2025 – HOME vs Hastings & St Leonards 4

Wednesday 5th February 2025 – HOME vs East Grinstead 3

Friday 21st March 2025 – AWAY vs East Grinstead Bookshop

To these will be added at least one match in the Knockout trophy, and we will be joining again the Sussex County Chess Association Paul Watson Trophy, the draw for both of which has yet to be made. So certainly two more matches, but maybe more if we make progress.

Brian