2018/19 Knockout Team

The Knockout competition in the MSCL has it's own rather complicated set of rules, run as a grading based handicap and with a time control that ensures finishes on the night with no adjournments etc.

Uckfield did not need to play in the Preliminary Round this year and our first match was on December 11th, which we won.  Second match was at home v Worthing.

First Round -  away versus Woodpushers 2.

Woodpushers 2 were the reigning champions having beaten Woodpushers 1 in last years final.  

It was a hard battle and the gradings meant that we needed to win by 3.5-1.5 to progress. All was going really well on all boards until your captain – yes, me – committed the cardinal sin of falling for a discovered check which several moves before I had well noted and planned against, but when it happened I found that I was one defensive move short, so the usual failing for many of us of a moment of minute but catastrophic carelessness in executing plans. I was mortified as up to that point I had been fine !  Fortunately my son Michael sitting next to me saw my dilemma and a short while later delivered a stunning discovered check of his own on his opponent, who immediately resigned, and then I saw Benedict having never been in trouble completely crush his opponent, so we were in a 2-1 lead.  Chaski admitted afterwards that he had to really focus on his game, but then all of us know that their captain Julian Mitchell has been much higher than his current grade; however Chaski eventually found the way through and we were then 3-1 up.  Mark was engaged in a strong battle with his opponent and I felt a captain’s responsibility to sit close by and try by willpower to assist with strong focus on his game. Mark remained calm throughout, but at one stage turned to me to confirm a draw was all we needed and he then duly obliged by seeking to play safe and as his opponent’s clock rapidly widened on the time margin eventually there was a realisation that he could not force a win however much he tried, so a draw was agreed.  We have therefore beaten last year’s champions, so well done to all (except me, of course !).  I now know that having reached the semi-final we have been drawn to play at home to Worthing, whom we beat on our way to winning the competition the year before last !  We have also been fortunate to secure an extra date at the Luxford Centre on Wednesday 30th January, so that is now booked as an extra club session.  I urge all to attend that night as you will hopefully see a very fine game between two of the best players in Sussex, in our own Chaski and their Dave Graham, known and much respected by many of our juniors.  Last time Chaski won to announce his presence in the county, so I am sure Dave will be seeking revenge and it promises to be well worth watching !! 

Second Round v Worthing

Against Worthing in the MSL KO semi-final,  we had beaten them en route to winning the cup two years ago, so we were hoping for a repeat.  Unfortunately after my success of the night before I was perhaps too buoyant and had a complete reversal of form, as I played an appalling opening from which I emerged a pawn down and my experienced opponent never let me back into the game, which was finished much earlier than usual for me, for which I apologise. Arran on Board 2 seemed to have some attacking opportunities as always, but his veteran opponent managed to extricate himself and reach equality and they agreed a draw quite early in the proceedings. The match then turned back to us as Steve performed better in a rook and pawn ending which he managed superbly, and although the opposing team claim that their player missed a winning opportunity, as we all know it is what is done on the night by the players which counts and Steve was superb.  Michael had come back from Uni just for the night as all will agree his recent play belies his current grade, which on these nights for the handicap aspect is crucial. He played all the way through to his usual standard and never looked in difficulty, again waiting patiently for first positional advantage and then material gain which brought another win for us. So now we were 2.5-1.5 ahead and all we needed from Chaski was a draw, but he was playing one of the top players in Sussex in Dave Graham, who was clearly keen on revenge for Chaski’s last win over him.  It went down to the closing minutes of the match and although Chaski played with tigerish determination, his king was just too exposed and the victory went to Dave.  On this occasion we needed the extra half point because we had a grading advantage of just five over Worthing, which meant they were able to progress to the final with the score on 2.5-2.5 by virtue of board count. 

Paul Watson Cup

On Tuesday 29th Jan we went to Lewes for the quarter-final of the Sussex CCA Paul Watson Cup, which requires a team of four and a board average as close as possible to 150.  Agreement had been reached that even if the ECF produced the January grades close to the fixture that for planning purposes we would use the July gradings, but even so selecting a team as close as possible to that average proved challenging. Eventually we went with Chaski, Mark, Artur and Brian S.  I was opposite our former member Peter Weston and finished very early after Peter fell into a trap where he lost his queen for a bishop, but he fought on with pride though I managed to finish stylishly with a queen sacrifice to force a checkmate.  I then had the privilege but much anxiety at watching everyone else.  Artur on 3 played a strong England junior and held equality for much of the game, but when his opponent knights joined together and advanced Artur lost material and eventually the game. Chaski on the top board had a long game with strong position, and it never seemed in doubt when he gained pawn advantage and his pawn structure was much better so he seemed to coast to a win. Excitement built as we held a 2-1 advantage and all we needed was a draw from Mark to go forward, a very similar situation when he coolly led us to victory at the last in the MSL KO quarter-final.  The clocks ticked down with many comfort eating through the copious supply of biscuits provided by the hosts. We were quietly confident when Mark put his opponent under pressure and the latter’s time ticked away, but then Mark went for the win and as his own time ticked away he blundered and had to resign.  So with a 2-2 draw, the first tie-break of board count was also equal, so it went to board elimination which knocked my win out and Lewes progressed to the next stage.  Anyone believing that chess is boring should watch matches like this, as it was truly a close-fought battle narrowly won !