Our Games

2024/25 Winners

Stephen Berry Memorial Trophy

2024/25 Winner: Marcus Baker

TV Div 1 (17.04.25) : Luca Buanne v Marcus Baker                  https://lichess.org/54yLV1uK

Luca Buanne (2205) is no slouch. But Marcus takes him apart, like he is a beginner. White’s position is a little uncomfortable after 14 … Qc7. But, when white blunders with 15 h3, by trying to save Ph2, white completely loses control of the position. 15 … d4!!! and black is 4.40+. But for me, the move I really love is the quiet, calm, considered, 18 … d3 (6.60+ for black). White loses piece activity for a R, B and N and is now left effectively „3 pieces down“ with just Q+R defending against Q+2R+2B.  Marcus never got to play the queen sac (and subsequent mate), Luca threw in the towel way before that!!! The runner up was Neil Cannon’s game against Chris Briscoe’s  1 … h5 in the Thorp Trophy (Rapid).

Trevor Brugger Diamond Jubilee Trophy

2024/25 Winner: Anik Fonseka

Anik played some great chess this season. The captains felt that Anik's performance for so many teams meant that he out-shone the amazing performance of our club president, Russell Picot (87% win rate in the Surrey League) who came second.

Don Careswell Trophy

2024/25 Winner: Vassilios Avlonitis    

LCL Minor (13.05.25) : Vassilios Avlonitis v Toby Thorp                   https://lichess.org/z6ZtpV2j

Outrated by 140, Vassilios plays the kind of attacking chess that makes stronger opponent’s wonder if there is something going on that they just haven’t seen! 16 Rxh5 is the kind of flawed sacrifice that Tal got away with, but more on the “<1850 level” than the “super GM” level. But, the psychological damage is done, Black just crumbles, missing defensive options left, right and centre. Mate comes 7 moves later… … the runner up was Malcolm Lowry with two excellent games, where he ground out a nice win in both games, but his efforts were ruled less worthy as he outrated both his opponents significantly…

Baker Cup

2024/25 Winner: Malcolm Lowry

LCL Minor (18.03.25) : Malcolm Lowry v Olya Orell                      https://lichess.org/fZGXPv2q    

Just to be clear, for a “swindle” to be a “swindle”, you need to be at death’s door and recover somehow! In Malcolm’s game, he has walked through death’s door, turned round, closed it, double locked it and rattled the doorknob - just to make sure there no escape!

By move 41 Malcolm’s opponent is 9.0+, but he misses the simple mate in 3 starting with 42 …  Qf4+ and that’s where things start to unravel slightly. The queens come off and Malcolm opponent is still winning 5.0+, but it’s no longer a simple win. It’s a R+3P v N+3P end game. Then Malcolm opponent walks into a knight fork!!!

Silver Pawn

2024/25 Winner: Marcus Baker  

TV Div 1 (17.04.25) : Luca Buanne v Marcus Baker                  https://lichess.org/54yLV1uK

A game so good it won two prizes!!!!

Blitz Cup

2025/26 Winner: Russell Picot

The full details of rounds and results can be found here...

https://swissonlinetournament.com/Tournament/Rating/e5094462038346c09bb1ff44fffe0bb3