TUESDAY 19TH DECEMBER - XMAS SOCIAL AT THE MILLSTREAM

Mike receiving the U1600 Division 1 Cup from Andrew. Duncan with the Herts & District League Trophy.

I was part of a great night for Hertford Chess Club yesterday.
We were playing in the final of the Herts and District League v Welwyn Hatfield. The match was at the neutral venue of Bishops Stortford, club of Charles Willbe who organises the league and meaning the trophy shield was on display and tantalisingly close within our reach! On it was the name of Hertford, last time winners in 2013 and 2014.
Our team was Ian Capes, Duncan Marshall, myself, Dave Rudd and George Smith.
Duncan Marshall, our captain, played a blinder on the coin toss, losing it, meaning we had 3 games with the black pieces, no problem for me as I have a much better record with black.
Duncan, whose form has been magnificent this season, played on board 2 as the sacrificial lamb, leaving me and Dave on boards 3 and 4 respectively. George was the rear gunner on board 5 and Ian was the calm pilot on top board.
After about 30 minutes, disaster struck, George had been shot down in flames, and there was a great “to-do”. The rest of us were unsettled but quickly re-grouped with a firm resolve. Drawing any of our matches was no longer an option. The time ticked by. I had an OK position but pieces were being swapped off and I couldn’t see how to make progress. Dave was doing well, gaining pawn after pawn, but still thought he might be in trouble. He nervously came over to look at our boards. Duncan’s game wasn’t looking too good.

With 20 minutes to go, Dave got the breakthrough that he wanted, which meant the score was level at 1-1. My opponent was getting into time trouble. He made a mistake! I delivered check mate. 2-1 to us, but our joy was short lived. Duncan, our fearless captain, had taken a hit and was done. It was now 2-2, and all attention now turned to Ian, with the last remaining game on top board.
The game looked very drawn although Ian was a pawn up. Dave and I were in hurried whispers – “what are the rules in the Herts and District if there is a draw?”. Luckily, Charles Willbe was on hand to enlighten us. In the event of draw its “board count”, and if still drawn “board elimination” starting from the bottom board. So we had won on Boards 3 and 4, but lost on Boards 2 and 5. On “board count” this would give us 7 points each, so a draw on the top board would not decide the match. However, we then move to “board elimination” starting with the bottom board. With the memory of George’s demise expunged from history, this would give us the win that we needed because the score would go from 2.5-2.5 to 2.5-1.5 in our favour.

So Ian only needed a draw, but would he deliver it? Would he, heck! Ian is known for his drawing capability under all circumstances, even when he is winning. With the team sheet thrust under his nose, he duly delivered in magnificent style, his opponent flummoxed into submission without fully knowing the implications of accepting.
Elation ensued, Charles confirmed our win, and presented the shield to Duncan and his team (picture attached). A very proud moment for us all, and thank you to everyone who has played in the H&D this year.

Thank you for a great night.
Andrew

Footnote: Dave is well known for his aversion to the Herts and District, so called “friendly” league, having refused to play in it since the 1990’s, the exact date having been lost in time. Dave was persuaded to play in this final match partly due to the absence of Mark Buswell, but mainly because of the glint of silverware which he finds irresistible. His win last night means he retains his 100% record for the Herts & District over 3 decades!

Further footnote: Duncan, Dave and myself have had a gentle personal battle over our grades this season. Over the years, it has typically been me first, then Dave, then Duncan, but the ECF June Grades, going into this last match last night, now put us in reverse order, due to Duncan’s great season and my relatively poor showing. Would the unthinkable happen next year and I would be demoted below Duncan? Maybe not, now, thanks to Duncan’s selfless action, last night, by placing himself on Board 2. This really was the “perfect” match and a perfect night!

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