Round 4 produced the first “draw” complications. With Angus stuck on an island somewhere, and some uncertainties re attendance, the provisional draw required some re-pairing repair. Top Board was postponed. To minimise changes, a couple of double-floats were required. And first odd-numbers left D Gaffney with our first full-point bye.
There were no early casualties, and my obligatory two “bounce” games were completed before Takahashi struck the first of many blows for White in the mid-table games (unfortunate for the up-floated Alex…we’ll let him play me in the next round). Further successes for new-adults-on-the-block Kaveh and Michael vs. the Old Guard. Eric’s game took the longer (of course) and I thought he’d swung a draw before the Old Enemy crept in. Julien and Andy had all their pieces bearing down on the other’s King on the Kingside, Julien having (I think) sacked a piece for about twelve pawns. Eventually Andy’s King proved the more defenceless.
The lower reaches saw three battles between the establishment (all White) and the young whippersnappers. Only Jainill featured for the latter, with Bob and Jim scoring for the Seniors. Bob’s game vs. Luke reduced to King and six pawns (3-3) vs K and six pawns (2-2-2). His King was better placed, but it looked like you had to calculate 9 pawn moves carefully to give the right person the opposition when they ran out. Meanwhile, the bottom board ended in a GrandMaster endgame-resignation in a poorish position, perhaps prompted by Scott’s having had the better position just a few moves earlier.
Pace Eric, the top games were again last to finish. Duncan was manoeuvring well vs Danny and seemed a genuine pawn up before, apparently, “hanging a piece”. Craig added the exchange to a two-pawn advantage vs Gilbert and eventually overcame stalwart defence. On board 4, Craig was also two pawns down, but his sacrifice of the exchange was pre-meditated, picked up a pawn, produced a passed pawn, and set up a mating-net around Mahmoud’s King if he wasn’t careful. He is, however, very careful, and produced some rook manoeuvres to unravel the net, pick up the dangerous pawn, and leave himself a won game.
…
…leaving only Austin to continue showing the mature way, he and Robert producing the only draw of the session. Knight vs Bishop with blocked pawns and some extra time on the clock seemed to give him chances, but Robert demonstrated he had it all under control and the draw was agreed.
We have now had a total of 6 draws in 49 games.
It’s not Cricket.
I blame Blitz (or “Twenty-Twenty” as I shall now call it.)
Results - Round 4 | ||||
| 1 | J Shaheen (3) | v | G King (3) | 1 - 0 |
| 2 | G Alomenu (2.5) | v | C Fay (2) | 0 - 1 |
| 3 | A Connor (2.5) | v | R Gibb (1.5) | 0.5 - 0.5 |
| 4 | C Anderson (2) | v | M Alagha | 0 - 1 |
| 5 | D McClymont (2) | v | D Breslin (2) | 0 - 1 |
| 6 | C Takahashi (1.5) | v | A Marshall (0.5) | 1 - 0 |
| 7 | M Matar (1.5) | v | J Eldridge | 1 - 0 |
| 8 | K Alizade (1.5) | v | E Martin (1.5) | 1 - 0 |
| 9 | J Papillon (1.5) | v | A Heron (1.5) | 1 - 0 |
| 10 | R Innes (1) | v | L Power (1) | 1 - 0 |
| 11 | B Fitzpatrick (1) | v | J Vadalia (1) | 0 - 1 |
| 12 | J O'Neill | v | A Goss-Pastor (0.5) | 1 - 0 |
| 13 | S Osman (0.5) | v | J Prentice | 0 - 1 |
Provisonal Half-Point Byes: T Clarks, A McLean
Full Point Bye: D Gaffney
