S.Anselm's 9.5 (Max H, Isaac S, Ivan S, Michael H, Edward H, Matthew B, Paddy D, Luke T and Ben E all won; Toby S drew)
Leeds Grammar School 0.5
Leeds Grammar School (or, as they should be called these days) 'The Grammar School at Leeds' left out their talented 6th form players to play us this afternoon - in retrospect they shouldn't have done. They may have 1500 students at their school and a modern campus which took our breath away as we arrived, but at the chess board we excelled. Can we do something against the U18's from Norwich School on Tuesday?! Unlikely, but I couldn't have asked for more from a 'warm up' fixture … this was another marvellous performance from you all!
Isaac S was the first to finish after just three minutes. His opponent so correctly played 4 … d5 to your 4. Ng5, but then he missed a simple checkmate. A talented player simply missing the mate? I thought so at the time, but you then beat him two or three more times before the next match finished!? (1-0, 3 minutes).
It might have been on board 10, but I couldn't fault Ben E's superb performance against an opponent who made largely the right moves in reply. A standard opening and a few exchanges came to life when Ben played 16 … f5. What a stunning move with pieces backing it up in all directions. Your opponent suddenly brought his queen out, like a Headmistress arriving on the scene, all too late, and you surged through the centre. Well done! Such is the benefit of recording moves … at the time I never knew you played this well! (2-0, 26 mins.).
Paddy D won again with such accurate play. He developed well, won a piece when his opponent touched a piece and was forced to move it, and, despite his opponent castling, held an advantage. (3-0, 28 minutes).
When he's had the opportunity to play this year, Edward H has done us proud, save for a few moves against St.Edward's, Leek, and he attacked very well against an opponent who tried to play defensively and fianchetto both bishops. Edward took a decisive lead which he held to the end. Well done! (4-0, 30 minutes).
Ivan S took full advantage of a few questionable moves in the opening by his opponent and, although he lost a piece, the shape of his play could not be faulted. Well done! (5-0, 37 minutes).
For most of Max H's game play was equal, but Max defended very well when he needed to, then a guarded pawn managed to fork king and rook in the endgame … it might have been a blunder by your opponent, but play was already starting to head your way. Well done - I was most impressed! (6-0, 41 minutes).
It's difficult to see where Tobias S could have broken through. The endgame was about to see rook, piece and seven pawns play the same. You played very well, so did your opposite number … if this wasn't Karpov v Kasparov in 1985 I don't know what would be! (6½-½, 42 minutes).
Matthew B played very well too …his opponent made a number of errors, it must be said, but you kept to your game plan and were most impressive in the way that your played … (7½-½, 45 minutes).
Michael H led by example! He got his queen out early, but at just the right moment, with 5. Qh5 and then he continued to exploit the inadequacies of the uncastled opposition king for the rest of the match. It took a little while to finish him off, but you never let your attacking instinct waver. (8½-½, 47 minutes).
Luke T took his time and always kept asking questions of his opponent … he won a piece at opportune moment and thus, the game. 'I never thought you'd be this good, said Mr.Bridgewater …'. In all honesty, I didn't either! They might have left out their 6th formers, but you all impressed today. We have so much strength in depth at the moment and you can all feel proud to be part of such a team!
Our 90 minute journey back to Bakewell became something of a marathon as we broke down in Barlborough and arrived back at school 4 hours 30 minutes after leaving Leeds, with many a story to tell … it's me who's suffered, writing the report after 1 a.m. - that said, I'm not unhappy to do so after you played so well again!
Posted on
Thu, March 5, 2009
by Anselms