Midseason matches are a useful yardstick to measure the progress of a team. Especially for Luton A, returning to the top division of the Bedfordshire Chess League since the club revival a few years ago. After a slow start of losses this season, Luton A have managed a win and a draw against the B teams at rival clubs Bedford and Milton Keynes. But how would Luton A fare against title contenders Milton Keynes A, who had already beaten us 4-1 earlier in the season?
Board 1. Faisal Rashad v Eoin Tweeddale. For a newcomer at classical chess, the rise and rise of Faisal at league and county matches has been extraordinary. Faisal requested to be on board 1 and, given his season performance thus far, he could not be denied. Any doubts about the wisdom of that decision ended after Faisal stood up in less than half an hour to go home. Faisal had played a gambit for quick development. Eoin accepted, and then saw another pawn on offer on e4 and captured this too. But this was a mistake that was compounded by trying to hold onto the material advantage. Faisal immediately saw a trap, playing a Knight move that forced his opponent to give up his Queen or accept checkmate (see picture). Eoin resigned after 13 moves. Milton Keynes A 0-1 Luton A.
Board 2.Tommy O'Brien v Dominic Bartram. Sometimes, too much chess is a bad thing. Tommy had returned from good tournament from the previous the weekend (two wins and a draw against the county champion at the EACU Closed Championships), then a another win at Luton Club Championship two days earlier and was feeling the fatigue. A win for Dominic drew the match level. Milton Keynes A 1-1 Luton A.
Board 5.Humayun Mirza v Graham Smith. I was a late replacement for the team and unaccustomed to division 1, literally felt out of my league. I had been preparing against Rob Whiteside (having lost all three of my prevous league games to him 6 years ago), only to be confronted with the former Milton Keynes board 1 Graham Smith. Fortunately, I was able to play the same opening I had prepared earlier by transposition, and having survived into the endgame, I offered a draw. With great relief for me, Graham accepted. Milton Keynes A 1.5-1.5 Luton A.
Board 4.Eric Meichel v Daman Singh. Towards the of the evening, and the final two games remaining. This is the high point of the drama of a team match. Eric had outplayed Daman to reach a pawn advantage, in a two Rooks, Bishop and pawns endgame. It looked dire for Daman, losing and in time trouble, but then Eric blundered and allowed Daman to skewer and win the exchange. Daman now had two Rooks and pawns against Eric's Rook, Bishop and more pawns. Objectively, it was a win for Daman but he had to play correctly and was in desperate time trouble. Eric pushed ahead with his pawn majority, which became increasingly menacing. Alas, as his clock ran down, Daman blundered and had to give up. Milton Keynes A 2.5-1.5 Luton A
Board 3.Julian Hudson v Adrian Elwin. The last game of the night and Julian had fought hard to reach an objectively won position. But it was still the middle game, and Julian's clock time was showling almost empty, so Adrian continued playing, repeating moves, going for a draw, whilst Julian used up what little time he had left searching for the win. Suddenly and to the dismay of his team watching, Julian had forgotten to press his clock and was down to 10 seconds and about to lose on time. But Adrian was in time trouble too, and too focused on the game, hadn't noticed and blundered his Rook in a discovered check. With literally seconds remaining, Julian blitzed out the remaining moves with clinical accuracy, snapping off pawns and pieces, then giving up his Rook for an unstoppable passed pawn. At this point Adrian resigned and the Luton team breathed again. Milton Keynes A 2.5-2.5 Luton A.
So it can be done. Luton A played with the best and held their own. Next match will be away against Leighton Buzzard A.