Anstey’s second team in the Harrod Cup started off their campaign with a convincing (on paper) 6-2 win at home against Ashby’s 3rd team. The match wasn’t without incident (albeit not as incident-packed as Anstey’s first team win away at Ashby’s first team!), with ‘El Presidente’ shifting around nervously at 7:31pm having agreed to relinquish his place in the starting 4 players for the return of ‘The Griller’ Brian Foreman. It was most unusual to not have ‘The Griller’ in his seat and ready for 7:20pm, so when he wasn’t in his seat at 7:31pm, with all of Ashby’s players ready to start, ‘El Presidente’ left it with Ashby’s board 1 to decide when to start the match. A phone call to Brian’s house confirmed that he was on his way so it was a case of waiting. Eventually, Nick Wyld (Ashby 3’s board 1) decided that he wanted to get home at some point that evening and he and ‘El Presidente’ faced off in a dull and un-interesting French Exchange line. No sooner had a few pieces come off the board, ‘The Griller’ walked in and Nick (probably bored of the game that he and ‘El Presidente’ were playing, agreed to allow Brian to play – thanks must go to nick for his understanding.
Board 1 – Brian ‘The Griller’ Foreman vs Nick Wyld: 2 draws = 1 point
After play eventually began, Brian settled down to quite a stodgy game with the black pieces with Nick very happy to trade pieces right down until the endgame, where both players were very happy to trade down to an ending. A rook and pawn ending was on the board and with both rooks active, both players agreed to a draw as it was a tricky endgame to navigate for both players.
With the white pieces, Nick managed to get a potent attack down the h-file looking like mate was inevitable, but ‘The Griller’ calmly played f4, allowing his King the f2 square to escape to. Yet again, after more pieces came off the board, Brian was able to win 2 pawns and be 2 pawns up in the endgame but with Brian low on time, Nick repeatedly checked Brian’s King with a Knight and after the second repetition, both players agreed a draw.
It’s great to have Brian back with us – we all look forward to more grillings from ‘The Griller’ (not to be confused with Gorilla).
Board 2 – Mike ‘Nickname TBC’ Griffiths vs Neil Roberts: two wins = 2 points
For those that don’t know, Mike joined us from Ashby so Mike was facing off against a friend (and probably a former captain) in Neil Roberts on board 2.
With the black pieces, Mike was able to equalise easily and with Neil having some pressure on the Kingside and trying to prize Mike open, it was Mike himself who made the breakthrough with an attack down the h file, with Neil’s King in the centre, Mike forced a resignation with a strong attack in the centre of the board.
With the white pieces, Mike employed his favourite English opening – 1.c4. It is a system he knows well and one cannot fault him for this as his opponents seem to have difficulty choosing what their response should be with black. Eventually, pieces came off the board and Neil left a vulnerable back rank, which Mike took full advantage of, sacking his Queen which would have allowed his Rook to deliver the mate. Neil resigned.
Board 3 – Valdas ‘No nickname’ Matutis vs Jamie Rhodes: 1 loss, 1 win = 1 point
With all of Anstey’s players starting with the black pieces, Valdas gained equality in the opening quite easily and after some trade-offs was forced to defend a backward a-pawn. Unfortunately, this meant lifting his rook off the back rank and his opponent seized control of the open file. Valdas subsequently threatened a Bishop capture which unfortunately left his back rank open and his opponent seized the opportunity to deliver the mate with unerring speed.
Valdas sought revenge with the white pieces and played his game extremely well, co-ordinating his pieces and forcing a passed a-pawn which marched its way up the board with his opponents pieces powerless to stop it. The end was when Valdas’ pawn got to the eighth rank and forced heavy material loss and his opponent resigned.
Board 4 – Oskar ‘Capitan’ Rudczenko vs Graham Bird: two wins = 2 points
Ever-improving second team ‘El Capitan’ Oskar managed to secure equality with black very early on in proceedings in his first game. Once the e file was blown open and Oskar managed to get his two rooks staring down the e file, there was only really going to be one winner. Oskar took full advantage and the actual game over the board was won on time, with Graham’s flag dropping. With the end nigh, Neil and ‘El Presidente’ had mercy on Graham by pointing out the flag fall a few moves after it fell with ‘El Capitan’ in a totally dominant position.
With the white pieces ‘El Capitan’ was able to assert his authority on the game with Graham seemingly let him do so. After a few piece trades, ‘El Capitan’ was able to infiltrate Graham’s position whereby all Graham could do was move Kingside pawns doing absolutely nothing about his poorer position. Eventually, Graham did the noble thing and resigned.
All in all, a very good 6-2 win for the team – well done everyone.
Anstey Chess Club 
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