Anstey 2 took on their promotion rivals Loughborough 2 in a crucial encounter, looking to avenge their defeat in the reverse fixture. With regulars Bob, Matt “The Dark Destroyer,” Rob, and the returning Brian “The Griller” in the lineup, captain Boris stepped aside to make room for the promising junior Ted. Loughborough fielded a familiar team, setting the stage for a tense battle.

Ted’s Tactical Brilliance
First to finish was Ted on board 4, facing the formidable 1800+ rated Stephen Morris. Undeterred by his opponent’s rating, our teammate took control from the opening, preventing Black from castling safely. Fixing his opponent’s position in a bind, he launched Garry and Harry up the board, securing a powerful initiative. Black attempted to resist with his increasingly cramped and overworked pieces, but Ted’s precise calculation proved too much. A devastating sequence of tactical blows saw Black’s position collapse entirely, and with no counterplay available, the away team player decided to congratulate our teammate and resign. A crushing victory for Anstey’s rising star, showcasing his impressive attacking instincts.

Rob’s Kingside Blitz
On board 3, Rob took on another 1800+ in Reece Whittington. White expanded early, planting a strong knight on b6 and restricting our teammate’s queenside pawns. Rob, unfazed, counterattacked on the kingside, creating complications. With his opponent struggling on the clock, a costly blunder saw White drop the f-pawn, exposing his king. Rob pounced on the opportunity, delivering a decisive attack that left White defenceless. After a series of precise moves, Rob forced resignation, making it 2/2 against Loughborough’s strong third board players this season. A well-played, sharp encounter demonstrating both strategic awareness and practical time management.

Brian The Griller Holds Firm
Board 5 saw Brian “The Griller” return to action against the young Keir Hayden. Opting for a solid but passive setup as Black, our teammate found himself under early pressure, his king stuck in the centre. However, with calm defensive play, he exchanged queens and reached an endgame with the superior pawn structure but less active rooks. Both players attempted to impose their will by improving their pieces, pushing pawns and offering various exchanges, but with the clock running low, a pragmatic draw was agreed in the end. A resilient performance from “The Griller”, who neutralised White’s pressure and ensured Anstey maintained control of the match.

The Dark Destroyer Strikes Again
Matt “The Dark Destroyer” faced the ever-friendly Henderson Mullin on board 2. A steady opening saw our teammate gradually improve his position, squeezing Black into passivity. Struggling to find counterplay, the away team player sank into deep time trouble. Eventually, in a bid for activity, Black launched kingside counterplay, but Matt’s immediate reaction disrupted his opponent’s pawn structure and by placing a dominant knight on f4, Anstey’s first team captain paralysed Black’s forces. Under immense pressure and with seconds left on the clock, the away team player blundered an exchange, and Matt clinically converted the point. With precise positional play and a killer instinct in the critical moments, “The Dark Destroyer” secured an important win for Anstey.

Bob’s Defensive Masterclass
The final game saw Bob, with Black, take on Loughborough’s captain and rising star Ben Carpenter-Friend in a sharp and uncompromising battle. White gambited a pawn for activity, and our teammate, calling the bluff, found himself in a precarious position. His light-squared bishop remained entombed, and White’s pieces swarmed. Bob held firm, but having run down his clock, found himself sacrificing the exchange under time trouble. White continued pressing, but our teammate’s tenacious defence allowed him to regain lost ground. When all seemed lost, his pieces sprang to life, scooping up pawns with astonishing precision. White, now short on time, returned the exchange, leading to a famous Philidor position. With both players demonstrating their endgame expertise, a draw was the natural result. Bob’s resourcefulness and fighting spirit salvaged half a point in a game that could easily have ended in disaster.

A Resounding 4-1 Victory
Anstey 2’s dominant 4-1 win puts them level on points with Loughborough 2 in the promotion race. Next, they face Braunstone 1, a team eager to make amends for their earlier defeat against Anstey. With momentum on their side, Anstey 2 look set for another thrilling encounter in their push for promotion.

If you want to be part of the thrill and have your very own nickname, or if you just want a few friendly games, pop down to the Anstey Methodist Church every Thursday from 7.30pm.

Anstey’s second team falls just short of a win against close rivals Thurnby

On the 23rd of January, Anstey 2 played their final match of the first half of the season, welcoming Thurnby to the familiar confines of the Anstey Methodist Church. The team fielded a formidable line-up, featuring Julian “Mr. Engine” stepping in last minute on top board, alongside Matt “The Dark Destroyer”, team captain Boris “The Toaster”, Rob, and John “The Torturer”.

The match proved to be as dramatic and sharp as their nicknames promised, with a mix of decisive attacks, strategic battles, and heart-stopping time scrambles.

Board 4: Rob vs Bob Collins
First to finish was Rob, who wasted no time showcasing his incisive preparation with White. His opponent, Bob Collins, attempted to set up a sturdy stronghold, but our teammate methodically dismantled Black’s defences. A kingside breakthrough followed, and Rob launched a ferocious assault on the exposed black king. Black’s desperate attempts to defend cost too much material, and with no counterplay in sight, the Thurnby player resigned. A textbook win for Anstey and the perfect start to the match.

Board 3: Boris “The Toaster” vs John Pattinson
Next to conclude was team captain Boris, who initially adopted a passive stance against John Pattinson. However, “The Toaster” soon found traction on the queenside, where his opponent’s overly defensive approach allowed a powerful b-file passer to emerge. A declined queen trade by the away team player handed Boris a dynamic initiative, and he capitalised beautifully, winning material and achieving a decisive edge. While trying to hold onto the storm in time pressure, White’s flag dropped. A calm, commanding victory by the skipper gave Anstey a 2-0 lead.

Board 2: Matt “The Dark Destroyer” vs Ray Burgess
On Board 2, Matt faced Thurnby’s captain, the 1900+ rated Ray Burgess, in a tense encounter. The Thurnby player advanced on the kingside early, while our teammate struck out in the centre. The game hung in the balance, but time management became the deciding factor. As “The Dark Destroyer”’s clock dwindled, he sought to simplify but overlooked the latent power of Black’s remaining rook. Entering a losing endgame with only seconds remaining, Matt’s valiant efforts fell short, and Thurnby clawed back a point.

Board 5: John “The Torturer” vs Ross Martin
John’s game was another gruelling battle, as he faced Ross Martin on the bottom board. For much of the game, equality reigned, with White pressing slightly on the queenside while our teammate’s solid play kept things in check. However, time trouble loomed large for “The Torturer”, and the position began to favour White. Despite creating his own passed pawn, John couldn’t keep up with the demands of the clock. In a heartbreaking twist, his flag fell, gifting Thurnby an equaliser.

Board 1: Julian “Mr. Engine” vs Craig Norton
All eyes turned to the top board, where Julian “Mr. Engine” faced the formidable Craig Norton, a 2000+ ECF-rated player. The game was a high-wire act from the outset, with Julian opting for a critical line in the opening. The resulting middlegame was a minefield, with traps and tactical shots lurking everywhere.

Our teammate’s tenacity earned him a slight edge heading into the endgame, where he queened first. Yet under severe time pressure, the Thurnby player defended like a machine, steering the game towards a theoretical draw. Playing against a bishop pawn poised on the 7th rank with an advanced white king, “Mr. Engine” probed for any last chances but ultimately conceded a stalemate after a heroic defensive effort by his opponent.

Final Score: 2.5-2.5
The draw brought the match to a fittingly dramatic conclusion. Anstey 2 can hold their heads high as they end the first half of the season with 9 points, securing a commendable third place in the standings. Thurnby, two points behind, remain close rivals, ensuring the second half of the season will be one to watch.

Anstey 2 return on the 6^th February at home against the promotion favourites Loughborough 2 with renewed determination. Until then, well played, team!

If you want to be part of the thrill, or just want to have a few thrilling friendlies, pop down to the Anstey Methodist Church for a taster session! We start 7.30pm, every Thursday, all year long, so don’t be a stranger, just come and play!

(Report by your ever-faithful scribe, Boris “The Toaster”)

As the final match of 2024 unfolded, Anstey 2 proved their mettle yet again with a convincing victory over Melton Mowbray 1. This win cements their position in second place in Division 2, a promotion spot heading into the new year. Despite missing stalwarts Bob and Matt, the team showcased depth and determination, delivering a performance worthy of their lofty ambitions.

The lineup for the evening featured Julian “Mr. Engine”, George “The Rocket”, Rob, John “The Torturer”, and Ted “The Steamroller,” with Captain Boris once again orchestrating from the sidelines. Outrating their opponents on every board, Anstey 2 executed a nearly flawless display of dominance.

Ted “The Steamroller” (White) vs. David Stanford – 1-0

Ted wasted no time setting the tone for the match. Drawing his opponent into prepared lines, he achieved a material advantage by move 10 and never looked back. Black, reeling from a second blunder later in the game, had no answer as “The Steamroller” calmly consolidated his position. A handshake sealed the deal early, giving Anstey their first point of the night.

George “The Rocket” (Black) vs. Alan Jex – 1-0

George arrived slightly late but wasted no time asserting himself. Playing quickly and confidently, “The Rocket” found himself with a time advantage early on. The game began with balanced development, but George’s methodical play saw our teammate pushing and squeezing White to the point where the Melton playerhad all his remaining pieces on the first two ranks. Eventually, George’s heavy pieces infiltrated White’s kingside, forcing a desperate tactic from his opponent. The trick backfired spectacularly, costing White a piece and the game. A commanding performance from “The Rocket”.

Rob (White) vs. Shaun Cope – 1-0

Rob brought a clinical touch to his game, building steadily from the opening. Expanding across the board, he suffocated Black’s pieces, leaving his opponent low on time and with few options. Black’s attempt to strike back with an active queen was met with calm resistance as Rob methodically dismantled his defenses. The decisive blow came when Rob opened the way to Black’s exposed king, forcing a rook blunder and resignation. A masterclass in steady positional dominance.

Julian “Mr. Engine” (White) vs. Bohdan Stamat – 1-0

Facing the talented youngster and Melton’s top board on the night, Julian navigated a sharp and tactical battle. The queenside opened early, leaving both players to calculate complex lines. A pawn deficit put “Mr. Engine” on the back foot, but his resourceful counterplay kept Black at bay. As time pressure mounted, Black’s aggression led to a fatal blunder. Our teammte pounced, turning the tables and securing the win in what can only be described as the swindle of the night.

John “The Torturer” (Black) vs. Chris Knight – 0-1

John’s game, the last to finish, was a hard-fought affair. Opting for a solid setup, The Torturer equalized comfortably and began probing for weaknesses in White’s position. The game entered a balanced rook-and-bishop endgame, where John held the advantage with a superior pawn structure. Unfortunately, time pressure struck at the worst moment, leading to a bishop blunder. With White’s rook becoming active and unstoppable pawns charging forward, our teammate was forced to concede.

The Road Ahead

This victory caps off a stellar 2024 for Anstey 2, leaving them second in Division 2, firmly in promotion territory. The next challenge looms large: a showdown with Ashby 1, the division leaders and an unbeaten powerhouse. A win in that match would see our second team take the top spot and set the tone for the promotion push in the new year.

With the team firing on all cylinders, led by Captain Boris and supported by the collective strength of its roster, Anstey 2 looks poised to make 2025 their year. Stay tuned—this story is only just beginning.

If you want to experience the thrill of competitive chess, or just want to get some friendlies in, pop down to the Anstey Methodist Church every Thursday from 7.30pm!

Anstey 2 delivered yet another electrifying performance last night, delivering a 3-2 defeat to Ashby 2 and to consolidating their position in 3rd place in Division 2. With a squad stacked with talent and flair, our sedont team showed why they’re a force to be reckoned with this season. Their opponents, outrated on every board, gave it their all but at the end Anstey’s firepower proved too high a mountain to climb.

It was a night of tactical fireworks, precision play, and a few moments of high drama—exactly what you’d expect from this star-studded team. Here’s how it unfolded:

Board 1: Bob (Black) vs. Paul Gibson – 1-0

“Ice-cold Bob does it again!”

Bob started with a solid position, but beneath the calm exterior, he had set a devious trap. his opponent fell for it, losing a piece early, and from that moment, it was one-way traffic. Bob orchestrated his pieces with machine-like precision, keeping the White king marooned in the center. After clearing the queens and bishops from the board, Bob unleashed a jaw-dropping knight sacrifice, leaving White no choice but to resign. This was clinical, crushing chess from the second team’s board one maestro.

Board 2: Matt The Dark Destroyer (White) vs. Christopher Tipper – 0-1

“A heartbreaker for Matt in the dying seconds.”

Matt came out swinging, taking control of the center and activating his pieces with precision. For a while, it looked like The Dark Destroyer had the upper hand, and in spite of Black’s attempts to build counterplay on the queenside, our teammate held everything neatly together. The tension peaked after a c-file opening which led to a few exchanges and Black activating his queen. With time running low, Matt tried desperately the said queen and in the process missed a tricky knight move, leading to crucial material loss down on time. A valiant effort, but the clock proved an unforgiving opponent this time.

Board 3: Rob (White) vs. Lawrence Hayden – 1-0

“Rob runs the show!”

Rob faced a tough opponent but showed immense composure, turning the tables with a crushing counterattack in the center. His opponent was forced to defend, creating weaknesses that Rob ruthlessly exploited. The turning point came when Rob disconnected the opposing rooks and delivered a stunning central breakthrough. In the flurry that followed, his opponent blundered a queen, and Rob wrapped up the win with style. A powerhouse performance from Anstey’s engine room!

Board 4: John The Torturer (Black) vs. Steve Emmerton – ½-½

“John grinds it out in a tactical arm-wrestle.”

John was up against a sharp but shaky opening from his opponent, and he kept his cool throughout. Refusing to take unnecessary risks, he played solidly, neutralising the pressure and exchanging into a balanced position. Neither side could find a breakthrough, and a draw was agreed in a game where precision trumped aggression. Classic Torturer—calm, composed, and unshakable.

Board 5: Brian The Griller (White) vs. Les Fancourt – ½-½

“Brian shows nerves of steel down on time early on.”

Brian might have started the game a few minutes down on the clock, but he didn’t let it rattle him. He navigated the opening smoothly, trading queens early to reach a middle game where his bishop pair gave him an edge. Despite creating pressure and probing for weaknesses, Brian couldn’t find a way to break through. His opponent offered a draw at different times throughout the game, and eventually The Griller felt that it was the practical choice in a tense and well-fought encounter.

It’s another massive win for Anstey 2, who now sit temporarily in 3rd place and look set to mount a serious challenge in the remaining of the season. Next up, they face Melton 1 — a match they’ll approach with confidence and momentum.

Whether you’re one for chasing the thrill of competition or just want to enjoy a friendly game, come and join us every Thursday from 7:30 pm at the Anstey Methodist Church—there’s always a board waiting for you!

Anstey 2 pulled off a commanding 4-1 win over Market Harborough 2 in an away match that demonstrated strategy, precision, and team depth. Under the leadership of non-playing captain Boris, the strong team consisting of Julian “Mr. Engine”, Bob, Matt “The Dark Destroyer”, Rob, and John “The Torturer” had already started their games when their captain finally showed up at the Market Harborough Conservative Club. Following our first team’s loss to Market Harborough 1 last week at home, Anstey 2 were ready to prove themselves, and with their significant ratings advantage on every board, the expectations for this match were high.

Bob’s Sharp Play Secures the First Win
Playing as Black against John Thomson, Bob started the match off with a sharp line against his opponent’s seemingly pre-defined setup. Finding himself in a great position early on, our teammate found a real gem in an early queen move, threatening White’s a1-rook and securing a powerful position. With solid follow-through, Bob claimed the piece while repelling his opponent’s attempts to complicate the position, thus leading to a resignation from White and the first win of the night for Anstey.

Julian’s Attack Seals a Win with a Forced Checkmating Sequence
Facing the experienced Romily Ilersic with White, Julian found himself playing against a solid defensive setup early on in the opening. Mr. Engine was patient, keeping pieces on the board and slowly setting up a kingside assault that eventually caught his opponent’s king off guard, with most of the black pieces too far away from the imminent fireworks on the right(or left, depending on the colour of your pieces) wing. Following up on the K-side opening, Julian found the forced mate-in-four sequence that led his opponent to resign, locking in another point for Anstey.

Matt’s Endgame Mastery Secures the Match
Matt, playing as White, brought his endgame skills to the fore against Graham Heilbuth. Despite a closely matched game, Matt used his time wisely to make the correct exchanges at the right moments, entering the endgame with a valuable pawn advantage. With rook and bishop against rook and knight, out teammate found a beneficial way to exchange the rooks and place his bishop in an ideal position, neutralizing Black’s knight completely. With a firm grip on the position, Matt’s precise moves led to the favourable exchange of the minor pieces, clearing his path to the victory which secured the match win for our second team.

Rob’s Time Pressure Bonus Victory
Rob, playing Black agains David Curran, kept a solid position through most of the game, while also making thoughtful decisions swiftly and accurately, and slowly building a significant time advantage. Our teammate wisely asked Whtie practical questions to strategically putting his opponent on edge, and before long found himself in an excellent position with 33 minutes in his account compared to the 33 seconds in the home team player’s. Eventually, White found himself under a lot of pressure and with the clock running out, Rob secured another win for Anstey.

John’s Resilient Effort
Last to finish was John, who played White against the young up-and-comer Omar Oliveri. John’s opening was solid, and throughout the middlegame he expertly countered his opponent’s b-file pressure. Following multiple exchanges, Balck realised that he “shall not pass” (Gandalf reference, if you are not familiar with it, go watch “The Lord of the Rings”, brilliant film) through the b-file and instead opted for opening the centre. The Torturer, seemingly under pressure, seized the opportunity to turn the tide with a clever tactic, winning an exchange, but unfortunately soon found himself short on time. A few missteps under time pressure allowed Black to capture the strong e6-pawn and place his knight firmly in the centre. While John was trying to find good squares for his rooks, Black played quickly to build both time and K-side pressure, and with time eventually expiring, John was unfortunate to concede his first league loss since March.

Anstey 2’s Charge Up the Table!
With this performance, Anstey 2 has temproarily climbed to second place in Division 2. Each player brought their own strengths and contributed to a well-rounded team victory—a testament to the strategy, patience, and experience that Anstey Chess Club is becoming known for. Congratulations to the team on a job well done!

If you’re keen to experience the thrill of these matches yourself, or just want to have fun and sharpen your game in the process, come join us every Thursday evening from 7:30 pm at the Anstey Methodist Church. There’s always a seat at the board waiting for you!

Anstey 2 celebrated their first home game of the season with an impressive victory against Braunstone 1, securing a 3.5 – 1.5 win in Division 2 of the LRCA League. A much changed team than a fortnight ago, Anstey 2 was captained by Boris “The Toaster” and featured debutant Bob (newly transferred from Melton), Matt “The Dark Destroyer,” Rob, and Brian “The Griller,” who made a return to competitive chess after a long break. Braunstone 1 arrived with a slightly weaker lineup than in the first round, and Anstey seized the opportunity for a positive start to their home campaign.

Brian “The Griller” Fires Up the Q-side

Brian was first to finish, facing a lower-rated opponent in what initially seemed like a quiet encounter. However, he spotted a clever opening on the Q-side (queenside), sparking a strong offensive that left White’s position in shambles. After seizing a decisive material advantage, The Griller comfortably closed out the game and chalked up the first point for Anstey 2.

Boris “The Toaster” Holds Firm in a Tactical Battle

Captain Boris was next to conclude his game, which quickly evolved into a sharp, tactical contest. Although The Toaster kept pressing to make something happen, his opponent managed to counter with strong defensive and counterattacking play. In the resulting tense position, our teammate sacrificed a pawn for activity, only to overestimate the risks and exchange down to what appeared to be a losing endgame. His opponent, however, missed the winning opportunity, and they agreed to a draw—securing another half-point for Anstey.

Matt “The Dark Destroyer” Strikes on the Q-side

Returning to action for the second team, Matt “The Dark Destroyer” took a slower approach in his game. For a long while, it seemed locked in a stalemate of progress, with both players even keeping an eye on the developments in Boris’ game. Yet, with meticulous planning, The Dark Destroyer gained control on the Q-side, exchanging favorably to set up a dangerous pair of passed pawns. Under time pressure, the away team player launched a counter-attack on the K-side (kingside), but Matt’s tactical accuracy shone through, allowing him to promote a pawn. Faced with the overwhelming force of our teammate’s queen and rook pair, the Braunstone player resigned, marking another point for Anstey.

A Tough Outing for Rob

In what eventually ended being a wild game, Rob also brought the action to the board after a cautious opening. He built a promising position and nearly cornered his opponent’s rook, but the Braunstone player escaped with some sharp tactical moves. Seizing a chance with his knight, Black gained a crucial material and positional advantage, and our teammate found himself in a difficult position. With limited options, he opted to resign, bringing Braunstone their first point of the night.

Debut Delight for Bob

In his debut game for Anstey, Bob faced returning Braunstone player Richard Hanscombe. The game began with both players showing restraint, but our teammate steadily maneuvered his way to create a strong passed pawn. This advantage forced his opponent to sacrifice a rook, leaving Bob with a clear path to consolidate his position. After a solid finish, Richard offered his hand, and our top board player marked his debut with a well-deserved victory.

Final Score: Anstey 2 – Braunstone 1 (3.5 – 1.5)

This remarkable win gives our second team a strong start to their home campaign, bouncing back confidently from their initial setback at Loughborough. With solid performances across the board, Anstey 2 looks ready for an exciting season ahead in Division 2.

In spite of solid performances from all players, Anstey 2 missed out to take anything from their away game against a strong Loughborough 2 side

Competitive league chess is finally back, and this year the Anstey Chess Club will participate in all five divisions of the Leicestershire Chess League. And to top it up, the club will even have two teams in one division, a precedent in our short but rich history. Making their debut in division 2, a full of hope Anstey 2 went to the Fennel Street Club in Loughborough to face their second team. It was an unfortunate night for our team who only narrowly missed out on taking something out of the game in spite of playing against very strong opposition.

The newly elected second team captain Boris The Toaster could not use his full team with The Griller unavailable for this fixture, and invited George from the first team to make his debut for the Anstey Chess Club in the league. The captain decided to step down himself and watch on the side as young Ted also made his league debut for our club, having played for Loughborough in the summer. The line-up was completed by the second team faithfuls Matt The Dark Destroyer, Rob and John The Torturer. Facing them was a overall higher rated and also strong Loughborough 2 team, with their captain Ben Carpernter-Friend leading the team on top board.

Having arguably the hardest task, George was the first to finish his game on board one against the away team captain, unlucky to tangle himself a bit in the opening. Facing a fast improving player in his opponent, George found himself led into “muddy” waters by Black and was unfortunate to choose a bad line for White from the get-go. Nevertheless, both players seemed to be out of prep early on, and kudos to our top board player, he was holding on in spite of having a massive knot of pieces to be untangled in the centre of the board. However, George found himself unlucky to miss an idea for Black and lose a piece in the process. A gentleman, our top board player gave his opponent the deserved respect and shook his hand. An unfortunate end of the evening for George who nevertheless had a good warm-up before returning to Loughborough the following week, seeking his revenge against their first team.

Second to finish was John The Torturer. Facing an experienced opponent across the board, John went for a sideline in the openning early on, showing his extensive knowledge not only in this part of the game, but about chess in general. His opponent showed decent awareness of the position himself, and before long, he found himself in a +1 position for White. The home team player could not find the right plan, however, and instead brought back the game into equality, with both players cautiously developing their pieces. Around move 10 the players decided to exchange queens, and after a few more piece shuffles, they decided to call it a day (or night in that case) and shake hands with a draw. A good result for more than 100 points lower rated John who shows again his class OTB.

Third to stand up from his board was Ted. The young former Loughborough player had a change of opponent in the very last minute, but unmoved by the swap started on ambitiously in the opening. The experienced Loughborough player opted for a sideline that in the book has historically favoured White, but unfortunately Ted found himself in uncharted waters and decided to go for a line that is usually better for Black. The players continued their development in a rather natural manner and left the already thin proverbial book by move 9. Our teammate decided to try and stop Black’s plans early on and exchanged a bishop for a knight, looking to exploit the extra “bad” bishop Black had, along with his own control of crucial squares in the centre. The Loughborough player decided to also exchange one of his bishops for a knight, picking surprisingly the “good” one for the swap, and giving Ted a timid +0.82 engine evaluation which at this (and even higher) level is not a necessarily a marker for substantial difference. Our teammate decided to try and create pressure on the side of the board, but Black was quick to exchange knights and to try and create pressure in the centre himself. With the players turning their attention towards the centre of the board, Black was first to take advantage and grab the extra pawn while Ted was trying to put pressure on his opponent’s backward pawn. As his plan did not work, our teammate did his best to create complications and fight back, but strong tactical ability by his opponent in an already advantageous position proved too steep a hill for young Ted to climb and Black claimed the win. In spite of the loss, a good warm-up and an important lesson for young Ted who looks to be one of the rising stars this season.

2.5-0.5 down, our team looked to be “on the ropes taking punches” and in essence getting battered. However, Rob decided to answer the barrage of proverbial punches with an uppercut of his own and to bring the team back into the match. Facing a strong opponent in Stephen Morris, Rob answered his opponent’s gambit with a “no nonsense” sensible chess, and before the end of the opening found himself safe and sound, already building a small but steady advantage. Both players continued their development naturally, with our teammate trying to consolidate while his opponent trying to create pressure early on. In his attempt to be active, however, Black went for the wrong plan and outstanding tactical awareness from Rob helped him increase his advantage and further consolidate his position. Facing a white brick wall, Black decided to exchange all of the minor pieces, and found himself with an significantly inferior position and some distant activity prospects, shrunk by every excellent move from our teammate. Another brilliant moment of tactical awareness from Rob won him an exta pawn and exchanged the two pairs of rooks at one go, and he found himself +3.78 up with only queens and pawns on the board. Luckily for our teammate, Black missed some potential stalemate chances, and before long, Rob found himself too much material and too many advanced pawns ahead, and his opponent resigned. An amazing first win for Rob for Anstey Chess Club, certainly one of many with more games to come, but definitely one to cherish against a higher rated strong opponent.

The last to finish was The Dark Destroyer. A captain of the first team, he finds himself in a peculiar position where he is also the second team’s top board. Facing a well-known opponent in the friendly Henderson Mullin, our teammate employed a solid, albeit passive-looking setup against his opponent. The players continued with a natural development, and emerged from the opening with clear plans for both sides. Matt answered his opponent’s side attack with a central one, and the players found themselves shuffling pieces in a somewhat suboptimal yet very natural way. White tried to bring all of his forces to attack the black king, but The Dark Destroyer (it’s in the name) held his ground and coordinated well his defence. With the home team player a few moves away from being able to accomplish anything significant, Matt decided to strike again in the centre, a move that the engine does not like, but again looks completely natural. A mass exchange of pieces followed, whereby the players emerged with a pair of rooks and a minor piece each, with our teammate down a pawn but (rather surprisingly) with a substantial time advantage. Unfortunately for The Dark Destroyer (and the team), the strong home team player proved himself a tough nut to crack, and after the exchange of more pieces, in a rook and pawn endgame with 0.0 evaluation, the players agreed to a draw. In spite of the result, another brilliant display from Matt who will be looking to make his mark in division 2 this season.

An unfortunate end of the match found Anstey 2 on 6th place with a game in the division still to go. Nevertheless, good opportunity for many players to get some experience and showcase their abilities. The next match for the second team is on 24^th October against the even stronger Braunstone 1 side at our home venue, the Anstey Methodist Church in Anstey.

If you want to be part of our league teams and have a fancy nickname (or no nickname at all), don’t hesitate and pop down to the Anstey Methodist Church, every Thursday from 7.30pm. All abilities welcome!