A Historic win for Bexhill Juniors playing for Bexhill Academy –
The u-14 Butler Cup has been won for the first time, since its inauguration in 1903, by Bexhill’s Academy. Yesterday 10 June at Windlesham House school., near Worthing. Having been seeded in Division 1 after a great performance in the heats, Bexhill went on to win that Division, narrowly but by a clear point with 8.5/12 ahead of Brighton College ‘A’, Windlesham House ‘A’ and Lancing College ‘A’.
Bexhill’s team comprised 3 of our Bexhill Chess Club juniors: Andy Nguyen, Luke Chapman, and Harry Morter. The fourth board player was Isaac Jennings who plays at the Academy’s Monday afternoon chess club and was making his debut in competitive chess at this level.
It was amazing to see 172 young players (separate secondary and primary levels) in one venue in a large sports hall, hosted by Windlesham House staff, and organised by Sussex Junior coaches, Jonathan Tuck and Callum Brewer.
What turned out to be the decisive encounter was in the first round. With 12 minutes each on the clocks with 3 seconds increments/move, play was fast-paced. Andy had Black, and faced a Catalan system. He accepted the pawn offered on c4, and propped the gain with ..b5. White looked to have some pressure on the black squares, with a N controlling d6 in the heart of Andy’s position. However, with better time management, Andy remained calm and determined, neutralised the pressure in the endgame and the result quickly tipped in Andy’s favour. Luke with White played a Closed Sicilian and exploited an unusual q-side castling by his opponent, winning a pawn on c5, blocking the q-side (with a protected passed pawn in the bank) and then pushing an f5 break. Eventually Luke connected another passed pawn with the first one, as far as the 7th rank when his opponent’s position collapsed. With the match 2-0 in Bexhill’s favour, Harry , with Black ,faced an English opening and replied with ..e5. Harry maintained a solid position but eventually lost a pawn, then turned it round completely in a Bishop and pawn ending which he drew confidently. That guaranteed the match win. Isaac with with obtained a solid position out of the opening but missed some threats and lost decisive material. Match score 2.5- 1.5
In the next round Andy, with White, played a Maroczy Bind formation against Black’s Sicilian defence, and after doubling his opponent’s central pawns exploited the pressure he had on the q-side with a 3-2 pawn majority. Luke, with Black, played against an isolated d-pawn. In the complications Luke gained a piece for 2 pawns and converted the advantage in short order. Harry , with White, was well-matched against an opponent and it resolved to a hard-to-assess major pieces endgame. In the end a very slight weakness on g3, after Harry had played both f4 and h3, allowed the Black Q to g3 and the back row threats with a battery of rooks on the e-file led to a back row mate. Isaac again made a solid start but he missed a threat to his Q. Match result 2-2.
The final round, against Lancing College, required a 4-0 victory to ensure the silverware or a tie with Brighton. Lancing defaulted on Board 4 so a point was in the bag. Isaac went on to play a social game with another school player, and, perhaps with the pressure of the occasion off him, he played a much more confident game and succeeded in a win anyway. Frankly, Bexhill outmatched Lancing significantly on the other boards. Andy achieved a great initiative with a fluent use of a Najdorf Sicilian , where his backward d6 pawn was anchored by his bishop on e7, and created an attack on a K-side fianchetto position where the white-squared bishop had gone, when Andy wedged a pawn on f3, and his Q on h3, while White was trying ( unsuccessfully) to demolish Andy’s Q-side. Luke quickly won a piece with a pawn fork and concerted it very promptly. Harry won two pawns and converted it accurately as he pushed them through the centre. So 4-0 – job done.
Brighton College , who were playing Windlesham House, had a top board contest with a pawn advantage on the board position. But the Lancing player was in time trouble and missed opportunities to win, and finally blundered his queen. Had he won instead, the points between Brighton and Bexhill would be tied. We wonder if Bexhill’s individual match result earlier would have counted to tip the trophy to Bexhill? BUT- Bexhill were a clear pint as it transpired.
It was an exciting event and a proud moment for the Academy, and for your editor an opportunity to meet and talk to Junior coaches and other staff.
Bexhill Academy intend to enter the Nationals next year.
Here is Karen Burgess’ post on FB :
“Three Bexhill juniors (Harry, Luke and Andy from left to right) claimed the prestigious Butler Cup, one of the oldest and most respected school chess competitions in the country.”
( Far R is Isaac Jennings from the Academy club making his competition debut– Editor)
“The team secured victories over Brighton College and Lancing College before holding their nerve in a decisive draw against Windlesham House to clinch the title for their school, the Bexhill Academy.
We are very proud of our bright young stars. Congratulations to the whole team.”
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LUKE WINS DEBUT MATCH FOR SUSSEX COUNTY
Sussex faced Cambridgeshire. Luke’s recent successes outlined in our recent posts resulted in him being selected for this adult match on Saturday 7 June. Wanstead House ( London) was the venue for the semi-final match with Cambridgeshire. Sussex had been the ECF champions the previous season. This time we weren’t to prevail. Cambridgeshire won by 9.5–6.5. Wins were recorded for Sussex by Paul Edwards, Henry Cove and Luke Chapman. Luke faced Francis Bowers, with White, against a Philidor Defence, where Black had conceded some space by releasing the tension with …exd4.
It has been another very full week of inspiring progress by Bexhill Juniors.
We have mentioned the strength in depth of our leading juniors:
Here they are pictured preparing for the Grand Prix 9 event on Friday 23 May.
Rose Burgess (featured recently) seated -L, and Sam Merchant, (featuring today) seated – R.
Against very strong all-club opposition (16 players of all grades) young Sam took joint second place, alongside Howard Tebbs, with 3/4 points.
Is Sam now unstoppable?
See the Grand Prix section on this website for full details. This cannot be without a mention for Luke Chapman, recently featured, winning this round with 4/4. Luke remains the overall Grand Prix leader with 24 points, James Lumsden second with 19.5, and Sam currently in third place, in close contest with 18.5 overall.
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Sam ‘s greatest recent achievement is making his debut for England in a match against Flanders for the u-12 category. There he played 2 classical games on the first day and won one, lost one. On the second day there was a mini blitz tournament, and Sam scored an impressive 4.5/9.
Here are photos from Sam’s England debut:
And earlier in May, with the leading Bexhill contingent, Sam excelled in the Sussex Junior Grand Prix. Harry won 1st place in the u-12, Luke took 2nd in the u-14s, and Harry, Rose and Sam were presented with loyalty medals. Sam had been moved up, at the end of last season, into the u-18 major section. He is competing against the best u-18s in the county.
He has years ahead to climb upwards in this arena.
Pictured here at the Junior Grand Prix with Back Row : L-R – Sebastian Merchant, Rose Burgess, Luke Chapman and Front Row : L- R Harry Morter and Sam Merchant.
Bexhill Chess Club is lucky to have a great core of leading juniors, some of whom are pictured here, looking relaxed at St Marks, waiting for the arrival of opponents Lewes in the Knockout Final of the Sussex League on Friday 16 May.
Andy Nguyen and Luke Chapman (both seated R) formed the talented and winning duo on Boards 2 and 3. (We recently featured Rose and Harry – not on this evening’s team – seated L. There will be a feature on the recent successes of another rising Junior, Sam Merchant, to follow soon!)
But this night’s events were a historic First for Bexhill Chess Club overall– so please read on!
On Board 1, Howard Tebbs, our highest rated player, faced Henry Adams, who outrated Howard by some 50 ELO points and who had defeated Luke impressively only last week in Lewes’ victory in the Watson Trophy Final. It would be a tough ask of Howard with the Black pieces. White’s formation looked like a hybrid of a London system: d4, Bf4, e3 with a Queen’s Gambit: c4, Nc3, Bd3, Qc2. Howard responded with a Dutch Stonewall set-up: …f5, e6, d5, c6 and pieces deployed Be7 and Nf6-e4, with Nbd7-f6 in support. It looked solid. Black had a good N posted on e4. But his c8 Bishop was locked in, only to be expected in this formation, and with a latent weak pawn at e6. Both sides castled K-side, and the stage was set for Q-side play.
Howard improved the lot of his bishop with …b6, Bb7, (though crucially this removed support for e6) while White finally occupied the hole at e5 with a N. Adams wasn’t tempted to instantly probe the e6 weakness by stepping Ng5 which Black would parry and then gain tempi and a k-side pawn storm with …h6 and g5. Black’s N on e4 would at some stage be kicked away by f3, and Ns were exchanged on c3. As a (much lower-rated!) spectator, I had wanted to see a Black pawn roller immediately with …g5 harassing the Bf4 just as soon as White’s N had gone to e5, before the N’s were exchanged but maybe this was too risky an attempt to seize the initiative and focus on the K-side? The pawn on h3 would have been a target and Black’s Q could have joined in after …Qe8. White cracked on with Q-side expansion (b4) and Howard met it head on with …c5. It still seemed to be preferable (from a spectator viewpoint ( was I missing something?) not to have challenged where White wanted to play but pushed the K-side?
The liquidation of central pawns left the Bb7 hanging on the open file after White’s Rb1. The B, still on f4, was X-raying the b8 square which Black’s Rook would need if it was to challenge control of the b-file. Black defended with …Qc8 – leaving it between his rooks – (the White Ne5 controlling d7). While White had his own Rooks united on the back rank.
On c8 the Q became vulnerable. White opened the centre dxc5 and after the recapture …Bxc5, the Black B and Q were lined up for a nasty pin Rc1. White set up a battery Qb3, Bc4 targeting the e6 pawn. Black countered by attacking the Rb1 with …Be4 and blocking the diagonal battery with …. Nd5. White took the Nd5 with the B on c4 unmasking the pin on the Bc5 and leaving an isolated Black pawn on d5. Although White’s N, now on d3, was in turn pinned by the …Be4, it was White who had multiple serious threats. White’s Qb3 was targeting the Black King on g8 along the diagonal, and if Qxd5+ ever happened the …Bc5 would fall. White was threatening Rxc5, and if Black tried …Bxd3 then Qxd5+ followed by Rxc5 (attacking the Black Q) and White’s R on b1 would have time to dodge the Black bishop on d3, or the bishop would instead fall to the Q after checking on d5. White took the Bishop, Rxc5. A few moves later Black resigned, a piece down.
It was a gruelling battle but a credit to Howard, taking on and playing top class chess very consistently for the club only fairly recently. A point down, victory for the team overall wasn’t promising.
Howard (front L) hard at work on top board:
On Board 2, Andy ( seated next to Howard) challenged Peter Farr who was rated some 40 ELO points higher. With the White pieces, Andy signalled aggressive intent with 1.e4. A Classical French Defence developed, with Andy choosing to advance after 1..e6, 2.d4, d5 3. Bd3, Nf6 4.e5, Nfd7. A locked structure formed quickly, White playing successively Ne2, c3, a3, b4!? (a thematic idea in the Advance but here offering a poisoned pawn on d4). Black played …c5, Nc6, Qb6, a5, then …c4 locking the chains rather than accept the d4 bait. It was here that spectators watched a very bold, positional pawn sacrifice, b5!? Was this a theoretical novelty? Something Andy had prepared? On the surface it seemed to have made no sense with a totally undeveloped q-side for White. However, it became clear that the idea was to place a rook on the half-open b-file with tempo and reach a position where the Black Bishop on f8 was forced to exchange and cede White control of the black squares inside Black’s lines. And it made sense not to allow the exchange of pawns …axb4, which would leave Black with a protected passed pawn on c4 and possible pressure on the pawns on b4 and a3. But was the compensation worth a pawn?
Black took the pawn, …Qxb5 (the dislocation by refusing it by retreating the N from c6 would be compounded by White consolidating with gain of Q-side space after pushing a3-a4). After White’s a4 and Ba3 (offering exchange of Bishops), Black played a startling …Nb4!? blocking the diagonal, preventing the bishop exchange, but placing itself en prise and if White captured it -cxb4, Black would have two connected passed pawns on b4 and c4 as great compensation – they could crush the crowded White pieces on their original squares. Andy wisely refused the piece offer. Black captured …NxBc2 and after Qxc2 the question was back to the black-squared bishops a3/f8. Possibly to keep the option of K-side castling open, Black opted to exchange on a3, but this helped White’s development after Nxa3. There was a great outpost at b5 waiting for the N! Black’s B on c8 was locked in and both Black’s rooks had no prospects. White took the open file Rb1. Black retreated…Qd8- forced into un-developing!
Andy switched to the space on the K-side, with 0-0 and f4. But would an attack with no bishops do much damage?
Black tried to free himself with …f6(after …0-0 ). It attacked White’s pawn chain at the head, in time-honoured French Defence fashion but in so doing weakened his own structure at …e6. Black’s N displaced awkwardly (White’s Rb1 eyeing it) to …b6 to defend the e6 pawn from his bishop at c8. White now advanced with Nb5-d6 and, strangely to this spectator’s mind, exchanged his fantastic N for the sleeping Bc8! The logic became clear after White advanced from f4-f5. Black’s pieces were all on the back rank (Rb8, Nc8, Qd8, Rf8). Black captured f6xe5. Andy captured f5xe6. Would White’s lone e6 pawn survive? Black exchanged Rs on f1. Black consolidated his pawns with …e5-e4. White threatened the R on b8 with Qf4 and triangulated to a powerful centralised position at e5 behind the White passed pawn at e6 which had thus become the tip of a wedge in the heart of Black’s position, behind Black’s central pawn barrier. Andy’s strategic objective was fulfilled.
So, each side with just Q, N and R, but White’s Q and N co-ordinating fluently, Black’s position began to collapse. The White Q on e5 and N reaching f4 together threatened the triangle of Black pawns on d5, c4, e4 and Black resigned as the pawns dropped.
This was very bold, impressive play by Andy, a long-term positional sacrifice of a pawn followed by a co-ordinated flow of just a few pieces to execute his plan. Had this been classical music it would have had the clarity and harmony of a string quartet rather than a full orchestra. Bravo maestro!
With the match at 1-1, we turn to Board 4, where James Lumsden faced Richard Welford, who he had played recently and won. James’ rating was 40 ELO points higher and perhaps James felt at the outset there were expectations of him, especially having the White pieces. James opened with a Jobava London system: d4, Bf4, e3, Nc3, as Black’s set-up was a Leningrad Dutch: …f5, e6, Nf6, g6, Nbd7. James struck early with 6.h4!? Black countered in the centre with …e5. James doubled down with h4-h5!?, and with Black’s uncastled King, the threat of hxg6 (the h7 pawn being pinned by White’s Rh1), or if …Nxh5, White would sac the exchange and mate with Qxh5#! Black replied solidly with …Bg7. James renewed the threat of hxg6 by pinning the N with Bg5. This very early pressure seemed to be working, though it contradicted established principles of development before attacking.
James pressed again, moving a piece twice with Nd5, and h6 forcing …Bf8, and after…Be7 White exchanged N for B on e7. With Bc4 White prevented Black from castling. Black harassed the B with …Nb6 and it was eventually exchanged on its retreat square to b3, doubling White’s b-pawns. It seemed risky for Black, but he castled …0-0 despite White’s h6 pawn sitting on his doorstep, and White having a black-squared Bishop pinning the N on f6. Black managed to unpin the Q, and White’s uncastled King now looked vulnerable to Black opening the centre, e.g. if Black played… exd4. James pre-empted that by dxe5, but it did concede central control with Black’s pawns at e5, f5.
At some point Qs were exchanged and James tried a Rook lift Ra5!? to pressure the Black pawn along the rank at e5. But there was a back row threat to White’s K on e1. The R on a5 returned home to a1. James exchanged B for N on f6. Now the lone pawn on h6 was a liability in the endgame. James did manage to pick up the pawn on e5, but his extra pawn was doubled, and they were isolated on the q-side and blocked by a single black pawn on b7. In the R and P ending Black was able to walk his King round to pick up the h6 pawn and if anything, the better potential had tipped to Black. However, James managed to create a passed pawn on e4 which was more of a threat as the Black pawns on g6, h7 were slow starters. White’s king was active, blocking them, and, with repeated checks from the Black rook, a draw was agreed.
James had put pressure on from the start, had asked all the questions, and, in the face of calm defence, when he could have faltered because his probes had not cracked the position, he played an accurate and active ending. Well done, James!
So, 1.5 – 1.5. Everything hung on Board 2 as Luke had Black against Matthew Masani. Luke outrated his opponent by 70 points. Here we had another demonstration of ‘fortune favouring the bold’. Luke’s defence to the d4 opening … Nf6, d5, c5 was open and active from the start. He refused to lock in his Bishop c8 with …e.6 and played a dynamic, speculative …a5?! But this weakened his pawn structure and left a hole at b5. When Luke did release his e-pawn it was straight to e5, and it cost him his pawn at d5. So, Luke was playing a pawn down, even after recovering the gambit pawn on c5 with his Bishop. Unfortunately, this material deficit was compounded by his N on f6 being pinned by White’s Bg5, attacked by a N on d5, and now a Q on f3. The Bishop on c5 was forced back to defend on e7, and Black was immediately saddled with doubled pawns on f6, f7 after the exchanges on f6.
At this point, it seemed to me that White misplayed strategically by castling 0-0-0, where Black had open files for the major pieces and could throw his a-pawn at the King on the q-side. And White had neglected to develop his K-side pieces giving tempi for a Black initiative. Luke charged on with …a5-a4 with his own King still on e8 and one rook still on h8. Luke had no intention of castling into a shattered King side but executed a plan to lift the King to e7 and set up a barrier of pawns on f5, e5, supported by f6 to control the centre. White’s plan to exchange pieces with an endgame advantage showed with Bxc6, but the recapture…bxc6 left an open b-file, and the a-pawn intending to advance to a3. Queens were exchanged on b4.
With q-side pawns on b2, c3, b4, White at last developed his N, to f3!! On the q-side Black had just 2 pawns on c6, a4. Once the White N got to the q-side it was possible these isolated pawns could drop. But Luke had activated both Rs to the q-side, while his centralised K on e7 covered entry points for a white R on the open d-file, once those rooks could develop. After its mini tour, the White N landed on the c5 outpost but soon exchanged the last minor pieces with Nxe6. White played b2-b3, allowing Black’s a-pawn to by-pass it with a4-a3. Was it walking into the White camp to be swallowed? White’s King was needed on the q-side for that purpose, while Black’s King was getting active in the centre after Kxe6.
At this late stage in the game, and all the other games having finished, the tension was high, as Luke’s clock showed 22 mins and only 8 mins for his opponent. Black’s pawn, hanging on a3 was abandoned, as Luke’s rook picked up a White pawn at e3. White had a distant passed b-pawn and pawns h2, g3, f4. Black had pawns f6, f5 and a paased pawn at e5 which he pushed to e4, then e3, and his King was in support at d3. White’s b-pawn had got to b6, his King trying to hide from Black’s rook checks.
Luke had 8 mins left, his opponent 38 seconds on the clock!
Black promoted first and White had to sacrifice his rook for the new queen. White pushed his passed pawn on h4. Luke’s rook switched to the h-file and picked it up and still the Rook was afterwards able to catch the b-pawn as it promoted. The Black rook was forced to sacrifice itself in his turn. But ….that left the Black King centrally placed to pick off White’s remaining pawns and promote one of his last (doubled ) f-pawns before the White King could get back. Game Over! A ‘close run thing’ as Wellington said about the Battle of Waterloo.
Bexhill 2.5 – Lewes 1.5.
It was an exciting chess match, suspenseful till the very end, and played in a great combative as well as courteous spirit by both sides. Whilst we thank Lewes for their visit and a great contest, we are justly proud that this season of achievements across the board, outlined in these News pages, has culminated in a trophy. We hope to celebrate this on a future occasion and recognise the efforts of the whole team throughout the year. This victory in the Final is the emblem of that comprehensive effort throughout the year.
On Friday 9 May, we reached one of the high points of this season as we hosted Lewes in the final of the Paul Watson Trophy. On board 4, Harry Morter joined the team, having shown a rapid rise in skill this year as one of our leading juniors. Outrated by 200 points, he showed no hesitation, just quiet determination. Playing a solid Jobava London system as White, he blocked Back’s …Bd6 challenge to the London bishop on f4, with a bold Ne5. Black’s threats with…Qb6 {pressuring the pawns on d4 by X-ray and b2 directly) were countered by Nb5! Harry went on to play N x the d6 Bishop, so after the Q recaptured, he gained material by a discovered attack on the Q when his remaining N went to g6 to pick up the Rook on f8.( He may have done even better according to one spectator by taking on f7!) His Bd6 later went on to fork the Black king on f8 with a pawn on c5.
Harry maintained this material advantage (plus positionally with his 2 bishops) but he needed to open at least one file for his rooks. He achieved that with 18.d5! opening the d-file and making a powerful Q+R battery. Black tried a tactical defence attacking White’s Bishop on c5 with …Re5 but clearly overlooked the threat of a back-row mate. Then, as Black’s Q was forced to b8, Harry’s black-squared Bishop, yet again proved the winner as he forked both Re5 and the Qb8 with Bd6 -again!! Two rooks ahead. White resigned after only 26 moves. A convincing win, and very promising for Harry’s prospects. WELL DONE, Harry!
Our hopes were now raised and enhanced when, with Black on Board 3, AndrewFleming looked to have long term structural chances against the White isolated pawn on d4. (It had been a difficult-to -classify queen’s pawn opening) But White had medium term pressure with a Rook on the half-open e-file, and a N on the c5 outpost which the pawn supported. Black had to solve the problem of his…Bc8 tied to defending the pawn on b7 and thus was keeping the a8-Rook out of the game, sitting on the long diagonal X-Rayed by White’s B on g2. Andrew set about it, using …Qb6 to keep pressure on c5/d4 and vacate the d8 square for his f-Rook. A tactical sequence ensued after …Nxd4+ !? where Black skewered the White Q on d2 and R on e1 with …. Bb4! White countered with a similar threat to the Black Q, but Black had the tempo to pick up a second pawn with an intermediate move…Bxf2+! Both Qs being removed, the endgame was one of a strong White N and R v Black’s R and bad white-squared Bishop. It was hampered by the need to defend his now-isolated pawn on d5, and the backward pawn on the half-open b- file. White’s rook gained a powerful outpost on b6, had a classic blocking square ( and jump-off point ) for his N on d4. Plus White had a more active King. Was this enough to compensate the 2 pawns? It began to appear so. Although Andrew was able to untie his q-side with …Rb8, Bd7, White had meanwhile, with advancing a pawn to a5, fixed the weakness at b7. Andrew counter-attacked the pawn on a5 with …Rc5, and at one point went 3 pawns up (But this was not the crucial a-pawn, sitting on a black square and invulnerable to the bishop).
Spectator hopes were seriously raised now! But the positional factors were still very much in White’s favour. Once Black played pawn moves…f6, g6 to push the probing white N away several times, White used his R, returning to the b6 outpost to wipe out Black’s k-side pawns, catching these like ducks in a row on the 6th rank. White was left with a lone passed pawn on h5. Black’s King had transferred to passive defence at the weak q-side and eventually consolidated it with a bishop manoeuvre … Bc2-a4-c6, but it was still acting defensively. Black had a passed pawn on d5, his now 1 extra pawn still backward on b7. Both sides pushed their passed pawns. Andrew’s king followed in support of the d-pawn , while White’s King tried to block it. A draw was agreed when it was clear that White’s King could not escape Rook checks and neither side could promote.
Although it looked a disappointing result because of the endgame starting with such a material plus, closer reflection suggests Andrew did very well to hold a draw with such positional deficits. Such deficits don’t go away in the endgame! All credit to White for holding the game, but White’s position was much easier to play, and Black had many problems to overcome, reflected in Andrew’s less time left on the clock. A worthy draw, Andrew!
Next in the spotlight was Luke Chapman who, playing Black on Board 1 after a tremendous season, was nevertheless outrated by a talented, young and experienced opponent. Against White’s Catalan system, Black released the central tension with …dxc4 and used an early …Nd5 to create play on the q-side with …Bb4, interrupting the White Q recapturing on c4. But White came out of the bishops exchange on d2 with a slight lead in development. Black’s N on d5 would be vulnerable to an e4 pawn push at some point, and a q-side structure that was vulnerable to the Catalan bishop on g2. Black shifted the a8-rook off the long-diagonal and prepared a …b5 pawn push to open files on the q-side, though the other N on c6 ( X-rayed by the Bg2) would first have to find a better home. At this point, Luke played a ‘mysterious rook move’…Rfc8. Difficult to evaluate as a weaker spectator! It appeared to be looking towards moving the N on c6, defending the pawn on c7, and hoping to break with …c5 later? White chose not to use the e4 square for a pawn, but for a N, heading for a c5 outpost, created when Black did play …b5. This would stymie Black’s planned break. Luke re-organised his pieces… Be8, …Nd8…Nd7. Luke challenged the centre with…e5, but White by- passed it with d5! Taking more space. The idea also being to fix the pawn on c7. Luke pushed on with …e4 and White offered the exchange of Q’s, on e4 which Luke accepted. White was thus able to centralise 2 Ns on e4, d4 and, with Bh3, pin a N against the Rook now trapped on c8!
Luke resigned because, if not exactly in Zugzwang, he said afterwards he was in a bind with no effective moves. He was not obviously downhearted. He had fought hard.
So the match was now level 1.5- 1.5 and everything hung upon Michael Hubbard with White on Board 2. The players’ ratings were balanced.Mike adopted a solid English Opening set up, with c4, e3, b3 and fianchetto of the q-side bishop. Black set up a strong point on…d5, supported by …e6, Nf6, and b6 and a likewise fianchetto on the q-side. Black sought control of the e4 square. The tension between the central pawns, c4 and d5, continued for a while as each side sought an advantage in the outcome. Mike eventually played cxd5, with Black pawns now on c5 and d5. White hit the centre again with d4. It looked as though Black may be left with hanging pawns c5/d5, if Mike had next played dxc5. But both sides resisted further pawn exchanges while developments were completed.
Ns were exchanged on e4, leaving a Black pawn on e4. White was keeping his own strong point on d4. Eventually, White developed a k-side initiative with Qf5 and landing a Ng5, forcing…g6. The Q and N were unable to create decisive threats against Black’s castled position. If the d4 pawn hadn’t been there the White bishop on b2 might have combined with the Q and N? Further weakening of Black’s K-side, with …h5 was provoked. But Black used a centralised N on e6 to threaten the N on g5, which was pinned against the Q on h4 by Black’s Q on e7. After lengthy thought, Mike played f4!?, which allowed …exf3 (en passant) , removing the hold on e4 and forcing exchanges of Qs on h4. Black finally broke the central tension of the pawns…cxd4! After exd4 it was White who was left with an isolani on d4. This would not necessarily favour Black, if White’s pieces could exploit outposts the pawn provided or advance it to tactical advantage. But White’s N was left on the side on h4. It was Black whose rook held the adjacent c-file and …Rc2 created threats on the 7th rank, to a loose B on c2, which was forced back to c1. Following up with …Bf4, Black discovered a double attack on the pawn d4. Bishops were exchanged on c1, deflecting the R from the d-file and Black was a pawn up after …Nxd4.
In the R and P endgame which ensued, Black gained a second pawn after… R x a3 and R x h2 and had created an outside passed pawn on b3. White’s King was dealing with the Black pawn majority on the K-side. And spending vital tempi eliminating them. Both sides were down to less than 30 seconds on the clock (but with 30-second increments the battle continued at length) . Eventually Black executed a winning plan to walk his King over to the Q side, checked all the way by White’s rook, with a view to sheltering from checks at b2 with enough time to free his Rook to create a decisive block to the checks and force promotion. White’s pawn was too far back on the K-side and had no time to promote. The game concluded in Lewes’ favour at the very end of a long evening
It was a terrific battle throughout. Credit to the fighting spirit on both sides, not only in this game but in all of them. Bexhill members congratulated Lewes on their well-deserved victory and for making an evening of such good chess possible by travelling from Lewes. Thanks also to everyone, particularly Bill Tracey and Michael Hayward, for their organisation and efficiency in preparing and hosting at St Marks Venue.
We lost, narrowly, but it was a great effort of which we should be proud, and a delight to have the chance to witness the event
Just a quick note to say that we have had to change the date of Grand Prix 9. Bexhill will be playing at home in the county knock-out final against Lewes on May 16th, so we have had to push GP9 back to the following week on May 23rd.
But TWO of Bexhill’s Teams WILL go into Division 1
BEXHILL II – 3.5 – HASTINGS II – 0.5
On Friday 2 May, Bexhill 2nd team hosted Hastings 2nd team and we needed a draw to gain promotion from Division 2 and join our 1st team next year
Careful team selection by captains Bill and Michael throughout the year and a pool of very strong players meant we could field an excellent team.
It was great to have John Kimber on the team after a break and on Board 4, his game did not disappoint. With White, John played a classical e4, Bishop’s opening, and his cautious opponent adopted a Philidor structure…e5, d6 and pinning the f3 N with …Bg4. John allowed the loss of a pawn on d4 after re-capturing with the Q on f3 avoiding doubled pawns. That took courage and insight into the positional compensation – 2 bishops, an open centre, more space, and prospects of maintaining quicker development. Black’s king remained uncastled while he challenged the White N on d5 with ..c6.
We spectators were getting nervous for John as the N was chopped off and the reply Ba4 fixing the Black Q on d7, pinned to the King, was blocked by …b7-b5. The extra tempi allowed White to deploy the second bishop and rooks and gain further central control with f2-f4. Black’s N’s were kept restrained on the K-side and his second rook was locked in at h8. Crucially, the King became held at e8, as Q xe5+ forked the King and Rb8, levelling the material and quickly forcing a decisive loss of heavy pieces on the back rank, when Black resigned. WELL DONE, John!
Next to finish was Janis Petersons. He showed intention to play a double-edged position with a Benoni structure in reply to White’s d-pawn opening. Developing his dark squared bishop on e7, rather than fianchetto, proved a successful choice as, all along, it anchored the d6 pawn, and later restrained White’s protected passed pawn on d5 after Black’s N was exchanged on e5. Janis formed a strong central and K-side pawn phalanx –e5, f5, g6, h5, and White never managed to exploit his protected d-pawn, and Janis in turn was able to create his own protected passed pawn om e4! Janis tried to get a ..b5 pawn break, but White restrained it and with no open files for either side to exploit, a draw seemed a sensible decision. Great game, Janis.
On Board 2, Michael Hubbard was playing a strong opponent. With White, Michael established a strong centre with pawns, e4, d4, c3. Black adopted an Old Indian structure …e5, d6, c6, b5 now ( I think) somewhat fashionable as the ‘Black Lion’ defence. The central tension was in the air for a long while, and both sides held off castling either side as both sides manoeuvred on both wings! As a spectator, I couldn’t tell who was gaining the upper hand. After Black’s ..h6, g5 and …Bg6, putting pressure on the K-side, Michael decided to use the f5 outpost for his N. When the Bg6 exchanged on f5, Michael’s Q was eventually able to invade on the weakened white squares (after a quick shift to g4 and h5). Black had a strong N on d5 which was still a threat, but it was Black’s King which became chased across the back ranks to the Q-side , with no secure castled position. White’s king had eventually safely tucked away with 0-0 and Michael set about Q-side progress eventually securing a passed pawn on b4, working with a strong Bc5.
Black’s Nd5 was now hanging without a pawn on c6. Black’s attempted thrust of ..e5-e4 attacking the White N on f3, allowed the N to transfer to the Q side, and the push backfired when white’s Q picked up the pawn after a check forking it. Exchanges of major pieces left White with 4 vs 3 pawns on the K-side (but it was an exposed doubled white pawn on f5) and a single white passed pawn on b5. It wasn’t a completely straightforward ending. White offered the exchange of his bishop for Black’s strong N, which was taken. Black’s King was then encroaching to snaffle loose k-side pawns! And Black’s R was active behind white’s passed pawn, which had reached b7 with white’s R on b8. It then seemed to me that it only then became clear to Black that his King could not escape a fatal check which would allow White’s b- pawn to promote, which Michael engineered by K-side pawn moves. If the king captured any of the pawns, White’s R would check. Yet if the offered pawn was refused it would itself promote! It was decisive and a delightful demonstration of great technique.
Last to finish was Luke Chapman’s game on Board 1. Dare I say it, it was hair-raising! With Black, Luke answered White’s King’s Indian Attack with a Queen’s pawn structure, ..e6, d5,c5. Once White gained space with e4-e5, the game looked like a form of French Defence, but with White’s Bg7 biting on granite at d5. When Luke closed the structure on the q-side with c5-c4, leaving each side with long, locked pawn chains, the situation had potential for both sides, but Black’s problem was going to be his King (castled k-side with no piece cover). The open b-file and target on white’s pawn on c3 favoured Black, with all Black’s pieces massing there – but White’s King was in no danger. White broke cover first with a a positional sacrifice B x (pawn)h6. Luke was forced to take it and painfully evacuate his King to the q-side as white advanced two Ns to h6 and g5. With a Q squeezing through the gap at h7, White was able to wipe out Black’s K-side pawns. Luke managed to place a barrier of heavy pieces, and everything else at hand, to stop the e5 pawn reaching the finish line.
From where I was standing, I was expecting a tsunami of the rest of White’s k-side pawns. One thing in Luke’s favour was the clock, down at one point to 12 seconds on White’s. With everything hanging by a thread, Luke counter-attacked! …Nxc3. The N reached e4 and interfered with the e-file. Something went badly wrong for White in the flurry of piece exchanges and an ending with Black’s Q against K, R and 2 connected passed pawns on the g and f- files. Before the end of the session Luke managed to pick off loose pawns elsewhere and had a Black pawn on a7 in reserve. The game was conceded to Luke after the evening’s efforts ended.
A result for determined defence.
It was a great outcome for the team, and club. We will have 2 Teams in the First Division. There is still one fixture from rivals, Brighton and East Grinstead, but our position as division champions is secure.
MEANWHILE…..
BEXHILL IV – 2.5 – EASTBOURNE IV – 1.5
Our 4th team were playing Eastbourne’s 4th away, A great result and the Merchants exclusively made it happen!
Great too, to see all wearing the ‘Merchantise’!
Here is Sharon’s match report :
Seb finished first. He played an aggressive Jobava London line and after 18 moves, one move from checkmate his opponent resigned. Not bad considering he has barely played in 2 years!
I finished second. Bad out the opening. Fought on but was always a losing battle.
Steve won on board one. His opponent was attacking on the queen side while Steve attacked on the kingside and Steve got there first!
Sam was last to finish. Looked like a losing battle after many trades and Sam came out a pawn down. But after some excellent play in a rook and pawn end game, a draw was agreed.
This Mid-Sussex League fixture, not unexpectedly, did not go in our first team’s favour on Monday 28 April, losing to the winners of Division 1, who finished their season with this victory for their 1st team.
We were massively out-rated on Boards 3 and 4, and Lawry’s game on Board 3 against Matthew Payne ended quickly. He overlooked a subtlety in the English opening which his opponent was familiar with and Lawry fell foul of the tactics which ensued, which allowed Black’s knights to infiltrate decisively.
Howard with White on Board 1 next achieved a very good draw against Russell Granat, a very strong player. A Queen’s pawn opening, where relatively early exchanges resulted in a better pawn structure for White, possibly influenced the outcome. It is always difficult to know whether it’s best to press a slight advantage but then risk overstretching. A good decision Howard.
James , with Black on Board 2 faced another of the county’s strongest players, Dave Graham ( who you will remember won the last open Rapid-play tournament at our club event). James played what seemed to be a version of the Philidor, with a locked pawn structure ( White’s pawns on white squares e4,d5. and Black’s pawns black squares on d6, e5) . James successfully focused the play on the King’s side where, after ..f5 and White choosing to exchange his e4 pawn on f5, Black had morphed the game into a classic King’s Indian formation encroaching on the King’s side. It looked like James might have the initiative and chances to exploit the half-open g-file, while White had failed to exploit any targets on the Q-side. A draw was agreed before a critical position ( and potentially double-edged one) was reached.
Finally, Michael was the last to finish with Black on board 4, playing another Worthing expert, Chris Jones. Michael’s signature fianchetto style opening conceded more space to the opponent but set up a tough blockade and he patiently waited for an opportunity to counter-attack. White manoevred cautiously and at one stage frustrated Black’s attempts to exchange the dark squared bishops, probing for weaknesses and eventually forcing a backward pawn on e6 on the half-open file. Black’s King was looking lonely as White’s Queen invaded on the dark squares at f6. Black’s Queen, by contrast, was sidelined on the a-file. In this complicated middle-game, running short on time, Michael made a pawn break and created a sortie for his knight which had hitherto been passive sitting on b6. Its threats enabled the Knight to lodge on e4, masking the e6 weakness. It was an imaginative defence by Michael, but eventually the pressure on e6 was too much with White’s decisive Rd6.
The team congratulated Worthing on the match, and the well-deserved overall Division 1 victory.
The loss did not affect our 1st team’s position. It had already gained enough points to avoid relegation.
Bexhill Juniors are flourishing with success after success in chess events, so many of them it’s hard to keep up!
Luke Chapman (pictured here) has just won the 44 Chess Talents Tournament at Frydek-Mistek in the Czech Republic. Competing 17-21 April, he won the u-15 section, a Standard play event, unbeaten over 9 rounds, with 7.5/9 (just 3 draws!), a full point ahead of his nearest opponents.
After the first couple of rounds the four best England age-group players formed a 4- person team. Luke competed on Board 1, his score contributing to England winning the tournament team prize. The other European sides were Austria, Czechia, Slovakia and Poland.
Another 100 points on Luke’s rating!?
On his return, at our club he won the Grand Prix 8 rapid play Tournament on Friday 25 April with straight 4/4 against strong opposition.
Not only these successes, Luke joined other teammates, Andy Nguyen and Harry Morter, alongside Berk Simsek who is a member at the Bexhill Academy chess club, on behalf of the Academy, to recently win the County Championship.
Bexhill Academy defeated Brighton College A – 3-1, Lancing College Prep. -3-1 and St Andrews Prep.- 4-0.
10 out of 12 possible points.
The Academy team will now proceed to the County Finals
A fantastic result for our town’s chess community in large part down to Bexhill Junior Chess club members.
Harry is seen here working hard against Bill ( Steve watching) at the club’s GP 8 on Friday:
Stay with us because Rose Burgess , on Saturday 19 April, won the National Youth Juniors Championship Zonal , u-14 section at Southall.
She is seen here with the trophy, pleased despite its missing label!
CONGRATULATIONS ROSE!
Rose is now through to the National finals in August and will also play for Sussex Juniors u-14 next Friday against Richmond. Rose is a leader among all our rising talent, seen here on Friday playing a tremendous game at the GP8 against Janis.
The full crosstable results for the GP8 are on the Grand Prix page .
The juniors will continue its Friday sessions. Lawry has joined the regular sessions to work with juniors using the highly recommended STEPS programme.
We should hear soon about the two upcoming knockout finals, against Lewes , for our club teams.
Finally, we will have the remaining fixtures and the results in the Sussex League coming up.
Thank you to everyone who came down and played in our eighth event of the Grand Prix season. Everything starts to get really interesting now that we are approaching the final few events.
Last night was a great battle, with England junior Luke Chapman coming out on top with 4/4. Second place was a four way tie between Rose, Janis, James and Jo. Congratulations to you all.
Sharon, Sam and Mick became the first players to earn a loyalty medal last night by playing in 8 events. Those of you who have already played in 6 or more events can still earn a loyalty medal by playing in the last two events in May and June.
Luke is still sitting at the top of the season’s table, with Sam in second place and after last night, James has taken the third place spot. James also is now sitting half a point ahead of Janis in the under 1800 section. Sam is still sitting at the top of the under 1600 section, but with Jo and Rose both scoring 3 points last night, they are hot on his heels! Harry is pulling away at the top of the under 1400 section, and John is also looking to be sitting clear at the top of the unrated section.
In other news, really great to have our chairman Bill Tracey back at the club last night after an absence with some health issues.
All to play for in the last two events. Look forward to seeing you all at the next event on May 16th.
Three Bexhill teams battled on Friday 11th April in separate knockout semi-final events – itself an achievement!
Against Crowborough, our team of (L-R pictured below) Phil, Mark, James, and Ed out-rated opponents on the top 2 boards, but not significantly on boards 3-4.
Ed suffered an early loss on Board 3 so the pressure was on as the team needed to win by 3-1 to advance. Phil, on Board 4, determinedly pressed consistently in a locked pawn structure, gaining a knight v ‘bad’ bishop ending. Phil went for the q-side pawns and accurately calculated he would win the race to promote. Well done, a truly impressive game Phil!
James, playing with White, was next to finish, after creating a space advantage on the k-side, keeping Black’s pawn majority locked down and knight sidelined on h7.Then , with an extra pawn on the q-side, James snuffed out Black’s counterplay there, took control of the c-file and concluded with a difficult-to-spot long range fork of loose pieces on h7 and c8 from his queen on c2.
Mark, on Board 1, with Black against a very strong opponent, adopted what appeared to be a Stonewall formation – a white-square blockade – against which White’s K-side attack eventually subsided after queen exchanges – in its aftermath White’s rook became sidelined and eventually trapped. It was a complex struggle in the centre and the opposite wing. Mark’s isolated but advanced pawns seemed to defy gravity as, with active pieces they contained White’s central pawn mass, which never seemed to get moving. The finish was decided by Black’s rook entering on the 7th. Classic active defence and counter-attack.
BEXHILL 3 – CROWBORUGH -1
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WATSON TROPHY
In this match we hosted Uckfield. Our team (in board order) of Luke, Andrew, Michael Hubbard (pictured below after the match!) and Oli out-rated the opposition on paper, on the lower boards, but this was not going to be a walk-over.
Oli had a tough battle and unfortunately lost early. Again, the pressure was on.
Luke, with White against an opponent equally strong on paper achieved a sound draw in a double-rooks endgame with a bishop v knight. If anything, Luke seemed to have the edge as he pressed in the middle-game with a better pawn structure and had chances against Black’s centralised king, at least while the queens were still on the board.
Mike, playing with a French Defence opening, against White’s Advance variation, demonstrated a textbook strategy of q- side counterplay . His bishop on b5 was especially powerful as it prevented White’s k-side castling. A decisive breakthrough was made on the a-file. Mike looked deservedly well-pleased afterwards!
Andrew once again proved his endgame technique, using the power of two bishops with a rook to dominate the board. He overpowered his opponent after a long struggle eventually corralling the White king with a mating net in his own fortress supported by a rook from the 8th rank.
BEXHILL 2.5 – UCKFIELD 1.5
So, 2 out of 3 – “ain’t bad”.
(My apologies for missing the chance on this occasion to get a photo of the whole team. I owe you – Editor)
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MCARTHUR CUP
Bexhill hosted Hastings where we were outrated on all 6 boards, significantly on all but Board 1. This was always going to be a big ask. Many of our top players were unable to play as they had already played against Hastings in the previous round for our other team. Hastings fielded their absolute best (maybe a sign of our rising reputation). Here is our team, just before the match – L-R Bill, Steve, Leo, Jo, Lawry) :
Well, the team without Howard (below) who missed the photo-shoot but here seen hurriedly arriving in the nick of time!
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Our team fought hard. Leo, on board 5, outrated by 250 points, finished quite early after what looked like a sound opening main line in the King’s Indian. Leo decided to keep Black’s knight out of f4 with pawn-g3 but fell foul of an opened f-file and his own knight then pinned and double-attacked on f3.
Lawry (outrated by 200 points) got an early win, on board 6 after an irregular opening on White’s part failed to translate to an advantage. Lawry gained from early piece exchanges to a knight v bishop ending, where the opponent’s bishop was more restricted, when his opponent offered a draw. Lawry refused and went on to make a speculative pawn offer. His opponent took the bait and 2 moves later resigned after the knight forked king and bishop.
Bill, on board 3, outrated by 300 points, lost a long positional struggle, with almost all pieces on the board throughout the middle-game. It seemed to me that Bill just had less space to create pressure and perhaps Bill’s style is more suited to an open game?
Steve on board 3 , against a chess ‘legend’ John Sugden, out-rating Steve by 335 points. Steve faced some material deficit then middle-game pressure with a monster advanced pawn which proved too much.
Jo, outrated by 387 points on board 2 fought a long rook and pawns ending, material down. His opponent had connected passers advanced up the board and was wary of the promotion trap Jo was setting him, should the king be mis-placed. Jo made the most of the chances he had but could not escape the accurate technique.
Finally, Howard on Board 1 , outrated by 100 points, drew with White. He faced a long heavy-pieces middlegame, with a target weakness of an isolani on e3 which his opponent pressured constantly with a battery. Howard defended accurately and actively and Black could not capitalise.
BEXHILL 1.5 – HASTINGS 4.5
A big THANK YOU to Michael Hayward in organising the matches and refreshments on this special night and to Bill Tracey co-ordinating from home.
