Posted 29/4/08

Results so far:
London League Div I:                                    
v Ilford                                     drew 6 - 6            
v Wimbledon                            won 7-5            
v Wood Green                         lost 1-11            
v Hackney                               lost 4½-7½
v Athenaeum                            lost 3-9
v Kings Head I                        lost 3½-7½ (+ 1 double default)
v Cavendish II                         won 6½-5½
v Drunken Knights                   lost 3-9
v Kings Head II                       won 6½-5½          (Rory 1)
v Cavendish I                          lost 2½-9½ + 1 adj (Rory 0)
v Streatham                             lost 5½-6½             (Bill ½, Robert ½, Justin ½)

London League Div II:                                  
v Beckenham & Charlton         lost 2½-7½
v Wanstead                             lost 4-6              
v Phoenix                                walked over 10-0
v Dulwich                                won 6½-3½            
v Woodbridge                         lost 1½-8½
v Metropolitan I                      lost 2½-7½
v Metropolitan II                     won 7-3
v Streatham II                         won 7-3                   (Peter 1, Duncan ½, Chris 1)
v Athenaeum II                               3½-4½ + 2adj (Justin ½)
v Richmond                                    2-4 + 4 adj (Duncan -, Paul D +, Justin +-, Frank -+)

London Trophy (bridge)
Rd 1: Mushrooms I v Oxford & Cambridge Club       lost by 1560
         Mushrooms II v Cameron McKenna                 won by 3840
Rd 2: Mushrooms II v Savile Club                              won by 840
Rd 3: Mushrooms II v RAC I                                     won by 150
Rd 4: Mushrooms II v St George's Old Boys & Girls  lost by 2200
Plate Rd 1: Mushrooms I v Reform Club                     lost by 1090

Eastman Cup
Rd 1: v Streatham             won 6½-3½
S-F: v Richmond              5-5, won on board count

National Club Handicap Rapidplay
Finished 2nd

National Club Open Championship
S-F v Wood Green           lost ½-5½

Tonight's match represents a chance to win the Eastman Cup which has not been in our possession (except for the non-event 2 years ago when we only had to win one match to claim it) since 1977. We have already beaten one side that should have outgraded us and another one which did, so though we start as underdogs we still have teeth!

The position in Division I has clarified, and it looks like we should be OK, though it is not yet 100%. Wimbledon are safe and it is between us and Ilford to accompany Kings Head II down to Div II. Ilford scraped a draw with Kings Head I in the match they had said they were losing, but still have an unfinished match v Wimbledon in which they are 5-6 down. They need to win the adjournment and hence draw the match to then pip us on game points, but have told Brian Smith that their player is totally lost in this game and has been given permission to resign if he wants to.

Ian, Ron, Rory and I ventured to Oxford 9 days ago to play in the National Club Handicap Rapidplay. We were easily the strongest team there, which is no longer the handicap it used to be - the new system, while still flawed, at least gave us a chance. In the event the hosts, MCS Blackbirds B had - entirely inadvertently - the perfect formula: 3 reasonable players plus one graded 2! The resultant drop in their average rating was worth considerably more than if he had been an average player who happened to score 5/5. We beat them 4-0 in round 3 but gained only 1 point on them, while the next round we again won 4-0 and actually lost ground! We managed to outpace the rest of the pack, though, and came away with second prize and £60.

Our venture into the National Club Open last Sunday was less successful, though we did do better than last year, managing to take half a point off the mighty Wood Green - Ian drawing with Chris Ward. Tim might have gone one better, forgetting his own opening analysis and so missing a win on move 6(!) against Richard Pert (1. d4 f5; 2. Bg5!? h6; 3. Bh4 c5; 4. e3 Qb6; 5. Nc3 cxd4; 6. exd4 Qe6+!)

As this is the Eastman Cup the League Secretary has the option to order that all games shall be played with quickplay finishes, and he has availed himself of it. So it's 30/75 + 15 mins for the rest of the game.

This is the last match of the season, so I hope to see you next year, and in the meantime at our AGM (date to be announced) and at the Dave Smith Memorial 5-minute tournament. One thing to be thinking about: Roland is threatening to give up chess next season; strenuous efforts are being made to change his mind, but if they fail (which currently seems likely) we will need a new second team captain. Any offers? First team players are not exempt from considering the question, remembering that Dave Smith took it on when we first started the second team even though he was then holding down about board 5.

Don't forget to turn off your mobile phone, as a ring will get you a warning and a second one will be an automatic default.

Regards

Bill
020 8372 1325 (home) 07906 488606 (mobile)
Bill.Linton@blueyonder.co.uk                   Club website: mushchess.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk