Walker Shield v Bridge (a)

                                         Broadstairs  1½         Bridge   2½                                        

1 Andy Flood (110) ½-½ William Peak (104)
2 Reg Pidduck (101) ½-½ James Smith (94)
3 Bob Cronin (101) ½-½ Graeme Boxall (93)
4 Michael Doyle (90) 0-1 Ian Redmond (80)

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 2. DRAW NO 1.  James played an English which threw me from the start (I must gen up on it). We got through to a king and pawns endgame. James’s pawns were more advanced and my queenside pawns were a shambles so prudently I took the draw James offered.  Good play, James. I hope we play again. ½-½

BOARD 3.  DRAW NO 2. Bob played his Fried Liver and was in control for a while . Not sure what happened next but Graeme’s position was soon equal and although Bob was down to the sixth rank he could not break through and after many king moves each, neither could afford to back off. So a draw was agreed.  Score now 1-1

BOARD 1.  DRAW NO 3. Young William Peak looks a fine prospect as not many players in the Walker Shield can gain such an advantage over our board 1. Andy was on the ropes with only a rook against knight and bishop until he gained an advanced pawn and a draw was agreed with neither in an position to withdraw. 1½-1½

BOARD 4. NO DRAW IN THE LAST. Captain Michael could have had another draw.  He told me that had he taken a knight with a rook instead of with his king it would have been a different game. But in Michael’s words “Woe is the crestfallen as it was not to be”. So well done, Ian Redmond, and all the Bridge team for a 2½-1½ victory.

 

Walker Shield v Woodnesborough A (a)

                                                 Broadstairs  3     Woodnesborough A  1 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 0-1    Mark Towlson (90)
2  Bob Cronin(104) 1-0    James Gill (24)
3  Gary Hilleard (e100) 1-0    Daniel Watkins (23)
4  Michael Doyle (81) 1-0    Jacob Henderson (20)

Reg Pidduck writes:

The real victors of this match were not Broadstairs but Ramsgate who as a result win the Walker Shield for 2018. Broadstairs needed to win 4-0 to pip Ramsgate or 3½-½ to tie on points and games won to force a play off. Ramsgate have Mark to thank for his steady and persistent play on Board 1 where twice it could have ended in repetitive moves for a draw. But Mark is not a draw player and each time carried on after finding another move without losing ground. Finally after 70 moves he found the correct ones to win. Well done, Mark, and I look forward to many more encounters with you. Because I was so wrapped up with my own game, I cannot report on the three games that we won but congratulations to Bob, Gary and Captain Michael on a great season and sorry I could not go out with a win for you. Once again, well done Ramsgate.

Editor’s note: In this typically generous report Reg’s disappointment is tangible but let’s not forget that without his marvellous win last week, even a 4-0 victory in this match would not have been enough.

Millar Cup v Bridge A (a)

                                               Broadstairs  2½         Bridge A 4½ 

1 Nick McBride  (173) 0-1    Vishnu Singh (205)
2 Paul Carfrae (133) 0-1    Richard Eales (195)
3 Richard Clement (e130) 0-1    Alan Atkinson (173)
4 John Couzens (116) 1-0    Patrick Burns (156)
5 Reg Pidduck (107) ½-½    Jeff Green (e150)
6 Bob Cronin ½-½    Ian Redmond (75)
7 Michael Doyle (81) ½-½    Ray Rennells (75)

Reg Pidduck writes:

This was a match of two halves – top three and bottom three – with star of the evening John Couzens in the middle on Board 4, winning in style against his much higher graded opponent. John’s swap-off left him a check to pick up an easy rook and Patrick resigned. I had already finished with a draw after 32 moves when Jeff had no choice than to keep repetitive moves on my queen to thwart my attempt of mating him. When Bob and Ian on Board 6 agreed a draw soon afterwards, Broadstairs were looking good at 2-1 as the other games looked close. Michael Doyle on Board 7 had gone a queen down to a rook but crafty play by him got him the exchange back and half hour later a draw was agreed. So at 2½-1½ to us we slowly watched Bridge take control. First to go was Richard on Board 3 after looking in good shape with a passed pawn. Alan was never going to let him advance it and after forcing Richard away was able to pick it up and slowly squeeze Richard away to pick off the remaining pawns. Although Richard Eales on Board 2 had used up more time, Paul was slowly running out of good choice moves and the inevitable happened to Paul after his long hard struggle. So now at 3½-2½ down we were looking at Nick facing 23 year old International Master Vishnu Singh (also by the way the 5th highest graded player for Trinidad and Tobago) to halve the match. Nick held on gamely to be last to finish and resigned after Vishnu’s pressure was too much. So a 4½-2½ loss but a very enjoyable evening – especially for Gullbuster John – and many thanks to the Bridge players.

 

Walker Shield v Woodnesborough B (a)

                                               Broadstairs  4     Woodnesborough B  0 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 1-0    Oli Garrett (58)
2 Bob Cronin (104) 1-0    James Gill (e24)
3 Gary Hilleard (e100) 1-0    Daniel Watkins (e23)
4 Michael Doyle (81) 1-0    Jacob Henderson (e20)

Reg Pidduck writes:

BOARD 1. NOT MANY MISTAKES. Broadstairs needed to win this 4-0. Oli may only be 8 or 9 years old but he doesn’t make any mistakes. I was only able to win tactically by going a knight up and then later a rook as well and Oli resigned. 1-0 up.

BOARD 3. ANOTHER WIN FOR GARY. No sooner had I won than Gary stood up with a win against his young opponent, Daniel. 2-0 up

BOARD 2. PASSED PAWN. Our Bob like Gary and me played a steady game and won with a passed pawn down the a-file . But well played, James. 3-0 up

BOARD 4. CAPTAIN FINISHES LAST FOR A CHANGE. Normally Michael is first to finish. So young Jacob did well to hold him off for so long. Michael set himself up to checkmate on move 32 with a queen and bishop. Jacob another promising player. 4-0 to us.

Harry, Steve and all the parents have so many up and coming (and polite) youngsters at their club. Thanks Woodnesborough for making us so welcome and carry on the good work.

Walker Shield v Bridge (h)

                                                      Broadstairs  3½     Bridge ½ 

1 Reg Pidduck (107) 1-0    Graeme Boxall (99)
2 Bob Cronin (104) ½-½    Ian Redmond (75)
3 Gary Hilleard (e100) 1-0   Ray Rennells (75)
4 Michael Doyle (81) 1-0    def.

Reg Pidduck writes:

The Bridge players were not only one player short but had the misfortune of being held up due to a house fire on Haine Road.

BOARD 4. NO BRIDGE PLAYER.  Captain Michael had the walkover: 1-0 up

BOARD 2. A GOOD DRAW FOR IAN . Our Bob and Ian Redmond’s match at first glance looked close. On further study I could see Bob had all the space for his queen to rule the board. But Ian seized the opportunity of a perpetual check to draw the game: 1½-½ to us

BOARD 1. MY FAVE DUTCH.  After our opening salvos, my Dutch Defence was on top but Graeme was able to castle queenside to hold me off. We then played cat and mouse till my move 23 put me a Bishop up. By move 36 Graeme’s cause was lost and he resigned: 2½-½  to us

BOARD 3. A GREAT DEBUT. Broadstairs’ newest member Gary was three pawns up within an hour’s play. But Ray Rennells was not easy to shake off, and fought tooth and nail to come back. Finally in an endgame  the pawn advantage was too much and Ray conceded.

Match won 3½-½. Thanks to Bridge for their patience getting to us.

Latest Walker Shield table

Team Play Won Draw Lost For Against Points SP MP IM
Ramsgate 7 6 0 1 22 6 12 0 0 0
Broadstairs 6 4 0 2 14 10 8 0 0 0
Margate 5 3 1 1 13½ 6½ 7 0 0 0
Bridge 6 3 0 3 10 14 6 0 0 0
Woodnesborough A 7 1 2 4 9 18 4 0 0 0
Woodnesborough B 7 0 1 6 6½ 20½ 1 0 0 0