STEELE CUP Monday 29^th November 2021 match report by Andrew Flood.

The Bradstow Mill was brighter than normal with the Christmas lights shining brightly. With evenly matched teams, would the Folkestone team outshine Broadstairs?

The experienced, and well-travelled (Folkestone is a long way away) John Atherton playing white had the early advantage on board 1 outrating Paul Carfrae who was playing on board 1 in the absence of Chris Stampe. The match went to form with Paul Carfrae coming second against his experienced opponent.

Although Broadstairs were down 1-0, the other boards were looking good for Broadstairs. Dominic was playing a strong game against his opponent and had captured his opponents Queen and looking good for a win. It was a shock when Folkestone extended their winning margine.

Fredy was playing a good steady and strong game against his opponent, and it later transpired that he had a mate in 2 opportunity during the game. Again, his opponent turned the game around to register another Folkestone success.

The game on board 3 was a long hard battle with few pieces exchanged or taken in the first 2 hours of play. gradually Broadstairs got the upper hand going 1 pawn and then 2 pawns up. With time getting late and a win already secured by Folkestone, David Erwee resigned his difficult to defend position.

So, what could have been a 3 -1 win ended up as a 3-1 loss. Not quite a steal in the Steele Cup, but a deserved Folkestone win that could have gone either way.

Chess is a complicated game, a sport of course, a science and at its best a true art

Here is a puzzle that I first saw online, explained by the legendary Julian Hodgson

White to move and win!

After more exciting games, we see three players leading the chasing pack.

Arnaud, Chris and Dominic are all on 3 points and playing some great chess

Here are the latest results

Reg   0 – 1 Manoj

Paul V  1 – 0 David

Mike  1 – 0 Andy

Arnaud  1 – 0  Chris

This position was reached in a Kent Club Championship, White reacted by playing Be2, developing and breaking the pin, however he had better

1. Nxe5  Bxd1 (forced or Black is simply a piece down) 2. Bb5+ c6  3. dxc6 and the threat of a discovered check will lead either to mate or winning the Black Queen leaving White a piece up

The much anticipated World Championship Match starts in just a few days.

World Champion Magnus Carlsen will battle his Challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi over 14 games. The last two matches, both won by Carlsen have been a little disappointing for the fans, especially the match v Caurana where it seemed, to me, that the American Challenger was more concerned with not losing than he was with attempting to win! I don’t think that this will happen this time – Nepomniachtchi has a very individual and attacking style, in fact he is one of a very small group of Super Grandmasters to hold a plus score against Carslen in classical chess.

My prediction for the match?

I am going to hedge my bets and go for two distinct scenarios

1. Magnus will pick Nepo’s sometimes unorthodox openings apart and win comfortably

2. Nepo will take an early lead and keep finding enough chaotic and tactical positions to win the title.

What I am sure we won’t see is 14 boring draws

Here is a game played this year, it was a rapid game but still of the highest quality

 White:  Ian Nepomniachtchi       Black:  Magnus Carlsen

   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5   d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c3 Ne7 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13.   Nc2 Bb7 14. Bd3 d5 15. Qe2 f5 16. O-O-O fxe4 17. Bxe4 Qc7 18. Bf3 O-O-O 19. g3   Kb8 20. Kb1 Nc8 21. Rhe1 Rhe8 22. Ne3 Nb6 23. Qc2 f6 24. Bg2 Rd6 25. Rd2 Red8   26. Red1 a5 27. a3 Nc4 28. Nxc4 bxc4 29. Qf5 Ka7 30. Ka1 Qd7 31. Qh5 Qc7 32. f4   e4 33. Rd4 Bc6 34. R1d2 Be8 35. Qe2 Bc6 36. Qe3 Qb6 37. f5 R6d7 38. Qh6 Ba4 39.   g4 Ka6 40. Bf1 Ka7 41. h4 Rb7 42. Qe3 Rdb8 43. g5 Bd7 44. gxf6 Bxf5 45. Qg5 Be6   46. Bxc4 Rg8 47. Qe5 Rg1+ 48. Ka2 dxc4 49. b4 cxb3+ 50. Kb2 e3 51. Qxe3 Ra1 52.   Qe5 Ra2+ 53. Kb1 Rxd2 54. Rxd2 b2 0-1