Our first home chess match ever at the Bradstow Mill was fittingly against local rivals Margate and it proved to be an exciting one. Our communication network was tested early on as Chris (Board 1) phoned Reg’s home number (Margaret answered and then phoned Reg), Reg told me and I informed Chris’s opponent that Chris would be late.
On paper both teams were strong and evenly matched with the same overall rating of 6,394.
Chris Stampe on Board 1 arrived a little late and in a bit of a hurry to make up the lost time, with the black pieces he was playing the right moves to a familiar opening but unfortunately not in the right order, and his strong opponent was able to turn the play to Margate’s favour to take an early lead.
Paul Carfrae on Board 2 was able to square up the match to 1 – 1 playing his normal solid play and taking full advantage of playing with the white pieces. Meanwhile on Board 4, Michael Doyle in the unfamiliar colours of Margate, but with his familiar attacking style, overcame Paul Verrall who was making his home debut for Broadstairs.
Things were beginning to look desperate for Broadstairs with Margate leading 2 – 1 and having a slight advantage on Board 3 in a very tactical game with most pieces remaining on the board.
The Broadstairs team captain barely made the first time control limit of 36 moves and only had 1 second to spare. As the final game was played out between the two captains, Clive and Margate was ahead by 2 pawns. All was not lost though, as both players had 2 rooks and 2 bishops and as the space opened up, black managed to capture the initiative, capture back 1 pawn and then managed a forked check resulting in the loss of a series of pieces, quickly followed by a Margate resignation.
In the end an honourable, but most unlikely draw, which featured, the fat lady singing, the sick parrot and a brief appearance from Houdini, who must have slipped out from his bar opposite, before disappearing into the night.
| Broadstairs | 2 – 2 | Margate |
| Chris Stampe 1818 | 0 – 1 | Peter McGill 1825 |
| Paul Carfrae 1683 | 1 – 0 | Keith Findley 1638 |
| Andrew Flood 1593 | 1 – 0 | Clive Le Bague 1548 |
| Paul Verrall 1188 est | 0 – 1 | Michael Doyle 1383 |
match report by Andrew Flood