North Circular Chess League Division B Loughton Bowls Club, 25.January.20
17
LOUGHTON II ½-4½ ILFORD
142 G KERSHAW 0-1 NEVILLE TWITCHELL 173 w
141 K GROCE 0-1 SYD KALINSKY 148 b
127 M VAN TOL ½ JEF PAGE 130
101 G CLARKE 0-1 HOWARD BERLIN 127
77 M SMITH 0-1 LEONARDO STEFANONI 109
(From Jef’s notes) A good win for Ilford who throughout the match had the advantage on every board- and we outgraded them everywhere.
A quick look around the hall at the games after just 40 minutes saw Syd a Bishop up, Leonardo a pawn ahead & Howard, and Neville on board 1 both gaining strong positional advantages. Kalinsky quickly swapped into a won endgame and Leonardo mated Smith with a Rook & two Bishops as Smith never developed his queenside pieces at all. Clarke played the endgame weakly and his lone Knight could never hold off Howard Berlin’s 3 advancing pawns. Martin Van Tol did just enough to defend his King as I set up an attack and hold me off and I reluctantly took a draw. Gary Kershaw was forced to defend for his life and almost held out but an error in the endgame saw Neville pick off a Bishop and gain his win.
This win raises us to 2nd with matches in hand on Chingford who lead the division.
Next NCL match: Ilford v Enfield: Monday 30th January, home.
Ilford Chess Club 