Essex Chess League Division 2
Monday 2nd December 2019
ILFORD I 4½ – 3½ UPMINSTER II
Report by Jef Page
1. TOM BARTON ½ STEVE KELSEY 164
2. NEVILLE TWITCHELL 1-0 LES CRANE 159
3. ANTHONY KENT ½ ROB IANNETTA 151
4. VENKATESH SUBRAMANIAN 1-0 AIDAN CORISH 146
5. SYD KALINSKY ½ STEVE ABBOTT 143
6. JASON KLIMACH ½ M RAHAMAN 136
7. JEF PAGE ½ NICK PELLING 134
8. TAHA UNDRE 0-1 PETER BIGGS 121
(From Jef Page’s notes). In a galaxy far, far away Ilford used to win bucket loads of chess matches. Hurraahh! At last a match win for Ilford- our first this season and for ages. We did just enough to beat Upminster 2 who we get on well with as many of their players have played for us (or still do: Crane, Corish, Abbott, Rahaman, Pelling) in the London & Essex leagues.
Drawn games dominated the match. One of the best moves I played was to win the toss and give us White on odd boards so Tom on board 1 played well opposing Kelsey’s Sicilian Defence. But, with no clear advantage, both agreed a draw. Syd had a good attack against Upminster captain Steve Abbott who defended well and Jason also stopped Rahaman developing his pieces but both accepted draws. I attacked Nick Pelling’s Alekhine’s Defence but as it went down to a level endgame with just a minute left I also had to take a half. Taha (who came from a hospital appointment) attacked Biggs’ King with Q&N but when forced back he lost control of an open board. Anthony managed to hang on under attack and a draw was agreed as time was short.
The match was levelled when Neville neatly beat Les Crane but the result hinged on Venkatesh who having won Rook for Knight against Aidan Corish, in a tense endgame with only minutes left, Venkatesh raced both g & h pawns for home supported by his King to clinch the match win for Ilford. Our biggest danger now is defaults in future matches, more players are needed!
Ilford Chess Club 