Essex D3 match – Ilford 2 v Thurrock 2 – Monday 19 December 2022.
5 board match, G80 + 10
Tom Barton, captain.
Three of the Thurrock players had difficulty finding our venue and were late but father and son, Mariusz and Oscar, started on time. Euan took an opportunity to win a piece in the middle game and went into the endgame a piece up. Dan won quickly and so the match was looking good for us however, Muhammed got out-played on board 2. Euan converted his advantage to a win without trouble so at that stage we were ahead. Adhar dropped a piece and his game putting the scores equal and leaving the match hanging on Rayyan’s game which had a Caro-Kann opening. A fairly even middlegame had been reached although Rayyan’s pawn structure was inferior. With the Queens off, Rayyan got his King into the fray but it became a target and he dropped a piece and the game. So a loss by 2-3.
I give Euan’s game below.
Full result details are on the LMS
We have a chance for revenge with the return fixture at Thurrock on Wednesday 4th January.
Waszkielewicz,Oscar (1100) v O’Connell,Euan (1100) [D07]
Queen’s Gambit: Chigorin Defence 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 dxc4 4.e3 Bf5 5.Bxc4 e6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.0-0 Bb4 8.a3 Ba5 9.Re1 0-0 10.b4 Bb6 11.Na4 a5 12.Nxb6 cxb6 13.Bd2 Ne4= 14.Bd3?
it’s been an equal game so far but Euan now exploits the mistake 14…Nxd2
[14…Nxf2 15.Kxf2 Bxd3 was a better way to gain the piece]
15.Bxf5? [15.Qxd2=] 15…Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 exf5-+ a piece up and Black converts for a win 17.Qxf5 axb4 18.axb4 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 Nxb4 20.Qb5 Nc6 21.Rb1 Re8 22.Qxb6 Qxb6 23.Rxb6 Nxd4 24.Rxb7 Ra8 25.g3 Ne6 0-1
Ilford Chess Club 