NORTH CIRCULAR CHESS LEAGUE B DIVISION 10th February 2025

ILFORD II 1.5 – 3.5 ENFIELD I

1844 ADHAR JAISWAL 0-1 PAUL GILBERG 1683 w

1762 ANTHONY KENT ½ DAVID McNISH 1642 b

1736 RAYYAN ASIF 0-1 C O’COALAIDHE 1630

1672 JEF PAGE 1-0 KYRIACOS KYRIACOU 1541

1709 VINCENZO NICOSIA 0-1 MARK McWILLIAMS 1498

(Based on Jef Page’s notes). In the NCCL B division where there is an odd number of boards, the away team has the white pieces – and it paid dividends for Enfield as they very surprisingly won boards 1, 3, and 5. Anthony Kent played a Sicilian Grand Prix Attack but could make little headway in a crowded board, and with space at a premium, and a draw was soon agreed (computer agreed position equal) – final position below.

But from here on the evening went downhill for Ilford. Vincenzo gave up his usual Kings Indian opening for the evening and soon came to regret it as his slow play left him well down on the clock and in the end Mark won a Rook. Jef tore into Kyriacou’s Kingside defence but almost lost the exchange (they both missed how he could trap Jef’s R) and wriggled out of that error. But when Kyriacou blundered away a Knight Jef was not so forgiving and it was a rare evening to be the only Ilford winner. (Photo of Jef on way to winning)

Paul played an advanced variation against the French got the better of Adhar (they had drawn in the away match at Enfield) in a difficult R,N and pawns endgame.

Cormac gained space with 2 well placed Knights and the pressure told on Rayyan when O’Coalaidhe got his advanced pawn moving up the c-file and his Q invaded the centre of the board. A poor night for us as we clearly outgraded them- which made little difference.