Eglantine Summer tournament begins

The draw for the first week is always the easiest with each player selected to play the next highest rated. With 12 boards set we had 2 spare. 20 players enjoying chess.

Pat McKillen had an attacking position against George Jackson with both rooks on the seventh rank. George defended excellently. Pat sacrificed but the elusive winning combination wasn't forthcoming and George was difficult to beat. Now with material up George offered Pat a draw (not a bad offer), Pat played on and with a slip-up from George managed to checkmate and win the game. Exciting chess.

Cathal Murphy had a tough draw against Chris Armstrong (travelling down from Derry). Both players attacked. Cathal managed to gain two pawns. Chris closed down the position with Bishop and Knight. The game was locked, a fascinating position. Tight on time, both players having minutes left, Chris offered a draw; two pawns up this can be difficult to accept but Cathal shook hands - a good result as there wasn't enough time to analyse the position for a winning plan, if it existed.

Pat Coleman held Nicholas Pilkiewicz to a draw with a seventh rank pawn forcing Nicholas to sacrifice his extra Rook resulting in a drawn position of opposite colour Bishops and one pawn on the board.

An evening of thrilling chess. See you next week.....

The evenings results: