Lindores vs NICS

And the match kicked off as they expected it to end. Board 2, Peter May demolished Jim McLean in short-order after Jim missed an en passant capture, instead letting Peter push forward. Peter needed no better invitation putting NICS a game up.

On board 3, David McAlister opened to Ian Kilpatrick. This was a story of the g-file. After a quiet opening Ian had the better position until a g7-g5 pawn thrust on move 16 allowed David back into the game. A further push of the g-pawn on move 22 set off a tactical battle with both Kings coming under attack. By move 30  David had a winning advantage but misdirected a Rook; a counter-attack down the g-file from Black proved fatal. Match even.

On bottom board, Pete Storey defended against Garhy Aboelsoud; Garhy was on strict instructions to slow his game down. Evidently the relaxed tempo allowed Garhy to play to his strengths creating a lot of problems for Pete eventually forced to concede the game.

Next board to fall was on 4 where David Jackson defended against David Barr. Black was behind in development letting David Barr to exercise better control of the centre. However, Black seemed to be making headway after winning an exchange - but it was poisoned; a spectacular Bishop sitting on a3 aided and abetted White's Queen and Rook storming down an open g-file to threaten mate on Black's undefended King from so many directions. Black's own pieces could only watch from the Q-side as their King floundered unto death. A stylish win from David Barr confirmed the home team advantage.

Board 5 was a closely contested game between Drew Ferguson opening to Andy Hughes. Andy found an unexpectedly successful reply to Drew's usual closed opening and charged down the b-file. Drew struggled to prevent Black turning advantage into win and when material was traded down to single Rooks, Andy had a pawn advantage with an a-pawn pushing for promotion. Meanwhile Drew got his Rook behind the pawn keeping the Black King pinned to the back rank while he was able to get his own King over to break-up the Rook-pawn partnership aiming for a1. By now Andy was in time trouble and having lost his advantage threw everything into a final flurry to prevent a pawn push from White. With more time, no doubt he might have had better fortune but as it was, Drew was left with a single pawn almost certain to promote as Andy's clock ran down.

With the match now drawn, it came down to board 1, Mark Newman opening to erstwhile Bombardier colleague, Paul McNaughton to decide the match. Paul has been getting good results since his move to Lindores while Mark has been out of form for the past few matches. After a twitchy patch and a few weak moves from both players, Black secured an advantage which Paul ably converted to a win, claiming the match too for Lindores.

So it was NICS ambitions failed to be realised, something of a trend at the end of 2014. Perhaps the team can rejuvenate itself over the holidays and come back in 2015, refreshed, ready to make good their challenge for the League; there might just be time left...