Ealing A win Hillingdon Plate
: Created:25 May 2018 , by Alastair JohnstoneEaling A win the Hillingdon League Plate after a nerve-jangling finale.
|
Bd |
Harrow Juniors A |
Gd |
|
Ealing A |
Gd |
|
1 |
Dhemrait, Jagdeep |
157 |
0-1 |
Colov, Hristo |
157 |
|
2 |
Patel, Rishi |
138 |
1-0 |
Healeas, Simon |
154 |
|
3 |
Shah, Kian |
138 |
0-1 |
Winterbotham, Mark |
152 |
|
4 |
Gurjar, Roshan |
129 |
1-0 |
Thatte, Nishchal (DEF) |
150 |
|
5 |
Truscott, Philip |
99 |
0-1 |
Johnstone, Alastair G |
137 |
This was not a match for those of a nervous disposition, going right to the wire before the outcome was decided. And it had seemed so easy early on, with Hristo exploiting an early blunder to win within minutes. But prospects of a stroll to victory soon evaporated when Nishchal failed to appear on Board 4, thus levelling the score.
Fortunately, my opponent obliged me by playing into one of my favourite openings and playing it rather limply. The attack played itself out almost automatically and the team's lead was restored.
Assessing the remaining two games it looked as though Simon had every chance of a draw with B+Ps v N+Ps in a closed position, while Mark looked to be in some difficulty. Never mind, I thought, Simon's draw would ensure we won on tie-break.
However, events took a different turn when, deep into the QP finish, Simon went woring, a pawn went astray, followed by another and it was all over.
By this stage, it looked grim for Ealing as Mark had reached an endgame with BB+3P v NB+4P with his 10-year-old opponent in possession of an unstoppable passed c-pawn. He also had 40 minutes on the clock against Mark's 15. What followed was a study-like exhibition of backs-to-the-wall endgame play. Mark had to give up one of his bishops for the c-pawn but in return was able to eliminate Black's kingside pawns. Crucially, Black's king was far-removed from the action at this point while Mark's was in close attendance to the pawns. Black then had to give up dis knight for one of Mark's two remaining pawns and suddenly it was only Mark that could win. He duly found the right moves to force his queen to the queening square and to well-merited applause from the assembled throng, Mark won the game and Ealing the crown. A great contest played ina fine spirit.