The President's Simultaneous
: Created:14 Aug 2009 , byTonight John Quinn gave another of his very successful simultaneous displays at the club and one again achieved a tremendous result but not before being tested to the limit on a sultry evening by Ealing's seasoned members. As so often in these events it was the challengers who...
...flagged a little as our club champion came round faster and faster and John showed commendable stamina to grind out late victories.
John had a difficult start when John Harvey produced a novelty in the 2.c3 Sveshnikov line against the Sicilian Defence. Whatever it's objective merits, the complications caused terminal problems for White's king. In the meantime John was building strong positions against the stragglers and it was a particular delight for a chesslover to see him sacrifice to get at key squares around Gerry Blick's king.
An oversight by John lost him a rook against Dale Gibbons but on the adjacent board a really great struggle was going on versus Alastair Johnstone. Alastair produced a surprise weapon, the Benko Gambit and double-edged positions abounded throughout the middlegame but both John and Alastair are fighters and neither would take a backward step. Alastair's beautiful ...Rxf2 appeared to put him on top but John did not panic and an error by Black gave John the full point. It was a privilege to witness this game, the most exciting chess of the night.
Sam Summit had the better of a Sicilian Nadjorf Defence but John fought back strongly on the kingside and sure-footedly saw through the complications. Miguel Sanchez was victorious over John in last year's event but John turned the tables this time and beautiful White pawns on e7 and f7 caused Miguel to resign and reminded this spectator of an early Alekhine finish.
Although John piled up the late wins it was encouraging for the club to see Raj Jhooti and Michael Turp hold him to draws. Both Raj and Michael are rising stars at Ealing and the tough well-fought draws reflected credit on both sides.