New Gradings out now for those with a strong constitution, search ECF Grading Database (There is a automatic download of the latest Macclesfield Chess Club ECF Grades on the "Members" tab so this will always be up-to-date -Denzil-Webmaster).
Best wishes from Mr + Mrs Hat
Man with Hat arrived early at the Navvy to find that the room had been used for an earlier function. With no thought for his safety he sneaks behind enemy lines and unfurls the Macclesfield flag at the far side of the room with the chair backs facing the wall. In football parlance this is like winning the toss away from Home and electing to swap sides, a bit like Graeme Souness plunging the Galatasaray flag into the Centre Circle of Fenerbahce. Unfortunately, it didn’t really get much better… Joachim on Board 3 made a solid start with an agreed draw. A quick glance over my shoulder and I see that Joachim had wedged a pawn on the 5th rank whilst his opponent Andy had jammed a knight also in the centre of the board. No room to play ½ : ½. Tom dropped a pawn against a tough opponent and the experienced Mr K was able to convert (Tom, I’ve not beaten him in 3 attempts)! ½- 1½. Next to finish is yours truly. I actually thought this ½ wasn’t too bad and although the green shoots of recovery are still very much frozen underground the rot has, for now at least, stopped. A blunder free draw with the Black pieces did not however please the indomitable Mrs Hat whose withered look was accompanied by an order not to mention the grading differences (never occurred to me)! Three games left and the Macc Lads have big time advantages in all of them but we need 2 wins for a match point and I am realistically only optimistic for Denzil against Alan who for some reason he likes to play against. Alan was eyeing up a winning endgame but Denzil managed to keep the Queens on making it difficult to play with less than 3 minutes on the clock. A mating net was weaved and not seen and the scores moved to 2 each. Francis had allowed Paul a free run of his Queen down the Queenside. The idea was to trap Paul’s Queen but Paul created a flight square and was able to free himself with a 2 pawn winning advantage. The baying mob then turn their attention to Board 5 where John had a good position until he ran out of rope to tie Chris up. Chris emerged free at last with a 2 pawn advantage but no passed pawn i.e. 4 v 3 and 3 v 2. Could John keep the game alive with his time advantage and pressure Chris into an error? It’s John that makes the error and another deserved win for Marple. Well played Terry, well played Marple and we move on to the second half of the season when we will once again be up against it. Thanks to all those who stepped in at the last minute to ensure 6 very keenly contested games played in good spirit with congenial hosts.
Next up for Man with Hat is the Stockport Rapidplay where Mrs Hat will be signing books and scaring the children.
Another dismal result to explain as a beleaguered Macclesfield C team slump to yet another defeat. When the team sheets were exchanged Man with Hat sensed a chance to put some points on the board. No Mark Whalley, Tony, Richard, Nick or Bill. It all started well enough with Pete the Predator menacingly prowling the board, waiting for a mistake from his opponent before stripping him of material like a scene from a David Attenborough documentary. The only piece left was Pete’s bishop and a resignation soon followed. John looked to be in command on board 6 whilst Marc had a good position on board 5 but at the cost of a sacrificed piece. I had played my opponent previously and lost after 1) e4 so given Thomas’s lack of years I thought 1) b4 was worth a punt. It certainly worked to begin with and Man with Hat gains 5 minutes on the clock and a decent position. However, disaster has never been far away this season (or the last) and overlooking a move left me with a King that couldn’t castle and pieces that were tripping themselves up. If they were musical notes on a stave then the sound would have been something akin to a cat being strangled. Disentangling my pieces came at the cost of a ‘pin 2 win’. Well played Thomas and I look forward to another rematch. Worse was to follow and John blundered away a winning chance and had to settle for a draw against Steve W. Denzil was beaten by Reg on board 2 leaving the match score on 2 ½ - 1½ in favour of the home side. PhilCo had the hardest task of the night playing Mark on top board. Mr Hann is the man at the moment after going 18 matches unbeaten in the Stockport League last season. PhilCo had every chance of a draw in a minor piece endgame just needing to make sure that he didn’t allow Mark to fork his King and Bishop (Oops)! With the match now decided the baying mob turned their attention to Board 5. Man with Hat wasn’t sure whether the 2 remaining gladiators were aware that the match had been decided but perhaps the performance of the night came from VJ who resolutely stuck to his task of defending his advantage eventually returning the sacrificed piece in exchange for a winning endgame. Well played VJ and well played Altrincham and I shall look forward to the return fixture.
Mrs Hat would like to point out that she had beaten my opponent in April 2015 and would gladly help out if she wasn’t washing her hair and if I were to ask nicely. I’m afraid to say that my answer is not repeatable on this page. Man with Hat would like to wish his readers a Merry Xmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year. Time for the Gin.