Man with Hat having definitely NOT spent all week waiting for these is pleased to publicise that the new grades are now out.
http://www.ecfgrading.org.uk/new/menu.php#
put in browser or just google ECF gradings
Have fun
MWH
New Grades are now on Our Members page on this website
Webmaster
Mr Hat knows how to spoil a woman and so it was on a scorching hot summer’s day that Mr + Mrs Hat decide to travel to the Eastside or Ashton by IKEA to be precise. Not one for being late, Mrs H insisted that we set off in the middle of the night which was just as well as we needed to circumnavigate road closures in Disley and Bredbury before a couple of laps of Ashton town centre and an unguided tour of a housing estate before arriving in good time to secure one of the remaining car parking spaces.
Round 1 and I am drawn against Rachel H, a dangerous opponent with an excellent chess pedigree. I showed too much of my kingside but escaped to counter Phew! Round 2 and I play the Grob against the eventual winner – I get battered!! At this juncture I spot a familiar face – PhilCo has arrived as I suspected that he might but more about him later. The story now is of Mrs H leading the way in her section with 2/2. Too much pressure and 2/2 becomes 2/3. I play an opponent who made the same mistake that he made 2 years ago. Unfortunately for me, I forget the winning continuation and get into a right old pickle before limping over the line with a checkmate and 2 seconds left on the clock!
Round 4 and I am pushing the wood around in a Ruy Lopez (having ditched the Grob)! when suddenly I remember a trrraaaapp! Too late! Somehow I manage to turn this around and redeem myself and it’s 3 out of 4 and back in the running. Round 5 and I’m absolutely battered by one of the section favourites having castled right into the eye of the storm. Having lost only to the two leaders a final round win wouldn’t have seemed too bad but it was a tired performance from Man with Hat. Well played to Phil from Urmston though for outplaying me in a Rook and Pawn endgame.
Macclesfield represented in all 3 sections and the plaudits go to PhilCo in the top section with 4/6. Man with Hat scored 3/6 with Mrs Hat a very creditable 3/6. An aggregate plus score for the Macc contingent and a reminder to MWH that PhilCo needs to play on a higher board next season!
A big up to Dave and Glen for organising this event. 3 sections all under 150, no landscaped gardens, no posh hotels, nothing for the 4NCL Taliban. Just Tameside grit and I loved it!
The last game of the season was Denton V Altrincham in Division 2. Denton only needed to win 2 games ,not the match , to survive the drop .Home advantage as well meant this should have been straightforward.
Final score was Denton 0.5 Altrincham 5.5 and Macclesfield C survive the drop.