23rd November: Macclesfield `C` host Sale looking for a much needed morale boosting first win. First to win was David S who was already significant material ahead before I had chance to look. The win was converted soon after. 1 nil to Macc. A well done to David who has stopped drawing and has now won 3 league games on the spin. Dave M was next to finish playing a dangerous opponent with a couple of decent scalps already under his belt from the Manchester Summer League. Dave wins what looked like a ferocious battle 2 nil. Next to finish was Pete. I managed a few sneaky sideways looks on this one. Pete seemed to have a slight advantage from the opening (then again what do I know) but when the queens came off it looked very level and a draw was agreed at around 9.30 pm 2.5:0.5. The team now agonisingly close to that win. Unfortunately Marc had, somewhat surprisingly, dropped a pawn in his favourite Scandinavian Opening and jettisoned 2 more as he fought desperately but ultimately unsuccessfully to save his game. 2.5:1.5. 10pm and what drama, what theatre. Man with the Hat not for the first time and almost certainly not for the last was frantically defending a counter attack having over egged his own attack. Then with the mob circling round the board, one final twist. It became apparent that my opponent did not understand how and when the 10 seconds were being added. With his clock smashing below 5 seconds and hurtling towards zero, I made my opponent a draw offer that he really couldn`t refuse.
Man with the Hat