You are here: Home Archives Ulster Chronicles 2013-2014 season UCU Web 2014 Cap'n Kelly Disappoints

Cap'n Kelly Disappoints

For the first time, Belfast South travelled out to Dundonald to play NICS at their home venue. Kelly's Heroes arrived in bristling form not quite expecting the topsy-turvey match in store for them.
Cap'n Kelly Disappoints

Boards 1 & 3

The Heroes drifted in, in dribs & drabs. Some bemoaned their hobbled state, not having a real opportunity to win the division. Some were more laid-back, letting the elegance of Maynard Sinclair Pavilion wash over them, whetting their whistles in the process. The rest frenetically bounced around keen to play, keen to start, keen to begin, keen to finish... "Lets go!" they demanded. NICS, led by their unflappable Cap'n Newman, took it all in their stride. Who would have guessed what was about to happen.

Drew Ferguson, playing up on board 2 attempted to calm things down with a gentle passive opening. Bernard Jaffa was having none of it responding aggressively turning the table on hapless White who struggled to keep up. But for a blundered Bishop maybe Drew could have recovered something but his troops were in disarray while Bernard's were irritatingly nonchalant and impervious to any sort of threat. One up to the Heroes.

On board 1 Mark Newman faced John McKenna. Both strong, stable pawn structures belied the action as the pieces manoeuvred around them trading off for a balanced point-count but uneven material. Uncharacteristically, Mark had a dancing Queen which seemed surprisingly dynamic while John managed a more thoughtful co-ordinated team driving down on his opponent. A clever tactic caused John to lose a Bishop and ultimately the game. NICS had evened the match.

White to moveAdrian Donford-Smith opened on board 4 against Cathal Murphy. Adrian made a quick claim on the centre with minor pieces aggressively placed as companions to pawns on d4 & e4. Meanwhile Cathal was playing a waiting game perhaps too passive. Adrian got a wonderful position (see diagram)Cathal Murphy after he has just dodged a bullet with a pawn behind Black's defenses and a selection of pieces targeting Cathal's King with multiple X-rays and direct pins. Adrian backed off reckoning on better possibilities leaving Cathal fretting on what might happen next. Sadly the attack petered out and Cathal was able to recover and get back in the game. Under time pressure Cathal offered a draw which Adrian reluctantly accepted. The match was still all square.

On bottom board Pete Storey defended against George Jackson. Both players marshalled their forces on the King-side. However, Pete was able to co-ordinate a frontal attack on the White King while George concentrated on the e-file, trying to get pieces over to defend his King. A couple of times Black had mate-on-the-move which George managed to dodge. Perhaps frustrated by White's defences , Pete manoeuvred a Rook into an awkward position trying to force yet another mate threat. This time George had a devastating reply that not only nullified Pete's threats but attacked his Black Queen leaving Black's Rook en prise. Now White had a significant material superiority and with Black's attack options vapourised, it was not long before George was able to force Pete to capitulate. The Heroes take the lead.

Boards 5 & 4Final and deciding board 3 with Geoff Hindley defending against Martin Kelly. Geoff needed a win to halve the match for the team but his chances were far from good. Martin had successfully pushed through the centre with a rapid head-on attack on the Black king leaving both players with undeveloped pieces on the King-side. Geoff parried Martin's attacks resolutely but was forced to concede a pawn. Black was under severe pressure and as the Queen-side cleared of pawns and minor pieces, White had the opportunity to exploit his extra pawn pushing for promotion. However, Martin's King was exposed and distracted while he got his h-Rook into play; this allowed Geoff to get his pair of Rooks onto the second rank. With a tempo in-hand, it looked inevitable that Geoff could force the draw provided he kept Martin's King in check and didn't allow the White Rook pair to harry the Black King into submission. Collective gasps from the spectators as Geoff took his foot off the pedal creating an escape route for his King instead. Indeed, the escape route meant Martin was unable to contain the Black King. Geoff continued to avoid the forcing-draw, preferring to ping pawns and offer support to his beleaguered King. All this holding activity was eating into Martin's time, something he was rapidly running out of. Despite only a few pieces left it was becoming increasingly complicated to plan a win for White. Geoff threatened a back row mate, which given time pressure Martin overlooked, made a move letting Geoff deliver the coup de gras.

2014 has become a miracle season for Geoff and more than once now he has come to the rescue for his team. In tonight's match, as soon as the clock closed on the mating move, the silence was shattered by everyone chattering at once, clammering with their own "way out". A topsy-turvy result on every board with what proved to be an excellent draw for both teams, well, a fair result anyway.

Navigation
News
Childrens Chess continued on February 11th 2023 at Methodist College February 11th saw top young chess players gather at Methodist College to play some top chess. The afternoon consisted of... Mar 04, 2023
FIDE rating report - March 2023 15 players gained new FIDE ratings in the March 2023 list. Feb 28, 2023
Ladies Day with WIM Trisha Report A report by Karina Campbell We were lucky to get back to Greenisland FC Chess Club where it all started. On Sunday 26th... Feb 27, 2023
March and April programming at Bangor Chess Club Feb 23, 2023
Hanzharov wins FIDE-rated City of Bangor Winter Blitz "Fast Eddie" blitzes the opposition at Groomsport Parish Hall Feb 18, 2023
More news…
« March 2023 »
March
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
Upcoming Events
FIDE Rated U1800 Groomsport Classic 2023 Groomsport Classic returns with 5 rounds over 2 days, Thursday 30th March and Saturday 1st April Mar 30, 2023 - Apr 01, 2023 — Church of Ireland Groomsport Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
Irish Junior Chess Championships 2023 Mar 31, 2023 - Apr 02, 2023 — Coláiste Éanna, Hillside Park, Ballyroan, Rathfarnham, D16E248
Children's Chess - Methody The monthly schools chess tournaments continues at Methodist College. Apr 01, 2023 12:30 AM - 05:00 PM — Methodist College,1 Malone Rd, Belfast BT9 6BY
FIDE Rated Ulster Rapidplay Championship 2023 This year's Ulster Rapidplay will be held at Bangor Chess Club on Saturday 15th April 2023. Apr 15, 2023 09:30 AM - 05:00 PM — Church of Ireland Groomsport Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR
FIDE Rated King Charles III Coronation Blitz Apr 27, 2023 07:30 PM - 10:15 PM — Church of Ireland Parish Hall, 30 Main Street, Groomsport, County Down, BT19 6JR, Northern Ireland
Upcoming events…