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Press Release

2001/02 season - Weekend 2

The second weekend of the 2001/02 4NCL season took place in Birmingham over the weekend of 24th and 25th November. The mood was sombre, as this was the first major chess event in the UK since the recent death of Tony Miles. As a special tribute to England’s first Grandmaster, a board was set up showing the position after 1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 - the opening of his famous victory against Anatoly Karpov. Tony’s team, Slough I, left their board 1 empty in his memory. A minute’s silence was held before play started as a mark of respect to Tony and to Robin Pearce, the King’s Head team captain, who also died recently.

In Division 1, Wood Green I maintained their winning start and extended their lead on game points with comfortable wins against Barbican 4NCL II and Slough I. Reigning champions Beeson Gregory I also managed two victories, although they had to sweat a bit against Midland Monarchs. Already the Beeson Gregory vs. Wood Green showdown at the January weekend looks like it may decide the league, although Guildford-ADC I and Bristol I are in hot pursuit. At the bottom of the table, it was obviously a particularly difficult weekend for the Slough team and they have slipped into the relegation zone along with Barbican 4NCL II and Beeson Gregory II.

In Division 2, Perceptron Youth continue their winning ways, being particularly severe with an 8-0 thumping of the luckless Beeson Gregory III outfit. The “Yoof” are the only undefeated side in the division, but there are 4 teams in hot pursuit with Richmond and South Wales Dragons I occupying the other promotion spots.

South Wales Dragons II maintained their lead in a very tight Division 3, with wins against Poisoned Pawns II and Bristol II. Mind Sports Ltd and Warwickshire Select are their closest challengers.

Round 5 and 6 will take place on the weekend of January 19th and 20th.

Selected games

Aleksandar Wohl vs. Anthony Corkett
Slough I vs. Wessex, board 3
Division 1, round 3

1.a3 Nf6 2.b4 a5 3.b5 c5 4.c4 e6 5.Nf3 Be7 6.Bb2 0-0 7.e3 b6 8.Nc3 Bb7 9.Qc2 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.d4 Nbd7 12.Bd3 cxd4 13.exd4 Ne4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Bxe4 Bxe4 16.Qxe4 Re8 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Qd7 19.Qe2 Bc5 20.0-0 Re6 21.Rad1 Qe7 22.Kh1 Re8 23.Qd3 Qh4 24.f4 Rh6 25.h3 Rg6 26.Rf3 h6 27.f5 Rg4

Wohl vs. Corkett

Now White moves onto the attack. 28.Qd7 Rf8 29.f6 Rf4 30.fxg7 Kxg7 31.g3 Rd8 32.gxh4 Rxd7 33.e6+ and Black resigns.

David Ledger vs. Robert McFarland
Midland Monarchs vs. Bristol I, board 6
Division 1, round 3

1.e4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.h4 h5 4.d4 c6 5.Bc4 b5 6.Bb3 b4 7.Qf3 e6 8.Nce2 a5 9.Bg5 Qb6 10.Qe3 Bb7 11.Nf3 d6 12.Rd1 Nd7 13.0-0 Ngf6 14.Qf4 Qc7 15.c3 Ba6 16.Rfe1 e5 17.dxe5 dxe5

Ledger vs. McFarland

18.Rxd7 and Black resigns. A neat finish!

David Howell vs. John Emms
Slough I vs. Wood Green I, board 4
Division 1, round 4

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.0-0 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Qc7 8.Re1 d6 9.Nc3 Nf6 10.Bg5 0-0 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rad1 Rb8 13.b3 Bb7 14.f4 Rbd8 15.h3 h6 16.Bh4 e5 17.Nf3 exf4 18.Bf2 c5 19.Qxf4 g5 20.Qf5

Howell vs. Emms

20...Bc8 21.Nd5 Bxf5 22.Nxc7 Rxe4 23.Bxc5 Rxe1+ 24.Nxe1 Rd7 25.Bxd6 Bf8 26.Nb5 a6 and White resigns.

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