McArthur Cup Final Match Report 2011

This Final was played with a new set of Match Pieces. I was somewhat nervous as to what would be the possible outcome with the new acquisition. However i need never have feared as the Team rose magnificently to the occasion, played some fine chess and at the end of the day when 'the dust had settled' had achieved a hat-trick of consecutive victories in the McArthur Cup.
Adrian Pickersgill was pitted against the highly experienced Bernard Cafferty. What's more he had to defend with the Black pieces.The Opening was a Closed English. His defence proved strong enough and the game was duly agreed drawn.This was a valuable result to Brighton & Hove.The advantage of the First move had been negated on Board Five.
In a Pirc Defence Nadezda Somova was playing another very experienced player in the Sussex County Chess Assocition President Robert Elliston. Robert snatched a pawn,hung onto it and in the end Nadezda was forced to resign.This was Nadezda's first loss in this competition over the Three years she had participated in it.
Geoffrey James was seated opposite Richard Almond. Richard opened with his customary 'd' pawn and the game went into a Nimzo-Indian Classical Variation. Geoffrey managed to defend with great accuracy limiting his opponent to the smallest of advantages. As the game developed Geoffrey continued to play accurately and the game was agreed drawn in a level position. This was another draw with Black and had furthered the Club's cause.
My game against Christopher Howell had been a Veresov Opening. The game eventually went down to a Rook and Three Pawns against a Rook and Two pawns. I had believed i should be able to defend this ending. However my nerves were tested to the limit as Christopher strove for another Forty Moves to win the game.Eventually this game was agreed drawn upon Christopher's proposal.
Luke Rutherford was to play an opponent against which he had lost in the Mid-Sussex League earlier this year. Francis Rayner opened with the 'e' pawn and the game developed into a Sicilian. Luke sacrificed an Exchange and managed to net Two Pawns as well. This was followed by a Third. Then slowly and with great care Luke was able to advance his Pawns in the centre generating all sorts of threats. Eventually faced with no defence Francis called it a day.
One game remained.Brian Denman was playing John Sugden. Brian had the White Pieces.The Opening had been an Open Sicilan.Late in the game and with both players quite short on time. John Sugden was to blunder a piece. Brian captured the Piece. With less than Ten Seconds left on his Clock John Sugden resigned. The match had finished.
When the points were tallied up it was revealed Brighton & Hove Chess Club had beaten Hastings & St Leonards Chess Club by the scoreline 3.5-2.5.
Thanks to everybody who represented Brighton during this competition,not forgetting Club Preident Sue Chadwick who played in an earlier round.