The Club Championship – A Winner Emerges– Alan Winfield !!

After a gruelling 3 months of weekly rounds, last week saw the top two players (Alan and Gordon) play their penultimate round against the top two rated players. With a 1.5 pt  deficit, Gordon had to win to keep his hopes alive whilst Alan had the luxury of knowing a draw would be sufficient to give him an unbeatable 11.5 points. With one game left to play. Given what was at stake both players avoided any opening fireworks though Gordon hoped to catch David off guard with the Polish (b4) opening.
Alans’ main plan was to ensure a balanced game and not go into any risky trades.  Midway through the night, Alan felt he had achieved his aim of entering in to an end game that had something for both players. which in such unclear positions an offer of a draw has more chance of being successful.   Indeed a draw was offered and after some thought, Ross accepted.  
In the other match a hard battle was being fought out with both Gordon and David giving no quarter.   Whilst both players were fighting to control/defend the centre, a King side attack by David, advancing his “h” pawn to open up Gordons defence around his King, proved to be the game breaker.  A mistake by Gordon giving up control of the light squares around his King allowed David to give check with his Queen on the back rank, with the end come a few moves later.

After 13 Rounds with a score of 11.5 pts from 13 – Alan Winfield is the winner of the Kapiti Chess Club Championship.

B & C Grade Championship

Like the A Grade, the B/C Championship has also been going on for 3 months however with 1 round left to play, no clear winner in either grade has yet emerged.
Last week saw the tournament leader Mark Summers, drawn against Mark Woodwood.  A serious blunder was made by Mark S (touching a piece then seeking to move another).  A polite reminder of  the rules from his opponent corrected the action, however it seemed to affect Mark S and he want on to lose the game.    Though wins are always nice to get, it is good to remember also, that much can be learned from the games we lose. As disappointed as Mark S may be, all is not lost.  In our final games of the series next week, Rick, whose win over Savanah put him level with Mark S on 10 pts also has to get past Mark W.   A good performance against Rose may see him crowned B Grade Champion at his first attempt.