Essex v CCF match Report


Essex recorded their first win in the group matches and in doing so extinguished CCF's hopes of a final appearance. Essex won the toss and opted for white in the first round, this tactic backfired horribly in the last match versus Kent when a second round collapse with the black pieces saw Essex absolutely crushed, would the same happen again?

Things didn't look good when board 3 Ali Abdaal failed to arrive giving CCF a 1 point lead. Parity was quickly restored when Nikhil Sanghani won quickly. After a couple of draws the outcome was very much in the balance after an hours play. Nikhil Pillai and Angelo Cassar lost, but Rebecca Swestun and Nick Henesy made it 4 all. However Jack, Edward and Elliot were all worse and only Johnathan Newby was winning. It looked very much that Essex would go in at half time 7 - 5 down. When Johnathan's opponent managed to get a draw the situation looked worse, however Essex's fortunes changed when Edward Ballard salvaged a stale mate draw from a totally lost position. Jack did indeed lose his game after a long battle to make the score 6 - 5 to CCF. Just Elliot remained and since he was a piece down the 7 - 5 score line looked ever more likely, however Elliot has one special quality in his chess, dogged determination. Somehow Elliot managed to capture the CCF players Rook, luckily Elliot also retained a vital pawn but the endgame was by no means easy. After an immense struggle Elliot achieved the checkmate which levelled the match 6 - 6. All to play for.

Would Essex collapse like they did against Kent, that was the question on everyone's lips. I reminded the players of this and sent them into the fray. This time however we needn't of worried, despite the default, quick wins were made by confident Essex players. Jack regained his composure to notch a win. Rebecca made it 2/2 on the day. Jamie Stimpson wobbled a bit when he lost a piece but clever middlegame play regained the piece and the players agreed a draw. CCF fought back briefly when Elliot lost to the highly graded Tuska and Johnathan Newby and Edward Ballard faltered. However CCF could not find the breakthrough and wins from Nikhil Sanghani, Angelo Cassar, Walton Charles, Nikhil Pillai and Nick Henesy rounded off a fine performance.

I would like to thank all of the players who contributed during this season and since most of the Essex team could very well play in an under 11 team! we should really start to be a force next year.

  Essex*
3.2.08
 CCF*

  1
  2
  3
  4
  5
  6
  7
  8
  9
10
11
12

Nikhil Pillai 65
Nikhil Sanghani 59
   def
Elliot Moule 44
Rebecca Swestun 46
Walton Charles 43
Jamie Stimpson 41
Jack Swestun 37
Nick Henesy 36
Jonathan Newby 19
Angelo Cassar 33
Edward Ballard 28

0     
1     
0     
1     
1     
½     
½     
0     
1     
½     
0     
½     

1     
0     
1     
0     
0     
½     
½     
1     
0     
½     
1     
½     

Caspian Heeler 77
James Side 80
Juraj Tuska 84
Matt Cook 37
John Dougrez-Lewis 56
Nico Trompetas 41
Rahull Lall 42
Aaron Fernandes 47
David Norris 30
Toni Aspinall 30
Jasper Moore 37
Liam Holland 26

  Rd 2
  1
  2
  3
  4
  5
  6
  7
  8
  9
10
11
12


Nikhil Pillai 65
Nikhil Sanghani 59
Elliot Moule 44
Rebecca Swestun 46
Walton Charles 43
Jamie Stimpson 41
Jack Swestun 37
Nick Henesy 36
Jonathan Newby 19
Angelo Cassar 33
Edward Ballard 28
   def

6    
1
1
0
1
1
½
1
1
0
1
0
0

6   
0
0
1
0
0
½
0
0
1
0
1
1


James Side 80
Caspian Heeler 77
Juraj Tuska 84
Matt Cook 37
John Dougrez-Lewis 56
Nico Trompetas 41
Rahul Lall 42
Aaron Fernandes 47
David Norris 30
Toni Aspinall 30
Jasper Moore 37
Liam Holland 26
   (Wanstead)

7½            4½

  
   Essex had white in rd 1
    13½           10½