York University v Scarborough
It was anybody's guess how strong the University side would be when Scarborough travelled to play them on campus in the latest York League Division One match. In the squad they have three titled players who have all turned out this season, but they are very rarely all available together. As it turned out, only Fide Master Martin Brown was on the teamsheet of this triumvirate. Scarborough held a 927/888 rating advantage, or 6 points a board, but this was mainly because the University bottom board was 57 points below his opponent. Other than that disparity it looked to be a close game.
Colin Weller on bottom board was the first triumph against the magnificently named Cassius-ghandi Livingstone, who failed to channel the brilliance of any of his three namesakes. Chris Dossett then drew with the opposing captain. Simon Dixon then won a topsy-turvy battle where he was a room down for a while to put the Seasiders in charge. Even though Simon Chester lost, Neil Pennock had a won ending and duly sealed the points when his opponents ran out if time. John Jarmany could not hold back the storm of black pieces invading his position in the last game to finish, but that did not affect the result.
University Firsts 2 ˝ Scarborough 3 ˝
Martin Brown (FM) (219) 1-0 John Jarmany (193)
Tom Leah (172) 0-1 Neil Pennock (163)
Yousuf bin-Suhayl (164) ˝ ˝ Chris Dossett (160)
Pawel Golimowski (123) 1-0 Simon Chester (148)
Eduardo Garcia Padilla (143) 0-1 Simon Dixon (139)
Cassius-ghandi Livingstone (67) 0-1 Colin Weller (124)
League Table
Scarborough’s last match before the Christmas break will be a top of the table clash against league champions Eagle and Child first team.
Double Match Report
Scarborough first team had a tough week ahead of them with away games at Eagle and Child 2 in the knockout cup, as well as Terriers in the league.
In the Cup match, as predicted, both sides were vastly different from those who faced off in the league just 7 days previously. The home team had switched their teams around to such an extent that not one of them played in both matches. Meanwhile Scarborough were struggling with the three highest rates players absent and could only raise 4 players for the five board match. Eagle and Child 2 had a massive rating advantage of 748/573 or 44 points a board. With the match already at one-nil before a piece was moved, things were looking from for the visitors.
First to crack for the seasiders was captain Simon Dixon who struggled throughout against one of the counties strongest female players. Simon Chester, who had dropped a piece early on to a trick, sacrificed another piece for an attack, but that eventually fizzled out. On top board, Chris Dossett was holding it together against his International Master opponent until first one, then a second and finally a third pawn was list in a knight, rook and pawn endgame. Finally Colin Weller succumbed to the inevitable as his opponent forced a pawn to the queening square.
Eagle and Child 2 v Scarborough
Simon Ansell (I.M.) (238) 1-0 Chris Dossett (160)
Mark White (180) 1-0 Simon Chester (150)
Martina Flint (174) 1-0 Simon Dixon (140)
Anastasia Nesis (156) 1-0 Colin Weller (123)
Adam Ismail 1-0 Default
Five days later, Scarborough travelled again to face a strong Terriers side. The home team, though without any stars, had a strength in depth which gave them a narrow 1010-965 rating advantage, or 7 points a board. Scarborough were defending their 100 percent record in the league, but this was always going to be a tough encounter.
After an hour, things were looking close with Scarborough struggling where they were outgraded, on the bottom boards. Neil Pennock secured a comfortable draw on board 2, before both the Simons on boards 5 and 6 lost in quick succession. Chris Dossett then drew on board 3, from a tricky position. Jon Ayres then found himself in a worse position and was offered a draw, which he accepted. On top board John Jarmany was material down after missing his best continuation, but also accepted a draw offer to make the final score four-two to the Terriers.
Terriers v Scarborough
Steve Hodge (182) ˝ ˝ John Jarmany (194)
Paul Kendall (171) ˝ ˝ Neil Pennock (162)
Phil Gower (173) ˝ ˝ Chris Dossett (160)
Tony Slinger (167) ˝ ˝ Jon Ayres (160)
Tim Turner (161) 1-0 Simon Chester (149)
Michael Cawston (156) 1-0 Simon Dixon (140)
Scarborough now face another tough away match against York University, who have three titled players amongst their squad. The Seasiders will have to be on top form to bring back the points.
Scarborough v Eagle and Child 2
Scarborough's third match of the season was at home to Eagle and Child second team. The visitors were still strong in depth, despite their top board, International Master Simon Ansell not being available. Their lowest rated player was 142, but the home team held a narrow rating advantage of 963-922 or 7 points a board.
Jon Ayres, on board four, started things off with a ‘blink and you missed it' draw. Two hours later this was the only result on the board though. Neil Pennock then put Scarborough ahead with a smooth win where he never seemed in trouble. Captain Simon Dixon then forced a draw by threefold repetition, followed by Simon Chester keeping his 100 percent record with a boaconstrictor-like victory. Chris Dossett then turned the tables after struggling for most of the match, with a swift counterattack to secure the points. Top board and club champion then put the icing on the cake with a win when his opponent's clock ran down in a tricky position.
This means that after three matches, the only thing stopping the Seasiders topping the league is the fact they have a game in hand on most of their rivals.
Scarborough v Eagle & Child 2
John Jarmany (193) 1-0 James Carpenter (169)
Neil Pennock (162) 1-0 Paul Moulton (165)
Chris Dossett (158) 1-0 Jon Griffith (160)
Jon Ayres (162) ˝ ˝ Owen Robson (142)
Simon Chester (148) 1-0 Paul Anderson (142)
Simon Dixon (140) ˝ ˝ Steve Whitehead (144)
League Table
Scarborough now have a week off from the league, with a trip to visit the same opponents in the knockout cup. Both sides are expected to make several changed for that match.
Chris Dossett
Scarborough v Brigantes 1
The latest chess match report from Chris Dossett:
Scarborough played their second match of the new season away to Brigantes 1st team. After a narrow win again Brigantes 2nd team last week, they were expecting a much tougher match. As it turned out, they had a rating advantage of 998 to 840, or 26 points a board, bigger than the previous match. This was due to the home team missing a couple of top players whilst Scarborough had welcomed back their star performer last year Jon Ayres on board 4.
Chris Dossett got the seasiders off to a flying start when his opponent's sacrifice proved unsound. Jon Ayres then drew, shortly followed by captain Simon Dixon winning an endgame with just kings and pawns. Simon Chester also continued his good start to the season with a win, after his opponent missed a chance to swap off into an opposite coloured bishop end game that would have been tough to win. This left top boards Neil Pennock and John Jarmany who both came through with wins to give Scarborough a thumping 5.5/0.5 victory.
Peter Harrington 0 – 1 John Jarmany
Paul Brencher 0 – 1 Neil Pennock
Richard Mounce 0 – 1 Chris Dossett
Paul May ˝ ˝ Jon Ayres
Ian Carrigan 0 – 1 Simon Chester
Ashley Carr 0 – 1 Simon Dixon
The league table makes pleasant reading for anyone from Scarborough, but with 14 matches still to play, there is a long way to go.
P W D L F Pts
Eagle & Child 1 3 2 1 0 9.5 5
Brigantes 1 3 2 0 1 10 4
Scarborough 2 2 0 0 9.5 4
Cavaliers 2 2 0 0 9 4
Terriers 3 1 1 1 9.5 3
University Knights 2 0 1 1 5 1
University Firsts 2 0 1 1 4 1
Eagle &Child 2 2 0 0 2 4 0
Brigantes 2 3 0 0 3 3.5 0
Scarborough v Brigantes 2
Scarborough started the new season with a home match against newly promoted Brigantes 2 in the York and district first division. Scarborough had a rating advantage of 918 to 777, or 23 points a board.
Things were looking grim for the seasiders after an hour though as both Colin Weller on board five, and captain Simon Dixon on bottom board looked like they were about to lose. This turn of events meant the rest of the team pushed harder as they needed to win, causing their games to become more chaotic.
First to finish was Neil Pennock who drew with his experienced opponent on board 2. Then Simon Chester capitalised on a few weak moves to put the home side ahead. Simon Dixon then did his patented ‘victory from the jaws of defeat’ act, shortly followed by Colin Weller drawing a game in which he had struggled throughout. Chris Dossett was material down but ahead on the clock when he was offered a draw and, as this secured the win, the offer was accepted. John Jarmany on top board also ground out a draw to secure a 4-2 victory.
John Jarmany ˝ ˝ Paul Johnson
Neil Pennock ˝ ˝ Herbert Lockwood
Chris Dossett ˝ ˝ Robert Moneagle
Simon Chester 1 0 Bob Maltby
Colin Weller ˝ ˝ Ashley Carr
Simon Dixon 1 0 Stuart Acton.
Scarborough travel to play Brigantes first team next Thursday and will have to play much better to secure a win and keep the pressure on the rest of the division.
Doug Rawlinson Rapidplay
The Doug Rawlingson Rapid Play on the 13 June 2017 resulted in an exciting last round. John Jarmany was held to a draw by Neil Pennock with the White pieces which left Simon Chester the opportunity to tie for first place with four points if he could beat Jon Ayres with the Black pieces which he eventually did in the last game to finish. No tie break play off again this year. In joint third were Chris Dossett, Neil Pennock and Colin Weller all on three and a half points each. The prize of a copy of British Chess Magazine when to Tom McNally for his 2 points having faced some of the strongest players in the club. A total of fourteen players participated.