McArthur Cup 2015-16: Horsham – Brighton

Posted on May 7, 2016 by James Mansson

Horsham finally beat Brighton in the McArthur Cup last Tuesday!

Brighton got off to a bad start by arriving a player short. In the other games, both Mike Forster and Dix Roberts drew fairly comfortably, before Gavin Lock scored an exciting win on board one. This left Horsham with a decisive lead, as even if Brighton won the two remaining games to level the scores at 3-3, Horsham would then win on board count. As it happened, the two remaining games saw Anthony Higgs and I record a couple of draws fairly quickly, as our opponents lacked the motivation, or indeed the position on the board, to press for more. Continue reading →

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Horsham Club Championship 2015-16: Richardson – Mansson

Posted on April 21, 2016 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday I played by Club Championship game against Paul Richardson. It was a tough encounter, which was only decide deep in the endgame. The finish was neat, as Black found a way to give up his extra pawn in order to force a won king and pawn endgame. Continue reading →

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Horsham Club Championship 2015-16: Mansson – Heath

Posted on April 14, 2016 by James Mansson

Last Tuesday I played my club championship game against Chris Heath. After 14 moves, I had established a comfortable advantage, when my opponent made a tactical oversight, which allowed me to establish a winning advantage. As he was soon forced to exchange queens into an endgame two pawns down, it was no surprise that I went on to win. Continue reading →

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Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2015-16: Horsham 1 – Lewes 1

Posted on April 6, 2016 by James Mansson

Last night, Horsham 1 scored a decisive 4-1 win over Lewes 1, which could have been 5-0 had Gavin Lock not overlooked a tricky mate in time trouble in the last game to finish. My game against Richard Welford saw my opponent make an unfortunate decision on move 16, after which he failed to generate much play. I was able to swap queens, then methodically prepare …f5, after which his position collapsed. Continue reading →

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Horsham Club Championship 2015-16: Mansson – Higgs

Posted on March 23, 2016 by James Mansson

In my most recent Horsham Club Championship game, played a couple of Tuesdays ago against Anthony Higgs, both players managed to surprise each other in the opening. Anthony chose the Gruenfeld, an opening that I have played against him a number of times but never the other way round. In response, I deviated from the 3 f3 he was surely expecting, and played instead a less common line, introduced by Polugayevsky. However, Anthony responded strongly against this, gaining a good position; I am not sure how I could have played better. Then I slipped up further, giving him a good position, but he wrong seized the opportunity to exchange queens, when the endgame proved surprisingly good for me, despite my extended pawns. In this endgame, I seem to have missed some decent chances of my own; in the end, the game ended up as a draw. Continue reading →

Posted in Club Championship, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Gruenfeld Defence | 2 Comments

Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2015-16: Horsham 1 – Brighton 2

Posted on March 6, 2016 by James Mansson

Horsham 1 had a disappointing draw against Brighton 2 last Tuesday. My game proved crucial, as it was the last to finish with the score at 2.5-1.5 in our favour. Continue reading →

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Horsham Club Championship 2015-16: Mansson – Kington

Posted on February 11, 2016 by James Mansson

I was close to beating Paul Kington in our Horsham Club Championship game last Tuesday, but slipped up in a winning position, allowing him to escape with a draw. Continue reading →

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Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2015-16: Horsham 1 – Worthing 1

Posted on February 4, 2016 by James Mansson

Worthing have proved difficult opposition for us in recent years, but in our latest match, we scored a crushing 4.5-0.5 win. After a couple of losses in the league, I was happy to notch my first win, especially as it was against Chris Jones, whom I have not managed to beat in our previous meetings. Continue reading →

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Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2015-16: Eastbourne 1 – Horsham 1

Posted on January 16, 2016 by James Mansson

Last night I went down to Eastbourne to play for Horsham 1 against Eastbourne 1 in the Mid-Sussex League. I was pushed up to first board, as Gavin Lock was unable to play. I faced Rasa Norinkeviciute as White. The game started promisingly for me as I obtained what looked like (and still does) a good position for me out of the opening. However, although what I then chose looked at first good, Rasa defended solidly, and it was difficult to decide on what to play next. I played a rash pawn sacrifice which looks even less after analysing the position. Although I could have played better over the next few moves, my position was still tough to play. As it happens, I played poorly and Rasa well, so she ended up winning comfortably. Continue reading →

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Horsham Club Championship 2015-16: Roberts – Mansson

Posted on December 20, 2015 by James Mansson

I was able to get in one more club championship game before Christmas, this time against Dix Roberts. Ultimately, the result of the game was disappointing for me, as I achieved a winning position but was unable to push my advantage home. Continue reading →

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