4NCL Division 3 2013-14: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Celtic Tigers 2

Posted on November 18, 2013 by James Mansson

The e2e4.org.uk second team got off to a good start in this year’s 4NCL. Playing in Division 3, they scored a comfortable win against Celtic Tigers 2. Soon after the first time control they had achieved a 3-0 lead, and went on to win 4.5-1.5.

Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

County Match (Open) 2013-14: Sussex – Middlesex

Posted on November 10, 2013 by James Mansson

Last Saturday, I played for Sussex against Middlesex at Hassocks. In contrast to the first county match of the season, the result was better both for the team and for me personally. Sussex scored a fine 9.5-6.5, which could (as Dix Roberts observed) have been even better, as we missed some chances to score even more points. Continue reading →

Posted in County Matches, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Queen's Indian Defence | Leave a comment

County Match (Open) 2013-14: Sussex – Surrey

Posted on October 19, 2013 by James Mansson

Today I played my first serious competitive game since May, in a county match for Sussex against Surrey. Unfortunately, I proved to be extremely rusty, and made a serious error on move 16, from which I was unable to recover. Continue reading →

Posted in County Matches, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

County Match (Open) 2012-13: Sussex – Bedfordshire

Posted on May 19, 2013 by James Mansson

Sussex managed to qualify for the Minor Counties this year, and were paired against Bedfordshire in the first round. The match was played at the Open University in Milton Keynes under what were very good conditions for a county match. Continue reading →

Posted in County Matches, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Catalan Opening | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 1 2012-13: e2e4.org.uk 1 – South Wales Dragons

Posted on May 17, 2013 by James Mansson

The last match of the season saw e2e4.org.uk 1 up against South Wales Dragons. We really needed to win the match to be confident of staying up. Our lower boards made the early running, with Mark Josse, Michael Barnes and Rasa Norinkeviciute all winning, although I went down to defeat against David James. When Alan Byron managed to win too, we were almost there at 4-1 ahead, but there was a nervous finish to the match as both Peter Sowray and Andrew Bird were defeated on boards 1 and 2. Fortunately, James Jackson managed to hold his opponent to a draw, so we prevailed by the narrowest margin (4.5-3.5). Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Nimzo-Indian Defence | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 1 2012-13: e2e4.org.uk 1 – Wood Green 2

Posted on May 12, 2013 by James Mansson

While e2e4.org.uk 1 had hoped – and managed – to beat Warwickshire Select 1 on Saturday, there was little expectation of a similar result against a strong Wood Green 2. In the end, they did lose, but only by the narrowest margin (3.5-4.5). The match was lost on the lower boards, where our opponents prevailed 3-1, which was not surprising given their grading advantage there. However, on the top boards we came out on top 2.5-1.5, thanks to a couple of good wins by Peter Sowray and Andrew Bird, and Alexei Slavin holding Jonathan Speelman to a draw on board one. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Sicilian Defence | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 1 2012-13: e2e4.org.uk 1 – Warwickshire Select 1

Posted on May 11, 2013 by James Mansson

Going into the last weekend of this 4NCL season, e2e4.org.uk 1 was in danger of being relegated from the top division, so we needed some good results over the last three rounds. In round 9, we were up against Warwickshire Select 1, whom we needed to beat. We managed to prevail 4.5-3.5, as Mark Josse and I managed to win, while Alan Byron suffered our only defeat. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The King's Indian Defence | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 2 2012-13: e2e4.org.uk 2 – ADs 1

Posted on March 30, 2013 by James Mansson

On the Sunday, e2e4.org.uk 2 was paired against ADs 1. Unlike the Saturday match, the result was closer (4.5-3.5). I was pitted against Darren Wheeler on board two. The game was a tough manoeuvring battle that was resolved in the time scramble leading up to the first time control, where I overlooked a tactical resource for my opponent. A couple of moves after the time control I resigned, as my position was then hopeless. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Nimzo-Indian Defence | Leave a comment

4NCL Division 2 2012-13: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Anglian Avengers 1

Posted on March 29, 2013 by James Mansson

The most recent 4NCL weekend was overshadowed by the sad news of Richard Almond’s sudden death aged only 46. He was a stalwart of Hastings and Sussex chess, and a regular competitor at the 4NCL. He will be missed. Continue reading →

Posted in 4NCL, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Reti Opening | Leave a comment

County Match (Open) 2012-13: Sussex – Essex

Posted on March 17, 2013 by James Mansson

The recent county match between Sussex and Essex saw Sussex soundly beaten. I lost my individual game against Jeff Goldberg, as an over-ambitious approach backfired. Continue reading →

Posted in County Matches, Games, Opening Analysis, Reports, The Slav Defence | Leave a comment