®

British Chess Federation

National Club Championship 2003-2004

The 2004 finals of the Open, Open Plate, Major and Major Plate sections of the 2003/4 National Club Championships were contested on 4 July in the spacious surroundings of the Hall of the Redbridge Institute, recently the venue for the Ilford Congress. Jeff Goldberg and BCF Chief Executive Roy Heppinstall presided as arbiters.

In the Open, Wood Green fielded a heavyweight team, all graded over 200, against Bedford, who had achieved an upset victory when the teams met in the 2001 final. Wood Green proved to have too much strength in depth for their gallant opponents, and despite a win for Andrew Ledger against John Emms on board 1, Wood Green regained the title, won by Cavendish in 2003, by the convincing score of 4½ - 1½.

The Open Plate saw holders Mushrooms up against Maidstone. Mushrooms took the lead by winning Board 6, but Maidstone hit back on boards 4 and 5. Boards 2 and 3 were drawn to see the trophy change hands.

In the Major Wanstead & Woodford, runners up in two of the last three seasons, faced familiar London League opposition in Metropolitan. Wanstead won board 4 after a double edged variation worked out in their favour, and were fortunate to win board 5 also after standing worse for most of the game. Draws on boards 3 and 2 saw the title secured, and board 1 was then also won to give a rather flattering 4-1 margin of victory.

In the Major Plate, Hounslow quickly took a two point lead by winning boards 4 and 5, but wins by the Cutmore brothers on boards 2 and 3 levelled the score for Wood Green. Given the board count situation, Hounslow had to win board 1, and the game reached a rook and opposite coloured bishop ending where Hounslow were a pawn up. However, progress could not be made and the game (incidentally the last of the afternoon to finish) was agreed drawn.

Click here to download the games (pgn file)

Report on National Club Minor

The results of the semi-finals meant that a team from the Leeds area played a London team and one from Nottinghamshire played another Londoin team. The Controller, Julie Johnson invited all 4 teams to sample her hospitality at Syston, which all were glad to. The Minor Final saw Newark defending their hard won title against a good side from Hammersmith, who
lost board 3 very early on, and never really recovered from that. The battle of the secretaries on Board 2 was drawn and time scrambles saw Newark retain their title 3 1/2 - 1 1/2.

The plate also saw defending Champions, Alwoodley against Hayes. Here the Leeds team were never in danger and ran out easy winners by 4-1. Julie was thanked by all present for her work during the season, and congratulated on her recent appointment as CEO of the MCCU.