John Ripley & Knotty Ash Cup Finals 2007/8

Match Report by Atticus team captain John Carleton

JR Final: Monday 21st April 2008 - Atticus v Widnes - Result: 1½-4½.

Through the early stages of the evening the crowd, including a strong travelling support and a fair contingent of 'neutrals' grew steadily and there was a tangible frisson in the air. The Adelphi provided a splendid backdrop to the unfolding drama of the matches (talk of her fading glory is somewhat premature).

And so the match started, Widnes appearing to gain small edges, but nothing too disturbing for the home fans, on the top four boards. Board 5 looked murky and board 6 offered the home team encouragement.

The top two Widnes boards gave as befits their status a master class not only in chess terms but also in time management. In each game the Atticus player found themselves under nagging pressure from the opening and in each we fought hard to stay in the game. Crucial inaccuracies did hasten the end for each of us (but probably just saved us from further suffering!).

Jonathan on board 3 was at his impish best showing there was life in his apparently passive position. He launched a series of cunning and ultimately stunning counter attacks to net our only win of the evening. John on board 4 had appeared to the skipper's admittedly somewhat casual glance to have overcome his opening problems. Simon disabused the home supporters of any such notions to land the first impressive victory for Widnes. Robbo on board 5 landed a half in a game where Mark, wisely in view of the unfolding match situation, refused to be provoked into speculative tries for the initiative. The draw was agreed in the resulting flat endgame position. On board 6 Luke had a hallucination launching an unsound sacrificial attack. He turned a draw down in the middle of it and then fought resolutely before falling to the inevitable defeat.

Thus Widnes with their intense yet sporting approach were worthy victors. Nor did the home team find any solace in the result of the adjacent Knotty Ash final where Atticus succumbed after a tough struggle. Talk of fading glory is also premature with regards to Atticus and the John Ripley Cup. We will return this trophy, bearing the names of one of our favourite sons, to what we regard as its rightful place (on top of Carlo's bookcase) or suffer greatly in the process.

Finally after such bellicose talk spare a thought for the Atticus 1 players who had to gear themselves up for another big match as they sought to capture the Silver Rook after a gap of four seasons.

See also Tigerchess - The Web Site of Chess Grandmaster Nigel Davies.

John Ripley Trophy

Winners Widnes (left to right): Mark Ellis, Martin Brown, Simon Woodcock,

Paul Isherwood, Jeff Horner, Nigel Davies with team captain Andy Kelly.

John Ripley Trophy

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JR Cup Final

Widnes boards 1&2: GM Nigel Davies (left Bd1) alongside IM Jeff Horner.

Atticus boards 1&2: (left) Dave James and John Carleton in blue (Bd1).

Atticus Board 3: Jonathan Blackburn

Right, Widnes Board 3: Paul Isherwood 

Board 4: Simon Woodcock (Widnes) v Dr John Redmond (Atticus)

Boards 5&6: Prof. David Robertson (green top, Atticus Bd5) v Mark Ellis

and Luke Boumphrey (Bd6) against Martin Brown (blue top, Widnes).

Knotty Ash Cup

Dave Farley (left) competition controller presents the

Knotty Ash Cup to a proud Widnes captain Andy Kelly.

Knotty Ash Cup

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KA Cup Final

Knotty Ash Cup Board 1, Mike Connor (left) against Brian Ewart (Atticus)

Left foreground Chris Wentworth (Atticus Bd3)

alongside Liam Cadigan (Bd2) v Gareth Ellis (Widnes)

© 2008 SC

© 2008 Merseyside Chess Association

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