Review of Nationwide

Text Box: Trowbridge Chess Club members pulled off some notable successes at the recent event played at and generously sponsored by the Nationwide Building Society on 30th. November. Held annually the competition cateres for individual results whilst playing in teams of three. Seven teams entered the event with Trowbridge fielding two teams. There were some very high graded players taking part in this tournament from Brownjack including: Johnathan Bourne (160) Richard Haydon, (181) Jane Richmond (178), Tim Headlong (184), Lewis Martin (158) and Robbie Coates (143) and not surprisingly they provided the winning team. However, Trowbridge players pulled off some remarkable individual and team results. Trowbridge Highlights Adrian Davis won the Top player of the tournament with a magnificent 4.5 points out of 5 and demonstrated his versatility opening with B4 as white and B5 as Black. During the final round whilst one of our players was shaking hands prior to starting his match such was AD’s strength that he was gamefully winning a Rook and Pawn! Is his success set to revive the Orang Utang and force a review of all Opening Theory? - I doubt it but nonetheless a fantastic performance from the Heavy Metal Man. The Trowbridge Team of Dave Marshall, Gareth Williams and Adrian Davis finished joint second with 8 points out of a possible 15 and did not lose a team game, thanks mainly to AD’s heroics on board 3, and a magnificent effort from Dave who managed to beat Jonathan Bourne (conceding 50 grading points) and draw with Tim Headlong (in what appeared to be a potentially winning position and conceding 79 grading points and yes you guessed it using B4/5 throughout -aargh!). Gareth managed two respectable draws against Fenella and Robbie Coats and polished off the up and coming Adam Burroughs (rapid play grading 98). Tony Ransom who organized the event played for the Nationwide team and managed to ‘force’ a stalemate from a totally lost position in one game, and turned a ‘tricky’ position into a victory against fellow colleague Nigel Crucifix who at one stage had connected passed pawns on the 6th and 7th ranks. Nigel is set on revenge, so watch out Tony! After winning the Club quick-play competition at Trowbridge the previous week, Roy Ludlow was optimistic, but unfortunately kept building himself good positions only to falter at the final hurdle. Never mind next year Roy! Finally, Derek Rothwel who is having a great season for Trowbridge almost secured a magnificent victory over Sven with 2 Rooks v Rook and Knight endgame. This would have been another great upset (conceding over 60 grading points) but unfortunately the ‘horse was against him’ and he let slip his advantage in a gripping endgame.

November 30th. 2008 AD - A NATIONWIDE TRIUMPH