Epsom Derby
In another sense, it feels like we are local rivals. We have now played Epsom four times in different competitions this season and it's still only November. So these matches feel like derby matches. Epsom have knocked us out of two cup competitions (the Alexander Cup and the Lauder Trophy), and we could only manage a draw in a heavyweight league encounter in the Surrey Trophy (Division 1).
So tonight it was very satisfying that we finally came out on top, in a close-fought Ellam Trophy match (Division 3). We won this match 3.5–2.5. That was probably a fair result since we outrated them by over 100 points a board. But the outcome was in doubt until quite near the end. Wins for James Toon, Seb Galer and Peter Hegarty, a draw for Julien Shepley, losses for Mike Morgan and Richard Duncalfe.
There was a nice finish on board 1 tonight. White (to play) is much better in the diagram position and there are various ways to press home the advantage. Our board 1 took the artistic route, sacrificing a piece with 35.Ng5! exf4 36.Qe5! when 36…Qxe5 allows 37.Nf7 mate, 36…Qd7 (or other evasive action) allows 37.f7+ and mate follows, and 36…Nxf6 drops the queen to 37.Qxc7. White could also have played 36.Qe8, which wins a bit more slowly.
That was when the fun stopped. The journey home was back north up the M25 to J10, then south on the A3. But at some point between driving to Epsom before the match, and driving home again afterwards, someone decided to close the road at the M25 junction and a long diversion was in place which involved travelling north up the A3 towards London and away from Guildford. The only good way home was to continue northwards up the M25 past the junction and head back via Woking, which doubled the journey time. Clearly someone in the Highways Department plays chess for Epsom.
