Banks V Insurance

Match report Insurance

I believe we have not defeated the Banks for 6 years. With the welcome addition of Julian Warren and Geoff Marchant of Legal and General, and Banks missing a couple of their stronger players, it represented a good opportunity to turn the tables. Ian Hunnable’s strong kingside attack in the French Defence and Philip Staniland’s Dutch gave us two wins, but we were pegged back on boards 2 and 3, Ian Calvert not being able to prevent being mated before queening a pawn. Nick Faulks had a queen and numerous pawns for two rooks, and the imminent coronation of his second queen finished the game. I lost a pawn endgame by a tempo (been told I could have drawn). Julian Farrand was material down and in difficulties, but secured a surprise draw on top board. Wins for Paul Barclay and Mike Wiltshire secured the points. Geoff Marchant was last to finish, with R, B, N, P versus R advantage, eventually queening the pawn and winning. -- Anthony Kent

Daniel Lindner

Match report Banks

With Ian Heppell away playing in the Bad Worishofen seniors, it was a very enjoyable game to watch as non-playing Banks team captain. No defaults or late substitutions on either side, some bloodthirsty chess across all 12 boards, with only Julian Farrand’s resilience on board 1 preventing a full house of decisive results. On the Banks side, the ‘J’ force of Julien, Jon & Johan all won well, and Brendan won the ending v Anthony by a hair’s breadth. A well deserved victory for Insurance, watching the games over the course of the evening, they always slightly held the upper hand, and maintained it well over the course of the evening. -- Neil Davies

Daniel Lindner