1.  C. Kreuzer (169)      A – A      K. Lenaghan  (158)
2.  A. MacLeod (156)    1 – 0       S. Nelson  (156)
3.  P. Gardner (154)     1/2 – 1/2      A. Amusa  (156)
4.  R. Dunn (152)         1/2 – 1/2     S. Hamilton (154)
5.  N. Dunlop (144)       A – A      G. Bishop (145)
6.  B.David (136)           0 – 1       M. Perez–Carballo (UG)
7.  J. Kelberman (133)    0 – 1       J. Moore (144)
8.  R. Willson (123)        0 – 1       C. Cooke (142)
9.  P. Handy (UG)          0 – 1       K. Walsh (124)
10. D. Masterson (UG)   0 – 1      J. Brown (105)

LDCC won the toss and were white on odds.

This was a tough match to start with, playing against one of teams relegated from Division 2 but looking at the grades it looked like a match of two halves where the top half had grades close to each other but the bottom half had a difficult job against opponents with far higher grades. This was clearly reflected in the result where we looked a bit rusty as usual to start the new season – as we usually do every year!

Well done to Phil and Richard on boards 3 and 4 for their draws against opponents graded slightly higher than them. Richard's game as black was solid enough for a draw while Phil on the white side of a c3 Sicilian (which looked like French Advance position later on!) had many problems to solve and in return gave his opponent many problems to solve back as well! As a result this meant consuming a large amount of time on the clock and so went for the draw in the middle of time trouble.

Neil on board 5, had a hard game against an experienced opponent who is a regular on the weekend tournament circuit. In the adjourned position he ended up an exchange down but his bishop was holding things together. But his opponent's rook and king may be able to invade. Neil will analyse at home before deciding what to do.  Chris on  board 1 playing white, was up against the Sicilian Sveshnikov where he typically ignored castling while he had a sniff of his opponent's king. He built up a dangerous attack on the kingside which netted him a pawn. After the time control he is 2 pawns up but in a rook + opposite coloured bishops + pawns endgame which I am sure Chris will analyse at home.

What about my game?  Well, on board 2 my opening was rubbish as black in the Levenfish Attack against my Dragon. In the middle game I was a pawn down with my king stuck in the middle. For some inexplicable reason my opponent chose not to stop me from castling and then gave away his bishop after miscalculating a tactic. So a lucky win for me.