Grantham 2 continued to garner early season points this time against Nottingham University 1. This early in the season, Nottingham University can be a mixed blessing as their strength is unknown until their first games and they have been known to field some very, very strong players from their student body. This year, uncharacteristically, their first team finds themselves demoted to Division 2. In the first new rubber of the season, Grantham scored a creditable score draw at 2.5 each but could have done better had Ben Mason not fallen to a sudden back rank mate. On board 1, Ivan David ploughed through the stodge against lecturer Darren Lee and avoided trying to sacrifice to open up the position as is he usually does to secure a half point. The game is
here on Ivan's excellent site. On board 2, Andy Hebert decided to play speed chess by arriving 29 minutes late (there is a 30 minute limit in the league) due to work commitments late but then bamboozled poor Mr Byrne with a sacrificial opening that really should not have worked. Andy's opponent failed to find the best counters and succumbed to the onslaught. On board 3, Trevor Palmer took his points in his hands by castling into the side where he was attacking, which is usually not a good idea, but managed to get away with a draw. On board 4, Ben Mason succumbed to a tactical oversight after pressing hard. On board 5, Joe Scarborough continues to try and emulate the young Vishy Anand with his clock handling. If he could but realise that he has 1.25 hours for his first 40 moves then he will improve rapidly with his talent.
