Fareham – Chandler’s Ford Friendly 2024

Fareham and Chandler’s Ford Chess Clubs have over the last few years built up a close relationship. One of the reasons being Keith Gregory, as although a Fareham Chess player, he has been a member of Chandler’s Ford post covid, entering some of the internal tournaments, and helping our players by hosting simuls.

Since 2022 we have had an annual pre-season friendly match between the two clubs, which Fareham have selected an appropriate rated team, as if they selected their top players it would be a bit one sided.

Update Aug 11 2024: Patrick Pavey has supplied his game where he saved half a point tempting his opponent with a piece which could not be taken. This allowed a perpetual check.

Not really a Hampshire Chess History post, but as this reflects my club seems worth posting to this site.

2024 Friendly

This year’s match was played on the hottest night of the year at Fareham Chess club. At least the 50 minute journey was in an air-conditioned car, which was bliss. The weather also was the reason that the pre match pictures looked like a Butlin’s Knobbly Knees contest. Both teams were evenly matched with the average rating being 1487 for Fareham and 1491 to Chandler’s Ford.

This friendly is held to bring new players to the game, and both teams were fielding players who have played very few league matches, which is great for experience. There were also members who had played in the previous matches, and this certainly had the largest number of players, being played over 14 boards!

There were very few A team players from the clubs, with just Paul Janota from Fareham and Graham Stuart, Eric Jones and Philip Tarrant-Edwards as regular Chandler’s Ford A team players. Peter Eales, Sam Murphy also played for the A team last year.

L-R – Graham Stuart, Eric Jones, Stephen Lineker-Miller, Philip Tarrant-Edwards, Peter Eales, Alan Weaver, Sam Murphy, Rob Sims, Dick Meredith, Pat Pavey, Peter Lasham, Alikhan Menseitov, Geoff Parish, Rob Strachan.

Alex Trandafir (red shirt on left), Jack McBurnie, Dave Elliott, Paul Janota, Elliott Curtis(didn’t play),Tom Philidor (non playing Captain), Peter Stewart, Dave Anderson, Richard Farrar, Antony Clarke, Henri Blin, Geoff Hicks, Martin Mitchell, Simon Gates (Right side).

Not all the Fareham players who played are in their photo, as there were some changes.

Games

Once the pre match photos were taking the players sat down for the serious business of playing chess. Although as there was a supplied buffet, players would leave their board now and again to partake, whilst their opponent was thinking at the board.

I put out a general request to the Chandler’s Ford players to supply games, and received the following. I have added in board order.

A fair bit of friendly banter was giving to me after my 18 move draw, but the game was still interesting, but I should have continued to play in the final position. I was a bit worried about my opponents Bishops. I was also concerned that at this stage we were ahead in the match, and I did not want to blunder and make our match position worse.

Click on any move to play through the game, or select the middle button to play the whole game.

On board two Eric showed the improvement he has made in the last 18 months, with an excellent win with the Black pieces.

Philip on board three said about his game “I got quite low on time and ended up playing the last 10 or so moves off of increment. This was my first time playing an open Sicilian otb and let’s just say it was the most stressful match I’ve had for a while.” I would agree with this, and it was a very complicated position, hence both players mis stepped now and again. This is to be expected, as this was a full blown Najdorf with opposite side castling.

Alikhan came to the match from scoring 4 out of 5 in the Weekend Soanes U1750 tournament at the British Championship with a 1905 rating performance.

Club stalwart Sam Murphy played a cagey game on board 6 which was agreed drawn sometime after move 25. Sam missed a good continuation on move 20 when White’s pieces on the d file were overloaded. Not an easy continuation to spot though.

Fareham’s Andy Hayes has supplied his win on board 10, with the very pretty Bxg6 which opened up Black’s position and he played the attack very well, not letting Peter back into the game.

Patrick Pavey saved a half point by spotting a tactic in a losing position against Simon Gates.

If any other games are supplied I will update the post.

Result

As mentioned Chandler’s Ford has lost the two previous matches 3 – 6 in 2023 and 3 – 5 in 2022. If you add the full scores it would be a tied 15½ – 15½ points each, but that is not how it works and Fareham lead 2 to 1. But we were very pleased to win this match. Chandler’s Ford are a friendly and casual club, mainly catering for players with this mindset. But, when the opportunity arises we can be competitive, and certainly like to win matches.

As always, these matches take a bit of effort to organise, with the number of players, buffet and ensuring the teams are evenly matched. Many thanks for Fareham’s captain Tom Philidor for doing the leg work and also to the Chandler’s Ford team for arranging lifts and everyone who said they could play were able to do so. This made my job very easy.

Fareham - CF 2024 Match — Fareham – CF 2024 Match

Gallery

We sometimes forget to take photos of these type of events, but team photos were taken and Tony Corkett snapped a few whilst we were playing. These are giving below.