Rathmines in round 1: from left to right, Derek, Killian, Darren, Jack, and Niall. Robert is behind the camera.
I received a report from the lads late tonight. They describe rounds 1 thru 3. It looks like the pgn files are incomplete, because they describe situations which don’t occur in the game scores, which is odd. For example, it turns out that Niall didn’t lose in 7 moves in round 2, as reported, but played on. If I can get the updated pgns I will post them up.
Here’s their report:
Round 1
This was always going to be a tough one. Our Israeli opponents vastly outranked us on every board with Derek, Killian and Darren all playing against Grandmasters. Robert tried to mix it up against his IM opponent with a gambit variation in the French defence but the master was always in control and the game was pretty much decided by his 14…..Bc2! winning the exchange. Derek’s Kings Indian Defence as black enabled him to fight up until move 46 but week pawns on the e and a files decided the game against him. Killian sacrificed both rooks in what looked to him like a winning combination but missed one move and just ended up the exchange down. Darren played the Benko Gambit, sacrificing a pawn for good play however he was unable to capitalise on this and found himself a pawn down in a losing endgame. On board 5 Jack sacrificed a pawn in the Moeller attack variation of the Giuoco Piano but did not find the correct continuation and was soon beaten. Niall’s opponent played the ultra sharp four pawns attack against the King’s Indian defence. Niall lost a piece which proved decisive.
Round 2
Rathmines were drawn against Echternacht Chess Club from Luxembourg. The final result of 5 – 1 did not reflect a true story of the match. Our Turkish guest player, Bulent Ersahin appeared on Board 1 and this allowed Jack to take the day off. Bulent played the black side of the Benoni Defence and was gradually worn down by his strong opponent. On board 2 Robert played a nice game on the white side of the Morra Gambit (declined) and was a pawn up against his FM opponent until the disastrous 40. Qxc5 just blundered his Queen and lost immediately. Derek played the black side of a King’s Indian Defence today. The game was very interesting with Derek sacrificing his Queen for a strong attack which proved insufficient. On board 4 Killian played his c3-sicillian with White and obtained a won position. In the ending Killian went a queen up but allowed a stalemate in time-trouble. (This game score is incomplete – ed)
Darren was on the black side of a closed Sicillian in which he equalised quickly. Darren obtained a better position with his d4-knight far superior to white’s bad g2-bishop. He then went in for a combination which he miscalculated and was forced to accept a draw by sacrificing his rook which forces a perpetual check.Niall played the white side of a King’s Indian. Unfortunately Niall lost a pawn and then a Queen which proved decisive. All was not lost though as Niall won a swimming competition against Robert with dolphin-like speed and agility!!!!
Round 3
History was made today! Rathmines have won their first ever match in the European Club Cup by beating the Albanian Champions, Apollonia Chess Club Fier. On board one Robert’s opponent lost the exchange early on in a Scandinavian game, although he should have won with his material advantage in the end a half point was enough to secure match victory. Derek played the white side of a weird Sicilian in which he went a pawn down. After this Derek played well in a tense struggle but was ultimately defeated. Killian decimated his opponent today. He played the black side of a King’s Indian and just blew his Albanian counterpart off the board winning piece after piece to score a quick and easy win. On board 4, Darren played the white side of an advanced French defence. Darren got the better of the opening but dropped a pawn by mistake. However his position was still strong enough to press for victory in which he secured in what was an interesting knight and pawn endgame. Jack was on the black side of a Four Knights Game today. He sacrificed his g-pawn to blow open lines against the enemy king. After some struggle he secured the point with an unstoppable mating attack. On board 6, Niall matched his very strong opponent move for move and the game went down to the wire. After both sides broke through with their respective attacks, the Albanians attack was just that much quicker than Niall’s and won. In an earlier round Niall’s opponent had beaten an IM very quickly and was probably by far the best player on the Albanian team. With this historic first victory in the Euro Club Cup, we now face the 30th seeds- C.R.E. Liege E.L. who played the number 2 seeds in round 1.
(For game scores for rounds 1 and 2, please look at the files below…but as I note above, some of them are incomplete) rathmines-round1.txt
Rathmines Chess Club 