Kent Messenger report

Snodland Chess Club has reached the semi-finals in all three Kent County Chess cup competitions which it has entered. The Club has now played seventeen matches this season, recording ten wins, six draws and just one defeat. This impressive form means the Club will progress to the knockout stages of the County’s Harvey Cup, Tom Fuller Cup and Intro Cup. The format of all three competitions begins with two regional qualifying divisions. The winners of the County division (Snodland’s area) face the runners-up of the Metropolitan division in the semis. Snodland have won the County division in all three competitions and will therefore have home advantage against the runners-up from the Metropolitan divisions. Although the Metropolitan divisions are yet to conclude, Snodland are expecting to welcome players from Beckenham, Sidcup and Lewisham Chess Clubs in April’s semi-final ties. Hopes are high that Snodland’s impressive form will continue and that the club will appear in a Kent County cup final this year. The Snodland Chess Club meets every Thursday from 7.30pm at the Cricket Pavilion Snodland. For more information about the Club please contact Neil Miners at neilminers@yahoo.co.uk or phone 01634 242604. The Club welcomes members of all playing strengths.

Harvey Cup

This week has seen us play our 2 remaining fixtures in this competition, emerging with 2 victories to make a final total of 6 wins, 2 draws and no losses ! We have therefore won our group by a clear margin and await to see who our semi-final oponents will be. On Monday we went to Weald of Kent and won 3.5 - 2.5. George, David L and Neil were victorious, Pete drew while Rob and I lost (embarrasingly so in my case, I could have resigned after 8 moves !). Today (Saturday) we defeated Hastings 4-2, the winners being Pete, Hugh and Matt G with draws from George and David L and a solitary loss (Rob). These matches sum up the season quite well in that our 3 winners in each of the matches were different players, emphasising that it's been a real team effort. Eleven players took part in one or more of the matches, and of these nine scored 50% or better. Top scorers were Rob and Pete on 5/7, but congratulations are due to all who contributed - Well done ! As a Club let's hope that we can take our good form into the three semi-finals for which we have qualified and aim to have representation at Kent Finals Day on Sunday 13th May... Report by David Fowler
 Snodland v Hastings  24/03/12
George Hollands 149 ½ - ½ Ollie Wilson 133
David Lettington 134 ½ - ½ Con Power 126
Rob Thompson 118 0 - 1 Mark Finch 121
Pete Hickey 115 1 - 0 Gary Wilson 113
Hugh Broadbent 110 1 - 0 Roger Smart 99
Matt Gazes 109 1 - 0 Joe Sharp 98
                         4 - 2

Weald of Kent  v Snodland    19/03/12
James Hart-Dyke 145 0 - 1 George Hollands 149
Henry Cove 139 1 - 0 David Fowler 142
Clive Oram 118  0 - 1 David Lettington 134
Dominic Oram 115 1 - 0 Rob Thompson 118
Mark Horner 93 ½ - ½ Pete Hickey 115
Elliot Oram 91 0 - 1 Neil Miners 77
                       2½ - 3½

Tom Fuller match Snodland v Sittingbourne

I was very nervous going in to the last match v Sittingbourne! It all seemed so straight forward. A win for top of the group and a home semi final. A draw for the same but joint top and an away tie. A 2.5 - 1.5 loss and still 2nd place courtesy of more game points to the WOK. So on arriving to a much weaker team than ourselves, the doubts crept in as to what a disaster it would be if we lost 3 - 1 for example. Anyway the scene is set and the battle commenced. David L on board 1 completely dominated his game and his opponent resigned in a hopeless position, 1- 0 Snodland. Pete was having a good game on board 3 and expressed afterwards that at one stage he really was itching to attack his opponent outright but was very aware of the need for 1.5 points. He played for the team (well done Pete) reigned in his aggressive approach and took a draw. 1.5 - 0.5, well done Snodland qualified. Richard on board 4 was having a very good game but could not quite hold it together, 1.5 - 1.5 with my game to finish. This left me in a wonderful position as the pressure was off, I was playing well and my opponent was 4 minutes away from his 35 moves with six moves to play. My position was much better and once play broke it was game over and he resigned. 2.5 - 1.5 and Snodland go top. Well done to all that played, see you in the semi finals. Report by Rob Thompson

Tom Fuller match

Last night we played Medway and the evening started in a panic. It
looked like George was stranded at 6.15 (brake pads on car had gone)
so there was a bit of running around to do.
All was ok after a round trip via Sittingbourne, all parties on board
and back to the Medway hut. Snodland won the toss and away we went
white on odds. I played Douglas on board 2 and of we went E4!!!!
Thanks Steve.....out came the Scandinavian and I recorded our first
point with an easy win. Looking at all boards at this stage, it looked
good for Snodland.

Hugh was under a little pressure against Alan Evans but retrieved the
situation with a beautiful check mate combination that involved
sacking his Queen with a double rook check mate, very nice
Hugh.......2-0 to Snodland. Richard was playing a very solid game
against Barry, but unfortunately had a lapse of concentration and lost
his queen for a knight..2-1, everything resting on George v Paul
Foster. A very close fought game and George offered a draw to win the
match, Paul declined and went on to win, with both players in time
trouble.

So 2-2 on the night and an exciting night to come on the 15th of March.

Thanks for all that played and well done.
Report by Robert Thompson