Harvey Cup Match v Medway 10/02/12

Last night we travelled to Medway for our sixth of eight fixtures in this season's competituon. We came away with a 3-3 draw, which keeps us at the top of the table with 4 wins and 2 draws, but had to endure a dramatic final game win from Rob to maintain our unbeaten record. The evening had started off excellently....despite the predictions of the need to wear multiple layers the venue was in fact very warm ! Charlie got us off to a good start with a solid draw on board 6, and then George exceeded expectations (mine, not his) by drawing with Andy Mayhew (190) on board 1. In fact he was probably winning ! Nick and I then drew what appeared to be unremarkable games, leaving Pete and Rob playing. Unfortunately Pete never really got going in his game, although his opponent almost overlooked the winning move, leaving Rob playing and needing to win. This did not initially seem like a major problem as he had a pawn advantage and a big attack. However when pieces were traded the ending became problematic, with maybe a draw the most likely outcome (didn't someone once say 'all rook and pawn endings are drawn' ?). Anyway Rob gambled by creating a passed pawn and effectively ignoring his opponent's threats which by this stage were real......and it worked, his pawn becoming unstoppable ! That makes it 5/5 for Rob in this year's competition. We now face 2 fixtures in March that will decide where we finish, a top spot and a home sem-final being the aim............ Report by David Fowler

Intro Match

We went to Medway on Friday night and got a hard earned 2-2 draw,I feel this was a great result and keeps us unbeaten in the competition. We have our last Home Match on Thursday 23 Feb.

Report by Nick Allen.

2011 Prizewinners

Pete Hickey, (right) C league winner.
George Hollands, (right) Challenge Cup winner.

David Lettington (right) and Bob Fenn, joint B league winners.

Richard Mallery (right) being presented with the "Most improved player Trophy" by Bob Fenn (Chairman)

Harvey Cup match 19/01/2012

Our latest match in this year's Harvey Cup (last night v Weald of Kent) resulted in a 4-2 victory, thereby maintaining our strong results in the competition.
David N and David L gave strong performances to record convincing wins, while the other full point was achieved by Pete who gave checkmate almost out of the blue !
Neil's opponent, although a piece for 2 pawns up, was happy to settle for a draw while George couldn't make his various advantages count for more than a half point. Hugh almost crashed through with a fierce kingside attack, but was left material down from which he was unable to recover.
With 3 matches to go we are giving ourselves every chance of reaching the semi-finals with a record so far of 4.5 /5
Snodland Weald of Kent

D Nichols 163 1-0 James Hart-Dyke 145

G Hollands 149 ½-½ Mike Matthews 128

D Lettington 134 1-0 D Warrick 118

Pete Hickey 115 1-0 Clive Oram 118

H Broadbent 110 0-1 Mark Horner 92

Neil Miners 77 ½-½ Elliot Oram 88

4-2

Report by David Fowler

Kent Messenger report

The Kent Chess season has now passed its midway point and clubs are now entering the "business end" of the year. Snodland have made a solid start, suffering only one defeat in their first nine matches. Wins against Medway and Hastings in the Intro Cup, three wins in three matches in the Harvey Cup and strong performances in the Tom Fuller Cup have put Snodland within reach of the semi finals in all three cup competitions.

After making a promising start to the season, Snodland are hoping to once again travel to Dartford to take part in the Kent Chess Association’s Finals Day. This event is held in early May at the prestigious Mick Jagger Centre when the finals of all seven Kent Chess competitions are contested. If Snodland's good form continues, hopes are high that 2012 will see the Club winning a Kent Chess trophy.

The Snodland Chess Club meets every Thursday from 7.30pm at the Cricket pavilion Snodland.

Report by Neil Miners

Harvey Cup result 11/01/12

On Thursday we played our 4th match in this competition, at home to Medway, having won the first three.
Despite our overall performance being somewhat mixed we achieved (escaped with ?) a draw. It is often said that the mark of a good team is to get a reult when not playing well !

Having been 2-0 down (George and Nick on the top boards) Rob won convicingly, and Hugh got the full point after turning down a draw offer when a pawn down ! That left David L and Pete battling to get something from their games, from unpromising positions. Eventually Pete drew an endgame having entered it a pawn down and David created enough threats with his King to persuade his opponent that a draw should be accepted.
Snodland CC Medway CC

George Hollands 149 0-1 Andrew Mayhew 186

Nick Allen 121 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies 116

David Lettington 134 ½-½ Alan Evans 97

Rob Thompson 118 1-0 Dave Langford 95

Pete Hickey 115 ½-½ Barry Sawyer 93

Hugh Broadbent 110 1-0 Barry Hampton 88

3-3

Report by David Fowler

Intro Match 02/12/11

Our Intro Team played a match away against Medway B on Friday night. This was a very close match that ended in a 2-2 draw, another great win from Richard and a very solid game from Neil when he was 2 pawns up but unfortunately the opposite colour bishops left him having to settle for a draw,Pete had an epic battle with Doug Smith which could have gone either way but an in form Doug came out on top,I was outplayed by Tyrone but luckily found some last minute threats to score a draw.This was a great effort from all 4 boards and keeps us unbeaten in the Intro cup.

Team Captain Nick Allen.

Tyrone Jefferies 116 1/2 - 1/2 Nick Allen 121

Doug Smith 113 1 - 0 Peter Hickey 115

Alan Evans 97 1/2 - 1/2 Neil Miners 77

John Hanman 45 0 - 1 Richard Mallery 45