The B Team’s prospects were boosted by the absence of Eoin Tweedale and Dominic Bartram from the MKA line-up. However, what looks like a comfortable win did not feel like it for most of the match.
| 1 | 2011 | Elwin, Adrian G | 0 – 1 | Botteley, Michael T | 1994 |
| 2 | 2020 | Meichel, Eric B | ½ – ½ | Bodily, Richard T | 1968 |
| 3 | 1914 | Smith, Graham | ½ – ½ | Habershon, Paul F | 1947 |
| 4 | 1889 | Whiteside, Robert | ½ – ½ | Hale, Jack | 1750 |
| 5 | 1829 | Ward, George | 0 – 1 | Pike, Steve C | 1863 |
| Total | 9663 | 1½ – 3½ | 9522 |
I didn’t see much of the other games as I was last to finish and in time trouble for a long time, just managing to keep 15 seconds on my clock in a rook and knight ending. Happy to draw after going into it a pawn down.
Richard drew fairly quickly.
Jack reckoned he missed a win (he did, see game below, annotated by Paul) in a bold attack but his opponent achieved perpetual check.
Steve swapped into a level R and Ps ending but with a better pawn structure. Whilst neither side played it perfectly, this was converted to a winning K and P ending.
At 2-1 up and tied to my game I had no idea what was happening on Board 1. Afterwards Mike said things got easier when the queens came off, so that was the clinching win.
No more travelling for the B Team until four away matches in April. Two wins from the first three matches leave us in reasonable shape going into the New Year.
Paul Habershon, 12th December 2025