Surbiton B v Kingston B, Thames Valley division 2 match played at Fircroft, Surbiton on 30 October 2024

This was a very satisfying evening. We had set out with a clear strategy in this match: to win with White and draw with Black, and that is exactly what we did across all six boards, giving Kingston an emphatic 4.5-1.5 victory against our neighbours and kicking off our Thames Valley division 2 campaign in style.

The first game to finish was on board 4, where Alan Scrimgour – with Black – and Andrew Boughen agreed a draw after 13 moves in the position below. Black has certainly equalised and may even have a small plus, but given the team strategy this was a perfectly satisfactory start.

Board 6, between Surbiton legend Paul Durrant (how good to see him back playing competitive chess) and Jon Eckert, also ended in a draw. Paul was a pawn to the good, but Jon had an initiative which Paul considered sufficient compensation, and peace was declared in the position below.

The critical board 2 game between Will Taylor, with Black, and Joshua Pirgon was also drawn after a dry, technical struggle in the Petrov Defence. We had identified Josh as a dangerous young player likely to turn out for Surbiton on board 2 or 3, and Will was the perfect opponent to steer him away from the sort of tactical melee in which he excels. The final position, with White to play, is stone-cold level.

Half the mission had been accomplished. Now could the Kingston players with the White pieces keep their side of the bargain? Peter Andrews, up against old adversary and Surbiton captain Nick Faulks on board 3, certainly could. He had the upper hand from an early stage and we were confident he would convert, which he did after a couple of hours’ play.

Kingston were now 2.5-1.5 up and we were feeling comfortable. Board 5 was looking good for us, and board 1 perhaps drawish. On board 5, Stephen Lovell was making one of his rare appearances for Kingston. It is always very welcome when he does have time to turn out, because he is a strong player whose rating would most likely be 2000-plus if he played regularly. Here he played an excellent game against the very experienced Graham Alcock. Things were level until Graham made a slip in opening up the position on his 26th move.

That was the match done and dusted, and David Rowson on board 1 then made it the perfect evening by winning against Liam Bayly – these two are also old adversaries – as Liam’s clock started to run down.

Stephen Moss, Kingston Club Captain