Match Report: 23/01/25
Thursday 23/01/25
Bolton 2.5 – 3.5 Eccles.
https://lms.englishchess.org.uk/lms/fixture/73095
MCF – A Division.
This must have been the strongest team that Eccles had ever fielded, and the strongest team they had ever played against.
Bolton fielded IM Plamen Mladenov and IM Nikolay Milchev. Eccles fielded IM Gediminas Sarakauskas. An excellent turnout by both clubs.
The Bolton captain Ian Lamb said the result of the match could have gone either way, but the result swung in Eccles favour very late on in the match.
If Ian could have chosen Man of the Match he would have chosen Ethan Norris who played against his brother Michael Lamb. Micheal has played and won his last twenty six games and had not lost a game since October 2019. The result of the match should have resulted in a draw but Ethan managed to win his game which resulted in winning the match.
Board one was a rook and 2 pawns each when they drew
Ian said Mike Surtees was in trouble at one point but held the draw.
Paul Cawley sacrificed a rook but there was no mate there and it ended in a perpetual.
They were all hard thought games and none of the draws were quick.
This is great result for Eccles as they are now placed top of the Manchester League. https://lms.englishchess.org.uk/lms/organisation/1237/tables. The hardest part is yet to come, which is to retain their strength of play to win the Manchester League.
Man of the Match: Aidan Rawlinson (Nominated by Eccles captain David Toole)
Aidan has supported Eccles since 2019. I first met Aidan at the Rope & Anchor in Manchester where he used to host friendly chess nights for people who just love to play chess. This was when I first started out doing the same thing in Eccles.
The difference was that Aidan was not interested in wanting to create a chess club whereas I was. Aidan had no objections to me handing out cards with offers of playing leagues matches for Eccles Community Chess Club. This was when I started to get a team together.
Aidan was, and still is instrumental in changing Eccles from a newly created club with hardly any players to where they are today.
I’d like to thank Aidan for his unwavering support, encouragement and valuable advice he has given for nearly seven years; and long may he continue to be there watching out for us.
On the night of the match top board player IM Gediminas Sarakauskas, who had recently won the French European Chess Tournament for Eccles, was finding it difficult to find the Bolton venue. Ged agreed to play this game and bring home the trophies he had won in France.
Unfortunately I was not at the venue to greet Ged so I rang Aidan and told him of the situation and when Ged arrived Aidan was the only Eccles player at the venue and he gave him a friendly warm welcoming. I think Ged likes playing the odd games for Eccles and supporting and promoting Chess in the Community of Manchester, he has already agreed to play another match for Eccles – but against whom remains a secret…
This is what Aidan said about his game:
My opponent played aggressively, but it backfired a little and his king could never reach a safe haven. (The detailed analysis are in the ChessDrop notes)
This is Aidan’s game against a very worthy opponent Lorand Sakic
Next two Match: 28/01/25
Monday: Ladies, Learners & Monday night Mentors.
Wednesday: Chess for Fun with friendly and ECF Rapidplay games.
Free refreshments – Free local Parking – All donations welcome!
21 Church Street Eccles M30 0DF
Thank you for reading “My Journey through Chess” by Barbara Farrar