We needed a hero – and we got one.
Having stepped in as a last minute replacement – following a desperate appeal – new French recruit Jean-Baptiste Lagadec scored the decisive point against Hammersmith last night to keep our Minor league dreams alive.
Jean-Baptiste, playing in his first London League game, turned the tables on former ECF chief executive Phil Ehr after being three pawns down.
Battersea's London Chess League u125 team out for revenge against @hammer_chess tonight at the Golden Lane theatre of dreams
— Battersea Chess Club ♞♜♛♚ (@BatterseaChess) January 16, 2017
It was a major relief and capped an extraordinary match between the two sides.
Hammersmith are the reigning champions of this division, who pipped us to the post last year after winning our January 2016 encounter.
That match remains Battersea MB’s only loss in three seasons of existence.
Team skip @leonwatson said: "We're playing a new formation today and hope our new French signing will bring some Gallic flair into the side
— Battersea Chess Club ♞♜♛♚ (@BatterseaChess) January 16, 2017
This time round things were very different.
Hammersmith were – and remain – bottom of the league, while yet again we are still in the frame for the title.
But having thrashed us in the Major league match last week Hammersmith’s tails were up.
finely balanced with 3 games done. Can big @PhilEhr bring home the bacon in the grudge match?? 🐷 pic.twitter.com/SPYFCPbbyt
— Hammersmith Chess (@hammer_chess) January 16, 2017
That kind of detail doesn’t bother Joel Morales though.
Our smash and grab merchant, playing Chris Moore, did his usual thing of turning up late once time was ticking and blitzing his opponent.
Moore, who played a Queen’s Gambit, collapsed under the pressure, which led to a pretty checkmate. 1-0 to Battersea.
Perhaps emboldened by my colleague to my left, I thought it would be good idea to go for a fancy checkmate myself.
Here was my position on move 14.
Is Bxh7+ followed up by Qh5 decisive?
No it is not. In my glee at finding a nice combo I didn’t see my opponent’s escape. Hammermith’s skip Rich Wingfield went on to win the battle of the captains on board 1. The scores were level.
Chris Rebbeck then followed up with a solid draw against Andy Routledge to leave match hanging on the final game outstanding, Jean-Baptiste Vs Phil.
When I left Jean-Baptiste, playing black, was three points down, but had an active position. The next I heard he had managed to pin white’s queen and nail the win.
Well done team, we are now second in the league with games in hand on the league leaders Metropolitan.
Our next match is on Thursday against Cavendish at their venue.
Here's the match card from last night's Battersea MB Vs @hammer_chess match, our division 4 match card not in yet: pic.twitter.com/PNfeCXfeF1
— Battersea Chess Club ♞♜♛♚ (@BatterseaChess) January 17, 2017
