The fourth round of our club championship got underway this week with two exciting games. The night was full of drama, unexpected twists, and resilient play, proving once again that in chess, anything can happen!
In the first match, I had the white pieces against Ethan Turnbull. I went for my trusted Vienna Opening, but Ethan threw a curveball with an unexpected and novel f5. This early surprise put me on the back foot straight away, and I found myself lost out of the opening. Ethan played admirably, finding two brilliant moves that should have secured him the win. However, chess is a fickle game, and through sheer determination, I managed to claw my way back into the fight. After a tense struggle, I somehow turned the tables and emerged victorious. Despite the result, Ethan played fantastically and deserved a better fate in this one.
The other featured game of the night saw David Bridges take on Keith Emery. David handled Keith’s favored Alekhine Defense well in the early stages and was playing a strong game. Unfortunately, on move 17, he miscalculated and found his knight trapped, leaving him down a full piece. Despite this setback, David showed great resilience, holding on all the way until move 57. However, Keith’s material advantage proved decisive, as he applied constant pressure and converted his lead into a well-earned victory.
With these two games in the books, Round 4 is off to an exciting start. The rest of the matches are scheduled for next week, and we’ll have a full update on all the results and standings once the round is completed. Stay tuned for more action from the Stonehaven Chess Club Championship!