2006-2007 Lightning Tournament

Chris Howell won an exciting tournament from Gordon Meyer. Both had won their respective groups with Kevin Thurlow and Roshal Patel making up the final 4-all play all.

In the first game Chris managed to beat Kevin even though at one stage he was an exchange down, while Gordon soundly beat Roshal with a Vienna game. The next round saw Chris grind down Roshal while Gordon and Kevin exchanged blows in an opposite side castling slug fest. Gordon managed to mate Kevin just in time, which left Chris and Gordon to fight it out for first.

Gordon with White tried a Closed Sicilian and eventually sacrificed a pawn for an attack down the h-file. In the 10 sec per move format it can be difficult to defend even unsound sacrifices and Gordon quickly got a dangerous initiative. Chris wisely shuffled his King away to the Q side while Gordon mopped up the K side pawns – unfortunately exposing his K to future Rook manoeuvres. A one move blunder allowed Chris’s Rooks in and decided the outcome. In the other game Kevin defeated Roshal.

Well done to Chris and thanks to all for playing in this well supported tourney.