NCCL Finchley Cup 2021-22

FC 3rd Team

Played 21 July 2022

Report by Charlton Siddo:

First of all a big thank you to all players who took part in the Finchley Cup tournament; without you we would not have reached the final, which was played on Thursday 21 July alongside the Lawrance Cup Final, also against Barking.

Until the night before the final I pencilled in nine players for the Final. On the day of the Final, just as I was about to board the train to get to the venue this was reduced to eight players as Mark had to transfer to the first team match. Suddenly, this was again reduced to seven players when work commitments overran. Fortunately, Barking where gracious enough to contest the final over seven boards instead of the original nine boards, though all the Barking players participated using substitutions in the second round.

In the first leg, boards 1 and 4 were the first to draw, this was followed by draws on boards 5 and 6. Boards 3 and 7 were both long drawn games that also ended in draws. Board 2, produced a game that featured no less than four Queens on the board!! At one stage this was also looking drawn but was not to be, producing the only decisive result in R1 across both Finals; all draws would have been quite remarkable.

First leg = Barking 4 – Wanstead 3.

Game on !!

In the second leg, boards 5 and 7 won their games. Suddenly, Wanstead are in the lead. But not for long; boards 1 and 4 saw Barking claw back those two points to retain the lead. Boards 3 and 6 saw Wanstead and Barking gain a point each. Down to the final game; King, g- and h-Pawns and Rook v King and Rook. Very tricky position full of stalemate possibilities – which is what happened. Second leg = Barking 3½-Wanstead 3½.