And so the Geezers’ run for glory ends short of success. Last night the Geezers lost to Saratoga A in Schenectady 1 ½ - 2 ½. At the same time and place Schenectady A delivered a solid defeat to Albany A 3 ½ - ½. The Schenectady A victory was the result the Geezers needed to have a chance at the title. Unfortunately, the third and fourth boards for the Geezers were not able to salvage even one draw in their two games. Had either drawn, the Geezers would have finished tied with Schenectady A on match points and in clear second place on tie breaks. A win in either game would have given the Geezers their first title. Alas, that was not to be.
The final standings for the 2010-2011 Capital District chess League are:
1 Schenectady A 5 ½ -1 ½ match points 20 ½ game points
2 Albany A 5 - 2 match points 17 ½ game points
3 The Geezers 5 - 2 match points 17 game points
4 Saratoga A 4 ½ - 2 ½ match points 16 ½ game points
5 Albany B 4 - 3 match points 13 ½ game points
6 Uncle Sam 3 - 4 match points 13 game points
7 Saratoga B ½ - 6 ½ match points 7 ½ game points
8 RPI ½ - 6 ½ match points 6 ½ game points
At about the mid-point of the season, Schenectady A’s captain Bill Townsend was pessimistic about the team’s chances for the title, especially after the loss to the Geezers. Nevertheless, Schenectady A fielded the best sides that could be managed and did not give up the fight. Their reward, another title!
Thursday evening’s match with Albany A is an example. While their leading light, Deepak Aaron was not available, the rapidly improving Patrick Chi took first board versus the strong Expert Dean Howard. Patrick playing Black appeared to be keeping things in balance into the middle game. I missed whatever crisis that came about and Mr. Chi carried the day. Even with this loss, Dean Howard took home recognition as the Most Valuable Player in the League. He finished with a record of six wins and one loss, the best result in the event.
The return of Carl Adamec, playing second board for Schenectady, was a welcome event. Playing White against the redoubtable Jon Leisner Carl achieved an advantage in space and a superior minor piece. He squeezed out a win in workmanlike fashion.
Philip Sells won his game from Tim Wright. I can’t say much about the game. My own struggle kept me from seeing what happened there. Glen Perry for Albany A and John Barnes for Schenectady A played to a draw.
Before the matches began, Tim Wright and I were joking that the Geezers needed almost a sweep by Schenectady A to have a realistic chance at first place based on the game point tie break. The Schenectady A team came within a hair’s breath of doing just that. The Geezers were not able to hold up their end of the equation however. The loss to Saratoga A put paid to hopes for the Geezers to take their first title.
On the first board Michael Mockler held Gordon Magat to a draw. A creative transition from opening to middle game resolved itself rapidly into a pawn ending with some slight imbalance. Both former Experts were careful not reckless and splitting the point was the natural outcome.
John Phillips continued his good performance for the team this year winning from the Black side against another former Expert, Gary Farrell. Although they were playing nearby my board, the problems I was having kept me from seeing how things developed consistently. The opening was the Bird’s, a Farrell favorite. Gary executed his usual scheme; d2-d3, Queen to e1 and pushing the e-pawn to the fourth. He has had a lot of success with this idea. I missed the action in the middle game. When next I looked, Mr. Phillips had a protected passed pawn on the third rank and Farrell’s King was under fire. Time was short for Phillips, but a slip by Mr. Farrell led to a short mating combination netting the only win the Geezers recorded.
Board three saw a battle between competitors who have met often over the years; Bill Little played White versus Alan le Cours. I obtained some kind of an advantage out of the opening and kept it through much of the middle game, I think. Then after seeing the fourth board result where Mr. Chu lost to Dackshev, I incorrectly chose to try for victory. The path selected was not the right one. This was made worse by an incorrect evaluation of the Queen and minor piece ending. What I thought was an unbreakable bind turned out to be an eggshell that broke with the most obvious of blows. Mr. Le Cours broke up my formation and won the full point in a very effective fashion indeed.
On board four, Richard Chu had Black against Yakov Dackshev, a émigré from Russia just about 90 years old! Alan said before the festivities commenced this maybe the first time the Geezers were facing a team with a higher average age than they have. Richard achieved a promising position out of the opening, at least that is what I was told. An error about move 21 cost Mr. Chu dearly, and Yakov exploited his chances with the verve of youth and sharp technique. He brought home the full point in 43 moves. Chess is for all ages!
League play is over for this year and I have played my last game of serious (rated) chess. Next year I have signed on as the non-playing captain for the Albany A team. Tim Wright has carried the load as a playing captain for several years even through the time when Albany lack a meeting place. It seemed to be right to give him a break, and this is a chance for me to stay involved even though my playing days are done.
The battle for the title this year was hard fought. The Geezers made a serious challenge to the big three teams, Schenectady A, Albany A and Saratoga A, and their dominance of the League. There is an opening on the Geezers for someone, maybe an actual Geezer over fifty, or an honorary Geezer - someone with an over-fifty mind set. If you are out there, call or talk to Richard Chu the Geezers captain. He is looking for recruits. If he has some luck in finding talent, the Geezers will challenge the big teams again next year.
Some games from the matches soon.
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