The ‘B’ team lost playing at home against Paisley ‘A’ team on Thursday night’s Glasgow League Div. 2 fixture.  Complete result is as follows:

Despite impressive performances by two Montrosians, Glasgow Montrose came off second best in last night’s Dunbartonshire League Knockout with Bearsden A.

Chris, outgraded by some 330 points, snatched victory from the jaws of defeat when his opponent blundered, while Beni displayed toreador-like skills against International Master Andrew Greet, gaining a near-winning position, but in the end allowing his opponent a stalemate in time trouble.  Full score is given below:

Robin Templeton reports (while sunning himself in Alice Springs!) on the ‘A’ team’s drubbing of Phones ‘B’ on Jan 10th:

Montrose started off the New Year the way they finished the last: with a 5-1 victory. Continuing his good form, Bahloul was first to finish weaving a complex web to trap his opponent with tricky decisions in the middlegame. My own game was next to finish. After taking off the queens, my opponent tried to complicate but allowed a central pawn to reach the seventh – costing knight and game. Kenny, making a welcome return to the team, had a big opening advantage but a dangerous central pawn push ensured a share of the points. David was a pawn down but had attacking pressure. After the draw was agreed, David found the winning try. Norman slowly ground down his opponent finishing with a passed a and h pawn which a lone king could not stop. Sam’s game looked a boring draw for a while. Near the end both players sacrificed their knights for pawns. Sam’s was the more deadly leading to checkmate. This keeps the A team’s 100% winning record.

The ‘B’ team drew tonight playing away at Wellington Church vs. Polytechnic ‘B’ team.  Full score is as follows:

We are pleased with this result, as we were somewhat outgunned in terms of gradings on all boards. Well done lads!

The ‘B’ Team pulled off a convincing win against Giffnock ‘C’ playing away at Whitecraigs Tennis and Bowling Club last night. ‘Foggy’ Forgrieve was first to finish, with a neat mating combo after his opponent had self-destructed losing two pieces for two pawns.  Groundwater finished next, fending off an ill-advised exchange sacrifice, then launching an invasion down the c-file during which his opponent’s flag fell.  Upon seeing this victory, Murray scampered back to board one to agree a draw in a moribund position.  This left Smeeton on board one, who doggedly fought back from two pawns down to also gain a half point.

Results as follows:

Robin Templeton reports on the Club’s first victory of the new year, on Thursday 12th Jan:

Montrose keep up their good form in the Dunbarton league.

Montrose got off to a winning start in 2012. Phones came calling at the Novotel but their number was up.  The home team scored 3.5 – 0.5. Norman was first to finish with a share of the point. An exchange sacrifice put enough pressure on his opponent that he was forced to give it back and steer for the draw. Captain Chris was in bloodthirsty mode sacking two pawns in a relentless king hunt that culminated in a knight fork of king and queen. My own game was a close affair well into the middlegame. Time pressure told and my opponent overlooked the loss of a pawn followed quickly with losing his queen for rook and bishop. Last to finish was Bahloul. The win was never in doubt as he  demonstrated the ending of rook and pawns versus knight and pawns is vastly in favour of the rook.

Robin Templeton’s report on the Dunbarton League fixture played on 24th Nov.

Montrose draw home fixture 

Glasgow Montrose started well with two wins by the two players DR and DF otherwise known as Dave Reid and Dee Fault. David used all his experience to build up a superior position. Faced with the loss of his queen or checkmate his opponent resigned. Edd won a pawn in the opening but before the endgame comes the middle game. After the dust settled two pawns heading for the seventh was too much. Beni fought hard, but following exchanges, he ended with a bad bishop against a good knight and afterwards the swindling chances were not enough.