“CHESS IS JUST A GAME OF INCHES” AL PACINO

Earlier this week saw Horsham 5’s next sortie into the maelstrom know as MSL Division 3 – a home game against Worthing 3. On paper it was a very evenly matched contest. Could Horsham 5 bounce back from their close run defeat by Horsham 4 in their opening fixture?

First up was a crushing win by Brian on Board 4 so quick that he was able to get home to watch the second half of the Scotland v England football friendly! This was closely followed by a solid draw by Tony on Board 1.

I then let the side down on Board 3 by letting a pretty strong position (albeit perhaps not winning) get away from me. Although the ending was pretty drawish the fact I got my QR stuck in the corner was my downfall. So the match was all-square heading into the last 30 minutes.

It was now down to our two young stars. First up was Lucy whose game was also looking pretty drawish but being the tigress she is she simply wouldn’t give up. Her persistence paid off as her opponent succumbed to a tactical shot at the death and the point was ours. 2½-1½ with one game left.

This left Matthew playing White on Board 2 against Cassie Graham (Worthing’s own star junior). A very even game with both players in extreme time pressure so much so they stopped recording their moves. So thanks to Anthony for stepping into the breach and confirming they both made the control at 10:33pm … just! As the dust cleared it was apparent some last minute pressure (which picked up a minor piece) had secured Matthew the win his play fully deserved and Horsham 5 their opening match victory!

Brilliant … or to misquote Al Pacino from the film “Any Given Sunday”

“You find out that Life is just a game of inches.
So is Chess.
Because in either game
Life or Chess the margin for error is so small.
I mean one half step too late or too early you don't quite make it.
One half second too slow or too fast and you don't quite catch it.
The inches we need are everywhere around us.
They are in every break of the game
Every minute, every second.”

Next victim … away to Eastbourne 2 on 5 December.