The Harvey Cup team played Lewisham in the last match of 2013. Four players were unavailable for the match and Lewisham’s 5th board had a higher grade than our 3rd board, but there was an amazing series of blunders and Sidcup won 5 - 1. The opponents of Ian McAllan and Chris Cheeseman both blundered away their queen and Don Chapman’s good play was helped by the donation of the exchange. There was a reverse when Keith Thompson blundered away a piece, but Gary Sharp’s opponent failed to make his last move before the time control in a level position giving us the match. This was the first time that Gary had ever won on time. Lee Brockwell’s game was the exception to the Christmas generosity. Lee won a pawn, reached a good endgame and then his opponent saw an opportunity to win a piece, took it and found that he had a lost game. This means that the En Passant Cup and Harvey Cup sides have finished the first half of the season with 100% records.

Ian McAllan