On Wednesday 23rd March the En Passant Cup team played its final match of the season against Dartford. The winner of the match would be in the semi-finals with Dartford having the odds of the draw.

It was a close match. Ian McAllan reached the first time control with a completely drawn ending. Bob Mitchell then lost, but Rob Pezet won with a crushing king hunt. Dave Helps then accepted a draw in a very blocked position leaving the match level with two games to finish. Lee Brockwell had been a good pawn up, but chose the wrong path, while Gary Sharp’s opponent’s unintentional piece sacrifice was good enough for a draw. In time-trouble Gary had to choose between two defences and unfortunately chose wrongly, so Dartford were in the semi-finals. Lee then accepted his opponent’s offer of a draw to make the result a 3.5 - 2.5 win for Dartford.

We did get the second highest number of game points in the division so I think we are an established team in the En Passant Cup now.

Ian McAllan