Once more onto the Breach!

My return to York has also meant a return to (fairly) regular competitive chess. So far I have managed to display good form, primarily due to the fact that my fitness regime is starting to pay dividends. As a result, I now have much greater physical and mental reserves, which are greatly helping me when games go to the wire.

In the York Evening League I am playing for the Minster Inn team, after point-blank reufsing to play for a York R.I. team; due to the political machinations of last summer.

In the Yorkshire League, I have been delighted to return to action for the York first team. I also played one match for the C Team; and this allowed me to produce my best performance of the season to date.

Mike Stokes (156) - Paul Hopwood (163) 10.11.2008
York C vs. Harrogate A

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6.Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Bg5 e6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Rfd1 Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. a3 Qa5 13. b4 Qh5 14. b5 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe2 16. Bxe2 dxe5 17. Rd2 Bc5 18. Rad1 Bd4 19. a4 Ke7 20. Bf1 Rhd8 21. Ne2 axb5 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. axb5 e5 24. Rb2 Rdc8 25. Bd3 Rc3 26. Kf1 Ra5 27. Ke2 b6 28. f3 Kd6 29. h4 Kc5 30. Rdb1 Raa3 31. Rd1 Be6 32. Bc2 Bc4+ 33.Kf2 Ra2 34. Rxa2 Bxa2 35. Bd3 Bc4 36. Bxc4 Kxc4 37. Ra1 Rc2+ 38. Kf1 Kd3 39. Ra6 Ke3 40. Kg1 d3 0-1