J4NCL: Suffolk retain division 1 status

After achieving promotion last season, Suffolk Juniors have managed to retain division 1 status after winning their final group stage match to move out of the relegation zone in the country’s top junior online chess league.

Suffolk’s squad consisted of Amy John, Arthur Dannatt, Harry Hartshorn, Kalp Vyas, Lenny Horn, Mackenzie Harvey-Gibson, Oliver Ferris and Rowan Kent.

It was always going to be a tough season in division 1.  However, all squad members showed that they can compete with some of the strongest juniors in the country.

A couple of things stood out this season:

• Three players with less experience, Kalp, Lenny and Mackenzie, were more often than not significantly out-rated by their opponents.  Despite the massive difference in rating, all three up’d their games, not only making their opponents work very hard but also picking up one or two incredible scalps along the way.
  Last season, Kalp managed a victory against someone over 500 points higher-rated. This season, Lenny and Mackenzie worked similar wonders for Suffolk. Lenny managed to win a minor piece and hold onto the advantage all the way to the endgame – his victory for the team can be viewed on Lichess.
  
  The above position is from a game of Mackenzie’s, again against an opponent rated over 500 points higher. White just played 18.Rxb7?. Mackenzie replied with 18…Bh3!, threatening checkmate and forcing White to give up the exchange, if they were to play 19.g3. However, White casually continued with 19.Qf3??, simultaneously defending against mate and attacking Black’s light-squared bishop. Can you spot how Mackenzie won the game? (Click on the board to see what happened.)
• In each of the seven rounds, Suffolk managed to field a full team, mixing members of the squad; having a reliable squad is really important in the 4NCL in order to avoid points penalties.

Everyone gets a rest over the spring/summer but the the league will resume again in autumn.