Best Game 2024/25 (three entries)
Winner – Benjamin Humphreys
“This was an excellent game from White in a French Winawer structure. They built up the position very well and the tactics flowed nicely after 18.e6! The following sacrifices 24.Bxc4! and 29.Bb5! were the cherry on top of a dominating performance.” IM Jonah Willow (judge)
Best U1800 Game 2024/25 (two entries)
Winner Nick London.
“After some passive moves from black in the opening such as 7…Bd7 and 9…Rc8, White nicely built up a large space advantage. Although perhaps not converting in the fastest way at times, I enjoyed how controlled they kept their position while tightening the screws on black, with a nice final king march to end the game showcasing black’s total passivity.” IM Jonah Willow (judge) “Some good moves not taken but I enjoyed Black’s paralysis towards the end against an opponent I have never beaten before.” (Nick London) Best Swindle 2024/25 (three entries) Winner Ewan Fewell “This was a rollercoaster of a game. Black clearly won the opening battle and got a dream position from the Botvinnik Semi-Slav, but it turned around entirely after black missed 18.Bxc4. After some nice moves from White they won a clean piece and were converting nicely. It was a very unfortunate blunder from White at the end, but credit to Black for fighting on and looking out for any tricks left in the position – and it was a very nice trick!” IM Jonah Willow (judge). “I had the Black pieces and played the sharp Botvinnik variation of the Semi Slav. I don’t want to comment too much on the game as I played so horrifically, did not take advantage of my opening edge, my opponent played great, and before I know it, the evaluation is +8 for him for the entire middlegame. I should have had morals and resigned but I kept fighting, I had only one trap left and somehow swindled the position into a mate in 6 for Black. The finale is an only move, and I don’t think I will ever have a turn around quite like this again…” Ewan Fewell