There was an early exclamation of dismay when poor Hazel overlooked an attack on her Queen on Board 8, and shortly after Pengxiao emerged smiling after a 20-move crush of a King's Indian Defence, leaving Exeter 2-0 up. It was soon 3-0 when Reece put away his opponent in a game where both sides were reluctant to castle. Opposing captain Jon Underwood claimed one back on board 2 in an extra-closed Sicilian, but Will Marjoram gradually climbed out of the swamp into which he had sunk to leave Seaton needing to win all the remaining games. As it went all three were drawn: Cameron couldn't make his minority attack stick, Sean had a truly awful Bishop but a blockade on the light squares, and a murky battle on top board came down to a drawn endgame with like-coloured Bishops and a pair of pawns each on the King's-side, although Steve had a plus at several points.

https://lichess.org/study/AFo9Ss46

[Event "Peter Rooke Final 21 May 2023: Steel - Welch 1-0"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Steel"]
[Black "Welch"]
[Result "1-0"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "19:21:17"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "A43"]
[Opening "Benoni Defense: Old Benoni"]


1. d4 c5 2. c3 cxd4 3. cxd4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. e3 d6 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. O-O Rc8 8. Nbd2 g6 9. b3 Bg7 10. Bb2 O-O 11. Rc1 a6 12. Bd3 b5 13. a4 Nb4 $17 14. Be2 Nbd5 15. axb5 axb5 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Qa1 Qb7 18. e4 Nf4 19. Re1 Nxe2+ 20. Rxe2 $19 e6 (20... Ra8 $19) 21. e5 Nd5 22. exd6 $15 Rc8? 23. Ne5 Qb6?? 24. Nxd7 Qxd6 25. Qa7 Nc7 26. Ne5 Rf8 27. Ba3 b4 28. Ndc4 Qd8 29. Bxb4 Re8 30. Ba5 Qxd4?? 31. Qxd4 Nd5 32. Qa7 Re7 33. Qb8+ Bf8 34. g3 Kg7 35. Bb4 Nxb4 36. Qxb4 f6 37. Nf3 e5 38. Rd2 Rf7 39. Qb5 e4 40. Nd4 h5 41. Ne6+ Kg8 42. Nxf8 Rxf8 43. Qb6 Kg7 44. Qc7+ Kg8 45. Rd8 (45. Rd7!) 45... g5 46. Rxf8+ Kxf8 47. Nd6 Kg8 48. Qf7+ Kh8 49. Nf5 g4 50. Qg7# *


[Event "Peter Rooke Final 21 May 2023: Morgan - Marjoram 0-1"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Morgan"]
[Black "Marjoram"]
[Result "0-1"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "19:29:27"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "A15"]
[Opening "English Opening: Anglo-Indian Defense, Scandinavian Defense, Exchange Variation"]


1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nf4 5. d4 Ng6 6. Be2 c6 7. Nc3 e6 8. a3 Be7 9. Be3 Nd7 10. Rc1 Nf6 11. h3 O-O 12. Qd2 Qa5 13. O-O Rd8 14. Nd5 Qxd2 15. Nxe7+ Nxe7 16. Bxd2? (16. Nxd2 $18) 16... Nxe4 17. Bb4 Nd5 18. Bd3 Nef6 19. Bd2 Bd7 20. Rfd1 Nh5 21. g3 a5 22. Ne5 Be8 23. Nf3 b5 24. Ne5 Rd6 25. Rc5 f6 26. Nf3 g5 27. Re1 Ng7 28. Be4 Nb6 29. b3 a4 30. b4 h5 31. Be3 Nc4 32. Bc1 Rc8 33. Bd3 Nb6 34. Bc2 g4 35. Bf4 Rd5 36. hxg4 hxg4 37. Nh4 Rxd4 38. Bd1 Nd5 39. Bh6 f5 40. Bc2 Bf7 41. Ng2 Kh7 42. Be3 Nxe3 43. Nxe3 Kg8 44. Kg2 Ne8 45. Bb1 Kg7 46. Nc2 Rd5 47. Re3 Nf6 48. Ba2 Rd2 49. Kh1 Ne4 50. Kg2 Rxf2+ 51. Kg1 Rd2 52. Ne1 Ng5 53. Bb1 Nh3+ 54. Kf1 Rf2# *


[Event "Peter Rooke Final 21 May 2023: Whittington - Fox 1-0"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Whittington"]
[Black "Fox"]
[Result "1-0"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "19:43:14"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "A55"]
[Opening "Old Indian Defense: Normal Variation"]

1. d4 { [%eval 0.0] [%eval 0.0] } 1... d6?! { [%eval 0.66] } { Inaccuracy. Nf6 was best. } { [%eval 0.66] } 2. c4 { [%eval 0.26] [%eval 0.26] } 2... Nd7 { [%eval 0.8] [%eval 0.8] } 3. Nc3 { [%eval 0.87] [%eval 0.87] } 3... e5 { [%eval 0.94] [%eval 0.94] } 4. Nf3 { [%eval 0.9] [%eval 0.9] } 4... Ngf6 { [%eval 0.75] [%eval 0.75] } 5. e4 { [%eval 0.65] [%eval 0.65] } 5... b6?! { [%eval 1.38] } { Inaccuracy. g6 was best. } 6. Qa4?! { [%eval 0.84] [%eval 0.84] } 6... Bb7 { [%eval 0.8] [%eval 0.8] } 7. Bg5?! $10 { [%eval 0.0] } { Inaccuracy. d5 was best. } 7... exd4 { [%eval 0.38] [%eval 0.38] } 8. Nxd4 { [%eval 0.31] [%eval 0.31] } 8... h6?! { [%eval 1.33] } { Inaccuracy. Be7 was best. } 9. Bxf6 { [%eval 1.05] [%eval 1.05] } 9... Qxf6 $16 { [%eval 1.26] [%eval 1.26] } 10. Ndb5?! $14 { [%eval 0.54] } { Inaccuracy. Rd1 was best. } 10... Kd8 { [%eval 0.4] [%eval 0.4] } 11. Rd1 { [%eval 0.16] [%eval 0.16] } 11... Nc5 { [%eval 0.46] [%eval 0.46] } 12. Qc2 { [%eval 0.25] [%eval 0.25] } 12... Qe6?! { [%eval 1.11] } { Inaccuracy. c6 was best. } 13. f3?! $10 { [%eval 0.14] } { Inaccuracy. Nd4 was best. } 13... f5?? { [%eval 1.93] } { Blunder. Qe5 was best. } 14. Nd4 { [%eval 1.38] [%eval 1.38] } 14... Qe5 { [%eval 1.42] [%eval 1.42] } 15. Nxf5 { [%eval 1.39] [%eval 1.39] } 15... g6 { [%eval 1.51] [%eval 1.51] } 16. Ne3 { [%eval 1.11] [%eval 1.11] } 16... Qf4?! { [%eval 2.09] } { Inaccuracy. h5 was best. } 17. Qd2?! { [%eval 1.45] } { Inaccuracy. Ncd5 was best. } 17... Kd7? $18 { [%eval 3.11] } { Mistake. h5 was best. } 18. Qd4? { [%eval 1.4] } { Mistake. b4 was best. } 18... Be7? { [%eval 3.28] } { Mistake. Ne6 was best. } 19. Ncd5 { [%eval 3.02] } 19... Bxd5 { [%eval 3.6] } 20. Nxd5 { [%eval 3.47] } 20... Qf7 { [%eval 3.99] } 21. Nxe7?? { [%eval 1.32] } { Blunder. g3 was best. } 21... Qxe7? { [%eval 2.68] } { Mistake. Kxe7 was best. } 22. b4?! { [%eval 1.54] } { Inaccuracy. g3 was best. } 22... Ne6 { [%eval 1.66] } 23. Qd2 { [%eval 1.59] } 23... Rhf8 { [%eval 1.45] } 24. Be2 { [%eval 0.94] } 24... g5? { [%eval 2.73] } { Mistake. Qg5 was best. } 25. e5?? { [%eval 0.29] } { Blunder. c5 was best. } (25. c5! bxc5 26. bxc5 Nxc5? 27. Qd5! $18 { [%csl Rc5,Ra8][%cal Re2b5] }) 25... Rf5?? { [%eval 2.51] } { Blunder. Nf4 was best. } (25... Nf4 26. exd6 cxd6 27. Kf2 Qxe2+ 28. Qxe2 Nxe2 29. Kxe2 a5 $10) 26. exd6 { [%eval 2.68] } 26... cxd6 { [%eval 2.56] } 27. O-O { [%eval 2.44] } 27... Rc8? { [%eval 4.28] } { Mistake. Kc7 was best. } 28. Qc2? { [%eval 2.22] } { Mistake. Rfe1 was best. } 28... Rf6?! { [%eval 3.43] } { Inaccuracy. Re5 was best. } 29. Rfe1 { [%eval 2.97] } 29... Ke8?! { [%eval 4.54] } { Inaccuracy. Nd4 was best. } 30. Bd3 { [%eval 3.88] } 30... d5 { [%eval 4.2] } 31. Qa4+ { [%eval 3.75] } 31... Kf7?! { [%eval 5.88] } { Inaccuracy. Qd7 was best. } 32. cxd5 { [%eval 5.83] } 32... Rc7 { [%eval 6.24] } 33. Rxe6 { [%eval 5.44] } 33... Rxe6 { [%eval 5.59] } 34. dxe6+ { [%eval 5.36] } 34... Qxe6 { [%eval 5.34] } 35. Qb3 { [%eval 5.41] } 35... Qxb3 { [%eval 5.4] } 36. axb3 { [%eval 5.45] } 36... Kf6 { [%eval 5.95] } 37. Bc4 { [%eval 5.74] } 37... Re7 { [%eval 6.02] } 38. Kf2 { [%eval 5.93] } 38... Re5 { [%eval 6.24] } 39. Rd6+ { [%eval 6.14] } 39... Kg7 { [%eval 6.37] } 40. Rd7+ { [%eval 6.42] } 40... Kf6 { [%eval 6.53] } 41. Rxa7 { [%eval 6.34] } 41... b5 { [%eval 6.16] } { (last couple of recorded moves make no sense, omitted) } *





[Event "Peter Rooke Final 21 May 2023: Dean - Pope 1/2-1/2"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Dean"]
[Black "Pope"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "19:51:44"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Opening "Queen's Pawn Game: Accelerated London System"]


1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nd2 e6 6. Ngf3 { returning to the main line } 6... Bd6 7. Bg3 Qe7 8. Ne5 O-O 9. Bd3 Bxe5?! 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. f4 f5 12. Nf3 Nd8? (12... c4) 13. Bh4 Qe8 14. Qe2 c4 15. Bc2 Nc5 16. Bxd8?! Qxd8 17. g3 Bd7 18. Nd4 Qe7 19. h4?! Ne4?! 20. Bxe4 fxe4 (20... dxe4?) 21. Qg4 b5 22. a3 a5 23. Kd2 b4 24. axb4 axb4 25. Rhb1 Rfb8 26. Qd1 b3?! (26... Be8) 27. Rxa8 Rxa8 28. Ra1 Qe8 29. Qb1 h6 30. Rxa8 Qxa8 31. Ke2?! Qe8 32. Qd1 Qh5+ 33. Ke1 Qxd1+ 34. Kxd1 h5 $16 { (=) } 35. Ke2 Kf8 36. Kf2 Ke7 37. g4 *


[Event "Peter rooke: Chapter 1"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Zhu"]
[Black "Willis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "19:46:04"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "E70"]
[Opening "King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 O-O 6. Ng3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Be2 Nfd7?! 9. h4! f5?! 10. exf5! gxf5 11. Bg5 Nf6 12. Qd2 Qe8 13. h5 h6?! 14. Bxh6 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 Qf7 16. Nxf5! Nxd5?? (16... Bxf5 17. Qg5+ Kh8 18. Qxf5) 17. Rh3! Qxf5 18. Rg3+ Kf7 19. Nxd5 e4? 20. Qg7+ { 1-0 } 20... Ke8 (20... Ke6 21. Nxc7#) 21. Qe7# *


[Event "Peter Rooke Final 21 May 2023: Martin - Davis 1/2-1/2"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Martin"]
[Black "Davis"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "20:32:01"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Opening "Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qe5+ 4. Qe2 { Definitely not remotely critical for black } 4... Qxe2+ 5. Bxe2 Nf6 6. Nf3 Bf5?! 7. d3 Nc6 8. Bf4 O-O-O 9. O-O-O h6 10. h3?! e6 11. a3 Bd6 12. Bxd6 cxd6 13. Rhe1 Kb8! { strong useful waiting move } 14. d4 { Threat is d5, so there are 3 possible moves, d5, Ne4 and Ne7 } { [%cal Rd4d5] } 14... Ne7! 15. Bc4?! Rc8 16. Bd3! { admitting the mistake was best here } 16... Bxd3 17. Rxd3 Ned5 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. g3?! Rc6 20. Nd2 Rhc8 21. c3 b5 22. Kd1 Nb6 23. Kc1 Nc4? 24. Nxc4 (24. d5!) 24... bxc4 25. Rd2 Rb6 { prophylaxis against d5, which thankfully I had noticed by now } 26. f4 { now d5 really is threatened since I cant meet it with e5, so d5 is likely forced } 26... d5 27. Rde2 g6 28. Re5 h5 29. h4 Kc7 30. R1e2 Kd7 31. Rg2 Rh8?! { g4 was never working so maybe not coldly stopping it was better, try to provoke it somehow } 32. Re1 a5?! 33. a4! { This is basically the end of any winning attempts, the last try is to go Rg8 and try to organise f6 and g5 but it is never working for black } 33... Rb3 34. Rge2 Rhb8 35. Rg1 Rh8 36. Rge1 Ke7 37. Re5 Kd7 38. R5e2 Rb6 39. Re3 Rg8 40. R3e2 Ke7 41. Re5 Kf6 42. R1e2 Rb3 43. Rg2 Rh8 44. Rge2 Rhb8 45. Rg2 Ke7 { 1/2-1/2 } *




[Event "Peter Rooke Final 21 May 2023: Body - Underwood 0-1"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Body"]
[Black "Underwood"]
[Result "0-1"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "20:33:08"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Opening "Sicilian Defense: Snyder Variation"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 Nc6 3. Bb2 e5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bb5 Be7 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. d3 h6 9. h3 (9. a3 O-O 10. Qe2 Ne8 11. a4 Nc7 12. Qe3 Ne6 13. Ne2 Nd4 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Nexd4 cxd4 16. Qe2 a5) 9... O-O 10. Qe2 Ne8 11. g4 Nc7 12. Qe3 Ne6 13. Ne2 Nd4 14. O-O-O Be6 15. Nexd4 cxd4 16. Qe2 a5 17. Rdg1 a4 18. h4 axb3 19. axb3 Ra2 20. g5 h5 21. Nxd4 exd4 22. Qxh5 Qa5 23. Qe2 Rxb2 { 0-1 } 24. Kxb2 Qc3+ 25. Kb1 Ra8 *


[Event "Peter Rooke Final 21 May 2023: Hampton - Homer 1/2 - 1/2"]
[Site "Exeter"]
[White "Hampton"]
[Black "Homer"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.21"]
[UTCTime "20:39:07"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "A03"]
[Opening "Bird Opening: Dutch Variation"]

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Be2 Nf6 5. O-O O-O 6. d3 c5 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Qe1 d4 (8... Nb4!? 9. Bd1 d4!) 9. Ne4?! Nxe4? (9... Nd5! { [%csl Re3] }) 10. dxe4 Nb4 11. Qd1 Qb6? (11... dxe3! { [%csl Rb2] }) 12. exd4 cxd4 13. Kh1 Be6 14. a3 Na2 15. Rxa2 Bxa2 16. b3 a5? (16... d3 17. Bxd3 Rfd8 18. Qe2 Qc7 $10) 17. a4 d3 18. Bxd3 Rac8 19. Nd2 Rfd8 20. Qg4? h5? (20... Rc3!) 21. Qe2 Rxd3! 22. Qxd3 Rc3 23. Nc4? Rxd3 24. Nxb6 Rc3 25. Nc4 Rxc2 26. Nxa5 b6 (26... Bd4! 27. Nxb7 f5!) 27. Nc4 Bxb3 28. Nxb6 Bd4 29. Nd5 e6 30. Nb4 Rc4 (30... Re2!) 31. Bd2 Bxa4 32. Rc1 Bb5 33. Rxc4 Bxc4 34. Nc6 Bc5 35. Ne5 Bb5 36. g3 Kg7 37. Kg2 f6 38. Nf3 Bc6 39. e5 fxe5 40. fxe5 Kf7 41. Bg5 Bd4 42. Bf6?? (42. Bf4!) 42... g5?? {Cameron's idea was to run the King around the Queen's-side while White is paralysed, and it works:}(42... Be3! 43. h3 g5 44. g4 { else ...g4 } 44... h4 45. Bd8 Ke8 46. Bc7 (46. Bf6 Kd7 47. Bg7 Be4 48. Bf6 Kc6 49. Be7 Kd5 50. Bf6 Kc4 51. Bd8 Kd3 52. Ba5 Ke2 { mates! }) 46... Be4 47. Ba5 Kd7 48. Be1 Kc6 49. Bf2 Bxf2 50. Kxf2 Bxf3 51. Kxf3 Kd5) 43. Bxg5 Bxe5 44. Kf2 Bxf3 45. Kxf3 Bc7 46. h3 Kg6 47. Be3 Kf5 48. g4+ hxg4+ 49. hxg4+ Kg6 *