Cleveland Knock Out Cup

We've inflicted defeat on previously unbeaten Redcar to reach the Cleveland Cup Final. Three bore draws and two wins for a 3½ - 1½ victory

J.Simpson (172) - D.Baillie (145) [D20]
Peterlee v Redcar, 30.04.2007

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nc6 4.Be3 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.d5 Na5 7.Qa4+?! c6 8.b4 cxb3 9.axb3 b5 10.Nxb5 cxb5 11.Bxb5+ Bd7 12.Nf3 Bd6 [12...Rb8 13.Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.0-0 Nxb3 15.Nxe5 Qxa4 16.Rxa4-/+ ]

13.0-0 Nb7 14.Bg5? Bxb5
[14...Nc5 15.Bxd7+ Qxd7 16.Qxd7+ Kxd7 17.Bxf6 gxf6 18.Nd2 ]

15.Qxb5+ Qd7 16.Qe2 Ng8 17.Nh4 h6 18.Be3 a5?!
[18...Ne7 19.Bxa7 0-0 20.Bb6 Rxa1 21.Rxa1 f5 ]

19.f4 exf4 20.Bd4 Bc5 21.Qb2 Qe7?
[21...Ne7 22.Bxc5 Nxc5 23.Qxg7 Rg8 24.Qe5 ]

22.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 23.Kh1 Nf6 24.Nf5 Kf8
This is the first time Mr Fritz has white ahead!

25.Rxf4 Nh5? 26.g4 Nd6
[26...Nxf4?? 27.Qxg7+ Ke8 28.Qxh8+ Kd7 29.Qxa8 ]

27.gxh5 Nxf5 28.Rxf5 Qe3? 29.Qg2 Qxb3? 30.Raf1 Ra7 31.e5
[31.Qg6! Qb7 32.Qe6 Qd7 33.Rxf7+ Qxf7 34.Rxf7+ Rxf7 35.Qc8+ Ke7 36.Qxh8 ]

31...Ke8 32.d6 Qe6 33.Qf2 Rd7 34.Qc5 a4 35.Qb5 a3 36.Rxf7 Qxf7 1-0

The venue was, The Hillcarter Hotel, Hartlepool. I think they still have the heating set for winter temperatures, as it was uncomfortably warm. Its shorts and a vest for me in the final, it should guarantee at least a draw, with my opponent trying not to gaze upon my hairy, pasty body!