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Sussex League Team Updates

Sussex League - 1st Team Pre-Christmas 2025 Report

by Russell Granat - 11/12/2025

After the euphonic success of winning the 1st division last season we have come down with a heavy bump during the first part of the 2025/26 season.

We started with a home loss against perennially strong Brighton (who beat us last season as well).
This was followed by an away loss to Bexhill, who are turning into a powerful team with 2 very promising juniors on their top 2 boards.
Things then improved with a home win against Crowborough and then we embarked on the long away journey to Hastings where we came away with a drawn match- a good result with a weakened team.

So far we have not managed to put out a full strength team in any match and our most reliable and successful player Dave Graham, after over 40 years of active Club membership, is in the process of moving away from the area so we will be losing him from future matches – it is pleasing to note that his match against Hastings (and possibly his last match) on top board was a good win. Thank you Dave for all your contributions to the Club over many years and we wish you and Carol all the best in the New Forest. We of course would be delighted to see you when you are back in and around Worthing.

So we go into the New Year with 1.5 out of 4, but facing the next 3 games away. Thank you to all who have played so far this season.

Russell Granat (Captain)

Sussex League - Dave Graham vs. Francis Rayner

White: Dave Graham
Black: Francis Rayner
Event: Hastings & St. Leonards 1 vs. Worthing 1 Sussex League Match
Date: 9th December 2025
Opening: B40 - Sicilian Defence

1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 e6
3. Nc3 ....
I am not well versed in the theory of the mainline after 3.d4 and Francis is an opening expert.

3. ... a6
If 3...Nc6, I play 4.Bb5

4. g3 ....
The Bf1 goes to the h1–a8 diagonal as the c4 and b5 squares are no longer good.

4. ... b5
5. Bg2 Bb7
A very aggressive set-up from Black ignoring his king-side development.

6. d4 ....
I have played this pawn sacrifice several times before and prefer it to the solid alternative 6.d3.

6. ... cxd4
6...b4 7.Na4 Bxe4 is the alternative way to grab the pawn but is equally unclear.

7. Nxd4 Nf6
8. O-O b4
9. Na4 Nxe4
This came as a surprise as I knew the best move to be Be4. At the end is my game from the European Team event in Rhodes held in October where my opponent played Be4.

10. Re1 d5
Here I started burning some time - I knew that without the Bishops on g2 and b7 the best move was c4 but couldn't figure out if it was still good with them on.

11. c4 ....
I spent a lot of time on Ne6 and concluded I didn't have enough for the sacrifice but, in actual fact, it is a good move, e.g. 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Qh5+ g6 13.Qe5 Qf6 14.Rxe4! I missed this move which gives White a big advantage. Luckily c4 is strong too.

11. ... bxc3
It is already very difficult for Black, e.g. 11...Be7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.f3 Nf6 14.Nf5 Nc6 15.Nxg7+ with a winning position.

12. Nxc3? ....
A mistake giving Black a chance to get back in the game - 12.bxc3 was better as will become clear in a moment.

12. ... Nxc3?
It was time to return the pawn with 12...Be7! 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 with chances for both sides.

13. bxc3 Be7
14. Rb1! ....
The sacrifices on e6 with Knight or even Rook work too but once I saw Rb1, I didn't bother calculating them (and this is why 12.bxc3 was correct on move 12 as Rb1 would follow)

14. ... Qd7
The Bishop on b7 is in big trouble, e.g. 14...Bc6 15.Rxb8 Qxb8 16.Nxc6 which is winning.

15. c4 ....
Attacking the pinned piece. I also considered 15. Qb3 which is very strong too.

15. ... O-O

16. Rxb7 ....
This was the idea behind 15. c4.

16. ... Qxb7
17. cxd5 ....
The Bishop on g2 is a monster and there are threats of d6 and dxe6.

17. ... exd5
It was time to return the pawn with 12...Be7! 13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bxe4 Bxe4 15.Rxe4 with chances for both sides.

18. Nf5 ....
This was the position I saw after playing 15. c4 - White's pieces are well placed threatening on d5 and e7 and I felt I'd at least get the sacrificed material back.

18. ... Bb4?
And suddenly it is all over after this. Black was in big trouble but could keep the game going with 18...Bf6 19.Bxd5 Nc6 20.Ba3 Rfd8 21.Qf3 Rac8 22.Rc1. (The computer finds the spectacular 22.Be7 Bxe7 23.Nh6+ gxh6 24.Qxf7+ Kh8 25.Be4 Bf6 26.Qxb7) 22...Ne5 23.Bxb7 Nxf3+ 24.Bxf3 Rxc1+ 25.Bxc1 with a winning position for White but work has to be done.

19. Qd4!

1 - 0
Black Resigns.

The threat of mate on g7 is lethal and wins a queen: 19...f6 20.Bxd5+ or 19...Bc3 20.Qxc3 f6 21.Bxd5+ Qxd5 22.Ne7+

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