I mentioned last week that I had the idea that I had overlapped with Paul Motwani in Glorney Cups. This reminded me that David McAlister sent me the full tournament book for the Glorney and Faber Cups in 1978 some considerable time back (for which many thanks). That was my début year, and sure enough, Paul Motwani played for Scotland that year:
Glorney and Faber Cup teams, 1978
That was a great year for Ireland in the Faber Cup, but that will require a separate post to do it justice.
Players are listed in alphabetical order. In board order, the Irish Glorney team was Eugene Curtin, Colm Barry, Keith Allen, John Delaney, Eddie O’Reilly, and then myself and John Kennedy (of Belfast) splitting board six and reserve. England (23) edged Holland (22) for first, Scotland (16½) were third, Ireland (14) fourth, Wales (8) fifth, and France (who only sent three players) last on 6½.
However, Ireland’s 4-2 loss against England was a moral victory of sorts, in that Ireland’s points came from wins on the top two boards, Eugene Curtin winning against Julian Hodgson, and Colm Barry winning against William Watson. Has this ever happened before or since?
Colm Barry’s win made a strong impression:
25… ?
White has just erred with 25. Qd1-c1?, and Colm now uncorked 25… Nc3!!?, with themes of forks on e2, after exchanging rooks. The finish was 26. Rxe7 Qxe7 27. Qb2 Nce2+ 28. Kf1 Ng3+ 29. Kg1 Nge2+ 30. Kf1 Nxd4 31. Re1 Nfe2 0-1.
Alas! The spectacular 25… Nc3!!? is not best, and it turns out that White could have wriggled out to near-equality. How, and what should Black have played instead?
For the answer, see the full game.
[Update, January 25, 2022: I have also added the board 1 game, Curtin – Hodgson. Eugene was heading for the better side of a draw, when Julian Hodgson blundered.]