The Hamilton Russell trophy for London clubs has been dominated in the past by the RAC. This year, though, they were knocked for six in the final decisive match by the MCC. The full scores (out of a possible 14) were as follows: 1st Marylebone Cricket Club, 14; Joint 2nd Oxford & Cambridge Club and Royal Automobile Club, 11; 4th Athenaeum Club, 7; Joint 5th Hurlingham Club and Oriental & East India Clubs, 4; 7th Chelsea Arts Club, 3; 8th Reform Club, 2. The crucial game which helped the MCC to take the cup was the following clash between an international master and a former Spectator editor. Dominic Lawson has supplied the following notes himself.
Povah-Lawson: Hamilton Russell Cup, London 2015; Trompovsky Attack
1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 e6 3 e4 h6 4 Bxf6 Qxf6 5 c3 d6 6 Bd3 Qg5 I prepared this, knowing I might be playing Nigel and that he favours this c3 line in the Trompovsky. 7 Nf3 Qxg2 8 Rg1 Qh3 9 Nbd2 e5 I had no idea at the time, but Nigel told me afterwards that he had met 6 … Qg5 before. His opponent had played 9 … g5, but was wiped out in 22 moves. 10 dxe5 dxe5 11 Qb3 This appears to be a new move, but there is not much theory in this variation. 11 … Nd7 12 0-0-0 Played surprisingly quickly. Somehow Nigel had not realised my next move was possible. 12 … Nc5 13 Qc2 Nxd3+ 14 Qxd3 Bd7 15 Nc4 (see diagram 1) 15 … 0-0-0 I think 15 … f6 was better but I was scared by 16 Rg3 Qe6 17 Rg6 and as the time control was rather fast, I was happy to head for what I felt to be a nice position without risk. 16 Ncxe5 Qe6 17 Qd5 I had expected 17 Qe3.
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