That’s horrendous. Freeze the frame and you see Taiwo is driven onto the post by the defender’s last gasp, completely out of control, lunge. A horrible accident. A red card? Sadly the rules made this inevitable. What’s the point of having an AR if they can’t rule on offside?

I felt that I made fewer mistakes today, at least in terms of comparing our play with the double dummy/optimal play. Unfortunately, in this game a bit of wild bidding and an optimistic approach normally scores best. Good practice before Sunday’s mixed pairs event at the MSC.

It’s way too tough to crack at the moment, but enjoyed the YC Mixed Pairs on Sunday, and an instructive session partnering Brian in this afternoon’s game. On the whole I sense a little progress, and I do like tough competition. How else can one meaningfully learn and improve?

A decent session at yesterday’s YC Duplicate. Celia & Gilly were in top form,otherwise it was a close contest. After a couple of disastrous sessions trying Acol, it was good to return to “strong & fives” with my regular partner. Our errors were in judgement, not gross blunders.

As part of my aim to play in stronger events, tried out the long established Monday evening game at the WLGBC at the TGR club in Paddington. A tough (56% average rating) but enjoyable session. We bid so badly, but defended quite well. A satisfactory result, onwards and upwards!

A long season, and my time as captain, comes to an end. I heartily congratulate and thank every member of the LL1 squad for their support.👏🏻 Overcoming a semi-professional team in an amateur league will always present a challenge, but I’d like to think that the tide is turning.

After a rather bruising result at the WLGBC yesterday evening, I was so frustrated, so decided to try and get it out of my system today. With a bit of luck, and a wonderfully spry octogenarian partner, we started with two “0’s” then chased every game with surprising success.😀

Third Monday night game at TGR’s, which is proving to be good training. Played with Greg for first time in a while, refining strong and fives, 2/1. Some decent play against experienced pairs. I feel my strength improving. Also studying more seriously as I used to in chess…

In truth, a slightly disappointing result, though I’m happy with the upward trend over the last month. One shouldn’t complain, as it obviously breaks both ways and balances out in the long run, but the “random nature” of results at this level of duplicate can be frustrating.

Tuesday’s YCBC session is purely for practice now (most players ask advice from the expert host). I only go now (as penance😂) if I’m annoyed by my Monday night TGR game play. But yesterday was a blast, huge swings as 7/20 hands were declared as game+ in the minors. Remarkable.

My good friend and games polymath (chess, poker, backgammon, golf, bridge- you name it) Ali Hill, is just about to start Day 3 of the WSOP Main Event in Vegas. With such a classy card protector, success must surely be almost guaranteed 🤑🍀

An entertaining “Pro-Am” team event this evening, with my first bridge tutors, David and Rosie, as team mates, and Adrian and I partnering for the first time. I spent the afternoon “cramming” Acol basics… from David’s book!😂 Happy to finish🥉😀and also reach 101 Master Points.

A messy scoresheet, naturally incurring David’s scorn😂, but I prefer to concentrate on the play rather than admin and calligraphy😉 It’s a modest first rung on the ladder, but those 20 points earn me the local master ranking, with one week to spare before my b’day deadline.🎉

Even by my egocentric standards this sounds immodest, but I’m amazed to find that Adrian and I had the top score. Is it because as cheerful Chelsea fans, we bid a lot of spade contracts (blue is the bidding card colour😂), or can it be that the Acol System is best after all ?🧐

3 inches from a hole-in-one yesterday on a blind 135 yard par 3 (I hit 7-iron) Now if the flag had been put back in straight… Only ever had one ace in 50 years🥲but have pitched in for many a birdie or eagle. 2 holes later I holed a 90yd wedge and found some tasty berries too😋

Back at my spiritual golf home, Dunskey GC,Portpatrick, Wigtownshire. I used to play 45/54 holes per day in the summers of 1975-80. The par 3 “wee course” remains devilish: blind holes & whins (gorse bushes). Delighted with 29 (+2)at my 3rd attempt today. 19th not bad either.🍻

In the golden year 1980, at sweet 16, and 6 handicap, I swept the board of all the Dunskey Junior trophies. The golf trophies and Masonic regalia I can live without, but boy would I kill to have all that excess hair again.😂🏌🏾‍♂️🕺🏼

I realise it’s a Par 3 course, albeit with 7 blind holes per 9, tiny greens, and endless rough and gorse, but hey, I’ve achieved that “holy grail” of golfing lore of shooting my age over 18 holes- 61. I sincerely hope to keep doing so for another four decades at least.😂🏌🏾‍♂️

IM Gavin Wall RIP The chess community is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of Richmond captain Gavin Wall. I knew Gavin quite well over many years and enjoyed a beer and good chat with him only recently. RIP. A fine tribute by Richard James. rtchessclub.com/2025/08/01/im-…

On a happier note, the Rangers team enjoy celebrating their tenth Central London League title last season at the Star Tavern, Belgravia. Young(ish) stars on the left, opinionated veterans to the right.😂🍻