What we read about when we read about Reading

On Saturday, January 13, fans of the English Football League (EFL) League One Reading soccer (aka football) club (nicknamed the Reading Royals) stormed the field (aka pitch) during a fixture (aka game) with Port Vale (nicknamed the Vale), protesting the policies of the owner of the Royals, which they believe are causing a rapid decline in the team’s fortunes. The fans refused to leave the field, and the game was abandoned.

Although the reported reason for the pitch invasion was dissatisfaction with the team’s owner, I can’t help but wonder if HICT’s defeat of the Reading University Chess Club the Sunday before was also a factor. Was Reading U’s loss the beginning of a bad week for the citizens of Reading that ultimately boiled over at Madejski Stadium on Saturday? Possibly. Or possibly not. 

All of the above is to report that, although it was touch and go for a while, we did indeed win the Reading match, by a score of 5.5-2.5. Charles, Andre, Mark, and I all played, with Kinaknavidog (I don’t know his real name) waiting in the wings. This was the fifth round for us, and it was the first time we had a full team of four, so it feels good. 

Our next match is against the very strong Team Chile (eight players with rapid ratings above 2000), on Sunday, February 4, beginning at 12:03 pm. Chile had an interesting match last week against Dundee City A, another one of the best teams in our group. That match ended in what must have been a nerve-wracking 8-8 draw. Team Chile beat us last season by a score of 6.5-3.5: it will be time for some revenge. See you then.

(Mr. Hornsby, the photo is for you. Aloha.)