Month: March 2017

Tuesday night saw our team lose a close contest against mid-table Wallasey 2. Our captain was optimistic of a positive result when the opposition arrived missing their regular board 1, with all their players moving up a board. For our part there was a bit of board switching to equalize black and white games through the season. An early draw for Olawale Titiloye on board 3 arrived when his opponent defended accurately in a messy position, where playing on would have left us a pawn down. Next up we fell on board 5 where Chris Rhodes was outgraded as normal in the 1st division. A draw on board 4 for Neville Layhe was a good result against his 150 grade opponent, leaving us 2-1 down and top two boards in play with both Karl Lockett (on bd 1) and David Hulme seeming to have winning opportunities. Unfortunately Karl’s advantage evaporated just before David was about to convert his. This defeat leaves us as near certainties for relegation as competitors Wallasey 1 beat champions Penyffordd the previous night to send us back into bottom position.

Full league tables are available on the Wirral League Website, from the link below.

http://wirralchessleague.com/tables.php

 

 

Last night the E team came off second best against Cheddleton’s I team in division 5 suffering a 4-0 whitewash. However it was not all bad news as we gave league debuts to two juniors, Charlie Dodd and Amy Lovatt. It is hoped this will prove to be the first of many league matches for them. Even experienced players Dave Price and Les Hall failed to register on the scoreboard. The E Team also have the opportunity to reverse fortunes as the postponed home game against the same opposition has been arranged for May 17th.

No it’s not a school report, but results from last nights matches. Starting with the B team, wins for Ola Titiloye and Doug Barnett together with draws from Karl Lockett and Martin Gill ensured Newcastle D went home empty handed. So eventually the B team are on the move with two consecutive wins – like the proverbial buses. Conversely the D team went to Newcastle and suffered the exact reverse, a 3-1 defeat at the hands of the hosts F team. The only ray of light was an excellent result for James Marshall picking up our single point with a win. The E team hosted Fenton C and found the visitors employing a Mr Default on board 4, so should have been optimistic looking for both points. The visitors fought hard with  a win on board 1, and draws on boards 2 & 3 with our Mike Williams and Dylan Sayers respectively. Watching the board 3 game was great entertainment for any spectators and a stalemate ensued with one player having a bishop and 3 pawns against a lone king, after his opponent sacked his opposite coloured bishop to leave the draw ! So honours even as Fenton pursue the Division 5 title.

The Wirral team picked up a glorious half point from tonight’s drawn match against Chester B. Luck smiled on us as our opponents were missing two of their top three players graded 198 and 185. Still heavily outgraded on 3 boards it was a surprise result and a bonus in the relegation battle. An early win on board 4 for Ola against a loose Scandinavian set us on our way before David Hulme was outgunned on top board. Neville Layhe took a kind draw offer when a pawn down in an endgame but was probably fair value. Chris on board 5 missed a chance to trap a knight which may have given him a draw but it was not to be against his 140 grade opponent. Meanwhile Karl forced a superb win on board 2 as he put his opponent under immense positional and time pressure. Next week we face a Wallasey 2 team in fine form already secure in mid table and outperforming their big brothers Wallasey 1. This draw takes Crewe off the bottom of the table temporarily but still in need of further points.

See link below for latest Wirral League Tables

http://www.wirralchessleague.com/tables.php