It had to happen at some point, and Shrewsbury Chess Club’s perfect start to the season ended as the B Team were held to a draw at home to Telford B.
The visitors, who were relegated from the first division last season, were marginally outgraded on 4 of the 5 boards, but got off to a solid start with two draws on two of the boards where they had a grading deficit.
Firstly, an initially complex position on top board between Matt Best and Simon Maydew from a Queen’s Indian style set up fizzled out into a rather gridlocked position early on, and a draw was agreed. Almost instantly after, Norman O’Connor and Windsor Peck also settled for half a point apiece on board 4. Norman had earlier been up a couple of pawns, but they were not able to be defended and the position ended up with both players having a King, Rook and three connected kingside Pawns.
There was some respite before the next games finished. Next up was Daniel Lockett and Stefan Tennant on board 2, where – you’ve guessed it – they drew. After a lively opening from what seems to be Shropshire’s on-trend reply to 1. e4 – the Scandinavian – the game petered out into a level position.
However, the pattern of equality was finally broken shortly after when Mark Smith, making his first appearance of the season, saw off Andy Jones. Mark had won a Pawn earlier with the exchange of Queens, and managed to overcome a contained Knight to win another Pawn. Eventually, he forced through a Pawn supported by his Rook to seal the win.
That had guaranteed at least a draw for the hosts, but Ivor Salter faced an uphill struggle to avoid defeat in the final game to finish. He was up against Richard Szwajkun on board 3, and had recovered well from a seemingly hopeless position where he was down the exchange to win the exchange back and avoid being checkmated. However, he found himself two Pawns down in the resultant Rook ending, and, despite his best efforts, was not able to prevent defeat.
Shrewsbury B 2½-2½ Telford B
- M. Best ½-½ S. Maydew
- D. Lockett ½-½ S. Tennant
- I. Salter 0-1 R. Szwajkun
- N. O’Connor ½-½ W. Peck
- M. Smith 1-0 A. Jones