The B team remains on top of Division 2 after a narrow victory over Telford B on Friday night by 3-2, but not without a moment of controversy even before a pawn was pushed!
After a newspaper column stating the supposedly “raised eyebrows” caused by my decision to play Spanish student Celia on board 1 against Telepost B, I was informed by the Telford team that, as far as they were concerned, Dr Ile was ineligible to play for us, as he had already appeared 6 times for the A team, even though he was officially classed as ungraded until January when he received a grade of 162. I therefore intended to play him on board 1. I stated that this was perfectly alright and was then informed that the League Controller had also told them it was acceptable as well! The opposing team stated that they would play the match only under protest and, indeed, they intended to take it to a higher level. After this amicable tête-à-tête, the match started!
Before I knew it, the Doc. had agreed a draw and was gone. Ivor then drew on board 4, but Mark’s superb run came to an end shortly after when he uncharacteristically blundered a piece and came under a strong attack. 2-1 down then with Norman and me still playing.
My French Defence set up was going well and then I played what I thought was a clever move by winning a pawn in the centre, and discovering an attack on my opponent’s Knight, only to find it was my Knight that was in imminent danger. After the game ended, we both agreed that the result might have been very different, had he not left me off the hook. I felt sure that this was correct but, after analysing it in depth at home, I found that it was safe all the time, so, just as I thought, it was a clever move! I was a Pawn up but it was proving very difficult to break through, until my opponent forgot about a discovered check which won me the exchange and, after a tense struggle, the point.
I only saw the end of “Storming Norman’s” match in which he produced a beautiful mating net around his opponent’s King: worth the admission money on its own!
So we await to see the outcome of Telford’s protest, but I can safely state that, should it be upheld, I shall well and truly eat my hat!
Ian Davies, B Team Captain
I can’t see why it would be – it was clearly stated at the AGM that the summer grading list would be used for determining eligibility of players for matches and the mid-season list would only be used for purposes of board order; the point being if a club were dependent on a player being able to be flexible and fill in for two teams and got a higher than expected grade, it would leave a club in the lurch otherwise. Lo and behold we have this scenario and the rules have worked!
Congratulations to all at the B team for yet another fine result, and I look forward to seeing how you get on in Division 1 next year while the A team battle relegation to the 3rd Division…