Shrewsbury B moved seven points clear at the top of Shropshire Online Chess League division two with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over struggling Newport A.
Despite captain Mark Smith being beaten on top board by Ian Jamieson, wins for Stephen Priestley and Ivor Salter made it 11 games unbeaten for the B’s.
With closest rival Newport Juniors held to a draw by Oswestry C, the B’s extended their lead at the top of the table. It is a healthy lead with five games left to play – but both Newport Juniors and Telford A – themselves 3-0 victors this week – have games in hand.
It was a tough week for Shrewsbury C, who had to default a board on the way to a 3-0 loss against Telepost D.
For the B team, Smith undoubtedly had a tough task on his hands against Jamieson, who has been one of the driving forces in Newport A’s domination of the Shropshire Chess League in recent times.
Having appeared to lose a pawn out of the opening – Jamieson’s pet Larsen-Nimzowitch Opening – Smith was quickly able to transpose to a double rook ending with equal material.
But Jamieson’s patient play was rewarded when an inaccuracy by Smith enabled his opponent to activate his rook and win a key queenside pawn.
Despite a wobble in the ending from his opponent and advancing his own passed pawn to h2, Smith admitted defeat on move 52, unable to stop Jamieson from queening his e-pawn.
On board two, Priestley seized the initiative out of the opening against Shane Greenwood, winning a pawn on the kingside. Taking a second pawn, however, enabled Greenwood to gain some counterplay on the kingside, though Priestley was able to defend successfully and reach a winning rook endgame, in which Greenwood lost on time on move 43.
Ivor Salter triumphed over Malcolm Price on bottom board on the black side of a Sokolsky Opening. Despite missing an opportunity to win a rook on move 17, Salter retained a dominant position, and won a knight on move 27. Price resigned on move 40.
For the C team, a shortage of available players meant that bottom board had to be defaulted against Telepost D, but the remainder of the team fought gamely before going down to defeat.
Tony Purser was defeated inside 25 moves by Peter Westhead on top board, with checkmate on the h-file inevitable.
Richard Vernon won a pawn in the opening against Alex Brims on board two, but an ill-advised tactical operation allowed his opponent to activate his pieces and take over the e-file, which ultimately led to Vernon’s downfall.
The result means Shrewsbury C are now second bottom in the division.
Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):
Shrewsbury B 2-1 Newport A
1.Mark Smith (b) 0-1 Ian Jamieson
2.Stephen Priestley (w) 1-0 Shane Greenwood
3.Ivor Salter (b) 1-0 Malcolm Price
Shrewsbury C 0-1 Telepost D
1.Tony Purser (b) 0-1 Peter Westhead
2.Richard Vernon (w) 0-1 Alex Brims
3.default 0-1 Dennis Bonner