Title glory is almost in touching distance for Shrewsbury B, who are now 11 points clear at the top of the table after victory over the club’s C team.
The B’s triumphed 2.5-0.5 over the C’s to extend their unbeaten run in division two of Shropshire Online Chess League to 14 matches.
They now have a huge lead at the top of the table with just two matches left – and could be confirmed as champions before they face nearest rivals Telford.
Telford have four games in hand, but to win the division must win all their remaining six matches – including the encounter against Shrewsbury B in the week starting June 20 – and hope Shrewsbury also slip up in their final match against Telepost B.
Two of Telford’s recent results against Newport Juniors and Oswestry C have not yet been declared, and any slip ups could see Mark Smith’s side named league winners before the Telford match.
Meanwhile, Shrewsbury C remain bottom of the table, and will need to defeat Telford in their final game to have a chance of overhauling Telepost D and avoid the wooden spoon.
Despite their lowly league ranking, the C’s did not make life easy for the title-chasing B’s. Norman O’Connor comfortably held Smith to a draw with the black pieces on top board, with Smith unable to make a dent on O’Connor’s Owen’s Defence (1.e4 b6).
Meanwhile, on board two the C team’s Tony Purser appeared to be keeping Stephen Priestley at bay. But a costly error in the middlegame saw Purser drop a piece, before his position subsequently collapsed. The in-form Priestley brought home the full point, with Purser eventually losing on time in a completely lost position.
On bottom board, the B team’s Ivor Salter was allowed to build an imposing space advantage out of the opening against Richard Vernon. It didn’t give Vernon much room for error and Salter broke through first on the kingside and then the queenside to decimate his opponent’s position and seal the match in favour of the B’s.
Full scores:
Shrewsbury C 0.5-0.5 Shrewsbury B (B’s had white on odd boards)
- Norman O’Connor 0.5-0.5 Mark Smith
- Tony Purser 0-1 Stephen Priestley
- Richard Vernon 0-1 Ivor Salter