After a solid, yet trophyless campaign on all fronts for Shrewsbury Chess Club, the 2013-14 season started with a bang as both the A and C teams started their league seasons with big victories.
Jamie Hopkins’ A team were away to the rechristened Condover and Church Stretton club. After Jamie had his habitual quick draw on top board with the hosts’ Trevor Brotherton (this time with a mind to watch the England game – a turgid goalless draw with chances at a premium. I’ll refrain from any unkind comparisons for now!), the next game to finish was on the next board down. In the reverse fixture last season (although it was just Church Stretton in those days), Francis Best and Steve Rooney played out an outstanding tussle, full of spectacular attacks and unsound sacrifices. This time, the game was much more cagey, as a tight opening led to a slow middlegame and even the hints of a level ending. At this point Steve offered a draw, and Francis – after a quick check of the situation on the remaining boards – agreed.
That meant the result was still level with three boards left to play, but a nice win from Ed Goodwin on board three shortly after the draw on board two put Shrewsbury in the driving seat – just one point from the final two games would have sealed the win, and with Peter Kitchen a piece up on board 5 against Eric Elwell and David Everington a pawn up against Graham Shepherd, that looked a strong probability.
However, things are never quite so straightforward, and Graham managed to fight back and take the game into a double rook endgame that was, theoretically, dead drawn. However, there is a big leap from theoretically to the pressure of being over the board, and David snatched a win to secure the points as well as a pleasing chronology of results ( board 1 finished first, then 2, then 3 etc).
Although Peter had been a piece up earlier, he had contrived to get his Bishop stuck behind a wall of his own pawns, leaving the potential victory in jeopardy. However, he stuck at it to – eventually – win just before his flag well, adding a nice gloss to the scoreline.
For Ian Davies’ C Team, a trip to face Oswestry B got them underway for the season, and wins from Ian himself on top board, as well as Eric Inglis on board three and Fred Harris, standing in for the unavailable Tony Purser, handed the points to the visitors.
Unlike most clubs, where the AGM is held as soon as possible after the conclusion of the league season, Shrewsbury holds its AGM in September, although the aim is the hold it earlier next season. All members are encouraged to attend in order to finalise teams, captains, officers and niggly little details ahead of the forthcoming season.
Finally, controller Matt Best has published the draw for the first round of the 2013-2014 Club Championship. It can be viewed by visiting the club championship page of the club’s website.
Condover and Church Stretton A 1-4 Shrewsbury A
- T. Brotherton ½-½ J. Hopkins
- S. Rooney ½-½ F. Best
- M. Bukojemski 0-1 E. Goodwin
- G. Shepherd 0-1 D. Everington
- E. Elwell 0-1 P. Kitchen
Oswestry B ½-3½ Shrewsbury C
- R. Thomson 0-1 I. Davies
- A. Evans ½-½ A. Lewis
- E. Stevenson 0-1 E. Inglis
- J. Molyneux 0-1 F. Harris