Tony Purser claimed one of the biggest scalps of his chess-playing career – but it wasn’t enough to spare Shrewsbury B from defeat against defending Shropshire Online Chess League champions Oswestry A.
Purser – a veteran of the club’s B and C teams in the second and third divisions of the local over-the-board leagues for several years – shocked one of the county’s elite by checkmating Brian Whyte in their board three encounter, writes Peter Kitchen.
But the reigning champions still prevailed 2.5-1.5 to open up a small gap at the top of the online league division one table – and leave Shrewsbury B mired in a relegation scrap with Telepost A.
Without talismanic captain Mark Smith on top board, the B’s were always going to be up against it. But they put up a brave fight and pushed the leaders closer than many would have expected.
Stephen Priestley picked up a creditable draw with the white pieces on top board against Charles Lowick Higgie, particularly after he had appeared to go wrong in the early middlegame.
An ill-advised pawn grab led to Priestley being forced to give up a knight to stave off instant checkmate. But the Shrewsbury player did pick up a second pawn in compensation.
Higgie then grabbed a pawn unnecessarily, allowing Priestley to drum up counterplay. Higgie had lost most of his advantage, but still retained a small edge when he offered a draw on move 27 that was accepted.
Oswestry’s Mehmet Altinsoy uncorked a fascinating positional exchange sacrifice against Ivor Salter on board two and gradually outplayed the Shrewsbury player in the resultant middlegame, while Richard Vernon was beaten by Adrian Bailey on bottom board.
Then came Purser’s big moment, which admittedly owed to more than a little good fortune as Whyte missed a mate-in-one having carefully built up a superior position.
Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):
Oswestry A 2.5-1.5 Shrewsbury B
1. Charles Lowick Higgie 0.5-0.5 Stephen Priestley (w)
2. Mehmet Altinsoy 1-0 Ivor Salter (b)
3.Brian Whyte 0-1 Tony Purser (w)
4. Adrian Bailey 1-0 Richard Vernon
* Shrewsbury B were due to face Telepost A in a crunch relegation clash on Monday this week (March 6). But the match was postponed at short notice at the request of Telepost, and will soon be rearranged for a new date.