Shrewsbury B have extended their lead at the top of Shropshire Online Chess League to four points thanks to a comfortable 2.5-0.5 win over town rivals Telepost B.
Stephen Priestley and Ivor Salter picked up the victories to extend the B team’s unbeaten run to eight games – and they’ve fielded the same three players in all of those matches.
But it wasn’t such a happy week for Shrewsbury C who, despite getting a 1-0 headstart through a bottom board default, fell to a 2-1 loss to promotion-chasing Telford A.
The B’s made the most of Oswestry C slipping up earlier in the week against Telepost C to increase their lead at the top of the table by defeating Telepost’s B team.
Captain Mark Smith was perhaps a little fortunate to claim an early draw by repetition on top board against the experienced Keith Tabner having shipped a pawn in the opening.
But the remaining games very much went Shrewsbury’s way. Stephen Priestley managed to trap a knight early in the middlegame on the way to a routine win over Nick Holmes on board two.
Ivor Salter also played well to defeat James Holyhead on bottom board with the black pieces.
Meanwhile, Shrewsbury C were unable to capitalise on a dream start as they lost to Telford A.
Telford defaulted bottom board but were swiftly level when Roger Brown defeated Norman O’Connor in just 26 moves on top board. Tony Purser was outplayed by Richard Thompson on board two, eventually being checkmated on move 61.
Shrewsbury B are now four points clear of three teams – Newport Juniors, Oswestry C and Telepost C. Newport Juniors have one game in hand on the B’s, while Telford A lie one point further adrift with two games in hand.
Shrewsbury C lie seventh in the nine-team table with five points, ahead of Telepost B on game points scored although their rivals do have a game in hand.
Both Shrewsbury teams are due to face opposition from Telepost this week – the B’s will play Telepost C and the C’s will go up against Telepost B, with the Shrewsbury teams the nominated “home” teams in both matches.
Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):
Shrewsbury B 2.5-0.5 Telepost B
1.Mark Smith (b) 0.5-0.5 Keith Tabner
2.Stephen Priestley (w) 1-0 Nick Holmes
3.Ivor Salter (b) 1-0 James Holyhead
Shrewsbury C 1-2 Telford A
1.Norman O’Connor (b) 0-1 Roger Brown
2.Tony Purser (w) 0-1 Richard Thompson
3.Richard Vernon 1-0 default