Both Shrewsbury and Telepost A will go into Monday’s town derby in need of points to kickstart their seasons.
While Telepost have enjoyed the better of the rivalry over the past decade or so, both teams go into their latest Shropshire Chess League division one clash yet to pick up any points in over-the-board competition this season.
Shrewsbury have suffered heavy defeats at Maddocks A and Oswestry A, but will be buoyed by picking up their first online win of the season over Oswestry B on Thursday.
Telepost A are regular title challengers and current Shropshire online champions. But they lost their opener at home to reigning Shropshire Chess League over-the-board champions Newport A and saw their next match against Oswestry A postponed amid fears over Covid-19 after a number of players participated in a Four Nations Chess League weekend where cases were later reported.
Shrewsbury will go into this match outgraded on most boards – and will have to fight the tide of history which has seen Telepost dominate league derbies in recent times.
Shrewsbury B were the last top ranked club side to take anything off Telepost A, drawing 2.5-2.5 in November 2019. They also won 3.5-1.5 at Telepost A the previous season, when two Shrewsbury sides were in the top flight and the As were relegated.
You have to go back almost four years to January 2018 for Shrewsbury A’s last over-the-board win over Telepost A in the league – and that 3-2 win ended a run of 10 straight league defeats at the hands of their rivals.
But Shrewsbury have fared better in cup competitions in recent years, picking up occasional victories when the sides have clashed in the Cox Trophy, for instance.
Shrewsbury are this season operating with a reduced pool of players for over-the-board chess due to the ongoing uncertainty over Covid-19, but don’t expect to have any further selection issues ahead of the match.
Shrewsbury are the nominated home team, but the match will be played at Telepost with a 7.30pm start time. Shrewsbury expect to host their first league match at their new Nerdy venue café in January.