Shrewsbury’s tremendous season on the internet continued as the Bs and Cs both picked up hard-fought 2-1 victories – and both leading the way at the top of Shropshire Online Chess League division two.
The Bs are now three points clear of the chasing pack thanks to Ivor Salter’s victory in the deciding game on board three against Newport Juniors’ Colin Parker.
And the C team achieved a truly historic scalp by defeating county giants Newport A – albeit their opponents were some way below full strength. Recent recruits Rob Nayman and Richard Vernon picked up the all-important victories.
With the A team currently top of online division one, it has so far been a dream season in cyberspace for the club.
The Cs match was also notable for two of the games involving Sokolsky’s Opening – 1.b4 – which was a favourite of former Shrewsbury player Olusegun Ilesanmi (“Dr Ile” to his former teammates).
It is a somewhat offbeat opening, but one Ilesanmi used to great effect as he beat some of the county’s strongest and most seasoned players using the system – most notably Dave Gostelow.
On this occasion, the opening was used with mixed success – Newport’s top board Ian Jamieson swiftly defeated Norman O’Connor with it, but on bottom board Vernon was able to triumph against it with the black pieces against the experienced Malcolm Price.
That left the match level at 1-1, and in a gripping finale in a complex queen and pawn ending Nayman was able to force two connected passed pawns up the board and defeat Dave Lovegrove to seal the match.
It was Nayman’s first online appearance for Shrewsbury – he had previously played twice for Shrewsbury over-the-board team before the season was suspended amid fears over Covid in December. He replaced Tony Purser in the only change to the C team line-up.
The Bs match was a tight and tense affair. Mark Smith drew with the black pieces against Thalia Holmes, and Stephen Priestley agreed an early truce with Daniel Hilditch-Love on board two.
That left Salter needing to win with black to secure the match, and after winning a pawn with a neat tactic in the opening, he finished things off nicely in a same-coloured bishop ending to defeat Parker.
Shrewsbury B now have three wins from four matches, while the Cs lie second, having answered two opening defeats with consecutive victories.
Both teams will next be in action in the week commencing January 31. Shrewsbury B will be “away” to Oswestry C while Shrewsbury C will also be the nominated visitors for their game against Newport Juniors.
Full scores:
Shrewsbury B 2-1 Newport Juniors (Shrewsbury player colours in brackets)
1.Mark Smith (b) 0.5-0.5 Thalia Holmes
2.Stephen Priestley (w) 0.5-0.5 Daniel Hilditch-Love
3.Ivor Salter (b) 1-0 Colin Parker
Shrewsbury C 2-1 Newport A
1.Norman O’Connor (b) 0-1 Ian Jamieson
2.Robin Nayman (w) 1-0 Dave Lovegrove
3.Richard Vernon 1-0 Malcolm Price