Shrewsbury’s over-the-board team looks almost certain to finish bottom of Shropshire Chess League division one after a narrow 3-2 defeat at Newport.
The result leaves Shrewsbury two points adrift of Telepost A and Oswestry with a vastly inferior “goal” difference – and they could be mathematically consigned to the wooden spoon before they play their final fixture at home to Newport on May 27.
It comes despite a battling display away at Newport, which included as huge upset win for Peter Kitchen over one of the county’s elite Nick Rutter on top board.The match – which was the first “hybrid” match Shrewsbury have been involved in with one of the boards taking place online – was a tight affair with the first board finishing at 10pm.
Richard Vernon put up a real fight against Thalia Holmes on bottom board. Despite losing a pawn in the opening on the white side of a French Steinitz, he drummed up some chances of his own only to fall foul of a neat trick in the late middlegame that cost him a piece and ultimately the game.
Dan Lockett was unable to travel due to illness, but after Shrewsbury were granted dispensation by league officials he was able to play his game online from home.
It prompted a small reshuffle in the board order, and Lockett found himself on board two with the black pieces against Chris Lewis.
Lewis chose to castle on opposite wings in a Pirc, and Lockett enjoyed the better of the early stages as he made progress with his pawns on the queenside. But an inaccuracy among some exchanges turned the tables, and Lockett was perhaps fortunate to secure a draw with Lewis a solid pawn up but perhaps aware that his teammates were doing well on other boards.
Captain Francis Best moved down to board three, but was unable to break down Stuart Ross on the white side of a Closed Sicilian. He created pressure against Ross’s weak d-pawn, but faced a difficult choice between continuing to target the pawn or start a kingside attack. He chose to keep targeting the pawn, but Ross generated counterplay of his own, and the position was agreed drawn after 32 moves.
The match was then sealed in Newport’s favour by Dan Hilditch Love’s win over Mark Smith on board four. Smith initially looked solid on the black side of a Queen’s Indian Defence, but Hilditch-Love continued to build pressure after an exchange of queens and secured victory close to the 50-move mark.
On top board, Kitchen – outrated by more than 300 points – had initially found himself slightly on the back foot with the white pieces against Rutter’s pet Sicilian Sveshnikov opening, with black’s e4 pawn helping to cramp Kitchen’s position.
But despite being about 20 minutes down on the clock, Kitchen hung in there and repelled the threats. Rutter sacrificed a pawn for activity, but he missed a chance to win a piece and Kitchen was able to wriggle free.
A draw offer from the Shrewsbury man was declined on move 42 – but once Kitchen was able to force the rooks off he found himself in an ending of K, B & 2P vs K, N & 2P, with the bishop far better suited to a position with pawns on the a and h-files.
A moment’s hesitancy from Rutter gave Kitchen his chance, and he was able to queen a pawn and then secure a famous personal triumph after 77 moves – with just 27 seconds left on his clock.
Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):
Newport 3-2 Shrewsbury
1.Nick Rutter 0-1 Peter Kitchen (w)
2.Chris Lewis 0.5-0.5 Dan Lockett (b) (played online)
3.Stuart Ross 0.5-0.5 Francis Best (w)
4.Dan Hilditch-Love 1-0 Mark Smith (b)
5.Thalia Holmes 1-0 Richard Vernon (w)