Church Stretton A met Oswestry B in the final of the Minor KO Trophy at the Unison Club.
These two teams finished 1 st and 2 nd respectively in Division 2. Church Stretton A won the toss and took White on the odd boards.
First game to finish was board 4. Oswestry’s Gary Slegg essayed a Vienna Game/King’s Gambit hybrid. Jamie Lear responded with a speculative early piece sacrifice which, although the computer was sceptical about, was pretty terrifying over the board. The Black pieces swarmed all over the White King and Black forced a win in 13 moves. 1-0 to Church Stretton A.
On board 2, Steve Rooney’s Catalan opening was met very soundly by Sam Fowkes. The Queens came off early, mass exchanges followed and an opposite bishop ending with no real winning chances for either side appeared on the board. 1½ – ½ to Church Stretton A.
On board 1, Peter Fisher overcame a 481(!) point rating deficit to draw against Ray Sayers. In a very blocked English Opening, Ray not only threw the kitchen sink at Peter; he went upstairs and got the bathroom too, but Peter defended resolutely, mostly playing 1 st and 2 nd choice engine moves. Computer analysis at the end rated both players’ play as ‘very precise’. 2-1 to Church Stretton A.
This left board 2; because of the tie break system, if Paul Sadler could beat Chris Lear, the match would be tied 2-2. The bottom board result would be removed and Oswestry B would win the match. However, in a Scotch Opening, Chris had won a piece for 2 Pawns early in the middlegame and after the Queens were exchanged, just had to play carefully to bring home the win. At the end, White left a Rook en prise and the game was over. Final score: Church Stretton A 3-1 Oswestry B.
Well done to Oswestry B for making the match much tighter than the scoreline suggests. And many thanks to Darwinian Knights for providing the neutral venue – it is much appreciated.