The Chester Chess ChronicleChester are on course for another Wirral League Division one and knock-out double after a narrow victory over Buckley/Mold at Mold last Wednesday.
The competition was handicapped to give lower division teams a chance at winning the competition. Therefore, the home team were awarded a two and half point head start as they were a second division team. Chester captain Steve Lloyd needed a strong team to overcome this deficit and was able to choose seven of the top eight players in the club, with only David Bryan absent.
The game on board one was first to finish with Chris Doran defeating Liam Jefferies, reducing the gap to one and half points. The score was reduced further when Tim Everrett,
Chester took the lead when Paul Watson's two centralised bishops became too much for Quentin Dodd. However the match was soon back in the balance when Frank Salt defeated the out of form Shaun McConochie.
Chester were soon back in front with a victory on board six. Graham Bromley's position became too much for Brian Lowens, especially being a piece down, and resigned.
This left just two games remaining as Chester battled to find the all-important fifth win which would clinch the tie. On board two Gordon Sommerville met Chester's Matthew Demmon, while Chester captain Steve Lloyd took on Bill Davies on board sev-
In the game Lloyd-Davies, Lloyd finally broke out of a "cement" like position, giving up a pawn in order to attack Davies's cramped kingside. Unfortunately an oversight in a winning position allowed Davies to capture another two pawns leaving Lloyd struggling to find even a draw.
Fortunately for Lloyd and for Chester the result of the match did not depend on this game, as board two Demmon defeated Sommerville after the game entered a rook and pawn endgame. This gave Chester the fifth win that was enough to win the match.
Chester will now face Wrexham in the final in May.
Pensby Surprise Leaders
Pensby Chess Club were today revealed as surprise league leaders, half a point clear of defending champions Chester 1.
However the biggest shock was the sight of Wallasey 1, who dominated the league for much of the 90s, struggling at the bottom alongside Wallasey 2. Chester will retain their league title if they win their next two games, against the two Wallasey teams. Anything less and they will have to hope for a positive result from the game Pensby vs Formby.
Elsewhere, Chester 2 find themselves in third place behind Chester 1, in Division Two Chester 3 sit in fourth place with three points, and Chester 4 are currently fifth in Division Three.