Fylde Individual Championship
No surprises in the first round although young Abigail Pritchard almost created a minor sensation in her game against Lytham's Board 2, Doug Williams, graded 60 points higher. She won two pawns with Doug having no real compensation but she blundered while both players were in time trouble.
Malcolm Peacock, the favourite, had a tough outing against Phil Copeland who missed a couple of chances to draw. Lytham's other Phil, Phil Raynor, played well against the higher graded George Ellison but lost the exchange when the game took on a tactical character.
The game of the round was Paul Evans's 17 move brilliancy against team mate Jon Wright (I am assured that I will receive this game for publication on the website - PR). Pat Coleman blundered away a piece to Oleg Cukovs early in the game.
Dennis Davies, the experienced and long-serving Blackpool player, was struggling against Lytham's top board, John Cooper, and sustained a weak, backward pawn which proved fatal.
Michael Parker, a highly graded player, won a central pawn against Les Hughes - eventually Les's king became trapped in the middle of the board.
| Malcolm Peacock (Preston) | 1 | 0 | Phil Copeland (Lytham) |
| Phil Raynor (Lytham) | 0 | 1 | George Ellison (Poulton) |
| Paul Evans (Blackpool) | 1 | 0 | Jon Wright (Blackpool) |
| Abigail Pritchard (Blackpool) | 0 | 1 | Doug Williams (Lytham) |
| Oleg Cukovs (Poulton) | 1 | 0 | Pat Coleman (Lytham) |
| Dennis Davies (Blackpool) | 0 | 1 | John Cooper (Lytham) |
| Michael Parker (Blackpool) | 1 | 0 | Les Hughes (Poulton) |
Division A
Preston 2 v Lytham Ex 1 2½ - 2½
Preston have adopted a new strategy this season: they are playing all their strongest players in the first team instead of balancing their playing strength between two Div A sides. This match gave Lytham a valuable point. The German student, Dmitri Schetcher played well to gain a draw against John Cooper. Preston were missing the experienced Connor Reaney.
The first game to finish was on Board 2 where Doug Williams took a hammering from Preston's Captain, Phil Taylor. Lytham hit back on Board 5 where Phil Raynor defeated Chris Riley. Leo Ainsworth (Lytham) won two pawns and looked all set to win but Eddie Keogh managed to turn the tables. Phil Copeland managed to defeat Leo Ainsworth.
Division B
Poulton 1 v Blackpool 2 2 - 2
Division C
Poulton 2 v Bispham 2 - 2
Lytham Ex 4 v Poulton 3 1 - 3
Lytham Ex 3 v Preston 4 2½ - 1½
Poulton 3 v Lytham Ex 3 1½ - 2½
Bispham v Lytham Ex 4 4 - 0
| Division A | |||
| Preston 2 | Lytham Ex 1 | ||
| D. Schetcher | ½ | ½ | J. Cooper |
| P. J. Taylor | 1 | 0 | D. Williams |
| E. Keogh | 1 | 0 | L. Ainsworth |
| G. Pennington | 0 | 1 | P. Copeland |
| C. Riley | 0 | 1 | P. Raynor |
| 2½ | 2½ | ||
| Division B | |||
| Poulton 1 | Blackpool 2 | ||
| D. G. Ellison | 1 | 0 | J. Wright |
| S. Rogers | 0 | 1 | A. Pritchard |
| K. Gorman | 1 | 0 | P. James |
| C. Duerden | 0 | 1 | P. Raynor |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| Division C | |||
| Poulton 2 | Bispham | ||
| H. Sowerby | 0 | 1 | B. McGrady |
| C. Duerden | 1 | 0 | D. Graham |
| M. Wilkinson | 0 | 1 | R. Broxson |
| L. Hughes | 1 | 0 | A. Screen |
| 2 | 2 | ||
| Lytham Ex 4 | Poulton 3 | ||
| R. Lord | 1 | 0 | T. Leah |
| G. Robinson | 0 | 1 | D. Lewis |
| S. Ray | 0 | 1 | J. Bennett |
| M. Campbell | 0 | 1 | G. Bennett |
| 1 | 3 | ||
| Lytham Ex 3 | Preston 4 | ||
| J. Regan | ½ | ½ | T. Fielding |
| R. Lord | 1 | 0 | C. Fielding |
| P. Coleman | 0 | 1 | D. Warbourne |
| K. Sansom | 1 | 0 | C. Riley |
| 2½ | 1½ | ||
| Poulton 3 | Lytham Ex 3 | ||
| T. Leah | 0 | 1 | J. Regan |
| C. Heelis | 0 | 1 | R. Lord |
| D. Lewis | ½ | ½ | P. Coleman |
| J. Lewis | 1 | 0 | K. Sansom |
| 1½ | 2½ | ||
| Bispham | Lytham Ex 4 | ||
| B. McGrady | 1 | 0 | G. Robinson |
| D. Graham | 1 | 0 | W. Weeks |
| R. Broxson | 1 | 0 | Default |
| G. Wolstencroft | 1 | 0 | P. Connolley |
| 4 | 0 |