Blackpool and Fylde League Report from 20110501 to 20110531
Division B
10th May Poulton 2 versus Preston 3| Board | Poulton 2 | Preston 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | McCarthy, Damian | Draw | Quinn, Kenny |
| 2 | Lewis, Jordan | 1 - 0 | O'Mara, Paul |
| 3 | Gorman, Ken | 0 - 1 | Hanson, Robert |
| 4 | Hartley, Dave C | 0 - 1 | Ramsey, Dave L |
| 1½ - 2½ |
Division B
12th May Lytham 2 2.5 - 1.5 Bispham 1| Board | Lytham 2 | Bispham 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evans, Paul A | 1 - 0 | McGrady, Blaine |
| 2 | Jaques, Andrew | Draw | Nuttall, Brant R |
| 3 | Raynor, Philip N | 1 - 0 | Wallace, Peter |
| 4 | Garcia Lucas, Diego | 0 - 1 | Wolstencroft, Gary |
| 2½ - 1½ |
Paul Evans managed to get a strong attack going against Blaine McGrady and won first. On Board 4, Diego lost material to Gary Wolstencroft who went on to win. On Board 3 Phil Raynor managed to play the endgame more actively to win against Peter Wallace. Finally, Andy Jaques, making a welcome return to League chess, scored a draw by repetition in a situation where Brant had more material.
Challenge Cup
17th May Poulton versus Preston
| Board | Poulton | Preston | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellames, Roy | 0 - 1 | Lund, D Brett |
| 2 | Cukovs, Oleg | 0 - 1 | Peacock, Malcolm R |
| 3 | Parker, Michael L | 0 - 1 | Jowett, Peter E |
| 4 | Ellison, D George | 0 - 1 | Taylor, Phillip J |
| 5 | McCarthy, Damian | Draw | Rutlidge, Cliff H |
| 6 | Lewis, Jordan | 1 - 0 | Thompson, Peter |
| 7 | Rogers, Simon N | 1 - 0 | Pidcock, Alan |
| 8 | Gorman, Ken | Draw | O'Mara, Paul |
| 3 - 5 |
Rapidplay Cup
26th May Lytham versus Preston| Board | Lytham | Preston | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Evans, Paul A | Draw | Jowett, Peter E |
| 2 | Jaques, Andrew | 0 - 1 | Taylor, Phillip J |
| 3 | Raynor, Philip N | Draw | Thompson, Peter |
| 4 | Davies, Dennis | 1 - 0 | O'Mara, Paul |
| 5 | Evans, Paul A | Draw | Jowett, Peter E |
| 6 | Jaques, Andrew | 1 - 0 | Taylor, Phillip J |
| 7 | Raynor, Philip N | 0 - 1 | Thompson, Peter |
| 8 | Davies, Dennis | 0 - 1 | O'Mara, Paul |
| 3½ - 4½ |
Preston had a grading advantage of 81 so needed to win by 5-3 or better in this Handicap Rapidplay Final match. In the first round Dennis pulled off a surprise win against his much higher-rated and younger opponent Paul O'Mara. Paul Evans won a pawn against Peter Jowett but it wasn't enough to win. Andy,who has just returned to league chess after a long break, was beaten decisively by Phil Taylor. Phil Raynor lost the exchange but held on well, even missing a win near the end. 2-2 at half-time, so Preston needed a 3-1 second half. This time Dennis and Phil Raynor were crushed but Paul Evans again held on well against Peter Jowett after losing exchange for pawn. So all depended on the last game between Andy Jaques and Phil Taylor. Andy sacrificed a piece to open up Phil's king and pressed home his attack in style, securing the victory for Lytham.
Rapidplay Plate
24th May Poulton 1 versus Bispham| Board | Poulton 1 | Bispham | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ellames, Roy | Draw | McGrady, Blaine |
| 2 | Ellames, Roy | 1 - 0 | McGrady, Blaine |
| 3 | Cukovs, Oleg | 1 - 0 | Nuttall, Brant R |
| 4 | Cukovs, Oleg | 0 - 1 | Nuttall, Brant R |
| 5 | Ellison, D George | 0 - 1 | Sosinski, Jakub |
| 6 | Ellison, D George | 1 - 0 | Sosinski, Jakub |
| 7 | Lewis, Jordan | 0 - 1 | Wallace, Peter |
| 8 | Lewis, Jordan | Draw | Wallace, Peter |
| 4 - 4 |
With a grade advantage Poulton needed a result of 6-2 or better to win the match. However after a good first round from Bispham the result of the match had already fallen in Bispham's favour. In the second round Roy Ellames gave a convincing win on the first board, and George Ellison kept his cool under extreme time pressure to take the point.
Fylde Individual Championship
Fourth Round Result
Phil Raynor (1½) 1 Richard Lord (1½) 0
Fifth Round Results
WHITE BLACK
Abigail Pritchard (3½) ½ John Cooper (3½) ½
Oleg Cukovs (2½) 1 Malcolm Peacock (2½) 0
Michael Parker (2½) 1 George Ellison (2) 0
John Regan (2½) 0 Phil Raynor (2½) 1
Richard Lord (1½) 0 Brant Nuttall (1½) 1
Pat Coleman (1½) 0 Dennis Davies (1) 1
Liam Bromley (1) had the bye
Dennis won a piece by means of a pin against Pat and finished strongly in the endgame. Rick won a pawn against Brant but Brant had good compensation and regained the pawn with the initiative into the endgame. Rick resigned prematurely in a position which offered him winning chances.
Phil asserted his superiority over Lytham club mates Rick and John Regan in rounds 4 and 5 and these victories give him a share in third place, an excellent result. Also sharing third place are Oleg, whose pawn advantage in the endgame gave him victory over “top seed” Malcolm, and Michael, who just edged George in 48 moves after a complicated endgame.
In the “decider” for the Fylde Championship I was fortunate to escape with a draw against Abigail who achieved a strong position with White. This left us clear of the field on four points so a play-off was required under the rules.
Playing White in the play-off I had a strong attack and sacrificed a knight for a pawn. Abigail was forced to return the material but found some very resourceful defensive moves which maintained the balance. We reached a level endgame and a draw was agreed. This was a worthy game to decide the Fylde Championship which we have agreed to share and it will be shown on the league website in due course.
FINAL POSITIONS
Joint Champions Abigail Pritchard 4
John Cooper 4
3rd = Oleg Cukovs 3½
Michael Parker 3½
Phil Raynor 3½
6th = Brant Nuttall 2½
Malcolm Peacock 2½
John Regan 2½
9th = Dennis Davies 2
George Ellison 2
Liam Bromley 2
12th = Pat Coleman 1 ½
Richard Lord 1 ½
John Cooper 23rd May 2011