CHESS RESULT (7): Tiverton 4.5 Teignmouth 3.5 (Peter Rooke Cup)

In an eight board match at Blundell's School on Saturday 19 December, Tiverton just managed to beat Teignmouth in the Peter Rooke Cup by 4.5 points to 3.5

The teams were evenly matched with Tiverton's aggregate grade being 1081 against Teignmouth's 1119.

First blood went to Tiverton when Keith Atkins (Black) on board 5 defeated Wally Sapiecha in 27 moves.  Wally played rather passively against Keith's Dutch Leningrad, almost inviting the Bxh3 sacrifice that occurred on move 22.  The complete game is given below.

1 d4 f5 2 e3 Nf6 3 Nf3 d6 4 h3 g6 5 Bd3 Bg7 6 Nbd2 Nc6 7 a3

O-O 8 O-O Qe8 9 Re1 Kh8 10 c3 e5 11 dxe5 dxe5 12 e4 f4 13 Nc4 b5 14 Ncd2 a6 15

Nf1 Be6 16 Qc2 h6 17 Bd2 g5 18 c4 Qh5 19 cxb5 Nd4 20 Nxd4 exd4 21 Nh2 f3 22

Nxf3 Bxh3 23 Nxd4 Bxg2 24 Kxg2 Ng4 25 Nxf3 Rxf3 26 Kxf3 Rf8+ 27 Ke2 Nh2+ 0-1

( In order to view it, all you need to do is to copy and paste it into the text area at http://chessflash.com/chessflash.html   Scroll down the page, press preview, put your cursor onto the score and the pieces will move as you press your left and right arrow keys.)  The photograph shows the position, with Keith on the left, shortly after the bishop sac.

Next to finish was board 3 where John Morrison (Black) defended against a Grand Prix Attack launched by Peter Halmkin.  The game looked level but Peter managed to destroy the Black King's pawn cover.  John was forced to concede material and the end was not long in coming.  1-1

Things began to look a little difficult for Tiverton when Alan Brinkley (Black) on board 7 lost against against Graham Bramley.  A level game emerged from a Queen's pawn opening but Graham found the killer punch in the ending. 1-2

Meanwhile Tiverton's Brian Aldwin (White) on board 8 against Macey Ricard also played a queen's pawn opening.  The game developed into a level material ending with Brian having the pressure.  He then managed to win a double exchange and the end then came quickly.

2-2.

Jon Duckham (White) on board 4 opened with 1 Nc3 - Queen's Knight Attack says my book!  His opponent, Rev Doidge, failed to find an accurate reply and Jon was soon in an excellent position.  He sacrificed a pawn for pressure against Black's uncastled king and eventually won significant material and the game. 3-2

From a c3 Sicilian, Ivor Annetts (White) on board 2 obtained an excellent position against John Gorodi.   He won a pawn, but with both players in time trouble John fought back.  Ivor failed to find the correct response and John won the exchange.  Fortunately for Tiverton, the Teignmouth player ran out of time before he had made his 39th move. 4-2.

Tiverton now just needed a single draw from the two remaining games in order to secure the match.  John Knowles (White) on board 6, up against Kevin Hindom, played his favourite English opening and an even game ensued until John's queen and rook were forked by his opponent's knight.  John fought on but in an ending the black rook was just too strong for the white knight.

For a Tiverton victory a draw was essential on board 1, for were Teignmouth to win that game, they would win the drawn match on board count.  Tiverton's Simon Bartlett was Black against Alan Brusey in another c3 Sicilian.  The game was level throughout and the endgame comprised Simon's knight and 5 pawns against Alan's bishop and 5.  It was clear that failing a gross error from either side a draw would ensue but Alan, aware of the match position insisted on playing on.  Eventually Simon was able to sacrifice his knight for Alan's two remaining pawns leaving one black pawn against a white bishop.  The draw was achieved.  The second photograph shows Simon talking about his game during the post mortem.

In the final of the Peter Rooke Cup, Tiverton will play the victors in the match between Newton Abbot and Exeter, scheduled for 10 January.