Friday 11 October 2013

BDCL Div 2 10/10/2013: Wolverhampton battle against South Birmingham B

BDCL Div 2 Wolverhampton vs South Birmingham B

10 October 2013

Mike Townsend (187)   1 – 0      Faraz Malik (152)
Dave Wightman (165)    1 – 0      Ralf Weber (151)
Phil Bull (154)                0 – 1      Sean Ralph (151)
Frank Wood (151)        0.5 – 0.5  Terry Walker (149)
Phil Porter (136)            0.5 – 0.5   Mark Drugan (148)
Gordon Sands (120)      0 – 1       Derek Stockhall (134) 
                                                3 – 3

Wolverhampton’s third match began badly, with Gordon Sands going an early pawn down and losing quite quickly.  The remaining games remained level for much of the evening.  Dave Wightman eventually managed to convert a superior pawn structure into a pawn advantage and was able to close out the win to level the match.  Mike Townsend went a pawn ahead in the run up to the first time control, but this advantage was neutralised soon afterwards.  Phil Porter went a pawn ahead, as did Phil Bull, leading to some optimism of a positive result to the match as the second time control approached.  Mike Townsend finally managed to win on Board 1, in a multiple passed pawn ending.  Frank Wood drew but Phil Porter was unable to queen the last remaining pawn and the game ended in a draw.  So, 3 – 2 ahead and a pawn up in the ending of the last match,  Phil Bull was unlucky to miss a key defensive move which allowed one of the black passed pawns to queen and the game was lost.  A 3 - 3 draw on the night, which was probably a fair result given the similarity in grades between the teams, leaves Wolverhampton comfortably mid table.  Thanks to South Birmingham for some interesting games and good luck for the rest of the season.


By Dave Wightman

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