BDCL Division 2 Individual – Round 2 – John Fahy vs Dave Wightman
Dave Wightman gave up home advantage in the second
round of this year’s Birmingham League Division 2 Individual
competition, travelling to Warley Quinborne in order to play John Fahy.
The season has been beset by chronic fixture congestion,
and this was the last available date before the deadline for matches to
be played. White gained the better of the opening, gaining a strong
centre which allowed freer piece development than black. Pressure built
on the cramped black centre until the pivotal
moment when white began to advance the central pawns. As it turned
out, black had a defence which allowed the immediate capture of one of
the central pawns. Post match analysis indicated that neither side had
fully realised the implications of the saving
move at the time, which lead to a pawn capture and then a subsequent
piece. In the ensuing exchanges, the piece was recovered by white to
just a rook for knight advantage for black. However, black was then
able to stabilise the position and force the exchange
of the major pieces, starting with a rook pair and ending with the
queens, which left a sufficient material advantage in the end game to
carry black through. So, Dave Wightman progresses into the semi-finals,
thanks to a large slice of luck. Thanks are due
to John Fahy for an interesting match and for being so accommodating
over the repeated rearrangement of the fixture.
BDCL Division 2 Individual – Semi Final – Arthur Kent vs Dave Wightman 23/01/2014
The semi-final saw a repeat of the pairing from the
2013 Division 3 final. However, this match was entirely different.
Instead of a short but lively game, this was a much more tactical
encounter. White gained a modest space advantage
out of the opening, comprising a strong centre. Black was able to hold
the defence until, as the first time control approached, a series of
exchanges gave black the opportunity to win a pawn as white was forced
to maintain the back rank against a residual
mating threat. With a rook plus a and g pawns against a rook and a
pawn, black inched inexorably forwards until white finally ran out of
space and a second pawn was won. White eventually resigned on move 70
after nearly 30 moves of resolute defensive play.
So, Dave Wightman reaches the final with some relief after a very tough
game. Thanks are due to Arthur Kent for a keenly contested and
interesting game which belied the theoretical grading difference between
the players.
By Dave Wightman
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