Bs looking to build after claiming first league win

Shrewsbury B hope their first league win of the season can be the springboard to being competitive in every Shropshire Chess League division two match for the remainder of the season.

Vice-captain David Edwards said the aim was to be competitive on all boards, and said despite facing higher quality opposition following last season’s promotion from division three, he was hopeful the team could pick up some more wins along the way, writes Peter Kitchen

The Bs ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Newport Junior B 3.5-1.5 last time out – which also ended a rotten recent run of results for the club’s teams at Newport’s Royal British Legion club venue in previous weeks.

Their hopes of building on that triumph have to wait, as their planned home match against Maddocks B this Wednesday (November 26) is being rearranged due to a clash with the club hosting the first round of rapidplay league division one fixtures.

That could leave the Bs kicking their heels until the trip to Telford B on December 17 – but Edwards said claiming that first win was an important step for the team and was one they could build on.

He said: “The target this season is to be competitive on all boards.

“All our fixtures look tricky on paper, but we know that we are more than capable of winning matches.

“So it was good to get the win, but more importantly we are gaining great experience which will improve our games.”

Against Newport Junior B, Bs captain Richard Vernon found himself playing the same opponent he had faced on A team duty a week earlier.

And despite this time having the white pieces, he lost for the second time to Mohanaditya Poluru to give the hosts an early lead.

Despite making a confident start in the opening that gave him a strong position, Vernon turned down a draw by repetition in pursuit of a win. But he blundered a piece on move 18 that turned things around, and there was no way back.

Fred Bennett then put Shrewsbury ahead by defeating Ellick Spiers on board four. Playing the black side of a Budapest Gambit, he won an exchange and had two beautifully active bishops. He took advantage by hemming in his opponent’s king before delivering a rook check that could only be stopped by the queen throwing herself in the way. Resignation followed as mate was imminent.

On bottom board, Ben Howells fought fire with fire by playing a King’s Indian Attack against his opponent’s King’s Indian Defence. Having gone a piece down in the middlegame, he took the fight to his opponent by utilising his pawn superiority on the queenside.

With his opponent’s rook and king rooted to the eighth rank in defence, Ben switched his rook to play an X-ray on the defending rook, taking it to take the advantage. He eventually gave up his rook to queen a pawn, and won the queen versus bishop ending in tidy fashion to ensure the points would be returning back home with Shrewsbury.

Ivor Salter was the last to finish on board one. He played a gambit and got a steady game. Aware that the team had already won the match, he offered a draw while still a pawn down – the offer was declined despite Ivor expressing confidence that he would win the pawn back”

He duly did just that, and offered another draw which was accepted.

Full scores (Shrewsbury colours in brackets):

Newport Junior B 1.5-3.5 Shrewsbury B

1.Joe Greenwood 0.5-0.5 Ivor Salter (w)

2.Colin Parker 0-1 David Edwards (b)

3.Mohanaditya Poluru 1-0 Richard Vernon (w)

4.Ellick Spiers 0-1 Fred Bennett (b)

5.Prasanna Attada 0-1 Dafydd Howells (w)

Average ECF ratings – Newport Junior B: 1470; Shrewsbury B: 1495

*With thanks to David Edwards for the in-depth details on each board