Relegation confirmed by last board of season loss
Shrewsbury A were cruelly condemned to a spot in the Shropshire Chess League division one relegation zone after a defeat sealed by the final board of the season to finish.
The visitors were locked at 2-2 with Newport A in the winner-takes-all relegation clash, only for an unbelievably tense top board clash to go the way of the hosts. Charles Lowick Higgie lost on time to Nick Rutter trying to hold an ending with rook, bishop and two pawns against his opponents two rooks and one pawn.
It meant the two sides both finished on 11 points with an identical points difference with 30.5 game points for and 29.5 against. But according to league rules, Newport stay up owing to a superior head-to-head record, the return fixture having been drawn.
Despite achieving what is believed to be a record points fault for a side finishing in the bottom two, Dan Lockett’s side must now nervously await the outcome of the league AGM to see which division they will be playing in next season.
After a rallying cry from Higgie pre-match, the match started amid a hubbub of enthusiasm from Newport’s thriving junior section, which was drawing to a close for the evening. It was truly wonderful to see so many young players and their parents so engaged with the game.
Shrewsbury made two changes from the side that beat Telford A, with Higgie and Lockett replacing unavailable duo Jamie Hopkins and Olusegun Ilesanmi on boards one and three respectively. The hosts brought in junior Muhammad Qadri on bottom board for a match they had to win to stay up.
It was the youngster who made the first key breakthrough of the night, impressively defeating the in-form Mark Smith with the black pieces to put Newport 1-0 up. Shortly afterwards, Ian Jamieson and Stephen Priestley agreed a draw in move 23 after reaching a sterile-looking queen and rook ending.
The final three games went on deep into the night – only serving to ratchet up the tension further.
A clever tactic by Rutter to net an extra exchange on top board appeared to have swung things decisively Newport’s way, but Higgie continued to fight on.
As the players entered their final five minutes of thinking time, Newport captain Chris Lewis offered Peter Kitchen a draw on board two. At this stage Lockett appeared to have the upper hand against David Lord on board three, but Higgie still looked in trouble, meaning Shrewsbury needed more. Kitchen played on.
However, by move 33 Kitchen realised he could make no further progress and his draw offer was accepted. Just minutes later, Lockett crowned a terrific return to the team by queening a pawn and prompting Lord’s resignation.
On the final board, Higgie reached a position that computer engines claimed was drawn. But playing it out with seconds remaining on the clock was an altogether different challenge, and after more than 50 moves Higgie made one move just too slowly and his flag fell.
A heartbreaking end to what was so nearly the greatest of escapes from the drop. But a night where both sides gave it everything and could hold their heads high.
Final scores:
Newport A 3-2 Shrewsbury A (Shrewsbury colours in brackets)
1. Nick Rutter 1-0 Charles Lowick Higgie (w)
2. Chris Lewis 0.5-0.5 Peter Kitchen (b)
3. David Lord 0-1 Dan Lockett (w)
4. Ian Jamieson 0.5-0.5 Stephen Priestley (b)
5. Muhammad Qadri 1-0 Mark Smith (w)