A tense night in the July heatwave leaves Burton top of the table

Lichfield & District Summer League

Given the 30℃ temperatures outside, the Guildroom in The Guildhall was not as hot as feared for the third round of matches played in the Lichfield & District Summer League.

Lichfield '2' had won both of their previous two matches. Playing Tamworth, they looked to be on their way to a third victory when Maurizio Baravalle engineered a tactic to quickly win his opponent's queen on Board 4, and Rob Frost, on Board 3, then also defeated his opponent, leaving Lichfield 2 - 0 up. However, Tamworth fought back to win on both of the top two boards, with Francis Fields and Brian Homewood both defeated. The match was drawn 2-2.

The match between Norton Canes and Rugeley was also drawn, with Norton Canes aided by a win from Lichfield's Stephen Smithson as a late stand-in on Board 3.

The only decisive match of the night was the contest between Lichfield '1' and Burton. The Board 1 game between Yuriy Slobodyuk and David Pickering was a tight affair in which David held an early advantage and won a pawn, but Yuriy fought back to seize the initiative. David offered a draw, and was surprised when his offer was accepted.

On Board 2, John Fryer found himself facing Phil Goater, a previously strong player who has recently returned to chess after many years away from the game. Phil showed that chess class is permanent to win the game. On Board 3, Connor Whetnall out-graded his opponent Terry Knight, but was nevertheless defeated with White. Lichfield's only winner was Stuart Andrews on Board 4, with the match finishing Burton 2.5 - Lichfield 1.5.

Burton's victory leaves them top of the table with three wins out of three and 6 points, one point ahead of Lichfield '2'. With two rearranged rounds still to play on the 16th and 22nd July, there is still all to play for in the battle for The Winterton Trophy. (Matches played: Thursday 9th July).

(Teams in the Lichfield & District Summer League are competing for The Winterton Trophy, sponsored by Richard Winterton Auctioneers)