Belper too strong for valiant Burton and Lichfield 'B'

Derbyshire Chess Association League Division 2

Burton and Lichfield 'B' knew that they faced an incredibly tough battle to get anything out of their match against league champions Belper 'A' at The Burton Bridge. With Belper outgrading B&L 'B' by an average of 250 ECF per board, the match, predictably, went as ratings would predict, Belper winning convincingly by 3.5 - 0.5.

Vinod Fernando, playing Black on Board 1 against 2200-rated John Potter, was holding his own 20 moves into the game, but then played a counterattacking pawn push that lost a pawn two moves later. The weakened position of the Black King proved to be fatal about 10 moves later.

John Hoddy faced the solid, strategic, and formidable Jamie Tilston on Board 2. Playing with White, John was placed under pressure in the centre, and his position had already begun to deteriorate when a mistake lost him the exchange. Defeat inevitably followed.

David Pickering, also playing White on Board 4 against Luke Alldread, found that his passed pawn on the 'a' file was as much a weakness as a strength. Luke pushed forward, and attacked the pawn with multiple major pieces, and when David missed the best defence, the pawn fell, a further two pawns were also captured quickly, and David was left in a lost position.

Burton & Lichfield's star performer of the night was undoubtedly Anushka Ramawickrama. Playing Black on Board 3, and outgraded by 260 points by his experienced opponent Simon Gilmore, he secured a highly creditable draw.

It was a difficult night for Burton & Lichfield 'B', but they fight on; matches in which they can be more competitive still lie ahead. (Match played: 5th October)