Lichfield pegged back for drawn match

Cannock & District Division 4

Lichfield were pegged back from a 2-0 lead by a battling performance from Rushall in Cannock & District Division 4, with the match finishing 2-2.

Elliot Ward, playing Black on Board 1, got Lichfield off to a great start, exploiting his opponent's exposed King on the edge of the board to win.

This was followed by a second win, this time from Stuart Andrews, playing White on Board 4. The game was balanced until the endgame, when Stuart spotted a fork on a rook and bishop, winning material. He closed out the win only a few moves later to give Lichfield a 2-0 lead.

The other two Lichfield players, however, did not fare as well. After an English Opening from his young opponent on Board 3, Maurizio Baravalle's Bishop was trapped shortly after the opening. Maurizio later sacrificed his queen for two rooks and even managed to promote a pawn, but his King position was too compromised, and he was checkmated. Maurizio's reflection on the game: "As soon as I saw my 12 year old opponent, I knew what was going to happen".

Rushall's comeback was completed by the game on Board 2, where Ian Boddington was down a rook with White when he lost on time, with his position already beyond hope. (Match played: 17 September 2026)