Time trouble in ending makes the difference

Wolverhampton & District Division 2

Lichfield's Wolverhampton Division 2 side began their season with a disappointing 2.5 - 1.5 defeat to Stafford at The Guildhall.

Playing on Board 1 as Black, Maurice Staples played out a solid draw where neither he nor his opponent missed significant chances to push for more. On Board 2, Tony Green then won his second league game in three days with a dominant win with the White pieces.

Lichfield were ahead in the match, but the positions on both of the bottom two boards looked precarious. Yuriy Slobodyuk, playing Black on Board 3, lost a pawn, and found himself under attack down the open 'g' file. When all of the pieces were exchanged, the King and Pawn ending was lost.

The match result therefore hinged on Phil Sykes' game on Board 4. The game entered a Knight and Pawn ending in which Phil was frequently playing on the 10-second time increment. His opponent had more time on the clock, and that proved to be the difference, as he correctly calculated a line that guaranteed that his pawn promoted first, consigning the Lichfield side to defeat. (Match played: 10 September 2026)