Chacko draw not enough to avoid match defeat

Wolverhampton League Division 1

Lichfield suffered a narrow 2.5 – 1.5 defeat to early league leaders Halesowen in a keenly contested encounter.

On Board 4, Albert Chacko was making his Division 1 debut against a player graded 250 points higher. Playing actively in the opening with Black, Albert seemed to hold a small advantage until the position opened up with exchanges, leaving possible weaknesses for his opponent to exploit. Albert neutralised any possible advantage for his opponent, however, and a highly creditable draw was agreed.

On Board 3, Richard Anderson was under pressure in the middle-game against his higher graded opponent, but found a Knight manoeuvre that lead to equality, and with both players heading into time pressure, a draw was also agreed. Ben Nevett-Farman on Board 1 was a pawn down in the middle game, but found counterplay, and his game also ended with a handshake and agreed draw..

Three drawn games left the match result depending on Mircea Mesesan’s game on Board 2. Playing Black, Mircea looked to be in trouble early in the game, with his opponent having better development and more space. Mircea found a way to complicate the game and create possible threats against his opponent’s king, but his opponent found the correct path, and exploited a critical pin on a black rook to win the game. It was Mircea’s first defeat in his last 15 games following an outstanding start to the season. (Match played: 24th November).