Match reports

Combined Burton and Lichfield ‘A’ side defeat Breadsall

Richard Anderson

— 1 min read

Derby League Division 1

The combined Burton and Lichfield ‘A’ team defeated a strong Breadsall side 3-1 to lift them further up the Derby League Division 1 table.

Derby League secretary John Hoddy found himself playing the league’s chairman Andy Toothill on Board 4. John’s recent run of fine form continued as he won a pawn with White, transitioning into a likely won position. There was a dramatic finish as Andy failed to press his clock correctly when in severe time pressure, and lost on time.

On Board 2, Ben Nevett-Farman had a better position from early in the game, with more space and central control against his opponent’s English Rat Defence (1 d4 d6 2 Nf3 Nd7 3 c4 e5), but let an early advantage slip slightly as pieces were exchanged. His opponent, however, suddenly blundered, moving his Queen to a square where its only defender could be taken with check. Ben seized on the opportunity, and his opponent resigned immediately. The result lifted Ben back over the 2000 ECF threshold in the live ratings.

Mircea Mesesan has had a great habit of drawing with significantly higher rated players this season. Playing Black on Board 1, he did the same again against his 2080-rated opponent. Mircea gave up a pawn to force an exchange of Queens, later developing a passed pawn on the ‘a’ file as the game transitioned into a complex knight and pawn ending. Both players missed possible opportunities to push for a win, and a draw was agreed.

With the match now secured for Burton and Lichfield, the final game to finish was Vinod Fernando’s Board 3 contest. Vinod fought back from the loss of a Rook for Knight exchange to develop counterplay, winning the exchange back. The game eventually developed into a N vs. B endgame with both players low on time. A draw was agreed with the last pawns about to vanish from the board.

This 3-1 match victory against one of the strongest Derby League sides lifts Burton and Lichfield up to third in the league table with a record of played 8, won 4, lost 4. (Match played: 12th January).