21/07/26 - WARNDON GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE IN STOURBRIDGE TEST
2 min read
Warndon Chess Club's pre-season campaign continued with a difficult away trip to Stourbridge, where a competitive contest ultimately ended in a 3.5-1.5 defeat. there were several encouraging performances against strong opposition, with Phil Austin continuing his excellent form on top board and Alex Nicholls securing another solid draw. Elsewhere, valuable experience continued to be gained by several of the club's newer players.
Board One - Warndon with White
Philip N Austin 1758 K v John Foxall 1755 K
Phil Austin maintained his unbeaten start to life as a Warndon player with another impressive victory on Board One. Phil produced a composed and controlled display, gradually taking command of the position before converting his advantage with trademark accuracy.
Board Two - Warndon with Black
Alex P Nicholls 1723 A v Julie Wilson 1737 K
A Budapest Gambit that remained deep inside established theory, with both players following known lines through move twelve, meaning a remarkable twenty-three book moves appeared on the board during the opening. The position gradually simplified into an ending featuring queens, two rooks each and opposite-coloured bishops. With neither side able to generate meaningful winning chances, White offered a draw, bringing a theoretical battle to an equitable conclusion.
Board Three - Warndon with White
Ceylan Ozvatan 1486 P v Daniel L Jones 1661 K
Ceylan Ozvatan produced one of the most resilient performances of the evening against the underrated Daniel Jones, who held a rating advantage of almost 200 points. Despite falling behind in material, Ceylan continually posed practical problems for her opponent, forcing Black to think. Such was the resistance she offered that her opponent even considered offering a draw at one stage before eventually finding a way to convert the extra material. Although the result went against her, it was another encouraging display that highlighted Ceylan's growing confidence and fighting spirit.
Board Four - Warndon with Black
Don James 1453 P v Daniel Billingham 1429 K
Playing in only his second ever competitive match, Don James continued to gain valuable over-the-board experience. Still becoming accustomed to match conditions and recording moves, Don competed well for much of the game before one unfortunate queen blunder. While disappointed with the result, every competitive game adds to his experience, and there were still positives to take from another valuable outing.
Board Five - Warndon with White
Henry Allen 1149 P v Ben Doran 1339 A
Junior player Henry Allen faced the highly experienced club player Ben Doran. Despite facing a seasoned opponent rated almost 200 points higher, Henry battled well throughout and eventually reached a double-rook ending where the game remained finely balanced. However, Doran's greater experience in the endgame gradually told as he outmanoeuvred Henry to secure the full point. Although the result was disappointing, taking an experienced player deep into a technical rook ending represented another useful learning experience.
Contact
Alex Nicholls, Club President
Sarah Burgess, Club Secretary
Phone
info@warndonchessclub.co.uk
alex@warndonchessclub.co.uk
sarah@warndonchessclub.co.uk
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