TAFCA WINTER LEAGUE ONLINE 2020-21 Report – PA v CB
TAFCA WINTER LEAGUE ONLINE 2020-21
Monday 15th March 21; Division One – Result
Perth A 1½, Castlehill B 2½
Boy what a match by both teams! Credit to Perth A, who came out fighting despite being out graded on all boards! In the end Perth A were unlucky not to have drawn the match, but credit to Castlehill B for fighting tooth and nail for the win under extreme pressure!
Board Two: John Williamson (1412) PA 0 – 1 Ben Volland J17 (1829) CB
Both players seemed to have faired okay after the opening exchanges and it was looking like a tough battle for Ben! But a chink of light came when John played 12.h3 (a4=!) and this allowed Ben the chance to play 12….b5! This started the battle over the d5 square and the pawn on it! Ben eventually won that battle and the pawn on move 21! All this pressure finally resulted in a blunder by John and that was that! Well played Ben and first blood to Castlehill B! John you played very well indeed!
Lichess Game “Link”: TAFCA Database No “266”
Perth A 0, Castlehill B 1
Board 4: Tom Wardlaw (1236) PA 0 – 1 Pawel Kosior (1681) CB
Tom has always been a tricky opponent, but just lately his play has gone up a notch or two! Pawel found he was in a little bit of trouble with his King position far to open, two pieces undeveloped and white’s pieces all active! By move 16 Tom had a big, big advantage and only needed to find the right combination of moves to finish Pawel off! On move 19 Tom was in such a strong position that he decided to sack his Bishop (Bxg6) to open Pawel`s King to a mating net.
But it was still complicated and on move 23.Nd5?? (Qg6 was the right move but I will leave you to work it out!).
At last Pawel had time to get his other rook into the game and grab victory from the jaws of defeat! Once all the exchanges took place, Pawel came out two pieces up and that was that. Well played Pawel to keep fighting on waiting for that mistake which did come in the end! Tom had the game, but could not see the winning line. Very well played Tom, just unlucky at the end! The draw has been secured at least for Castlehill B, but that is not what they needed here!
Lichess Game “Link”: TAFCA Database No “267”
Perth A 0, Castlehill B 2
The draw at least achived!
Board 3: Dariusz Kosznik (1755) CB 0 – 1 Aaron Gourlay J20 (1295) PA
Aaron Gourlay is a fine young man and a better player than his current grade! But he was up against one of Castlehill`s most consistent players in Dariusz! For the spectator this was some match to watch! Both players seemed to have something attacking wise, but Dariusz had the first move advantage it seemed? Its amazing how one move can chance things.
Aaron on move 21.Bd6 Rd8?, but Re8 is fine! Now Dariusz only needed to find/play the right killer move to take a winning advantage! Luckily for Aaron Dariusz did not play it! Instead he played a 22.c4 (?) and Aaron was now the player with the big advantage!
What was the correct move? 22.Nxf7!
Dariusz tried everything from sacking the exchange to finally playing the move he missed (too late now!), but Aaron was not for buckling and took the point! Well played Aaron and unlucky Dariusz. Just one move really does make all the difference! Perth A are now right back into the game and it all rested on the board one match!
Lichess Game “Link”: TAFCA Database No “268”
Perth A 1, Castlehill B 2
The fight back is on!
Board 1: Sam Gregory (1837) CB ½ – ½ Andrew Sutherland (1664) PA
This was the last match to finish and everything hung on it! We all know Sam Gregory, but I also know Andrew Sutherland and if OTB chess was still on his grade would still be on the up! He showed in this game he knew what he was doing. Both players were giving nothing away, then on move 16, Andrew gave up the exchange with RxN (f3) to open up whites King position.
[fenr1b2r1k/ppq3p1/2nbp1Bp/3p3n/3P3B/5N2/PPQ1NPPP/R4RK1 b – – 3 16[/fen]
For the exchange Andrew also got two pawns, but Sam also got competition for those two pawns in the two rooks! Neither player could make any head way against each other, so a draw was agreed! This was enough to give Castlehill B the win, but only just! Well played both players, but especially Andrew!
Lichess Game “Link”: TAFCA Database No “269”
Perth A 1½, Castlehill B 2½
Great win in the end but it was close baby, close! Perth A might think themselves a bit unlucky in the end and maybe on that play deserved something out of the game! Congratulations to Castlehill B who cement thair place in the top half of the division in third place on ten points, just behind Castlehill C on board points!
| # | Team | Pld | Won | Drn | Lost | Points | B-Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | DUNDEE A | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 22 |
| 2 | CASTLEHILL C | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 18.5 |
| 3 | CASTLEHILL B | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 | 17 |
| 4 | NEWPORT A | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 15.5 |
| 5 | CASTLEHILL A | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 15 |
| 6 | ST.ANDREWS A | 6 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 11.5 |
| 7 | DUNDEE B | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 12.5 |
| 8 | CASTLEHILL D | 7 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 9 | PERTH A | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 8 |
| 10 | KIRKCALDY A | 7 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 6 |
For all the TAFCA news including the “J.R.Chalmers Grand Prix Memorial” trophy standings so far, please visit their website (link below).