Warwickshire Chess

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U180

The U180 Team is where strong county players can consolidate all their experience of playing for the county.

 

County U180 Team

Captain

John Fahy

Contact Details

Why not join the team.  John says he would really like to have more players from across Warwickshire in the team, because currently players tend to be mainly from the Birmingham & District League.  Click here for details of how to get in touch with John.
 

National County Under 180 Chess Championship Final on 10 July 2010

Warwickshire vs Nottinghamshire

Finals Venue: Moat Community College, Leicester, Leicestershire

This was set to be the match of the midlands.  Warwicks had already played Notts in the MCCU stages - and won (see earlier report from the MCCU stage below) and so obviously Notts would be looking for a win this time!  In the semis Notts had won on board count with a draw 8 vs 8 against Essex.  They had fielded a much stronger team compared to the MCCU stage with their lowest grade up from 143 to 157 and the average grade up from 150 to 168.  So for the final it was definitely going to be game on!

And now over to captain John Fahy for his championship winning match report...!!!

What a great day it was for Warks on Saturday with two of our county teams at the national finals.

Warwickshire had beaten opponents Notts in the MCCU U180 final earlier in the year 9.5 vs 6.5 but both counties had strengthened their team lineups since that match.  Warwicks did have to make two forced changes from the Semi-Final team due to unavailability but, due to our strength in depth, we were more than happy with the team line up for the Final.

Notts won the toss and, after choosing to play white on odd boards, Notts struck first with WIlliam Place going a piece up against Amrik Singh on board 13.  Notts were also making good progress with Kevin Harvey on board 8 and the early signs were not looking too bright for Warks......

Then Ed Goodwin on 16 trapped Robert Taylor's Queen and won it for a Rook and Bishop.  While over on top board we were well down on the clock as Martin Smyth struggled to develop his pieces against John Swain.

Although we were starting to look good on 2 and 3 where Alan Lloyd and Dave Ireland had both gained a pawn advantage, Simon Smith on 12 had dropped the Rook exchange for a Knight and Pawn in a pretty explosive game against Steven Burke.  Notts then broke through and won on 8 against Richard Reynolds and 13 Amrik Singh...

...but almost immediately Joey Stewart on 5 reduced the arrears when his opponent Geoff Gibson resigned in sight of losing a piece and faced with an impossible task with his position completely gone.  Over on 12 Simon Smith was now fighting back and after picking up two more pawns he was starting to look good against Steven Burke.

A good draw for Richard Smith on 4 was followed up with a match equalling win for Ed Goodwin on board 16.  Dave Ireland and Mike Doran then agreed draws on 3 and 10 as we were also now well in charge on 2 where Alan Lloyd was two pawns up and controlling his match against David Levens.  Rob Wallman had also won a piece on 7 against Alexander Crombie and was now heading into the endgame.  So the match was looking good for us now with Simon Smith's pawn advantage starting to push home.

Although equal on material, Simon Williams on 11 didn't like his position against Tim Lane (one of Simon's clubmates from South Birmingham but who was playing for Notts) and Simon thought the game was lost halfway through.  However Simon finally thought otherwise and went back into battle to push for a draw.  Martin Smyth on 1 was battling away against John Swain but it was not looking good and we started to think about a board count scenario!?!

Then at last - we were ahead!!  Alan Lloyd had converted his superiority on board 2 to beat David Levens - completing his U180 season with 4 wins out of 4 - well done Alan!!  If only we could have all had a record like this!  A good draw for Gary Hope on 15 against Brian Hayward pushed us closer to the winning line and then with wins for Rob Wallman on 7 and Simon Smith on 12 it was surely assured??  Rob duly won but Martin finally lost out after a hard fought battle on 1.

Tony Green on 14 had fought a tough fight and had gone from a likely winning position to one where now could now lose!?!  A quick check on the board count situation confirmed that we would lose after taking account of the other expected results!!!

Simon Smith finally sealed his win with Queen 'MATE' on the back rank and Rob Hearne on 9 secured a hard fought but exciting finish with a draw.  With three boards remaining the score was now 7.5 vs 5.5.  With the possibilities of wins on 11 and 13 for Notts the match remained very much in the balance as Notts would win on board count if the match ended drawn.

After doubting his position for much of the game and with his opponent about to Queen a Pawn, Simon Williams finally proved it had been right to carry on, and forced a draw against Tim Lane with a potential repetition of Queen checks.  Surely now the match would be ours??  No!!  Amazingly we still need a draw as with two losses on the remaining boards we would lose the match on board count!!  Fortunately Alan Agnew on 6 was in a completely drawn Rook end game.  All that Alan needed to do was to prove it!!  Some slow play by both players increased the tension to an almost unbearable level as the match moved into the latter time control stages.

Finally it was all over as Alan secured the draw.  The match was now ours and to seal it further Tony on 14 bounced back with a draw against Jonathan Day to give Warwickshire a final match score of 9 vs 7 and a comfortable match result.

And so, after a tough battle where it had got incredibly tense towards the end, Warwickshire had come through to win!  It was indeed a tough and very close encounter.  All credit to Notts who gave us an extremely good match - several of the boards could have gone either way at different times and we had to battle hard to finally get the win.

Well done to the whole team who played in this final - but lets remember that 27 players were involved on the road to success and so thanks to each and every one:
Martin Smyth - Alan Lloyd - Dave Ireland - Richard Smith - Joey Stewart - Alan Agnew - Rob Wallman - Richard Reynolds - Rob Hearne - Mike Doran - Simon Williams - Simon Smith - Mik Singh - Tony Green - Gary Hope - Ed Goodwin - Tom Robinson and Mark Cundy (who had both won in the Semis but couldn't make the Final) - Richard Reynolds - John Fahy - Phil Bull - Adam Draper - Nick Roberts - Darren Lee - Alan Burnet - Trevor Holt and Adam Parkinson.

Looking back, the last time Warwickshire won this Championship Title was 10 years ago and we followed that up with another win the following year to successfully defend the title.  And so that's the target for next year!

See further below for the match scorecard.

Before that, here are some photos - with thanks to Joey Stewart!


Above: Early stages - evidently the heat is on!


Above: The battle rages


Above: Martin Smyth and Alan Lloyd


Above: Simon Smith and Mik Singh


Above: Mik Singh, Tony Green and Gary Hope


Above: Gary Hope and Ed Goodwin


Above: Richard Smith, Joey Stewart and Alan Agnew


Above: Joey Stewart just making sure of his winning position


Above: Richard Reynolds and Rob Hearne


Above: Mike Doran and Simon Williams


Above: Ed Goodwin nears victory


Above: Dave Ireland


Above: Bob Wallman wins a piece and heads into the endgame


Above: The match winning draw!


Above: Alan Agnew analyses his (now proven) completely drawn Rook endgame


Above: Tony Green bounces back to get a draw


Above: A tense looking John checks and re-checks the scores.  Doubt he needs that cup of coffee down there!


Above: Team Captain John Fahy receives the Champions Trophy on behalf of his winning team!!


Above: Delighted with their victory, Warwickshire are the 2010 National U180 County Champions!


Above: Once more with feeling!  Delighted with their victory, Warwickshire are definitely the National Champions!!


Above: John celebrates with the team


Above: The Championship Trophy on which Warwickshire's name will be engraved for the third time since 1999


Above: And 'as if by magic' here is an artist's impression of how the trophy will look!

Board Colours: Nottinghamshire played White on Odd board numbers, while Warwickshire had White on Even boards.

Board Warwickshire Grade Score Score Grade Nottinghamshire
1 Martin Smyth 174 0 1 178 John Swain
2 Alan Lloyd 173 1 0 176 David Levens
3 Dave Ireland 178 0.5 0.5 174 Peter Mercs
4 Richard Smith 177 0.5 0.5 174 John Harrison
5 Joey Stewart 168 1 0 173 Geoff Gibson
6 Alan Agnew 170 0.5 0.5 173 Richard Truman
7 Rob Wallman 172 1 0 171 Alexander Combie
8 Richard C Reynolds 171 0 1 170 Kevin Harvey
9 Rob Hearne 173 0.5 0.5 169 Ian Kingston
10 Mike Doran 167 0.5 0.5 164 Brian Thompson
11 Simon Williams 166 0.5 0.5 163 Tim Lane
12 Simon Smith 160 1 0 163 Steven Burke
13 Amrik Singh 159 0 1 161 William Place
14 Anthony Green 160 0.5 0.5 161 Jonathan Day
15 Gary Hope 161 0.5 0.5 160 Brian Hayward
16 Ed Goodwin 156 1 0 157 Robert Taylor
Totals   (Avg. 168) 9 7 (Avg. 168)  


National County Under 180 Chess Championship Semi Final on 19 June 2010

Captain's Report and Match Result - Warwickshire vs Devon

Home Venue: Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucestershire

Warwickshire played at home (neutral venue was agreed) against Devonshire's cream who had beaten Surrey 8 vs 8 on board count in the quarter finals.

Now over to captain John Fahy for his report...

Warks U180s reach the National Final !!!

Warwickshire reach the ECF finals after winning on board count with a tight 8 vs 8 draw against Devon!

At the half-way stage with the results of six boards remaining, Warwickshire were down 3.5 vs 6.5, however we were within sight of victory (as sure as you can be...) as there were good hopes of a further three wins and a chance of another.  Then again, if we lost on Board 5 we would lose on board count!!  To say the least, nerves were jangling...... !?!

Joey Stewart on Board 5 answered the captains request for a draw and, with a further draw agreed by Simon Smith on Board 14, we would 'just' need three more wins plus a draw out of the other four boards to enable a victory on board count!  Tom Robinson duly obliged with a win on Board 11, followed by another win from Alan Lloyd on Board 2.

This left Mark Cundy on Board 10 to get a match equalising win, since at this point Ed Goodwin on Board 16 was at least guaranteed a draw.

Ed's opponent only had a Knight and King on the board vs a Bishop, King and two Pawns and so a draw was agreed.  This secured the match by the tightest of margins against a very sporting Devon side.

Of note earlier on in the match, there had been exceptional wins for Martin Smyth on Board 1 and Mike Doran on Board 12, showing the benefits of great sacrificial play!!

Well done to the whole team and to everyone from earlier rounds who have helped the team reach the finals - click here for more details of the final.

Board Colours: Warwickshire played White on Even board numbers, while Devon had White on Odd boards.

Board Warwickshire Grade Score Score Grade Devon
1 Martin Smyth 174 1 0 178 Stephen J Homer
2 Alan Lloyd 173 1 0 176 Dennis R Cowley
3 Dave Ireland 178 0 1 175 Alan W Brusey
4 Richard Smith 177 0.5 0.5 175 Ian M Jamieson
5 Joey Stewart 168 0.5 0.5 174 Mark V Abbott
6 Rob Hearne 173 0 1 173 Trefor F Thynne
7 Alan Agnew 170 0 1 170 Robert Thompson
8 Rob Wallman 172 0.5 0.5 166 William H Ingham
9 Richard C Reynolds 171 0.5 0.5 e169 Jon Duckham
10 Mark Cundy 169 1 0 162 Paul Brooks
11 Tom Robinson 167 1 0 159 Brian G E Gosling
12 Mike Doran 167 1 0 159 Mike Stinton-Brownbridge
13 Simon Williams 166 0 1 158 Andrew S Kinder
14 Simon Smith 160 0.5 0.5 156 Ivor S Annetts
15 Gary Hope 161 0 1 154 Charlie V Howard
16 Ed Goodwin 156 0.5 0.5 155 John Gorodi
Totals     8 8    


National County Under 180 Chess Championship Quarter Final on 22 May 2010

Captain's Report and Match Result - Warwickshire vs Lancashire

Home Venue: Newcastle Bridge Club

Awaiting a report from the captain.

Board Colours: Warwickshire played White on ?? board numbers, while Lancashire had White on ?? boards.

Board Warwickshire Grade Score Score Grade Lancashire
1 Smyth, Martyn 174 1 0 174 Cooper, John
2 Lloyd, Alan 173 1 0 173 Ellison, George
3 Hearne, Rob 173 0 1 171 Jackson, Paul
4 Wallman, Rob 173 0.5 0.5 168 Lyth, John
5 Agnew, Alan 170 1 0 168 Catz, Armand
6 Reynolds, Richard C 170 0.5 0.5 168 Owen, Dennis
7 Cundy, Mark 169 0.5 0.5 168 Riley, Scott
8 Robinson, Tom 167 0.5 0.5 167 Mulleady, Peter
9 Hope, Gary 161 0.5 0.5 e167 Clarkson, Andrew
10 Williams, Simon 166 1 0 166 Hamer, Martyn
11 Smith, Simon 160 1 0 165 Cukovs, Oleg
12 Doran, Mike 167 1 0 163 O'Rourke, Bill
13 Reynolds, Robert 159 0.5 0.5 161 Collins, Dick
14 Lee, Darren 155 0.5 0.5 160 Taylor, Philip
15 Fahy, John 147 0.5 0.5 160 Dobson, Emlyn
16 Burnet, Alan 140 0 1 157 Toole, David
Totals     10 6    


Inter-County Under 180 Chess Championship Results Table 2009-2010

The U180 team plays against other counties from the Midland Counties Chess Union (MCCU) in the U180 section of this regional championship.

Position (Final) Team P W D L GPD Pts
1st (Champions) Warwickshire 1 1 0 0 +3 2
2nd Nottinghamshire 1 0 0 1 -3 0


Inter-County Under 180 Chess Championship Round 1 on 21 November 2009

Captain's Report and Match Result - Warwickshire vs Nottinghamshire

Home Venue: Midland Red Social Club, Quinton, Birmingham.

With only two teams entering the competition this year, it was a straight Final between Warks and Notts.  The match was played at Warwickshire's usual home venue of Warley Quinborne Chess Club at The Midland Red Social Club, Quinton, Birmingham.

In a delayed start - Notts announced that they were defaulting a board with the player selected to play board 7 not turning up - Warks then found out that our scheduled board 1 was still at home!?!  Fortunately we had a replacement on hand who would be required in name only on board 16 to give us a 1 - 0 lead in the match.

That lead was never overhauled and the match was won by Warks 9 ½ to 6 ½ Notts, to secure the first MCCU title of the year for the County.

Well done to the whole team – it was good to have some players returning to the County scene again – and good to have Tony Green from the Nuneaton area.  We could do with some more players from that area for all the Warwickshire teams!!

Having now won the MCCU title, we have qualified for the ECF National stages – which will take place next year.  We expect the Quarter Finals to be in May, the Semis in June - and don’t book your holidays for early July because the Final is usually held on the first weekend of July in Leicestershire!?!

Board Colours: Warwickshire played White on Even board numbers, while Nottinghamshire had White on Odd boards.

Board Warwickshire Grade Score Score Grade Nottinghamshire
1 Lloyd, Alan D 173 1 0 174 John Harrison
2 Roberts, Nick W 173 1 0 174 Pete Mercs
3 Wallman, Robert J 172 0 1 172 Abel Yap
4 Reynolds, Richard C 171 0 1 170 Kevin Harvey
5 Agnew, Alan 170 1 0 164 Brian Thompson
6 Robinson, Thomas D 168 0.5 0.5 163 Tim Lane
7 Draper, Adam GA 167 1 0 161 William Place
8 Williams, Simon A 166 0.5 0.5 160 Brian Hayward
9 Smith, Simon CA 160 0 1 160 Dave Flynn
10 Holt, Trevor J 161 1 0 156 Stephen Foster
11 Hope, Gary 161 0.5 0.5 153 Graeme Jennings
12 Green, Anthony J 160 1 0 151 Drag Sudar
13 Reynolds, Robert 159 0.5 0.5 150 Steve Hunter
14 Bull, Philip 150 0.5 0.5 145 Mark Radford
15 Fahy, John F 147 0 1 143 Keith Bramfeld
16 Parkinson, Adam J 137 1 0   Default
Totals     9.5 6.5    

        

 

 

 

 

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