Result of U-160 match Gtr Manchester-Leics 23 Jan 2010

Midland
Counties Chess
Union


	U-160 Gtr Manchester - Leicestershire Result of match played 23 January 2010

Result reported by both sides. Match report from Jon Lonsdale.

VENUE: The Bridge Club 6, King St Newcastle under Lyme ST5 1EL

Board	Greater Manchester had white on evens	BCF Code	Grade	Score	Leicestershire had white on odds	BCF Code	Grade	Score
1	Beresford Alan	106649D	159	0	Farrall, David	213110K	159	1
2	Jones Stevan	245951G	143	½	Booley, Graham	106989F	157	½
3	Pardoe Dave	157151F	151	½	Deacon, Paul	109512C	154	½
4	Connor Mick	108722J	147	½	Potter, Karl	265676A	154	½
5	Pollard Matthew	1172605F	150	0	Tate, Michael	120070H	154	1
6	Lonsdale Jon	143105F	157	½	Turvey, Steven S	153473H	150	½
7	King Peter	247173F	146	½	Cowley, Michael	108975E	148	½
8	McNulty Mark	259539E	144	½	Gibson, Paul	256115D	148	½
9	Keerman David	127547B	143	½	Collins, RF (Bob)	108656L	143	½
10	McCarthy Damian	230117K	142	½	Harlow, Phil	112121C	143	½
11	Nicholson Jim	142857D	141	½	Watkinson, Phil	259144D	143	½
12	Connelly David	247722B	141	1	Harrison, Peter	112216C	140	0
13	Sumner Ray T	104765G	140	½	Hayden, Lawrence	112374K	138	½
14	Phytham Graham	155762C	137	0	Hickman, Peter	272936C	137	1
15	Moore Les	241104G	129	½	Farquharson, Ian	190445A	135	½
16	Brooks Harry	107364D	119	0	Reynolds, David	244048K	128	1
				6½				9½

Leicestershire had a very solid line-up so this would be a tough match for Greater Manchester. Leicestershire won the toss. Early in the match the Leicestershire's captain's mobile phone went off (despite the pre-match request) causing a forfeit of the game. A harsh penalty but hopefully a lesson learnt for all. Greater Manchester promoted on-form players Steven Jones and Mick Connor to boards 2 and 4 respectively to face encounters with higher-rated opponents and both finished with creditable draws. Jon Lonsdale had the white side of a QGD with a nice space advantage and black was cramped with a bad Q-side bishop. Eventually Steven turvey equalised and, both players short of time, they agreed a draw. On board 5, Manchester's Matthew Pollard played an exchange-sac in the Sicilian (RxNc3). An intermezzo by Michael Tate (BxNf6) saved white's e-pawn from Nxe4. Black did succeed in damaging white's queenside pawns and secured the two bishops. Ultimately this wasn't enough to compensate and Michael won for Leics. On board 7, Manchester's Peter King had the black side of a Caro Kann against Michael Cowley. Michael over-extended his pawn structure in the opening allowing Peter counterplay from the wings, which led to winning a pawn, but not the game. Eventually Leicestershire's greater team strength showed though.