3rd Fletcher-Morrow Shield Match
Geelong vs Ballarat
10th August, 2013
Match Report
On a Sunny but cold Saturday Afternoon in August, the Ballarat Chess Club arrived at the Geelong Chess Club rooms for the 2013 Fletcher-Morrow Shield Match.
Having been defeated in 2012, Geelong had high hopes of settling the score.
Playing time was set at 90 minutes plus 30 seconds per move, with play starting at 1:30pm.
Board by Board
Board 1 saw an early draw, after Patrick Cook successfully neutralised Michael Sugrue’s rather passive rendition of the English Opening.
Patrick Cook (left) secures an early draw against Michael Sugrue
Board 2 was more dramatic, a Gruenfeld Defense with Bas Van Riel pressuring Geoffrey Gill’s King after the latter had secured two minor pieces for a rook. After some tense manoeuvres Geoffrey found sufficient counterplay to hold the draw.
Bas Van Riel (left) concentrates against Geoffrey Gill (right)
Board 3 saw Andrew Wemyss break through for Geelong with a slashing finish against Kevin Perrin’s Dragon Sicilian (see below):
36 g4! fxg4 37 Rxh5+! gxh5 38 Qxh5+ and Black Resigned.
Andrew Wemyss (right) prepares his onslaught against Kevin Perrin (left)
Board 4 saw Rob Loveband strike back for Ballarat, with a Python-like grip against Reza Daneshvar, finally breaking through on the Queen Side.
Michael Severin ground out a tough win for Geelong on Board 5 against J. Brotheridge, who fought hard despite being a pawn down in a passive position.
Board 7 saw Mio Ristic gain an early advantage in space against V. Rani, who struck back and gained a win for Ballarat.
V. Rani (left) counterattacks Mio Ristic (right).
Joe Bakhmoutski, a new talent for Geelong, likewise struck early on Board 8, winning a pawn against T. Oppenheim, before Oppenheim crashed through with another win for Ballarat.
Kelvin Lui impressed on Board 9, as the only junior pitted against a senior player. Kelvin showed maturity beyond his years in patiently winning first a pawn, then the exchange, then a piece to win for Geelong.
Likewise Oliver Soo showed patience and determination to grind out a win for Geelong on Board 10, after S. Jacobs, his Ballarat opponent, overlooked a discovered attack.
The last game to finish was on board 6, which was a see-sawing struggle between Bill Stokie and Rodney Jacobs. By this time, Geelong was leading Ballarat, 5 to 4.
Having come back from a pawn down, Bill now had Rodney’s rook pinned to his king, and looked set to take the match. But Rodney showed great resilience in pursuing Bill’s king across the board, and forcing an ending where his superior pawn structure ensured the victory.
Final Score – a Tie, with Geelong and Ballarat both scoring 4 wins and two draws.
|
Board |
Geelong
|
Ballarat |
Gee |
Ball |
||
|
1 |
M. Sugrue | W | P. Cook |
B |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
2 |
G. Gill | B | B. Van Riel |
W |
0.5 |
0.5 |
|
3 |
A. Wemyss | W | K. Perrin |
B |
1 |
0 |
|
4 |
R. Daneshvar | B | R. Loveband |
W |
0 |
1 |
|
5 |
M. Severin | W | J. Brotheridge |
B |
1 |
0 |
|
6 |
B. Stokie | B | R. Jacobs |
W |
0 |
1 |
|
7 |
M. Ristic | W | V. Rani |
B |
0 |
1 |
|
8 |
J. Bakhmoutski | B | T. Oppenheim |
W |
0 |
1 |
|
9 |
K. Lui | W | B. Lategan |
B |
1 |
0 |
|
10 |
O. Soo | B | S. Jacobs |
W |
1 |
0 |
Final Scores
| Geelong |
5 |
| Ballarat |
5 |
Captains Patrick Cook (left) and Ben Kersten agree to a draw.
The Old Geelong Courthouse made a bright and cheerful venue for the match.
Geelong Chess Club 