Keverel Chess

Anyone looking at the team sheets before the match started could be forgiven for thinking that Devon should not have too much difficulty in recoding a win, given that Dorset were outgraded on every board but one. However, a late withdrawal and a default on Bd. 13 probably did much to even things up and once the game results started coming in, Devon spent most of the time on level terms, at best.

Eventually, it came down to 7½-all with one game finishing in a tense knight + rook endgame that was far from clear, as time trouble made finding the right moves difficult. However, after the rooks came off, Mike Litchfield succeeded in getting his knight trapped, and conceded his game, and with it the match.

It was a much tighter match than anticipated, and none the worse for that.

Foreground: Phil Aston vs Trefor Thynne

Foreground: Piet Dobber vs Paul Errington on Bd. 8.

Foreground: Paul Brackner vs Rob Wilby on Bd. 9

A nervous finish with the result in the balance.