Yesterday was an extremely successful day for our County teams. The Open team retained the MCCU Open Championship for the 4th year in succession with a 10 - 6 win against Warwickshire. They now go forward to the Quarter Finals of the National Championship on 18th May. You can click here to view the full match score card.
The U140 team maintained their 100% start to the season with a 7 - 5 win against Warwickshire. Team Captain Denis Nesbitt has submitted the following match report :
'The match was reduced to 12 boards by mutual agreement as both Counties had prior arrangements for U120 matches on the same day elsewhere in the Union. Staffordshire finished the match in style, with no defeats, which is a remarkable achievement given the number of boards played. The win came about via 2 wins and 10 draws. The first win by Peter Broomhall, who is now on 3/3 for Staffordshire, maintaining his 100% record by winning a piece early on in the game and a sacrificial mating attack to close out the game. The second win came from one of Staffordshire Juniors rising stars, Jacob Boswell, making his debut in the U140 team. He won a pawn in the early middle game and nursed it through into a rook endgame, where his tactical awareness allowed his opponent to recapture the pawn and then succumbing to a neat tactic losing his rook - instant resignation ensued. The other games, although draws, certainly had their ups and downs, with an exchange lost here and blundering pieces there - it certainly wasn't easy being a spectator today !!' You can click here to view the full match score card.
The U120 team kept their hopes of qualifying for the National Quarter Final stages alive with a convincing 8 - 4 win against Lincolnshire. The time control in the match was reduced to 36 moves in 90 minutes as 3 of our players were stuck in traffic and arrived late. Unfortunately the car they were travelling in was also bringing 6 of the match clocks !! You can click here to view the full match score card.
