Essex

Surrey

1

Paul Williamson

 0.5 0.5

Julien M. Shepley

2

Roy Heppinstall

 1 0

Justin C. Marley

3

Trevor D. Coote

 0 1

Philip M. Stimpson

4

Larry E. Marden

 0 1

David Spearman

5

David J. Millward

 1 0

Chris Briscoe

6

Sid Kalinsky

 1 0

Paul D. Dupre

7

Neville H. Twitchell

 0.5 0.5

D. Tuddenham

8

Ian D. Hunnable

 1 0

R. John Wilcox

9

Les J. Crane

 0 1

C.R. Clegg

10

Andy King

 1 0

Paul R. Archer

11

Ken Clow

 0.5 0.5

Stuart R. Jones

12

Andrew D. Hartland

 1 0

Andrew M. Smith

13

Ray Purse

 0 1

S.T. Kevin Wilkinson

14

Richard Weeber

 0.5 0.5

Colin P.L. Parker

15

Mark Weighell

 0 1

Dr. K.N. Mehendale

16

Roberto E. Waldteufel

 1 0

default

Total

 9 7
The Essex Team duly won the Southern Counties' Regional Competition at under-175 level, having completed a "double" over wooden spoonists Surrey in the final match, played earlier this month. Surrey arrived one player short of a full team, and the Essex lead was quickly doubled when Ian Hunnable played a well-rehearsed line against the Pirc, forcing a promotion on move 12 and resignation on move 18. Ian has now scored 3/3 for the team.

Surrey displayed stern resistance and took the lead after inflicting defeats on the previously unbeaten Les Crane, Ray Purse and Mark Weighell. Other games appeared to be going in Essex's favour, and after a little more than three hours' play, a string of results turned the match decisively in favour of the home side. David Millward was faced with a King's Gambit, but he had the queens off as early as move 7. Keeping control of the game throughout, an ending was reached in which the win of a pawn was increased to a piece, and David finally administered checkmate with his opponent's passed pawn poised to promote. Andy King had won two bishops for a rook, and the minor piece pair proved decisive in the end-game. Roy Heppinstall, making only his second appearance of the season, won comfortably in only 28 moves. Andy Hartland offered a bishop sacrifice which his opponent dared not accept, thereby creating weaknesses in his opponent's king position and at the same time taking a material advantage. Paul Williamson, whose games on board 1 this season were all with the black pieces because of his captain's inability to call correctly when the coin was in the air, succeeded in drawing from a difficult position to complete a 190 grading performance for the season.

The 8 - 5 lead meant that Essex needed only half a point from the remaining three games. Trevor Coote just failed to reach the time control, Larry Marden's opponent created a passed pawn which proved to be a winner but Sid Kalinsky succeeded in forcing the Essex victory, refuting his opponent's unsound sacrifice for a deserved win.

Essex will now have a home draw against the West of England Chess Union representatives in the National Quarter-finals, which take place on 17th May.

Southern Counties' U175 Table

P

W

D

L

Points

Game Points

Essex

 6 5 0 1 5 54

Sussex

 5 2 1 2 2½ 38½

Kent

 4 1 1 2 1½ 34

Surrey

 5 1 0 4 1 33½

Acknowledgments: John Philpott

Hunnable, Ian D. - Wilcox, R.J.

Essex v Surrey, Southern Counties' Championship 1997

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.e4 Bg7 5.Bg5 0-0 6.Bc4 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5 8.cxd6 Nxe4 9.dxe7 Bxc3+ [9...Re8 10.Qd8] 10.bxc3 Qxc3+ 11.Bd2 Qxc4 12.exf8Q+ Kxf8 13.Bh6+ Ke7 14.Qd3 Qb4+ 15.c3 Nxc3 16.0-0 Bf5 17.Rfe1+ Kf6 18.Qd8+ 1-0