Grantham Players in Yorkshire League

Some of Grantham players take part not only in the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire leagues but also in several different competitions in Yorkshire.
Former Grantham Kings' graduate, William "Grumbo" Grummitt, had yesterday his début in Sheffield League playing for Worksop C team. 
Playing with White pieces and being an underdog outgraded some 36 points ECF, not familiar with the speed of play, he prepared some difficult moments to his stronger opponent (Chris Kirkland [143]). Finally, under time pressure, he agreed a draw but he was fully aware, that he was very close to win.
Here is the game for your assessment.

Sheffield League - Division 4
27/09/12
			University A		4½	1½	Worksop C
1	2735	150 :15	Andrew Cowan	W	½	½	Ivan David	177 :12	3709	S
2	3108	133 :07	Quinton Lip	B	½	½	Phill J Beckett	146 :26	1109	S
3	3626	132 :09	Seabelo Manenye	W	1	0	A David Fidler	137 :27	4066	S
4	3491	131 :07	Chris Kirkland	B	½	½	William Grummitt	131 :01	3782	S
5	3311	097 :09	Emil Tihov	W	1	0	Alan Story	103 :13	2438	S
6	3780	099 :01	Wasubera Madiake	B	1	0	Steve J Turner	099 :09	4273	S

Adopted from Chessnuts.

Grantham Chess Club: U140 County Chess

Grantham Chess Club: U140 County Chess: As we play in both the Notts and Lincs leagues, club players are eligible to play for both County sides as we belong to both associations. N...

Mansfield-1 vs Grantham-1 2:3. Good Kick Off For Reigning Champion.

The Nottinghamshire League has started last night and reigning champion, Grantham-1, went to Mansfield for it's first league match in the Division 1.

Mansfield-1		2:3	Grantham-1
Tait JA	204	1:0	Cumbers P	196
Burnett J	200	0:1	Mangione C	193
Morrisons K	175	½:½	Birtwistle N	178
Cantrill C	165	0:1	David I	167
Wagenbach J	135	½:½	McCarthy K	167

Match started by quick draw which was agreed on the board 3 between Nigel Birtwistle and Ken Morrison.
Then, on the board 4, I took the liberty to score my first full league point in this season against Chris Cantrill. A Classical Line of Fianchetto variation of King's Indian Defence was played and after some manoeuvring and "watch and wait approach" White decided to roll the "Phalanx" of central pawns upon the black's position. The safety of his King was compromised a bit and in this situation Chris made rather casual move which turned to be a losing mistake. All of sudden, "out of blue sky", Black hit tactically and gained a decisive advantage.




Another King's Indian Defence, another Fianchetto Variation (Panno Variation) was played on the board 2, where Claudio Mangione (193), reigning Lincolnshire Chess Champion, faced to higher rated Jim Burnett (200). Funnily enough, both players just copied the line which they had already played during their previous match in last season. Claudio was better prepared theoretically this time and played in great style. He scored second full point for Grantham-1.




Kevin McCarthy (167) played solidly and he finally agreed a draw in much better position. Some of us believed that he could have played even for a win. However, Kevin made a very pragmatic decision knowing well that the draw would decide the match.




An interesting game was played on the top board. 
Paul Cumbers (196) achieved a promising position with very good prospect, alas, he dropped into severe time trouble and eventually lost on time. However, this result could not have any impact on the final Grantham's victory.




Grantham team won after very good team performance and interestingly enough both full points were won by Black pieces!

Lincolnshire Chess League U155 Starts. Grantham Beat Louth Convincingly

Another season of club chess has started and new year of Lincolnshire League U155 has begun. Grantham team won last night when in home match overplayed the team of Louth 3:1.
A convincing victory is a good start into new season.

Grantham		3:1	Louth
Mason B	145	1:0	Ayton C	125
Wollerton G	136	1:0	Bierbeck F	110
Grummitt W	107	0:1	Grasham J	106
Claxton T	-	1:0	Wardlaw A	-

Ben Mason on the top board won after very solid performance in rather complicated game in the Scotch Game which by move transposition ended up in Giuoco Piano. In a complex middlegame position his opponent, Charles Ayton, decided to sacrifice a piece which seemed to be rather unsound. Eventually, the game was transposed into the ending where Black had two passed pawns on the kingside, however, White has got more than dangerous-looking passed pawn on the e-file and in the end of the day it was this pawn which decided the game.




The "Old-hand", Grenville Wollerton playing with black pieces, opted for Sicilian Defence and he surprised his opponent by rather unusual continuation leading to the sharp play. Knocked off balance, Francis Bierbeck made several mistakes and he threw in the towel in 14 moves.




Will Grummitt had good looking position in the Giuoco Piano, however, he made a mistake, lost a piece and then he tried to do wonders in the rook and pawn ending when his opponent was piece up. John Grasham is a player experienced enough not to let him get off the hook.



Solidly playing Tom Claxton expertly simplified position, all of sudden he won a rook and then he did not give a chance to his opponent. Very good performance even if we have to confess that his opponent, Adam Wardlow, helped him  a bit as you can see below.