Inverclyde Central lifted themselves off the bottom of the
First Division of the Glasgow Chess League, scoring a crucial point by drawing away
at Shettleston. Inverclyde were substantial underdogs: outgraded on every
board, and having lost their first three games of the season, while their
opponents had won all three of theirs.
The match started well for Inverclyde though, with David
Logue scoring the full point with aggressive Vienna Gambit opening on board
eight. Shettleston soon levelled the match, winning on board five, before
Inverclyde forged ahead again though Stephen Doherty’s powerful kingside attack
on board 6. Shettleston were led by
International Master Dougie Bryson, who beat Inverclyde’s Kevin McDonald to
level the match at 2-2. A sharp win for Jim Montgomery on board two saw
Inverclyde take the lead again. However, it looked as if this was a good at it
would get for Inverclyde, as the Shettleston
players had better positions in the three games still to finish.
Shettleston duly drew level and then took the lead, and the match
went down to the final game. Inverclyde’s John Calder had fought back well from
a difficult situation, and with both players running short of time, the position
became complex and both had winning chances. Following several exchanges of pieces and
pawns a draw seemed likely; fortunately for the visitors John’s opponent ran
out of time, giving the final game to Inverclyde, and levelling the match at
4-4.
This point against one of the strongest teams in the league
will certainly help Inverclyde in their battle against relegation; however Inverclyde
will need to beat their fellow strugglers Cumbernauld in their next game to
have a good chance of avoiding the drop.
Full Result
|
Bd
|
Grade
|
Shettleston A
|
(10)
|
vs
|
(8)
|
Inverclyde
|
Grade
|
Comments
|
|
1
|
2371
|
Bryson, Douglas M (IM)
|
1
|
-
|
0
|
McDonald, Kevin
|
2117
|
Home Win
|
|
2
|
2135
|
Nolan, Graeme A
|
0
|
-
|
1
|
Montgomery, Jim
|
2106
|
Away Win
|
|
3
|
1899
|
Gillies, Alex
|
0
|
-
|
1
|
Calder, John
|
1846
|
Away Win
|
|
4
|
1924
|
Doyle, James
|
1
|
-
|
0
|
McPheator, Gary
|
1752
|
Home Win
|
|
5
|
1896
|
Hulme, William
|
1
|
-
|
0
|
Hilton, Steve H
|
1722
|
Home Win
|
|
6
|
1789
|
Melvin, Les T
|
0
|
-
|
1
|
Doherty, Stephen
|
1743
|
Away Win
|
|
7
|
1743
|
Gallagher, Anthony
|
1
|
-
|
0
|
Bolln, Carsten
|
1682
|
Home Win
|
|
8
|
1704
|
Anderson, Paul
|
0
|
-
|
1
|
Logue, David
|
1671
|
Away Win
|
|
|
4
|
-
|
4
|
|
||||
