Thursday 28th April 2016
BEDFORD A 2.5-2.5 LEIGHTON BUZZARD A
195 Ledger 0-1 Tukpetov (203)
181 Habershon 0.5-0.5 Sharp (190)
170 Arulnandhy 0.5-0.5 Law (184)
170 Botteley 1-0 Hunt (170)
171 Bodily 0.5-0.5 Williamson (176)
Bedford needed to win to keep league title hopes alive and came agonisingly close. The three draws came first so the focus was next on Board 1 where Steve had done well to hold his strong opponent but was in severe time trouble. In a rook ending with just White’s a pawn left Steve achieved what he knew was a drawn position, but with 30 seconds left (see position) he blundered by moving his king to the back rank. Michael Botteley duly dispatched Peter Hunt in a nice finish so the match was drawn, but Leighton Buzzard are champions with 17/20. Bedford are runners-up and travel to Milton Keynes B on 5th May, but a win there would mean only a 15/20 finish.
Paul Habershon, 29th April 2016