CHESS players have missed out on victory after a dramatic twist.
Lichfield had looked to be heading to the win in the Chess Summer League when the tournament controller stepped in towards the end of their match with Rugeley – and penalised the city team a vital point.
But they only had themselves to blame after inadvertently choosing a late replacement who had already appeared in a previous round for the Leigh B team.
At the point of the intervention, Lichfield – who had topped the table for the first four rounds – were leading 1.5 to 0.5.
Tournament controller David Short said it was only a chance remark by the infringing player that led to him making the disqualification.
“He is in his first season and was unaware of the rules. It is very unlikely that anyone else would have picked up on it.”
Rugeley had started the last round just one point behind and the infringment meant now they just needed to draw their last two games.
John Fryer edged Lichfield into a lead by drawing, but there was little to choose in the board one match between captain Yuriy Slobodyuk and Rugeley’s Luke Sullivan.
A draw also looked a likely result in the board two match between Brian Homewood and Oliver Johnson – and that is how it finished.
Lichfield’s B team finished third by drawing their final match against Burton. Norton Canes also drew their final match against the reigning champions Tamworth, but still finished last.
