The third team travelled away to Radcliffe Bingham 3, who are sitting at the top of the league table. Earlier in the season, the Newark team managed to defeat Radcliffe Bingham 3, which still stands on their only loss this season. Sadly, this performance wasn’t to be repeated, as Newark lost 4-0.
Steve played his league debut on board four, and was unable to find a reply to a Nimzowitsch-Larsen attack, coming out of the opening down two pawns. As the end game approached, this pawn deficit allowed his opponent to launch a pawn break that couldn’t be defended against.
Mark’s game on board one proved to be the most tense of the evening. After thirty moves, both players had only lost a single pawn each, and the board was in a very closed position. As the clock began to count down to the last few minutes, play sped up, and Mark was eventually checkmated as his opponent swarmed his king with both bishops.
The third team will play their final match of the season next Monday, at home to Central 2, who still haven’t won a match this season.