Match reports 2014-2015
April 15th
Malvern played their final match in the Worcester and District League, losing narrowly to Kidderminster Knights. John Knee lost to a well-played attack and Brian Turner lost his game on time. Geoffrey Herbert played a fine game to defeat a strong junior player, and Ian Clarke defended resourcefully to hold a fierce attack and draw his game.
March 10th
Malvern maintained their challenge for the Worcester and District League title with 3:1 a win over Redditch. Brian Turner and John Knee drew carefully-played games with the black pieces. Malvern's wins came in contrasting fashion. Geoffrey Herbert lost material in the middle game but, undaunted, played on to catch his opponent's king in mid-board. Ian Clarke played a fine positional game against a high County board player, exploiting weak pawns to win material and clinch the endgame just before the final time control. Malvern lead the table, but can be caught by Redditch who still have matches in hand.
March 4th
Malvern suffered a setback in their campaign to retain the County League title, losing to a strong Halesowen team who outgraded them on each board. Although Brian Turner, Matthew Jordan and Barry Stone all lost, Leigh Canham won a fine game, refuting his opponent's piece sacrifice. Team captain Geoffrey Herbert and John Knee both drew against strong County players to leave Malvern trailing 4:2 at the end of the match.
Feb 20th
Malvern continued to make progress in the Worcester and District League with a hard-fought victory over Kidderminster Rooks. John Knee won quickly for Malvern, but Geoffrey Herbert could make no impression on his opponent and a draw was agreed. Kidderminster drew level when Matthew Jordan lost in a complex game, but Ian Clarke broke through his opponent's defences to win the game and the match. Malvern lead the table, but have played two matches more than their nearest rivals, Redditch.
Feb 5th
Malvern moved up to second place in the Worcester and District League with a tense victory over Worcester City. Geoffrey Herbert survived early pressure and won decisive material to score Malvern's first win. Leigh Canham drew a well-controlled game on board 4, but Brian Turner succumbed to a well-played counter-attack by his opponent. Ian Clarke marked his first match on Board 1 with a win over a strong County player in a time-scramble at the very end of the game, to secure the match for Malvern.
Jan 16th
Malvern started the New Year with a hard-fought match against a strong Worcester City team in the County Chess League. The highlight for Malvern was a fine positional win by John Knee over the County match captain. Brian Turner also won, but in a rather fortuitous manner. Leigh Canham and Matthew Jordan both had steady draws, but Geoffrey Herbert lost in a complex game. Malvern lead by 3-2 but need Ian Clarke to hold a difficult adjourned endgame if they are to win the match.
Dec12th
Malvern drew a further match in the Worcester and District Chess League against a strong Kidderminster side. The highlight of the match was a fine game by Geoffrey Herbert, who benefited from his opening preparation to defeat a strong junior player. Brian Turner drew a quiet game where neither player could progress without undue risk, but Ian Clarke lost to a well-played game by his opponent. John Knee looked to be under some pressure towards the end of his game, but found a draw by perpetual check with a minute left on his clock to tie the match. At the half-way point of the season, Malvern lead the County Chess League and are second in the Worcester and District League.
Geoffrey Herbert 1-0 Joseph Friar
Dec 4th
Outgraded on three out of four boards, Malvern did well to draw with a strong Worcester City side. Brian Turner could make no progress against Steve Mellors' Caro Kann and a draw was agreed. John Knee and David Roberts also drew their game with careful play needed on both sides. Allthough Leigh Canham lost to a well-played attack by Jim Keene, Ian Clarke equalised the match for Malvern, but only after a long struggle to overcome determined resistance from Peter Kitson who had lost a piece by an oversight early in the game.
Nov 28th
Malvern played league leaders Redditch in the Worcester and District League and, outgraded on three of four boards, did well to draw the match. Geoffrey Herbert drew a calm game against Nigel Towers' Nimzoindian defence and Brian Turner's Kings's Indian survived Daniel Lambourne's early pressure. Although Leigh Canham lost after a stubborn endgame defence against Tom Robinson, Matthew Jordan's knight proved superior to Derek Abraham's bishop and he won a long and well-played endgame, delivering mate just before his flag was about to fall.
Nov 20th
Malvern continued to make progress in defending their County League title with a hard-fought win over Worcester City. Leigh Canham and Geoffrey Herbert drew quiet positional games on the middle boards. Although Brian Turner lost on Board 1, Malvern's strength in depth told as John Knee and Matthew Jordan won fine games on the lower boards to give Malvern the lead. Ian Clarke's game was adjourned in a tense, unbalanced position but a draw was agreed to give Malvern the victory.
Nov 14th
The grading handicap meant that Malvern had to win 4-1. Matthew Jordan won in the endgame but after draws by John Knee and Tony Shaw the match was decided when Barry Stone lost. Leigh Canham was 3 pawns up in a double rook endgame but overlooked a stalemate and had to settle for a draw.
Nov 5th
Malvern began their Worcester and District League fixtures with a convincing 4-0 victory over newly-promoted Kidderminster Rooks. The score did not reflect the well-contested nature of the individual games which all went beyond the first time control. Ian Clarke won a pawn, then a piece to gain Malvern's first win. Geoffrey Herbert, Matthew Jordan and, in the last game to finish, Brian Turner all won hard-fought endings.
Geoffrey Herbert v Paul Thomas
Oct 24th
Malvern followed up their draw against Halesowen with a 5-1 victory over Hagley in the County League, The results came in three phases during the match. First, Geoffrey Herbert and John Knee drew in solidly-played games on the middle boards. On the lower boards, Matthew Jordan then built up a pawn roller to win decisive material and Tony Shaw steadily accumulated pawns to force his opponent's resignation. As the session drew to a close, Brian Turner's pressure was rewarded by a decisive king's side attack and, in a well-played game, Ian Clarke countered his opponent's space advantage with queens side counterplay to force a winning endgame with an unstoppable passed pawn.
Oct 3rd.
Malvern commenced the defence of their County League title with a draw against Halesowen. Leigh Canham, John Knee and team captain Geoffrey Herbert drew in solidly-played games. Geoffrey had to withstand some pressure and John had an extra pawn, which was insufficient for winning purposes. Matthew Jordan won a fine game to give Malvern a lead, maintained when Ian Clarke drew a tense game with tactics just below the surface. However, Brian Turner had lost material early in the game and resigned the adjourned position to leave the match a 3-3 draw.