It was KO Cup week with most of the scheduled four board matches taking place.

Open Section

In the Open section (Stan Fortt Memorial Cup) there were only four teams entered with most clubs preferring to concentrate on the lower Under 1800 and Under 1400 sections. Favourites, White Knights A, were away to Morriston A and wins on the top two boards ensured them of the victory. Morriston were not entirely overwhelmed, however, as excellent results from Chris Howell and Joraj Sokolsky earned them 1½ points on the bottom two boards. 2½-1½ to the Knights. The other match in this section between University A and CN Emperors has been rearranged for the 14th February with the winner of this match meeting White Knights A on finals night.

Under 1800 Section

In the Under 1800 section (Richard E Jones Cup) there are eight teams and three out the possible four matches were played. First up was the match between University B and White Knights C. The Knights started at a disadvantage by turning up one board short but in reality it made little difference. A draw between James Evans and Neil Stuart stopped the whitewash but it was a comfortable looking victory for the University: 3½-½.

The following night De la Beche A played host to Upper Killay Merlins and Briton Ferry Giants fulfilled an identical role at home to Morriston B.

The De la Beche A v Merlins match was evenly balanced with a win and two draws apiece. Unfortunately for Merlins their win was on the bottom board and after the bottom board elimination rule was applied De la Beche were declared the winners.

It was not quite so close in the other match although Giants were not entirely embarrassed. Wins for Morriston B on boards 1 and 3 were countered by David Merryweather winning on board 4, after standing in at the last minute in what was his first appearance of the season. A hard fought draw between Kelvin Haines and Andrew Smith then kept the Giants’ score looking slightly respectable but a 2½-1½ victory for Morriston B nevertheless.

University B and Morriston B will meet in the next round on a date to be determined but De la Beche A will not know who their opponents are until White Knights B and CN Senators meet on the 8th February.

Under 1400 Section

There were also three out of four matches played in the Under 1400 section (A.D. Nicholson Shield). CN Tribunes took on De la Beche C and had no trouble progressing to the next round. A draw on the top board between John Davies and Gary Harber was some consolation to De la Beche C but otherwise it was one way traffic with a 3½-½ score line in favour of Tribunes.

Two nights later BF Brunel’s victory over Morriston D was even more emphatic with the 4-0 score helped along by a Morriston default on board 4. Tribunes and Brunel will face each other in the next round.

Morriston C meanwhile were under the cosh at Sketty when they faced De la Beche B. Although countered by a fine victory for Callum Newton over Clive Gosling, De la Beche won on the top three boards and go into the next round on the back of the 3-1 victory. They must wait for the result of the University C v Upper Killay Harriers match (date to be determined) before they will know their opponents.

02/02/2018