IT was a disappointing night for Calstock Chess Club, who were entertaining Liskeard in the final of the Roger Grime Cup last week.

Calstock were hoping for silverwear in the second year of their existence, despite Liskeard fielding four county players.

Jason Henderson had a faultless game on board one, playing as black. He out-manoeuvred David Lucas meeting tactical skirmishes with solid defensive strategy before eventually breaking through. 

On the second board, David Jenkins, used the Cunningham defence to the King’s Gambit of Brian Parkin and built up a strong position. Brian found an ingenious defence. There was still a different mate in three available involving a queen sacrifice, but David did not find it in the time available and accepted a draw.

Our board three Calstock’s Alan Yoshihara-Coles played the opening well against Stephen Pearce but allowed his opponent to move a bishop with discovered check, rendering Alan’s queen powerless.

On board four Richard Hendin tried the King’s Indian attack, but allowed Maurice Richards to lock up the centre. Black counter attacked on the queenside with two active knights. In the end Richard was hampered by a bishop in front of his castled king and was forced to lose a rook, after which the win was purely technical.

The final score was Liskeard 2.5 Calstock 1.5.

Overall, Calstock could have done better, but the team did defeat Newquay to reach the final, and for a fledgling team put up a good fight.