Cox Trophy

 

"Please help us name the Cox Trophy team members. who played in previous finals".
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Keith Tabner

Telepost Win The Double!

League champions Telepost A completed the league and cup double by beating Coddon A 4 - 1 in the final of  the Shropshire Chess Association Summer Cup for the Cox Trophy. Although they have held the league crown now for four years it is the first time that they have also taken the cup in the same year. Telepost now become the fifth club to achieve this feat since the Cox Trophy began in 1982, following in the footsteps of Stirchley (1984), Shrewsbury (1990), Coddon (1992 and 1996), and Newport (1999).

The semi-finals had been played as a double header match at the Telepost club in June. Telepost A only just scraped through against Shifnal / Telford on tie break after the scores finished level 2.5 - 2.5. The home side breathed a sigh of relief at 10.45pm when Windsor Peck at last resigned against Steve Rawlins. Meanwhile Telepost B had their hopes of an all Telepost final dashed by Coddon who won a tight match, Phil Cameron winning the decisive game against Steve Kempsall.

The final wasn't quite such a cliff hanger, although Glyn Pugh salvaged the home team's pride with a fine win over Steve Rawlins in the last game to finish.

Keith Tabner had black in the following game against William Bates. There was some drama even though it only lasted for 17 moves.

1.e4…c6      2.d4...d5     3.e5…Bf5   The advance variation of the Caro Cann. 4.Nc3…e6     5.h4…h6     6.Bd3…Bxd3     7.Qxd3…Nd7     8.f4…Qc7     9.Nf3…O-O-O     10.f5…Kb8     11.fe…fe     12.Qg6…c5!   Tabner opens up the position hoping that the exposed white king will tip the balance his way.   13.Qxe6…cd     The position is now very sharp and requires careful calculation. Bates must choose which knight will capture a pawn on the d file.   14.Nfxd4 (if 14.Ncxd5 then Qxc2 looks good for black.  After the move played 14……Nc5 seems the safest way for black to retain his advantage with rapid development in return for the temporary loss of a pawn. However black takes a more dangerous route.)    14……..Nxe5?! (Over the board Tabner thought he could meet 15.Ncb5 with Qe7.  Subsequent computer analysis shows this plan to be flawed. Nonetheless the move played sets a trap.)  15.Bf4…(Here Bates thought that he was winning until he saw black's reply)…..Nd3+!     16.cxd3…QxBf4     17.Nce2??  (oh dear, that's the wrong Knight)  …Bb4+  0 - 1.

Semi-Finals 17/06/03

Telepost B

 

Coddon A

 

J.Bashall

0.5

S.Fowler

0.5

S.Kempsall

0.0

P.Cameron

1.0

N.Allen

0.5

G.Pugh

0.5

P.Crean

0.5

J.Tunks

0.5

R.Simpson

0.5

E.Raby

0.5

 

2.0

 

3.0

Telepost A

 

Shifnal / Telford A

 

N.Ferrington

0.5

D.Gostelow

0.5

R.Bryant

1.0

P.Saxon

0.0

S.Rawlins

1.0

W.Peck

0.0

D.Bryan

0.0

C.Roberts

1.0

K.Tabner

0.0

I.Wilson

1.0

 

2.5

 

2.5

Final 09/07/03

Coddon A

 

Telepost A

 

S.Fowler

0.0

N.Ferrington

1.0

P.Cameron

0.0

R.Bryant

1.0

G.Pugh

1.0

S.Rawlins

0.0

J.Tunks

0.0

D.Bryan

1.0

W.Bates

0.0

K.Tabner

1.0

 

1.0

 

4.0