WP League Report Round four by  -  Candidate Master Lyndon Bouah

1. The teams gathered for the fourth and last time at Wittebome Civic Centre. Exciting chess was played and there was certainly action all round!

2. Our review of the past!

In 1909 the teams were increased to 10 players. Woodstock didn’t contest the League that but again the parent club Cape Town was successful. In 1910 Woodstock and Observatory joined forces under the banner Suburban: Civil Service ceased functioning but a railway Accountants team replaced them, while a new club formed in Sea Point joint and once more there were 5 teams in the league. Cape Town was beaten out of first place by the YMCA with Sea Point third. (Taken from A History of Chess in South Africa by Rietstein).

3. The present day 2008

Steinitz A continued its dominant form when they defeated Belhar Knights 4-1. The top two boards drew and the bottom boards were keenly contested. Lyndon played a nice queen sacrificed which had his teammates looking on anxiously! Craig was in a bit of difficulty against WIM Denise Frick but held on.

Stellenbosch played the Steinitz B team and was disappointed when Shaun Willenberg stole a point off them on board five. The keenly awaited Stellenbosch –Steinitz encounter is set for 2pm on Saturday this week at UWC!

Claremont beat Manyanani 3.5 to 1.5 with only Banderker performing well for the latter. Claremont is mounting a small recovery after starting badly. 

A bruising encounter was the order of the day when Bellville and Cape Town played to a 2.5 -2.5 draw.

UCT continued to slowly picking up points with their 2.5 draw against Bellville B.

Unfortunately Uitsig’s transport didn’t arrive so they gifted 5 points to Goodwood.

4. Standings in the B division

Belhar Knights continues to set the pace when they trounced Stellenbosch 4-1.

Manyanani beat Bellville C 3-2.

Steinitz C and Cape Town had a battle royal as the hard team from Cape Town narrowly lost 3-2. Good victory for the Steinitz team.

In a match billed as one of the highlights Blackjacks A beat Athlone A 3-2. Blackjacks will have to play harder if they want to win promotion as the dropping of points will be to their detriment later. Well-done Athlone.

Blackjacks B beat Capablanca 3-2 with the Somali top player Abdul Roble in good form for Capablanca.

UWC A beat Bellville D 4.5 to 0.5.

5. Standings in the C division

Goodwood B showed they meant business when they won 5-0 against Manyanani.

Blackjacks C played equally hard and won 5-0 against Wesbank.

CPUT A beat Blackjacks D 4-1

Goodwood C beat Delft 5-0. It clear that Goodwoods plan to have more teams in the top sections is bearing fruit!

UCT had a 5-0 against UCT B.

UWC Claimed 5-0 after Pollsmoor arrived late.

6. Standings in the D division

Timberwolves beat Metropolitan 3-2.

7. Final Comments:

The Chessa Interprovincials will take place in September in Swellendam. WP is planning to send a number of teams so watch this space when the team is announced next week.