The KO Cup Final was played yesterday (28/3/2023) and after a very tense finish, Coventry came out on top with a 4-0 (4 - 2.5 with the handicap).
Every player was very conscious that as Coventry University were a Division 3 team, they started with a 2.5 point start, leaving very little room for any player to make a mistake, indeed Coventry University only needed either 2 draws or one win, to win the match and the Cup.
The match started with Coventry winning the Toss and electing to play with the white pieces on odd Boards. The first win came relatively soon with Jonathan Fowler on Board 3 quickly being two passed pawns up and then just rolled them forward. At this point it looked like Coventry Chess may be in for an easy win, however the remaining 3 games proved otherwise and it was some time before Josh Pink won his match on Board 1. Then the remaining Boards on Board 2 & 4 were both very close games with both games being equal for a long period of time, when finally Francis Sagyaman won on Board 2 with the Black pieces after having to play accurately and absorb a strong attack to repel white. He finally managed to get a pin on a knight to the white King in the middle of the Board, which proved to be a winning position after a very awkward opening position for Francis.
This now just left Board 4 and although Coventry Chess were winning 3-0 this was still not enough to ensure a win for Coventry Chess as a loss on this Board would have meant Coventry University winning the match.
One of the challenges of the KO Cup is fielding a team with players that qualify to play for a team, as this competition is the one with the strictest qualification requirements. So finding out that Ed Goodwin one of our regular first team players was unavailable to play, sent me hastily to check previous players possible qualification and scouring previous games for any player that had not played for another team. If we could not find anyone then the match would have been over before it started due to the handicap, a situation, which I believe, had befallen a previous Team. However, fortunately having found a relatively new player who recently joined us and confirming their eligibility with Malcolm Harding, the League Secretary, Zainanbkhan Bozhguolva was confirmed as being eligible.
So, Zainanbkhan was left with the pressure of either winning or drawing the match. For the majority of her game it was equal although her opponent had quite a strong Queens side attack and looked as though they make break through at any time, however Zainanbhkhan played accurately and managed to hold on, however by this time both players were down to 5 minutes each on their clocks and consequently the game turned into a "five minute on the clock game" with both players playing quickly until it came down to each player both having 60 seconds left on their clocks and Zainanbkhan managing to obtain a passed pawn to win the game and match at 10.50pm!
By this time there was still a crowd of players who burst into spontaneous applause! at the ending of this very tense and interesting game. Celebrations then followed with the winning team being presented with the KO Cup and pictures taken(I will try and get some from a player who took some pics)
Congratulations must also go to the Coventry University team who proved to be a formidable team for a Division 3 team and whilst they may be disappointed to lose this match, they have had an incredible season, comfortably winning Division 3 and reaching the finals of the KO Cup. We all agreed they will make a fine Division 2 side and would not be surprised to see them near or top of the promotion spots next Season.
This match signals almost the end of another enjoyable League season (one evening left for Divisional Cup games) and of course our traditional Summer Cup will start after the Divisional cup matches are complete.