WELLINGTON Chess Club’s debut season’s run of success in the top chess league in the county came to a sudden halt last week when they lost at home by the narrowest of margins to the talented Glastonbury team.

When Wellington decided to enter a team in this league it was partly because Division One of the Somerset League had no teams from the West of the county and partly to bring top level competition to the best players from Wellington, Taunton and Bridgwater. Well they certainly got some top level competition last week as Glastonbury arrived headed up by chess Grandmaster Matthew Turner, the first time that Chelston Chapel has been graced by the presence of such an illustrious player. The venue was packed out with a dozen games being played overall the biggest ever attendance at the club.

It was Jon Duckham who drew the short straw and he went up against Turner on top board. Jon relished the challenge and put up a brave performance but was unable to prevent the Grandmaster from winning to put Glastonbury one ahead. Division One competition has brought out the best in Wellington captain Alex Conway who has had a splendid season so far with a series of impressive performances. This run continued as he levelled the match with a fine win, trapping his opponent’s queen to force victory.

In the last two matches Glastonbury pinned their hopes on teenage brothers Hugo and Caspian Fowler from Millfield School where they have developed into fine players under the coaching guidance of Grandmaster Turner. They were opposed by Wellington’s experienced Lander Arrasate and Simon Pickard. Lander was not feeling 100 per cent well and put up a brave performance to gain a draw. 

This put all the pressure on the final match where Simon was a pawn down in a tense rook and pawn endgame. As the evening grew late and the pressure grew Simon tried everything he knew to try to thwart his young opponent. Despite the lateness of the hour and the pressure of the situation, young Caspian Fowler held on to win his game and the match for Glastonbury by 2.5-1.5.

Although it was disappointing to lose it was a tremendous match of chess enjoyed by all those at the club who stayed to watch the finish.

With everybody from six year old juniors to top county players at the club Wellington is earning a reputation as an enthusiastic progressive club.