YORK chess players Neville Pearce, Owen Robson, Arron Barker and Mick Beavers represented Yorkshire IV in the qualifying match against Lancashire.

Although the White Rose county lost by 5-6, the York players did themselves proud.

Barker had a quick draw, while the others played well to record wins, one of which is given below.

Owen Robson continued his fine form, maintaining his 100 per cent record against Lancashire.

The draw for the final round of the Club Championship is: P Hopwood v S Huxley, J Shemilt v R Allis, B Taylor v A Griffith, R Hardy v P Gower, B Marshall v T Turner, O Robson v H Lockwood, N Pearce v N Finburg, E Cameron v R Mitchinson, J Wynne v P Masiak, P Barber v C Smowton, S Mcdonald v K Smowton, J Masiak v D Milnes, J Lafferty v P Brooks, S Kirby v C Conlin, R Hall v J Hewitt, K Holliday v C Thompson, A Roberts v W Fulton, S Jennings v C Vause, C Smart v R Crawford. Matches to be played on Tuesday, April 5.

The York Chess League won the annual friendly match against Civil Service 11-4 at the Elmbank Hotel.

Peter Cloudsdale was in excellent form for York beating I Thackray.

Scores: D Wolsencroft - J Woolley, R Archer - P Gower, S Appleby 1-0 R Hardy, C Bowering - P Hopwood, P Robson 0-1 T Turner, P Solomons 0-1 B Marshall, D Baille - J Carpenter, I Thackray 0-1 P Cloudsdale, G Smith 0-1 J Griffith, M Coles 0-1 P Barber, B Skinner - L Cornhill, A Dalby - A Barker, P Gregory 0-1 O Robson, S Hulligan 0-1 R Mounce, I Strickland - R Allis, M Jones 0-1 J Wynne.

I Thackray (Civil Service) v Peter Cloudsdale (York)

Friendly board 8

1. e4 c5; 2. Nf3 d6; 3. d4 cxd4; 4. Nxd4; Nf6; 5. Nc3 a6; 6. Be2 e5; 7. Nb3 Be6; 8. 0-0 Be7; 9. Kh1 0-0; 10. f4 Qc7; 11. f5 Bc4; 12. Bxc4 Qxc4; 13. Bg5 Nbd7; 14. Nd2 Qc7; 15. Qf3 b5; 16. Qg3 Nh5; 17. Qh4 Bxg5; 18. Qxg5 Nhf6; 19. a3 Kh8; 20. Rf3 Nb6; 21. Qh4 d5; 22. exd5 Nbxd5; 23. Nxd5 Nxd5; 24. Rh3 h6; 25. Ne4 Nf4; 26. Rc3 Qb7; 27. Re1 f6; 28. Qf2 Rad8; 29. Nc4 Qd8; 30. Qf3 Qd2; 31. Qe3 Qxg2 #

Phil Raynor (Lancashire) v Owen Robson (Yorkshire)

Board 5

1. d4 Nf6; 2. c4 c5; 3. d5 b5; 4. cxb5 a6; 5. bxa6 Bxa6; 6. Nf3 d6; 7. g3 g6; 8. Bg2 Bg7; 9. 0-0 0-0; 10. Nc3 Nbd7; 11. Qc2 Qb6; 12. Rd1 Rfb8; 13. Rb1 Ng4; 14. h3 Nge5; 15. b3 Nxf3+; 16. Bxf3 Bc8; 17. Bb2 Ne5; 18. Bg2 Ba6; 19. e4 c4; 20. bxc4 Bxc4; 21. Na4 Qa6; 22. Bxe5 Rxb1; 23. Rxb1 Bd3; 24. Rb6 Bxc2; 25. Rxa6 Rxa6; 26. Bxg7 Kxg7; 27. Nc3 Ra3; 28. Ne2 Rxa2; 29. Nd4 Bxe4; 30. Bxe4 Ra4; 31. Bxg6 hxg6; 32. Nc6 Kf6; 33. Kg2 Ra3; 34. h4 Rd3; 35. g4 Rxd5; 36. Kf3 e6; 37. Ke4 Rd2; 38. f3 Rh2 0-1

Updated: 10:15 Thursday, March 24, 2005