Minster Inn defeated Shepherds 4-2 in the final of the York Chess League Team Knock-Out Competition.

Both teams were at full strength and Shepherds even had the luxury of leaving out their captain Herbert Lockwood. The match started well for Shepherds when

they won the first game to finish, the board six game between Mick Rawlings (Shepherds) and Mick Beavers (Minster Inn).

The next two games to finish saw the match draw level 1 points each. On board four Nigel Dowker and Paul Anderson drew and on board three Minster's Adam Ismail defeated Keith Goodey by defending accurately after Goodey had sacrificed two pawns for the attack.

With three games remaining the match could have gone either way. The fourth game to finish was the top board encounter and saw Minster's Mark White

defeat Barry Marshall.

The board five game sealed victory for Minster as Steve Whitehead offered a draw to Richard Larkin, which was accepted, when Whitehead was a pawn for a piece up.

This gave Minster a 3-2 two lead and even if they lost the last game

to finish would win the match on either board count or bottom board elimination.

The last game was won by Minster's Paul O'Neill who defended resolutely against an onslaught from Eric Key.

Updated: 13:48 Thursday, March 22, 2001