A THRILLING encounter at St James, Longbridge saw Malvern 'Sharks' keep alive their dream of the title in Division Two of the District Chess League.

They won 2 - 1 and out of three games played have won all to head the league table. Malvern had white on the odd boards and individual results are as follows, Malvern names first: D Spencer 1, D Bott 0; G Probyn 0, R Collett 1; P Millard , S Johnson ; B Stone 1, J Lloyd 0.

Barry Stone was first to finish. In a King's Pawn Opening he seized the initiative brilliantly after some loose play by John Lloyd, castling queen's side and getting a strong king's side attack. Under pressure John lost a knight and Barry then increased his advantage by winning the exchange. His mating threat after 33 moves sealed the win.

St James then drew level in another King's Pawn game. Both players developed nicely and play was even until Richard managed to get his queen behind George's defensive pawns to win material.

Meanwhile on board one a King's Indian Attack was countered by a Barcza Opening. Denis blundered away a piece in a complex middle game. This should have been enough to win but a few moves later Doug Bott tried to pin Denis' queen, overlooking a counter attack which regained the lost piece with a winning advantage.

Attention was now centred on board three where a marathon end game was in progress. Phil had failed to develop his Colle System properly and was two pawns down. The queens and rooks had been exchanged leaving both players with all the bishops and knights. However Phil kept his nerve regained one pawn and got the position down to one knight against pawn and knight and a clear draw.