Arlis Snyder v Doug Lemons  Sicilian June 21, 1973
King-Pawn Tournament Round Four

From the beginning the Springfield Park Board Chess Club has enjoyed attracting members from the nearby Colleges and Universities. Missouri State and Drury College in particular have provided the club with numerous players throughout the years. In this encounter we see SMSU faculty member Arlis Snyder take on Doug Lemons who, as a Drury College student, was somewhat of a crosstown rival. We can watch as Arlis launches a mighty pawn armada while Doug constructs a hedgehog formation, missing a key re-joiner and allowing Arlis to brake on through. Though coming up short in this game, Mr. Lemons would represent his school with honor. 

I recall Doug and his compatriot Adrain Vasilu really adding to the mix down at the club. A lineup of local veteran players might look something like this: Henry Wetzler, Dean Graham, Arlis Snyder, Lee Hurlburt, Mark Henigan, Dave Clark, and Bob Daves. Junior players at that time would include Frank Elley, Greg Williamson, Ron Humphry, and Brent Looper. These guys were coming up in the ranks and the competition would soon become furious. I think of this period as a golden age of local chess due to the overall level of strength that composed our club. The Chess Club would repeat this in the 90's under the leadership of Martin Phillips. 

What the surrounding schools give us in terms of talent, the working world takes away. So many of our college students move on after completing their studies and raising their USCF ratings. The SPBCC has always enjoyed having these visitors, however parting is such sweet sorrow. Now on to the game and I have left Mr. Snyders annotations in the notefield.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Nd2 Be7 8. 0-0 Qc7 9. c4 Nbd7 10. b4  b6 11. Qa4 Bb7 12. f4 0-0 13. Rf3 b5 14. cxb5 Qb6 15. N2b3 axb5 16. Qxb5 Qa7 17. Qa5 Qb8 18. Qb5 Qa7 19. Rg3 Rfc8 20. Kh1 Rc3 21. e5 Rb8 22. Qa5 Qxa5 23. Nxa5 Rbc8 24. Ne2 Ne4 25. Bxe4 Rxg3 26. Nxg3 Bxe4 27. Nxe4 Bxg5 28. Nxg5 d5 29. b5 d4 30. Nb3 d3 31. Nf3 h6 32. Rc1 Ra8 33. Ne1 d2 34. Nxd2 Rxa2 35. Nc4 Ra4 36. Nd3 g5 37. g3 Kg7 38. b6 f5 39. exf6 {e.p.} Kxf6 40. fxg5 hxg5 41. b7 Ra7 42. Nd6 Ra6 43. Rf1 Ke7 44. Nc8 Kd8 45. Nc5 1-0


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