Scottish Chess Championships – Round 4

Back once again to Edinburgh City Chambers for Round 4…

After the excitement of yesterday’s round, all eyes were on today’s top board match up between the only two players still on maximum points.  The question on everyone’s lips was whether the Icelandic player FM Kjartansson could capture another grandmaster scalp, this time from Indian GM Panchanthan? And the answer was yes…and how!

FM G. Kjartansson

An incredibly complex game, the advantage seemed to swing back and forth with every move, delighting the spectators watching from the live link in the analysis room.  After 18 moves the following position was reached with White to play…

Here, Gudmundur Kjartansson found the superb continuation 19. Rdg1!! Bxc3 20. Rxg7+ Kh8 21. f4!! And went on to win in spectacular fashion.  This game looks like another contender for the best game of the tournament.  I don’t envy the person judging THAT prize!

As a special round 4 treat I’m going to escort you down to the second room (the Championship tables are split between the top 15 boards in the first room and the remainder in the second).  The top room is quite spectacular, but the second room is somewhat larger and even has a viewing gallery – useful for taking photos from though, with my eyesight, following the games would take a good pair of binoculars or a bungee rope.

Be warned, this is a room where even the starting position can provoke confusion and dismay…

Walking into the second room I began to feel dizzy and could sense ELO points dropping from my grade with every step.  Nevertheless, I persevered for you, dear reader, on a quest for the glamour tie of the day on board 29: Stuart “The Haymaker” Hayes versus Andrew “The Dancemaster” Masters.  Two infamous local Edinburgh players with a fierce rivalry - there could only be one result…the haymaker landed (1-0).

While wandering the room, I stumbled over the clash of Scottish juniors on board 17. Jamie Hookham versus Andrew green produced a sparkling little miniature that is annotated here…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEmiYMIYoEs

Beautiful chess, and proves that you don’t have to be a GM to produce quality, entertaining games. See you tomorrow!