Scottish Chess Championships – Round 8

As the penultimate round began, all eyes were on the top board where the two leaders, GM Hebden and GM Prasad, were paired against one another.  An incredibly dramatic game ensued where it looked like first White was winning, then Black went a rook up, then White came close to queening a pawn only to be foiled by an ingenious defensive idea.  A draw was the fair result for two players who gave there all today and provided superb entertainment for the watching fans.  Commentary on the game can be found here…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9DqqscNMzxk

This draw, however, allowed the Indian Grandmaster Panchanathan to catch up with the leaders when he defeated English IM Andrew Greet in another exciting effort.  Straight out of the opening, Panchanathan sacrificed a piece when in this position

he played 12…Nb4! Gaining compensation in the form of his powerful central pawns (0-1, 43)

Unfortunately, Scottish woes continued as Motwani lost to Markos on board 3, McNab lost to the in-form FM Kjartansson who is now on track for a GM norm, and Rowson was only able to draw with Candidate Master Paul Roberts who played brilliantly to secure his half point.

Some possible good news was that FM Iain Gourlay held GM John Shaw with the black pieces after defending well against John’s speculative sacrifice 21. Nxf7!?

This result should give Iain a chance of an international master norm should he win tomorrow.

Another knight sacrifice occurred in Tate - Arakhamia-Grant, although this time more successful when 15…Nxc2! destroyed White’s king position.

With three players (Hebden, Prasad, Panchanathan) tied at the top on 6.5 for the international open title, and with five Scots (Shaw, Gourlay, Arakhamia-Grant, Grant and Thomson) tied on 5.5 for the Scottish title, tomorrow should be a fascinating final round with all to play for – don’t miss it!