Top seed GM Nigel Short won a two game play-off 1.5-0.5 against GM Matthew Sadler after both players had tied with 8.5/11
BRITISH CHAMPIONSHIP
Prize List
1 Nigel Short (Athens) 8½ £7650
2 Matthew Sadler (Chatham) 8½ £7350
3 Tony Miles (Birmingham) 8 £2500
4= Jonathan Speelman (London) 7½ £1350
Chris Ward (Beckenham)
6= Danny Gormally (London) 7 £210
Mark Hebden (Leicester)
Miroslav Houska (Slough)
Gary Lane (Paignton)
Andrew Ledger (Croydon)
Nicholas Pert (Ipswich)
Krishnan Sasikiran (India)
Aaron Summerscale (London)
Peter Wells (Portsmouth)
Ladies' Champion
Susan Lalic (Sutton) 5½ £500
Under 21 Champion
Miroslav Houska £67
Nicholas Pert
Krishnan Sasikiran
Best Game
Chris Ward (v David Tebb) £50
Rating Prize
Richard Pert (Ipswich) £200
Melanie Buckley (Bath) £200
Norms
Krishnan Sasikiran GM
Miroslav Houska IM
Jovanka Houska WIM
Final Crosstable
Nat Ti FIDE R O U N D S
Pos Player lty tl Rtng 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Score
1 SADLER,Matthew........... ENG g 2660 w45+ b9+ w17+ b26+ w2= b4= w3+ b21+ w13= b7- w15+ 8½
2 SHORT,Nigel.............. ENG g 2670 b36+ w34+ b19+ w15+ b1= w26= b13= w7+ b4+ w17+ b3- 8½
3 MILES,Tony............... ENG g 2590 b27+ w8+ b10= w6= b34= w24+ b1- w19+ b15= w4+ w2+ 8
4 SPEELMAN,Jon............. ENG g 2600 b31= w25+ b24+ w10+ b13= w1= b6+ w26+ w2- b3- w7+ 7½
5 WARD,Chris............... ENG g 2505 b25= w35= b27+ w8= b40+ w34= b10+ w13- b6= w16+ b17+ 7½
6 GORMALLY,Daniel.......... ENG m 2400 b55+ w41= w21+ b3= b15+ w13= w4- b18+ w5= b11= w14= 7
7 HEBDEN,Mark.............. ENG g 2590 w32= b66+ w13= b20+ w17= b14= w11+ b2- w21+ w1+ b4- 7
8 HOUSKA,Miroslav.......... ENG 2375 w61+ b3- w37+ b5= w31= b43- w27+ b30+ w14= b26+ w13= 7
9 LANE,Gary................ ENG m 2405 b68+ w1- b35= w22= b46+ w16+ b15- w41= b25= w38+ b19+ 7
10 LEDGER,Andrew............ ENG m 2450 w37+ b43+ w3= b4- w33= b23+ w5- b28= w18+ b20+ w11= 7
11 MARTIN,Andrew............ ENG m 2445 b46+ w57+ b15- w16- b25+ w41+ b7- w31+ b19+ w6= b10= 7
12 PERT,Nicholas............ ENG f 2390 b50+ w15- b22= w35+ b19= b31= w18- w48+ b34= b40+ w21+ 7
13 SASIKIRAN,Krishnan....... IND f 2470 b22+ w38+ b7= w40+ w4= b6= w2= b5+ b1= w15- b8= 7
14 SUMMERSCALE,Aaron........ ENG g 2455 w51+ b23- w43+ b33= w18+ w7= b26- w38+ b8= w34+ b6= 7
15 WELLS,Peter.............. ENG g 2515 w29+ b12+ w11+ b2- w6- b33+ w9+ b17= w3= b13+ b1- 7
16 KNOTT,Simon.............. ENG f 2340 w49= b56= w48+ b11+ w26- b9- w46+ b20= w43+ b5- w40+ 6½
17 THIPSAY,Praveen.......... IND g 2450 b44+ w47+ b1- w46+ b7= w19= b24+ w15= b26+ b2- w5- 6½
18 WILLIAMS,Simon........... ENG f 2335 b60+ w19- b57= w44+ b14- w35+ b12+ w6- b10- w42+ b34+ 6½
19 ARKELL,Keith............. ENG g 2475 w54+ b18+ w2- b38+ w12= b17= w43+ b3- w11- b33+ w9- 6
20 BATES,Richard............ ENG m 2395 w52= b49= w42+ w7- b22= b30= w40+ w16= b41+ w10- b25= 6
21 CONQUEST,Stuart.......... ENG g 2490 b35= w31+ b6- w25= b54+ w38+ b34+ w1- b7- w24+ b12- 6
22 EAMES,Robert............. ENG 2232 w13- b59+ w12= b9= w20= b40= w23= b33= w30= b28+ w26= 6
23 HINKS-EDWARDS,Thomas..... ENG 2315 b53+ w14+ b26- w34- b62+ w10- b22= w35= b42= w50+ b24= 6
24 KELLY,Brian.............. IRL f 2405 w66= b52+ w4- b39+ w30+ b3- w17- b49+ w28+ b21- w23= 6
25 PERT,Richard............. ENG 2240 w5= b4- w58+ b21= w11- b52+ w33= b51+ w9= b30= w20= 6
26 ROWSON,Jonathan.......... SCO m 2495 w39+ b28+ w23+ w1- b16+ b2= w14+ b4- w17- w8- b22= 6
27 TEBB,David............... ENG 2250 w3- b61+ w5- b48= w56+ b42= b8- w50= b62+ w36= b45+ 6
28 BASMAN,Michael........... ENG m 2360 b64+ w26- b46- w42= b53+ w36+ b31= w10= b24- w22- b50+ 5½
29 COLEMAN,David............ ENG 2245 b15- w50- b65- w61= b58= w66+ b55+ w53- b48= w62+ b52+ 5½
30 DYCE,Andrew.............. WLS 2295 w57- b63+ w51= b49+ b24- w20= b62+ w8- b22= w25= b35= 5½
31 HUNT,Adam................ ENG 2265 w4= b21- w66+ b57+ b8= w12= w28= b11- b54= w41= w33= 5½
32 JACKSON,Oliver........... ENG 2255 b7= w46- b62= w64- b50+ w48= b54= w42- b55+ w53+ b38= 5½
33 LALIC,Susan.............. ENG wg 2350 b62= w48= b50+ w14= b10= w15- b25= w22= b35+ w19- b31= 5½
34 LEVITT,Jonathan.......... ENG g 2430 w63+ b2- w45+ b23+ w3= b5= w21- b43+ w12= b14- w18- 5½
35 MOSKOVIC,David........... ENG 2235 w21= b5= w9= b12- w57+ b18- w60+ b23= w33- b49+ w30= 5½
36 SMITH,Andrew P........... IRL f 2290 w2- b42- w61+ b56= w59+ b28- w49- b60+ w39+ b27= w37= 5½
37 STEPHENSON,Norman........ ENG 2215 b10- w65+ b8- w52= b48= w62- b64+ w44+ b38- w54+ b36= 5½
38 WALL,Gavin............... ENG 2355 w59+ b13- w56+ w19- b64+ b21- w51+ b14- w37+ b9- w32= 5½
39 ALFRED,Nathan............ ENG 2235 b26- w64= b60+ w24- b42- w53= b57+ w62= b36- w47+ b44= 5
40 BUCKLEY,Graeme........... ENG m 2295 b48= w62+ b47+ b13- w5- w22= b20- w46+ b53+ w12- b16- 5
41 COBB,James............... WLS 2305 w56= b6= w49= b54= w51+ b11- w42+ b9= w20- b31= 5
42 HOUSKA,Jovanka........... ENG w 2190 w36+ b20- b28= w39+ w27= b41- b32+ w23= b18- w43= 5
43 KENNAUGH,Charles......... ENG f 2290 b65+ w10- b14- w50+ b44+ w8+ b19- w34- b16- w52= b42= 5
44 LEDGER,Dave.............. ENG f 2220 w17- b58= w52+ b18- w43- b60- w61+ b37- w59+ b56+ w39= 5
45 LEWIS,Andrew Paul........ ENG f 2275 b1- w55+ b34- w62- b52- w58+ b50- w57+ b46+ w48+ w27- 5
46 OSBORNE,Marcus........... ENG 2205 w11- b32+ w28+ b17- w9- w47+ b16- b40- w45- b60+ w57+ 5
47 BEAUMONT,Christopher..... ENG 2330 w58+ b17- w40- b59= w49= b46- w56- b63= w51+ b39- b55+ 4½
48 BUCKLEY,Melanie.......... ENG w 2005 w40= b33= b16- w27= w37= b32= w59+ b12- w29= b45- w54= 4½
49 BUCKLEY,Simon............ ENG 2120 b16= w20= b41= w30- b47= w54= b36+ w24- b52= w35- b53= 4½
50 COOPER,Andrew G.......... HKG 2145 w12- b29+ w33- b43- w32- b61+ w45+ b27= w56+ b23- w28- 4½
51 JACKSON,Adrian........... ENG 2225 b14- w53= b30= w65+ b41- w64+ b38- w25- b47- w58= b62+ 4½
52 JACKSON,Sheila........... ENG wm 2165 b20= w24- b44- b37= w45+ w25- b65= b59+ w49= b43= w29- 4½
53 MCDONNELL,James J........ IRL 2020 w23- b51= w54- b66+ w28- b39= w63+ b29+ w40- b32- w49= 4½
54 RAYNER,Francis........... WLS 2235 b19- w60= b53+ w41= w21- b49= w32= b56= w31= b37- b48= 4½
55 GUNTER,David............. ENG 2175 w6- b45- w59- b58+ w60= b56= w29- b66+ w32- b63+ w47- 4
56 HANLEY,Craig............. ENG 2010 b41= w16= b38- w36= b27- w55= b47+ w54= b50- w44- b58= 4
57 HOLMES,Michael........... IRL b30+ b11- w18= w31- b35- b63= w39- b45- w61+ w64+ b46- 4
58 PLAYER,Edmund............ ENG 2110 b47- w44= b25- w55- w29= b45- b66+ w65= w63= b51= w56= 4
59 RICHARDS,Heather......... ENG w 2130 b38- w22- b55+ w47= b36- w65+ b48- w52- b44- w66= b64+ 4
60 FORBES,Cathy............. ENG wm 2110 w18- b54= w39- b63= b55= w44+ b35- w36- b65= w46- w61= 3½
61 LEECH,Aiden.............. ENG 2145 b8- w27- b36- b29= w66= w50- b44- w64+ b57- w65+ b60= 3½
62 WISMAYER,Clive........... ENG 2125 w33= b40- w32= b45+ w23- b37+ w30- b39= w27- b29- w51- 3½
63 MORRISON,Chris........... SCO 2200 b34- w30- b64= w60= b65= w57= b53- w47= b58= w55- b67- 3
64 MUTTON,Jonathan.......... ENG 2135 w28- b39= w63= b32+ w38- b51- w37- b61- w66+ b57- w59- 3
65 RENDLE,Thomas............ ENG w43- b37- w29+ b51- w63= b59- w52= b58= w60= b61- b66- 3
66 BARTON,Alan.............. ENG 2180 b24= w7- b31- w53- b61= b29- w58- w55- b64- b59= w65+ 2½
67 WILMAN,Carey............. SCO w 2060 w63+ 1
68 POTOPAEV,Philip.......... ENG 2060 w9-
UNDER 10 CHAMPIONSHIP
Final Crosstable
BCF j/ R O U N D S
Pos Player Grade /e 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Score
1 GOLD,Lee................. 111 j b52+ w44+ b29+ w15+ b3+ b4= w9+ 6½
2 GOODWIN,Mark K........... 82 j w48- b42+ w53+ b13+ w16= w15+ b14+ 5½
3 HALL,Colin P............. 96 j w34+ b48+ w6= b27+ w1- b16+ w4+ 5½
4 TRENT,Stewart............ 113 j b56+ w26+ b5+ w14+ b12+ w1= b3- 5½
5 DEVA,Sagar............... 99 j w61+ b39+ w4- b21= w41+ b33+ w6= 5
6 DIAMOND,Daniel J......... 111 j bye+ w32+ b3= w8= b29+ w12= b5= 5
7 EGGLESTON,David.......... 71 j w20- b41+ w36+ b10- w38+ b27+ w23+ 5
8 HABIBI,Amir.............. 124 j w40+ b38= w11+ b6= w10- b42+ w20+ 5
9 HOWELL,David W........... 104 j w24+ b21- w43+ b25+ w30+ w19+ b1- 5
10 MACDONALD,Christopher.... 99 j b57+ w28+ b19- w7+ b8+ w14= b12= 5
11 PLANT,Paul R............. 86 j b59+ w15- b8- w18+ b53+ w29+ b19+ 5
12 SHARP,Thomas M........... 107 j b46+ w22+ b50+ w19+ w4- b6= w10= 5
13 ZOUBAIDA,Jonathan........ 124 j b28- w57+ b37+ w2- b40+ w22+ b25+ 5
14 FOSTER-YEOW,Andrew TL.... 110 j w30+ b27+ w21+ b4- w23+ b10= w2- 4½
15 HEPPELL,James............ 107 j w43+ b11+ w25+ b1- w33= b2- w30+ 4½
16 LUTTON,E Josiah.......... 109 j b37+ w29- b28+ w22+ b2= w3- b33+ 4½
17 AL-TURKI,Adel............ 81 j b50- w49= b35+ w23- b61+ w51+ b26= 4
18 ALLEY,Shaun.............. 67 j w36- b51+ w27- b11- b37+ w53+ w41+ 4
19 BENNET,William........... 113 j w51+ b36+ w10+ b12- w20+ b9- w11- 4
20 BUCKLEY,Samuel B......... 101 j b7+ w25- b61+ w24+ b19- w28+ b8- 4
21 DUNCANSON,Henry G........ 78 j b58+ w9+ b14- w5= b26- w31= b44+ 4
22 FOSTER,William........... 80 j w60+ b12- w38+ b16- w48+ b13- w45+ 4
23 HANLEY,James L........... 87 j w27- b34+ w48+ b17+ b14- w26+ b7- 4
24 HEPPELL,Charles.......... 72 j b9- w55+ w45+ b20- w36- b54+ w38+ 4
25 JOHNSTON,Gruffydd........ 78 j w53+ b20+ b15- w9- w50+ b36+ w13- 4
26 MAPLETOFT,Alexander...... 94 j w33+ b4- w54+ b30= w21+ b23- w17= 4
27 MORRIS,Claire H.......... 88 j b23+ w14- b18+ w3- b47+ w7- b39+ 4
28 WASSERMAN-FRY,Stephan.... 78 j w13+ b10- w16- b39+ w45+ b20- w36+ 4
29 WESTON,Andrew J.......... 89 j w47+ b16+ w1- b50+ w6- b11- w42+ 4
30 AARONS,Poppy J........... 75 j b14- w59+ b52+ w26= b9- w32+ b15- 3½
31 DIGNAM,Matthew P......... 86 j w39- b33- w34+ b42- w35+ b21= b51+ 3½
32 MORRIS,Edward............ 92 j w42+ b6- w33- b54+ w51= b30- w43+ 3½
33 MOXLEY,Andrew J.......... 69 j b26- w31+ b32+ w44+ b15= w5- w16- 3½
34 ARMSTRONG,Peter DH....... 69 j b3- w23- b31- w56+ b59- w49+ b58+ 3
35 BAZRCAR,Ali-Reza......... 68 j w38- b40= w17- w52= b31- w57+ b53+ 3
36 COX,William.............. 91 j b18+ w19- b7- w46+ b24+ w25- b28- 3
37 GAUGE,Zachary............ 73 j w16- b60+ w13- b48- w18- b61+ b59+ 3
38 HEGARTY,Sarah N.......... 92 j b35+ w8= b22- w40= b7- w59+ b24- 3
39 MARTIN,Chris............. 77 je b31+ w5- b44- w28- b46+ w40+ w27- 3
40 ROBERTS,Elizabeth........ 78 j b8- w35= b55+ b38= w13- b39- w54+ 3
41 ROBERTSON,J Stuart....... 89 j b55= w7- b49+ w47= b5- w58+ b18- 3
42 SHANKAR,Tejas............ 68 j b32- w2- b56+ w31+ b44+ w8- b29- 3
43 SKOTNICKI,Alexander...... 73 j b15- w58+ b9- w53- b49+ w50+ b32- 3
44 WONG,Rico................ 91 j w54+ b1- w39+ b33- w42- b48+ w21- 3
45 YAU,Justin............... 95 j b49+ w50- b24- w61+ b28- w47+ b22- 3
46 BARNES,Kathryn........... 72 j w12- b53- w60+ b36- w39- b55+ b50= 2½
47 BARRACLOUGH,David........ 67 je b29- w52= b57+ b41= w27- b45- w55= 2½
48 BERLIN,Francesca......... 59 j b2+ w3- b23- w37+ b22- w44- b52= 2½
49 CLARK,David A............ 69 j w45- b17= w41- b55+ w43- b34- w61+ 2½
50 EGGLESTON,Thomas......... 58 j w17+ b45+ w12- w29- b25- b43- w46= 2½
51 GILDING,Samuel........... 76 j b19- w18- b58+ w59+ b32= b17- w31- 2½
52 WINKWORTH,Thomas......... 76 je w1- b47= w30- b35= w54- b60+ w48= 2½
53 CLARK,Andrew J........... 35 j b25- w46+ b2- b43+ w11- b18- w35- 2
54 ELLIOTT,Sebastian J...... 66 j b44- w56+ b26- w32- b52+ w24- b40- 2
55 GROSS,Danielle........... 65 j w41= b24- w40- w49- b56+ w46- b47= 2
56 HABIBI,Karim............. 76 j w4- b54- w42- b34- w55- bye+ w60+ 2
57 UPHAM,Lee................ 70 j w10- b13- w47- b60+ w58- b35- bye+ 2
58 WEATHERHEAD,Laura........ 44 j w21- b43- w51- bye+ b57+ b41- w34- 2
59 WILSON,Benjamin.......... 45 je w11- b30- bye+ b51- w34+ b38- w37- 2
60 HANSELL,Jennifer L....... 50 j b22- w37- b46- w57- bye+ w52- b56- 1
61 SCOTT,Naomi.............. 70 j b5- bye+ w20- b45- w17- w37- b49- 1
10-8-98 Scotsman
FOR the second year running the Smith & Williamson British Championships was decided by a dramatic play-off - won by Nigel Short 1.5-0.5 - when the two top seeds, GMs Nigel Short and Matthew Sadler, ended the fortnight tied on 8.5/11.
However, going into the decisive final round, Short - playing in his first British since 1987 - was a point clear of Sadler and looked as if he'd win the title and the 10,000(UK) first prize without the need of a nail-biting play-off.
With Sadler having a relatively easy last round victory over GM Peter Wells, Short, playing against Britain's first grandmaster, Tony Miles, was tortured in a difficult rook and pawn ending for the best part of four hours before finally succumbing to Miles - Short's only defeat of the tournament.
There was more than just a hint of poetic justice in Miles' final round victory over Short that spoiled his comeback. In the late 70s and early 80s, when Miles was the unquestionable British No.1, Short, as one of the country's leading juniors was his bete noir, regularly defeating Miles in the British, thus depriving him of the coveted title.
With both players tied on 8.5/11, chess' version of the penalty shoot out thus came into operation to decide the title with Sadler and Short playing in a two game play-off match (30min + 30 secs per move) played on the Saturday morning, with Short having the better of both games, eventually winning through 1.5-0.5.
Smith & Williamson British Championships 1-2 GM N Short (Athens) & GM M Sadler (Chatham) 8.5/11; 3 GM A Miles (Birmingham) 8; 4-5 GM J Speelman (London) & GM C Ward (Beckenham) 7.5; 6-15 IM D Gormally (London), GM M Hebden (Leicester), M Houska (Slough), IM G Lane (Paignton), IM A Ledger (Croydon), IM A Martin (Sandhurst), N Pert (Ipswich), IM K Sasikiran (India), GM A Summerscale (London) & GM P Wells (Portsmouth) 7.
N Short - M Hebden
Smith & Williamson British Ch (8)
Ruy Lopez
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 0-0 8 c3 d6 9 d4 Na5 10 Bc2 c5 11 h3 Re8 12 Nbd2 Bf8 13 dxe5 dxe5 14 Qe2 Nh5 15 Nf1 Ra7 16 g3 g6 17 h4 f6 18 Ne3 Be6 19 a4 c4 20 axb5 axb5 21 Rd1 Qb8 22 Nd5 Nc6 23 Be3 Rxa1 24 Rxa1 Ne7 25 Nb4 Bg4 26 b3 Nf5 27 exf5 e4 28 Qd2 Bxf3 29 Qd5+ Kh8 30 Nc6 Qd6 31 Qxd6 Bxd6 32 fxg6 hxg6 33 Nd4 cxb3 34 Bxb3 Rb8 35 Bf7 Kh7 36 Bd5 Ng7 37 Ra7 Kh8 38 Nxf3 exf3 39 Bd4 Be5 40 Bxe5 fxe5 41 Bxf3 Rc8 42 Be4 Rxc3 43 Re7 Nh5 44 Kg2 Nf6 45 Bxg6 Rc5 46 h5 e4 1-0
Scotsman 7-8-98
THE two top seeds in the Smith & Williamson British championships in Torquay, GMs Nigel Short and Matthew Sadler, could be heading for a play-off for the British title as they go into the last two rounds of the tournament, both tied on 7.5/9.
Nigel Short dominated the play after an insipid opening from GM Jon Speelman, which led to an easy endgame win for Short, playing in the tournament for the first time since 1987.
Sadler, the overnight leader, lost the sole lead following a draw in a difficult encounter with the 16-year-old Krishan Sasikiran, from India, who was unfortunate not to win. Sasikiran, who's now drawn with the three top seeds, Short, Sadler and Speelman, looks certain to gain his first GM norm from the tournament.
There was no such luck for Scotland's Jonathan Rowson, needed a win against GM Praveen Thipsay, from India, to secure a nine round GM norm, which would have been his third and final. In a mutual time scramble, it was the Indian who showed better tactical control of the position as Rowson blundered, losing the game, and with it any chance for his final norm.
Smith & Williamson British Championships Round 9 1 GM Sadler (7) draw IM Sasikiran (6); 2 GM Speelman (6.5) 0-1 GM Short (6.5); 3 GM Wells (5.5) draw GM Miles (5.5); 4 IM Rowson (5.5) 0-1 GM Thipsay (5.5); 5 IM Gormally (5.5) draw GM Ward (5); 6 GM Hebden (5) 1-0 GM Conquest (5); 7 GM Arkell (5) 0-1 IM Martin (5); 8 M Houska (5) draw GM Summerscale (5); 9 GM Levitt (5) draw N Pert (4.5); 10 IM A Ledger (4.5) 1-0 IM Williams (4.5); 11 R Pert (4.5) draw IM Lane (4.5).
J Speelman - N Short
Smith & Williamson British Ch (9)
Reti Opening 1 Nf3 d5 2 g3 Bg4 3 Bg2 Nd7 4 d4 e6 5 0-0 Ngf6 6 c4 c6 7 Qb3 Qb6 8 Nc3 Be7 9 Re1 0-0 10 Qxb6 axb6 11 cxd5 exd5 12 e4 dxe4 13 Ne5 Nxe5 14 dxe5 Nd5 15 Bd2 Nxc3 16 Bxc3 Bf3 17 a3 b5 18 Rac1 Rfd8 19 h4 Rd3 20 Bxf3 exf3 21 e6 Rad8 22 exf7+ Kxf7 23 Bxg7 Bxh4 24 gxh4 Rg8 25 Re4 Rxg7+ 26 Kf1 Kg6 27 a4 bxa4 28 Rxa4 Re7 29 Rb4 Kf5 30 Kg1 Rg7+ 31 Kh2 Rd2 32 Rc5+ Ke6 33 Rg5 Rxf2+ 34 Kg3 Rg2+ 35 Kxf3 R2xg5 36 hxg5 Kf5 37 Rb6 Kxg5 38 b4 Kf5 39 b5 c5 40 Rd6 Ke5 41 Rd8 Rg6 42 Rd7 Rb6 43 Ke3 Rxb5 44 Kd3 Rb4 45 Rxh7 Rd4+ 46 Kc3 b5 47 Rh8 Rf4 48 Rb8 Rf3+ 49 Kb2 b4 50 Rd8 Ke4 51 Kc2 Rc3+ 52 Kd2 Rc4 53 Re8+ Kd5 54 Rd8+ Kc6 55 Rc8+ 0-1
Scotsman 6-8-98
So near and yet so far: After over eight hours of determined play in round eight of the Smith & Williamson British championships in Torquay, Scotland's Jonathan Rowson, despite a valiant effort to save the game, came close to drawing with the three-times British champion, GM Jon Speelman.
The titanic board two struggle, which lasted for 74-moves, was thought by many to be drawing. However, Speelman, an endgame expert, had just enough resources in the position to take the ensuing rook and pawn ending through for a win to join Nigel Short in second equal on 6.5/9.
For Rowson, who was looking for a positive result to keep his GM norm hopes in-line, he now needs to beat the Indian grandmaster, Praveen Thipsay, in round nine, to keep his norm hopes alive.
Overnight leader, England No.3 GM Matthew Sadler, from Chatham, Kent, last years co-winner, is now clear favourite to retain the British title after repulsing an early onslaught from GM Stuart Conquest to win with Black, to keep his half-point lead in the tournament.
Sadler, now on 7/9, faced a new idea in the Najdorf that was pioneered by the Russian GM Vadim Zviaginsev at the recent President's Cup in Elista. The early 6 Rg1 and 7 g4 is not as silly as it looks; with the position coming to resemble the Keres Attack in the Sicilian Schevenigan.
Smith & Williamson British Ch Round 8 1 GM Conquest (5) 0-1 GM Sadler (6); 2 GM Speelman (5.5) 1-0 IM Rowson (5.5); 3 GM Short (5.5) 1-0 GM Hebden (5); 4 GM Thipsay (5) draw GM Wells (5); 5 GM Ward (5) 0-1 IM Sasikiran (5); 6 GM Miles (4.5) 1-0 GM Arkell (5); 7 IM Williams (4.5) 0-1 IM Gormally (4.5); 8 GM Summerscale (4) 1-0 Wall (4); 9 IM Basman (4) draw IM A Ledger (4); 10 IM Martin (4) 1-0 Hunt (4); 11 Kennaugh (4) 0-1 GM Levitt (4)
S Conquest - M Sadler
Smith & Williamson British Ch (8)
Sicilian Najdorf
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Rg1 h6 7 g4 g5 8 h4 gxh4 9 Be3 Nc6 10 Nd5 Nxd5 11 exd5 Qa5+ 12 c3 Nxd4 13 Qxd4 Rg8 14 Bc4 Qa4 15 Kd2 Bd7 16 f3 Bg7 17 Qd3 Bb5 18 Bxb5+ axb5 19 g5 h5 20 g6 Rf8 21 Ke2 b4 22 a3 bxc3 23 bxc3 Rc8 24 Rac1 Qc4 25 f4 fxg6 26 Rxg6 Bf6 27 Qxc4 Rxc4 28 Bd2 Kf7 29 Rgg1 Rfc8 30 Rh1 R8c5 31 Rb1 b5 32 Rb4 Rxd5 33 Be1 Rdc5 34 Rh3 Kg6 35 Bxh4 Bxh4 36 Rxh4 Rxc3 0-1
Scotsman 5-8-98
AND then there was one. Last year's joint British champion at Hove, GM Matthew Sadler, pulled away from Nigel Short after round seven of the Smith & Williamson British championships in Torquay, to take a half-point lead in the tournament with just four rounds left to play.
Sadler, playing white against Britain's first grandmaster, Tony Miles, held a positional advantage throughout and after winning knight for two connected pawns found no difficulties in converting his material plus to a win, taking pole position with the sole lead on 6/7.
Top seed, GM Nigel Short, found life difficult against 16-year-old IM Krishnan Sasikiran, from India, but the England No 2 was fortunate to find a saving resource to salvage a half-point to join the chasing pack of Speelman and Rowson on 5.5/7.
Scotland's Jonathan Rowson, who's already faced Sadler and Short, continues his good form in the tournament by beating GM Aaron Summerscale in fine form. Rowson, who has two GM norms from the Hampstead tournament and the 4NCL, could be online for his third and final GM norm should he continue this form in the tournament.
In round eight Rowson yet again faces tough opposition in the form of three-times British champion, GM Jon Speelman.
Smith & Williamson British Ch Round 7 1 IM Sasikiran (4.5) draw GM Short (5); 2 GM Sadler (5) 1-0 GM Miles (4.5); 3 IM Gormally (4.5) 0-1 Speelman (4.5); 4 IM Rowson (4.5) 1-0 GM Summerscale (4); 5 GM Hebden (4) 1-0 IM Martin (4); 6 GM Wells (4) 1-0 IM Lane (4); 7 IM A Ledger (4) 0-1 GM Ward (4); 8 GM Levitt (4) 0-1 GM Conquest (4); 9 GM Arkell (4) 1-0 Kennaugh (4); 10 IM Kelly (3.5) 0-1 GM Thipsay (4); 11 N Pert (3.5) 0-1 IM Williams (3.5)
J Rowson - A Summerscale
Smith & Williamson British Ch (7)
Czech Benoni
1 c4 c6 2 Nc3 e5 3 e4 d6 4 d4 Nd7 5 Nf3 Ngf6 6 Be2 Be7 7 0-0 0-0 8 Be3 a6 9 d5 c5 10 Ne1 Ne8 11 Qd2 g6 12 Nd3 Ng7 13 Bh6 Kh8 14 Kh1 Nf6 15 f4 Qc7 16 fxe5 dxe5 17 Bg5 Nge8 18 Rad1 Ng8 19 Bxe7 Qxe7 20 Na4 b5 21 cxb5 axb5 22 Naxc5 Rxa2 23 Nb4 Qxc5 24 Nxa2 Nd6 25 Qb4 Qxb4 26 Nxb4 Nxe4 27 d6 Bd7 28 Bf3 Ng5 29 Bc6 Bg4 30 Rd5 f6 31 Rxe5 Nf7 32 Rd5 Rd8 33 Rd4 Be2 34 Re1 Bc4 35 Red1 Ngh6 36 Be4 Ng4 37 R1d2 Nge5 38 Nc6 Rd7 39 Nb8 Rd8 40 Nc6 Rd7 41 Kg1 Kg7 42 Na5 Nd8 43 b3 Be6 44 Rb4 Ndf7 45 Nb7 f5 46 Nc5 Rxd6 47 Rxd6 Nxd6 48 Nxe6+ Kf6 49 Bd5 1-0
Scotsman 4-8-98
FAR from the maddening crowd at the Smith & Williamson British championships in Torquay lies, literally, virtuality. A new feature for the annual championship this year is the extent of the "live" coverage being generated.
A dedicated website to the event has been set up to enable chess anoraks around the world to monitor the progress of the Grandmasters battling it out for the kudos of the British title and, not forgetting, the little matter of the #10,000(UK) first prize that goes with it.
For each of the eleven rounds, the four top games, which will usually involve top seeds Nigel Short and Matthew Sadler (and luckily for Scotland Jonathan Rowson, due to his superb form), are being transmitted live via the Internet (http://www.bcf.ndirect.co.uk/TheBritish) where the site is fast approaching 10,000 hits so far.
In addition to this, the top four boards and results as they come in are also being transmitted live on Teletext on Channel Four, page 153, to around 400,000 regular viewers. I suppose I should also declare an interest here, since its yours truly that edits the Teletext pages; a fact you cant ignore due to my name being emblazoned on all twenty pages!
This makes the number of "virtual" spectators many times that of the "real" number of spectators in Torquay (around about 300), and demonstrates the world-wide interest being taken in the silent mind games being played out in the pleasant Devon holiday resort. Of the games seen from the first week of play, the following game from Chris Ward, the 1996 British Champion, is the frontrunner for the best game prize.
D Tebb - C Ward
Smith & Williamson British Ch (3)
Sicilian Dragon
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 Nc6 8 Qd2 0-0 9 0-0-0 Nxd4 10 Bxd4 Be6 11 Kb1 Qc7 12 Bb5 a6 13 Ba4 b5 14 Bb3 b4 15 Nd5 Bxd5 16 exd5 Rfb8 17 Ba4 Nxd5 18 Bxg7 Nb6 19 Qh6 Nxa4 20 Rd4 Nc3+ 21 Ka1 Qa5 22 bxc3 b3 23 cxb3 Qxc3+ 24 Kb1 Rxb3+ 25 axb3 Qxb3+ 26 Kc1 Rc8+ 27 Kd2 Rc2+ 28 Ke1 Qe6+ 29 Re4 Qa2 30 Kf1 Rf2+ 31 Ke1 Rxg2 32 Qc1 Qf2+ 33 Kd1 Qxf3+ 0-1
Scotsman 31-7-98 TACTICS in the Queen's Gambit Tartakower? Whatever next I ask myself. But, then again, the maestro himself, Saviely Tartakower - who first played the defence to the Queen's Gambit against the great Capablanca in the famous London tournament of 1922 - remarked: "chess is 99 per cent tactics, the other one per cent being inspiration."
And, it was the simplest of all tactics in the notoriously solid Tartakower variation that took top seed Nigel Short onto 3/3 in the Smith & Williamson British championships in Torquay after his opponent, GM Keith Arkell, lost two pawns and was forced to resign in just 26 moves.
The Scottish No.1, IM Jonathan Rowson, shrugged off his disappointing performance in the recent Scottish championships in Largs earlier this month and smoothly beat Tom Hinks-Edwards to join the leaders, Short, Sadler and Wells, all unbeaten on 3/3.
In the next round Rowson, looking for his third and final GM norm, now comes face-to-face with his toughest opponent of the tournament, last year's joint-winner GM Matthew Sadler on board two.
Smith & Williamson British Ch Round 3 1 GM Arkell (2) 0-1 GM Short (2); 2 GM Sadler (2) 1-0 GM Thipsay (2); 3 IM A Ledger (2) draw GM Miles (2); 4 GM Wells (2) 1-0 IM Martin (2); 5 IM Rowson (2) 1-0 Hinks-Edwards (2); 6 GM Hebden (1.5) draw IM Sasikiran (2); 7 IM Kelly (1.5) 0-1 GM Speelman (1.5); 8 IM Gormally (1.5) 1-0 GM Conquest (1.5); 9 Beaumont (1) 0-1 IM G Buckley (1.5).
K Arkell - N Short
Smith & Williamson British Ch (3)
QGD: Tartakower
1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 d5 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 Be7 5 Bg5 h6 6 Bh4 0-0 7 e3 b6 8 Be2 Bb7 9 Bxf6 Bxf6 10 cxd5 exd5 11 b4 c6 12 0-0 a5 13 a3 Nd7 14 Qb3 Re8 15 Bd3 axb4 16 axb4 Nf8 17 Rfd1 Ne6 18 Bf1 Qd6 19 Ne1 h5 20 g3 Rxa1 21 Rxa1 Bxd4 22 exd4 Nxd4 23 Qa3 Rxe1 24 Rxe1 Nf3+ 25 Kh1 Nxe1 26 Qa7 Qe7 0-1
J Rowson - T Hinks-Edwards
Smith & Williamson British Ch(3)
Alekhine Def
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 c4 Nb6 5 exd6 exd6 6 Nc3 Be7 7 h3 0-0 8 Nf3 Bf5 9 Be2 c6 10 0-0 N8d7 11 d5 c5 12 Bf4 Nc8 13 Bd3 Bxd3 14 Qxd3 Bf6 15 Rae1 Bxc3 16 Qxc3 f6 17 Bh2 Ne5 18 Nxe5 fxe5 19 f4 exf4 20 Rxf4 Rxf4 21 Bxf4 Ne7 22 Qe3 Ng6 23 Qe6+ Kh8 24 Bxd6 Rc8 25 Bg3 1-0
Scotsman 30-7-98 IN the Smith & Williamson British championships in Torquay, Scotland's Jonathan Rowson moved a step closer to gaining his third and final GM norm, following his second win of the tournament, a second round victory over the 'Grobmeister', Michael Basman, which keeps him in touch with the leaders.
A highly entertaining article entitled 'Michael Basman: Chess Evangelist', published in Britain's longest running chess magazine, 'BCM', revealed that in 1967 the former World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik tipped the then 20-year-old Michael Basman as "the most enterprising of a good generation of (British) players." However, finding himself outgunned in conventional openings by other players, Basman took the radical step in the early 70s of opting out of the opening theory rat-race by generating his own offbeat systems.
He started to develop a range of marvellously eccentric opening systems ranging from the St.George - 1..a6, used by Tony Miles to beat the World Champion Anatoly Karpov - to the outlandish 1 g4 (the Grob)- as used in todays game against Rowson - and even having the chutzpah to play the reversed Grob (christened the Borg!) 1..g5. Over the last 20 years his openings, while never catching on in a big way, have gathered a cult following around the world, especially among club players.
Smith & Williamson British Ch Round 2 1 GM Short (1) 1-0 GM Levitt (1); 2 IM Lane (1) 0-1 GM Sadler (1); 3 GM Miles (1) 1-0 Houska (1); 4 N.Pert (1) 0-1 GM Wells (1); 5 IM Basman (1) 0-1 IM Rowson (1); 6 IM Williams (1) 0-1 GM Arkell (1); 7 IM Sasikiran (1) 0-1 Wall (1); 8 Hinks-Edwards (1) 1-0 GM Summerscale (1); 9 Kennaugh (1) 0-1 IM A Ledger (1); 10 GM Thipsay (1) 1-0 Beaumont (1); 11 IM Martin (1) 1-0 Holmes (1).
M Basman - J Rowson
Smith & Williamson British Ch (2) The Grob
1 g4 e6 2 Nf3 b6 3 e3 Bb7 4 Be2 g5 5 Rg1 h6 6 c4 Nf6 7 Nc3 Nc6 8 d4 Bb4 9 Bd2 Bxc3 10 Bxc3 Ne4 11 d5 Nxc3 12 bxc3 Ne7 13 Qd4 Rg8 14 e4 c5 15 Qe3 Ng6 16 a4 d6 17 dxe6 fxe6 18 e5 dxe5 19 Nxe5 Qc7 20 Nxg6 Rxg6 21 0-0-0 Rf6 22 Rg3 Rd8 23 Rxd8+ Kxd8 24 Bf3 Ke7 25 Bxb7 Qxb7 26 Kb2 Qh1 27 h3 Qf1 28 Rf3 Qxc4 29 Rxf6 Kxf6 30 Ka3 a6 31 Qf3+ Kg6 32 Kb2 Qxa4 33 Qd3+ Kg7 34 Qd6 Qe8 35 Qe5+ Kg8 36 f4 gxf4 37 Qxf4 Qb5+ 38 Ka3 Qa5+ 39 Kb2 Qb5+ 40 Kc1 Qd3 41 Qf6 Qe3+ 42 Kb2 b5 43 Qg6+ Kf8 44 Qf6+ Ke8 45 Qg6+ Kd7 46 Qf7+ Kc6 47 Qe8+ Kd5 48 Qa8+ Kc4 49 Qxa6 Qxc3+ 50 Kb1 Qe1+ 51 Kb2 Qe2+ 52 Kc1 Kb3 0-1
Scotsman 29-7-98 THE top two seeds in the Smith & Williamson British Championships in Torquay, GMs Nigel Short and Matthew Sadler (last years joint champion) had a relatively trouble free start to the tournament, with both having easy wins.
Unfortunately for Nigel Short, his plan of playing on the top board throughout the tournament hit a snag. It had been so long since he last played at the British (1987) he forgot about the custom of the defending champion defending his title on the number one board. Whereas in other tournaments, as the highest rated player, Short would expect to be playing on the top board, the British breaks with tradition on the opening day of the tournament by allowing the defending champion to have that honour.
The only seeded players who dropped points on the opening day were GMs Mark Hebden, Jon Speelman and Chris Ward, who all drew their games.
For Speelman, the draw had more to do with tiredness and fatigue rather than misplaying his position. Speelman arrived in Torquay just hours before the first round after being delayed by a combination of planes, trains and automobiles in Copenhagen. He jetted in directly from Denmark after coming equal first, on 7.5/9, with Jonny Hector (Swe) in the Roskilde Open.
Round 1 1 GM Sadler 1-0 Lewis; 2 A.Smith 1-0 GM N.Short; 3 A.Hunt draw GM Speelman; 4 GM Hebden draw Jackson; 5 Tebb 0-1 GM Miles; 6 GM Wells 1-0 Coleman 7 R.Pert draw GM Ward; 8 IM Rowson 1-0 Alfred; 9 Moskovic draw GM Conquest; 10 GM Arkell 1-0 Rayner; 11 Eames 0-1 IM Sasikiran; 12 GM Summerscale 1-0 A.Jackson 13 D.Ledger 0-1 GM Thipsay; 14 IM A.Ledger 1-0 Stephenson 15 Osborne 0-1 IM Martin; 16 GM Levitt 1-0 C.Morrison,; 17 Potopaey 0-1 IM Lane; 18 IM B.Kelly draw Barton; 19 Gunter 0-1 IM Gormally; 20 IM Bates draw WIM S.Jackson; 21 A.Cooper 0-1 N.Pert; 22 M.Houska 1-0 Leech; 23 Mutton 0-1 IM Basman; 24 Wall 1-0 Richards; 25 Wismayer draw WGM S.Lalic; 26 Knott draw S.Buckley; 27 Forbes 0-1 S.Williams; 28 Beaumont 1-0 Player; 29 McDonnell 0-1 Hinks-Edwards; 30 J.Cobb draw Hanley; 31 M.Buckley draw IM G.Buckley; 32 Dyce 0-1 Holmes 33 Rendle 0-1 Kennaugh
M Sadler - A Lewis BCF (1)
King's Indian Def
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Bg5 0-0 6 Be2 Na6 7 f3 c5 8 d5 h6 9 Be3 e6 10 Qd2 exd5 11 cxd5 h5 12 Bd3 Bd7 13 Nge2 Re8 14 0-0 Rb8 15 a4 Nb4 16 Bc4 a6 17 a5 Nh7 18 Kh1 Qe7 19 Rae1 b5 20 axb6 Rxb6 21 f4 Bb5 22 b3 Nf6 23 e5 Ng4 24 Bg1 dxe5 25 Ne4 Bxc4 26 bxc4 exf4 27 Nxf4 Rbb8 28 Bxc5 Qc7 29 d6 Qc6 30 d7 Red8 31 Bxb4 Rxd7 32 Nd5 Kh8 33 Rc1 Ne5 34 Bc3 Rc8 1-0
Reports by John B Henderson - Scotsman