Short's coolness secures victory

AFTER the most exciting game of the series, Nigel Short defeated Jan Timman in their World Chess Championship Candidates Final in San Lorenzo de El Escorial, Spain, to move to within half a point of winning the right to challenge for the world championship.

Short leads 7-5 and Timman must win both remaining games to take the match into overtime.

As often before, Short owed his win to a combination of tactical alertness and remarkable calmness as the game reached a climax of nail-biting complexity.

Playing the Open Defence to Short's Ruy Lopez opening, Timman adopted an old continuation that gave him active piece play in exchange for a ragged pawn formation. For some time, Short maintained a grip on the game, but he seemed to hesitate in the middle-game when he first rushed in with his queen to attack a pawn, then had second thoughts and retreated without taking it.

This, however, worked to his advantage as Timman tried to use the time gained to move on to the attack. With a black rook a little offside, Short seized his chance and sacrificed rook for bishop to control the centre. Suddenly it became clear that Timman's king was in trouble and he was desperately short of time.

Short played brilliantly as the time control approached, setting his opponent bewildering problems. Timman found a way to stay in the game until a final error at move 45 allowed Short an immediate tactical win. The 13th game will be played tomorrow.

----------------------------------------------------------------- White: Short Black: Timman ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Nxe4 6 d4 b5 7 Bb3 d5 8 dxe5 Be6 9 c3 Bc5 10 Nbd2 0-0 11 Bc2 f5 12 Nb3 Bb6 13 Nfd4 Nxd4 14 Nxd4 Bxd4 15 Qxd4 c5 16 Qd1 h6 17 f3 Ng5 18 Be3 Rc8 19 Qd2 a5 20 Rad1 Qe7 21 Bb1 Kh8 22 Rfe1 Rc7 23 Bf2 b4 24 h4 Nh7 25 Qd3 g5 26 Qa6 Rfc8 27 Re2 Rc6 28 Qd3 gxh4 29 f4 Rg8 30 Qf3 bxc3 31 bxc3 Rb6 32 Bc2 Rg4 33 Kh2 Rb8 34 Rxd5 Bxd5 35 Qxd5 Rxf4 36 Bxc5 Qg7 37 Bd4 Re8 38 Qd6 Qg3+ 39 Kg1 h3 40 Rf2 h2+ 41 Kh1 Rxd4 42 Qxd4 Nf6 43 Re2 Nh5 44 e6+ Qg7 45 Kxh2 f4 46 Bg6 1-0 -----------------------------------------------------------------