Chess
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.COMING HOME on Wednesday to write this, I fear rather subdued, column, I stopped off to watch an "eruption" of the volcano at the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas. But the bangs and whizzes were as nothing compared to the bloodshed earlier in the day in the Emperor's Ballroom in Caesars Palace.
All five English players had had decisive results on Tuesday: Short, Adams and Miles won; Sadler and I lost. Tony Miles, who started with a splendid win as Black against Michal Krasenkow, lost as White, so they are to play off, starting at 3pm - 11pm London time - on Thursday.
Boris Gelfand vs Jon Speelman (to move)
My tournament started to unravel in this position where I played the planned and crass 18 ...Qe5?? The idea is that after 19 Bxe5 Rxc2 20 Bg3 Rxb2 - when 21 Rac1!? still gives good compensation for the pawn(s) - but, of course, as soon as my hand had left the piece I saw 19 Rd8+! Rxd8 20 Bxe5 Nxe5 21 Qxe4, and although I fought on for more than 30 moves, the end result was inevitable.
One of the matches of the round saw Alexei Shirov pitted against Bosnian Ivan Sokolov. Sokolov won excellently in the first game below but then Shirov fought back as Black so they also were playing off yesterday.
Shirov's rook jump to a5 turned out to be too creative and Sokolov massed on the e file then crashed through. At the end 48 Ke1 Nc2+ 49 Kd2 Bf4+ 50 Kd1 Re1 is mate.
White: Alexei Shirov
Black: Ivan Sokolov
Las Vegas 1999
(Round 2 Game 1)
Petroff Defence
The Smith & Williamson British Championship, with three of its 11 rounds played, is taking shape. Emms, Lalic, Wells, Gormally and Ward had three points ahead of Hodgson, Conquest, Rowson, Pert, Lane, Turner, and the Indians Kunte, Saravanan and Thipsay, on 21/2.
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nf6
3 Nxe5 d6
4 Nf3 Nxe4
5 d4 d5
6 Bd3 Nc6
7 0-0 Be7
8 Re1 Bg4
9 c4 Nf6
10 Nc3 0-0
11 cxd5 Nxd5
12 h3 Be6
13 a3 Bf6
14 Ne4 Bf5
15 Qb3 Nb6
16 d5 Bxe4
17 Bxe4 Ne7
18 Be3 Nec8
19 Rac1 Nd6
20 Bb1 Qd7
21 Rc5 g6
22 Rec1 Rac8
23 Nd4 a6
24 Ba2 Rfe8
25 Qd3 Ne4
26 Ra5 Qd6
27 b4 Be5
28 Nf3 Bb2
29 Rc2 Bg7
30 Bc5 Qd7
31 Bb3 Rcd8
32 Be3 Qd6
33 Rac5 Rd7
34 Nd2 Nf6
35 Nc4 Nxc4
36 Bxc4 Ne4
37 Ra5 Rde7
38 Bb3 Be5
39 Ba4 Bh2+
40 Kf1 Ng3+
41 Ke1 b5
42 Rc6 Qe5
43 d6 cxd6
44 Rcxa6 Nf5
45 Bxb5 Nxe3
46 Bxe8 Qa1+
47 Kd2 Qb2+
0-1
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments