Chess: Showdown on hold again
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Your support makes all the difference.TOMORROW'S scheduled play-off for the British championship, between Michael Hennigan and Dharshan Kumaran has been postponed again, because of Kumaran's continuing illness. Further medical bulletins are eagerly awaited. Meanwhile, here are the last-round games that led to them sharing first place.
White: Arkell
Black: Kumaran
After 13. Nxd2? (Kxd2 is better) White believes he will undermine the black pawn chain. Kumaran's excellent technique (and fine opening preparation) prove him wrong.
1 d4 d5
2 Nf3 e6
3 c4 dxc4
4 e4 b5
5 a4 c6
6 b3 Bb4+
7 Bd2 Bxd2+
8 Qxd2 Nf6
9 e5 Ne4
10 Qe3 Qa5+
11 Nfd2 Nxd2
12 Qxd2 Qxd2
13 Nxd2 c3
14 Ne4 b4
15 a5 Ba6
16 Ra4 Bxf1
17 Rxf1 Na6
18 Ke2 Ke7
19 Nc5 Nxc5
20 dxc5 Rab8
21 Rd1 Rb5
22 Rd4 Rd8
23 Rxd8 Kxd8
24 Kd1 a6
25 f4 Ke7
26 g4 f6
27 h4 fxe5
28 fxe5 Kf7
29 h5 g6
30 Kc2 gxh5
31 gxh5 Kg7
32 Ra1 Rxc5
33 Rd1
White resigns
White: Hennigan
Black: Hebden
Borrowing an opening from Nigel Short's repertoire, Hennigan accepts a pawn sacrifice for which Hebden seems to obtain excellent compensation. Black regains the pawn, but his knight is kicked out of play on h6. White picks pawns as the knight can only watch from afar.
1 e4 e5
2 Nf3 Nc6
3 Nc3 Nf6
4 Bb5 Nd4
5 Ba4 c6
6 Nxe5 d5
7 d3 Bd6
8 f4 0-0
9 0-0 Bc5
10 Kh1 b5
11 Bb3 a5
12 a3 Nxb3
13 cxb3 dxe4
14 dxe4 Qxd1
15 Rxd1 Be6
16 Re1 Rfc8
17 Be3 Bf8
18 Nd3 c5
19 e5 Ng4
20 Bg1 Bxb3
21 Ne4 c4
22 Ndc5 a4
23 h3 Nh6
24 g4 Rd8
25 Kg2 Rd5
26 Nxb3 axb3
27 Rad1 Rad8
28 Rxd5 Rxd5
29 Nc3 Rd2+
30 Re2 Rc2
31 Rxc2 bxc2
32 Be3 b4
33 axb4 Bxb4
34 Nd5 Bc5
35 Bc1 Kf8
36 Kf3 Ke8
37 Ne3 f6
38 exf6 gxf6
39 Nxc4 Kd7
40 Ne3 Kc6
41 Nxc2 Kd5
42 b3 Nf7
43 Bb2 Ke6
44 f5+ Ke7
45 h4 Nd6
46 Ne3 1-0
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