Pursuits: 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.THE CENTRAL London Premier Congress, a new incarnation of the
International Student House (ISH) tournament as was, took place at the ISH on 13-14 March. Three sections packed in no fewer than 269 players of whom 46 competed in the top event, the Premier for players rated under 210, which was won by Paul Georghiou (Barnet/Imperial College) with a perfect 5/5.
In the Major (for players rated less than 180) four out of a field of 116 ended up first equal on 4.5/5, including 10-year-old Murugan Thiruchelvam who this Sunday will play a six-game speed match with Jonathan Levitt in a bid to become the youngest player ever to beat a grandmaster. (At the London Chess Centre, 369 Euston Road - there are no spectator facilities but I'll be reporting on it next week.)
The Minor, for players rated under 125, had 107 entrants. First place went to William D Bennet (Cambridge) who like Paul Georghiou in the Premier also made 5/5.
This is Georghiou's crucial last- round victory against Jovanka Houska. I'm grateful to him for the moves, and some nice variations.
In the opening Black should first capture 8 ...dxc4 9 Bxc4 before g6 when if 10 e4 e5!: the problem being that as played if 9 ...dxc4 10 e5!. 12 ...Ba5 parried the threat of 13 Qa4 a5 14 a3 winning the bishop, but White got a huge bind.
If 21 ...axb4 22 h5 g5 23 f4!. Perhaps Black should have tried the vile 22 ...Bxd6 23 cxd6 Qd7 but she'd surely have lost. 23 Rd1 avoided the trap 23 Nxf7? Bxf7 24 Bxg6 Qxf6! 25 exf6+ Bxf6.
In the diagram if 23 ...Qd7 24 Bxg6 fxg6 25 Nxe8+ Qxe8 26 Rd7+ is easy; or as they found in the post mortem if 23 ...Rh6 24 cxb6 axb4 25 b7 Rb8 26 Be4 Qf8 (or 26 ...Qd7 27 Qc1 Bxf6 28 exf6+ Kh7 29 Nxe8 Qxe8 30 Bxc6 Qf8 31 Qf4 etc) 27 Bxc6 Bxc6 28 Rxf7+! Qxf7 29 Qxh6+! Kxh6 30 Nxf7+ Kg7 31 Nxd8 Bd5 32 Rc1! wins.
After 24 Nxf7! it was all over - if 27 ...Bxg6 28 Rd7+ etc.
White: Paul Georghiou
Black: Jovanka Houska
Queen's Gambit Semi-Slav
1 d4 d5
2 c4 e6
3 Nf3 c6
4 Nc3 Nf6
5 Bg5 h6
6 Bxf6 Qxf6
7 e3 Nd7
8 Bd3 g6?!
9 e4 dxe4
10 Nxe4 Bb4+
11 Kf1 Qe7
12 c5 Ba5
13 Nd6+ Kf8
14 Ne5 Nxe5
15 dxe5 Bc7
16 h4 Bd7
17 Rh3 Be8
18 Qg4 b6
19 Rf3 Kg7
20 b4 a5
21 Rf6 h5
22 Qg5 Bd8
23 Rd1 (see diagram)
23 ...axb4
24 Nxf7! Bxf7
25 Bxg6 Qxf6
26 exf6+ Bxf6
27 Qg3 Rhd8
28 Bxf7+ Kxf7
29 Qc7+ Kg6
30 Rxd8 Rxd8
31 cxb6 Rd2
32 b7 Rxa2
33 b8Q Ra1+
34 Ke2 Ra2+
35 Kf3 1-0
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments