Games: Chess

William Hartston
Tuesday 23 December 1997 00:02 GMT
Comments

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 English are doing magnificently in the Fide world championship in Groningen. Nigel Short is through to the last five, and may be joined by Michael Adams, if the latter can win his play-off with Loek van Wely. If that happens, the two Englishmen will meet in the next round.

Short has played as well as at any time since 1993, when he qualified to meet Kasparov in a world title match. In the four years since then, he has looked unimpressive. Last month, for example, he drew all his games on top board for England in the world team championship. In the current event he has rediscovered how to win games against top grandmasters.

In the last round, he beat Mikhail Krasenkov 2-0. Here is his first win. White gains a small advantage from the opening, and maintains his grip until Black allows a devastating combination in the endgame. After 45...Nxd5 46.Re8 Black is mated.

White: Nigel Short

Black: Mikhail Krasenkov

1 e4 c5 24 Nc3 Qd7

2 Nf3 Nc6 25 f3 Ng6

3 c3 Nf6 26 Qd2 Rc7

4 e5 Nd5 27 Ba4 Qc8

5 Bc4 Nb6 28 Re1 Rd8

6 Bb3 d5 29 Kf2 Ne7

7 exd6 e6 30 Bb3 Qb8

8 d4 cxd4 31 Ne2 Rxc1

9 cxd4 Bxd6 32 Rxc1 Rc8

10 0-0 Ne7 33 Re1 Nc6

11 Nc3 Bd7 34 Bc2 Qd6

12 Ng5 h6 35 a3 Ne7

13 Nge4 Bc7 36 Bb3 Kf8

14 Qg4 Nf5 37 Nf4 a5

15 Rd1 0-0 38 h4 Qd7

16 Nc5 Bc8 39 h5 Qb5

17 g3 Nd5 40 Bd1 Rc6

18 Nxd5 exd5 41 g4 Qc4

19 Qf3 Ne7 42 Re3 Qc1

20 Bf4 Bxf4 43 Qxc1 Rxc1

21 Qxf4 b6 44 Ba4 Bc8

22 Na4 Be6 45 Nxd5 resigns

23 Rac1 Rc8

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in