THE pace set in the Pilkington Glass British Men's Zonal, first stage
in the 1990-93 world championship elimination cycle, proved to be too
hot for Scotland's representatives, Paul Motwani and Colin McNab.
The event, played in Blackpool, finished last weekend in an outright
win by English grandmaster, Murray Chandler. Second to fourth places
were shared by Chandler's grandmaster compatriots, Michael Adams, Julian
Hodgson, and Mihai Suba. Adams, on a tie break, joined Chandler in the
two qualifying places for next year's interzonals.
Motwani and McNab had to settle for seventh and a share of eighth to
tenth places respectively, in a field of 11 players. England's Cathy
Forbes won the women's zonal, run in parallel with the men's event.
Scotland's Helen Milligan and Alison McLure finished in a tie for the
last two places in a very tight field of only eight.
If Scotland has little to celebrate in the final positions in the
zonals, our representatives nevertheless fought gamely and will have
learned a lot. Here is Murray Chandler's hard-fought and absolutely
crucial last round win in the men's zonal.
White: M. Chandler
Black: D. King
Pilkington Glass British Zonal, Blackpool 1990
Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e5
The world champion prefers to transpose into lines of the Scheveningen
Variation with 6 ... e6 in this position. The uncompromising text-move
is more typical of the spirit of the Najdorf.
7 Nb3 Be6 8 f3 Nbd7 9 g4
The stage is set for a complex positional struggle. White has the
advantage on the kingside and aims to storm Black's forces there. Black
has a full share of the centre and prospects of queenside counterplay,
but must carefully tend the weakened d5 square.
9 ... Be7 10 Qd2 Rc8 11 0-0-0 Qc7 12 Kb1 Nb6 13 h4 h6 14 Be2
Possibly 14 Rhg1 is more accurate. But, in general, White does not
fear the coming exchange on c4, as his two knights give him good
prospects of exploiting the weak squares, particularly d5, in Black's
rather static pawn structure.
14 ... Nc4 15 Bxc4 Bxc4 16 Rhg1 Nd7 17 g5 hxg5 18 Bxg5 Nf6 19 Qf2 b5
20 Be3 b4 21 Ne2
White concedes a lot of ground on the queenside, but maintains an
orderly retreat and his chances intact on the kingside. If now 21 ...
Bxb3 22 cxb3 Qc2+ 23 Kb1, and the opening of the c-file only rebounds on
Black.
21 ... g6 22 Nec1 Nd7!?
Black prevents 23 Bb6 in preparation for the advance of his a-pawn.
However, carrying out this plan allows White to swap black-square
bishops, which results in a loosening of his king's defences.
23 Bg5 a5 24 Bxe7 Kxe7 25 Nd3 a4 26 Nbc1 a3 27 b3 Be6 28 Rd2 Qc3 29
Rgd1 Nc5 30 Ne2
Black has almost mated White, but not quite. White now cleverly drives
Black's pieces back on the queenside and embarks on a promising
counterattack.
30 ... Nxd3 31 cxd3 Qc5 32 d4 Qb6 33 Qg3 Rh5 34 dxe5 dxe5 35 Qe1 Rc7
36 Rd6 Qc5 37 Qd2!
White's heavy pieces dominate the d-file and White now has a clear
advantage. Black's king is vulnerable, and his e and b pawns are
targets, while his king's rook is out of the game. If 37 ... Rxh4 38
Rc6!, threatening Qd8++ and wins.
37 ... Rh8 38 Rd8 Rc8 39 Rd3 Qb6 40 Rd7+ Kf6?
This move loses quickly, but there may not be a defence. If 40 ...
Bxd7 41 Qxd7+ Kf6 42 Rd6+ wins; or if 40 ... Kf8 41 Rd6 Qc5 43 Ng3,
threatening h5.
41 Qg5+ Kg7 42 Qxe5+ Kh7 43 h5!
And if 43 ... Bxd7 44 hxg6+ Qxg6 (or 44 ... Kxg6 45 Rg1+) 45 Rh1+ Qh6
46 Rxh6+ Kxh6 47 Qf6+ Kh7 48 Qxf7+ and wins.
43 ... g5 44 R1d6 Qf2 45 Qxg5 Rhf8
Or if 45 ... Rhg8 46 Rxf7+ Bxf7 47 Rh6+ 46 Rxe6 Black resigns.
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