1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. e3 Bf5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Be7 12. Rb1 a5 13. O-O O-O 14. Qc2 Bd6 15. a3 Na6 16. Rfc1 Re8 17. Ne2 Qe7 18. Ne1 Qh4 19. g3 Qf6 20. Nd3 h5 21. Nef4 h4 22. Qd1 hxg3 23. hxg3 Qf5 24. Qh5 Qe4 25. Rd1 Nc7 26. Qh1 Qxh1+ 27. Kxh1 a4 28. Kg2 Nb5 29. Rdc1 g6 30. Ne2 Kg7 31. Nc3 Nxc3 32. Rxc3 Kf6 33. Nc5 Bxc5 34. Rxc5 Ke6 35. Rh1 Ra6 36. Kf3 Rb6 37. Rc2 Rb3 38. Ke2 Rc8 39. g4 b6 40. Rh4 c5 41. g5 c4 42. Kd2 b5 43. Rh3 f6 44. gxf6 Rf8 45. Ke2 Kxf6 46. Rh7 Rb8 47. Rd7 Ke6 48. Rg7 Kf6 49. Ra7 Rb6 50. Kf3 Rc6 51. Ra5 Kf5 52. Ke2 g5 53. Kd2 Rd3+ 54. Ke1 Rb3 55. Ke2 g4?

55... Rh6! wins easily, since the rook can come round to b1.

56. Ra8 c3!

Black is still better, but it's more complicated than it needs to be after White's next.

57. Re8!

A shock: after 57. Re8 cxb2?? 58. Rxc6 the black king is caught in a mating net, since the escape square g4 has been closed off by Black's 55th. Allen finds the best continuation.

57... g3!

Opening up g4 again. Black still has much the better of it.

58. bxc3 gxf2?

Now Black's advantage slips away. Better 58... g2! 59. Rc1 Rxa3 with excellent winning chances.

59. Kf1!

Much stronger than 59. Kxf2 Rcxc3. White plans to capture on f2 with the rook instead, after which the black king is once again exposed.

59... Rcxc3?! 60. Rxf2+ Kg4??

A tragedy. 60... Kg6 is essential, after which White has nothing better than a perpetual.

61. Rg8+ Kh3 62. Rf7 Rb1+ 63. Ke2

and Black is mated.

1-0

Source(s): TWIC 905.

Reference(s): A missed opportunity: Arkell-Allen, Blackpool 2012, Seán Coffey, IRLchess, November 17, 2012.

Event information: Pairings & results, Blackpool Chess Conference web pages.

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