1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. h3 c5 8. e5 Nh5

White 0.48; Black 0.09.

9. g4 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Ng3 11. Rg1 Nxf1 12. Rxf1 Qa5

White 0.54; Black 0.33.

13. Qd5 Qxd5 14. Nxd5 dxe5 15. O-O-O exf4 16. Nxe7+ Kh8

White 1.31; Black 1.12.

17. Bxf4 Nb6 18. Nxc8 Raxc8 19. Be5 Nc4

Black offered a draw.

20. Bxg7+ Kxg7 21. Rd7 Ne3 22. Rf2 Rfd8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Rd2 Rxd2

White 1.52; Black 1.37.

25. Kxd2 Nd5

“So far Black has always been on the brink of equalising but now White plays a masterly endgame to bring about the win.” (John Griffin in Fiacla Fichille.) This account oversimplifies some significant twists and turns in the sequel.

26. c4 Nf4 27. h4 h5

After 27... Kf6 White has pressure but Black should hold easily enough.

28. gxh5 Nxh5

White 1.59; Black 1.49.

29. Ke3 Kf6 30. b4 Ke7 31. a4 a6 32. a5 Ng7

White 2.11; Black 2.10.

33. Kd4 Ne6+ 34. Kd5 f6 35. Ne1 Kd7 36. Nd3 Ng7

36... Ke7 is fine, since 37. b5 (else Black has no problems) 37... Kd7 38. bxa6 bxa6 39. Nb4 is met by 39... g5!= (only move).

37. Nf4 g5 38. h5 Nf5?

The critical turning point. “38... gxf4 39. h6 f3 40. hxg7 f2 41. g8=Q f1=Q. Or 38... gxf4 39. h6 Nf5 40. h7 Ne7+ 41. Ke4 Ng6 42. Kf5 f3 (but not 42... Nh8 43. Kxf4) 43. Kxg6 f2 44. h8=Q f1=Q”, per Alan Ludgate's notes on his scoresheet.

After 38... gxf4 3 9. h6 Nf5 (or 39... f3 40. hxg7 f2 41. g8=Q f1=Q=) 40. h7 Ne7+ 41. Ke4 Ng6 42. Kf5 Nh8 (42... f3 43. Kxg6 f2 44. h8=Q f1=Q is also equal, and simpler) 43. Kxf4, Black turns out to be fine after 43... Ke6 e.g., 44. b5!? (44. Kg4 Ke5 draws straightforwardly) 44... Ng6+! (but not 44... f5? 45. b6) 45. Kg4 Kf7, when White has nothing better than 46. c5 Ne5+ 47. Kf5 Kg7 48. c6 Nxc6! 49. bxc6 bxc6 50. h8=Q+ Kxh8 51. Kxf6=.

39. Ng2

39. Ne2.

39... Nh6 40. c5?

40. Ne1.

40... f5

White 2.28; Black 2.27.

40... g4? 41. Ne3.

40... Nf5!= e.g., 41. Ne1 (what else?) 41... Ne7+ 42. Ke4 Ke6.

41. Ke5 f4

41... Ke7? 42. b5 (Ludgate).

41... Kc6 42. Kf6 f4= was simpler.

42. Ne1 Kc6?

The losing move. “If 42... Kc7 43. Ke4 with the idea of Nd3-e5 ” Ludgate. Here 43... Kd8 (43... Kc6 44. Nf3) (43... Kd7 44. Nf3) (43... Ng8 44. Kf5) 44. Nc2! (44. Nd3?! Kd7 45. Ne5+ Kd8 is much less clear) 44... Kc7 45. Nd4 allows White to regroup, with a winning position (though there is still considerable work ahead).

But Black has an extraordinary saving resource: 42... Kd8!!= (42... Kc8!! also works) leaves White unable to make progress, due to a remarkable mutual zugzwang. After 43. Ke4 Kc7 (reaching the same position as above, but with White to move) 44. Nc2 (44. Nf3 g4 45. Ne5 f3=) (44. Kf3 Kc6=) 44... Ng8! 45. Kf3 (45. Kf5 now allows 45... f3 in a difference with the variation above) 45... Kc6 46. Kg4 Nf6+ 47. Kxg5 Nxh5 48. Kxh5 f3, it's a draw.

Perhaps Black could have found this resource if the game had been adjourned; as it was, this was the last round and the game had to be played to a finish.

43. Nf3 Kb5

43... g4 44. Nd4+, etc.

44. Nxg5 Kxb4

White 2.50; Black 2.45.

45. Kxf4 Kxc5 46. Ne4+ Kd5 47. Kg5 Nf7+ 48. Kf6 Nh6

White 3.30; Black 3.30.

49. Kg6

1-0

Source(s): Alan Ludgate scoresheet; Fiacla Fichille, vol. 1, no. 11, September 1983, p. 25 (John Griffin).

Event information: Tournament report.