Thanet Congress games: Challengers

When the Thanet Congress began in 1970 there were three sections: Open, Major and Minor, still a common arrangement in many congresses today. Not that many years ago a fourth section was added: the Intermediate. This year it was decided to add a fifth: the Challengers, an ambitious and, indeed, challenging decision. It paid off because we had 19 entrants including a junior who is the fourth best for his age group in the country. Once again, it was a local player, John Atherton from Folkestone Chess Club, who carried off the trophy. Here is his winning game from Round 5 and thanks to John for his comments.

White: John Atherton  (163)     Black: Paul Jackson (162)

Thanet Congress (Challengers) 2017

After a draw in Round 1 against Steve Appleby, I managed three wins and was a half-point clear going into the final round. My opponent was Paul Jackson (162). Paul had won the tournament before and is a dangerous attacking player who plays the Dutch Stonewall Variation which he used to overpower Bob Pooley in an earlier round. The main elements are a rigid centre, place a knight on e4 throw the g pawn forward and mate. I devised a scheme to blunt this …….

1.d4 e6 (Paul also plays the French but I rarely play e4) 2. g3 f5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nh3!? The idea here is twofold: first to support Bf4 if Black plays Bd6 and second, e5 is the weak black square and the knight on f4 can go to d3 whist the other knight can also control e5 via d2 and f3. 4.…d5!? persisting with the Stonewall set-up. Another plan is the d6 set-up hoping for a later e5 to neutralise the h3 knight. White switches to an e4 break. 5. O-O Bd6 6. Bf4 Be7 (Paul retains his good bishop and plans to harass the white bishop) 7. Nd2 O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Qc2 (a little positional trick – if Nd7 then cxd5 forces cxd5 else White wins the f-pawn and has easy play down the c-file)…Nh5 10. Nf3 Nxf4 12. Nxf4 Bd6 13. e3 (he won’t take the knight as his e-pawn is backward and pawn attacks on the kingside are held back.) 13…Qe7. Time for a plan: e4 breaks are tricky so let’s open up the queenside and trust in the solid white position with the great g2 bishop protecting the king. 14. b4 Nd7 15. a4 e5 (Black tries the recommended response to a wing attack with central play but it does free d4) 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Nd4 Kh8 18. c5 Bc7 19. b5 g5 20. Nd3 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Bd7 (the c pawn is poisoned as if Qxc5 Rc1 plus bxc6 kills Black’s position) 22. Rac1 Rae8 23. bxc6 bxc6 24. Qa6 (time to go pawn grabbing and see if my trust in the position is justified) … Rf6. I offered a draw here as the only players who could catch me had drawn so a draw gave me the title. Paul of course declined. 25. Qxa7 Be5 26 Nf3 Bb8.  27. Qa5 (eyeing up e1 so that f4 exf4 followed by mass exchanges on the e-file so Paul switches to a plan to mate me down the h-file…. Rh6 28. Qc3+ Kg8 29. Rfe1 g4 (here he comes) 30. Nd4 Qg5 31. Rb1 Qh5 32. Rb7 Qxh2+ 33. Kf1 Bc8 (Sneaky: if Rxb8 then Ba6+ is overwhelming.  However, this was my chance for a brilliancy with Ne6 which mates shortly.) 34. Reb1 Be5 (stops Ne6) 35. a5 (tally ho) Bxb7 36. Rxb7 Ra8 37. Qd2 (I am still winning: look at how out of play Black’s queen and rook are.) Rc8 38. Nxc6 (attacking the bishop and if Rxc6 then Bxd5+ wins) Re8 39. Qxd5+ Kh8 40. Nxe5 1-0. That’s all folks.

 

Peter Dirmauskas was the joint winner of the Intermediate section of the tournament with Paul Arnold whom he defeated in the final round. When featuring one of Paul’s games on this site, I had promised (threatened?) to publish his defeat by Peter in a later posting. However, Peter sent this game instead because in his words “I played a gambit which was fun, it was a nice checkmate and a quick game which was what I really needed as the extra time I had after the game to relax and recharge I think helped me in my final game against Paul Arnold.”   

White: Peter Dirmauskas  (118)     Black: Jeff Fleischer (127)

Thanet Congress (Intermediate) 2017

And, as John Atherton rightly said, that’s all folks.  I hope you have enjoyed looking through these games and thank you to all those who sent them in, especially to Kevin Thurlow who sent me all the Open games. See you all next year.

End of Term report

And so the Broadstairs members can finally have a breather – all three weeks of it – at the end of the 2016/17 season before we reconvene for the new season with the AGM in September. Yesterday (14th) saw the final club night of the club year and, appropriately, it was left to the final session to decide the club champion. The Goodall Cup has been awarded every year since 1950 to the winner of the club championship and in recent years David Faldon has made it almost a private possession, having won outright or shared the trophy for each of the past six seasons. David Horton’s move to Cheltenham last year should have left the door wide open but wait….who is this upstart appearing from the wings attempting to challenge David’s domination? Why, it’s Nick McBride, only one point below David in the latest ECF grading list and half a point behind him in the Goodall after twelve games. If Nick could beat David in their final game, he would win the Goodall Cup for the first time and it would be David’s first defeat.

White: Nick McBride  (173)     Black: David Faldon (174)

Broadstairs Club Championship 2017

David then offered a draw – all he needed – which  Nick reluctantly accepted and David won his seventh Goodall Cup.  It was an interesting game but perhaps David’s unusual and not especially successful opening gave Nick the initiative that very nearly came off.

A few weeks ago we mentioned David’s start in the Over 50 section of the British Championship at Llandudno. His final score of +1 =4 -2 was respectable in a section easily won by GM John Nunn. Reference was made to an early draw that David achieved against IM Paul Littlewood and, not surprisingly, this is the game with which David was most pleased so here it is.

White: David Faldon  (174)     Black: Paul Littlewood (221)

British Championship 2017 (Over 50 section) 

As the season draws to a close, I can hear the landlord ringing last orders for the Thanet Chess Congress.  I am never sure if our congress heralds the start of a new season or the end of the old. I suspect for us it is the latter but for those who have played little chess since Easter, probably the former. If you have not entered yet, there is still time as I write: http://www.thanetchesscongress.co.uk

 

 

Summer Swiss

While most chess clubs are enjoying a break from chess having closed down at Easter to re-start in September, there has been no respite for the hard-working and loyal Broadstairs members. This week’s attendance of fourteen (out of a club of twenty members, two of whom are Russian nationals in Moscow for the summer) was commendable. But then there are still three competitions to play for with only two weeks left in the season. Actually, make that two competitions because ten of the fourteen present on Monday were playing their last match in Round 5 of the Summer Swiss and here is the result:

 

Nick McBride 4½/5
Paul Carfrae    4/5
Bob Page   3½/5
Andy Flood 3/5
Reg Pidduck 2/5
John Couzens 2/5
Fredy Reber 2/5
Michael Jenkinson 2/5
Michael Doyle 1/5
Jordan Leach 1/5
                                        
Well done, Nick, I hear you say but not so….The prize for this competition (the John Cutting Cup) goes not to the player with the highest score but to the one with the best grade improvement over the five rounds. This will be revealed at the AGM in September. The two competitions left to be decided are the the club championship (Goodall Cup) and the knockout competition, a time handicap for the John Couzens Vase.   Fittingly, the two strongest players in the club, David Faldon (174) and Nick McBride (173) will be contesting both matches over the next two Mondays: an excellent climax to another successful season at the club. The Thanet Chess Congress – still places left but be quick as it’s filling up: go to http://www.thanetchesscongress.co.uk for more details – concludes the season and the club takes a short break before re-starting with the AGM the first Monday in September.

 

The quiet summer months mean that there has been no Game of the Week for some time so what about this alternative: Tactical Brilliancy of the Week? It doesn’t quite roll off the tongue as easily, does it? Some of you might even prefer Blunder of the Week but have a look at the following and you may change your mind. Last month we featured one of our old – or not so old – friends, Wei Yi. What about our other favourite Chinese star, Hou Yifan, I hear you ask? Well, she has just completed a stunning win at the Biel International Chess Festival, becoming the first woman to win in the history of the tournament with a 2809 performance. She won her last three games and possibly her finest performance was in the penultimate round against the veteran, Rafael Vaganian. Have a look at the position below and see if you can guess Yifan’s next move (Black to play).

Hands up if you spotted 20…Bxg2!!  Now be honest…you didn’t, did you? The game continued 21.Kxg2 Qxd4!! and now 22.exd4 would have allowed Yifan to play 22…Nf4+!, winning back the queen. Vaganian tried to wriggle out with 22.Qxg6 but the there was no escape: 22…Qd5+ 23.e4 fxe4 24.Qxe4 Qg5+ 25. Kh1 Qxd2 and Yifan won after 33 moves.

 

(Yet more) Thanet Congress Latest

Here is Martin Taylor, regular supporter (and sometime winner) of the Thanet Chess Congress, photographed by Brendan O’ Gorman at last year’s event in which he came second. He has entered once again this year and will face stiff competition if he is to win the Open this time. Already two International Masters, last year’s winner Alan Merry and now Richard Bates, defending his SCCU Champion title won only two weeks ago at the Weald Congress, have signed up. With two and a half weeks to go, it looks like being a competitive Open Tournament and numbers throughout all five sections are encouraging. If you have not yet booked your accommodation, you are advised to do so as Broadstairs is very busy in the summer. For more information, entry forms and online entry, visit the congress website http://www.thanetchesscongress.co.uk

While waiting for the Thanet Congress, our attention turns to the 2017 British Championship which has just begun in Llandudno. Among the various stars taking part is Broadstairs’ own David Faldon, who is in the Over 50 section. Whether he thought this was merely for players with grades over 50 is not certain but we hope he was not too surprised to be drawn against IM Paul Littlewood in round 2 against whom he achieved a draw which, together with his draws in rounds 1 and 3 represents a solid start. Unfortunately, none of David’s games is available so let’s turn our attention to the top seed (so far) at the Thanet Congress, IM Alan Merry. As I write, he has just won his round four game at the British and is currently on 3/4. Here is his win in round 1. For the latest news, go to http://www.britishchesschampionships.co.uk

White: Alan Merry  (2427)     Black: Ashley Stewart (2111)

British Championships 2017

Back to the Thanet Congress and never mind the chess, I hear you say, what about the food? Well, take a look at the kitchen below which is a bit smarter than your average chess congress canteen. The analysis room is attached (see below) so there is plenty of room to have your lunch and go through your games.  Rook van Zugzwang, our culinary correspondent, reports:  “The food is good, well priced and the kitchen staff can cater for specific dietary requests – just ask. Here is a sample menu:

All hot lunches £4.50

Pasty, chips & baked beans

Pasta & meatballs with garlic bread & salad garnish

BBQ chicken drumsticks with chips and salad garnish

(V) Cauliflower and broccoli cheese bake with garlic bread

(V) Vegetable pasta bake with garlic bread

Burger & fries

                          Analysis room

  

 

 

 

 

 

Filled Jacket potatoes served with salad garnish

With one filling £2.30

With two fillings £2.90

Additional fillings 60p

Fillings:

Grated cheddar cheese

Tuna Mayonnaise

Coleslaw

Baked beans

 

Puddings £1.70

Selection of cold desserts

 

You can also have breakfast:

Build your own Breakfast –  choose from the selection below 60p per item

Free range egg (fried or scrambled)

Pork sausage

Vegetarian sausage

Back bacon rasher

Baked beans

Grilled or Plum Tomato

Mushrooms

Hash brown

Sauté potatoes

Fried Slice

Toast

If you were hoping for black pudding, bad luck but egg, beans, sausage, mushrooms and bacon for £3.00?! Who needs chess? If you’re staying elsewhere, give their breakfast a miss and eat here, I say.  If you haven’t booked accommodation anywhere, there is still room at the university. Go to the Congress website listed above for details of accommodation available.”

 

Wei Yi in the news again

Regular visitors to this site must be wondering what has happened to Broadstairs’ adopted GM, Wei Yi. It’s so long since we heard from him that he must be at least 17 by now. Well, he is actually 18 which by chess standards is positively ancient. However, remember that he reached 2700 at a younger age than Magnus Carlsen and with his most recent rating 2746, he is 17th in the world rankings. Currently playing in the Danzhou Super-GM tournament, after four rounds he is the sole leader with 3/4. After two opening games with the black pieces, he had white against Ruslan Ponomariov in round 3, who was soon being bamboozled by a number of pawn sacrifices as Wei Yi cleared a way for his rook.

White: Wei Yi  (2746)     Black: Ruslan Ponomariov (2712)

8th Hainan Danzhou 2017

Of course, a recurring problem at super GM chess tournaments is the high percentage of draws. In order to avoid this, the organisers have instigated some new initiatives to promote positive play. According to Chess.com, “the tournament has some of the toughest anti-draw rules you’ll ever witness – no draw offers are allowed (only theoretical draws or with the agreement of the arbiter), while if the players draw by repetition within 15 moves they have to start the game again. If they draw by repetition in 15 moves again both players lose! Nevertheless, we’ve only seen three wins in 15 games.” We shall have to wait and see what effect the new rules have at the end of the tournament.