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Round 9
Victor Jones (2076) 0-1 Chris
Ross (2203)
All, OK, a nice win yesterday. Played
the brother of William Jones, who I played earlier in
the tournament. Victor played the same opening and did
exactly what his brother did, who got a great position
against me. But I learnt from my mistake, having
analysed it in depth. I had a sneaky suspicion that he
may try the same trick and it was I who varied and set
out aggressively on the queen-side against white’s
queen-side castled king.
A typical Sicilian opposite-castled
kings game occurred, but my attack was that bit quicker.
White whipped up quite an attack towards the time
control and some clever defensive tricks and the final
counter-attack, with some neat tactics secured the point
for me. So, I was pleased with that. After my
disappointing loss the day before, I was delighted not
to have it affect my chess. I think I am strong-minded
enough not to allow things like that affect me as a
general rule, but I can’t help subconscious
consequences. But not to be. I played well and restored
my belief in my ability, not having understood my loss
against Storey. This gives me 4½/9, restoring my 50%
record, which is absolutely fine.
Today, I think I am playing yet
another junior, which will be my 4th. He seems quite a
tactical player and has done quite well in this
tournament, having taken out two 2200+ players already.
So, this is no push-over. I expect a difficult game.
Probably going to be a 3. Bb5+ Moscow variation
of the Sicilian.
All to play for…
More news later… Chris
Round 8
C. Ross (2203) 0-1 Charles Storey
(2279)
All, A heavy defeat. I am still
finding it difficult to understand and accept.
Devastating loss and one that I should not have
suffered. It was bizarre. A poor opening by black, and I
did everything right. My whole instinct told me that I
was just hugely better. I won a pawn with a neat tactic,
had the bishop pair, the stronger position. Analysis
with some friends has shown that maybe, I should have
been more aggressive in my play. Although I thought long
and deep about it, it never seemed possible. Oh well, I
guess that I should just get on and ensure to get the
best out of my remaining games.
Hard though to come to terms with a loss
like that though.
Oh well, got black today against another
junior… More news later… Chris
Round 7
William Jones (2052) ½-½ C.
Ross (2203)
All, OK, very tough game yesterday. Took
black in a Sicilian and gave up the dark-squared bishop
to shatter my opponent’s pawn structure and king.
However, he swapped off queens and simply, surprisingly,
outplayed me positionally. For a tactical player, he
played impressively well and I thought I was struggling
from move 11 onwards until the final moments of the time
control.
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In play against
William Jones (½-½) |
However, in the time scramble, he
started messing around a fair bit, especially with his
king, allowing me to open things up and start seeking
activity. What’s that adage, never allow your opponent
counter-play? Well, that is what he allowed me and
suddenly, I became very active and punted another draw
in the time scramble!
The draw was declined and the time
control just about reached, but not before I had
achieved equality in a difficult ending. Some accurate
play by both sides in the ending finally resulted in a
draw, but I thought I salvaged yet another half-point by
clever, experienced play yesterday. So, 3.5/7,
maintaining my 50% record. Today,
I have Charlie storey. A known
tactician, and player, who plays on, even when
considerable material down. Another tough pairing and I
think I will be once again live online, as I will be on
board 15. So, to follow my game (highly likely going to
be a “Modern”), go here: http://www.britishchess09.com/
More news later… Chris
Round 6
C. Ross (2203) ½-½ Philip
Bonafont (2124)
All, Yeah, I’m back on the airwaves,
having successfully moved to my new digs and got myself
installed on a wireless network from BT Openzone. Many
thanks to Shafeeq for helping me set up.
OK, round 6 saw me against Philip
Bonafont. A tough draw, as Phil can mix things up
tactically or positionally and has played some good
chess over the years. I prepped well and found a line in
the Queen’s Gambit Accepted that I liked for white and
which I thought gave me great pressure.
The opening went as expected, but
Phil deviated quite quickly, giving up his bishop pair
voluntarily. I gained a massive centre, the bishop pair
and, all for the QG c4 pawn. I realised that my A pawn
would prove very strong and threw it down the board to
create weaknesses. My target was the A7 pawn, of course,
and then if I could snatch it, that would prove very
annoying for black.
Phil didn’t push past though and
simply took it, giving himself a horrible pawn
structure, but clinging onto his material gallantly!
However, in the late middle game, I
miss-handled my minor pieces and allow black far too
much activity and black soon turned across to the
offensive.
As we passed through the time
control, I was still my pawn down, but struggling to
hold the ending, despite having compensation and a
potentially dangerous outside H pawn. Phil just couldn’t
quite find enough accuracy for his pieces and he allowed
my rook to become my saving grace, as it became active
on the back-rank and a forced repetition of the position
salvaged the draw.
This gives me 3/6, which is a 50%
scoring rate. I’m happy with this, since my 2 draws have
been hard-fought and my two losses have been to two very
strong titled players, who are doing well in the
tournament.
So, my ideal aim would be to obtain
another 3 points in the final week, which starts
tomorrow. What would give me 6/11, which would be
tremendous, but we’ll have to wait and see who I have
tomorrow. The pairings are not yet up.
Today has been the “rest” day and I
have been…well, resting! I’ve done practically nothing
today, but lounge around, read and now I’m off for some
food and a quick drink.
So, more news as it comes through.
Till later. Chris
Round 5
All, just a quick update on my
progress in the British Championships so far. Yesterday,
I racked up my 2nd win, giving me now 2½/4, which puts
me in the leading pack.
Today, I play a very strong Grand
Master, number 5 in the tournament. I will be on board
8, which will mean that my game will be transmitted live
on the web at:
http://www.britishchess09.com
The tournament is proving very
enjoyable if somewhat challenging…but I am doing better
than I thought I would so far…today is my toughest
challenge though. Well, two days to go and then the rest
day, so I am nearly half way through. Keep your fingers
crossed for us! Take it easy Chris
GM Simon Williams 1-0.
All, OK, I lost to Grandmaster Simon
Williams yesterday. The game was good, I played a
cramped, but decent position for some time. I played
exactly like James Cobb, who drew with Williams in round
3. But then, I managed to blunder a pawn and it went
down hill quickly after that.
Playing Bonafont today. Tough, but
not scary. Got 2½/5, so still on 50%. OK, having to move
digs, so I may go off the airwaves for a while, but I’ll
get news to you all somehow… Chris
Round 4
All, First, can I thank all of those who are sending me
messages and their good luck pick-me-ups. I am receiving
them all, but I am so bogged down with preparation and
the sheer momentous occasion, that I simply don’t’ have
the time to answer to individuals. But thanks in any
case!
OK, if you ever wondered the definition of the word
“hack”, then simply look no further than my game from
yesterday in round 4 against Roger DeCoverly. My win was a sheer “hack”! How many years
ago, I would have condemned such play, but this game was
bred from sheer determination to win. But hey, how many
times have I had folk on the England Grand-Prix weekend
congress go for hacks against me, when they are in a
decent position and when nothing else is available, they
lob their G pawn. So, do as is done upon you, right?! I
wanted to keep my opponent on the back-foot since, he
was an aggressive player, having played the Marshall
Gambit in the Ruy Lopez and other such things. I wasn’t
expecting 2… b6 in the Sicilian though!
So, my 15. g4! was born out from the wish to get the
game over with as quickly as possible and the sheer fact
that I could not see any other plan apart from
initiating the attack.
To be fair though, I thought my opponent fended off
the hack quite well. Move 20… f5 certainly caused me to
pause and at that point, I had 15 minutes to reach move
40!
This shows though, doesn’t it, that at about 180 ECF
grade, you can play in such a manner and beat people.
You have to be a class above that, to be able to fend
off such hacks, and that is the principal difference, as
hacks like this shouldn’t work, surely? You will note
that on move 27, we repeated the position, and my
opponent even offered a draw at that point…but with 5
minutes on the clock, I was confident of making the time
control and remaining on top, although the tactics were
complicated.
34… Bxc6 is probably forced, since if he retreats to
a8, then I simply push my D pawn down to d7 and will
fork there. I am actually very pleased with this,
although it certainly is not my usual style of play.
Today, I play Grand Master Simon Williams, who is a
formidable player. I have played him in a rapid play
before, in Richmond, where he played 2. a3! Against the
Sicilian. I don’t’ think he will play that today, but
this is an incredibly tough game. Again, I am on board
8, and you will be able to view my game online at the
official website:
http://www.britishchess09.com
Round 3
All, OK, a disappointing loss yesterday.
Especially so, since the number of moves was relatively
short, although the game lasted nearly 4 hours, both of
us getting down to the last few minutes, but the result
was in no result towards the time control.
In short, I prepped well for my opponent, whereas his
prep for me was entirely wasted, as he had seen games
from me in the database and prepared the Queen’s Gambit
Declined, whereas I whipped out a line of the Nimzo-Indian
that I had found fault in his previous games.
So, the game trundled along for a while, according to
theory. That is up to move 8, when he came out with
9.e5, which I hadn’t seen before. I had only ever seen
9. Qc2. Amazingly, my natural response to avoid
10. Qh5+
is not he best! Surprisingly, 9… Nf6, the retreat and
avoidance of the exchange on e4 is best. Amazing. After
that, my aggressive play met with nothing. The point of
my 15… Qxc5 was that I thought I had 16.. Qc3 as a
follow-up, hitting the rook, but 17. Bd2 hits the queen
and defends the rook. It is lost after that, of course.
So, today, somebody of a similar strength. Let’s see
how it all goes. I hope I don’t become too despondent
with the loss yesterday, but I don’t’ feel too bad at
least… I was just out-theoried, that’s all. More news as
it happens…
Round 2.
C. Ross (2203) 1-0 Andrew McClement
(1893)
All, This was not as easy as it
sounds. Andrew McClement is an up-and-coming junior, who
has a ridiculously low rating. Very knowledgeable, very
aware with the situation and more than a pushover, he
can consider himself exceedingly unfortunate not to have
racked up a full, well-deserved point against an
opponent 300 points above him.
Andrew played exceptionally well,
positionally soundly and was simply undone by the sheer
lack of experience. I can fully understand how he feels
now and I feel no satisfaction in having beaten him, in
a way that I, previously, considered unjust.
However, before that, I dedicate my
win yesterday to two people, Justin mulrooney and Steve
Hilton. The first for wishing me the best of luck on the
first anniversary of his marriage to Maria from
Kazakhstan and the second for giving me some helpful
hints in my opening preparation against my opponent.
OK, simply put, I had a reasonable
opening, set up solidly, and fought to obtain an IQP,
which I thought would confuse my opponent. However, he
showed excellent maturity and composure and fended off
all my aggressive intentions and easily obtained the d5
outpost, the bishop pair and every positional advantage
he could have wished for.
After 20 moves, I realised that my
position, although poor, had some tactical resources,
and I began to play quickly and kept my opponent
guessing for many a move. Inevitably, my opponent, aged
14, began to consume a lot of time. As we entered the
time scramble, I played resourcefully and basically,
forced the inaccuracies from my opponent. I did not play
ambitiously, but slightly restrained and put the onus on
my young opponent to finish off his more experienced,
perhaps, wiser, opponent.
And so, it was on move 36, with about
a minute on the clock for my opponent, I was a pawn
down, positionally, significantly worse and entered into
complications. I won my pawn back, and entered into an
ending, that I should in all reality, be able to hold.
However, tactics were still flowing, but I punted a draw
offer on move 36, which took up seconds on my opponent's
clock.
I condemned very critically Tyson
Mordue a few years ago for this tactic, and was
extremely cutting of such behaviour in an article, which
I posted in the B.C.A. Gazette, which, I now, must
apologise profusely for. I didn't appreciate the
in-depth experience in such a tactic and didn't
appreciate the effectiveness of such a punt, when in
practical play, until lately. Simply put, the punt of a
draw was cheeky, but affective. In the time scramble, my
opponent naturally took time to consider the offer.
Being young, having the fire in his belly for the
victory of a considerably higher-rated opponent than
himself, he got over-excited and came out with some
weird, and aesthetically pleasing tactics, but
unfortunately for him, back-fired since he didn't have
time to calculate them entirely.
So, my opponent fell into the same
trap that I did when I was young. Knowing I was better,
probably winning, I declined a draw offer in a time
scramble, got over-ambitious, and refused the draw
offer, in order to push for the win, fell into tactics
and lost!
Just like my opponent yesterday.
Declined the draw, went for an attractive tactic, which
failed, but only just, but I had the time to figure out
the refutation and he didn't have the time for the
follow-up!
So, I have now 1.5/2, having ridden
my luck in the past 2 games. I have not played well, but
have the results to show! I think there is only 7 people
on 2 points, but the field is certainly well spread out.
I play Graham Buckley today, who is 2398 grade...so,
this isn't going to be easy. I am on board 8 and am
certainly right in the mix!
More news later... Chris |
