A week in Torquay

Hats off to Harry Grieve, who took clear first place at the Chessable British Championships which concluded in Torquay last Sunday. I am in awe of the courage he showed in the final round game, against the international master Matthew Wadsworth. Grieve set the tone in the opening, sacrificing rook for bishop, but gaining long-term compensation. Wadsworth reacted well, but let his advantage slip, whereupon Grieve doubled up his investment. After several hours’ play, they reached the murky position shown below.

Matthew Wadsworth–Harry Grieve

Chessable British Championship, Torquay 2022

50...Qb7 The mate threat on b1 forces White’s hand. 51 Rxd3 cxd3 52 Qc3 Qa6 53 Qb3 Ke4! This move looks right, when I see it, but it takes real guts to play it. The d+e+f pawns shield the king on one side, while the king itself will advance to constrain the White rook. 54 a4 Kf3 55 Re1 Threatening Qb3-d1+, but already the decisive mistake. 55 Qd5+ was enough to draw, e.g. 55...Kf2 56 Qc5+ Ke2 57 Re1+! Kxe1 58 Qg1+ Ke2 59 Qg2+ with a perpetual check. Kf2 56 Re4 56 Qd1 Qc4+ 57 Kb2 Qb4+ and d2 falls. f5 57 Rc4 e4 58 Qc3 Ke2 The triumph of the king march! Once the d2-pawn falls, Black’s pawn trio is far too strong. 59 a5 Qh6 60 Kb1 Bxd2 61 Qb2 Qe6 62 Rc5 f4 63 Qb5 f3 64 Re5 Qg6 65 a6 f2 66 Rf5 Be3 67 Qb2+ d2 68 a7 Qxf5 69 a8=Q f1=Q+ 70 Ka2 Qe6+ 71 Ka3 Bc5+ 72 Ka4 Qc4+ 73 Ka5 Qa1+ 74 Qxa1 Qb4+ 75 Ka6 Qb6 mate

This year, the England squad (including me) were all absent from the Championship, which began just days after we returned from the Olympiad in Chennai. Even so, Grieve started the event as an outsider, seeded 16th in a field with eight grandmasters. He earns a grandmaster norm, and will surely graduate to the international master title soon.

Harry Grieve–Danny Gormally

Chessable British Championship, Torquay 2022

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bg5 e6 7 Qd2 Be7 8 O-O-O O-O 9 h4 a6 10 Nxc6 bxc6 11 Rh3 d5 12 Rg3 Kh8 13 Be2 Rb8 14 Qe3 Ng8 15 exd5 exd5 16 h5 f6 17 Bf4 Bd6 (see diagram) The decisive error. Instead, 17...Rb4 18 a3 Rxf4 19 Qxf4 Bd6 20 Qh4 Bxg3 21 Qxg3 kept the balance. 18 Rxg7! Re8 If 18...Kxg7 19 Qg3+ Kh8 20 Bxd6 forks the two rooks. 19 Qg3 Bxf4+ 20 Qxf4 Qb6 Leaving a double threat against b2 and Rg7, but it meets a cool response. 21 h6 Qxb2+ 22 Kd2 The king is safe enough here. Rb4 Hoping for 23 Qc7 Rd4+ 24 Bd3 Rxd3+ 25 Kxd3 Bf5+, which turns the tables. 23 Bd3! The final touch, threatening mate on h7. 23...f5 24 Qc7 is hopeless, so Black resigns