Hope and glory

Raymond Keene

Nigel Short has entered chess history as the first British player this century to contest a world chess championship match. After eight games of his final world elimi- nator against Jan Timman in Spain, the score was neck and neck. In the final phase, though, the British Grandmaster demonstrated what a mercilessly tough and resilient mental warrior he has now be- come. Game 9 was a hair-raising, crazy battle. Nigel's nerves proved the stronger and he emerged from the crisis with a win, which shattered the Dutchman's morale. Thereafter, Nigel turned in a smooth per- formance for game 10, succumbed after a long ending in game 11, but more or less clinched the match in his favour by a cliff-hanger in game 12. For what turned out to be the final bout, Timman's attack for game 13 fizzled out to a draw. Nigel Short thus became the recipient of £87,000 in prize money, was declared match victor by the score of 71/2 to 51/2, and can now look forward to a historic challenge against Gary Kasparov later in the year.

Short's margin of victory was exactly what I predicted before the match, namely two points. I will now look at three of the most critical positions of the match.

Timman-Short: Candidates' Final, El Escorial, Game 9.

After a fierce Ruy Lopez opening, Nigel, Black to move, could have played 18 . . . Qxal. Nigel instinctively rejected this on account of 19 Qe6, when White has a dangerous attack, though nothing clear. One possibility is 16 . . . Qxal 19 Qe6 Rf8 20 Rel Rf5 21 Na3 Rd8 22 Nc4 Rd5 23 d4 cxd4 24 Qxe7+ IC.xe7 25 Ba3+ followed by Rxa 1. White would have had some compensa- tion for the exchange, but it is not totally convincing. Still, Timman would have been mentally prepared for this, so Nigel brilliantly carried the fight to his opponent with 18 . . . f3. After this, Timman was defending, the whole psychological profile of the game changed, and Timman swiftly collapsed. 18 . . . f3 19 Nc3 fxg2 20 Rel 0-0 21 Qe6+ 1117 22 Ndl Qxal 23 Qxe5 Qxe5 24 RxeS Nc6 25 Rxc5 Nb4 26 Ba3 Nxd3 27 Rc6 Ra8 28 Rd6 Rxa3 29 Rxd3 Rxa2 30 Ne3 Kg7 31 Kxg2 Ra5 32 Rd4 Rb5 33 b4 Rbb7 34 Rc4 Rfc7 35 Rg4 Rd7 36 h4 h5 37 Rg5 Rxb4 38 d4 Rf7 39 Rd5 Rb2 White resigns.

Short-Timman: El Escorial, Game 10.

White clearly enjoys a fluent attacking position. In particular, his bishop on b3 emanates power, in contrast to Black's knight which is stranded off-side. White now launched an offensive directed against Black's vulnerable pawn on f7. Its forcefulness and elegance reminds me strong- ly of Bobby Fischer at his best. 31 Rd3 h4 32 Rf3 hxg3 33 Rxf6 gxf2+ 34 Kxf2 Re7 35 Rxg6+ Kh7 36 Rg3 d5 37 exd5 Bxd5 38 Rd3 Nb6 39 Ne3 Red?

40 NxdS Black resigns.

Short-Timman: El Escorial, Game 12.

A double-edged position, with both sides attack- ing each other on all parts of the board. Nigel now stoked up the flames by sacrificing the exchange. 34 RxdS Bxd5 35 QxdS Rxf4 36 BO Qg7 37 Bd4 Re8 It now looks as if White can win with the stunning variation 38 e6 Nf6 39 Qd7 but then Black repulses the onslaught with 39 . - • Re7!! White's actual move in the game sets a number of diabolical traps. 38 Qd6 Qg3+ An error in time trouble. Timman should have played 38 . . . Rfl. 39 Kgl h3 40 Rf2 h2+ The last move of the time control. Better is 40 • • • Rxd4 41 Qxd4 Ng5. 41 KM Rxd4 The horrible point of White's trap is revealed. The plausible, and probably planned, 41 . . Rxf2 loses Black's queen after 42 e6+. 42 Qxd4 Nf6 Everything hangs together as if by a miracle , for if 42 • • ,; Qxe5 43 Re2 Qxd4 44 Rxe8 + winning. 43 Reg Nh5 44 e6+ Qg7 45 Kxh2 f4 A blunder, but by

resigns.

Final position was hopeless. 46 Bg6 Black Final match result:

Short 1/2 0 1

1 V2 1/2 0 1/2 1 1

0 1

1/2 71/2

Timman 1/2 1 0 0/ 1/2 1 Vz 0 0 1 0 1/2

51/2 The World Chess Federation will be opening sealed bids to stage the Kasparov v Short match on Monday, 8 February at noon in their Lucerne headquarters. It seems likely that Barcelona may make a bid, while Manchester, in support of their Olympic aspirations, may also throw their hat into the ring.