Gibraltar International 2012

[Andrew Stone]

Although it may not have been relevant in mine or others games so far, given the generally high rating differences, I really like this no draws policy (until move 30). No messing around, just get on with it! This is the first tournament I have played that has it and I am now even more firm in my wish that someday this policy is applied to all games of chess. I know this has been debated before but for me and many others this will be their first experience of it. What does anyone else playing in Gibraltar think of the rule? I've 3 wins, 3 losses, no draws btw!

[Andrew Stone]

Hou Yifan is playing Judit Polgar today, their first ever meeting. Seen them both around the hotel today and you wouldn't have guessed they had this huge game in a few hours- they both looked very relaxed.

[Andrew Stone]

Of course today I offered a draw on move 31. It was accepted by my lower rated oppo. According to Fritz I really got out of jail with this draw offer.

[PeterTurland]

Watching the Hou Polgar match with great interest, only 17 years old and my engine is scoring her ahead of the legendary Polgar, If she wins, a new chapter in chess history might start to be written.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Watching the Hou Polgar match with great interest, only 17 years old and my engine is scoring her ahead of the legendary Polgar, If she wins, a new chapter in chess history might start to be written.

And she (Hou) did win. Though I'm still trying to work out what happens in the final position after 47...Bc8. Are there tactics involving 48.f6+ or is it just Hou being two pawns up? Oh, I see it now! 47...Bc8 48.f6+ Kxf6 49.Rxc8 Rxc8 50.Rxh6+. Wins a whole piece. Very nice.

[Andrew Stone]

Was just going down to see Hou Yifan's game when starting chatting to my oppo on the stairs. Then Hou Yifan comes down. Told her I was just going down to see her game. She seemed in a good mood. Funny that!

[Paul Cooksey]

Adams 1 - 0 Howell. I doff my cap to anyone who saw the trick on move 110 coming in the long manoeuvring phase

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5 4. d3 fxe4 5. dxe4 Nf6 6. O-O d6 7. c4 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. Nc3 Be7 10. c5 O-O 11. cxd6 Bxd6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qd3 Kh8 14. Nd2 Bc5 15. Qxd8 Raxd8 16. Nb3 Bd4 17. Be3 Bxc3 18. bxc3 Nxe4 19. Nc5 Nd2 20. Rfc1 Rfe8 21. c4 Bf7 22. Nb7 Rb8 23. Na5 Rb2 24. Nxc6 Nxc4 25. Bxa7 Bd5 26. a3 Ra8 27. Bc5 Rb5 28. Be7 h6 29. a4 Rb6 30. Nb4 Bg8 31. Rc3 Ra5 32. Kh2 Rb7 33. Nd3 Rba7 34. Re1 c6 35. Bc5 Rb7 36. Re4 Rd7 37. Bb4 Raa7 38. Nc5 Rd4 39. Rxd4 exd4 40. Rd3 Nb2 41. Rxd4 Nxa4 42. Rd6 Nxc5 43. Bxc5 Ra4 44. Bd4 Kh7 45. Be5 Re4 46. f4 Bf7 47. Rxc6 g5 48. Rc7 Kg6 49. Rc6+ Kh7 50. Rf6 Bd5 51. Rd6 Bf7 52. Kg3 gxf4+ 53. Bxf4 Re6 54. Rd7 Kg7 55. Kg4 Kg6 56. Rc7 Ra6 57. Rc5 Rb6 58. Kh4 Rb4 59. Rc6+ Kg7 60. Kg3 h5 61. Be5+ Kh7 62. Rd6 Re4 63. Bd4 Re6 64. Rd7 Kg6 65. Kf4 Ra6 66. Bc3 Rc6 67. Rd3 Kh6 68. Bd4 Ra6 69. Bb2 Rb6 70. Be5 Rb4+ 71. Bd4 Bg6 72. Rd2 Rb5 73. Re2 Rf5+ 74. Kg3 Bf7 75. Rb2 Bd5 76. Be3+ Kg6 77. Kh4 Re5 78. Bf4 Rf5 79. Bc7 Bf7 80. Rc2 Bd5 81. Rd2 Bf7 82. Bh2 Rd5 83. Rf2 Rf5 84. Re2 Bc4 85. Rd2 Bf7 86. Bc7 Rd5 87. Rf2 Rf5 88. Bf4 Ra5 89. Rd2 Rd5 90. Rb2 Rf5 91. Rb4 Rf6 92. Be5 Rc6 93. Bd4 Rd6 94. Be3 Re6 95. Bf4 Rf6 96. Rd4 Rc6 97. Rd3 Re6 98. Rc3 Re4 99. Rc6+ Re6 100. Rc5 Kh7 101. Be5 Kg6 102. Kg3 Ra6 103. Bd4 Rd6 104. Bc3 Ra6 105. Ba5 Rf6 106. Bc3 Ra6 107. Kh4 Ra4+ 108. g4 hxg4 109. Rc6+ Kh7 110. Kg5 Bb3 111. Rc8 Bg8 112. Rc7+ Bf7 113. Rxf7+ Kg8 114. Rg7+ Kf8 115. hxg4

[PeterTurland]

Hou has done it again, against GM Le Quang Liem, this time not nearly as impressive as yesterday, Le missed a simple draw.

[Jonathan Rogers]

and again! One result away from an historic win, can anyone think of a better tournament result even by Judit herself? Perhaps Dos Hermanas in 1994 or whenever? I don't think that Sofia Polgar's result in Rome 1989 was quite the same ("lesser quality of GMs") but of course some may disagree.

[PeterTurland]

and again! One result away from an historic win, can anyone think of a better tournament result even by Judit herself? Perhaps Dos Hermanas in 1994 or whenever? I don't think that Sofia Polgar's result in Rome 1989 was quite the same ("lesser quality of GMs") but of course some may disagree.

Yes very exiting, it was not just that she beat Shirov but how? The poisoned pawn against someone with the tactical skill of someone who makes 'fire over the board'. To what heights will this scrap of a lass aspire to?

[Jonathan Rogers]

To ask a question which normally arises in under ten events, would she win the women's prize as well the main prize?

If she does win it outright, then you, Andrew - yes you - must approach her and convey the congratulations of the EC Forum. And give her some flowers or something (not sure whether buying her a celebratory pint will really be possible, though Chessbase would love the photo).

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Great result against Shirov. I briefly looked at the position when Black's king was on e8 and White's king on h1, and assumed that Black was in trouble, but looks like it was all under control. Hou Yifan is White against Mamedyarov in the final round - a draw may be enough, and Mamedyarov certainly has every reason to go for a win, but it would be great if Hou could finish in style. As Jonathan R has said, it will get people scrambling for the record books. What I would be comparing it to is previous performances at this level by 17-year-olds both male and female.

[Krishna Shiatis]

Hi there,

Just a quick thank you to Stuart Conquest and all at Gibralter for doing the Masterclasses - they are superb! I have enjoyed all the ones which I have had time to watch and Stuart does interview well. It is lovely to see the players talking about their games, so close to the actual game itself whilst everything is fresh in their minds.

Very enjoyable and an excellent idea!

Kind regards,

Krishna

[Michael Jones]

As of move 40, Hou doesn't look any worse against Mamedyarov - white's c-pawn is easily defended, black's looks more vulnerable. Let's see whether or not she goes for the win. As far as this patzer can tell, none of the four other players on 7 appears to have a decisive advantage, so a draw may be enough for Hou to win outright.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Hou-Mamedyarov draw; Bologan-Adams draw; Sasikiran-Short black win. Hou v Short in the play-off.