British Championship Thread

[John Philpott]

Ian Lamb wrote

mmm i wondering has howell offered a draw and lane turned it down ?

No Ian - Lane offered a draw after playing 6...h5 and Howell turned it down after some thought. This was regarded in the commentary room as a very brave, or possibly even foolish decision!

[Ian Lamb]

well he taken it now drawn game. he decided the rating points wernt worth it. he the new Brtish champion david howell congratulations. well John after the draw offer was declined howell seem to go in to a shell and play passivley so it strange he turned it down.

[Alex Holowczak]

Ian Lamb wrote

mmm i wondering has howell offered a draw and lane turned it down ?

No Ian - Lane offered a draw after playing 6...h5 and Howell turned it down after some thought. This was regarded in the commentary room as a very brave, or possibly even foolish decision!

It's easy to be critical... But that was a stupid decision. Lane basically asked "Do you want to win the tournament, or do you want to play on and risk not winning it?" Bizarre.

[Ian Lamb]

you missed out and play for the rating points alex?

[Alex Holowczak]

you missed out and play for the rating points alex?

Who cares about rating points? The British Championship is on the line! Besides, a draw compared to a win will probably change his rating by what, 1 point? When your rating is 2613 anyway, you're not going to get invited to any tournaments you weren't invited to before.

[Graham Borrowdale]

Congratulations to David Howell - it has looked inevitable for some rounds.
Of some interest is the Williams-Gordon game - looks near winning for white to me after 29 Ne5.
8 1/2 would be a tremendous score to only finish secnd

[David Gilbert]

Well done David Howell. A very, very, very, worthy champion.

[Phil Ramsey]

Looks like Cobb just left a rook en prise! Makes me feel better!

[Alex Holowczak]

Jack was on 1/4, so to finish on 7/11 is a great finish to the tournament.

[James Coleman]

you missed out and play for the rating points alex?

Who cares about rating points? The British Championship is on the line! Besides, a draw compared to a win will probably change his rating by what, 1 point? When your rating is 2613 anyway, you're not going to get invited to any tournaments you weren't invited to before.

The difference between a draw and a win would always be 5 points for a GM with a K factor of 10.

[Ian Lamb]

james cobb i guess was in time trouble when he did that iam sure.

[Ian Lamb]

si williams is rapidley improving i belive icc help him a lot at one point he could not get over 2500 which was a stumbling block but now he seems to not play the dutch as much. he coming on leaps and bounds and soon i belive he start push for a place in the olympiad team.what your views?

[Ian Lamb]

wow wells got crushed it must have bene home prep for wells to lose in 26 moves is unreal against an im any views on this?

[JustinHorton]

If you play the Vienna Variation it's going to happen now and then.

[John Upham]

wow wells got crushed it must have bene home prep for wells to lose in 26 moves is unreal against an im any views on this?

The Vienna is as sharp as mustard and would suit Mr. Theory, however....

13. Sf5 may have been a punt from Palliser since 13. h4 is "normal" here. Then again Wells chose the Vienna when he didn't need to.

13.. Dc5 is supposed to be better but not loosing by any means.

17..fe: may have been the nail in the coffin in a worse position.

From there on in Wells was kippered.