The British itself!

[Nick Ivell]

I was present at the British in 1976, when Mestel ran away with it. Seeing Hawkins' play in the first week, I was reminded of Mestel's great performance. How do the two compare? Mestel, in my view, had the greater tactical acumen - more 'talent', if you like; but Hawkins is certainly the better prepared. Thinking about it a lot of us were quite lazy in 1976, taking 'each game as it comes' in the manner of footballers; not an option in the computer age.

[Ian Kingston]

Pert-Hawkins is following this game:

[Event "RUS-ch Higher League 64th"] [Site "Taganrog"] [Date "2011.06.22"] [Round "7"] [White "Sakaev, Konstantin"] [Black "Bukavshin, Ivan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "2629"] [BlackElo "2502"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2011.06.15"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "11"] [EventCountry "RUS"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceDate "2011.07.15"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Na6 9. Ba5 b6 10. Qd6 Bd7 11. Bc3 f6 12. Nf3 Nh6 13. Rd1 Rd8 14. Qa3 Bc8 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Qd6+ Bd7 17. Qd1 c5 18. O-O Qf4 19. g3 Qc7 20. Qd2 Nf5 21. Rd1 Kc8 22. g4 Ne7 23. Qe3 Nc6 24. g5 e5 25. gxf6 gxf6 26. Qh6 Nd4 27. Bxd4 exd4 28. Qxf6 Rg8+ 29. Kf1 Re8 30. Ke1 Nb4 31. Kd2 b5 0-1

[Nick Ivell]

A queen retreat! Such moves are hard to spot. White places his faith in the virtues of good development. With the two bishops and castling rights, Pert must have enough for the pawn.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Hawkins ... deserves to win outright.

Maybe, but since when was 'deserves' a relevant concept for chess results?

[Jonathan Rogers]

I think we will be arguing soon - again - whether hawkins is quite a pawn up "for nothing"

[Nick Ivell]

I recall the debate, in which I took no part. For what it's worth, I never thought Howell had 'nothing' for his pawn against Hawkins. Liking the Hawkins style though, accepting this type of position.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I recall the debate, in which I took no part. For what it's worth, I never thought Howell had 'nothing' for his pawn against Hawkins. Liking the Hawkins style though, accepting this type of position.

Generous to call it a "debate"; I think I was the only proponent of other side and was probably just wrong! This does look like "for nothing" though, and I would be surprised if Pert has not punted the draw offer now "before it becomes too easy"

[Matthew Turner]

looks like Pert - Arkell is heading for a tame draw

[Nick Burrows]

Stockfish says Hawkins lack of king safety is still more important than the extra pawn and hasn't quite equalised.

[Matthew Turner]

I tend to agree, White should be perfectly OK here.

[Nick Ivell]

When did we become so materialistic? I know chess is very concrete these days, but Hawkins has two knights on the rim!

[Jonathan Rogers]

Well I know I know nothng but am still very surprised... I mean doesn't one need open lines, or the chance to create open lines, in order to attack?

[Nick Ivell]

I am just giving an impression, without computer help. My guess is Carlsen would win with either colour.

[Matthew Turner]

It is difficult for both sides to take their position forward. Hawkins is remarkably good in this type of position, but there is a lot of pressure on both players and in those circumstances it might be more difficult for Black to keep control/prevent things opening up.

[Jonathan Bryant]

looks like Pert - Arkell is heading for a tame draw

I don’t know. Could be a case of immovable object of Nick "Killer Endgames DVD" Pert versus the irresistible force of Keith 'Grinder Supreme' Arkell.

Wasn’t it Nick Pert whose last round game went on forever last year (or perhaps the year before)? A rather different position I grant you.