British Championship 2018

[David Robertson]

I've just played through 'Adair-Bradbury', imagining it as Wall-Gormally. I needed to enlist my reserve brain for this odd experience. But once locked in, Jonathan's comment applied perfectly. The Bradbury-Gormally entity did indeed handle the black side with GM-style good judgement; while the Adair-Wall entity displayed few aspiring-GM characteristics. Hence, back in my normal brain now. I conclude that it was indeed Wall-Gormally 0-1

[David Robertson]

To avoid any confusion today, be aware that Howell-Jones might in fact be Svidler-Mamedyarov

[Nick Burrows]

Svidler - Mamedyarov should be a great game. Both in good form.

[Paul Cooksey]

It's nice that, despite chess24 and chessbase moving coverage of the British into the 21st century, we are retaining some old traditions, such as not being entirely sure which game we are watching

[David Robertson]

It wasn't. Qs came off on move 10. You know the rest - unless, of course, what's just finished was Howell-Jones, and we're about to watch Pete & Shak

[Tim Harding]

Online Stockfish seriously hates Gawain's 10...c4.

Meanwhile Joe Root has reached his 50 in the Test Match which probably means he will be out soon.

[Nick Burrows]

Any ideas on the point of 10..c4?

11.Bxc4 Ng4 12.Bf4 f5?

[Paul Cooksey]

well, ...c4 is very thematic in the benoni and often as a sac. But usually with an immediate follow up putting pressure on the centre. I'm going to assume Gawain knows what sort of risks he is taking and is being super aggressive. Unless the relay turns out to be a Tal game from the 1950s of course.

[David Robertson]

Engines understand sweet FA about the Benoni. They dock you the best part of a pawn on the merest suspicion that you might be about to play it. Gawain is wholly OK here

[Tim Harding]

Howell having a big think about move 12, to grab or not to grab? Gawain definitely playing for three results and trying to tempt David to do the same, I suppose.

[JustinHorton]

However good or bad it is, it's better than what Fernandez is doing

[Paul Cooksey]

I am unsure if I would have realised Fernandez embarrassing his queen without the engine telling me

[IM Jack Rudd]

If I were any good at tactics, I'd be a GM by now. Expletive me, that was embarrassing.

[Tim Harding]

McShane-Adams drawn. Meanwhile Gawain's deep scheme to get David into disoriented time trouble seems to be working.

Sadly my prediction about Root has belatedly come true, as he has just been run out for 80.

SLIGHTLY LATER: Bairstow out for 70 and Buttler second ball.
At least Emms seems to be winning.

[Simon Brown]

If I were any good at tactics, I'd be a GM by now. Expletive me, that was embarrassing.

Shame your opponent missed 27 Qh7 though. Quite pretty