The British itself!

[Carl Hibbard]

A shock draw when I liked the Pert position after a3???

[Nick Ivell]

Draw. Fair enough. I know that 'deserve' is a nebulous concept, but I stick to my guns. Hawkins has been magisterial, and deserves to win outright. I fear he might not though!

[E Michael White]

Good he's played Qf7 and I think B's better now.
B might play Qc7, Nb8 and depending on W's replies recycle the other night to f5 later

ed. so they disagree ! and it's drawn. Nb8 looked good after a3, even a big advantage

[Chris Rice]

27..Nb8 looks good for Black? Well done Jonathan anyway!

[Chris Rice]

Howell is starting to look good for a win?

[Leonard Barden]

Can somebody tell me Hawkins's date of birth, or at least whether he is now 30 or 31? I can only find 1983 listed online.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Well, see my earlier comment about Pert offering a draw while there was still a chance it would be accepted. In the final position ...Qc7 and Nb8 and it is not clear where exactly that bishop would be moving to. But I think we all expected from the pattern of the past few days that Jonathan would take the draw; and who can blame him? Finishing with two Blacks was not easy.

Mind you, if Howell does win on demand and catch him, I think that a shared title quite reflects the tournament as a whole. One might expect a would-be sole champion to try to win one of his last five games, having good positions in most of them. Chess is to some extent a game of nerves too.

[Paul Dargan]

So at least a share of first for Jonathan. I've tried not to post too much for fear of jinxing him.

I think people forget that had he spotted an intermezzo against Wells in the final round at Sheffield, then he'd have been in the play-off with Short and Adams. In terms of the GM norm quest, he was a little unlucky not to get one from the Vienna Open last Summer when he came 1st= but hadn't played enough GMs - mainly becuase the GMs tended not to have enough points to meet him for a large chunk of the event.

I agree with Nick that Jonathan deserves to win outright - though sadly he may not. Blacks against Howell, Hebden and Williams, 6 blacks in the event. Perhaps he could/should have played on v's both Howell and Hebden as the engines suggest he was better in both by that stage - but he was never in trouble in 11 rounds and is guaranteed at least a share of first.

I'm interested to see what the press coverage says; "David defended his title but had to be content to share it with Jonathan" would be a gross misrepresentation of what actually happened.

Paul

[Nick Burrows]

Seems like David is in serious time pressure?

[Neil Hawkins]

Jonathan Hawkins - born 1st May 1983, I know because I was there !!

[Nick Ivell]

Four pawn islands v two. At this level, not a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Is it true Hawkins was never in trouble? I recall a position where I didn't fancy his bishops against knights, but the computer probably says I am wrong.

[Chris Rice]

Seems like David is in serious time pressure?

Living off the increment. Nobody does it better except maybe Grischuk.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Four pawn islands v two. At this level, not a consummation devoutly to be wished.

Is it true Hawkins was never in trouble? I recall a position where I didn't fancy his bishops against knights, but the computer probably says I am wrong.

Yeah, I get that a lot too

[Jonathan Rogers]

Justin of this forum has just settled the womens' title in favour of Amy Hoare.

[Nick Ivell]

The type of position that a very strong player can just sit on, even with no time - but surely Howell's clock handling is a serious weakness?