BRITISH CHESS CHAMPIONSHIPS - THE GAMES

[Jonathan Rogers]

I mean, surely not 35 g4? some kind of losing attempt, or what?

[Paul Cooksey]

I mean, surely not 35 g4? some kind of losing attempt, or what?

I'm not really understanding why we think black is better?

[benedgell]

Agreed. Two draws look likely but then a three way tie with Hawkins might be the result - which would give the England selectors a lot to think about ...
Presumably they play rapid first and blitz if necessary. I don't know, has anyone actually seen Hawkins play blitz?!

I've had first hand experience of Hawkins' blitz play (Torquay British, middle Sunday rapid.) I didn't last too long.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Not many pawns left now on board one. Wonder if either will stumble before move 40?

EDIT: 38...h6? Getting a bit unbalanced now. Not a clue what is happening. Hopefully Zhou will take the time to work it all out.

[James Coleman]

I think Adams is over the worst now and is probably better, though I guess it's objectively still drawn

[Jonathan Bryant]

I mean, surely not 35 g4? some kind of losing attempt, or what?

I'm not really understanding why we think black is better?

Aren't Black's king and rook both better than their counterparts? Again, I'm not saying I'd expect Black to win. Just that it's not clear to me that it's an easy draw.


edit: not sure what's going on now though.

[Jonathan Rogers]

I mean, surely not 35 g4? some kind of losing attempt, or what?

I'm not really understanding why we think black is better?

He isn't now, but why didn't he play 36....Rg8? Ok. I see no winning plan but even so, how can holding on to the pawn be wrong?

[Paul Cooksey]

I mean, surely not 35 g4? some kind of losing attempt, or what?

I'm not really understanding why we think black is better?

Aren't Black's king and rook both better than their counterparts? Again, I'm not saying I'd expect Black to win. Just that it's not clear to me that it's an easy draw.

I don't think so, h6 looks like an attempt to bail out

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Wonder what Short is thinking if he is following that game? I have visions of him getting up to watch the last few moves before the time control on board 1, just after he and Gordon spend 10 minutes moving rooks and kings around to get to the time control (Adams, of course, will be a study in concentration, not moving from his board).

Hawkins must be better now. Much better bishop than Wells.

[James Coleman]

I mean, surely not 35 g4? some kind of losing attempt, or what?

I'm not really understanding why we think black is better?

He isn't now, but why didn't he play 36....Rg8? Ok. I see no winning plan but even so, how can holding on to the pawn be wrong?

Just 37.Re4 maybe when he gets the pawn back anyway?

[Jonathan Rogers]

probably, well you can imagine what my club mates say about my endgame play ...

[Jonathan Bryant]

Stephen Gordon seems to have used half his extra hour to shuffle for another 3 moves.

[Carl Hibbard]

Stephen Gordon seems to have used half his extra hour to shuffle for another 3 moves.

It's not a good advert for anyone really

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Short has moved that rook 14 times in a row (I guess this is another rule that can be broken in certain circumstances). It's only because the White king is on different squares that it hasn't been drawn yet. Possibly they are waiting to see what happens on board 1?

[David Pardoe]

Anyone else sence a clutch of draws about to be agreed...barring any blunders of course....