Half-way point
We have now passed the half-way mark of the National Championships and still a clear winner among the Seniors cannot be identified. Among the Juniors, however, Taffin Khan seems to be unstoppable. In the first half of the championships, Khan scored a remarkable seven wins from seven games, and seems likely to repeat this stunning performance in the second half.
The tournament continues to be a rigorous one. In this second round, I believe games would be more difficult to win. Participants, obviously, would have learnt from their mistakes in the first half and would have adequately addressed their respective deficiences.
Ronuel Greenidge and David Khan are the current front-runners with Nathoo strong in contention for the prize. In the first round, Greenidge demonstrated excellent knowledge of opening theory. He won most of his games following an advantage from the opening. Khan cemented his place as a co-leader of the tournament with solid chess. He is a very careful player who hardly takes chances. Nathoo is the only player who has not lost a game. The clock is his sworn enemy, preventing him on a number of occasions from winning certain winning positions.
It would be very interesting to see who comes out on top. Play begins at 10 am at the King’s Plaza Hotel and the lunch break is from 1pm to 3pm. The public is invited to view the games.
Cramling v Hou
Today’s game is taken from the Ataturk International Women’s Tournament that was held in Turkey in March. The 14-year-old Chinese chess prodigy holds former world champion Pia Cramling from Sweden to a draw.
Cramling, Pia – Hou,Yifan
Isbank Ataturk International Women Mast Istanbul (3), 13.03.2008
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.a3 d5 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.g3 0-0 10.Bg2 c5 11.0-0 Na6 12.e3 Nc7 13.Rc1 Qe7 14.Qd2 Rfd8 15.Rfe1 Rac8 16.h4 g6 17.Rcd1 Ne6 18.Qc1 Bg7 19.Qb1 Qf8 20.Qa2 Ba8 21.Ng5 Nxg5 22.hxg5 Qe7 23.f4 cxd4 24.exd4 Bxd4+ 25.Kh1 Qc5 26.Na4 Qa5 27.b4 Qxa4 28.Rxd4 Rc2 29.Qb1 Rc3 30.Qb2
Here 30…Rxg3 31.Rd2 Rxa3 with three pawns looks fairly convincing, but the young Chinese player went for something more subtle: 30…Rc2 31.b5 Rxb2 32.Rxa4 Rxb5 33.Rxa7 Ra5 34.Rxa5 bxa5 and now the win with one extra pawn is less obvious. 35.Kg1 Kg7 36.Re7 a4 37.Rc7 Rb8 38.Ra7 Bc6 39.Rc7 Rb1+ 40.Kf2 Rb2+ 41.Kg1 Bb7 42.Bf3 Rb3 43.Kf2 Rb2+ 44.Kg1 Rb3 Draw . ½-½.
