Awards, Honours, and Prizes

Anna Zatonskih – Nigel David Short
15th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival; Catalan Bay, January 26, 2017
Nimzo-Indian Defence E36

In spite of any appearance to the contrary, everyone knows – I guess – that in the end the gallant giver of the women’s award in Gibraltar will be just him. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 c5!? This is a very interesting Pawn sacrifice which used to be Oleg Mikhailovich Romanishin’s favourite. 7. dxc5 d4 8. Qc2. Here is probably the point where White must seek an improvement. The text is exceedingly prudent, so maybe it is worth considering 8. Qg3(!), hopefully after giving a look at a good theoretical book. 8. ... e5 9. e3 Nc6 10. b4 0-0 11. e4!? In order to complete the development of her Kingside by Bf1-d3 and Ng1-e2. 11. ... a5! 12. Rb1. If 12. b5 then 12. ... Ne7 (less convincing is Romanishin’s sacrificial 12. ... d3!?, which, after 13. Qxd3 Nd4 14. Bb2 seems to turn out badly for Black) followed by ... Ne7-g6 with good and reasonable play for Black. 12. ... axb4 13. axb4 Nh5 14. Bd3. It didn’t figure too well 14. Nf3 Qf6 (deserving consideration is 14. ... f5!? 15. Bd3 Nf6) 15. Be2 Nf4 16. 0-0? (of course, White ought to capture the f4-Knight) 16. ... d3! 17. Bxd3 Nxg2! 18. Be2 Nf4 19. Bxf4 Qxf4 20. Kh1 Ra3! 21. b5 Rxf3! 22. bxc6 Rh3 0 : 1 Nezar – Roussel-Roozmon, 6th International Festival, Nancy 2008. Similarly, after 14. Be2 Nf4 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Nf3 Bg4 Black seems to stand better. 14. ... Nf4 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. h3 Ra3! 17. Nf3. Not 17. b5?? Qa5+ winning immediately.

17. ... Nxb4! The start of an elegant, little combination which leads to a material gain. 18. Rxb4 Qa5 19. Qd2 Rxd3! 20. Qxd3 Qxb4+ 21. Nd2 Rd8 22. Ke2 Qxc5. Black has finally won a Pawn. 23. Rb1 Qc7 24. Qb3 d3+ 25. Kf1 h6 26. Qb6 Qe7 27. Qb4 Qe6. In spite of her Pawn down, White would have better drawing chances in the endgame after the exchange of Queens. 28. c5 Qe7 29. f3 Be6 30. e5. With her last few moves Zatonskih might have even worsened matters, but it was hard to stop her opponent anyway. Also 30. Qxb7 Qxc5 is hopeless. 30. ... Bd5 31. Re1. If 31. Qxf4 then 31. ... Qxc5 32. Qb4 Qc2 winning easily. 31. ... g5 32. Qa3 Bc6 33. Qb4 Rd5 34. e6. Taking a desperate try to fight. 34. ... fxe6 35. h4 e5 36. Qe4 Kg7 37. h5 Qf7 38. Qc4 Qxh5 39. Qc3 Qe8 40. Nc4 Rxc5 41. Qb2. Hoping for 41. ... Rxc4 42. Rxe5 Rc1+ 43. Re1+ Kg6 44. Qxc1 which would make the ordeal just a bit longer, but... 41. ... Kf6! 0 : 1.

Anna Zatonskih vs. Nigel David Short
Photo: John Saunders