A Long Story

Ryan-Rhys Griffiths – Daniel Abbas
138th Varsity Chess Match; London, March 7, 2020
Nimzo-Indian Defence E46

The world can fall apart, but life must go on. And so once again the Varsity Chess Match between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge — which has now come to its 138th anniversary — took place Saturday, March 7, 2020 at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London. No wonder that this year Oxford, being deprived of the blessing of 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s most invaluable presence, has lost 5½ – 2½. However, no matter who won and who lost, everyone went through the non-formal ritual of exchanging handshakes, even in spite of it being decreed “optional” by most virologists. Curiously enough, this year all the spotlight was on the Deputy Arbiter, Mrs. Shohreh Bayat, whose story has lately captured headlines around the world. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Ne2 d5 6. a3 Bd6 7. Ng3 c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. b4 Be7 10. Bb2 a5 11. b5 Re8!? Maybe a new move — and certainly playable. A sound continuation was 11. ... dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nbd7 13. Be2 Nb6 14. Qb3 e5 15. 0-0 Be6 16. Qc2 Re8 17. Rfd1 ½ : ½ Aronian – Pelletier, 36th Chess Olympiad, Calvià 2004. 12. Rc1 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nbd7. The exchange of Queens would have probably led to an equal position. 14. 0-0 Nb6 15. Bd3 Nbd5? This is a serious mistake that submits Black to an irresistible attack. 15. ... e5 16. Qc2 Be6 was a much safer way to go for Black, though after 17. Rfd1 White stands better. 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Qc2! h6. 17. ... g6 18. Bc4 is likewise very bad for Black. 18. Nh5! White’s attack unfolds itself easily and naturally. 18. ... Bf8 19. e4 Qg5 20. Qe2 Nf4 21. Nxf4 Qxf4 22. e5 Rd8 23. Rc7 Rb8 24. Rfc1 Bd7 25. R1c4 Qg5 26. h4 Qe7 27. Rd4 Qe8 28. h5 Rbc8 29. Rxb7 Bc5 30. Rg4 Kf8 31. Qe4 Rb8

32. Qh7! 1 : 0. For after 32. ... Rxb7 33. Qxg7+ Ke7 34. Qf6+ Kf8 35. Bh7 mate in two follows.

John Saunders (@johnchess)