Nigel Short finds his rhythm
By Kristianus Liem
This is the sixth in a series of seven articles on the World Chess Championships held in Groningen, the Netherlands, in December last year.
JAKARTA (JP): Most chess fans probably believed that Nigel Short's career culminated, and therefore in a sense ended, when he lost horribly in a World Championship match against Garry Kasparov in London 1993.
For the first few years this certainly looked to be true, as Short appeared a bit passive and not too successful in the few events he played.
But then something happened. Instead of sliding further down the Elo-list Short suddenly turned around, and climbed to plus 2700. Somehow he had managed to regain his old confidence and ambition. In the FIDE World Championship knock-out tournament in Groningen, the Netherlands, Dec. 8 until Dec. 30, 1997, Short advanced to the sixth round (the best of four), after he scorched GM Michal Krasenkow 2-0.
The first game was a tough outing for the Polish GM, as Nigel kept the pressure on throughout and Krasenkow cracked badly at the end.
White: GM Nigel Short
Black: GM Michal Krasenkow
Sicilian Alapin Opening
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3
A big part of Short's success is based on his ability to play the open Sicilian 3.d4, so this must have been a small shock to Krasenkow.
3...Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 d5 7.exd6 e6 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 Bxd6 10.0-0 Ne7?!
Prior to castling, this maneuver is ill-advised. After 10...0-0 11.Nc3 White has its normal advantage.
11.Nc3 Bd7 12.Ng5! h6 13.Nge4 Bc7 14.Qg4 Nf5 15.Rd1 0-0 16.Nc5 Bc8
A discouraging retreat. The desirable move was 16...Bc6? but after 17.d5! Qd6 18.dxc6 is clobbered.
17.g3?
According to Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan, White fails to make the most of its possibilities. With 17.Bf4 Bxf4 18.Qxf4 Qd6 19.Qxd6 Nxd6 20.Rac1 White has a fine ending.
17...Nd5 18.Nxd5 exd5 19.Qf3 Ne7
Black has managed to attain a reasonable position, but White's better pieces give it the advantage. Now the game enters a maneuvering phase in which White targets the d5-pawn.
20.Bf4 Bxf4 21.Qxf4 b6 22.Na4 Be6 23.Rac1 Rc8 24.Nc3 Qd7 25.f3!? Ng6
Better was 25...a6! preparing ...Rc8-c6 to double on the c-file. The d5 pawn is well protected.
26.Qd2 Rc7 27.Ba4 Qc8 28.Re1!? Rd8?!
Again, Black should be utilizing the c-file. 28...Qb7 and ...Rf8- c8 was correct.
29.Kf2 Ne7?! 30.Bb3 Qb8 31.Ne2 Rxc1 32.Rxc1 Rc8 33.Re1 Nc6 34.Bc2 Qd6 35.a3 Ne7 36.Bb3 Kf8?!
Black is reacting without a plan of its own and its position imperceptibly starts to slip. Black should put its Bishop "out of reach" by 36...f6! 37.Nf4!? Bf7! Black would cover the center and have excellent drawing prospects.
37.Nf4! a5 38.h4! Qd7 39.h5!
White cements the f4-square for its Knight. This also introduces the alluring possibility of g3-g4 and Qd2-d3-h7 with a sudden attack.
39...Qb5 40.Bd1 Rc6 41.g4 Qc4 42.Re3 Qc1??
This is losing on the spot. "Exchanging Queens was completely wrong. Without this I don't know how big his advantage is," said Krasenkow to GM Ian Rogers after the game.
43.Qxc1 Rxc1 44.Ba4
See diagram.
44...Bc8??
A blunder in an unpleasant position. After 44...Rc4 45.Nxe6+!? fxe6 46.Bd7 Rc2+!? 47.Re2 Rxe2+ 48.Kxe2 Kf7 49.Ke3 White has a big advantage.
45.Nxd5 1-0
Black resigned here because after 45...Nxd5 46.Re8# it is mate.