Nigel
Short Simultaneous Display,
Shell Chess Club, Corringham, Essex, 20 January
2003
GM Nigel Short: played 30, won 28, drawn 2, lost 0
Kevin
Thurlow reports: There is quite a history of simuls in this part of the
world, previous opponents including Larsen and Karpov. Jim Luck and the other
organisers took advantage of a 4NCL weekend to get Nigel Short to take on 30 players.
A further 50 or so spectators attended. The event was very much in the old style
of simuls. Each place had a notice attached identifying the players, and plentiful
refreshments were provided. Playing conditions were excellent. The Mayor of Thurrock
opened proceedings with a photo-call, where he played a few moves against Nigel,
and then made a short speech. More importantly, he stayed to watch for well over
an hour, which came as a pleasant surprise. The organisers rather optimistically
scheduled the start for 8pm, thereby guaranteeing a late finish for most players.
Nigel got through the first hour at ten seconds a move, but slowed a little for
the next hour. He was clearly taking it seriously. Rather bizarrely, he attracted
some criticism for this, and it was even suggested he should lose a few games
to encourage the opposition. However, he was pretty ruthless, conceding just two
draws and winning the rest. It could be argued he was slightly kind-hearted with
the draws, as he may well have ground down the opponents, had he chosen to do
so. Nevertheless, the successful players deserve congratulations for surviving.
The crowd seemed to find my game interesting, and were very eager to sacrifice
my pieces, especially with Nc4, but I was not convinced. Neither was Nigel afterwards,
and neither is Fritz. I did not see any point aiming for a draw, and the best
chance of success is to try to frighten the simul-giver. Of course, it does not
always work! Nigel also had a tough battle with young George O'Toole, and
stopped to offer him some encouraging words at the end. George also performed
well last Guernsey and looks a very promising player. All the players received
a certificate (signed by Nigel) as a memento of their battle, another nice touch
from the organisers. I could tell I was back in England, by the poor behaviour
of one or two players. Someone offered a draw virtually every move and others
were clearly getting advice during the game. I am pleased to hear the organisers
are already thinking about arranging another event. They did a great job with
this one, and doubtless would do the same again. Nigel Short (BCF Grade
266) - Barry Sheppard (BCF Grade 126)
Short - Simul 30 bds Shell CC,
Corringham, 20.01.2003
1 d4 d5 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 cxd5 exd5 5 Bg5 Be7
6 e3 c6 7 Bd3 Nbd7 8 Nge2 h6 9 Bf4 0-0 10 Ng3 Nb6 11 Qc2 Bd6 12 Bxd6 Qxd6 13 0-0
Re8 14 Rae1 Be6 15 f3 Rad8 16 Nce2 Qf8 17 b3 Bc8 18 Qd2 Qe7 19 Nf4 Na8 20 Kh1
Nc7 21 Nf5 Bxf5 22 Bxf5 Nb5 23 Nd3 Nd6 24 Bh3 Nd7 25 Re2 Qf6 26 Rfe1 Nf8 27 a4
Ng6 28 Rf2 ½-½ Nigel Short - Mark Hogarth (BCF 140)
Short
- Simul 30 bds Shell CC, Corringham, 20.01.2003
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4
4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 g6 6 Be3 Bg7 7 f3 Nc6 8 Qd2 0-0 9 g4 Be6 10 Nxe6 fxe6 11 0-0-0
d5 12 g5 Nxe4 13 Nxe4 dxe4 14 Qxd8 Raxd8 15 Rxd8 Rxd8 16 fxe4 Bd4 17 Bxd4 Rxd4
18 Bg2 e5 19 c3 Rd6 20 Kc2 Nd8 21 Bf1 Kg7 22 Bc4 h6 23 h4 hxg5 ½-½ Nigel
Short - Kevin Thurlow (BCF 187)
Short - Simul 30 bds Shell CC, Corringham,
20.01.2003
[Notes by Kevin Thurlow]
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4
Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 Qc7 7 Qd2 Nf6 8 0-0-0 Be7 9 f3 0-0 10 g4 b5 11 g5 Nh5
12 Nce2 g6 13 Bh3 Ne5 14 b3 Rb8 15 Kb1 Ba3 [15...Nc4 is tempting, but 16 bxc4
bxc4+ 17 Ka1 e5 18 Nc3!] 16 Ka1 Bb7 17 Ng3 Nxg3 18 hxg3 Rfc8 19 f4 Bxe4
[19...Nc4 was favoured by the crowd, but 20 bxc4 Bxe4 21 cxb5 Bxh1 22 Rxh1 axb5
23 Bf1 b4 24 Kb1] 20 fxe5 Qxe5 [20...Bxh1 21 Rxh1 Qxe5 22 Kb1 is levellish,
but releases the pressure. I really need the bishop there for the mate threats,
and he might just go wrong in the confusion of playing 30 games.] 21 c3
[Rxc2 was threatened] 21...b4 [21...Bxh1 22 Rxh1 Qc7 23 Ne2 d5 24 Bd4]
22 c4 Qxg3 23 Rdg1 Qc7 24 Bg2 Bxg2 25 Rxg2 d5 26 cxd5 Qc3+ 27 Kb1 exd5 28 Rgh2
h5 29 gxh6 Kh7 30 Rf2 Rb7 31 Rhf1 Rcc7 32 Qxc3 bxc3 33 Kc2 a5 34 Kd3 Bb2 35 Bg5
f5 36 Bf4 Rb4 [oops! Nigel sportingly pointed out it was late in the evening
as he took the rook.] 37 Bxc7 1-0 |
