The Kings Head have just come back from their annual November trip to Leuven. This is one of the less ancient traditions of the club but it is already becoming quite a yearly laugh. And we are building up very good relations with the excellent Desperado Chess Club of Leuven. It is all down to Mark for organising the first trip 5 years ago. I got the chance to meet a collegue from Chess Today, GM Mikhail Golubev. I work as technical editor and we have corresponded by email but never met. It was very interesting to meet him. He drew with Epishen when it seemed that no one could stop him winning the tournament but then in the final round he was on board 1 but lost to the winner Torre. But he got an interview with him and has annotated the game for a future issue of Chess Today.
Website www.chesstoday.net

The tournament was won with a superb 2681 rating performance by GM EugenioTorre 2508 with an unbeaten 8 out of 9.

We finished as follows with our rating performance on the right.

5 Berry Stephen 2325 FM ENG 6.5 9 2374
19 Mackenzie Colin 2147 ** ENG 5.5 9 2200
27 Phillips Thomas 2238 ** ENG 5.5 9 2123
50 Balatoni Richard 1488 ENG 4.5 9 1997
53 Brown Graham 1952 ENG 4.5 9 1844
82 Crooks Ron 1432 ENG 3.5 9 1852
88 Morton Alistair 1480 ENG 3.5 9 1554
102 Huba Mark 1528 ENG 2.5 9 1498
105 Huntley Kevin 1400 ENG 2.5 9 1353

Steve had his usual tournament and only lost to the winner. He also drew with Grandmaster Giorgi Bagaturov who, like Steve has won the tournament in the past. Colin also had a great tournament and drew with Bagaturov. Hopefully Colin will send the game to me soon to put on the site. I only have the games from the official site so far and a swindle from myself (see last game). Richard had a great 1997 performance and played some great chess. I hope he will be sending me his closed Sicilian win soon. Tom played a great tournament considering he hasn't been playing much recently. He even beat me! I didn't do too bad with 4.5 out of 9. Ron Crooks drew with a 2129 player with Black and nearly pulled off another of his usual grading prizes. Alistair outperformed his grade but Mark was below after losing a tired last round to Alistair. Kevin had a difficult start to the tournament but picked up as it went on and he probably was hoping it was longer. But next year it will be back to 7 rounds and so we will all have to dust ourselves off and have another go at this wonderful, friendly, competitive and exciting chess festival.

GM Mikhail Golubev with Colin and Steve.
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Below you will see these games and you can play them through by clicking on the moves on this side of the page or by using the controls under the chessboard on the left where they will appear. Some of the photos are animated gifs which you can play by refreshing your broswer window, usually with the F5 key in most browsers..

Colin shows Tom his draw with GM Bagaturov
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1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Bd7 5. c3 Nf6 6. Qe2 a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bc2 e5 9. d3 g6 10. Rd1 Bg7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nf1 d5 13. Bg5 d4 14. cxd4 cxd4 15. Rdc1 h6 16. Bh4 Qe7 17. N1d2 Qd6 18. Bb3 Rac8 19. Bg3 Nh5 20. a3 Nxg3 21. hxg3 Rc7 22. a4 Nb4 23. Rxc7 Qxc7 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ne1 Rc8 26. Ndf3 Qc5 27. Nh4 Qd6 28. Qd2 Bf8 29. f4 Be6 30. Bxe6 Qxe6 31. f5 Qf6 32. fxg6 fxg6 33. Kh2 Rc7 34. Ra8 Kg7 35. Qd1 Nc6 36. Qb3 b4 37. Ra6 Ra7 38. Rb6 Bc5 39. Rb5 Bf8 40. Nef3 Rd7 41. Qc4 Be7 42. Nd2 Nd8 43. Nhf3 Nf7 44. Rd5 Rxd5 45. Qxd5 Qd6 46. Qa2 h5 47. Nc4 Qc5 48. Qa6 Bf6 49. Qe6 Nd8 50. Qd7+ Nf7 51. b3 Kf8 52. Qe6 Qe7 53. Qd5 1/2-1/2

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 Nbd7 7. d4 b6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Bb2 Rc8 11. e3 c5 12. Ne5 cxd4 13. exd4 Bb4 14. Rc1 Re8 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Ne4 17. Bb2 Ndf6 18. Re2 Rxc1 19. Qxc1 Qc8 20. Rc2 Qf5 21. g4 Qe6 22. Ba3 Rc8 23. Rxc8+ Qxc8 24. Qxc8+ Bxc8 25. Nc6 Be6 26. Nxa7 Nc3 27. Nc6 Nxa2 28. g5 Ne4 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. d5 Bd7 31. Nb8 Bh3 32. d6 Nc3 33. d7 Ne2+ 34. Kh1 Bxd7 35. Nxd7 Nd4 36. Nxb6 Nxb3 37. Nc4 Nd4 38. Nd2 e3 39. fxe3 Nf5 40. Bc5 Nh4 41. Kg1 f6 42. gxf6 gxf6 43. Kf2 Kf7 44. Nf3 Nf5 45. e4 Nh6 46. h3 Ke6 47. Ke3 Nf7 48. Kf4 Nd8 49. Nd4+ Kf7 50. Kf5 Nb7 51. Bb4 Nd8 52. h4 h6 53. Bd2 Kg7 54. Ne6+ 1-0

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 Nbd7 4. Bg2 e5 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 O-O 7. Nc3 c6 8. e4 Re8 9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 b5 11. Re1 a6 12. b3 Nb6 13. Be3 Bd7 14. a3 Qb8 15. Qd3 Rc8 16. Rec1 Qb7 17. h3 Bd8 18. Kh2 Be8 19. Nh4 g6 20. Bg5 Nfd7 21. Bxd8 Nc5 22. Qe3 Rxd8 23. Rab1 Qe7 24. Nf3 Rdc8 25. Nd2 Rc7 26. f4 f6 27. fxe5 fxe5 28. h4 Rac8 29. Nf3 Bd7 30. Ne2 Bg4 31. Rf1 Nbd7 32. Kg1 Nf6 33. Nh2 Bd7 34. Qg5 Kg7 35. h5 Nxd5 36. h6+ Kg8 37. Qd2 Nf6 38. Nc3 Be6 39. Qf2 Rf8 40. b4 Ncd7 41. Qd2 Nb6 42. Rbc1 Nc4 43. Qd3 Rcc8 44. Rc2 Qa7+ 45. Kh1 Qe3 46. Qd1 Qxg3 47. Rf3 Qh4 48. Kg1 Qxh6 49. Rcf2 Nh5 50. Nd5 Rxf3 51. Qxf3 Bxd5 52. exd5 Rf8 53. Ng4 Qc1+ 54. Rf1 Qxf1+ 55. Kxf1 Nd2+ 0-1

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nc6 8. Nge2 Bg4 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Nb4 11. b3 Nxd3 12. Qxd3 Qd7 13. Ng3 d5 14. c5 Nc8 15. Bf4 a6 16. Rae1 Bh4 17. h3 Be6 18. Re5 Ne7 19. Bd2 Bf6 20. Ree1 g6 21. Bf4 Nc6 22. Be5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 Be7 24. Na4 f6 25. exf6 Bxf6 26. Re2 Rae8 27. Rfe1 Bg7 28. Nc3 c6 29. Nb1 Qf7 30. Nd2 Bd7 31. Nf3 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 Qf4 33. Re3 Re8 34. Rxe8+ Bxe8 35. Qe2 Kf7 36. h4 Bf6 37. h5 Bd7 38. hxg6+ hxg6 39. Qc2 Bg4 40. Nh2 Bc8 41. Nf3 Qb4 42. Qc1 Bg4 43. Nh2 Qd4 44. Nxg4 Qxg4 45. Qc2 Qb4 46. Qc1 Be7 47. Qh6 Qd4 48. Qh7+ Qg7 49. Qh3 Bxc5 50. Qc8 Kf6 51. Ne2 Qe7 52. Kf1 Kf7 53. Nf4 Bd6 54. Qg4 Bxf4 55. Qxf4+ Kg7 56. g3 c5 57. Qd2 Qe5 58. Qc2 Qa1+ 59. Kg2 Qd4 60. Kf1 b5 61. Qe2 Qe4 62. Qd2 d4 63. Qa5 d3 64. Qd2 0-1

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 e5 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. h3 Be6 9. d3 Qd7 10. Kh2 Nh5 11. g4 Nf6 12. f4 exf4 13. Nxf4 Na6 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Bg5 e5 16. Qd2 Nc7 17. Bxf6 Rxf6 18. Rxf6 Bxf6 19. g5 Bg7 20. Rf1 Ne6 1/2-1/2

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qa4 a6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. a3 Nbd7 11. b4 a5 12. bxa5 Rxa5 13. Bd2 Ra8 14. Nc3 b4 15. axb4 Rxa1 16. Rxa1 Bxb4 17. Rb1 Bxc3 18. Rxb7 Bxd2 19. Nxd2 c5 20. Nb3 cxd4 21. Nxd4 Qa5 22. Qb1 Qd2 23. e3 Ne5 24. Rb2 Qc3 25. Rb5 Qc7 26. Qa1 Rc8 27. Nb3 Nfd7 28. Ra5 h6 29. Ra8 1/2-1/2

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nge7 4. Nc3 g6 5. d4 exd4 6. Nd5 Bg7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bf6 Bxf6 9. Nxf6+ Kf8 10. Qd2 d6 11. O-O-O Kg7 12. Nxd4 Kxf6 13. Qc3 Nxd4 14. Qxd4+ Ke6 15. Qc4+ Kf6 16. Qd4+ Ke6 17. Qc4+ Kf6 18. Qd4+ Ke6 19. Qc4+ 1/2-1/2

Tom Phillips - 27th in a tournament with 7 GMs, and lots of IMs and FMs was no mean feat! Beating the webmaster even more so!

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. Bxc6+ bxc6 6. d4 f6 7. h3 Ne7 8. O-O Ng6 9. Nc3 Be7 10. d5 c5 11. Be3 O-O 12. g4 Bd7 13. Ne2 Nh8 14. Ng3 Nf7 15. Kh2 g6 16. Nd2 Re8 17. h4 Bf8 18. h5 Bh6 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Bxh6 Nxh6 21. Kg2 Bxg4 22. f3 Bd7 23. Rh1 Kg7 24. Qe2 Rh8 25. Rag1 Nf7 26. Kf1 Rxh1 27. Rxh1 Qe7 28. Ke1 a5 29. Qg2 Ng5 30. Qh2 Bh3 31. Ne2 Rh8 32. Qg3 Qe8 33. Nc3 Bd7 34. Rxh8 Qxh8 35. Qg2 Qh4+ 36. Ke2 Nh3 37. Kd1 Nf4 38. Qg1 Nh3 39. Qg2 Ng5 40. Ne2 Bb5 41. c4 Ba4+ 42. b3 Bd7 43. Qg3 Qh1+ 44. Kc2 a4 45. Qg1 Qh5 46. Qe3 Qh2 47. Nc3 axb3+ 48. Kxb3 Qh8 49. a4 Qb8+ 50. Nb5 c6 51. dxc6 Bxc6 52. Qd3 Ne6 53. Qe3 Nd4+ 54. Kb2 Qa8 55. Qa3 Qa5 56. Kc1 Nxb5 57. cxb5 Bxb5 58. Qb3 Qxa4 59. Qe6 Bd3 60. Nb3 Qc4+ 0-1

1. h3 b6 2. d4 e6 3. e4 Bb7 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Qe2 Bb4+ 6. c3 Be7 7. Nf3 d6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Bd2 O-O 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Qd5 13. f4 Nh5 14. Be1 Rad8 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qxh5+ Kg8 17. Qe2 g6 18. Nd2 Kg7 19. Nf3 Rh8 20. Bf2 Qa5 21. a3 Qa4 22. b4 c5 23. Qb2 Bxf3 24. gxf3 Rxh3 25. Kg2 Rdh8 26. Bg3 Qb5 27. Rfe1 Qd3 28. Rad1 Qf5 29. Rh1 Rxh1 30. Rxh1 Rxh1 31. Kxh1 Qh3+ 32. Qh2 Qf1+ 33. Qg1 Qxf3+ 34. Kh2 Qxc3 35. f5 Qc2+ 36. Kh1 Qxf5 37. Qe1 cxb4 38. axb4 Qg4 39. b5 Bc5 It was move 40 on the last game of the tournament. I was losing pawns one by one so tried one more idea 40. Qf1 Qxg3 41. Qxf7+ Draw Agreed as my opponent immediately saw the desperado ideas ... As Jan told me later, the reason he made the mistake is that he only 'saw' the attempt for the draw with Qf6 and Qd8 but as he points out, even after Bf8 White can play Qxf8. I was lucky!

Here are the desperado moves 41... Kh6 42. Qh7+ Kg5 43. Qxg6+ Kf4 44. Qe4+ but later, Steve pointed out the more elegant 44. Qxg3+ Kxg3 stalemate. 44... Kg5 45. Qg6+ with a draw by repetition. The tournament was organised by the Desperado Club Leuven so a desperado queen was appropriate! 1/2-1/2

The Winner GM Torre (left) with GM Bagaturov
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