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Middlesex 2000

THE MIDDLESEX CHAMPIONSHIP took place between May and July at the Exmouth Arms. The event was supposed to be a 06 round swiss system tournament, but instead was a 07 player all-play-all due to the dissapointing number of entries. The majority of players were KHCC members. The event was won by R.Black with 6/6 with J.McDonnel coming in a close second on 5/6. Here is the decisive encounter ... White : Black, R (194) Black : McDonnel,J.J (184) 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cd 4.Nd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be2 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.Be3 O-O 9.f4 Qc7 10.g4!? Nd7 10...d5 is given in the 'book' as a reliable equalising method. 11.g5 Rd8 12.Bd3 White's crude but effective plan is simply to transfer his big guns to the h file and deliver mate. 12.... Nc5 13.Qh5 Nd3 14.cd3 g6 15.Qh4 Nd4 16.Bd4 Qd7? 17.Bf6! Black has been playing too quietly, so this move is probably already decisive. 17 ... Bf6 18.gf6 Qe8 19.Rf3 Kh8 20.Rh3 Qg8 21.Kh1 Bd7 22.Rg1 Rac8 23.f5 Be8 24.Qh6 b5 25.Rg4 resigns Since trippling on the h file forces mate. (1-0)