(334) Williamson,Kevin J (1896) - Williams,Samuel G (2161) [B07]
4NCL/Div3/MKE vs. SLO2 Telford ENG (3.5), 18.01.2003
[Annotations by Charlie Linford]
1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 Like Joe Redpath and many other Slough players, Sam is an advocate of the Czech Pirc as well. 4.Nf3 Bg4 5.Be2 e6 A different treatment to that of Redpath, but very solid, and somewhat akin to a good version of a Caro-Kann. 6.0-0 d5 7.exd5 cxd5 8.Ne5 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 Nc6 10.Qb5 Qc8 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Rad1 0-0 13.Qd3 Qd8 14.a3 Rc8 15.Nxc6 Rxc6 16.Ne2 Bd6 17.c3 a6 18.Rfe1 b5 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.Qg3 Qxg3 21.Nxg3 (=) A draw might be plausible here, but black has the very simple idea of playing a minority attack on the queenside and trying to win an ending. Objectively the position is pretty level, but black's side is easier to play. 21...Rb8 22.Rd3 a5 23.f3 Ne8 24.Nf1 Nd6 25.Nd2 Rcb6 26.b3?! Not a good idea, as Sam now just switches back to the c-pawn, which is now backward and weak. 26...Rc6 27.b4 a4 Diagram
Black is now better with an easy target to aim at, but how to increase the strain? 28.Kf2 Rbc8 29.Rc1 f6 30.g4 g5 31.Re3 Kf7 32.Rce1 Ne8 33.Nb1 Nc7 34.Kg3 Na8 35.f4 Opening lines should suit black, as he needs a second point of entry if the backward c-pawn is to become crucial. Still, white's extra space means that his defensive pieces can quickly be manouevered. 35...gxf4+ 36.Kxf4 Nb6 37.Rh3 Kg6 38.Rhe3 Re8 39.Nd2 Nd7 40.Nf3 e5+ Finally, Williams takes aim with a central break, but it appears to lead to nothing, and Sam quickly overpresses to leave himself a tricky defensive job. 41.dxe5 fxe5+ 42.Nxe5+ Nxe5 43.Rxe5 Rc4+ 44.Kf3 Rxc3+ 45.R1e3 Rxe5 46.Rxc3 Re1? Not the best at all. Sam now batons down the hatches for a draw, which is not really in much doubt once the queenside pawns are eliminated. 47.Rd3 Rb1 (=) Recognising there is nothing more to be achieved, but the lower rated player now thinks he can win. 48.Rxd5 Rb3+ 49.Kf4 Rxa3 50.Rxb5 Rb3 51.Rb6+ Kf7 52.Kg5 a3 53.Rb7+ Kg8 54.Ra7 Rxb4 55.Rxa3 Rb5+ (=) This ending is known to be drawn, but Williamson makes his shorter namesake prove it. 56.Kh4 Rb4 57.Ra7 Rc4 58.Kh5 Rc5+ 59.g5 Rc6 60.h4 Rc4 61.Re7 Rb4 62.Re6 Kg7 63.Re7+ Kg8 64.Re3 Kg7 65.Rg3 Ra4 66.Rg4 Rxg4 67.Kxg4 h6 Some battling chess, punctuated by tired errors on both sides. 1/2-1/2
