ODT060829

=**Multiple champions**=


 * Problem:** Black to play and mate in 3.

The season of local junior events continued with the Otago Primary/Intermediate Championship on 12 August. Defending champion Patrick Dawson (13, DNI) had to come from behind to beat the leader Alex Ming-Wong (9, Maori Hill) in a thrilling game and share the title on 5/6. This was Patrick's second title in a row, while Alex had the previous week won the under-10 championship for the third successive year. There a four-way tie for third on 4 points between Nabeelah Saib (12, Tahuna Normal), Joshua Petermann (9, George St Normal), Allyn Robins (12, DNI) and Domink Kohler (12, Tokoiti). Nabeelah also won the best girl prize.

On the other side of the world in Swansea, Wales, GM Jonathan Rowson of Scotland also came from behind to clinch his third successive British championship – a feat not achieved since Dr Jonathan Penrose won four in a row between 1966 and 1969. After a slow start Rowson caught up with the leader, English GM Jonathan Parker, in the penultimate round, then beat him to take the title in the last round.

Today's game is the superb positional victory by Rowson with the black pieces over Parker. media type="custom" key="27051144" We have a sort of hybrid Nimzo/Queen's Indian, with control over the e4 square the point of the struggle for both sides. White has gained e4 with his last 3 moves and has more central space. In return Black leads in development and has fewer weaknesses – a situation demanding active play before White can consolidate. Sacrificing the a-pawn to generate play down the a-file. Capturing a7 costs White more time. Another pawn offer, threatening 18...g3 19 Bg1 f4 trapping the bishop and rook. With his king on e1, White cannot afford to open too many lines by accepting the second pawn with 19 gxf5. Closing the position, keeping White's bishops permanently cramped. Desperately trying to improve his pieces – at the cost of the h-pawn. But here 23 a4!? trying for counterplay on the a and b files was a better chance. Taking over the a-file. White's bishops look on uselessly and the strong knight on f5 is his lone good piece. Black calmly maneouvres his pieces to their best positions Bringing the inactive bishop to bear on f5 and b5. Reaching the time control. Since Black is about to crash through on c4, a2 and e4, and he is without a shred of counterplay, White resigned. E.g: 41 Kd3 b5!; or 41 Qd3 Rxa2+; or 40 Qc2 Rxc4 41 Rb1 Raa4 42 Qb3 b5 and takes on e4.
 * 1.d4 Nf6**
 * 2.c4 e6**
 * 3.Nc3 Bb4**
 * 4.Nf3 b6**
 * 5.Bg5 Bb7**
 * 6.e3 h6**
 * 7.Bh4 Bxc3+**
 * 8.bxc3 d6**
 * 9.Nd2 Nbd7**
 * 10.f3 Qe7**
 * 11.e4 ---**
 * 11. --- g5**
 * 12.Bf2 c5**
 * 13.Qa4 Nh5**
 * 14.h4 O-O-O!**
 * 15.Qxa7 Kc7**
 * 16.Qa4 f5**
 * 17.Qc2 g4!**
 * 18.fxg4 Nhf6**
 * 19.Bd3**
 * 19. --- Nxg4**
 * 20.Bg1 f4**
 * 21.Nf3 e5!**
 * 22.h5 Qf7**
 * 23.Nh4 ---**
 * 23. --- Qxh5**
 * 24.Rh3 Rhe8**
 * 25.Nf5 Qg5**
 * 26.d5 h5**
 * 27.Qb2 Ra8**
 * 28.Be2 Ra6**
 * 29.Bf3 Rea8**
 * 30.Qb3 Ra3**
 * 31.Qb2 R8a4**
 * 32.Bd1 Ra8**
 * 33.Bf3 R3a5**
 * 34.Rh1 R8a6**
 * 35.Rh3 Bc8!**
 * 36.Rh1 Nf8**
 * 37.Nh4 Nh7**
 * 38.Qd2 Bd7**
 * 39.Kf1 Nhf6**
 * 40.Ke2 Ra4**


 * 0-1**


 * Solution:**1... Rxh2+! 2 Kxh2 Qxg3+ 3 Kh1 Qg1#.