[Event "Competitors' League"] [Site ""] [Date "2024.05.09"] [Round ""] [White "A Brusey"] [Black "T Thynne"] [Result "0-1"] [EventDate "2024.05.09"] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.e3 h6 8.Bh4 O-O 9.Bd3 b6 10.O-O Bb7 11.a3 Ne4 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.Qc2 c5 14.Rfd1 Rac8 { Trefor has emerged from the opening with a comfortable position. Alan makes a dubious decision in swapping his good bishop for the centralised knight.} 15.Bxe4?! dxe4 16.Ne1 f5 17.g3 Kh8 18.Ng2 g5 19.Qe2 Rf6 20.h4 { Another very committal decision, advancing the pawn in front of Trefor's attack....} 20...Kg7 21.Rac1 Rg6 22.hxg5?! {and now Alan opens the h-file, which should be good for Trefor's more mobile pieces.} 22...hxg5 23.Kf1 Rh8 24.Ke1 Rh2 25.Qf1 Rgh6 {Blasting open the centre now with} ( 25...cxd4 {was correct} 26.exd4 ( 26.Rxd4 Ne5 27.Kd1 Nf3 {and white won't hold it together.} ) ( 26.Nb5 Ne5 27.Nxd4 Nf3+ 28.Nxf3 exf3 {and again the position is crushing for black.} ) 26...e3 27.Nxe3 f4 {and white's position is a wreck (Rh1 is a threat as well as winning the pinned knight, and the prospect of activating the g6 rook on the e-file.)} ) 26.Kd2 cxd4 27.Nb5 d3 28.Rc7 {The position is still winning for black, but now Trefor moves his bishop onto the wrong diagonal.} 28...Ba6 ( 28...Bc6 29.Nd4 Qe5! {and if } 30.Rxc6 ( 30.Rxa7 Kf8 {to unpin the knight and eg} 31.Qg1 Nc5 32.Kc1 Bd5 {and white can hardly move.} ) 30...Rxc6 {and white can't take the rook} 31.Nxc6 Qxb2+ 32.Ke1 Rh1! {and white is totally lost.} ) 29.Nd4 Rf6 {Trefor starts to lose the thread.} 30.Rdc1 ( 30.Nh4! {gets Alan back in the game.} 30...gxh4 31.Qg1 Qd6 32.Rxd7+ Qxd7 33.Qxh2 Qd5 34.gxh4 {and white will become active again.} ) 30...Kg6 31.Rxa7 ( 31.Nh4+! {is completely winning for white.} 31...gxh4 32.Qg1 Rh3 33.Qg2 {and black is forced to sacrifice the rook} 33...Rxg3 34.fxg3 {and after } 34...Kh7 35. Rh1 {it's white who has the killer attack.} ) 31...b5 32.Nc6 ( 32.Nh4+ { again wins.} ) 32...Qe6 33.Rxd7 {This should lead to a level position.} 33...Qb3 34.Ne7+ ( 34.Ne5+ {is safer} 34...Kh6 35.Nxd3 exd3 36.Qxd3 Qxd3+ 37.Kxd3 Rxg2 38.Rh1+ Kg6 39.Rdh7 g4 40.R1h6+ {and it's perpetual check.} ) 34...Kh6 35.Rdc7 ( 35.Ke1 {draws} 35...Qxb2 36.Ng8+ Kg6 37.Rcc7 {and black has to take a perpetual check.} 37...Qa1+ 38.Kd2 Qa2+ 39.Ke1 ) 35...Qxb2+ 36.Kd1 Qe2+? ( 36...d2 {wins for black.} 37.Ng8+ Kg6 38.Nxf6 dxc1=Q+ 39. Rxc1 Qxf6 40.Qg1 Qd6+ 41.Ke1 Rh7 {and white can hardly move.} ) 37.Qxe2 dxe2+ 38.Kxe2 b4+ 39.Ke1 Kh5 40.Nd5 Rh6 41.axb4 Rxg2 {And in this position, where white is better, Alan lost on time - a spectacular game to decide the Club Championship.} 0-1