Paul Watson Trophy 2022-23: Horsham – East Grinstead

   [Event "Paul Watson Trophy"]  [Site "Various"]  [Date "2023.01.17"]  [Round "1"]  [White "Granzelius, Eric"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "B23"]  [WhiteElo "1790"]  [BlackElo "2087"]  [Annotator "Mansson,James"]  [PlyCount "51"]  [EventDate "2022.09.01"]  [EventType "team-match"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]  [SourceVersionDate "2022.09.07"]  [WhiteTeam "East Grinstead"]  [BlackTeam "Horsham 1"]  [WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"]  [BlackTeamCountry "ENG"]   {Time control: 80 minutes plus 10 second increment - Match played at Horsham}  1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Bc4 e6 5. Nge2 a6 (5... Nf6 {followed by ...  a6, is a more usual move order.}) 6. a3 b5 7. Ba2 Bb7 8. d3 Nf6 9. O-O h5 $5 {  This is an interesting way to generate counterplay.} (9... d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11.  Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Bxd5 Qxd5 13. Nf4 Qd6 $11) 10. Bf4 (10. Bg5 Bd6 $132) (10. h3 Bd6  $132) 10... Ng4 $1 11. h3 Nh6 $2 {This is too passive. Black considered the  immediate ...g5, but failed to realize that White taking on g4 in response was  not an option.} (11... g5 $1 {is better, when Black has good play.} 12. Bd2 (  12. hxg4 $2 gxf4 13. Nxf4 hxg4 14. Qxg4 Nxc2 {This is the move I missed. Black  simply regains the pawn.} 15. Rac1 Nd4 16. Nh5 Qe7 {preparing ...0-0-0} 17. f4  (17. Ng7+ $2 Bxg7 18. Qxg7 Qh4 {with a winning attack, e.g.} 19. f3 Ke7 20. Qg4  Qh6 21. Rce1 Rag8 {trapping the black queen.}) 17... O-O-O {threatening ...f5}  18. Rce1 c4 $19 {threatening ...Qc5}) (12. Bh2 $2 Nxh2 13. Kxh2 Bd6+ 14. Kh1 (  14. f4 gxf4 15. Nxf4 Qg5 16. Qd2 Rh6 (16... Nxc2 $19) 17. Rae1 Rf6 $19) (14. g3  h4 $19) 14... g4 $19) (12. Bg3 h4 13. Nxd4 hxg3 14. Qxg4 cxd4 15. Ne2 gxf2+ 16.  Rxf2 Bd6 $132) (12. Bc1 Nh6 $132 {followed by ...g4.}) 12... Ne5 13. f4 gxf4  14. Nxf4 h4 $132) 12. Nxd4 cxd4 13. Ne2 Qf6 14. Qd2 Be7 15. c3 $2 (15. Qa5 $1  $16 {is very awkward for Black, as the queen penetrates his position.}) 15...  g5 $1 16. Bh2 g4 $2 {This is a big error, overlooking that after White plays  cxd4, the move Be5 is threatened.} (16... dxc3 {is better, e.g.} 17. Nxc3 (17.  bxc3 g4 $132) 17... g4 $132) 17. cxd4 $1 Qg7 (17... gxh3 18. Be5 Qg6 19. Nf4  $16) 18. Qe3 gxh3 19. Qxh3 Ng4 20. Bf4 Bg5 21. Bxg5 {White offered a draw,  which Black declined. Objectively, Black should have accepted the offer, but  the match situation was such that he had to play for a win.} Qxg5 22. f4 Qg7 $2  {This doesn't work as White can just seize the c-file.} (22... Qd8 {is a  better try, although} 23. Rac1 Qa5 24. f5 $16 {is still rather strong.}) 23.  Rac1 $1 Rg8 (23... Ke7 24. Rc5 Rac8 25. Qh4+ f6 26. Rfc1 $16 {gives White a  dominating position.}) 24. Rc5 $1 d5 $2 {This is hopeless, making the Black  bishop on b7 even worse.} (24... Nf6 {is a better try, although after} 25. Rg5  $18 {White is on top.}) 25. Bb3 (25. Rc7 $1 $18 {is even stronger.}) 25... a5  $2 {Black desparately attempts to complicate the position.} (25... Ne3 {  is a better try, although after} 26. Rf2 Ng4 27. Rc7 $1 {White is doing very  well, e.g.} Nxf2 28. Kxf2 Bc8 29. exd5 $18) 26. e5 {White offered a draw,  which Black accepted. Both players were very short of time, and Black could  see no sensible way to attempt to win under the circumstances, despite needing  to win given the match situation. White in fact has a big advantage after the  move played, although his advantage would have been even bigger, if he had  captured on b5 with the rook.} (26. Rxb5 $1 Ba6 27. Rxa5 $18 {wins two pawns  and sets up a decisive pin.}) (26. e5 a4 27. Rc7 Bc8 28. Ba2 Ne3 29. Rf2 Nf5  30. Nc3 $16) 1/2-1/2