Reporter:   Peter Gibbs

8-11 July 2002
held at the R.N.I.B. New College, Worcester.

The Braille Chess Association (B.C.A.) held its under 21-Championship at the Royal National Institute for the Blind (R.N.I.B.) New College, Worcester on 8-11 July. Eight players, aged 13 to 17, took part. All were new to competitive chess. The Championship, controlled by Peter Gibbs, assisted by his wife Celia, David Spivey, master in charge of chess at the College, and Matthew Hewitt, who competed in the Championship when he was a junior. The tournament was in all-play-all format and each player had 75 minutes for the game. Outright winner was 17-year-old Yan Kit Chan, who won all his games.

Runner-up was Simon Ledwith (aged 15) with 5/7, closely followed by Robin Williams (aged 14) on 4.5.

This was a very successful event and all eight players have joined the junior section of the B.C.A. All players adapted well to tournament conditions and use of chess clocks. We look forward to building on this achievement and welcoming more young players to the Association.

Here is a game won by Yan Kit Chan on his way to the Championship. Analysis by Peter Gibbs.

White: Alastair Irving

Black: Yan Kit Chan

Sicilian Defence

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5

This move occurs in several variations of the Sicilian. Black accepts a backward d-pawn in return for free piece play.

5. Nb5 Bd7

Correct is 5...a6 pushing the N away. After the moved played White should grab the pawn with 6. Nxd6+.

6. Bc4 Nc6 7. N1c3 Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qd3 a6 11. Nxd6 Bxd6 12. Qxd6 Ng4 13. Bc5 Re8

An interesting alternative is 13... Qh4 14. h3 Nf6 and White's h3 pawn could become vulnerable to attack.

14. Rad1 Nf6 15. Na4 Be6 16. Nb6 Bxc4 17. Nxc4 Nxe4 18. Qd5

White has a very comfortable game after 18. Qxd8 and 19. Bb6.

18... Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Nxc5 20. Rxc5 Nb4 21. Re1

There is nothing wrong with Rxe5.

21... Nxc2 22. Rc1 Rad8 23. Nxe5

Instead 23. Rxc2 ends the game abruptly as there is a back rank mate. Still best is 23. Rxe5. After 23. Nxe5 Black could play 23... b6.

23... Nb4 24. Nc4

Under mild time pressure White begins to crack.

24... Nxa2

Even stronger is 24...Nd3 forking the two Rooks.

25. Ra1 b5 26. Ne5 b4 27. Re1 Rd2 28. Nf3 Rxe1 29. Rxe1 g6

And Black soon won the ending.

Peter Gibbs
July 2002