Chess for Tuesday 9th January 2007

David Howell, a 16 year old Sussex schoolboy qualified as the UK's youngest ever Grandmaster on Friday by finishing equal second at the Rilton Cup in Stockholm with a score of 7/9. Howell was 16 years 52 days old and he achieved this milestone at an age four months younger than the previous record holder, Luke McShane, who secured the title in 2000.

Howell is rated 2501 and as a rating of 2500 is required he should become the 18th youngest Grandmaster ever. Howell’s achievements do not make him a world beater, yet, but his success has been achieved with little outside support. He does not even have a proper trainer as the former BCF was never been able to find the funds or commercial backing.

In contrast, Howell’s rivals such as Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Sergey Karjakin play chess full time and have full time assistance. Yesterday Howell, who attends Eastbourne College, was revising mathematics rather than analysing his games or preparing for his next tournament.

Howell’s first GM norm was in the 4NCL playing for Guildford ADC in 2004-5. His second was in May 2005 at the Continental Chess Association International at Lake George in the USA.

Annotated Game in PGN

Nyback,T (2575) - Howell,D (2471) [A16]
Rilton Cup 2006-7 Stockholm SWE (7), 03.01.2007
[IM Malcolm Pein]

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Qa4+ This nuance is designed to reach a standard position from the Russian System against the Gruenfeld Defence after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 but with the bishop on d7, leaving b7 weaker and the queen obstructed. 4...Bd7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 a6 [6...Bg7 7.d4 0-0 8.e4 b5 9.Qb3 c5 10.dxc5 Na6 Osieka - Pein Lugano 1986 is an active alternative.] 7.d4 b5 8.Qd3 [8.Qb3 was played with success in Gelfand - Svidler at the Tal Memorial late last year.] 8...c5 9.dxc5 Bg7 Black's chances on the queenside with his strong fianchettoed bishop and b5-b4 push compensate for the pawn. 10.e4 0-0 11.a3 Nc6 12.Bd2 [12.b4 Nxe4!] 12...b4 13.Nd5 [13.axb4 Nxb4 14.Qb1 Qc7=] 13...Nxd5 14.exd5 Bf5 15.Qc4 Bxb2! Howell sacrifices a piece in return for a mighty passed pawn supported by the bishop pair. 16.Rd1 bxa3!!

17.dxc6 Be6 18.Qc2 Qb8 19.Bc4 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 Qb5! 21.Qxb5 Giving Black connected passed pawns but retreating the queen would forego the right to castle. 21...axb5 22.Ke2 a2 23.Ra1 Rfc8 24.Kd3 Rxc6 25.Be3 Ra3+ 26.Kc2 Bf6 27.Rhd1 [27.Bd4!? Rxf3 28.gxf3 Bxd4 29.Rxa2 Rxc5+; 27.Nd4 Rxc5+ 28.Kb2 Ra4 29.Rhd1 Rcc4 are both good for Black.] 27...Rc3+ 28.Kd2 Ra3 [28...Ra6 29.Ke2 Rc2+ 30.Kd3 Bxa1 31.Rxa1 Rb2 32.Nd2 Ra3+ looks even stronger.] 29.Ke2 b4 30.Bd4 Bxd4 31.Rxd4 b3 32.Rb4 Rxc5 33.Nd4 Rc3 34.Ke1? Perhaps White missed [34.Kd2 b2 35.Rxa2!] 34...Rd3! 35.Ne2 e5! The king and knight are kept out of play and Howell gradually advances. 36.Rb5 Kg7 37.Rb6 h5 38.h3 h4 39.Rb5 f6 40.Rb7+ Kh6 41.f3 Kg5 42.Rb4 f5 43.Rb5 Kf6 44.Rb6+ Kg5 45.Rb5 Rd8 46.Nc1 Rc8! 47.Nxb3 Rc2 48.Nd2 Rd3 49.Nf1 Rxg2 50.Rxe5 Rb2

In view of 51.Rc5 Rxf3 and h3 also falls. 0-1