1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Ba6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.Nc3 c5 7.e4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Nb3 Nc6 10.Bg5 Nd4 11.Nxd4 Bxd4 12.Bd3 Qb8 13.Ne2 h6 14.Bd2 Bc5 15.b4 Be7 16.0–0 0–0 17.f4 a5 <This seems to be new. 2 games in the database with 17...d6> 18.e5 Ne8 19.bxa5 bxa5 20.Rab1 Bxa3 21.f5 Bb4 <Because the 'b' file is now blocked 22...Qxe5 is threatenend >22.Bxb4 axb4 23.Rxb4 Qc7< With the obvious threat 24...Qc5+> 24.Kh1< White here may have idea's of 25 Rxb7 Qxb7 26 fxe6 dxe6 27 Be4 Qc8 28 Bxa8 Qxa8 Simplifying and working with his passed 'c' pawn.> 24...exf5 25.Bxf5?! <The 26 Rxb7 idea is still on, but it seems more active to get the knight in play with 25 Nd4 Qxe5 26 Nxf5 >25...Bc6 26.Qd2< White can't defend the e5 pawn because black has 26 Qb2 Ra5,> 26...Qxe5 27.Rb3 Nd6 28.Bb1 Rfe8< [28...Nxc4?? 29.Qd3]> 29.Ng3 Rab8 30.Rc3 Re7< Computers seem to like the idea of 'ganging up' on the c4 pawn. [30...Qc5 31.Bd3 Rb4 32.Rfc1 h5]> 31.c5 Ne4 32.Bxe4 Bxe4 33.h3< Isn't the bishop much better than the knight in these positions? [33.Nxe4 Qxe4]> 33...Bg6 34.Kh2 Rc8 35.Qc1? <Such a poor move, which allows black's next move 35...d5 and this pawn is more of a menace than whites c6 pawn. [35.Rfc1] >35...d5 36.c6 <Probably better to restrict the pawns movement by 36 Qd2 or 36 Rd1> 36...d4 37.Rc5 Qd6 <Threats of 38...Re3 or the pawn march 38...d3 are devastating.> 38.Qc4 Bd3 39.Qxd3 Qxc5< And the cliche - the rest is just a matter of technique.> 40.Nf5 Qe5+ 41.Kh1 Re6 42.Nxd4 Rd6 43.Qf5 Qxf5 44.Nxf5 Re6 45.Rc1 h5 46.Kh2 g6 47.Nd4 Rd6 48.Rc4 Kf8 49.g4 hxg4 50.hxg4 Ke7 51.Kg3 Rd5 52.Kf4 Kd6 53.Ke4 Re5+ 54.Kd3 Ra5 0–1

Sigeman & co Tournament winner - GM Nigel Short 4.5/5

Congratulations Nigel on a stunning victory. Your games have been full of fighting chess, and it's been a joy to watch you play these fantastic exciting games. A worthy winner and a credit to the tournament.