Since you are reading this, it is obvious I have succeeded in getting an internet connection at my hotel. It wasn’t easy though. I did not have access to Chris Ward’s commentaries.
Zhao struck again, this time against Romain Edouard, and now has 6/6. White seemed to play splendid positional chess, but once he won a pawn it was all over.
The four games on board 2-5 were all drawn. This is a not uncommon phenomenon when one player takes a striking lead. Arkell – Mista was a reasonably hard-fought draw.
The Fier – Kjartasson game never had enough in it for either side to claim real advantage. The end position, although well-known, is amusing.
Olsarova – Bogner was very hard-fought. You don’t often see the four rooks lined up as they were on move 39. The WIM won a pawn. But that was not enough to win the rook and pawn endgame. The final position was most definitely drawn!
Geldura – Lagarde became very complex in the endgame. However, as we are often told, all rook and pawn endgames are drawn. But some are more drawn than others.
Uncharacteristically the older Hungarian saddled himself with some pawn weaknesses against Mark Hebden, Such positions have long been meat and drink to the Englishman so that he has pulled himself back into sole second place.
Peter Sowray must have set some sort of record against Maxim Rodshtein for moving pieces back and forth.
Glenn Flear seemed to be fine against the Commonwealth Champion. But then 27 Nxe6 caued him too many problems. Was 30 Nxc7 is simple blunder?
The British Champion played the opening against Joachim Wallner in a curious manner. It worked out as a fair draw, but could perhaps the Austrian have been more ambitious?
The CHESS.COM prize goes to Wahbi Kheit ISR for his win with black against the strong English FM Adam Ashton.