Congratulations to Richard for winning the Khyber Cup this year. This year the event was held online, using a slightly faster time control of 10m+5s for the entire game rather than the traditional 20m+10s used for the over the board event. Thanks are due to Jonathan Welton, who organised the event using lichess.org as the platform. the event on lichess.org .
Richard’s best game was probably his first round encounter against Jonathan. Jonathan got a slightly passive position out of the opening, and it is impressive to see how Richard managed to gradually increase his advantage to a winning one, whilst giving his opponent virtually no counterplay, despite Jonathan’s best efforts.
[Event "Khyber Cup 2020"]
[Site "lichess.org"]
[Date "2020.9.6"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Webb, Richard"]
[Black "Welton, Jonathan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Eco "B01"]
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Nxd5 4.c4 Nb6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Nc3 e6 7.h3
Bh5 8.Be2 Be7 ( 8...Nc6 {is more active, as it puts pressure on d4 and c4}
) 9.Be3 O-O 10.Ne5 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 N8d7 12.O-O-O {!?}
( 12.O-O {is also good, but Richard immediately opposes the Black queen on the d-file}
) a5 ( 12...Nxe5 13.dxe5 Qe8 14.f4 Qc6 {where Black is quite active and White’s space advantage is more manageable}
) 13.f4 Bb4 14.Ne4 Nxe5 15.dxe5 ( 15.fxe5 {is also good} ) Qe7
( 15...Qe8 {looks a bit strange, but again the queen is more active on c6, and on e7 it takes away a square from the Bishop}
) 16.Kb1 {! A good practical decision, especially in a rapid time control, deciding not
to chase the Bishop yet. White keeps control of the position}
( 16.a3 Bxa3 17.Bxb6 ( 17.bxa3 Qxa3+ {is a perpetual, because the e3 bishop would hang if white interposes the queen}
) cxb6 18.bxa3 Qxa3+ 19.Kb1 {when Black would have some practical chances}
) Na4 17.Rd3 {
White sees that it is not easy for Black to challenge the d-file, because his
pieces get in each others way … but there is a quick finish}
( 17.Nf6+ {!} gxf6 ( 17...Kh8 18.Rd7 ) 18.Qg4+ Kh8 19.exf6 {because}
Qxf6 20.Bd4 {wins the Black queen!} ) Nc5 ( 17...Rad8 {should probably have been played, but note that White keeps control of the d-file after}
18.Rhd1 Rxd3 19.Qxd3 ( 19.Rxd3 Rd8 {?} 20.a3 {!} Rxd3 21.Qxd3
Bc5 {the only square, because of the position of Black’s queen}
22.Nxc5 Nxc5 23.Bxc5 Qxc5 {when white wins the queenside after}
24.Qd8+ Qf8 25.Qxc7 ) ) 18.Bxc5 Bxc5 19.Rhd1 Bb6 {again, Black cannot challenge the d-file by putting a rook on d8, because after all rooks are exchange the bishop on c5 hangs}
20.Rd7 {White is now winning, in view of his extra space and control of the d-file}
Qb4 21.a3 Qa4 22.c5 Ba7 23.Qc2 {Again a good practical move. Of course Rxc7 is very strong, but that would give chances for Black to get more active}
Qxc2+ ( 23...Qc6 {allows White to advance on the kingside unchallenged, or even first to play}
24.Ng5 g6 25.Ne4 {creating weaknesses on the Black kingside (which his bishop is unable to defend}
) 24.Kxc2 Rac8 {Black has defended well to avoid material loss, but White has the d-file, a better minor piece and a more active king}
25.Kc3 b5 26.R1d3 Bb8 27.c6 Ba7 28.Re7 Rfe8 29.Rxe8+ Rxe8 30.Rd7
Bb6 31.Ng5 ( 31.Nd6 {!} cxd6 32.Rb7 {wins quickly} ) f6 {fed up with passivity, Jonathan opens the position a little at the cost of a pawn}
( 31...Rf8 32.Nf3 Re8 33.Nd4 {and the Black queenside pawns drop off} )
32.exf6 gxf6 33.Nxh7 Rf8 34.g4 {Nxf8 works too, but White is confident about winning the minor piece ending}
Rf7 35.Rxf7 Kxf7 36.g5 f5 37.Kd3 Kg7 38.Nf6 Kf7 39.h4 Bf2 40.h5
Bg3 41.Ke3 Be1 42.Nd7 b4 43.axb4 Bxb4 44.b3 Bd6 45.Ne5+ Kg7 46.Kf3
Bb4 47.h6+ Kh7 48.Nf7 Kg6 49.Nd8 Bd6 50.Nxe6 Bb4 51.Nxc7 Bd6
52.Nb5 Bb8 53.c7 Bxc7 54.Nxc7 {and White won} 1-0
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As can be seen in the Honours Board Page
