Game of the Month

The following last round encounter between the tournament leaders was played at this year's Provincial Championships in Saskatoon. Play follows established theory for the first dozen or so moves, and then finds Robert pushing hard to make his Kingside prospects count for the full point. Knut defends well however, and even manages to hold on to his extra Pawn. Both players needed to see the final tactical flurry when Black made his 18th move. Not bad for a couple of amateurs!

[Event "SK ch"]
[Site "Saskatoon"]
[Date "1997.05.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Sasata,Robert"]
[WhiteElo "2323"]
[Black "Neven,Knut"]
[BlackElo "2223"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]

1.d4 d5 2.e4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.Bd2 Ne7
6.Nb5 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 0-0 8.f4 a6 9.Nd6 cxd4
10.Nf3 Nbc6 11.Bd3 f6 12.0-0 Rb8 13.Qe1 Bd7
14.Qh4 h6 15.g4 Nc8 16.Nxc8 Rxc8 17.Qg3 fxe5
18.fxe5 g5 19.a3 Qe7 20.Rf2 Rf4 21.h4 Rcf8
22.hxg5 hxg5 23.Raf1 Qg7
	

Position after 23...Qg7
	

24.Rh2 Nxe5 25.Bh7+ Qxh7 26.Rxh7 Nxf3+
27.Rxf3 Rxf3 28.Qc7 Kxh7 29.Qxd7+ R8f7
30.Qxe6   1/2-1/2