Calm before the storm

After twice being convinced I was due to play the top seed in the following round, this time it was a case of, if not third time lucky, at least third time right. At last I had to play Philip Tozer (194/2141), and with black to boot - I'd had this earmarked as my toughest examination well in advance. He'd drawn every game as Black so far, but that was no solace for me - as White he had 3½/4, very nearly more. The English had served him well, so as in round 4 I wanted to muddle the game up.

After the catastrophe of the day before I managed to steady myself to some degree, and played a fairly decent game this time, landing some solid preparation for the first time since round one and comfortably holding my own thereafter. But perhaps it could have been more if not for those nerves again...

There is some satisfaction to defending a pet system again and again, slowly discovering a few more of its secrets with every game, especially when theory doesn't have much time for it. 11... Nb4!? was nice idea, setting off some very silly play but allowing me to emerge unscathed from a variation which is thought to pose Black some challenges. If Black's pieces are all developed then I don't think he can be worse. All told, it was an odd game, mostly shadow-boxing but with a lot of tactics bubbling up beneath the surface. The only move I'm irritated by is 26... Bg7, since I didn't try hard enough to make the capture on c5 work; I simply believed my opponent.

Besides that, there is obviously the way the game ended. On a different day, against a different opponent, I would probably have played on, since the burden of proof is with White. The other two leaders drew their game, and going into the final round with a half-point lead would have been worth the trouble - I'd have avoided a double black, at any rate! But I'm not the only one - just remember the year Hawkins started with 6/6 and then limped home to a share of first with five draws, for example. Maybe it will be easier if there is a second time.

After the tournament, Tozer sent me a very kind message commiserating me on what happened the next day, and assuring me that if I keep playing the sort of chess I played in Llandudno then I will hit 200 before long. I hope he's right, but in the final round I showed why I'm not there yet. I tried to tell myself there was no pressure the night before - it was now certain that I'd achieved my goal and qualified for next year's Championship, so I argued to myself that it was a one-off game except that I'd win the Major Open with a victory. That was the plan, anyway.