Short draws again

THE TWELFTH game of the Great Chess Match at the Savoy Theatre in London was drawn yesterday, leaving Gary Kasparov leading Nigel Short by 8.5 points to 3.5 halfway though the scheduled games, writes William Hartson.

In a match marked as much by missed chances as brilliance, the latest game was one of the best-played on both sides. Kasparov caught Short in a prepared opening variation involving the sacrifice of a piece. Short was surprised by Kasparov's 12th move, which gave him the chance to win a piece.

Black had no immediate way to regain the material, but White's position was so rickety that he could only hold it by losing pawn after pawn.

In the endgame Kasparov had four pawns for a bishop, but had to lose one back immediately. His position still looked superior, but Short played well to create counter-play that at one stage even seemed to give him chances of victory. Finally, however, everything balanced and a draw was agreed.

A statement is expected tomorrow concerning the final half of the Fide world championship which lost its sponsors in Oman last week.

THE MOVES

White: Short

Black: Kasparov

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6

3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6

5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6

7 Bb3 Nc6 8 f4 Be7

9 Be3 0-0 10 Qf3 Nxd4

11 Bxd4 b5 12 Bxf6 Bxf6

13 e5 Bh4 14 g3 Rb8

15 gxh4 Bb7 16 Ne4 dxe5

17 Rg1 g6 18 Rd1 Bxe4

19 Qxe4 Qxh4+ 20 Ke2 Qxh2+

21 Rg2 Qxf4 22 Qxf4 exf4

23 Kf3 Rfd8 24 Rxd8 Rxd8

25 Kxf4 Kf8 26 Ke3 Ke7

27 c4 h5 28 a4 bxa4

29 Bxa4 h4 30 c5 Rh8

31 Rc2 h3 32 Bc6 e5

33 Kf2 h2 34 Rc1 a5

35 Bd5 Rd8 36 Bg2 Rd2+

37 Kg3 Kd7 38 Ra1 f5

39 Kxh2 Rxb2 40 Rxa5 e4