Chess

AFTER SIX rounds of the British Championship in Torquay, two favourites, Nigel Short and Matthew Sadler, share the lead on 5 points. Jon Speelman is half a point behind.

Short and Sadler both won their first four games, then met in round five, in a game in which Sadler had to defend accurately to save an endgame a pawn behind. In the sixth round, Short was held to a draw by Jonathan Rowson while Sadler drew with Speelman.

In both the fifth and the sixth rounds, all games on the top four boards ended in draws, which gave the chasing group a chance to catch up.

The race for first place between Sadler and Short promises an intriguing week. Sadler has already beaten Rowson and, having already played Speelman, seems likely to face slightly easier competition. But with grandmasters such as Miles and Hebden lurking close behind the leaders, there should be plenty of exciting chess to fill this space.