CHESS

William Hartston
Thursday 27 July 1995 23:02 BST
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The Isle of Lewis, where a collection of 12th-century chessmen was discovered in 1831, is celebrating their temporary return from the British Museum - they are currently on show in the Stornoway Museum on the Island - with a chess festival which has attracted 230 entrants, and an invitation four-player grandmaster quickplay event.

In the latter, Nigel Short has made a dreadful start, losing his first two games to Judit Polgar and Simen Agdestein. Polgar and Agdestein had an attractive draw in round two:

White: J Polgar Black: S Agdestein

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 g6 6.c4 Nb6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.Be3 0-0 9.Qf3 White intends 0-0-0 and c5, but Black counters forcefully. 9...f6!? 10.Nd3 e5! 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Qd1 Nc6 In compensation for his isolated e- pawn, Black has freed his game. 13.Nc5 Qe8 14.Nd5 Qf7 15.Ne4 Bf5 16.Ng5 Qd7 17.Nxb6 Qxd1+ 18.Rxd1 axb6 19.c5 h6 20.Bc4+ Kh8 21.h4! Now 21...hxg5 22.hxg5+ is clearly in White's favour. 21...b5 22.Nf7+ Kh7 23.Ng5+ Kh8 24.Nf7+ Kh7 25.Ng5+ drawn by repetition of moves.

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