Chess

The England team captain, David Norwood, had a difficult decision in the final round of the Olympics. His most successful player, Matthew Sadler, had the best score on board four and was assured of a gold medal if he did not play. If he played, a draw or loss could lose him his prize.

The captain rested his star player, and the decision was justified when Short stepped into Sadler's role to score the sole win that beat Hungary.

Judit Polgar has, in the past, been a difficult opponent for Nigel Short, but this time she became confused in complications of her own making.

White's 13.Qxc3 and 14.Bh6!? is a remarkable idea, planning to meet 14...gxh6 with 15.Bd5! Nxd5 16.Qxh8+. After Short's 14...b4! the queen could not stay on both the c-file and long diagonal and since 15.Qc1 Nd4! 16.Bxg7 Rg8 17.Bxf6 Qxh3 is good for Black, White's play became a real piece sacrifice.

Short had to return some material to break the pin on his knight, but Polgar became caught in a dither about whether to push her attack on the -side or Q-side. At the end, 40.gxh3 Qxh3+ or 40.Kg1 Qc5+ is fatal.

White: Polgar Black: Short

1 e4 e5 21 a4 bxa3

2 Nf3 Nc6 22 Rxa3 Nh5

3 Bb5 a6 23 Ra8+ Nd8

4 Ba4 Nf6 24 Nd4 Bg5

5 0-0 Be7 25 Qf3 Ng7

6 Re1 d6 26 Rb8 Nge6

7 c3 Bg4 27 Nxb5 c6

8 h3 Bh5 28 Nc3 Qa7

9 d4 b5 29 Rb4 Rf6

10 Bb3 Bxf3 30 Qd1 Rxf2

11 Qxf3 exd4 31 e5 d5

12 Qd3 dxc3 32 Qd3 Qc5

13 Qxc3 Qd7 33 Rg4 Rxb2

14 Bh6 b4 34 h4 Rb3

15 Qe3 gxh6 35 hxg5 Rxc3

16 Ba4 Rb8 36 Qxh7 hxg5

17 Nd2 Rb5 37 Qg8+ Qf8

18 Bxb5 axb5 38 Qh7 Qa3

19 Nf3 Rg8 39 Qb1 Rh3+

20 Kh1 Rg6 White resigns