K.O. Match

This was my first match of the 2001 season, the result would determine who would play in which Club tournaments that year. My opponent was Keith Jones, a regular player in Division 2, who also had a higher grade than myself, so this shaped up to be a good game.

  White
G Griffiths
Black
K Jones
 
1 e4 c6  
2 Nc3 d5  
3 Nf3 Bg4  
4 Be2 B x N  
5 B x B d4  
6 Na4 e5  
7 b3 Nf6  
8 d3 Na6  
9 Nb2 b5  
10 a3 Be7  
11 Bd2 0 - 0  
12 0 - 0 Rc8  
13 Qe2 h6  
14 Bg4 N x B  
15 Q x N Bf6  
16 B x p (h7) Re8  
17 Bd2 Re6  
18 a4 b4  
19 Nc4 c5  
20 Ra1 - c1 Be7  
21 Qg3 Bh4  
22 Qh3 Rc8 - c6  
23 Kh1 Qf6  
24 Kg1 Bg5  
25 Qg4 B x B  
26 N x B Qh6  
27 Nc4 Rg6  
28 Qd7 Rf6 - c6  
29 N x p Qg5  
30 N x R R x N  
31 Qc8 + Kh7  
32 Qh3 + Rh6  
33 Qf3 Kg8  
34 Qf5 Qh4  
35 h3 Qe7  
36 Rc1 - d1 Nc7  
37 Qc8 + Kh2  
38 Qf5 + Rg6  
39 Rd1 - e1 Ne6  
40 e5 Qb7  
41 Re4 Kg8  
42 Rg4 Rh6  
43 Qe4 Qc8  
44 Qf3 Qd8  
45 Qg3 g6  
46 Re1 Qc6  
47 Rh4 R x R  
48 Q x R Ng7  
49 Re4 Qd7  
50 g4 a5  
51 Qf6 Ne8 B) Nh5?
52 Qg5 Nc7  
53 f3 Ne6 B) Nd5?
54 Qh6 Qe7  
55 f4 Nf7  
56 f5 Qd7  
57 f6 Qe6  
58 Qg7 ++    
Initally White is under a lot of pressure on the Queen's side, especially as it allows Blacks pawns to advance as a group early on.

White while weathering the storm on the Queen's side begins to build a threat on Black's Kings side and managed to steal the free pawn on h7 as well.

White takes a long time to free up his rooks and bring them into the game, and is always troubled about the possible pawn advance on the Queen's side backed by Black's Queen and Rook among others. White's lynchpin Knight, which had held up Black's pawn advance is pulled into the game grabbing another free pawn and narrowly missing a fork on Black's two Rooks.

The loss of Black's Rook which with the Queen was threatening a mate on g2 for the last few moves, allows White a little breathing space, which it uses to harass Blacks King and at the same time to reposition White's Queen.

The exchange of Rooks, leaves Black down by a Rook and 2 pawns for a Knight as the game enters the end game. White then begins a pawn advance of its own and supported by the Queen finish off the opposition to claim the win.

Final Position

               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
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