THE 2005 Bermuda Closed Championship continues throughout the month of May, but since several players have been forced to postpone games the current position is rather confused. I shall give full details next week, by which time all the delayed games should have been played.There was a notable event earlier this year that was not properly celebrated in this column. The amiable English player Danny Gormally, who proved a most helpful coach to the Bermuda team at the 2000 Olympiad in Istanbul, finally achieved his third International Grandmaster norm, thereby qualifying for the title.

To tell the truth, he has been playing chess of GM quality for a number of years, and has been foiled numerous times by apparent nervousness during crucial last round games. In addition, he has been deterred from entering some suitable tournaments by his reluctance to board an aeroplane — as you may imagine, this is quite a serious problem for the modern professional player. I am happy to report that both of these problems appear to have been laid to rest.

Gormally achieved his third norm, by a wide margin, at the excellently organised Gibraltar Open.

The pivotal game in this result, and possibly in his whole career, was a superb win over the Russian Alexei Dreev, who has for many years maintained a place among the world’s top 15.

I considered showing that game here, but it was very long, with many twists and turns, and would probably have required two columns. Instead, here is a game from the 2003 British Championship, in which he faced the young International Master Stewart Haslinger.

White: S. Haslinger

Black: D.Gormally

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6

Yes, another Sicilian Defence, and another Najdorf Variation. I couldn’t help it, this has been Gormally’s main defence against 1. e4 throughout his professional career.

6. f3 <$>

Top players started using this little move in 2000, and it remains popular. Earlier this year Boris Gelfand, playing in Bermuda, offered the opinion that 6. f3 is clearly the most dangerous line against the Najdorf. Gelfand, who has ventured this variation against all of the world’s biggest names for 15 years, is a very serious man and does not make such statements lightly.

By the way, White’s logic is twofold, he prepares g2-g4 and will also play Be3 without being annoyed by . . . Ng4.

Qb6 <$>

The most principled response, looking down the weakened dark diagonal.

7. g4 h6 8. a3

I’m not sure I understand this move, but think it has something to do with trapping the black queen should she find herself on b2 in the future.

e5

Very bold, accepting a serious weakness on d5.

9. Nf5 Bxf5 10. gxf5 Nc6 11. Bc4

See diagram 1. This position had been seen before, in a game from the 2002 Bled Olympiad. On that occasion the Hungarian GM Robert Ruck played 11. . . . Nd4 and scored a sensational victory over the Russian superstar Peter Svidler.

Be7 <$>

Of course, Haslinger would have been familiar with the earlier game, and had doubtless prepared an improvement. Gormally didn’t wait to find out what it was.

12.Kf1

Naturally, White wants to play his rook to g1, but this is an awkward way to have to prepare it.

Rc8 13. Ba2 Nd4 14. Rb1 <$>

Another awkward move, allowing a thematic central break.

d5! <$>

See diagram 2. All three ways of taking the pawn are unattractive.

15. Rg1 dxe4 16. fxe4 Rd8 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5 Bg5 19. c3

See diagram 3.

Rxd5! <$>

A typical exchange sacrifice, but nonetheless very nice.

20. exd5 Qb5+ 21. Kf2 Nxf5 22. Rg4

According to my computer, White is still in the game here, but I don’t think that’s true.

Bxc1 23. Rxc1 Qc5+ 24. Kf3 Qe3+ 25. Kg2 h5 26. Rb4 Rh6

Sure enough, Fritz now says that White is lost, without having suggested any better moves along the way.

27. Kh1 h4 28. Qg1 Ng3+!

The finishing touch, shown in diagram 4. Now 29. Kg2, h3 mate would have been pretty.

29. hxg3 Qf3+ 30. Qg2 hxg3+ 31. Kg1 Qe3+

It’s mate in two more moves, so Haslinger resigned.