A match which has attracted less attention than it deserves was Luke McShane’s victory over David Howell in the final of the UK Knockout championship, which coincided with the London Classic last December. En route to the final, Luke eliminated both the reigning British champion Gawain Jones and England’s most celebrated grandmaster, Nigel Short.
The following game from the final is furnished with notes based on those kindly provided by the victor.
Howell-McShane: British Knockout Championship, London 2017; King’s Indian
1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3 Bg7 4 Bg2 0-0 5 d4 d6 6 0-0 Nbd7 7 Nc3 e5 8 e4 c6 9 h3 Qa5 10 Re1 exd4 11 Nxd4 Ne5 12 Bf1 Qb6 13 Be3 c5 Not 13 … Qxb2 as then 14 Na4 Qb4 15 Bd2 Qa3 16 Re3 traps the queen. 14 Nb3 Be6 15 Nd5 Bxd5 16 exd5 Rae8 17 Kg2 Re7 18 Qc2 Rfe8 The doubled rooks put a useful amount of tactical pressure on White’s position. 19 Bd2 Qd8 20 a4 Qc8 21 Nc1 h5 21 … Nc6 is possible but then 22 Rxe7 Nxe7 23 Bd3 prevents the knight coming to d4. 22 Na2 h4 This is consistent but risky. 23 gxh4 Nh5 24 Nc3 Bf6 This is based on an oversight but White subsequently misses the refutation. Instead 24 … Qd7 is better when the position is about equal. (see diagram 1) 25 f4 White can refute Black’s 24th move with 25 Ne4 Qf5 26 Nxf6+ Qxf6 27 Bg5 Qf3+ 28 Kg1 f6 and now the move 29 Rxe5! is overwhelming, e.g. 29 … dxe5 30 Qxg6+ Kh8 31 Ra3 Qd1 32 d6 Re6 33 d7. 25 … Ng4 Another way to play is 25 … Nd3 and after 26 Rxe7 Ndxf4+ 27 Bxf4 Nxf4+ 28 Kf3 Rxe7 29 Kxf4 Qf8 the situation is unclear.
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