Stephen Jessel and Conor O’Donnell competed in the strong Plancoët Open 2014, finishing with 6/9 and 5½/9 respectively. They met in round 8, in a game of changing fortunes.
The first diagram shows one interesting moment.
52… ?
It’s Black to play and win. How?
Later, the second diagrammed position was reached.
58. ?
This time, it’s White who is winning, per the Nalimov tablebases, but this is harder to see. How will White escape the checks?
Click to replay the full game (with solutions).