[Event "Wexford Congress Premier 1973"]
[Site "Wexford IRL"]
[Date "1973.06.03"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ireton, Tom"]
[Black "Cox, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[BlackFideId "2500116"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[ECO "B81"]
[Opening "Sicilian"]
[Variation "Scheveningen, Keres attack"]
[Venue "White's Hotel"]
[EventDate "1973.06.01"]
[Source "Evening Echo 19 Jun 1973 p14"]
[Annotator "Tom Ireton"]
[URL "https://www.irlchess.com/games_archive/sundry_files_2024-11/ireton-cox-wexford-1973.htm"]
[LastModified "Sat Nov 16 12:42:15 2024"]

{ Source: <em>Evening Echo</em>, June 19, 1973 p. 14. } { Annotator: Tom
Ireton (see Source). } { Event information: <a
href="https://irishchesshistory.wordpress.com/discontinued/wexford/">Wexford</a>,
Irish Chess History (ed. David McAlister). }

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. g4 ({ A sharp move
which leads to a double edged game, normal is } 6. Be2) 6... Nc6 7. g5 Nd7
8. Be3 Be7 9. h4 (9. Qd2 { is more solid. }) 9... a6 10. Be2 Qc7 11. h5 {
Threatening to split the K-side with Rg1 and g6. } 11... b5 $1 12. Rg1 g6 (
12... Nc5 { is better. }) 13. Rh1 $1 Rg8 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. f4 Nc5 16. a3
Rb8 17. b4 Nd7 ({ If } 17... Na4 { , then } 18. Ncxb5 axb5 19. Bxb5 Nc3 20.
Bxc6+ { and wins. }) 18. Ndxb5 ({ &#91;RR The simpler } 18. Qd2 Bb7 19.
O-O-O $16 { was also possible, and perhaps better.&#93; }) 18... axb5 19.
Nxb5 Qb7 20. Nxd6+ Bxd6 21. Qxd6 Ra8 { Threatening ... Nxb4. } ({ &#91;RR
?. Better } 21... Ne7 $14 { .&#93; }) 22. Kf2 $1 ({ &#91;RR Missing } 22.
O-O-O $1 $18 { , e.g. } 22... Rxa3 23. b5 Na5 24. Bc5 { . &#93; }) 22...
Ne7 $14 23. Rhd1 ({ &#91;RR Better } 23. Bd3 $16 { .&#93; }) 23... Qc6 ({
&#91;RR Better } 23... Qxe4 $10 { , e.g. } 24. Bf3 Qxc2+ 25. Rd2 Qc3 26.
Bxa8 Nf5 $1 (26... Qxa1 $2 27. Bc5 Nf5 28. Qc7 $18) 27. Qd3 Qxa1 28. Bc6
Kf8 29. Bxd7 Rh8 $10 { .&#93; }) 24. c4 ({ Better is } 24. Bf3) ({ &#91;RR
} 24. Qxc6 (24. Bf3 e5 $1 $14) 24... Nxc6 25. Bb5 $16 { .&#93; }) 24... Rh8
({ &#91;RR Better } 24... Qxd6 25. Rxd6 Rh8 $14 { .&#93; }) 25. Qxc6 Nxc6
26. Bf3 ({ &#91;RR } 26. Rh1 $1 $16 { .&#93; }) 26... Kd8 ({ &#91;RR A
losing move. It was essential to play } 26... e5 $1 $14 { , with only a
small advantage to White.&#93; }) 27. e5 { &#91;RR Now White has an
overwhelming position.&#93; } 27... Bb7 28. Rd6 ({ &#91;RR ?!. } 28. b5 Na5
29. Bxb7 Nxb7 30. c5 $18 { is much more direct.&#93; }) 28... Kc7 29. Rad1
({ &#91;RR ?; this grants Black a reprieve. } 29. b5 Ncxe5 30. fxe5 Nxe5
31. Bxb7 Kxb7 32. Bd4 { and White is probably still winning.&#93; }) 29...
Ndb8 ({ &#91;RR ?. } 29... Ncb8 $1 { and it is questionable whether White
has any meaningful advantage, e.g. } 30. Bxb7 Kxb7 31. c5 Rh2+ 32. Ke1 Rxa3
33. c6+ Nxc6 34. Rxd7+ Kc8 35. Bc5 Rh1+ 36. Kf2 Rh2+ 37. Kg1 Rb2 $10 {
.&#93; }) 30. b5 Rxa3 ({ If } 30... Na5 31. Bb6+ Kc8 32. Rd8+ { and mate. }
) 31. bxc6 Bxc6 32. Bxc6 Nxc6 33. Rd7+ Kc8 34. Bb6 ({ &#91;RR ?. Better }
34. Rxf7 $16 { .&#93; }) 34... Rh2+ 35. Kg1 Rb2 ({ &#91;RR ??; the final
twist; Black is now lost. } 35... Rah3 36. Kf1 Rh1+ 37. Ke2 R1h2+ 38. Bf2
Rc3 $14 { .&#93; }) 36. Rc7+ Kb8 37. Rxc6 $18 Rg3+ 38. Kf1 Rf3+ 39. Ke1 Rh3
40. Bg1 Kb7 41. Rcd6 Rg3 42. Bf2 Rh3 43. R6d2 1-0