A
giant step for David Howell
David Howell
made another giant step in his chess career when he comfortably held Sergei
Karjakin, the youngest Grandmaster in the world, to a draw in an exhibition
match held to launch The
Art of Chess exhibition at the Gilbert Collection, Somerset House. This
special exhibition, which is on view until 28 September 2003, features 19 chess
sets designed by 20th century masters such as Duchamp and Calder and new designs
by artists at the cutting edge: Damien Hirst, Yayoi Kusama, Jake and Dinos Chapman,
Paul McCarthy and Maurizio Cattelan. The exhibition is generously supported
by Oleg Deripaska.
The two lads inspect the board on which they will play their game
It's fine, but thank heavens we don't have to play blitz!
The match was played on Saturday 28 June 2003 on a magnificent summer day in
the open air Courtyard at Somerset House. David, the 12 year old prodigy from
Sussex, had already established his credentials earlier in the week by disposing
of Grandmaster Jonathan Speelman in a match sponsored by British Land at Regent's
Place in Euston, also played on a giant chess set.
Karjakin, who has been tipped by many as a future World Champion, drew the
black pieces, and the game began with the spectators crowded round four or five
deep, trying to get a glimpse of the moves. On the edges of the Courtyard two
large demonstration boards had been erected and Grandmasters Jonathan Levitt
and Daniel King regaled the spectators on the intricacies of the game as it
progressed.
The real thing: David Howell vs Sergey Karjakin
David, who had been coached prior to the match by Grandmaster Levitt, had prepared
well and chose a variation which allowed Karjakin little opportunity to exercise
his natural combinative flair. After several moves of mutual probing, David
had negated all of Karjakin's counter play and the latter was forced to take
up a defensive posture. As the pressure increased, Karjakin attempted to break
out and managed to exchange queens into an end game that still looked weak for
him. However, he managed to equalise the position by advancing his central pawn
and, as time began to run short on both clocks, it became clear that a decisive
victory was not going to be scored by either side so a draw was agreed.
The major success was undoubtedly David's since, although Karjakin is a high
ranking Grandmaster, David has yet to gain his International Master title. This
performance, coupled with his win over Speelman a few days before, showed that
David can compete in the strongest company.
After the exhibition match, the two young players plus Grandmaster Daniel King,
took part in simultaneous chess displays against members of the public and UK
Chess Challenge Supremi (the UK Chess Challenge, sponsored by British Land,
is the largest chess tournament in the world involving 66,000 children from
2,000 schools).
12-year-old David Howell giving a simultaneous exhibition with 59 games
Karjakin played 68 games and conceded just three draws and a single loss
Experienced GM Daniel King, assisted by Alexandra
("Angelic Allie") Wilson
In a marathon five hour session, played inside a marquee especially erected
by the Gilbert Collection, the Masters completed almost 180 games of chess.
Sergei Karjakin proved particularly devastating, playing an incredible 68 games,
defeating 63 players, drawing 3 games and losing only to Miguel Amen and Andrew
Stone, a percentage of 94.9. David Howell played 59 games, won 48, drew 9 and
lost to Xin Jie Gai of Oxfordshire and Tariq Oozerally from Surrey, a success
rate of 90%. Daniel King played 47 games, won 43, drew 3 and lost to Kees Pafort
from Holland, scoring 94.7% The marquee, originally erected as a protection
against possible rainfall, proved an immense boon against the scorching rays
of the English sun.
The well-know problem chess expert Colin Russ, who is a university lecturer.
Colin is fluent in German speaker and has a column in a German newspaper. The
position is a mate in two, with the solution going 1.Kd6!
John Rice, the world president of the chess problem society. This time we
will not tell you the solution of the mate in two.
Whilst these games were in progress a parallel blitz event for UK Chess Challenge
children and members of the public was also being run in the Somerset House
Courtyard. At the same time the fountains were turned on which delighted children
who splashed about in them excitedly throughout the afternoon.
The event was generously supported by Freestream Aircraft Limited, The British
Land Company PLC and Sir Jeremy Morse, KCMG. It was so popular that it may well
be repeated next year.
Report provided by Sue Bond Public Relations, Hollow Lane
Farmhouse, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 3RQ. Tel. +44 (0)1359 271085. Photos
by Mark Huba.
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