Although there were many mutual errors the most exciting (if not the best!) game for me in round one of the 2005 Jamaican national chess championships was the clash between record seven-time national champion, NM Shane "The magician" Matthews, and the seasoned campaigner NM Geoffrey Byfield. Let the war begin!!

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Byfield does not disappoint and heads straight for the Smith-Morra which Matthews was expecting. On the Thursday before the game he confidently told the annotator that if Byfield deployed his pet gambit he (Matthews) would be pocketing the full point! 3... dxc3 Interestingly, the "Webmaster," visiting Jamaica's shores with Zambian star IM Amon Simutowe, had success against Byfield after the interesting 3... d3!? 4. Bxd3 e6 5. c4 a6 6. Be3 Qc7 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. f4 d6 9. Qf3 Nc6 10. Rc1 Qa5 11. Nge2 Be7 12. g4 g5 13. h4 gxf4 14. Bxf4 Nd7 15. a3 Nde5 16. Qg3 Rg8 0-1 (36) - Byfield, G - Shabazz, D, Harold Chan Open (6), 2004, NMLS, UWI, Jamaica. 4. Nxc3 a6 Two years earlier Shane had faced the same gambit and easily dispatched the candidate master who had wielded it after 4... Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Qc7 7. Bb3 Nf6 8. Bg5 a6 9. Rc1 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bh4 Qa5 12. Re1 d6 13. Nd5 exd5 14. exd5 Ne5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. d6 Rd8 0-1 (22), Mellace, A - Matthews, S,UWI Open (1), 2003, Jamaica. 5. Bc4 e6 Bad for Black is 5... Nf6?! 6. e5! Qc7 7. Bxf7+ Kxf7 8. exf6 Qe5+ 9. Be3 exf6 10. Nf3 Qd6 11. Nd5 Nc6 12. O-O Nb4 13. Nb6 Qxd1 14. Raxd1 Rb8 15. Nxd7 Bxd7 16. Rxd7+ 6. a4 6. Nf3 6... Nc6 7. Nf3 d6 8. O-O Nf6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Rd1 e5=

11. Be3 Against Matthews, the tactical Barbadian Fide Master chose 11. h3!? and a peace treaty was signed after 11... O-O 12. Bg5 Be6 13. Rd2 h6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rad1 Be7 16. Bd5 Qc8 17. Qe3 Qc7 18. Rc1 Rac8 19. Nb5 axb5 20. axb5 Qd7 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Bxe6 Qxe6 1/2-1/2- Corbin, F - Matthews, S - 35th Chess Olympiad (8), Bled, Slovenia, 2002. 11... O-O 12. b4!? 12. Rac1= 12... Nxb4 13. Nxe5!? This looks "pretty" but also possible was 13. Rab1! 13... Qa5 Shane easily avoids the threat to the regal lady. Also strong was 13... Qc7!? 14. Nf3 Bg4 15. h3 Bxf3

15... Be6 16. Rac1 Rac8 (16... Bxc4 17. Qxc4 Rac8=) 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Nd4 Kf7!? 19. f4 Nc6 20. Qb2 Qb4 (20... Nxd4?! 21. Bxd4) 21. Qxb4 Nxb4 22. f5 exf5 23. Nxf5 Rc4 24. Bf4 Rfc8 25. Bxd6 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Rxc3 27. Bxe7 Nd3= 16. gxf3 Rac8 16... Qh5!? 17. Rac1 17. Rab1 17... Rc7! Shane is consolidating his position while still holding the loot. Matthews later told the annotator after the game that at this point he thought that he could safely hold the pawn and that Byfield had no compensation. 18. Na2 Nc6 18... d5! 19. Bb3 (19. exd5 Nbxd5 20. Qd2 Qxd2 21. Bxd2 Rfc8 22. Bd3 Rxc1 23. Nxc1 Bb4 24. Bxb4 Nxb4) 19... Rxc1 20. Nxc1 dxe4 21. fxe4 Qe5 19. Bb3 Qh5! 20. Kg2

20... Nxe4?! Shane could have opted for the solid 20...Re8 or 20...Rcc8 with the advantage but Matthews, true to his nature, uncorks a beautiful knight sacrifice. 21. Bb6! The correct riposte by Byfield who is fighting for equality in a tense middlegame Of course not 21. fxe4?? Qxe2 21... Ng5! The "magician" targets the ruptured enemy kingside. 22. h4 Really, the only move. White is doomed after 22. Rh1? Rcc8 23. Nc3 Qg6! 24. Qc2 Qf6 25. Qe2 Ne6 26. Qe4 Nf4+ 27. Kf1 Qg5 28. Rg1 Qh6 29. Qf5 Qxh3+ 30. Qxh3 Nxh3 and Black's three extra pawns are just too much. 22... Rd7 22... Rcc8 deserved serious consideration. 23. hxg5 Qxg5+ 24. Kf1 Bf6 Although the dust has not quite settled, Matthews, as compensation for the steed, has counterplay in that he has three extra pawns plus Byfield's kingside pawn cover has been shattered while the heavy artillery is still on the battlefield. 25. Qe4! Re7 26. Qg4 The position is still on the edge of the abyss. 26... Qh6 27. Be3 Geoffrey could have grabbed the initiative with the quiet 27. Kg2! and after 27... Bg5 28. Rh1 Ne5 (According to Fritz 28... Qf6 can be met by 29. Rc2!? Ne5 30. Qh5 h6 (30... Qg6!? 31. Nb4 with a growing initiative.) 31. Nc3 Ng6 32. Nd5 Nf4+ 33. Nxf4 Bxf4 34. Qg4 Rfe8 35. a5! and it is White who looks to be winning.) 27... Qh2 "Safer" was the immediate 27... Qh1+! 28. Ke2! (28. Qg1 Qxf3) 28... Qh2 28. Qg2!

Correct! Once the ladies depart the scene White's advantage will crystallise. 28... Qe5 Shane sagely avoids the exchange and maintains the tension. After 28... Qxg2+ 29. Kxg2 White, with the extra piece and the two bishops, is clearly superior. 29. Rc2?! Byfield misses the chance to ride the steed from the "grim rim" and into play. After 29. Nc3 Rd8 30. Ne4 The game assumes a different complexion and Black has to struggle to hold. Indeed, after 30.Ne4, in the variation given, one can safely argue that Black looks lost! 29... Rfe8! 30. Bd5?! A second consecutive weak move. After 30. f4 White maintains the edge. 30... Qh5?!

A dubious choice. Shane returns the compliment. After 30... Nd4! Shane's steed springs into action with menacing effect, again giving him serious counterplay. For example, after 31. f4 (31. Bxd4?? Qe1+ 32. Rxe1 Rxe1#) 31... Qh5 32. Rcc1 Nc2! Each player has to tread like a cat on a hot tin roof. 31. Qg4 Why not 31. Bxc6 and White's initiative assumes dangerous proportions in the line 31... bxc6 32. Rxc6 Qa5 (32... Re4!?) 33. Qg4! 31... Qh2 32. Be4 Ne5 32... Re6 33. Nc3 h5 34. Qg2 Qxg2+ 35. Kxg2 33. Qg3

33... Nxf3?? In mounting mutual time trouble (the Fischer time control was in use, namely game in 90 minutes with 30 seconds increment per move from move one) Matthews blunders. 33... Qh1+ was the best way for Black to fight on although White is calling the shots after 34. Qg1 Qh5 35. Qg2 34. Qxh2?? Byfield, feeling the pressure of the clock, also goes astray. After 34. Qxf3 White gets a piece for free. Shane, when he played 33...Nxf3, must have overlooked his back-rank problems. He cannot grab the holy man on e4 as he would be mated. 34... Rxe4 35. Qxe4 Rxe4 (35... Qh3+ 36. Qg2 Qd7 37. Nc3) 36. Rc8+ Bd8 37. Rxd8+ Re8 38. Rxe8# 34... Nxh2+ It is Black who is now winning. 35. Kg2 Ng4? This throws away the win. The correct route to victory was 35... Rxe4 36. Kxh2 Rxa4 37. Kg2 (37. Rxd6?? Be5+) 37... Be5 36. Bf3 Nxe3+ 37. fxe3 Rxe3

38. Bxb7?? Another atrocious mistake. Why not grab the d6 pawn with at least equality? 38. Rxd6 38... Re2+ 39. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 40. Kf3 Rxa2 41. Rxd6 Rxa4 42. Rxa6 Rxa6 43. Bxa6 h5 Byfield should have resigned by now but inertia keeps him going. No further commentary is necessary. 44. Kf4 g6 45. Bc4 Kg7 46. Bb5 Bd8 47. Bd7 Kf6 48. Bc8 Bc7+ 49. Kf3 g5 50. Ke4 g4 51. Ke3 Kg5 52. Ke4 h4 53. Bd7 h3 54. Ke3 Bb6+ 55. Ke2 Kh4 56. Kf1 g3 57. Bc6 g2+ This game is a testament to the problems that can beset even strong players in time trouble. It also shows that the top players are human and err and can be beaten. Rising juniors and other players be encouraged! 0-1 [Wilkinson I.]