Not Short of Moves

I could be mistaken but the McShane - Short game in the first round of the London Chess Classic might just be the longest top level game this year. The whole contest lasted 163 moves! In the end, the younger McShane emerged the winner after he finally managed to outflank Short and successfully exploited his pawn advantage.

Chess Classic
McShane, L.
Short, N.
C45

The following position arose after Short's 119...Nf8.


McShane now continues with 120. Kd3 Nd7 121. Kc2 Nf8 122. Be1 Nd7 123. Bg3 Nf8 124. Kb2 Nd7 125. Ka3 Ba5 126. Ne7+ Kb6 127. Bd6 Ka6 128. Nd5 Bd8 129. Bg3 Ba5 130. Ka4 Bd2 131. Bc7 Bc1 132. Bd8 Bb2 133. b4 Bd4 134. b5+ Kb7 135. Kb3 Be5 136. Kc2 Bd4 137. Kb3 Be5 138. Be7 Bd4 139. Bd6 Bf2 140. Kc2 Ka7 141. Kd3 Kb7 142. Ke4 Bd4 143. Be7 Be5 144. Ne3 Bf4 145. Ng2 Bg3 146. Kd5 Bf2 147. Ke6 Ne5 148. Bxf6 Nxc4 149. Bxg5 Na3 150. f6 Bd4 151. f7 Bg7 152. Bf6 Bf8 153. Be7 Bg7 154. Bxc5 Nxb5 155. f8=Q Nc7+ 156. Kf7 Bxf8 157. Bxf8 Kc6 158. Nf4 Kd7 159. g5 Nb5 160. g6 Nd4 161. g7 Nf5 162. g8=Q Nh6+ 163. Bxh6 1-0

Of course, the big news from the event is the much-awaited encounter between Carlsen and Kramnik. Carlsen, playing the white side of an English, won that one with seeming ease.

In the women's section, WIM Arianne Caoili is also off to an excellent start by beating WFM Olivia Smith.