Alex Goss has been playing in the 2020 Caplin British Online Championships
Details of the event are available from the website: https://www.englishchess.org.uk/caplin-british-online-championship-finals/ there is an excellent commentary channel during the matches : Game Changer - hosted by GM Matthew Sadler and WIM Natasha Regan https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkK8M0dMhAX8JinU-6aD7xA. Very enjoyable. Full results can be found at: http://chess-results.com/tnr543516.aspx?lan=1&art=4&fed=ENG&flag=30 and the first 2 rounds of games at https://www.englishchess.org.uk/caplin-british-online-chess-championships-replay/ and the remaining at: https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2020-british-online-championship
Alex is ceded 29th out of 37 top players including Grandmasters Michael Adams, Matthew Turner, and Mark Hebden. Heres the top 12 players:
No. | Name | FideID | FED | Rtg | ||
1 | GM | Adams Michael | 400041 | ENG | 2716 | |
2 | GM | Turner Matthew J | 402893 | SCO | 2509 | |
3 | IM | Ghasi Ameet K | 409200 | ENG | 2485 | |
4 | GM | Gormally Daniel W | 406465 | ENG | 2479 | |
5 | GM | Fernandez Daniel H | 5801605 | ENG | 2466 | |
6 | GM | Hebden Mark L | 400084 | ENG | 2453 | |
7 | IM | Wadsworth Matthew J | 415804 | ENG | 2416 | |
8 | GM | Lalic Bogdan | 409081 | CRO | 2402 | |
9 | FM | O'gorman Tom | 2508249 | IRL | 2368 | |
10 | FM | Grieve Harry | 426520 | ENG | 2351 | |
11 | FM | Tate Alan | 2401878 | SCO | 2342 | |
12 | FM | Claridge-Hansen William | 422509 | ENG | 2290 | |
13 | WGM | Toma Katarzyna | 1119907 | ENG | 228 |
I have added positions from each of Alex's games. Just to give an idea of the games. Alex did brilliantly in a very tough competition.
Alex started round 1 with a tough match against player: FM Grieve Harry 2351. Playing to a Knight v Bishop endgame and obtaining a draw - a brilliant start to the tournament.
White has just played Bc2. Black plays d5 with swaps in the center. |
White plays Rd6 Black defends with Re6 then Rd7+ and Re7 and RxR |
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Black has just played Nd3 |
Now the plan to swap the Knight for the Pawn. Which is what Alex succeeds todo on move 53. |
At the end of the tournament FM Harry Grieve went on to come joint 5th on 5.5 points. The full game can be played through : Rd1 British 2020 - Grieve, Harry (2351) -- Goss, Alex (1833)
So with 1/2 point after round 1 an upset for the ceded matches. Alex was to get another tough match in round 2.the teenager Ismail Mohammed Aayan 1719 ENG.
Just before the Queens come off. |
The final position - draw agreed. |
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Mohammed Aayan Ismail ended in joint 5th position with 5.5. points. The full game can be played through : Rd2 Goss, Alex (1833) -- Ismail, Mohammed Aayan (1719)
So having not yet lost a game Alex went into his third round and was drawn against : FM Blackburn Jonathan Lb 2235 WLS.
Alex pushes 11. ... c5 offering this pawn for the e4 pawn. Jonathan doesnt take the offer and retreats the Bishop 12. Bc2 |
Alex builds up his forces on the Kingside. This continues with 16. ... Qe7 sacrificing the Pawn on c4. White takes this 17. Nxc4 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Whites Queen is drawn away from the Kingside. |
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Black continues bringing the Black Bishop into the fray. White has played Be3 and then Bf1. Blacks last move 20. ... g5 Continues the attack. White forces the issue with 21. g3 and Alex attacks 21. ... Nxg3 22. fxg3 Qxg3+ 23. Bg2 Bxh3 24. Qe2 Qh2+ 25. Kf1 Qh1+ and we are on the next diagram |
Alex swaps off and wins a piece. 26. Bg1 Bd4 27. Q3 Qxg1+ 28. Ke2 Qxg2+ 29. Qxg2 Bxg2 |
Alex has won - White doesnt have anything for the piece and the 2 Pawns. |
Jonathan resigns, |
This game Alex won and undefeated with 2 out of 3 points entered round 4.
The full game can be played through : Rd3 FM Blackburn Jonathan Lb (2235) -- Goss, Alex (1833)
Alex's full score to round 8.
Rd. | Bo. | SNo | Name | Rtg | FED | Pts. | Res. | w-we | |
1 | 10 | 10 | FM | Grieve Harry | 2351 | ENG | 5,5 | s ½ | 0,42 |
2 | 10 | 33 | Ismail Mohammed Aayan | 1719 | ENG | 5,5 | w ½ | -0,16 | |
3 | 10 | 16 | FM | Blackburn Jonathan Lb | 2235 | WLS | 5,0 | s 1 | 0,92 |
4 | 8 | 12 | FM | Claridge-Hansen William | 2290 | ENG | 3,0 | w 0 | -0,08 |
5 | 10 | 22 | Evans Harry G | 1985 | ENG | 4,5 | s 0 | -0,30 | |
6 | 12 | 26 | Gordon Sean | 1909 | ENG | 2,5 | w ½ | 0,10 | |
7 | 10 | 6 | GM | Hebden Mark L | 2453 | ENG | 5,5 | s 0 | -0,08 |
8 | 13 | 35 | Shearsby Jude | 1673 | ENG | 3.0 | w 1 | 0,29 | |
9 | 12 | 25 | Varney Zoe | 1917 | ENG | 4.0 | s ½ | 0,12 |
Game 4 saw Alex's first defeat. Against FM William Claridge-Hansen 2290.
Is the Black isolated pawn on a6 going to be weak? |
Black leverages the Pin of the Rook on b1 and has pushed the a pawn. In this position Alex does the fatal move of Nc2 which allows 30. ... Rxb3
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The game has gone - 30. ... Rxb3 31. Rbxb3 axb3 and Alex resigns. Possibly the only move earlier would be not to take on b3. 30. ... Rxb3 31. Rba1 but the a pawn can be defended with the Bishop on d7,. So still problematic,
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The full game can be played through: Rd4 Goss, Alex (1833) -- FM Claridge-Hansen, William (2290)
Round 5 saw Alex paired a Black against Harry G Evans (1985).
Alex plays 6. ... h6 then 7. dxc5 White takes and the tries to hold onto the pawn. 7. ... e6 8. b4 Ne4 9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Nd4 |
White swaps off. 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Be5 Rg8 14. Ba6 |
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White threatens to win a pawn. Alex swaps the exchange to get two centred pawns, one passed. |
Harry castles Long and brings the rooks into the centre. Can Alex make advantage of the centre pawns. Although his Rook is out of play. |
After gaining a passed pawn c5. Harry attacks the Pawn line. 24. gxf5 Bh5 25. Rxe4 Bxd1 26. Rxe5 Bg4 and Black has got his exchange back But is 2 pawns down. |
Harry pushes the f pawn and gets his Rook onto the seventh Rank. 27. f3 Bh3 28. f6 Rf8 29. Re7+ Kd8 30. Rg7 Rxf6 31. c6 and things dont look good for Alex. |
Harry gives Check with the Rook and faces the Rooks off. 37. ... Kf8 38. Re8+ Kf7 39. Rb8 Next diagram. |
Alex resigns. |
The full game can be played through: Rd5 Evans Harry G (1985) -- Goss, Alex (1833)
Round 6 and Alex faces Sean Gordon (1985)
Both sides castled Queen-side and have centred Rooks. |
Black has pressure on the c4 pawn. 24. c5 Qxe2 25. Nxe2 bNd7 26. Bd4 e6 27. Be3 Ng4 and finally Alex gives up the c pawn with 28. c6 bxc6 |
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Alex brings his Rook to the centre after Sean blocks the f-file with f6 31. Rfd1 Na5 and Alex pokes at the isolated c-pawn. 32. Na5 |
Alex brings the second Knight over to the b-file 36. Nb5 Sean swaps Rooks and attacks the two Knights. 36. ... Rxd1 37. Rxd1 Rc5 38. a4 and then Sean hits the Knight with the a-pawn - looks difficult for Alex. 38. ... a6 39, b4 attacks the Rook and saves the Knight. |
So to unscramble the Knights we have had 39. ... Rc8 40. Nd6 Rd8 41. Nab7 (diagram above) Black wins the two Knights for the Rook. 41. ... Rd7 42. Kc2 Rxb7 43. Nxb7 Kxb7. |
Some swaps off Pawns and Sean has a passed Pawns on a3 and e5 Whilst Alex has one on h4. A challenging endgame. |
An exciting end - Both players having Pawns on the seventh Ranks. Sean sacrifices his Bishop to enable his Pawn to Queen. His last move 68. ... f5 69. Rxh8 Ne2+ 70. Ke3 a1=Q 71. Rd8+ Kc4 72. h8=Q Qa3+ 73. Kxe2 Qf3+
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Sean has perpectual check and the game is drawn. |
The full game can be played through: Rd 6 Goss, Alex (1833) -- Gordon, Sean (1985)
Round 7 saw Alex playing GM Mark Hebden.
Alex pushes 6. ... e5 Already a Pawn down this allows White to put pressure on the d5 pawn. 7. Bg5 d4 8. exd4 exd4 9. Ne4 Qd5 |
Mark now swaps the Knights 10. Nxef6+ gxf6 11. Bxf6 gaining another Pawn Alex has space and a Rook on a Half open file that could end up facing the King and White has no Rooks in play and the Kingside untouched. But does Alex have time or will White consolidate and win with his two pawns advantage? |
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Both sides castled. White has built a Kings fortress. 18. Kh1 just plated then 18. ... f4 19. Bh4 Alex plays the Rook to safety 19. ... Rde8 - one thought was 19. ... Ne5 looks quite threatening. |
Queens exchanged and Pawns pushed. 27. ... Ref8 28, Bg4 Rhg8 29. h4 Bxa3 A fascinating position.30. Rfd1 Ne5 31. Rd4 Alex played 31. ... b5 but how about 31. ... Nxg4 32. fxg4 and 32. ... Rxg5 33. hxg5 Rc8 I dont quite think it works - but looks fun. 34. Rdd1 f3 |
I wonder perhaps with the White Rook on f4 we can now do. 33. ... Rc8 threatening Rc1+ Alex played 33. ... Kb7 34. Rxf8 Rxf8 35. Kg2 Kc6 36. h5 Kd5 and its difficult to stop the White Pawns. Interesting choice of Blacks next move 37. h6 Kc4 heading to protect the Pawn on b2. Alex could have alternatively played 37. ... Ke6 38, h7 Kf7 and used the King to stop the h-pawn. |
Alex pushes his King to support the Black Pawn. The game went: 38. h7 Kb3 39. Bf6 Kc2 What follows is an excellent lesson in endgame play 40. Rxb2+ Bxb2 41. Bxb2 Kxb2 Next diagram. |
White just gave up Rook for a won endgame. 42. g5 a5 43. g6 a4 44. g7 Re8 next diagram. |
Black cant stop White from Queening. 45. h8=Q Rxh8 46. gxh8=Q+ Kb1 47. Qc3 Ka2 48. Kf1 a3 49. Ke2 Alex Resigned. What a brilliant game. |
The full game can be played through: Rd 7 GM Hebden, Mark L (2453) -- Goss, Alex (1833)
Alex went into Round 8 with two and a half points. His next opponent Jude Shearsby 1673.
Last move 13. ... Ne6 followed by 14. Nxe5 Nxg5 15. Qxg5 Nxe4 |
Queens off 16. Qxd8 Rxd8 17. Bxe4 Bxe5 18. Bxb7 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Bb5 20 Rfe1 White is a pawn up. 20. ... Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Re2 22. Rd8+ Kg7 23. Rc8 next diagram - threatening to swap a double pawn for a pawn and making a passed pawn. |
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Black decides now to Swap 23. ... Re7 24. Ra8 threatening a Pawn 24. .... Re6 defending the Pawn 25. Bd5 Re1+ 26. Kh2 Black has alot of loose Pawns 26. ... c6 27. Bb3 Re4 next diagram |
Black's Bishop is lost after 28 f2 as White is threatening c4. Black resigns. |
The full game can be played through: Rd 8 Goss, Alex (1833) -- Shearsby Jude (1673)
Alex goes into the final round with 3.5 points. an excellent score against tough opposition. His last game is against Zoey Varney 1917
White does some clever moves. Targeting f7. 15. ... Bf5 16. Qc4 |
White sacrifices the exchange. For an attack on f7. 17. Rxe6 fxe6 18. Qxe6+ Kh8 19. Ne5 |
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Alex's move - he plays accurately. 19. ... Rae8 20. Nf7+ Rxf7 21. Qxf7 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Qa3 |
A couple of repeated moves and a draw is agreed. 23. Rb1 Qa5 24. Rc1 Qa3 25. Rb1 Draw. |
The full game can be played through: Rd 9 Varney Zoe (1917) -- Goss, Alex (1833)
The whole competition provided some brilliant chess and some good chess Commentary on :
It was brilliant to see Alex Goss do so well whilst representing the Ulster Chess Union. He ended in joint 20th place.
The end result was a tie on first place between GM Michael Adams and IM Ameet K Ghasi - resulting in a two game play off Won by Michael Adams.
Ghasi v Adams play-off game 1 British 2020 score 0 - 1
Adams v Ghasi play-off game 2 British 2020 score 1/2 - 1/2
Final Ranking crosstable after 9 Rounds
Rk. | Name | Rtg | FED | 1.Rd | 2.Rd | 3.Rd | 4.Rd | 5.Rd | 6.Rd | 7.Rd | 8.Rd | 9.Rd | Pts. | ||
1 | GM | Adams Michael | 2716 | ENG | 10b1 | 28w1 | 2b1 | 4w1 | 11b1 | 7w½ | 5b½ | 3w½ | 9b½ | 7,0 | |
IM | Ghasi Ameet K | 2485 | ENG | 19b1 | 9w1 | 1w0 | 13b1 | 12w1 | 3b½ | 4b½ | 10w1 | 5b1 | 7,0 | ||
3 | IM | Wadsworth Matthew J | 2416 | ENG | 21b1 | 18w½ | 23b1 | 11w0 | 9b1 | 2w½ | 13b1 | 1b½ | 4w1 | 6,5 | |
4 | GM | Turner Matthew J | 2509 | SCO | 20w1 | 17b1 | 5w1 | 1b0 | 28w1 | 10b1 | 2w½ | 8b½ | 3b0 | 6,0 | |
5 | GM | Fernandez Daniel H | 2466 | ENG | 33b1 | 14w1 | 4b0 | 9w½ | 24b1 | 11w1 | 1w½ | 12b½ | 2w0 | 5,5 | |
GM | Hebden Mark L | 2453 | ENG | 29w1 | 13b½ | 11w0 | 17b0 | 23w1 | 12b0 | 22w1 | 21b1 | 16w1 | 5,5 | ||
GM | Lalic Bogdan | 2402 | CRO | 31w1 | 11b½ | 13w½ | 18b½ | 17w1 | 1b½ | 12w½ | 16b½ | 8w½ | 5,5 | ||
FM | Grieve Harry | 2351 | ENG | 22w½ | 25b1 | 17w½ | 12b0 | 18w1 | 16b½ | 24w1 | 4w½ | 7b½ | 5,5 | ||
Chopra Tanmay | 2273 | IND | 27w1 | 2b0 | 30w1 | 5b½ | 3w0 | 20b½ | 29w1 | 14b1 | 1w½ | 5,5 | |||
Cox Tristan A | 2141 | ENG | 1w0 | 15b1 | 29w1 | 23b1 | 16w1 | 4w0 | 18b1 | 2b0 | 11w½ | 5,5 | |||
Finn Peter | 1959 | ENG | 35b+ | 7w½ | 6b1 | 3b1 | 1w0 | 5b0 | 16w½ | 13w1 | 10b½ | 5,5 | |||
Ismail Mohammed Aayan | 1719 | ENG | -½ | 22b½ | 25w1 | 8w1 | 2b0 | 6w1 | 7b½ | 5w½ | 15b½ | 5,5 | |||
13 | FM | Toczek Grzegorz | 2271 | WLS | 24b1 | 6w½ | 7b½ | 2w0 | 14b1 | 19w1 | 3w0 | 11b0 | 20w1 | 5,0 | |
FM | Blackburn Jonathan Lb | 2235 | WLS | 30w1 | 5b0 | 22w0 | 31b1 | 13w0 | 27b1 | 20w1 | 9w0 | 23b1 | 5,0 | ||
Stubbs Oliver | 1905 | ENG | 28b0 | 10w0 | 26b½ | 33w1 | 32b1 | 18w0 | 30b1 | 19w1 | 12w½ | 5,0 | |||
16 | FM | O'gorman Tom | 2368 | IRL | 26b1 | 23w½ | 18b½ | 19w1 | 10b0 | 8w½ | 11b½ | 7w½ | 6b0 | 4,5 | |
WGM | Toma Katarzyna | 2289 | ENG | 32b1 | 4w0 | 8b½ | 6w1 | 7b0 | -½ | -½ | 23w½ | 18b½ | 4,5 | ||
CM | Villiers Thomas | 2161 | ENG | 37w+ | 3b½ | 16w½ | 7w½ | 8b0 | 15b1 | 10w0 | 24b½ | 17w½ | 4,5 | ||
Evans Harry G | 1985 | ENG | 2w0 | 27b1 | 20w1 | 16b0 | 22w1 | 13b0 | -½ | 15b0 | 24w1 | 4,5 | |||
20 | Wills Thomas | 1994 | ENG | 4b0 | 32w½ | 19b0 | 34w1 | 30b1 | 9w½ | 14b0 | 27w1 | 13b0 | 4,0 | ||
Varney Zoe | 1917 | ENG | 3w0 | 37b+ | 28b0 | 30b½ | 27w½ | 26b1 | -½ | 6w0 | 22w½ | 4,0 | |||
Goss Alex | 1833 | IRL | 8b½ | 12w½ | 14b1 | 28w0 | 19b0 | 31w½ | 6b0 | 30w1 | 21b½ | 4,0 | |||
Gurner Jem | 1800 | JCI | 36w+ | 16b½ | 3w0 | 10w0 | 6b0 | 25w1 | 31b1 | 17b½ | 14w0 | 4,0 | |||
Volovich Julia | 1674 | ENG | 13w0 | 31b½ | 34w1 | 29b1 | 5w0 | -1 | 8b0 | 18w½ | 19b0 | 4,0 | |||
25 | Shafi Declan | 2166 | SCO | 34b1 | 8w0 | 12b0 | 32w0 | 29w0 | 23b0 | 26w1 | 31b1 | 27b½ | 3,5 | ||
Finn Chris | 1886 | ENG | 16w0 | 29b0 | 15w½ | 27b0 | 34b1 | 21w0 | 25b0 | 32w1 | 31w1 | 3,5 | |||
Idle Oscar J | 1722 | ENG | 9b0 | 19w0 | 33b½ | 26w1 | 21b½ | 14w0 | 32b1 | 20b0 | 25w½ | 3,5 | |||
28 | FM | Claridge-Hansen William | 2290 | ENG | 15w1 | 1b0 | 21w1 | 22b1 | 4b0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | 3,0 | |
CM | Balaji Aaravamudhan | 2206 | ENG | 6b0 | 26w1 | 10b0 | 24w0 | 25b1 | 32w1 | 9b0 | -0 | -0 | 3,0 | ||
Shearsby Jude | 1673 | ENG | 14b0 | 33w1 | 9b0 | 21w½ | 20w0 | 34b1 | 15w0 | 22b0 | 32b½ | 3,0 | |||
31 | Gordon Sean | 1909 | ENG | 7b0 | 24w½ | 32b½ | 14w0 | 33b+ | 22b½ | 23w0 | 25w0 | 26b0 | 2,5 | ||
Arora Tashika | 1744 | ENG | 17w0 | 20b½ | 31w½ | 25b1 | 15w0 | 29b0 | 27w0 | 26b0 | 30w½ | 2,5 | |||
33 | Rathbone-Jones Ifan | 1941 | WLS | 5w0 | 30b0 | 27w½ | 15b0 | 31w- | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | 0,5 | ||
Oh Julie | 1168 | ENG | 25w0 | -½ | 24b0 | 20b0 | 26w0 | 30w0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | 0,5 | |||
35 | GM | Gormally Daniel W | 2479 | ENG | 11w- | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | 0,0 | |
FM | Tate Alan | 2342 | SCO | 23b- | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | 0,0 | ||
Greenwood Mark | 0 | ENG | 18b- | 21w- | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | -0 | 0,0 |