British Visually Impaired Championship

At Easter at Bournemouth the Visually Impaired championship welcomed its first international master, Colin Crouch. With sight affected by a recent illness, Colin became eligible to compete and showed that his disability has not reduced his formidable attacking powers. He scored a perfect 7 from 7 and defeated three former champions in the process. The most difficult win was against the defending champion Chris Ross. Bill Armstrong came third and all three with four others British entries will compete in the Europen Individual Visually Impaired Championship this summer in Durham.

The vital game from round three.

Ross v Crouch.

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. Bg5 Bb7 4. Nbd2 c5 5. e3 e6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. c3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qe2 cxd4 10. exd4 Nd5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. g3 f5 the start of a king-side pawn storm. 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 g5 15. a3 (too slow, Nc4 is better) Qg7 16. f3 h5 17. Rf2 h4 18. Re1 Qh6 19. Nc4 g4 20. Qd2 Qxd2 21. Nxd2 hxg3 22. hxg3 gxf3 23. Nxf3 Kf7 24. c4 Ne7 25. Re3 Rg8 26. Nd4 Rh8 27. Kf1 Kg7 28 Ne4 fxg4 29. Rg3 Rh4 30. Be2 Rh1+ 31. Rg1 Rxg1+ 32. Kxg1 Ng6 33. Bxg4 Nxe5 34. Be2 Rh8 35. Rh2 Rxh2 36. Kxh2 Kf6 37. Nb5 a6 38. b3 Nb6 39. Kg3 Nd7 40. Kf4 e5+ 41. Ke3 Ke7 42. b4 Kd8 43. Bg4 Nf6 44. Be2 Kc7 45. Kd3 Bg2 46. Ke3 Kc6 47. Kf2 Ne4+ 48. Nxe4 Bxe4 49. Ke3 Bh1 50. Kd2 b5 51. Kc3 Kb6 52. Bf1 bxc4 53. Kxc4 Bc6 54. Kc3 d5 55. Bh3 Kc7 56. Bf5 d4+ 57. Kd3 Bb5+ 58. Ke4 Kd6 59. Bc8 Bc6+ 60. Kd3 Bb5+ 61. Ke4 Bf1 62. Kf3 Bd3 63. Bb7 Ke6 64. Bc6 Bb5 65. Bb7 Kd7 66. Kf2 Kd6 67. Be4 Bc6 68. Bd3 Bb7 69. Bc4 e4 70. Ke2 Ke5 71. a4 Bc8 72. b5 axb5 73. axb5 Kd6 74. Ba2 Kc5 75. Bb1 Bb7 76. Ba2 Kxb5 77. Be6 Kb4 78. Bf5 Kc3 79. Kd1 d3 80. Bg6 e3 81. Bf5 Bf3+ 82. 0-1

A fine display of aggressive play with the Black pieces followed by patient endgame strategy searching for the mistakes that inevitably arise. Colin is a worthy champion.

Bill Armstrong