The Times Newspaper, 6th February 1999
Article by Raymond Keene
BRITISH junior chess has a new heroine in 11-year-old Jessie Gilbert from Croydon, South London.
By winning the Women’s World Amateur Championship at Hastings, East Sussex, Jessie has become one of the youngest players ever to win a senior World Championship.
To recognise her prowess, Bure, the Swedish educational and healthcare giant, has rewarded her with a one-week scholarship to New York to study with a US grandmaster.
This week’s game, from her sensational result at Hastings, is a fine example of her mature style.
White: Gilbert; Black: Cleary
World Amateur Championship 1998
Albin Counter-Gambit
1 d4 d5
2 c4 e5
Black chooses an aggressive move to which the normal response is 3 dxe5 d4 4 Nf3 Nc6 when Black has some compensation for the pawn. White prefers a quiet approach.
3 cxd5 Qxd5
4 Nc3 Qxd4
5 Qxd4 exd4
6 Nb5 Bd6
This allows Black’s pawns to be shattered. Much stronger is 6 … Na6.
7 Nxd6+
White correctly decides to damage Black’s structure rather than regaining the pawn.
7 … cxd6
8 Bf4 d5
9 Bxb8
A good alternative is 9 Be5 but 9 Nf3 Nc6 10 0-0-0 might lead to complications after 10 … Bf5, when White’s king is not secure.
9 … Rxb8
10 Rd1 Nf6
11 Rxd4 0-0
12 e3 Bf5
13 Ne2 Rfe8
Black’s plays in altogether too relaxed a style. With his weakness on d5 it is vital to challenge White’s initiative hence 13 … Rfc8 14 Nc3 and now 14 … b5 is in order, offering material to exploit White’s lack of development.
14 Nc3 Rbd8
15 Bb5 Bd7
16 Bxd7
Once again, relieving Black of a problem piece, but White’s clear focus is to aim as much firepower as possible against Black’s exposed pawn on d5.
16 … Rxd7
17 0-0 Rc8
18 Rfd1
White aims at the black pawn.
18 … Rcd8
19 h3 Kf8
20 Ra4 a6
21 Rb4 Rc8
22 Rdd4 Ke8
23 Kf1 Kd8
24 Ke2 Rcc7
25 f3 h6
26 g4
White threatens to dislodge Black’s knight. 26 … g5.
27 Rd2 Rc4
28 Rb6 Rc6
29 Rb3 Rc4
30 Kf2 Kc7
31 Ne2 Ra4
32 Rc3+ Rc4
33 Rcd3 b5
34 Nd4 Kb6
35 Nf5
Black’s seemingly aggressive rook on c4 can be challenged by b3.
35 … Rdc7
36 Nxh6 Rc2
37 Ke2 Rc1
38 Rd1 R1c2+
39 R3d2 d4
Black sacrifices another pawn.
40 exd4 Nd5
41 Rxc2 Rxc2+
42 Rd2 Nf4+
43 Ke3 Rxd2
44 Kxd2 f6
45 Ng8 Nd5
46 Kd3 Nb4+
47 Ke4 Nxa2
48 Nxf6 Nc3+
A last-ditch try, hoping Black’s passed a-pawn may run through.
49 bxc3 a5
50 Nd5+ Kc6
51 Ne3 b4
52 cxb4 axb4
53 Nd5 Black resigns