GM Gawain C B Maroroa Jones (2609) beat GM Luke J McShane (2647) in 49 moves in round 3 of the Pall Mall Masters rapid in London, in a finish where neither clock showed more than 30 seconds.
McShane played 33...Rb2 with 10 seconds left. Stockfish wanted 33...Bf6. It counted White clearly better before (+1.97) and winning after (+3.97), and 34.Be5, its first choice, came straight back.
Then the white rooks took the h-file. 40.Rcxh7+ won a pawn with check, 45.Rxh4 won another, and the checks on h8, h7 and h6 ran on to move 49.
Maroroa Jones finished the rapid second, on 6½/10.
Stop the replay at 33...Rb2, give yourself 10 seconds, and find 33...Bf6. Then play it on against the engine.
- White
- GM Gawain C B Maroroa Jones, 2609
- Black
- GM Luke J McShane, 2647
- Result
- 1–0 in 49 moves
- Opening
- Scotch Game: Scotch Gambit, Advance Variation · C44
- Event
- 2026 Army and Navy Club Pall Mall Masters, 2026 Army and Navy Club Pall Mall Masters - Super Rapid, Round 3 · The Army & Navy Club, 36 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN
- Key move: {0}
- 33...Rb2
- Engine’s choice
- 33...Bf6