Chapter 6 Oops! I Had a Bad Day! (1) Joseph Muragu Methu - Brian Kadenge Adorwa Nairobi Kenyan National Chess League 2017 [diagram] Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kenyan National League had developed into one of the largest single-division team competitions in the world - in 2019 having 27 rounds played over nine months with teams of up to 18 players! The 2017 competition was a little more modest - only 19 rounds! By the time this game was played, in round 16, Joseph Methu's KCB Bank team was assured of second behind an Equity Bank team featuring two Ugandan stars, while his opponent's team, Nairobi Chess Club and Academy, could do no better than fourth place. The match-up on board two between Methu and Brian Adorwa was much anticipated, with both players being massive point accumulators for their respective teams - Methu had 9/12, Adorwa 10/13. Methu had control of the game for much of the way and applied the finishing touches on a team whitewash: 40.Rd7! Qc5 The best chance since 40.Qf8 allows 41.Qd5+ Kh8 42.Qe5+ Kg8 43.Qe6+ Kh8 44.

Qxg6 with mate to follow. 41.Rd8+! Facing loss of his queen - after 41.Rxd8 42.Qxc5 or 41.Kh7 42.Rh8+! - Adorwa pondered briefly and then resigned. Methu meanwhile was sweating on the other side of the board, later saying: "I played the move confidently.

Then once I released the piece I realised I had blundered. I had to bluff and act like I'm winning. I have never signed a scoresheet so fast, before he could change his mind! (There were no witnesses.)" Why was Methu so worried? (2) Oleg Korneev - Evgenij Miroshnichenko Khanty Mansiysk World Cup 2005 [diagram] A new FIDE World Championship system began in 2005 with the World Cup offering 10 places in the revived Candidates matches. 128 players from around the world gathered in the Siberian chess capital Khanty Mansiysk - a city which was to host the next three World Cups - with many knowing that a first round knock-out and stay of only a few days was likely. One of the most evenly contested matches was between Ukraine's Evgenij Miroshnichenko - later to become a prominent commentator - and Oleg Korneev, playing for his adopted homeland of Spain. The higher-rated Miroshnichenko had won the first game of the best-of two match, meaning this game was a must-win for Korneev. The game progressed with Korneev having eyes only for Black's king and Miroshnichenko defending desperately.