Chess

The final round of the 72nd Corus International takes place today in Wijk aan Zee, Holland. Live games can be seen at www.coruschess.com from 12.30pm. Alexei Shirov, of Spain, was the early pace-setter, streaking to an impressive 5/5 before being held to a draw by Britain's Nigel Short. Shirov needed to extend his winning run by a further four games to overcome the record for the event – set by the legendary Viktor Korchnoi, who opened with 8/8 in 1968.

Korchnoi, the strongest player to never win the world title, was guest of honour at the London Chess Classic in December. At the age of 78, Korchnoi is still a feared competitor and played top board for Switzerland at the European Team Championships in October last year. Former Aberdeen player David Fowler recorded a memorable win against Korchnoi in a simultaneous display held during the London Classic.

London simul, White: Viktor Korchnoi (Switzerland, 2567), Black: David Fowler (Scotland, 1836), 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 d5 4 Bg5 h6? A bad mistake dropping the d-pawn. 5 Bh4? Why not Bxf6. 5...Be7 6 e3 0–0 7 Nf3 Ne4 8 Bg3 Nxg3 9 hxg3 c6 10 Bd3 Nd7 11 Qc2 dxc4 12 Bxc4 b5 13 Bd3 Bb7 14 0–0–0 b4 15 Ne4 Qa5 16 Kb1 Rfc8 17 Nfd2 c5 18 Nc4 Qc7 19 dxc5 Nxc5 20 Nxc5 Qxc5 21 f3 Ba6 22 Rc1 Bf6 23 Qe2 Rab8 24 f4 b3! 25 a3 Bb5? Korchnoi is in trouble here – Black can increase the pressure with 25...Rd8! menacing a threat of Rxd3 followed by pin and win with Rc8. 26 g4 a5? 27 g5! Just two moves of dawdling has allowed White to whip up a vicious counterattack. 27...hxg5? 28 fxg5?? Korchnoi misses the killer blow 28 Ne5! and Black could resign. 28...Qxg5 29 Rh5 Qg3 30 Rch1 g6 31 Rh7 Bxc4! 32 Bxc4 Qe5! Black is winning again with the opposite bishops, making it impossible to oppose the battery targeting b2. 33 R7h4 Rc5? 33...Bxh4 was simpler. 34 Rf4 Rbc8 0:1 (See diagram of final position.) 35 Bxb3 would now be an immediate loser after 35...Rc2! but 35 Rc1 (Black threatened Rxc4) shouldn't hold out for long. Korchnoi's resignation method wins no prizes for grace in defeat. "Korchnoi saw my move, flapped his hand and moved on to the next board," according to Fowler in Scottish Chess Magazine.

• This article was first published in Scotland on Sunday, January 31, 2010