There has been another fine English success at Budapest as chess prodigy David Howell, one of the most promising England junior players since Nigel Short became the youngest Westerner ever to win an International Master tournament with victory at the First Saturday tournament. Howell's success follows Short's victory at the Hunguest Hotels tournament two weeks ago in the Hungarian capital.

Howell, aged twelve years and five months from Seaford in East Sussex finished ahead of a field of adult players including several masters and in doing so bettered GM Luke McShane's record by six months. Howell scored his first International Master result and he needs another two to achieve the title. Previously he had become the youngest player ever to defeat a GM at age eight and the youngest player to compete in a national championship at age nine.

Howell scored 7.5/9, an incredible tally considering that he lost one game to the top seed IM Miklos Galyas of Hungary. Howell's tournament rating performance was 2563, not far off the 2600 Grandmaster level and easily the best of his career.

Howell was one of a group of English players who played at Budapest, Matthew Broomfield scored 5/9 and Nathan Alfred 4/9 in the same all play all. Timothy Woodward, who made a TPR of 2425 in the IM B tournament just missed an IM norm and GM Neil McDonald scored an impressive 8.5/13 in the GM tournament.

Last Friday Howell was presented with the Best Young Chess Player award by Sir Patrick Moore at a television recording of 'Britain's Brilliant Prodigies' held at the LWT studios in London. Robin Gibb, Bob Geldof and Evelyn Glennie presented other awards. The programme, hosted by Gabby Logan and the Duchess of York under the auspices of Children in Crisis, will be broadcast on ITV1 on Monday 5 May from 6-7.30pm.

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White had one chance to save himself after the clever blow 14...Nd5! threatening ...Bc5 pinning the queen to the king. 17.Nxf4 was best and if 17...Bc5 18.Nxe6 Bxd4+ 19.Nxd4 Qb4 (19...Qf4 20.Re4!) when Black will win at least one pawn but White can coordinate his rooks and knights.

D Werner - D Howell
1st Saturday
Ruy Lopez Exchange

D Howell

D Werner

Final position after 20...Bc5, White is pinned all over and has to maintain the defence of f2 with his queen else Qxf2+. If 21.Qd2 Qf3+ 22.Kf1 Bxc4+ 23.Re2 Nxe4 or 22.Kg1 Nh3+