The Chinese chess team prevailed over the UK in the first round of the Summit Match being contested at St Georges Hall in Liverpool City Centre. The Chinese proved extremely tenacious and turned round some difficult positions. After three hours play the UK chess team seemed to have the advantage but the score ended 5-3 to the Chinese. There were two swing games. Jonathan Rowson had a big attack for a sacrificed pawn against Zhang Pengxiang but a highly complex game turned on a deep tactical point and Zhang played quite brilliantly in the endgame to convert his advantage. Gawain Jones played what looked like a prepared novelty against Ni Hua and also held the edge for a long time but ...

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