Gamesters of Triskelion

I first encountered the Triskelion, the traditional coat of arms of the Isle of Man, when I saw Laurence Oliver’s film of Shakepeare’s Richard III. At the crucial Battle of Bosworth, Lord Stanley, the Earl of Derby and feudal lord of the Isle of Man switches sides and betrays Richard. His three-legged triskelion banners are seen hurtling down on King Richard’s forces just before the immortal lines, ‘A horse, a horse! My kingdom for a horse!’
 
The only knights in action on the Isle of Man in the past weeks have been those on the chessboard. Congratulations are due to the organisers and sponsors for attracting a hugely powerful field which included the reigning US and British champions and the better part of the gold-medal-winning US Olympiad team. This week’s game sees one of that team coming to grief at the hands of a talented young Dutch grandmaster.
 
Nakamura-Bok; Isle of Man Masters 2016; King’s Indian Defence
 
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 f3 e6 4 e4 c5 5 d5 d6 6 Ne2 Bg7 In spite of a non-standard opening sequence, the game has transposed to a recognisable Benoni formation.