Carlsen leads elite group in Wijk tiff
Let’s play
CHESS
Magnus Carlsen, the Norwegian superstar, leads the elite group, halfway through the 2013 Wijk aan Zee tournament in the Netherlands.
He has 4.5 after six rounds on three wins and three draws record. Vishy Anand, the reigning world champion, and Russian Sergey Kariakin are half-a-point behind. The rest of the standings read Aronian (ARM), Harikrisna (IND) and Nakamura (USA) at 3.5 apiece, Leko (HUN), Van wely (NED) and Wang Hao (CHN), 3.0 each, Caruana (ITA), 2.5, Giri (NED), L’Ami (NED) and Hou Yifan (CHN), 2.0 and Sokolov (NED), 1.5.
The following is certainly the best attacking game in the ongoing Wijk aan Zee Festival in Holland.
The reason is that the finish is strikingly brilliant. Another reason is the fact that it caught by surprise a world contender for encyclopedic knowledge of openings. Wijk aan Zee 2013 W) L. Aronian 2802 ARM B) V. Anand 2772 IND Semi Slav Defense 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6
Black declines the invitation to enter a pure Slav starting with 4...dxc4. 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. a3 Rc8 12. Ng5 ...
After 12. b4 c5!? 13. bxc5 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Nxc5 15. dxc5 Rxc5 16. f4 Nd5 17. Bb2 Nxc3 18. Bxc3 Qc7 19. Rfc1 Rc8 20. Bxh7ch Kh8 21. Bd3 Rxc3 22. Qxc3 Qxc3 23. Rxc3 Rxc3 24. Bxb5 Bxa3, the game is headed to a drawish ending. Topalov-Kasimdzhanov, London Grand Prix 2012.
12... c5!?
This novelty has been prepared by Anand during his WCC match against Gelfand last year. 12...Bxh2ch 13. Kxh2 Ng4ch 14. Kg1 Qxg5 leads to an even game. Wojtaszek-Negi, Germany 2012.
13. Nxh7 ...
Aronian launches his own novelty which according to Anand, gives Black sufficient play. The normal 13. Bxh7ch Kh8 14. f4 cxd4 15. exd4 Qb6 also gives Black compensation.
13... Ng4!
A powerful leap that leads to wild complications. Anand said that the text was part and parcel of his world title match preparation.
14. f4?! ...
Seems risky and dubious as some commentators commented. The normal play 14. h3 Bh2ch 15. Kh1 Qh4 16. Be4 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 f5 18. Qxe6ch Kxh7 19. Qxd7 Bb8 leads to an interesting struggle.
14.... cxd4 15. exd4 ...
After 15. Nxf8 Bxf8 16. exd4 Ndf6 17. h3 Qxd4ch 18. Kh1 Bc5! 19. hxg4 Nxg4, Black’s invasion on the h-file will be hard to meet.
15... Bc5!
This very strong move is the focal point of Anand’s homework, but is also the computer’s first choice.
16. Be2? ...
Definitely the losing move. 16. dxc5 seems forced, and after 16...Nxc5 17. Nxf8 Nxd3 18., h3 Qd4ch 19. Kh1 Ndf2ch 20. Rxf2 Nxf2ch 21. Kh2 Kxf8, Black is clearly better, but play goes on and White may have chances to hold.
16... Nde5!!
A brilliant and decisive move that deserves two exclamation marks. Imagine the thrill of announcing a forced win starring a triple offer of a piece. 17. fxe5 Qxd4ch 18. Kh1 Qg1ch 19. Rxg1 Nf2 mate is the point of Black’s last move. Or 17. dxc5 Qd4ch 18. Kh1 Nf2ch 19. Rxf2 (19. Kg1 leads to mate after 19...Nh6ch 20. Kh1 Qg1ch 21. Rxg1 Nf2ch) 19...Qxf2 and the threat of 20...Qxg2 and 20...Qe1 cannot be parried. 17. 19. Bxg4 Nxf8 Bd4ch ... 18. Kh1 Nxg4
19. Ng5 also loses after 19...f5 20. h3 Rf6 and Black’s pieces will swarm along the h file, making life miserable for the White King.
19... f5!
A silent move which paves the way for the decisive Queen assault on the h file. Anand was very proud of this move. Not 19...Qh4? when White holds after 20. Qh7ch Qxh7 21. Nxh7 Kxh7 22. h3 etc.
20. Ng6 ...
Restraining 20... Qh4 in the meantime, but when a prophylaxis fails to ward off an invading piece, the game is past surgery. 20... 21. h3 Qf6 Qxg6 22. 23. Qe2 Qd3? Qh5 ...
A fatal mistake in a losing position. But after 23. Rf3 Nf2ch 24. Kh2 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 Qxf3 26. gxf3 Nd3, the endgame is also hopeless for White.
23... The story Be3! ends as 0:1 24... Qxh3ch is unavoidable.
White to play and mate in three moves.