Vintage Anand still sparkles
The Wijk aan Zee Festival, which ushers in the chess calendar for the new year, has gotten underway in the Dutch coastal town of Wijk aan Zee.
Tabbed the “Wimbledon of Chess”, the entry list had the reigning world champion – Magnus Carlsen of Norway, and former world champions – Vishy Anand (India) and Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), and womhometown en’s ex-world champion Hou Yifan of China.
Other big names this year included American Wesley So, the defending champion, world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana (USA), world No. 3 Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, candidates qualifier Sergey Kariakin of Russia and compatriot Peter Svidler, the world No. 10, and bet Anis Giri.
Also in the list were 18-year-old Chinese prodigy Wei Yi, Russian Maxim Matlakov, the 2017 European Individual champion, India’s Adhiban Baskaran, last year’s bronze medalist and British Gawin Jones, the 2017 Wijk aan Zee challengers’ champion.
Opening round is being played as we go to press.
* * * At 48, Anand must be on the decline. The former world champion is feeling, by his own admission, the ravages of time. In the 2017 FIDE world Cup, he was ousted in the second round by a lower rated opponent, and in the 2017 London chess classic, he finished last.
But in the 15-round world rapid championship held last month, he dominated the competition, pacing himself well to last the whole grind. And if chess skills alone are to be the criteria, Anand is on top of his game.
Watch the crisp style of vintage Anand in the game below. 2017 World Rapid Championship W) V. Anand (India) B) A. Demchenko (Russia) Sicilian Defense 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 ...
The Richter-Rauzer Attack, an ancient variant introduced into practice by German IM and writer, Kurt Richter in the 1930s. 6 .... e6 7..Qd2 ...
Soviet master Vsevolod Rauzer’s well-known idea, in which White castles long followed by pawn roller on the Kingside.
7 .... a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 Be7
A possibility is 9...h6 and after 10. Bh4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Bc6 12. Kb1 0-0, the game is about even. 10. Nf3 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Kb1 b4 13. Ne2 h5
Not a pointless move, as it plans to stop White’s immediate 14. g4, but as the Black King is still stuck in the center, it would be more logical to play 13...0-0. 14. f5 e5 15. Rg1 Qb6 16. g4 Qf2 17. Qd3 hxg4 18. Rxg4 Nd8
Seems passive. Either 18...a5 or 18...Rc8 is probably better, according to the engine. 19. Rg2 Qc5
Black’s Queen maneuvers proved ineffective. 20. Ng3 a5 21. Nd2 Nb7
22. Qf3 a4 23. Bc4 Rc8 24. Rc1 Bf8?
Definitely the losing move. Correct is 24...Na5 and the game probably hangs in the balance. 25. Nh5! Ke7
Black has no choice. 25. Rh6 is answered by 26. Qg4, while 25...Be7 fails because of 26.Ng7ch Kd8 27. Bxf7. 26. Qg4! ...
White’s immediate threats are 27. Nxf6 and 27. Bxf7. 26 .... Bh6?
A poor move that is equivalent to resignation. 26...Qd4 is the last chance, although White clearly has the upper hand. 27. Nxf6 Bxd2 28. Nd5ch Ke8 29. Qg8ch! 1:0
Solution to last week’s puzzle: White to move and win.
White=Kg1, Qe6, Rb6, Rg4, Pe3, Pf2, Pg2, Ph3
Black=Kh8, Qc7, Ra5, Rd7,Pb7, Pd5, Pg7, Ph6 1. Qe8ch Kh7 2. Rxh6ch! 1:0 If 2...gxh6 3. Qg8 mate or 2... Kxh6 3. Qg6/Qh8 mate.