Wesley paces speed chess
The Grand Chess Tour, a series of tournaments featuring 10 of the world’s highest-ranked players, will be in its final stages as we go to press.
Contrary to expectations, Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen, who will defend his title against American Fabiano Caruana in November, was not around. World No. 4 Ding Liren of China, recuperating from a hip injury, was also absent in the rapid and blitz events that began Tuesday at the famous Leuven town hall in Belgium.
American Wesley So maintained the overall lead after four days of speed chess. The Philippine-born So, going for a second straight Leuven plum, had a combined score of 18 points going into the last nine games of the double roundrobin five minutes blitz event.
So, 24, earlier dominated the 30-minute all-play-all rapid, with an unblemished 14 points out of a possible 18, where a win and a draw earned double points.
Russian Sergei Kariakin and Levon Aronian of Armenia, made charges in the last two rounds, as each with 16.5, pulled within 1.5 points of the leader.
They were followed by Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, with 15.5; Hikaru Nakamura (USA), 15.0; Alexander Grischuk (Russia), 13.0; Azeri Shakriyar Mamedyarov, 12.0; Indian Vishy Anand, 10; Fabiano Caruana (USA), 9.5 and Dutchman Anish Giri, 9.0.
Grand Chess Tour 2018 (Rapid) W) H. Nakamura (USA) B) W. So (USA) London System (Colors Reversed) 1. d4 Nf6 2 Bf4 ...
This move establishes what theoretical experts call the London System (colors reversed). It is actually an oldfashioned line which offers White only moderate chances if any.
2... 3. e3 4. dxc5 5. b4 d5 c5 e6 ...
White unwisely holds on to his pawn advantage, giving Black the chance to fight for initiative. Correct according to the engine is the normal developing move 5. Be2.
5 .... a5 6. c3 Bd7 7. Qb3?! ...
Another time-wasting reply. Better is the engine’s 7. Nbd2, with the following possibilities. 7...axb4 8. cxb4 b6 9. cxb6 Qxb6 10. a3, and the game is unclear. 7 .... 8. cxb4 9. Bd6 axb4 b6 Ne4! A fine move which nets Black a quick positional advantage, as the threat of 10...Qf6 compels White to return the pawn.
10. Qb2 11. cxd6 12. Qxf6 13. b5 Nxd6 Qf6 gxf6 Bxd6
After the text, Black clearly has the initiative because of his Bishop pair, control of the half open a file and better prospects along the open c file.
14. a4 Ke7 15. Bd3 Rc8 16. Ne2 e5 17. f3 f5 18. Ra2 ...
This is another move of no significance. However, the suggested alternative 18.Kd1 is met by 18...Be6 and Black enjoys a tangible advantage. Now White’s position looks playable, but that impression quickly wanes under Black’s energetic counterstrokes.
18 .... Be6 19. Rc2 Bb4ch 20. Kf1 Rxa4 21. Rxc8 Bxc8 22. Nec3? ...
This loses material and the game. 22. f4 seems to hold out longer, but Black should prevail in the long run, as White faces the problem of back rank weakness.
22 .... Bxc3 23. Nxc3 Ra3!
The refutation of White’s 22nd move to which there is no good reply. The rest is a routine win for Black.
24. Nxd5ch Kd6 25. Nxb6 Be6 26. Bb1 Kc5 27. Nc8 Bxc8 28. Kf2 Be6 29. g4 fxg4 30. Bxh7 Nd7 31. Rb1 Ra2ch 32. Kg3 gxf3 33. h4? f5 34. Kxf3 Nf6
0-1 Solution to last week’s puzzle: Black to play and win. white=Kd3, Re1, Pc7, Pc6 black=Kb6, Pf2, Pf5, Pf6 1... fxe1(N)ch 2. Ke3 Ng2ch 2...Kxc7? 3. Kf4! and draws. 3. Kf3 Kxc7 4. Kxg2 Kxc6 0-1