Dubov masters Nakamura
Daniil Dubov defeated Hikaru Nakamura in sudden-death Armageddon play-off to win the Lindores Abbey Challenge, the second leg of the $1 million Carlsen online chess tour. The victory also booked him a spot in the tour’s grand finals.
The final match concluded in dramatic fashion when Dubov and Nakamura, tied at two points apiece, faced off in Armageddon decider that was required to determine the tournament winner.
Dubov, Russia’s rising young star at 24, rallied and recovered well from a one-game deficit to beat the American blitz champion, who got caught in a fatal opening trap arising from a Vienna Game. Earlier, Nakamura ousted Norwegian world champion Magnus Carlsen in an Armageddon semifinals.
In winning the tourney, Dubov pocketed the $45,000 top prize and became the second player to make it to the tour’s grand finals, joining first leg qualifier Magnus Carlsen.
* * * Meanwhile, the Clutch Champions Showdown, the richest internet tournament organized by the St. Louis (USA) chess club, is underway.
The $265,000 online speed chess knockout event had eight of the world’s top players, including Carlsen, Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Russian Alexander Grischuk, Armenian Levon Aronian, and the American quadrumvirate of Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, Leinier Dominguez and Jeffrey Xiong.
Matches can be followed live, with move-by-move commentaries.
* * * Connoisseurs of chess endings will relish the following game, played out in the recently-concluded Lindores Abbey Challenge chess tour. 2020 Lindores Abbey Challenge Round three Game two Finals W) H. Nakamura (USA) B) D. Dubov (Russia) Sicilian Defense 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Bg7 The Accelerated Fianchetto, an old variant strongly recommended in the 60s. 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Bb3 Re8!? A novelty? Perhaps, but even if the move has been played before, it was not given enough attention by theoretical experts. .8 .... d6, which transposes into a pure Dragon Variation, is the standard continuation, while 8 .... a5, is an intricate line, which leads to interesting by paths. 9. Nxc6 .... Nakamura-Dubov, game two, round two, continued 9. h3 d6 10. Qd2 Bd7 11. 0-0 Na5, and Black is ok. 9 .... dxc6 10. h3 Qc7 11. f4 b5 12. e5 b4! The point of Black’s 8th move. Now capturing with 13. exf6 is met by 13 .... exf6! and Black regains the piece with initiative. 13. Na4 Nd5 14. Qf3 Nxe3 15. Qxe3 a5 16. O-O-O Qa7 17. Qe4 .... Obviously, trading Queens leads to a slight endgame edge for Black because of his Bishop pair. 17 .... Bf5 18. Qc4 Qe3ch 19. Kb1 Be6 After the text, White is compelled to swap Queens into a slightly inferior ending. 20. Qd4 Qxd4 21. Rxd4 Rad8 22. Rhd1 Rxd4 23. Rxd4 Bc8 24. Nb6 c5 25. Rd2 .... Not without a point, but seems passive. The engine prefers the active 25. Rc4. 25 .... g5 26. Rd5?! .... White’s last is a premature action, as it allows Black’s pieces to be activated. 26. Ba4 is considered best by the engine. 26 .... gxf4 27. Rxc5 f3! A sharp Pawn stab which breaks the game wide open for Black’s forces. 28. gxf3 Bxh3 29. Rxa5 Rd8 Here White is a Pawn up, but Black’s pieces are more mobile, not to mention a dangerous passed h Pawn.
30. a4 bxa3 31. bxa3 e6 32. Ka2 h5 33. Ra4 Bxe5 34. Re4? .... This move spoils White’s chances of survival. 34. Ra5 should have been tried. 34 .... Bf6 Sharper is 34 .... Bg3!, according to the engine, e.g., 35. Nc4 Bf5 36. Re2 h4 and Black wins without a fuss. 35. Re1 h4 36. Rg1ch Kf8 37. Nc4 Bf5 38. Rh1 Rd4 39. Ne3 Bg6 40. a4 Bh5 41. a5? .... This loses right off. 41. Rh3 is forced to prolong the game, though White is in dire straits anyhow. 41 .... Bxf3 42. Rf1 Rf4 43. a6 Bd4 44. Re1 Re4 0-1 Solution to last week puzzle White to play and win.
White=Kh1, Qe7, Rg3, Ne5, Pa4, Pc3, Pf2, Pg2, Ph3
Black=Kg8, Qd5, Rd8, Nf4, Pa7, Pb6, Pf5, Pg6, Ph7
1. Nf7! 1-0
If 1 .... Qxf7 2. Qxd8ch and wins. Or 1 .... Rc8 2. Nh6ch
Kh8 3. Qf6 mate. And finally 1 .... Rd7 2. Nh6ch Kh8 3. Qf8ch Qg8 4. Qxg8 mate.