Purple patch continues in Cuba
AMERICAN GM Samuel Shankland continues to amaze. Last time, I discussed his almost unbelievable performance in the 2018 US Championship. He has followed that up with a scorching performance at the Capablanca Memorial, in Cuba. He was the highestrated player in the sixplayer field, though that by no means guarantees victory. With him were five other strong GMs, but Shankland went through them like a hot knife, finishing with five wins, five draws and no losses. His oneandahalfpoint winning margin was huge. Shankland (26) has now entered the top 30 for the first time and has a live rating of 2717.
Elsewhere, favourite Ju Wenjun, of China, is the new women’s world champion.
Today’s game is Shankland’s (2701) roundseven game against GM
Lazaro Bruzon (2664), of Cuba. It showcases Shankland’s excellent late middlegameearly endgame skills. Shankland has white.
1 Nf3 Nf6
2 c4e6
3 Nc3 d5
4 d4 Nbd7
Not as common as other moves such as 4 . . . Be7 or 4 . . . c6 but still playable.
5 Bg5 Be7
6 cxd5 Nxd5
Certainly the more ambitious move for black, keeping a pawn imbalance. 6 . . . exd5 being the more solid option.
7 Bxe7 Qxe7
8 Rc1 c6?
This is actually quite a big mistake by black. If black had instead just castled, the likely continuation would be 9 e4 Nxc3, 10 Rxc3 but now the move 10 . . . c5!! Striking at the centre. If this continuation was to happen now, black would have just wasted a move with c6.
9 e4 Nxc3
10 bxc3 00
As c6 has been played, capturing with the pawn seems more logical. Just look at black’s lightsquared bishop. If he had captured with the pawn earlier on he might not have these troubles.
11 Bd3 c5
A move wasted.
12 00 Rd8
13 Re1 Nf8
14 Qd2 Bd7?!
Though not necessarily a bad move, 14 . . . Ng6 seemed more in keeping with the position, so as to not block the rook on the dfile.
15 d5 exd5
16 exd5 Qd6
17 c4 h6
18 Qb2! b6?
Black is really shutting down any hope of play here. 18 . . . Rb8 and at least he can have hopes of playing a6 and b5 in the future. 19 Nd2 Re8
20 Ne4 Qf4
Demonstrating why the last piece you want to blockade a pawn with is a queen.
21 Re3 Ng6
22 Rce1 Ne5?
22 . . . f5! Then trading and black might still be able to hold.
23 Be2 Ng6
24 Bh5 Ne5
25 Qc3 Bg4??
26 Nd6 Red8
Shankland misses the more concrete 26 Ng3!! Winning a piece.
27 Qxe5? Qxe5
Although white is still much better, Shankland blows two clear wins as he again misses a move.
27 Rxe5! instead and after 27 . . . Rxd6 the calm move 28 g3!! and the black queen can no longer defend the bishop on g4.
28 Bxf7+ Kf8
From here Shankland demonstrates some very impressive endgame skills and showcases how to convert a winning endgame. 29 Rxe5 Rxd6
30 Be8 bd7
31 Bxd7 Rxd7
32 a4! a6
33 Rb1 Rb8
34 g3 Rdb7
35 d6 Rd8
36 Rd5 Kf7
37 f4 Ke6
38 f5+ Kf6?
A final nail in the coffin for black. 38 . . . Kd7 was needed.
39 Kf2 Rdb8
40 Kf3
Black resigns as there is simply no progress he can make, while white will just march his king up and push his pawns.
Solution: 1 Rd7+ Kg8 (1 . . . Kf8, 2 Qb8+ Bc8, 3 Qxc8 mate),
2 Qe6+ Kh8 (2 . . . Kf8, 3 Qf7 mate), 3 Qe8+ Qf8, 4 Qxf8 mate.