No castle, you lose
Not unexpectedly, Russia won the gold medal at the 12th world team championship in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Composed of Sergey Kariakin, Ian Nepomniatchi, Alexander Grischuk, Dmitry Andreikin and Vladislav Artemiev, the top-seeded Russians ran away from the field by an awesome 16 match points, winning seven and drawing two without defeat. Russia finished three points better than the output of runner-up England, and four points over third placer and defending champion China.
Individual gold medalists were Bd. 1 Adhiban (India), 2. McShane (England), 3. Grischuk (Russia), 4. Firouzja (Iran), and 5. Artemiev (Russia).
The rest of the standings read India and USA, 11.0, Iran and Azerbaijan, 8.0, Kazakhstan and Sweden, 4.0 and Egypt, 3.0.
In the women’s side, China pulverized the opposition, winning all nine matches (2 points for a win) and accumulating a perfect 18.0 points total
Russia was second with 14.0 match points and Georgia third with 12.0
* * * * A strong all-GM tournament was held in the city of Prague (Czech Republic), simultaneously with the Kazakhstan joust. The 2019 Prague International (Cat.19) had 10 foreign participants, including local stars and aspiring hopefuls.
Russian GM Nikita Vitiugov, went undefeated, copping first with 5.5 out of a possible 9.0. Tied for second-fifth were Israeli stalwart Boris Gelfand, Indian Vidit Gujrathi and the Polish tandem of Jan Kryzstof Duda and Radoslav Wojtaszek, at 5.0 apiece. Other scores read Sam Shankland (USA) 4.5, Pentala Harikrishna (India), Richard Rapport (Hungary) and
David Navarra (Czech) 4.0 each and Viktor Laznicka (Czech) 3.0. * * * * As the early chess writers wrote, the player who hesitates to castle is lost. The following game is a fine example of a King stranded in the center. 2019 Prague Chess Festival W) N. Vitiugov (Russia) B) P. Harikrishna (India) Ruy Lopez 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6
The solid Berlin (Wall) Defense, strongly recommended four decades ago, but only Kramnik (who successfully essayed the line against Kasparov), succeeded in making it popular 4. O-O Nxe4 5.. d4 Nd6 6.. dxe5. .... 6. Bxc6 is the frequently-played move, and after 6 .... dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8ch Kxd8, the ensuing endgame leads to complications that needs to be studied carefully. 6 .... Nxb5 7. a4 Nbd4 The line chosen by Black is sound and leads to equality. The alternatives are 7 .... d6 and 7 .... Nxe5, with fair chances for both sides. 8. Nxd4 Nxd4 9. Qxd4 d5 10. Qd3 c6 11. a5 .... 11. The developing move Nc3.is preferable, according to the engine. 11 .... Be6 11 .... Qc7, as the engine suggests, is probably better. 12. Nc3 Qd7 13. Ne2 Bf5 14. Qc3 Be7 14 .... Not a pointless move, but it allows White to create sharp complications to his favor. 14...c5 is much better. 15. Bh6! d4? Not a good choice. 15...Rg8 is considered best by the engine, with chances to hold after 16. Bxg7 d4 17. e6 dxc3 18. exd7ch Kd8 19. Bxc3 Bxc2.
16. Nxd4 gxh6