MARK RUBERY CHESS

The late Tony Miles in his final chess article featured a game that had it been played by a top grandmaster would have been heralded as one of the best games of the decade. The fact it was played by a journeyman Australian IM meant that it was destined to be undiscovered-that is until Miles unearthed it for all to see.

Wohl, A (2400) - Gipslis ,A (2470) [A30] Biel op MTO Biel (9), 1996

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0-0 Be7 7.d4 cxd4

8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qf4 0-0 10.Rd1 Qb8 (The Hedgehog Variation is normally the prelude for much protracted manoeuvering. However, not this time…) 11.b3 Rd8 12.Bb2 d6 13.Rd2 a6 14.Rad1 b5! 15.Ng5!? (Going for a direct attack regardless of the consequences)... bxc4 16.Nce4 d5 17.Qh4! dxe4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Qxh7+ Kf8 20.Rd7! Rxd7 21.Rxd7 Ke8 22.Rxf7 Ne7 23.Rxf6! (Wohl’s relentless pursuit of the enemy king reminds one of Arnold Schwarzenegger in the ‘Terminator’ films)... gxf6 24.Qf7+ Kd8 25.Nxe6+ Kd7 26.Nc5+ Kd6 27.b4!! (A beautiful and surprising “quiet move” which makes black’s plight clear-Miles) ...Qe8 28.Qxf6+ Kc7 29.Qe5+ Kb6 30.Nd7+! (Another dream move! 30... Qd7 31.Qc5 is mate, as is 30...Ka7 31.Qc5-Miles)... Kc6 31.Qc5+ Kxd7 32.Bh3+ 1-0

When in 1974 Kortchnoi was facing the final Candidates ‘ match with Karpov, the Sport Committee and the leadership of the national chess federation were completely on the side of his opponent, Anatoly Karpov. This preference was not a secret among Soviet grandmasters and only Bronstein and Keres offered their services to Kortchnoi. His reaction was remarkable - he used Bronstein ‘ s opening ideas , but he gratefully turned down Keres’ offer.

This is his explanation after all these years. ‘My score with Paul Petrovich was 0-4, and I had the feeling that if l agreed to his help, it would be him fighting at the board, and not me. His chess authority would put too much pressure on me. ‘ (from ‘Chess Silhouettes’ by Genna Sosonko)