MARK RUBERY CHESS

43rd Chess Olympiad, Batumi 2018 Round 9 South Africa 1,5-2,5 Ecuador

IM D Cawdery (2416) 0,5-0,5 GM C Matamoros (2494)

IM W Kobese (2344) 0,5-0,5 IM C Barros (2345)

IM J Mabusela (2245) 0,5-0,5 FM K Noboa (2256)

IM D Van den Heever (2227) 0-1 IM M Munoz (2254)

The top game was a balanced affair with Cawdery comfortably holding the GM. Kobese had the initiative for most of the game before his opponent reached the sanctuary of an ending. Mabusela used the Nimzo-Indian nullify his opponent and thus all eyes were now focused on board four…With some deft manoeuvring Van den Heever had built up a strong attack and a knight sacrifice compelled his opponent to give up the queen. The position was winning but still complex, alas Donavon left his knight hanging and although the position was now ‘equal’ he went down quickly from there.

Van den Heever,Donovan (2227) - Munoz Sanchez,Miguel (2254) [B50]

43rd Olympiad 2018 Batumi GEO (9.4) 2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.c3 Nf6 4.g3 Nc6 5.d3 g6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.0–0 0–0 8.Re1 e5 9.a3 h6 10.b4 b6 11.Nbd2 Be6 12.b5 Na5 13.c4 Ne8 14.Nf1 Nc7 15.Bd2 Nb7 16.a4 a5 17.Nh4 Kh7 18.Ne3 Bd7 19.Rf1 Qe7 20.Rc1 Rae8 21.f4 exf4 22.Rxf4 Nd8 23.Kh1 Nde6 24.Nhf5! gxf5 25.Nxf5 Nxf4 (25…Qf6 26 Bc3 Qg6 27 Rg4 Bxc3 might be a better way of parting with the queen) 26.Nxe7 Nxd3 27.Be3 Nxc1 28.Qxd6 Rd8 29.Qxc7 Ne2 30.Nd5 f5 31.Qxb6 Rde8 32.Qxc5 fxe4 33.Nc7 Re5 34.Qd6 Bg4 35.Nd5 Kh8 36.Qg6 Bh5 37.Qc6 Bf3

SEE DIAGRAM

38.Ne7?? (An unfortunate example of chess blindness. After 38.Nf4 Nxf4 39.Bxf4 the pawns will be irresistible) 38...Rxe7 39.Bxh6 (39.Bc5 Rf6 40.Qa8+ Rf8=) 39...Rf6 40.Bxg7+ Kxg7 41.Qc5? Rd7! 42.Qg5+ Kf7 43.h4 Nxg3+ 44.Kh2 Bxg2 45.Qxg3 Bf3 46.Qg5 Rd1 47.Qe5 Rg6 (And Black has neatly constructed a mating net) 0–1

“The passed Pawn is a criminal, who should be kept under lock and key. Mild measures, such as police surveillance, are not sufficient” (Aaron Nimzovich)