Taking on the whole World
To emphasize superiority, competitions are sometimes arranged where a Champion faces off against more than one challenger at a time.
It is commonplace in movies to see the hero outdraw, outpunch, or otherwise overcome several enemies simultaneously. Clint Eastwood slapping leather against several other gunfighters or Bruce Lee exhibiting martial arts superiority over a whole gang of bad guys come quickly to mind. But what about the ultimate bravado of taking on everyone in the whole world? That’s what a few of our greatest Chess Champions have done.
Fourteen years ago, when World Champion Garry Kasparov was at the peak of his powers, dominating the world of chess and sporting the highest-rating in history, he engaged in the ultimate challenge: he allowed everyone on planet Earth to team against him in a consultation game using the Internet. Tens of thousands of people submitted their votes. Kasparov played white and narrowly escaped defeat, miraculously even managing a victory. Perhaps he was a bit carried away when he stated, “It is the greatest game in the history of chess.”
World Champion Anatoly Karpov, his great predecessor, might have had some reason to disagree. Just three years earlier, playing black, he completely dismantled the World in straightforward fashion. But the world had learned a thing or two by Kasparov’s time. For one thing, Grandmaster advice was introduced to help the World make its decisions. It included French Champion Etienne Bacrot, a Supergrandmaster, and Irina Krush, America’s Women Champion.
In addition, an Internet bulletin board was set up for discussion of potential moves. Kasparov stated this was one of the greatest challenges he had ever faced in his career.
As we all know, the World has a new dominator these days, the young Norwegian Magnus Carlsen. As the No. 1 player, he has kept up the World Challenge tradition. First, he easily conquered the opposing mob, playing from New York City three years ago. That was despite the World being provided suggested moves from superGrandmasters Hikaru Nakamura of America, Judit Polgar of Hungary, and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France. Just several months ago, Carlsen gave his foes another chance. At an enormous chess festival in Mexico City involving thousands of chess fans, he easily disposed of the World’s Challenge, again despite the assistance provided by three Grandmasters helping his foes to make their move selections.
Game of the week
Magnus Carlsen-The World Mexico City Nov. 24, 2012
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3(A) e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.g4 0–0 9.Ng3 Nbd7 10.Nf5 Nc5 11.Bg2 Be6 12.0–0 b5 13.a3 Rc8 14.f4 Na4 15.Nxa4 bxa4 16.g5 Nd7 17.Nxe7+ Qxe7 18.f5 Bc4 19.Rf2 f6 20.g6 h6(B) 21.Be3 Nc5 22.Rd2 Rfd8 23.Qe1 Qb7 24.Rad1(C) Qxb2 25.Rxd6 Rxd6 26.Rxd6 Qxa3 27.Qd2(D) Nd3 28.Rd7 Bb5 29.Rd5 Nf4 30.Rc5!(E) Re8 31.Rc7 Qa1+ 32.Kh2 Kh8 33.c4(F) a3 34.cxb5 Qb2 35.bxa6 Qxd2 36.Bxd2 Ne2 37.Rc4 a2 38.Ra4(G) 1–0
A) A rather unusual move against the Najdorf Sicilian Defense. It prepares for a kingside pawnstorm as will be seen. B)The black king is now restrained to the back row subject to future back rank mating threats. White can now turn his attention to the d-file weakness. C)Black has b2 and a3 as targets, and white has d6, but the mate threats mentioned make all the difference. D)Here is one: Rd8+ etc. E)And another: ...Rxc5, Qd8+, etc. F)Goodbye Bishop! G)Down a piece and facing the advancing a-pawn, The World voted to resign.