CHESS

When the current superstars fade from the scene, who will be taking their places?

For early detection of these possible future champions, it is worthwhile following the major youth competitions that reveal them.

Possibly the best event each year is the International Chess Federation’s World Junior Chess Championship for youths under age 20.

Many of its winners have ascended into the uppermost rating levels, even named in the FIDE Top 100 list. Four previous winners have gone on to become the World Chess Champion: Boris Spassky, Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Viswanathan Anand.

The current World Junior Chess Champion is 18 and hails from Iran. Parham Maghsoodloo became a Grandmaster in 2016 and Champion of his country in 2017. He did not just win the World Junior title last year; he dominated, finishing a full point ahead of everyone. Today’s featured game displays his play in all phases. He finished with an alert endgame put-away.

Game of the Week

Kuipers, Stefan Maghsoodloo, Parham Tata Steel Chess Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands

1.e4 c5(A) 2.Nf3 d6(B) 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5(C) e6 7.Qd3(D) Bd7 8.0–0–0 a6 9.Be2 h6 10.Bh4 Be7 11.f4(E) Rc8 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.f5 0–0 14.fxe6 fxe6(F) 15.Bf3 Qa5 16.Kb1 Be8 17.Bg3 e5 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.exd5?!(G) Bb5 20.Qg6 Rf6 21.Qe4 Be8 22.Qg4 Qc7 23.Be4 Qd7 24.Qe2 Bg6 25.Rhf1 Bxe4 26.Qxe4 b5 27.b3 a5 28.Bh4 Rff8 29.Bxe7 Qxe7(H) 30.Rf5 Rxf5 31.Qxf5 Qf8 32.Qxf8+ Kxf8 33.Rd3 b4(I) 34.c4?!(J) bxc3 35.Kc2 Rc5 36.a3 Ke7 37.b4 axb4 38.axb4 Rc4 39.Rxc3?(K) Rxc3+!(L) 40.Kxc3 Kd7 41.h4 h5(M) 0–1 A) This Sicilian Defense has been Black’s most preferred defense to 1.e4 for years. B)In order of preference, 2...d6, 2...Nc6, and 2...e6 are by far the popular GM choices. The

Feb. 10, 2019

Position No. 4559: White mates in two. Position No. 4558: 1.Qb1! Hint: White mates next with: Ne5, f8(N), Nf4, Nxe5, Ne5 or Nxf4. two great champions Bobby Fischer and Garry Kasparov both played 2...d6 a large majority of the time. C) The Richter-Rauzer attack. White threatens to weaken Black’s pawn structure with Bxf6. D) A rather odd move as it somewhat exposes the queen and temporarily blocks the King’s bishop. 7.Qd2 is normal. E) White now begins a typical kingside aggression. F) Counterbalancing weaknesses have arisen. White has an isolated e-pawn and Black has the d6/e6 “hanging pawns.” G) An inaccuracy giving Black a small edge. White does get rid of his isolated pawn, but he blocks his own d-file pressure. Black’s more active pieces give him better chances. H) Through exchanges, White hopes to equalize. Even so, Black keeps his minimal advantage. I) Artificially isolating White d-pawn. J) A questionable attempt to be tricky. White will regain the pawn but enter an inferior ending. K) Expecting 39...Rxb4 40.Rc7+ Kf8 41.Rc8+ Kf7 42.Rc7+ Kf6 43.Rc6 Ke7 44.Rc7+ with a likely draw. 39.Rg3 is better, keeping him in the game. L) This surprising simple trade leaves White at a loss. His passed pawn on b4 will require defense. Black’s passed pawn on e5 is protected. The White King will be able to invade. M) White resigned here denying spectators an instructive finish. For instance: 42.Kd3 Kc7 43.Ke4 Kb6 44.Kd3 Ka6 45.Kc4 Kb6 46.Kd3 Kb5 47.Kc3 e4 48.g3 e3 49.Kd3 Kxb4 50.Kxe3 Kc4 51.Ke4 Kc5 52.Ke3 Kxd5 53.Kd3 Ke5 54.Ke3 d5 55.Kd3 d4 56.Kd2 Ke4 57.Ke2 d3+ 58.Kd2 Kf3 59.Kxd3 Kxg3 etc.