The Weekender of Manny Benitez' turned 1 year old this weekend. Below is his personal message to his subscribers via email. Guys, please send me your email ads so I can forward them to Sir Manny.
Dear reader,
Attached is your electronic copy of the Weekender for today, Sunday, June 3, 2007. I did not mention it in the present issue, but next Sunday will be the first anniversary of my newsletter, which started out as just a page of news report without any logo but with a headline. It's been a year now since I thought of providing chess players with the latest news because I felt, as most chess lovers do, that there was a vacuum in this particular area of public interest.
I started out with an issue for Saturday and another one for Sunday, but I realized a few months later that it was too taxing for me. So, I had the two issues combined into one every weekend thereafter (this was in October, on the suggestion of a reader). I thought it would solve the problem of overloading myself, but it didn't, My fault because I gradually increased the text space as well as the pages to accommodate a flood of ideas in my head, especially after my friend Iggy Dee started contributing a myriad of data and interesting info. So was born "Pinoy Gems with a History" as a regular series. Today, there are now four such regular serialized articles (My Favorites, Games of Gifted Kids and Chess Magic, each of which entails additional work on my part). I'm not complaining, though, because I enjoy meeting challenges. Writing , to me, like chess, is fun. It's the technical side of publishing that I sometimes find nettlesome.
Today's banner story is about the ongoing World Candidates Matches in Elista, with the playoffs for three pairs still to be held this evening. This is why I plan to put out an extra edtition (single paper back to back) for tomorrow morning.
Enjoy!
Fraternally,
Manny
As part of our celebration, I will be posting this week's edition in complete form.
The Chess Plaza Weekender
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City Vol. I No. 71
SIX IN WORLD CANDIDATES PLAYOFFS
Kamsky, Leko, Grischuk,Rublevsky & Bareev win
FIVE global superstars—Gata Kamsky, Peter Leko, Alexander Grischuk, Sergei Rublevsky and Evgeny Bareev, in that order—have advanced to the second round of the World Candidates Matches in Elista, capital of the Russian republic of Kalmykia.
They knocked out their respective rivals in a best-of-six duel—namely, Etienne Bacrot, Mikhail Gurevich, Vladimir Malakhov, Ruslan Ponomariov and Judit Polgar, in that order.
Three other pairs who battled to a 3-3 tie—Levon Aronian of Armenia vs Magnus Carlsen of Norway, Boris Gelfand of Israel vs Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan, and Michael Adams of England vs Alexei Shirov of Spain—were to go into the playoffs, to be held much later today (Manila time).
Former US champion Kamsky, on a comeback after a long layoff, was the first to dispose of his rival, Bacrot of France on Thursday, followed by Leko of Hungary, who knocked out Gurevich of Turkey (formerly of Belgium and the defunct Soviet Union).
Kamsky and Leko both needed only four games to qualify for the next phase. They drew their first games and then beat their rivals thrice in succession.
Grischuk of Russia who had carved out two wins against Malakhov.soon followed them after forcing a draw—their third—in his fifth game against his winless compatriot. Rublevsky and Bareev, both of Russia, took six games each to eliminate former world champion Ponomariov of Ukraine and Polgar of Hungary, the strongest female player of all time.
Rublevsky won only once—in the third round—and held Ponomariov the rest of their games, while Bareev had two wins and four draws against Polgar.
Norwegian prodigy Carlsen, at 16 the youngest candidate ever, caused the greatest excitement by beating Armenia’s Olympiad hero Aronian twice with brilliant endgame combinations and holding him to a draw in their sixth game with a startling sacrifice of a rook for a pawn to do a perpetual check..
• Rd. 3, Carlsen vs. Aronian, arising from a Symmetrical English
39.h7+! Kh8 40.g5 fxg5 41.f6! 1-0
• Rd. 5, Carlsen vs. Aronian, arising from a Queen’s Indian Defense.
46.Rf7+ Kg8 47.Rg7+ Kf8 48.Nd7+! Rxd7 49.Rxd7 1–0
• Rd. 6, Aronian vs. Carlsen, Slav.
45...Rxg3!! 46.Rxg3 Qd2+ 47.Ka3 Qc1+ ½–½
Wesley shuts out 18 opponents in Meralco simul exhibition
IN a stunning display of his newfound powers, Bacoor boy wonder Wesley So defeated all his 18 opponents in a simultaneous exhibition at the Meralco headquarters on Ortigas Ave. in Pasig City. The last man left standing before bowing out himself was Joel Pimentel of La Salle Greenhills.
Sevillano, Banawa top Memorial Day Classic
TWO Filipino masters made a big splash in Los Angeles last weekend when they finished first and second in the US Lynne Grumette US Memorial Day Classic.
IM Enrico Sevillano, a former Asian junior champion from Cebu, won the top prize solo with a perfect 5.0 points from five games while teenaged FM Joel “Cholo” Banawa tied for second to fifth places.
Both are based in California—Sevillano in Tehachapi and Banawa at Eagle’s Rock in LA. Sevillano entered the weekend tournament fresh from the US Championship where he finished in 18th place. He was the lone Filipino entry to the premier US event.
Banawa tied with 2005 champion IM Andranik Matikozyan, Alexandre Kretchetov and Leonid Furman.GM Melikset Khachiyan ended up eighth to 16th along with veteran IM Jack Peters. Cholo, 17, ranks No. 10 among US junior players nationwide and No. 1 junior in California.
FILIPINO IM YOUNG IN 25th PLACE
Milov tops tough Chicago Open
SWISS superstar Vadim Milov won the Chicago Open on tiebreak over American GM Yury Shulman in a tough field of 65 players, 15 of whom were grandmasters and nine were international masters.
The two top rivals had 6.0 points each, half a point ahead of four other GMs, namely, Mera Gagunashvili of Georgia, Valeriy Avekulov of Ukraine, Sergey Erenburg of Maryland and Zviad Izoria of Georgia and now based in New York.
Milov and Shulman shared the first and second prizes with the Swiss player getting $7,800 and the American $7,500. The Chicago chess festival attracted 657 players, 65 of whom played in the open.
Apparently, Filipino GM Joey Antonio had failed to make it to Chicago. The only Filipino who took part in the open was Chicago-based IM Angelo Young, who headed a batch of 3.5-pointers in the 25th slot.
Milov said his best game was his third-round with Black against Costa Rican GM Alejandro Ramirez, a former child prodigy and first grandmaster from Central America, who is studying in a Dallas University.
• Ramirez,Alejandro (2597) - Milov,Vadim (2731) [B54]
Rd. 3, Sicilian Defense (B54)
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 a6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d6 6.Be2 b5 7.f4 b4 8.Na4 Qa5 9.b3 Nf6 10.Bf3 e5 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.Nf5 Qc7 13.0–0 Nbd7 14.Qe1 Nc5 15.Nxc5 Bxc5+ 16.Kh1 Bxf5 17.exf5 Rd8 18.Qg3 Kf8 19.Bb2 Bd6 20.Qe1 h5 21.c4 Re8 22.Be4 Kg8 22...h4 should lead to equality, e.g., 23.a3 Qb6 24.axb4 Bxb4 25.Ba3 Bxa3 26.Rxa3 23.a3 h4 24.Rf3 Not 24.axb4 because of 24…Bxb4 25.Qe3 Nh5! bxa3 25.Bxa3 Bxa3 26.Rxa3 Rd8 27.Ra1 Rd4 28.Re3 h3 29.Rxa6 Rh6 30.Ra1?? A fatal mistake. 30.Re2 was necessary to fight for a draw Rxe4! 31.Rxe4 hxg2+ 32.Kg1 Qc5+! If 33.Qe3 Nxe4! 34.Qxc5 Nxc5! 0–1
Several major upsets rocked the tournament, including a loss by four-time US champion Alexander Shabalov.
CHAY, ‘MJ’ WIN ON A FUN-FILLED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
Kids, parents mix it up at QMC Plaza
THEY came despite the inclement weather—just a handful of them, but some of the kids represented the cream of the crop—along with their parents, siblings and friends.
They came for the Kiddies Tournament (14 years old and younger) organized by the newly formed Quezon Memorial Circle Chess Plaza Club as a last fling at fun before going back to school, in the flowery spirit of the merry month of May.
Because the kids were too few, the parents and other club members present decided to join in the fun, but on condition the grownups would not get any of the cash prizes from the P1,000 donated by club president Gene Turqueza and three books that he, vice president Fred Chay and chairman Manny Benitez bought for the winners.
It was a mixed tournament, irrespective of gender, age and ratings.
The results were also mixed: two grownups and three kiddies emerged at the top of the heap:
1. Fred Chay with 5.0 out of five games but without any prize, beating Mary Nol Maronilla, 14-year-old Joseph Bersamina, Atty. Florand Garcia (father of Jan Emmanuel, a.k.a. “Jem”, 11, one the country’s foremost child prodigies), 14-year-old wunderkind Mari Joseph Turqueza and Elmer Yanzon (father of up-and-coming child prodigy, Mervince, 9)
2. Mari Joseph Turqueza, 4.5 points, winning the top prize of P500 and a chess book, Endgame Analysis by Mark Dvoretsky (MJ tied for the fourth to seventh places in the recent National Junior Championships).
3. Jan Emmanuel Garcia, 4.0 points, winning the second prize of P300 plus a chess book, Tactical Play by Dvorestsky (Jem was 2005 Asean Age-Group gold medalist in blitz and rapid, 2006 Asean Age-Group gold in rapid and blitz, 2006 Shell Kiddies champion, and three-time Palarong Pambansa champion).
4. Elmer Yanzon (father of Mervince), with 3.0 points but not entitled to a prize. Elmer is also a member of the club.
5. Joseph Bersamina, 3.0 points, winning a chess book, Strategic Play by Dvoretsky (Joseph’s father, Norlito, generously gave the book to Vince, to his and his parents’ delight).
6. Paulo Bersamina, 3.0 points, to win the P200 cash prize (Pau was 2005 Asean blitz gold medalist).
7-9. Atty. Florand Garcia, QMC Club member Ricard Copones and Mervince Yanzon, 2.5 each.
10-11. Rogelio Matabalan and Glenn Caballero, 2.0 each.
12. Danrev Garcia and Adrian “Adi” Maronilla Jr., 6, the nationally famous whiz kid in academics from Mindoro Oriental who will be in Grade III at Headway School for Giftedness in Diliman, 1.0 each.
13. Mary Nol Maronilla (mother of Adi), nil.
Just a reminder: all members of the QMC Chess Plaza Club may pay their P100 registration fee now to the club treasurer, Ms. Cynthia Nazario (mother of child prodigy Marc Nazario), tel. 453-0537.
Camer wins with perfect 7/7 at Rooty Hill Club, NSW
VETERAN campaigner Angelito Camer proved too strong for all his rivals at the Rooty Hill Club in New South Wales, Australia, as he swept through its Allegro Tournament with a perfect score of 7.0 points from seven games last weekend.
Parañaque’s former top player, now a bus operator in Sydney’s suburban Canterbury, finished a full two points clear of his closest rival, first runner-up Leonardo Tenorio, his compatriot from Marikina.
Leo Descallar, another Filipino from Davao, took the third prize.
The rest of the top finishers: Rick Carballo, Rolando Gonzales, Anthony Villanueva, Lorenzo Escalante and Frank Kresinger.
It was Camer’s second victory at Rooty Hill. Two months ago, he topped a rapid tournament at the club, favorite hangout of Filipino expatriates in New South Wales. An Italian, Peter Cassetari, heads the club as president.
Meanwhile, Camer is due to for a brief visit this month to stand as godfather at the wedding of another top player, Verth Alora of Anda, Pangasinan.—Marlon Bernardino
FIRST WORLD WOMEN’S TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Young China squad sweeps off rivals
LED by 22-year-old Zhou Xue and 13-year-old Hou Yifan, a Chinese squad swept unbeaten except in one game through the first World Women’s Team Championship, which ended on Wednesday in the Russian Ural mountain resort of Ekaterinberg.
The young amazons from Asia served notice as early as the second round that they were out to capture the plum in the 10-country global event as early as the second round when they shut out the Russians, 4-0, who ended up in second place.
China collected 17 match points, a full 2.0 points ahead of Russia, which had European women’s champion Tatiana Kosintseva and her sister Nadezhda on the top boards.
Behind the two top teams were Ukraine, 14 match points, Georgia, 11, and Poland, 9.0.
The other teams were Germany, Armenia, Vietnam, Czech Republic and Botswana. Zhou and Hou proved to be very reliable mainstays of the team, and so were the lower-board players, namely, Ruan Lufei, 20, Shen Yang, 16, and Huang Quan, 21.
The Kosintseva sisters, both full-fledged IMs, and WGMs Ekaterina Korbut and Elena Tairova proved to be no match against Zhou, Hou, Ruan and Huang.
• Zhao Xue (2467) – Tatiana Kosintseva (2459)
Rd. 2, Slav Defense (D19)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.Qe2 0–0 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 13...exd5 14.Bf5 would have
equalized 14.Qe3² Be7 15.Ng5 Bxg5 16.Qxg5 Bg6 17.Be2 Rc8 18.Qe3 Rc2 19.Bd1 Rc6 20.Bd2 f6 21.exf6 Qxf6 22.a5 Bc2 23.Be2 a6 24.Rfe1 Qg6 24...Be4 25.Rac1 Rfc8 26.Rxc6 Rxc6 27.b4 gives White a clear edge 25.b4 White is now ahead Nf6 Best was 25...Nb8 26.b5 axb5 27.Bxb5 Rcc8 28.Qxe6+ Kh8 29.Bb4 Bf5 30.Qd6 Rfd8 31.Qg3 Qh6 If 31...Qxg3 32.hxg3 Rc2 33.Re7! 32.Qe3 Qg6 33.Rac1 Rxc1 34.Rxc1 Ng4 35.Qf4 Nf6 36.h3 Qh6? The start of a comedy of errors; 36...Bxh3 was better 37.Qe3? Missing the decisive 37.Qxh6!, e.g, 37...gxh6 38.Be7! Qg6 38.f3 h6 39.Rc7 39.g4 might be stronger Bxh3 40.Kf1? Missing the winning stroke, 40.Qd2! Re8 41.Qf2? Her second major miss: 41.Bxe8! Rc8? Black’s turn to miss the winning 41...Qb1+!, e.g., 42.Be1 Qxb5+ 43.Kg1 Bxg2! 42.Rxb7?? Yet again letting it slip away… Nh5? ...and so does Black: 42...Rc1+ 43.Be1 Bxg2+ 44.Ke2 43.Rb6? 43.Bd2 Bf5 44.Qe3 should put White back on the winning track Be6?? The final blunder: 43...Rc1+ should be tried, e.g., 44.Be1 Bxg2+ 45.Kg1 Qf5 44.Qe3!
After 44.Qe3!
The end. 1–0
• Nadezhda Kosintseva (2475) - Hou Yifan (2513)
Rd. 2, Symmetrical English, (A35)
1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nd4 4.e3 Nxf3+ 5.Qxf3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.0–0 d6 Black is behind in development, says Fritz. 8.Rd1 Nh6 9.d4 cxd4 10.exd4 Nf5 11.Qe4 0–0 12.Bf1 If 12.Bg4 d5 13.cxd5 Qb6! Bd7 Missing 12...e6 13.Rb1, with equality 13.Be3 Rb8 14.Rac1 Re8 15.d5 Nxe3 16.Qxe3 a6 17.b4 a5 18.a3 axb4 19.axb4 Ra8 20.Ne4 Ra4 21.Qb3 21.Rb1 b6 gives Black a chance to equalize Qb6 22.b5 Qa5 23.Qe3 Ra3 24.Rd3 Ra2 25.Nc3 Ra1 26.Rxa1 Qxa1 27.Ne2 27.Ne4 should be examined more closely, says Fritz Qa4! 28.Qf4 Be5 29.Qh4 Bf6 30.Nc3 If 30.Qf4 Rc8 Qc2 Black is now way ahead, and White will find it difficult to find good moves 31.Qg3 Bf5 32.Re3 Bd4!
After 32…Bd4!
Powerful and decisive.
33.Ne2 Bxe3 34.Qxe3 Qxc4 35.Nc3 If 35.Nf4 Qb4! Qc5 36.Qxc5 dxc5 37.f3 Ra8 38.g4 Ra3 39.gxf5 Rxc3 40.fxg6 hxg6 41.Kf2 Kg7! 0–1
As mentioned earlier, China had a well-balanced team with the lower boards ready to play for a win to make up for the draws or losses the others may suffer. In fact only 13-year-old Hou had a loss—to Georgian Lela Javakhisvili, in the fourth round with Black in a Queen’s Indian Defense, because of a misstep in the transition from the opening to the middle game.
It was not surprising therefore that the Chinese team had two shutouts—against Russia in the second round and against Botswana in the eighth. It also crushed such strong teams as Ukraine in the fifth and Armenia in the seventh by 3.5-0.5 each!
For purposes of comparison, Ukraine later crushed Vietnam by the same score.
It was only in the ninth round that the Chinese relaxed a bit, nipping Germany by a narrow 2.5-1.5. Fourth-board player Huang Qian delivered the full point by beating Maria Randi Schoene with Black as the others were held to draws.
• Ruan Lufei (2370) – Ekaterina Korbut (2429)
Rd. 2, Sicilian Najdorf (B92)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.Nd5 Nbd7 Better than 9...Nxe4 10.Bb6 Qc8 11.Nc7+ Kf8 12.Nxa8, says Fritz 10.Qd3 Bxd5 11.exd5 0–0 12.g4 If 12.c4 Nc5 13.Qf5 Na4! Nc5 13.Nxc5 dxc5 14.0–0–0 Bd6 15.g5 e4 16.Qd2 Nd7 17.h4 f5 18.gxf6 Qxf6 19.Rdg1 Ne5 20.Rg2 Nf3 21.Qd1 Bf4 22.Rg4 Qe5 23.Kb1 Bxe3 24.fxe3 b5 25.c4 bxc4 26.Bxc4 Rab8 27.Qc2 Piling it on the e4 isolani h5 28.Rg6 Rb4 28...Qxb2+! must be tried: 29.Qxb2 Nd2+ 30.Ka1 Rxb2 31.Kxb2 Nxc4+ 32.Kc1 Nxe3! 29.Rd1 Not 29.Rxa6?? because of 29...Rxc4 30.Qe2 Qxd5! a5? 29...Qh2 was best 30.d6+! Kh8 31.Rd5 Rfb8 32.b3 a4 32...Rxc4 won’t save the game, says Fritz 33.Rg5! Rxc4 34.Qxc4 Qe6 35.Rxh5+ Kg8 36.d7!!
After 36.d7!!
The clincher, e.g.,36…Rd8/axb3 37 Rh8+! Kxh8 38.Rh5+! Kg8 Qxe6+ etc. 1–0
• Shen Yang (2440) – Nelly Aginian (2263)
Rd 6, Queen’s Gambit Accepted (D23)
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Nbd7 8.0–0 Be7 9.Nc3 h6 10.Re1 Ne4 11.Qb3 Qb6 12.Nh4 Qxb3 13.axb3 Bxh4 14.gxh4 Nxc3 15.bxc3 0–0 15...Bc2 16.Bf4 should equalize 16.e4! Bg6 17.Ra5 Rfe8 18.Be3 a6 19.Rea1 On 19.h5 Bh7! Nf6 19...e5 20.Rd1 should equalize 20.f3 Nd7 21.c4 If 21.h5 Bh7 f6 22.b4 Rad8 23.Rc1 Rc8 24.Kf2 Bf7 25.Bh3 Kf8 26.b5 cxb5 27.cxb5 Nb8 28.bxa6 Rxc1 29.Bxc1 bxa6 30.Ba3+ Kg8 31.Rc5 Rd8 32.Rc7 a5 33.Ke3 Na6 34.Rb7 34.Rc6 Nb4 35.Bxb4 axb4 gives White a clear edge Rc8 35.Kd3 Rc6 36.Rb5 Nb4+ 37.Bxb4 axb4 38.Rxb4 Rc1 39.Rb8+ Kh7 40.Rf8 Bg8 41.h5 Rh1 42.d5 exd5 43.Bf5+ g6 44.hxg6+ Kg7 45.Rxg8+ 45.Rc8 was more precise, e.g., 45…h5 46.h3 Kxg8± 46.exd5 Rxh2? Best was 46...Kf8 47.d6! Rb2 48.d7 Rb8 49.Kc4 Kf8 50.Kc5 Ke7 51.Kc6 h5 52.Kc7 Ra8 53.g7 Rg8 54.Bh7 Rxg7 55.d8=Q+! Ke6+ Mere momentum 56.Kc6 Rxh7 57.Qd5+!
After 57.Qd5+!
Mate is in the air, e.g., 57…Ke7 58.Qd7+ Kf8 59.Qxh7 f5 60.Kd5 Ke8 61.Ke6 h4 62.Qe7#! 1–0
• Huang Qian (2400) – Maria Randi Schoene (2151)
Rd. 9, King’s Indian, Classical Variation (E97)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0–0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 a5 10.bxa5 c5 10...Rxa5 11.a3 should equalize 11.Nd2 Rxa5 12.a4 Ra6 13.Nb5 Ne8 14.Bb2 f5 15.Ra3 Nf6 16.Qc2 h5 16...Bh6 must be considered, says Fritz 17.f4 Gaining the edge Nd7 18.Nf3 exf4 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.Qb2+ Rf6 20...Kh6 might be better, e.g., 21.e5 dxe5 22.Nxe5 g5! 21.Nxd6! Raxd6 22.e5! The point Nxe5 23.Qxe5 Ra6 24.Qxf4 Qd6 25.g3 Bd7 26.Rb1 b6 27.Bd1 Nc8 28.Ne5 Kh7 29.h4 Ra7 30.Bc2 Be8 31.Re1 Kg7 32.Raa1 Bd7 33.Qd2 Rf8 34.Qf4 Re8 35.Re3 Re7 36.Kf2 Be8 37.Raa3 Qf6 38.Re1 Nd6 39.Rae3 Ne4+ 40.Bxe4 Not 40.Qxe4+ because of the discovered attack via 40…fxe4! Rxe5 41.Bc2 Rxe3 42.Rxe3 Better than 42.Qxe3 Bxa4 43.Bd3 Qc3! Bxa4? 43.Qb8! Qf7 44.Ra3 Qd7?? Missing 44...b5! 45.cxb5 Re7 46.Bxa4 Qf6!, with equal chances 45.Qxb6! Kh6 46.Qxc5 f4 47.gxf4 Ra8 48.Bxa4 Missing the winning 48.d6! Rxa4 49.Rxa4 Qxa4 50.Qf8+ Kh7 51.Qe7+ Kh6 52.Qe4 Qa3 53.Qe3 Qd6 54.Qd4 54.c5 may even be stronger Qd8 55.f5 Qf8 56.Qf4+ Kg7 57.Qe5+ Kh7 58.d6 58.f6 and White has reached his goal, says Fritz Qb8 59.Qe7+ Kg8 60.Qe6+ Kh8 61.Qf6+!
After 61.Qf6!
Even better was 61.d7!!, says Fritz. 1–0
42nd CAPABLANCA MEMORIAL
Ivanchuk tops Havana Open
UKRAINIAN superstar Vassily Ivanchuk appears to have patented his “Memorial crown” by successfully defending it for the nth time in the 42nd Capablanca Memorial in honor of the Cuban world champion, which ended in Havana Tuesday.
Ivanchuk finished the double-round-robin event with 7.5 points from five wins and five draws—two points clear of his closest rivals, Cuban champion Lenier Dominguez and GM Vugar Gashimov of Azerbaijan, who shared the second and third prizes.
The Ukrainian wizard won all memorial events he entered in South America and the Caribbean late last year.
His victory this year in Havana was no less phenomenal. He won three games in a row right from the start, drew the next two, then won the sixth, drew the next two again, won the ninth and drew his last game.
His first three victims were Danish superstar Peter Heine Nielsen, veteran Cuban GM Jesus Nogueiras, and former world junior champion Lazaro Bruzon. Nogueiras and Bruzon are also former champions of Cuba.
Bruzon, probably rattled by his early loss to Ivanchuk, could not find his form and ended up in ninth place, just half a point above cellar-dwelling GM Neuris Delgado Ramirez of Cuba.
Ironically, Ivanchuk himself never won the world junior crown, losing to Viswanathan Anand of India in 1987 and to Joel Lautier of France in 1988.
The Havana event is held annually in memory of Jose Raul Capablanca (1888-1942), the greatest Cuban player ever, who reigned as world champion from 1921, when he defeated Emanuel Lasker of Germany, to 1927 when he was dethroned by Alexander Alekhine, a Russian who became a French citizen.
• Lazaro Bruzon (2620) – V. Ivanchuk (2729)
Rd. 3, Sicilian Defense (B30)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.0–0 Nge7 5.c3 a6 6.Be2 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bd6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Nd2 0–0 12.Bf3 Qc7 13.g3 Rd8 14.Qe2 a5 15.Ne4 Be5 16.Re1 Ba6 17.c4 Bd4 18.Ng5 Qa7 19.Kg2 h6 20.Qc2 hxg5 21.cxd5 g4 22.Bxg4 cxd5 23.Bf4 Qb6 24.Rab1 Rac8 25.Qd2 a4 26.h4 Rc6 27.Rbc1 If 27.Bd1 Rc4! Rdc8 27...Rxc1 28.Rxc1 e5 gives Black a huge advantage 28.Rxc6! Rxc6 29.Be3 Bxe3 30.Rxe3 d4 31.Re5 d3 32.Bd1 Bb7 33.Kh2 33.f3! was the best move Rc1 34.Re3 Rb1 Missing the strongest line, 34...Rxd1! 35.Qxd1 Qxb2! 35.Rxd3??
After 35.Rxd3??
The losing moment. Best was 35.Qxd3 Rxb2 36.Re2.
35…Rxd1!! A double whammy that wins on the spot 36.Qxd1 Knee-jerk reaction Qxf2+! The point 37.Kh3 Bg2+! The finale: 38.Kh2 Bf3+! 39.Kh3 Qg2#! 0–1
• V. Ivanchuk (2729) – Nirius Delgado Ramirez (2547)
Rd. 9, Sicilian Pelikan and Sveshnikov (B33)
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.Nb3 e6 8.Bf4 Ne5 9.Be3 Qc7 10.f4 Nc6 11.g4 d5 12.e5 Nd7 13.Nb5 Qd8 14.h4 a6 15.N5d4 Nxd4 16.Qxd4 b6 17.0–0–0 Qc7 18.Rh3 Bb7 19.Bf2 Rc8 20.Rc3 Bc5 21.Nxc5 bxc5 22.Qd2 0–0 23.h5 c4 Best was 23...f6! 24.h6 g6 25.Bxc4! Qa5 If 25...Qxc4 26.Rxc4 26.Bb3 Rxc3 27.Qxc3 Qxc3 28.bxc3 g5 Better was 28...f6! 29.Bd4 fxe5 30.Bxe5 g5, reducing White’s lead 29.c4! dxc4 30.Rxd7 Bc8 31.Ra7 cxb3 32.axb3 gxf4 33.Bh4!
After 33.Bh4!
Zugzwang as Black will soon run out of moves, e.g., 33...Re8 34 Kd2!. 1–0
The 13-day, 10-player Capablanca Memorial this year was held alongside an open tournament which attracted 87 players from Cuba itself, Europe and the Americas.
Hungarian GM Csaba Horvath captured the open crown, with IM Diasmany Otero and GM Holden Hernandez, both of the host country, in second and third places.
Asked two years ago whether he planned to write a book, Ivanchuk replied: “It is a big question. I don’t want to write a bad book. And writing good makes you open up to the readers personal information. That way you give a weapon to your enemies. I am afraid I am not ready yet.”
PINOY GEMS WITH A HISTORY
Jayson’s sparkling conquests
MANY chess fans were perhaps surprised by the latest feat of GM-candidate Jayson Gonzales: mowing down all rivals, save one, on the top boards of eight of the squads competing in the National Team Rapid Tournament in Calocan City last month.
I expected it, however, taking into account that IM Gonzales, who already has two GM norms under his belt and needs only one more to earn the title, had had a few months’ layoff from active competition.
Remember how IM Chito Garma also captured the Tanauan Open with an almost clean sweep earlier this year? Garma had also been inactive for about a year before making a comeback with a vengeance.
I am not suggesting that one should stay away from tournaments for a long stretch of time to be able to play winning chess. One, however, must find his natural pace so as not to lose what Botvinnik called “the zest for the battle.”
Jayson told me that he felt relaxed while playing his games in the Caloocan Team Rapid, unlike the time he was gunning after a GM norm last year when he often felt tense and anxious before each game.
Yes, I think that’s the key: Stay relaxed and clear your head of the cobwebs of anxiety before and during each game. Remember, your opponent may even be more nervous and anxious than you!
Judging by his new attitude toward the game, I foresee easier sailing for him when he goes back to the GM campaign trail. As a well-prepared player, he can be the most dreaded adversary anyone can face hereabouts.
Let his games speak on his behalf. First is this amusing minigem…
• Jayson Gonzales (2432) - David Scott
US Open, Framingham.2001
English Opening vs. King’s Indian (A26)
1.c4 Nc6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 Nge7 6.Nge2 0–0 7.d3 d6 8.Bg5 h6 9.Be3 Nd4 10.f3 Be6 11.0–0 Qd7 12.Qd2 Kh7 13.Nd5 c6 14.Nxe7 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Qxe7 16.f4 Qd7?? 16...f5 was the game-saver 17.f5! 1=0
After 17.f5!
…then this cute checkmate …
• Jayson Gonzales (2370) - Richard Bauer (2270)
World Open, Philadelphia 2000
Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav (D31)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.e3 b5 6.a4 Bb4 7.Bd2 a5 8.axb5 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 cxb5 10.b3 Bb7 11.d5 Nf6 Not 11...Qxd5?? because of 12.Bxg7 Qxd1+ 13.Kxd1, nor 11...exd5?? because of 12.Bxg7 Nd7 13.Bxh8! 12.bxc4 b4 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Qa4+ Nd7 15.Nd4 Ke7 16.d6+ Kxd6 17.Rd1 Rhd8 If 17...Ke7 18.Nf5+!? exf5 19.Rxd7+! 18.c5+ Nxc5 Not 18...Kxc5+ because of 19.Ndxe6!, 19.Qb5 Rac8?? Worsening his position: best was 19...Rdc8!, e.g., 20.Nf5+ Ke5 20.Nc6+! Kc7 20...Nd3+ offers the last chance for counterplay 21.Qxa5+! Not 21.Rxd8? because of 21...Qc3+ 22.Ke2 Rxd8 23.Qxa5+ Kxc6 24.Qxd8 b3! Kxc6 22.Bb5#!!
After 22.Bb5#!
Tsk-tsk, Black didn’t see that! 1–0
…or his positional demolition of Garma’s game!
• Jayson Gonzales (2396) - Chito Garma (2400) [A20]
Nat’l Champ., Quezon City 2001
English Opening (A20)
1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.0–0 Be7 7.d4 exd4 8.Nxd4 Ndb4 9.Nxc6! Nxc6 10.Qa4 0–0 11.Nc3 Bd7 12.Rd1 Bd6 13.Ne4 Ne5 14.Qd4 Nc6 15.Qd2 Bg4 16.h3 Bh5 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.g4 Bg6 19.Qxd6 Qb6 20.Qa3 Rfe8 21.Be3 Qb5 22.Rd2 h5 23.Qc5 Qa6 23...Qxc5 is better 24.gxh5 Be4 25.f3 25.h6 is also playable Re5 26.Qc3 Bf5 27.h6 gxh6 28.Bxh6 Kh7 Dubious 29.Bf4 29.f4 was more precise Rxe2 30.Qc5 Bg6? 30...Ne7 was better 31.Bf1! Qa4 32.Rxe2 Qxf4 33.Qe3 Qh4 34.Rd1 Rd8 35.Rxd8 Nxd8 36.f4 Ne6 37.Rf2 Ng7 38.Bd3 38.Qd6 may be better Qf6 39.Qe5 Qd8 40.Be4 f5 41.Bxb7 Nh5 42.Bf3 Nf6 43.Kh2 Kh6 44.Bg2 Nh5 45.Rc2 Ng7 46.Rc7 Ne6 47.Rxa7 Nd4 48.Qg7+ Kh5 49.Rd7! 1–0
After 49.Rd7!
CHESS MAGIC (1)
Mind over matter by a non-master
WHEN a non-master beats a master in a simultaneous exhibition, it’s not much of a news story considering that the master has to contend with several opponents at the same time. But when the non-master does it with élan—coolly offering material for positional gain early on and ending the game with aplomb—that’s chess magic!
And that’s what non-master Abet Casiano, now a top Meralco player (he recently won the first Casiano R.. Sol Cruz Jr. Memorial Blitz), did when he beat IM Ricky de Guzman during a “simul match” staged by the national team bound for the Dubai Olympiad in 1986.
Raul J. Sol Cruz, Meralco Chess Club president and son of the late honoree, contributed the game to the Weekender.
IM de Guzman, a former Asian junior champion now based in California, was a member of that team. He still does simultaneous exhibitions in the United States, where he has made a name for himself as one of the top players on the West Coast.
Casiano, a graduate of the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology, joined Meralco in 1991 and was a member of its team from 1992 to 1994. When the featured game was played, he was a member of a contingent that played against the Dubai-bound team.
He is also a former junior champion of Nueva Ecija and was a member of the varsity team.
• IM Ricky de Guzman – Non-master Abet Casiano
Simul Match, Manila 1986
Ruy Lopez, Deferred Exchange Variation (C85)
Abet Casiano
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 The Morphy Defense, named after the legendary Paul Morphy, says Sol Cruz, who cited other defenses like 3…Nf3 (Berlin Defense), 3…d6 (Old Steinitz Defense) and Bc5 (Classical Defense) 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 “I was setting up for my favorite Marshall Attack,” Abet recalls 6.Bxc6 The Exchange Variation Deferred which, according to Sol Cruz, was ”often used by world champion Max Euwe dxc6 7.d3 Nd7 8.Nbd2 f6 9.Nc4 0–0 9...Nc5 10.Nh4 g6 11.Be3 leads to equality, says Fritz 10.Nh4 Nb6 11.Ne3 g6 12.Ng4 Be6 Best was 12...f513.Bh6 Rf7 14.f4 14.Be3 may be tried, .e.g., 14...Kh8 15.Nh6, with equal chances f5!
After 14…f5!
“And wins,” says a confident Abet
15.exf5 gxf5 16.Nxe5 Bxh4 17.Nxf7 Bxf7 18.Qf3 Qd4+ 19.Kh1 Nd5 20.Bg5 20.Qh3 may be better Bxg5 21.Qg3 Kh8 Best was 21...Qxb2, e.g., 22.Qxg5+ Qg7! 22.c3?? A blunder. Best was 22.fxg5 Bxf4! Black surges ahead 23.cxd4 Bxg3 24.hxg3 Ne3 25.Rf2 Bd5 25...Bh5! may be quicker 26.Re1 Nxg2 26...Ng4! was more precise 27.Rxg2! Rg8 28.Kh2 Bxg2 29.Kxg2 Rg4 30.Re8+ Kg7 31.Re7+ Missing 31.Rb8 Kh6! 32.Rxc7 Rg7 33.Rxg7 Kxg7 34.Kf3 b5 35.Kf4 Kf6 36.b4 h6 37.a3 37.Ke3 should be tried Ke6 38.Ke3 Kf6?? 38...Kf7! was best 39.Kf4! Kg6 40.d5?? Missing 40.Ke5!, e.g., 40…h5 41.Kf4! cxd5 41.d4 41.Ke5 offered the last hope: 41...h5 42.d4, with active play Kf6 42.Ke3 Kg5 43.Kf3 Kf6 43...h5! would have snared the point 44.Kf4?? The master fumbles. Better was 44.Ke3 h5 45.Kf4 Kg6 44...h5!, and Black wins 45.Ke5 h5 46.Kxd5 f4 47.gxf4 Kf5 48.Kc5 h4 49.d5 h3 50.d6 Ke6 51.f5+ Kd7 52.f6 Ke6 53.f7 Kxf7 54.Kc6?? Errors come in pairs; 54.Kb6 Ke6 55.Kc7 would have equalized h2! 55.d7! h1=Q+!
After 55…h1+!
The check wins the day for Black. 0–1
CHESS MAGIC (2)
John Nunn’s ‘Black Pearls’
JOHN NUNN may be considered as England’s brightest prodigy of the 20th century, not only because of his chess wizardry even as a child but also because of his mathematical genius, a gift he started displaying in childhood.
As a prodigy in mathematics, John (born on April 25, 1955) entered Oxford in 1970 at the age of 15, the youngest to do so since the time of Thomas Cardinal Wolsey (1471-1530), the prelate who served as adviser to King Henry the VIII.
Nunn graduated with a doctorate in mathematics, majoring in H-Spaces, a highly specialized field in the study of space from the combined points of view of algebra and physics.
He finished his undergraduate studies in 1973 and his doctoral studies in 1978, after which he was hired as a mathematics lecturer in Oxford.
Dr. John Nunn is the only person I know who forsook a brilliant future in the academe so as to devote all his time to the game of kings starting from the early eighties to this day.
John was as prodigious in chess as he was in mathematics, winning the European junior crown in 1974, becoming a grandmaster in 1978 (the same year that he got his doctorate in Oxford), and capturing the British crown in 1980.
In 1984, he won three gold medals (the only player ever to do so) at the 37th World Olympiad in the biblical city of Thessaloniki in Greece—for turning in the best performance, with a phenomenal rating of 2868, for being the best player on board two (10 points from 11 games, or 90.9 per cent!) and, to top it all, for winning the problem-solving contest.
Indeed, it was not only in over-the-board play that Dr. Nunn excelled. He became an expert problem composer, earning the title of grandmaster in that creative area of the game in 2004.
You would think such achievements were enough for even a genius—but John Nunn has always been one who never tires pushing his mind to its limits, this time as author of chess books.
Among these are his popular Secrets series: Secrets, of Grandmaster Chess, Secrets of Minor-Piece Endings, Secrets of Practical Chess, and Secrets of Rook Endings, all products of extensive research on the game in all its aspects.
As a player, he has produced “many a gem of purest ray serene,” most of them with magical quality. The Weekender is fortunate to have received two such gems from regular contributor Ignacio “Iggy” Dee, both of which I call examples of Dr. Nunn’s “Black Magic.”
• Lev Polugaevsky - John Nunn
Rd 1, EuroTeam Ch, Skara 1980
Modern Benoni, Classical Variation (A77)
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c4 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nc3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 0–0 9.0–0 Re8 10.Nd2 Nbd7 11.Qc2 Ne5 12.b3 Nh5 12...a6 13.Bb2 would have equaliuzed 13.Bxh5² gxh5 14.Bb2 Bd7 15.Rae1 Qh4 16.f4 Fritz says 16.Kh1! would allow White to play on Ng4! 17.Nf3 Bd4+! The fun begins 18.Kh1 Nf2+! 19.Rxf2 Qxf2 20.Qc1 Bh3 21.Rg1 Kf8 22.Nxd4 cxd4 23.f5? 23.Ba3 should be tried, e.g., 23...Rec8 24.f5! dxc3 24.Qxc3 Rxe4 25.gxh3 Ke8 26.Qd3 Re1 27.Rxe1+ Qxe1+ 28.Kg2 Rc8 29.f6 Kd7 30.Qxh7 30.Bd4 offered the last but vain effort to avert defeat Qd2+ 30...Re8 might be quicker 31.Kg3 Qxd5 31...Qxb2?? would be a fatal error: 32.Qxf7+ Kd8 33.Qe7#! 32.Kh4 Re8!
After 32.Re8!
Sheer magic! 0–1
• Alexander Beliavsky - John Nunn [E81]
Wijk aan Zee 1985
King’s Indian, Saemisch Variation
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 0–0 6.Be3 Nbd7 7.Qd2 c5 8.d5 Ne5 9.h3 Nh5 10.Bf2 f5 10...Nd7 11.g4 Nhf6 12.f4 leads to equality 11.exf5 Rxf5? 11...gxf5 was best, e.g., 12.g4 Nf6! 12.g4 White surges ahead Rxf3 13.gxh5 Qf8 14.Ne4 14.hxg6 Qf5 15.gxh7+ Kh8 reduces White’s lead Bh6 15.Qc2 Qf4? Frtitz suggests 15...Be3 16.hxg6 hxg6 16.Ne2 Rxf2 17.Nxf2 Nf3+ 18.Kd1 Qh4 19.Nd3 Bf5 20.Nec1 Nd2 21.hxg6 hxg6 21...Nxc4 was best, e.g., 22.Qf2 Qe4 23.gxh7+ Kxh7 22.Bg2??
After 22.Bg2??
Letting Black slip away, says Fritz, suggesting 22.Qc3 as the best move, e.g., 22...b5 23.cxb5!
22…Nxc4! 23.Qf2 Ne3+ 24.Ke2 Qc4 25.Bf3 Rf8 26.Rg1 Nc2 27.Kd1 Bxd3 If 28.Nb3 Be4 29.Rxg6+ Bxg6! 0–1
GAMES OF GIFTED KIDS
Etienne Bacrot, France’s top gun
FRANCE today ranks No. 8 in the world as a chess-playing country, chiefly due to the heroic exploits on the board of 24-year-old Etienne Bacrot, its lone megastar.
Born on January 22, 1983 in Picardie, a rural region in northeastern France and scene of many battlefields in both world wars and even in medieval times, Etienne became the world’s youngest grandmaster on March 22, 1997 at the age of 14 years and two months.
He learned chess at the age of four, became a world age-group champion at 10, defeated former world champion Vassily Smyslov of the then Soviet Union at 13, and became the first-ever Frenchman to join the world’s top 10 players in 2004 at the age of 21.
That same year, Bacrot topped the Poikovsky Karpov Tournament in Russia and ended up second in Dortmund Sparkassen in Germany.
Since then, he has rarely shone with the same brilliance again and ranks No. 17 in the world today. He has had wins, however, against such titans as former world champion Anatoly Karpov, reigning world champion Vladimir Kramnik and Michael Adams of England.
In the ongoing World Candidates in Elista, the 24-year-old French megastar was the first to be knocked out of contention when he lost to 34-year-old Gata Kamsky of the United States in their second and third games. Their first game was drawn.
It is said that chess players usually reach the plenitude of their powers in their mid-20s (former world champion Anatoly Karpov says he achieved his best performance at 26), and Bacrot may yet prove his real worth in the next world championship cycle.
In any event, the French star produced a long string of gems as France’s top whiz kid, and the most notable was his win against Sergei Azarov of Bulgaria in the World Under-10 Championship of 1992 in Duisburg, Germany.
• .Etienne Bacrot - Sergei Azarov
Queen’s Gambit Declined (D36)
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.Qc2 Na6 7.e3 Nb4 8.Qd2 Bf5 9.Rc1 Be7 9...a5 is interesting, says Fritz 10.a3 Na6 11.Bxa6 bxa6 12.Nf3 h6 13.Bh4 Rc8 14.0–0 0–0 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Na4 Be4 17.Nc5 A strategic post for the knight; 17.Qd1 Be7 also boosts White’s lead Bxf3! 18.gxf3 Bh4 19.f4 Qd6 20.Kh1 Kh8 21.Qd3 f5 21...a5 22.Qf5 favors White 22.Qxa6 White now is way ahead Qg6 23.Rg1 Qh5 24.Rg2 Rg8 25.Nd7 Qf3 Better but not enough to trim down White’s lead was 25...Rc7, e.g., 26.Ne5 Rgc8 26.Ne5! Qe4 27.Qe2 Threatening to trap the enemy queen with 28.f3! Bxf2 28.Nf7+! Kh7 29.Ng5+!!
After 29.Ng5+!!
A beauty, forking king and queen with the threat of immediate mate to boot: 30…hxg5?? 31.Qh5#! 1–0
• Etienne Bacrot - Vasily Smyslov
Match, Albert (France) 1996
Nimzo-Indian, Classical Variation (E35)
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 g5 8.Bg3 Ne4 9.e3 h5 10.f3 g4 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Nd7 13.Kf2 Nf6 14.Rb1 b6 15.c4 c6 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.Bb5+ Kf8 18.Ne2 Kg7 19.Rb3 Be6 20.Ba6 Qd6 21.Rc3 Rae8 22.Qc1 Bd7 23.e4 dxe4 24.Qxg5+ Kf8 25.Re3 exf3 26.Rxe8+ Kxe8 27.gxf3 Rg8 27...Bc6!? 28.Rh4 Kf8 could be more precise 28.Qe5+! Qxe5 29.dxe5 Nd5 30.Bc4 Be6 31.Nd4 Rh8 32.Nxe6 fxe6 33.Bxd5 exd5 34.f4 Kf7 35.f5 d4 36.Rc1 Best was 36.Kf3 d3 37.Ke3, with overwhelming advantage Kg7? 36…Rd8 would have reduced White’s lead, e.g., 37.Rc7+ Kf8! 37.Rc7+ Kh6 38.Rf7 38.Rxa7?! is dubious, e.g., 38…Re8 39.e6 Rf8, and White surges ahead Kg5 38...d3 39.e6 d2 won’t change matters 39.e6 h4 40.e7!!
After 40.e7!
The end, because White wins the race for a new queen. 1–0
MY FAVORITES
Richard Reti, as player and author
ALTHOUGH as far as I know he wrote only two books and I myself don’t play the opening he invented, Richard Reti has been my favorite both as player and author.
Reti was born on May 28, 1889 in Pezinok (spelled Peziniek in his book, Masters of the Chess Board) in what is now Slovakia, and Wikipedia says he died on June 6, 1929 in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic.
Both countries used to be part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with Vienna as its capital.
In his note about Reti, J. du Mont wrote in Masters: “He studied mathematics and physics at the Vienna University but in the end the lure of chess, which was particularly flourishing in Vienna in those days, proved too strong, and he devoted the rest of his life to the art.”
Du Mont cited Reti’s “noteworthy performances” as follows: First prize in Kashdan 1918, Gotsberg 1920 and Teplitz-Schonou 1922, second prize in Carlsbad 1923, and first prize in Mahrisch-Ostrau 1923, Vienna 1928 and Berne 1928.
Reti was also a blindfold expert, according to du Mont, who described his play as “astounding,” “On one occasion he played no less than 29 games simultaneously without sight of the board,” du Mont wrote.
Besides Masters of the Chess Board, I have also read Reti’s Ideas behind Modern Chess, which he wrote like a long essay about the game and its distinguished players.
He was decidedly not a racist in the negative sense of the word, but he tended to trace the lineage (racial stock, if you may) of each champion. For instance, he credited the Latino origins of Paul Morphy and world champion Jose Capablanca for what he described as their swashbuckling, romantic style.
Reti was the chief architect of the hypermodern school of chess, which he founded with the help of Aaron Nimzowitsch, author of My System, and another famous player/writer, Savielly Tartakower.
Their thesis was that control of the center need not be via its occupation by pawns but by pieces from afar, as in the Reti Opening, 1.Nf3. They rebelled against the dogmatic teachings of Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch, who strictly applied the principles demonstrated by world champion Wilhelm Steinitz in his games.
Wikipedia has given us a model Reti Opening game that he won against the Polish wizard, Akiba Rubinstein, as well as his famous win against the reigning world champion, Capablanca.
• Richard Reti - Akiba Rubinstein
Carlsbad 1923
Reti Opening (A07)
1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 d4 5.d3 Bg7 6.b4 0–0 7.Nbd2 c5 8.Nb3 cxb4 9.Bb2 Nc6 10.Nbxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b6 If 11...Bd7 12.a3! 12.a3 12.Qb3 Bb7 13.Be5 a5! Bb7 13.Bb2 bxa3 14.Rxa3 Qc7 15.Qa1 Ne8 16.Bxg7 Nxg7 17.0–0 Ne6 18.Rb1 Bc6 19.d4 Be4 20.Rd1 a5 21.d5 Nc5 22.Nd4 Bxg2 23.Kxg2 Rfd8 24.Nc6 Rd6 25.Re3 Re8 26.Qe5 f6 27.Qb2 27.Nxe7+? won't work: 27...Kf7 28.Qf4 Rxe7! e5 28.Qb5 Kf7 29.Rb1 Nd7 30.f3 Rc8 31.Rd3 e4 32.fxe4 Ne5 32...Re8 must be considered, says Fritz 33.Qxb6 Nxc6 34.c5 Rd7 35.dxc6 Rxd3 36.Qxc7+ Rxc7 37.exd3 Rxc6 38.Rb7+ Ke8 39.d4 Ra6 39...Re6 40.Kf3 gives White a huge lead 40.Rb6 Ra8 41.Rxf6 a4 42.Rf2 a3 43.Ra2 Kd7 44.d5 g5 45.Kf3 Ra4 46.Ke3 h5 47.h4 gxh4 48.gxh4 Ke7 49.Kf4 Kd7 50.Kf5!
After 50.Kf5!
The advancing phalanx of white pawns led by the king takes control of the game, e.g., 50…Ra5 51.c6+! Kc7 52.Ke6 1–0
In his game against the world champion, Reti showed his versatility with the knights and total control of the center and the game.
• Richard Reti - Jose Raul Capablanca
New York 1924
English Opening (A15)
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 Bg7 4.Bb2 0–0 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.0–0 d6 8.d3 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 e5 10.Qc2 Re8 11.Rfd1 a5 12.a3 h6 13.Nf1 c5 13...Qe7 14.Ne3 would have equalized 14.b5 Nf8 15.e3 Qc7 16.d4 Be4 17.Qc3 exd4 18.exd4 N6d7 19.Qd2 cxd4 20.Bxd4 Qxc4 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.Qb2+ Kg8 23.Rxd6 Qc5 24.Rad1 Ra7 25.Ne3 Qh5 25...Bxf3 favors White 26.Nd4 26.R1d5 may be stronger, e.g., 26…Bxd5 27.g4! Bxf3 28.gxh5 Bxh5, and White surges ahead Bxg2 27.Kxg2 Qe5 28.Nc4 Qc5 28...Qh5 29.Nc6 Rc7 30.Ne3 favors White 29.Nc6! Rc7 30.Ne3 Ne5 30...Rxe3 was better 31.R1d5!
After 31.R1d5!
If 31…Nc4 32.Rxc5 Nxb2 33.Rc2 Rxe3 34.fxe3!, and wins. 1–0
BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (1)
Genius of Nisipeanu
LIVIU-DIETER NISIPEANU (born August 1, 1976) is a Romanian chess grandmaster who made a name for himself by reaching the semi-finals of the 1999 FIDE World Chess Championship in Las Vegas. He upset Vasily Ivanchuk in round four and Alexei Shirov in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champion Alexander Khalifman.
In 2005 Nisipeanu hit another milestone when he won the European Individual Chess Championship in Warsaw.
Last Friday I gave you his victory over former world champion Veselin Topalov in the MTel Masters. On reviewing his tournament results and games from recent months it struck me just how creative Nisipeanu is, and how much his chess reminds me of the “Magician from Riga”, former world champion Mihail Tal.
Here is a game from early in Tal’s career when he was on his way to his first major tournament victory – the 1957 USSR Championship. It is one of my favorites and actually influenced me to take up the Modern Benoni myself. As Peter Clarke remarked, one wonders what strategical plans Gurgenidze was considering when he made his 14th move. After Tal’s shocking reply Gurgenidze had to set them aside, never to be taken up again!
Gurgenidze,Bukhuti - Tal,Mihail [A78]
Ch URS Moscow (Russia), 18.01.1957
Modern Benoni
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.e4 Bg7 8.Be2 0–0 9.0–0
Re8 10.Nd2 Na6 11.Re1 Nc7 12.a4 b6 13.Qc2 Ng4! 14.h3? Clearly White expected Tal to move the knight to e5, which is thematic for the Benoni. Wrong.
14...Nxf2!! 15.Kxf2 Qh4+ 16.Kf1
[16.g3 Bd4+ 17.Kf3 Qh5+ 18.Kg2 Bxh3+ followed by mate]
16...Bd4 17.Nd1 Qxh3! 18.Bf3
[18.gxh3 Bxh3#]
18...Qh2 19.Ne3 f5 20.Ndc4 fxe4 21.Bxe4 Ba6
Intending ...Rxe4 followed by ...Re8.
22.Bf3 Re5 23.Ra3 Rae8 24.Bd2 Nxd5!
Just look at the maximum attacking power of all Black pieces directed against the white king.
25.Bxd5+ Rxd5 26.Ke2 Bxe3 27.Rxe3 Bxc4+ 0–1
It is hopeless, if
1) 28.Qxc4 Qxg2+ 29.Kd1 Qxd2#; or
2) 28.Kd1 Rxe3 29.Rxe3 (29.Qxc4 Rxe1+ 30.Kxe1 Qg1+ 31.Ke2 Qxg2+ 32.Ke3 Qxd2+ 33.Ke4 Kf8) 29...Qg1+ 30.Re1 Qf2 31.Kc1 Bb3 32.Qxb3 Qxd2+ 33.Kb1 Qxe1+
Tal called himself a chess hooligan, and maintained throughout his life that a chessplayer sometimes had to prove that two times two was five. Despite being a supremely gifted tactician he relied on intuition a lot. I remember this “hippopotamus” story from his book The Life and Games of Mikhail Tal. He was in a very complicated position against Vasiukov and was planning to sacrifice a knight. As he was trying to calculate all the variations, he suddenly remembered a couplet by a Russian poet:
“Oh, what a difficult job it was To drag out of the marsh the hippopotamus.”
And now Tal tried to figure out in his mind how to accomplish that feat. He considered how jacks could do the trick, or levers, helicopters and even a rope ladder. After lengthy consideration he admitted defeat as an engineer and thought spitefully: “Well, let it drown!”
Now he went back to the Vasiukov game and somehow realized that it was not possible to calculate all the variations, and that the knight-sacrifice was, by its very nature, purely intuitive. And since it promised an interesting game, he made it.
The Gurgenidze game including this story jumped back into my mind when I saw this game.
Georgiev,Kiril (2680) - Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter (2690) [E10]
22nd ECU Club Cup Feugen AUT (6), 13.10.2006
Blumenfeld Gambit.
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.d5 b5 5.dxe6
Once upon a time 5.Bg5 was considered to be "the refutation" of Black's strategy. Now an effective antidote for Black has been found. 5...Qa5+ 6.Qd2 (6.Nc3 Ne4 7.cxb5 Black has 7...a6! 8.Bd2 Nxd2 9.Nxd2 axb5 10.e4 c4 11.a4 Bb4 12.Nxb5 exd5 13.exd5 0–0 14.Be2 Bb7 game is dynamically equal. Johansen,D (2465)-Depasquale,C (2280)/ Melbourne 1991 1/2 33) 6...Qxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 Na6 8.e4 bxc4 9.Bxc4 h6 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.0–0–0 Rb8 12.Rhe1 Bg7 with chances for both sides.
5...fxe6 6.cxb5 d5 7.g3 a6!? 8.bxa6 Bd6
Stronger than taking the pawn immediately, for after 8...Bxa6?! 9.Bh3! the attack on the e6-pawn is a bit awkward to meet.
9.Bg2 0–0 10.0–0 Nc6 11.b3 Bxa6 12.Bb2 Qe8 13.Nbd2 Rd8 14.Re1 Ng4
This move was made with the intention of sacrificing the knight on f2. Nisipeanu's comment: "A very sharp attempt to stop the e2-e4 threat once and for all. I seriously doubt the correctness of this action, but during the game it is anything but easy for White to prove it."
15.h3 Nxf2!? 16.Kxf2 Nd4 17.g4
White wants to retreat the king to g1 without losing the g3 pawn.
17...h5 18.g5 Qf7
Obviously intending to penetrate with his queen via f4 to g3.
19.e3?
White was worried about the impending queen incursion and resolved to take away the f4 square from his opponent. This turns out to be the decisive error. He had to play 19.Kg1! to get his king back to the relatively safety in the kingside. On the next two moves see how Nisipeanu removes this possibility.
19...Nxf3 20.Nxf3
After 20.Nxf3
[20.Bxf3? Qf5]
20...Bh2!
Hard to find but very effective. Now the white king is flushed out to the center where it cannot survive the blows coming from all directions.
21.Bf1 Qc7!
Coming to g3.
22.Bxa6
Otherwise he would be mated.
22...Qg3+ 23.Ke2 Qg2+ 24.Kd3 c4+!
[24...Qxb2 25.Qd2]
25.Kc3
[25.bxc4 dxc4+ loses his queen]
25...Rxf3 26.Qd4 Rf2! 27.Qb6 Be5+ 28.Kb4 Rb8 29.Bb7 Bxb2 30.Qxe6+ Kh8 31.Kc5 Bxa1
Avoiding the trap 31...Rxb7?? 32.Qe8+ Kh7 33.Rg1! Qh2 34.g6+ Kh6 35.Qh8#
32.Bxd5 Qxg5 33.Rxa1 c3 34.h4 Qxh4 35.e4 c2 36.Rc1 Qg5 37.Qh3 Qxc1 0–1
Awesome.
Movsesian wins Sarajevo tourney
SLOVAKIAN superstar Sergei Movsesian outsteadied higher-rated super GMs to take the top prize in the 27th Bosna Turnament held in Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
In second place was another lower-rated super GM, local star Borki Predojevic.
Trailing behind them were former Dutch champion Ivan Sokolov, Russian superstar Alexander Morozevich, former world title challenger Nigel Short of England and up-and-coming Russian Artyom Timofeev.
Movsesian, an ethnic Armenian who lives in Slovakia, is known for his mastery of position play.
BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (2)
Three for Topalov
THE MTel Masters international superGM tournament was started in 2005 as part of the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the biggest Bulgarian mobile operator, Mobiltel. The organizers would invite the top six players in the world and they would play a double round-robin.
The tournament had a curious rule—draw by mutual agreement between the players is forbidden. The players won’t be allowed to offer a draw or speak to each other. The player can claim the draw only via the arbiter in three cases: (1) perpetual check, (2) triple repetition, or (3) a theoretically dead drawn position. Only the arbiter can confirm the result of the game.
In 2005, the players were Topalov, Michael Adams, Judit Polgar, Ruslan Ponomariov, Vladimir Kramnik and Viswanathan Anand (average rating 2747: category 20). Topalov started slowly with four draws and then lost to Ponomariov, causing him to finish the first cycle in last place with 2/5. In the second cycle, though, there was a complete turnaround—Topalov drew with Polgar and defeated everybody else to finish with 4.5/5. This was sufficient for him to win the tournament with a total of 6.5/10, a full point ahead of second-placer Anand. Kramnik was in last place.
The next year the invitees were Topalov, Kamsky, Anand, Svidler, Bacrot and Ponomariov (average rating of 2745, category 20) and the script was the same: Topalov had 1.5/4 but then won 5 of his last 6 games and once again finished first (6.5/10) half a point in front of Gata Kamsky.
This year had a similar story. Topalov had two early losses and was 2/5 in the first cycle, but his form returned and 3.5/5 in the second cycle enabled him to win again.
MTel Masters
Sofia, Bulgaria
May 10-20, 2007
1 GM Veselin Topalov BUL 2772, 5.5/10
2-5 GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE 2757, GM Liviui Dieter Nisipeanu ROM 2963, GM Gata Kamsky USA 2705, GM Krishnan Sasikiran IND 2690, 5.0/10
6 GM Michael Adams ENG 2734, 4.5/10
Ave Rating: 2725, Category 19
The composition for this year’s tournament was just a tiny bit weaker than previously (this is in a relative sense, of course), but due to the proximity between MTel and the Candidates’ Matches in Elisa which is scheduled to start on May 26, some top players were forced to decline their invitations.
The MTel Masters was an important tournament for Veselin Topalov, coming from a bad performance in Morelia/Linares where he was clearly struggling and only managed to win one of his 14 games. In fact, he even resigned to Magnus Carlsen in a drawn position.
The following is probably the most exciting game of the tournament as well as the most crucial one. This was in the last round, and the Bulgarian had to win in order to overtake Sasikiran in the standings. To me though Indian GM Sasikiran seemed fated to lose this one ... three rounds before the end he was one full point ahead of the field after a rather providential win vs Mamedyarov. Perhaps unnerved by this new experience for him, Sasikiran lost to Kamsky and drew with Nisipeanu to see his lead dwindle to a mere half point. And of course we already know about Topalov’s rampaging closing spurts...
Topalov,Veselin (2772) - Sasikiran,Krishnan (2690) [E43]
MTel Masters Sofia (10), 20.05.2007
Nimzo-Indian Defence
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3
This move characterizes the Rubinstein Line. Now Black has many possibilities, including 4...0–0, 4...c5, 4...b6, 4...d5 and even 4...Nc6.
4...b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.Nf3 0–0 7.0–0 d5
Some people call this the Tal Variation, which is a bit ironic, since this line is known to be very solid for Black.
8.a3 Bd6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.b4
This move is a natural follow-up to the previous move; White wants to acquire some space on the queenside, while making it harder for Black to achieve the liberating ...c5.
10...Nbd7 11.b5!? Ne4 12.Bb2 Re8 13.a4 Re6 14.Ne2 a5?! 15.Ba3 Rc8 16.Bxd6 cxd6 17.Rc1 Ndf6 18.h3 Re7 19.Qb3 h6 20.Rxc8 Qxc8 21.Rc1 Rc7 22.Rxc7 Qxc7 23.Qc2!
Even though he needs a win Topalov is not afraid to exchange queens. After 23...Qxc2 24.Bxc2 the doubled pawns on the d-file ensure White an endgame advantage.
23...Qe7 24.Qc1 g6 25.Nh2 Kg7 26.h4 Ne8 27.f3 N4f6 28.Nf1 h5 29.Nf4 Nd7 30.Qe1
Obviously intending to bring his queen to g3 and generate some attacking threats.
30...Nf8 31.Qg3 Kh6
After 31...Kh6
32.Nxh5!?
Objectively speaking this move does not win, but given the must-win situation, it is a good practical chance.
32...gxh5 33.Qg8 f5!
Good move, preparing 34...Qg7. The other move 33...Ng6? does not work: 34.Bxg6 fxg6 35.Qh8+ Qh7 36.Qxe8 and wins.
34.Ng3 Ng7!
[34...Qxe3+? loses to 35.Kh2 Qxd3 36.Qh8+ Kg6 37.Qxh5+ Kg7 38.Nxf5+ Kf6 39.Qxe8 Qxf5 40.Qxf8+ etc]
35.Bxf5 Ng6!
[35...Qxe3+ is still impossible: 36.Kh2 Ng6 (otherwise Qh8 mate) 37.Bxg6 Kxg6 38.Qxg7+! Kxg7 39.Nf5+]
36.Bxg6 Kxg6 37.Nxh5! Qxe3+
Surely not 37...Kxh5?? 38.Qh7#
38.Kh2 Qe7?
After defending courageously Sasikiran now makes the losing move. I don't blame him for missing this move, as it violates the rules of good defensive chess: avoid pawn grabs and don't take the queen out of the crucial files, in this case the e-file. 38...Qxd4! the Black knight is a very effective defensive piece. White may try to continue 39.Kg3 (threat is Nf4+) 39...Kh6! 40.Qh8+ Kg6 41.Qg8 Kh6 and Black's passer on d-file should give him sufficient counter chances if White decides to play for a win, trying to exploit his kingside pawns.
39.Nf4+ Kf6 40.g4! Qf7 41.Qd8+ Qe7 42.Qg8 Qf7 43.Qd8+ Qe7 44.Qxe7+ Kxe7 45.Kg3 Ne6 46.Nxe6 Kxe6 47.f4
In theory the bishop cannot fight the three connected passed pawns of White, but of course in practice White has to play extremely accurately.
47...Bc8 48.f5+ Kf7 49.h5 Bd7 50.h6 Kg8
[50...Bxb5? loses by one single tempo: 51.axb5 a4 52.g5 a3 53.g6+ Kf6 54.h7 Kg7 55.f6+ etc]
51.Kf4! Be8 52.Kg5! Kf7 53.h7! Kg7 54.h8Q+! Kxh8 55.Kf6 Bxb5 Desperation. 56.Ke7 Bd3 57.f6 Bg6 58.f7 Bxf7 59.Kxf7 1–0
Russian youngster top star in Kirishi
FORMER Russian junior champion Ian Nopmniachtchi has topped the fifth World Youth Stars tournament held in Kirishi in the St. Petersburg region of his homeland.
Ian, an IM who will turn 17 next month, won on tiebreak over three others, namely, GMs Rauf Mamedov of Azerbaijan, Parimarjan Negi of India and Zaven Andriasian of Armenia.
The four teenaged stars had 7.0 points each out of nine games.
Nepomniachtchi is also the reigning world vice junior champion while 14-year-old Negi is currently the youngest GM in the world.
A total of 12 teenagers took part in the Kirishi event.
The eight others in the order of their standings were GM Sergei Zhigalko of Bulgaria, IM Avetik Grigoryan of Armenia, GM Yuriy Yusubov of Ukraine, IMs Danill Lintchevski and Ivan Popov of Russia; IM Eltaj Safarli of Azerbaijan, FM Eduard Gorovykh of Russia and IM Falko Bindrich of Germany.
The event is being held yearly in memory of junior star Vanya Somov.
FROM MY SWIVEL CHAIR
Let’s all get back to work!
THE past month could be the costliest yet in terms of money going down the drain, man-hours lost, lives wasted and pride wounded—all in the name of politics, Philippine style. In any competition, there have to be winners and losers. Regardless of how we may have fared at the polls, let’s all get back to work!
—0—
UNLIKE chess, which is arguably the least expensive of all sports, the game of politics has become too costly and even disastrous for the nation as a whole. Only in the Philippines has the exercise of suffrage become a dangerous “sport,” all because we Filipinos don’t know the meaning of fair play and sportsmanship.
—0—
Do we really care at all? Consider this: since the start of the campaign the NCFP seems to have lost a sense of purpose. Take a look at its official website. Its last entry has been the outcome of the National Juniors over three weeks ago. Its basic work has come to a standstill, its Caravan grounded. Why?
—0—
I DON’T blame its president, Butch Pichay, who at this writing seems to be hoping against hope he would still make it. How about its chairman, Mat Defensor, or its secretary general, Bembol Tolentino? Both have won in their reelection bids. Why haven’t we heard from them?
—0—
THERE are a thousand and one things that the NCFP must, and can, do. It still has not cleansed its records of players who have left the country for good, nor has it set up a comprehensive, well-coordinated training program nationwide. It has not made any headway in enlisting the support of TV networks, etc., etc.
—0—
I’M afraid that unless the NCFP gets down to work soon, it won’t be able to pursue its own calendar of activities. In April, it did not push through its inter-cities and towns team championship, either. Nothing has yet been heard about the Manny Villar International Cup, which is supposed to be ongoing now.
—0—
LENNY SO, mother of Wesley, has sent the Weekender an announcement by the Singapore Chess Federation of its new “sponsorship program for players who are in the process of pursuing an IM or GM title.” “Hope we can have something like this in our country,” she wrote in an email.
—0—
IN the World Youth Stars Championship held in the Russian city of Kirishi, India’s 14-year-old GM Parimarjan Negi tied for first to fourth places. Negi has been doing the circuit and I can foresee India’s having soon at least four super GMs—Anand, Sasikiran, Harikrishna and Negi.
—0—
IF he is given the support he deserves, Wesley can earn his GM title within the year. Nobody, however, has come forward to lend him a hand in terms of logistical support and training. And yet politicians spend hundreds of millions of pesos in the poll campaign! Absurd.
—0—
I HOPE more spadework will be done to involve all schools in the development of chess as a national sport for Filipinos.
Chess quote
“The essence of chess is thinking about what chess is.”—David Bronstein
The Weekender
Quezon Memorial Circle
Quezon City
Manuel O. Benitez
Editor & Publisher
Alfredo V. Chay
Circulation Manager
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Published every weekend
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Our friend, Xavier "doods" Busig, is playing in the on-going Drogheda Chess Congress. This tourney is split into 6 and he joined group 4. He is carrying a perfect score of 3-0 with 2 remaining rounds. Well, it looks like he's in good position to win the top place in his group.More on this here..
...
I guess the three dots above describes the status of chess in our land at this moment, to be continued but we'll have to wait.
Hay naku!
Till then!
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