Wild World

Vladimir Akopian – Anish Giri
Qatar Masters; Doha, December 4, 2014
Sicilian Defence B48

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. 0-0-0 Bb4 9. f3 Ne5 10. Nb3 b5 11. Kb1 Be7 12. Qf2 Bb7. For 12. ... d6 13. g4 see Akopian – Iotov, 9th European Chess Individual Championship, Plovdiv 2008. 13. Bb6 Qb8 14. Bd4 d6 15. g4 b4 16. Na4. The e2-square looks like the safest place for the Knight. 16. ... Nxf3 17. Qxf3. Perhaps the most practical choice. After 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Qxf3 Bc6 the a4-Knight is doomed. 17. ... Bxe4 18. Qh3 Bxh1 19. g5 Ne4 20. g6. A wild position! 20. ... f6 21. Qxe6. All chess engines suggests 21. Be3! f5 22. Nd4 with a most powerful attack. 21. ... Ng5 22. Qe3 hxg6 23. Nb6 Ra7 24. Bd3 Rxh2 25. Bxg6+ Kf8 26. Nc5 Bc6. Cool! On 26. ... dxc5 27. Bxc5 Black is in trouble. 27. Ne6+ Nxe6 28. Qxe6 Be8 29. Bd3 Rc7 30. Re1 Qd8 31. Nd5 Bf7 32. Qe4 Rd7 33. Nf4. Very optimistic, but Akopian, who was perhaps in serious Zeitnot, totally understimated Black’s next move.

33. ... d5. The freeing move! 34. Ng6+ Bxg6 35. Qxg6 Rh6 36. Qg2 Bd6 37. Rg1 Rh4 38. Qxd5. This looks like the losing move! 38. Bf2 was much better, although after 38. ... Rh2 39. Qxd5 g5!? Black can still insist on trying to win (on 39. ... Rxf2? 40. Bc4! White at least equalizes). 38. ... Be7 39. Qg2 Rdxd4. Now Black is a whole Rook ahead! Game over. 40. Qxg7+ Ke8 41. Qg6+ Kd7 42. Qf5+ Kc7 43. Qa5+ Kb8 44. Qxa6 Rd6 45. Qa4 Qb6 46. Re1 Rg4 47. b3 Rg1 48. Bf1 Rd8 49. a3 Bf8 50. Ka2 Qc5 51. axb4 Qxb4 52. Qa6 Rg5 53. Kb2 Ra5 0 : 1.

Anish Giri (@anishgiri)