The Man Who Saw Tomorrow

Shakhriyar Hamid oglu Mamedyarov – Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk
4th Vladimir Petrov Memorial; Jūrmala, March 8, 2015
Nimzo-Indian Defence E39

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 c5 5. dxc5 0-0 6. Nf3 Na6 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Qxc3 Nxc5 9. e3 d6 10. Be2 e5 11. b4 Nce4 12. Qc2 Bg4 13. Bd3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 Ng5 15. Ke2 Rc8 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. h4 “Vladimir Petrov Mem Jūrmala 2015.03.08. Actually, a rapid tournament. Position after White’s 17th move (17. h4) attacking the Knight on g5. White is hoping that the Knight will retreat, when he can follow up with a timely Rd1-g1 and Bc1-b2 with Kingside chances. However, the tournament winner (Ivanchuk) was in great form and found some clever tactical themes that allowed him to take the offensive...”, Grandmaster Kevin Spraggett writes.

17. ... Nxf3! 18. Kxf3 e4+ 19. Bxe4. “There is little better. After 19. Ke2 Black simply takes the Bishop and follows up with ... Nf6-e4”, Spraggett writes. 19. ... Nxe4 20. Bb2. Sad but true, after 20. Qxe4 Qf6+ Black grabs the Rook on a1. The rest is quite easy. 20. ... f5 21. Rg1 Rf7 22. Ke2 Qe6 23. Rac1 f4 24. Qd3 fxe3 25. f3 Nd2 26. Qd4 Rcc7 27. Qxa7 Qh3 28. Qxe3 Rce7 0 : 1.