Typhoon Wesley

Gataulla Rustemovich Kamsky – Wesley So
59th U.S. Chess Championship, Saint Louis, April 11, 2015
Queen’s Pawn Game A46

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 b5 4. Bg5 c5 5. Bg2 Bb7 6. c3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Be7 8. 0-0 h6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. e3 0-0 11. Nc3 b4 12. Ne2 Qb6 13. Nf4 Rc8 14. Nh5. “What is Kamsky doing with Knight on h5?”, Grandmaster Alejandro Tadeo Ramírez Alvarez asked. “Planning on getting it trapped!”, Finegold answered. 14. ... Be7 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Qg4 Bg5 17. Kxg2 Qb7+ 18. Kg1 d6 19. Nd3 Nd7 20. h4. “I just wanted to get a position where I can keep on playing, regardless of color”, So said. “I played an early ... h7-h6 to get the Bishop pair and try to slightly imbalance the position. He probably pushed too hard and made some mistakes starting with 20. h4 I think”. 20. ... Bf6 21. Rfc1 a5 22. Ndf4. “I don’t like 13. Nf4 by Kamsky”, Grandmaster Benjamin Finegold said. 22. ... Qe4! “GM Kamsky’s ‘Attack’ has backfired! GM So is now attacking Kamsky!”, the guys of Saint Louis Chess Club tweeted. 23. Qe2 Be7 24. Qb5 Nf8 25. Qd3 Qb7 26. Ng2 e5 27. dxe5 dxe5 28. g4 Ng6 29. Qf5 Bxh4 30. Ne1 Re8 31. Rd1 Rad8 32. Ng2 Qb5 33. Rxd8 Rxd8 34. Qc2 Qd5 35. Qe2 Qd2 36. Kf1 a4 37. Ne1 Qd5 38. e4 Qe6 39. Nc2 Bg5 40. Ne3 Bxe3 41. fxe3 Nh4 42. Rd1 Rxd1+ 43. Qxd1 Kh7 44. b3 axb3 45. axb3 g6 46. Ng3. Finally, after 32 moves, Kamsky brings the Knight back into play. It’s too late. 46. ... h5 47. Qd5 Qf6+ 48. Ke2 hxg4 49. Kd3 Ng2 50. Qb7 Kg7

51. Qb5 Nxe3! 52. Ne2 Nf1 53. Kc4 Qd6 54. Qxb4 Nd2+ 55. Kc3 Nb1+ 56. Kc4 Qa6+ 0 : 1.

Wesley So. Photo: Lennart Ootes.