The shark who scared a fisher

Laurent Fressinet – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov
4th Trophée Anatoly Karpov; tie-break game 2 (3+2); Cap d’Agde, October 31, 2015
English Opening A29

After two draws in the rapid games (25+10), Anatoly Yevgenyevich has undeservedly lost the first tie-break blitz game. No wonder he just played all out in the second one: 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. e3 Re8 8. d4 exd4 9. exd4 Bb6 10. h3 Bf5 11. g4 Bg6 12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 Be4 14. Nxe4 Rxe4 15. d5 Nd4 16. Nxd4 Rxd4 17. Qc2 g5 18. Bg3 Nd7 19. b4 a5 20. a3 Qf6 21. Rad1 axb4 22. axb4 Ra3 23. Kh2 Kg7 24. Rde1

24. ... Rf4! Fantastic! So far, Tolya has displayed the lucidity and simplicity with which he used to play in his prime! 25. Re2. 25. Bxf4 gxf4 gives Black excellent compensation for the Exchange, but probably nothing more. It’s not easy, however, to handle such positions in a blitz game. 25. ... Rc3! 26. Qa4 Ne5 27. c5 Bxc5 28. Re4 Rxf2? A grave miscalculation, which throws away a well-deserved win. Both 28. ... Rxe4 29. Bxe4 Rxg3 30. bxc5 (or 30. fxg3 Qxf1 31. bxc5 Qf2+ 32. Kh1 Qxg3) 30. ... Rc3 and 28. ... Rxg3! 29. bxc5 Rxf2 30. Kxg3 Rxf1 31. Bxf1? Qf3+! 32. Kh2 Qf2+! would have easily won the game. 29. Bxf2 Bxf2 30. Qa2? But Fressinet gives his opponent a second chance! White should have played 30. Kh1! and if 30. ... Rg3 (threat: ... Rg3xg2) then 31. Qd1 Nd3 32. Qc2 followed by Re4-e2, winning two pieces for a Rook. 30. ... Nf3+? The decisive mistake! Instead, after 30. ... Bg3+ 31. Kh1 Bf4 followed by ... Ne5-g6-h4 Black would have kept excellent winning chances. 31. Kh1 Nh4 32. Qxf2 1 : 0.

Laurent Fressinet (right) vs. Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (left). Photo © CapÉ/Europe Échecs.