Knockout

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) – David Navara
78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 26, 2016
Spanish C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 0-0 7. Nc4 Nd7 8. Qe2. Thus played Wilhelm Steinitz. 8. ... Re8 9. Bd2 Bd6 10. h4! 韦奕 (Wéi Yì) goes straight and direct to the King. For 10. 0-0-0 c5 11. Kb1 Nb8 12. c3 Nc6 13. Ne3 b5 14. g4 see Pérez Candelario – Sargissian, 4th Ruy López Masters, Villafranca de los Barros 2010. 10. ... c5 11. h5 h6 12. 0-0-0 Nb8 13. Rdg1 Nc6? Totally oblivious to the danger. Comparatively best was 13. ... Bg4 14. Ne3 Qd7 trying to hold. 14. g4 f6

15. g5! fxg5. 15. ... hxg5 16. h6 is even worse. 16. Nxg5! A decisive break-through sacrifice. 16. ... Nd4. If 16. ... hxg5 there might follow 17. Bxg5 Be7 18. Bh6 Bf6 19. Bxg7! Bg5+ 20. f4! exf4 21. Bh6 and wins. If, instead, 16. ... b5 then 17. Nxd6 Qxd6 17. Nf3 with an overwhelming advantage. 17. Qd1 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Be7 19. Be3 Bf6 20. h6 Re7. This loses outright, but 20. ... g5 21. Bxg5 Bxg5+ 22. f4 is equally hopeless, e.g. 22. ... exf4 23. Qh5 Ne6 24. Rxg5+! with mate in short order. 21. hxg7 Rxg7 22. Qh5 Be6 23. Bh6 Bf7 24. Bxg7 Bxh5 25. Bxf6+ Kf8 26. Bxd8 Ne2+ 27. Kb1 Nxg1 28. Bxc7 1 : 0. Finally and forever.

韦奕 (Wéi Yì) vs. David Navara
Photo: Tata Steel Chess (Facebook)