Mister Wonderful

Wesley So – Pentala Harikrishna
79th Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Rotterdam, January 19, 2017
English Opening A15

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. c4 c5 5. Nc3 d5 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 dxc4 8. Qa4+ Nbd7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Rd1 Nb6 11. Qa3 Qd6 12. Qxd6 exd6 13. a4 a6 14. Bf4 d5. No better is 14. ... Ne8 15. Rac1 a5 16. Ndb5 Bd7 17. Bxd6 Nxd6 18. Rxd6 Bc6 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Rxc6 Rab8 21. Rc5 Rfd8 22. Na7 Rd2 23. Rb5 Nd7 24. Rxb8+ Nxb8 25. Ncb5 Nd7 26. Rxc4 Bxb2 27. Kf1 Nb6 28. Re4 f5 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Rb8 Nxa4 31. Nc6 Nc3 32. Nxa5 Rd1+ 33. Kg2 Nxe2 34. Nc4 Ba1 35. Nbd6+ Kg7 36. Rb7+ Kg8 37. Re7 Nc3 38. h4 Nd5 39. Rd7 h5 40. Ra7 Bd4 41. Ra8+ Kg7 42. Rd8 Ba1 43. Nb6 Nc3 44. Nbc8 Kf6 45. Rd7 Nd5 46. Nb6 Be5 47. Nb7 Nc3 48. Nd8 g5 49. Rxd1 Nxd1 50. Nd7+ Ke7 51. Nxe5 Kxd8 52. hxg5 Ke7 53. f4 Nc3 54. Kh3 Ne4 55. Kh4 1 : 0 Kramnik – Nepomniachtchi, 43rd Dortmund Sparkassen Chess Meeting, Dortmund 2015. No doubt, Harikrishna came out from the opening very badly. 15. a5 Nbd7 16. Rac1 Rd8 17. Bc7 Re8 18. Bd6 Ne5 19. Bxd5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Bg4

21. Rd2. Wesley avoids the complications of 21. Nc7 Nd3 – in spite that supercomputers’ evaluation goes in White’s favour – and plays safely for a sober but lasting advantage. Considering that Harikrishna was already short of time, it’s easy to conclude that Filipino Grandmaster’s decision was wise. 21. ... Red8 22. Nb6. Wesley wins the Exchange, but, in absolute terms, the Black Bishop pair is quite powerful and White’s converting task all but easy. 22. ... Rxd6 23. Nxa8 Nc6 24. Nf3 Rxd2 25. Nxd2 Bxb2 26. Rxc4 Bxe2 27. Re4 Bd3 28. Re3 Nb4? And this appears to be the decisive mistake. Black had to try to keep the Bishop pair at all costs, for instance with 28. ... Bc2 29. Nb3 Kg7. 29. Nb6 Bd4 30. Re7 Nc6 31. Rxb7 Nxa5 32. Rd7. Now it’s just a matter of technique. 32. ... Nc6 33. Nb3 Bf5 34. Rxd4 Nxd4 35. Nxd4 Bd3 36. Kg2 Kf8 37. Kf3 Ke7 38. Ke3 Bf1 39. Nf3 Kd6 40. Kd4 f6 41. Nd2 Be2 42. Nd5 f5 43. Nc3 Bh5 44. Nc4+ Ke6 45. f4 Kd7 46. Kc5 h6 47. Nd5 Ke6 48. Nc7+ 1 : 0. “Had my chances despite Wesley’s strong opening with White. But lack of time hurt me. More determined to do better now. Will come back”, Harikrishna eventually said.

Wesley So
Photo: Tata Steel Chess (Facebook)