Enjoy the Play

Oleg Skvortsov – Viswanathan Anand
6th Zürich Chess Challenge; exhibition game; Zürich, April 12, 2017
Italian Game C54

Caïssa says this year it’s up to Anand to stand up to the modern Prince of Mingrelia: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. b4 Bb6 7. e5 d5 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qe2+. If 9. b5 then 9. ... 0-0! and now not 10. bxc6? because of 10. ... Re8+ 11. Kf1 d3 12. Be3 Qxf6 13. Qa4 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Rxe3 15. Nd2 Bh3! with an overwhelming attack, Berend – Barle, Debrecen 1992. 9. ... Be6 10. b5 Nb4!? Black, too, plays for the sake of amusement. 11. fxg7 Rg8 12. cxb4 Qf6 13. 0-0 Qxg7 14. g3 0-0-0 15. a4 d3 16. Qb2

16. ... Qxg3+!! A very spectacular Queen sacrifice, which is also the only way to evocate the deity and convince Maecenas he is playing – even if in Kieseritzky’s shoes – Anand’s Immortal Game. 17. hxg3 Rxg3+ 18. Kh2 Rxf3 19. Bg5? Here is where Skovrtsov does not dare to challenge Caïssa’s Will. In his on-line commentary, Marc Lang recommends 19. Qg7 Rh3+ 20. Kg2 Bd4 21. Qg5 f6 22. Qg7 Rh4 23. Kg3 Rh3+ 24. Kg2 Rh4 with a “salomonic repetition”, but it is obvious White could have played for much more by 23. f3! (Stockfish). 19. ... Bd4 20. Qd2 Rg8 21. Ra3. 21. Rg1 Rh3+ 22. Kg2 h6 makes no difference at all. 21. ... h6 22. Rg1 Rh3+ 23. Kg2 Rxg5+ 0 : 1. Skovrtsov resigned because of 24. Kf1 Rxg1+ 25.Kxg1 Bd5 and mate in two moves.

Oleg Skvortsov (R.) vs. Viswanathan Anand
Photo: Rustam Kalimullin