The European Magazine

Piotr Brodowski – Sabino Brunello
European Rapid Chess Championship; Katowice, December 16, 2017
Benkö Opening A00

Sabino Brunello took a brilliant 14th place (out of 1,181 players) with 9 points out of 11 at the European Rapid Chess Championship held in Katowice, Poland on the last two days. Alessio Valsecchi might have been next to him (on the scoreboard), had he won his last-round game against French Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet. 1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 Nf6 3. c4 d4 4. d3 e5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. 0-0 a5 7. Na3 Be7 8. Nc2 0-0 9. b3 h6!? For 9. ... Rb8 10. Bb2 Bf5 11. Re1 Nd7 12. a3 Re8 13. Rb1 Bg6 14. Ba1 Bf8 15. b4 axb4 16. axb4 b5 17. c5 see Brodowski – Červený, 19th Czech Team Chess Championship 2010/2011, Czech Republic 2010. 10. e3 dxe3 11. Nxe3 Bc5 12. Bb2 Re8 13. h3 Qd6 14. Re1 Bd7 15. Rc1 e4 16. dxe4. After 16. d4 exf3 17. dxc5 Qxd1 18. Rexd1 fxg2 19. Bxf6 Bxh3 Black wins a not too meaningful Pawn, as White should soon or later regain it with quite good drawing chances. 16. ... Nxe4 17. Qxd6 cxd6. Strangely White cannot avoid the loss of a Pawn. 18. Rcd1 Nxg3 19. Nd2? Dropping a second Pawn. 19. Nd4(!) Ne4 20. Ndb5 seemed a more and better tenable cause. 19. ... Nb4 20. Ndf1 Nxf1 21. Kxf1 Nxa2 22. Bd4 Bxd4. Black decides to return one of his extra Pawns contenting himself with a sound Pawn and a safe edge. 23. Rxd4 Nb4 24. Rxd6 Bc6 25. Red1 a4 26. bxa4 Rxa4 27. Nd5 Kh7 28. Rb1? 28. Ne3 was probably a better try. 28. ... Nc2 29. Nb6 Bxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Ra2

31. Nd5. 31. Kg1 would have been equally met by 31. ... Ne1, whilst if 31. Kf1 there might follow 31. ... Ra3 in both cases with much better chances for Black. 31. ... Ne1+ 32. Kf1 Nf3 33. Ne3? Both players were in serious time trouble. The text costs White the Exchange, but neither 33. Nb4 Rae2 followed by ... Re8-e4 nor 33. Kg2 Nh4+ 34. Kg1 Ree2 35. Rf1 Red2 would have probably given Brodowski any saving chances in the mid-long run. 33. ... Nd2+ 34. Rxd2 Rxd2 35. Rxb7 Kg6. Now it’s over if doesn’t happen something strange. Luckily everything goes as it should. 36. Nd5 Re4 37. Rc7 Rc2 38. Ne3 Rc1+ 39. Kg2 f6 40. Kf3 Re5 41. Rd7 h5 42. Rd4 Rh1 43. Kg2 Rc1 44. Kf3 Kh6 45. Rd6 Rh1 46. Kg2 Rc1 47. Kf3 Rg5 48. h4 Re5 49. Rd4 Kg6 50. Kg2 Ra1 51. Kf3 Ra7 52. Kg3 Kf7 53. Kf3 Ke6 54. Rd8 Ke7 55. Rg8 Kf7 56. Rd8 Rc7 57. Rd4 Ke6 58. Rd8 Rd7 59. Ra8 Rc5 60. Ra6+ Kf7 61. Kg3 Rcc7 62. Ra5 Kg6 63. Kf3 Rd4 64. Kg3 Re7 65. Nd5 Re5 66. Rc5 Rg4+ 67. Kh3 Re1 68. Kh2 Rxh4+ 69. Kg3 Rg4+ 70. Kf3 Re5 71. Rc7 Rxc4 72. Rxc4 Rxd5 73. Kg3 Kf5 74. f4 g5 75. fxg5 fxg5 76. Rc3 h4+ 77. Kh3 Kg6 78. Kg4 Rd4+ 79. Kh3 Kh5 80. Rc5 Rd3+ 81. Kg2 h3+ 82. Kh2 Kh4 0 : 1.