LABIRINTI E CASEMATTE: September 2019

Monday, September 30, 2019

Here are some other pictures from the opening ceremony of the one-month long crabs and chrysanthemum tourist season in the Millennium Flower Scenic Area in 兴化市 (Xīnghuà), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China on the morning of September 26, 2019 in which four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and the singer 谭竹青 (Tán Zhúqīng) were named as Tourism Ambassadors for 兴化市 (Xīnghuà). Finally, the two women were also gifted with two “personalised” mascots, “琪琪” (“Qí Qí”) for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and “楚楚” (“Chǔ Chǔ”) for 谭竹青 (Tán Zhúqīng). Photos credit: 兴化新闻 (Xīnghuà News).

Clash of the Generations

Sophia DeGregorio – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
16-board clock simultaneous exhibition; New York, September 17, 2019
Sicilian Defence B23

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. d3 a6 7. 0-0 Nge7 8. Qe1 b5 9. Bb3 0-0. A relatively dated game continued: 9. ... Nd4 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Ne2 f5 12. Qf2 fxe4 13. dxe4 Bb7 14. Nxd4 Bxe4 15. Bxe6 Qb6 16. Be3 dxe6 17. Nf5 Qc6 18. Nxg7+ Kf7 19. Bd4 Rad8 20. Nxe6 Qxe6 21. Bxh8 Rxh8 22. Rfe1 Re8 23. Re2 Nd5 24. Rae1 Nf6 25. Qd4 Re7 with an uncertain dynamic equilibrium, Arencibia Rodríguez – Ricardi, 32nd Chess Olympiad, Yerevan 1996.
10. Qh4 d5 11. f5 exf5?! Not 11. ... dxe4? because of 12. Ng5! h6 13. f6! hxg5 14. Bxg5 Nf5 15. Rxf5! gxf5 (Mukhutdinov – Guerra Rivera, 38th World Youth Chess Championship U-16, Porto Carras 2018) and now 16. Bd5! wins on the spot (for if 16. ... exd5 then 17. fxg7+−). Best is 11. ... gxf5 12. exd5 exd5 13. a3 (here White could and should seek something better) 13. ... c4 14. dxc4 dxc4 15. Ba2 Ng6 with great advantage to Black, Senador – Antonio, Asian Zone 3.2a Championship, Manila 2001.
12. Bh6? (12. Nxd5)
12. ... fxe4? (12. ... dxe4)
13. dxe4 Nf5? (13. ... c4 14. Ng5 f6 15. Bxg7 fxg5 16. Qh6 Rf5!∓)
14. exf5 Qxh4 15. Nxh4 Bxh6? 16. Bxd5 Bb7 17. fxg6 hxg6 18. Nxg6 b4 19. Ne4 Rfd8 20. Bxf7+. Basically, there’s nothing wrong with this, but 20. Rxf7 Rxd5 21. Rxb7+− was probably simpler and easier.
20. ... Kg7 21. Rae1 Rd7 22. Be6 Rc7 23. Rf3 Kxg6

24. Nxc5?? The youngster misses her glory: 24. Rg3+ Kh7 (24. ... Kh5 25. Nf6+ Kh4 26. Rg4#) 25. Nf6+ Kh8 26. Rh3 Kg7 27. Nd5+−.
24. ... Nd4 25. Rg3+ Kh7 26. Nxb7 Re8 27. Nd6 Rxe6 28. Rxe6 Nxe6 29. Rh3 Nf4 30. Rh4 Kg6

31. Ne4?? The only move was 31. Rg4+! and if 31. ... Kh5 then 32. Rg8 Rxc2 33. Nf5 (Δ g2-g4#) 33. ... Ng6 34. g4+ Kg5 35. h4+ Kf6 36. Nxh6 Nxh4 37. g5+ Ke5 38. g6 Rxb2 39. g7 Kf6 with a draw.
31. ... Rxc2−+ 32. Rg4+ Kf5 33. Rg8 Kxe4 34. Re8+ Kd4 35. Rd8+ Nd5 36. Rd6 Be3+ 37. Kf1 Rf2+ 38. Ke1 Rxg2 39. Rd7 Rxb2 40. Kd1 Kc4 41. Ke1 Nc3 42. Kf1 Rf2+ 43. Kg1 Rd2+ 0 : 1.

Clash of the generations. Photo: Her Move Next.

Once Upon a Time in a Dance Room

Back to Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” with the summer holiday behind, it’s time also for you to take up your dance class again, every day from Monday to Friday from early afternoon to late evening.
And finally, on Saturday afternoon, October 5, it will be time to play your first chess960 game of the year in a dance room, so pray do not forget to take with you your pair of (clean) sneakers!

The above diagram, taken from the book “The English Dancing Master” (published in London, 1651 by John Playford), shows the position and numbering of dancers in a 17th century English square dance. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

星星们在俯视 (The Stars Look Down)

From riches to rags in two hours. So much time it took on last Friday for the French luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton to first name Chinese movie star 范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng) — recently involved in a tax evasion scandal — as a worldwide brand ambassador and then to revoke her mandate due to public opinion pressure against her. The two-hour catwalk stage, however, allowed 范冰冰 (Fàn Bīngbīng) to style her Louis Vuitton Trendy Multi-Pochett Handbag with a colourful, silk midi dress with hints of lace, just to be sure that was no dream. Photos courtesy of Louis Vuitton.

What a strange thing is life, Edna! Sometimes you’re like a stranger to me!

Artwork © Kat Reyes (@sweet_papierco)

Twitch Upon a Star

Four time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has joined China’s Twitch-like platform Huya to give her fans a peek at her chess room. The newborn channel, which counts already over 250 subscribers, started yesterday to broadcast, with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s live streaming commentary of the semifinal tiebreak between 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) and 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) from the Chess World Cup 2019.

Oh, Edna, you should have expected he’d find a way to come ahead of everyone else, no matter how long the queue was

Artwork © ByJamieRose (@byjamierose)

Saturday, September 28, 2019

好啊，为什么不呢？

In a long, exclusive — though not too recent — interview to David Cox for the Chess.com web site, four time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) gave an updated account on her academic experiences at Oxford University while temporarily putting a “period” on her professional chess career. It’s the story of a long journey, which started long ago and which will go on for a very long time, constantly challenging herself to overcome the gender inequalities which women face in society. And since (as they say) “life is a journey, not a destination”, when Cox asked her about the fantasy of an epic showdown with her female nemesis Judit Polgár, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) did not put limits to providence: “Yes, sure, I would be happy to accept, if there was an invitation for a match like this. Why not?”.

Hierarchy in International Relations

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
8th Chess World Cup; tie-break game 2 (25+10); Khanty-Mansiysk, September 28, 2019
English Opening A21

First seed 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), ranked number three in the world, beat fellow Chinese 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) in the second tie-break game to win the semifinal and go through to the final of the Chess World Cup 2019. 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. Nd5 a5 4. Nf3 d6 5. a3 Bc5 6. e3 Nf6 7. d4 Nxd5 8. cxd5 exd4 9. exd4 Bb6 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3 0-0 12. Bd3 f5 13. Qc2 Nd7!? 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) throws down his cards with a novelty that does imply an interesting Exchange sacrifice. A relatively recent game continued: 13. ... h6 14. 0-0 f4 15. Bd2 Bg4 with complex play and chances for both colours, Cheparinov – 李师龙 (Lǐ Shīlóng), 14th “映美杯” (“Yìngměi Cup”) Chinese Chess League, 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) 2018. 14. Bxf5 Nf6 15. Bd3 h6 16. Nh4 Nxd5 17. Bh7+ Kh8 18. Ng6+ Kxh7 19. Nxf8+ Kg8 20. Ng6 Qf6. Black’s volatile initiative compensates enough for the sacrificed Exchange. 21. Qe4 Be6 22. 0-0 Re8 23. Nh4 Bf7 24. Qg4

24. ... h5! 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) is not interested in offering a draw by repetition with 24. ... Be6 (25. Qh5 Bf7=). 25. Qg3 Re4!↑ 26. Bg5!? 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), even though feeling uncomfortable under Black’s initiative, boldly chooses not to hide himself. 26. ... Qe6. Who knows, maybe the crude 26. ... Qxd4 would have been better. 27. h3 Bxd4 28. Nf3 Bxb2 29. Rab1 Re2 30. Bd2 Qf6 31. Bxa5 Nf4! Black keeps attacking as much as possible. 32. Bxc7 Rc2∞ 33. Kh2 h4? 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) finally puts himself too much forward. After the zwischenzug 33. ... Nxg2! 34. Kxg2 Rxc7 the game would have been pretty equal. 34. Qg5± Rxc7?? “Who says A must say B”. 35. Rxb2+− Qxg5 (35. ... Qxb2 36. Qd8++−) 36. Nxg5 Bc4 37. Re1 g6 38. Re4 Nd3 39. Rc2 Rc5 40. Rcxc4 Rxg5 41. Re7 Nc5 42. Rxh4 Rf5 43. f3 1 : 0.

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) made all the play, but in the end, quite unluckily, lost the “derby” with 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), thus avoiding any responsibility for a diplomatic “accident” in the Chinese camp. Photo: FIDE World Cup 2019.

If the shoe doesn’t fit Cinderella’s foot, then maybe Prince Charming is the wrong one

香港 (Hong Kong), China: Students from five secondary schools form a human chain outside the 伊利沙伯體育館 (Queen Elizabeth Stadium), where 香港 (Hong Kong)’s Chief Executive, 林鄭月娥 (Carrie Lam), is holding a town hall meeting. Photo: Kevin On Man Lee/Penta Press/Rex/Shutterstock.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Sure, Edna, the first quality of a prima donna is to be humble enough to let the audience believe that she doesn’t know who she is really, and that only they can help her find a stage

Artwork © Limka (@limka_art)

Lives and Letters

Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
8th Chess World Cup; match game 2; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 27, 2019
English Opening A34

Azerbaijani Grandmaster Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov is the first finalist of the Chess World Cup 2019, thanks to another superb display of tactical skill in his today’s game against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Qc7 7. e4 e6. The alternative is 7. ... Nc6 8. Be3 (or 8. Bd3 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Be2 e6 11. Be3 Be7 12. 0-0 0-0 13. Nd2 Bxe2 14. Qxe2 Rad8 15. f4 Qd7 16. Nb3 b6 17. Rfd1 Qb7 18. Qb5 Nb8 19. Bxc5 Bxc5+ 20. Nxc5 Qa8 21. Nd7 Rxd7 22. Rxd7 a6 23. Qd3 Nxd7 24. Qxd7 Qxe4 ½ : ½ Lenderman – Vachier-Lagrave, 7th Chess World Cup, Tbilisi 2017, match game 1) 8. ... e6 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. Nc4 Be7 11. Qg4 0-0 12. Qg3 Qxg3 13. hxg3 b5 14. Nd2 Rb8 15. Be2 Rd8 16. f4 f6 17. 0-0-0 c4 18. Nf3 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bb7 20. g4 Rd8 21. Rxd8+ Bxd8 22. g5 fxg5 23. Nxg5 Bxg5 24. fxg5 a6 25. Kd2 Ne5 26. Bf4 Nf7 27. Ke3 e5 28. Bg3 Bc8 29. b4 g6 30. a4 Kf8 31. a5 ½ : ½ Giri – Vachier-Lagrave, 2nd 深圳龙岗 (Shēnzhèn Lónggǎng) Masters “读特杯” (“Dú Tè Cup”), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn) 2018. 8. Bd3!? So that’s Radjabov’s surprise. So far Vachier-Lagrave had met only 8. Be3 Bd7 [or 8. ... Be7 9. Nd2 (9. Be2 0-0 10. 0-0 Bd7 11. Qd2 Bc6 is just a little better version of the actual game, So – Vachier-Lagrave, 5th Grand Chess Tour, 1st stage, Côte d’Ivoire Blitz, Abidjan 2019) 9. ... 0-0 10. Qf3 Rd8 11. Qg3 Bd6 12. f4 b6 13. Qf2 Bf8 14. Be2 Ba6 15. 0-0 Bxe2 16. Qxe2 Nc6 17. f5 exf5 18. exf5 Re8 19. Rae1 Rad8 20. Nf3 f6= So – Vachier-Lagrave, 7th Altibox Norway Chess, Stavanger 2019] 9. Nd2 Bc6 10. Qg4 Nd7 11. Qg3 0-0-0 12. Bf4 e5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Be3 g6 15. Qh3 Kb8 16. Be2 Nb6 17. b3 h5 18. 0-0 Bh6 19. Bxh6 Rxh6 20. Qe3 Rh7 21. Rfd1 Rhd7 22. Nf1 Rxd1 23. Rxd1 Rxd1 24. Bxd1 Nc8 25. f3 Qd6 26. Be2 Ne7 27. Qh6 f5 28. Ne3 fxe4 29. Nc4 Qf6 30. fxe4 Kc7 31. g3 Ng8 32. Qh7+ Ne7 33. Qh6 Ng8 34. Qh7+ Ne7 35. Qh6 ½ : ½ Svidler – Vachier-Lagrave, 6th GRENKE Chess Classic Baden-Baden 2019. 8. ... Be7 9. Qe2 Bd7 10. 0-0 0-0? A careless move, as it gives White the opportunity to mount a lasting and powerful Kingside attack. 10. ... Bc6 followed by ... Nb8-d7 was perfectly playable. 11. e5!↑/→ Bc6 12. Ng5 h6. 12. ... g6 13. Re1(!) doesn’t seem make a difference. 13. Bh7+! Kh8 14. Bc2 c4. 14. ... g6 15. Nh3 may lead to something somewhat similar to that of the game. 15. Re1! Qd8 16. Nh3 Qd5 17. Nf4 Qc5 18. Bb1 Bg5

19. Nxe6! fxe6 20. Bxg5 Qd5 21. Qg4 Nd7. The ending ensuing from 21. ... Qxg2+ 22. Qxg2 Kxg2 23. Kxg2 hxg5 24. Bg6!±/+− was Black’s “best worst”, however unpleasant it might be. 22. Be4 Nxe5 23. Qh5 Qb5 24. Bxh6! Bxe4 25. Bf4+ Kg8 26. Qxe5. And after the fireworks end, White comes back home with a Pawn to the good and a crushing advantage. The rest is quite easy. 26. ... Bd5 27. Re2 Rf5 28. Qe3 Qe8 29. f3 Qg6 30. h4 Raf8 31. Bg5 a6 32. Rd1 Qe8 33. Rd4 Qc6 34. Rg4 Kh7 35. Bf4 R8f7 36. Be5 b5 37. Qf2 Qd7 38. Qg3 Rh5 39. Bd4 Qc7 40. Re5 Rhf5 41. Rg5 Kg8 42. h5 Rxg5 43. Qxg5 Qe7 44. Qg4 Rf5. A way as another to resign. 45. Qxf5 1 : 0.

Today’s win gave Radjabov not only the final of the Chess World Cup, but also the qualification for next year’s Candidates’ Tournament. Photo: FIDE World Cup 2019.

The Queen of Flowers

On September 26, 2019 four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (left) and the singer 谭竹青 (Tán Zhúqīng) (right) were named as Tourism Ambassadors for the county city of 兴化市 (Xīnghuà) — 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s birth city — concurrently with the grand opening of the one-month long crabs and chrysanthemum tourist season in the Millennium Flower Scenic Area in 兴化市 (Xīnghuà), 江苏省 (Jiāngsū province), China. Photo courtesy of 泰州晚报 (Tàizhōu Evening News).

龙母 (Lóngmǔ)

On the waves of the World Rivers Day, which is celebrated worldwide on the fourth Sunday of September, WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature) named five-time Olympic gold medal diver 吴敏霞 (Wú Mǐnxiá) as a Wetland Ambassador of its yearly campaign “Journey of Water”. Photo courtesy of WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature).

Thursday, September 26, 2019

No doubt, dear Edna, even though you discouraged them to call if they have problems or difficulties, they can’t wait to call you for a solution

Artwork © Limka (@limka_art)

If the Shoe Doesn’t Fit

Lalitpur, Nepal: A frog on a rain-soaked lotus leaf. Photo: Navesh Chitrakar/Reuters.

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Just take it easy, Edna. Even an elephant’s memory may forget the combination dial to unlock the vault

Credit: MOVIE Collection [ムビコレ]

Fandom

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Alexander Igorevich Grischuk
8th Chess World Cup; match game 2; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 24, 2019
English Opening A20

One can say that there is too much gambling in the Chess World Cup 2019 when two of the four semifinalists have been determined by tie-breaks (rather than a fan vote), but as you know the Temple of Caïssa is not a moral institution. All jokes aside, the “Fantastic Four” of the “Marvel Cup” are, namely (in alphabetical order): 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), Teimour Radjabov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī). 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 Bc5 4. d3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 Nb6 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. 0-0 0-0 9. a3 a5 10. Na4 Nxa4 11. Qxa4 Nd4 12. Nxd4 Bxd4 13. Bd2 c6 14. e3 Bb6 15. Bc3 Re8 16. Rfd1 Bd7 17. Rac1 h6 18. h3 Rb8 19. Rd2 Bc7 20. d4! Grischuk burned too much time as usual, and 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) pretty soon enjoyed a pleasant, if slight, edge. 20. ... c5 21. Qc2 exd4 22. exd4 c4 23. a4 Bd6 24. Rdd1 b6 25. Re1 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Qc7 27. h4 Re8 28. Bd5 Rxe1+. Contrarily to what Grischuk seems to think, Black is not automatically simplifying to a draw, but instead he is imperceptibly slipping into a somewhat more uncomfortable position. Here 28. ... Rd8(!) followed by ... Bd6-f8 seems a very robust defence. 29. Bxe1

Now, however, the time hands crack down on Black’s shoulder: 29. ... Be6? Thus Black maintains material equality, but the price of it is too high. Probably best was 29. ... Qc8 30. Bxc4 Qe8 31. Bd2 Bxa4 32. Qg6 Qd7 (less convincing is 32. ... Qe7? on account of 33. Bxh6 Qe1+ 34. Kg2 Bc6+ 35. f3 Qxg3+ 36. Qxg3 Bxg3 37. Kxg3 gxh6 38. Kf4 Kf8 39. d5 Be8 40. Ke5 with a nearly won ending) 33. Bxh6 Bf8 34. Be3 with a complex game where White’s extra Pawn is not very easily exploitable. 30. Bxe6 fxe6 31. Qe4! There are too many weaknesses in Black’s field for Grischuk to resist long. 31. ... Kf7. Now 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) concludes energetically: 32. Bc3 (Δ d4-d5) 32. ... Bf8 33. d5! Qd6 34. dxe6+ Qxe6 35. Qb7+ Kg8 36. Bd4 Qf5 37. Kh2 Qc2 38. Qd5+ Kh7 39. Qf7 Qd3 40. Bc3 Qd6 41. Qxc4 Qg6 42. Bd4 1 : 0. Grischuk is not in the mood to suffer further losses as the b6-Pawn will soon fall.

It took only the two classical games for 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), who is also the top seed of the World Cup, to go through to the semifinal. Photo: FIDE World Cup 2019.

The Jungle Book

Kids from Tembé indigenous tribe, who are facing a conflict with illegal loggers on their land, play at Gurupí River in the indigenous village of Tekohaw near Paragominas, Pará state, Brazil. Photo: Ricardo Moraes/Reuters.

Rhymes and Rhythms

Footage of four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s solo performance show Monday evening, August 12, 2019 at UBS headquarters in New York City, United States.

Edna, I don’t think he was meaning this when he asked for your help to correct the thoughts he wrote in his lined notebook

Artwork © Jordan Walker, M.Div (@jordanriverwalk)

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Duel in the Sun

Teimour Boris oghlu Radjabov – 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)
8th Chess World Cup; match game 2; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 24, 2019
Grünfeld Defence D85

And thus the young American star 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng) bowed out of the Chess World Cup 2019 after losing a wild tactical showdown to Azerbaijani Grandmaster Teimour Radjabov. He can regret that despite having survived a very insidious theoretical novelty from his opponent, he didn’t manage to save enough lucidity to defend successfully till the end. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5+ c6 8. Ba4 0-0 9. Ne2 e5 10. 0-0 Nd7 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Bc2 Nb6 13. f4! A powerful novelty in place of 13. Qc1 Re8 14. Bg5 Qf8 15. Rb1 h6 16. Be3 Nc4 17. f4 exd4 18. Bxd4 Na3 19. f5 Nxc2 20. Qxc2 Bxd4+ 21. Nxd4 g5 22. Qd3 Qd6 23. Qf3 Qf6 24. Kh1 b6 25. Qg4 Bb7 26. Rbe1 c5 ½ : ½ Sorokin – Jansa, 16th World Senior Chess Championship, Arvier 2006. 13. ... exd4 14. Bxd4 Rd8? Black is oblivious to the coming storm.

15. f5! Bxd4+. 15. ... c5 16. f6! must be the climax of Radjabov’s carefully home-cooked day’s dish. 16. cxd4 c5 17. Qd2!? As the follow-up will show, the immediate 17. Qd3 was much more to the point; for instance: 17. ... gxf5 18. Rf4! cxd4 19. Raf1 with a powerful initiative. 17. ... Nc4 18. Qd3. Maybe 18. Qh6 Bxf5! is something Radjabov could have noticed only now. 18. ... Ne5? (18. ... b5!?∞) 19. Qa3. 19. Qg3! cxd4 20. Nf4! seems to give White a very strong attack. 19. ... Nc4 20. Qc3. White was still in time for 20. Qg3! (20. ... cxd4 21. Nf4!→). 20. ... b5! 21. f6!? Qd6 22. d5 Re8? 22. ... Bd7!? might be simpler and better, but by now Black’s accepted the gauntlet. 23. Bd3 Ne3!? 24. Bxb5 Rxe4 25. Ng3 Ng4! The only move, but quite strong. 26. Rac1! 26. h3 Re3 would be a mess. 26. ... c4 27. h3 Bb7 28. hxg4 Rxg4? Comparatively best was 28. ... Qc5+ 29. Rf2 Rf4 30. Rf1 Rxf2 31. Rxf2 Qxb5 32. Qe3 Kh8, although after 33. Ne4 White should retain his advantage. 29. Bc6!+− Rxg3. Or 29. ... Bxc6 30. dxc6 Rxg3 31. Qxc4 Rd3 32. Qf4 and White must win. 30. Qxc4 Ba6 31. Qf4. After 31. Qxa6 Rh3! Black may still bluff himself into the illusion of a perpetual check. 31. ... Rd8 32. Rce1 Qc5+ 33. Rf2 Rc3 34. Re7 Rc1+. Black falls straight into mate. 34. ... Rc2 is the most stubborn defence, but then both 35. Qe3 and 35. Re3 should win quite easily. 35. Kh2 Rc3 36. Qh6 1 : 0.

Regardless of today’s result, 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng) has every reason to be encouraged, for other chances will surely come along in the near future. Photo: FIDE World Cup 2019.

Oh no, Edna, don’t think bad of her! It is her first grand ball at campus, and she innocently wishes to have your suitors fawning all over her

Photo © ɢυтo 💎 (@gutocollector)

Mirror Blocks

Alexander Igorevich Grischuk – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)
8th Chess World Cup; match game 1; Khanty-Mansiysk, September 23, 2019
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. e3 Rb8 8. Nfd2 e5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Nxc4 Be6 12. Qe2. It’s interesting to note that Grischuk played a 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)’s specialty with White. In two relatively recent games with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, the Chinese Grandmaster actually experienced two different moods. Rapid cadence did not bring him good luck: 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. Nbd2 Bb4 14. b3 h5!↑ 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Mamedyarov, 2nd IMSA Élite Mind Games Rapid, 淮安 (Huái’ān) 2017. Instead, blitz time controls turned out to be far more inspiring: 12. Nbd2(!) h5 13. f3(!) Rb4 14. fxg4 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Rxc4 17. Bd2 Rxg4 18. Ba5 Bc5 19. Kf2 Bb6 20. Bc3⩲ 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Mamedyarov, 2nd IMSA Élite Mind Games Blitz, 淮安 (Huái’ān) 2017. 12. ... h5! 13. Rd1 Qc8! 14. Qf3!? Of course Grischuk does better than 14. Nbd2(?) h4!→ which gave Black an easy and immediate attack, Vorobiov – Goudriaan, 6th Leiden Chess Tournament GpA, Leiden 2012, but it’s questionable whether 14. h3!? h4! may work better than the text.

14. ... Rb6? Here’s where 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) misses his chance with 14. ... Bd5! 15. Rxd5! cxd5 16. Qxd5 Qf5 17. f3 Qc2! 18. Qc6+ Kd8 19. Nbd2 Qd1+ 20. Nf1 Nxh2! 21. Kxh2 Rh6!!−+ (the move overlooked by Black, who probably calculated 21. ... Qxf1 22. e6! Qf2+ drawing by perpetual check). 15. Nxb6 cxb6 16. h4 Nxe5 17. Qf4 Ng6 18. Qe4 Be7 19. Nc3 Bf5 20. Qh1 Ne5 21. f3 Bc2 22. Rd2 Bg6 23. Qg2 0-0 24. Rd1 Qf5 25. Rf1 Qe6 26. Ne2 Nd3 27. Kh2 Rd8 28. e4 f5 29. exf5 Qxf5 30. Nf4 Bf7 31. Nxd3 Rxd3 32. Bf4 Bxh4 33. Rad1 Rxd1 34. Rxd1 Bf6 35. b3 g5 36. Bc7 Bd5 37. Qe2 g4 38. Qd3 Qxd3 39. Rxd3 gxf3 40. Bxb6 Be5 41. Bd4 Be4 ½ : ½. For 42. Rd1 Bxd4 43. Rxd4 f2 44. Rd1 Bd3! 45. Kg2 f1=Q+! leads to a drawn King and Pawn ending.

Grischuk’s psychological approach ended up appeasing 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)’s ambitions in their first quarterfinal game. Photo: Kirill Merkuryev/FIDE World Cup 2019.

Monday, September 23, 2019

Who’s Who

A cat looks on as a Palestinian fisherman pulls in a net on a beach in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestine September 23, 2019. Photo: Mohammed Salem/Reuters.

Sunday, September 22, 2019

Oh, Edna! This is, to be sure, the most infallible way of not making me mistake you for anyone else!

Artwork © Limka (@limka_art)

Sliding Doors

Dance maverick Aditi Mangaldas will return for the fourth time to Singapore’s Kalaa Utsavam, the Indian Festival of Arts which has come to its 18th anniversary and will be held at Esplanade Theatres from November 15–24, 2019, bringing her signature blend of the classical Kathak tradition, contemporary dance elements and theatre design. Photo courtesy of Nirvair Singh.

Game Changer

熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng) – Jan-Krzysztof Duda
8th Chess World Cup; tie-break game 6 (5+3); Khanty-Mansiysk, September 22, 2019
Alekhine Defence B03

It took eight games (two classical, two 25+10, two 10+10, and two 5+3), but the young American star, 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng), finally got into the quarterfinals of the Chess World Cup 2019 on his last useful tie-break game before Armageddon. 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4 Bf5 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nf3 Be7 8. Be3 0-0 9. Be2 dxe5 10. fxe5 Nc6 11. 0-0 f6 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. b3!? White plays a chip to escape an overload of theory after 13. Qd2 Qe7 14. Rad1 Rad8 15. Qc1⩲ — in fact a tabiya of the Four Pawns Attack. 13. ... Qe7 14. Qe1 Rad8!? A novelty in place of 14. ... e5 15. Nxe5 Nxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxe5 17. Bxe5 Qxe5 18. Bf3⩲ Jones – Tahbaz, 20th Dubai Open Chess Tournament, Dubai 2018. 15. Rd1 Bg4?? (15. ... Nb4!? 16. Qg3 c6∞) 16. Ne4!+− h6 17. Qg3 Bf5 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Nh4 Bc2 20. Rxf6? 20. Rd2+− was simpler and very strong. 20. ... Bxd1? Black misses his volatile tactical resource: 20. ... Qxf6! 21. Rf1 Nxd4! (and if 22. Bh5 then 22. ... Nf5).

21. Rg6? Still a faux pas, though quite justified by the circumstances. 21. Rxh6! (Δ Rh6-h8+) instead would have won quite easily. 21. ... Nxd4! 22. Bd3 Ne2+ 23. Bxe2 Bxe2 24. Bxh6 Rd1+?? Duda’s big-time blunder puts an end to the longest five minutes of 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)’s afternoon. After the intermediate Queen check 24. ... Qc5+! 25. Be3 Rd1+ 26. Kf2 Qf8+ 27. Nf3 Bd3 everything was okay for Black. 25. Kf2+− Qf8+ 26. Nf3 Rd7 27. Kxe2 Kh7 28. Ng5+ Kh8 29. Nxe6 Qf5 30. Bxg7+ Kg8 31. Bd4+ Kf7 32. Rf6+ 1 : 0.

U.S. Grandmaster 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng), 18, got into the quarterfinals by upsetting Anish Giri and Jan-Krzysztof Duda, in spite of his being only the 31st seed in the rankings. Photo: Kirill Merkuryev/FIDE World Cup 2019.

Two Weeks in September

Humpy Koneru – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Women’s Grand Prix 2019–2020; 1st stage; Skolkovo, September 22, 2019
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

In the end, the two golden girls of chess, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and Goryachkina, had to content themselves with a tie for second place in the first stage of the “renewed” Women’s Grand Prix series. Who knows? It may even be that they wanted to leave something of themselves behind, since they will become rich within a short time. Whatever it is, at Skolkovo the limelight was all on Indian Grandmaster Humpy Koneru, who celebrated in the best way her rentrée in a rôle-titre after her recent “maternity leave”. 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 b6 11. e3 Nd7. A relatively recent game by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) continued: 11. ... 0-0 12. Be2 Nc6 13. dxc5 Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 bxc5 15. Rb1 Rd8 (15. ... Rb8 16. Rxb8 Nxb8 17. Kd2 Nd7=) 16. Rb5 c4 17. 0-0 Ba6? (17. ... Be6!? 18. Rfb1 Rab8 seems solid) 18. Rc5 Ne7 19. Nd4 Rac8 20. Ra5 Rd6 21. Rb1 Ra8 22. Bf3 Kf8 23. Rb4 Bc8 24. Rxc4 White came out a Pawn ahead with a near winning endgame, Karpov – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), “Belt and Road” 2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown, 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn) 2018, match game 1 (15+10). 12. Be2 0-0 13. 0-0 Bb7 14. Bb5. 14. Rfc1 Rac8 15. dxc5 Qxc3 16. Rxc3 Nxc5 is a more popular theoretical tabiya: 17. Rcc1 [or 17. Rac1 Ne6 18. Rxc8 Rxc8 19. Rxc8+ Bxc8 20. Kf1 Kf8 21. Ke1 Ke7 22. Kd2 Kd6 23. b4 Bd7 24. Kc3 g5 25. Nd2 f5 26. g3 g4 27. f4 Nc7 28. Bd3 Ne8 29. Nb3 Nf6 30. Nd4 Ne4+ 31. Bxe4 dxe4 32. b5 Kc5 33. a4 Bc8 34. Nb3+ Kd6 35. Kb4 Be6 36. Nd4 Bc8 37. a5 Bd7 38. axb6 axb6 39. Ne2 Be6 40. Nc3 Bf7 41. Na4 Kc7 42. Kc3 Be8 43. Kc4 Bf7+ 44. Kd4 Bb3 45. Nxb6 Kxb6 46. Ke5 Kxb5 47. Kxf5 Kc4 48. Kxe4 Bc2+ 49. Ke5 Kd3 50. Kf5 Kxe3+ 51. Kxg4 Bg6 52. f5 Bf7 53. Kh4 Ke4 54. g4 Kf4 55. Kh3 ½ : ½ 周健超 (Zhōu Jiànchāo) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 45th Chinese Chess Championship, 兴化 (Xīnghuà) 2010] 17. ... Rac8 18. Rcb1 Nf8 19. Nd4 Ne6 20. Bg4 Re8 21. b4 Rc4 22. Be2 Rcc8 23. Nf5 Rc7 24. Rc1 Rec8 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. h4 Kf8 27. Bf3 Rcd7 28. a4 d4 29. Bxb7 ½ : ½ Salem – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Grand Prix 2017, 1st stage, Sharjah 2017. 14. b3 is somewhat less common, but quite interesting; for instance: 14. ... Rac8 15. Rfc1 Rc7 16. dxc5 Qxc3 17. Rxc3 Rxc5 18. Rcc1 Rfc8 19. Rcb1 Nf8 20. b4 Rc3 21. Nd4 a6 22. Nf5 Rd8 23. Rc1⩲ Stefanova – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), 16th European Women’s Chess Club Cup, Rogaška Slatina 2011. 14. ... Rfd8!?TN 15. Rfc1 c4 16. Bxd7 Rxd7 17. b3 Rc8 18. Nd2 cxb3 19. Qxb3 Rdc7 20. Qb2 Qd6 21. Nb3 Ba6 22. Rxc7 Rxc7 23. h3 Bd3 24. Rc1 Rxc1+ 25. Qxc1 a5 26. Qc3

26. ... Qxa3. Black has not obtained enough to enable her to play for a win, but the text, if nothing else, allows a pretty drawing “combination”. 27. Qxd3 a4 28. Qa6 Kh7. If 28. ... Qxb3 then 29. Qc8+ Kh7 30. Qf5+ drawing by perpetual check. 29. Nc5. Also after 29. Nd2 Qc1+ 30. Nf1 a3 White cannot hope for more than a draw. 29. ... bxc5 30. dxc5 d4 31. exd4 Qa1+ 32. Kh2 Qxd4 33. c6 Qf4+ 34. Kg1 Qc1+ 35. Kh2 Qf4+ ½ : ½.

Humpy Koneru and 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) deeply meditate and think upon the invisibility of what has passed over their heads. Photo © David Llada.

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Yes, Edna, nobody can exclude that it will be the only pas de deux in history which begins and ends with a solo

Sitcom Queens

居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
Women’s Grand Prix 2019–2020; 1st stage; Skolkovo, September 21, 2019
English Opening A20

Always looking ahead, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and Goryachkina saved much of their intensity and pent-up rivalry for their next year’s World Chess Championship match. Today’s game, indeed, was dominated most of the time by 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), who, however, seemed in no wise eager to win a victory before the time comes when she will have to win the crown of earthly glory. 1. c4 e5 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Nd4 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc2 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qe5 8. Bg2 Na6 9. 0-0 Be7 10. d3 exd3 11. Qxd3 0-0 12. e4!? White takes another way from 12. Qe3 Bd6 13. Rd1 Re8 14. Qd4 Bc7 15. Bf4 Qh5 16. Bxc7 Nxc7 17. f3 Ne6 18. Qf2 Ng5 19. g4 Qg6 20. Ne3 h5 21. h4 Ne6 22. g5 Nf4 23. Rd4 N6d5 24. Ncxd5 Nxd5 25. Nxd5 cxd5 26. Rxd5 Be6 27. Rd2 Rad8 28. e4 f5 29. Rxd8 Rxd8 30. Qxa7 Qf7 31. Qa5 Qd7 32. Qe5 fxe4 33. fxe4 Bh3 34. Qd5+ Qxd5 35. exd5 Bxg2 36. Kxg2 Rxd5 and Black didn’t have to struggle too much to draw the Rook endgame a Pawn down, Hammer – Giri, Grand Prix 2017, 2nd stage, Moscow 2017. 12. ... Qh5 13. Qd1 Bg4 14. f3 Rad8 15. Qe2 Bh3 16. Be3 Bc5 17. Rad1 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Nc7 19. Nd4 Bxd4 20. Bxd4 c5? 20. ... a6 21. Bb6! was certainly not too pleasant, but the text causes Black much more trouble.

21. g4! Qg5 22. f4 Qxg4+ 23. Qxg4 Nxg4 24. Bxc5 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 Ne6 26. Bxa7! White is a clear Pawn up with a near winning endgame. 26. ... f5 27. Kg3 h5 28. exf5? As a matter of superstition, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) seems to be content with what she got, without pushing for more — otherwise she would have preferred 28. Rd6!+− with overwhelming preponderance. 28. ... Rxf5 29. Nd5 Kf7 30. h3 Nf6 31. Nxf6 Kxf6 32. Be3 Rb5 33. b3 Ke7 34. Kf3 g5! 35. fxg5 Nxg5+ 36. Bxg5+ Rxg5 37. Rd4 Ke6 38. h4 Ra5! 39. a4 b5 40. axb5 Rxb5 41. b4. The endgame is theoretically drawn, in spite of White’s extra Pawn, even though, of course, it’s not easy at all for Black to draw. 41. ... Rf5+ 42. Ke2 Ke5 43. Rc4 Kd6 44. Ke3 Rf1 45. Ke4 Rf2 46. Rd4+ Kc6 47. Ke5 Kb5 48. Rf4 Rg2! The only move which draws. 49. Kf6 Rg1? A mistake which could easily cost Goryachkina half a point. Correct was 49. ... Rg4!= and if 50. Ke5 then 50. ... Rg1 (as well as almost any other Rook move along the g-file) with a draw in sight. 50. Rf5+ Kxb4 51. Rxh5+− Rh1 52. Rh8 Rf1+ 53. Ke5 Re1+ 54. Kf4 Rf1+ 55. Kg3 Kc5 56. h5 Rh1 57. Kg4? 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) returns the courtesy, under the form of a lost tempo. The winning move was 57. h6!+− (not allowing the Black King to get to d6), followed by White’s King march to her queening Pawn’s support. 57. ... Kd6!= 58. h6 Ke7 59. h7 Kf7 60. Ra8 Rxh7 ½ : ½.

Today 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and Goryachkina officially started the rehearsals for their next year’s all-female pas de deux. Photo © David Llada.

Hey, Edna, what’s up? It was only five minutes since she got rid of her agent, and things are already getting better

Game of Queens

The election of the venues for the upcoming Women’s World Chess Championship match between 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and her challenger Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina was finally made public throughout the FIDE web site. As in 1999, even this time, and precisely on January 2020, the Women’s World Championship match will be held in two venues: 上海 (Shànghǎi) (China) and Vladivostok (Russia) — thus reflecting the birth countries of both women — with a rich prize fund of €500,000 €uros after taxes.
Furthermore, the 1999 and the 2020 matches have another similarity in common. Prior to the 1999 match between 谢军 (Xiè Jūn) and Alisa Mikhailovna Galliamova, indeed, 8th Women’s World Chess Champion Zsuzsa (Susan) Polgár had been “dethroned” by FIDE after bitter controversy. And even this time, a rebel Oxfordian Queen, a Phantom of the Opera — namely 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), who wore the queendom’s crown on four times just to be barely tolerated, if not snubbed, by the chess oligarchy — will be out there ready to cast her metaphysical curse upon the usurpers of her throne. Usually, history should not repeat itself, but of course Caïssa can make miracles happen.

Friday, September 20, 2019

The Vacant Chair

Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)
Women’s Grand Prix 2019–2020; 1st stage; Skolkovo, September 20, 2019
Russian Defence C42

Today 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) played her Russian Defence as if she was happy to cut the Gordian Knot well in advance, leaving both her lead and her starring role suddenly vacant. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bf5 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Re1 0-0 9. c4 Nc6 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. bxc3 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Rfe8 14. Bf4 Bd6 15. Ng5. On Round Five (five days ago) International Master Elisabeth Pähtz contented herself with 15. c4 Qh5 16. Bg3 b6 17. Re4 Bxg3 18. hxg3 Rxe4 19. Qxe4 Qg6 20. Qf4 Qd6 21. Qe4 Qg6 22. Qf4 Qd6 23. Qe4 Qg6 ½ : ½ Pähtz – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), Women’s Grand Prix 2019–2020. 1st stage, Skolkovo 2019. 15. ... g6 16. Ne4 Re6 17. Nxd6!? Lagno’s homemade cooked spécialité de la maison instead of 17. Qf3 Kg7 18. Nxd6 Qxf3 19. gxf3 cxd6 20. Rxe6 fxe6 21. Bxd6 Rd8 22. Bg3 Rc8 23. c4 Rd8 24. Rb1 Rd7 with a dynamic balance, Paravyan – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), 1st Prague International Chess Festival (Challengers Tournament), Prague 2019. 17. ... cxd6 18. Rxe6 fxe6 19. Rb1 b6 20. h4 Rf8 (20. ... e5!? 21. Bh6 Re8) 21. Bh6 Qf5 22. Qf1 Rc8 23. Re1 e5. That looks so natural, but there were some good arguments in favour of 23. ... Qd5(!), so as to reply to 24. Qa6 by 24. ... Rc7 with quite a rocky defence. 24. Qa6! Qd7! (24. ... Rc7? 25. Re3!+−) 25. Qd3 Re8 26. Qf3 (26. h5!?⩲↑) 26. ... Nd8 27. dxe5 Qf7? 27. ... Qe6 was probably better, but then after 28. Be3 dxe5 29. Rd1 Nf7 30. a4⩲ White enjoys a safe and lasting edge. 28. Qg4 dxe5 (28. ... Qxa2? 29. Qd7 Qf7 30. Qxd6+−) 29. Rd1 Ne6? Even under worse circumstances than before, 29. ... Qe6 was still Black’s best bet, though after 30. Qxe6+ Nxe6 31. Rd7 White would stand much better. 30. Qa4! Nc5 31. Qc6 Rb8 32. Rd5! Qe7

33. h5! By now White’s attack plays itself. 33. ... gxh5. Loses instantly, but if 33. ... g5 there would follow 34. Rd6! with the perfidious threat of Rd6-g6+. 34. f4! Qb7 35. Qf6 Qf7 36. Rd8+ 1 : 0. For mate in two follows.