Tuesday, September 3, 2019

So Far, So Good

Wesley So – Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov
2019 Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; match game 6 (30+10); Saint Louis, September 3, 2019
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Position 690

1. c4 c5 2. b3 b6 3. Ngf3 Ngf6 4. g3 Qc7 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nc2 e5 7. 0-0 Be7 8. e3 e4? (8. ... Nd7 9. d4!⩲↑) 9. Ng5 Rf8 10. f3! exf3 11. Nxf3 0-0-0. It was probably not safe to rest in the centre, but His Majesty is not safe here either. 12. b4! Be4 13. Rd1 Qb7


14. Nce1! A devastating Exchange sacrifice which rings the bell for an instant plot twist. 14. ... Bxb1 15. Qxb1. Game over. 15. ... Qc7 16. Nd3 h6 17. a4 g5 18. a5 Nd7 19. axb6 Nxb6 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. Nfe5 Rd6 22. Nxc5! Qxc5 23. d4 Qa3 24. c5 Qxe3+ 25. Kh1 Nc7 26. cxd6 Bxd6 27. Qf5+ Kd8 28. Nxf7+ 1 : 0.

The match between So and Topalov is most exciting in spite of the age gap. Photo © Austin Fuller/Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.

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