Bubble Wrap

Maxime Lagarde – Sabino Brunello
22nd International Chess Festival; Trieste, September 3, 2020
Sicilian Defence B90

French Grandmaster Maxime Lagarde won unbeaten the 22nd International Chess Festival in Trieste, Italy, which was held, quite exceptionally, “over the board”, so as to bring The Best of Youth back to reality. Of course, everyone had to follow the basic survival guidelines set for the safety of all participants in the times of a pandemic, such as self-certifications of good health, plexiglass dividing panels and face masks. No awards ceremony was held. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Rg1. The so-called Freak Attack. 6. ... b5 7. g4 Bb7 8. g5 Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Bxe4 10. a4. Dernier cri! 10. ... b4!? A recent and influential game continued: 10. ... e5 11. axb5 Be7 12. Rg4 axb5 13. Bxb5+ Nd7? (13. ... Kf8) 14. Bd2 Bb7 15. Nf5 0-0 16. Rxa8? (16. Rga4!+−) 16. ... Bxa8 17. Rh4 g6 18. Qg4 Nc5 19. Qh3 h5? (19. ... Bxg5! 20. Rxh7 Bxd2+ 21. Kxd2 Qg5+ 22. Kc3 Ne4+ 23. Kb4 Qd2+ ends in a draw by perpetual check) 20. Rxh5!+− Nepomniachtchi – Carlsen, Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour, 4th stage, Legends of Chess, chess24.com, August 3, 2020, Final Day 1, match game 3 (time control: 15+10). 11. Qe2 d5 12. f3 Bg6 13. f4 e6 14. Be3 Bd6 15. h4 0-0 16. 0-0-0 Nd7. 16. ... b3!? has many points in its favour and could well have been considered. 17. h5 Be4 18. Bg2 Nc5 19. Bxe4 dxe4? Black doesn’t want to distract the Knight from its material goals on the Queenside, but this way it really means a lot of trouble. 19. ... Nxe4! 20. Qg4 Bc5 21. g6 Qf6 was, of course, rather unclear, but it would be hard for White to prove his compensation. 20. Kb1 Nxa4. Now or never. On the other hand, after 20. ... Qc7 21. Qg4 White’s initiative seems to be as powerful as ever.

21. f5! exf5. Here the engines give preference to 21. ... Be5, but after 22. h6! White’s attack must be close to breakthrough anyway. 22. Nxf5 Nc3+ 23. bxc3 bxc3 (Δ ... Ra8-b8+) 24. Rxd6 Rb8+. If 24. ... Qa5 there would equally follow 25. Nh6+! Kh8 26. Rb6! winning easily. 25. Kc1 Qa5 26. Nh6+! gxh6. Or 26. ... Kh8 27. Qxa6! Qb4 28. Rb6+− as in the game. 27. gxh6+ Kh8 28. Qxa6 Qb4 29. Rb6 1 : 0.