Into the Open

Nils Axel Grandelius – Pentala Harikrishna
83rd Tata Steel Chess Tournament; Wijk aan Zee, January 18, 2021
French Defence C02

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb5. No doubt one of Black’s strategic goals is to exchange off his “bad” Bishop. 8. 0-0 Bxe2 9. Qxe2 Nc6 10. Nc3 Nge7 11. Qd3 Rc8!? Harikrishna’s move may be a novelty, though a very natural one. 12. Rd1 h6 13. Bd2 Ng6. 13. ... Qxb2?? 14. Na4 would cost Black the Queen. 14. h4 Bb4. The b-Pawn is still poisoned: 14. ... Qxb2?? 15. h5 winning at least a piece, because if 15. ... Nge7 then 16. Na4 trapping the Queen. 15. Na4 Qc7 16. h5 Nge7 17. Bf4?! Harikrishna said afterwards that this might be Grandelius’ critical mistake, leaving Black with a straight Queenside initiative. On one hand, that may sound a bit exaggerated, but on the other 17. Bxb4 Nxb4 18. Qd2 is probably more suited for equality purposes. 17. ... Qa5 18. b3 b5 19. Nb2 Ba3 20. Qe2 0-0 21. Rab1 Rc7 22. Nd3 Qb6 23. b4 a5. Otherwise Rb1-b3 follows. 24. bxa5 Nxa5

25. Bc1? Grandelius makes a wrong move after which Black gets an overwhelming preponderance on the Queenside. Probably best was 25. Nde1! Nc4 26. g4 Nc6!? with unclear equality (even though the play is easier for Black). 25. ... Bxc1 26. Rdxc1 Rxc1+ 27. Nxc1 Nc4 28. Nb3 Ra8 29. Rc1 Nc6 30. g3 Ra3 31. Kg2 Qa7 32. Rc2. As bad as any other move. 32. ... Nb4 33. Rc3 Nxa2 34. Rd3

34. ... Rxb3! 35. Rxb3 Nc1! 36. Qc2 Nxb3 37. Qxb3 Qa4 38. Qb1 b4 0 : 1.

Harikrishna, by virtue of his exemplary French Defence, shattered Grandelius’ dreams of glory... at least, for now. Photo © Jurriaan Hoefsmit/Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021.