Surrealpolitik

Russian Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, in an interview with Anton Vyacheslavovich Krasovsky on the air of the RT talk show “Антонимы” (“The Antonyms”), gave some more insights into his reasons for his public statements with respect to the Russo–Ukrainian war — for which he was banned for six months by FIDE. “I took into account the possibility of being sanctioned, but I thought it was much more important for me to speak out now — however painful it might be. Well, there are times in life when one cannot remain silent”, Karjakin said. “I say, if they offend your wife — would you stand up for her? So I did what any man in his right mind would do. One cannot always keep silent, not even for politics — it’s impossible. I don’t know how to explain it in words, but it’s obvious to me, at least, that I just couldn’t keep silent. Hence, I was well aware that in 2014 I was hit with light sanctions as a consequence of my views and opinions on the Crimean crisis. And I was conscious that this time — all differences considered — things could get much worse for me. I knew it. I knew what I was going for. But still — even when I think back now — I do not regret anything”. On the other hand, Karjakin’s secessionist project (or threat) to create a new chess association is, for the moment, stalled, because “Now all my thoughts are about filing an appeal [against the ruling of FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission]. It ought to be presented within 21 days of time, but a week has already passed, so we have to get a move on” he told TASS. “My lawyers are still debating whether to appeal through CAS or FIDE”. In the meantime, Chinese Grandmaster and world No. 2 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), who spent last two years quarantined in the oblivion of the Celestial Empire, has all the reasons — even if he is an atheist — to pray Caïssa for the grace to get a spot in the “Magnificent Eight” of the 2022 Candidates Tournament.

旁白 (Voice-over)

“I think I made this decision [Editor’s Note: To drop out of the Women’s World Championship cycle] because I felt like there should be some improvements in the women’s world chess championship system. Back then, the systems of open section and women’s section were completely different. That was something that could be improved. My first and straightforward concern was why we couldn’t have the same system as the open section? I felt like that was more reasonable. Because once you win a match, you have the right to wait for the challenger, and the challenger should be qualified from the Candidates event. I felt like it’s probably a moment when I should do something not only for myself but also for the entire women’s chess. I was thinking, if I did not stand up to say something, maybe the system would just be like that, and if I say something, it could bring more attention to improving the system. And very soon, like in two years, the system was changed. Talking about this, I would like to thank the current management board of FIDE, who took this issue as a clear priority to improve the women’s system in general. I feel very happy that it could happen one day, and I actually helped this happen”. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) FIDE Podcast Episode 3

Yeah, Edna, to quote Martial, “Who isn’t read, can’t hurt”

Artwork © Super Violette (@violettesuper)

Splat

Split

Giorgio Bianchi, a freelance documentarist and photojournalist based in Donbas, will appear as a special guest at the conference The truth is the first casualty of the war. From the pandemic curfew to the curfew of reason, to be held Saturday, April 2, 2022 2.30 P.M. in Rome, Italy, with interventions, among others, by Giorgio Agamben, Mariano Bizzarri, Massimo Cacciari, Carlo Freccero, Ugo Mattei, and Alessandro Orsini. The conference, organised by the cooperative Generazioni Future and the “Commissione Du.Pre (Dubbio e Precauzione)” (“Doubt and Precaution Commission”), will be broadcasted live on the Studenti Contro il Green Pass YouTube Channel. For further details and information, click here.

Divided: What Language Do You Express Love In? is an odyssey through the fields of the Donbas war. Playbill courtesy of Giorgio Bianchi.

Behind the Bid

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – 白金石 (Bái Jīnshí)

2022 “Welcome to the Asian Games” Chess Grandmaster Invitational Tournament; 杭州 (Hángzhōu), March 30, 2022

Tarrasch Defence D32

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. dxc5 d4 7. Na4 Bxc5 8. Nxc5 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qxc5 10. b4!? 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) hopes that the gambit line will yield him something more than 10. e3 Bg4 11. exd4 Qe7+ 12. Be2 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Nf6∞ 14. Bc3 0-0 15. Qd2 Rfe8 16. Kf1 Rad8 17. Rg1 g6 18. Rd1 Qe6 19. Rg5 Nd5 20. Re1 Qf6 21. Rg4 Qf5 22. Kg2 Qf6 23. Rd1 a6 24. Bf1 Nce7 25. Bd3 h5 26. Re4 Nf5 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Bxf5 Qxf5 29. Re1 Nf4+ 30. Qxf4 Qxf4 31. Rxe8+ Kg7 32. d5+ f6 33. Re6 Qg5+ 34. Kf1 Qxd5 35. Rxf6 Kh7 36. a3 g5 37. h3 ½ : ½ Knaak – Lalić, 24th “Zlatni Pyasåtsi” International Tournament, Varna 1985. 10. ... Qf5. 白金石 (Bái Jīnshí) is not interested in knowing what his opponent had prepared with regard to 10. ... Nxb4 11. Rc1 Qd6 12. e3 Ne7 (12. ... dxe3 13. Bc3 exf2+ 14. Kxf2 Qb6+ 15. Bd4 Qh6 16. Qe1+ Ne7 17. Qxb4 0-0 18. Bc4 Nc6 19. Qc3 Bg4 20. Be3 Qh5 21. Be2 Rae8 22. Bc5 1 : 0 Kobo – Korning, 15th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, Catalan Bay 2017) 13. Nxd4 0-0 14. Bc4 Nbc6 15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Bc3 Qg6 17. 0-0 Rd8 18. Qb3 Rb8 19. Rfd1 Be6 20. Bxe6 Qxe6 21. Qxe6 fxe6 22. f4 Rxd1+ 23. Rxd1 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Nxd8 25. Kf2 Nc6 26. e4 Kf7 27. Ke3 b5 28. g4 g6 29. g5 a6 30. h4 Ke7 ½ : ½ Kántor – Kosić, First Saturday GM October 2017, Budapest 2017. 11. Rc1 Nf6 12. Rc5 Qd7TN (12. ... Qe6 13. b5 Ne4 14. Rc1 Ne5 15. Bf4 Ng4 16. Qxd4 0-0 17. h3 Ngxf2 18. Rh2 Qxa2 19. g4 Bxg4 20. Rxf2 Nxf2 21. Kxf2 Bxf3 22. Kxf3 Qe6 23. Rd1 Rac8 24. Qd6 Qxd6 25. Bxd6 Rfd8 26. e4 f6 27. Kf4 a6 28. Rd4 ½ : ½ Gusev – Giesemann, Champions League 2017 B4 Board 4, by e-mail, 2017) 13. b5 Nd8 14. Bb4 Ne6 15. Rc4 Nd5. If 15. ... a6!? there might follow 16. bxa6 b5 17. Rxd4! Nxd4 18. Nxd4 Bxa6 19. e3 with good play for the Exchange. 16. Nxd4 Nxb4 17. Rxb4 0-0 18. e3 Qe7 19. Qd2 Rd8 20. Be2 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 Be6 22. 0-0 Rxd4 23. Qxd4 b6

24. Rd1. White decides to return the Pawn for some initiative rather than betting on a 4 Pawns vs. 3 on the same side ending being won. 24. ... Bxa2 25. Bf3 Rc8 26. Bb7 Rc5. The Bishop is obviously taboo because of back rank mate. 27. Qd8+ Qf8 28. h3 Bb3 29. Rd4 (29. Rd7 Be6=) 29. ... g6 30. Qf6 Rf5 31. Qh4

31. ... Qc5? This loses at once. After the forced move 31. ... Rh5 White had probably nothing better than repeating by 32. Qf6 Rf5= because, instead, 32. Qe4 Qxb5 33. Qd3 Qc5 34. Rd8+ Kg7 35. Rc8 Qb4 36. Qd8 Be6∞ can still be tricky but likely not winnable. 32. Be4! Re5. Apparently hoping for 33. Qf6 Re8 34. Bc6 Qe5 with good chances of saving the game.

33. Bxg6! fxg6 34. Rd7! Bf7 35. Qf6 Qc1+ 36. Kh2 1 : 0. Black has no other defence against the threat of mate but to lose heavy material.

Needless to say, Edna, only people who doubt stand in your glory and favour

Artwork © 𝕵𝖊𝖓𝖎 (@miss_jennifer_p)

鋼琴別戀 (The Piano)

And so Edna, when given a choice between being a queen and being a king, guess what they choose?

Artwork © Southiick

The Houdini Box

A magic box encloses Venetika, Ferzan Özpetek’s visionary Venice, a video installation, starring Kasia Smutniak, featured at the 58th Art Biennale and now on display until April 30, 2022 at MAXXI Museum in Rome, Italy. Photo: Mimmo Frassineti/Rex/Shutterstock.

Collateral damage

An invitational conference, titled The truth is the first casualty of the war. From the pandemic curfew to the curfew of reason, organised by the cooperative Generazioni Future and the “Commissione Du.Pre (Dubbio e Precauzione)” (“Doubt and Precaution Commission”), is called in Rome, Italy for Saturday, April 2, 2022 2.30 P.M. with interventions, among others, by Giorgio Agamben, Mariano Bizzarri, Massimo Cacciari, Carlo Freccero, Ugo Mattei, and Alessandro Orsini. The conference will be broadcasted live on the Studenti Contro il Green Pass YouTube Channel. For further details and information, click here.

Michael Patterson-Carver, Guernica, Incident at the UN, 2007. Courtesy of Sorry We’re Closed Gallery, Brussels.

Laskerian rings

Vincent Keymer – Leinier Domínguez Pérez
FIDE Grand Prix 2022; 3rd stage; Pool B; Berlin, March 28, 2022
Queen’s Gambit Accepted D27

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 a6 6. 0-0 c5 7. Be2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bd7 9. Nd2 Nc6 10. N4f3 Be7 11. b3 0-0 12. Bb2 b5 13. Qb1 h6. Another continuation is 13. ... Nb4 14. Ne5 Rc8 15. Rc1 Bc6 16. Nxc6 Rxc6 17. Nf3 Rxc1+ 18. Bxc1 Nfd5 19. Bb2 Bf6 with approximate equality, Tunik – Dokutchaev, 2nd Open Tournament, Novgorod 1995 — it is not unlikely, however, that White might play better somewhere. 14. Rd1 Qb6. Domínguez Pérez has spent almost an hour of his valuable time getting to this point, which may well indicate that he was not feeling at ease at all — even though, objectively, on the whole Black’s game sounds defensible. 15. Ne4 Nd5 16. Ng3 Rfd8

17. Nh5! Keymer makes his bid for initiative. If, instead, 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Nh5+ Black replies 18. ... Kg8 19. Qb2 f6 20. e4 Ne3! holding everything together. 17. ... Bf8. After 17. ... g6 18. Ng3 White can think about pricking Black’s bubble by h2-h4-h5. 18. Qe4 Nce7?! The Knight comes to the rescue on the Kingside, but the resulting clumsy arrangement actually allows White to push his initiative. The best seems to be 18. ... f5 19. Qh4 Be8 20. Ne1⩲ followed by the transfer of the Bishop to f3 with an edge for White. 19. Qg4 Ng6

20. Ne5 Nxe5? A second grave error which loses the Exchange and the game. Black had apparently nothing better than 20. ... Be8 21. Bd4 Bc5 22. Bf3⩲/± leaving White with a definite superiority, but still nothing decisive. 21. Bxe5 Nxe3 (21. ... g6 22. e4+−) 22. Bd4 Nxg4 23. Bxb6 Ne5 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 25. Rac1. The rest is a cat and mouse game. 25. ... Rc8 26. Rxc8 Bxc8 27. f4 Nc6 28. Kf1 Nb4 29. Bf3 e5 30. Rd8 Be6 31. fxe5 Nxa2 32. Nf4 Bxb3 33. Bd5 Bxd5 34. Nxd5 g6 35. Nc7 Nb4

36. e6 Nc6 37. Rc8 Ne7 38. Ra8 h5 39. Ke2 Nf5 40. Kd3 b4 41. h3 Kg7 42. Ne8+ Kg8 43. g4 hxg4 44. hxg4 Nh6 45. g5 Nf5 46. e7! 1 : 0. For after 46. ... Nxe7 47. Nf6+ Kg7 48. Nd7 the Bishop falls.

“Leinier did not play his best chess today”, German prodigy Keymer said afterwards, with a touch of modesty. Photo © Niki Riga.

Yes, Edna, they are so much obsessed with themselves that sometimes they forget that, compared with you, they are only negligible particles of matter wandering through the cosmos

Artwork © Flyingcookie23

By the way, unrhetorically speaking

Talk You’re a brave man, they tell me.        I’m not. Courage has never been my quality. Only I thought it disproportionate so to degrade myself as others did. No foundations trembled. My voice no more than laughed at pompous falsity; I did no more than write, never denounced, I left out nothing I had thought about, defended who deserved it, put a brand on the untalented, the ersatz writers (doing what anyhow had to be done). And now they press to tell me that I’m brave. How sharply our children will be ashamed taking at last their vengeance for these horrors remembering how in so strange a time common integrity could look like courage. Yevgeny Aleksándrovich Yevtushenko, 1960 English translation by Robin Milner-Galland and Peter Levi

René Magritte, Decalcomania, 1966. Courtesy of WikiArt.

Sunday Mass

“Maybe one day I could break 2700 or even be in top-40, top-30. I don’t think that’s impossible to be honest. But I would be like a machine, a chess machine”. “也许有一天，我可以打破了2700个评分，甚至进入Top 40或Top 30。坦白说,我认为这并非不可能。但我会变得像一台机器，一台国际象棋机器”。 “Возможно, однажды я могла бы преодолеть планку в 2700 пунктов рейтинга и даже оказаться в ТОП-40 или ТОП-30. Честно говоря, я не думаю, что это невозможно. Но я была бы как машина, как шахматная машина”. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

Come on, Edna, you know that no matter what they say, I would never delete you from my heart, even if you were a virus

Photo © Barb_bphotography (@barb_bphotography)

The Tap Theory

Stella and the Timekeepers

The arrest of Julian Assange

Giorgio Agamben, Quodlibet, April 13, 2019

I met Assange two years ago at the Embassy of Ecuador in London, and thinking back to what he said to me during our encounter, I believe we can understand why he was arrested today. Assange told me he was investigating the use Google was planning to make of the immense amount of information at its disposal. According to Assange, it was a matter of providing for sale to insurance companies and secret services data on interests, desires, purchases, health status, reading tastes — in short, on all aspects of life of millions of people. According to Assange — and I believe we should share his view — this would mean an unprecedented increase of control effectiveness by the economic and police powers over human beings. Hence, what is at stake in Assange’s arrest is not merely the desire to punish WikiLeaks for its past investigations, but actually to impede the ongoing investigation, which is obviously viewed as a threat by all concerned parties. It is a reason more to voice our own unreserved solidarity with Assange.

(English translation by I, Robot)

Stella Moris (pictured above) and Julian Assange got married on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Belmarsh high-security prison in south-east London. The wedding is “a declaration of love and resilience in spite of the prison walls”, said the bride. Photo: Peter Nicholls/Reuters.

Yeah, Edna, to quote Herman Melville, “Ignorance is the parent of fear”

In Rehearsal

Shakhriyar Hamid oglu Mamedyarov – Vincent Keymer
FIDE Grand Prix 2022; 3rd stage; Pool B; Berlin, March 25, 2022
English Opening A29

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 e4 7. Nh4!? A variation in theme. 7. Ne1 and 7. Ng5 are most usual. 7. ... Bxc3 8. bxc3 d6. 8. ... Re8 9. f3 exf3 10. Nxf3 d5 would lead, by transposition, to well-known theory, e.g. 11. d4! Ne4 12. Qc2 dxc4 13. Rb1 f5 14. g4! Qe7 15. gxf5 Nd6? (⌓ 15. ... Bxf5 16. Ng5⩲ with a view to a favourable ending) 16. Ng5 Qxe2 17. Bd5+ Kh8 18. Qxe2 Rxe2 19. Bf4 Nd8 20. Bxd6 cxd6 21. Rbe1 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Bd7 23. Re7 Bc6 24. f6! 1 : 0 Kasparov – Ivanchuk, 55th USSR Chess Championship, Moscow 1988. 9. d4 h6 10. f3!?

10. ... g5? The gain of the Knight costs too dearly to Black. Simply 10. ... exf3 11. Nxf3 (11. Rxf3!? Na5 12. Nf5 Nxc4 13. Nxh6+ gxh6 14. Bxh6 Ng4 15. Bxf8 Qxf8 16. Qd3 Be6∞) 11. ... Re8 was playable. 11. fxe4! gxh4 12. Bxh6 Ng4? (⌓ 12. ... Nh7 13. Qd3±)

13. Qd2! This, in conjunction with the following move, puts Black on the ropes. 13. ... hxg3 14. h3! Qh4 15. Bxf8 Kxf8 16. Qf4 Qh7 17. Qxg3 Nh6 18. c5! Qg7 19. Qxg7+. Mamedyarov decides to switch to the endgame rather than continue playing for the attack with 19. Qh4 dxc5 20. Rf3 — which was also a strong option. 19. ... Kxg7 20. cxd6 cxd6 21. Rab1

21. ... Na5? Allowing the White Rook to move to the Kingside with gain of tempo. A little better was 21. ... Nd8 whereupon 22. c4 Ne6 23. e3±/+− would have probably followed. 22. Rb5 Nc4 23. Rg5+ Kf8 24. Rh5 Kg7 25. Rg5+ Kf8 26. Rf4 Ng8 27. Bf3 (27. Rh4 f6 28. Rg3+−) 27. ... Bd7 (27. ... Bxh3 28. e5! dxe5 29. Rh4+−) 28. Bh5 Be8 29. e5 dxe5 30. dxe5 Rc8 31. e6 Nd6 32. Rd5 Rc4. If 32. ... Ke7 then 33. Rxd6 Kxd6 34. exf7 Bxf7 35. Rxf7 Rxc3 36. Rxb7 Rxh3 37. Bf3 winning the a-Pawn and remaining with two Pawns ahead. 33. Rxc4 Nxc4 34. exf7 Bxf7 35. Bxf7 Kxf7 36. Rd7+ Ne7 37. Rxb7 a5 38. Rc7 Nd6 39. Ra7 Nc4 40. Rc7 Nd6 41. a4 Ne4 42. Rc4 Ng5 43. h4 Ne6 44. Kf2 Nf5 45. h5 Nd6 46. Rg4 Nf5 47. Kf3 Kf6 48. Rg6+ Kf7 49. Ke4 Ne7 50. Rg4 Kf6 51. h6 Ng5+ 52. Kd3 Ng6 53. Kd4 Nf7 54. h7 Kg7 55. Kc5 Kxh7 56. Kb5 Nge5 57. Rg1 Nd6+ 58. Kxa5 Ne4 59. Kb4 Nc6+ 60. Kc4 Na5+ 61. Kb5 Nb3 62. Kb4 Nbc5 63. a5 1 : 0.

Today German prodigy Keymer got bogged down in a theoretical Fata Morgana. Photo © Niki Riga.

Yes, Edna, there are never enough flowers for all the lonely hearts in need of a red rose

Artwork © Elsa C (@elsasketch)

Whiteroses

Students of Resistance give white roses to people as a symbolic appeal to a peaceful coexistence, not only that between states, but also that between genders, races, ages, classes and cultures.

Created Equal

Russian Grandmaster and journalist Sergei Yuryevich Shipov, just pardoned by FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, spoke about Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin’s project proposal to give birth to a new chess association to rival FIDE. “The new organisation should not copy FIDE. There have already been attempts to remove it from power in chess history. Thirty years ago Kasparov and Short tried to do it. At the time Kasparov had absolute hegemony over the chess world — he and Short, the English challenger for the crown, played the World Chess Championship match under their own banners, FIDE being not involved at all. Kasparov was then a very energetic, lively person, but this was not enough to succeed. For several years they organised tournaments, and then everything came to naught. We need not repeat their history. It should also be taken into account here that Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, our great player, still does not have the status and opportunities that Kasparov had. This historical reference must be taken into account and no mistakes should be made”, Shipov told RT.

Twitch and Shout

Grigoriy Alekseyevich Oparin – Hikaru Nakamura
FIDE Grand Prix 2022; 3rd stage; Pool A; Berlin, March 24, 2022
King’s Indian Defence E73

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 0-0 6. h4 c5 7. d5 e6 8. h5 exd5 9. exd5 Re8 10. h6. Dernier cri. 10. ... Bh8 11. Bg5 Qb6 12. b3 Ne4 13. Nxe4 Rxe4 14. Kf1! Na6?!TN (14. ... Re8 15. Rc1 Nd7 16. Bd2 Qd8 17. Nf3 Nf6 18. Ng5 Ne4 19. Nxe4 Rxe4 20. g3 Bd4 21. Bf3 Qf6 22. Bg5 Qxg5 23. Bxe4 Bg4 24. f4 Qe7 25. Qd3 Re8 26. Bf3 Qe3 27. Qxe3 Bxe3 28. Bxg4 Bxc1 29. Rh2 f5 30. Re2 Rxe2 31. Bxe2 g5 32. fxg5 Bxg5 33. Bd3 f4 34. gxf4 Bxf4 35. Kf2 Bxh6 36. Kf3 Kg7 37. Bf5 Bc1 38. Bc8 b6 39. a4 Kf6 40. Ke4 a5 ½ : ½ Bacrot – G. C. B. Jones, 26th TePe Sigeman & Co Chess Tournament, Malmö 2021) 15. Bd3

15. ... Bg4?! Black seeks rescue in tactical play, since 15. ... Re8 16. a3!⩲/± would leave White with a comfortable edge. 16. f3 Rd4 17. Qe2! If 17. fxg4? then 17. ... Nb4 regaining the Bishop with good play. 17. ... Bd7. 17. ... Nb4 18. Re1! is likely to transpose to the game. 18. Re1 Nb4

19. Bxg6! Nxd5!? A desperate bet, for both 19. ... hxg6 20. h7+ Kg7 21. Qe7 and 19. ... fxg6 20. Qe7 would end in catastrophe for Black.

20. Bxh7+? Too hasty. Much stronger was 20. Bf5! first, to deflect the Bishop from e8: 20. ... Bxf5?? (or 20. ... Bc6 21. Bxh7+! Kxh7 22. Qc2+ winning at once, as Black cannot parry the check by interposing the f-Pawn) 21. Qe8+ followed by mate. 20. ... Kxh7 21. Qc2+ f5. Clearly not 21. ... Kg8?? on account of 22. h7+ Kg7 23. Bh6+ Kf6 24. Qc1! with irresistible attack. 22. cxd5 Be5 23. Ne2. 23. Nh3! may be an easier way of pursuing the same objectives. 23. ... Qa6 24. Kf2 Qd3 25. Qxd3. 25. Qc1! was probably White’s last opportunity of playing for a win. 25. ... Rxd3 26. Rd1 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 a5! 28. Rd3 a4 29. Re3 axb3 30. axb3 Ra2 31. Kg1 Ra1+ 32. Kf2 Ra2 33. Kg1 ½ : ½.

In spite of having somewhat misplayed the opening against Oparin, Nakamura managed to save the day eventually and secure a draw. Photo © Niki Riga.

An Asian Gambit

The press office of the Chinese Chess Association announced today that, at the end of the month, it will start a series of qualifying tournaments for the 19th Asian Games （2022年亚洲运动会）, scheduled to be held in 杭州 (Hángzhōu), 浙江省 (Zhèjiāng province), China on September 10–25, 2022, featuring virtually all of the country’s top stars including such as four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), and then in alphabetical order, 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì), 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), 雷挺婕 (Léi Tǐngjié), 谭中怡 (Tán Zhōngyí), 韦奕 (Wéi Yì), and 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī).

Well, Edna, it was predictable that after four booster jabs and almost three years on parole “track-and-trace”, they would have sought an alternate kind of immortality by cloning themselves

Artwork © José Pantoja | Design (@jossnp)

The Iceberg

12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov too commented on the six-month ban imposed by FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission on Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin because of his pro-Russia political views with regard to the Russo–Ukrainian war. “I consider the decision of the Ethics Commission to be absolutely illegal. They do not have such rights to disqualify a player, especially of such a rank. I regard this as the beginning of the end of the International Chess Federation”, Karpov said, as quoted by RBC. When then asked about Karjakin’s intention to create a new chess organisation, Karpov said: “If Sergey Alexandrovich felt thus, and if he is ready to do it, then he must have felt time coming on. Initially, in 1924, the founders of the International Chess Federation prided in the motto: Gens una sumus. Now its meaning is being trampled by FIDE’s policies. They forgot where and who they were”.

Through the Wardrobe

Antimatter

Russian Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin told Sputnik he is seriously thinking about creating a new chess association to be alternative and rival to FIDE. Apparently, there would already be friends and sponsors willing to follow and help him, even though it is not yet given to know whether they are Russian or foreign. It’s a big difference, but only to a certain extent. If by any chance the memory of the Professional Chess Association (PCA) comes to Karjakin’s mind, he might wonder why both its illustrious founders ended up switching over to the enemy’s army. In fact, following the money is not enough. That is what chess pros do. But political élites need proxies more than pros. And at present FIDE, however monolithic it may appear, is still a stargate to almost any country in the world. It is probably not a coincidence that Dmitry Sergeyevich Peskov, who is the press secretary for Russian President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, as well as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Russian Chess Federation, showed skepticism about the possibility of a breakthrough: “I think at the moment this is hardly possible”, he said. “FIDE is the most ancient and authoritative organisation, even though it stained its own reputation by engaging in politics, which makes barely possible, especially now, to have a calm confrontation on any level”.

In short, Edna, the magic formula is as simple as it is infallible: always try to be where you are

Artwork © Marília (@mariarte_)

Give Peace a Chance

Berliner Luft

Nikita Kirillovich Vitiugov – Seyyed Mohammad Amin Tabatabaei
FIDE Grand Prix 2022; 3rd stage; Pool D; Berlin, March 22, 2022
Spanish Game C83

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Rd1 0-0 11. c3 (11. c4 bxc4 12. Bxc4 Qd7 13. Nc3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bg5 Na5? 17. Qxe6+!+− Qxe6 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 19. Rxd5 Bxc3 20. Rc1 Bb4 21. Rxc7 Rac8 22. Ra7 Rc2 23. Rdd7 Bc3 24. Rac7 h6 25. Be3 1 : 0 R. J. Fischer – Ree, 4th International Tournament, Netanya 1968) 11. ... Qd7 12. Nbd2 Nxd2 13. Qxd2!?TN (13. Bxd2 Na5 14. Bc2 c5 15. Qd3 g6 16. Bh6 Rfe8 17. Qd2 Nc4 18. Qc1 Qc7 19. Re1 Rad8 20. b3 Nb6 21. Qf4 d4 22. cxd4 Nd5 23. Qg3 Nb4 24. Be4 cxd4 25. Ng5 Qd7 26. Re2 Nd5 27. Nxe6 Qxe6 28. Bd2 Ba3 29. Rb1 Qxe5 30. Qf3 Bd6 31. g3 Nc3 32. Bxc3 dxc3 33. Bxg6 Qg7 34. Bc2 Rxe2 35. Qxe2 Bc5 ½ : ½ H. Wolf – J. Bernstein, 3rd International Chess Tournament, Karlsbad 1923) 13. ... Rad8 14. a4 f6 (14. ... b4 15. Qd3⩲) 15. axb5 axb5 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qe2

17. ... Rfe8? A Pawn sacrifice, but which turns out to be quite unjustified, eventually leaving Black with a bad endgame a Pawn down. 17. ... Ne7 18. Nd4⩲ might be Black’s best worst choice. 18. Bg5 d4 19. Qxb5 Bxg5 20. Bxe6+ Qxe6 21. Nxg5 Qd5 22. Qxd5+ Rxd5 23. Nf3 d3 24. b4 Ne5 25. Nd2 Ng4 26. Nb3 Ne5 27. h3 Nc4 28. Nd2 Nxd2. Black bets on a four-Rook ending to offer the best chances of minimising to its maximum his Pawn deficit. On the other hand 29. ... Nb6 30. Ra5± was similarly unpleasant. 29. Rxd2 Re6 (29. ... Re2?? 30. Rad1+−)

30. Ra5. Much better seems 30. Rad1 Red6 31. f4 followed by the centralisation of the King. 30. ... Rd7? 30. ... Re1+! 31. Kh2 Rd7 was the toughest defence. 31. f3 Re1+ 32. Kf2 Rc1 33. Rc5 Kf7 34. Rc4 g6 35. h4 h5 36. Rd4 Rxd4 37. cxd4 Rc4

38. Ke3 Rxb4 39. Kxd3 Rb1 40. Rc2. The attack on the c-Pawn combined with the threat of invasion on the sixth rank give White an easy going. 40. ... Rh1 41. Rxc7+ Kf6 42. Rc6+ Kf7 43. Ke4 Rxh4+ 44. Ke5 Rh2 45. Rc7+ Ke8 46. g4 Rg2. 46. ... hxg4 47. fxg4 Rg2 48. Kf4+− is a tablebase win for White. 47. Kf4 Rd2 48. Rc4 Rd3 49. Ke4 Rd1 50. d5 h4 51. Rc7 Kf8 52. Rh7 Rh1 53. d6 Ke8 54. Ke5 Re1+ 55. Kf6 Rf1 56. Kxg6 Rxf3 57. Rxh4 Kd7 58. g5! Kxd6 59. Re4 Rf1 60. Kg7 Rf2 61. g6 Rf1 62. Kg8 Rg1 63. g7 Kd5 64. Rh4 1 : 0.

As the ancients say, there is a lot of theory and technique involved in milking the cow. Photo © Niki Riga.

Other Worlds

Of course it ain’t strange that after a verdict is taken, the courtroom erupts in jubilation, especially in a political trial. Thus, in the aftermath of the 6-month ban slapped on Russian Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin because of his political views — which, if not reversed by appeal, would deprive him of his right to participate in the 2022 Candidates Tournament — dark clouds hang over FIDE. Needless to say, Karjakin is furious, especially with FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich — he too a Russian. “There is an idea that Dvorkovich is trying to show he is an European dignitary”, he was quoted as saying to RIA Novosti, adding: “He wants to remain FIDE President. He decided to sacrifice me for his political ambitions”. What is certain is that Dvorkovich’s campaign for reelection will be one of the most difficult in the history of FIDE as now he is as much opposed and loudly blamed by his fellow nationalists just as he is lauded and glorified by the many (Western) FIDE Vice Presidents and Commissioners. More or less it’s like being ”between Scylla and Charybdis”. To know this may be enough not to want to know more. So one question only. Who will challenge him?

Perspectives, Overlaps and Reflections

When the spring wind blows, it almost smells like an ocean of flowers in the Tepidarium at Florence’s Horticulture Garden, a grand Liberty-style greenhouse designed by Giacomo Roster in 1880. Photos: Mado Flynn.

Sure, Edna, your word is law everywhere in the universe and they are your valets

Artwork © FunkyFilmFrogs (@funkyfilmfrogs)

Kryptonite

Jan-Krzysztof Duda – 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn)

2nd Champions Chess Tour; 2nd stage; Charity Cup; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, March 21, 2022

2q3rk/6rp/pR2b3/P2pP2B/2pP1p1Q/2P5/7P/1R5K w - - 8 43

Position after 42. ... Rg6-f7

Three-time Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), the heroine of today’s Charity Cup, has defeated, not in a row but nearly so, two men: Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Eric Hansen. One might object that in both cases the result was beneficial to the cause, and hence, as Machiavelli says, “It is not titles that make men illustrious, but men who make titles illustrious”. The diagram gives the critical position of her game with Duda where White is to move: 43. Qf6?? A grave oversight, which loses instantly. The h1–a8 diagonal was calling for rescue: after 42. Bf3□ Bf5! White can still hold on, although of course Black’s moves come easier. 42. ... Bf5! Black threatens both ... Bf5-e4+ followed by mate and ... Bf5xb1. White cannot parry both. 44. Bf3 (44. Re1 Be4+ 45. Rxe4 dxe4 46. Rb1 f3 47. Rg1 Qf8!−+) 44. ... Bxb1 45. Rxb1 Rf8 46. Qh4 Qf5 47. Re1 Qd3 48. Qf2 Qxc3 49. e6 Qb4 50. Bxd5 c3 51. Be4

51. ... f3! 52. Bc2 (52. Bxf3 c2!−+) 52. ... Qd6 53. Re5 Rfg8 54. Re1 Qf4 55. Re4 Qd2 56. Qxf3 Rg1# 0 : 1.

The Voice in the Machine

“Maybe one day I could break 2700 or even be in top-40, top-30. I don’t think that’s impossible to be honest. But I would be like a machine, a chess machine”. Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is to guest-star on Episode 3’s FIDE Podcast release on March 27, available (so far) on Podbean, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn. For information and subscription, click here.

The Devil’s Advocate

Russian Grandmaster Sergey Alexandrovich Karjakin, who was born in Crimea and represented Ukraine until 2009, has been banned by FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission from competing in official tournaments for six months because of his pro-Russia political views with regard to the Russo–Ukrainian war. The ruling, which takes effect from today, if not reversed by appeal, will exclude Karjakin from the 2022 Candidates Tournament scheduled to begin on June 16. In the same hearing, Russian Grandmaster and journalist Sergei Yuryevich Shipov, accused of the same charges as Karjakin, was instead acquitted on the grounds that his statements were of a “slightly different and less provocative character than the ones made by Karjakin”. Andrey Vasilievich Filatov, President of Russian Chess Federation, is quoted as saying that an appeal will be made soon, in conjunction with an unequivocal request for FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich “to take the situation under control”.

Coming & Going Again

To quote Ambrose Philips, “The flowers anew returning seasons bring, / But beauty faded has no second spring”. Photos: Mado Flynn.

Yes, Edna, they switched from selling miraculous panaceas to all mankind’s ills to selling off rifles and guns and bombs — which is to say that the road to heaven is paved with the worst intentions

Artwork © melykook (@mel_art_jk)

Digiplomacy

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Magnus Carlsen

2nd Champions Chess Tour; 2nd stage; Charity Cup; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, March 19, 2022

Modern Benoni A65

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e6 4. e4 c5 5. d5 d6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 Bg7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Be3 a6 10. a4 0-0 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Bc4!? A half move. 12. ... Nbd7 13. Be2. Now, the second half. If, instead, 13. Bxh6? then 13. ... Nxe4! 14. Nxe4 Qh4+ 15. g3 Rxe4+ 16. Kd1 Bxh6! with very powerful effect. 13. ... Ne5!? It is Black who first goes off the beaten tracks: 13. ... Nh7 14. Nh3 Ne5 15. Nf2 h5 16. 0-0 f5 17. a5 Nf6 18. exf5 Bxf5 19. Na4 Qe7 20. Ra3 Qf7 21. Nb6 Rab8 22. Rd1 Nfd7 23. Nxd7 Qxd7 24. b4 c4 25. f4 ½ : ½ C. Ionescu – Marin, 12th Victor Ciocâltea Memorial, Bucharest 1995. 14. Bxh6

14. ... Nxe4? Carlsen goes for a tactical adventurism which will not produce the desired effect. 14. ... Bd7 aiming for ... b7-b5 was at least worth a try. 15. Nxe4 Qh4+ 16. g3 Qxh6 17. Qxh6 Bxh6 18. Nf6+ Kf8 19. Nxe8 Kxe8 20. h4 Bd7 21. h5 g5 22. Nh3.

Black doesn’t seem to have any compensation for the Exchange, so Carlsen goes all out to make a mess of it: 22. ... g4!? 23. fxg4. 23. f4! followed by the disappearance of both Knights from the board is also very strong. 23. ... Nxg4 24. Bxg4 Bxg4 25. Nf4 Kd7 26. Kf2 Bg7 27. Kg2 Bf5 28. Kf3 Bxb2

29. Rab1! Well done. It’s the right time to return the Exchange and force an easily won ending. 29. ... Bxb1 30. Rxb1 Be5 31. Rxb7+ Ke8

32. g4?! Much simpler and stronger was 32. Nd3! B∼ 33. Nb2! Bxb2 (or else after Nb2-c4 Black ends up in zugzwang) 34. Rxb2 winning very easily, as the White Rook will go to c6. 32. ... Rc8 33. g5? Strangely this natural move appears to throw away the win. Best is 33. Rb6 Kd7 (otherwise follows Rb6-c6) 34. h6 c4 35. Rxa6 c3 36. Nd3 and White’s two distant passed Pawns should win. 33. ... c4 34. g6 fxg6 35. hxg6 Kf8 36. Ne6+ Kg8 37. Ke2 c3 38. Kd1

38. ... a5? But this immediately turns out to be a dramatic miscalculation. Black ought first play 38. ... c2+! 39. Kc1 and then 39. ... a5 for after 40. Rb6 Kh8! 41. Rc6 Rg8 42. Kxc2 Rxg6 43. Rc8+ Rg8 44. Rxg8+ Kxg8 45. Kb3 Kf7 the gain of the a-Pawn with 46. Nd8+ Ke8 47. Nc6 Kd7 48. Nxa5 only results in a tablebase draw. 39. Kc2+− Ra8 40. Rb5 Bf6 41. Rb6 Be5 42. Rb7 Bf6 43. Rc7 Be5 44. Kd3! “The King is a strong piece”, Wlhelm Steinitz used to say, and 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) makes the concept his own: His Majesty begins its long march to checkmate! 44. ... Bf6 45. Ke4 Be5 46. Kf5 Rb8 47. Kg5 Ra8 48. Kh6 Re8 49. g7 1 : 0. Black cannot stop Kh6-g6 followed by Rc7-f7-f8+.