Kairos Clock

Garry Kimovich Kasparov – 熊奕韬 (Jeffery Xióng)

6th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Saint Louis, September 9, 2023

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Position #41

1. d4 d6 2. e4 e5 3. dxe5 dxe5 4. Be2 Be7 5. c4 Nc6 6. Nc2 Nd4 7. Nxd4 exd4 8. Bd3 c5 9. f4 Bc6 10. Bg3 Re8 11. Nd2 Nc7 12. Qc2 0-0 13. Rf2 g6

14. f5. Now White could castle h-side while doubling Rooks on the f-file, which means that at least for now Kasparov wants his Rook on the h-file.
14. ... Bg5 15. Nf1 Na6 16. a3 Qd8

17. Qe2. 17. h4 seems more consistent; if 17. ... Be3 then 18. Nxe3 dxe3 19. Rf4 with good prospects for initiative.
17. ... Bh4 18. Qg4 Bf6. It goes without saying that 18. ... Bxg3?? 19. hxg3! would make White’s dreams come true.
19. Nd2 Nb8 20. 0-0 Nd7

21. Nf3?? A catastrophic mistake, but White was very much short of time.
21. ... h5 22. Qh3 Bxe4 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Bd6 0 : 1. Kasparov exceeded the time limit while making his last move.

One has the feeling that Kasparov let his opponent get away. Photo: Lennart Ootes/Saint Louis Chess Club.