Scenes from the Medieval Salento

Mariya Olehivna Muzychuk – Alina Anatolyevna Kashlinskaya
44th Women’s Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 9, 2022
French Defence C18

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. Qg4 Qc7 8. Qxg7 Rg8 9. Qxh7 cxd4 10. Ne2 Nbc6 11. f4 dxc3 12. Qd3 d4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Bd7 15. Rg1 Nf5 16. Qf2 Qc6 17. Bd3 Qd5

18. Be3!? “An extremely dangerous sideline that leads to very forcing play. Black must now find an incredible series of only moves to survive”, International Master Arthur Pijpers wrote in his annotations to a game he played against FIDE Master Vladislav Valerievich Chizhikov in 2016 and which will be reproduced below. 18. ... Nxe3 19. Qxe3 Rxg2 20. Rxg2 Qxg2 21. Be4 Qxh2 22. 0-0-0 Bc6 23. Bxc6+ bxc6 24. Qd4. “This is the critical position for the 18. Be3 line. Black has only one move to stay in the game, and all other moves land him into big trouble”, says Pijpers. 24. ... a5! In his fervour Pijpers gives the text move two exclamation marks! It is just the case to note that 24. ... Kf8? would be met by 25. Kb1! Rb8+ 26. Ka1 Kg8 27. Rg1+ Kh8 28. Qd1 Rb3 29. Qd8+ Kh7 30. Qg8+ Kh6 31. Qh8# 1 : 0 Ivić – Livaić, 1st Online Chess Olympiad Division 2 Pool D, chess.com, August 14, 2020 (time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move).

25. f5! And miraculously, again, all has already happened! Pijpers calls it “The critical try”, and also claiming that “the computer does not spot it” — incidentally it is Stockfish’s first line! If, instead, 25. Rg1 then 25. ... Qd2+ 26. Qxd2 cxd2+ 27. Kxd2 Kd7= with equality: 28. Rg7 Ke7 29. Rg3 Kd7 30. Rd3+ Kc7 31. Rh3 Kd7 32. Kd3 Rg8 33. Kc4 Rg4 34. Rf3 Rg2 35. Kb3 Kc7 36. Rd3 Rf2 37. Rd4 Kb6 38. Rc4 Rf3+ 39. c3 Rf1 40. Rd4 Rb1+ 41. Kc2 Rf1 42. Kb3 Rb1+ 43. Kc2 Rf1 44. Kb3 ½ : ½ van Dael – Gedajlovič, 2nd Online Chess Olympiad Top Division Pool D, chess.com, September 9, 2021 (time control: 15 minutes plus 5 seconds per move). 25. ... exf5 26. Kb1 Kf8

27. Qd6+ Kg8? “And this is already the decisive mistake. The correct way to play was 27. ... Kg7! with the amazing idea 28. Qe7 (another try is 28. Qf6+!? Kf8 29. Rf1 Re8 30. Qxf5 Re7 but now that the Black Rook is helping in the defence it is hard to believe that White has any real advantage) 28. ... c5!! 29. Ka1 Ra6 and Black defends”, writes Pijpers. 28. Qe7+− Qf2 (28. ... Qh5 29. Re1 f4 30. Ka1 Qg6 31. e6 Rf8 32. Qc5+−) 29. Ka1 Qg2? And finally, here is the first new move! The aforementioned game continued 29. ... Qg3 30. e6 (“The human way to win the position”, as Pijpers says it — but again, for the avoidance of doubt, it is Stockfish’s first line!) 30. ... Rf8 31. Qc5 fxe6 32. Rg1 Qxg1+ 33. Qxg1+ Kf7 34. Qa7+ Kg6 35. Qxa5 f4 36. Qe5 Rf6 37. Qe4+ Kg5 38. Qf3 e5 39. Qe4 f3 40. Qxe5+ Rf5 41. Qg3+ Kh5 42. Qf2 Kg4 43. Ka2 Rd5 44. Qg1+ Kf4 45. Kb3 Rd2 46. Kxc3 Rg2 47. Qf1 Ke3 48. a4 Rf2 49. Qg1 Ke2 50. Kd4 Rf1 51. Qe3+ Kd1 52. Kd3 1 : 0 Pijpers – Chizhikov, 5th International Open of Salento, Gallipoli 2016.

30. e6! This too is “human” enough, after all. 30. ... fxe6 (30. ... Rf8 31. exf7+ Rxf7 32. Rd8+ Kg7 33. Qe5+ Rf6 34. Rd7+ Kg6 35. Qe8+ Kh6 36. Qh8+ Kg5 37. Rg7+ Rg6 38. Rxg6+ Kxg6 39. Qg8++−) 31. Qxe6+ Kh8 32. Qxf5 Ra7 33. Rd8+ Kg7 34. Qf8+ Kg6 35. Rd6+ 1 : 0. Black resigns because if 35. ... Kh5 then 36. Rh6+ Kg5 37. Qf6+ Kg4 38. Rh4+ Kg3 39. Qf4#.

Today Muzychuk raised herself in all her pride. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Nothing Certain But The Uncertain

Dommaraju Gukesh – Nodirbek Abdusattorov
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 8, 2022
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 0-0 7. Bd2 a5 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 Ne7 10. Qc2 b6 11. b3 Ba6 12. a4. If 12. Nd2 then 12. ... a4 13. bxa4 dxc4 14. e4 Qd7 15. Be2 Bb7 16. Bxc4 Rxa4 17. Bb3 Rxd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. 0-0 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Qxe4 21. Qxe4 Bxe4 22. Rfc1 Rc8 with a dynamic equilibrium, Sevian – Bok, 9th Chess World Cup, Krasnaya Polyana 2021, match game 2. 12. ...Ne4 13. Bb2 Nc6 14. Ba3 Nb4 15. Bxb4 axb4 16. Bd3 Nf6 17. 0-0 c5 18. dxc5 bxc5

19. e4! dxe4? (⌓ 19. ... dxc4 20. Bxc4 Bb7) 20. Bxe4 Ra7 21. Ne5 Qd6 22. Rfe1 Nxe4 23. Qxe4 Rd8 24. Qf3. Heading for a much better ending. 24. ... Qc7 25. Rad1 Raa8 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8

27. Rd1! Rc8? Black had no other choice but to exchange Rooks. 28. Qg3? But, luckily for Abdusattorov, White misses 28. Qh5! (Δ Rd1-d7) which wins on the spot. 28. ... h5 29. h3 Rd8. So all’s well that ends bad. The ending is quite hopeless for Black, but, as they say, while there’s life, there’s hope. 30. Rxd8+ Qxd8 31. Nd3 h4 32. Qe3 Bb7 33. f3 Qd6 34. Kf1 e5 35. Nxc5 Bc8 36. Ke1 Bf5 37. a5 Qc7 38. a6 Bc8 39. Nd3 Bxa6 40. Qxe5 Qb6 41. Nc5 Qa5 42. Kd1 Qd8+ 43. Kc2 Bc8 44. Ne4. But much stronger seems 44. Nd3! winning the b4-Pawn (44. ... Qf8 45. c5). 44. ... Be6 45. Kb2? A grave misstep, allowing Black to infiltrate with his Queen. 45. Ng5! would have maintained much of White’s advantage. 45. ... Qa8! 46. Nc5 Qa3+ 47. Kb1 47. Kc2 Qa2+ 48. Kc1 Qa3+ 49. Kd1 g6 is similar to the game. 47. ... g6 48. Kc2 Qa2+ 49. Qb2 (49. Kc1 Bf5=) 49. ... Bf5+ 50. Ne4 Qa7 51. Kd3 Qg1 52. Qc2 Qc5 53. Qd2 Qg1 54. Kc2 Qa1 55. Kd3 Qg1 56. Qe2 Qa7 57. Qe3 Qa2 58. Kd4 Qxg2 59. Ng5 f6 60. Qe8+ Kg7 61. Qe7+ Kh6 62. Nf7+ Kh5 63. Kc5!? Apparently Gukesh’s not interested in 63. Qe3! g5 64. Qe8 Qd2+ 65. Kc5 Qd7 66. Qh8+ Kg6 67. Qg8+ with a draw by perpetual check. 63. ... Qxf3 64. Qxf6 Qe3+ 65. Kxb4 Bxh3 66. Ne5 (66. Qg7!?) 66. ... Qd2+ 67. Kb5 Bd7+ 68. Kc5? Perhaps Gukesh still thinks he can win. It is just the case to note that the Queen endgame after the exchange of Knights must be drawn. 68. ... Qe3+ 69. Kb4 Bf5 70. Qh8+ Qh6 71. Qd8 Qg7

72. Nf3?? Blundering the Knight. 72. Qd5 would have given White very real drawing chances still. 72. ... Qb7+ 0 : 1.

“The scenes at the end reflected Gukesh’s agony. After moving his Knight to f3 to prevent Abdusattorov’s Queen from capturing it, he picked up his pen and dutifully noted down his 72nd move, not realising his blunder. It took Abdusattorov moving his Queen to b7 and giving a check for his irreversible error to dawn on him. Soon, his hands were on his head with utter disappointment etched on his face. For the next 30 seconds, he sat there in disbelief. Eventually, his Uzbek opponent pointed out that Gukesh’s time had run out”, Vivek Krishnan wrote in his report for Hindustan Times on August 8. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Done Gone Wrong

Oliwia Kiołbasa – Rameshbabu Vaishali
44th Women’s Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 7, 2022
Spanish Game C70

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Bc5 5. c3 Nge7 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 d5 9. 0-0 dxe4 10. Nxe4 0-0 11. a3 Bd6 12. h3 Bf5 13. Re1 Bg6 14. Bg5 f6 15. Nxd6 (15. Bd2 Bf7 16. Bc2 Qd7 17. Bc3 Bd5 18. Nh4 Bf7 19. Qd3 Ng6 20. Nxd6 cxd6 21. Nf5 Rfe8 22. Qg3 d5 23. h4 Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Be6 25. Rxe6 Qxe6 26. h5 Nce7 27. Qg4 Kf7 28. Bb4 Rd8 29. Bd3 b6 30. g3 Rd7 31. Kg2 a5 32. Bxe7 Rxe7 33. hxg6+ hxg6 34. Nd6+ Kf8 35. Qxe6 Rxe6 36. Nb5 Re1 37. Nc3 Kf7 38. Kf3 Ke6 39. Bxg6 Rc1 40. g4 Kd6 41. a4 Ke6 42. Bh7 Kd6 43. Ke3 Rg1 44. Bf5 Re1+ 45. Kd2 Rf1 46. Ke2 Rc1 47. Bd3 Rg1 48. Kf3 Rc1 49. Ke3 Re1+ 50. Kd2 Rg1 51. Be2 g6 52. Bf3 Rf1 53. Ke2 Rc1 54. Kd3 Rf1 55. Bxd5 f5 56. gxf5 gxf5 57. Ke2 Rc1 58. Bb3 1 : 0 Nijboer – Heberla, 7th European Chess Championship, Kusadasi 2006) 15. ... Qxd6 16. Bh4 Bf7 17. Bg3 Qd7 18. Rc1 Rad8 19. b4 Nf5 20. Bf4 Kh8 21. Qd3 b5 22. Bc2 Bg6 23. Qc3 Ncxd4 24. Nxd4 Nxd4 25. Bxg6 hxg6 26. Qxc7 Rf7 27. Qxd7 Rfxd7 28. Be3 Nf5 29. Bb6 Rb8 30. Rc6 Rd3 31. Ra1 Ne7 32. Re6 Nd5 33. Bc5 Nc3 34. Rxa6 Na4 35. Rd6 Nxc5 36. bxc5 Rc3 37. c6 Rc8 38. Rb1 R3xc6 39. Rxc6 Rxc6 40. Rxb5

At time control, White is a Pawn up in a theoretically drawn Rook ending, but, as they say, one thing is theory, another thing is practice. 40. ... Rc1+ 41. Kh2 Ra1 42. Ra5 g5 43. Kg3 Ra2 44. Kf3 Kh7 45. Ke3 Kg6 46. Ra7 Kf5 47. g3 Ke5 48. Kf3 Kf5 49. a4 Ra3+ 50. Kg2 Kg6 51. a5 Kh6 52. a6 Kg6 53. Ra8 Kf5 54. Kf1 Ra2 55. a7 Kg6 56. Ke1 Kf7 57. h4

57. ... Kg6?? And here Vaishali makes an almost incredible blunder which loses by force. Black obviously ought first to play 57. ... gxh4 58. gxh4 and then 58. ... Kg6 as after 59. h5+ Kf5 White cannot make progress. 58. h5+! Kf7 (58. ... Kf5 59. f3!⊙+−)

59. f4! (59. f3!+−) 59. ... gxf4 60. gxf4 f5 61. Kd1 Ra1+ 62. Ke2 Ra2+ 63. Kf3 Ra3+ 64. Kg2 Ra2+ 65. Kg3 Ra4 66. Kh3 Ra3+ 67. Kh4 Ra4 68. Kg5 Ra5 69. h6! gxh6+ 70. Kxh6 Ra6+ 71. Kg5 Kg7 72. Kxf5 Ra1 73. Ke5 Re1+ 74. Kd4 Rd1+ 75. Ke3 Re1+ 76. Kd2 Ra1 77. f5 Ra2+ 78. Kc3 Ra3+ 79. Kb2 Ra6

80. f6+! 1 : 0. 80. ... Kf7 81. Rh8+− is a sad classic.

Polish Woman International Master Kiołbasa kept a perfect 9/9 score by giving Vaishali her first defeat in the Olympiad. for Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Kulfi

Magnus Carlsen – Jerguš Pecháč
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 6, 2022
English Opening A25

1. c4 e5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Qb3 g6 5. d3. Just a flash of memory: 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. d4 exd4 7. exd4 0-0 8. Be2 d6 9. 0-0 Re8 10. h3?! Ne4! 11. Nxe4 (11. Be3 Ng3!) 11. ... Rxe4 12. Be3 Nxd4 (⌓ 12. ... Bxd4) 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. Bf3 Rh4 15. Bxd4 Rxd4 16. Bxb7! Bxb7 17. Qxb7 Rxc4 18. Rac1! Rxc1 19. Rxc1 c5 20. Rd1 Rb8 21. Qxa7 Rxb2 22. Qxc5 dxc5 23. Rxd8+ Kg7 24. Rc8 Rxa2 25. Rxc5 ½ : ½ Carlsen – Giri, 82nd Tata Steel Chess Tourmament, Wijk aan Zee 2020. 5. ... Bg7 6. g3 b6 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. Qd1!? (8. Nf3 0-0 9. 0-0 Qe7 10. e4 d6 11. Bg5 Qd7 12. Nd5 Ne8 13. Qa4 a6 14. Rad1 h6 15. Be3 b5 16. Qc2 Nd4 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Bd2 Kh7 19. Rc1 Nf6 20. Nxf6+ Bxf6 21. c5 dxc5 22. Qxc5 Rfc8 23. Rfe1 Be7 24. Bh3 Bxc5 25. Bxd7 Rd8 26. Bxb5 axb5 27. Rxc5 c6 28. a3 Kg7 29. g4 Re8 30. f3 Re6 31. Kg2 Ba6 32. Bb4 Bc8 33. Kf2 Bd7 34. Rc2 Be8 35. Bc5 Rd8 36. b3 f5 37. a4 fxg4 38. fxg4 bxa4 39. bxa4 Rf6+ 40. Kg3 Rf7 41. a5 h5 42. a6 hxg4 43. Rf2 Rfd7 44. Ra1 1 : 0 Stripunsky – Shetty, 43rd Annual World Open, Arlington 2015) 8. ... Qe7 9. Nge2 h5 10. h3 h4 11. g4 Nd8 12. Bxb7 Nxb7 13. e4 Nc5 14. Be3 Ne6 15. Qd2 c6 16. 0-0-0

16. ... 0-0-0. Black perhaps might have castled on the other wing: 16. ... 0-0 17. f4 exf4 18. Nxf4 Nh7 with interesting play. 17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd4 Nc5 19. Bg5 Ne6 20. Nxe6 dxe6 21. Qe2 e5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8

23. Bxh4. Maybe, too hasty in taking the Pawn. Better seems the prophylactic move 14. Kb1, depriving Black of the counterplay he gets after the immediate capture of the Pawn. 23. ... Bh6+! 24. g5 Nd7 25. Qg4 Bf8 26. Bg3 Kc7 27. Rd1 Qb4 28. Qe2 Qe7 29. h4 Qe6

30. f4 exf4 31. Bxf4+ Ne5 32. Rxd8 Kxd8 33. b3 Bd6 34. Qd2 Ke7 35. Kc2 Qg4 36. Qf2 Qf3 37. Be3 (37. Qd2 Nxc4!=) 37. ... Ke6 38. Qxf3 Nxf3 39. Bf2 Ke5 40. Bg3+ Ke6 41. Bf2 Ke5 42. Bg3+ ½ : ½.

Like the calm before the storm or after. Photo © Mark Livshitz.

The Eighth Seal

Fabiano Caruana – Dommaraju Gukesh
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 6, 2022
Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. Bxc6 bxc6 6. Re1 Qc7 7. h3 d6 8. e5 dxe5 9. d3 c4 10. Nc3 cxd3 11. cxd3 Nh6 (11. ... Be6 12. Qa4 Nf6 13. Nxe5 Rc8 14. Bf4 Qb7 15. Qa3 0-0 16. Na4 Qb5 17. Nc5 Bd5 18. Rac1 Rfd8 19. Bd2 Re8 20. b3 Nh5 21. d4 Rcd8 22. Rc2 Ra8 23. Qc1 Bxe5 24. dxe5 Ng7 25. Qb2 Ne6 26. Nxe6 Bxe6 27. Rec1 Rac8 28. Qd4 Rc7 29. Be3 Rd7 30. Qf4 Rc8 31. Kh2 a6 32. Rc5 Qb7 33. Qh4 Rd5 34. Bg5 Rxc5 35. Rxc5 Re8 36. Qa4 Rc8 37. Ra5 Ra8 38. Qh4 Re8 39. Qh6 Qc7 40. f4 Qd8 41. Rxa6 f6 42. Rxc6 fxg5 43. Rxe6 Qd7 44. Ra6 1 : 0 Vitiugov – Huzman, 32nd European Chess Club Cup, Novi Sad 2016) 12. Nxe5 Nf5 13. Bf4 Qb7 14. Na4 f6 15. Nf3 0-0 16. d4 g5

17. Bh2 (17. Nc5!? Qb6 18. Bd2⩲) 17. ... h5 18. Re4 Qd7 19. Qc2 Rf7 20. Rae1 Bf8 21. Qe2 Qd5 22. Nc3 Qd7 23. Qc4. 23. Nxg5!? fxg5 24. Qh5 Ng7 25. Qxg5 Qf5 is as much interesting as it is unbalanced — but not realistically winnable for White. 23. ... Qb7 24. b4. “I was slightly worse [in the opening]. I just tried to hold on. After he played b2-b4 [on move 24], I managed to counter him. The key was to not panic as I was looking at this clash as an opportunity [to show] that I can play any position against the strongest opponent”, Gukesh said afterwards. 24. ... e6 25. Rb1 Qd7 26. Rbe1 Qb7 27. Rb1 Qd7 28. a3?! Caruana goes in search of an unlikely victory against impossible odds (that is, his bad form), rather than to offer (or to accept) a draw by repetition. 28. ... a5 29. Na4 Qd8 30. bxa5 Rxa5

31. Nc5? Far from any objectivity, Caruana inexorably slips into a totally lost position. ⌓ 31. Qc2 was comparatively best with chances to hold on. 31. ... Qd5! 32. Qe2 Rxa3 33. Rd1 (33. Nxe6? Bxe6 34. Rxe6 Rxf3!−+) 33. ... Rfa7 34. g4 hxg4 35. hxg4 Nh6 36. Bg3 e5 37. Nxe5. A last ditch try, hoping for a miracle, but Gukesh does not concede anything. 37. ... fxe5 38. Rxe5 Bxg4 39. Qd2 Qf3 40. Rxg5+ Rg7 41. Re1 Bh3 42. Bd6 Bxd6 43. Rxg7+ Kxg7 44. Qg5+ Kh7 45. Ne4

45. ... Qxe4! 0 : 1. “It has been a very enjoyable experience for me. Caruana is one of my favorite players. I just took [this game] as a learning experience”, Gukesh eventually said.

With today’s win, Gukesh reached the record score of 8 out of 8. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Romanticism

Wesley So – Hrant Melkumyan
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 5, 2022
Caro-Kann Defence B11

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. Be2 Bc5 7. 0-0 Nd7 8. exd5 cxd5 9. Rd1 Ngf6 10. d4 Be7 11. Bd3 0-0 12. Bf4. Fast theory: 12. Ne2 Qb8 13. Nf4 b5 14. h4 Qb7 15. h5 Bd6 16. h6 g6 17. Qh3 Rfe8 18. Be3 b4 19. Qh4 Rac8 20. Nh3 e5 21. dxe5 Rxe5 22. Bf4 Rh5 23. Qg3 Bxf4 24. Nxf4 Rxh6 25. Re1 Nc5 26. Re2 Nh5 27. Qg5 Nxf4 28. Qxf4 Rh5 29. Rae1 Ne6 30. Qf6 Qc7 31. g3 Qd8 32. Qf3 Nd4 33. Re8+ Qxe8 34. Rxe8+ Rxe8 35. Qf6 Re1+ 36. Kg2 Ne6 37. Bf1 Rf5 38. Qh4 a5 39. a3 bxa3 40. bxa3 Rc1 41. Qa4 Nc5 42. Qe8+ Kg7 43. g4 Rf6 44. Qe2 Ne4 45. f3 Rc6 46. Qe3 R6xc2+ 47. Kg1 Rd2 48. fxe4 Rdd1 49. Kg2 d4 50. Qf2 Rxf1 51. Qxd4+ f6 52. Qd7+ Kh6 53. Qd2+ g5 54. Qd6 Kg6 55. Qd7 Rg1+ 56. Kh2 Rh1+ 57. Kg2 Rcg1+ 58. Kf2 Rf1+ 59. Kg2 Kh6 60. Qf7 Rhg1+ 61. Kh2 Rxg4 62. Qf8+ Kh5 63. Qf7+ Kh6 64. Qf8+ Kh5 ½ : ½ Dragnev – Fridman, 21st European Rapid Chess Championship, Katowice 2021 (time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move). 12. ... Nb8 13. Ne2 Nc6 14. c3 Re8 15. Re1 g6 16. Ng3 Nd7 17. Re3 e5 18. Bh6!? (18. dxe5 Bc5) 18. ... e4? (19. ... Bf8! 20. Bxf8 e4)

19. Rxe4! Nf8. The elegant point of White’s sacrifice: 19. ... dxe4?? 20. Qxf7+!! Kxf7 21. Bc4+ Kf6 22. Nxe4+ Kf5 23. g4+! Kxe4 24. Re1+ followed by mate. 20. Rf4 f5

21. Nxf5! gxf5 22. Rxf5 Qd6 23. Qg4+ Ng6

24. Rxd5! Qf6 (24. ... Qxd5 25. Bxg6+−) 25. g3 Bf8 26. Rf5 Qe7 27. Bc4+ Kh8 28. Bg5 1 : 0.

A brilliant win by So, in the romantic style of 19th century. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Thoughts in Stone

Magnus Carlsen – Zvonko Stanojoski
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 5, 2022
Queen’s Pawn Game D02

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 e6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Nbd2 Bxf4. “It is doubtful whether this exchange is good. 5. ... Qe7 followed by 6 ... Nb8-d7 and ... e5-e5 could be played”, Grandmaster Géza Maróczy wrote in his book “London 1922”, Russell Enterprises, Inc., Milford, Connecticut, U.S., 2010, p. 92. 6. exf4 c5 7. dxc5 Qc7 8. g3 Qxc5 9. Bd3 Qb6. Or, alternatively, 9. ... Nc6 10. c3 0-0 11. 0-0 b5 (11. ... h6 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Re1 Bd7 14. Qe2 Rae8 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Nh7 17. h4 f5 18. Nd4 Re7 19. f4 Kh8 20. h5 Rg8 21. Kf2 Nf8 22. Rh1 Be8 23. Rag1 Nd7 24. g4 Nc5 25. Bb1 fxg4 26. Kg3 Rf8 27. Rh2 Ref7 28. Rf1 a6 29. Qxg4 Bb5 30. Rf3 Rf5 31. Nxf5 exf5 32. Bxf5 Rxf5? 33. Qxf5 Ne4+ 34. Kg2 Be2 35. Qg6 Bxf3+ 36. Kxf3 Qb5 37. Qg2 Qd3+ 38. Kg4 g5 39. Qf3 Qb1 40. fxg5 hxg5 41. h6 Qg1+ 42. Rg2 Qc5 43. Qf7 Qc8+ 44. e6 Qg8 45. Qxg8+ Kxg8 46. Kf5 1 : 0 A. K. Rubinstein – Tartakower, International Chess Congress, London 1922) 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. Qe2 ½ : ½ A. K. Rubinstein – Capablanca, International Chess Congress, London 1922. 10. Nb3 0-0 11. 0-0 Na6. There’s something about Gukesh: 11. ... Bd7 12. Qe2 Nc6 13. c3 Rfe8 14. Rfe1 a5 15. Nbd4 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Qc5 17. a4 Bc6 18. Qc2 Qd6 19. Re5 g6 20. Rae1 Nd7 21. R5e3 Nc5 22. b3 Rac8 23. h4 Bd7 24. h5 f5 25. Nf3 Re7 26. h6 Qb6 27. Ne5 Be8 28. Rb1 Rec7 29. Bf1 Ne4 30. c4 Bc6 31. Rd1 d4 32. Red3 Nc3 33. R1d2 Be4 34. Qxc3 Bxd3 35. Qxd3 Rd8 36. Nf3 Rcd7 37. Re2 Rd6 38. Ng5 Qc6 39. Bg2 Qd7 40. c5 Ra6 41. c6 1 : 0 Gukesh – Klabis, 11th Riga Technical University Open, Riga 2021 (time control: 30 minutes plus 30 seconds per move). 12. c3 Bd7 13. a4 Nc5 14. Nxc5 Qxc5 15. Nd4 a5 16. Re1 Qb6 17. Qc2 Rfe8 18. Re5 Bc6 19. Qe2 Nd7 20. Re3 Nc5 21. Bc2 g6 22. b3 Ne4 23. Rd1 Rac8 24. h4 e5 25. fxe5 Rxe5 26. Qg4 Rce8 27. Rde1 Nf6 28. Qf4 Rxe3 29. Rxe3 Rxe3 30. Qxe3 Qc5 31. Qf4 Nd7 32. Qd2 Ne5 33. Qe3 Qd6 34. h5 Qf6 35. Bd1

Of course White is better here, as Black’s isolated d-Pawn is much of a liability for an ending. And yet still, after 35. ... gxh5! 36. Bxh5 Bd7 Black’s position seems solid enough. 35. ... Bd7? 36. h6! That’s exactly what had not happened! 36. ... g5

37. Nf3! Ng4. If 37. ... Nxf3+? then 38. Bxf3 Qxh6 39. Bxd5 with overwhelming advantage. 38. Qa7! Qxh6 39. Qxb7 Nf6 40. Qb8+ Kg7 41. Qe5 g4 (41. ... Bg4? 42. Nd4!+−) 42. Nd4 Qc1 43. Kg2! h6 (43. ... Qxd1 44. Qg5+ Kf8 45. Qxf6+−) 44. Bc2 Qd2 45. Bf5 Qg5

46. b4! Bxa4 47. bxa5 Bd1 48. a6 Qc1 49. a7 Qa1 50. Qe7 Bf3+ 51. Nxf3 gxf3+ 52. Kxf3 Qh1+ 53. Ke2 Qh5+. Desperation, but 53. ... Qa1 54. Qe3 is also hopeless for Black. 54. g4 Nxg4 55. a8=Q Ne5+ 56. Ke3 Qxf5 57. Qef8+ Kg6 58. Qa6+ f6 59. Qg8+ Kh5 60. Qe2+ Ng4+ 61. Kd4 Kh4 62. Qxd5 Qf4+ 63. Qde4 Qd6+ 64. Kc4 h5 65. f3 Qa6+ 66. Kb3 Qb6+ 67. Kc2 f5 68. Qh2+ Kg5 69. Qhf4+ 1 : 0.

Between Self and Non-Self

Anton Vladimirovich Smirnov – Magnus Carlsen
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 3, 2022
Pirc Defence B08

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 g6 5. h3 Bg7 6. Be3 0-0 7. Qd2 a6 8. Bd3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 11. 0-0-0 b5 12. g4. Maybe it’s a novelty — who knows? An interesting previous game continued 12. Bc5 Be6 13. Qe3 Nd7 14. Bxf8 Qxf8 15. g4 Nc5 16. Kb1 Rb8 17. Ne2 Na4 18. Qa7 Qc8 19. Qe3 Qf8 20. Nc1 c5 21. c3 c4 22. Bc2 Nc5 23. Rd2 Qe7 24. f4 exf4 25. Qxf4 Rc8 26. e5 a5 27. Bf5 b4 28. Bxe6 Nxe6 29. Qg3 Qb7 30. Re1 Bh6 31. Rf2 Rd8 32. Qf3 Qd7 33. h4 Bd2 34. Ref1 bxc3 35. Qxf7+ Qxf7 36. Rxf7 cxb2 37. Ne2 c3 38. R7f6 Nc5 39. Rc6 Ne4 40. Rc4 Be1 41. Rxe1 Nd2+ 42. Kc2 Nxc4 43. Nxc3 Kf7 44. Ne4 Rb8 45. Nd6+ Nxd6 46. exd6 b1=Q+ 47. Rxb1 Rxb1 48. Kxb1 Ke6 49. Kc2 Kxd6 50. Kb3 Kc5 51. Ka4 Kb6 52. g5 Ka6 53. Ka3 Kb5 54. Kb3 Kc5 55. Kc3 Kd5 56. Kd3 Kc5 57. Kc3 ½ : ½ Smeets – Loxine, 36th German Schach Bundesliga, Dresden 2016. 12. ... c6 13. f3 Be6 14. h4 Qa5 15. a3 Rfb8 16. Bc5 h5 17. Bd6 Rb7 18. Kb1 Rd8 19. Bb4 Qc7 20. Ne2 Rd7 21. Bc5 hxg4

A typical double-edged position with heterogeneous castling, in which the question is about who’ll arrive first. 22. Ng3. Also worth considering is 22. h5 Nxh5 23. Rxh5! gxh5 24. Qg5 with interesting chances. 22. ... gxf3 23. h5 Qd8 24. hxg6 fxg6 25. Qg5 Kf7

Smirnov had managed so far to keep up with his illustrious opponent, and now he might have continued in the same vein with 26. Qe3! b4!? 27. Bxb4 (if 27. axb4 Black replies with 27. ... a5!↑) 27. ... Qb6!∞ with complex play and chances for both sides. Instead, he seems to have gravely overestimated his possibilities: 26. Nf5?? A completely unsound sacrifice, after which Carlsen has only the embarrassment of choice. 26. ... Nxe4. Black could safely take the Knight, but the text also has its points, leaving Black three Pawns to the good! 27. Nh6+ Bxh6 28. Qxh6 Bf5 29. Ka2

29. ... Qg8! Queen the King. 30. Bxe4 Bxe4 31. Rde1 Kf6+ 32. b3 Rh7 33. Qe3 Rxh1 34. Rxh1 Qd5 35. Kb2 Rd7 36. Rh8 Bf5 37. Rf8+ Rf7 38. Re8 Qe4 39. Qd2 Kg7 40. Bf2 Qe2 0 : 1.

To quote Shakespeare’s Hamlet, “To be, or not to be, that is the question, / Whether ’tis nobler in the mind to suffer / The slings and arrows of outragious fortune, / Or to take Arms against a sea of troubles”. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.

Time Before Time

Gillan Bwalya – Magnus Carlsen
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 2, 2022
Nimzo-Indian Defence E51

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. e3 0-0 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 c5 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qc7 10. Nd2?! This is an old and quite unsound idea, which costed 7th World Chess Champion Vasily Vasilyevich Smyslov dearly on his last apparition at an interzonal tournament. 10. Be2 is much more advisable, and apparently even according to Carlsen, who played it with White on at least a major occasion: 10. ... b6 11. Bb2 Bb7 12. 0-0 Nbd7 13. c4 Rac8 14. Rc1 Rfd8 15. Qb3 Ng4 16. g3 Ngf6 17. Rfd1 Ne4 18. Ne1 Nd6 19. d5!? exd5 20. cxd5 c4! 21. Qc2 b5 22. Ng2 Nc5 23. Nf4 Qe7 24. Bg4 Rc7 25. Qc3 f5 26. Bf3 Rcd7 27. Qb4 Nb3 28. Ne6 Nxc1 29. Rxc1 Nc8! 30. Qxb5 Rxd5! 31. Bxd5 Rxd5 32. Qb4 Nd6 33. Nc5?? (33. Nf4! Rb5 34. Qc3 is not worse for White) 33. ... Rxc5! 34. Qxc5 Qe4 0 : 1 Carlsen – Anand, 6th World Rapid Chess Championship, Riyadh 2017. 10. ... Nc6 11. 0-0 Rd8

12. f4? This move, which prevents ... e6-e5 and prepares a further advance of the f-Pawn, seems grossly ill-timed, leaving White with simply too many weaknesses, without offering any prospect of attack as a compensation. And yet, what’s incredible is that Smyslov played just like this! 12. ... Nd5 13. Bxd5 exd5

14. Qh5?! The game in question continued as follows: 14. dxc5 Na5 15. f5 Qxc5 16. f6 Qxe3+ 17. Kh1 Qxc3 18. Rb1 Qd3 19. Qe1 Bf5 20. Rf3 Qc2 21. Rb2 Qc8 22. Nf1 Nc4 23. Rbf2 Bg6 24. fxg7 Re8 25. Qb4 Ne5 26. Rc3 Qd7 27. Qd4 Rac8 28. Rxc8 Qxc8 29. Bd2 Nd3 30. Rf3 Qc4 31. Qf6 Nc5 32. Bh6 Ne4 33. Qb2 b6 34. h3 d4 35. Nd2 Nxd2 36. Qxd2 d3 37. Re3 Be4 38. Kh2 Qc2 39. Rg3 Qxd2 40. Bxd2 Rc8 41. Rg4 f5 42. Rf4 Kxg7 43. Kg3 Rc2 44. Rf2 Kg6 45. Kf4 Ra2 46. g4 Rxa3 47. Ke5 Ra4 48. gxf5+ Kf7 49. Be3 Bb7 50. Rf4 Rxf4 51. Bxf4 Bg2 52. h4 h5 53. Kd4 Bf1 54. Bg5 a5 55. Bd2 Ke7 56. Bc3 Kd6 57. Ke3 Kd5 58. f6 Ke6 59. Kd2 b5 60. Bxa5 Kxf6 61. Bb4 Ke5 62. Kc3 Kf4 63. Kd2 Ke4 64. Kc1 Kd4 65. Kb2 Ke3 66. Kc1 Ke2 67. Ba5 Bg2 68. Bc3 Bd5 69. Bb4 Bc4 70. Bc3 Kf2 71. Kb2 Kg3 72. Be1+ Kg4 73. Kc3 Kf3 74. Kd2 b4 75. Kd1 b3 76. Bc3 Kg4 77. Bf6 b2 78. Bxb2 Kxh4 79. Kd2 Kg4 80. Ke3 h4 81. Be5 Ba6 82. Bc7 h3 83. Bh2 Kf5 84. Bg3 Ke6 0 : 1 Smyslov – van Riemsdijk, Interzonal Tournament, Manila 1990. 14. ... cxd4 15. cxd4 Ne7 16. Nf3 Bf5 17. Bd2 f6 18. Nh4 Be4 19. f5 (19. Qg4 Qc8) 19. ... Rac8 20. Bb4 a5 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Rf4? White’s position is horrible enough to make him wish to get it over with. The Rook goes to war far out from the back-rank, leaving free way to Black’s heavy pieces. 22. ... Rc3 23. Re1 Qxa3 24. Rg4

24. ... Rc1 25. Rxc1 Qxe3+ 26. Kf1 Bd3# 0 : 1.

Fingers & Thumbs

Magnus Carlsen – Dambasürengiin Batsüren
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, August 1, 2022
Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 0-0 7. e3 Nbd7 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 c6 10. 0-0 Bd6 11. Qc2 Re8 12. Rfe1. In his annotations for Chess Informant (issue No. 7/1969) to the game mentioned in the next note, Russian Grandmaster Anatoly Stepanovich Lutikov recommended here 12. Rab1! Qe7 13. Rfe1 — and one cannot but say with Cicero, o tempora, o mores! It is, indeed, a fact that the game has transposed, with little satisfaction for Black, from a Ragozin Variation into a sort of Exchange Variation. 12. ... Be7. It is questionable that Black can afford so many “rethinkings” (4. ... Bb4, 10. ... Bd6 and 12. ... Be7). A more interesting object of study is: 12. ... Nf8 13. e4 g5 14. Bg3 Bxg3 15. hxg3 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Be6 18. Re3 Bd5 19. Rae1 (19. Ne5 is more promising for White) 19. ... Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Rxe4 21. Qxe4 Ne6 22. Ne5 Qd5 (22. ... Qxd4? 23. Nxf7!) 23. Qg4 Re8 24. Re3 Kg7 25. Rf3 Nd8 26. Qh5 Re7 27. Ng4 Re6 28. Ne3 (Geller pushes hard for a win until he’s way past the point of no return) 28. ... Qxa2 29. Nf5+ Kh7 30. Kh2 Rf6 31. g4? (31. b3!?) 31. ... Ne6 32. Qh3 Qd5 33. Rb3 Nxd4 34. Rxb7 Nxf5 35. gxf5 Rxf5 36. Qe3 a5 37. g3 Qf3? (37. ... g4!−+ Δ ... Rf5-h5+) 38. Qxf3 Rxf3 39. Kg2 Rf5 40. Rc7 Rc5 41. Rxf7+ Kg6 42. Rd7 g4 43. Rd4 h5 44. b4 axb4 45. Rxb4 Kf5 46. Rb8? (46. f3! Rc2+ 47. Kf1 gxf3 48. Rf4+ Ke6 49. Rxf3 c5 50. Rf4! is a tablebase draw) 46. ... Ke4 (46. ... Rd5−+) 47. Rc8 Kd4 48. Rc7 Kd5 49. Rh7 Kd6? (49. ... Kc4−+) 50. Rh6+ Kc7 51. f4 gxf3 52. Kxf3 Kb6 53. Ke4 Rg5 54. Kf4 Rd5 55. Ke4 Kb5 56. Rg6 Kc5 57. Rh6 ½ : ½ E. P. Geller – Hernández Onna, 6th Allied Armies Team Chess Championship, Warsaw 1969. 13. Bg3 Nf8 14. h3 b6 15. e4 dxe4 16. Nxe4 Bb7 17. Ne5 Ne6. It is unlikely that the Mongolian Grandmaster was aware of having followed so far a poor theoretical model, but so it is. His last move is, probably, a novelty, but no substantial improvement over 17. ... Rc8 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Nxf7! Kxf7 20. Bc4+ Ne6 21. Rxe6! Rxe6 22. Re1 Qd5 23. Rxe6 Qxe6 24. Bxe6+ Kxe6 25. Qc4+ Ke7 26. Be5 c5 27. Bxf6+ Kxf6 28. dxc5 Rxc5 29. Qd4+ Kg6 30. Qd7 Bd5 31. Qxa7 1 : 0 Thorsteins – Kristjánsson, 15th ECC Group 2, Reykjavík 1999.

The rest is very easy for Carlsen, who carries on and finishes his attack with marvelous elegance. 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Bh7+ Kf8. In his notes for El País, Leontxo García makes a comical observation: “The game will show that the King does not stand well on f8”, but, of course, there wasn’t anything else for Black to do, for if 19. ... Kh8?? then 20. Nxf7#. 20. Rad1 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Qe7 22. f4! c5

23. f5! Nd4 24. Qf2 Qd7 25. e6! Qc6 26. Be5 Rad8 27. Qg3 Ne2+ 28. Rxe2 Rxd1+ 29. Kh2 Ke7

30. Bf6+! 1 : 0.

Carlsen’s crushing win on first board was not enough for Norway as 45th seed Mongolia eventually drew the match. Photo © Madelene Belinki.

Like Never and Ever

Daniele Vocaturo – Magnus Carlsen
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, July 31, 2022
Caro-Kann Defence B13

“For Norway, it looked like Magnus (Carlsen) might do one of his usual things but in the end, Daniele Vocaturo held on to a fighting draw. Italy literally broke through on the two lower boards. I wouldn’t call it a big upset, though, as Italy won this match quite comfortably”, 15th World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand wrote in his recap of round three for Sportstar of July 31, 2022.

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 e6 6. Bf4 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Nf3 Nge7 9. 0-0 Bd7

10. Re1. Or by transposition: 10. Nbd2 Ng6 11. Re1 Nf4 12. Bf1 0-0-0 (“He is more liable to a strong attack on this wing than on the other”) 13. b4 f6 14. Nb3 e5? (“An error that costs a Pawn”) 15. b5 Ne7 16. dxe5 fxe5 17. Nxe5 Rdf8 18. Nxd7 Qxd7 19. g3 Nfg6 20. Qd4 Kb8 21. Nc5 Qc8 22. Bg2 h5 23. h4 Rd8 24. Ne6 Rd6 25. Bh3 Qc4 26. Nxg7 Nxh4? (“Another worse blunder, costing a clear piece, but the game was lost anyhow, as White was two Pawns ahead already, and if 26. ... Qxb5 27. Rxe7 Nxe7 28. Nf5 and wins a piece. The game ceases to be of much interest after this and requires no further comment”) 27. Qxc4 dxc4 28. Rxe7 Nf3+ 29. Kg2 Ng5 30. Rae1 Rd2 31. R1e2 Rd3 32. Ne6 Nxh3 33. Kxh3 h4 34. Re3 hxg3 35. Kxg3 Rd2 36. a4 Rg8+ 37. Rg7 Re8 38. Nc5 Rxe3+ 39. fxe3 Rc2 40. Rxb7+ Ka8 41. Rc7 a6 42. b6 1 : 0 Weiss – Delmar, 6th American Chess Congress, New York 1889. Comments in quotation marks by Wilhelm Steinitz, “The Book of the Sixth American Chess Congress: Containing the Games of the International Chess Tournament Held at New York in 1889”, Committee of the Sixth American Chess Congress, New York, 1891, p. 81. 10. ... 0-0 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Qb6 13. Qb3 Qxb3 14. axb3 Rfd8 15. Na3 f6 16. Nc2 Nc6 17. exf6 gxf6 18. Bb5 Kf7 19. Bxc6 Bxc6 20. f4 a5 21. Re3 h5 22. Rae1 Bd7 23. Nd4 Ra6

The game is dead equal, but it is not yet time for dinner. 24. Kf2 b5 25. g3 Re8 26. h3 Rh8 27. Kg2 b4 28. Ra1 Re8 29. Rae1 a4 30. bxa4 Rxa4 31. R1e2 Ra2 32. cxb4. Vocaturo eventually won a Pawn, which, however, will prove quite meaningless. 32. ... Ra4 33. Nc2 Raa8. Probably simpler is 33. ... Ra2 34. Nd4 Ra4 repeating moves. 34. Kf2 Reb8 35. Ra3 Ke7 36. Rd2 Kd6 37. Ne3 Bc6 38. Nc4+ Ke7 39. Na5 Bd7 40. Nb3 Kd6 41. Nc5 Bc6 42. Re3 e5 43. Ne4+ Ke7 44. Nc5 e4 45. Rd4 f5 46. Ra3 Rg8 47. Rxa8 Bxa8. Of course Black Black could also retake with the Rook, as White has hardly anything better than 48. Nb3 Ba4 49. Nc5 Bc6 with a likely draw by repetition. But even thus and even so, that is, after retaking with the Bishop, Black’s blockade works perfectly well. 48. Na4 Kd6 49. Nc3 Bc6

50. Nd1 Bd7 51. Ne3 Be6 52. Rd2 Rb8 53. Nc2 Bd7 54. Ne3 Be6 55. Nc2 Bd7 56. Ne3 Ke5 ½ : ½.

As far as one may guess from his first two days at Four Points by Sheraton Mahabalipuram Resort & Convention Centre, Carlsen, newly retired from the World Championship 2023, is in India not to target the 2900 record rating, as most insiders thought, nor to maintain the status quo, as some spin doctors seemed to think. So what is at stake? Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Seven Pagodas

Magnus Carlsen – Georg Meier
44th Chess Olympiad; Mamallapuram, July 30, 2022
French Defence C10

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. c3 Ngf6 6. Bd3 Nxe4 7. Bxe4 Nf6 8. Bc2 c5 9. Nf3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Bc5 11. 0-0 Bxd4 12. cxd4 b6. Of course Meier knows very well what he’s doing and where’s he’s going. In short, he would very happy to make a draw against the World Champion. The text is only a minor alternative route to 12. ... Bd7 13. a4 Bc6 that brought Meier the desired result after 14. Ra3 Nd5 15. Qg4 g6 16. Bh6 Qe7 17. Bg5 f6 18. Re1 0-0-0 19. Bd2 Rhe8 20. Rh3 Rd7 21. Qg3 Red8 22. Bb3 Nc7 23. Bc3 Bd5 24. Bc2 Na6 25. Bd3 Nb4 26. Bxb4 Qxb4 27. Rc1+ Bc6 28. Rxc6+ bxc6 29. Ba6+ Rb7 30. Qe3 Qxd4 31. Qxe6+ Qd7 32. Bxb7+ Kxb7 ½ : ½ 李瑞峰 (Lǐ Ruìfēng) – Meier, 1st Fall Chess Classic, Saint Louis 2017. 13. Qd3 Bb7 14. Ba4+ Kf8 15. Bd2 h5. An original way to develop his King’s Rook, via h6. 16. Rac1 h4 17. h3 Qd6 18. Bd1 Rd8 19. Re1 Kg8 20. Be3 Nd5 21. Qd2 Nxe3 22. fxe3 Rh6 23. Rf1 Rg6 24. Bg4 f5 25. Bf3 Bxf3 26. Rxf3 Rg3 27. Qf2

27. ... e5!? Meier feels himself, more than ever, determined to dynamically pursue his object. 28. Rxf5 exd4 29. exd4 Qxd4. 29. ... Qg6!? also seems perfectly playable (threatening both ... Rg3xg2+ and ... Rg3xh3). 30. Rf8+ Kh7 31. Rxd8 Qxd8 32. Qf5+ g6 33. Qf4 Rd3 34. Rc7+ Rd7 35. Rxd7+ Qxd7 36. Qxh4+. The most Carlsen’s got is a Queen ending a Pawn ahead, but with almost no chance of a win. And yet once again His will shall triumph. 36. ... Kg7 37. Qf4 Qd5 38. a3 b5 39. Qc7+ Kh6 40. Qxa7 Qd1+ 41. Kh2 Qd6+ 42. Kh1 Qd2 43. b4 Qc1+ 44. Qg1 Qxa3 45. Qe1 Qd3 46. Qh4+ Kg7 47. Qe7+ Kh6 48. Kh2 Qd4 49. h4 Qf4+ 50. Kh3 Qf5+ 51. Kg3 Qd5 52. Qc5 Qd3+ 53. Kh2 Qe4 54. Qg5+ Kh7 55. h5

55. ... Qxb4 56. Qxg6+ Kh8 57. Qf6+ Kh7 58. Qf5+ Kg8 59. Qe6+ Kh7 60. Qf7+ Kh8 61. Qf6+ Kh7 62. Kh3 Qe4 63. g4 Qe3+ 64. Kg2 Qe2+ 65. Kg3 Qe1+ 66. Qf2 Qc3+ 67. Kh4 b4 68. Qf7+ Kh8 69. Qe8+ Kg7 70. Qe7+ Kh8 71. h6 b3 72. Kh5 b2 73. Qe8+ Kh7 74. Qe4+ Kh8. The “dual” is 74. ... Kg8 75. Kg6 Qg7+! 76. hxg7 b1=Q! (now the underpromotion does not work: 76. ... b1=B?? 77. Qf5!+−) 77. Qf5 Qe4! with a draw. 75. Kg6 b1=B! What aesthetic satisfaction! 76. Qxb1 Qc6+ 77. Kg5 Qc5+ 78. Qf5

78. ... Qe3+?? A final blunder — most probably due to tiredness and/or lack of time — which makes Carlsen obtain the victory. The only move was 78. ... Qc7!= 79. Kg6 Qf7+! forcing a draw. 79. Qf4 Qc5+ 80. Kg6 1 : 0.

In the absence of China and Russia, Carlsen is the main attraction of the 44th Chess Olympiad — the first-ever one to be held in India. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Best by Test

沈阳 (Shěn Yáng) – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
43rd Women’s Chess Olympiad; Batumi, October 5, 2018
1r4k1/1qb3p1/2p1nn2/p1Pp4/P2Pp3/1NQ1Pp1P/2KB1P2/5B1R b - - 1 33

Position after 33. Be2-f1

A consoling feature for the Russian women’s team may lay, however, in the great form shown by Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina in her last Olympics games. Here is how she closed matters with 沈阳 (Shěn Yáng): 33. ... Nxc5! 34. dxc5 Be5! 35. Ba6 (35. Qxe5 Qxb3+ 36. Kc1 Qb1 mate) 35. ... Qxa6 36. Qxe5 Qd3+ 37. Kc1 Qxb3 38. Qa1 d4! 39. exd4 e3! 40. Bxe3 (40. fxe3 Ne4−+) 40. ... Rb4 41. Rg1 Rc4+ 0 : 1.

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina (seated, left) has all reasons to feel lucky as the newly elected FIDE President Arkady Vladimirovich Dvorkovich (standing, centre), beneath the deferential gaze of the Russian Chess Federation President Andrey Vasilievich Filatov (standing, right), makes the first move on Alexandra Konstantinovna Kosteniuk’s board. Photo: batumi2018.fide.com.