The Importance of Not Being Bullie the Can

Russian superstar Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi was awarded 1st prize
Photo: cmsa.cn

With every end there is a new beginning
Photo: cmsa.cn

跳遠

Pentala Harikrishna – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 17, 2016

Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. dxc5 Nbd7 9. e3 Qa5 10. Qd4 0-0 11. a3 Bxc3+ 12. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. Nd4 g5 15. Bg3 Ndxc5 16. f3 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Kg7 18. g4 Be6!? The first new move. The line contemplated by the reference book was 18. ... f5 19. gxf5 Bxf5 20. c4 Rae8 21. Kd2 Ne6 22. cxd5 Nxd4 23. exd4 Bg6 24. Bd3 Rf4 25. Bxg6 Kxg6 26. Kd3 Rd8 27. Rae1 Rxd5 28. Re6+ Kf7 29. Rhxh6 Rdxd4+ 30. Ke2 g4 31. Rd6 ½ : ½ Potkin – Matlakov, 16th European Individual Chess Championship, Jerusalem 2015. 19. Kd2 Rac8 20. Be2 Bd7. Back to the future. 21. Rab1 Rc7 22. Rhc1 Rfc8 23. Bd1 b6

24. Bb3. Of course, not 24. Nb3? because of 24. ... Na4 and the White Pawn at c3 is doomed. With no more than a draw to play for, Indian Grandmaster decides to be content with it as it is. 24. ... Nxb3+ 25. Rxb3 Rc5 26. Rb4 Ra5 27. Ra1 Rac5 28. Rc1 Ra5 29. Ra1 Rac5 30. Rc1 Ra5 ½ : ½. Thus 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) takes 7th-9th prizes ex-aequo with a score of 4 points out of 9, jumping to 93rd place in the World Chess Ranking!

Pentala Harikrishna vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: cmsa.cn

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) was awarded 9th prize
Photo: cmsa.cn

Pentala Harikrishna was awarded 2nd prize
Photo: cmsa.cn

Solid Rock

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 16, 2016

Sicilian Defence B92

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. Be3 Be6 10. Qd2 Nbd7 11. a4 Rc8 12. a5 Qc7 13. Rfd1 Rfd8. For 13. ... Rfe8 14. Qe1 Qc6 15. Bf3 h6 16. Nc1 Qc7 17. h3 Nf8 18. Nd3 Ng6 19. Nb4 Qd7 20. Na4 Bd8 21. Nc5 Qe7 see Kovchan – Korobov, 83rd Ukrainian Chess Championship, Lviv 2014. 14. Qe1 Qc6 15. Bf3 h6 16. Nc1 Qc7 17. h3. For 17. Nd3 d5 18. exd5 Bf5 see Zaw Win Lay – J. Polgár, Japfa Classic Chess Tournament, Denpasar 2000. 17. ... Re8. For 17. ... d5 18. exd5 Bf5 19. Nd3 Bd6 20. Ra4 Re8 21. Be2 e4 22. Nc1 Ne5 23. Nb3 Qd7 24. Rad4 Bxh3 see Kovchan – Borovikov, 77th Ukrainian Chess Championship, Poltava 2008. 18. Nb3 Qb8. For 18. ... Nf8 19. Bb6 Qb8 20. Nd2 N8h7 21. Be3 Ng5 see Kovchan – Areshchenko, 80th Ukrainian Chess Championship, Kiev 2011. 19. Rac1 Bd8 20. Ra1 Rc4 21. Nd2 Rc6 22. Nf1 Qc8 23. Rd2 b5 24. axb6 Nxb6 25. Rd3 Nc4 26. Bc1 Ba5 27. Qd1. White is forced into a general liquidation of material which leads very quickly to a draw. Since also 27. b3 Na3 leads nowhere, she must eventually look for improvement before.

27. ... Nxb2 28. Bxb2 Bxc3 29. Rxc3 Rxc3 30. Bxc3 Qxc3 31. Rxa6 Rc8 32. Rxd6 Qxc2 33. Rd8+ Kh7 34. Rxc8 Qxc8 35. Ne3 Qc5 36. h4 g6 37. g3 Kg7 38. Bg2 Qb4 39. Qa1 Qc5 40. Qd1 Qb4 41. Qa1 Qc5 42. Qd1 Qb4 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
Photo: cmsa.cn

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 16, 2016

Spanish Game C84

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Be7 8. Nc3 d6 9. a3 0-0 10. Re1 h6 11. Ne2 Re8 12. Ng3 Bf8 13. c3 Qd7. For 13. ... d5 14. exd5 Na5 15. c4 c6 see 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì), 6th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament, 儋州 (Dānzhōu) 2015. 14. d4 Na5. For 14. ... Rad8 15. Ba2 exd4 16. cxd4 d5 17. e5 Ne4 see Svidler – Mikhalchishin, 18th Gawlikowski Memorial, Warsaw 1999. 15. Bc2 Nc4 16. a4 Rad8 17. b3 Nb6 18. a5 Nc8 19. d5 c5 20. h3 g6 21. c4 b4 22. Ra2 Bg7 23. Bb1 Ne7 24. Nh2 g5?! This – rather than preventing f2-f4 – will turn out to give White a breaking point for it. 25. Nh5 Bc8 26. Nxf6+ Bxf6 27. Qh5 Kg7 28. Ng4 Rh8

“Everything seems in order for Black: the standard 29. Re3 (with the idea of Re3-f3 or Re3-g3) can be answered by 29. ... Ng6 intending to capture the Queen by ... Ng6-f4. Now Ian Nepomniachtchi’s gonna play what it seemed impossible”, says Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly in his commentary for Europe Échecs. 29. f4!! A fantastic breakthrough that literally disintegrates Black’s position. 29. ... gxf4. The tactical justification lies in 29. ... exf4? 30. Nxf6 Kxf6?? 31. Bb2 mate. 30. g3! Ng6 31. gxf4 Qe7. Or 31. ... Nxf4 32. Bxf4 exf4 33. Nxf6 Kxf6 34. e5+! winning immediately. 32. Nxf6 Qxf6 33. fxe5 dxe5 34. Rg2 Qd6 35. Rf1 Rde8 36. Kh1 Re7 37. Be3 Rc7 38. Rgf2 Rh7 39. Rf6 Qxf6. Desperation. 40. Rxf6 Kxf6 41. Bxh6 Rxh6 42. Qxh6 Re7 43. h4 Re8 44. Qg5+ Kg7 45. h5 Rh8 46. Bc2 Rh6 47. Bd1 f6 48. Qg1 1 : 0.

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi vs. 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)
Photo: cmsa.cn

Too Much of Nothing

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 15, 2016

Queen’s Gambit Declined D44

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. Bg2 Qb6 13. exf6 0-0-0 14. 0-0 c5 15. d5 b4 16. Na4 Qb5 17. a3 Nb8 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Qg4 Bxd5 20. Rfc1 Nc6 21. Bxd5 Rxd5 22. Rxc4 Rxg5 23. Qd4 Kb8 24. Rxc6 Rxg3+ 25. fxg3 Qxc6 26. Rd1 Qc7. Just a memory: 26. ... Bh6 27. Nc5 Ka8 28. Qe4 Qxe4 29. Nxe4 a5 30. Ra1 Be3+ 31. Kg2 Rh5 32. g4 Rd5 33. b3 Kb7 34. h4 Kb6 35. Re1 Bf4 36. Kf3 Be5 37. g5 a4 38. bxa4 b3 39. g6 fxg6 40. Rb1 b2 41. f7 ½ : ½ Jussupow – Tukmakov, Leningrad 1987. 27. b3 Kc8 28. Qe4. The Matrix (nearly) Reloaded is 28. Qd3 Bc5+ 29. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 30. Kf1 Qc3 31. Qxc3+ bxc3 32. h4 e5 33. Ke2 c2 34. Rc1 Kd7 35. Rxc2 Ke6 36. Rc6+ Kf5 37. Kf3 e4+ 38. Ke3 Rb8 39. Rc5+ Kxf6 40. Kxe4 Rxb3 41. Ra5 Rxg3 42. Kf4 Rg1 43. Rxa7 Kg7 ½ : ½ Kramnik – Anand, 7th London Chess Classic, London 2014. 28. ... Kb8 29. Qd4 Kc8 30. Qe4 Kb8 31. Qd3 Bc5+ 32. Nxc5 Qxc5+ 33. Qd4 Qc3 34. Qf4+ Ka8 35. Qe4+ Kb8 36. Rd4 Qc1+ 37. Kg2 Qb2+ 38. Kf3 Qc3+! Not 38. ... Qxb3+?? 39. Kf4 a5 40. Qe5+ Kc8 41. Qc5+ Kb8 42. Rd7 and wins (Kouatly’s analysis). 39. Kg4 Rg8+ 40. Kh4 Rh8+ 41. Kg5 Qc1+? Everything was better than to allow a trade of Queens, since in the ensuing Rook ending, in spite of material equality, Black appears to be helpless. Correct was 41. ... Qc5+ 42. Kg4 Rg8+ 43. Kf3 a5 with an unclear balance. 42. Qf4+ Qxf4+ 43. Kxf4 Rxh2 44. Rxb4+ Kc7 45. Kg5 Rh8 46. g4 Rg8+ 47. Kf4 Rd8 48. Ra4 Kb6 49. Ra1 a5 50. Rh1 Kc5 51. Rh7 Rd7 52. g5 Kd6 53. Rh3 e5+ 54. Kf5 e4 55. Kxe4 Ke6 56. Rh8 Rb7 57. Re8+ Kd6 58. Kf5 Rb5+ 59. Kg4 Rb4+ 60. Kh5 Rxb3 61. Re7 Rh3+ 62. Kg4 Rh7 63. Ra7 Ke6 64. Ra6+ Kd7

65. g6! And finally the pointe. 1 : 0. We may suspect that 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) has fallen into a computer “black hole”. Of course, unwillingly.

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) vs. 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī)
Photo: cca.cmsa.cn

Imarti

Pentala Harikrishna – Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 15, 2016

Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3 Nbd7 9. a4 b6 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 Rb8 12. Nc3 Bb7 13. Qd2. Thus departing from a pleasant memory: 13. Qa2 Be7 14. Be3 Nf6 15. Bg2 0-0 16. 0-0 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Qa5 b4 19. Bb6 Qd7 20. Qxb4 Bc6 21. Qa5 Ra8 22. Qb4 Rab8 23. Qa5 Ra8 24. Qb4 d5 25. Qb3 d4 26. Nd5 Rab8 27. Ra7 Qxa7 28. Bxa7 Rxb3 29. Nxe7+ Kh7 30. cxb3 Bxe4 31. Bxe4+ Nxe4 32. Re1 Nd2 33. Re2 Nxb3 34. Rxe5 Ra8 35. Rxh5 mate, Harikrishna – Domínguez Pérez, 1st IMSA Élite Mind Games, Blitz Event, 淮安 (Huái’ān) 2016. 13... Nf6 14. Bg2 Be7 15. 0-0 0-0 16. Qe2 h4. An expectable Pawn sacrifice. 17. gxh4 b5 18. axb5 axb5 19. h5 b4 20. Nd1 Ra8 21. Rxa8 Qxa8 22. Re1 Re8. Why not play 22. ... Rc8 immediately? 23. c4 Bf8 24. Bd2 Rc8 25. Bg5. Not 25. Bxb4? because of 25. ... Qa4 winning back the c-Pawn. 25. ... Nh7 26. h4 Qa2 27. Bf1 Rc7 28. Qd3 Ba6?! This only helps White to consolidate. 28. ... Qa8 appears to be much better. 29. b3 Bc8 30. Ne3 Be6 31. Nd5 Rb7 32. Bh3! Qa8

33. Bf5! Not only Black has no compensation for the Pawn, but is now not able anymore to bear the unbearable squeeze; so, he decides to give up another couple of Pawns in a last, desperate, vain gamble. 33. ... Ra7 34. Nxb4 Ra1 35. Rxa1 Qxa1+ 36. Kg2 Bxf5 37. exf5 e4 38. Qxe4 Qc3 39. Nd5 Qxb3 40. h6. Harikrishna concludes energetically. 40. ... gxh6 41. Bf6 Nxf6 42. Nxf6+ Kg7 43. Nd7 1 : 0.

Pentala Harikrishna vs. Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Photo: cca.cmsa.cn

Hell’s Flash

王皓 (Wáng Hào) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 15, 2016

Catalan Opening E05

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 dxc4 7. Ne5 Nc6 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Nxc6 Qe8 10. Nxe7+ Qxe7 11. Qc2 c5 12. Qxc4 cxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 14. Qh4 Rb8 15. b3 Qe6 16. Na3 (16. Qc4 Qd7 17. Na3 Bb7 18. f3 Rfc8 19. Qd3 Qe6 20. Nc4 Ba6 21. Be3 e4 22. Qd2 Rd8 23. Qc1 Rd7 24. Bf2 Re8 25. Qc2 Qc6 26. Be1 exf3 27. exf3 Rde7 28. Qd3 Re2 29. Qd6 Qb7 30. Qd4 Bxc4 31. bxc4 Nd7 32. Rd1 Ne5 33. Qd5 Qa6 34. Rd2 Re3 35. Rc2 Qa4 36. Rc3 Nxf3+ 37. Rxf3 Rxe1+ 38. Kg2 R1e2+ 39. Kh3 R2e6 40. Rf2 Qc6 41. Qxc6 Rxc6 ½ : ½ Tomashevsky – Jakovenko, 68th Russian Chess Championship, Chita 2015) 16. ... Rd8 (16. ... Re8 17. Nc4 Ba6 18. Rd1 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qxc4 20. bxc4 Rbc8 21. Be3 Rxc4 22. Bxa7 Ne4 23. Be3 Ra8 24. Kf1 h6 25. Rd5 Nc3 26. Rxe5 Rxa2 27. Rc1 Raa4 28. Re8+ Kh7 29. Rd8 Rab4 30. h4 h5 31. Rd3 Ne4 32. Rcd1 Rc3 33. Kg2 Rxd3 34. Rxd3 Rb5 35. f3 Nf6 36. Rd6 Re5 37. Kf2 Rf5 38. Bf4 Rb5 39. Bg5 Nd5 40. Bd2 Nb6 41. Bc3 Nd5 42. Bd4 f6 43. e4 Nb4 44. Bc3 Na2 45. Bd2 Rb2 46. Ke3 Rb3+ 47. Rd3 Rb8 48. Rd5 Rb3+ 49. Kf4 Kg6 50. g4 hxg4 51. h5+ Kh7 52. Kxg4 Rb1 53. Rd7 Rb8 1 : 0 Filippov – Simutowe, 16th Carlos Torre Memorial, Merida 2003) 17. Qc4 Qh3 18. f3 Bb7 19. Qc2 e4 20. Nc4 Rbc8 21. Rf2 Qh5 22. Be3?! 22. Bb2 was called for. 22. ... exf3 23. exf3 Bxf3 24. Bg5?? A heartless Fata Morgana.

24. ... Be4! Maybe White was hoping for 24. ... Qxg5? 25. Rxf3 with a precarious balance. 25. Qc1 Ng4 26. Re2. If 26. Rb2 then 26. ... Rd3! with the terrible threat of ... Rd3xg3+. 26. ... Bf3 0 : 1. For after 27. Rc2 Rd1+ 28. Qxd1 Bxd1 29. Rxd1 Qxg5 White is skin and bone.

王皓 (Wáng Hào) vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: cca.cmsa.cn.

A Moveable Feast

Russian superstar Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi is deeply concentrated in performing his simultaneous exhibition, and since he is a gentleman, he will castle with a single hand – even if today is his birthday. Photo: cmsa.cn.

Indian Grandmaster Pentala Harikrishna is so sober and ascetic that someone among his young opponents could not have realized in time how much strong he is. Photo: cmsa.cn.

Ukrainian nonconformist genius Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk is teaching his young adversaries that even a king, when touch a piece or Pawn in order to replace it on its square, must say “j’adoube”. Photo: cmsa.cn.

Hungarian Grandmaster Péter Lékó – who was lucky enough to have had the privilege of knowing Robert James Fischer personally – is wondering if it’s time for a draw offer before it’s too late. Photo: cmsa.cn.

13th World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), being the only woman participating in the 7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”, could not but encourage – even smilingly – her young countrygirls to follow one day in her footsteps. Photo: cmsa.cn.

On Balance

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 13, 2016

Alekhine Defence B04

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. Bc4 Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7 7. a4 dxe5 8. a5 N6d7 9. dxe5. The strategic alternative is 9. Bxf7+ Kxf7 10. Ng5+ Kg8 11. Ne6 Qe8 12. Nxc7 Qd8 13. Nxa8 exd4 with a very unclear position (theoretically supposed to be more favourable for Black), Christiansen – Alburt, 36th U.S. Chess Championship, Jacksonville 1990. The text move forces a general liquidation with roughly even chances, and it’s not too difficult for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) to hold her own. 9. ... Nxe5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Bxf7 e6 13. Bg5+ Kd7 14. Ra3 Rf8 15. Rf3 Nc6 16. Bxe6+ Ke8 17. Bxc8 Rxc8 18. Re3 Kd7 19. c3 Rf5 20. Bh4 Rh5 21. Re4 Re8 22. Kd2 Nxa5 23. Kc2 Bd6 24. Rxe8 Kxe8 25. Re1+ Re5 26. Rxe5+ Bxe5 27. Nd2 Kd7 28. Kd3 b5 29. Ke4 Bg7 30. f4 Nb7 31. Bf2 a5 32. g4 a4 33. Bd4 Nd6+ 34. Kd3 Bf8 35. c4 b4 36. Bc5 Bg7 37. Bxb4 Bxb2 38. Nb1 Bc1 39. Nc3 a3 40. Na2 Bxf4 41. h3 Nf7 42. Bxa3 Ng5 43. h4 Nf7 44. Bb2 Be5 45. Bd4 Bxd4 46. Kxd4 Nh6 47. g5 Nf5+ 48. Ke5 Nxh4 49. Nc3 Nf3+ 50. Kf6 Nd2 51. c5 Nf3 52. Ne4 Kc6

53. Kg7 Nh4 54. Nf6 Kxc5 55. Nxh7 Kd4 56. Nf8 c5 57. Nxg6 Nf3 58. Kf6 Nxg5 59. Kxg5 c4 60. Nf4 c3 61. Ne2+ Kd3 62. Nxc3 ½ : ½.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) vs. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)
cca.cmsa.cn

Accents, Nuances, and Tempo

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 12, 2016

Queen’s Indian Defence E15

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 Ba6 7. Qc2 c5 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. dxc5 bxc5 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Rd1 Qe7 12. Qa4 Bb7 13. Nc3 d6 14. Rd2 Rfd8 15. Rad1 a6. The first new move. The old try was 15. ... h6 16. a3 Rab8 17. h3 a6 18. e3 Qc7 19. e4 Na5 20. e5 Bc6 21. Qc2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 dxe5 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Rxd8+ Qxd8 25. Qa4 Qb6 26. Ne4 Nb3 27. Nxf6+ gxf6 28. Qd7 Qb8 29. Bh5 Qf8 30. Qb7 Nd4 31. b4 cxb4 32. axb4 Qe8 33. c5 Kf8 34. Qxa6 Qd7 35. Qa8+ Kg7 36. Qb8 e4 37. Qd6 ½ : ½ McCambridge – Dzindzichashvili, 11st International Open, Lone Pine 1981. 16. Ng5 Nd4 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. e3 Nf5 19. Qc2 Rac8

20. Nd5 exd5 21. Qxf5 h6 22. Nf3 dxc4 23. Rxd6 Qc7? A mistake that loses a valuable Pawn. She should have played 23. ... Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Re8 with equality, for if 25. Rd2 then 25. ... c3! 26. bxc3 Ne4 regaining the Pawn. 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 26. Qxc5 Qd1+ 27. Kg2 Qc2 28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. h3 a5 30. Nd4 Qe4+ 31. Kh2 Qd3 32. Qc7 Qf1 33. Qf4 Qb1 34. Qf5+. “The Women’s World Chess Champion surely hoped to come closer to a draw owing to the reduced material, but [...] the Russian player turns the game into a Knight ending in which he’ll display his technique”, says Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly in his commentary for Europe Échecs. 34. ... Qxf5 35. Nxf5 Ne4 36. Kg2 c3 37. bxc3 Nxc3 38. a3 Nb5 39. a4 Nc3 40. Nd4 Nxa4 41. Nb3 h5 42. Nxa5 g6 43. Nc4 Kg7 44. Kf3 Nc5 45. e4 Ne6 46. Ke3 Kf6 47. f4 Nc7 48. Ne5 Nb5 49. Kd3 Ke6 50. Nf3 Ke7 51. Nd4 Nc7 52. Ke3 Na6 53. f5 gxf5 54. Nxf5+ Kf6 55. Kf4 Nc5 56. e5+ Kg6 57. Ne7+ Kg7 58. Kf5 Nd3 59. Nd5 Nc5 60. h4 Kh6 61. Nf6 Ne6 62. Ne8 Nc5 63. Nd6 Kg7 64. Ne8+ Kh6 65. Nd6 Kg7 66. Kg5 Nd7 67. Nc4 f6+ 68. exf6+ Nxf6 69. Nd6 1 : 0. Black is in zugzwang.

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi (left) vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (right). Photo: cca.cmsa.cn

Hyperbolic trajectory

Péter Lékó – Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 11, 2016

Sicilian Defence B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3 Be7 9. Qd2 h5 10. Be2 Nbd7 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 0-0 13. 0-0 Qb8 14. Kh1 Bd8 15. f4. Deviating from the reference book: 15. c4 Bb6 16. Bxb6 Nxb6 17. f4 e4 18. Nd4 Qc8 19. Rac1 Re8 20. b4 Qd7 21. Nc2 Nc8 22. Ne3 Ne7 23. f5 Rec8 24. Rf4 b5 25. g4 bxc4 26. g5 c3 27. Qd4 Nh7 28. Bxh5 Nxg5 29. h4 Nh7 30. Rg1 f6 31. Qxe4 Kh8 32. Bf7 Qa7 33. Be6 Rc7 34. Nc4 Rd8 35. Rc1 Qb7 36. Rxc3 Qxb4 37. Rb3 Qc5 38. Rg3 Ng8 39. Qd4 Qb4 40. a3 Qb1+ 41. Kh2 Nh6 42. Qb6 Qxb6 43. Nxb6 Rb8 44. Rc4 Rcb7 45. Nc8 Rb2+ 46. Rg2 R2b3 47. Nxd6 Rxa3 48. Rc7 Ra4 49. Nc4 Nf8 50. d6 Rd8 51. Rgxg7 Ra2+ 52. Kh3 Re2 53. Rge7 Rb8 54. Rb7 Rxb7 55. Rxb7 Nxe6 56. fxe6 Rxe6 57. Re7 1 : 0 Šarić – Nepomniachtchi, 15th Poikovsky Karpov Chess Tournament, Poikovsky 2014. “Amazingly poor play level from both sides, but the biggest idiot prize has (expectedly) gone to me...”, then Nepomniachtchi tweeted. 15. ... Re8 16. c4 b5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. cxb5 axb5 19. Nd4 Nc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Bg1 Qb7 22. Qc2. 22. Nc6 is also answered by 22. ... Ne4 with better prospects for Black. On the other hand, the text – that implies the sacrifice of a Pawn – is far from satisfactory. 22. ... Ne4 23. Rae1 Qxd5 24. Rf5 Qb7 25. Rb5 Qe7. With the threat of ... Ne4-f2+. 26. Rf1 g6 27. Nf3 Qe6 28. a4 h4 29. Nd4 Qd7 30. Qxc4. White finally won back the Pawn, at the cost, however, of giving his opponent a clear initiative. 30. ... h3 31. Rf4 Nc5 32. b3? Maybe it is not so serious, but after this move Black’s attack will mount inexorably. 32. ... hxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Rc8 34. Qf1 Bg5 35. Rf3 Ne4 36. Rd3. 36. Kh1 Rc1 37. Qg2 Bf6 is somewhat better, but not enough to survive. 36. ... Qg4+ 37. Kh1 Rc1 38. Qg2 Qh4 39. Rf3. Unluckily for Lékó, 39. Rh3? is met by 39. ... Nf2+! winning on the spot. 39. ... Be3 40. Ne2 Nf2+ 41. Rxf2 Bxf2 42. Nxc1 Bxg1 43. Qg3

43. ... Qd4! 44. Qxg1 Qd2! 45. Nd3 Qxd3 46. Rg5 Re2! 0 : 1. A pretty game.

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Photo: 李昕 (Lǐ Xīn)/sports.sina.com.cn

Half of a Yellow Sun

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 11, 2016

Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ng6 7. Be3 Qc7. Another try is 7. ... Be7 8. Be2 0-0 9. Nc3 a6 10. a4 Qc7 11. Nb3 b6 12. f4 Bb7 13. Qd2 Rad8 14. Bd3 d5 15. exd5 exd5 16. f5 Nge5 17. f6 Bxf6 18. Rxf6 d4 19. Rxc6 Nxc6 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Bxd4 Rxd4 22. Bxh7+ Kxh7 23. Qxd4 Re8 24. Rd1 Re6 25. Rd3 Rg6 26. Rg3 Rxg3 27. Qh4+ Kg8 28. hxg3 Qc6 29. Qd8+ Kh7 30. Qh4+ Kg8 31. Qd8+ Kh7 32. Qd3+ Kg8 33. Qd8+ 1/2-1/2 Vachier-Lagrave – Gelfand, Grand Prix Series 2014/2015, 4th stage, Khanty-Mansiysk 2015. 8. Be2. 8. Nc3 a6 9. Be2 b5 may eventually transpose into 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Qd4 b4 12. e5 Bb7 13. Bf3 Qc7 14. Bxb7 Qxb7 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Bg5 0-0 17. Bxe7 Nxe7 18. Nd6 Qc6 19. Rac1 Nd5 20. f4 f6 21. f5 fxe5 22. Qxe5 Rf6 23. Rf3 Ne7 24. Rcf1 Qd5 25. Qxd5 Nxd5 26. Ne4 Rxf5 27. Rxf5 exf5 28. Rxf5 Ne3 29. Rc5 Nd1 30. Rd5 Nxb2 31. Rxd7 Nc4 32. Ng5 Re8 33. Ra7 a5 34. Kf2 h6 35. Nf3 Re4 ½ : ½ Tal – Taimanov, 44th USSR Chess Championship, Moscow 1976. 8. ... Nxd4 9. Bxd4 Bd6 10. g3 0-0 11. c4 b6 12. Nc3 Be7 13. Rc1 Bb7 14. Bf3. Not seeing a way to get out of it any tangible advantage, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) decides to sacrifice a couple of Pawns, glad enough to force the draw by repetition. 14. ... Qxc4

15. Nd5 Qxa2 16. Ra1 Qc4 17. Rc1 Qa2 18. Ra1 ½ : ½.

Bittersweetness corner
Photo: 李昕 (Lǐ Xīn)/sports.sina.com.cn

喀邁拉 (Chimera)

Pentala Harikrishna – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 10, 2016

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. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Bb1 Nxb3 14. axb3 Bf5 15. Re1. For 15. Be3 0-0 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. cxd4 c5 see Tomashevsky – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén), 1st IMSA Elite Mind Games, Blitz Event, 淮安 (Huái’ān) 2016. 15. ... 0-0 16. h3 Qd7 17. b4 Rfd8 18. g4 Bg6 19. Bf4 Qc8. For 19. ... a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Ba2 Rf8 22. b4 Ra4 23. Qd2 Nd8 24. Bg5 c5 see Caruana – Giri, 3rd Norway Chess, Stavanger 2015. 20. Ba2 a5 21. e6 f6 22. bxa5 Nxa5 23. b4 Nc4 24. Bxc4 bxc4 25. Nd2 c5 26. b5 Be8 27. Rxa8 Qxa8 28. b6 Bc6 29. Bc7 Rd5 30. Nxc4 Qa2 31. Nd2 g5 32. Nf1 c4 33. Qd2 Qa8? Tipycally, the tactical crisis begins with the strategic crisis, with 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) pursuing the chimera of a direct attack against the enemy King. 34. Ne3 Rb5? And here is the losing move, in a way also consistent with the previous one. Black should have moved the Rook to c5, but since he intended to put his Bishop there, lo and behold, everything becomes plain and wrong. 35. Nxc4! Bh1 36. Ne3 Bc5. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) is still dreaming about a revenge on the long diagonal h1-a8, with the great final of mate on g2, but the Indian Grandmaster will promptly awaken him.

37. e7! Bxe3 38. fxe3 Kf7 39. e8=Q+! The immediate 39. e4 was also possible. 39. ... Kxe8 40. e4! A trivial interference finally puts an end to all Black’s illusions. 40. ... Bxe4 41. Qe3 1 : 0.

Pentala Harikrishna vs. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)
Photo: cca.cmsa.cn

Ash and Fire

Péter Lékó – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 10, 2016

Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 8. e3 c4 9. Be2 Nc6 10. 0-0 g5 11. Bg3 0-0 12. Ne5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. Bf3 Nxg3 15. hxg3 Bf5 16. Bg4. A dry move (and perhaps a new one) in the style of Lékó, who is as gifted as he is peace-oriented. For 16. e4 Nxe5 17. exf5 Nxf3+ 18. Qxf3 Qd6 19. a4 Rfe8 20. Rae1 Rad8 see Hammer – Movsesian, 5th Chess World Cup, Tromsø 2013, match game 1. 16. ... Be4 17. f4 Nxe5 18. dxe5 f6!? A sign of good mood! 19. Qd4 fxe5 20. fxe5 Qb6 21. Bf3 Qg6 22. Rad1 Rae8 23. Qxa7! Lékó avoids the liquidation into what he thought to be a drawn Rook ending (even though a Pawn ahead), aiming to consolidate his slight but lasting positional edge. 23. ... Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Rxf3 25. gxf3

25. ... Qc2! Whetever it is, for now Black satisfies herself with winning back the Pawn. 26. Qd4 Rxe5 27. Rd2 Qc1+ 28. Kf2 Rf5 29. g4 Rf7 30. Kg2 Qe1 31. a4 Qa1 32. Qe5 Qe1 33. Qd4 Qa1 34. Rf2. Lékó maneuvered skillfully to overload her opponent’s defence, but it’s not clear at all that his structural advantage is sufficient to win such a double-edged Queen and Rook endgame. 34. ... Qc1 35. Re2 Qa3 36. Qe5 Qc5. Clearly not 36. ... Qxa4?? on account of 37. Rd2! followed by Rd2xd5 with devastating effect. With the (controversial) text move, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) put her opponent upon a crucial dilemma, rather than allowing him to gradually tighten his hold upon the board. Deserving consideration, however, was 36. ... Qc1 (idem to say 36. ... Qa1) 37. Rf2 Qd1 in order to answer 38. Qd6 (the immediate 38. e4 dxe4 39. Qxe4 Qd3 40. Qxd3 cxd3 41. Rd2 Rf4! 42. Rxd3 Rxa4 43. Rd8+ Kf7 44. Rd7+ Kg6 45. Rxb7 Rc4 leads to a drawn Rook endgame) by 38. ... Kg7 39. e4 Qe1 stubbornly keeping hold of her own. 37. Kf2. Stockfish evaluates 37. e4 Re7 38. Qf6 as far more profitable here, but such “risks” aren’t in the style of the sober Péter. 37. ... Qc6 38. Qd4 Rd7 39. a5 Qc7 40. Kg2 Qxa5 41. e4 Qd8 42. Rd2 Qf8 43. exd5 Qf4! 44. Qf2 Qe5 45. Qc5 Kg7 46. Qxc4 Rc7 47. Qa2 Rxc3! 48. Qb2 Qf6 49. Qxb7+ Qf7 50. Qxf7+ Kxf7. And now it’s a dead draw (with or without Rooks), even if Lékó takes more than a while for getting convinced. 51. d6 Rc8 52. d7 Rd8 53. Rd6 Ke7 54. Rxh6 Rxd7 55. Rh7+ Ke6 56. Rxd7 Kxd7. White’s extra Pawn is meaningless, but Péter pretends he does not know it. 57. Kf2 Kd6 58. Ke2 Ke6 59. Kd2 Kd6 60. Kc3 Ke5 61. Kd3 Kd5 62. Ke2 Ke6 63. Kd2 Kd6 64. Ke3 Ke5 65. f4+ gxf4+ 66. Kf3 Ke6 67. Kxf4 Kf6 68. g5+ Kg6 69. Kg4 Kg7 70. Kf5 Kf7 71. g6+ Kg7 72. Kg5 Kg8 73. Kf6 Kf8 74. g7+ Kg8 75. Kg6 ½ : ½. Until the stalemate.

Péter Lékó vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: 李昕 (Lǐ Xīn)/sports.sina.com.cn

Blind man’s buff

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) – Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 9, 2016

8/3n1rk1/3Q1p1r/2p2qp1/1pRPp3/1P2P1P1/P4PB1/4R1K1 w - - 9 47

In the position of the diagram (after 48. ... Rh8-h6) White is a clear Pawn to the good and stands much better. His next (hasty) move, however, is a big mistake that gives his opponent an unexpected way to complicate matters: 47. Qc6? Re7? But Nepo completely overlooks it, and, as things go, falls for it! After 47. ... Ne5! 48. dxe5 fxe5 49. Qxh6+ Kxh6 50. Rf1! Black’s task is not easy anyway, since the e4-Pawn is doomed, but he could still hope for last-minute salvation. 48. dxc5. Now Black’s Pawns fall like rotten pears. The rest is very easy. 48. ... g4 49. Qd6 Rf7 50. Qf4 Qh5 51. Rxe4 Ne5 52. Rd1 Rh8 53. Rxb4 Qh7 54. Qe4 Qh5 55. Rb7 Re8 56. Rxf7+ Qxf7 57. c6 Nf3+ 58. Bxf3 Rxe4 59. Bxe4 Kh6 60. Rc1 Qc7 61. b4 1 : 0.

余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) vs. Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Photo: sports.sina.com.cn

Almost Shakespeare

Pentala Harikrishna – 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 8, 2016

Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Nd5 8. Qb5 Bxd2+ 9. Nbxd2 c3 10. bxc3 Nxc3 11. Qb2 Na4 12. Qc2 Nb6 13. e3. For 13. Nb3 Qe7 14. 0-0 e5 see Carlsson – Pourkashiyan, 15th International Open, Dubai 2013. 13. ... 0-0 14. 0-0 Qe7 15. Rac1 Rd8 16. Nb3 Rb8 17. Nc5 Nd5 18. a3 h6 19. Rfe1 b6 20. Nxe6 Bxe6 21. Qxc6 Qxa3 22. Ra1 Qd6 23. Qxd6 cxd6 24. Rxa7 Nc3 25. e4 b5 26. d5 Bg4 27. Nd4 b4 28. h3 Bd1 29. e5? Worried by the speed with which Black’s b-Pawn is advancing, Harikrishna tries to distract his opponent by a sudden central breakthrough. Objectively speaking, it’s not sound, but I’m not sure that 29. Nc6 b3! would be better. 29. ... b3!

30. e6!? Speculatively consistent. 30. ... fxe6? Harikrishna’s pray worked! Instead, 30. ... b2 seems to give Black an easy path to a likely win; for instance: 31. exf7+ Kh8 32. Ne6 (or 32. Nc6 Rf8 33. Nxb8 b1=Q 34. Nc6 Ne2+ 35. Kh2 g5∓/-+) 32. ... Rdc8∓/-+ and so on. 31. Rxe6? “How to retake on e6? On 31. dxe6?? b2! wins. But after 31. Nxe6! Re8 32. Rxd1! Nxd1 33. Rxg7+ Kh8 34. Be4 Rxe6 35. Rh7+ Kg8 36. dxe6 White would have stayed in the game”, Grandmaster Bachar Kouatly said in his commentary for Europe Échecs. 31. ... Bc2 32. Nxb3 Rxb3 33. Ree7 g5 34. Rac7 Bf5. “The control of the seventh rank obviously does not compensate for the lost Knight”, says Kouatly. 35. Rg7+ Kh8 36. Rgf7 Ne2+ 37. Kh2 Nd4 38. g4 Bd3 39. f4 gxf4 40. Rxf4 Rb2 41. Rcf7 Ne2 42. Rf2 Rdb8 43. R7f6 Nc3 44. Rxh6+ Kg7 45. Rhf6 Nd1 46. Rxb2 Rxb2 47. Rxd6 Bf1 48. Kg3 Rxg2+ 49. Kf4 Rf2+ 50. Kg5 Nc3 51. Rg6+ Kf7 52. d6 Ne4+ 53. Kh6 Rd2 54. Rg7+ Kf8 55. g5 Nxd6 56. Kh7 Bxh3 57. g6 Be6 0 : 1.

Pentala Harikrishna vs. 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)
Photo: cmsa.cn

Old Acquaintance

王玥 (Wáng Yuè) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 8, 2016

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. Qc2 Bd6 8. c5 Be7 9. a3 a5 10. Bb5 Nb8!? This is a critical novelty, which undoubtedly deserves further practical tests. For 10. ... Bd7 11. Rb1 b6 12. b4 axb4 13. axb4 bxc5 14. bxc5 Rb8 15. 0-0 Ng4? (⌓ 15. ... Na5) 16. h3 Nh6 17. e4! with great advantage to White, Kurajica – Vl. Kovačević, Zonal Tournament, Zagreb 1993. 11. 0-0 b6 12. c6 Ba6 13. Bd2 Ne8 14. a4 Nd6 15. Ne5 Qe8 16. Rac1 Ra7. Black has a cramped position, and she will need all her skills and resorcefullness as a defender to hold it up. 17. Rfe1 f6 18. Nd3 Bc8 19. Qb3

19. ... Nxc6!?? 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s Exchange sacrifice is not strictly forced, but wished. She gets only a Pawn in return, and perhaps she’s relying on her Bishop pair, especially in the case White chooses to open up the position. It’s a hard bet to call and even harder to win, particularly against a mountain of granite such as 王玥 (Wáng Yuè). On the other hand, after a “neutral” move, such as 19. ... Qf7, White could have increased his pressure on the position by f2-f3, e3-e4, and then, eventually, Nd3-f4. 20. Bxc6 Qxc6 21. Nb5 Qa8 22. Nxa7 Qxa7 23. Qc2 Bd8 24. b4 Nc4 25. bxa5 bxa5 26. Nb2 Ba6 27. Nxc4 Bxc4 28. Rb1 c5 29. Qb2 Qd7. Stockfish’s first line 29. ... cxd4 30. exd4 Bd3 31. Rbc1 Qd7 appears, indeed, a little more stubborn. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)’s task is made harder by the fact that she is alreay short of time. 30. dxc5 Qxa4 31. Ra1 Qc6 32. Bxa5 Be7 33. Qb6 Rc8 34. Bb4! Qxb6 35. cxb6 Bxb4 36. b7! Rf8. In spite of being in desperate time trouble, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) succeeds to find the only moves to avoid resignation. 37. Ra8. 王玥 (Wáng Yuè) too is in serious time trouble. 37. ... Bd6 38. Rea1 Kf7 39. Rc8 Re8 40. Rxe8 Kxe8. Time control finally reached, with each player in their few last seconds. Black has not obtained enough to hope for salvation, and 王玥 (Wáng Yuè) mercilessy accomplishes his goal. 41. Ra8+ Ke7 42. Rg8 g5 43. Rg7+ Kd8 44. Rg8+ Ke7 45. f3 h5 46. g3 e5 47. b8=Q Bxb8 48. Rxb8 d4 49. exd4 exd4 50. Kf2 Bf7 51. Rb4 d3 52. Re4+ Kf8 53. Rd4 Bg6 54. Rd7 Bf5 55. Ra7 g4 56. f4 Kg8 57. Ke3 Bh7 58. Ra5 1 : 0.

王玥 (Wáng Yuè) vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)
Photo: cmsa.cn

Quicksand

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)

7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”; 儋州 (Dānzhōu), July 8, 2016

Scotch Game C45

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bd3 d6 7. h3!? For 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. Bg5 Qe7 9. Nc3 Bd4 10. Na4 Qe5 11. Bd2 a5 12. f4 Qe7 13. h3 Bd7 14. 0-0-0 see Nepomniachtchi – Zhigalko, 30th European Chess Club Cup, Bilbao 2014. 7. ... Ne7 8. Nc3 Ng6 9. Na4 Bd4 10. c3 Bf6 11. 0-0 Ne5 12. Be2 0-0 13. f4 Nd7 14. Qc2 c5 15. Bf3 Rb8 16. Be3 Ba6 17. Rfd1 Qe7 18. Bf2 Bb5 19. Rab1 Nb6 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. Re1 Bc4 22. b3 Be6 23. a4 Rfd8 24. b4 Bc4 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Rxb8 Rxb8 27. e5 dxe5 28. fxe5 Bg5 29. a5 g6 30. Qe4 Qe6 31. Bxc5 h5 32. Bd4 Rb3 33. Ra1 c5

34. a6! Bxa6 35. Qa8+ Qc8? After struggling long in order to survive White’s lasting initiative, now 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) blunders away a neat piece. Correct was 35. ... Kg7 36. Bd5 Qb6 37. Bxb3 cxd4 38. Qxa6 Qxb3 39. cxd4 Qe3+ 40. Kh1 Qxd4 with a (doomed) Pawn for the Exchange and (better) drawing possibilities. 36. Rxa6 Rb8 37. Bf2! The pointe. 37. ... Kg7 38. Qc6 Rb1+ 39. Kh2 Qf5 40. Qe4 1 : 0.

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi
Photo: cmsa.cn

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi (R.) vs. 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) (L.)
Photo: cmsa.cn

The Future Eve

儋州市 (Dānzhōu City), July 7, 2016. PTV (TV.people.com.cn)’s interview with 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī), 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì), and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) on the eve of the 7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup”.

Mated by Moonlight

The 7th 海南 (Hǎinán) 儋州 (Dānzhōu) Super Grandmaster Chess Tournament “人民网 (People’s Daily Online) Cup” starts tomorrow at 14,30 (CST) (China Standard Time). Here are the pairings for Round One:

王玥 (Wáng Yuè) – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) Péter Lékó – 余泱漪 (Yú Yāngyī) Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) 王皓 (Wáng Hào) – Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk Pentala Harikrishna – 卜祥志 (Bǔ Xiángzhì)

海南 (Hǎinán) Chess Association Executive Vice-President & Secretary-General Mr. 刘月清 (Liú Yuèqīng) is justly proud of putting 儋州 (Dānzhōu) on the map! Photo: 毛雷 (Máo Léi).