Starting from Three

Meanwhile, in Zürich, Switzerland it is started the 6th Zürich Chess Challenge, dedicated to the memory of Viktor Lvovich Kortschnoi, died on June of last year. The eight participants are (in alphabetical order): Viswanathan Anand, Boris Abramovich Gelfand, Vladimir Borisovich Kramnik, Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi, Grigoriy Alekseevich Oparin, Yannick Pelletier, and Pyotr Veniaminovich Svidler. The main sponsor Oleg Skvortsov, who yesterday played a shining exhibition game with Anand, armed himself with the presence of guests of honour such as 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov (pictured above left) and FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov (pictured above right), thus giving substance to his aim for moving FIDE headquarters from Athens to Zürich. Photo credit: Rustam Kalimullin.

Enjoy the Play

Oleg Skvortsov – Viswanathan Anand
6th Zürich Chess Challenge; exhibition game; Zürich, April 12, 2017
Italian Game C54

Caïssa says this year it’s up to Anand to stand up to the modern Prince of Mingrelia: 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. b4 Bb6 7. e5 d5 8. exf6 dxc4 9. Qe2+. If 9. b5 then 9. ... 0-0! and now not 10. bxc6? because of 10. ... Re8+ 11. Kf1 d3 12. Be3 Qxf6 13. Qa4 Bxe3 14. fxe3 Rxe3 15. Nd2 Bh3! with an overwhelming attack, Berend – Barle, Debrecen 1992. 9. ... Be6 10. b5 Nb4!? Black, too, plays for the sake of amusement. 11. fxg7 Rg8 12. cxb4 Qf6 13. 0-0 Qxg7 14. g3 0-0-0 15. a4 d3 16. Qb2

16. ... Qxg3+!! A very spectacular Queen sacrifice, which is also the only way to evocate the deity and convince Maecenas he is playing – even if in Kieseritzky’s shoes – Anand’s Immortal Game. 17. hxg3 Rxg3+ 18. Kh2 Rxf3 19. Bg5? Here is where Skovrtsov does not dare to challenge Caïssa’s Will. In his on-line commentary, Marc Lang recommends 19. Qg7 Rh3+ 20. Kg2 Bd4 21. Qg5 f6 22. Qg7 Rh4 23. Kg3 Rh3+ 24. Kg2 Rh4 with a “salomonic repetition”, but it is obvious White could have played for much more by 23. f3! (Stockfish). 19. ... Bd4 20. Qd2 Rg8 21. Ra3. 21. Rg1 Rh3+ 22. Kg2 h6 makes no difference at all. 21. ... h6 22. Rg1 Rh3+ 23. Kg2 Rxg5+ 0 : 1. Skovrtsov resigned because of 24. Kf1 Rxg1+ 25.Kxg1 Bd5 and mate in two moves.

Oleg Skvortsov (R.) vs. Viswanathan Anand
Photo: Rustam Kalimullin