Scotch and soda

丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) – Magnus Carlsen
Lindores Abbey Chess Stars Tournament (25+10); Newburgh, Fife, May 26, 2019
Queen’s Gambit Declined D30

And thus, since in vino veritas, although he was not feeling good due to the cold, in the end 16th World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen won also the rapid quadrangular tournament held at the Lindores Abbey Distillery — which claims to be the “Spiritual Home of Scotch Whisky” — in Newburgh, Fife, Scotland. As Leonard Barden rhetorically asks (and answers) in his column for The Guardian of Friday, May 24, “Why Lindores Abbey distillery? The majority shareholders in the firm are Russian and are friends of the RCF president, Andrey Filatov, who has a significant record as a chess sponsor”. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 a6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Bxe7 Qxe7 6. Nbd2 Nf6 7. g3 0-0 8. Bg2 b6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. 0-0 Bb7 11. Rc1 a5 12. Re1 c5 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. e4! 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) finally breaks up Black’s centre, provoking a brief skirmish which eventually leads him to win a not-so-easily-queenable Pawn. 14. ... Nxe4 15. Nh4 Qf6 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Rxc5. If 17. Qb3 Black can give back his Pawn by 17. ... e3! so as to simplify the game and get closer to his goal. 17. ... Na6 18. Rxa5 Qxb2 19. Bxe4 Bxe4 20. Rxe4 Rad8 21. Rd5. 21. Qb3 would lead, sooner or later, to the same ending as in the game. 21. ... Rxd5 22. Qxd5 Nb4 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. axb3 Rb8 25. Nf3 Kf8 26. Kf1 Nd5 27. Nd2 g6 28. Rd4 Nb4 29. Ke2 Ke7 30. Re4+ Kd7 31. Ke3 Rb5! 32. Kd4 Rd5+ 33. Kc3 Rd3+. Trusting Tartakower’s aphorism that “all Rook endgames are drawn”, Black does not miss his opportunity to exchange Knights. 34. Kxb4 Rxd2 35. Rf4 f5 36. Kc5 Kc7 37. b4 Kb7

38. h4. After this move, Black will manage to draw without too difficulties. In any event, 38. Rd4! Rc2+ (not 38. ... Rxf2? on account of 39. Rd7+ Kc8 40. Rxh7+−) 39. Kb5 would appear to offer much more chance of success. 38. ... h5 39. Rf3 Rc2+ 40. Kd5 Re2 41. Kc5 Rc2+ 42. Kd4 Re2 43. Kd5 Kb6 44. Rf4 Kb5 45. Kd6 Kb6 46. f3 Kb5 47. Kd5 Rg2 48. Ke5 Rxg3 49. Kf6 Ka4 50. Kg7 Kb5 51. Kh6 Ka4 52. Rd4 Kb5 53. Rd6 Kxb4 54. Rxg6 Rxf3 55. Kxh5 Kc5 56. Rf6 Kd5 57. Kg6 Ke5 58. h5 Rg3+ 59. Kf7 f4 60. h6 Rh3 61. Kg7 f3 62. Rf8 Rg3+ 63. Kh8 Ke4 64. h7 Ke3 65. Rxf3+ Kxf3 ½ : ½.

It’s like Magnus Carlsen is going to win everything. Photo: Ritzau Scanpix/Reuters/NTB Scanpix.

In the Studio

As they say, all good (and bad) things come in threes, so no wonder that, once again, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) won (for the third time in a row) her rapid match against Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno, which took place in 北京 (Běijīng), China from February 10–12. This time it took the Armageddon tie-breaker for her to win, after Lagno scored the equaliser in the second rapid game — the 俄罗斯防御 (Russian Defence) did not apparently bring any good luck to 17th Women’s World Chess Champion! Today’s games were hosted by 中国中央电视台 CCTV studios and broadcasted live on CCTV-5. Well, not everything that appears on television is necessarily true, but this time at least you can be sure that what you watched on TV, however fictional it might sound, was faithfully inspired to facts really happened elsewhere and not to other people. Photos: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

Satellite dish

17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) won the first game of her two-game rapid match (25+10) against Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno, which took place at the 中国棋院 (China Qíyuàn) (the Board and Card Games Administrative Centre of China’s General Administration of Sport) in 北京 (Běijīng), China. Curiously enough, it is the third time in a few months that 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and Lagno meet each other at the chess roulette, mostly for the sake of 上海 (Shànghǎi)’s lady who defended and won both the Women’s World Chess Championship and Women’s World Rapid Chess Championship titles. Today’s game — apparently a 西班牙開局 (Ruy López) — was covered by “secrecy of privacy”, and/or no western broadcasting outlet showed any interest in providing transmission services. 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) said her win was the result of a “successful targeted preparation”, with her mind already focused on tomorrow’s game: “Thanks to CCTV for its support to chess. For sure, tomorrow I will play all out to close the match”. The second game will be held and broadcasted live on CCTV-5 starting at 15,30. Photo: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

Alternate Reality & Surreality

The 启航理想·2019国际象棋世界棋后巅峰赛将 (E-Dream · 2019 World Chess Champion Summit) will start tomorrow, featuring a two-game rapid match between 17th Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) and Ukrainian-born Russian Grandmaster Ekaterina Aleksandrovna Lagno to be held at 北京 (Běijīng), China from February 10–12. Time control is 25 minutes per player with an increment of 10 seconds added per move from move 1. If the match is tied after two games, a single sudden-death Armageddon tie-breaker will be played, with $15,000 in prize money for the winner, and $8,000 for the loser. The first game will be played at the 中国棋院 (China Qíyuàn) (the Board and Card Games Administrative Centre of China’s General Administration of Sport), while the second will be hosted by 中国中央电视台 CCTV studios.

Outdoor cinema

Norwegian Grandmaster Jon Ludvig Nilssen Hammer, who will have to eventually qualify for the 3rd Chess.com’s Speed Chess Championship through two qualifiers, told Chess.com’s journalist Mike Klein that he would like “to play 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – it’s one of the easier matchups, and we always have interesting, fighting games”. The schedule is still in progress, but coverage is already ensured, as all matches will be broadcast live on Chess.com/TV and Twitch.tv/Chess.

Sway

And finally, after the game, it’s dessert time. Thus, both 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov were awarded their material and immaterial prizes at the awarding ceremony of their “Belt and Road” chess showdown held at the Ice and Snow World 呼兰河口湿地公园 (Hūlán River Mouth Wetland Park) in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), China on February 7, 2018. Photos: 樊璐璐 (Fán Lùlù).

冰川时代 (Ice Age)

In the early afternoon of February 6, 2018, as a corollary of their “Belt and Road” chess showdown, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov took over the exhibition area of the National Youth “Star of the Future” Winter Sunshine Sports Convention in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), China where, for the joy of children and parents alike, they gave a demonstration-performance on a giant chessboard on ice. The feast was finally crowned by a joint 50-board simultaneous chess exhibition. Photos: 王亮 (Wáng Liàng).

The Ice Castle

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

“Belt and Road” 2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown; match game 5 (15+10); 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), February 6, 2018

Modern Benoni A70

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. e4 a6 8. h3 b5 9. Bd3 Bg7 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Re1 Re8. The alternative was 11. ... Nbd7 12. Bf4 Qb6 13. Rc1 c4 14. Bb1 Bb7 15. Qd2 Rfe8 16. Be3 Qd8 17. Bd4 Rc8 18. a3 Nc5 with a dynamic balance, Mamedjarova – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Women’s Grand Prix 2009–2011, first stage, Instanbul 2009. 12. Bf4 Qb6 13. a3 Nbd7 14. Qd2 Bb7 15. b4 Rac8 16. Rac1 Nh5 17. Be3 Qd8 18. Ne2 f5? This is a very imprudent commitment which could end into a half disaster. After 18. ... Qe7 19. g4 Nhf6 20. Ng3 White has only a slight edge, V. Georgiev – Delchev, 16th International Open, Benasque 1996. 19. exf5 Bxd5

20. Nh2? Karpov misses the fatal coup 20. Ng5! which would have made the threat of f5xg6 almost terrific. 20. ... Bf7 21. fxg6 hxg6 22. Ng4 Ne5 23. Nh6+ Bxh6 24. Bxh6 Nxd3 25. Qxd3 Qf6 26. Qd2 Re5! 27. Be3 Bc4 28. Rcd1 Rd5 29. Qc2 Qf7? After defending successfully her position, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) slips on ice and falls. Correct was 29. ... Re5! and if 30. g4 then 30. ... Rf8! 31. gxh5 Rxe3 32. fxe3 Qf2+ with a draw by perpetual check. 30. Nc3. Now White forces the exchange of Rooks and launches a typical attack with Bishops of opposite colour. Black is harmless. 30. ... Rxd1 31. Qxd1 cxb4 32. axb4 Bb3 33. Qd2 Nf6 34. Bd4 Rf8 35. Ne4 Nxe4 36. Rxe4 Qh7 37. Bc3 d5 38. Rg4 Rf5 39. Qd4 Bc4 40. Qb6 g5 41. h4 Qh5 42. Qd8+ Kf7 43. Qd7+ 1 : 0.

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: 樊璐璐、王亮 (Fán Lùlù, Wáng Liàng).

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov

“Belt and Road” 2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown; match game 6 (15+10); 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), February 6, 2018

English Opening A11

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg2 Bf5 5. 0-0 e6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. d3 Nc6 8. Nc3 d4 9. Nb5 a6 10. Na3 Be7

11. Qb3 0-0 12. Nc4 b5 13. Nce5 Na5. If Black doesn’t want to give the Pawn, he should, perhaps, prefer 13. ... Nxe5, but after 14. Nxe5 Rc8 14. a4 White has a clear advantage. 14. Qd1 Rc8. Probably better is 14. ... Bd6 15. Bd2 Rc8 that after 16. Qe1 Nb7 17. Nxd4 Bxe5 18. Nxf5 exf5 19. Bxb7 Rc2 led Black to quite a satisfactory game, Dizdarević – Seirawan, 26th “Bosna” International Tournament, Sarajevo 1987. It’s foreseeable, however, that 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) had prepared some improvement. 15. Bd2 Qb6 16. Bxa5 Qxa5 17. Nxd4. Now Black will get nothing for the loss of Pawn, and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) meets no difficulty in enlarging her material and positional advantage. 17. ... Qb6 18. Nxf5 exf5 19. d4 Rfd8 20. e3 Nd7 21. Nd3 Rc7 22. a4 Rdc8 23. a5 Qd6 24. b4 Rc4 25. Rb1 g6 26. Nc5 Nxc5 27. bxc5. Now the Black Rook on c4 can start shivering. 27. ... Qc7 28. Ra1 Rd8 29. Qb3 g5 30. Rfb1 f4 31. Bf1 fxe3 32. fxe3 Ra4 33. Rxa4 bxa4 34. Qb7! Qxb7 35. Rxb7 a3 36. Bc4 Kf8 37. Kf1 g4 38. Ke2 h5 39. c6 Rc8 40. d5 f5 41. Kd3 Bc5 42. Rh7. The White Rook can finally raid Black’s Pawns on the Kingside. 42. ... Kg8 43. Rxh5 Kg7 44. Rxf5 Rb8 45. Rf2 Re8 46. Bxa6 Rxe3+ 47. Kc4 Bd6 48. Bb7 Re4+ 49. Kb3 Rb4+ 50. Ka2 Ra4 51. a6 Ra5 52. Rc2 Bc7 53. d6! 1 : 0.

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: 樊璐璐、王亮 (Fán Lùlù, Wáng Liàng).

The ice was broken

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

“Belt and Road” 2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown; match game 1 (15+10); 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), February 5, 2018

Queen’s Gambit Declined D38

In the first game of her rapid match with Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) didn’t just manage to avoid the kind of position her opponent likes more. 1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Qb3 c5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. a3 Bxc3+ 10. Qxc3 b6. Varying from 10. ... Nd7 11. e3 0-0 12. Be2 b6 13. 0-0 Bb7 14. Rfc1 Rfc8 15. dxc5 Qxc3 16. Rxc3 Rxc5 17. Rcc1 Rac8 18. Rcb1 Nf8 19. Nd4 Ne6 20. Bg4 Re8 21. b4 Rc4 22. Be2 Rcc8 23. Nf5 Rc7 24. Rc1 Rec8 25. Rd1 Rd8 26. h4 Kf8 27. Bf3 Rcd7 28. a4 d4 29. Bxb7 ½ : ½ Salem – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Grand Prix 2017, first stage, Sharjah 2017. 11. e3 0-0 12. Be2 Nc6 13. dxc5 Qxc3+ 14. bxc3 bxc5 15. Rb1 Rd8. 15. ... Rb8 16. Rxb8 Nxb8 17. Kd2 Nd7 seems a convincing way to equalise. 16. Rb5 c4 17. 0-0 Ba6? This is probably the mistake which costed Black the game. 17. ... Be6 18. Rfb1 Rab8 seemed to offer a robust defence. 18. Rc5 Ne7 19. Nd4 Rac8 20. Ra5 Rd6 21. Rb1 Ra8 22. Bf3 Kf8 23. Rb4 Bc8 24. Rxc4. White has finally won a Pawn, and can now rely upon his mythical technique virtuosism for bringing home the full point. 24. ... Bg4 25. Rc7 Bxf3 26. gxf3 a6 27. Ra4 Rc8 28. Rxc8+ Nxc8 29. Ra5 g6 30. f4 Ke7 31. h4 Kd7 32. Kg2 Ne7 33. Ra4 Ng8 34. c4 dxc4 35. Rxc4 Nf6 36. Kf3 Rb6 37. f5 h5 38. fxg6 fxg6 39. Rc2 Ng4 40. Kf4 Rb1 41. f3 Nf6 42. e4 Rd1 43. Rc4 Ke7 44. Nc6+ Ke6 45. Ne5 Rg1 46. Rc6+ Ke7 47. Rxa6 Rg2 48. a4 Rh2 49. Nxg6+ Kf7 50. Kf5 Ne8 51. Ra7+ Kg8 52. e5 Rg2 53. Ra8 1 : 0.

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov vs. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: sportsonline.com.cn.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov

“Belt and Road” 2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown; match game 2 (15+10); 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), February 5, 2018

Spanish Game C77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) avoids book lines and opts for a long time variation favoured by Adolf Anderssen and Wilhelm Steinitz. 5. ... b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. c3 0-0 8. a4 Bb7 9. 0-0 d6 10. Na3 Nb8 11. Ba2 c6 12. Nc2 Nbd7 13. Ne3 g6 14. h3 d5 15. exd5 cxd5 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 Qc7 18. N5g4 Nxg4 19. Qxg4 Nf6 20. Qg5 Qd7 21. f4 Kg7 22. f5 h6 23. Qg3 Bd6 24. Qf2 g5 25. Bd2 bxa4 26. c4 Bf4 27. cxd5 Bxe3 28. Qxe3 Nxd5

After many complex maneuvers, White could have now won back her Pawn by 29. Qxe4, but she boldly decides to sacrifice another one, probably just “feeling” that there must be something in the position. 29. f6+!? Nxf6 30. d5? And maybe her instinct was right! Apparently, after 30. Bb4! Nh5 (not 30. ... Rfd8? because of 31. Rxf6! Kxf6 32. Rf1+ Kg6 33. Rxf7 Qxd4 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rxb7 with overwhelming superiority for White) 31. Bxf8+ Rxf8 32. d5 f5 33. Rac1 Nf4 34. Rxf4! gxf4 35. Qxf4 Rc8 36. Rd1 (Δ d5-d6) 36. ... Re8 (in order to answer 37. d6 by 37. ... e3) 37. g4! fxg4 38. Rc1! Rc8 39. Rf1! White has excellent compensation for the two Pawns. 30. ... Nxd5 31. Bxd5 Qxd5 32. Bc3+ f6 33. Rad1 Qe6 34. Qc5 Rac8 35. Qb4? This could be the losing move. Best was 35. Rd6 Rxc5 36. Rxe6 Rc6 37. Rfxf6 Rxf6 38. Bxf6+ Kg6 39. Rxc6 Bxc6 and I guess that White, although two Pawns down, may hope to hold her own in the endgame with Bishops of opposite colours. 35. ... Bd5! 36. Qd4 Rcd8 37. Qa7+ Rd7 38. Qe3 Kg6 39. g4 Bc6 40. Rxd7 Bxd7 41. Rd1 Bb5 42. Qc5 Rc8 43. Qe3 0 : 1.

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

“Belt and Road” 2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown; match game 3 (15+10); 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), February 5, 2018

Queen’s Indian Defence A40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. d5 Bb7 4. a3 Nf6 5. Nc3 Qe7! The tricky 5. ... Bd6 doesn’t work (at least against Karpov): 6. Nf3 exd5 7. cxd5 0-0 8. Bg5 Re8 9. e3 Be7 10. Bc4 h6 11. Bf4 Nh5 12. Be5 Bf6 13. Bd4 Ba6 14. Bxa6 Nxa6 15. 0-0 c5 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Qd3 Qc8 18. Nd2 d6 19. Nc4 Rd8 20. e4 Nc7 21. b4 Na6 22. b5 Nc7 23. a4 Qd7 24. f4 Re8 25. Rad1 Rad8 26. h3 Qe7 27. e5 dxe5 28. d6 Qf8 29. fxe5 Nh7 30. Qf3 Ne6 31. Qb7 Ra8 32. Nd5 g6 33. Ne7+ Kg7 34. Nc6 1 : 0 Karpov – A. J. Miles, 6th Torneo Internacional Ciudad de Las Palmas, Las Palmas 1977. 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d6 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Rc1 c5 10. Nb5 Ne5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qa4 Kd8! 13. Nc3 f5 14. Rd1 Qd7 15. Qc2 Rg8 16. a4 Be7 17. b3 Ke8 18. g3 Kf8 19. Bg2 Ng6 20. Kf1 Rd8 21. Nge2 a6 22. h4 Bf6 23. f4 e5 24. Bh3 Bc8 25. Kf2 Re8 26. h5 Ne7. White got nothing but an uneasy game. Karpov gradually loses the thread. 27. Ng1 Qd8 28. Nf3 e4 29. Ng1 Rg7 30. Nge2 Ng8 31. a5? Too velleitary. Better sit and wait for her. 31. ... bxa5 32. Ra1 Qc7 33. Ra3 Bd8 34. Rha1 Nf6 35. Rxa5 Nxh5 36. Rxa6? White’s Exchange sacrifice only worsens his already very bad situation. 36. ... Bxa6 37. Rxa6

37. ... Nxg3? A painful miscalculation. 37. ... Qe7! would have won right off, actually threatening 38. ... Nxg3! 39. Nxg3 Qh4. 38. Nxg3 Bh4 39. Ne2 Qe7 40. Ke1? Luckily for 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), Karpov collapses, probably overwhelmed by his lack of time. 40. Kg2 would have turned off many of her fans. 40. ... Bxg3+ 41. Kd2 Be1+! 42. Kc1 Qf6 43. Kb1 Bf2 44. Qd2 Kg8 45. Kc2 Kh8 46. b4 cxb4 47. c5 b3+ 48. Kxb3 Rb8+ 49. Rb6 Rgg8 50. Nd4 dxc5 0 : 1.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Photo: sportsonline.com.cn.

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov

“Belt and Road” 2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown; match game 4 (15+10); 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), February 5, 2018

Spanish Game C77

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. a4. In the second game White played 7. c3. As for this game, both seem to believe there’s a chance to aim for more tomorrow. 7. ... Rb8 8. axb5 axb5 9. 0-0 0-0 10. c3 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Re1 Bf6 13. Nbd2 Nf4 14. Ne4 Qxd3 15. Bxf4 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 exf4 17. Bd5 Rb6 18. Nxf6+ gxf6 19. Re4 Rd8 20. Rd2 Kg7 21. Rxf4

21. ... b4 22. h3 bxc3 23. bxc3 Ne7 24. Bc4 Rb1+ 25. Kh2 Rxd2 26. Nxd2 Rc1 27. Rf3 Ng6 28. Nb3 Rc2 29. Nd4 Rc1 30. Re3 Ne5 31. Be2 Bd7 32. f4 Ng6 33. Kg3 Kf8 34. Bf3 Ne7 35. Be4 h6 36. Kf2 Ra1 37. g4 Ra2+ 38. Kg3 Ba4 39. Nf5 Nxf5+ 40. Bxf5 Rd2 41. Kh4 Bd7 42. Be4 Be6 43. g5 fxg5+ 44. fxg5 hxg5+ 45. Kxg5 Kg7 46. Rg3 Re2 47. Bf3 Re5+ 48. Kf4+ Kf6 49. h4 Rc5 50. Be2 Rf5+ 51. Ke3 Re5+ 52. Kd2 Re4 53. h5 Rh4 54. Ke3 c5 55. Bf3 Rc4 56. Kd3 Rh4 57. Rg1 Rh3 58. Ke4 Rh4+ 59. Ke3 Rc4 60. Kd2 Rh4 61. Ke3 Rc4 62. Kd2 Rh4 63. Ke3 ½ : ½.

“I’m one point behind after the first day. In tomorrow’s last two games I’ll do my best to raise the creative level of my play”, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) said. “Remembering my first match with her eight years ago, I cannot but notice how much 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) has improved since then. More experience, more stubborness, more stylish”, Karpov finally said.

The ice was broken. Photo: sportsonline.com.cn.

One Belt One Road

Back to the “Belt and Road” for the 6-game rapid match between 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov and four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), which will start tomorrow at the Ice and Snow World 呼兰河口湿地公园 (Hūlán River Mouth Wetland Park) in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), China. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) herself drew the colours for the first game and, judging from appearances, she might have felt lucky for beginning the showdown with Black, unlicke her 2010 first match with Karpov. Photo: sports.people.com.cn.

The schedule of the “2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown” is as follows: tomorrow (February 5) opening ceremony (14,00) and first four games (from 14,30 to 17,30); the day after tomorrow (February 6) fifth and sixth games (from 10,00 to 11,00), followed by a demonstration-performance on chess on ice (14,00). Finally, if a tie-break comes along, stay tuned for February 7 (9,30). Photo: sports.sina.com.cn.

时差问题 (Jet lag)

Chess-News.ru‏ (@Chess__News)

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov went directly from the RCF Congress to be playing the match with 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). ❄️ ❄️ ❄️ 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov went directly from the 13th Congress of the Russian Chess Federation to the airport in order to arrive in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), China just in time for the start of his 6-game rapid match with four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). Before leaving, Karpov expressed satisfaction with the electoral outcome: “I assess positively Andrey Vasilievich Filatov’s re-election”, he told Oleg Bogatov of R-Sport. “Of course, everything is perfectable, but the building of the Central House of Chess on Gogol Boulevard is a monument in sæcula sæculorum. It’s an absolutely unique building, restored in historical style. And the fact that the Mayor of Moscow gave it for free to the chess players, well, it’s something we couldn’t even dream of in Soviet times, despite the support of the top leadership. No doubt it is a merit of Andrey Vasilievich Filatov and his team. And I had no doubts”.

冰淇淋 (Ice cream)

Everything is ready for the “2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown” between 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov and four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) which will take place in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), the administrative centre of 黑龙江省 (Hēilóngjiāng province), Northeast China, from 4 to 7 February 2018. The match will consist of 6 rapid games at 15 minutes per player plus 10 seconds time per move. The winner will receive a cash prize of $20,000, while the loser will be paid $10,000.

Ice giant

• Карпов и Хоу Ифань 4-7 февраля в Китае проведут поединок по быстрым шахматам | Karpov and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will play a Rapid chess match in China from 4 to 7 February, TASS, January 12, 2018

Karpov and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will play a Rapid chess match in China from 4 to 7 February The winner will receive a cash prize $20,000, while the loser will be paid $10,000. 北京 (Běijīng), January 12. TASS. Russian Grandmaster Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov and Chinese Grandmaster 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will meet from 4 to 7 February in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), the administrative centre of 黑龙江省 (Hēilóngjiāng province), Northeast China, in the “2018 Sino-Russian Chess Champions Showdown”. This is reported by 新华社 (Xīnhuá News Agency). The event is organised with the assistance of the Board and Card Games Administrative Center of General Administration of Sports of China and the Chinese Chess Association. The match of 6 games will be played in Rapid chess format. Time control is 15 minutes per player, plus 10 seconds time per move. The winner will receive a cash prize of $20,000, while the loser will be paid $10,000. Besides the match, Karpov and 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) will jointly give a simultaneous exhibition to 50 young players. It is also planned to stage a demonstration-performance on chess on ice. Karpov is the 12th World Chess Champion, a two-time winner of the World Team Chess Championship representing the Soviet Union, a six-time winner of the Chess Olympiads representing the Soviet Union, a three-time winner of the USSR Chess Championship, a nine-time Oscar winner — the award given to the best player of the year. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) — four-time Women’s World Chess Champion, a three-time winner of the World Women’s Team Chess Championship representing China, is one of the three World Champions who succeeded in regaining the chess crown after an eclipse.

(Free translation by Nobody’s Perfect)

Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov. Photo © Alexander Olegovich Shcherbak/TASS.

Of Ice and Snow

• 杨拓 (Yáng Tà), 全国青少年“未来之星”冬季阳光体育大会将在哈尔滨举行 | 2018 National Youth “Star of the Future” Winter Sunshine Sports Summit will be held in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), chinanews.com, January 10, 2018

It was reported today that the 2018 National Youth “Star of the Future” Winter Sunshine Sports Convention will be held in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn), 黑龙江省 (Hēilóngjiāng province), China featuring, among various major events, a 6-game rapid chess match between 12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov and four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán). The match is scheduled from 4 to 7 February 2018, with $20,000 in prize money for the winner, and $10,000 for the loser. Time control is 15 minutes per player, plus 10 seconds time per move.

Newlywed couples walk together during a mass wedding ceremony at 34th Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival in 哈尔滨 (Hā’ěrbīn). About 34 couples participated in the ceremony. Photo: 吴宏 (Wú Hóng)/EPA.

To castle or not to castle, that is the question

Magnus Carlsen – Wesley So

2nd Speed Chess Championship; match game 15 (5’+2” per move); Chess.com, November 18, 2017

brnnqkrb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/BRNNQKRB w KQkq - 0 1
Position 435

1. c4. De gustibus non est disputandum: 1. e4 g6 2. g3 b6 3. Nc3 c5 4. 0-0 0-0 5. Nd5 e6 6. Nc7 Qe7 7. Nxa8 Rxa8 8. c3 Nc6 9. b3 b5 10. Qe3 b4 11. Nd3 bxc3 12. dxc3 c4 13. bxc4 Nb6 14. c5 Nc4 15. Qe2 N4e5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. f4 Qc5+ 18. Qf2 Qxf2+ 19. Kxf2 Nc4 20. e5 d5 21. Ke2 Rfc8 22. Kd3 Rc5 23. Bf3 Ra5 24. Rf2 Bg7 25. Bd1 Rc8 26. Re2 Ra6 27. Bb3 Rb6 28. Bb2 Bf8 29. Bc1 Ba3 30. Bd2 Nxd2 31. Rxd2 a5 32. Rf1 h5 33. Rc2 Rb7 34. h3 Kg7 35. Rh1 Ra7 36. Ba4 h4 37. gxh4 Rc4 38. Bb5 Rxf4 39. h5 Rb7 40. c4 dxc4+ 41. Rxc4 Rxc4 42. Bxc4 Rd7 43. Kc2 gxh5 44. Rg1+ Kh6 45. Rg8 Bb4 46. a3 Rc7 47. Kb3 Bxa3 48. Rh8+ Kg7 49. Rxh5 Be7 50. Bd3 Rc5 51. h4 Rd5 52. Be4 Rd4 53. Rh7+ Kg8 54. Bg6 Rf4 ½ : ½ Nakamura – Aronian, 2nd Sinqfield Fischerandom Chess Cup, Saint Louis 2014, match game 5. 1. ... g6 2. g3 b6 3. Bxa8 Rxa8 4. b3 Bxa1 5. Rxa1 c5 6. Nc3 e6 7. e3 Nc6 8. N1e2 N8e7 9. Rd1 0-0. Given the starting position, it was possible to castle on the h-side already from the first move! 10. d4 cxd4. Who knows, maybe 10. ... d5 should have been considered, as after the text Black’s backward d-Pawn will be subjected to White’s pressure. 11. Nxd4 Nxd4 12. Rxd4. Not 12. exd4? d5 and Black would be suddenly free. 12. ... Nc6 13. Rd2 Qe7 14. 0-0 a6. If 14. ... Qb4 then 15. Qa1! with crushing threats. 15. Qe2 Rfd8 16. Rfd1 f5? It does not seem a good idea to allow White’s next move. Whether bad or good, 16. ... d6 was better. 17. Rd6. The inexorable pythonisation begins. 17. ... Rab8 18. e4 Rb7 19. Kg2 Qf6? Now the end comes upon Black immediately. In any event, after 19. ... fxe4 20. Nxe4 Rf8 21. Qd2 White also dominates the board. 20. exf5 gxf5. Unpleasantly forced, as 20. ... Qxf5 loses to 21. Rxc6. 21. Nd5 Qe5 22. Qxe5 Nxe5 23. Nxb6 f4 24. gxf4 Ng6 25. Nxd7 1 : 0.

Three in One

侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) – Fabiano Caruana

2nd Speed Chess Championship; match game 8; time control: 5 minutes plus 2 seconds per move; chess.com, August 24, 2017

nrbkrbqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRBKRBQN w EBeb - 0 1

Position #358

1. Nb3 f5 2. f4 Nb6 3. g3 Ng6 4. Bg2 e5 5. fxe5 Nxe5 6. Nf2 d5 7. d3 Bd7 8. Bg5+ Be7 9. Bxe7+ Rxe7 10. Kc1!? A very subtle concept: White does not castle on the a-side, judging that her Rook on the b-file is optimally placed already. 10. ... 0-0-0. Black adopts a more classic approach, apparently not being afraid of her opponent’s aggressive intentions on the a-side. 11. Nc5 Kb8 12. Nd1 Bc8 13. a4 Qe8 14. a5 Na4 15. Ra1 Nxc5 16. Qxc5 Ng4. Black consolidated very well and has now an excellent position. 17. Nc3. If 17. Bxd5 there might follow 17. ... Re5! (or, more minimally, 17. ... Rxe2 18. Rxe2 Qxe2 19. a6 b6 20. Qc6 Rxd5! 21. Qxd5 Qxd1+! 22. Kxd1 Ne3+ leaving White the task of defending a very unpleasant endgame) 18. c4 c6 19. Nc3 Rd7 (not 19. ... cxd5?? 20. Nb5 and it is White who wins!) 20. d4 Qe7! with clear advantage to Black. 17. ... Rxe2?? Here Caruana, with no more time to move, just blunders a Rook. With 17. ... Ne3 Black would have retained his good chances. 18. Rxe2 Qxe2 19. Nxe2 1 : 0.

Fabiano Caruana – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Speed Chess Championship; match game 17; time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move; chess.com, August 24, 2017

nbbrnkrq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBBRNKRQ w GDgd - 0 1

Position #180

1. c4 c5 2. Nb3. An older (and very qualified) try is 2. d4 cxd4 3. Rxd4 Be5 4. Rd1 0-0 5. Nf3 Bf6 6. Bc2 g6 7. b3 Nac7 8. Ne3 Bb2 9. 0-0 Bxc1 10. Rxc1 Nf6 11. h3 b6 12. Qh2 d6 13. Qg3 Qg7 14. Qh4 Bb7 15. Rfd1 Rc8 16. Nd4 Rfd8 17. Rc3 e6 18. Nef5 exf5 19. Nxf5 g5 20. Qg3 Nh5 21. Qe3 Qf6 22. Ne7+ Kf8 23. Nxc8 Rxc8 24. Qd2 Nf4 25. Rg3 Rd8 26. Bxh7 Nce6 27. e3 Nh5 28. Rg4 Qh6 29. Bf5 Neg7 30. Qc2 Qf6 31. Be4 Bc8 32. Bf3 Qe5 33. Re4 Bf5 34. Rxe5 Bxc2 35. Rd2 Bg6 36. Bxh5 Nxh5 37. Rxg5 Nf6 38. f3 Ke7 39. e4 Nh7 40. Rgd5 f6 41. f4 1 : 0 Aronian – Svidler, 5th Clerical Medical World Chess960 Championship, Mainz 2006, match game 1. 2. ... b6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bb7 5. Nef3 Nac7 6. h4 Nd6 7. b3 0-0-0!? The most committal castle, trusting in her two Bishops’s command of long diagonals. 8. Bf4 Ne6 9. Nxe6 dxe6 10. 0-0 h6!? Given the time control (and the overall partial match score) 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) is interestingly playing for a win, even at the cost of compromising her position. 11. Qh3? Caruana, too, is playing to win, but in his hurry he overlooks something important. 11. ... Bc7? Black misses 11. ... g5! 12. hxg5 hxg5 13. Qxh8 Rxh8 14. Nxg5 (or 14. Bxg5 Rdg8! 15. Bf4 Rh5! with a terrific attack) 14. ... Rdg8 which would have given her an excellent attacking position for the sacrificed Pawn. 12. Ne5! Now Black looks doomed. 12. ... Kb8!? A clever way of trying her luck. Now 12. ... g5 would have been met by 13. Nxf7 gxf4 14. Nxh8 Rxg2+ 15. Qxg2 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Rxh8 17. Rc1 with a decisive advantage to White. If, instead, 12. ... Rgf8 there might follow 17. h5! which seems to leave Black in a kind of zugzwang. On the other hand, the impending threat by White of Rxd1xd6 does not seem to be satisfactorily parable. 13. Nxf7? Caruana apparently mis-shuffles his winning moves and takes the wrong way. After 13. Rxd6! Bxd6 14. Nxf7 (Her Majesty is trapped) 14. ... Bxf4 15. Nxh8 Rxh8 16. Qxe6 Black has no compensation for the lost crown. 13. ... Nxf7 14. Bxc7+ Kxc7 15. Qxe6 Nd6? But it is Black who makes the last mistake. The right way was 15. ... Rxd1 16. Rxd1 Rd8! 17. Qxe7+ Kb8 and certainly Black should not lose. 16. c5! This little tactics makes all the difference, and now Black can no longer defend herself. 16. ... bxc5 17. Qxe7+ Rd7 18. Qe5 Rgd8 19. Bf5 Qe8 20. Qxc5+ Kb8 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. Rd4 Qe6 23. Rfd1 Qg6 24. f3 1 : 0.

Fabiano Caruana – 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán)

2nd Speed Chess Championship; match game 27; time control: 1 minute plus 1 second per move; chess.com, August 24, 2017

qnrknrbb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QNRKNRBB w FCfc - 0 1

Position #207

1. g4 Nc6 2. f4 g6 3. c4 0-0-0 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 f5 6. g5 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nb5 Nd6? This is a bad positional mistake due to the inhuman time control. 9. Nxd6+ Rxd6. Since 9. ... cxd6 10. Bd4 would be horrible for Black, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) decides to reconvert her previous blunder into an Exchange sacrifice, which, quite incredibly, might even offer some compensation (especially if White doesn’t play at his best). 10. Bc5 Rfd8 11. Bxd6 Rxd6 12. Qb1 a5 13. Qc2 Qa6 14. Ne5 Qb6 15. Qc3? White should have been content with something like 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16. Qb3 retaining his edge. 15. ... d4? And 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán), on her part, throws away her last chance of saving the game: after 15. ... Nxe5 16. fxe5 Rc6 17. Qa3 Rxc1+ 18. Kxc1 Bxe5 Black seems to have full dynamic compensation for the Exchange. 16. Qc5 Qxb2? This quickly runs into mate, but being positionally doomed Black must play for his opponent to commit some error. 17. Nxc6 bxc6 18. Bxc6 Qxa2 19. Rf3. White could have already played his mating Bishop sacrifice here as well on his 21st move. 19. ... Bb3+ 20. Ke1 Qb2 21. Kf2 d3 22. Bb7+! Kxb7 23. Qxc7+ Ka8 24. Qc8+ Ka7 25. Rc7+ 1 : 0. Fischerandom chess would need more classic time control games rather than super-syncopated blitz’n’bullet jokes, but what offered by the online circuit of chess.com is at least better than nothing.

Lost in the Shuffle

Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Levon Grigori Aronian

2nd Speed Chess Championship; match game 27 (1’+1” per move); Chess.com, August 23, 2017

rnbkqrnb/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBKQRNB w KQkq - 0 1
Position 631

1. b3 g6 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb2 f5 4. g3 d6 5. f4 Bd7 6. 0-0-0. It could be White’s decisive mistake! 6. ... a5! Black prepares for a straight Pawn sacrifice in order to punish his opponent for having castled on the a-side. 7. Kb1 a4 8. Nxa4 Bxb2 9. Nxb2 Nf6 10. c3 e5 11. d3 e4 12. Qd2 b5 13. Nh3 h6 14. e3 Qf7 15. Nf2 0-0 16. h3? And this is surely White’s crucial mistake, even if it is not clear whether and how he could have avoided the worst of what is about to happen. Stockfish gives 16. dxe4! Rxa2! 17. e5! (17. Kxa2? Ra8+ 18. Kb1 Qxb3 19. Nd3 fxe4 20. Nc1 Qa3 21. Kc2 Be6 also seems to offer Black an overwhelming attack) 17. ... Qxb3 18. exf6 Be6 19. Bd5 Rfa8 20. Bxb3 Bxb3 21. Nbd3 Ra1+ 22. Kb2 R1a2+ with perpetual check.

16. ... Rxa2!! Aronian sacrifices a whole Rook for a mating attack. 17. Kxa2 Ra8+ 18. Kb1 Qxb3. White is harmless against the double threat of ... Bd7-e6 and ... Nc6-b4. 19. dxe4. Desperation, for after 19. Qc2 Ra1+ Black would win very heavy material. 19. ... b4?? A terrible and very strange mistake by Aronian, when by now everything seemed so easy for Black. After 19. ... Be6! White had no (economic) way of parrying the threat of ... Ra8-a1+. 20. Rc1?? And here Nepomniachtchi misses his only (good) chance to claim the point: 20. Qd3! (in order to exchange Queens by Qd3-c4+); Aronian should have probably continued 20. ... bxc3 21. Qc4+ Qxc4 22. Nxc4 Ra4 aimimg for an ending the Exchange down, with all his hopes laid in his (mystical) Knight pair. 20. ... Ra3. Now it is all finished: Black wins. 21. c4 Na5 22. Nd3 Qa2+ 23. Kc2 Ba4 mate.

Ghost in the Machines

Anish Giri – Wesley So
2nd Speed Chess Championship; match game 30; Chess.com, May 25, 2017
nbrkbrnq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBRKBRNQ w KQkq - 1 1
Position 376

1. c4 g6 2. d3 c6 3. Bc3 Be5 4. Nf3 Bxc3 5. Rxc3 Nc7 6. h4 Nf6 7. Nb3 d6 8. 0-0 Bd7 9. Qh2? Strategically, White was not able to handle the odd position of his Queen on h1, and it seems to me that the whole plan of castling on the h-side (at least after playing 6. h4) diminished his chances to give Her Majesty a better role to play on stage. Black is probably slightly better even after 9. d4 0-0-0(!), but White’s situation would have been far less compromised. 9. ... Ng4 10. Qg3? Peter Doggers recommends 10. Qf4 after which there might follow 10. ... f5 11. d4 0-0-0 with Black apparently keeping the upper hand. 10. ... f5 11. e3. Giri keep pursuing his slow (and very wrong) course... 11. ... e5 12. d4? f4! White’s Queen suddenly finds herself buried alive, and Giri, just for not giving up hope too quickly, accepts to suffer heavy losses. 13. exf4 exf4 14. Qh3 Ne3 15. Qxd7+. Absolute desperation. However, after 15. Qh2 Nxf1 16. Kxf1 0-0-0 White’s cause would be doomed anyway. 15. ... Kxd7 16. fxe3 fxe3 17. Rxe3 Rce8 18. Rxe8 Rxe8 19. Bd3 Ne6 20. d5 Nf4 21. dxc6+ bxc6 22. Bb1 Qxb2 23. Nfd2 Rf8 24. Kh2 Ne6 25. Re1 Rf2 0 : 1. “The final game was one of the most expensive Chess960 games ever played. So got $1516.67 for the match win (and is assured of more money in round two) whereas Giri received $483.33”, Doggers wrote in his report on Chess.com.

2017 Speed Chess Championship schedule, results and information

April Fools’s Day

The President of Moldova (and President of Chess Federation of Moldova as well) Igor Dodon, while attending the awarding ceremony of the 8th Vyacheslav Andreevich Chebanenko Rapid Open Memorial, held in Chișinău, Moldova from March 31 to April 1 2017, officially announced his country’s intention of hosting in Chișinău the 2019 Knockout Women’s World Chess Championship Tournament. The annunciation was blessed by FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, who was present as a guest of honour invited by Mr. Dodon himself.

Igor Dodon (second from left) and Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov (second from right) officiating at the 8th Vyacheslav Andreevich Chebanenko Rapid Open Memorial awarding ceremony held in Chișinău, Moldova on April 1, 2017. Photo: RTR Moldova.

The Cucumber Queen

Chess-News.ru‏ (@Chess__News)

“Five with a plus”. Evgeny Ellinovich Sveshnikov sums up both his match as well as the tournament in Jūrmala (pictures, games). See http://chess-news.ru/node/22902. A merciless Sveshnikov closed his friendly six game Rapid chess match against Gaprindashvili by a score of 5 to 1. “Nona Terentevna played interesting chess”, Sveshnikov afterwards argued. “She only lacked that extra bit of energy. But strangely, after two days of play I feel tired, while she is fresh like a cucumber. I am admired!”.

Evgeny Ellinovich Sveshnikov – Nona Terentevna Gaprindashvili
Exhibition Rapid chess match game 6; Jūrmala, March 26, 2017
Owen Defence B00

1. e4 b6 2. d4 Bb7 3. Nd2 e6 4. Ngf3 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. h4!? A novelty but no fundamentally new concept. On the other hand, the position after Black’s 5th move may be well regarded as a theoretical tabiya with respect to Gaprindashvili’s opening repertoire. Here is just one reference: 6. c3 d6 7. Nf1 Nd7 8. Ng3 Ne7 9. h4 h6 10. Bd2 a6 11. b4 c5 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. a4 e5 14. bxc5 bxc5 15. h5 g5 16. d5 c4 17. Bc2 a5 18. Be3 Ba6 19. 0-0 Nc5 20. Nh2 0-0 21. Ng4 Rfb8 22. Qf3 Bc8 23. Nf6+ Kf8 24. Nh7+ Kg8 25. Nf6+ Kf8 26. Nh7+ Kg8 ½ : ½ Jonkman – Gaprindashvili, 1st BDO Chess Tournament, Haarlem 2005. 6. ... h6 7. Nf1 d6 8. Ng3 c5 9. c3 Ne7 10. Be3 Nd7 11. Qd2 Qc7 12. 0-0 Nf6 13. e5!? dxe5 14. Nxe5 Nfd5 15. Bb5+ Nc6. 15. ... Kf8 was also possible, and maybe even better. 16. Bf4 Nxf4 17. Qxf4 Rc8? I think that she should have first played 17. ... 0-0(!) in order to unpin the Knight. 18. Ne4! Now this is possible, and may become quite annoying. 18. ... 0-0 19. Bxc6 Bxc6 20. Nf6+ Kh8? Gaprindashvili had, by now, lost the match, so maybe it was worth trying 20. ... Bxf6 21. Qxf6 Qd8 22. Qf4 g5!? (22. ... Qd5 23. f3).

21. g4! Now White launches a vehement attack on the Kingside, that between ups and downs arrives at its destination. 21. ... cxd4 22. cxd4 Qe7 23. g5 Rfd8 24. Rac1 Bb7 25. Nfg4. Even stronger seems 25. d5!+− for if 25. ... exd5 then 26. Rfe1 Rxc1 27. Rxc1 (Δ Rc1-c7) 27. ... Rc8 28. Re1 finis. 25. ... Kg8. It is not a panacea, but 25. ... Kh7 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. gxh6 Qxh4 28. f3 Bxe5 29. dxe5 Kh8 30. Qf6+ Qxf6 31. Nxf6 Rc2 32. Rf2 (Stockfish) is only good to hold on just a while longer – the White Knight paralyses Black’s Kingside. 26. gxh6 Bxe5? Gaprindashvili should, at any cost, have tried 26. ... Rxc1 27. Rxc1 Rxd4! 28. Qxd4 Qxh4 forcing her opponent to find 29. Kf1! – in fact the only potentially winning move. 27. dxe5. Stronger was 27. Qxe5 Qf8 (or 27. ... f5 28. Nf6+ Kf7 29. Nh7!+−) 28. Nf6+ Kh8 29. Nd7+ f6 30. Nxf6 Qxh6 31. Ne8+ Kg8 32. Qxe6+ Kf8 33. Nd6+−, but Sveshnikov is content with playing the cat and mouse game. 27. ... Ba6 28. Rxc8 Bxc8 29. Rc1 Bb7 30. Qg5 1 : 0.