Under the Bridge

Anton Sergeyevich Korobov – Andrei Aleksandrovich Volokitin
85th Ukrainian Chess Championship; Rivne, December 7, 2016
English Opening A34

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. d4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 g6 7. e3 Bg7 8. Bb5+ Nd7 9. a4 0-0 10. 0-0 b6 11. a5 Bb7 12. a6!? Apparently a new idea. For 12. axb6 axb6 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. Ba3 Qc7 15. Qe2 Bc6 see Polugaevsky – Ivanchuk, 2nd Amber Rapid Chess Tournament, Monte Carlo 1993. 12. ... Be4 13. Ng5 Nf6 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bb2 Rc8 16. Bd3 Nd6 17. Qe2 c4 18. Bc2 f5 19. Ba3 Qd7 20. f3 e5?? A serious mistake, which opens up the game to White’s great benefit and profit. Black ought to play 20. ... Rfd8! (Stockfish) with quite a tenable position. 21. dxe5 Bxe5 22. Rad1. That was the simple point. Black is in deep trouble. 22. ... Rf6 23. Rd5 Qe6 (23. ... Bxc3?? 24. Rfd1+-) 24. Rfd1 Rc6 25. Qd2 Nf7

26. Rd8+! 26. Ba4 was also very good, but a tactical player such as Korobov doesn’t miss the chance to aim for checkmate. 26. ... Nxd8? Also after 26. ... Kg7 27. Bf8+ Kh8 28. Be7+ Nxd8 29. Qxd8+ Qg8 30. Bxf6+ Bxf6 31. Qd7! Black is doomed. 27. Qxd8+ Kg7 28. Rd7+ Kh6 29. Bf8+ Kg5 30. h4+! 1 : 0. Because of 30. ... Kxh4 31. Rxh7+ Kg5 (31. ... Kg3 32. Rh3 mate) 32. Bh6+ Kh4 33. Bf4 mate.

Lviv Polytechnic

Nataliya Buksa
Photo: ukrchess.com

Iulija Osmak
Photo: ukrchess.com

Liza Soloviova
Photo: ukrchess.com

Olga Kalinina
Photo: ukrchess.com

As a corollary of the closing ceremony of the Ukrainian Chess Championships, which was staged at the Lviv Polytechnic on December 15, most participants performed a collective simultaneous exhibition against a crowd of youngsters. For many more pictures, see http://2015.ukrchess.com/media/simultaneous-exhibition.

Meeting Resistance

Andrei Volokitin – Yuriy Kuzubov
84th Ukrainian Chess Championship; Lviv, December 14, 2015
Sicilian B90

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Nfd7 8. g5 b5 9. a3 Bb7 10. h4 Nb6 11. h5 N8d7 12. Rh3 Nc5

13. g6! Volokitin’s novelty appears more enterprising than 13. Qg4 e5 14. Nf5 g6 as occurred in the game Geetha Narayanan Gopal – Areshchenko, 3rd Chess Classic, Al-’Ayn 2014. 13. ... hxg6 14. hxg6 Rxh3 15. gxf7+ Kxf7 16. Bxh3 e5 17. Qh5+ g6 18. Qh7+ Bg7 19. Ne6. White developed a certain initiative, so Black must defend carefully. 19. ... Qh8 20. Ng5+ Kf6 21. b3 Qxh7 22. Nxh7+ Kf7 23. Be3 Rh8 24. Ng5+ Ke7 25. 0-0-0 Bf6 26. Bg4 Ncd7 27. Kb2 Rh4 28. f3 Rh2 29. Ne6 Bc6 30. Nc7 Bb7 31. Rg1 Nc5 32. Rd1 Bh4 33. Bg1 Rg2 34. Be3 Rh2 35. N7d5+ Nxd5 36. Nxd5+ Bxd5 37. Rxd5 Ne6 38. Rd2 Rh1 39. Rg2 Nf4 40. Rg1 Rxg1 41. Bxg1 Ne2 42. Bb6 Be1 43. b4 Bc3+ 44. Ka2 Bd4 45. Bc7 d5 46. exd5 Nc3+ 47. Kb3 Nxd5 48. Bb8 Kd8 49. c4 bxc4+ 50. Kxc4 Ne3+ 51. Kd3 Nxg4 52. fxg4 Kc8 53. Bd6 Kd7 54. Bf8 Kc6 55. Kc4 Bg1 56. a4 e4 57. Bh6 Bf2 58. Bg7 Be1 59. Bc3 Bh4? So far Black has somehow managed to survive, but on the last move he committed a fatal slip. 59. ... Bxc3! 60. Kxc3 Kd5 was a dead draw. 60. Bd4 Bg5 61. Bc5 Bh4 62. b5+ axb5+ 63. axb5+ Kd7 64. Kd5 Bg3 65. Be3 Bc7 66. Kxe4 Ba5 67. Kd5 Bc3 68. b6 Ba5 69. Bd4 Bb4 70. Bc5 1 : 0.

Andrei Volokitin
Photo: ukrchess.com

Solar energy

“I could undoubtedly have done better. I play very rarely men’s tournaments. The average rating was very high. At one point I feared that I would have fallen down. I felt exhausted and could hardly terminate my games. I directly realized that men are able to concentrate for the whole game and to recover more quickly from their energy loss. I’d say it’s not a question of psychology, but rather of strength and resistance. It’s a well-known fact that men are more resilient under strain. That’s why I could never have won the Championship. I always played fighting games and I was often the last to finish. You need to take part in such tournaments for making appreciable progress. It was an invaluable experience”, Mariya Muzychuk told Bogdan Pasternak of galinfo.com.ua. Regarding the necessity of hiding her games from the “enemy’s eyes”, Miss Muzychuk minimizes the seriousness of the secret: “As far as I know, it was just a joke. My database file includes almost all my games – it’s more than enough to allow anyone to prepare for fighting. The organizers decided to hide my Ukrainian Chess Championship’s games, and I agreed”.

• Чемпіонські рокіровки (Castled Championship), galinfo.com.ua, December 15, 2015

Is Mariya Muzychuk looking up for renewable energy?
Photo: ukrchess.com

Dreams Worth More Than Money

The new Ukrainian Chess Champion Andrei Volokitin as he receives the “kiss of the Kiss” from his wife Natalia. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

The new Ukrainian Women’s Chess Champion Anastasiya Rakhmangulova and Mikhail Gerasimenyuk. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

Fallen Moon

In the foreground are Inna Yanovska Gaponenko and Evgeniya Doluhanova, while Zahar Efimenko and Mariya Muzychuk are hidden in the background. We cannot say, or guess any details, for we see only the shadow of a image. Whatever it is, Miss Muzychuk lost to Efimenko, just to confirm that the things that matter – for better or worse – can happen to anyone, and at any time. Tomorrow is another day. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

Round 6
Zahar Efimenko – Mariya Muzychuk 1 : 0

Eyes Wide Open

Miss Muzychuk’s eyes are wide open as she sits quietly, waiting for her adversary to come. Once again, she was able to secure a draw – her fifth in a row. Her “right of citizenship” in the men’s club should be now quite undisputable even to those who never think of inviting her to a premier tournament. So, why don’t you ask her what you really want her to ask Yeltsin? Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

Round Five
Mariya Muzychuk – Alexander Kovchan ½ : ½

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Alexander Kovchan
Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook)

You have to ask Yeltsin, but, if needed, you can always ask Uncle $crooge too

Ukraine is inevitably struggling hard to put on the map its “Seasons Chess”. No wonder it’s hard to be seen where nobody would look. The chess world is too distracted by something else for wishing to know how cold can be the winter when nowhere is your earth. It’s easier to talk about what serves the interest of chess “families” rather than the interest of chess people. East and West, home’s best. No authority, neither princes nor the emperor helped or was even interested in organizing the Ukrainian Chess Championships. A very small budget was allocated by the Ukrainian Ministry of Youth and Sports and, as a matter of fact, Lviv Regional Chess Federation had to cover all costs of organization. “The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind”. But won’t someone recognize you? Well, you have to ask Yeltsin, but, if needed, you can always ask Uncle $crooge too. Tertium non datur. Otherwise you don’t exist. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

The Woman in Black

Today Miss Muzychuk was dressed in black, so maybe it’s better we don’t try to guess her moods. However, she should be content with her fourth draw in a row. Sooner or later, the “untouchables” of chess will hopefully call her with good news. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

Round Four
Valeriy Nevyerov vs. Mariya Muzychuk ½ : ½

Valeriy Nevyerov vs. Mariya Muzychuk
Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook)

Not as easy as it looks

Zahar Efimenko – Alexander Zubarev
84th Ukrainian Chess Championship; Lviv, December 5, 2015
Pirc Defence B09

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 0-0 6. e5 Nfd7 7. Bc4 c5 8. e6 Nb6 9. exf7+ Kh8 10. Bd3 c4 11. Be2 Rxf7 12. 0-0. For 12. Ne4 Rf8 13. 0-0 Nc6 14. c3 Bf5 15. Ng3 Bd7 16. Qc2 e6 17. Bd2 Ne7 18. Ne4 Qc7 19. Rae1 Nbd5 20. Nh4 Nf5 see 楊晉瑋 (Yáng Jìn Wěi) – Perera, 40th Chess Olympiad, Istanbul 2012. 12. ... Rf8 13. a4 a5 14. d5 N8d7 15. Be3 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nf6 17. Bd4 Qc7 18. Qe1. White sacrifices a Pawn hoping to mount a Kingside attack. 18. ... Nbxd5 19. Qh4 Kg8. 19. ... Bf5! seems to be sounder. 20. Nd2 b6. This does constitute an error of judgment, as it prepares for weakening Black’s f5-square. If, however, 20. ... Nb6 then 21. g4 soon followed by f4-f5. 21. Rae1! White ignores the Pawn and powerfully centralizes his Rook. 21. ... Ba6 22. Bf3 Rae8

23. f5! The decisive break-through. The rest is easy. 23. ... Bc8 24. Qh6 Bb7 25. Re6 gxf5 26. Bxd5 Bxd5 27. Rxf5 1 : 0.

Zahar Efimenko vs. Alexander Zubarev
Photo: 2015.ukrchess.com

Shall we have to ask Yeltsin?

Mariya’s games are top secret, but maybe we can sense her changes in mood by the choice of her dress. Mariya’s mother and manager Natalia Muzychuk, interviewed by Oleg Petrenko for vgolos.com.ua, kindly explained the reason for not broadcasting her daughter’s games. “Don’t exaggerate everything”, she said. “Everyone can come here and watch. Free entry. The organizers just decided to hide Mariya’s games – they’re in their own right”. Let’s say it’s a good advertising campaign. It inspires me a question which answer I still don’t have. Why did nobody invite Miss Muzychuk to the 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament? I’m quite sure Dutch organizers would have broadcasted the games of both 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and Mariya Muzychuk. So, why not Mariya too? Shall we have to ask Yeltsin? Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

Round Three
Mariya Muzychuk vs. Sergey Anatoliyovych Fedorchuk ½ : ½

Drawn Together
Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook)

Sliding Doors

Do you want to know a secret? The 75th Ukrainian Women’s Chess Championship starts today in the afternoon at Lviv’s Volter Hotel. World Junior Girls Chess Champion Nataliya Buksa is on stage. Photo: Natalka Ponurkevych-Kuzyak.

Step Up

You have to ask Yeltsin. “We’re sorry. We cannot provide any information about your refund”. Never mind, some people have such a vivid imagination that manifests it as dreams and mirages. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

Round Two
Vitaly Sivuk vs. Mariya Muzychuk ½ : ½

Out Through the Curtain

Sergey Anatoliyovych Fedorchuk – Yuriy Oleksandrovych Kuzubov
84th Ukrainian Chess Championship; Lviv, December 4, 2015
Russian Defence C42

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Be3 0-0 8. Qd2 Nd7 9. 0-0-0 c6 10. Kb1 d5 11. h4!? A sharp novelty by Fedorchuk. The accepted continuation was 11. c4 Nb6 12. cxd5 Nxd5 13. Bc4 Be6 14. Rhe1 (or 14. Bg5 f6 15. Qe2 Bf7 16. Bxd5 cxd5 17. Be3 Re8 ½ : ½ Volokitin – Nisipeanu, Romanian Team Chess Championship, Calimanesti-Caciulata 2014) 14. ... Bb4 15. c3 Be7 16. Bb3 Qa5 17. Nd4 Bd7 18. Bc2 Rfe8 19. Nb3 Qc7 20. Bc5 Bxc5 21. Nxc5 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Re8 23. Rxe8+ Bxe8 24. Qe2 Kf8 25. g3 Nf6 26. Qe3 b6 ½ : ½ Vachier-Lagrave – Giri, Chess World Cup, Baku 2015, match game 1. 11. ... Nf6 12. Ng5 Ne4 13. Qe1 Bf5 14. Bd3 Nd6 15. Be2 h6 16. g4 hxg5 17. hxg5. A less risky course for White would have been 17. gxf5 gxh4 18. Bd3 with the prospect of a volatile initiative. 17. ... Bg6 18. f4 f5! 19. gxf6 Bxf6 20. f5 Re8 21. Qg1 Rxe3! Black rightly gives back some material to consolidate. 22. Qxe3 Bf7 23. Rh2? This move allows Black to build up a powerful initiative. Best seems 23. Bd3 d4!? 24. cxd4 Bd5 25. Rh5 (or 25. Rh2 Qa5) 25. ... Bf7 with an unclear – but dynamically balanced – position. 23. ... Ne4 24. Rdh1 Kf8 25. c4 Qe7 26. Ka1 Bg8 27. cxd5 cxd5 28. Rh8? White’s Rook asks for trouble! After both 28. Qb3 Rc8 and 28. Bf3 Ng5 Black stands clearly better, but anything reasonable was better than the text. 28. ... Rc8 29. Qb3 g5! 30. R8h6 Rc6. Threatening ... Rc6-b6. 31. Qe3

31. ... Bxb2+! A deadly blow! 32. Kxb2 Qe5+ 33. c3. Or 33. Kb1 Nc3+ winning the Queen. 33. ... Rxc3 34. Qxa7 Rc4+ 0 : 1. There follows mate in two.

Parabolic antenna

The Martian Chronicles

Mariya Muzychuk looking at the stars
Photo: 2015.ukrchess.com

Round One
Mariya Muzychuk vs. Andrei Volokitin ½ : ½

According to the report of Ivan Yaremko: “Thursday, December 3, started the Round One of the 84th Ukrainian Chess Championship with the participation of twelve Grandmasters, eleven men and one girl, but such a girl! – Women’s World Champion Mariya Muzychuk. Naturally, her game with Andrei Volokitin captured major public attention. The two players – Mariya conducted the White pieces – created a truly interesting painting on the board. As often occurs in the Sicilian Defence, the opponents were attacking on different flanks. White took the initiative first and tried to launch her own attack against Black’s King. For a moment it seemed that she could break through his defence, but Volokitin quietly found the correct answers and his King felt more comfortable. Black finally decided to sacrifice both Knights for Rook and Pawn. We’ll never know how the game could have developed further, because the players agreed to a draw. They both preferred not to take the risk to keep playing such an unbalanced position...”. According to Evgeny Surov, the editor-in-chief of Chess-News.ru, the organization’s decision of not broadcasting any live games of the Championship is for denying any knowledge or information to Muzychuk’s next challenger for the Women’s World Crown 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) from China. Well, it very much seems to me that you are more to the Left than me, Miss Stalin... :).

You have to ask Yeltsin

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Andrei Volokitin
Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook)

Mikhail Golubev (‏@golubev_mikhail)

TRANSLATION

“To anyone asking for live broadcast of the Ukraine Chess Championship’s games: are you sure did you pay for the service? I didn’t pay, so I cannot demand anything”, Mikhail Golubev said.

Behind Closed Doors

Mariya Muzychuk vs. Andrei Volokitin
Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook)

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered

It’s the start of the 84th Ukrainian Chess Championship’s opening ceremony staged in the halls of the Lviv Regional State Administration. The playing list includes eleven of the strongest Ukrainian male Grandmasters, and only one (smiling) girl, Women’s World Chess Champion Mariya Muzychuk. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).

Mariya Muzychuk sits beside the tournament director Nazar Firman. Tomorrow at 3 P.M., when Round One starts, she’ll play with White against Grandmaster Andrei Volokitin. See further details at http://2015.ukrchess.com. Photo: 2015.ukrchess.com

Чорний лебідь (Black swan theory)

Just a shot before the start of the 84th Ukrainian Chess Championship’s opening ceremony to be held in the halls of the Lviv Regional State Administration. It’s easy to recognize who is the only female Grandmaster present. Photo: Ukrainian Chess (Facebook).