Reverte

Fabiano Caruana – Wesley So

11th Norway Chess; Armageddon game (time control: 10 minutes for White and 7 minutes for Black with a 1-second increment starting at move 41; Stavanger, June 8, 2023

Queen’s Gambit Declined D36

Just like with a counterspell, it took an Armageddon for Caruana to get the better of So and retain the lead going into tomorrow’s final round.
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qc2 h6 7. Bh4 Be7 8. e3 0-0 9. Bd3 Re8 10. Nf3 Nbd7 11. 0-0 Ne4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Rae1 Ndf6 14. Ne5 Bf5 15. f3 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxd3 17. Nxd3 Qd6

18. Re2 (18. Kh1 Re7 19. Re2 b6 20. Rfe1 Rae8 21. c4 dxc4 22. Qxc4 Rd8 23. Rd1 c5= Zakhartsov – Kobalia, 74th Russian Chess Championship Higher League, Cheboksary 2021)
18. ... Re7 19. Rfe1 Rae8 20. c4 b6 21. c5 Qc7 22. a4 Re6 23. Qc3 g5 24. Nb4 Rc8 25. Rc1 Qe7 26. Qd2 Nd7 27. cxb6 Nxb6

28. e4 dxe4?? A blunder which loses material. Best was 28. ... c5! with a perfectly playable game.
29. a5! e3 30. Qe1 Qd7. So does not find anything better than to give up the Knight for insufficient compensation. On the other hand, after 30. ... Nd7 31. d5 Black’s whole position would fall apart.
31. axb6 axb6 32. d5 cxd5 33. Rxc8+ Qxc8 34. Nxd5 b5 35. Nxe3 Qc5 36. Kf1 b4 37. Nd1 Qb5 38. Qd2 b3 39. Ke1 Qb6 40. Rxe6 Qg1+ 41. Ke2 Qxg2+ 42. Nf2 fxe6

Caruana brings home the extra half point with irreproachable technique.
43. h3 Qg3 44. Qd8+ Kf7 45. Qd7+ Kf8 46. Qxe6 Qb8 47. Qf6+ Kg8 48. Qg6+ Kf8 49. Qxh6+ Kf7 50. Qh7+ Ke6 51. Qg6+ Kd7 52. Qf7+ Kc6 53. Qc4+ Kd7 54. Qd5+ Ke7 55. Qxg5+ Ke6 56. Qg6+ Kd5 57. Qe4+ Kc5 58. Nd3+ 1 : 0.

Chaotic Dynamics

Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Wesley So

2nd World Fischerandom Chess Championship Group A; match game 2; time control: 25 minutes for the first 30 moves, plus 5 minutes for the rest of the game, plus 5 seconds per move starting from move 31; Reykjavík, October 26, 2022

nrkrbbqn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NRKRBBQN w DBdb - 0 1

Position #362

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Rxd5 3. Bc4 Rd6 4. f3 Ng6 5. Bg3 e5 6. a3 Bc6 7. Nf2 Nb6 8. Ba2 Bd5 9. Bxd5 Rxd5 10. Ne4 0-0-0 11. Nb3 h5 12. Nc3 R5d7 13. a4 h4 14. Bf2 f6 15. Ra1! White renounces the possibility of castling a-side as he needs the Rook on the a-file for attacking purposes.
15. ... Nf4 16. Bxb6 cxb6! Black cedes a Pawn to keep the a-file closed.
17. a5 Bb4 18. axb6 a6 19. Ra4 Bxc3 20. Qc5+ Kb8 21. bxc3

21. ... Nd3+!? Black sacrifices a second Pawn in order to strip away all vestiges of the White King.
22. cxd3 Qxb3 23. Rxh4

23. ... Rxd3? A countersense that invalidates Black’s previous moves. Consistent was 23. ... Qa2! 24. Rc4 (or 24. Rb4 Rc8=) 24. ... Qa1+ with a draw by perpetual check.
24. Rc4! With the fatal threat of 25. Qc7+ Ka8 26. Qc8+ followed by mate.
24. ... R3d7 25. d4!

25. ... Qb5? The exchange of Queens must have appeared to So as the lesser evil, but alas for him, the ensuing Rook ending is hopeless for Black. Other moves, however, wouldn’t necessarily be better: 25. ... exd4? 26. Rd2! (Δ Rd2-b2) 26. ... dxc3 27. Qc7+!! Rxc7 28. Rxd8+ followed by mate. The best, probably, would be 25. ... Qa2, but then after 26. 0-0!! (h-side castling) White comes out with a Pawn ahead and much the better game.
26. Qxb5 axb5 27. Rc5 exd4 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. cxd4 Rd6 (29. ... Rxd4 30. Rc7!+−)
30. Rxb5 Rxd4 31. Rh5 Kc8 32. Rh8+ Kd7 33. Rh7 Rc4+ 34. Kd2 Kc6 35. Rxg7 Kxb6 36. Rg6 Ka5 37. Rxf6 b5 38. Rf8 b4 39. Rb8 Ka4 40. g4 b3 41. h4 Rf4 42. Ra8+ Kb5 43. Ke3 Rb4 44. Ra1 Kc5 45. h5 Kd5 46. h6 Ke6 47. h7 Rb8 48. Rb1 1 : 0.

Simplicity in Complexity

Wesley So – Hjörvar Steinn Grétarsson

2nd World Fischerandom Chess Championship Group A; match game 2; time control: 25 minutes for the first 30 moves, plus 5 minutes for the rest of the game, plus 5 seconds per move starting from move 31; Reykjavík, October 25, 2022

rnbbkqrn/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/RNBBKQRN w GAga - 0 1

Position #629

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 c6 3. e4 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bb6? (⌓ 4. ... f5 5. Nc5 Bb6)
5. c3. 5. Qe2 Nd7 6. c3 Bc7 transposes into the game.
5. ... Nd7 6. Qe2 Bc7 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Nhg3

8. ... h5? This seems a velleitary Pawn sacrifice, but Black’s situation was very difficult in any case. Perhaps he could try 8. ... Bg4 9. f3 Bd7 followed by ... 0-0-0 (a-side castling).
9. Nxf6+ gxf6 10. Nxh5. With the incidental threat of Nh5xf6+.
10. ... Kd8 11. Bf4 Ng6 12. Bxc7+ Kxc7 13. Qe3 Be6

14. Bb3! Bxb3 15. axb3 Rh8 16. Qg3+ Kb6? The Black King goes for a journey with no return, but after 16. ... Kd7 17. Ra5! White still holds a powerful grip on the game.
17. c4! a6 (17. ... Rxh5 18. c5++−)
18. c5+ Ka7

19. Rxa6+! 1 : 0. Mate follows after 19. ... Kxa6 (19. ... bxa6 20. Qc7#) 20. Ra1+ Kb5 21. Qd3+ Kb4 22. Qc4#.

G8

The 2nd World Fischerandom Chess Championship is set to start on October 25, 2022 in Reykjavík, Iceland. The final tournament is divided into two stages: a two-group stage followed by the knockout stage. Time control is 25 minutes for the first 30 moves, plus 5 minutes for the rest of the game, plus 5 seconds per move starting from move 31. The finalists are (in alphabetical order): Nodirbek Abdusattorov, Matthias Blübaum, Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Vasilyevich Fedoseev, Hjörvar Steinn Grétarsson, Hikaru Nakamura, Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi, and Wesley So. For further details and information, click here.

Once Again

The World Fischerandom Chess World Championship is finally back, after the COVID black hole. The format of this second official edition is similar to that of the first one. The long and winding road to Bobby Fischer’s last hermitage begins with two online qualifiers in August (on 22–24 and 29–31), which will entitle four players to join the four invited players in the Grand Knockout Tournament scheduled to be held on October 25–30 in Reykjavík, Iceland. The invited stars are Wesley So (the reigning Fischerandom World Champion), Magnus Carlsen (the GOAT approximately), Hjörvar Steinn Grétarsson (Iceland’s No. 1), and a not-yet-named FIDE wild card. For further details and information, click here.

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.

Black Out

Wesley So – Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi
7th Grand Chess Tour; 1st stage; Superbet Chess Classic; Bucharest, May 8, 2022
Catalan Opening E06

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 0-0 6. 0-0 dxc4 7. Qc2 b5 8. a4 Bb7 9. axb5 a6 10. bxa6 Nxa6 11. Qxc4 Bd5 12. Qc3 c5 13. Be3 Ne4 14. Qe1 Nb4 15. Rxa8 Qxa8 16. Nc3 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Nc2 18. Qd2 Nxe3 19. Qxe3 cxd4 (19. ... h6 20. Rd1 cxd4 21. cxd4 Rd8 22. Qf4 Qa4 23. Qd2 Bf6 24. e3 g6 25. h4 h5 26. Qe2 Qb3 27. Rc1 Ra8 28. Nd2 Qb2 29. Qe1 Bxg2 30. Kxg2 Ra2 31. Nf3 Kg7 32. Rd1 Qb3 33. Rd2 Ra3 34. Qc1 Qa4 35. Rb2 Ra1 36. Rb1 Rxb1 37. Qxb1 Qc4 38. Qb7 Kf8 39. Nd2 Qc2 40. Ne4 Be7 41. Qb8+ Kg7 42. Qe5+ Kg8 43. Nc5 Qc4 44. Qb8+ Kg7 45. Qc7 Bxc5 46. Qe5+ Kg8 47. dxc5 Qc2 48. Qd4 Kf8 49. e4 Ke8 50. Kf3 Qc1 51. Qb4 Qc2 52. Qb8+ Ke7 53. Qd6+ Kf6 54. c6 Qc3+ 55. Kg2 Qc2 56. c7 Qxe4+ 57. Kh2 Qc2 58. Qd4+ e5 59. Qd6+ Kf5 60. Kh3 Qc4 61. Qd7+ Kf6 62. Qd6+ Kf5 63. Qb6 g5 64. Kh2 Qc2 65. Kg2 Qe4+ 66. Kg1 Qe1+ 67. Kh2 1 : 0 Martirosyan – Gavrilescu, 22nd European Individual Chess Championship, Terme Čatež 2022) 20. cxd4 Rd8 21. Qf4 h6 22. e3!? White’s pseudo-novelty is a telling token of how heavily classical theory is overstressed. The stem reference was 22. h4 Bf6 23. e3 Rc8 24. Ne1 Bxg2 25. Nxg2 Rc4 26. Qg4 e5 27. Qe2 Qc6 28. dxe5 Bxe5 29. Qh5 Rc5 30. Qg4 h5 31. Qd1 g6 32. Nf4 Bxf4 33. exf4 Qd5 34. Qe2 Qc6 35. Re1 Kg7 36. Qe3 Rd5 37. Rc1 Qd6 38. Qc3+ Qf6 39. Qf3 Qd6 40. Kg2 Rd3 41. Qe4 Qd5 42. Qxd5 Rxd5 43. Re1 f5 ½ : ½ Giri – Nepomniachtchi, 9th World Blitz Chess Championship, Warsaw 2021 (time control: 3 minutes plus 2 seconds per move). 22. ... Bd6. 22. ... Bf6 23. h4 transposes to the aforementioned Giri – Nepomniachtchi game. 23. Qh4 Bb4 24. Qg4

24. ... Bxf3. It took half an hour for Nepomniachtchi to capture the Knight, perhaps speculating that if the heavy pieces are exchanged, the opposite-coloured Bishops would inevitably nullify the effect of White’s extra Pawn. 25. Bxf3 Qa5 26. Rb1 Bd6 27. h4 Rb8 28. Rxb8+ Bxb8 29. d5 Qa1+ 30. Kg2 Qe5 31. Qc4 Bd6 32. dxe6 Qxe6 33. Bd5 Qd7 34. h5 Qf5 35. Qc6 Bf8 36. Bf3 Qe6 37. Qa8 Qe5 38. Bg4 Qf6 39. Bd1 Qf5 40. Qb7 Qe5 41. Be2 Qf5 42. Bf3 Qe5 43. Bg4 Qg5 44. Qf3

44. ... g6 45. hxg6 Qxg6 46. Bf5 Qf6 47. Qd5 Qd6 48. Qc4 Qb4 49. Qe2 Qb7+ 50. Kh2 Bg7 51. Bd3 Qd5 52. Bc4 Qe4 53. Bb3 Qf5 54. e4 Qf6 55. Kg2. 55. f4!? Qb2 56. Bc2 Bd4 57. e5 is also quite unpleasant for Black, whose problem is not so much the minus Pawn but rather the insistent initiative of his opponent. 55. ... Qb6 56. Bd5

56. ... Bd4? Perhaps feeling exhausted, Nepomniachtchi finally loses his patience. Black had to play 56. ... Qg6 57. e5 Bf8 stubbornly defending his somewhat uncomfortable situation. 57. e5! Overwhelming light-square threats loom on the horizon for Black now. 57. ... Qg6? The second error in a row loses the game at once, but also after 57. ... Kf8 58. Qe4 Black wouldn’t stop White’s breakthrough.

58. Bxf7+! 1 : 0.

It took only one move for Nepomniachtchi to throw away hours of patient and painstaking defence. Photo: Bryan Adams/Grand Chess Tour.

Queen Move

Magnus Carlsen – Wesley So

Champions Chess Tour 2021; Grand Finale Tournament; match game 3; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com/Oslo, October 4, 2021

Larsen’s Opening A01

1. b3 b6 2. e4 Bb7 3. Nc3 e6 4. Bb2 Nf6 (4. ... c5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Nxc6 Bxc6 9. Bd3 d6 10. Qe2 Be7 11. 0-0-0 Nd7 12. f4 0-0 13. Rhe1 Re8 14. g4 Bf8 15. h4 Nc5 16. g5 ½ : ½ (Mariotti – Wirthensohn, 15th Biel International Chess Festival, Biel/Bienne 1982) 5. e5 Nd5 (5. ... Ne4 6. Nxe4 Bxe4 7. h4 c5 8. Qg4 Bb7 9. h5 Nc6 10. 0-0-0 a6 11. Nf3 h6 12. Kb1 b5 13. d4 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Qg5 15. Qe4 Qxe5 16. Qxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe6 dxe6 18. Bxe5 f6 19. Bb2 Bc5 20. f3 Ke7 21. c4 b4 22. Bd3 Rad8 23. Bg6 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8 Kxd8 26. Kc2 Ke7 27. Kd3 Bc6 28. Bd4 Kd6 29. Bxc5+ Kxc5 30. Ke3 a5 31. g4 a4 32. Be4 Be8 33. Bg6 Bd7 34. Bd3 a3 35. Bc2 f5 36. Bb1 f4+ 37. Ke4 Bc6+ 38. Kxf4 Kd4 39. Be4 Bd7 40. c5 e5+ 41. Kg3 Kxc5 0 : 1 Sarin – Andreikin, 9th Chess World Cup, Krasnaya Polyana 2021, match game 1) 6. Nxd5 (6. Qg4 Nb4 7. 0-0-0 h5 8. Qg3 Rh6 9. a3 h4 10. Qh3 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Be2 Bb7 13. Bf3 Nc6 14. Ne2 Qg5 15. Nd4 0-0-0 16. Nxc6 dxc6 17. Rhe1 Bc5 18. Qg4 Qxg4 19. Bxg4 Rd7 20. f4 Bd4 21. c3 Bc5 22. f5 Be7 23. fxe6 fxe6 24. Rf1 c5 25. Bh3 Rg6 26. Rf2 b5 27. Rdf1 Kd8 28. Kc2 c4 29. b4 Be4+ 30. Kd1 Bd3 31. Re1 Rd5 32. Rf7 Kd7 33. Rf4 Ke8 34. Rg4 Kd7 35. Rxg6 Bxg6 36. Bg4 Bg5 37. Bc1 Ke7 38. d4 Bxc1 39. Kxc1 Rd8 40. Rf1 Be4 41. Rf2 Rh8 42. Kd2 Rh6 43. Ke3 Bd5 44. Kf4 Rg6 45. Bh5 Rxg2 46. Rxg2 Bxg2 47. Kg5 h3 48. Kg6 Kf8 49. Bg4 Be4+ 50. Kg5 Bd5 51. Bxh3 Kf7 52. Bg4 Kf8 53. Bd1 Bc6 54. Bc2 Bd5 55. a4 a6 56. axb5 axb5 57. h4 Kg8 58. Kf4 Kf7 59. h5 Ke7 60. Kg5 Bc6 61. Bd1 Be4 62. Bg4 Kf7 63. Bh3 Ke7 64. Kf4 Bd5 65. Kg5 Be4 66. Kf4 ½ : ½ Rygg – I. L. Hansen, 2nd Xtracon Chess Open, Helsingør 2017) 6. ... Bxd5 7. Qg4 (7. Nf3 h6 8. Be2 Be7 9. 0-0 c5 10. c4 Be4 ½ : ½ Aden – Kohls, 82nd German Women’s Chess Championship, Bonn 2011) 7. ... h5 8. Qf4 g5 9. Qe3 a5 10. a3 Bb7 11. Nf3 g4 12. Nd4 Nc6 13. Nb5 Bh6. It also makes sense to propose the exchange of Knights with 13. ... Na7 which if accepted would ease the defender’s burden. 14. Qc3

14. ... Bg7? This is probably So’s crucial mistake as it enables White to unleash his full power and break the defence. 14. ... Rc8! was called for so as to free both the Knight and Queen. 15. d4 d6 16. exd6 cxd6 17. h3! White’s attack develops very easily as the Black King has no safe place. 17. ... f5 18. hxg4 hxg4 19. Rxh8+ Bxh8. Carlsen now forces the win by a beautiful series of Queen moves: 20. Qg3! e5. 20. ... Ke7 21. 0-0-0 it’s a target practice.

21. Qh2! Kd7. If 21. ... Qf6 then 22. Nxd6+! and the curtain falls. 22. Qh7+ Ne7 23. dxe5 Qg8 24. Qh6! Qg6 25. Qd2! 1 : 0.

An Unfinished Tale

Garry Kimovich Kasparov – Wesley So

4th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Saint Louis, September 8, 2021

nbrkbnrq/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/NBRKBNRQ w GCgc - 0 1

Position #280

1. e4 e5 2. Ne3 Ne6 3. c3 Nb6 4. 0-0-0 g6 5. g3 c6 6. Nb3 0-0-0 7. d4 exd4 8. cxd4 d5 9. e5 Nc4 10. Ng4 f5 11. Nf6? (⌓ 11. Ne3) 11. ... Rf8? (11. ... Nxd4!) 12. Nxe8 Rdxe8? A little better seems 12. ... Rfxe8 vacating the f8-square for the Queen. 13. f4 g5 14. Qf3 Qg7 15. Bb4 Rf7 16. Nc5 Qh6 17. Nxe6 Rxe6 18. b3! a5 19. Bc3 Na3 20. Bd3 g4 21. Qe2 Qf8

22. h3! h5 (22. ... gxh3 24. g4!+−) 23. hxg4 hxg4 24. Bb2 Rh6? (⌓ 24. ... Bd6!) 25. Rh1. Apparently Kasparov is too concentrated in his slow and methodical squeeze to notice that 25. e6! followed by e6-e7 wins material immediately. 25. ... Rfh7 26. Rxh6 Rxh6 27. Qg2 Bc7 28. Rh1 Rxh1+ 29. Qxh1 Kb8 30. Qe1 a4 31. Bc3 Bd8 32. Bb4 Be7 33. Bxe7 Qxe7 34. Kb2 Nb5 35. Bxb5 a3+ 36. Kc2 cxb5

37. Qa5? A moment of eclipse probably due to fatigue and lack of time. After 37. e6!+− Black was completely helpless against the invasion of the White Queen on e5. 37. ... Qh7! 38. Qd8+ Ka7 39. Qa5+ Kb8 40. Qd8+ Ka7 ½ : ½.

Kasparov put his younger opponent on the ropes, only missing the last bit. Photo © Bryan Adams/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Creativity and Improvisation

Wesley So – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

4th Champions Showdown: Chess 9LX; time control: 20 minutes plus 5 seconds per move; Saint Louis, September 8, 2021

qnrbbnkr/pppppppp/8/8/8/8/PPPPPPPP/QNRBBNKR w HChc - 0 1

Position #105

1. b4 d6. The alternative 1. ... a5 2. b5 d5 3. c4 dxc4 4. a4 c6 5. Rxc4 Nbd7 may be quite reasonable, Shankland – Svidler, ibidem. 2. c4 e5 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qb2 Ne6 6. Ne3 Bg5

7. Nd5! A brilliant Exchange sacrifice, which yields White a terrific initiative. 7. ... Bxc1 8. Qxc1 0-0 9. b5 Ncd8. 9. ... Ne5 10. f4! is likewise disastrous.

And now the reigning Fischerandom World Champion delivers a knockout blow: 10. Nf6+!! gxf6 (10. ... Kh8 11. Bc3+−) 11. Qh6 (Δ Bd1-c2) 11. ... f5 12. Qf6 Ng7 13. Bc3 Nde6 14. h4! Bxb5 (14. ... h5 15. Rh3 f4 16. e3+−) 15. h5! Rce8 16. h6 Qd8 17. hxg7?! So plays for a win by inertia, almost running the risk of throwing most of his advantage away. 17. cxb5! Qxf6 18. Bxf6+− was much simpler and stronger. 17. ... Qxf6 18. gxf8=Q+ Nxf8 19. Bxf6 Bxc4. Now Black can legitimately hope for a compensation. 20. Nc3 b5 21. Rh4 Re6 22. Bd8 c5 23. Bb3 Bxb3 24. axb3 b4 25. Nd5 Ng6 26. Rh3 Rxe2 27. Re3? Perhaps the only (major) inaccuracy by So in the whole game. Better to play first 27. Kf1! Rb2 and then 28. Re3! with strong initiative. 27. ... Rd2? But Black misses his only chance to stay afloat: ⌓ 27. ... Rxe3 28. Nxe3 f4 29. Nc4 Ne5∞ with an unclear ending.

28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Bf6+ Kh6 30. Ne3 f4 31. Nc4 Rd3 32. Ra8 f3? 33. g4! Nf4 34. Rg8 Ne6 35. Ne3 1 : 0.

So made a spectacular début on the contemporary scene of Fischer’s chess. Photo © Crystal Fuller/Saint Louis Chess Club.

Last Tango in Paris

Wesley So – Richárd Rapport

6th Grand Chess Tour; 2nd stage; Paris Rapid; time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; Paris, June 18, 2021

Nimzo-Indian Defence E41

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Ne2 cxd4 7. exd4 d5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. 0-0 Nf6 10. Bc2 0-0 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 e5!?TN (12. ... Qa5 13. c4 Rd8 14. Bb2 Qh5 15. Qe1 b6 16. d5 exd5 17. Nf4 Qh4 18. Nxd5 Be6 19. Nxf6+ gxf6 20. Qe4 Qxe4 21. Bxe4 Rd6 22. Rac1 Rc8 23. Bxf6 Nd4 24. Rfd1 Ne2+ 25. Kf1 Ng3+ 26. hxg3 Bxc4+ 27. Kg1 Rxf6 28. Rd7 a6 29. Bd5 b5 30. Rc3 Rb8 31. Bxc4 bxc4 32. Rxc4 Rb1+ 33. Kh2 Rxf2 34. Rd8+ Kg7 35. Rg4+ Kf6 36. Rf4+ Rxf4 37. gxf4 Kf5 ½ : ½ del Rio de Angelis – Salgado López, 7th Ibero-American Chess Championship, Linares 2019) 13. Bg5 exd4 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. cxd4 h6 16. Bh4 Re8 17. Qd3 Bd7 18. d5 Rc8 19. d6 (Δ Bh4xf6) 19. ... g5 20. Bg3

20. ... Ne4? This seems to be the losing move, leaving White in command of the central files. Probably better was 20. ... Qa5 so as to reply to 21. Rac1 with 21. ... Qd5 forcing the exchange of Queens and remaining with a tenable game. 21. Rae1 Rc3 22. Qd1 Nxg3 23. hxg3 Rxe1 24. Rxe1 Be6. Yet Black cannot take on a3 because of the penetration of White’s Rook to e7. 25. Qd2 Rxa3. Now finally, he does it. 26. Rd1. But the d-file is also enough for the White Rook. 26. ... Bd7 27. Qb4 Ra2 28. Qb3 Ra5 29. Qxb7 Kg7 30. Re1 Rc5 31. Qe4 Qf6 32. Qh7+ Kf8 33. Re7 Be8. After all, one must be grateful to Rapport for allowing his opponent to finish in style rather than to provide a prosaic display of technique (as would have happened in case of 33. ... Rxc2 34. Qxc2 Qxd6 35. Re1).

34. Bg6! 1 : 0. A devilish interference: if 34. ... fxg6 then 35. Qxh6+ followed by mate in two, while in case of 34. ... Qxg6 35. Qh8+ Qg8 36. Qxh6+ (or 36. Rxe8+) 36. ... Qg7 37. Rxe8+ White takes it all.

Hidden in Plain Sight

Magnus Carlsen – Wesley So

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 4th stage; Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021; Third-place match game 1; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, March 19, 2021

Four Knights Game C47

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. a4!? Bb4 5. Bd3 d6 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Nd5 Bc5 8. c3 a5 9. Bc2 Nxd5TN (9. ... Ba7 10. d4 h6 11. Qd3 Re8 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Be3 exd4 14. Bxd4 Ne5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Bxa7 Rxa7 17. Rfd1 Ra6 18. Bb3 Bg4 19. Rd2 Rd6 20. Qe3 Rxd2 21. Qxd2 Rd8 22. Qe3 Rd6 23. h3 Bd7 24. Rd1 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 Qd6 26. Bb3 Kf8 27. Qf3 Be8 28. Qe3 b6 29. Qe2 g6 30. h4 h5 31. Qe3 Bc6 32. Qe2 Qf6 33. Qc4 Kg7 34. Ba2 Qe6 35. Qxe6 fxe6 36. Bb3 Bxe4 37. Bxe6 Kf6 38. Bb3 g5 39. hxg5+ Kxg5 40. g3 Kg4 41. Kf1 h4 ½ : ½ L. van Foreest – Naiditsch, 46th SchachBundesliga, Lingen 2020) 10. exd5 Ne7 11. Ng5 h6 12. d4 Bb6

13. Nh7! 13. Qh5 Qe8! is nothing special for White, so Carlsen does not hesitate to give up a Knight for the initiative. 13. ... Re8 14. Nf6+ gxf6 15. Qh5 e4! 16. Re1! f5? This may be a mistake worth a double question mark, but defending such a position would probably require a classical time control. 16. ... Bf5 followed by ... Bf5-g6 offered better chances of holding on. 17. Bxh6+− Nxd5 18. Bg5 f6 (18. ... Nf6 19. Qh4 Re6 20. d5+−)

19. Bb3! c6 20. Re3 Kf8 21. Qg6 f4. If 21. ... fxg5 then 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Rh3 followed by mate in a few moves, whilst 21. .. Ke7 22. Bxf6+! would leave Black the choice between mate or loss of the Queen. 22. Bh6+ Ke7 23. Qh7+ 1 : 0. And Black resigned in view of 23. ... Ke6 24. Rxe4#.

A Day at a Time

Wesley So – Alireza Firouzja

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 4th stage; Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021; Quarterfinal match game 6; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, March 17, 2021

Caro-Kann Defence B12

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Ne7 6. 0-0 h6 7. Nbd2 Nd7 8. Nb3 g5 9. Bd2 a5 10. a4 Qc7 11. c3. In a relatively recent game, So preferred 11. Rc1 Bg7 12. c4 0-0 13. h4 g4 14. Ne1 f6 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. g3 dxc4 17. Bxc4 Ned5 18. Qe2 Ne4 19. Ng2 Nxd2 20. Qxd2 Qf7 21. Rfe1 b6 22. Re2 Rad8 23. Rce1 Kh8 24. Ne3 Rd6 25. Nxf5 Qxf5 26. Bd3 Qf7 27. Bb1 Nb4 28. Qe3 Qf3 29. Qxf3 Rxf3 30. Nd2 Rf8 31. Rxe6 Rxd4 32. Ne4 Rfd8 33. Kg2 Kg8 34. Nf6+ Bxf6 35. Rxf6 R4d6 36. Ree6 Rxe6 37. Rxe6 h5 38. Bg6 Rd5 39. b3 Kg7 40. Be4 Rc5 41. Rg6+ Kf7 42. Rh6 Kg7 43. Rh7+ Kf6 44. f4 gxf3+ 45. Bxf3 Kg6 46. Rh8 Rc2+ 47. Kh3 Rc5 48. Be4+ Kg7 49. Rh7+ Kf6 50. Rh6+ Kg7 51. Rg6+ Kf7 52. Rg5 Rxg5 53. hxg5 b5 54. Kh4 bxa4 55. bxa4 c5 56. Kxh5 c4?? (56. ... Kg7) 57. Kh6 Kg8 58. Bh7+ 1 : 0 So – Artemiev, 4th Speed Chess Championship, chess.com, December 5, 2019, Semifinal match game 10 (time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move). 11. ... f6?! An impromptu novelty which can be hardly regarded as an improvement on 11. ... Bg7 12. Ne1 c5 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. f4 c4 15. Nc1 0-0-0 16. b3 Nb6 17. fxg5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 f6 19. Bf4 fxe5 20. Bg3 Rdg8 21. Bxc6 Qxc6 22. dxe5 Bh6 23. Bf4 Nd7 24. Qd4 Be4 25. Bxh6 Rxh6 26. Ra2 Qc7 27. Raf2 Qxe5 28. Qxe5 Nxe5 29. bxc4 Nxc4 30. Ned3 Rhh8 31. Nc5 Bxg2 32. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Ne3+ 34. Kf2 Nxf1 35. Kxf1 Rxh2 36. Ne2 e5 37. Nd3 Rh5 38. Ng3 Rg5 39. Kf2 Kc7 40. Nf1 Kd6 41. Ne3 Rg8 42. Ke2 Rh8 43. Nf2 Rc8 44. Kd2 e4 45. Nf5+ Ke5 46. Ne3 Rd8 47. Nc2 Rg8 48. Ne3 Rg1 49. Nfg4+ Ke6 50. Kc2 Re1 51. Kb3 Re2 52. Nc2 Rd2 53. Nd4+ Kd6 54. Nc2 Kc5 55. Nd4 Rxd4 56. cxd4+ Kxd4 57. Kc2 e3 58. Kd1 Kd3 59. Ne5+ Kc3 60. Ke2 Kb3 61. Kxe3 Kxa4 62. Kd4 Kb3 63. Kxd5 a4 64. Kc5 b6+ 65. Kb5 a3 66. Nd3 Kc2 67. Nb4+ Kb3 68. Nd3 Kc2 69. Nb4+ Kc3 70. Na2+ Kb2 71. Nb4 a2 72. Nxa2 Kxa2 73. Kxb6 ½ : ½ Najer – Lobanov, 25th Russian Team Chess Championship, Sochi 2018. 12. exf6 Ng6. Only consistent. If 12. ... Nxf6 then 13. Ne5 with great advantage to White. 13. c4 Bd6 14. cxd5 exd5

15. Bd3! White sacrifices the Bishop for two Pawns and a strong attack. 15. ... Bxd3 16. Bxa5 Rxa5 17. Qxd3 Kf7. After 17. ... Nf4 18. Rfe1+ Kf7 19. Qf5 White’s attack continues. 18. Nxa5 Qxa5? An automatic answer that loses the game. Black had to play 18. ... g4! 19. Ne5+ Ndxe5 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21. Nb3 Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 Qe5 (Δ ... Qe5-h5) 23. Nd4 Qh5 25. Qf5 Qxf5 25. Nxf5 Be5 26. Ra2 h5! with good chances for compensation. 19. Qf5 Qd8 20. Rae1. White’s massive centralisation looks quite Morphy-like. 20. ... Ngf8. After 20. ... Ndf8 the same move follows as in the game.

21. Re7+! Bxe7 22. fxe7+ Kxe7 23. Re1+ Kd6 24. Ne5 Rh7 25. Nxd7 Qxd7 26. Qe5# 1 : 0.

Terrestrial Time

Wesley So – Nils Axel Grandelius

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 4th stage; Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2021; Prelims Tournament; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, March 15, 2021

Grünfeld Defence D85

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Rb1 0-0 9. Be2 b6 10. 0-0 Qc7 11. Re1. A rare line. 11. ... Nc6 12. d5!? Theoretically speaking, this is a novelty, in place of the previously played 12. Be3, which after 12. ... Bg4 13. Qc1 Na5 14. Bf4 Qc8 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 e5 17. dxe5 Qe8 18. Rd1 Bxe5 19. Bh6 Bg7 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. e5 gave White an excellent attacking position in Rodrigues – Barbosa, 2nd Chess Open, Altinópolis 2013 — to be sure, however, Black could play better. 12. ... Ne5 13. c4 f5?! Who knows, maybe Black should look for something better here.

14. exf5! Bxf5 15. Rb3 Rad8 16. Bb2

16. ... e6? After 16. ... Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 Bxb2 18. Rxb2 White stands much better, but certainly it is a lesser evil compared with losing a piece. 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Qxe5 19. Bf3 Qf6. 19. ... Qd4 20. g4 doesn’t change things at all. 20. g4. The Bishop is gone. 20. ... b5 (20. ... Bxg4 21. Bxg4 Qxf2+ 22. Kh1 exd5 23. Be6+ Kg7 24. cxd5 Rf4 25. Rd3+−) 21. gxf5 bxc4 22. Rbe3 Qxf5 23. d6 Qf4 24. d7 Rf7 25. Bc6 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 c3 27. Rxe6 c2 28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Qa1+ 1 : 0.

Valentine’s Day at the Chocolate House

Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 3rd stage; Opera Euro Rapid; Final match game 5; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, February 14, 2021

Sicilian Defence B30

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. 0-0 Nge7 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. Re1 Rc8 9. a4 b4 10. d4 cxd4 11. cxd4 Ng6 (11. ... d5 12. Nbd2 Na5 13. Ne5 Ng6 14. Nxg6 hxg6 15. e5 Qb6 16. Nf3 b3 17. Bd3 Nc4 18. Qe2 Be7 19. Rd1 a5 20. Bg5 Qd8 21. Bxe7 Qxe7 22. Rdc1 0-0 23. h4 Nb6 24. Bb5 Qb4 25. Qd2 Nc4 26. Qxb4 axb4 27. Ne1 Na5 28. Rc5 f6 29. Nd3 fxe5 30. Nxe5 Rxc5 31. dxc5 Rc8 32. Rc1 Nc4 33. c6 Nxe5 34. cxb7 Rxc1+ 35. Kh2 Kh7 36. b8=Q Ng4+ 37. Kg3 Nf6 38. f3 Nh5+ 39. Kh2 Rc2 40. Qe5 1 : 0 Tkachiev – Sveshnikov, 15th Russian Team Chess Championship, Dagomys 2008) 12. Nbd2 Na5 13. g3 Be7. Black’s Bishop appears to be not well placed here as it blocks the most natural retreat square for the Knight in case of h2-h4-h5. Perhaps 13. ... h6!? 14. h4 Bd6 15. e5 Bb8 16. Ne4 Bd5 17. h5 Ne7 18. Bf4⩲ might be an improvement. 14. h4

14. ... Bxh4? A strange way to make history repeat itself, mirroring the outcome of the Skilling Open — the fact is that Carlsen’s coffee house sacrifice proves to be completely unreliable, allowing So to win the final match without a struggle. 15. gxh4 Nxh4 16. Nxh4 Qxh4

17. Re3! f5 18. Rg3 0-0 19. Nf3 Qh5 20. Ne5! Qxd1+ 21. Bxd1 d6 22. Nd3 fxe4 23. Nxb4 Nc4 24. a5 d5 25. Bg4 Rf6 26. Bg5 Rg6 27. Bh5 Rxg5 28. Rxg5 1 : 0.

U+003D

Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 3rd stage; Opera Euro Rapid; Final match game 4; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, February 13, 2021

Giuoco Piano C54

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Nc3 0-0 10. Be3 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 Bg6 13. Qb3 Ne7 14. 0-0 c6 15. Bd3 Nf5 16. Qc2 Nxc3!?TN (16. ... Nxe3 17. fxe3 Ng3 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Rf2 f5 20. Ne2 Ne4 21. Rff1 g5 22. Nd2 Qd7 23. a4 Ba5 24. Nc3 Rae8 25. Ndxe4 fxe4 26. Qe2 Qe6 27. Qh5 Bd8 28. a5 Rxf1+ 29. Rxf1 Bxa5 30. Qxg5 Bxc3 31. bxc3 a5 32. Ra1 Ra8 ½ : ½ Aronian – M. Adams, 22nd European Team Chess Championship, Batumi 2019) 17. bxc3 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 f6 20. c4

20. ... Bc7? Indeed, most of Black’s trouble can be blamed on this move. Best was 20. ... fxe5 21. Nxe5 Qd6 with a playable game. 21. cxd5 Qxd5 22. exf6 gxf6 23. e4 Qd7 24. Rad1 Rad8 25. Nh4 Kh8 26. Nf5 c5

27. d5 Be5 28. Rb1 b6 29. Qc4 Rfe8 30. Kh1 Bd4 31. Rf4 Rxe4 32. Rxe4 Qxf5. Carlsen had to give up the Exchange only to get rid of White’s Knight, but things will not get better: 33. Rbe1 Rxd5? 33. ... Qxd5? 34. Re8+! is the “dual”. 34. Rg4 h5 35. Re8+ Kh7 36. Re7+ Kh8 37. Qc1 1 : 0.

Half-Time

Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 3rd stage; Opera Euro Rapid; Final match game 2; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, February 13, 2021

Two Knights Defence C58

The score is level at half-time in the final match between Carlsen and So. 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Bd3!? Nd5 9. Nf3 Bd6 10. 0-0 0-0 11. Re1 f5 12. Nxe5 Qf6 13. Nf3 g5 14. c4 Nf4 15. Bf1 g4 16. d4 gxf3 17. Qxf3 Ne6 18. Qc3. White can also play 18. c5 at once, after which two recent games continued as follows: (a) 18 ... Bc7 19. b4 Qxd4 20. Qc3 Qxc3 21. Nxc3 Nb7 22. Bc4 Re8 23. Bb2 a5 24. b5 Nxc5 25. Ba3 Ne4 26. Nxe4 fxe4 27. b6 Bxb6 28. Rxe4 Kf7 29. Rae1 Ra7 30. Kh1 a4?! (30. ... Rd8! 31. f4 Rd5! 32. Bxd5 cxd5 33. Re5 Bc7 34. Rxd5 Bxf4=) 31. f4 Ra5 32. g4 Bc5 33. Bxc5 Rxc5 34. f5 h5 35. Bxe6+ Bxe6 36. fxe6+ Ke7 37. Rxa4 h4 38. Rf4 Rc2 39. Rf7+ Kd6 40. Rd7+ Kc5 41. Rh7 Kd6 42. e7 Rd2 43. Rxh4 Rxe7 44. Rh6+ Kd7 45. Rxe7+ Kxe7 46. Rxc6 Rxa2 47. Rc3 Kf6 48. h4 Ke5 49. Rf3 Ra4 50. Rg3 Kf4 51. Rg2 Kf3 52. h5 Kf4 53. g5 Kf5 54. g6 1 : 0 Aronian – Vidit, 5th Grand Chess Tour, 7th stage, Tata Steel India Rapid, Kolkata 2019 (time control: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds per move); (b) 18. ... Nxd4 19. Qc3 Bc7 20. b4 Nb7 21. Bc4+ Kg7 22. Bb2 Rd8 23. Nd2 a5 24. Nb3 axb4 25. Qxd4 Rxd4 26. Bxd4 Qxd4 27. Nxd4 Kf6 28. Nxc6 Nxc5 29. Nxb4 1 : 0 So – Abdusattorov, 5th Speed Chess Championship, chess.com, November 8, 2020, match game 5 (time control: 5 minutes plus 1 second per move). But, no doubt, Carlsen had something in store for his opponent. 18. ... Nb7 19. c5 Bc7 20. b4. 20. d5 simply leads nowhere: 20. ... cxd5 21. Qxf6 Rxf6 22. Nc3 Ba5 23. c6 Nbd8 24. Nxd5 Bxe1 25. Nxf6+ Kf7 26. Nxh7 Nxc6 27. Ng5+ ½ : ½ Bartel – Nasuta, 31st International Chess Festival, Kraków 2021. 20. ... a5 21. b5

21. ... Qxd4. Probably not too accurate. Better seems to be 21. ... cxb5 22. Bxb5 a4! and if 23. Bc4 Black can reply 23. ... Na5 24. Bd5 Rb8 with dynamic equality. 22. Qxd4. Strangely, So lets slip a most propitious chance, viz., 22. Bc4! Qxc3 23. Nxc3 Re8 24. Ba3 Kf8 25. Rad1 with White soon getting a third Pawn for the sacrificed Knight with a very powerful position. 22. ... Nxd4 23. Bc4+ (23. Nc3!? Be6⩱) 23. ... Be6! 24. Bxe6+ Nxe6 25. Rxe6 Nxc5 26. Re2. Despite White’s material compensation, after 26. Rxc6 Be5 27. Rxc5 (instead, 27. Nc3 Bxc3 28. Rb1 Rfc8 doesn’t offer White enough) 27. ... Bxa1 28. Bh6 Rfe8 Black would dominate the scene. 26. ... Rfe8 27. Nc3 cxb5 28. Be3 Be5 29. Bxc5 Bxc3 30. Rxe8+ Rxe8 31. Rb1 b4 32. Kf1 Re5 33. Be3 a4 34. Rc1 a3 35. g3 Rb5 36. Rc2

36. ... b3! 37. axb3 Rxb3 38. Kg2 Kf7 39. Bd2? Although unappealing, 39. Ra2 Bb4∓ was White’s best chance. 39. ... Be5 40. Bf4. Now both 40. Bc1 and 40. Ra2 would be met by 40. ... Bb2 with overwhelming advantage. 40. ... Bxf4. Of course 40. ... Rb2 is also very strong. 41. gxf4 Rb7 42. Ra2 Ra7. This book win is in a way a remake of Kasparov – Karpov, Moscow 1984, World Chess Championship match game 6. 43. Kg3 Ra4 44. Kh4 Kg6 45. Kg3 Kf6 46. h3 h5 47. Kh4 Kg6 48. Kg3 Kg7 49. Kf3 h4 50. Ke2 Kf6 51. Kd1 Ke6 52. Kc1 Kd5 53. Kb1 Ke4 54. Rd2 Kf3 55. Ka2 Kg2 0 : 1.

After Dinner

Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 1st stage; Skilling Open; Final tie-break game 1; time control: 5 minutes plus 3 seconds per move; chess24.com, November 30, 2020

r6r/1p6/4pk2/PBPpn1p1/1P2b3/4RPP1/7N/4R1K1 b - - 0 31

Position after 31. f2-f3

It took only the first tie-break blitz game for So to win the inaugural leg of the Champions Chess Tour, which might make think that Carlsen, in turn, was quite in a hurry to turn off the computer and celebrate his birthday “offline” — after all, one is young only once in a lifetime! 31. ... Rxh2! And yet that was to be... 32. Kxh2 Nxf3+ 33. Rxf3+ Bxf3 34. c6

34. ... d4? And now it’s time to dance the night away. 34. ... bxc6 35. Bxc6 Ra7! was still a tough challenge. 35. Rf1! Rh8+ (35. ... g4 36. Rxf3+ gxf3 37. cxb7+−) 36. Kg1 Rh1+ 37. Kf2 Rxf1+ 38. Bxf1 Bxc6 39. b5 Bd7 (39. ... Bd5 40. Bg2+−) 40. a6 bxa6 41. bxa6 d3 42. Bxd3 Ke5 43. a7 Bc6 44. Bf1 1 : 0.

Q&A

Wesley So – Magnus Carlsen

Champions Chess Tour 2021; 1st stage; Skilling Open; Final match game 7; time control: 15 minutes plus 10 seconds per move; chess24.com, November 30, 2020

r3brk1/pp1qn1pp/4Rbn1/3p4/1P6/P1NB1N1Q/1BP2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 18

Position after 17. ... Nc6-e7

As they (should) say, before the tie-break blitz the gods still placed two rapid games. And, not surprisingly, both games ended as a draw, with a thrill of suspense only in the seventh one. In the position of the diagram, White is on the verge of winning, but... 18. Bb5? But here So misses 18. Rae1! — a move which Morphy would have played without hesitation — with a dominant position and an avalanche of threats; for instance: 18. ... Bf7 19. Rxf6! Qxh3 20. Rxg6! Qxf3 21. Rxg7+! Kxg7 22. Nxd5+ Kh6 23. Nxe7 winning by force.

18. ... Qc8? In turn, Carlsen does not notice 18. ... Nf4! 19. Bxd7 Nxh3+ 20. gxh3 Bxd7 winning decisive material. 19. Rxf6! Rxf6 20. Qxc8 Rxc8 21. Bd3 Nf4 22. Ne2 Nxe2+ 23. Bxe2 Re6 24. Bd3 Bg6 25. Nd4 Rb6 26. Re1 Kf7. If nothing else, 26. ... Bxd3 27. Rxe7 (27. cxd3 Nc6) 27. ... Kf8 would have shown more pugnacity. 27. Be2 Bxc2 28. Bg4 Rc4 29. Be2 Rc8 30. Bg4 Rc4 31. Be2 Rc8 ½ : ½.