Breakfast on Pluto

An image made available by NASA shows Pluto illuminated from behind by the sun. Photo: AP.

Cat Home Alone

All is ready for the start of the four game “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China except for the fact that there is still no track of Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk... but these are, of course, idle thoughts. The first game tomorrow, April 5 (incidentally, also Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov’s birthday). Photo: ilonggang.sznews.com.

Sovereign Chess Fund

Chess-News.ru‏ (@Chess__News)

Kirsan Fund. Ilyumzhinov set up a charitable foundation in the United States, and announces two more ones, for a total investment of $30 million dollars. For further details, see http://chess-news.ru/node/22947. FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov, in spite of being blacklisted by the U.S. Treasury Department, and although the betrayal of his closest co-workers in FIDE, announces his having been able to set up a charitable foundation in the United States (“Kirsan Fund”), and that he’s planning to set up two more ones in Brussels, Belgium and Seoul, South Korea. He will invest $10 million dollars in each of the three foundations, in order to make chess (all over the world) great as ever before. With or without FIDE.

Ilyumzhinov’s letter dated April 4, 2017
Photo: kirsan.today

Αγών (Agon)

Also the FIDE Continental President for America, Mr. Jorge Vega Fernández, wanted to deliver to (chess) history his public statement in regard to the stagnating conflict of powers within the Fédération Internationale des Échecs: Statement of the Continental President for America Jorge Vega April 4, 2017 To: CCA Member Federations It is well known that differences emerged at the last meeting of the Presidential Board held in Athens in March. Firstly, and in order to clarify, I should like to inform you that the subject of Mr. Ilyumzhinov’s resignation as President of FIDE was never on the agenda or proposed by any member of the PB during the meetings, it was Mr. Ilyumzhinov who mentioned it on three occasions at the first meeting and in the second, which took place behind closed doors, announced on more than one occasion that he was resigning the Presidency in the midst of a very strong emotional crisis. I can reiterate that what triggered this crisis was not a request by the PB to abandon the position of President but a proposal of Mr. Ilyumzhinov regarding AGON, the company to which FIDE has granted the rights of execution of the events of the World Championship Cycle, which was overwhelmingly rejected by the Presidential Board. Due to the importance of the situation, FIDE published the news in its web page but this was denied by Mr. Ilyumzhinov who said that he did not sign anything and described it as false news in some media. In this regard, Mr. Makropoulos clarified what had happened in a letter, adding that everything could be verified as PB meetings are recorded. Afterwards, innumerable articles have been published that are impossible to comment on. The only thing I can say is that neither the USCF nor any former FIDE Presidential candidate has been involved in this matter and that Mr. Nigel Freeman, Executive Director of FIDE, only fulfilled the duties inherent to his position. As an antecedent to this unpleasant situation, it is worth remembering that as a result of the sanctions imposed on Mr. Ilyumzhinov by the Department of the Treasury of the USA he passed all the functions inherent to his position to the Deputy President, Mr. Georgios Makropoulos, in a meeting of the PB in December 2015 to avoid those sanctions affecting FIDE. An extraordinary meeting of the PB has been convened for April 10 in accordance with the powers of the Deputy President. Without diminishing the support and contributions of Mr. Ilyumzhinov to chess and FIDE all these years, which we must recognize and thank him, it is undeniable that the sanctions imposed limit potential sponsors to support FIDE events. We must all be aware of the decisions taken at the next meeting of the PB that I hope it will clarify once and for all the current situation. Jorge Vega Continental President for America

Becky Sharp

Virginia Beach, United States: Mermaid Hales Parcells greets children as she performs at the Virginia Aquarium. Photo: Steve Helber/AP.

Two Months Off

Sleep is final frontier for French scientists studying microgravity as they seek 24 men willing to eat and perform all bodily functions in bed for 60 days Wanted: young, fit and healthy men willing to lie on their backs and do absolutely nothing for two months. Wage: €16,000. Researchers at France’s space medical institute are advertising for what could be, quite literally, a dream job. They are seeking volunteers to spend 60 days flat on their back to study the effects of microgravity, a state of virtual weightlessness. [Read more].

• Kim Willsher, Wanted: space volunteers willing to lie in bed for two months – for €16,000, The Guardian, April 4, 2017

A screengrab from 2001: A Space Odyssey by Stanley Kubrick (1968), showing the astronaut David Bowman in his ultimate neoclassical bedroom. Screenshot by Nicholas T. Davis.

Devil in the Grass

A few days before the last weekend, a likely group of people dug holes, spray painted “Resist”, and poured chemicals on the grass at the Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, United States. A police investigation is underway. Photo: NBCUniversal.

Public International Law

Congratulations to Silvia Bertini, virtuoso dancer of Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna”, who yesterday graduated in Jurisprudence at the University of Florence – alas, not summa cum laude, but – I’m sure – only because she doesn’t like to appear like the first of the class. Photo courtesy of her herself.

And here is Silvia celebrating with her fellow dancers Sofia Nutini (first from left) and Olga Calamai (first from right) after her graduation. If you need a lawyer and don’t know one better than her, well, you know where to knock! Photo courtesy of her herself.

But do not be so naïve as to think, as someone does, that Chiara Angelini (first from left) and Viola Rocchini (first from right) may have forgotten to pay homage to the newly crowned top lawyer! Photo courtesy of Silvia Bertini.

The Blue Danube

The Hungarian leader’s latest target is Budapest’s critical, multicultural Central European University. His illiberal ideology must not be allowed to spread. [Read more].

• Cas Mudde, The EU has tolerated Viktor Orbán for too long. It has to take a stand now, The Guardian, April 3, 2017

“Central European University (CEU) is everything Viktor Orbán detests: it is critical, global, independent, and multicultural”, writes Cas Mudde. Photo: Attila Kisbenedek/AFP/Getty Images.

A Whale Called Bice

Artwork © MGrigsbyArt

Enchanted Rock

Nigel David Short (@nigelshortchess)

Statement on behalf of the English Chess Federation April 3, 2017 From FIDE’s President and Deputy-President, there have come completely contradictory accounts of the nature of discussions at the recent meeting of its Presidential Board. In order that all affiliated national federations can know the truth – both about what the President said, and what recent developments caused other board members to lose confidence in him – we call upon FIDE to release the full transcript of the recording of the meeting. — Dominic Lawson, ECF President; Mike Truran, ECF Chief Executive; and Malcolm Pein, ECF Director of International Chess and ECF Delegate to FIDE

Paper War

• Andrey Fyodorovich Kartashov, Илюмжинов готов судиться с людьми, распространившими ложное сообщение о его отставке | Ilyumzhinov threatens to sue those who spread fake news about his resignation, TASS, April 3, 2017

Ilyumzhinov threatens to sue those who spread fake news about his resignation FIDE President said they damages not only his reputation, but the whole International Chess Federation MOSCOW, April 3, 2017. TASS correspondent: Andrey Fyodorovich Kartashov. FIDE President Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov sent a letter to all national chess federations, stressing out that he remained the President of FIDE and threatening to sue those who spread fake news about his resignation. The text of the letter appeared at the disposal of TASS. [Read more].

Ilyumzhinov’s letter dated April 3, 2017. Credit: Chess-News.ru.

Trading Places

Chess-News.ru‏ (@Chess__News)

Georgios Makropoulos answers to Kirsan Nikolayevich Ilyumzhinov: I am perfectly entitled to call an extraordinary Presidential Board meeting on April 10. For further details, see http://chess-news.ru/node/22943. The arm wrestling showdown between the two FIDE Presidents came to another deadlock in regard to the extraordinary Presidential Board meeting called on April 10. In the last days, indeed, Mr. Ilyumzhinov (FIDE President) told press that “there ain’t no sense in holding an extraordinary Presidential Board meeting” in order to discuss his resignation as “I shall never resign until next elections”. As for FIDE Deputy President Georgios Makropoulos’s right and legitimacy to call such a meeting, Mr. Ilyumzhinov appeared skeptical, objecting that it would be “a waste of both time and money”, because “the organization of such a meeting would cost FIDE about €200,000 €uros – money which would be better spent on chess developing”. Mr. Makropoulos formally responded today, claiming his full entitlement under FIDE statutes and ordinances to call such a meeting:

The Door in the Tree

• Benjamin Haas, Trump sets himself on collision course with China ahead of Xí meeting, The Guardian, March 31, 2017

While Trump is cutting to environmental programs, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China 习近平 (Xí Jìnpíng) is volunteering in tree-planting campaigns, urging development of the country's forestry. 习近平 (Xí Jìnpíng) and Donald Trump are due to meet in Florida on April 6 and 7. Photo: people.cn.

The Cup-Bearers

In a press conference held today on the 4th floor conference hall of the five-star 友和国际大酒店 (Friends International Hotel) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), Chinese Chess Association (CCA)’s Secretary-General 叶江川 (Yè Jiāngchuān) introduced the four game “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match between the four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) and the current World Rapid Chess Champion Vassily Mykhaylovych Ivanchuk, to be held from 5 to 9 April 2017. The meeting was attended by 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) herself and most city authorities, but, as usual happens in such circumstances, produced no interesting remark in regard to the actual chess debate. Time control is 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with an addition of 30 seconds per move.

The official presentation of the “尚街杯” (“MEWE Cup”) 2017 World Champion Summit Chess Match took place at 友和国际大酒店 (Friends International Hotel) in 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), China on April 3, 2017. Photo: cca.imsa.cn

Alternate Hair Dye

Tatev Abrahamyan – Maggie Feng
57th U.S. Women’s Chess Championship; Saint Louis, April 2, 2017
Sicilian Defence B47

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Qc7 6. f4 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 a6 8. Be3 b5 9. 0-0-0 Bb7 10. Bd3 Rc8 11. Kb1 Nf6 12. e5 Nd5 13. Ne4 Nxe3 14. Qxe3 Bd5 15. Qg3!? Setting off from the Rock: 15. Rhf1 Qa5 16. b3 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Qc3 18. Qxc3 Rxc3 19. Bb7 a5 20. Ba6 b4 21. Bb5 Rc7 22. Rxd7 Rxd7 23. Rd1 Bc5 24. Rxd7 0-0 25. g3 g6 26. Kb2 Bg1 27. Rd2 Bb6 28. c4 Rc8 29. Kc2 h5 30. Ba6 Rc7 31. Kd1 Kf8 32. Ke2 Ke7 33. Bb5 Bc5 34. Kf3 Ra7 35. Ke4 Rc7 36. Ba4 Ra7 37. Bc6 Rc7 38. Bb5 Ra7 39. h3 Rc7 40. g4 hxg4 41. hxg4 Ra7 42. Rd1 Rc7 43. Ba4 Rb7 44. f5 gxf5+ 45. gxf5 exf5+ 46. Kxf5 Rc7 47. Rd5 Kf8 48. Rd8+ Kg7 49. Ra8 Bf2 50. Rxa5 Rc5 51. Rxc5 Bxc5 52. Ke4 Kf8 53. Kd5 Bf2 54. Kd6 1 : 0 Grandelius – Bellón López, 13th Tradewise Gibraltar Chess Festival, Catalan Bay 2015. 15. ... Qa5 16. b3 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 Rc7 18. Rhf1 g6 19. h4 Ba3 20. Rf3 h5 21. Rfd3 Qb4 22. Bxg6. Abrahamyan opens the hostilities first by a Bishop sacrifice. 22. ... Rg8 23. f5. 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Qf3 was also interesting, soon winning the third Pawn as a compensation for the piece. 23. ... fxg6. The alternative was 23. ... Qc5 24. R1d2 fxg6 25. fxe6 Rg7∞ (Stockfish). 24. fxe6 Qg4 25. exd7+ Kd8 26. Qf2 Qe6 27. Qf3 Qc6 28. Qe2 Qe6? Correct was 28. ... Be7 29. e6 Rf8 with consequences similar to those of the actual game. 29. Qf3? Apparently 29. b4! (31. ... Bxb4 32. Qe4+−) would have regained the piece leaving White two Pawns ahead. 29. ... Qc6 30. Qe2 Qe6? (30. ... Be7 31. e6 Rf8∞) 31. Qe1. (31. b4!+−) 31. ... Qc6 32. Qd2 Be7

33. e6. “Crazy position between Tatev Abrahamyan and Maggie Feng. Can Tatev make use of her intimidating passed Pawns and Alekhine’s gun?”, wonders the U.S. Chess Federation’s Twitterman. 33. ... Rf8. Clearly not 33. ... Qxe6? on account of 34. Re3 Qf7? (best is 34. ... Qc6 35. Rxe7! Kxe7 36. d8=Q+ Rxd8 37. Qxd8+ Kf7 38. Rd2 which, however, leaves White both the initiative and a Pawn ahead) 35. g3! with the deadly threat of Qd2-g2-a8+. 34. Qe2 Qc5 35. Re3 Rc6 36. g3 Rf6 37. Re5 Qf2 38. Qd3 Rfxe6?? “Huge blunder (38. ... Rxe6??) by Maggie Feng allows Tatev Abrahamyan to obtain a decisive advantage and safely reach the time control”, says the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis’s Twitterman. 39. Rxe6 Rxe6 40. Qc3 Qc5 41. Qh8+ Bf8 42. Rf1 Kxd7 43. Rxf8 Qg1+ 44. Kb2 Qxg3 45. Qg7+ Kc6 46. Rc8+ Kd5 47. Rc3 Qe5 48. Qb7+ Kd6 49. a3 Rf6 50. Qc8 Rf7 51. Ka2 Ke7 52. Rc7+ Kf6 53. Qh8+ Ke6 54. Qxe5+ Kxe5 55. Rxf7 Ke6 56. Ra7 Kf5 57. Rxa6 g5 58. hxg5 Kxg5 59. Ra5 Kg4 60. Rxb5 1 : 0.

Tatev Abrahamyan
Photo: Lennart Ootes (@CCSCSL)

Yellow Hair

Nazí Nodarovna Paikidze – 叶诗雯 (Carissa Yip)
57th U.S. Women’s Chess Championship; Saint Louis, April 2, 2017
Catalan Opening E04

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 c5 6. 0-0 Nc6 7. dxc5 Qxd1 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 c3 10. bxc3 0-0 11. Nb3 Be7 12. Bb2 Nd7? Maybe it’s not so bad as it looks, but from a strategic viewpoint it won’t solve any of Black’s problems on the Queenside. Black must look for a better end somewhere into 12. ... Bd7 13. c4 Rfd8 14. Nfd4 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Bc6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Rd3 Kf8 18. Rad1 Ke8 19. Kg2 Rac8 20. Na5 Rd7 21. Bxf6 Rxd3 22. Rxd3 Bxf6 23. Kf3 Be7 24. Rb3 Bd8 25. Nb7 Be7 26. h3 Rb8 27. g4 Rc8 28. Ke4 Rb8 29. f4 Rc8 30. Kf3 Rb8 31. e4 Kd7 32. Nc5+ Kc8 33. Nd3 Ra8 34. Ne5 Kc7 35. Rd3 Bd6 36. Nxf7 Bxf4 37. Kxf4 Rf8 38. Ke5 Rxf7 39. Kxe6 Rf6+ 40. Ke7 Rf4 41. e5 Rxc4 42. Rd7+ Kb6 43. e6 Ra4 44. Kd8 Rxa2 45. e7 Re2 46. e8=Q Rxe8+ 47. Kxe8 a5 48. Rxg7 1 : 0 Sasikiran – Pichot, 14th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2016. 13. Nfd2 Nb6 14. a4 a5 15. c4 Rd8 16. c5 Nd5 17. Nc4 Ndb4? White was already much better, and probably it would not have been too difficult to implement her dominance, but the text offers a clear modus operandi which Paikidze doesn’t miss. 18. Nb6 Rb8 19. Nxa5! Bxc5. On 19. ... Nxa5 20. Be5 White wins at least an Exchange. 20. Nxc6 Rxd1+ 21. Rxd1 Nxc6 22. a5! The material is even, but Black is comically pythonised. 22. ... f6 23. Bxc6 Bxb6 24. axb6 bxc6 25. Rd8+ Kf7 26. Ba3 Ra8

27. Rxc8! Paikidze concludes elegantly. 27. ... Rxc8 28. Bd6 Rd8 29. b7 Rxd6 30. b8=Q Rd1+ 31. Kg2 Rc1 32. Qa7+ Kg8 33. Qe3 Rc2 34. Qxe6+ Kf8 35. Qe4 1 : 0.

Nazí Nodarovna Paikidze. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

No Ban, No Wall

Chess-News.ru (@Chess__News)

Antoaneta Stefanova will play the 18th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship in Riga under the ECU flag. For further details, see http://chess-news.ru/node/22941. 10th Women’s World Chess Champion Antoaneta Stefanova will play the impending 18th European Individual Women’s Chess Championship in Riga, Latvia (10–23 April 2017) under the ECU flag, as a consequence of the expulsion of the Bulgarian Chess Federation from the European Chess Union, which was deliberated by the ECU General Assembly held in Baku, Azerbaijan on September 10, 2016. The participants list is headed by the Muzychuk sisters, Anna Olehivna and Mariya Olehivna, with Stefanova being seeded fourth.

The Importance of Not Being Arcovazzi

“If someone had ever told me that I had the slightest chance of winning the Nobel Prize, I would have to think that I’d have about the same odds as standing on the moon”. Bob Dylan

Bob Dylan in first apartment in New York City, 161 W 4th St., 1961. Photo: Ted Russell/Steven Kasher Gallery, New York.

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.

And It Is So

Wesley So – Alexander Vasilyevich Onischuk
61th U.S. Chess Championship; Saint Louis, April 1, 2017
English Opening A14

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. 0-0 Be7 5. c4 0-0 6. b3 b6 7. Bb2 Bb7 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. d4 Nd7 10. Re1 c5 11. e4 N5f6 12. Nc3 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Ne5 14. Qe2 Bc5 15. Red1. A predictable improvement on 15. Ncb5? a6 16. Rad1 axb5 17. Nxe6 Qe7 that promises anything good for White, Giri – So, 2016 Paris Grand Chess Tour (Blitz), Paris 2016. 15. ... Qe7 16. Na4 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 Nc6 18. Be3 Rfd8 19. Nc3 Qb4 20. Qb2 Ng4 21. Bf4 Nce5 22. a3 Qc5 23. Na4 Qb5 24. Nc3 Qc5 25. Na4 Qb5 26. h3! There does not seem to be anything special for White here (except for the two Bishops), but So is not willing to accept a draw by repetition. 26. ... Nd3. 26. ... Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Nd3 28. Rxd3 Qxd3 29. hxg4 Rc8 might have been also interesting. 27. Rxd3 Rxd3 28. hxg4 Qxb3? After the exchange of Queens, White’s Bishop pair and (especially!) the powerful Knight will easy take over Black’s citadel. So maybe Black should have played 28. ... Rxb3 29. Qd4 Rc8! (and if 30. Bf1 then 30. ... Qe8) with good drawing chances.

29. Bf1! Qxb2 30. Nxb2. The Knight begins a long journey east. 30. ... Rb3 31. Nc4 Rd8. The e4-Pawn is obviously taboo. 32. Nd6 Ba8 33. g5 Rc3 34. a4 Rc5 35. e5 Rd7 36. Be3 Rxe5 37. Rc1 Rd8 38. Rc7 Rd5 39. Nxf7 Rf8 40. g6! hxg6 41. Ng5 Rd1 42. Nxe6 Re8 43. Rxg7+ Kh8 44. Rxg6 Be4 45. Bd4+ 1 : 0.

Wesley So
Photo: Lennart Ootes

The Inexpressible

The Inexpressible I want what’s inexpressible! Impudent, I play with fire without a queen My queen-reason is under the knight’s hooves What joy to lose to the fire! What flaming in the uncombed night From slender you, as from a candle! How you’ve fired-up The idea of sin! I writhe but the cry of my flesh is bliss The heretic is already freed by the fire Gul’ripshi New York Paris Madrid in flames And someone dear to me burns in them But if from the heretic’s fire The flame leaps to some poor bastard’s roof All the heretic burns for Shall be forever damned to hell For truth, when you burn down the scene of someone nearby, Is no longer truth but a lie. Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko English translation by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and Anthony Kahn

Yevgeny Aleksandrovich Yevtushenko † (Gangnus, Zima junction, Siberia, USSR, July 18, 1932 – Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States, April 1, 2017). Photo: irkipedia.ru.

First Semester

Chess-News.ru (@Chess__News)

On the new year’s first day, Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov will give a simultaneous chess exhibition against the members of the European Commission. For further details, see http://chess-news.ru/node/22935. Former World Chess Champion Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov will give a twenty-eight simultaneous chess exhibition against the members of the European Commission in Sofia, Bulgaria on January 1, 2018, thus marking the start of Bulgaria’s six-month Presidency of the Council of the European Union. The idea was proposed (and unanimously welcomed) by Topalov’s manager, Mr. Silvio Danailov, at the forum “The future of Europe and the Bulgarian Presidency”, held in Sofia on March 16, 2017.

Silvio Danailov (L.) with the Prime Minister of Bulgaria Ognyan Stefanov Gerdzhikov. Photo: Silvio Danailov/Chess-News.ru.

The Ivory Tower

Thanks to Mrs. Cecilia Riccio, the mum of Emma (dancer) and Cesare (chess player) – both engaged for the Associazione Culturale “Il Delta della Luna” – for sending us a picture of two Islamic ivory chess pieces, Iraq, late 9th–early 10th century AD, on display at the Museo Nazionale del Bargello in Florence, Italy.

His 59 Unbeatable Games

Wesley So – Fabiano Caruana
61th U.S. Chess Championship; Saint Louis, March 31, 2017
Spanish Game C67

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. 0-0 Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bg5 Be6 12. Rad1. For 12. Rfd1 Be7 13. Rd2 Rd8 see So – 王玥 (Wáng Yuè), 16th Asian Games — All-Gender Team Standard, 广州 (Guǎngzhōu) 2010. 12. ... Be7 13. b3 h4 14. Rfe1 a5!? An interesting new idea. An older try was 14. ... Rd8 15. Rxd8+ Kxd8 16. Ne4 b6 17. Bf4 Kc8 18. Neg5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 Bd5 20. Nh2 c5 21. Rd1 Bc6 22. c3 a5 23. Ng4 Bd7 24. f3 a4 25. Kf2 ½ : ½ Aronian – Kramnik, 1st Zürich Chess Challenge, Zürich 2012, match game 4. 15. Rd3 Rd8 16. Rxd8+ Kxd8 17. Ne2 Bd5 18. Bxe7+ Kxe7 19. Ned4 Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Be6 21. c4? This gives sense to Caruana’s novelty. After 21. f4 c5 22. Nf3 Bd5 23. Kf2 b6 (Stockfish) the game seems quite even. 21. ... a4! 22. c5 axb3 23. axb3 g6 24. Re4 Bd5 25. Rg4 Rh5! Wesley is in a critical situation, but I’m sure the Lord will forgive him for it. 26. f4 Rh8 27. f5 gxf5 28. Rf4 Kd7 29. Rxf5 Rg8 30. Rf2 Rg5 31. Kh2 Rxe5 32. Rf4 Rg5 33. Rg4 Rxg4 34. hxg4 Ke7 35. g3 Kf6! 36. gxh4 Ke5 37. Nf5

37. ... Bxb3? Caruana, pressed by time, is not able to resist taking the Pawn, but in fact he loses a precious tempo, giving Wesley the chance for a “miracle” escape. Apparently 38. ... Be6! would have seriously threatened So’s unbeaten streak, but, as International Master Marco Baldauf demonstrated in his analytical commentary for ChessBase.com, after 38. Kg3 Bxf5 39. gxf5 Kxf5 40. Kf3 f6 41. b4 b6 42. h5 Kg5 43. Ke4 b5! 44. h6 Kxh6 45. Kf5 Kg7 46. Ke6 Kg6 47. Kd7 f5 48. Kxc7 f4 49. Kxc6 f3 50. Kb7! f2 51. c6 f1=Q 52. c7 White would have saved the day anyway. 38. h5 Kf6 39. Kg3 Kg5 40. h6 Kg6 41. g5! Bc2 42. Nd4 Bb1 43. Kf4 f6 44. gxf6 Kxf6 45. Nb3 b6 46. Nd4 bxc5 47. Nxc6 Kg6 48. Ke5 Kxh6 49. Kd5 c4 ½ : ½. Let’s enjoy it till it lasts as nothing lasts forever.

Wesley So vs. Fabiano Caruana
Photo: Lennart Ootes (Flickr)