Over Earth

Alireza Firouzja – Magnus Carlsen
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 15, 2020
King’s Indian Attack A05

Firouzja too could do nothing against Carlsen, who won the 8th Norway Chess with a round still to go. 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. 0-0 e5 5. e4 d6 6. c3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bg4 9. dxe5!? A new and unambitious move. In a recent game, White obtained an overwhelming advantage after 9. d5 Ne7? (but 9. ... Nd4 is perfectly good) 10. Nc3 Bg7 11. Qa4+ Nd7 12. Qa3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Nc5 14. Be3 b6 15. b4 Nd7 16. Nb5 Nf6 17. Rac1 0-0 18. Nc7 Rb8 19. Qxa7 Qd7 20. a4 Ra8 21. Qxb6 Rxa4 22. Qb5 Qxb5 23. Nxb5 Rd8 24. Rc4 Ne8 25. Rb1 f5 26. Nc3 Ra3 27. b5 Rc8 28. Rxc8 Nxc8 29. Rc1 f4 30. b6 Rb3 31. Bd1 fxe3 32. Bxb3 exf2+ 33. Kxf2 Nxb6 34. Ra1 Nd7 35. Ra8 Kf7 36. Ra7 Nf6 37. Ba4 Ke7 38. Bxd7 Nxd7 39. Na4 Ke8 40. Nb6 Nxb6 41. Rxg7 Nd7 42. Rxh7 Nf6 43. Rh8+ 1 : 0 Romanishin – Miroshnichenko, 43rd Sunway Open, Sitges 2017. 9. ... dxe5 10. Nc3 Bg7 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. Bxf3 0-0 14. Kg2 Nd4 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6. A draw seems to be quite imminent. 17. Nd5 Rd6 18. Rac1 Bd8 19. Rfd1 Kg7 20. Ne3 Ra6 21. a3 h5 22. Nc4 Bf6 23. h4 Rc8 24. Ne3. Also after 24. Rxd4!? exd4 25. e5 Bxe5 26. Bxb7 Rxc4 27. Rxc4 d3 28. Rb4 d2 29. Bf3 Rc6! 30. Rb7 a6 Black can hardly do more than draw. 24. ... Rac6 25. Rxc6 Rxc6 26. Rd3 Bd8 27. Bd1 Rc1 28. Bb3 b5 29. Rd1 Rc8 30. Ba2 a5 31. Rd3 a4 32. Kf1 Bb6. Maybe Firouzja conceded Carlsen too much — but not enough so far to be profitable. His next offer of the Rook exchange, however, make things considerably more less comfortable. 33. Rc3. 33. Bd5 or 33. Rd2 deserved serious consideration. 33. ... Rxc3 34. bxc3 Nb3 35. Ke1 Bc5 36. Nc2

36. ... Nc1. Perhaps a bit too materialistic. Who knows, maybe moves such as 36. ... f6!?, 36. ... f5!?, or even 36. ... g5!? would have been a little more enterprising. 37. Bd5 Nd3+ 38. Ke2 Nxf2 39. Bc6 f6 40. Ne3 Nh1 41. Nf1 Bxa3 42. Bxb5 Bb2 43. Bxa4 Bxc3 44. Kf3 Bd4 45. g4 hxg4+ 46. Kxg4 Nf2+ 47. Kf3 Kh6 48. Ng3 Nd3 49. Be8 Nf4 50. Ne2 Ne6 51. Bf7 Nc5 52. Ng3 Bc3 53. h5 Be1 54. Bxg6 Bxg3 55. Kxg3 Kg5 56. Kf3 Nb3 57. Bf7 Nd4+ 58. Kg3 Ne2+ 59. Kf3 Nf4 60. Kg3 Nxh5+ 61. Bxh5 Kxh5 62. Kh3 Kh6 63. Kh4 Kg7 64. Kg3 Kf8 65. Kf2 Ke7 66. Ke2 Ke8 67. Ke3 Kd7 68. Kd3 Kd6

69. Kc3?? A blunder which recalls Morphy’s 51. Kg1?? in the eight game of his match against Löwenthal at London, 1858. Of course, White had to maintain the distant opposition by 69. Kd2 with a draw. 69. ... Kc5 0 : 1. For after 70. Kd3 Kb4 71. Kd2 Kc4 72. Ke3 Kc3 73. Ke2 Kd4 74. Kf3 Kd3 the last bastion falls.

“The only things that gave me optimism were his nervousness and his lack of time. Had I seen something else in his body language, I’d probably have stopped playing on”, Carlsen said afterwards. “He was clearly uncomfortable. He sat shivering — and I guess his King move was a bit of an accident”. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Inventing a Classroom

On the afternoon of October 15, four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) descended from heaven in her incarnation to bring inspiration and understanding to the pupils of the 新亚洲学校 (Xīnyàzhōu Primary School) in 龙岗区 (Lónggǎng District), 深圳 (Shēnzhèn), China. In black pants and a white blouse, with long dark hair hanging on her shoulders, the Queen took the stage of the conference hall with elegance and authority, giving a solo performance to her student audience which can be regarded more as a life lesson than just a chess class. She remembered when she got to hold the crown up for the first time as a Women’s World Chess Champion. “It is mostly a matter of persistence”, she said. More precisely, she thinks that a “3D persistence” is the artist’s secret: persistence in faith, persistence in goals, and persistence in dedication. 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) didn’t regret — too much — giving up professional chess in favour of her academic career. “There’s no limit to life”, she said. “As the saying goes, there’s no best, only better. I want my life colourful; I want to learn more; I want to live new experiences and keep contributing others the best I have to offer”. And thus, soon after, 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) moved to the 龙岗区外国语学校 (Lónggǎng Foreign Language School) just to take on 50-or-so pupils in a spectacular indoor simultaneous exhibition. As the saying goes, “A queen is never late. Everyone else is simply early”. Photos: 李云云 (Lǐ Yúnyún)/深圳新闻网 (Shēnzhèn News).

Yeah, Edna, only imagination can save mankind from itself

Artwork © Natalie Baillargeon (@nat.jean.arts)

Algorithmic bias

Of course, Edna, only you are able to fly back and forth from surreality to virtual reality without ever pass through reality along the sky

Artwork © Skylar WR Collins (@skylarrossinkandart)

Matter and Form

Magnus Carlsen – Aryan Tari
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 13, 2020
Spanish Game C84

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. 0-0 Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bd7 9. c3 Na5 10. Ba2 c5 11. Bg5 0-0 12. Nbd2!?TN (12. axb5 axb5 13. Na3 Qb8 14. Nc2 h6 15. Bh4 c4 16. Nb4 Be6 17. Re1 Qb7 18. d4 Bg4 19. Bb1 Nb3 20. Rxa8 Rxa8 21. Ba2 Nxe4 22. Bxe7 Ned2 23. Bxb3 Nxf3+ 24. gxf3 Bxf3 25. Bxd6 Bxd1 26. Bxd1 exd4 27. cxd4 Qd7 28. Bg3 Qxd4 29. Bf3 Qd2 30. Rd1 Qxd1+ 31. Bxd1 Ra1 32. Kg2 Rxd1 33. Be5 f6 34. Bc3 Kf7 35. Nc2 g5 36. h3 Kg6 37. Na3 Rd5 38. Kf3 f5 39. Kg3 f4+ 40. Kg2 Kf5 41. f3 h5 ½ : ½ Caruana – Topalov, 5th Sinquefield Cup, Saint Louis 2016) 12. ... Rb8 13. axb5 axb5 14. Re1 b4?! (14. ... Nc6 15. Nf1⩲) 15. Nc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc4 bxc3 17. bxc3 Qc7 18. Qc2 Bb5 19. Bxb5 Rxb5 20. Bxf6 Bxf6 21. Nd2 Qc6 22. Qa4 Rfb8 23. Nc4 Be7 24. g3 Qc8 25. Qd1 g6 26. Kg2 Bf8 27. Qf3 Rb3 28. Rec1 Qe6 29. Ra7 R8b7 30. Rxb7 Rxb7 31. Ra1 h5 32. Ra8 Kg7 33. Ne3. White enjoys a typical Ruy López bind, which, after Black’s next move — in fact a mistake — becomes simply overwhelming. 33. ... Rc7? If nothing else, after 33. ... Qd7 Black could still hope to defend by offering to exchange Rooks with ... Rb7-a7.

34. Nd5+− Rc8. Or 34. ... Rb7 35. h3 followed by the advance of the g-pawn, as in the game. 35. Ra7 Rb8 36. h3 Rd8 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 Rd7 39. Ra8 f6 40. g5 f5 41. Qh3 Rf7

42. Re8! A most spectacular finish. 42. ... Qxe8 43. Qh6+ Kg8 44. Qxg6+ Kh8 45. Nf6 1 : 0.

Carlsen served his countryman Tari with a crystal clear display of strategic and tactical dominance. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Well, okay, Edna, let’s start rehearsing now, even if it’s not yet 万圣节 — this time we’ll teach ’em a lesson they won’t forget for a long time

Artwork © Galihet† (@galihet)

Come on, Edna, don’t be suspicious; ain’t nobody told him nothing

Near and Far

Fabiano Caruana – Magnus Carlsen
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 12, 2020

Sicilian Defence B31

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. 0-0 Bg7 5. c3 e5 6. d4 cxd4 7. cxd4 exd4 8. Bf4 a6 9. Ba4 Nge7 10. Bd6 b5 11. Bb3 Bb7 12. Re1 Nc8 13. e5 Nxd6 14. exd6+ Kf8 15. h4!?↑TN (15. Nbd2 f5 ½ : ½ Paszek – Jankowiak, 76th Polish Team Chess Championship 2nd League-2, Poronin 2020) 15. ... Bf6 16. Nbd2 Kg7 17. Bd5 Na5. Of course, 17. ... Bxh4 18. Ne4 would leave White with gratifying compensation. 18. Bxb7 Nxb7 19. Ne4 Re8

20. h5! Rc8 21. Rc1 Rxc1 22. Qxc1 h6 (22. ... gxh5? 23. Qd2±) 23. hxg6 fxg6 24. Qd2 d3! 25. b4 Re6 26. Qxd3 Qb6 27. Rd1 Qc6 28. Nxf6 Rxf6 29. Ne5 Qc8 (29. ... Qxd6?? 30. Qe2+−)

30. Qd5 Re6. Black succeeds in defending the King’s Palace by a hair’s breadth. Of course, the Pawn was taboo: 30. ... Rxd6?? 31. Qf7+ Kh8 32. Rxd6 and the knight cannot retake due to mate on g6. 31. Ng4 Kh7 32. Qd4 Qf8 33. Qa7 Rxd6 34. Re1 Nd8 35. Ne5 Qe7 36. Nf3 Re6 37. Rd1 Rd6 38. Re1 Re6 39. Rd1 Rd6 ½ : ½. “With a bit of luck I managed to hold everything together”, Carlsen eventually told TV2.

Of course in such times of banned touching, Carlsen’s Namaste is worth a handshake. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Yeah, Edna, after all they are only naïve amateurs who enjoy the pleasure that comes from wearing the farmer’s Sunday dress

Artwork © Warren Le Platte (@leplattestudios)

“There’s always something authentic concealed in every forgery”

Three-time Women’s World Chess Champion 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn), dressed in an Alberta Ferretti draped silk satin gown, starred as “post-90s beauty chess queen” on the red carpet at the 4th anniversary of the Green Carpet Fashion Awards which took place online and offline at 上海中心大厦 (Shànghǎi Tower) in 上海 (Shànghǎi), China Saturday, October 10, 2020. Although the Green Carpet Fashion Awards is usually conceived as a grand finale for Milan Fashion Week, this year’s special edition, co-organised by the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana (CNMI) and the brand consultancy agency Eco-Age, in collaboration with the Chinese partner APAX Group, was held in the Celestial Empire for the first time, so as to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the relationship between China and Italy. “Yes, it’s always been my pursuit to be a woman inside and out. There is a life beyond the board which I hope to enjoy more amply”, 居文君 (Jū Wénjūn) said. Photos: 隆溢体育 (Lóngyì Sports).

For to be sure, Edna, when you look in the mirror, that does not necessarily mean you are vain

Artwork © clairecaballero

On Wind of Chance

Levon Grigori Aronian – Fabiano Caruana
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 11, 2020
Sicilian Defence B22

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Nf6 6. Na3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nb5 Qd7 9. Nbxd4 a6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. 0-0 Ne7 12. Qc2 0-0 13. Bg5 Ng6 14. Rad1 Qc7 15. Rfe1 Bd7 16. g3 Rfe8 17. Bxf6 gxf6 18. h4 Kh8? (18. ... Kg7!? Δ 19. h5 Nf8) 19. Qd2 Bf8. Suddenly, Black felt uneasy. 19. ... Bxg3? 20. fxg3 Qxg3 21. Qg2 leads nowhere. 20. h5 Ne7 21. Bc2! Red8 22. Qd3 f5

23. g4? Immediately after obtaining his most ideal attacking position, White misses his best way: 23. Ng5! Be8 (23. ... Kg8 24. Bb3+−) 24. Qe2! with sacrificial threats looming on e6. 23. ... f6! 24. g5 (24. Nh4 Nc6) 24. ... Qf4! 25. gxf6 (25. Qf1 e5) 25. ... Qg4+ 26. Kf1 Qh3+ 27. Ke2 Nd5 28. Qd2 Bb5+! 29. Nxb5 Qg4 30. Qg5 Nf4+ 31. Ke3 Ng2+ 32. Ke2

32. ... Qc4+! Since after 32. ... Nf4+ Black has nothing more than a draw, Caruana justly tries for something trickier, basically speculating on his opponent’s time shortage. 33. Bd3 Rxd3 34. Rxd3? 34. Ne5! Nf4+ 35. Kf1 Rg3+ 36. Nxc4 Rxg5 37. Nc7 Rxh5 38. Kg1 Rc8 39. Rd7 Rg5+ 40. Kh2 Rh5+= 41. Kg3?? Bh6−+ tellingly illustrates why White should not avoid the perpetual check. 34. ... Nf4+ 35. Ke3?? (35. Qxf4! Qxf4 36. Rd4 Qh6 37. Nc7 Rc8 38. Nxe6 Qxf6∞) 35. ... Qe4+ 36. Kd2 Qxd3+ 37. Kc1 Qxf3 38. f7 Qg4 0 : 1.

Magnus Carlsen (standing) takes a look at the game between Aronian and Caruana. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Mirror Mirrored

Magnus Carlsen – Jan-Krzystof Duda
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 11, 2020
Semi-Slav Defence D31

Referentially speaking, revenge should be a dish best served cold, but Carlsen has no time to wait, as the double round-robin schedule features today a “mirroring” of yesterday’s pairings: just the same foreground but with reversed colours. 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. b3 b6 6. Bb2 Bb7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nge2 Bd6 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Ng3 c5 11. cxd5 cxd4 12. Nce4 Bxg3 13. Nxg3 dxe3 14. dxe6 exf2+ 15. Rxf2 fxe6 16. Qe2 Nc5!? This is a providential improvement on 16. ... Rf7? 17. Qxe6 Bd5 18. Qf5 Qe7 19. Qg5 h6 20. Qh4 Ne8 21. Qxe7 Rxe7 22. Nf5 Rf7 23. Re1 Nc5 24. Bc2 Kf8 25. Ne7 Rxf2 26. Ng6+ Kg8 27. Kxf2 Bf7 28. Re7 Rd8 29. Ke3 a5 30. Ra7 Nf6 31. Ne7+ Kf8 32. Ng6+ Kg8 33. Ne7+ Kf8 34. Nf5 Re8+ 35. Kd2 Rd8+ 36. Kc1 Ne8 37. Ba3 Nf6 38. Rb7 Kg8 39. Rxb6 Nd3+ 40. Kb1 Ne1 41. Nxh6+ gxh6 42. Rxf6 Rd2 43. Bg6 Bd5 44. Rd6 Nxg2 45. Kc1 1 : 0 Pashikian – Matlakov, 17th European Individual Chess Championship, Gjakova 2016. 17. Bc2 Ba6 18. Qe1

18. ... Qe8? It’s likely that after this plausible mistake Black’s game may no longer be saved. Best seems 18. ... Nd5 in order to answer 19. Rxf8+ Qxf8 20. b4 by 20. ... Nd3 21. Qxe6+ Qf7 with an apparently tenable position. Now White mounts an irresistible attack on Black’s King: 19. Rd1! Rc8 20. b4! Nb7 21. Ne4 Nd5 22. Rxf8+. 22. Ng5+− was also very strong, but Carlsen wants to retain both his Bishops on the board. 22. ... Qxf8 23. Bb1 Qxb4 (23. ... h6 24. Ng3+−)

24. Nf6+! Kh8 25. Qxe6 Ra8. It is as good a way as another to resign a lost game. If, instead, 25. ... Ne7 then 26. Ne8! winning in all variations. 26. Qxd5 1 : 0.

“Frankly speaking, today I couldn’t content myself with nothing less than a win”, Carlsen finally told TV2. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Alice Through the Cellophane

Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina – Vadim Vikotorovich Zvjaginsev
73rd Russian Chess Championship Higher League; Sochi, October 11, 2020
Catalan Opening E00

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Nd2 c5 5. a3 Bxd2+ 6. Qxd2 cxd4 7. Nf3 b6 8. b4 Bb7 9. Qxd4 d5 10. cxd5 Qxd5 11. Bb2. 11. Qxd5 Bxd5 12. Bg2 Nbd7 13. 0-0 Rc8 14. Bb2 Ke7 15. Rac1 Rhd8 seems quite balanced as well, Percivaldi – Dudin, First Saturday GM March 2020, Budapest 2020. 11. ... Qxd4 12. Bxd4 Bd5 13. Bg2 Nc6 14. 0-0 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 0-0-0. Dogmatically speaking, a King move such as 15. ... Ke7 would have been much more to the point, and if 16. Rac1 (or 16. Rfc1) Black can reply 16. ... Rhc8 with a near equality endgame. Maybe castling is not objectively wrong, but it leaves White with a small but enduring initiative. 16. Rac1+ Kb8 17. Bxd5 Rxd5 18. Nc6+ Kb7 19. Rc2 Re8 20. Rfc1 e5 21. a4 a6 22. Rc4 e4 23. e3 Rd7 24. b5 a5 25. h3 h5 26. Kf1 Nh7 27. Nd4 Ng5 28. h4 Ne6 29. Nxe6 Rxe6 30. Ke2 f5 31. Rd1 Rxd1 32. Kxd1 Rd6+ 33. Ke2 Rg6 34. Rc3 Kb8 35. Rc4 Kb7 36. Rd4 Kc7 37. Rd5 Rf6 38. f3

38. ... Rg6? Zvjaginsev defended well so far, but the text precipitates him into an indefensible ending. After 38. ... exf3+ 39. Kxf3 g6 a draw appears inevitable. 39. Rxf5 Rxg3 40. fxe4 Rg2+? Just making bad worse. Comparatively better was 40. ... Rg4, although after 41. Rf4 Rg2+ 42. Kf3 Rg1 43. Rf7+ Kd6 44. Rb7 White has a Pawn more and a much better endgame. 41. Kf3 Ra2 42. Rxh5 Rxa4 43. Rg5 Ra1 (43. ... Kd6 44. Kf4+−) 44. e5 Kd7 45. Rxg7+ (45. Ke4 Ke6 46. Rg6+ Kf7 47. Rxb6+−) 45. ... Ke6 46. Kf4 Rh1 47. Rg6+ Kd5 48. Rd6+ Kc5 49. Kg5 a4 50. Rd3 Rg1+ 51. Kf5 Rf1+ 52. Ke4 Rh1 53. e6 Rxh4+ 54. Kf5 Rh7 55. Kg6 Rh4 56. Rd4 Rh3 57. Re4 Rg3+ 58. Kf5 Rf3+ 59. Kg4 (59. Kg5 Rg3+ 60. Kf4+−) 59. ... Rf8

60. e7? A mistake which throws away a victory. Simply 60. Rxa4! Kd6 (60. ... Kxb5 61. Re4+−) 61. Ra6!+− leads to an easily won ending for White. 60. ... Re8 61. Kf5 a3 62. Ke6 Kxb5 63. Rf4 a2 64. Rf1 Ka4 65. Kd7 Rb8 66. e8=Q Rxe8 67. Kxe8 b5 68. Rf7 Kb3 69. Ra7 Kb2 70. e4 b4 71. e5 b3 72. e6 a1=Q 73. Rxa1 ½ : ½.

At a certain point, Goryachkina’s advantage was even larger than was visible through the plexiglass. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Russian Chess Federation.

Trunks in the Square

The silent protest of show business workers in Milan, Italy Saturday, October 10, 2020: 500 empty trunks lined up in Piazza del Duomo with a red banner: “One sector one future”. Video credit: Press Office/Cover photo by Francesco Prandoni.

Yes, Edna, tomorrow is another day, and it already has begun since two hours ago

Artwork © Arisse Rosa (@arisserosa)

On Time and Eternity

Jan-Krzystof Duda – Magnus Carlsen
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 10, 2020
Caro-Kann Defence B15

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 6. c3 Bd6 7. Bd3 0-0 8. Qc2 Re8+ 9. Ne2 h5 10. Be3 Nd7 11. 0-0-0 b5!? An interesting, although not new, Pawn sacrifice. 12. d5 c5 13. Bxb5 Rb8 14. c4 a6 15. Ba4 Re7!?TN (15. ... Re5 16. Nc3 Nb6 17. Bb3 Bf5 18. Qd2 a5 19. a3 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 Rxb3 21. Nc3 Rb6 22. Nb5 Re6 23. Qxa5 Qb8 24. Rxd6 Rbxd6 25. Nxd6 Qxd6 26. Qa8+ Kh7 27. Qd5 Qxd5 28. cxd5 Rd6 29. Rd1 c4 30. Bc5 Rd7 31. d6 Kg6 32. Rd4 Bd3 33. a4 Bf1 34. g3 Kf5 35. a5 Ke6 36. a6 c3 37. a7 cxb2+ 38. Kxb2 Bg2 39. Rb4 Rb7 40. Kc3 Rxb4 41. Bxb4 Bf3 42. Kd4 Kd7 43. Ke3 Bb7 44. Kf4 Ke6 45. f3 g5+ 46. Ke3 f5 47. h3 Ba8 48. f4 f6 49. Kd4 Bf3 50. Kc5 Bg2 51. Bc3 gxf4 52. gxf4 Be4 53. Bxf6 Ba8 54. Bc3 Bg2 55. Bb4 Ba8 56. Kd4 Bb7 57. Ke3 Ba8 58. Kf2 Bb7 59. Kg3 Ba8 60. Kh4 Bf3 61. Kg5 1 : 0 Ivić – T. R. Hansen, 34th European Chess Club Cup, Porto Carras 2018) 16. Ng3 Ne5 17. Ne4. 17. Nxh5 Rb4! would give Black plenty of initiative — which is what Carlsen is aiming at.

17. ... Reb7! 18. b3 Rb4 19. Bd2 Rxa4! 20. bxa4 Bf5 21. Rde1

21. ... h4? As they say, records are made to be broken — even the Invincibles’ ones. And here is where Carlsen — deliberately or not — decides to end his 125-game unbeaten streak. Best seems 21. ... Ng4! 22. f4 Nf2 23. Rhf1 Nxe4 24. Rxe4 Qd7= with comfortable equality. 22. h3 Ng6 23. Re3 Nf4 24. g4 Bg6 25. Kd1 f5 26. Nxd6 Qxd6 27. gxf5 Bh5+ 28. f3 Qf6 29. Bc3 Qg5 30. Qe4? (30. Rhe1+−) 30. ... Qg2? (30. ... Kh7!) 31. Rhe1 Qxa2 32. Qc2. “I overlooked this Queen move by him”, Carlsen told TV2 afterwards. “Believe or not, I was still thinking I could win. Well, it’s very disappointing”. 32. ... Qxc4 33. Re8+ Kh7 34. Rxb8 Qxd5+ 35. Qd2 Bxf3+ 36. Kc1 Qxf5 37. Re3 Ne2+ 38. Kb2 Nxc3 39. Qxc3 Qf4 40. Qd3+ f5 41. Rf8 Qb4+ 42. Kc1 Be4 43. Qb3 Qd4 44. Qc3 Qd6 45. Rf7 Qg6 46. Rd7 Qg1+ 47. Kb2 c4 48. Rxe4 fxe4 49. Rd4 Qf2+ 50. Qd2 c3+ 51. Kxc3 Qg3+ 52. Kb2 Qxh3 53. Rxe4 Qg3 54. Qd4 Qg2+ 55. Kc3 Qf3+ 56. Kb4 Qf8+ 57. Ka5 Qf5+ 58. Kxa6 g5 59. a5 h3 60. Re7+ Kg6 61. Qg7+ Kh5 62. Qh7+ Kg4 63. Re4+ 1 : 0.

In the end, Carlsen decided that one hundred and twenty-five games of solitude could be enough to widen his outlook on life. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

Alice Without a Looking Glass

Vladislav Mikhailovich Artemiev – Aleksandra Yuryevna Goryachkina
73rd Russian Chess Championship Higher League; Sochi, October 10, 2020
Semi-Slav Defence D30

1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Qc2 e6 5. d4 Nbd7 6. b3 Bd6 7. Bb2. On 7. Nc3 Black can continue with 7. ... 0-0 8. Be2 b6 9. 0-0 Bb7 10. Bb2 Qe7 11. Rad1 h6 12. e4 Nxe4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Qxe4 Nf6 15. Qh4 Rad8 16. Bd3 Ba3 17. Ba1 Bb4 18. Ne5 Rfe8 19. Bc2 Nd7 20. Qe4 f5 21. Qe2 Nxe5 22. Qxe5 Bd6 23. Qe2 Qg5 24. c5 bxc5 25. dxc5 Bxc5 26. Rxd8 Qxd8 27. Bxg7 Kxg7 28. Qe5+ Kf7 29. Qxc5 Qd5 30. b4 Qxc5 31. bxc5 Ba6 32. Rd1 Bc4 33. Rd7+ Re7 34. Rxe7+ Kxe7 35. a3 Kf6 36. f4 e5 37. g3 exf4 38. gxf4 Ke6 39. Kf2 Kd5 40. Ke3 Kxc5 41. Bxf5 Bf7 42. Bb1 Kd6 43. Ke4 Bg6+ 44. f5 Bf7 45. Bc2 ½ : ½ Esipenko – Goryachkina, 16th Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2018. 7. ... Qe7 8. Nbd2 h6 9. Ne5 0-0 10. Bd3 Ba3 11. Bxa3 Qxa3 12. f4 c5 13. 0-0 cxd4!? Of course, a significant improvement could be expected here from Goryachkina, because in a game played a few years ago, the careless 13. ... b6? culminated in a disaster for Black: 14. Nb1 Qa5? (14. ... Qa6 15. cxd5 b5 16. Nc3 is very bad too, but at least saves time) 15. Nc6 Qa6 16. cxd5 b5 17. dxe6 (17. Ne7+ Kh8 18. dxc5+−) 17. ... fxe6? (17. ... Qxc6 was best, though after 18. exd7 Bb7 19. e4 White must win anyway) 18. Ne7+ Kf7 19. Ng6 Rd8 20. dxc5 Nxc5 21. Qxc5 Rxd3 22. Ne5+ 1 : 0 Manigk – Gasik, 26th Czech Rapid G1, Pardubice 2015. 14. exd4 b6 15. cxd5 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Nxd5 17. Nc4 Qe7 18. Nd6 Nb4 19. Qd2 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Bb7 21. Qg3 f5! With this freeing move, Black not only prevents Rf1-f6, but also induces her titled opponent to simplify to a drawish endgame. 22. exf6 Rxf6 23. Rxf6 Qxf6 24. Qe5 Bd5 25. Qxf6 gxf6 26. Rc1 Kg7 27. Rc8 a5 28. Rxa8 Bxa8 29. Kf2 Bd5 30. g4 Kf8 31. Ke3 Bc6

32. a4. 32. Nc4 b5! 33. Nxa5 Bd5 (White’s Knight is dominated) 34. a4 bxa4 35. bxa4 Ke7 36. Kd3 Bf3= draws as well. 32. ... Bd5 33. Nc4 Ke7 34. Kd3 Kd8 35. Nxb6 Bxb3 36. Nc4 Bxa4 37. Nxa5 Bd1 38. h3 h5 39. gxh5 Bxh5 40. Nb7+ Ke7 41. Ke3 e5 42. dxe5 ½ : ½.

Today, the top seed of the 73rd Russian Chess Championship Higher League — in fact a qualifier for the Superfinal — was held to a draw by two-time Russian Women’s Chess Champion. Photo: Eteri Kublashvili/Russian Chess Federation.

Cities Squared

Auditions are in progress for the upcoming 1st “机器人谷杯” (“Robot Valley Cup”) China City Chess League to be held online and offline from October 16, 2020 to January 2021. 14 seeded teams and over 50 audition teams, covering cities above the prefecture level and featuring the best of Chinese chess, will compete through five tiers of qualifiers, preliminaries, semifinals, repêchage matches and finals. Qualifiers, preliminaries and semifinals will be held online at 智赛网 (zhisai.net), while repêchage matches and finals will take place offline. Each team consists of four mixed players, with a minimum quota of one female and one junior. Teams may have up to four reserves. Time control is 20 minutes plus 10 seconds per move for online matches and 30 minutes plus 15 seconds per move for offline matches. Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion and Rhodes Scholar 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) (pictured below while attending the launching ceremony at Tuspark International Convention Centre last September 28) will defend the colours of the 济南银丰 (Jǐnán Yínfēng) team. Photos: read01.com.

Of course, Edna, because there’s a long, joyful life ahead of you, they wish you to lay yourself down in an aseptic bed for the next months or so — so that they can enjoy the deserved fruits of their excruciating telework as drone cameras keep vigil at your bedside

Artwork © Donelae (@donelae)

One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest

A Harris’s hawk sits on the Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square in London, England. Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA.

Most likely, yes, Edna; sooner or later the King of Hearts will return to the Queen of Diamonds just to pick up where they left off

Artwork © Tiff Brown (@_tiff_brown)

Forever Nineteen

Magnus Carlsen – Fabiano Caruana
8th Altibox Norway Chess; Stavanger, October 8, 2020
Nimzo-Indian Defence E36

Carlsen, at his best, won an easy game with his archrival Caruana, thus interrupting their streak of nineteen draws in a row. 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 0-0 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 dxc4 8. Qxc4 b6 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Qa4 h6 11. Bh4 Qd7 12. Qc2 Qc6 13. Qxc6 Nxc6 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. e3 Bxf1 16. Kxf1 Na5 17. Nf3 Nc4!? A novelty by Caruana. A recent virtual game continued instead 17. ... Rac8 18. Ke2 c5 19. dxc5 bxc5 20. Rd7 Nc4 21. Rc1 Nxb2 22. Rc2 Na4 23. Rxa7 Ra8 24. Rxa8 Rxa8 25. Nd2 Nb6 26. Rb2 Ra6 27. Ne4 Nd5 28. Ra2 c4 29. Kd2 f5 30. Nc3 Nxc3 31. Kxc3 Ra4 32. Kb2 Kf8 33. Ra1 Ke7 34. Rd1 Ra6 35. Rd2 c3+ 36. Kxc3 Rxa3+ 37. Kb2 ½ : ½ 王皓 (Wáng Hào) – Radjabov, 1st Online Nations Cup, chess.com, May 5, 2020 (time control: 25+10). 18. Rb1 c5 19. Ke2 Rfc8 20. Rhc1 Nd6 21. dxc5 bxc5 22. Rc2 Kf8 23. Nd2 c4 24. Rbc1 Rab8 25. Kf3

25. ... c3!? A Pawn sacrifice which, though perhaps playable, denotes some impatience at a feeling of crampedness on Caruana’s part. 25. ... Rc5 seems good enough to hold (26. b4 Rc6). 26. bxc3 Rc5 27. c4 f5 28. Ke2 Ke7 29. Kd3 Kd7 30. Rc3 Rc6? Black had to stall with 30. ... Ke7, leaving White the not easy task of exploiting his extra Pawn.

31. c5+− Ne8 32. Nf3 Ra6 33. Ne5+ Ke7 34. Ke2 Nf6 35. R1c2 Nd5 36. Rd3 Rc8 37. Rb3 Rc7 38. Rc4 Ra5 39. Nd3 e5 40. Nxe5 Raxc5 41. Rxc5 Rxc5 42. Rb7+ Ke6 43. Nxf7 $18 Ra5 44. Nd8+ Kd6 45. Rb3 Ra6 46. Nf7+ Kc5 47. Ne5 h5 48. Kd2 h4 49. Nd3+ Kc4 50. Kc2 Rd6 51. Nf4 1 : 0.

“Yes, it’s very nice to win”, Carlsen told TV2 afterwards. “Well, maybe today wasn’t his best day, and I would feel even more gratified if I had won with him at his best”. Photo © Lennart Ootes.

One-Two-One

• Leonard Barden, Chess: Carlsen extends record unbeaten streak before key game with Caruana, The Guardian, October 8, 2020

After more than six months of mousing his moves on a computer screen, the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, finally got back to a wooden chessboard on Monday at the traditional Altibox Norway elite tournament in Stavanger. By Wednesday evening’s third round the 29-year-old from Oslo had extended his world record unbeaten streak to 124 games, with his last defeat coming in July 2018. Carlsen and the United States world No 2, Fabiano Caruana, are both in the leading group going into their crunch pairing together on Thursday afternoon (4pm start, live on norwaychess.no). [Read more].