The Weekender #35

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The Chess Plaza Weekender
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Quezon Memorial Circle, Quezon City Vol. II No. 35

LEGAL ROW OVER $1.8M FISCHER ESTATE
Jinky lawyer to seekout-of-court division

By Marlon Bernardino

PROSPECTS are getting brighter for Jinky, the only child of the late chess icon Bobby Fischer and his girlfriend from Davao City, Marilyn Young, to claim her father’s estate in Iceland even as her lawyers revealed that they would first seek an out-of-court settlement.

Lawyers Samuel Estimo and Rudy Tacorda, representing Ms Young, said they had completed their work gathering and evaluating documentary and other pieces of evidence to support the claim of her daughter.

These included two handwritten notes by Fischer to Jinky last year in which he had scrawled the word, “Daddy,” acknowledging in effect his being her father.

It is also presumed that their evidence would include DNA samples from Jinky to establish her affinity to Fischer.

In an email to The Weekender, Estimo also said he and GM Eugene Torre, one of the late icon’s closest friends, “are still getting in touch with Miyoko Watai for a possible out-of-court settlement.”

The lawyer said Fischer’s brother-in-law and nephews “can’t get anything under the doctrine of exclusion, they not being compulsory heirs.”

Ms Watai, a Japanese chess official, claims to have married Fischer during his stay in Japan where he was arrested and detained for deportation to the United States in July 2004.

It was she who arranged for Fischer’s burial in a countryside churchyard on the outskirts of Reykjavik last month. Apparently, the Icelandic authorities recognized her claim to being the wife of Fischer after she reportedly presented a marriage certificate.

Estimo also revealed that an Icelandic journalist “called me and offered the services of a lawyer there but I declined. He promised to email me the name and address of the depository bank.”

He indicated that he was “just waiting for one more document from Marilyn before we formalize our claim.”

Marilyn has produced the birth and baptismal certificates of Jinky, who was born on May 21, 2001 in Baguio City.

Marilyn also turned over to Estimo Jinky’s passport, her photographs with Fischer and Jinky with signed notes, and the latest bank remittance by Fischer of 1,500 euros to Jinky on December 4, 2007.

The Manila press reported that Marilyn and Jinky had visited Fischer in Reykjavik in September 2005 and that they stayed with him for three weeks.

It was in the Icelandic capital that Fischer wrested the world chess crown from Soviet world champion Boris Spassky at the height of the Cold War in 1972.

Fischer’s estate could include stockholdings in companies in Iceland. Marilyn said Bobby had left her instructions to get in touch with an Icelandic grandmaster who possibly holds the key to his assets.

Filipino GM Torre, who helped Fischer find a home in Baguio City in 2000, is helping Ms Young locate the Icelander.

“Marilyn is a kind-hearted woman and she is willing to share Fischer’s estate with Ms Watai… She knows Miyoko was very close to Fischer,” Estimo said.

Fischer, who had been a recluse since leaving the United States, was known to have kept many secrets that he may have brought to his grave.

It is said that Fischer, who had embraced Icelandic citizenship, was buried in Catholic rites as per his request. He was buried, however, in a Protestant churchyard and even the church pastor did not know about his burial there.

Little actually is known about his “guerilla burial.”

He died of kidney failure last month at his Reykjavik home.

Paragua, Sadorra set to compete in Aeroflot Open

TWO Filipinos, GM Mark Paragua and IM Julio Catalino Sadorra, are all set to compete in the tough Aeroflot Open, which gets under way in Moscow on Wednesday.

Both of them are first-timers in the prestigious event. They have been assigned to Section A2, as shown in its website.

“Mabigat ang laban po dito at I hope makapag-perform tayo ng maganda, at saka okay na experience na din ito (It will be a tough battle and I hope to perform well enough. The experience will be good for us),” Paragua said.

The champion will get US$12,000 and the runner-up $8,000. Former Surigao del Sur Rep. Prospero Pichay Jr., who heads the National Chess Federation of the Philippines, expressed confidence that both Paragua (2521) and Sadorra (2423) will perform well in Moscow.

“Maganda ang pinakita nina Macmac and Ino (Paragua and Sadorra) sa mga nakalipas na event (Both have been performing well in recent events),” Pichay said, alluding to the Second President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo Cup and the Third Prospero Pichay Jr. Cup International Open tournaments held at the Duty Free Fiesta Mall late last year, where both players finished among the top 15.

“Kaya natitiyak ko na maganda din ang magiging performance nila sa Aeroflot, bagama’t alam natin kung gaano kabigat ang field (This is why I am confident they will also perform well in the Aeroflot Open, although we know how tough the field is),” he said.

2008 WESTWOOD WINTER IN L.A.
Sevillano shines in Westwood Winter

FILIPINO International Master Enrico Sevillano is flying high again in California, where he emerged as the undisputed victor despite the presence of two other IMs in the five-round Westwood Winter Open at the Los Angeles Chess Club recently.

Sevillano who won the Southern California state crown for the second time last year scored 4.5 points from five games, defeating both IMs Timothy W. Taylor and Anthony F. Saidy.

It was first runner-up Taylor’s only loss. He ended up in second place with 4.0.

Sevillano’s only draw was with John Daniel Bryant, who took the third prize solo with 3.5.

Veteran IM Saidy who had been a rival of Bobby Fischer in his youth finished in fourth place on tiebreak over two other players, Kitagami Show and Hughes Austin.

Sevillano is a former Asian junior champion. He played for the Philippines in the 1992 Manila Olympiad before he moved on to the United States. He is now affiliated with the US Chess Federation.

My thanks to reader Hugo Villanueva for the tip-off.

IN MEMORIAM
Meralco honors GM Balinas

MERALCO paid tribute to the memory of Grandmaster Rosendo Balinas Jr. with a tournament last Saturday, February 2, to start the celebration of the Manila power company’s Employees’ Day, reader Rolly Sol Cruz reports.

As a lawyer, Balinas worked for the power company’s legal department. It was at Meralco that he played one of his most famous games—a draw with Bobby Fischer in 1967when the American icon visited the Philippines to play against the country’s leading masters.

Fischer defeated every one of his Filipino adversaries, except Balinas who held him to a draw with White in a Sicilian Najdorf, Zagreb (Fianchetto) Variation), recycled here as follows:

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 g6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.h3 Bd7 10.Nde2 Nc6 11.b3 b5 12.Be3 Qc8 13.Kh2 Qc7 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.exd5 Nd8 16.Bd4 Rc8 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.Qd4+ Kg8 19.c3 e5 20.dxe6 fxe6 21.Rad1 Nf7 22.f4 Qc5 23.Qxc5 Rxc5 24.Rd3 Rfc8 25.Rfd1 a5 26.g4 Kf8 27.Re3 Ke7 28.Bd5 Kf6 29.g5+ Ke7 30.c4 Nd8 31.Nd4 bxc4 32.bxc4 Kf7 33.Rde1 exd5 34.Re7+ Kf8 35.Rxd7 Rxc4 36.Ree7 Rxd4 37.Rxh7 Kg8 38.Rhg7+ Kf8 39.Rh7 1/2-1/2

Those he defeated were Rosendo Bandal, Ramon Lontoc, Glicerio Badilles, Renato Naranja, Augustus Vister, and Roumel Reyes. Only Balinas and Reyes played White, the rest had Black.

Fischer’s first visit to the Philippines was at the invitation of Meralco.

According to Sol Cruz, the one-day Rosendo Balinas Memorial Tournament attracted 17 players from outside the company, 16 employees, 16 of their children and one national master, Rolando Andador, LSGM chess coach.

Balinas was born in Negros Occidental on September 10, 1941 and died in Antipolo on September 14, 1998.

He managed to hold on to his premier position in the country and Asia without neglecting his studies until he passed the bar.

A gutsy fighter on and off the board, Balinas tried to introduce reforms into Philippine chess by fighting abuses of power he had perceived among the leaders. To pursue his reform movement, he even entered politics by running for a congressional seat in Rizal.

Failing to win the election, he moved on to the US where he worked but cancer struck him down.

Balinas dominated the Asian chess scene for nearly two decades, in the sixties and seventies, topping it with a magnificent victory in an international tournament in Odessa, the first non-Russian to win a chess event in the Soviet Union since the 1930s when world champion Jose Raul Capablanca of Cuba won in Moscow.

As a result of his Odessa triumph, Balinas became the country’s second grandmaster, as well as Asia’s, that year, having earned the international master title a year earlier. Eugenio Torre received the coveted title in 1974, becoming Asia’s first GM.

Here is one of Balinas’ finest games in Odessa, won in the last round to clinch the title

R. Balinas (2365) – V. Savon (2545)
It, Odessa 1976
Modern Benoni, Classical (A73)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 0–0 9.0–0 Nbd7 10.a4 Qe7 11.Nd2 a6 12.f4 Rb8 13.Kh1 b6 14.Nc4 Nxe4 Fritz cites 14...Rd8!? 15.Nxe4 Gaining a clear advantage Qxe4 16.Nxd6 Qe7 17.Nxc8 Rbxc8 18.Bxa6 Rcd8 19.Qb3 Nf6 20.Qxb6 Rxd5 21.Qb3 Rd4 22.a5 Ne4 23.Qf3 c4 23...Nd2 24.Bxd2 Rxd2 25.f5 Bxb2 26.Rae1 favors White 24.Be3 Rd3 25.Rfe1 Also playable was 25.Bxc4 Nd2 26.Bxd3 Nxf3 27.Rxf3 Ra8 Bxb2 25...Qe6 should not be overlooked, says Fritz: 26.Bb7 Nd6 26.Bxc4 Rc3 27.Rab1 Rxc4 28.Rxb2 Qa3 29.Rb5 Re8 30.Re5 30.Qf1 Ra4 31.Bb6 should keep the edge Rxe5 Black equalizes 31.fxe5 Qxa5! Threatening …Qxa1+ leading to mate 32.Rf1 Qd5 33.Bh6 Rc3 34.Qf4 g5? 34...Rc2 was the best to stay in the game 35.Bxg5 Rc6? A mistake. Better was 35...Nxg5 36.Qxg5+ Kf8 36.Bf6! Threatening mate via 37.Qg4+ Nxf6?? A blunder in a bad position Better but still losing was 36...Kf8 37.Qh6+ Ke8 38.Qxh7 Nxf6 39.exf6 Kd7 40.Qh3+ Kd8 37.exf6 h6 38.Qxh6!


IN THE GRASSROOTS
Sign up for QC barangay team tilt
By Marlon Bernardino

REGISTRATION for next weekend’s elimination series for the Quezon City Barangay Team Championship is now in full swing at the office of QC Council Majority Floor Leader Ariel Inton.

Barangay Quirino will host the event to be held on Saturday and Sunday, February 16-17.

“We’re encouraging and inviting all barangays in District III to take part in this event, which is part of the city’s Sports Tourism Program,” said Councilor Inton, a well-known sports advocate.

Inton pointed out that the top five barangay teams in District III will join the top finishers in the three other districts for the tournament proper scheduled for May 17-18 at the Amoranto Arts Theater on Chuatoco Street, QC.

Cash prizes and trophies put up by Councilor Inton with the support of QC Mayor Sonny Belmonte and Eurotel are at stake in the grand finals of the championship.

The champion team will get the lion’s share of P20,000, the first runner-up P10,000 and the second runner-up P5,000.

In District IV, Barangay Mariana under Chairwoman Regina San Miguel topped the elimination series with 22 points on January 19.

Four other barangays—Old Capitol (20.5), Santol (19), Tatalon (17.5), and Doña Aurora (17)—made it to the finals.

Interested parties may call up tournament director Tito Estaris at 0927-966-8522 or Dimple Dagasdas at 922-2913 for details.

QMC four capture plum in Frisco tournament

FOUR outstanding players—Olympiad veteran WNM Sherily Cua, NCR youth stalwarts Nigel Galan and Christopher Megino, and veteran campaigner Alfredo Chay—captured the top prizes in the Frisco Chess Club Championship at Barangay Damayan Hall in San Francisco del Monte, Quezon City.

The four, all of them habitués of the Quezon Memorial Circle Chess Plaza, went home P1,500 richer after evenly dividing the total jackpot of P6,000. Each finished the tournament with 5.0 points from six games.

Robert Cacho had 4.0 points to finish in solo fifth.

Finishing in sixth to 10th places were Joseph Balmaceda, B.J. de la Cruz, Joel Cocjin, Emmanuel Mariano, and varsity player Rida Jane Young of UP Diliman.

Special category prizes went to former UE varsity player Daisy Rivera (Top Lady), QC representative to Palarong Pambansa-NCR Catherine Laz (Top Kiddie) and 84-year-old Juanito Lirios (Top Senior).

Esguerra tops Don Bosco Club’s 1950 non-masters

JOSEPH ESGUERRA of Parañaque City swept through the Don Bosco Chess Club’s 1950 Non-masters Tournament undefeated to capture the P3,000 plum with Robert Cacho of the Quezon Memorial Circle Chess Plaza taking the second prize of 2,000.

Esguerra conceded only one draw to collect 6.5 points from seven games while Cacho finished just half a point behind.

Clement Valledor and Ferdinand Palermo finished in a tie for third to fourth with 5.5 to pocket P500 each. The trophy went to Valledor on tiebreak.

Special category prizes were also awarded to Cherry Ann Mejia (Overall Top Lady), Mary Jocelyn Macanda (Parañaque Top Lady), Arvie Jongco of San Sebastian High School (Overall Top Kiddy), Rommel Romasanta (Parañaque Top Kiddy), and Einstein Padua (Top Senior).

Dr. Gilbert “Bong” Perez, owner of the building where the event was held, served as tournament director and Boyet Tordecilla of the National Association of Chess Arbiters (NAPCA) as chief arbiter.

Perez also donated P1,000 to aid an ailing player, NM Celestino Cain, and two wheelchairs.

FOR THE 2008-09 GRAND PRIX
Fide picks 14 strongest players

THE World Chess Federation (Fide) has chosen 14 of the strongest players to take part in the 2008-09 Grand Prix scheduled to get under way in the third quarter of this year.

Eventually, the world’s top 40 players will all be able to compete in four out of six 14-player events to be held around the globe, Fide has announced in its Web site.

Of the 14, seven have been selected as the top players for the circuit, namely, Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, Viswanathan Anand of India, Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, Gata Kamsky of the United States, Alexei Shirov of Spain, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, and Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine.

The first three are those who contested the world crown in 2006 and 2007, while the last four are the winners of last year’s World Cup held in Khanty Mansiysk.

They will be joined by seven of the highest-rated players based on the “average calculation” of their ratings on the October 2007 and January 2008 rating lists, excluding of course the seven already selected under the first category.

The additional seven players thus selected are Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, Peter Leko of Hungary, Alexander Morozevich of Russia, Levon Aronian of Armenia, Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan and Boris Gelfand of Russia, in that order on the basis of their ratings.

On the reserve list are four others next in rank: Michael Adams of England, Peter Svidler of Russia, Judit Polgar of Hungary, and Alexander Grischuk of Russia, in that order based also on their ratings.

The Fide announcement did not say whether all the 14 players and the four reserves had made their commitment to join the Grand Prix on or before the deadline of January 31, 2008.

Each player was also required to make their commitment in an undertaking that should reach the Fide secretariat headquarters at 9 Siggrou Avenue, Athens, Greece 11743 not later than midnight of February 15.

The six venues on the circuit are Baku (Azerbaijan), Krasnoyarsk (Siberia, northern Russia), Doha (Qatar), Montreaux (Switzerland), Elista (Russian Republic of Kalmykia), and Karlovy Vary (Czech Republic).

On the reserve list as venues are Istanbul in Turkey and Teheran, the capital of Iran.

The schedule for the Grand Prix, as posted on Fide’s official Web site, is as follows:

• April 20–May 6 2008, Baku, Azerbaijan
• July 30–August 15 2008, Krasnoyarsk (or other Russian city), Russia
• December 13–29, 2008, Doha, Qatar
• April 14–28, 2009, Montreux, Switzerland
• August 1–17, 2009, Elista, Russia
• December 7–23, 2009, Karlovy Vary, Czech Republic.

There will be prizes for the winners but the amounts were not disclosed.

The 2008-09 Grand Prix winner will have the right to play against the winner of the World Cup next year to determine the challenger to the world crown in the next cycle, according to Fide.

It looks like it will be a very busy calendar for global chess events in the last quarter of this year.

From October 11 to 30, the World Championship Match between reigning champion Viswanathan Anand and challenger Vladimir Kramnik, the two highest rated players in the world, will be held in the university city of Bonn, Germany. Bonn was the capital of West Germany during the Cold War.

The 38th World Olympiad will also be held from November 12 to 25 in Dresden, also in Germany.

Meanwhile, Fide has come out with a bi-weekly newsletter via email. Like The Weekender, it is also free.

Those interested in getting their copy regularly may register with Fide at its official Web site, www.fide.com.

2008 MOSCOW OPEN
Sparks fly as stars clash

IN the absence of the megastars who may be preparing for the Aeroflot Open, Russian stars and lesser lights are in a close fight for the plum in the Moscow Open, which got under way last Saturday.

After five rounds, five grandmasters, four of them with Elo ratings above 2600, were in a tie with 4.5 each along with GM Mikhailo Oleksienko (2590).

The four superstars at the helm were Alexander Riazantsev (2628), Zahar Efimenko (2638), Sergey Volkov (2623), and Alexander Lastin (2604).

Riantzev was the only one who had a perfect score entering the fifth round, but he settled for a draw with Black against Artyom Timofeev.

One of the most instructive games, however, was won by Zahar Efimenko, 22, with White against 20-year-old Fide Master Boris Onoprijchuk in the opener.

Z. Efimenko (2638) – B. Onoprijchuk (2390)
Rd 1, Sicilian Taimanov (B49)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be2 a6 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Be3 Bb4 Black is behind in development, Fritz warns 9.Na4 0–0 10.c4 10.Bd3 gives Black a chance to equalize, e.g., 10…Ne5 11.Nf3 Nfg4! Be7 10...Nxe4 11.Nxc6 Qxc6 12.Bf3, with equality 11.Nc3 d6 11...Bb4 12.f3, equalizing 12.Rc1 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Nd7 14.Rfd1 Rd8 15.b4 Bf6 Fritz suggests 15...b6!? 16.Qxd6 White now has the edge Qxd6 17.Rxd6 Be7 18.Rd3 Bxb4 19.Na4 Re8 20.c5 Ba5 21.Nb6 Bx 22.cxb6 Nf6 23.f3 Bd7 24.Rc7 Bc6 25.Rd6 h6
A critical position that commonly arises, giving White the opportunity to make an elegant move.

26.Rdxc6! bxc6 27.b7! The point. Not 27.Rxc6?! Re7! Rad8 28.Bxa6 Nd7 29.Ba7 Not 29.Rxc6?! Nb8 30.Bb5 Nxc6 31.Bxc6 Re7!, and balance is restored Nb8 30.Bxb8 Rxb8 31.Rxc6 Kf8 32.Rc7 Re7 33.Rc8+ Re8 34.e5 Rd8 35.Kf2 Ke7 36.Ke3 f6 37.f4 g5 If 37...fxe5 38.fxe5 h5 39.Kf4 38.g3 38.Rc7+ makes it even easier for White 38...Rd7 39.exf6+!, and White rolls on! gxf4+ 39.gxf4 fxe5 40.fxe5 Kf7 41.a4 Kg6 42.a5 42.Rxd8 seems even better, says Fritz: 42...Rxd8 43.Bd3+!, widening White’s lead Kf5 42...Rxb7 offers the last chance for counterplay: 43.Bxb7 Rd1 44.Be4+ Kg5 45.Rg8+ Kh4, but White still leads by a mile 43.Rxd8 Rxd8 44.Bd3+ Kxe5 45.a6! Black resigns: if 45…Rb8 46.Be4!, and wins. 1–0

Here is another Efimenko jewel, a fine win with White against veteran German GM Igor Glek, who at 47 is more than twice his age.

Efimenko, Z. (2638) – Glek, I. (2546)
Rd 5, Classical French (C1)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Be2 0–0 9.0–0 f6 10.exf6 Nxf6 11.Kh1 Better than 11.dxc5 d4! 12.Bxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 14.Nxd4 Bxc5!, and Black leads Ng4 12.Bg1 Rxf4 13.dxc5 Rf8 14.Qd2 Bd7 15.Rae1 Bf6 16.Nb5 Nge5 17.Nd6 b6 18.c4 Nxc4 19.Nxc4 dxc4 20.Bxc4 bxc5 21.Bxc5 Re8 22.Rd1 Bc8 22...Na5 is best but it would still allow White to be clearly ahead, e.g., 23.Bd3 Nb7 23.Qf4! White on a roll Qa5 If 23...Bd7 24.Ng5!Ne5 25.Bxe6+ Bxe6 26.Rxd8 Raxd8 27.Nxe6 Rxe6 28.Bxa7! 24.b4! Qa3 25.Ng5 Ba6 25...Ne5 would benefit White, e.g., 26.Qf5 Ng6 27.Nxh7 Kxh7 28.Qh5+ Kg8 29.Rxf6! 26.Rf3 Missing a mating line: 26.Bxe6+! Rxe6 27.Qf5 Rd6 28.Qxh7+ Kf8 29.Rxf6+ Ke8 30.Qg8+ Kd7 31.Rfxd6+ Ke7 32.Rxc6#! Bxg5??

Trying to play tit for tat, but he failed to consider White’s next move.

27.Qf7+!! Black may resign now, because he loses his queen for nothing. Clearly better than 27.Rxa3?!, e.g., 27...Bxf4 28.Rxa6 Rac8! Kh8 28.Rxa3 Bxc4 29.Qh5 29.Rd7 keeps an even firmer grip, says Fritz: 29...Bf6 30.Rh3! Red8 30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Qxg5! The persuader, and Black resigns, for if 31…Kg8 32.Qg4! 1–0

GEMS ON ‘THE ROCK’
Nakamura, Bu shine in Gibraltar

WITH the presence of some of the world’s finest fighters, the Gibraltar Open held under the auspices of GibTelecom has produced quite a number of sparkling games.

As expected, Chinese superstar Bu Xiangzhi and former US champion Hikaru Nakamura topped the tournament. They finished in a tie for first to second places with 8.0 points each.

What was unexpected was the victory of Nakamura in the playoff as he had a lower Elo rating, his 2670 as against Bu’s 2691.

Moreover, if any of the tiebreaking schemes had been adopted, Bu would have won handily because he had the higher ratings. In fact, his performance rating in the main event was a phenomenal 2834 as against Nakamura’s 2747.

But Nakamura, a 20-year-old Osaka-born Japanese-American, proved he was the craftier warrior, mating Bu in their second game as featured in last week’s issue.

The American champion surprised everyone by shutting out the Chinese superstar, 2-0, in their best-of-three playoff. His mating Bu in their second duel added, as it were, insult to injury.

Here is their first game:
H. Nakamura (2670) - Bu Xiangzhi (2691)
Playoff Rd 1, Gruenfeld Defense (D24)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be2 0–0 7.0–0 a6 8.a4 dxc4 9.a5 Bg4 10.Ne5 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 Qc7 12.Nxc4 Nbd7 13.e4 e5 14.Be3 Rfe8 14...exd4 15.Bxd4 Rae8 16.Rad1 could favor White 15.Rfd1 15.d5 cxd5 16.Nxd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 should give White the edge exd4 16.Bxd4 Re6 17.f3 Nh5 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Qc2 Rae8 20.Ne2 Ne5 21.Ne3 Nf6 22.Qc3 Kg8 23.Ng3 Rd8 24.f4 Neg4 25.Nxg4 Nxg4 26.e5 Nh6 27.Ne4 Nf5 28.g4 Ne7 Fritz prefers 28...Ng7 but White would still lead 29.Ng5 Nd5 30.Qh3 h5 31.Nxe6 fxe6 32.gxh5 Nxf4 33.Qh4! Rf8 34.hxg6 Qg7 Not 34...Nxg6 35.Qg4 Kg7 36.Qxe6 Qxe5 37.Rd7+ Kh6 38.Qxe5 Nxe5 39.Rxb7 Rg8+ 40.Kh1!, and White leads 35.Qh7+ Qxh7 36.gxh7+ Kxh7 37.Rd7+ Kg6 38.Rxb7 Kf5 39.Rb6 39.Re1 seems even better, says Fritz Ke4 39...Ra8 was better: 40.Rxc6 Kxe5, with a big lead 40.Re1+ Kf3 41.Rb3+ Not 41.Rxa6?? Nh3+ 42.Kh1 Nf2+ 43.Kg1 Rg8+ 44.Kf1 Nh3 45.Re3+ Kxe3 46.Rxc6 Rg1#! Kg4 42.Rf1 Missing the decisive 42.Rg3+! Ne2+ 43.Kg2 Rd8 44.Rb4+ Kg5 45.Rf2 Nc1 46.h3 Nd3 47.Rg4+ Kh5 48.Rf7 Kh6 49.Rf6+ Kh5 50.Rxe6 Rb8 51.b4 White is definitely winning but 51.Rf6 could have hastened it Nxb4 52.Re7 Kh6 53.Rc7 Nd5 54.Rxc6+ Kh5 55.Re4 Kg5 56.e6 Kf5 57.e7 57.Re1 makes it even easier for White, says Fritz, citing 57...Nf4+! 58.Kh2 Rb2+ 59.Kh1! Re8 58.Rce6 58.Kf3 should clinch the point, e.g., 58...Rxe7 59.Rxe7 Nxe7 60.Rxa6! Nf4 59.Rxf4+ Kxe6 60.Re4+ Kd7 61.Kf3!

The outside passed pawn ensures the point. 1–0

China’s No. 2 GM, Bu Xiangzhi, was equally impressive in conquering almost all his rivals in earlier rounds, like GM Pia Cramling of Sweden.

Bu Xiangzhi (2691) – P. Cramling (2524)
Rd 2, Slav Defense (D17)

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Qc7 8.g3 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Bf4 Nfd7 11.Bg2 f6 12.0–0 Nc5 13.Ne3 Be6 14.b4 Rd8 15.Qb1 15.Qc2 only gives Black a chance to draw level, e.g., 15…Na6 16.b5 Nb4 Na6 Fritz prefers 15...Nb3! 16.Ncd5 cxd5 17.Qxb3 Qf7! 16.b5 Nc5 17.Rc1 Be7 18.Nf5 Kf7 19.Nxe7 Qxe7 20.Bxe5 fxe5 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.Bxc6 Rb8 23.Qc2 Nb3 24.Bd5 Nxc1 24...Bxd5 was best, e.g., 25.Nxd5 Qd7! 25.Qf5+! 25…Ke8 26.Bxe6 Rf8 27.Qxe5 Rb6 28.Nd5 Rxe6 29.Nc7+ Of course not 29.Nxe7?? Rxe5 30.Rxc1 Rxe7!, and Black is way ahead Kf7 30.Qh5+ Kg8 Best was 30...Rg6!? 31.Qd5+ Re6 32.Rxc1, and White has the edge 31.Nxe6 White surges on Rc8 32.Qe5 32.Qg4 Qd7 33.Kg2! was also playable Qd7? Missing his best move, 32...Qf6! 33.Qxf6 Nxe2+! 34.Kf1 gxf6 33.Kg2 Seizing the lead Qb7+ 34.e4 34.f3 might be quicker: 34...Qd7 35.Nc5 Rxc5 36.Qxc5 Nb3 37.Qc4+ Qf7 38.Qxf7+! h6 34...Nd3 35.Qd5 Qxd5 36.exd5 Rc2 gives White winning chances 35.Rb1 Qf7 36.Qd5 Nd3 The backward pawn on f2 becomes a target 37.Qxd3 Qxe6 38.Rb7! 1–0

One thing good about the GibTel Open is its rich harvest of instructive games from the champion and other winners.

This is why The Weekender is presenting five pages of these games in the hope readers will learn something from each or at least enjoy playing them over. What makes the American champion a fine model is his being adept at either color.

Here is Nakamura’s first game, a win with Black in a Sicilian gem against a highly rated Dutch master.

E. van Haastert (2416) – H. Nakamura (2670)
Rd 1, Sicilian Scheveningen (B80)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.f3 b5 8.Qd2 h5 If 8...Be7 9.Rd1 9.0–0–0 9.Bd3 Nbd7 should give White the edge Bb7 10.Bd3 Nbd7 11.Rhe1 Rc8 Black should quickly conclude development, says Fritz 12.Kb1 Be7 13.h4 Ne5 14.Bg5 0–0 15.Nce2 d5 16.exd5 Nxd3 Stronger than 16...Qxd5 17.Nf4 Qd6 18.Nxb5! 17.Qxd3 Nxd5 18.Bxe7 Qxe7 19.g3 Rfd8 20.f4 Nf6 21.Nc1 Bd5 22.Qe3 Qc5 23.Re2 b4 24.Ncb3 Qc7 25.Rc1 a5 26.c4 bxc3 27.Rxc3 Qb6 28.Nc2 Qb5 29.Nbd4 Qd7 30.Re1 30.Rxc8 Rxc8 31.Ka1 Ng4 could favor Black Be4 Best was 30...Rxc3! 31.Qxc3 Be4!, and Black surges ahead 31.Rxc8 Rxc8 32.Rc1 Qd5 33.a3? Fritz suggests 33.Ka1, but it would still give the lead to Black Ng4 34.Qg1 e5 34...f6!? seems even better, Fritz notes: 35.Ka1 e5!, and Black boosts his lead 35.fxe5 Nxe5 Not 35...Qxe5?! 36.Ka1! 36.Ka1 Nd3 37.Rd1 Qc4 38.Qe3 Bd5!

White resigns with checkmate in the air: 39.Nb4 axb4 40.Qe8+ Rxe8 41.Kb1 Qa2+ 42.Kc2 Qxb2+ 43.Kxd3 Qc3#! 0–1

Ukrainian superstar Alexander Areschenko finished in third place on tiebreak over six others, including GMs Viktor Bologan of Moldova, Zahar Efimenko, also of Ukraine, and G.N. Gopal of India.

T. Rendle (2393) – A. Areshchenko (2645)
Rd 1, Closed Sicilian (B23)

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.f4 e6 4.Nf3 d5 5.d3 Nc6 6.g4 Nf6 7.g5 dxe4 8.dxe4 Stronger than 8.gxf6 exf3 9.Qxf3 Qxf6! Qxd1+ 9.Kxd1 Nd7 10.h4 b5 11.a4 b4 12.Nb1 Bb7 13.Nbd2 Na5 14.Rh3 0–0–0 14...Bd6 15.e5 Be7 16.Nc4 Nxc4 17.Bxc4! would benefit White 15.Ke1 Bd6 16.Nb3 16.e5 deserves consideration, says Fritz: 16...Be7 17.h5! Nxb3 17.cxb3 e5 18.fxe5 Nxe5 19.Be3 Rhe8 20.Rc1 20.Nxe5 was better, e.g., 20…Rxe5 21.Bd3! Nxf3+ 21.Rxf3 Bxe4 22.Bxa6+ Kb8 23.Kf2 Bxf3 24.Kxf3 Re5 25.Bb5 Fritz suggests 25.Bd3! f6! 26.Rc4 fxg5 27.hxg5 Rf8+ 28.Ke2 Be7 29.Rg4 h5!

30.gxh6 gxh6 31.Bd3 Bg5 Exploiting the pin for a mating attack 32.Be4 Bxe3 33.Kxe3 Rg5 34.Rh4? Better but still losing was 34.Bf3 Rg3+ 35.Ke2 Rxb3 36.Rxh6 Re8 37.Rh4 c4 38.Kd1 Rxb2 39.Bc6 Rd8+ 40.Kc1 c3! White resigns because if 41.Bf3 b3! 0–1
Chinese players are noted for their solid play. One characteristic of their style is their tendency to block impending attacks or counterattacks with preventive measures, quaintly called “prophylaxes” by one of the greatest teachers of overall chess strategy, Aaron Nimzowitsch of hypermodern renown.

L. Karlsson (2488) - Wang Hao (2665)
Rd 2, Slav Defense

1.g3 d5 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.Bg2 Nd7 4.d4 e6 5.0–0 Ngf6 6.c4 c6 7.b3 Be7 8.Bb2 0–0 9.Nbd2 a5 10.a3 b5 11.c5 Qc7 12.b4 a4 13.Qc2 Bf5 14.Qc3 Ne4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.Bh3 Bf5 17.Bxf5 exf5 18.Bc1 Nf6 19.Bf4 Qd7 20.Qc2 h6 21.Rae1 Rfe8 22.Ne5 Qe6 23.f3 Rad8 24.Bc1 Bf8 25.h3 g6 26.g4 fxg4 27.hxg4 Bg7 28.Kg2 h5 29.Rh1 hxg4 30.Bg5 Rc8 31.Qd2 Qf5 32.Bxf6 Safer than 32.Bh6 gxf3+! 33.exf3 Nh5! gxf3+ The best. Not 32...Bxf6?! 33.Nxg4! Qg5 34.Qxg5 Bxg5 35.e3!, leveling the playing field; not.32…Qxf6?! because of 33.f4! 33.exf3.Qxf6 Forced, preventing 34.Bxg7 Kxg7 35 Qh6+ when mate can’t be averted. A fine example of prophylaxis, indeed! 34.Rh3 Re6 35.Qd3 Better was 35.f4! Rce8 36.Reh1 Qf4 37.Rh4 Bxe5!! 38.Rxf4 Bxf4 39.Rh4 If 39.Kf2 Re3 40.Qf1 Rxa3!, and Black would have a huge advantage Re2+ 40.Kf1 40.Kg1 does not help much, e.g., 40...Be3+ 41.Kh1 Rd2! Bg3 41.Re4 Rf2+ 41...R8xe4? looks tempting, but 42.fxe4 Rxe4 43.Qxg3! 42.Kg1 dxe4 43.fxe4 Bh4 44.Kh1 Rf4 45.d5 Rexe4 White resigns: 46.Kg2 Rg4+ 47.Kh3 Bd8! 0–1

Shooting stars streaked to earth from the skies over Spain as major upsets rocked the famous island fortress known as ‘The Rock’ during the Gibraltar Telecom Open.
Among the key players who fell victim to lower-rated players were champion Nakamura and vice champion Bu themselves, Viktor Bologan of Moldova, Mihail Gurevich of Turkey, Tigran L. Petrosian and Vladimir Akobian of Armenia, and Zhao Xue of China, former women’s world champion Zhu Chen of Qatar, and Alexander Beliavsky of Slovenia.

Former women’s world champion Antoaneta Stefanova of Bulgaria scored three big upsets in a row—versus higher-rated veteran Gurevich in the second round, Petrosian in the third and Akobian in the fourth.

A. Stefanova (2464) – M. Gurevich (2607)
Rd 2, Dutch Defense (A81)

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Nh3 g6 4.Nf4 Bg7 5.Bg2 0–0 6.h4 Nc6 7.h5 g5 8.h6 Bh8 9.Nd3 Nxd4 10.Bxg5 Ne6 11.Bh4 d5 12.Nd2 c6 13.c4 Ne4 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Nf3 15.g4 was best: 15…Nxd2 16.Qxd2 fxg4 17.Rg1! Qd6 16.Qb3 Bd7 If 16...b6 17.Rc1! 17.Nf4 Not 17.Qxb7? N6c5 18.Nxc5 Nxc5 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Qxd5+ Be6! Bc6 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Rd1 a5 20.Nd4 Qf7 21.g4 Bxd4 22.Rxd4 e5 23.gxf5 exd4 24.Bxe4 Threatening Rg6 Rae8?? Best was 24...Qc7 25.Bg3 25.Qg3+! White takes a quantum leap Kh8 26.Bd3 b5 27.Qf4 7.Qd6 Bb7 28.Rg1! and White’s ahead Qa7 28.Qd6 Qf7 29.Rg1 29.Qxc6 Rc8 30.Qb6 Rc1+ 31.Kd2 Rxh1 32.Qxd4+ Kg8 33.Qg4+!, and White soars up, up and away! b4 30.Rg7 Qh5 30...Rxe2+ won’t work, e.g., 31.Kxe2 Qe8+ 32.Kf1 Qe1+ 33.Kxe1 Re8+ 34.Re7 Rf8 35.Qe5+ Rf6 36.Qxf6+ Kg8 37.Qg7#! 31.Rg8+!!

Bingo! If 31…Kxg8 32.Qg3+ Qg6 33.fxg6 Re7 34.gxh7+ Kh8 35.Bxe7 Rxf2 36.Qg7#! 1–0

T. Petrosian (2606) – A. Stefanova (2464)
Rd 3, Evans Gambit (C51)

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.b4 Bxb4 5.c3 Bd6 6.d4 Nf6 If 6...Qe7 7.0–0! 7.0–0 7.dxe5 Bxe5 8.Ng5 0–0, with equality 0–0! 8.Re1 b6 9.Bd5² Nxd5 10.exd5 e4 11.Ng5 Ne7 12.Qh5 Threatening 13.Qxh7#! h6 13.Nxe4 f5 14.Nxd6 cxd6 15.Ba3 Rf6 16.Nd2 Ba6 17.c4 b5 18.Qe2 Ng6 19.cxb5 Bb7 20.Nc4 Bxd5 21.Nxd6 Nh4 Equalizing 22.Qe5 Fritz suggests 22.Qe7 as a viable option Bxg2! 23.Qg3 Be4 24.Qb3+ If 24.Rxe4 fxe4! Re6 25.Nxe4 fxe4 26.Kh1 Nf3 27.Re3 d5 28.Rxf3 exf3 29.Rg1 29.Bc5 Qd7 30.Qxf3 Rf6 would have boosted Black’s lead Qd7 30.Qxf3 Rae8 Missing the stronger 30...Qxb5!, e.g., 31.Bc1 Rae8 32.Bf4! 31.Bc5 Re1 32.a4 Rxg1+ 33.Kxg1 Re1+ 34.Kg2 Ra1 35.Ba3 Qe6 36.a5??

The final mistake, not that it matters anymore, says Fritz. Better but inadequate was 36.h4. 36...Qg6+ 37.Kh3 Kh7 38.Kh4 Rg1 39.Be7 Qe6! The clincher, and White resigns. If 40.h3 Qxe7+ 41.Qf6 Qxf6+ 42.Kh5 g6#! 0–1

One of those who scored big upsets was former world title candidate Jonathan Speelman of England, dubbed “the gentle giant” by the media because of his towering figure, physically and intellectually, and his very civil manners. Speelman, 52, an ultra-sharp tactician during his prime especially in the art of pawn pushing, is one of those players who did not let the game be a bar to his studies as a mathematician.

V. Bologan (2663) – J. Speelman (2491)
Rd 2, French, Classical System (C1)

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bc5 9.Qd2 0–0 10.0–0–0 a6 11.Nb3 b6 12.g4 Bb7 13.Bg2 Rc8 14.Kb1 Fritz suggests 14.Nxc5 Bb4! 15.Qf2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Na7 17.Bd4 Nb5 18.Rd3 Qe7 19.Ka1 Rc4 20.Rb1 Rfc8 21.Qe1 Qa3 22.Nd2 Fritz prefers 22.Rh3! Rxc3! 23.Rxc3 Nxc3! Threat: …Qxa2#! 24.Rb2 Qa4 25.Nb3 Nb5 26.c3 Nc5 27.Bxc5 bxc5 Better than 27...Rxc5 28.Nxc5 bxc5 29.Qc1! 28.Qd2 h6 Missing 28...d4! 29.Bf1 Ba8 30.f5 Qxg4 31.Bxb5 axb5 32.f6 d4 33.cxd4 cxd4 33...Be4 would have boosted Black’s lead 34.fxg7 Be4! 35.Qxd4 The best defense is offense, taking material while guarding g1 b4! It's all over, says Fritz 36.Rb1 Not 36.Qxb4 Qg1+! Qe2 37.Rc1 Not 37.Rd1 Kxg7 38.Rd2 Qf3! Rxc1+ 37...Ra8! should be tried: 38.Qb2 Qe3! 38.Nxc1 Qc2 Threat: …Qxc1+! 39.Qb2 Qd1 40.a3 bxa3 41.Qxa3! Threatening 42.Qf8+! Kh2 g8=Q#! Kxg7 42.Qc3 Qg1 43.h3 Qh2 Missing the more decisive 43...Kg6! 44.Nb3 Qc2 Forcing a queen swap because of 45…Qb1#! 45.Qxc2 Bxc2 The rest is just a matter of technique 46.Nd4 Bf5 47.Kb2 Kg6 48.Kc3 Kg5 49.Nb5 Kf4 50.Nd6 Bxh3 51.Nxf7 h5 52.Kd2 h4 53.Ke2 Kg3 54.Ng5 Bg2! 0–1

At least three of the giant-killers managed to checkmate their adversaries, two of them grandmasters and one woman grandmaster.

By coincidence, our three heroes were all international masters—David Berczes, 17, of Hungary, Robert Bellin, 56, of England and Till Wippermann, 28, of Germany.
IM Berczes (2429) had White when he forced 17-year-old GM Yuriy Kuzubov (2606) of Ukraine to resign in the face of a sure mate; IM Bellin (2385) also had White when he mated 22-year-old Chinese WGM Zhao Xue (2517) while IM Wippermann had Black in cornering 35-year-old GM Victor Mikhalevski (2632) of Israel.

D. Berczes (2429) – Y. Kuzubov (2606)
Rd 5, Queen’s Gambit Accepted (D26)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.Qe2 Nc6 7.0–0 cxd4 8.exd4 Be7 8...Nxd4 9.Nxd4 Qxd4 10.Rd1 would have equalized 9.Rd1 0–0 10.Nc3 a6 If 10...Na5 11.Bd3 11.a3 11.d5 exd5 12.Nxd5 Bd7 could favor Black Na5 12.Ba2 Nd5 13.Ne5 Nxc3 14.bxc3 Bf6 If 14...Qc7 15.c4 15.Rd3 b5 16.Rh3 g6 17.Bh6 Re8 18.Rf3 Ra7 18...Bb7 was better but it would also let White sprint ahead via 19.Rxf6! 19.Rxf6 Qxf6 20.Ng4 Qh8 21.Bg5 h5 21...f5 would also favor White: 22.Nf6+ Kg7 23.Nxe8+ Qxe8 24.Qe5+ Kg8 22.Nf6+ Kf8 23.d5 Rae7?? Even a better move would not have saved the game, Fritz notes 24.d6 Rb7 25.Qe3 Bd7 26.Bh6+!

Black resigns: 26…Qg7 27.Qg5! and Black is as good as mated. 1–0

R. Bellin (2385) - Zhao Xue (2517)
Rd 5, Torre, London and Colle (A46)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b5 3.e3 a6 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nbd2 e6 6.0–0 c5 7.c3 Nc6 Black should quickly conclude development, says Fritz 8.Qe2 Bb7 9.b3 Be7 10.Bb2 0–0 11.Rac1 11.dxc5 e5 12.Bf5 Bxc5 leads to equality Qb8 Fritz suggests 11...c4!? as an interesting alternative: 12.Bc2 Re8, and the balance is kept 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.c4 dxc4 14.bxc4 b4 15.Ng5 Rd8? 15...e5 is Black’s best option 16.Nde4! Nxe4 17.Bxe4 With the decisive threat of Qh5: 17.Nxe4?! Be7! h6 18.Nxf7!

Demolishing the pawn shield.

18...Kxf7 19.Qh5+! Kg8 20.Qxc5 Rd2 21.Rc2 Rd7 21...Rxc2 22.Bxc2 Qe8 23.Rd1 also boosts Whjite’s lead 22.Qh5 22.Bxc6! ought to have been played, e.g., 22…Qc8 23.Bxb7 Qxc5 24.Bxa8! Nd8?? 23.Qe8#! 1–0

V. Mikhalevski (2632) – T. Wippermann (2435)
Rd 8, Open Catalan (E04)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Bd6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Nc3 e5 10.d5 Ne7 11.Bg5 Nd7 12.Qxc4 a6 13.a4 h6 14.Be3 f5 15.a5 g5 16.b4 b5 17.Qb3 Bb7 18.Ne1 Qe8 19.Nd3 Qf7 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.Bxc5 If 21.bxc5 Nf6 22.c6 Bxc6! Nxc5 22.bxc5 e4 23.g4 Nxd5 24.Nxd5 Bxd5 25.Qh3 f4 25...fxg4!? 26.Qxg4 Qf5! 26.Qxh6! Qf6 27.Qxf6 Rxf6 28.Rfd1 Bc6 29.Rd4 Re8 30.e3 f3 31.Bf1 Rfe6 32.h3 Re5 33.Rc1 Kf7 34.Kh2 Ke7 35.Kg3 Rh8 36.Rc2 Rh6 37.Rc1 Be8 37...Bb7 38.Rd2 benefits Black 38.Rc2 Bf7 39.Rc1 Bd5 40.Rcd1 Bc6 If 40...Ke6 41.R1d2! 41.Rc1 Rhe6 42.h4 gxh4+ 43.Kxh4 Bd5 44.Kg3 Rf6 45.Rcd1 c6 46.Bh3 Rf8 47.Rh1 Rh8 48.Kf4 Kf6 49.Rdd1 Rh4 50.Rdg1 50.Kg3 Kg5 51.Rd4 would boost Black’s lead Re7?? 50...Reh5 keeps an even firmer grip, says Fritz: 51.Kg3 Rh7 52.Bg2 Rxh1 53.Bxh1 51.Rd1? 51.Bf1 is better but it also benefits Black, e.g., 51…Reh7 52.Rxh4 Rxh4 53.Kg3 and Black surges ahead Reh7 52.Kg3 Kg5 53.Rh2 Rh8 54.Rd4 Rb8 54...Kf6 makes it even easier for Black, Fritz notes 55.Rb4?? Another step toward the grave. Better was 55.Rh1 Bc4! Black is now way ahead 56.Rb1 Rbh8 57.Rb4 Bf1!!

A sacrifice that clinches the point.

58.Bxf1 58.Rxb5 won’t work: 58...Rxh3+ 59.Rxh3 Rxh3#! Bxf1 59.Rxg4#! 0–1

Even the best and brightest of the lot lost at least one game each.

The 20-year-old American champion, Nakamura (2670), was the first to take a dive—with Black versus 21-year-old Chinese IM Zhao Zong-Yuan (2482) in the fifth round.
China’s 22-year-old Bu (2692) also suffered one defeat despite being apparently in fine form—with Black in the ninth round at the hands of his contemporary, Ukrainian GM Zahar Efimenko (2638).

Both had momentary lapses as the cause of their setback.

Even Efimenko also had his lapses—in the 10th round with Black against Nakamura himself.

Actually, Nakamura’s final-round win over Efimenko and his playoff victory over Bu sort of straightened out the pecking order from him at the top down to Bu and then to Efimenko.

Zhao Zong Yuan (2487) – H. Nakamura (2670) [B03]
Rd 5, Alekhine’s Defense (B03)

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nge2 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.Be3 0–0 11.d5 11.Qb1!? Bxe2 12.Nxe2 leads to equality Ne5 12.b3 Bf6 13.Rc1 Bg5 14.f4 Bh4+ 15.Bf2 Bxe2 16.Bxe2 Bxf2+ 17.Kxf2 Qf6 18.g3 Rae8 19.Re1 Ned7 20.Bf3 Nc5 21.Qd2 a6 22.Kg2 Qf5 23.Re3 Rxe3 24.Qxe3 Qd3 25.Qxd3 Nxd3 26.Rd1 Nc5 27.Re1 Rd8 28.Re7 Ncd7 29.Be2 Kf8 30.Re3 Nb8 31.Bd3 h6 32.g4 a5 33.Nb5 Na6 34.a3 g5 35.Kf3 Nc5 36.Bc2 Not 36.Nxc7 Nxb3 37.Kg3 Nd2! Na6 37.Bd3 If 37.Nd4 a4 Nc5 38.Bc2 If 38.Be2 Re8 gxf4 Fritz suggests 38...Na6!? as an interesting option 39.Kxf4 a4 40.Nxc7 axb3 41.Bxb3 Nbd7 41...Rc8 tends to favor White, e.g., 42.Nb5 Nxb3 43.Nxd6 Rxc4+ 44.Nxc4 Nxd5+ 45.Ke5 Nxe3 46.Nxe3 and White has a clear edge 42.Nb5 Ne5 43.Ba2 Ncd3+ 43...Kg7 44.Nd4 Ncd3+ 45.Kg3 gives White the edge 44.Kf5 44.Ke4 Nc5+ 45.Kd4 f6, and White widens his lead Nc1 Best was 44...b6!, Fritz notes 45.Nxd6 Ng6 45...Nxg4 46.hxg4 Rxd6 47.Bb1! and White surges on 46.Nxb7 Rb8 47.c5 47.Nc5 might be the shorter path: 47...Rb2 48.g5 h5 Rxb7 48.Bc4 Rb2 If 48...Rc7 49.c6! 49.Ke4 49.d6 seems even better, Fritz notes, e.g., 49...Rd2 50.Ke4 Rd1, and White is winning Ke7 49...Rc2 50.Kd4 f6 also favors White 50.Kd4+ Kd8 51.c6 Nf4 Not 51...Ne7 because of 52.c7+! sealing the opponent's fate: 52...Kxc7 53.Rxe7+ Kc8 54.Rxf7 Ne2+ 55.Kc5, and White wins 52.d6 Rd2+ 52...Rc2 is no salvation, says Fritz: 53.c7+ Kd7 54.Re8 Nce2+ 55.Ke5 f6+ 56.Kxf6 Nd5+ 57.Bxd5 Kxd6 58.Rxe2 Rxc7 59.Bc6!, and wins 53.Kc5 Ncd3+ 54.Kb6 Rc2 55.Bxf7!!
Black resigns as mate is in the air. One line would be: 55.Bxf7 Ne5 56.Rxe5 Ne6 57.Rxe6 Rb2+ 58.Ka6 Re2 59.Rxe2 Kc8 60.Re8#! 1–0

Z. Efimenko (2638) - Bu Xiangzhi (2691)
Rd 9, Sicilian Najdorf (B92)

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.Re1 Be6 10.Bf3 Nbd7 11.a4 Rc8 12.a5 Qc7 13.Be3 Rfd8 14.Nd2 h6 15.Nf1 Bf8 16.h3 g6 17.Nh2 h5 18.Nf1 Bg7 19.Bg5 Rb8 20.Ne3 Rdc8 21.Be2 Qc6 22.Bd3 Re8 23.Bh4 If 23.Qd2 Rec8, and White has the edge Nh7 Not 23...b5 because of 24.Qf3! 24.Ncd5 Bxd5 25.Nxd5 Nhf6 26.c4 Nxd5 27.cxd5 Better than 27.exd5 Qc7 Qc7 28.Bg5 Bf6 29.Be3 Rec8 30.Qd2 Qd8 31.b4 Kh7 32.Rac1 Bg7 33.Rxc8 Rxc8 34.Rc1 Rc7 35.g3 Nf6 36.Kg2 Rxc1 37.Qxc1 Qd7 38.Qc2 Bh6 39.Bb6 h4 40.g4 Nxg4 Demolition of pawn structure. 41.Qc7 Not 41.hxg4 Qxg4! Nf6 42.Qxd7 Nxd7 43.Bc7 Kg8 44.Bxa6 44.Be2 may be tried and White would still get the edge Bd2??

The losing moment. 44...bxa6 would have held out, e.g., 45.b5 Nc5! 45.Bxb7! White is now way ahead Bxb4 46.a6 Bc5 47.Bc6! The clincher: 47…Nb6 48.a7!, and wins. 1–0

PINOY GEMS WITH A HISTORY
Sadorra’s star on the rise

FOR many fans here and abroad, it is unfortunate that 14-year-old Grandmaster-elect Wesley So, currently the hottest Filipino sensation, won’t be competing in the Aeroflot Open, which starts this weekend in Moscow. Wesley was supposed to be with GM Mark Paragua to represent the Philippines in that highly prestigious event.

Filipinos need not worry though. Wesley’s replacement, Singapore-based International Master Julio Catalino Sadorra is just as able as the Bacoor Boy Wonder. I am confident he will carry the Philippine flag with honor and dignity.

Sadorra, 21, may not be well-known in his homeland but in Singapore and Malaysia, he is best known as a true champion who has proved time and again that he stands heads and shoulders above the crowd.

In his latest outing in Malaysia, on December 27 last year, he captured the Johor Baru Championship and was crowned Bandaraya Master.

Four weeks earlier here in his homeland, Sadorra earned his first GM norm in the Third Pichay Cup International Open. One of his best efforts was his win with White against GM Zhang Zhong of Singapore—the only loss that the former champion of China suffered in that event!

A week earlier, the Filipino giant-killer also upset top seed GM Ni Hua in the PGMA Cup

What I like about Sadorra’s style is his gutsy attitude. Never awed by the title, rating or reputation of his opponent, he takes well-calculated risks just to create what Fischer called “dynamic imbalance” on the board.

Let his games speak on his behalf.

J.C. Sadorra (2414) – Zhang Zhong (2634)
Rd 2, 3rd Pichay Cup, Parañaque 2007
Nimzo-Indian, Leningrad (E31)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Bg5 c5 5.d5 h6 6.Bh4 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.e3 Qe7 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.Qc2 Nb6 11.Rd1 Bd7 12.Qb2 Ba4 13.Rb1 g5 14.Bg3 exd5 15.cxd5 Nfxd5 16.Bb5+ Bxb5 17.Qxb5+ Kf8 Not 17...Qd7 18.Qd3! 18.c4 Nf6 19.0–0 Ne4 20.a4 20.Qb2 Kg8 21.Nd2 f5 would just give Black equal chances Rb8 20...Nc3 could favor the enemy: 21.Qb2 Nbxa4 22.Qxb7 Qxb7 23.Rxb7 Ne2+ 24.Kh1 Nxg3+ 25.fxg3! 21.Nd2 Nxd2 22.Qb2 f6 23.Qxd2 Nxc4 24.Qd5 Ne5 25.f4 Nf7 26.e4 Kg7 27.e5 fxe5 28.fxe5 Nxe5 29.Rbe1 Missing 29.Rf5!, e.g., 29...Nf7 30.Re1, with equality Rhe8 30.Rf5 Qc7 31.Ref1 Re7 32.h4 g4 32...Rd8 should be examined more closely, Fritz suggests 33.h5 33.Rf6 was stronger, e.g., 33…c4 34.Rxd6!, and White surges ahead Rbe8 34.Bxe5+ dxe5 35.Qe4 Kh8?? A blooper, missing the saving resource: 35...Qd8!, e.g., 36.Rf7+ Rxf7 37.Qg6+ Kh8 38.Rxf7 Qd1+ 39.Kh2 g3+ 40.Kh3 Qh1+ 41.Kg4 Qd1+ 42.Kh3 Qh1+ 43.Kg4 Qd1+!, and the balance is kept 36.Rf6 Fritz offers this mating line: 36.Rf8+ Rxf8 37.Rxf8+ Kg7 38.Ra8 Re6 39.Qxg4+ Kf7 40.Qg8+ Kf6 41.Qg6+ Ke7 42.Re8+ Kd6 43.Qxe6#! Qd7 37.Qg6 Rg8 38.Rf8 Qe6 39.Rxg8+ Qxg8 40.Qxh6+ Rh7 41.Qf6+ Qg7 42.Qd8+ Qg8 43.Rf8 Rg7 44.Rxg8+ 44.h6 might be quicker Rxg8 45.Qf6+ 45.Qa5 makes it even easier for White Kh7 46.Qxe5 b6 47.Kf2 g3+ 48.Kf3!

Black resigns although White missed the most precise move: 48.Ke3! 1–0

J.C Sadorra (2414) – Ni Hua (2641)
Rd 2, 2nd PGMA Cup, Parañaque 2007
Slav Defense (D16)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.e3 c5 7.Bxc4 Nc6 8.0–0 cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.Qe2 0–0 11.Rd1 Nb4 12.Bg5 Re8 13.Ne5 Nd5 14.Bd2 a6 15.Bb3 a5 16.Re1 Ra6 17.Rc1 Rb6 17...Nf6 18.Bc4 Ra8 19.Nb5 benefits White 18.Bc4 18.Qh5 was better, e.g., 18…g6 19.Nxf7 gxh5 20.Nxd8 Rxd8 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Bxd5 Rxd5 23.Rxc8+ Kf7 24.Bc3, and White has the edge f6 19.Nd3! Seizing the the initiative Nxd3 20.Qxd3 Nxc3 21.bxc3 Bd7 22.Rb1 Rxb1 23.Qxb1 Qc8 24.Bd3 f5 25.Qb3 g6 26.Bf4 Bf6 27.Be5 Bxe5 28.Rxe5 28.dxe5 would be bad: 28…Qc5, and Black has equalized Qc7 29.Bb5 b6 30.g3 Kg7 30...f4 31.Bxd7 Qxd7 32.Rb5 gives White the edge 31.Bxd7! White surges ahead Qxd7 32.Qxb6 Qxa4 33.Qc7+ Kh6 34.Rxa5! Threatening a mating attack Qc2 35.Qf4+! g5 36.Qe5 Qxc3??

A terrible blunder in a losing position, hastening his own demise.

37.Ra7 Rg8 38.Qxe6+! Rg6 39.Qxf5! Black resigns as mate is in the air, e.g., 39…Qe1+ 40.Kg2 Qf1+ 41.Kxf1 Rg7 42.Qe6+ Kh5 43.Ra6 g4 44.Qh6#! 1–0

MY FAVORITES
Nakamura close to elite status

FORMER United States champion Hikaru Nakamura appears to be on course in his dream of becoming one of the world’s elite group of superstars above 2700.

Over the past few months, his dream has moved closer to reality and even now, he is already regarded by many as a true global megastar. This may be confirmed when the next quarterly ratings list is issued by Fide on April 1.

In fact, he has just won three tournaments in a row while on a very successful tour of the international circuit—the Casino Barcelona in Spain, the Corsica Masters in France and the GibTelecom Open in the British colony of Gibraltar.

There is no doubt that he is the most outstanding of all homegrown American grandmasters. In fact, nobody among his rivals can hold a candle to him as far as the US Championship is concerned: he was the youngest to capture the crown—at 17 in 2004—since Bobby Fischer did it at 15 in 1957.

He became a grandmaster at the age of 15 years and 79 days, a bit younger than Bobby but a bit older than Fabiano Caruana, the Italian champion who holds dual citizenship as an American, having been born in Miami, Florida.

Bobby’s record as the youngest person to earn the GM title lasted for over 33 years—until 1991 when it was broken by Judit Polgar in Hungary as she captured the national crown, the first girl in the world to do so.

Here is one of his finest efforts, already published last year but being recycled for this series.

M. Krasenkow (2668) – H. Nakamura (2648)
Rd 2, Casino de Barcelona 2007
English Opening (A14)

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 6.d3 Nc6 leads to equality a5 If 6...d4 7.d3! 7.Nc3 c6 8.d2-d4 Nd7 9.Qc2 b6 10.e4 Ba6 11.Nd2 c5 12.exd5 cxd4 13.Nb5 exd5 14.Nxd4 Rc8 15.Re1 b5 16.Bb2 If 16.cxb5 Rxc2 Re8 Instead of 16...dxc4 17.Nc6 Rxc6 18.Bxc6! 17.Qd1 bxc4 Better than 17...dxc4 18.Nc6 Rxc6 19.Bxc6, with a clear advantage 18.bxc4 Qb6 Not 18...dxc4 19.Nc6 Qb6 20.Nxe7+! Rxe7 21.Rxe7 Qxb2 22.Ne4! 19.Rb1 dxc4 Better than 19...Bxc4 20.Nxc4 Rxc4 21.Nf5, and White has the edge 20.Nc6 20.Bc3 would keep White alive, says Fritz: 20...Qc5 21.Bh3! Rxc6 Black seizes the lead with a quantum leap 21.Bxf6 Qxf2+!!

A double whammy, better than 21...Nxf6 22.Rxb6 Rxb6 23.Qa4!

22.Kxf2 Bc5+ 23.Kf3?? Missing 23.Bd4 Bxd4+ 24.Kf3 Rf6+ 25.Kg4 Ne5+ 26.Kg5! Rxf6+! 24.Kg4 Ne5+ 25.Kg5 Rg6+ 26.Kh5 f6 Fritz cites this mating line: 26...Bc8 27.Rb5 f6 28.Bd5+ Kf8 29.Kh4 Rh6+ 30.Qh5 Ng6#! 27.Rxe5 Rxe5+ 28.Kh4 Bc8 White resigns, sensing the following mate in six: 29.Bd5+ Rxd5 30.g4 Rd3 31.Qf3 Bf2+ 32.Kh3 Rg4 33.Rb8 Rg3+ 34.Kh4 Rh3#! 0–1

Here is the game that enabled Nakamura to catch up with Bu Xiangzhi in the final round, giving rise to the playoff that gave him the plum.

H. Nakamura (2670) – Z. Efimenko (2638)
Rd 10, 6th GibTel Masters, Gibraltar 2008
English Opening (A22)

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.g3 Bb4 4.Bg2 Bxc3 5.bxc3 0–0 6.d3 d6 7.e4 Nc6 8.Ne2 Bd7 9.h3 Ne8 10.0–0 a6 11.a4 b6 12f4 exf4 13.Bxf4 Ne5 14.Nd4 g6 15.Nc2 Ng7 16.Ne3 f6 17.d4 Nf7 18.g4 c6 19.Ra2 Ne6 19...h5 20.Qb1 gives White a clear lead 20.Bg3 Ng5 Not 20...Ng7 21.Rf2!, and White has the edge 21.Qd3 Qe7 22.h4 Ne6 23.Rb2 Rb8 24.Rbf2 Nh6 25.c5!
Decapitation, the turning point.

25…bxc5 26.dxc5 Nxc5 27.Qxd6 Qxd6 28.Bxd6 Nxa4 29.Bxf8 Rxf8 30.g5 Ng4 30...Nf7 31.Rxf6 Nxc3 gives White a big lead 31.Nxg4 Bxg4 32.Rxf6 Rc8 32...Rxf6 won't change the outcome 33.Rf4 Bd7 34.Bf1! Black resigns as he faces certain defeat: 34…Nb6 35.c4! 1–0

GAMES OF GIFTED KIDS
Mastery far beyond his age

AMERICAN prodigy Hikaru Nakamura was seven years old when he learned the moves of the game, but within three years, at the age of 10, he had become a US national master, the youngest ever.

Born on December 9, 1987 in Osaka, Japan, he was only two when he and his parents moved to the United States, specifically in White Plains, New York, where he was first exposed to chess.

His progress was extraordinarily rapid. By the age of 15, Hikaru had become a grandmaster and at 17 he won the national crown.

Indeed, Hikaru’s games as a child would show a high degree of mastery far beyond his age.

H. Nakamura – Rafael Mendoza
Rd 10, Youth Olympiad, Yerevan 1996
Benko/Volga Gambit (A57)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 a7-a6 4.Nc3 b5 5.cxb5 axb5 6.e4 Best was 6.Nxb5! e6 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.Nc3! b4 Equalizing 7.Nb5 d6 7...Nxe4? is a blank shot, says Fritz: 8.Qe2 Bb7 9.Qxe4! 8.Bc4! If 8.Bd3 e6!, and Black has equalized g6 If 8...Nd7 9.Qc2! 9.e5 dxe5 10.d6 Fritz notes that 10.Nf3 might be a viable alternative, e.g., 10...Bg7 11.Nxe5, with equality exd6 11.Bg5 Bb7 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Nc7+ Kd8 13...Ke7 was better: 14.Nxa8 Bxg2 14.Nxa8! Bxa8 15.Bd5 Bxd5 16.Qxd5 Kc7 16...Nd7 17.Ne2 keeps the equilibrium 17.a3 b3 17...Qe6 may be tried: 18.Qd1 Nc6, with equality 18.Qxb3 Nc6 19.Ne2 Qe6 20.Qa4 Bh6 21.0–0 Rb8 22.Nc3 d5 23.b4 cxb4 24.Nb5+ Kd7 25.axb4 White now has the edge d4 5...Bf4 26.Rd1 could favor White 26.Rb1 26.Nxd4 was better, e.g., 26…exd4 27.b5 Ne5 28.Qa7+! Bd2 Not 26...Rb7 27.Nxd4 exd4 28.b5!, and White surges ahead 27.Na7 27.Nxd4 was stronger: 27…exd4 28.b5 Na5 29.Qxd4+! Bc3 28.Nxc6 Qxc6 29.b5 Qb6 30.Ra3 Ke7 31.Qc4 Kf8 32.Qd5 White is now way ahead Qf6? 33.Ra8 33.b6!? and White can already relax, Fritz notes: 33...Qf5 34.Qb5 Rxa8 34.Qxa8+ Kg7 35.b6 Qf5 Threatening Qxb1#! 36.Qa2 Ba5 37.b7 Bc7 38.b8=Q Bxb8 39.Rxb8 d3? 40.Qd2!

Black resigns even though White missed his best move, 40.Qa3!, e.g., 40...Kh6 41.Qf8+! 1–0

Leslie Au – H. Nakamura
Hawaii Open, Honolulu 1997
Sicilian Scheveningen (B83)

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Ne2 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 9.f2-f4 d6-d5 10.exd5 10.e5 Nd7 exd5 11.Bf3 Be6 11...Re8 12.Bf2 leads to equality 12.Nxe6 If 12.Qd3 Qa5! fxe6 13.Ne2 Qd7 14.Ng3 b6 15.Kh1 Bc5 16.Qd2 Ne8 17.Rd1 Nd6? Fritz suggests 17...Nc7 as a viable option to equalize 18.Bxc5 bxc5 19.Bxd5! Rd8 If 19...exd5 20.Qxd5 20.Bxc6 Qxc6 21.Qe2 Re8 22.Re1 Qb6 23.c4 Qb4 24.b3 Qc3 25.Qe5 Qxe5 26.fxe5 Not 26.Rxe5?! Nxc4 27.Re1 Nb2 28.Rxd8 Rxd8, restoring the balance Nf7 27.Rxd8 Rxd8 28.h3 Kf8 28...Ng5 should reduce White’s lead 29.Ne4 Rc8 30.Rf1 Rc7 31.Nd6 Kg8 32.Re1 32.Nxf7 Rxf7 33.Rxf7 Kxf7, and White surges ahead Rd7 33.Ne4 Rc7 34.Kh2 h6 35.Nc3 a6 36.Kg3 Kf8 37.Re2 Rd7 38.Ne4 Rd5?? 38...Rc7 was better but White would still lead 39.Kh2 39.cxd5! was the decisive stroke: 39...exd5 40.Nxc5! Rd7?? 40.Nxc5! Re7 41.Nxa6 Nd8 42.b4 Rb7 43.b5! 1–0

H. Nakamura - Arianne Caoili
Rd 8, Saitek US Masters, Hawaii 1998
Queen’s Gambit Declined (D30)

1.c4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e4 dxe4 4.f3 e3 5.Bxe3 Nf6 6.a3 Be7 7.Nc3 Nd7 8.Bd3 c5 9.Ne2 cxd4 10.Nxd4 0–0 11.0–0 Ne5 12.Be2 a6 13.f4 Nd7 14.b4 Qc7 15.c5 Nb8 16.Bf3 Bd7 17.Rc1 Nc6 18.Na4 Ncxd4 19.Bxd4 Bb5 20.Be5 Qd8 21.Nb6 Bxf1 22.Nxa8 Qxa8 23.Qxf1 Qa7 24.Kh1 Nd7 25.c6 Fritz suggests 25.Bd4! Nxe5 26.fxe5 Bg5 27.Rc4 b5 28.Re4 Qc7 29.h4 Bh6 30.Re1 Bf4 31.Qe2 Bg3 32.Rd1 Qe7 Fritz suggests 32…Rd8! 33.Qe4 Rd8??

Missing her best shot, 33...Bxh4! 34.Rxd8+! Qxd8 35.c7! Qc8 Of course not 35...Qxc7 because of 36.Qa8+!, and it’s mate next 36.Qa8! Black resigns. 1–0

CHESS MAGIC
‘The Wizard of White Plains’

ACTUALLY, I first wanted the game that Hikaru Nakamura won with Black against former Manila visitor Mikhail Krasenkow in the Casino Barcelona recycled to this series instead of to “My Favorites.” This is because it highlights a queen sacrifice that cannot easily be foreseen even by grandmasters like his Polish adversary.

However, I felt the game itself justified my choice of the young American champion, who turned 20 only last December, as one of my favorite players in the New Millennium. In fact, the game is a likely candidate as a modern “Immortal.”

Be that as it may, it can be said that the Osaka-born Japanese-American could be justifiably called “The Wizard of White Plains” even in his early teens as the following games would demonstrate.

H. Nakamura (2620) – S. Karjakin (2576)
Rd 5, Match, Cuernavaca, Mexico 2004
Closed Sicilian (B23)

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 Nf6 6.e5 Nc6 7.Bb5 Nd7 Fritz says 7...dxe5!? must be considered: 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.fxe5 Ng4, with equal chances 8.Bxc6 Seizing the lead bxc6 9.e6 Nf6 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.Nf3 If 11.Qc4+ Kg7 h6 11...Qb6!? should be examined more closely, says Fritz 12.Ne5+ Kg7 13.Nxc6 Qc7 14.Nb4 e5 15.Qf2 Qc4 16.a3 a5 17.Nba2 Bf5 18.b3 Qe6 19.0–0 d5 20.h3 20.fxe5 keeps the lead, e.g., 20…Ng4 21.Qd4 Qxe5 22.Qxe5+ Nxe5 23.Nxd5 Rd8 Bd6 21.Re1 Rhf8 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23.Bxh6+ Kxh6 24.Qe3+ Kg7 25.Qxe5 Qxe5 26.Rxe5 Bxc2 27.Nxd5 Nxd5 28.Rxd5 Bxb3 29.Rd3 Bxa2 30.Rxa2 Rad8 31.Rg3 Rd1+ 32.Kh2 Rfd8 33.Rc2 R1d3 34.Rg4 R8d4 35.Rg5 35.Rc7+ is also playable, e.g., 35…Kf6 36.Rc6+ Rd6 37.Rxd6+ Rxd6 38.Rf4+ Ke6 Rd5 If 35...Rxa3 36.Rc6 36.Rxd5 Rxd5 37.Rc4 Kf6 38.Ra4 g5 39.Kg3 Kf5 40.Kf3 Rb5 41.Re4 Rb3+ 42.Re3 a4 43.g4+ Kf6 44.Ke4 Rxe3+?? Another step towards the grave, says Fritz, suggesting 44...Rb1 instead 45.Kxe3 Ke5 46.Kf2 Kf6 47.Kg3 Ke6 48.h4 gxh4+ 49.Kxh4 Kf6?? 49...Kf7 offered a good chance to save the game—Fritz 50.Kh5 White surges ahead Kg7 51.Kg5 Kh7 52.Kf6 Kh6 Fritz says 52...Kg8 does not solve anything as it leads to mate 53.g5+ Kh7 54.Kf7 Kh8 55.Kg6! Black resigns. 1–0

H. Nakamura - Ilya Smirin
Rd 5, Foxwoods Open, Connecticut 2005
Pirc Defense, Austrian Attack (B09)

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 0–0 6.e5 Nd7 7.h4 c5 8.h5 cxd4!?

An early confrontation by the Belarusian-turned-Israeli. And now, watch how Hikaru reacts.

9.hxg6!? Tit for tat. Fritz cites 9.Qxd4!? dxe5 10.Qf2! dxc3 10.gxf7+ Rxf7 11.Bc4 Nf8 Best was 11...e6 12.b3 d5! 12.Ng5 e6 3.Nxf7 cxb2 14.Bxb2 14.Nxd8? springs to mind, but is spoiled by 14...bxa1=Q 15.0–0 Qc3!, and Black surges on Qa5+ 14...Kxf7 leads to equality, e.g., 15.Qh5+ Kg8 16.0–0–0! 15.Kf1 Kxf7 16.Qh5+ 16.Qxd6!? is noteworthy: 16...Bd7 17.Qd3, with equal chances Kg8 17.Bd3 Qb4 18.Rb1 Bd7? Fritz suggests 18...b6!? with drawing chances 19.c4 19.exd6 Qxf4+ 20.Ke2 Bxb2 21.Rxb2 Nc6 22.Bxh7+ Kg7 23.Rxb7!, and White surges ahead Qd2 20.Bxh7+ Nxh7 21.Qxh7+ Kf8?? An oversight, but Black was lost anyway 22.Rh4! Bkack resigns. If 22…Bc6 23.Rg4! and wins. 1–0

Gennadi Sagalchik – H. Nakamura
Rd 9, American Continental Ch, Buenos Aires 2003
French Defense (C15)

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 e6 4.e4 Bb4 5.Ne2 dxe4 6.a3 Be7 7.Bxf6 gxf6 8.Nxe4 f5 9.Nc3 c6 10.g3 b6 11.Bg2 Bb7 12.Qd3 Nd7 13.Nd1 Qc7 14.c4 0–0–0 15.Ne3 Kb8 16.Qc2 Bd6 17.f4 h5 18.h4 Nf6 19.0–0–0 c5 20.d5 Re8 21.Nc3 a6 22.Re1 Rg8 23.Nf1 23.Qf2! equalizes Rxg3 24.Nxg3 Bxf4+ 25.Kb1 Bxg3 26.Re2 Bc8 Better than 26...Bxh4 27.dxe6 Bxg2 28.Rxd8+ Qxd8 29.e7 27.Rd3 Not 27.Qd3 Ng4! Be5 Best was 27...Bxh4!? 28.Qb3 f4! 28.Na4 Ka7 29.Rb3 Nd7 30.Bf3 Rg8 31.Bxh5 exd5 32.cxd5 b5 33.Nc3 c4 34.Rxb5?? 34.Rb4 Nf6 35.Bf3 equalizes Bxc3! 35.d6? Qxd6 36.Rxf5 Rg1+ 37.Ka2 Qxa3+!!

White resigns in the face of mate: 38.Kxa3 Ra1#! 0–1

BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (1)

Surprise Attack

IN the Moscow Central Chess Club there used to be this player IM Genrikh Chepukaitis. He never won any major tournament, however he was acknowledged as among the Soviet Union’s finest blitz players. His reputation preceded him – in the Moscow Blitz tournament the world champion Tigran Petrosian was not allowed to play by his wife, Rona. According to popular lore, she told him “You’re the world champion. Who will praise you if you win? And if you lose? It’s fine if Bronstein, Tal or Korchnoi beat you, but what if you lose to Chepukaitis?”

The Dutch equivalent of Chepukaitis is IM Manuel Bosboom. Born in 1963, he has taken part in seven Dutch Championships and several editions of the Wijk aan Zee tournament – not surprising if you consider that he lives in Zaandam, which is a few minutes’ bus ride only from Wijk. He has never had a top placing in these tournaments. Bosboom was a blitz specialist and his best efforts were in the quick time controls. He is best remembered for the 1999 Blitz tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Garry Kasparov was running away with the tournament, and was heavily favored to win the blitz tournament as well. One of the participants of the main tournament, Alexei Shirov, excused himself from the blitz event and Bosboom was tapped to replace him. Garry Kasparov won as expected, but suffered one loss – to Bosboom.

Bosboom was known for his attacking ideas – two or three weeks ago I was just reading about one of his latest novelties:

Bosboom, Manuel [2440] - Maenhout, Thibaut [2302] [D43]
Netherlands tt (1), 15.09.2007

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6
The Moscow Variation. 5...dxc4 6.e4 is, of course, the infamous Botvinnik Variation.

6.Bh4
White has two choices. If he wants a boring positional game, he should play 6.Bxf6. If, on the other hand, he wants something exciting the text is what he should play.
6...dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.h4 g4 10.Ne5 h5 11.Be2
There is a very cunning idea behind this.
11...Bb7
Black should consider 11...b4!? Otherwise, as the game continuation goes, he is busted.
12.0–0 Nbd7
The usual move is now 13.Qc2, but Bosboom unleashes...
13.Nxf7!? Kxf7 14.f3
Ahh .. now we see why White played Be2.
14...Ke8 15.e5 Nd5 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.fxg4
The Dutch IM Gert Ligterink suggests that Black dispense with recapturing on g4 and instead play 17...Qe7 followed by 18.gxh5 Kd8.
17...hxg4 18.Bxg4 Qb6 19.Bh3 Kd8 20.a4! b4 21.a5 Qc6 22.Qg4 Kc7 23.a6 Bc8
[23...Bxa6? 24.Qxe6! Qxe6 25.Bxe6 White has too many threats, including a possible Rf7 or a possible discovered check on the h2-g8 diagonal]
24.Rf7 Bh6 25.Re7 c3
[25...Kd8 26.h5! (26.Rxe6? Nxe5! turns the tables) 26...Kxe7 27.Bh4+ Ke8 28.Qg6+ Kf8 29.Rf1+ followed by mate]
26.Rxe6 Qc4 27.bxc3 Qxc3 28.Rf1 Rf8 29.Rff6! Be3+
[29...Nxf6 30.exf6+ Kd8 31.Kh2 Black has no moves]
30.Kh2 Qc1 31.Rc6+ Qxc6 32.Rxc6+ Kxc6 33.Qe6+ Kc7 34.Qd6+ 1–0
One of the editors of New in Chess Yearbook, Peter Boel, wrote that we should remember – when Anand or Shirov comes up with the brilliant 13.Nxf7 sometime ... you saw it here first!
Imagine my surprise to see that Topalov had prepared a very similar sacrifice against Kramnik! See for yourself:

Topalov, Veselin (2780) - Kramnik, Vladimir (2799) [D43]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (9), 22.01.2008

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5
This Anti-Moscow Gambit was played four times in the "A" Group in Wijk aan Zee and scored miserably - 3 wins and 1 draw for White!

9.Be2 Bb7 10.0–0
[10.h4 g4 11.Ne5 h5 12.0–0 Nbd7 13.Nxf7!? was what happened in the Bosboom game. Topalov prefers another way, but still with the idea of an f7 sacrifice]
10...Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7

Now comes the big blow:
12.Nxf7!?
According to the official Web site, this novelty was discovered by GM Cheparinov (Topalov's second) and they had to wait for three years before Topalov had a chance at last to show the new move. The main move here is 12.Nxd7 which, after 12...Nxd7 13.Bd6, has recently been well tested. Topalov's sacrifice seems a lot more convincing.
12...Kxf7 13.e5 Nd5
Black is a piece up but the position is hard to defend, what with possible lines of attack along the f-file and the diagonal h5-e8. White's knight also has a potential outpost on d6. I tried this position as Black several times in the Internet Chess Club and must have lost 4-5 games in one evening. And they were all pretty awful losses. I think Black should play something else - this position cannot be held.
14.Ne4 Ke7
Kramnik can try keeping the knight out of d6 with 14...Bf8, but then 15.Bh5+ forces his king to go to g8, where it will be stuck on the kingside. If 15...Ke7 1.Nd6 Qb6 17.Qc2 is just awful.
15.Nd6 Qb6 16.Bg4
White is threatening 17.Bxe6! Kxe6 18.Qh5 Rhf8 19.Qg6+, winning
16...Raf8 17.Qc2
Now the idea is Qg6.
17...Qxd4 18.Qg6! Qxg4
I actually thought that 18...Bxe5 was Black's correct defence, until it occurred to me that 19.Qxe6+ Kd8 20.Qxd7# is checkmate.
19.Qxg7+ Kd8 20.Nxb7+ Kc8 21.a4!
It is crucial that White open up the a-file for his rook to penetrate. Don't forget that the g3- bishop is a bit useless and that Black is not without resources.
21...b4 22.Rac1 c3 23.bxc3 b3 24.c4 Rfg8 25.Nd6+ Kc7 26.Qf7 Rf8 27.cxd5!
Of course! A queen sacrifice to emphasize just how strong his position is.
27...Rxf7 28.Rxc6+ Kb8 29.Nxf7 Re8 30.Nd6 Rh8 31.Rc4 Qe2 32.dxe6 Nb6 33.Rb4 Ka8 34.e7 Nd5 35.Rxb3 Nxe7 36.Rfb1 Nd5 37.h3! h5 38.Nf7 Rc8 39.e6!
Threatening mate on b8.
39...a6 40.Nxg5 h4 41.Bd6 Rg8 42.R3b2 Qd3 43.e7 Nf6 44.Be5 Nd7 45.Ne6 1–0
Black resigns. After 45...Nxe5 46.Nc7+ Ka7 47.Rb7 is mate.
It is looking as if the Nxf7 idea is threatening the existence of the Anti-Moscow Gambit.

Reader comments and/or suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com.

This column was first published in BusinessWorld on Monday, February 4, 2008.

Chess quote

“The battle for the ultimate truth will never be won. And that's why chess is so fascinating.” —Hans Kmoch

GM Nikolic of Bosnia wins Noteboom Memorial plum

GRANDMASTER Predrag Nikolic of Bosnia/Herzegovina edged out Dutch GM John van der Wiel on tiebreak to capture the Daniel Noteboom Memorial Tournament in Lieden, The Netherlands, last weekend.

The six-round Swiss tournament, held from February 1 to 3, attracted 144 players from all over Europe.

GMs Nikolic and van Der Wiel had 5.5 points each, followed by Chinese GM Li Shilong and three others who tied for third to sixth prizes just half a point behind.

Behind Shilong on tiebreak were Dutch Fide Master Martin Roobol, Belgian GM Alexandre Dgebuadze and Croatian GM Bogdan Lalic.

BOBBY ANG’S BUSINESSWORLD COLUMN, CHESS PIECE (2)
The Hedgehog

Corus “A” Wijk aan Zee
January 12-27, 2008
Final standings (all participants are GMs)

1-2 Levon Aronian ARM 2739, Magnus Carlsen NOR 2733, 8.0/13

3-4 Viswanathan Anand IND 2799, Teimour Radjabov AZE 2735, 7.5/13
5-6 Peter Leko HUN 2753, Vassily Ivanchuk UKR 2751, 7.0/13

7-8 Vladimir Kramnik RUS 2799, Michael Adams ENG 2726, 6.5/13
9-11 Veselin Topalov BUL 2780, Judit Polgar, HUN 2707, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov AZE 2760, 6.0/13

12-14 Pavel Eljanov UKR 2692, Boris Gelfand ISR 2737, Loek Van Wely NED 2681, 5.0/13

Average ELO is 2742, Category 20

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD Magnus Carlsen made another giant step by tying for first in the super-tournament in Wijk aan Zee. His most notable win in the event came against Vladimir Kramnik, no less. It was the general perception that Kramnik’s solid style is a good antidote against the attacking genius of the Norwegian youth, but his adoption of the hedgehog formation served him very well.

The hedgehog usually comes about from the Sicilian when the black c-pawn is exchanged for its counterpart on the d-file. It is a good idea to play when you are Black and need a win due to its early avoidance of piece and pawn exchanges. Some people have equated it to a coiled spring – ready to snap back at a moment’s notice when the opponent’s guard is down. In classical openings, the best Black could achieve was simplification. No wonder that the Hedgehog quickly attracted a host of fans.

This formation was popularized by former world champion Anatoly Karpov and the Swedish chess genius Ulf Andersson. I remember a story from the 1975 Capablanca Memorial in Cienfuegos, Cuba. Andersson and Balashov were standing together watching the moves being relayed to the giant demonstration boards on the stage. Andersson remarked at one point that he liked Black’s position on one of the boards. To this Balashov retorted that “Naturally, most of the pawns are on the 6th rank!”

According to hedgehog expert GM Mihail Suba, the best formation for Black is:

1) First, pawns on e6, d6 and a6;
2) Next, the standard set-up for pieces, which includes knights on f6, d7 and bishops on b7, e7. The queen will stay on c7 or b8;
3) The queen’s rook should be on the c-file, presumably, as this is an open file for Black in most games; and
4) The king’s rook will try to mirror the position of White’s queen.

Let us see what happened in the game.

Kramnik, Vladimir (2799) - Carlsen, Magnus (2733) [A30]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (12), 26.01.2008

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.0–0 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6
From the English Opening we have transposed to the Hedgehog System. The Plan for Black is as given above.
9.Rd1 a6
This is also standard in the Hedgehog. Black's knight wants to go from b8-d7, but first he must prevent White from playing Nb5.
10.Ng5!?
Normally White's move here is either 10.Be3 or g5 followed by 11.Qd2. Kramnik's maneuver is designed to exchange off the fianchettoed bishops.
10...Bxg2 11.Kxg2 Nc6

But now, with the bothersome White bishop on g2 gone, Black can place his knight more actively on c6.
12.Qf4 0–0 13.Nce4 Ne8!
Remember the "coiled spring"? Magnus hits upon a nice maneuver. He brings this knight to c7 to watch over his soon-to-be weak e6 square, then snaps back with ...f5 and ...g5.
14.b3 Ra7 15.Bb2 Rd7 16.Rac1 Nc7
Now everything is set.
17.Nf3 f5! 18.Nc3 g5 19.Qd2 g4!
Perfect! Would you believe now it is Black who is attacking?
20.Ne1 Bg5!
Forcing e2-e3, weakening both the white squares around the White king but also the long diagonal.
21.e3 Rff7!? 22.Kg1 Ne8!
Having accomplished its job, this knight now heads for an even stronger position on e4.
23.Ne2
Kramnik's counter is to place his knight on f4 and at the same time clear the long diagonal a1–h8.
23...Nf6 24.Nf4 Qe8 25.Qc3 Rg7!
Of course not 25...Ne4?? 26.Qh8#
26.b4 Ne4 27.Qb3 Rge7! 28.Qa4 Ne5!
29.Qxa6?
A mistake, but an understandable one. Kramnik has a bad position and decides to grab a pawn so that at least he would be material ahead. What he does not see is that Black can trap the queen.
29...Ra7! 30.Qb5
Not 30.Qxb6? Reb7 31.Qd4 Bf6! Black's threat of ...Nf3+ is hard to meet. At this point Kramnik offered a draw, but Carlsen decided to go for a win.
30...Qxb5 31.cxb5 Rxa2 32.Rc8+ Kf7 33.Nfd3 Bf6 34.Nxe5+ dxe5 35.Rc2
[35.Nd3 does not win a pawn: 35...Nxf2! 36.Kxf2 e4 regaining everything with interest]
35...Rea7 36.Kg2 Ng5 37.Rd6
[37.Nd3? e4 wins]
37...e4!
This had to be calculated very carefully, since Black could lose the b6-pawn and maybe even the game if White is given half a chance.
38.Bxf6 Kxf6 39.Kf1
Or 39.Rxa2 Rxa2 40.Rxb6 Nh3!; 39.Rxb6 Ra1 40.Re2 Nf3.
39...Ra1! 40.Ke2
[40.Rxb6 Nf3 41.Re2 Rd7! followed by ...Rdd1 (41...R7a2? 42.Ra6!)]
40...Rb1! 41.Rd1
Black still can't take the pawn. 41.Rxb6 Rd7! the threat of ...Nf3 is a killer.
41...Rxb4 42.Ng2 Rxb5
Black is two pawns up but the presence of rooks gives White chances. Remember the old saying "all rook endings are drawn".
43.Nf4 Rc5 44.Rb2 b5 45.Kf1 Rac7 46.Rbb1 Rb7 47.Rb4 Rc4 48.Rb2 b4 49.Rdb1 Nf3 50.Kg2 Rd7! 51.h3
The pawn is taboo: 51.Rxb4? Rxb4 52.Rxb4 Rd1 53.Ne2 Ne1+! 54.Kf1 Nd3+ wins the rook.
51...e5 52.Ne2 Rd2! 53.hxg4 fxg4 54.Rxd2 Nxd2 55.Rb2 Nf3 56.Kf1 b3 57.Kg2 [57.Rxb3 Nd2+] 57...Rc2 0–1

Reader comments and/or suggestions are urgently solicited. Email address is bangcpa@gmail.com.

This column was first published in BusinessWorld on Friday, February 8, 2007.

Living ‘Yugoslav’ legend Gligoric marks 85th natal day

SVETOZAR GLIGORIC, who became a legend in his lifetime of the old Yugoslavia, was honored by his native Serbia when he turned 85 years old last Saturday, February 2, with an 85-player tournament in Budapest.

One of the very few close friends of the late Bobby Fischer, Gligoric was national champion of his homeland 11 times, won 12 Olympiad medals and was a world title candidate many times besides winning the European crown six times, according to a ChessBase News posting.

The tournament had 23 grandmasters, 21 international masters, 12 Fide masters, four women GMs, one WIM, and three WFMs

Five players tied for the first to fifth prizes, with top seed GM Ivan Ivanisevic (2649) winning the plum on tiebreak.

The runners-up were Ivan Marinkovic, Aleksandar Kovecevic, Miodrag R. Savic, and Mihajlo Ziatic.

FROM MY SWIVEL CHAIR

Justice for Jinky

I’M GLAD that soon after I wondered aloud in this column why no Filipino lawyer had come forward to take up the cudgels for Bobby Fischer’s only known offspring, Justine or Jinky, her Filipino mother, Marilyn Young, has sought the professional help of lawyer Samuel Estimo.

While I must say that I have consistently criticized Sammy in the past over the rift within the NCFP, I now would like to laud him publicly for accepting this rather daunting task of seeking justice for Fischer’s apparent heiress.

I don’t know why or how Marilyn had sought Sammy out or whether it was the other way around, but I believe it is all for the good of Jinky, a seven-year-old whose father was probably the most controversial figure in the chess world.

It is my honest belief that all this is providential. Sammy has his international connections and, as a chess player, he will not be at sea tangling with foreign legal minds over how Fischer’s estate should be disposed of.

I presume that Fischer had left no will. Otherwise there would not have been a scramble by his nearest kinsfolk and his supposed wife, Myoko Watai, a prominent chess figure in Japan, for his estate that, in Philippine currency, would be in the neighborhood of P70 million.

In reply to my query, Sammy has sent me an email saying he plans to seek an out-of-court settlement with Watai. I guess he has reviewed all the circumstances around Fischer’s estate and has considered all his options before thinking of taking this course of action.

If he does so, I don’t think he would have any problem getting Jinky’s fair share of her father’s assets, most of which came from the US$3 million prize he won when he defeated Boris Spassky in their return match in Yugoslavia in 1992.

Fischer must have been a very frugal man because when his controversy with his Swiss bank erupted in 2006, it was made public that he still had a fortune of about $2.8 million.

Since then it has come down to about $1.8 million, which perhaps reflects the high cost of living in Iceland compared with that of Japan. Or, in all likelihood, his frantic flight from the clutches of American justice had cost him nearly $1 million.

In any event, Fischer did not die a pauper, and I believe no court in the world would deny a seven-year-old daughter her right to a share of her father’s wealth, however modest it may be.

Should Sammy seek an out-of–court settlement, I don’t think Ms Watai would be so selfish as to deny Jinky her share. After all, she was quoted as saying soon after Bobby’s burial that she would not hesitate to give his child what was due her.

For the sake of Jinky, however, I would like to advise Sammy not to be precipitate with his legal strategy. I believe that natural justice will always favor a minor and that almost all laws in the Western world recognize this principle.

It is not Marilyn Young who is seeking justice. It is Jinky. All that her lawyer should do is just to establish her being the progeny of the great Fischer and half of his job would then be done.

If he succeeds in his mission, I like to think that Sammy will seek to mend his fences back home, especially in the NCFP.

The Weekender
Quezon Memorial Circle
Quezon City
Manuel O. Benitez
Editor & Publisher
Alfredo V. Chay
Circulation Manager

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