Anand Vs Gelfand

60 Pages·2011·9.39 MB·English

by  J Payne

Chess.July.1/7/11 1/7/11 8:22 Page 1
Volume 76 No.4 July 2011 £3.95 UK $9.95 Canada
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Anand Vs Gelfand
World Championship:
Moscow 2012?
Out of Africa!
Nigel Short
annotates
Nakamura beats Exclusive interview:
Ponomariov in Boris Gelfand -
Saint Louis “Chess begins at 40”

Contents July 2011_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 11:49 Page 1
Chess Contents
Chess Magazine is published monthly.
Founding Editor: B.H. Wood, OBE. M.Sc † Editorial
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You have your say ... Basman on the Candidates’ system, etc 7
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FIDE Candidates’ Matches, Kazan
Europe
Semi-finals and final, with exclusive comments from Boris Gelfand! 8
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Boris Gelfand gave an exclusive and far-ranging interview to
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Rest of World (Airmail)
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Leon Masters
Distributed by: Vishy’s Madras curry was too hot for Fire on BoardAlexei Shirov! 24
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Eddie Dearing on the art of out-preparing your opponent. 26
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3
July Editorial 2011_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 12:01 Page 4
Chess Editorial
by Executive Editor, IM Malcolm Pein
ers
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2011 London
Chess Classic
Chess in Schools and Communitiesis
delighted to announce that the
3rd London Chess Classic will be staged at
the Olympia Conference Centre in
Kensington from Saturday 3 December to
Monday 12 December. The third edition of
what has already become one of the
world’s most prestigious tournaments will
be bigger and better than its predecessors,
with more children’s events and an even
stronger field, the composition of which will
We’ll meet again... did you miss seeing Vishy and Magnus in London in 2010? No
be announced shortly.
matter - you can see them back here again in 2011!
There will be two extra rounds as this
year’s main event will be a nine-player ers
d
all-play-all with one player sitting out un
a
each day and keeping the spectators at n S
Olympia and online doubly entertained by oh
J
joining the commentary team. oto:
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In 2010, 500 children came for free
chess lessons from GMs, IMs and top
chess coaches. This year we will be
doubling the number of invitations to
schools, and free lessons will be
available on five days. The 2009 London
Chess Classic led to the creation of the
charity Chess in Schools and
Communitiesin 2010. CSC aims to put a
chess club in every school in England
and Wales and already operates in eight Hill
tsocwhnoso lsa.n Sd cchitoieosls a rreocuenivde t hfree eU Keq aunipdm ine n6t4 Morris-
and visits from a chess coach. ay
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www.chessinschools.co.uk o:
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From September, the number of schools
in the CSC scheme will rise to 100 with
another 150 receiving some form of
assistance. CSC has also been running
training courses for teachers to learn how
to teach the game in London and
Middlesbrough, we will be running
another in Manchester. The charity was
recently featured on BBC television
www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-13343943
Another innovation at the Classic this
year will be a day of chess cultural
events, with lectures and film screenings Luke McShane playing a simul against guests (including GM Jonathan Rowson, right) at the
2010 London Chess Classic prizegiving and gala dinner.
including the recently released
4
July Editorial 2011_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 12:01 Page 5

2011 London Chess Classic Timetable from Ilyumzhinov: “I know that many
countries have talked about [asylum] but
Friday 2December - Press Day the President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein,
Saturday 3December- Classic round 1, Weekender 1, Open round 1 has said he hasn’t thought about it and he
Sunday 4December- Classic round 2, Weekender 1, Open round 2 won’t go anywhere. He’ll stay in his
Monday 5December- Classic round 3, CSC Schools 1, Open round 3 homeland.” In 2003 there was speculation
Tuesday 6December- Classic round 4, CSC Schools 2, Open round 4 that Ilyumzhinov had gone to Baghdad to
Wednesday 7December- Classic free day, Cultural Festival, Open round 5
offer Saddam asylum but this time the
Thursday 8December- Classic round 5, CSC Schools 3, Open round 6
FIDE website portrayed his appearance
Friday 9December- Classic round 6, CSC Schools 4, Open round 7
as a working visit which discussed the
Saturday 10December- Classic round 7, Weekender 2, Open round 8
Sunday 11December- Classic round 8, Weekender 2, Open round 9 Libyans hosting future FIDE events.
Monday 12December- Classic round 9, CSC Schools 5, Charity Dinner
Delusinov...
For complete schedule - londonchessclassic.com/schedules.htm
To get some idea of just how deluded the
documentary Bobby Fischer against the director Satyajit Ray) in which two Indian
top brass in FIDE are, just consider this
World. The traditional Open tournament noblemen play on and on, oblivious to
excerpt from a report on the visit from the
and Blitz will be supplemented by two events as their territory is taken over by
FIDE website. “On 11 June, FIDE
weekend congresses, and this also the British. There is a hopeful parallel
President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov met with
means that players in the Open will only there. The noblemen abandon their
Dr. Mustafa Zaidi, Libyan Minister of
have to take five days off work to play all homes and families to spend the rest of
Foreign Affairs, in Tripoli. During a warm
nine rounds. The gala dinner will take their days playing chess in exile. I think I
conversation FIDE President thanked the
place after the last round on 12 might send a few sets and boards to the
Libyan Minister for his assistance in the
December at Simpson’s in the Strand. International Criminal Court in The
FIDE activity. The Parties [sic] discussed
Hague in advance.
the opportunities of their future mutual
Watch the Classic website for the
cooperation in the official international
confirmed field but Vishy Anand, Ilyumzhinov, quoted by Russian news
tournaments organization, FIDE
Magnus Carlsen and Vladimir Kramnik agencies, said the Libyan leader told him
Seminars for Arbiters and Trainers and
will all be back! he had no intention of leaving his country.
the International FIDE Academy.”
This could be very good news for the
There is even more, including a FIDE Libyan people. Ilyumzhinov has often
Arbiters seminar and two CSC training To its credit, the
courses. The traditional simultaneous English Chess
displays will take place again and there Federation (ECF)
will be blitz every evening! condemned the visit.
ECF President CJ de
Alienation III Mooi wrote:
‘The English Chess
Tripped Up in Tripoli
Federation wishes to
express, in the
And you thought Sepp Blatter of FIFA
strongest possible
was embarrassingly bad... chess’s
terms, its
reputation was damaged yet again by the
condemnation of the
fantasist who runs FIDE as he swanned
recent visit by the
into Tripoli to play a game of chess with
President of FIDE (The
Colonel Gaddafi. The video is surreal.
World Chess
Gaddafi has to be prompted to make a
Federation) to Libya
few moves on a set with pieces coloured Chess Mate- Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi plays on 11 and 12 June.
silver and gold. Disgust and revulsion chess with FIDE president, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov. Meeting with Colonel
were my first emotions. Shaun Walker in
Gaddafi, at a time
the Independentnewspaper put it well:
when there is virtually universal
‘Few statesmen could enter a meeting been associated with the most reviled and
condemnation of his actions in his own
with Colonel Gaddafi and be the most despotic world leaders. On 24 March 2003
country, brings chess into disrepute.’
eccentric person in the room, but Mr he visited Uday Saddam Hussein, the
Ilyumzhinov just about trumps the Libyan notorious son of the former Iraqi leader.
Rowson says ‘Quit FIDE’
leader in the absurdity stakes.’ His visit came shortly after President Bush
issued his 48-hour ultimatum to the Iraqi
I was forcibly reminded of that wonderful regime. A glance at the Daily Telegraphof Jonathan Rowson, writing in theHerald, a
film The Chess Players(by the Indian 27 March 2003 has a similar quotation Scottish newspaper, was even more
forthright: ‘For the first time in my life, I feel
ashamed of having a FIDE rating. Enough
www.chess.co.uk
5
July Editorial 2011_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 12:01 Page 6
is enough. I think all Chess Federations, Chess begins at 40
including Scotland, should leave the Nisii
International Federation with immediate To the surprise of most observers, nis
a
J
effect. We are led by a man who brings Anand’s next opponent will be older than o:
ot
shame on the game of chess on a him. The veterans strike again. Gelfand, h
P
regular basis, gets elected by dubious 42, was a worthy winner. The last time
means, and whose reign at the helm two players both aged over 40 contested
makes raising significant corporate a world title match was in 1934 when
sponsorship for chess impossible. Alekhine (41) defeated Bogoljubow (45).
What are we waiting for?’ The combined age then was 86 (the
same, incidentally, as the Botvinnik-
I agree in principle but withdrawal from Petrosian match in 1963) and, depending
FIDE by a small number of federations on when FIDE organise the final, the next
would achieve little. There would have to contest might beat that mark.
be concerted action by many federations
to form a new entity, and that possibility There was at least potentially good news
on that front as, just before we went to
seems remote.
press, information from the Russian
Chess Federation suggested that Andrei
The sad fact is that Russia is awash with
Filatov, a Russian billionaire and a former
oil money and the wealth is concentrated
player will sponsor the match. He is
in relatively few hands. Many more
reportedly an old acquaintance of
important tournaments are headed there
Gelfand’s. Of course, the match would
and the electoral process in FIDE is so
take place in Moscow. First reports
open to abuse that Ilyumzhinov is Boris Gelfand: that’s not the world
probably President for Life, as Idi Amin suggest that the prize fund will be lower championship trophy - yet.
than that offered by London last year.
once liked to call himself. It appears that,
contrary to what Gary Kasparov was
British Solving Championship Queen of Chest takes on
saying, Ilyumzhinov has enough support
King of Chess
in the upper echelons of the Kremlin to
British resident CHESS readers are
maintain his position. FIDE will remain a
invited to enter the British Chess Problem
basket case and Vladimir Putin will Society’s annual solving competition. The
remain in power until, as Kasparov says, tournament is again generously supported
“the oil runs dry”. by Winton Capital Management and the
first round is conducted by post. CHESS
2012: Gelfand to readers have often made it through to the
final which will be held in February 2012
challenge Anand...
at Oakham School.
in Moscow?
At this stage you just need to find the key
move for the problem below and send it,
When the June issue went to press we
together with a cheque for £3 made
were awaiting the result of the Candidates’
payable to BCPS, to Paul Valois, 14
Final between Boris Gelfand of Israel and Katie Price (aka Jordan) versus Anatoly
Newton Park Drive, Leeds LS7 4HH.
Alexander Grischuk from Russia. Gelfand Karpov, place your bets.
Entries should be postmarked no later
triumphed. This month’s issue includes an
than 31 July 2011 (the competition is No, it's not those rumoured celebrity
interview with the winner who also
open to British residents only). Successful matches at the London Chess Classic
commented on the games.
solvers will receive eight more problems but an attempt by the UK celeb to beat a
but all competitors will receive a copy of world record for the longest book signing
In a generally dull competition at Kazan,
the BCPS’ excellent magazine The which is apparently held by the 12thworld
Gelfand won three games of classical
Problemist. Please mention CHESS champion. Karpov once signed books
chess, more than everyone else put
magazine when entering. continuously for eight hours which is
together, and he was the only player to
even longer than Garry Kasparov's first
win with White. And what a win it was: a White to play and mate in 2
session at the London Chess Centre.
strategic masterpiece against a younger against any defence
player who did not understand the There is no evidence that Katie knows
position to the same extent as his how to move the pieces but she will try
opponent. and sign books for longer than eight
hours - provided enough fans show up
Gelfand won the sixth and final game, that is...
taking the match in normal time, so there
was no need for more tie-breakers. I was So, if you happen to be at the O2
delighted, as you could not find a nicer Academy in Leeds on July 27, this
man, or one who has worked so hard magazine will give you a £50 voucher if
you can get a picture of yourself with
and dedicated his life to the game. It’s
Katie Price signing a copy of ... well, how
interesting to note that over 20 years ago
about My Great Predecessors?
Mikhail Botvinnik declared that the four
greatest prospects were Anand, Shirov,
¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤ ¤
Gelfand and Ivanchuk.
6
Readers letters - July_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 14:55 Page 7
Readers' Letters
Positional Exercises
by GM Jacob Aagaard
Every month we look at two positions with
Dear Editor, Dear Editor,
the intention of finding the best move.
They can be complicated or simple
positions, opening, middlegame or
I was delighted to see again the face of I was speaking to a player at my club
endgame; the common theme in all of
the then British Chess Federation asking if he had ever heard of a TV
them is that there is one best move, based
Secretary Frank Chetwynd in the programme called The Master Game
on one best plan. To solve these exercises
Staunton Centenary photo in your Chess which was aired on BBC2 from 1976 to
you should ask yourself three questions in
in the 1950sfeature. In the photo 1982, a half-hour programme devoted to
order to focus your attention on the things
Chetwynd is surrounded by chess greats chess!
that really matter. Answer questions 1 & 3
Gligoric, Bogolyubow, Rossolimo,
for both sides. The questions are:
Alexander, etc, but hundreds of London He was unaware of such a programme
junior players will remember him best as as it was so long ago, and before he ever 1) Where are the weaknesses?
the genial organiser and controller of the played chess, and no doubt many other 2) What is the opponent’s idea?
London Boys Championship. The 1950 players will not be aware of this material. 3) Which is the worst placed piece?
event was said to be the largest Swiss Identifying weaknesses in the position
ever held in England. I played in it that Each week one game would be played will help deduce the opponent’s idea.
year and the next, and remember with the unique feature that each master You then combine your own active idea
Chetwynd as an always encouraging and during the game would give an insight as with the prevention of his idea - known
to his thought processes.
supportive presence. His enthusiasm for as prophylactic thinking. Finally, your
the event made a real difference, and his position can often be improved the most
The games were informative and the
generous remarks about the play of by bringing your worst placed piece into
quality of the production by the BBC was
prizewinners at the final ceremony meant the game – or by keeping your
high with some of the best players in the
a great deal to young players. opponent’s pieces out of the game.
world participating (such as Karpov,
Usually two out of these three aspects
Larsen, Hort - ed.)
John Ellis, Soquel, California will be important in identifying the best
move; sometimes all three, and
occasionally only the one. Having said
that – there are of course many correct
Dear Editor,
ways to solve these positions – namely,
all the ways you find to solve them!
From Malcolm Pein's editorial in the June Paying close attention to these three basic
issue of CHESS on the World Chess areas of positional evaluation will take you
Championships, it is clear that the a long way towards developing the intuition
matchplay format is dead in the water. It of a grandmaster. Solutions on page 58.
would be better to have an all-play-all
Candidates of, say, 12 players with a 3-1
format (3 points for a win, 1 for a draw).
There would no doubt be some players The presenters were Jeremy James and
who would still draw, but there would also IM Bill Hartston a former British
be mavericks who would go for their Champion, both of whom made the
shots with the 3-1 incentive. programmes very enjoyable.
The current system only results in a Recently I have come across a link in
series of penalty shoot-outs. To follow the which these programmes are available to
football analogy, I cannot for the life of me view online as the original uncut
see that forcing players to make 40 programmes. N.Pogonina - E.Paehtz
moves instead of 15 (Sofia rules) would Krasnoturinsk, 2007
alleviate the situation. If two teams are in The TV programmes have only recently WHITE TO MOVE
safety mode, they will kick a ball around been loaded on to this site and as yet not
and maintain a strong defence, so that all of them are available. Hopefully more
they don't let in a soft goal, and the same episodes will be added in the future.
pressure will apply to chess.
www.youtube.com/user/Sirb0b1
As a practising chess player, Malcolm
Pein will be aware of the way tension and David Stewart, via email
pressure can warp one's game, so the
solution is to give added incentive to play Indeed, David - they don’t make ‘em like
for a win. that any more! The way the programmes
were made was to play the games
normally, then take the players into a
Chess should not be a zero-sum game! J.Aagaard- G.Oswald
sound studio and record their comments
British Championships, 2007
immediately after the game - ed
Mike Basman, Chessington WHITE TO MOVE
www.chess.co.uk
7
Candidates 2011 Part 2_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 14:52 Page 8
LAST MONTH we covered the I missed the move 39...¤b4 followed by
quarter-finals stages of the 40...¤c6 and 41...e5. Again it gives
Candidates’ matches in Kazan, White only a symbolic advantage.
Russia, which leaves the semi-finals and Unfortunately I am one tempo down,
final still to cover. Since the event I have because if he doesn’t have this
had the great privilege of conducting an manoeuvre and I get my king into the
extensive and exclusive interview with centre, then I really have serious winning
the winner, Boris Gelfand. The first part chances. But, OK, he was in time trouble,
of the interview proper appears in a but also I didn’t have much time, maybe
separate article in this issue of the ten minutes or something, so I went for
magazine, but I have taken the liberty of this line but unfortunately I missed this.
extracting some parts of it which deal After this, the game is a dead draw.”
specifically with the Candidates’
competition and included them here. “The third game [see page 11 of the June
Game annotations are by the CHESS issue - ed] happened to be really nice...
editorial team. one of the most beautiful games I have
“In the second game he surprised me ever played. In the opening I had some
Some of my questions to Boris with his Meran. He’d never played it tough moments because he went for this
concerned his quarter-final match against before and also it is an opening I had sharp line which Morozevich played
Shakriyar Mamedyarov, covered last played with Black for my whole life, so I against Kasparov in Astana [2001] game
month, and we start by having a look at was kind of surprised. I went for the most and I remembered this game and kind of
what he had to say about it in our fashionable line which is played a lot checked it, but you are never sure... you
interview. Where the questions are nowadays and I got some advantage, have to analyse this game really well
included, they are in bold. Boris’s and then he blundered a pawn. He really because if you miss one move, you’ll be
answers are between quotation marks. blundered. Well, it was likea blunder in real trouble. I deviated - I saw a move
because, when I took the pawn, and he which looked reasonable and I went for it
GELFAND ON THE QUARTER-FINAL started thinking, I realised that maybe I - 15...¢h8. Actually, Kasparov won a
had no advantage whatsoever. I was really beautiful game [with 15...¥f6], I
“This first match was easier for me than really surprised.” remember - I played in this tournament in
the following ones, probably because I Astana and I enjoyed it a lot. [Readers of
had time to prepare. I had known who I CHESS will find this game on page 7 of
Quarter-Final, Game 2
would be playing for about six months. the August 2001 issue, analysed by GM
Gelfand - Mamedyarov
Even so, he had also prepared very Baburin and IM Barsky. Boris finished
deeply. Maybe he worked on chess more third in the tournament behind Kasparov
than ever in his life before this match. and Kramnik - ed]. But after this
However, I believe he is a player with a 15...¢h8, Shakhriyar had to start thinking
more practical style and he hadn’t played on his own. OK, clearly, he could analyse
for six months. I felt he spent a lot of time the positions but he had almost no
on positions where you should make a experience of open Sicilians with White.”
move instantly. He was a bit rusty. I really
felt that. In the first game he surprised “So I was kind of happy. Soon the game
me with his first move.Of course, I became pretty sharp and, of course, 20
thought it was possible he would play 1 ¢h1 was really a blunder. I would call it
e4. Actually he played the opening well simply a blunder because after this it is
and he had an advantage. I wouldn’t obvious that Black is better. It is a
overestimate the extent of this question if technique would be good
advantage, to tell you the truth. I think he enough to win or whether White could
was better but between a slight plus and hold. Of course 20 ¥g5 is a key move
plus minus, nothing more. He wasn’t After 33 ¦c3 and was the only move I considered.
winning, like his people were claiming [Against 20 ¢h1] I had seen the
after the match. Of course, against a “And then he played this move, 33...f4, 20...¦xc3 21 bxc3 threat and I stopped
computer you would be doomed! The instead of 33...g4, and he could make a calculating. But I have now analysed [20
computer plays some line which you draw immediately. OK, if you use an ¥g5] and it seems that Black has nothing
cannot find and would prove he could engine, you can play 34 ¤d2 and you to worry about. I have 20...h6 and it is a
exploit the advantage but in practical have a better ending. And 34 h3 gives forced draw. I saw it during the game.
terms I don’t think my position was that White only a symbolic advantage. In the OK, I was hesitating... it is not nice to
traumatic.” game I thought I had a better ending but allow your opponent to give you a lot of
8
Candidates 2011 Part 2_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 14:52 Page 9
cmhoemckesn tw. hBiulet hoeb jeccatniv cellayi mI a an adlryaswe da tt haenrye arskiy
B
is nothing to worry about.” mir
di
a
“But 20...¢g8 is also complicated but the Vl
o:
position is pretty balanced. So [20 ¥g5] ot
h
P
was the best and the most natural
continuation. After 20 ¢h1 I played
20...¦xc3 and I am clearly better. I just
have to make sure ... I have many
possibilities to try for a big advantage.
But, OK, I don’t think I ever went wrong.”
“I also like 34...¥g6 very much, because
it’s tempting to win an exchange back
and restore the material balance but the
bishop on g6 is better than the rook on
h3, which takes part neither in attack nor
defence.”
Quarter-Final, Game 3
Mamedyarov - Gelfand
Candidates’ winner Boris Gelfand of Israel (with trophy) understandably looks a bit happier than
the defeated finalist Alexander Grischuk of Russia..
Gelfand gave Kamsky the chance to remember... he had analysed it but was
reverse the result of their 2007 struggling to remember what he had
Candidates’ match which had gone very analysed.”
badly for him. Here’s Boris’s take on
proceedings: Semi-Final, Game 2
B.Gelfand - G.Kamsky
“In 2007 [our Candidates’ clash] was a Grünfeld Defence
pretty easy match. Gata had just returned 1 d4 ¤f6 2 c4 g6 3 ¤c3 d5 Kamsky’s
from many years of chess inactivity: he second, Emil Sutovsky, is an
didn’t have a team helping him and he acknowledged expert in the Grunfeld.
was helpless in the openings. He fought 4 ¥g5 ¤e4 5 ¥h4 ¤xc3 6 bxc3 dxc4 7 e3
with determination but in the opening he ¥e6 White plays to hang on to the pawn.
was ages behind. After this match he 8 ¤f3 ¥g7 9 ¥e2 c5 10 0–0 0–0 11 ¦b1
After 39...¦b8 built a good team with Emil Sutovsky and
Andrei Volokitin, two great theoreticians
“And suddenly, all those pawns... actually and he really outplayed me in terms of
the most funny thing was that he lost on opening preparation, I admit it. For Black
time. I don’t know if that was reported. he analysed the Grünfeld very well with
He lost on time. He had nine seconds to Sutovsky. [Our team] had analysed this
complete his 40th move and he was line a lot but you could see that he had
looking for a solution and lost on time. analysed it deeper. And with White he
But if he should play 40 ¥c1 and I think I was constantly posing problems.”
would have played something like
40...£c5 to reach the time control and As regards the first game, it is worth
then the position is won. But 40...¦b2! 41 mentioning that Boris avoided the Petroff
¥xb2 axb2 is really beautiful. A chain of which has come under pressure recently
pawns, and then simply 41...¥e5 - it’s and instead played instead a Najdorf
unbelievably beautiful. I don’t think I Sicilian in which he has been a huge
would have found it with a few minutes expert for 20 years. The game was
left. After the game I met Levon Aronian balanced throughout and a draw ensued. 11...¥d5 See Boris’s comment above.
11...cxd4 is better, while 11...b6 and
and he told me ‘Ah, you could have
played 40...¦b2’.” “In the second game [Kamsky] mixed up 11...¤d7 have also been played here.
12 £c2 Played quickly by Gelfand. The
the move order and I had a winning
Semi-Final 1 chance. My position was winning but I threat is e3-e4 so Black’s option are
Gelfand 2733 6-4 Kamsky 2732 tried to calculate a forced winning line fairly limited. 12...cxd4 13 cxd4 Had
Black earlier played 11...cxd4 then 12
and I missed something. Then he
cxd4 would have been an insipid reply
Again, we have the benefit of Boris defended excellently and the game
but here is makes a great deal more
Gelfand’s own reflections, given in ended up a draw. In the opening where I
quotation marks. Looking at the match played 11 ¦b1 he had to play 11...cxd4 sense. 13...b6 14 ¥xc4 ¤c6 15 ¦fc1
from the Kamsky point of view, this as in the fourth game but he played ¥xc4 16 £xc4 ¤a5 17 £c7 f6 18 £xd8
represented a second opportunity for 11...¥d5 12 £c2 cxd4 and now I can take ¦fxd8 19 ¦c7 ¢f7 20 ¦bc1 ¢e8 21 ¥g3
revenge. Having despatched Topalov, with the pawn, 13 cxd4. Actually, after 11 ¥h6 22 ¢f1 ¦d7 23 ¦xd7 ¢xd7 24
who had previously beaten him in a world ¦b1 he thought for a very long time. It ¦c7+ ¢e8 25 ¤d2 b5 26 ¤e4 a6 27
championship qualifier, a pairing with was clear he was struggling to ¤c3 ¥f8 28 ¤d5 ¦d8
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Candidates 2011 Part 2_Chess mag - 21_6_10 03/07/2011 14:52 Page 10
easier to play with White. He can develop vulnerable. The e5 pawn is under fire
his pieces on natural squares and Black now. 24...£f5+ 24...e4 25 ¥xc4 ¦xc4 26
has a long-term problem with the king. It f3 looks very problematic. 25 ¢a1 ¢f8
can go nowhere.” Compare the kings. Even your
materialistic computer will probably be
“Then he improved his position to the favouring White here. 26 f3 ¥d6 27 £g1
point where he had many winning ¥b8 27...b5!? weakens the a-pawn, but
possibilities, but he started hesitating and at least it is some kind of counterplay,
made some move, like £h1, probably to and 28 £a7 ¦c7 29 £xa6 £d7 seems
keep the tension and make me think, playable. 28 ¥d3 £h5?
because I was already approaching time
trouble - my worst problem with time in
all of the Candidates’ matches. I took
over the initiative in time trouble. With
38...£h5 I would have been winning but
it was a counter-intuitive move. You can
White’s advantage looks fairly clear now,
make it only if you calculate very
but he goes wrong at this point. 29 e4?!
precisely, and I didn’t have time to
There are other options but commentator
calculate it. In the rook ending I was very
GM Sergei Shipov thought 29 ¤f4 was
slightly better but, actually, even now I
the right way to maintain White’s control
don’t see how I could set any problems
here. Kamsky, despite being short of
for my opponent.”
time, now commences a very effective
fight-back. 29...f5! The plan is to
Semi-Final, Game 3
interpose the rook on d7, then deploy the
G.Kamsky - B.Gelfand
bishop on g7 (to attack the d4 pawn) and
Sicilian Najdorf
finally nudge the d5 knight away with e7- This move was criticised by many but,
1 e4 c5 2 ¤f3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 ¤xd4 ¤f6
e6, revealing a second attack on d4. after the recommended 28...£d7, there
5 ¤c3 a6 6 ¥e3 e5 7 ¤b3 ¥e7 8 h3 ¥e6
White must have been disappointed to follows 29 f4! ¦g8 30 £f1 e4 31 ¥xe4
9 £f3 A relatively new and therefore rare
find he had nothing special to counter ¤xe4 32 ¦xe4 and White is much better;
idea to get Gelfand out of his deep prep.
this slow but effective plan. 30 f3 fxe4 31 28...£e6 29 ¤d4 £b6 30 ¤f5 £xg1 31
9...¤bd7 10 g4 h6 11 0–0–0 ¦c8 The
fxe4 ¦d7 32 ¢e2 ¥g7 33 ¥f2 e6 34 ¦xg1 is also very good for White. 29
threat is ¦xc3. 12 ¤d5 ¥xd5 13 exd5
¦c8+ ¢f7 35 ¤b6 ¦b7 36 d5 exd5 37 £h1? White misses an opportunity. 29
¤b6 14 h4! White has full compensation.
exd5 The d-pawn looks menacing but ¥xc4! ¦xc4 (29...dxc4 30 ¤a5 is also
Black’s king will never be safe. 14...£c7
Black has the measure of it. 37...¥e5 38 very strong for White) 30 £b6 £f5 31
15 c3 ¤bxd5! 16 ¥d2 16 ¦xd5 £c6 17
¦a8 ¤c4 39 ¦xa6 ¤xb6 40 ¥xb6 ¥xh2 ¤c5 and Black has no good move, e.g.
¥g2 e4 is slightly better for Black.
Time control reached, and the position 31...¢g7 32 ¦g1+ ¢h7 33 £xb7 and it’s
on the board is equal. Of course, there is all over. 29...¥a7 30 £h3 ¦e8 31 ¥xc4
still some play in it, and White does dxc4 32 ¤a5 32 ¤d2 b5 33 ¤e4 and
justice to that, but probably without any Black could find himself effectively a rook
realistic hope of success. 41 ¢f3 ¦d7 down. 32...e4! 33 ¤xc4 £xf3 34 £h2
42 ¢e4 ¦e7+ 43 ¢d3 ¦d7 44 ¢d4 ¥g1+ ¤g4 35 £c7 ¥f2 36 ¦f1? A
45 ¢e4 ¦e7+ 46 ¢f4 ¥xb6 47 ¦xb6 ¦e2 miscalculation. Here, both 36 ¤d6 ¥xe1
48 g4 h5 49 ¦b7+ ¢f8 50 g5 h4 51 ¦h7 37 ¦xe1 ¦e6 38 ¦g1 h5 39 £d8+ ¢g7 40
b4 52 ¦xh4 ¢e7 53 ¦h6 ¦xa2 54 ¦xg6 £g5+ ¢f8 41 £d8+ and 36 ¦g1 ¥xg1 37
¦d2 55 ¦e6+ ¢f7 56 ¢e5 b3 57 ¦f6+ ¦xg1 e3 38 ¥xe3 ¤xe3 39 £d6+ ¦e7 40
¢g7 58 ¦b6 b2 59 d6 ¢g6 60 ¢e6 £d8+ ¦e8 41 £d6+ lead to a draw.
¦e2+ 61 ¢d5 ¦d2+ 62 ¢c6 ¢xg5 63 d7 36...e3 37 ¥xe3? After 37 £d6+ ¢g8 38
¦c2+ 64 ¢d6 ¦d2+ 65 ¢e6 ¦e2+ £d7 ¦e6 39 £d8+ ¢h7 40 £d3+ £e4
66 ¢f7 ¦f2+ ½–½ Black is playing for the win. 37...¤xe3 38
¤e5
“In the third game he played 8 h3.
Nobody had played it before, OK, a few 16...¤b6? As Boris says in the preamble,
games a long time ago, but the position he has to play 16...¤b4 17 ¢b1 £c6 to
is very attractive for White and he also reach a ‘holdable’position here. 17 g5
has some pressure. I won’t say it was ¤fd7 18 gxh6 18 g6 0–0 is clearly no
serious but, OK, it’s nice to play this line.” bed of roses for Black but at least his
king has a home. 18...gxh6 19 ¢b1 £c6
“The main problem was that I spent too 20 £h3 d5 20...¤c4 21 ¥c1 ¤f6 22 ¦g1
much time on the opening and at the still looks uncomfortable for White. 21
particular moment when I played ¥e2 Tentative and out of keeping with his
15...¤bxd5, he played 16 ¥d2, I have to previously vigorous attacking play. The
play 16...¤b4 17 ¢b1 £c6 and it is a natural 21 f4! e4 22 ¦g1 (or the calmer
holdable position, and I saw it. OK, White 22 ¤d4 £f6 23 ¥e3, just keeping control)
has compensation but Black is not 22...£f6 23 ¥e3 £xh4 24 ¥d4 ¦f8 25
worse. But I was already struggling with £e3 ¤c4 26 ¥xc4 ¦xc4 27 ¥g7 leads to
time, so I played 16...¤b6 quickly, and he an advantage for White. 21...¤c4 22 ¥c1
38...£f5 With little time remaining,
had huge compensation for a pawn and, ¤f6 23 ¦he1 £e6 24 £h2 Black’s
Gelfand misses a counter-intuitive win:
what’s more, a position which is much imposing looking centre is very
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