Wesley So among finest in Britain

Whereas four decades before, international tournaments were as rare as the rain in Sahara, nowadays GMs have their pick of which events to participate in. The chess world is steeped with lavish profusion of chess tournaments. One of the most active countries in this regard is Great Britain, which averages four internationals a year, including the Hastings Congress, which ushers in chess calendar for the new year and the year-ending London Chess Classic, the final leg of the chess grand tour.

In one of the world’s strongest open tournaments, the 2016 edition of the Isle of Man held Oct. 1-9 in Douglas, England, lived up to expectations if only for the fighting spirit and doggedness of the participants.

Pavel Eljanov, Ukraine’s top GM, topped the event with 7.5 out of 9.0. Tying him in points, but with a lower tiebreak was American Fabiano Caruana, ranked No. 3 in the world. Tied for third-fifth were Azeri GM Arkadij Naiditsch, Wesley So (USA) and local GM David Howell. Sixty GMs took part in the Swiss System event that included American Hikaru Nakamura, hometown bet Mikey Adams, women’s world champion Hou Yifan of China and former world challenger Peter Leko of Hungary.

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This is the sort of game you hope to play once in your lifetime. Imagine the thrill of announcing a forced win starring a Queen sacrifice. The announcement of a forced win is always a shock to the victim. It is doubly so here in that the finish is strikingly brilliant.

10th Tahl Memorial

W) L. Aronian (ARM)

B)  A. Giri (NED)

English Opening

1. c4            e5

2. g3            Nf6

3. Bg2          d5

4. cxd5         Nxd5

5. Nf3           Nc6

After the text move, the opening transposes into a Sicilian colors reversed with White enjoying a tempo ahead.

6. 0-0           Nb6

7. d3            Be7

8. Be3          0-0

9. Nbd2        Be6

10. Rc1        Qd7

11. a3           Bh3

This normal looking move is actually ineffective. Better is 11...f6 according to the engine. For instance 12. Ne4 Nd5 13. Nc5 Bxc5 14. Bxc5 Rfd8, White probably has a slight edge.

12. Bxh3       Qxh3

13. b4           Bd6

After 13...Qe6 14. Qb3 Nd5 15. Bc5 Bxc5 16. Rxc5 Rad8 17. b5 Na5 18. Qb2 b6 19. Rc2 Rfe8 20. Rfc1 White obtains good prospects along the half open c file.

14. Qb3         Ne7

15. d4           exd4

16. Bxd4       Nc6

17. Ne4         Nxd4

18. Nxd4       Qd7

Not a good square for the Black Queen as shown in the actual game. 18...Rad8 is a better alternative according to the computer.

19. Rfd1        Be5

20. Nc6         Qe8

21. Na5         Rb8

22. Nc5         Qc8

23. Qf3          c6

24. b5           Bb2

25. bxc6!       ...

25. Rc2 cxb5 26. Qb3 also gives White a clear advantage.

25...              Bxc1

26. Rxc1       Qc7?

Seems dubious, but after 26...bxc6 27. Nxc6 Re8 28. Nxb8 Qxb8, White emerges an extra pawn and a superior position.

27. cxb7        Na4

28. Ncb3        Qe7

29. Nd4          Qg5

30. Qf4!          ...

This move hits everything on the nail for White.

30...              Qxa5?

Allowing a series of forced moves that appeared like a composed problem. White also wins after 30...Qxf4 31. gxf4 Rbe8 32. Nac6 Nb6 33. e3 Nd7 34. Nxa7 Rb8 35. Rc7 Nc5 36. Rxc5 Rxb7 37. Nc8, Etc. Problem: White to play and win.

31. Qxb8!       Rxb8

32. Rc8ch      Qd8

33. Rxd8ch     Rxd8

Now comes an astonishing reply. 34. Nc6!!          1:0

Black is lost in all variations. If 34...Re8 35. Ne7ch Kf8 (35...Rxe7 36. b8Q) 36. Nc8 followed by 37. b8Q. Or 34...Rd1ch Kg2 35. Rb1 36.Nb4 and the b-pawn promotes.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to move and win.

White=Kg1, Qd3, Re2, Bb2, Pb3, Pc2, Pf2, Pg2, Ph3

Black=Kg8, Qc6, Re8, Nf5, Pb5, Pd6, Pf7, Pg6, Ph5

1. Qc3!            1:0

The double-threat of 2. Qh8 mate and 2. Qxc6 cannot be parried.