Canadian ends Vishy’s world title bid

The second round of the World Chess Cup in Tbilisi (Georgia), was over, and so was Viswanathan Anand’s candidates bid through the next world championship cycle.

The 10th seed 48-year-old former world champion (India), was upset by 25-year-old Canadian star Anton Kovalyov, 1.5-0.5, on a day in which four top 14 players were ousted by lower rated opponents.

Azeri Shakriyar Mamedyarov, the No. 6 seed, fell to 57th seed Yuriy Kuzubov of Ukraine, 2-0, WCC challenger and 11th seed Sergey Kariakin of Russia lost to 21-year-old compatriot Daniil Dubov, 1.5-0.5, and 14th seed Chinese youngster Wei Yi, 18, lost, 1.5-0.5, to 21-year-old Hungarian prodigy, No. 53 Richard Rapport.

Top-seeded Magnus Carlsen (Norway), the reigning world champion, No. 2 Wesley So (USA), No. 3 Fabiano Caruana (USA) and No. 4 Russian former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, held their places and advanced to the third round.

The two finalists will be seeded to next year’s candidates tournament.

* * *

FIDE World Cup 2017 

W) D. Dubov (Russia)

B) S. Kariakin (Russia)

English Opening

1. c4                   Nf6

2. Nc3                e5 

3. Nf3                 Nc6 

4. g3                  d5 

5. cxd5               Nxd5 

6. Bg2                Bc5 

7. O-O                O-O 

8. d3                  Bb6 

9. Nxd5              Qxd5 

10. b4                ...

Dubov follows the pattern of Nakamura-Kariakin, 2017 Sinquefield Cup, to test an improvement.

10...                    e4

11. Ng5              Qd4 

12. Ba3!?           ...

And here’s Dubov’s improvement. Nakamura played 12. Be3 but did not gain an advantage after 12...Qxb4 13. Nxe4 Bg4 14. h3 Bh5 15. Rb1 Qe7 16. Qd2 Rad8 (1/2-1/2=34).

12....                   e3

13. b5                exf2ch

14. Kh1              Ne5 

15. Bxf8              Kxf8 

16. a4                a5 

16...Qd8 17. Qd2 slightly favors White, and so does 16...Qd7 17. a5 Ne3 18. Ne4 Ng4, etc.

17. bxa6             Rxa6 

18. a5                Ba7 

After 18...Rxa5 (18...Bxa5 19.  Ra4 Bb4 20. Nxh7ch Kg8 21. Ng5 Bg4 is unclear) 19. Rxa5 Bxa5 20. Qc1 Bb6 21. Qc1 Bb6 22. Qa3ch Ke8 23. Nxh7 Bg4 24. Qf8ch Kd7, the game is probably even, according to the engine.

19. Qc1              Qd8 

20. Qf4               h6 

21. Ne4              ...

21. Nxh7ch Kg8 22. Qxe5? Bd4!, Black has the upper hand.

21...                    Qe7

22. Nc3              g5 

23. Qc1!             ...

A fine move which gives White the initiative.

23...                    Ng4

Both 23...c6 24. Nd5! and 23...Rd6 24. Nb5 favors White.= computer.

24. Nd5!             Qxe2 

25. Qxc7             Rc6 

Hardly commendable. But also inferior, according to the engine, is 25...Be6  (25...Bf5 26. Qxb7 Bxd3 27. Rad1 Rxa5 28. Qc8ch Qe8 29. Qxe8ch Kxe8 30. Rxd3) 26. Qxb7 Nxh2 27. Qb4ch Kg7 (27...Kg8 28.  Kxh2 Qh5ch 29. Qh4! gxh4 30. Nf6ch and wins) 28. Qc3ch Kg8 29. Nf6ch Kf8 30. Kxh2 and White is winning.

26. Qd8ch          Qe8 

27. Qxe8ch         Kxe8 

28. d4!               ...

Stronger than the immediate 28. Nb6. 28...             Kd8

After 28...Bxd4 29. Ra4 Ba7 30. Nb6, Black loses more material.

29. h3                Nf6 

30. Nb6              Rc2 

31. Nxc8             1:0

After 31...Kxc8, 32. Rab1 brings down the curtains.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to move and win.

white=Kf8, Rh4, Pf7

black=Kc6, Rf2, Pa7

1. Rh5!               1:0

If 1...Kb6 (1...Kd7 2. Ra5, followed by 3. Rxa7 and wins) 2. Kg7 a5 3. Kg6 (threatening 4. Rf5) 3...Rxf7 4. Kxf7 a4 5. Ke6! a3 6. Rh3 a2 7. Ra3 and wins.

* * *

Black to move and win.