Sports

Ukrainian in world final

LET’S PLAY CHESS - Edgar De Castro - The Philippine Star

February 26, 2017 | 12:00am

In the Women’s World Championship in Tehran, Ukrainian star Anna Muzychuk, sailed past Russian former world champion, Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2-0, to book a final spot at the FIDE biennial tournament.

The 26-year-old world rapid and blitz champion will face the winner of the other semifinal match between 25-year-old Chinese WGM Tan Zhonghi and GM Harika Dronavalli, 25, of India.

* * *

In Sharjah, UAE, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France and Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan each scored 4.0 out of a possible 6.0 to head into the seventh round tied for the lead at the year-opening FIDE Grand Prix. They were half-a-point ahead of American Hikaru Nakamura, British Mikey Adams and Russians Ian Nepomniachtchi, Alexander Grischuk and Dmitry Joakovenko, while world No. 7 Levon Aronian of Armenia and Chinese women’s world champion Hou Yifan were one point back.

Eighteen players have been competing for two Candidates tournament spots, at stake in the nine-round Swiss event, the first of four tournaments leading to the selection of a challenger for next year’s world championship match.

Original opening play and imaginative middle game tactics are White’s motifs for a sharp, attacking game. A very fine performance by the current Russian champion.

2017 FIDE Grand Prix

W) I. Nepomniachtchi (Russia)

B) L. Chao (China)

Petroff Defense

1. e4 e5, 2. Nf3 Nf6, 3. Nxe5 d6, 4. Nf3 Nxe4, 5. d4 d5, 6. Bd3 Bd6

After 6...Nc6 7. 0-0 Be7 8. Nbd2 Bf5 9. Re1 Nxd2 10. Qxd2 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 0-0 12. c3 Qd7, the game is about even. Vallejo-Pons-Li Chao, Rd. 5 same tournament.

7. 0-0 0-0,

8. c4 c6 9. Nc3 Nxc3, 10. bxc3 dxc4, 11. Bxc4 Bf5

Up to here, the opening has followed the game Vachier-Lagrave against Li Chao, same event, that went in razor-sharp fashion and gave White a dangerous initiative after 12. Ne5 Bxe5 13.dxe5 Qe7 14. Re1 Nd7 15.Qf3 g6 16. Qg3 Rfe8 17. Bf4 Qc7 18. Bb3 a5 19. a4 b5 20. h4 Be6 21. Bc2 b4 22. Bd3 b3 23. h5 Nf8 24. Bh6.

12. Bg5!? ...

The first small surprise, an improvement from the above-mentioned game, that White eventually won in 50 moves.

12... Qc7, 13. Re1 h6, 14. Nh4 Bh7, 15. Bxh6! Bxh2ch, 16. Kh1 Bf4?!

Not really a good choice. 16...gxh6 seems better for after 17. Qg4ch Kh8 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 Qf4 20. Qh5 b5 21. Be2 Nd7, White is only slightly ahead=Computer.

17. Bxg7! Kxg7

18. Qg4ch Kh8, 19. Nf5 Bxf5

Forced as 19...Rg8 loses to 20 Re8 and 19...Bg6 is refuted by 20. Re7.

20. Qxf5 Qd6

After 20...f6 21. g3 Bh6 22. Kg2 b5 23. Bd3, White has a decisive advantage, according to the engine. Or 20...Bh6 21. Qf6ch Bg7 22. Qh4ch Kg8 23. Bd3 Rd8 24. Re7 Qd6 25. Rae1 Nd7 26. Qh7ch Kf8 27. Rxf7ch Kxf7 28. Bc4ch and White is winning=Computer.

21. g3 Bh6, 22. Kg2 b5, 23. Bb3 Qg6?!

On 23...Nd7, White regains the piece in a much better position and should be winning after 24. Rh1 Kg7 25. Rh4 Qf6 26. Qg4ch Qg6 27. Qxd7.=Computer

24. Qxg6 fxg6, 25. Re7 ...

Threatening 26. Rh1.

25... g5

Also hopeless according to the engine is 25...Rf6 26. g4 g5 27. Rh1 Na6 28. f4 Rg8 29. Rxa7 c5 30. Bc2 Re8 31. fxg5 Re2ch 32. Kg3 Re3ch 33. Kh4 Rf2 34. gxh6 Rxc2 35. Rf1 Rh2ch 36. Kg5 Re8 37. Rxa6, etc.

26. Re6 Kg7, 27. Rh1 Rh8?

There’s nothing better. If 27...Nd7 White wins material with 28. Re7ch.

28. Re7ch Kg6, 29. Bc2ch 1:0

Black gets mated after 29...Kg6 30. Rhe1 g4 31. R1e6ch Kg5 32. Rg6ch Kh5 33. Re5ch Bg5 34. Rexg5.

Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White to move and win.

White=Kg1, Qe8, Rc1, Bg5, Pa4, Pb2, Pf2, Pg2

Black=Kd6, Qe5, Nc6, Ra7, Pb7, Pd5, Pe6, Pf5

1. Rxc6ch! bxc6

2. Qb8ch Rc7

2...Kd7 3. Qd8 mate.

3. Qf8ch 1:0