Focus on junior players

Now that world class players are getting younger than ever, focus has centered on the junior world championship, the spawning ground for senior world champions.

While Wilhelm Steinitz claimed the senior world championship in 1886, the junior world championship was started only in 1951. The enterprising Englishman, William Ritson-Morry, conceived the idea of an under-20 junior world champion. It was held every two years until 1973, when a yearly schedule was passed and adopted by the 1973 FIDE Congress.

The first junior world championship was held in 1951 in Birmingham, England. Then there were only 11 entries and Yugoslavia’s Borislav Ivkov topped the all-play-all event. 

In 1953 in Copenhagen, Denmark, there were 20 participants, and the tourney had preliminary and final phases. Oscar Panno (Argentina), emerged winner. 1955 saw the Soviets formally entering the championship. Their entry Boris Spassky won handily the tournament in Antwerp, Belgium. In 1957 in Toronto, Canada, William Lombardy (USA), literally pitched a no-hitter, the most convincing win to date, when he went 11 out of 11.

The junior world champion automatically becomes a grand master. The past junior champions have invariably made names for themselves upon graduation to the ranks of seniors. Four previous champions, Spassky, Karpov 1969 Stockholm (Sweden), Kasparov 1980 Dortmund (Germany), and Anand 1987 Baguio (Philippines) have gone on to win the world championship.

This year, the 58th Junior World Championship took place Oct. 15-26 in New Delhi, India. There were 94 participants in the 11-round Swiss system event. Evgeny Shtembuliak of Ukraine, had a grand time, copping first with an unblemished 9.0/11 slate. 

In the 37th Girls Championship, Polina Shubalova of Russia, ran away with the gold, scoring an impressive 9.5 out of 11.

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Meanwhile, Chinese Wang Hao delivered in the final two rounds, then edged American Fabiano Caruana in tie-break, to win the FIDE Grand Swiss in Douglas, Isle of Man.

The 30-year-old Wang, ranked 18th in the world, beat former world champion Vishy Anand (India) and England’s David Howell in rounds 10th and 11th, to become the fifth player to make it to next year’s Candidates tournament.

Now he is heading to Ekaterina, Russia, to join early qualifiers Caruana, Azeri Teimour Radjabov, compatriot Ding Liren and Dutchman Anish Giri. 

Three spots are still to be determined to complete the elite eight-player field.

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If this remarkable brevity is not the best attacking game in the tournament, then it is certainly the most entertaining.

Junior World Championship 2019 

W) M. Santos Ruiz gm (Spain)

B) R. Praggnanandhaa gm (India)

Sicilian Defense

1. e4      c5 

2. Nf3                    e6 

3. d4                      cxd4 

4. Nxd4                 Nf6 

5. Nc3                    Nc6 

This is a delayed version of the Taimanov system with an early Nf6. A very old variant, at times of ill repute, but never actually refuted. It has always been a rare bird in top level competitions. Much more to the point is 5....d6 followed by 6....Nf6.

6. Nxc6                 bxc6 

7. e5                      Nd5

8. Ne4                   ....

After 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Qc7, Black has a fair game.

8....                        Rb8 

9. Bd3                    Qc7 

10. f4                     Qb6 

11. Qe2                 Be7 

12. c4                     f5 

12....Qb4ch is an interesting alternative that deserves attention.

13. Nd6ch            Bxd6

14. exd6               Nf6 

15. b3                    O-O 

16. Bb2                 a5 

17. O-O-O            ....

The engine suggests 17. Qe5. with a slim edge for White, if any.

17....                      a4 

18. Bc2                  axb3 

19. axb3               c5 

19....Rf7 is much better than the text, e.g., 20. Rhg1 Ne4 21. g4 Qf2, and though Black’s position soon becomes critical, the defense probably holds.

20. g4!                   ....

White begins operation on the g file. 

20....                      Bb7 

20....fxg4 is met by 21. Rhg1 g6

22. h3 and White has strong pressure.

21. Rhg1               Be4 

22. gxf5                Bxc2 

23. Qxc2               exf5? 

This capture leads to a quick collapse. Correct is 23....Rf7, though White retains a big advantage after 24. Rg3!

24. Qxf5               Ne8?

The text allows a brilliant finish, but there’s nothing else can be done. For instance 24...Qd8 25. Rxg7ch Kxg7 26. Re1 Rg8 27. Re7ch Qxe7 28. dxe7 Rb6 29. Qxd7 and White wins easily. 

25. Rxg7ch!!       ....

At the most unlikely moment, the most likely sacrifice strikes home. As the early chess writers wrote, “When an ordinary prophylaxis fails to ward off a deadly check, then the game is past surgery.”

25....                      Nxg7 

26. Qe5!               Rf7 

If 26....Nf5 27. Rg1ch Kf7 28. Qxf5ch, or 26....Ne6 27. Rg1ch Kf7 28. Qf6ch.Ke8

29. Qe7                 mate.

27. Rg1                  Kf8 

28. Rxg7               Qd8 

29. Rg8ch!!          1-0

29...Kxg8 is met by 30. Qh8 mate.

Solution to last week puzzle

Black to to move and win.

White=Kf3, Rb7, Pg5

Black=Kc1, Rd2, Pb2

1....        Rd4!

2. Ke3                    ,,,,

If 2. g6 b1Q 3. Rxb1 Kxb1 

4. g7 Rd8, followed by 5....Rg8.

2....        Rg4

3. Rc7ch                Kd1

4. Rd7ch               Kc2

5. Rd2ch               ...

If 5. Rc7ch Kb3 6. Rb8ch Rb4.

5....        Kc1

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