Duda off to fine start

MANILA,Philippines —Poland’s rising star Jankrzysztof Duda zysztof Duda kicked off his campaign at the 3rd FIDE Grand  Prix with an impressive victory in Hamburg, Germany.

The 21-year-old Duda upset No. 2 seed Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, 1.5-0.5,  to advance to the quarterfinals. He will next face Chinese Yu Yangi,  who defeated Russian Dmitry Jakovenko.

Top-seeded Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) reached the quarterfinals, beating Wei Yi of China, 1.5-0.5. He will meet  former world champion Vaselin Topalov of Bulgaria, winner over American Hikaru Nakamura.

Third seeded Alexander Grischuk of Russia also advanced to the quarterfinals along with  compatriots Peter Svidler and Daniil Dubov, and David Navara of the Czech Republic.Quarterfinal  matches are being played at presstime.

The Grand Prix is a 16-player knockout match play,  in which the  top two finishers  after four tournaments qualify for next year’s Candidates tournament.

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Hamburg FIDE Grand Prix 2019 

W) J.K. Duda (Poland)

B)  I. Nepomniachtchi (Russia)

English Opening

1. c4             e5 

2. Nc3           Nf6 

3. g3             d5 

4. cxd5          Nxd5 

5. Bg2           Nb6 

6. Nf3            Nc6 

7. a3             Be7 

By transposition of moves, the opening has reached a Sicilian Defense with colors reversed.

8. b4            O-O

9. e3            a6 

9....Bg4.is another system of development, considered best  by the engine.

10. Qc2        Be6

11. O-O        Bc4

12. Rd1        Bd3 

13. Qb2        Qd7 

14. Ne1        Bg6 

15. d3          Rad8 

16. Ne4        Nd5 

After 16....Bh5 17. Rd1 f5, the game probably hangs in the balance.

17. Nc5        Bxc5 

18. bxc5       Rb8 

19. Qb3        Rfd8 

20. Bb2        Nf6 

21. Rac1      Qe7

21....Re8 seems a  better alternative.

22. Qc3        Bh5 

23. Rd2         e4?

A very bad judgment  which concedes White a huge advantage  Black may do  better with the normal 23....Nd5.

24. Bxe4       Rd7 

25. Bf5          Rd5 

26. e4           Rxf5

A desperate attempt to obtain counterplay but to no avail. After   26....Rdd8  27. d4! Nxe4 28. Bxe4 Qxe4 29. d5!, White wins material.

27. exf5         Rd8 

28. Qc4         Nd5 

29. Qe4         Qg5 

30. f4            Qh6

31. h3            f6 

32. Ng2         Bf7 

33. Kh2         Nde7 

34. g4           Nd5 

35. Re2         Re8 

36. Qf3          Rxe2 

37. Qxe2        g6

The alternative 37....Nxf4  also  fails, e.g., 38. Qe3 Nd5  39. Qxh6  gxh6 40. Kg3 is curtains for Black.

38. fxg6         hxg6 

39. Kg3          Nd8 

40. Qe4          c6 

This arrives to a quick finish. But there is no satisfactory continuation  anymore.,If  40....Ne6,  41. Qe5 is decisive.

41. Bxf6         Nxf6 

42. Qe7          Nh5ch

43. gxh5         Ne6 

44. hxg6         1-0

After 44...Qg6ch 45. Kh2 Ng7  46. Rg1, White’s material advantage will prevail.

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Solution to last week’s puzzle:

White=Kd2, Qf3, Nd3, Pb2, Pf4, Pg3,  Ph4

Black=Kh7, Qe8, Bg7, Pa6, Pa4, Pd4, Pf5, Pg6 Ph5  

1....           Qe3ch!

2. Qxe3      dxe3ch

3. Kxe3      Bxb2!

And Black wins, e.g., 4. Nxb2 a3 5. Kd2 (6. N-any a2 and the Pawn promotes) 5....a2 and wins. Or 4. Nb4 a5 and Black wins easily.

Black to play and win.