FIDE Grand Swiss set
World champion Magnus Carlsen returns to competitive action as he headlines the 160-player FIDE Grand Swiss tournament, starting Wednesday at the Comis Hotel in the British Crown Isle of Man
Also competing in the 11-round Swiss event, where the winner will automatically qualify in next year’s Candidates tournament, are a selection of top 100 rated players, including women’s, junior and senior 50+ and 65+ world champions and wild cards nominated by the FIDE.
Other big names included American world No. 2 Fabiano Caruana, .Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Russian Ian Nepomniatchi, Azeri Shak Mamedyarov, American Wesley So and former world champion Vishy Anand of India.
Caruana, as the last world championship challenger, has qualified in the eight-player Candidates, along with Azeri world cup champion Teimour Radjabov and finalist Ding Liren of China. The 32-year-old Radjabov defeated Ding in speed chess tie-break, after they split, 2-2, the four-game classical finals.
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2019 FIDE World Cup
Game 03 Tie-break
W) T. Radjabov (Aze)
B) D.Liren (Chn)
Ruy Lopez
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Ba4 Nf6
5. O-O Be7
6. Re1 b5
7. Bb3 O-O
8. c3 d5
The Marshall Gambit, named after American master Frank Marshall, is Black’s most aggressive defense against the Ruy Lopez.
9. exd5 Nxd5
10. Nxe5 Nxe5
11. Rxe5 c6
12. d3 Bd6
13. Re1 Bf5
14. Qf3 Qh4
15. g3 Qh3
So far, the players followed Game One.
16. Be3!? ....
An improvement from the above-mentioned game in which White played 16. Nd2, and did not obtain a satisfactory position.
16.... Bxd3
17. Nd2 Qf5
The engine’s 17....Bg6 seems preferable.
18. Bd4 Rfd8
19. a4! ....
After the text, White enjoys a slight positional edge.
19.... h6
20. h4 Rac8
21. Qxf5 Bxf5
22. Ne4 Bf8
23. Nc5 Nb4?!
The start of Black’s troubles. Correct is 23....Nc7 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra7 Bxc5 26. Bxc5 Be6, when Black retains drawing chances.
24. Re5 g6
25..axb5 cxb5
25....axb5 is met by 26. Ra7, where White’s Rook will attack all Black’s weaknesses.
26. Ne6 Bxe6
27. Rxe6 fxe6
28. Bxe6ch Kh7
29. Bxc8 Rxc8
30. cxb4 Rc4
31. Bf6 Bg7
32. Be7 Rc6
32....Bxb2 is probably much better than the text..
33. Ra2 Kg8
34. Bc5 Kf7
34. Bf8 should have been tried, though Black’s game is inferior
35. Kg2 Ke6
36. b3 h5
37. Kf3 Kf5
38. Rd2 Be5
39. Rd5 Ke6
This move definitely loses, as White obtains an important tempo. 39....Kf6 may stay longer, though White’s advantage is tangible.
40. Ke4 Bf6
41. f4! ....
The winning move, as Black has no answer to the decisive 42. f5. The remaining moves needs no comment.
41.... Bc3
42. f5ch Kf7
43..Rd7ch Kg8
44. Bd6 gxf5
45. Kxf5 Bg7
46. Kg5 1-0
Solution to last week’s puzzle:
White to play and win.
White=Kb7, Bg3, Pc6, Pf6
Black=Kd8, Ba5, Pg4, Ph7
1. Be1 Bc7
2. Bh4! Ke8
3. Kxc7 1-0
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