FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 8, 2020

From FIDE:

Historic event to remember the father of modern chess

Reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen will star

20 top players compete in two sections

FIDE event held on Chess24.com from May 14


From its inception in 1886 to Magnus Carlsen today, a mere 16 people have worn the official crown of undisputed World Chess Champion.

Now, to celebrate the legacy of the man who started it all, the chess world is staging a unique online competition in memory of Wilhelm Steinitz (1836-1900).

The International Chess Federation FIDE and broadcaster Chess24.com have joined forces to hold the first FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial tournament.

It will take place over the Austrian-American legend’s birthday between May 14 and 17 and be a thoroughly modern online event - fitting for a true chess legend, considered the father of the modern game.

The star performer is Carlsen, the current undisputed World Chess Champion and heir to. He’s joined by 3-time World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk, 2013 World Blitz Champion Le Quang Liem, and star players such as Peter Svidler and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. 2018 and 2019 Women’s World Blitz Champion Kateryna Lagno heads the women’s line-up, with former Women’s World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk, Antoaneta Stefanova and Tan Zhongyi, and 2018 World Blitz silver medalist Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, all in action.

https://www.fide.com/news/517

From chess24:

What’s the format?

The FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial consists of two 10-player tournaments, one open and one for women. Each player will play each other twice over 18 rounds of blitz where the players have 3 minutes for all moves and a 2-second increment after every move.

If there’s a tie for 1st place after 18 rounds, the two players with the best tiebreaks will play a single Armageddon game, where White has 5 minutes to Black’s 4 but a draw means that the player with Black wins the tournament.

Who’s playing?

The line-ups aren’t yet 100% finalised but World Champion and 5-time World Blitz Champion Magnus Carlsen will top the open section. He’s joined by 3-time World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk, 2013 World Blitz Champion Le Quang Liem and star players such as Peter Svidler and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov.

2018 and 2019 Women’s World Blitz Champion Kateryna Lagno heads the women’s line-up, with former Women’s World Champions Alexandra Kosteniuk, Antoaneta Stefanova and Tan Zhongyi, and 2018 World Blitz silver medalist Sarasadat Khademalsharieh, all in action.

What’s at stake?

The total prize fund is 30,000 euros, with 18,000 for the open section (4,500 for 1st) and 12,000 for the women’s section (3,000 for 1st). One innovation is that half of the prize money is paid out on a game-by-game basis, with every point in the open section worth an extra 100 euros (70 euros in the women's section), meaning there’s something to play for in every game.

Where is it being played?

All games will be played on the chess24 Playzone.

When is it taking place?

The schedule is as follows, with all times CEST:

Friday, May 15th

Rounds 1-6 Women: 15:00 – 18:15
Rounds 1-6 Open: 18:30 – 21:30

Saturday, May 16th

Rounds 7-12 Women: 15:00 - 18:15
Rounds 7-12 Open: 18:30 – 21:30

Sunday, May 17th

Rounds 13-18 Women: 15:00 – 18:15
Rounds 13-18 Open: 18:30 – 21:30

Where can I watch?

The games will be broadcast live with commentary in multiple languages right here on chess24 from May 15th: Open | Women

https://chess24.com/en/read/news/car...initz-memorial

Online Comments

I'd love to see Vishy playing some blitz; I feel like his speed skills are still great. Obviously Naka+Firo would be great as well. How good is Ding in these extremely fast time controls?

Grischuk and Lagno are wife and husband)) Looks like it'll be very interesting atmosphere at their home during tournament (they have 4 children)!

This sounds awesome, especially with increment.

This has really been, by far, the best world ending plague I've ever lived through. Kudos to Chess24!

Very interesting. Nice idea to honor Steinitz. Strangely enough I just recently had a look at Steinitz - Zukertort games and was somewhat shocked that they played Re1 Berlin among other things.

Nice to see Grischuk, Dubov and Korobov in action. Now add Firouzja, Duda and it's a perfect lineup!

Also, a good idea to have women event and to have it before men play. It's always a problem that women get overlooked during world rapid and blitz.

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 9, 2020

Steinitz Memorial List of Invited Players

https://www.fide.com/news/517

-	-		-		-		-
N		Open section		Blitz Rating		Women section		Blitz Rating
-
1		Carlsen		2887		Lagno		2608
2		Grischuk		2765		Lei Tingjie		2530
3		Bu Xiangzhi		2760		Kosteniuk		2521
4		Svidler		2754		Tan Zhongyi		2510
5		Xiong		2724		Stefanova		2485
6		Dubov		2720		Sebag		2482
7		Mamedyarov		2716		Khademalsharieh		2431
8		Le Quang		2690		Abdumalik		2409
9		Korobov		2667		Paehtz		2396
10		Anton Guijarro		2590		Cori D		2391
-

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 15, 2020

Rounds One to Six

On the English Chess Forum, it was asked if there were any Steinitz Memorials before and they came up with five – in Rio de Janeiro in 2000, in Prague 2000, Rome 2002, Brazil 2011 and in Cape Town, 2014.

Then, this:

Just out of curiosity, is there any record of Steinitz ever playing blitz?

(If not, who is the first world champion for whom we have any such record?)

Answer: I don't know about Steinitz. The development of chess clocks may not have progressed fast enough for him to have played blitz, but he may have engaged in some 'skittles' (quick games without clocks).

His two successors certainly played both blitz and lightning -

"This kind of chess first became popular in the early years of the 20th c. Capablanca, then a student, played many fast games against Lasker [the then World Champion] at the Manhattan CC. Capa won most of the lightning games (10 or 20 seconds a move) but Lasker won the majority of the 5-minute games, perhaps because there is time for deeper plans to be laid... " Oxford Companion p.117-8

E.g. a rapid transit tourney on 27th Dec. 1906 at the Manhattan CC, an event which attracted 32 competitors -

"In the semifinals Lasker and Capa won from their respective opponents, H. Davidson and E. Delmar. In the last game, watched by a large crowd of members and visitors, Capa, who is noted for his quick insight into a position, succeeded in worsting the champion in brilliant style. The time limit was 20 seconds to a move." American Chess Bulletin, Feb. 1907, p. 35
___________

Back to the present. Peter Leko and Jan Gustafsson are the commentators. The women’s tournament was broadcast first and Alexandra Kosteniuk stood first after six rounds with 5.5 points, followed by Tan Zhongyi with 4.

Results

Round One

Anton-Xiong 1-0
Grischuk-Korobov 0-1
Bu-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
Dubov-Le 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Svidler 0.5-0.5

Round Two

Xiong-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Le-Carlsen 0-1
Mamedyarov-Dubov 0-1
Korobov-Bu 0-1
Anton-Grischuk 0-1

Round Three

Grischuk-Xiong 0-1
Bu-Anton 0.5-0.5
Dubov-Korobov 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Mamedyarov 1-0
Svidler-Le 0-1

Standings after Round Three

Carlsen 2.5
Bu, Dubov 2
Anton, Le, Korobov, Xiong 1.5
Grischuk, Svidler 1
Mamedyarov 0.5

Selected Games

Round 1, May 15
Anton, David – Xiong, Jeffery
A39 Reti/English, symmetrical

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 O-O 8.O-O Qa5 9.e3 d6 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nxc6 Qc7 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.cxd5 Bb7 14.Bd2 Bxb2 15.Rb1 Bxc6 16.dxc6 Rab8 17.Qc2 Ba3 18.Qa4 Bc5 19.Ba5 Bb6 20.Bxb6 axb6 21.Rfc1 Ra8 22.Qd4 Rfb8 23.a4 e5 24.Qc4 Ra5 25.Rb5 Rba8 26.Qb3 R8a6 27.Rxa5 Rxa5 28.h4 Kf8 29.Rc2 Ke7 30.Kg2 Kd8 31.e4 Kc8 32.h5 Kb8 33.h6 Ka7 34.Qf3 f5 35.exf5 gxf5 36.Qxf5 Rc5 37.Rxc5 bxc5 38.Qd7 Kb8 39.a5 c4 40.Kf3 c3 41.Ke2 e4 42.a6 1-0

Round 1, May 15
Grischuk, Alexander – Korobov, Anton
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.e3 e6 5.Ne5 Bd6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O Qe7 9.Nb5 Bxd3 10.cxd3 Bxe5 11.dxe5 Ne8 12.Qg4 Qb4 13.Nd4 c5 14.Nf3 Qb6 15.h4 Kh8 16.h5 h6 17.Qh4 f6 18.b3 Rc8 19.Qg3 fxe5 20.Bxe5 Nef6 21.Nh4 Kg8 22.Ng6 Rf7 23.Qh4 Nxe5 24.Nxe5 Rfc7 25.Rae1 Qd6 26.f4 b5 27.g4 c4 28.bxc4 bxc4 29.dxc4 dxc4 30.g5 hxg5 31.Qxg5 c3 32.h6 c2 33.Rc1 Qd2 34.Rfe1 Qxe1+ 35.Rxe1 c1=Q 0-1

Round 1, May 15
Carlsen, Magnus – Svidler, Peter
A00 Saragossa Opening

1.c3 e5 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.h4 O-O 5.e3 c6 6.g4 d5 7.g5 Ne8 8.a3 Be7 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.d4 exd4 11.exd4 Nc6 12.Bg2 Nc7 13.Nge2 Bf5 14.Ng3 Be6 15.O-O Qd7 16.Bf4 Rad8 17.Re1 Rfe8 18.Qd3 Bd6 19.Nh5 Bg4 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 22.Qg3 Qxg3 23.Nxg3 Nxd4 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Bxd5 Kf8 26.Bxb7 Rb8 27.Be4 Rxb2 28.Rc1 Rb3 29.Rc4 Nf3+ 30.Bxf3 Bxf3 31.Nf5 Ke8 32.Rc7 Bd5 33.Nxg7+ Kd8 34.Rc5 Bb7 35.Ra5 Rh3 36.Kf1 Rxh4 37.Rxa7 Kc7 38.Ra5 h6 39.gxh6 Rxh6 40.Rf5 Ba6+ 41.Ke1 Rh3 42.Rxf7+ Kb6 43.f3 Rh1+ 44.Kf2 Ra1 45.Rf6+ Ka5 46.Ne6 Rxa3 47.Nd4 Bc4 48.Kg3 Kb4 49.Kf4 Kc3 50.Ke4 Ra8 51.Nc6 Be2 52.f4 Ra4+ 53.Ke5 Bf3 54.f5 Ra6 55.Nd4 Rxf6 56.Nb5+ Kd2 57.Kxf6 Bg4 58.Ke5 Bxf5 1/2-1/2

Position after 37.Rxa7?



Black has mate in 7 starting with 37…Bf3 but Svidler misses it.

Round 2, May 15
Le, Quang Liem – Carlsen, Magnus
D02 Queen’s Pawn game

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 O-O 6.Bg2 b6 7.O-O Bb7 8.b3 a5 9.Bb2 a4 10.a3 Bxd2 11.Nxd2 axb3 12.Nxb3 Qc8 13.Rc1 dxc4 14.Bxb7 Qxb7 15.Rxc4 Nbd7 16.Qc2 Rfc8 17.Rc1 Ne8 18.a4 h6 19.Nd2 Qa6 20.e3 Ra7 21.Ne4 Rca8 22.h4 Qb7 23.Bc3 Nd6 24.Nxd6 cxd6 25.Be1 d5 26.Rb4 Qa6 27.Qc6 Qe2 28.Kg2 Nf6 29.Qc2 Qxc2 30.Rxc2 Rxa4 31.Rxb6 Ra2 32.Rbc6 g5 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.f3 R8a3 35.Bf2 g4 36.fxg4 Nxg4 37.Kf3 Rxc2 38.Rxc2 Nf6 39.g4 Ra1 40.Bg3 Ne4 41.Be5 Kh7 42.Kg2 Kg6 43.Bf4 f6 44.Rb2 Rd1 45.Rc2 Rd3 46.Re2 Nd2 47.Kf2 Nc4 48.Bg3 Kg5 49.Kf3 Nd2+ 50.Kg2 Kxg4 51.Bf4 Nc4 52.Kf2 Kf5 53.Kf3 e5 54.dxe5 fxe5 55.Bg3 d4 56.Bf2 Rb3 57.Re1 e4+ 58.Kg2 d3 59.Rc1 d2 60.Rd1 Kg4 0-1

Round 2, May 15
Anton, David – Grischuk Alexander
E92 King’s Indian, Petrosian System, Stein variation

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.Be2 e5 7.d5 a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 Na6 10.Nd2 Nc5 11.g4 a4 12.f3 c6 13.Qc2 Qa5 14.a3 Bd7 15.O-O cxd5 16.cxd5 b5 17.Bf2 Rfc8 18.Rfc1 Rab8 19.Qd1 h5 20.g5 Nh7 21.Be3 Qd8 22.h4 f6 23.Kh1 fxg5 24.hxg5 Nxg5 25.Qg1 Nh3 26.Qg3 Nf4 27.Rg1 Qf6 28.Bf1 Kh7 29.Na2 Bh6 30.Nb4 Ne2 31.Bxe2 Bxe3 32.Rg2 Bxd2 33.Rag1 0-1

Round 3, May 15
Grischuk, Alexander – Xiong, Jeffery
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nd7 3.Bg2 e5 4.d3 Bd6 5.O-O c6 6.c4 Ne7 7.e4 dxc4 8.dxc4 Nf6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Bg5 Ng6 11.h3 Qe7 12.Rc1 Rd8 13.Qe2 h6 14.Be3 Bc5 15.Bd2 Be6 16.a3 Qd7 17.Kh2 Qd3 18.Qxd3 Rxd3 19.b4 Bd4 20.Nxd4 exd4 21.Nb1 Ne5 22.Rfd1 Nxc4 23.Bf1 Nb2 24.Bxd3 Nxd3 25.Bxh6 Nxf2 26.Bf4 Nxd1 27.Rxd1 Rd8 28.Bg5 Bb3 29.Rd2 Rd7 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Kg2 Kf8 32.Kf3 Ke7 33.Rb2 Be6 34.g4 b6 35.Nd2 c5 36.bxc5 bxc5 37.Rc2 Rc7 38.Nc4 Bxc4 39.Rxc4 Kd6 40.Kf4 Rb7 41.Ra4 Rb1 42.Ra6+ Kc7 43.Rxa7+ Kb6 44.Rxf7 Rf1+ 45.Kg3 d3 46.Rd7 c4 47.h4 Rd1 48.h5 c3 49.h6 c2 50.h7 Rh1 51.Rd6+ Kc7 0-1

Round 3, May 15
Carlsen, Magnus – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 O-O 6.c3 b6 7.Ne5 c5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.h4 Nc6 10.Qf3 Rc8 11.h5 h6 12.Qg3 Ne8 13.Bxh6 cxd4 14.Bxg7 Nxg7 15.h6 Qf6 16.hxg7 Qxg7 17.Bh7+ Kh8 18.Nxf7+ Rxf7 19.Bg6+ Kg8 20.Bxf7+ Kxf7 21.Qxd6 dxc3 22.bxc3 Ne5 23.O-O d4 24.f3 dxe3 25.Ne4 e2 26.Rf2 Kg8 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Qh3+ Kg8 29.Rxe2 Rf8 30.Qe6+ Kh8 31.Ng5 Nxf3+ 32.Nxf3 Bxf3 33.Rf2 Qxc3 34.Raf1 1-0

Round 3, May 15
Svidler, Peter – Le, Quang Liem
A05 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O c5 5.d3 g6 6.e4 Bg7 7.Re1 O-O 8.e5 Ne8 9.Bf4 d6 10.e6 Bxb2 11.Nbd2 Bxa1 12.Qxa1 f6 13.h4 Ng7 14.Bh6 Nc6 15.Ng5 Qc8 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Ndf3 Nd8 18.h5 h6 19.Ne4 g5 20.Bh3 Bd5 21.Nexg5 hxg5 22.Nxg5 Rh8 23.Bg4 Nc6 24.c4 Nb4 25.cxd5 Nc2 26.Qc1 Nxe1 27.Nf7 Nxd3 28.h6+ Kg8 29.Qc2 Ne5 30.Nxe5 Rxh6 31.Nf7 Qf8 32.Bf5 Qg7 33.Qa4 Rf8 34.Qd7 Rh5 35.Be4 f5 36.Bf3 Qa1+ 0-1

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 15, 2020

Rounds Four to Six

Results

Round Four

Xiong-Le 1-0
Mamedyarov-Svidler 1-0
Korobov-Carlsen 1-0
Anton-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Bu 1-0

Round Five

Bu-Xiong 0.5-0.5
Dubov-Grischuk 1-0
Carlsen-Anton 1-0
Svidler-Korobov 1-0
Le-Mamedyarov 0-1

Round Six

Xiong-Mamedyarov 0-1
Korobov-Le 0-1
Anton-Svidler 0-1
Grischuk-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Bu-Dubov 1-0

Selected Games

Round 4, May 15
Korobov, Anton – Carlsen, Magnus
D37 QGD, Hastings variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 b6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.a3 c5 10.dxc5 Qxd1+ 11.Rxd1 Bxc5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Ng5 h6 14.Ne4 Be7 15.O-O Rd8 16.Bb1 Nd7 17.Bc7 Bd5 18.Bxd8 Rxd8 19.Nc3 Bb3 20.Rd2 Nc5 21.Rxd8+ Bxd8 22.Ba2 Bc2 23.Rc1 Bg6 24.Bb1 Bh5 25.Ne4 Be7 26.Nxc5 bxc5 27.b4 cxb4 28.Rc8+ Bf8 29.axb4 g5 30.Bd3 Kg7 31.b5 Bd6 32.f3 g4 33.f4 g3 34.hxg3 Bg4 35.Kf2 e5 36.Rc6 Bb8 37.f5 h5 38.e4 Bd1 39.Be2 Ba4 40.Ra6 Bc2 41.Ke3 Bc7 42.Rc6 Bb6+ 43.Kf3 Ba4 44.g4 hxg4+ 45.Kxg4 Bb3 46.Kf3 f6 47.g4 Bf7 48.Bc4 Be8 49.Re6 1-0

Position after Black’s 16…Nd7?



Round 4, May 15
Xiong, Jeffery – Le, Quang Liem
A29 English, Bremen

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Be7 8.a3 O-O 9.b4 Re8 10.b5 Nd4 11.Nxe5 Bf6 12.f4 Bxe5 13.fxe5 Rxe5 14.e3 Nxb5 15.Ne4 Nd6 16.Qc2 Bf5 17.Rxf5 Nxf5 18.Bb2 Qe7 19.Rf1 c6 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Qb3 Rf8 22.d4 Qe6 23.Qd3 Re8 24.Kh1 Nd6 25.Nxd6 Qxd6 26.e4 Rd8 27.Qb3 Qe6 28.d5 cxd5 29.exd5 Qd6 30.a4 g6 31.a5 Nd7 32.Qxb7 a6 33.Rc1 Ne5 34.Qb6 Kg7 35.Kg1 Qa3 36.Rf1 Re8 37.d6 Nc4 38.Qd4+ Kg8 39.Qxc4 Qe3+ 40.Kh1 1-0

Round 4, May 15
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Svidler, Peter
E60 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.O-O Nxc5 8.b4 Nce4 9.Bb2 a5 10.a3 axb4 11.axb4 Rxa1 12.Bxa1 d5 13.c5 Bg4 14.Nbd2 e6 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Qa8 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Nxe4 Be5 20.Qc2 Rd8 21.f4 Bg7 22.Rd1 Rxd1+ 23.Qxd1 Qa3 24.Qd8+ Bf8 25.Nf6+ Kg7 26.Qd4 Kh8 27.Kh2 h6 28.Qd8 Kg7 29.Qd4 Kh8 30.h4 Qc1 31.Nd7+ Bg7 32.Ne5 Kh7 33.Qe4 Qe1 34.Nf3 Qf2 35.b5 f5 36.Qxe6 1-0

Round 5, May 15
Dubov, Daniil – Grischuk, Alexander
B96 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.O-O-O b5 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.e5 Bb7 12.Qh3 dxe5 13.Ncxb5 Qb6 14.fxe5 Ne4 15.Qb3 Bc5 16.Nd6+ Nxd6 17.Qxb6 Bxb6 18.exd6 O-O 19.c4 Rfd8 20.b4 Rxd6 21.c5 Rc8 22.Bc4 Bxc5 23.bxc5 Rxc5 24.Nc2 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 g5 26.Bxe6 Bxg2 27.Rd8+ Kg7 28.Rd7 Be4 29.Rxf7+ Kg6 30.Rf2 h5 31.Bf7+ Kh6 32.Bb3 g4 33.Kd2 Kg5 34.Nd4 Kh4 35.Rf4 Bb1 36.Rf1 Be4 37.Rf2 a5 38.Ke3 Bb1 39.Kf4 a4 40.Be6 a3 41.Rd2 Rc1 42.Rf2 Re1 43.Bf5 Bxf5 44.Nxf5+ Kh3 45.Ng3 h4 46.Ne4 Rxe4+ 47.Kxe4 g3 48.hxg3 hxg3 49.Rf3 Kh2 50.Rxa3 g2 51.Ra8 1-0

Round 5, May 15
Carlsen, Magnus – Anton, David
C77 Ruy Lopez, Anderssen variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.c3 d6 7.Nbd2 O-O 8.Nf1 d5 9.Qe2 b5 10.Bb3 d4 11.Ng3 a5 12.a3 Rb8 13.O-O dxc3 14.bxc3 b4 15.Ba4 Rb6 16.Bxc6 Rxc6 17.cxb4 axb4 18.axb4 Bxb4 19.Nxe5 Re6 20.Bb2 c5 21.Nf5 Rfe8 22.f4 Rb6 23.Ne3 Ba6 24.N3c4 Bxc4 25.Nxc4 Rb8 26.Ra7 Nd7 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Qg4+ Kf8 29.Rxd7 Qf6 30.e5 Qg6 31.Qf3 Rbd8 32.f5 Qg5 33.Rxd8 Rxd8 34.e6 Bc3 35.Kh1 Qf6 36.exf7 Qxf7 37.h3 Bd4 38.Qe4 Qe7 39.Qg4 Qf7 40.f6 Bxf6 41.Ne5 Qg7 42.Qe6 1-0

Round 5, May 15
Svidler, Peter – Korobov, Anton
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O Nf6 5.b3 Ne4 6.c3 c5 7.Qc2 O-O 8.d3 Nf6 9.e4 Nc6 10.e5 Nd7 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nb6 13.Be3 Bf5 14.Qd2 Rc8 15.Nc3 Nb4 16.Nh4 Bd3 17.Rfc1 Ba6 18.Ne2 Nd3 19.Rxc8 Qxc8 20.Nc1 Nxc1 21.Rxc1 Qd7 22.Bh6 Rc8 23.Nf3 Rxc1+ 24.Qxc1 Bd3 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Ng5 f6 27.exf6+ exf6 28.Nh3 g5 29.f4 h6 30.Nf2 Bf5 31.h3 Qe7 32.g4 Bg6 33.f5 Bf7 34.Bf3 Qd6 35.Kg2 a6 36.Qc5 Qxc5 37.dxc5 Nd7 38.b4 a5 39.c6 bxc6 40.bxa5 Nb8 41.Be2 c5 42.Bb5 Nc6 43.Bxc6 1-0

Round 6, May 15
Xiong, Jeffery – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C45 Scotch, Paulsen Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Qf6 5.Be3 Bc5 6.c3 Nge7 7.Bb5 O-O 8.Nxc6 dxc6 9.Bxc5 cxb5 10.O-O b6 11.Be3 Bb7 12.Nd2 c5 13.a4 bxa4 14.Qxa4 Rfd8 15.Rfd1 h6 16.Nf1 Qc6 17.Qxc6 Nxc6 18.Ng3 Na5 19.b4 cxb4 20.cxb4 Nc4 21.Bd4 a5 22.Rac1 b5 23.bxa5 Rxa5 24.Nf5 Bxe4 25.Nxg7 Bc2 0-1

Round 6, May 15
Korobov, Anton – Le, Quang Liem
E17 Queen’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Qc2 c5 8.d5 exd5 9.Ng5 h6 10.h4 Na6 11.cxd5 Nb4 12.Qd1 d6 13.a3 Na6 14.Qc2 Nc7 15.Bf4 b5 16.Rd1 b4 17.Nce4 Nce8 18.Nxf6+ Nxf6 19.Ne4 Rc8 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.g4 Bxh4 22.Bxd6 Bxf2+ 23.Kxf2 Qxd6 24.Bf3 Qf6 25.Rh5 Rfd8 26.Rg1 Rxd5 27.g5 Rxg5 28.Rgxg5 hxg5 29.Qh7+ Kf8 30.Rh1 Rd8 31.Qh8+ Ke7 32.Qh2 Qd4+ 33.Kf1 Bxf3 0-1

Round 6, May 15
Anton, David – Svidler, Peter
B08 Pirc, Classical System

1.Nf3 g6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 d6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O Nbd7 7.e5 Ne8 8.Bf4 c6 9.Re1 dxe5 10.dxe5 Nc7 11.Bg3 Ne6 12.a4 Qa5 13.Bc4 Nb6 14.Ba2 Rd8 15.Qe2 Nd5 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.Red1 b6 18.c3 Qc5 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Be6 21.Rad1 h5 22.Qb5 a6 23.Qe2 b5 24.a5 Qc7 25.Bxd5 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Bxd5 27.Rxd5 e6 28.Rd1 Qxa5 29.Bh4 Qa4 30.g3 Bxe5 31.Rd7 Bg7 32.Rxf7 Kxf7 33.Qf3+ Kg8 34.Qxa8+ Kh7 35.Kg2 Qa2 36.Qb7 Qd5+ 37.Qxd5 exd5 38.Kf3 d4 39.cxd4 Bxd4 40.b3 a5 41.Be7 Bb2 42.Ke2 a4 43.bxa4 bxa4 44.Kd3 Kg8 45.Kc4 Kf7 46.Bc5 Ke6 47.Kb4 Kd5 48.Be7 a3 49.Kb3 Ke4 50.f4 Kf3 51.Bd6 Kg2 52.h4 Kf3 53.Be5 Bc1 54.Bc7 Be3 55.Kxa3 Bf2 56.Kb3 Bxg3 57.Kc4 Bxh4 58.Kd5 Bg3 59.Ke6 h4 60.Kf6 h3 0-1

Round 6, May 15
Grischuk, Alexander – Carlsen, Magnus
D37 QGD, Hastings variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Ba6 9.Qe2 Bxc4 10.Qxc4 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.O-O Nbd7 13.Rac1 Qc8 14.Ne5 Qb7 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Rfd1 Rfc8 17.Qe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Be7 19.g4 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.b3 h6 22.Bc7 Kf8 23.Kg2 Ke8 24.f4 Bb2 25.Rc4 b5 26.Rc6 a6 27.Rd2 Ba3 28.Rdc2 Kd7 29.R6c3 Bb4 30.Rd3+ Ke8 31.Rd1 Ba3 32.Rdd2 Bb4 33.Re2 f6 34.Kf3 Kd7 35.Bb6 Rxc2 36.Rxc2 Rc8 37.Rxc8 Kxc8 38.f5 Kd7 39.Ke4 Bd6 40.h4 Kc6 41.Bd4 e5 42.Bc3 b4 43.Be1 a5 44.Bg3 Bc5 45.g5 h5 46.g6 Bd6 47.Bf2 Bc5 48.Be1 Bd6 49.Kd3 Bc5 50.Bd2 Kb5 51.Ke4 Kc6 52.Bc1 Bf8 53.Kd3 Kb5 54.Bb2 Bd6 55.Ke4 Kc6 56.Kd3 Kd5 57.e4+ Kc5 58.Bc1 Kb5 59.Bh6 Bf8 60.Bd2 Bc5 61.Bh6 Bf8 62.Bd2 Bc5 1/2-1/2

Round 6, May 15
Bu, Xiangzhi – Dubov, Daniil
D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 a5 7.Be2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.O-O Rc8 11.Rd1 b4 12.Na4 c5 13.dxc5 Be4 14.Qc4 Bd5 15.Qf4 Be7 16.b3 Ne4 17.h4 Bf6 18.Rb1 Nc3 19.Nxc3 bxc3 20.Bd3 Nxc5 21.Bc2 O-O 22.Ba3 Qc7 23.Qxc7 Rxc7 24.Rbc1 Rb8 25.h5 h6 26.Nd4 Be7 27.Bxc5 Bxc5 28.Ne2 Ba3 29.Rb1 Bb2 30.e4 Bb7 31.f3 Bc6 32.Kf2 Ra7 33.Nf4 a4 34.Nd3 axb3 35.axb3 Ra2 36.Nxb2 cxb2 37.Rd2 Rb7 38.Bd1 Rd7 39.Rxd7 Bxd7 40.Ke2 Ra1 41.Rxb2 Bb5+ 42.Kd2 g5 43.Be2 Bc6 44.b4 Kf8 45.b5 Bb7 46.Rc2 Ke8 47.Rc7 Ra2+ 48.Ke3 Ba8 49.Bc4 Ra3+ 50.Kd4 Ra4 51.Kc5 Ra1 52.b6 Kf8 53.b7 Bxb7 54.Rxb7 Rg1 55.g4 Rg3 56.Rb3 Kg7 57.Kd4 Kf6 58.Ke3 Rg1 59.Be2 Ra1 60.Rb5 Ra3+ 61.Bd3 Ra4 62.e5+ Kg7 63.Rb7 Ra5 64.f4 gxf4+ 65.Kxf4 Ra4+ 66.Be4 Kf8 67.Rb8+ Kg7 68.Rd8 Rb4 69.Ke3 Rb5 70.Kf4 Rb4 71.Rd3 Ra4 72.Rc3 Rb4 73.Rc7 Ra4 74.Ke3 Ra3+ 75.Kf2 Kf8 76.g5 hxg5 77.h6 Rh3 78.Rc8+ Ke7 79.h7 1-0

Standings after Round Six

Carlsen 4
Bu, Dubov, Mamedyarov 3.5
Xiong, Svidler 3
Korobov, Le, Grischuk 2.5
Anton 2

- There were some bumpy moments, but Magnus Carlsen ends Day 1 of the #SteinitzMemorial in the sole lead!

[Erik Malmsten]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

His two successors certainly played both blitz and lightning -

"This kind of chess first became popular in the early years of the 20th c. Capablanca, then a student, played many fast games against Lasker [the then World Champion] at the Manhattan CC. Capa won most of the lightning games (10 or 20 seconds a move) but Lasker won the majority of the 5-minute games, perhaps because there is time for deeper plans to be laid... " Oxford Companion p.117-8

E.g. a rapid transit tourney on 27th Dec. 1906 at the Manhattan CC, an event which attracted 32 competitors -

"In the semifinals Lasker and Capa won from their respective opponents, H. Davidson and E. Delmar. In the last game, watched by a large crowd of members and visitors, Capa, who is noted for his quick insight into a position, succeeded in worsting the champion in brilliant style. The time limit was 20 seconds to a move." American Chess Bulletin, Feb. 1907, p. 35
___________

I wonder if Rapid Transit (10 or 20 seconds a move) would work with today's school kids. Everyone in the room has to move at the same time, the teacher yelling 8, 9, MOVE. Has anyone tried it?

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 16, 2020

Rounds Seven to Twelve

Results

Round Seven

Dubov-Xiong 1-0
Carlsen-Bu 1-0
Svidler-Grischuk 1-0
Le-Anton 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Korobov 0.5-0.5

Round Eight

Carlsen-Xiong 1-0
Svidler-Dubov 0-1
Le-Bu 1-0
Mamedyarov-Grischuk 0-1
Korobov-Anton 1-0

Round Nine

Xiong-Korobov 1-0
Anton-Mamedyarov 0-1
Grischuk-Le 0-1
Bu-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Dubov-Carlsen 1-0

Round Ten

Xiong-Anton 0.5-0.5
Korobov-Grischuk 1-0
Mamedyarov-Bu
Le-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Carlsen 1-0

Round Eleven

Svidler-Xiong 1-0
Carlsen-Le 1-0
Dubov-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
Bu-Korobov 0.5-05
Grischuk-Anton 0-1

Round Twelve

Xiong-Grischuk 0.5-0.5
Anton-Bu 0-1
Korobov-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Le-Svidler 1-0

Standings after Round Twelve

Dubov 8
Carlsen 7.5
Mamedyarov 7
Le, Svidler 6.5
Korobov 6
Bu 5.5
Xiong 5
Grischuk, Anton 4


Selected Games

Round 7, May 16
Dubov, Daniil – Xiong, Jeffery
A30 English, symmetrical, hedgehog

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O g6 6.b3 Bg7 7.Bb2 O-O 8.e3 Na6 9.Qe2 d5 10.cxd5 Nb4 11.Na3 Qxd5 12.Nc4 Qd3 13.Qxd3 Nxd3 14.Bc3 Rfd8 15.a4 Rab8 16.Nfe5 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Ne4 18.Nc6 Bxc3 19.dxc3 Nxc3 20.Nxe7+ Kg7 21.Nc6 Rbc8 22.Nxd8 Rxd8 23.g4 f5 24.h3 Kf6 25.f4 Ke6 26.Kf3 Rf8 27.g5 Rh8 28.h4 h6 29.Rad1 Nxd1 30.Rxd1 Nb4 31.Rd6+ Ke7 32.Rxg6 hxg5 33.hxg5 Nc2 34.Nd6 Rh3+ 35.Kg2 Rh5 36.Nxf5+ Kd7 37.Kf3 Na1 38.Rd6+ Kc7 39.Rh6 1-0

Round 7, May 16
Carlsen, Magnus – Bu, Xiangzhi
C42 Petrov, Three Knights game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nxe5 O-O 5.Nd3 Bxc3 6.dxc3 Nxe4 7.Nf4 Re8 8.Be2 d6 9.O-O Nd7 10.c4 Ndc5 11.f3 Nf6 12.b3 Qe7 13.Rf2 Qe5 14.Rb1 a5 15.Qd2 h6 16.Bb2 Qg5 17.Bf1 Ne6 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.cxd5 Nf4 20.Kh1 Nxd5 21.f4 Qf5 22.g4 Qe6 23.Re2 Ne3 24.Bg2 Qxg4 25.Rxe3 Rxe3 26.Qxe3 Bf5 27.Rg1 Qh5 28.Bxb7 Rb8 29.Bf3 Qh4 30.Bxg7 Bg6 31.Bc3 Qh3 32.Rxg6+ 1-0

Round 7, May 16
Svidler, Peter – Grischuk, Alexander
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nc6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Bg2 e6 5.O-O Bd6 6.Nbd2 Nf6 7.c4 O-O 8.b3 Nb8 9.h3 Bh5 10.g4 Bg6 11.Nh4 c6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.e3 Nbd7 14.g5 Nh5 15.Qg4 f5 16.gxf6 Qxf6 17.f4 Qf5 18.Nf3 Ndf6 19.Qxf5 gxf5 20.Ng5 Rfe8 21.Kf2 a5 22.a3 c5 23.Bb2 a4 24.dxc5 Bxc5 25.Bxf6 Nxf6 26.b4 Ba7 27.c5 b6 28.cxb6 Bxb6 29.Rac1 Rac8 30.Ke2 Kf8 31.Nxe6+ Kf7 32.Nc5 d4 33.Kd3 Rxe3+ 34.Kxd4 Rxa3 35.Kc4 Rg3 36.Bb7 Rc7 37.Ba8 Rxh3 38.Kb5 Bxc5 39.Rxc5 Ra7 40.Bc6 a3 41.Rxf5 a2 42.Ra1 Rc3 43.Rc5 Rb3 44.Rc2 Rba3 45.Kb6 R7a6+ 46.Kc5 Ke6 47.b5 R6a5 48.Re2+ Kf5 49.Kd6 Rd3+ 50.Kc7 Rc3 51.Kb6 Rca3 52.Kc7 Rc3 53.b6 Rac5 54.Re5+ Rxe5 55.fxe5 Nd5+ 56.Kb7 Nb4 57.Be8 Ra3 58.Kc8 Nc2 59.Rf1+ Kg5 60.b7 Rc3+ 61.Kd8 Rb3 62.Bc6 a1=Q 63.Rxa1 Nxa1 64.e6 Nc2 65.e7 Rd3+ 66.Kc7 Re3 67.e8=Q Rxe8 68.Bxe8 Nb4 69.Bb5 Nd5+ 70.Kd6 1-0

Final Position



White wins in 11 moves after 70…Nf6.

Round 8, May 16
Carlsen, Magnus – Xiong, Jeffery
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.e3 e6 5.Ne5 Nfd7 6.c4 Nxe5 7.Bxe5 Nc6 8.Bg3 Nb4 9.Na3 c6 10.Be2 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.Qd2 a5 13.Rfc1 b6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Nb1 Qd7 16.Nc3 Na6 17.a3 Qb7 18.Bd3 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 Rfc8 20.Rc2 Nc7 21.Bxc7 Rxc7 22.Rac1 Rac8 23.Qf5 Bd6 24.g3 b5 25.a4 b4 26.Ne2 b3 27.Rc3 Qb4 28.Qd3 Qxa4 29.Rxb3 Bb4 30.Nf4 g6 31.h4 Rd7 32.Kg2 Kg7 33.h5 Rb8 34.Rh1 Rd6 35.Qd1 Rf6 36.Nd3 Qb5 37.h6+ Kg8 38.Qc2 Qc4 39.Rc1 Qa6 40.Ne5 Rc8 41.Qd3 Qb7 42.Qd1 Qe7 43.Qg4 Rc7 44.Nd3 Rf5 45.Nxb4 axb4 46.Rc5 Qf6 47.Qe2 Rb7 48.Ra5 Qd8 49.Ra4 Rh5 50.Raxb4 Rxb4 51.Rxb4 Rxh6 52.Qf3 Kg7 53.Qf4 Qd7 54.Qe5+ f6 55.Qb8 Qh3+ 56.Kf3 Qf5+ 57.Ke2 Qc2+ 58.Kf3 Qd1+ 59.Kf4 g5+ 60.Kf5 Qd3+ 61.Ke6 Qe4+ 62.Kd7 f5 63.Qe5+ Kf7 64.Rb8 Qxe5 65.dxe5 Re6 66.Rf8+ Kxf8 67.Kxe6 f4 68.Kd7 1-0

Round 8, May 16
Svidler, Peter – Dubov, Daniil
A06 Reti, Old Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 Nf6 3.Nbd2 Nc6 4.e4 e5 5.c3 a5 6.Be2 Be7 7.O-O O-O 8.Re1 Re8 9.Qc2 Bc5 10.h3 dxe4 11.dxe4 Be6 12.Nc4 Qe7 13.Bf1 Rad8 14.Ne3 h6 15.a3 Ra8 16.b3 Red8 17.Bb2 a4 18.b4 Bb3 19.Qe2 Bxe3 20.Qxe3 Nd7 21.c4 Nb6 22.Rac1 Qf6 23.c5 Nc8 24.b5 Nd4 25.Nxd4 exd4 26.Qg3 c6 27.Re3 Ne7 28.Rf3 Qg5 29.Qxg5 hxg5 30.Rd3 cxb5 31.Rxd4 Rxd4 32.Bxd4 Nc6 33.Bc3 Bc4 34.Rb1 Rd8 35.f3 Bxf1 36.Kxf1 Rd3 37.Rc1 Nd4 38.Bxd4 Rxd4 39.Rb1 Rd3 40.Rxb5 Rb3 41.Rxb7 Rxb7 0-1

Round 8, May 16
Le, Quang Liem – Bu, Xiangzhi
A11 English

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bb2 Qe7 8.d4 O-O 9.Bd3 e5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Ne2 Bg4 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.Nd4 Rac8 16.Qb2 Bd7 17.h3 Ne4 18.O-O g6 19.Rac1 a6 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Rc1 Rxc1+ 22.Qxc1 Qd6 23.a3 Nc5 24.Qc3 Nxd3 25.Qxd3 Qxa3 26.Qc3 Qd6 27.Ne2 b6 28.Qd4 Qc5 29.Qf6 Qc6 30.Qd8+ Kg7 31.Nd4 Qb7 32.Qe7 Qc8 33.Qd6 b5 34.Qxd5 Qc1+ 35.Kh2 Qc7+ 36.f4 Bc8 37.Ne2 Bb7 38.Qd4+ Kg8 39.Nc3 a5 40.Kg3 b4 41.Nd5 Bxd5 42.Qxd5 Qc3 43.Kf3 a4 44.Qa8+ Kg7 45.Qxa4 h5 46.Qa2 h4 47.Qb1 f5 48.Qd1 Qc6+ 49.Kf2 Kh6 50.Qd4 Kh7 51.Qxb4 Qc2+ 52.Kg1 Qc1+ 53.Kf2 Qc2+ 54.Kf1 Qd1+ 55.Qe1 Qd3+ 56.Kg1 Qxb3 57.Qxh4+ Kg8 58.Qd8+ Kf7 59.Qd7+ Kf6 60.Qd4+ Kf7 61.Kh2 Qa3 62.e4 fxe4 63.Qxe4 Qc3 64.Qd5+ Kf8 65.Qd6+ Kf7 66.Qd5+ Kf8 67.Qe5 Qd3 68.Qf6+ Kg8 69.h4 Kh7 70.Qg5 Qe2 71.Qe5 Qg4 72.Qe7+ Kg8 73.Qg5 Qe6 74.h5 1-0

Final Position



Round 8, May 16
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Grischuk, Alexander
E67 King’s Indian, Fianchetto, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.g3 O-O 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.O-O e5 8.Qc2 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nb6 10.Rd1 Nxc4 11.Ncb5 a6 12.Qxc4 axb5 13.Nxb5 Ne8 14.Qc2 Bf5 15.e4 Bg4 16.f3 Bd7 17.Nc3 Nf6 18.Be3 Re8 19.Re1 Bc6 20.Rad1 Nd7 21.Qd2 Ne5 22.Qc2 b5 23.a3 Qb8 24.f4 Nc4 25.Bc1 b4 26.axb4 Qxb4 27.Kh1 Rab8 28.Re2 Na5 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Nb3 31.Be3 Nd4 32.Bxd4 Bxd4 33.e5 dxe5 34.fxe5 Re7 35.h4 Rbe8 36.Qc6 Bxe5 37.Re4 Qxb2 38.Re3 Bd6 39.Rxe7 Rxe7 40.Rd3 Qf6 41.Qf3 Re1+ 42.Kh2 Qxh4+ 43.Bh3 Qe7 44.Bg2 Kg7 45.Rb3 Qe5 46.Rb4 Re3 47.Qf4 Qh5+ 0-1

Round 8, May 16
Korobov, Anton – Anton, David
D20 QGA

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Bf5 6.Ne2 e6 7.Nbc3 Nb6 8.Bb3 Nc6 9.O-O Qd7 10.Be3 O-O-O 11.Qc1 Kb8 12.Rd1 Qe8 13.a4 Bb4 14.Bc2 Bxc2 15.Qxc2 f6 16.exf6 gxf6 17.Ne4 Nd5 18.Rac1 Rg8 19.Nf4 Nxf4 20.Bxf4 Qg6 21.g3 Qf5 22.Be3 h5 23.Nc5 Qxc2 24.Rxc2 Bxc5 25.Rxc5 e5 26.d5 Ne7 27.a5 Rd7 28.f4 e4 29.Bd4 Rxd5 30.Rxd5 Nxd5 31.Bxa7+ Kxa7 32.Rxd5 h4 33.Kf2 Ka6 34.Rf5 Rd8 35.gxh4 Rd2+ 36.Kg3 e3 37.Rxf6+ Kxa5 38.Re6 Rxb2 39.h5 Rb5 40.Re5 c5 41.h6 Rb6 42.Rxc5+ Kb4 43.Rh5 Kc3 44.Kf3 Re6 45.Ke2 Re8 46.h7 Rh8 47.Kxe3 b5 48.Rxb5 Rxh7 49.f5 Rxh2 50.Ke4 Kc4 51.Ra5 Re2+ 52.Kf4 Rf2+ 53.Kg5 Rg2+ 54.Kf6 Re2 55.Kf7 Kb4 56.Ra6 Kc5 57.f6 Kd5 58.Kf8 Rf2 59.f7 Rf1 60.Rg6 1-0

Round 9, May 16
Xiong, Jeffery – Korobov, Anton
D13 QGD Slav, Exchange variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 a6 7.Rc1 Bf5 8.e3 e6 9.Qb3 Ra7 10.Be2 Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.Na4 O-O 13.O-O Rb8 14.Nc5 Qd8 15.Qa3 h6 16.Nxb7 Raxb7 17.Rxc6 Rxb2 18.Bxa6 Ne4 19.Rfc1 Kh7 20.Rc8 Qb6 21.Rxb8 Qxb8 22.Rf1 Rc2 23.Bd3 Rc3 24.Qa6 Nc5 25.Bxf5+ exf5 26.dxc5 1-0

Round 9, May 16
Grischuk, Alexander – Le, Quang Liem
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nd5 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.Na3 O-O 10.O-O Rb8 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qe8 14.Rfc1 Nd5 15.Qxc6 Qxc6 16.Rxc6 Bxb5 17.Rc2 Rfc8 18.e3 c5 19.dxc5 Nb4 20.Rc3 Rxc5 21.Rxc5 bxc5 22.Bf1 Kf8 23.Bxb5 Rxb5 24.Ne5 Ke7 25.Nc4 Nc6 26.Rc1 Rb7 27.Kf1 e5 28.Ke2 e4 29.a3 Ke6 30.Rc2 f5 31.f3 exf3+ 32.Kxf3 Rd7 33.Ke2 g5 34.Nd2 Rd5 35.b4 Kd6 36.Nc4+ Kd7 37.b5 Ne5 38.a4 Nxc4 39.Rxc4 Re5 40.Kd3 Kd6 41.e4 f4 42.gxf4 gxf4 43.Rc2 Rh5 44.a5 Rh3+ 45.Kc4 Ra3 46.Rd2+ Ke5 47.a6 f3 48.Kxc5 Kxe4 49.Rd7 f2 50.Rf7 Rf3 51.Re7+ Kd3 52.Rd7+ Kc2 0-1

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 16, 2020

Rounds Nine to Twelve (continued)

Round 9, May 16
Dubov, Daniil – Carlsen, Magnus
E90 King’s Indian

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.Be2 Nfd7 8.Be3 e5 9.d5 a5 10.Nd2 Bxe2 11.Qxe2 f5 12.f3 Na6 13.O-O-O Nac5 14.Kb1 a4 15.a3 Rf7 16.exf5 gxf5 17.g4 Qf6 18.gxf5 Qxf5+ 19.Ka2 Qc2 20.Rc1 Qd3 21.Qxd3 Nxd3 22.Rcg1 N7c5 23.Rg3 Kh8 24.Rhg1 Bf6 25.Nde4 Nxe4 26.Nxe4 Nf4 27.Bxf4 exf4 28.Rg4 Raf8 29.Kb1 b6 30.Kc2 Be7 31.Kd3 Bf6 32.R1g2 h6 33.Rg6 Bg7 34.Re6 Kh7 35.Nc3 Bxc3 36.Kxc3 Rg7 37.Rxg7+ Kxg7 38.Re7+ Kf6 39.Rxc7 Re8 40.Rd7 Re3+ 41.Kd4 Rxf3 42.Rxd6+ Kf5 43.Rxb6 Rf1 44.Rb8 Rd1+ 45.Kc5 f3 46.Rf8+ Ke4 47.d6 Rd2 48.Kc6 Rxh2 49.d7 Rd2 50.d8=Q Rxd8 51.Rxd8 h5 52.c5 h4 53.Kb5 f2 54.Rd1 1-0

Round 10, May 16
Korobov, Anton – Grischuk, Alexander
D20 QGA

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Bf5 6.Ne2 e6 7.O-O Nb6 8.Bb3 Nc6 9.Nbc3 Qd7 10.Be3 O-O-O 11.Qc1 Kb8 12.Rd1 Qe8 13.Na4 Nd5 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.Qxc5 Nce7 16.Rac1 h5 17.Nc3 c6 18.Bg5 Rd7 19.Na4 f6 20.exf6 gxf6 21.Bxf6 Rg8 22.Be5+ Ka8 23.Qa3 h4 24.Rc5 Qd8 25.Re1 b5 26.Bxd5 Nxd5 27.Rxd5 Rxd5 28.Nc5 Rxd4 29.Qa6 Qb6 30.Bxd4 1-0

Round 10, May 16
Svidler, Peter – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 d6 5.O-O Be7 6.c3 O-O 7.Re1 a6 8.Ba4 Re8 9.Nbd2 b5 10.Bc2 Bf8 11.d4 Bb7 12.a4 Nb8 13.Bd3 c6 14.b3 Nbd7 15.Qc2 Qc7 16.Bb2 Nh5 17.Bf1 Nf4 18.g3 Ne6 19.b4 Nb6 20.axb5 cxb5 21.d5 Nd4 22.Nxd4 exd4 23.c4 Rac8 24.Bxd4 Nxc4 25.Nxc4 bxc4 26.Rac1 f5 27.Bh3 fxe4 28.Bxc8 Rxc8 29.Qxe4 Qf7 30.Qg4 Qxd5 31.Qe6+ Qxe6 32.Rxe6 Kf7 33.Re3 Bd5 34.Bc3 Bc6 35.Ra1 Ra8 36.Rae1 d5 37.Rf3+ Kg8 38.Re6 Rc8 39.Rf4 Bb5 40.h4 Rd8 41.Rb6 Bd6 42.Rg4 Rd7 43.h5 h6 44.Rg6 Bf8 45.Bd4 Bxb4 46.Rb8+ Kh7 47.f4 c3 48.Rxh6+ 1-0

Final Position



Jan (as it seemed for a moment the World Champion might escape against Svidler): "Magnus back in business..."
Lawrence: "Oh wow! It's a repeat of his Rxh6 in the World Championship against Karjakin!

Round 11, May 16
Svidler, Peter – Xiong, Jeffery
A30 English, symmetrical, hedgehog

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.Qxd4 Bg7 8.Nc3 d6 9.Be3 Nbd7 10.Rac1 Rc8 11.b3 a6 12.Nd5 O-O 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.Qd2 Rc7 15.Bh6 Re8 16.Rfd1 Qa8 17.Ne1 Rec8 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Ng2 b5 20.Ne3 Nb6 21.cxb5 axb5 22.Rxc7 Rxc7 23.Ng4 Bc3 24.Qd3 b4 25.h4 Rc5 26.Kh2 Nd7 27.Be3 Rc8 28.Bd4 h5 29.Ne3 Nc5 30.Bxc5 Rxc5 31.Nd5 Be5 32.Qe4 Rb5 33.Qc4 e6 34.Ne3 Rc5 35.Qd3 d5 36.Ng2 Rc3 37.Qd2 Qc7 38.e3 Qc5 39.Ne1 Qa5 40.Kg2 Kg7 41.Nf3 Bf6 42.Ne1 Qc7 43.Qe2 Qc6 44.Nd3 Qa6 45.e4 dxe4 46.Qxe4 Qxa2 47.Nf4 Qc2 48.Nxe6+ Kg8 49.Qa8+ Kh7 50.Rd7 1-0

Round 11, May 16
Carlsen, Magnus – Le, Quang Liem
C47 Four Knights game

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.h3 Bb4 5.Nd5 Bc5 6.c3 O-O 7.b4 Bb6 8.Nxb6 axb6 9.d3 d5 10.Qc2 h6 11.Be2 b5 12.O-O Be6 13.Be3 Qd7 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.a4 bxa4 16.b5 Ne7 17.Rxa4 Qxb5 18.Rb4 Qa6 19.Nxe5 dxe4 20.dxe4 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Qa1 22.Rb1 Qa3 23.Qd4 b6 24.f3 Qa2 25.Qd1 Qa5 26.Qd4 Qa2 27.Qd3 Nd7 28.Nxd7 Bxd7 29.Bf1 Be6 30.Rd1 Ng6 31.f4 Bb3 32.Rd2 Qa1 33.Kh2 Qe1 34.Bf2 Qc1 35.Bg3 Bc4 36.Qxc4 Qxd2 37.Qxc7 Qd8 38.Qb7 Rb8 39.Qa6 Ra8 40.Qb5 Rc8 41.f5 Ne7 42.Bc4 Qe8 43.Qb3 Nc6 44.Bd5 Ne5 45.Qxb6 Kh8 46.Qd4 f6 47.c4 Qe7 48.Bxe5 fxe5 49.Qe3 Qg5 50.Qxg5 hxg5 51.Kg3 Kh7 52.Kg4 Kh6 53.h4 gxh4 54.Kxh4 g5+ 55.Kg4 Rc7 56.f6 Kg6 57.f7 Rc8 58.c5 Kf6 59.c6 Kg6 60.Be6 Rh8 61.c7 Kf6 62.c8=Q Rxc8 63.Bxc8 1-0

Magnus was staring down the barrel of a 3rd loss in a row and could probably hear Lawrence screaming "THE WHEELS ARE OFF" in Oslo, but in the end he beat Le Quang Liem to get back on track

Round 11, May 16
Grischuk, Alexander – Anton Guijarro, David
D27 QGA, Classical

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 a6 6.O-O c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ne5 Ke7 10.Be2 Rd8 11.Nd2 Bd7 12.Nb3 Bd6 13.Nxd7 Rxd7 14.Rd1 Nc6 15.Bd2 Rad8 16.Be1 Bb4 17.Rxd7+ Rxd7 18.a3 Bxe1 19.Rxe1 Rc7 20.Rc1 Kd8 21.Kf1 Ne5 22.Rxc7 Kxc7 23.Ke1 Kd6 24.h3 Ned7 25.Na5 Kc7 26.b4 Ne4 27.Bd3 Nd6 28.Kd2 h6 29.Kc3 e5 30.f4 exf4 31.exf4 Nb8 32.Kd4 b6 33.Nb3 Nc6+ 34.Ke3 a5 35.bxa5 bxa5 36.Nc5 Ne7 37.Kd4 Nc6+ 38.Kc3 Kb6 39.Na4+ Kc7 40.Nc5 Kb6 41.Nd7+ Kc7 42.Ne5 Ne7 43.Kd4 f6 44.Nf3 Kc6 45.Bc2 Nb5+ 46.Kd3 Nxa3 47.Nd4+ Kd6 48.Bb3 g6 49.g4 Kc5 50.h4 Nb5 51.Ne6+ Kb4 52.Bd1 a4 53.Bxa4 Kxa4 54.Ke4 Kb4 55.Nf8 Nd6+ 56.Kd4 Kb5 57.Nd7 Ne8 58.g5 fxg5 59.hxg5 h5 60.Nf6 Ng7 61.Ke4 Kc5 62.Kf3 Kd6 63.Ne4+ Ke6 64.Nc5+ Kd5 65.Nb7 Ngf5 66.Nd8 Nd6 67.Ke3 Nef5+ 68.Kf3 Kd4 69.Ne6+ Kd3 70.Nf8 Ne7 71.Ne6 Ndf5 72.Nc5+ Kc4 73.Ne6 Kd5 74.Nf8 Kd4 75.Ne6+ Kc4 76.Nf8 Kd3 77.Ne6 Nd4+ 0-1

After losing to David Anton, 3-time World Blitz Champion Alexander Grischuk is now rock bottom of a blitz tournament!

Round 12, May 16
Korobov, Anton – Dubov, Daniil
D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Be2 b6 7.O-O Bb7 8.b3 Be7 9.Bb2 O-O 10.Qc2 Rc8 11.Rad1 Re8 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 Nxe4 14.Qxe4 Qc7 15.Bd3 Nf6 16.Qh4 h6 17.c5 Nd5 18.Qe4 Nf6 19.Qh4 Nd5 20.Qe4 Nf6 21.Qh4 1/2-1/2

A great day for Daniil Dubov, who will lead the #SteinitzMemorial going into the final day!

Round 12, May 16
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Carlsen, Magnus
D11 QGD Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3 e6 5.Bf4 dxc4 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qb3 Bb7 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.Be2 a6 11.a4 c5 12.axb5 Bd5 13.Qc2 axb5 14.Rxa8 Qxa8 15.Bxb5 cxd4 16.exd4 O-O 17.O-O Rc8 18.Qd3 Nf8 19.b3 Ng6 20.Bg3 Ne4 21.Nxe4 Bxe4 22.Qe3 Bd5 23.h3 h6 24.Bc4 Bxc4 25.bxc4 Rxc4 26.Ne5 Nxe5 27.Bxe5 Qd5 28.Qg3 f6 29.Bf4 Kf7 30.Be3 Bd6 31.Qg4 f5 32.Qh5+ Kf8 33.Qh4 Kg8 34.Rb1 Kh7 35.Rd1 f4 36.Bc1 Rxd4 37.Rxd4 Qxd4 38.Qg4 Qe4 39.Qd1 Bc5 40.Bd2 Bd4 41.Qf3 Qb1+ 42.Kh2 e5 43.g3 Qc2 44.Be1 fxg3+ 45.Kxg3 Qg6+ 46.Kh2 e4 47.Qg4 Qxg4 48.hxg4 Kg6 49.Kg3 Be5+ 50.f4 Bd6 51.Bd2 Kf6 52.Kf2 Ke6 53.Ke3 Kd5 54.f5 Be7 55.Ke2 Bg5 56.Bc3 Bf6 57.Bd2 Ke5 58.Bc1 Kd4 59.Be3+ Kd5 60.Bc1 Ke5 61.Bd2 Kd4 62.Be3+ Kc3 63.Bc1 Kc4 64.Bf4 Kd5 65.Bc1 Bd4 66.Bf4 Bc3 67.Be3 Ke5 68.Bc1 Kf6 69.Bf4 Be5 70.Ke3 h5 71.Kxe4 Bxf4 72.Kxf4 g5+ 73.fxg6 hxg4 74.g7 Kxg7 75.Kxg4 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 52.Kf2



Round 12, May 16
Le, Quang Liem – Svidler, Peter
A16 English

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 Nd7 8.Bf4 c6 9.Kc2 f6 10.e5 g5 11.Bg3 g4 12.Nh4 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 fxe5 14.h3 Bg7 15.hxg4 Bxg4 16.Bd3 Bf6 17.Nf5 Rd8 18.Ne3 Be6 19.Bxh7 Kf7 20.Bf5 Bg5 21.Bxe6+ Kxe6 22.Rae1 e4 23.Rxh8 Rxh8 24.Nf1 Ke5 25.f3 Rh1 26.Rxe4+ Kf6 27.Ne3 Rg1 28.Ng4+ Kf5 29.Re2 b5 30.Kb3 a5 31.a4 Bf4 32.Rxe7 Rxg2 33.axb5 cxb5 34.Rb7 b4 35.cxb4 axb4 36.Rb5+ Ke6 37.Rxb4 Bd6 38.Re4+ Kd7 39.Kc3 Kc6 40.b3 Rg3 41.Re3 Bc5 42.Rd3 Rg1 43.Ne5+ Kb5 44.Rd5 Kb6 45.Nd7+ Kc6 46.Rxc5+ Kxd7 47.f4 Kd6 48.b4 Rc1+ 49.Kd4 Rd1+ 50.Kc4 Rf1 51.f5 Rf4+ 52.Kb5 Rh4 53.Ka5 Rf4 54.Kb5 Rh4 55.f6 Rf4 56.Rc6+ Kd5 57.Ra6 Rf1 58.Ka5 Ra1+ 59.Kb6 Rf1 60.Kc7 Kc4 61.Kd7 1-0

Carlsen telling #2sjakk: "I promised that I would play better today, but I didn't. I don't know what to say. It was so messy that it was terrible."
__________

The Chessbrah Invitational is another blitz tournament with top grandmasters held this weekend. After a preliminary phase played on Friday, a knockout phase will be played on Saturday.

The participants are GMs Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Alexander Grischuk, Anish Giri, and Alireza Firouzja. The total prize fund is $5,500 euros with $1750 going to the winner.

As the tournament takes place roughly at the same time as the men's group of the Steinitz Memorial, the participation of Grischuk in both tournaments seemed somewhat confusing at first. However, the Chessbrahs made sure their matches were staggered and Grischuk was scheduled at a time when his Steinitz games would be over.

https://www.twitch.tv/chessbrah

(WK Note: As I write this, Aman Hambleton and Aryan Tari are commentating on the game Firouzja-Giri. This is definitely too much chess for one day!)

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 17, 2020

Rounds Thirteen to Eighteen

The ladies tournament is over with Kateryna Lagno as the eventual winner. Peter Leko and Lawrence Trent were the commentators. But, I found it hard to watch because Lawrence was shouting. This is the game they found the most exciting.

Round 17, May 17
Stefanova, Antoaneta – Sebag, Marie
D02 Queen’s Pawn game, anti-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.d4 O-O 6.Bf4 c6 7.Qc1 Bf5 8.c4 Nbd7 9.Rd1 Ne4 10.h3 Qb6 11.c5 Qa6 12.Bf1 b6 13.b4 bxc5 14.bxc5 Ndxc5 15.e3 Qb7 16.g4 Be6 17.Be5 Nd7 18.Bxg7 Kxg7 19.Nc3 c5 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.dxc5 Rac8 22.Qc3+ Kg8 23.Nd4 Nxc5 24.Qa3 Rc7 25.Rab1 Qa8 26.Nb5 Rcc8 27.Rdc1 Nd3 28.Nc7 Rxc7 29.Rxc7 Ne5 30.Qxe7 Nf3+ 31.Kh1 Qd5 32.Bg2 h5 33.Bxf3 exf3 34.Qh4 hxg4 35.hxg4 Kg7 36.Kg1 Rh8 37.Qg3 Qg5 38.Rb4 Qd5 39.Rd4 Qxa2 40.Qe5+ Kh7 41.Qh2+ Kg7 42.Qe5+ Kh7 43.g5 Qb1+ 44.Kh2 Kg8+ 45.Kg3 Rh3+ 46.Kf4 Rh4+ 47.Kxf3 Rh3+ 48.Kf4 Rh4+ 49.Kf3 Rh3+ 50.Kf4 Kh7 51.Qxe6 Rh4+ 52.Ke5 Qb5+ 53.Rd5 Qb2+ 54.Kd6 Qb6+ 55.Rc6 Qb4+ 56.Rdc5 fxe6 57.Rc7+ Kg8 58.Rc8+ Kf7 59.Rc7+ Ke8 60.Rc8+ Kf7 61.Rc7+ Kg8 62.Rc8+ Kh7 63.Rc7+ Kh8 64.Rc8+ Kg7 65.Rc7+ Kf8 66.Rc8+ Kf7 1/2-1/2

The Armageddon game that gave Lagno the title:

Armageddon, May 17
Lei, Tingjie – Lagno, Kateryna
C64 Ruy Lopez, Classical (Cordel) Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.O-O Nd4 5.Bc4 d6 6.c3 Nxf3+ 7.Qxf3 Nf6 8.d3 O-O 9.h3 c6 10.Bb3 Be6 11.Bc2 h6 12.Re1 Nh7 13.Qg3 f5 14.exf5 Bxf5 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.Qxe3 Qf6 17.Nd2 Ng5 18.Rad1 c5 19.Nf1 Rae8 20.Ng3 Bd7 21.Ne4 Qe7 22.Bb3+ Kh8 23.Nxg5 Qxg5 24.Qxg5 hxg5 25.Re3 Kh7 26.Rde1 Bc6 27.Bc2 Kh6 28.f3 b5 29.Kf2 a5 30.Kg3 b4 31.c4 a4 32.Bd1 Rf4 33.Be2 Ref8 34.Bf1 Rd4 35.Be2 Rdf4 36.Rh1 Kg6 37.Kf2 Rh8 38.Rg1 Rhf8 39.Ke1 Rh8 40.Kd2 Kf7 41.Bd1 Rf6 42.Rge1 Ke7 43.Bc2 Kd8 44.Kc1 Kc7 45.Kb1 Kb6 46.Bd1 Kc7 47.Kc1 Kb6 48.Kd2 Kc7 49.R3e2 Rh4 50.Re3 Rh8 51.Rh1 Rh4 52.Rg1 Rh8 53.Be2 Rh4 54.Bd1 Rh8 55.Bc2 Rh4 56.Ree1 Rh8 57.a3 b3 58.Bd1 Rh4 59.Kc3 Rh8 60.Be2 Rh4 61.Rh1 Rh8 62.Rh2 Rh4 63.Reh1 Rh8 64.Rd1 Rh4 65.Rhh1 Rh8 66.Rdf1 Rh4 67.Rf2 Rh8 68.Rg1 Rh4 69.Rgf1 Rh8 70.Rd1 Rh4 71.Bf1 Rh8 72.Re1 Rh4 73.Re3 Rh8 74.g3 Rhf8 75.Bg2 Bb7 76.Kd2 Bc6 77.Rf1 Bb7 78.Ke2 Bc6 79.Kf2 Bb7 80.Kg1 Bc6 81.Kh2 Bb7 82.Rf2 Bc6 83.Bh1 Bb7 84.Kg2 Bc6 85.Kg1 Bb7 86.Kf1 Bc6 87.Ke1 Bb7 88.Bg2 Bc6 89.Ke2 Bb7 90.Kd2 Bc6 91.Ke2 Bb7 92.Rf1 Bc6 93.Bh1 Bb7 94.Kf2 Bc6 95.Kg2 Bb7 96.Kh2 Bc6 97.g4 Bb7 98.Kg3 Rf4 99.Bg2 Rh8 100.Rh1 Rh4 101.Ree1 Bc6 102.Re3 Bb7 103.Rhe1 Bc6 104.Bf1 Bb7 105.Be2 Bc6 106.Bd1 Bb7 107.Rg1 Bc6 108.Ree1 Bb7 109.Be2 Bc6 110.Ref1 Bb7 111.Kh2 Bc6 112.Kg3 Bb7 113.Rh1 Bc6 114.Kf2 Bb7 115.Ke3 Bc6 116.Kd2 Bb7 117.Kc3 Bc6 118.Bd1 Bb7 119.Rf2 Bc6 120.Rhh2 Bb7 121.Rh1 Bc6 122.Kd2 Bb7 123.Rff1 Bc6 124.Ke3 Bb7 125.Kf2 Bc6 126.Be2 Bb7 127.Kg3 Bc6 128.Rd1 Bb7 129.d4 Rxd4 130.Rxd4 cxd4 131.Bd3 Kb6 132.Re1 Kc5 133.Rc1 Rh8 134.Be2 Rf8 135.Re1 d3 136.Bd1 Kxc4 137.Re3 Kd4 138.Re1 Rc8 139.h4 Rc1 140.hxg5 d2 141.Rf1 Ba6 142.Rh1 Be2 143.Bxe2 Rxh1 144.f4 exf4+ 145.Kxf4 d1=Q 146.Bxd1 Rxd1 147.Kf5 Rg1 148.Kg6 Rxg4 149.Kxg7 Rxg5+ 150.Kf6 Rg2 151.Ke6 Rxb2 152.Kxd6 Ra2 0-1

Final Position



Black wins in 6 moves after 153.Kc6
_________

Jan comes in for the men’s round

Peter Leko has been a second for many talented players. When asked who were the best, he said Vishy Anand and Vladimir Kramnik. They themselves would put in 10 to 12 hours a day at training camps and their seconds had to do the same. Jan says that the two not only were geniuses but worked hard at chess too.

Results

Round Thirteen

Le-Xiong 1-0
Svidler-Mamedyarov 1-0
Carlsen-Korobov 1-0
Dubov-Anton 1-0
Bu-Grischuk 1-0

Round Fourteen

Xiong-Bu 1-0
Grischuk-Dubov 1-0
Anton-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Korobov-Svidler 1-0
Mamedyarov-Le 1-0

Round Fifteen

Mamedyarov-Xiong 0.5-0.5
Le-Korobov 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Anton 0-1
Carlsen-Grischuk 1-0
Dubov-Bu 0-1

Standings after Round Fifteen

Carlsen 10
Dubov 9
Mamedyarov 8.5
Le 8
Svidler, Korobov, Bu 7.5
Xiong 6.5
Anton 5.5
Grischuk 5

In the interval Kateryna Lagno comes on to speak of her victory in the women’s. She did give this anecdote. During one game, her daughter came in and said, “Mommy, I don’t like these socks. I want to change them IMMEDIATELY.” She finds it difficult to play on-line because of the children and her married life. After this interview she has to go and put her children to sleep.

Someone in Chat is saying that Pepe is commentating from a barber shop. I switch over and he is shouting with rapid-fire comments. Much much worse than Lawrence!

Selected Games

Round 13, May 17
Le, Quang Liem – Xiong, Jeffery
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 Bg4 6.c3 e6 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Nxf3 Bd6 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Bb5 O-O 11.O-O Ne7 12.Rc1 Ng6 13.Bh2 Bd6 14.Bxd6 Qxd6 15.Be2 Rfd8 16.c4 Qb6 17.Qc2 Rac8 18.Qb1 Ne7 19.Rfd1 Nf5 20.Bd3 dxc4 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Rxc4 g6 24.Qc2 Ne4 25.Nd4 Nd6 26.Rc5 Qb4 27.g3 Ne4 28.Rc7 Qe1+ 29.Kg2 Nd2 30.Qc1 Qxc1 31.Rxc1 Rd7 32.f3 b5 33.b3 g5 34.Nxf5 f6 35.Nd4 1-0

Round 13, May 17
Svidler, Peter – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
A07 Reti, KIA, Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.b3 Bg7 5.Bb2 c5 6.O-O O-O 7.c4 dxc4 8.bxc4 Nc6 9.Ne5 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 Ne8 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Nc3 Rb8 13.Qa4 a6 14.Rfd1 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Qf4 Qc7 17.Qe3 Nf6 18.a4 Ng4 19.Qe4 Nf6 20.Qc2 b4 21.Nb5 Qe5 22.d4 cxd4 23.Nxd4 Bd7 24.a5 Rfc8 25.Qb2 Rc7 26.a6 Ra7 27.Bb7 Bc8 28.Bxc8 Rxc8 29.Qxb4 Qe4 30.Qb6 Rd7 31.a7 Ra8 32.Nb5 Rxd1+ 33.Rxd1 Qxe2 34.Rb1 Qa2 35.Re1 e5 36.h3 Qd2 37.Rxe5 Qd1+ 38.Kg2 Qa1 39.Re2 Qa4 40.Qc6 Rf8 41.Re3 Qb4 42.Ra3 1-0

Round 13, May 17
Carlsen, Magnus – Korobov, Anton
E90 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 O-O 6.h3 a6 7.Be3 c6 8.c5 Nbd7 9.a3 b5 10.Be2 a5 11.O-O Bb7 12.Qc2 dxc5 13.dxc5 Qc7 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.Rac1 Nh5 16.Bf1 Nf8 17.a4 b4 18.Nb1 e5 19.Nbd2 Ne6 20.Nc4 Nd4 21.Bxd4 exd4 22.e5 Ba6 23.Nd6 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 Nf4 25.Qe4 Ne6 26.Nxd4 Nxd4 27.Rxd4 Qe7 28.Re1 Qe6 29.Qxc6 Qb3 30.Qd5 Qxb2 31.Qxf7+ Kh8 32.Qd5 Rf8 33.Rd2 Qc3 34.e6 b3 35.e7 b2 36.exf8=Q+ 1-0

Round 13, May 17
Dubov, Daniil – Anton Guijarro, David
E20 QGA

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Bf5 6.Nc3 e6 7.Bxd5 exd5 8.Nge2 Qd7 9.Be3 Nc6 10.a3 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.Nf4 Be6 13.b4 f6 14.Nxe6 Qxe6 15.f4 fxe5 16.fxe5 Rxf1+ 17.Qxf1 Rf8 18.Qb5 Nd8 19.Qxd5 c6 20.Qxe6+ Nxe6 21.d5 cxd5 22.Nxd5 Bg5 23.Bxa7 Rd8 24.Rd1 Nc7 25.Nc3 Rxd1+ 26.Nxd1 Kf7 27.Kf2 Ke6 28.Be3 Be7 29.Nc3 Kxe5 30.Ke2 Ne6 31.Kd3 g5 32.g3 g4 33.Nb5 h5 34.Nc3 h4 35.gxh4 Bxh4 36.a4 Be7 37.b5 Bd8 38.Kc4 Ba5 39.Bf2 Kf4 40.Bg3+ Kf3 41.Nd5 Kg2 42.Ne3+ Kh3 43.Kd5 Ng5 44.Nc4 Bd8 45.a5 Nf3 46.a6 bxa6 47.bxa6 Nxh2 48.Bxh2 Kxh2 49.a7 g3 50.a8=Q g2 51.Nd2 Kg3 52.Qb8+ Kf2 53.Qf4+ Ke1 54.Qe3+ 1-0

Round 13, May 17
Bu, Xiangzhi – Grischuk, Alexander
A48 King’s Indian, London System

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.c3 O-O 5.h3 c5 6.e3 d6 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bc7 Rd7 10.Bh2 b6 11.Bb5 Rd8 12.Nbd2 Bb7 13.O-O Nc6 14.Rfd1 Kf8 15.Be2 Rd7 16.a4 Rad8 17.Nc4 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Rxd1+ 19.Bxd1 Ne4 20.Bc2 Nf6 21.Nfe5 Nxe5 22.Bxe5 Nd7 23.Bc7 Ke8 24.f3 Bd5 25.Bd3 Bxc4 26.Bxc4 Be5 27.Bxe5 Nxe5 28.Bb5+ Kd8 29.f4 Nd7 30.Kf2 Kc7 31.Kf3 Kd6 32.g4 h6 33.h4 Nf6 34.g5 hxg5 35.hxg5 Nh5 36.Be8 Ke6 37.e4 Ng7 38.Bb5 Kd6 39.Kg4 e6 40.b3 Nh5 41.f5 Ke5 42.f6 Nf4 43.Be8 Nd3 44.Bxf7 Nf2+ 45.Kh4 Nxe4 46.Bxg6 Nxf6 47.gxf6 Kxf6 48.Bd3 Ke5 49.Kg4 1-0

Round 14, May 17
Xiong, Jeffery – Bu, Xiangzhi
D14 QGD Slav, Exchange variation

1.c4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 Bf5 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 e6 10.e3 Nh5 11.Be5 f6 12.Bg3 Rc8 13.Bd3 Bb4 14.O-O Nc4 15.Rac1 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Bxc3 17.bxc3 g6 18.e4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 b5 20.Rfe1 Kf7 21.Qe2 Qb6 22.Nd2 Nxd2 23.Qxd2 Qd6 24.Re3 Kg7 25.Rce1 e5 26.Rd3 Be6 27.dxe5 Qe7 28.Bd5 Bxd5 29.Rxd5 Rhd8 30.Qd4 Kf8 31.Re3 Rxd5 32.Qxd5 Rd8 33.Qxb5 fxe5 34.Rxe5 Qf6 35.Re3 Kg7 36.Qb7+ Kh6 37.Re4 g5 38.Qxa7 Rd1+ 39.Kh2 Qg6 40.Qe3 1-0

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 17, 2020

Rounds Fourteen to Eighteen (continued)

Round 14, May 17
Grischuk, Alexander – Dubov, Daniil
B04 Alekhine’s Defence, Modern, Fianchetto variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Ng5 e6 8.Qf3 Qe7 9.Ne4 h6 10.exd6 cxd6 11.Bf4 d5 12.Nd6+ Kf8 13.c3 h5 14.Nd2 Nc6 15.O-O g5 16.Nxc8 Nxc8 17.Be3 Nd6 18.Rfe1 g4 19.Qe2 Bh6 20.Nf1 Qf6 21.Bc2 Ne7 22.Bd3 Nef5 23.Bxh6+ Rxh6 24.Qd2 Kg7 25.Re5 Rg8 26.Rae1 Kh8 27.a4 Qg7 28.Qf4 h4 29.Ne3 g3 30.fxg3 hxg3 31.h3 Rh4 32.Qf3 Nxe3 33.R1xe3 Qh6 34.Qe2 Rg5 35.Rf3 Rhh5 36.Rxg5 Rxg5 37.Qe3 Qg7 38.Qf4 Nf5 39.Bxf5 exf5 40.Re3 Kh7 41.Kf1 Qg6 42.Ke2 Qh5+ 43.Kd2 Rg7 44.Re5 Rg5 45.Rxd5 Qg6 46.Re5 Qf6 47.Re3 Qg6 48.d5 f6 49.d6 Qg8 50.d7 Kg6 51.Qd6 f4 52.d8=Q fxe3+ 53.Kxe3 Re5+ 54.Kd2 Qb3 55.Q8xf6+ 1-0

Position after Black’s 31…Rh4



- Grischuk missed the crushing 32.Qxh4+! here, with Rh5+ to follow... but it looks like he's going to beat leader Dubov anyway!

Round 15, May 17
Svidler, Peter – Anton Guijarro, David
A09 Reti Accepted

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Na3 Nf6 4.Nxc4 e6 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.O-O Be7 8.b3 O-O 9.Bb2 c5 10.e3 Nc6 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Rac1 Rac8 13.Ng5 h6 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Bxe4 f5 16.Bg2 Bf6 17.Bxf6 Rxf6 18.d4 cxd4 19.Rfd1 Rd8 20.Na3 e5 21.exd4 Nxd4 22.Qc4+ Qxc4 23.Nxc4 Ne2+ 24.Kf1 Bxg2+ 25.Kxg2 Rxd1 26.Rxd1 e4 27.Rd8+ Rf8 28.Rd7 Rf7 29.Rd8+ Kh7 30.Nd6 Rf6 31.Rd7 f4 32.Nxe4 f3+ 33.Kh3 Re6 34.Nd2 Ng1+ 35.Kg4 Re2 36.Nxf3 Nxf3 37.Kxf3 Rxa2 38.h4 Ra3 39.Kg4 a5 40.Rd3 b5 41.Rd7 Rxb3 42.Rb7 a4 43.f4 a3 44.Kf5 b4 45.g4 a2 46.g5 hxg5 0-1

Round 15, May 17
Carlsen, Magnus – Grischuk, Alexander
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 a6 6.Ba4 b5 7.Bc2 Bb7 8.O-O g6 9.d4 Bg7 10.b3 O-O 11.Bb2 e5 12.d5 Nh5 13.g3 Nb6 14.a4 f5 15.c4 bxc4 16.bxc4 f4 17.a5 Nd7 18.g4 Nhf6 19.g5 Nh5 20.Kh1 Rf7 21.Nbd2 h6 22.Rg1 Nf8 23.gxh6 Bxh6 24.Nxe5 f3 25.Nxf7 fxe2 26.Nxd8 Rxd8 27.Nf3 Bc8 28.Rae1 Nf4 29.Bc1 Kf7 30.Ng5+ Bxg5 31.Rxg5 Nh3 32.Rg3 Nxf2+ 33.Kg2 Ng4 34.Bb2 Re8 35.Rxe2 Ne5 36.Rf2+ Kg7 37.Rgf3 Nd7 38.Ba4 Kh6 39.Rh3+ Kg7 40.Bxd7 Bxd7 41.Rhf3 Kh6 42.Bxe5 Rxe5 43.Rf4 Ba4 44.Rb2 Kh5 45.Rb8 g5 46.Rf6 Rxe4 47.Rh8+ 1-0

Round 15, May 17
Dubov, Daniil – Bu, Xiangzhi
D30 QGD, Vienna variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 dxc4 6.Qa4+ Nc6 7.e3 Qd5 8.Bxf6 gxf6 9.a3 b5 10.Qc2 Be7 11.b3 cxb3 12.Nxb3 f5 13.Bd3 Bb7 14.e4 fxe4 15.Bxe4 Nxd4 16.Nbxd4 Qxe4+ 17.Qxe4 Bxe4 18.Nxb5 O-O 19.O-O Bd3 20.Nxc7 Rac8 21.Rfc1 Bf6 22.Ra2 Rfd8 23.h4 Bf5 24.Rc4 Rd1+ 25.Kh2 Be7 26.g4 Bd3 27.Rc6 Be4 28.Nd5 Bd6+ 29.Rxd6 Bxd5 30.Ne5 Rh1+ 31.Kg3 Bxa2 32.Nd7 Kg7 33.g5 Rc3+ 34.f3 Bd5 35.Ne5 Re3 36.Kf4 Rxe5 37.Kxe5 Rxh4 38.f4 Rh3 39.f5 Re3+ 40.Kd4 Rxa3 41.Rd8 Rf3 42.f6+ Kg6 43.Ke5 Rf5+ 44.Kd6 Kxg5 45.Ke7 Rxf6 0-1

Results

Round Sixteen

Xiong-Dubov 1-0
Bu-Carlsen 0-1
Grischuk-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Anton-Le 0.5-0.5
Korobov-Mamedyarov 1-0

Round Seventeen

Korobov-Xiong 0-1
Mamedyarov-Anton 0.5-0.5
Le-Grischuk 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Bu 1-0
Carlsen-Dubov 0.5-0.5

Round Eighteen

Xiong-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Dubov-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Bu-Le 1-0
Grischuk-Mamedyarov 1-0
Anton-Korobov 1-0

Final Standings

Carlsen 12
Dubov 10
Svidler 9.5
Xiong, Mamedyarov, Le 9
Korobov, Bu 8.5
Anton 7.5
Grischuk 7

Selected Games

Round 16, May 17
Xiong, Jeffery – Dubov, Daniil
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 d5 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bg5 O-O 8.e3 Be7 9.Be2 h6 10.Bh4 Ne4 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Nd2 f5 14.O-O Be6 15.Rac1 Kh7 16.g3 Nd5 17.Nb3 b6 18.Nd2 a5 19.a3 Qg5 20.Kh1 Rad8 21.Qd1 c5 22.h4 Qf6 23.dxc5 Qxb2 24.Qc2 Qxc2 25.Rxc2 bxc5 26.Nc4 a4 27.Nb2 Ra8 28.Rxc5 Rfb8 29.Bc4 Rxb2 30.Bxd5 Bxd5 31.Rxd5 Kg6 32.Kg2 Rc8 33.Rd4 Rcc2 34.Rxa4 Ra2 35.Ra5 Rcb2 36.a4 Rc2 37.Kg1 Rcb2 38.Kg2 Rc2 39.g4 fxg4 40.h5+ Kf6 41.Kg3 g6 42.Ra6+ Kg5 43.Rxg6+ Kf5 44.Rxg4 Rxa4 45.Rb1 Rc5 46.Rb6 Ke5 47.Rxh6 Kd5 48.Rg5+ Kc4 49.Rxc5+ Kxc5 50.Rh8 Ra1 51.h6 1-0

Round 16, May 17
Bu, Xiangzhi – Carlsen, Magnus
D46 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Be2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.O-O O-O 11.b3 a6 12.Bb2 c5 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.a3 Qe7 16.b4 Bd6 17.Qb3 Ng4 18.h3 Nge5 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Rd4 Bb8 21.Ne4 Bd5 22.Qd1 Nc6 23.Rxd5 exd5 24.Qxd5 Rfd8 25.Qf5 Be5 26.Bxe5 Nxe5 27.Nc5 g6 28.Qe4 Qf6 29.Re1 Rd2 30.f4 Nc4 31.Bxc4 bxc4 32.Qxc4 Qc6 33.Re2 Rcd8 34.Kf2 a5 35.b5 Rxe2+ 36.Kxe2 Qxg2+ 37.Ke1 Qd2+ 38.Kf1 Qxe3 39.Ne4 Rd1+ 40.Kg2 Rd4 41.Qc8+ Kg7 42.Nf2 Rd2 0-1

- Wow - Carlsen beats Bu and Dubov loses to Xiong, so the gap is now 2 points with just 2 rounds to go! Only Mamedyarov could theoretically still beat Magnus without the need for Armageddon

Round 17, May 17
Korobov, Anton – Xiong, Jeffery
A59 Benko Gambit, main line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.e4 Bxf1 9.Kxf1 d6 10.g3 O-O 11.Kg2 Nbd7 12.h3 Qb6 13.Re1 Ne8 14.Re2 Nc7 15.Bg5 Rfe8 16.Rc1 Nb5 17.Nxb5 Qxb5 18.b3 e6 19.dxe6 Rxe6 20.Bf4 Nf6 21.a4 Qb7 22.Ng5 Ree8 23.Qxd6 h6 24.Nf3 Nxe4 25.Qd3 Rad8 26.Qb5 Qa8 27.Rce1 Re6 28.Qc4 Bd4 29.Bxh6 Rde8 30.b4 g5 31.bxc5 Bxf2 32.Rxf2 Nxf2 33.Rxe6 Rxe6 34.Bxg5 Nd1 35.Qg4 Re2+ 36.Kg1 Kf8 37.Bh6+ Ke7 38.Qg5+ Kd7 39.Qf5+ Ke8 0-1

Round 17, May 17
Svidler, Peter – Bu, Xiangzhi
C24 Bishop’s Opening, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 a5 6.Nc3 d4 7.Nxe5 dxc3 8.Nxf7 Qe7 9.Nxh8 Be6 10.bxc3 g6 11.O-O Bg7 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Ba3 Qxa3 14.Bxe6 Qxc3 15.Rb1 b5 16.d4 Na6 17.Rb3 1-0

Round 18, May 17
Xiong, Jeffery – Carlsen, Magnus
A40 Modern Defence

1.d4 g6 2.Nf3 d6 3.e4 Nf6 4.Bd3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.c3 c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qe2 Nc6 9.h3 Qc7 10.Re1 b6 11.Na3 Nd7 12.Nc4 Bb7 13.Bg5 b5 14.Ne3 c4 15.Bc2 e6 16.Ng4 h5 17.Ngh2 b4 18.Qxc4 bxc3 19.bxc3 Rac8 20.Rab1 Nce5 21.Qxc7 Rxc7 22.Be7 Rfc8 23.Bd6 Rxc3 24.Rxb7 Rxc2 25.Rxa7 Rc1 26.Ba3 Rxe1+ 27.Nxe1 Nc5 28.Bxc5 Rxc5 29.Ra8+ Kh7 30.Nhf3 Rc1 31.Kh2 Bf6 32.g3 Nxf3+ 33.Nxf3 Rc2 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.Ra7 g5 36.e5 Bd8 37.Rd7 Bb6 38.Rd2 Rc5 39.Nxg5 Rxe5 40.h4 Kg6 41.Rd7 f6 42.Nh3 Ra5 43.Nf4+ Kf5 44.Rd2 Bc7 45.Nxh5 Kg6 46.g4 f5 47.f3 fxg4 48.fxg4 Ra4 49.Kf3 Ra3+ 50.Ke2 Ra4 51.Rd7 Rxg4 52.Rxc7 Kxh5 53.Kd3 Ra4 54.Rc2 e5 55.Re2 Ra5 56.Kc4 Kxh4 57.Kb4 Rd5 58.Kc4 Ra5 59.Kb4 Ra8 60.a4 Re8 61.a5 e4 62.a6 Kg3 63.Kc5 Kf3 64.Ra2 e3 65.a7 e2 66.Ra1 Ra8 67.Kb6 Kf2 68.Kb7 Rxa7+ 69.Kxa7 e1=Q 70.Rxe1 Kxe1 1/2-1/2

A shaky final game, but with 12/18, Magnus wins by a full two points. Magnus: I’m more happy than I would have been if I hadn’t won the tournament, but that was terrible!

Arkady Dvorkovich, FIDE President comes on and says that he is happy with the online tournaments. He says that he is hopeful that the Candidates can be done by September. It’s 60% sure. On the World Championship – December is still possible but it’s more likely we shift it to 2021.

Magnus wins by 2 points. Dubov just couldn’t get it together today. Jeffery Xiong did very well in this company and is to be commended.

Lawrence says that Peter Leko has a wealth of knowledge of chess and life and he looks forward to his next commentating.

This last game caught the eye: White’s 14^th move.

Round Eighteen, May 17
Bu, Xiangzhi – Le, Quang Liem
A30 English, symmetrical, hedgehog

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O e6 6.Nc3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 d6 9.Rd1 a6 10.Ng5 Bxg2 11.Kxg2 O-O 12.Nce4 Ne8 13.Qd3 h6 14.Nh7 Nc6 15.Nxf8 Bxf8 16.Bf4 Ra7 17.Qf3 Qc7 18.Rac1 f5 19.Nc3 Qc8 20.h4 Rd7 21.e4 g6 22.exf5 gxf5 23.Qh5 Kh7 24.Nd5 Rb7 25.Qxe8 1-0

[Hans Jung]

There is humour in chess. See Rd 17 Svidler-Bu

[Hans Jung]

Jeffery Xiong acquitted himself quite well.

[Hans Jung]

Bu - Le Quang as Wayne pointed out above on move 14. It was one of the mid level tactical exercises in queen and two knights which I taught in Roman Pelts Chess Academy of Canada many years ago. We had sheets and sheets of tactics to distribute to students and this almost exact position came up and was always loved by the students. Still eye catching every time it is played.

[Wayne Komer]

FIDE Online Steinitz Memorial 2020

May 19, 2020

Position in Bu-Le (Round 18) after 14.Nh7

[Hans Jung]

One extra tactic in the position. If black plays 14....f5 (a resource) 15.Nxf8 fxe4 16.Qxe4 Kxf8 17.Qxa8 white is two exchanges and a pawn up, also 16...d5 is easily refuted by 17.Nxe6 or even 17.cxd5