London Chess Classic

[Hans Jung]

https://en.chessbase.com/post/london...lassic-2023-r3 The London Chess Classic is happening. I was away on the weekend and missed the start but some very nice games. In round 3 Mickey Adams had a nice finish and Gukesh had incredible attacking pawn play leading to a breakthrough and crushing win.

[Hans Jung]

Also IM Royal is having a great debut. In his third round game in the opening he was following Smyslov - Averbakh and had a classic minority attack and fine positional play.

[Hans Jung]

https://en.chessbase.com/post/london...lassic-2023-r2 Report of round 2.

[Hans Jung]

https://en.chessbase.com/post/london...lassic-2023-r1 Report of round one. I enjoyed Mickey Adams game.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 4 Hans Niemann had the game of the round against Royal with a double rook sacrifice checkmating attack. Moussards win as Black against Gukesh was also noteworthy!

[Hans Jung]

After 4 Mickey Adams is in the clear lead with 3 out of 4. Mickey is playing exceptionally well and is undefeated.

[Hans Jung]

https://en.chessbase.com/post/london...lassic-2023-r4

[Hans Jung]

Rd 5 After an interesting opening and a space gaining 12.e5 Mickey is probing Gukesh's back ranks and has the initiative. Black however seems solid.

Amazing how counterattack can be in great depth. White took the lead in exploiting Black's kingside pawn weaknesses but Black struck back in eliminating Whites's queenside pawns and creating a dangerous passed pawn. We now have fascinating play between White's rooks and knight and advanced passed pawn and Black's advanced passed pawn and rooks and knight.

[Hans Jung]

In Moussard Volokitin we have the fascinating balance between a queen and four extra pawns vs two rooks and bishop but neither side can risk anything so draw.

[Hans Jung]

Royal - Bartel interesting endgame.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 5 In Adams - Gukesh only a couple moves after I last commented the players agreed to a draw?? Why? The position is fascinating and White is better. It looks like a lucky escape for Gukesh. I hope this doesnt come back to haunt Mickey Adams.

[Hans Jung]

https://www.chess.com/news/view/lond...c-2023-round-5 Round 5 report

[Hans Jung]

Round 6 key pairing Moussard - Adams

[Hans Jung]

Rd 6 Mickey Adams wins! I'm over the moon! (I cant tell if its a swindle or an oversight but it doesnt matter)

[Hans Jung]

Round 6 Theres blood in the water. Of the four games finished all are decisive. Gukesh slashed, parried and thrust his way to a winning endgame. Tabatabaei had an open king position to toy with and ended up with a rook sack on B2 and a crash through attack that White survived only to enter a losing endgame.