Chess (#1059)

Magnus Carlsen says he's satisfied with his recce through Chennai for the world title match. He played a simultaneous against 20 talented juniors (he lost four games), inspected the facilities and signed the match agreement, which includes a clause for a two-day postponement if either player is ill.

This illness clause has, supposedly, been included for the first time. It wasn't necessary in earlier eras because title matches went at a much more leisurely pace. There were usually two or three games per week, with time slotted for rest-days and adjournment sessions. Either player could invoke timeouts without assigning reasons.

As anticipation builds up for the Title match, the World Cup continues with its quota of upsets. The last eight are Anton Korobov, Vachier-Lagrave, Fabiano Caruana, Vladimir Kramnik, Gata Kamsky, Dmitry Andreikin, Peter Svidler and Evgeny Tomashevsky. Stars like Levon Aronian and Sergey Karjakin have fallen by the wayside.

The 14-year-old Chinese prodigy Wei Yi, Daniil Dubov, 17, of Russia and Liem Quang, 20, of Vietnam did very well. Korobov is a dark horse. The 28-year old Ukrainian GM has a 2720 rating but not much international exposure. He "retired" for five years before returning to full-time chess. Oddly, Korobov hasn't ever played for his nation despite two national titles and an excellent rating. Tomashevsky, aka "Professor", is one of a large band of very strong Russians who haven't quite cracked the top grade.

The format with accelerating controls and high-tension, short knock out matches guarantees excitement and blunders. The quality can be, frankly, horrible, with big errors deciding. However, apart from title ambitions, there is a fair amount of money even for losers so, it's a popular event.

The quarter final line-up is Tomashevsky vs Kamsky, Svidler-Andreikin, Caruana-Vachier Lagrave, Kramnik-Korobov. Old warhorses Kamsky and Kramnik are both doing well due to strong nerves. Kamsky has played tactical gems despite saying he feels unsure in complications. Kramnik has indulged his superstitious streak by rebooking return tickets after each round but he's played rationally. Caruana has been extremely consistent as well.

The diagram WHITE TO PLAY (Kamsky Vs Mamedyarov, World Cup 2013) is the launch-pad for a classic Sicilian attack. 17.e5!? Ne4 18.f5! Nxd2 19.fxe6 Ne4 20.exf7+ Kh8 21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Rxe4 g6. Forced so far. White has 3 pawns and initiative.

Play continued 23.Ref4 Kg7? The threat was 24. Bxg6 and 24.--Qc6 or 24.-- Qxe5 25. Bxg6 Qg7 is a better defence. After white's next, he has dark square play and black's third rank communication is cut. The game finished 24.e6! Rf8 25.Qe3 Bc5 26.Qe1 Bd6 27.Rh4 Be7 28.Qe3 h5 29.Qd4+ Kh6 30.Rxh5+! (1-0). Either of 30.--gh5 31. Rf6+ or 30.--Kxh5 31. Qxd5+ Kh6 32. Qe4 Rf3 win easily.

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player