CHESS #607

The Super K rematch in Valencia had the oddest result. Kasparov won the rapid+blitz match 9-3, which is exactly the margin predicted by their ratings. An exact “fit” of result-to-prediction is as rare as a coin coming up heads exactly 50 times in 100 tosses. In this instance, it seems even more unlikely, since GK’s last rating dates back to Q1, 2005 and both ratings are from long time-controls.

The 13th world champion has maintained form and sight despite being in his fourth year of retirement while the 12th champion has slumped a lot in the last two years. Karpov’s clock hassles are unbelievable for those who recall his awesome blitz ability in his prime. At 58, it seems Anatoly Evgenyvich no longer trusts his instincts, which is crippling when there’s no time to calculate.

At the same time, Nigel Short was grinding out a 3.5-2.5 victory against Zahar Efimenko in Mukachevo. This was a decidedly less glamorous encounter but it saw hard fighting chess of very decent quality. The Englishman justified his higher rating but he had to work for it.

The Second Pearl Classic in Nanjing started just as K-K, Short-Efimenko, ended. The former Chinese capital on the Pearl River is hosting its second super-strong double round-robin alongside a Women’s Grand Prix. The hall is festooned with unforgettable slogans like “Harmonious Win-Win Embrace the World”, “We Are Family Civilised Nanjing”, “Intelligent Life Nanjing we Gather”, and “Masters we Admire, Do not move around freely or make a noise”.

Kasparov’s protege Magnus Carlsen started with a bang, blasting Peter Leko and defending champion Veselin Topalov off the board in the first two rounds. After round three, Carlsen leads with 2.5, ahead of Wang Yue, Radjabov, Jakovenko, (all 1.5) and Topalov and Leko. Incidentally nobody else has won a game yet in the DRR. In the 12-player Women’s GP, Nana Dzagnidze leads with 3/3.

The Diagram, WHITE TO PLAY, (Carlsen Vs Topalov, Nanjing 2009) is the launch pad for a mating attack. White has a healthy extra pawn but rather than rely on endgame technique, he goes for the throat with 30.h5! Rxf2 31.hxg6 h6. One idea is 31...hxg6 32.Rxg6+! Kxg6 33.Qg3+ Bg5 34.Qxf2 stripping the king naked.

After 32.Nd1 Rxc2 33.Nxf2 Rc8 34.Ng4 Bg5 35.Nf3! White threatens 36.Nxg5 hxg5 37.Qe3 and 35...Rc1+ 36.Rxc1 Bxc1 37.Ngxe5 dxe5 38.Kxc1 leaves a two-pawn edge. So, 35...Nc4 36.Nxg5 hxg5. Here Carlsen missed the instant 37.Qh3! Nd2+ 38.Ka2 Rh8 39.Qxh8+! Kxh8 40.Rh1+ Kg7 41.Rh7+ Kxg6 42.Rxd7 and instead played 37.Ne3 Nxe3 38.Qxe3 Qa4 39.Qxg5 Qxe4+ 40.Ka1 Re8 41.Rc1 (1-0). There is no perpetual and no resources to stem a mating attack with Rc7, Qh5/h6, etc.