Chess (#1178)

Even though the London Classic is being played, and it has a fantastically strong field, chess gossip is centred around Kirsan Ilyumzhinov's manoeuvres to evade the crippling effects of being placed under sanction by the US Treasury Department. The Fide President has now handed over legal, financial and administrative functions to his deputy, Georgios Makropoulos.

The sanction statement alleges Ilyumzhinov holds a large equity stake in the Russian Financial Alliance Bank (RFA Bank), which was "materially assisting and acting for, or on behalf of the Government of Syria, Central Bank of Syria".

There could be ramifications even after the recusal because he is still associated with Fide anyhow. The sanctions could have a chilling effect on potential sponsors and also inhibit US citizens like Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So playing Fide events. Few people are as bloody-minded as the late Bobby Fischer, who contemptuously broke sanctions against Yugoslavia back in 1993.
 

Meanwhile, the London Classic continues. Four players - Nakamura, Maxime Vachier Lagrave, Alexander Grischuk and Anish Giri - share the lead, with 3.5 points from six rounds. Michael Adams, Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian and Fabiano Caruana all have 3. Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov have minus scores.

So far, only five games have been decisive. Topalov has suffered three losses and Anand has lost twice, to Grischuk and Nakamura, while he has beaten Topalov. Incidentally, the Indian GM's family has made headlines for their generosity in sheltering 20-odd persons during the recent Chennai floods. There have been several tough draws. There have been quite a few miracle saves as well.

An amazing drawing concept was seen at the Diagram, Black to play (White: Topalov Vs Black: Caruana, London 2015). White is better. The Bc4 is a lot better than Nf8. White can target e6, c5, and dominates the d-file.

Caruana played the stunning 45.-- Rc8!!? [Now The engines say 46. Kd2 or 46. Qa6 are very strong. The first parks the king safely on the kingside. The second forces a queen exchange for a nearly won endgame.] But it's hard to refuse material.

White took 46.Ba6 Qa7 47.Bxc8 Qxa2+ 48.Kd1 c4!? 49.Rd2 Qa1+ 50.Ke2 c3! 51.Qxf8 cxd2 52.Kxd2 Qb2+?! [52...Qc3+ draws easier but it may take an engine to check lines after 53.Ke2 Qc4+! 54.Ke3 b3]

Black held the draw anyway with 53.Ke3 Qc1+ 54.Kf2 Qd2+ 55.Kf1 Qd1+ 56.Kg2 Qe2+ 57.Kh3 h5 58.g4 hxg4+ 59.Kxg4 Qg2+ 60.Kf4 Qh2+ 61.Ke3 Qg1+ 62.Kd3 Qf1+ 63.Kd4 Qa1+ 64.Kc4 Qc3+ 65.Kb5 b3 66.Bxe6 Qe5+ 67.Kb4 Qxe6 and (1/2-1/2, 83 moves).

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Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player