The fourth FIDE Grand Prix, which decides the last remaining spot for next year’s Candidates tournament, gets underway Dec. 10-24 in Jerusalem, Israel.
World No. 4 and top seeded Maxime Vachier-Lagrave of France and world No. 7 Shakriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, headline the competition, which features 16 of the world’s top players, including Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi, ranked ninth in the world, and the 11th-ranked American Wesley So.
Format calls for a two-game knockout match play with classical time control and speed chess tie-breakers.
It marks the first time that a FIDE world championship qualification event ( that provides automatic Candidates slots), be held in the Israeli capital, and hopefully, the year-ending fortnight will provide exciting action for chess fans around the world.
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Meanwhile at the London chess classic, world No. 3 Ding Liren reached the finals of the $350,000 Grand Chess Tour, defeating Levon Aronian of Armenia, 19.0-09 in the semi-finals. The second-seeded Chinese faced off with Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Game one was drawn), who upset world champion Magnus Carlsen, 15.5-14.5.
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London Chess Classic 2019
GTC Semifinal Game Three
W) D. Liren (China)
B) L. Aronian (Armenia)
Queen’s Gambit Declined
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 ....
Liren-Aronian, Game 2, same tournament, went 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 0-0 5. Nf3 c5 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. exd4 d5, draw agreed. in 28 moves.
3.... d5
4. Nc3 Be7
5. Bf4 ....
This system of development, which is supposed to offer White only moderate chances, has become popular in recent years.
5.... O-O
6. e3 Nbd7
7. Be2 dxc4
8. O-O a6
8....Nd5 9. Bxc4 Nxf4 10. exf4 c5, probably leads to equality.
9. a4 Nd5
10. Bxc4 Nxf4
11. exf4 c5
12. dxc5 Bxc5
13. Qe2 b6
14. Rad1 Qe7
15. Rfe1 g6
16. Nd5 Qd8
After 16....exd5 17. Qxe7 Bxe7 18. Bxd5 Bb4 19. Re4 Nf6 20. Rxb4 Nxd5 21. Rxd5 Bb7, White enjoys a slight edge, though probably not enough to convert against accurate play.
17. Ng5!? ....
An astute move which creates razor sharp complications.
17.... exd5
18. Bxd5 Ra7
19. b4 Bxb4
20. Bxf7ch Rxf7
21. Nxf7 Qf8
22. Nd6 Bxd6
23. Qe6ch Kg7
23....Qf7 is considered best by the engine, with approximately even chances.
24. Rxd6 Rc7
25. g3 Qf7??
As the early chess writers used to say, “In difficult positions, a slip comes easily.” And this one is fatal. The best attempt, according to the engine, is 25....b5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Rc6 Rxc6 28. Qxc6 Nf6 29. Qxb5 Bg4, with chances for both sides.
26. Rc6! ....
The clincher, as White wins material by forced.
26.... Rxc6
After 26....Qxe6 27. Rexe6 Kf7 28. Rxc7 Kxe6 29. Rxc8, White should win without much fuss.
27. Qxc6 Qf8
28. Rc1 Nc5
29. Qxb6 Ne6
30. Qc6! ....
We draw the curtains here as Black cannot avoid losing the exchange without compensation.
30.... Nd4
31. Qc7ch Kh6
32. Qxc8 Qe7
33. Rd1 Nf3ch
34. Kg2 Qe4
35. Kh3 Nd4
1-0
The rest of the story could be 36. Qf8ch Kh5 37. g4 mate.
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Solution to last week’s puzzle:
Black to play and win.
White=Kf3, Rb7, Pg5
Black=Kc1, Rd2, Pb2
1.... Rd4!
0-1
If 2. Rc7ch Kd2 3. Rb7 Kc2 4. Rc7ch Kb3 5. Rb7ch Rb3 and wins. Or 2. g6 b1Q 3. Rxb1 Kxb1 4. g7 Rd8 5. Kf4 Rg8 and wins. And finally 2. Ke3 Rg4 3. Rc7ch Kd1 4. Rd7ch Kc2 5. Rd2ch Kc1 and wins.
Black to move and win.