Carlsen, Perez show way
Magnus Carlsen and Leinier Dominguez Perez shared the lead by one-half point after the third round of the 960 Online Champions Showdown.
The top-ranked Carlsen of Norway, the reigning classical world champion, had 2.5 points on two wins and one draw, and Perez of the United States posted similar results to take a half-point lead at the $150,000 Fischer Random chess, where the engine randomly picks the chess pieces starting positions before the game.
American Wesley So was in solo third spot with 2.0 points.
The rest of the standings read, Fabiano Caruana (USA), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Peter Svidler (Russia) and Garry Kasparov (Croatia) at 1.5 points, Alireza Firouza (FIDE) 0.5 and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France) 0.0.
The single round robin online 960 can be followed live with commentaries at various chess websites.
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Wesley So’s first win at the chess 960 Champions Showdown is a subtle position play over the eight-time Russian champion Peter Svidler. With a centralized Knight and an open file for a Rook, So carves out an impressive victory.
Champions Showdown:
Chess 950 2020 round 01
W) P. Svidler (Russia)
B) W. So (USA)
White=Kc1, Qh3, Rd1, Nb3, Bf4, Bh1, Pa2, Pb2, Pc3, Pg5, Ph2
Black=Kb8, Qf8, Re2, Nc4, Bf7, Bh8, Pa7, Pb7, Pc7, Pd5, Ph7
In the diagrammed position, play continued,
20. Qf3 Qe7
20....Rxb2? is met by 21. Rxd5! and White has the initiative as 21....Bxd5 loses to 22. Bxc7ch.
21. Rf1 Re1ch
22. Rxe1 Qxe1ch
23. Qd1 ....
Forced as 23. Kc2? loses to 23....Bg6ch.
23.... Qf2
24. Bd2 Qxh2
25. Qf1 a5!
Creating a flight square for his King.
26. Qxf7 Qxh1ch
27. Kc2 Qe4ch
28. Kc1 Be5!
An excellent move in which Black obtains a decisive advantage.
29. a4 ....
If instead 29. Qf2, Black is winning after 29.... b6 30. Nd4 Kb7 31. Qe2 Nxd2 32. Kxd2 Bf4ch etc.
29.... Qh1ch
30. Kc2 Qe4ch
31. Kc1 b6
32. Qe6 Kb7
33. Qd7 ....
No good is 33. Qf7, e.g., 33....Bg3! 34. Qf1 Nxd2 35. Nxd2 Bf4 36. Qg1 c5 and Black should win.
33.... Qh1ch
34. Kc2 Qe4ch
35. Kc1 Bf4!
The clincher, ending all White’s resistance.
36. Bxf4 Qxf4ch
37. Kb1 Qe4ch
38. Ka2 Qg2
0-1
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Solution to last week’s puzzle:
White to move and win.
White=Kh1, Qg2, Rf1, Ne5, Pa2, Pe7, Ph4
Black=Kg8, Qe3, Re8, Nh3, Pb5, Pc5, Pg7, Ph6
1. Rf8ch Rxf8
2. Qd5ch Kh7
3. exf8(N)ch! ....
Not 3. exf8(Q)? Qg1mate.
3.... Kh8
4. Neg6 mate.
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