World’s t0p 45 chessers in Euro Championship
The 2012 European Individual Championship is under way in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. It is definitely stronger than the previous years. The entry list had 45 of the world’s top 100, with 15 players rated over 2700 and 98 rated over 2600. Three hundred forty-eight players (mostly GMS) are competing in the 11-round Swiss System tournament, which will run up to end of March. The total prize fund is 100,000 Euros.
*** The following game displays a wonderful fight between two young talents. Nyzhnyk (15), the 11th youngest grandmaster in history, has a hard time, but comes through, with a beautiful combination, when Giri (17), the 15th youngest GM, erred under severe time trouble. 2012 European Individual Ch. W) I. Nyzhnyk g 2585 UKR B) A. Giri g 2717 NED QGD Semi Slav 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 ... White declines the invitation to enter the Nimzo-indian Defense with 3. Nc3 Bb4, as his opponent has often shown his skill in that type of opening. Now an early 3...b6 by Black would lead to the Queen’s Indian Defense. 3... d5 There are other ways to transpose, but Black keeps the game on pure Queen’s Gambit paths. 4. Nc3 c6 5. g3 ... It is a Semi Slav, with White employing one of the lines currently in vogue. The main lines, 5. e3 (Meran) and 5. Bg5 (Botvinnik), have been the normal play for many years now. 5... dxc4 For some time the plan 5...Nbd7 followed by 6...dxc4 was popular, but opening assessment varies and so do analysis. 6. Bg2 b5 7. Ne5 a6 It is well- known that the immediate 7... Nd5 leads to White’s advantage in the EljanovGurevich encounter. 8. a4 ... Black obtains an early equality after 8. Nxc6?! Qb6 9. Ne5 Bb7. 8... Bb7 9. 0-0 Be7 Rather unexpected as it allows White to recover the pawn without sweat. The standard move is 9...Nd5 which appears to give White particular cause for worry. 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Rxa8 12. Nxb5 cxb5 13. Bxa8 ... White has regained the pawn and obtained the Bishop pair, although to give him the advantage here is inconclusive. 13... 0-0 14. Bg2 Nd5 15. f4 ... Seems the only way to try for an advantage, as the advance e2-e4 would seriously weaken the d-pawn. 15... Bd6 16. e3 ... After 16. e4?! Black gets a good square for the Knight with 16...Nb4. 16... Bxe5 17. fxe5 Nc6 18. Qg4 Qd7 19. h4 Ncb4 20. h5 ... Hoping to create weaknesses on Black’s Kside. 30. Bh3, restraining ...f5, merits attention. 20... Nd3 The suggested 20...f5 is a fair alternative, as 21. exf6 Nxf6 22. Qh4 h6 seems close to equality. 21. h6 f5 22. exf6 Rxf6?! A dubious capture which surrenders the initiative to White. Correct is 22...Nxf6 and after 23. hxg7 Rf7 24. Qg5 Ne8, Black probably holds. 23. Bxd5 Rxf1ch Or 23...Rg6 24. Qf3 Rf6 25. Bc6, which clearly favors White. 24. Kxf1 Qf7ch The only move to avoid losing material, but White’s Queen and light-squared Bishop will be in control. 25. Bf3 Nxc1 26. d5! ... Taking the initiative. This menacing pawn advance that Black must have overlooked gives White winning chances. I.e., 26...exd5? 27. Kg2 Kf8 28. Qc8ch Ke7 29. Qc7ch Kf6 30. Qf4ch Ke7 31. Qe5ch Kf8 32. Bxd5, etc. 26... Nd3 27. dxe6 Qe7 28. Bd5! ... A pretty intermezzo that ends the game outright. 28... Kf8 29. Qxg7ch 1:0 After 29...Qxg7, 30. hxg7ch Kxg7 31. e7 is curtains. Solution to last week’s puzzle: (White to play and mate in two moves.) (White: Kh7, Qa1, Ra4, Bf2, Nd4; Black: Kf4, Pf6) 1. Qh1 Ke5/f5/kg4 or Kg5 2. Bg3/nf3/qh4 mates.