Alexander Khalifman wins Russian Chess Championship

By Kristianus Liem

JAKARTA (JP): In the absence of the three K's, Kasparov, Karpov, Kramnik (three of four top chess players in the world), and reigning champion Peter Svidler, Grandmaster Alexander Khalifman, 30, from St. Petersburg, won the 49th Russian Chess Championship in Elista City, Republic of Kalmykia, in late 1996.

Even without the three K's, the 1996 Russian Championship still looked strong. No less than 34 grandmasters -- 10 of them over the 2,600 Super GM rating level -- took part. Fifty-two players participated.

Khalifman, whose elo rating is 2,640, played solidly, took 8 Match Point from the 11-round Swiss system. Others top scores were 2-3: GM Alexey Dreev (2,645) and GM Semen Dvoirys (2,570) 7,5 MP; 4-8. GM Maxim Sorokin (2,550), GM Evgeny Bareev (2,655), MI Alexander Lastin (2,495), GM Vadim Zvjaginsev (2,590) and GM Alexander Fominikh (2,535) 7 MP; 9-11. GM Sergey Rublevsky (2,645), Andrey Shariyazdanov (2,470) and GM Vasily Yemelin (2,460) 6,5 MP.

Below is the new champion's brilliant game, which beat GM Evgeny Sveshnikov in nine rounds.

White: GM Alexander Khalifman

Black: GM Evgeny Sveshnikov

Catalan Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c6 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 dxc4 6.0-0 b5 7.a4 Bb7 8.Ne5 Qb6?! 9.b3!?

The text may be the new move. The line 9.e4 a6 10.Nc3 is known to give White a reasonable position since the game of Krasenkow- Scherbakov, Katowice 1992.

9...cxb3 10.Qxb3 Nbd7?!

Perhaps this cautious developing move is too timid. The two alternatives are 10...a6 or 10...Qd4.

11.Be3!

An excellent move! Black faces big problems now. The direct threat is 12.d5 and 13.Bxb6.

11...c5

After 11...Nd5 12.Nxd7 Kxd7 13.Nc3 Black would have big trouble with his king, while 11...Qa6 allows 12.axb5! Qxa1 13.bxc6 Bxc6 14.Bxc6 Rd8 15.Qb7 and White's position is better because almost all Black's pieces inactive.

12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.d5!

The breakthrough to use the White's advantages in development. If White tries to win a pawn by 13.Qxb5 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 cxd4 15.Qxb6 axb6 16.Bxd4 e5, or 13.Bxb7 Qxb7 14.Qxb5 Rb8 and White's advantage is almost negligible.

13...bxa4 14.Qxa4 exd5

The obvious alternative that deserved careful calculation was 14...Bxd5.

15.Nc3 d4 16.Nd5 Bxd5

If 16...Qd8 17.Bf4 Rc8 18.Nf6+ Qxf6 19.Bxb7 is losing for Black.

17.Bxd5 Rd8 18.Bf4 Qf6

For 18...Qb4 is refuted by 19.Qa2! or 18...Bd6 19.Rfb1 Qc7 20.Rb7 Bxf4 21.Rxc7 Bxc7 22.Qb3 0-0 23.Rxa7 with a good game for White.

19.Qb5!

See diagram. Hitting the nail on the head. If 19.Qxa7 Be7 leads to complications.

19...Bd6

Black didn't have good choices, for example 19...Qf5 20.Bc6 Be7 21.Rxa7 and White winning; or 19...Qb6 20.Qc4 Be7 (20...Qg6 21.Rxa7 Be7 22.Qa4 etcetera) 21.Bxf7+ Kf8 22.Bh5 Qf6 23.Rxa7 with excellent chances for White.

20.Ra6 Rb8 21.Bb7!

White's attack comes like a storm.

21...Bxf4

Force.

22.Rxf6 gxf6 23.gxf4 f5 24.Qc6 Kd8 25.Qd5 Kc7 26.Bc6

Black resigned. 1-0