Irish Baburin dominates 2nd Mechanics Grandmaster
By Kristianus Liem
JAKARTA (JP): Irish GM Alexander Baburin dominated the 2nd Mechanics Grandmaster Invitational, July 12 to July 20, 1997, at the Mechanics Institute Chess Room in San Francisco, U.S.
The former resident of Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, inched his rating closer to FIDE 2600 by turning in a superb performance, seven points from nine rounds in a round-robin system.
Tying for second at six were GM Alexander Wojtkiewicz from Poland and IM Victor Frias from Chile. Frias, the 2515-rated International Master has been GM strength for over a decade, but has been unable to make his third and final norm.
Now Frias' norms are expiring and he has started to play again after focusing his energies for the last few year's on being chief coach of the Mexican Chess Federation.
The 2nd Mechanics Grandmaster Invitational happened with the support of the Mechanics Institute, the home of America's oldest chess club. For the completed result see the cross-table.
Here is one of the best games the champion played. It was against IM Victor Frias in the seventh round.
White: IM Viktor Frias Black: GM Alexander Baburin King's Indian Attack
1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 e5 5.0-0 Ne7 6.e4 0-0 7.Nbd2 Nbc6
Pirc Defense with colors reversed. This system was first introduced by GM Paul Benko, who beat Fischer and Tal with it; then Geller and Karpov picked it up and used it to score some fine victories.
8.c3 a5
The move b2-b4 should be prevented.
9.a4
In his turn, White had to stop a further advance of the a-pawn, which would have given Black some space on the queen-side.
9...h6 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Nc4 Bf5 12.Re1 Re8 13.Nh4
After 13.Qb3 Qd7! 14.Qxb7 Bxd3 15.Qb3 Rab8 16.Qa2 e4 17.Nfd2 Ndb4! 18.cxb4 Nxb4 19.Qa3 Nc2 and Black is winning.
13...Be6 14.Bd2
For 14.Nf3 Black plays 14...f6 then ...Bf7 and eventually ...f5 will follow.
14...Qd7 15.Qb3 Nde7 16.Bf1 Rad8 17.Rad1 b6 18.Bc1 g5!
Having centralized his pieces, Black seizes the initiative.
19.Ng2
After 19.Nf3 Bd5 would be rather unpleasant for White, when 20.Bg2?! would be met by a typical strike in the center 20...e4! and after 21.Nfd2 (of course not 21.dxe4? Bxc4 22.Rxd7 Bxb3 23.Rxc7 Bxa4 Black wins a piece) 21...exd3 22.Be4 Bxe4 23.Nxe4 Qf5 Black wins one pawn and has a strong attack.
19...Bg4 20.Be2 Bxe2 21.Rxe2 Nf5
Now Black threatens to play ...Nd4 and White must deal with this threat.
22.Ree1??
See diagram. Just moving the Rook away from the e2-square does not solve White's problems, as his king-side is vulnerable too. White could try 22.Be3 Nfd4 23.cxd4 exd4 24.Red2 dxe3 25.fxe3 Nb4 26.d4 and Black only has a slightly advantage; or 22.Qb5 Nfd4 23.cxd4 Nxd4 24.Qxd7 Nxe2+ 25.Kf1 Nxg3+ 26.hxg3 Rxd7 27.Nge3 is not quite clear, as White's Knights are very useful in this position.
22...Nfd4!
A surprised dancing Knight!
23.cxd4 Nxd4 24.Qa2 Nf3+ 25.Kf1
Forced. If 25.Kh1?? Qh3 and White's King will be mated in one move!
25...Nxh2+ 26.Kg1
After 26.Ke2 e4! White's monarch won't survive either.
26...Nf3+ 27.Kf1 Qh3 28.Nce3 Nd4!
This Knight is worth more than a Rook.
29.Kg1 Re6!
A very unpleasant move for White, who can hardly move any of his pieces.
30.b3 Red6 31.Bb2 Nf3+ 32.Kf1 e4 33.dxe4
After the relatively best try 33.Ke2, Black wins by playing 33...Qh5! 34.g4 Qh3, for example 35.d4 Nxe1 36.Nxe1 Bxd4 37.Rxd4 Rxd4 38.Bxd4 Rxd4 39.Qb2 c5 40.Qc3 h5 41.gxh5 Qxh5+ 42.Kf1 Qh3+ 43.Ke2 g4.
33...Rd2 34.Rxd2 Rxd2 0-1