Sensation in world chess c'ship

By Kristianus Liem

This article is the second part of a report on the world chess championship held in Groningen, the Netherlands, in December.

JAKARTA (JP): The biggest surprise in the second round of the world chess championship in Groningen, the Netherlands, when world number six Vassily Ivanchuk (2725) of the Ukraine was smashed by former U.S. champion Yasser Seirawan (2630) in a line which the two had analyzed briefly together in 1991!

Ivanchuk , who usually is armed to the teeth with opening theory, was taken by surprise when Yasser played 5. Bd3. Seirawan likes that move against the King's Indian, often getting a better version of the Saemisch variation as in this game.

In their second game Ivanchuk clearly overpressed and should have lost, had it not been for Yasser's willingness to secure the victory with a draw which made it certain that he would pocket at least US$24,000!

White: GM Yasser Seirawan Black: GM Vassily Ivanchuk King's Indian Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3!?

One of Yasser's old pet-lines. The main purpose is not to avoid some home-prepared line in the King's Indian Defense. This policy seems even more reasonable when playing Ivanchuk, who may very well be the second best prepared player in the world after Kasparov.

5...e5 6.d5 a5 7.Nge2 Na6 8.f3 Nd7 9.Be3 Bh6?!

A known trick in the King's Indian Defense. Getting rid of a "bad" Bishop usually a good idea, but here it also weakens Ivanchuk's control of his black squares.

10.Qd2

After 10.Bxh6 Qh4+ and 11...Qxh6 Black wins the Bishop back.

10...Bxe3 11.Qxe3 c6?!

Better was 11...Ndc5 intending 12...f5.

12.Qh6 Ndc5 13.Rd1 Qb6?!

Stepping on a losing path. The Queen leaves the kingside dark squares unprotected. Better was 13...Nb4 14.Bb1 cxd5 15.cxd5 Qe7.

14.Bb1 Ke7

Taking on b2 with 14...Qxb2 would be a bad idea as it will allow White to attack the King on e8 directly after 15.Qg7 Rf8 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.Rxd6 Nd7 18.Rxc6 Nac5 19.0-0 Ba6 20.Rxc5 and White is clearly better.

15.f4!

Yasser usually prefers to nurture his space advantage in a much slower manner, but here he'd miss the boat by not acting immediately.

15...exf4

After 15...Nd7 16.Rf1 is strong.

16.Rf1 Rf8 17.Qxf4 f6

No time for 17...Qc7 18.Qf6+ (or 18.e5 dxe5 19.d6+ Qxd6 20.Qh4+ follow by 21.Rxd6) 18...Kd7 (also 18...Ke8 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Rxd6) 19.e5 and White is winning.

18.dxc6 Qxc6

See diagram. Awful, but what else? Certainly not 18...bxc6

19.Qxd6+ Ke8 20.Nd5 Black loses his Queen or mate at e7 square.

19.Nd4

The Knights finish the job powerfully and efficiently.

19...Qe8

For 19...Qd7 20.Nd5+ Kd8 21.Nb6 and Black lost his Rook.

20.Nd5+ Kd8 21.Qxd6+ Bd7 22.Nb5 1-0

Black resigned here. Ivanchuk didn't fancy seeing 22...Nxe4 23.Qb6+ (or 23.Bxe4 Qxe4+ 24.Kf2 White has too many threats) 23...Kc8 24.Nbc7 Qe5 25.Nxa8 Nc3+ 26.Qe3 and White always ends a piece up.