Shirov beats Yusupov, wins Klooster meet
By Kristianus Liem
JAKARTA (JP): Alexey Shirov of Spain captured first prize in the 10th Klooster tournament in Ter Apel, Holland, in March with a record score of four points out of five games.
In the last round, traditionally played in the chapel of the medieval Klooster monastery, a quick draw against current Russian Alexander Khalifman was enough to ensure the first prize of 5,000 Dutch guilders (about US$2,750).
The one-man show by Shirov seized almost all the attention. He won all first three rounds and drew in the other two. Khalifman was a serious contender from the beginning and the others never had a chance of winning top prize.
Robert Hubner and Loek van Wely suffered through some especially hard times. They played each other in the last round with the bottom ranking at stake. Van Wely finally won and escaped the lowest place.
The final scores were: 1. GM Alexey Shirov (2690, Spain) 4 MP; 2. GM Alexander Khalifman (2650, Russia) 3,5 MP; 3. GM Ulf Andersson (2655, Sweden) 3 MP; 4. GM Artur Yusupov (2665, German) 2,5 MP; 5. GM Loek van Wely (2645, the Netherlands) 1,5 MP; 6. GM Robert Hubner (2600, Germany) 0,5 MP.
Here is a theoretical battle between Shirov and Yusupov in which Shirov wins.
White: GM Alexey Shirov
Black: GM Artur Yusupov
Petroff Defense
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.c4 Nc6!?
Yusupov's favorite move, with which he often ends up in an inferior position.
8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.c5 Be7 10.Nc3 f5
In Horgen 1995, Yusupov played 10...Bf6 against Ivanchuk and lost after 11.Qc2! Bxd4 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 Qh4 14.g3 Qf6 15.Be3! Bxe3 16.fxe3 Qh6 17.Rf4 g5 18.Rf2 Bh3 19.Bf5 Rae8? 20.Qc3!. In Germany 1996 against Shirov, Yusupov played 10...Bf5!? and balanced out after 11.Qc2 Bg6 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Bxe4 Qxd4 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Be3 Qb4! 16.a3 Qb5 and the game ended drawn in 41-move.
11.f3! Ng5 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Bf4! Bf6 14.Rae1! Ne6 15.Be5 Bxe5 16.Rxe5 Qh4
The text hits the d4-pawn, which can't be supported by 17.Ne2? because 17...Nxc5! and Black is winning. For 16...Nf4 17.Ba6 Rb8 18.Qc2 Qg5 19.b3 and White position still slightly better. 17.f4! Nxf4 18.g3 Nh3+ 19.Kg2 Qh6
See diagram.
20.Nxd5!
This is White's powerful counterpoint. While Black's attack appears dangerous, his pieces are actually poorly coordinated. It's impressive how the h3-Knight becomes a tactical target.
20...f4 21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.Nf5 Qg5
Since 22...Bxf5 23.Rxf5 Rxf5 24.Bxf5 Ng5 25.Rxf4 snares a pawn.
23.Nh4 Qh6 24.Bf5 fxg3
Better here 24...Bxf5 but White still winning after 25.Nxf5 Qh5 26.Qd1! Qxd1 27.Rxd1 Ng5 28.gxf4.
25.hxg3 g6 26.Bxd7 Qd2+ 27.Kxh3 Rxf1 28.Bxc6 Raf8 29.Bg2!
The text enables White to consolidate nicely.
29...R1f2 30.Qd7 g5 31.Re7 Qc2 32.Be4!
Not much to calculate, but a fine move anyway.
32...Rh2+ 33.Kg4 Rxh4+ 34.gxh4 Qe2+ 35.Kxg5 Rg8+ 36.Kf6
Black resigned here, because it would be check after 36...Rf8+ 37.Ke5 Qh5+ 38.Ke6 Qh6+ 39.Kd5 Qh5+ (or 39...c6+ 40.Qxc6 Qh5+ 41.Kd6 Rf6+ 42.Re6 Rxe6+ 43.Kxe6 and now (a) 43...Qg4+ 44.Kd5 Qh5+ 45.Kc4 Qe2+ (or 45...Qf7+ 46.d5) 46.Bd3; (b) 43...Qh6+ 44.Kd5 Qh5+ 45.Kc4 Qe2+ 46.Bd3 both of the variations ended with the same result) 40.Kc4 Qe2+ 41.Bd3. 1-0