Teaser {Photograph}: Ding Liren-Gukesh, Sinquefield Chess Cup 2024
Picture: Lennart Ootes
CBM 220: Gukesh on the way in which to Olympus
ChessBase Journal gives a window to the world {of professional} chess. Our columnist, Nagesh Havanur takes a take a look at a current challenge, CBM 220. 512 video games, 38 annotated from the Candidates’ and seventh Sharjah Masters, 11 opening surveys, 3 opening movies, 6 demo. lectures and a number of other workouts for coaching. Annotators embody Gukesh, Firouzja, Giri and Praggnanandhaa amongst others. The icing on the cake is a particular characteristic on Gukesh with 24 annotated video games.
Evaluate by Nagesh Havanur
Whilst I write these strains, the 11th Sinquefield Cup Match has drawn to a detailed with Alireza Firouzja profitable the title. In the meantime chess followers additionally waited to see the efficiency of the reigning World Champion, Ding Liren and the Challenger, Dommaraju Gukesh. Sadly, Ding Liren ended up within the second half of the rating desk. Apparently, he’s nonetheless present process a disaster in his play. Hopefully, he would recuperate his means and energy quickly. Gukesh remained undefeated, however was slowed down by attracts.
Apparently Ding Liren and Gukesh met within the very first spherical and the temporary encounter was sharp, ending with honours even. It seems that each the world champion and the challenger have been testing their type weeks earlier than the Match for the title.
How good is Gukesh? The reply could also be discovered within the video games of the Candidates’ Match on this challenge. He completed with 9/14, solely half a degree forward of Nakamura, Nepomniachtchi and Caruana who all completed with 8.5/14.
Caruana would have drawn stage with Gukesh if he had gained the final spherical sport with Nepomniachtchi. Nevertheless, he missed a win or two and was solely a draw. This marathon encounter (109 strikes!) is annotated by Anish Giri. Nakamura was additionally answerable for pushing again Caruana by beating him within the 8th spherical. However then he spoilt his personal possibilities by dropping to Vidit Gujrathi twice on this occasion. Each these video games are annotated by Vidit* who in any other case had a depressing match. One participant who did current a problem to Gukesh was Alireza Firouzja. He was the one participant to beat the Indian grandmaster and annotates this vital sport.
It’s to the credit score of Gukesh that he saved his resolve to win the match regardless of this horrible loss. Once they met once more within the penultimate spherical Gukesh managed to beat him.
Gukesh- Firouzja, photograph Michal Walusza
This was a crucial encounter and I’ve given it right here with my very own commentary:
This challenge additionally consists of video games from the Ladies’s Candidates” Match. I’d have appreciated to see larger protection of this occasion with annotated video games. For now, allow us to see a sport by the winner Tan Zhongyi:
http://view.chessbase.com/cbreader/2024/8/29/Game947983046.html
A dramatic sport during which Tan Zhongyi took some horrible dangers to win. Her opponent, Anna Muzychuk additionally needs to be counseled for placing up a brave combat.
A younger star from Iran
This challenge additionally has video games from the 7th Sharjah Masters on this challenge. 17-year-old Bardiya Daneshvar took first place on tie break from skilled gamers, Volodar Murzin, Sam Shankland and Shamsiddin Vokhidov who all scored 6.5/9 factors. It was a powerful area with 88 gamers and included Arjun Erigaisi, Teimour Radjabov, Andrey Esipenko and Vladimir Fedoseev amongst others.
I used to be fascinated to see the next encounter:
Black’s play has a contact of jujutsu. First, it appeared that White was attacking after which he was put down with a collection of quiet blows.
A Gukesh Particular
This challenge has a particular characteristic on Gukesh with a number of 24 annotated video games. The opponents embody Abdusattorov, Esipenko, Keymer and Maghsoodloo, Predke, and Van Foreest and Volotkin amongst others. I’d have appreciated to see a sport or two with Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen.
Opening movies
The Candidates’ Match held in April this yr was exceptional for its contribution to opening idea. Spherical after spherical theoretical novelties appeared on the board testing the mettle of each gamers. The opening movies on this challenge supply temporary lectures on three of those experiments.
Within the first video Rustam Kasimdzhanov offers with a line with Black within the Sicilian Rossolimo Variation:1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 (B30).
The road was performed thrice by Caruana towards Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa and Vidit Gujrathi within the Candidates’ Match this yr. He drew with Firouzja with relative ease and was fortunate with Vidit and beat Pragg in a protracted ending.
Within the second video Luis Engel offers an introduction to a uncommon variation within the Sicilian Defence: 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5!? (B56)
It was employed by Nakamura who obtained a draw with it towards Caruana within the Candidates’ 2024.
Within the third video Mihail Marin has a dialogue of an outdated countergambit line within the Ruy Lopez, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 f5!? (C70)
Within the English-speaking world it is named Schliemann Defence Deferred, named after Adolf Schliemann (1817-1872). In Russia it’s known as Delayed Jaenisch Gambit after Carl Jaenisch (1813-1872). This specific line was employed by Praggnanandhaa towards Vidit Gujrathi with success within the current Candidates’ Match. Pragg has additionally annotated the sport on this challenge. Readers would do effectively to check each his evaluation of the sport and Marin’s commentary on the road.
Opening Surveys
There are as many as 11 opening surveys starting from the Ruy Lopez to the Reti on this challenge. Amongst them I’d single out Romain Edouard’s survey on the Elephant Gambit, 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d5!? (C40). If we go by his evaluation, the outlook will not be beneficial for Black. Perhaps, a correspondence sport would possibly discover a small enchancment in a sideline within the years to come back.
Moreover opening surveys, this challenge has normal options on techniques, technique and the endgame.
Endgame Play
Within the common column “Elementary Endgame Data” Karsten Müller gives a demo. lecture on knight and a pawn versus pawns. Knight endings usually are not straightforward. Nevertheless, Dr. Müller has a approach of explaining that places the learner on the consolation stage.
There’s one other demo. lecture on the endgame and it’s on the “Fortress” theme by Dorian Rogozenco. Helpful recommendation for the match participant.
This part additionally gives a column, “Readers write” during which we discover contributions by well-known consultants like Charles Sullivan and Zoran Petronijevic, apart from newcomers, Herbert Bastian and Wolfram Schön amongst others.
Summing up
The principle database of the difficulty has 512 video games of which 38 are deeply annotated. There’s a lot else on this DVD that deserves to be explored. Aside from the gamers I’ve already talked about, the commentators embody Petra Papp, Krisztian Szabo and Tanmay Srinath amongst others. It could be famous that there are extra annotated video games within the opening and coaching sections of this challenge. Properly, follow makes good.
Notes:
1) On this challenge his identify seems as Santosh Gujrathi Vidit. Dr. Santosh Gujrathi is a homeopath in Nashik, off Mumbai. Vidit is his son.
2) Jonathan Speelman’s writings supply an perception into the Candidates’ 2024:
https://en.chessbase.com/publish/speelman-agony-214
https://en.chessbase.com/publish/speelman-agony-215
3)Amongst others I’ve discovered the commentary on the Candidates’ 2024 useful within the following magazines, New in Chess Journal # 3/2024, 64–Шахматное обозрение, 06/2024 and British Chess Journal, June 2024
4) Tan Zhongyi has annotated her sport Anna Muzychuk in New in Chess Journal, #3/2024
5) Here’s a ultimate view of the Ladies’s Candidates’ Match:
https://en.chessbase.com/publish/candidates-tournament-2024-women-14
6) Extra on Bardia Daneshvar’s victory on the Sharjah Masters 2024:
https://en.chessbase.com/publish/sharjah-masters-2024-9
That is adopted by an interview with the winner:
