British Chess 11.2024

Volume 144
NOVEMBER
2024
£8.00
DING VS GUKESH
THE FIGHT FOR THE CHESS CROWN
WHAT DOES THE MATCH IN SINGAPORE
MEAN FOR THE FUTURE OF CHESS?
FROM PARIS TO NEW YORK: THE SURREALISTS’ LOVE AFFAIR WITH CHESS
IMPRESSUM
Contents
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
Founded 1881
www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk
Chairman Shaun Taulbut

Director Stephen Lowe
671
Editors Gukesh
Milan Dinic and Shaun Taulbut Dommaraju:
“I just want to
Photo editor
David Llada
enjoy the experience”
Prepress Specialist 644 Triumph and tragedy in Singapore:

Milica Mitic There is no such thing as an easy
World Championship match, And
Photography
FIDE Official - Michal Walusza,
this one won’t be either
Stev Bonhage, David Llada, By GM Aleksandar Colovic
U.S. Chess Trust, Shutterstock,
Wikipedia 673 Interview: Steve Doyle
Lessons from
Advertising half a century in the game
Stephen Lowe By Milan Dinic
Enquiries
editor@britishchessmagazine.co.uk
676 Northumbria Festival
ISSN 0007-0440
By IM Shaun Taulbut
© The British Chess Magazine Limited
682 Tony Buzan – Chess Lover
Company Limited by Shares By Grandmaster Raymond Keene OBE
Registered in England No 00334968
687 Openings for Amateurs
Postal correspondence: The most frustrating
Albany House, 14 Shute End annotated game ever!
Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1BJ
By Pete Tamburro
Subscription
support@britishchessmagazine.co.uk 693 CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY
12 monthly issues OF FIDE AND OF SURREALISM
UK: £65 | RoW: £96
698 Quotes add Queries
Printed in the UK: by Lavenham Press Ltd From the Scotch to the Ruy Lopez:
Unconventional uses of
Cover photography: ...g5 in chess
Shutterstock
By Alan Smith
642 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

The pivot to Asia:
What Gukesh and Ding’s battle means for chess
The match in Singapore is not just about interest in the West wane? Will a continued
who will become world champion, but also focus on Asia make it more challenging for
about the future of chess. FIDE to attract Western sponsors and host
marquee events in the West?
The upcoming World Championship match,
set to commence at the end of the month Since the fall of the Soviet Union, Western
in Singapore, has some in the chess world Europe and America have taken on a lot
already considering the outcome a foregone of the post-Soviet talent, leading to more
conclusion. The Challenger, 18-year-old chess in the West. FIDE has been proactive
Gukesh Dommaraju, has demonstrated superior in forging Western partnerships — just this
form and consistency, standing in stark contrast year they secured Google as the presenter
to the uneven and fragile performance of the of the Singapore match, hosted a World
reigning World Champion, Ding Liren. Corporate Championship on Wall Street
featuring the likes of BlackRock and
The betting markets echo this sentiment. As Goldman Sachs, and are holding the World
of early November, the odds heavily favour Rapid and Blitz in New York this Christmas.
Gukesh. For instance, Bwin lists him at 1/2 But as Asia takes centre stage, particularly
odds, implying a 66.7% chance of victory, India, will it lead not only in playing talent
compared to Ding’s 29/20, which suggests but also in sponsorship and organisational
a 40.8% chance. Similarly, Bet365 places influence? And if so, how will this change
Gukesh at 2/5 and Ding at 7/4. Given some the face of chess and how will FIDE balance
experience I have in polling (I head content it? One example is the Global Chess League
strategy at the polling company, YouGov – sponsored by billionaire Anand Mahindra
and have closely followed or been involved and his company – which is looking towards
in election polling in the past 10 years) the Indian Cricket League for inspiration.
public perception may not often align with
the outcome, especially if many people For a perspective from the West, this issue
think one side has already won. features an interview with Steve Doyle, a
high-profile executive from New Jersey who
In this issue of BCM, GM Alex Colovic has been involved in chess for over 50 years.
provides an excellent analysis of the His insights reveal how chess is perceived in
strengths and weaknesses of both the U.S. and what we might expect from this
contenders. Yet, as Ding wisely observed, part of the world, moving forward.
Gukesh may have momentum, but a match
setting is different from tournament play— Finally, it’s important to acknowledge that
where the Chinese champion has the good people are out there at the heart of any
advantage of recent experience from last meaningful pursuit—be it in chess, life, or
year’s world championship. relationships. Or, as BCM Director Stephen
Lowe aptly says: “Givers.” This issue marks
Beyond the match itself, an intriguing broader the retirement of one such person, Pete
question arises: What are the implications Tamburro, whose Opening for Amateurs
of chess increasingly pivoting towards column has graced the magazine for a decade.
Asia? Regardless of who wins, the world Pete’s professionalism, love for chess, vast
crown will remain in the East, mirroring knowledge, and easy-going nature make him
the longstanding dominance of Asian one of those special people who elevate both
players in the women’s game. This shift chess and life. BCM and I, as editor, thank
raises significant questions about the future Pete for his invaluable work and support and
of chess sponsorship and audiences. Will wish him all the best in his future endeavours.
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 643

11/144 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH - PREVIEW
TRIUMPH AND
TRAGEDY IN SINGAPORE:
THE FIGHT FOR THE CHESS CROWN
THERE IS NO SUCH
THING AS AN EASY WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH, AND
THIS ONE WON’T
BE EITHER
By GM Aleksandar Colovic; www.alexcolovic.com

Photo: FIDE Official / Michal Walusza, Stev Bonhage, David Llada
November 2024
The upcoming match for the World

Championship title is already a peculiar one.
THE CHAMPION
Scheduled in Singapore, from 25 November It was only in a relatively recent
to 13 December (the first and last playing interview that it became fully known
days), it features a clash between two players what happened to Ding Liren before,
who could not be in more contrasting states. during, and after the match in Astana.
Just before that match, Ding suffered
There haven’t been many World Championship heartbreak due to the end of a long-
matches where the reigning World Champion term relationship with his girlfriend. A
was given so little hope of retaining his title. In gentle soul, he suffered greatly in the
this respect, only two relatively recent matches aftermath, which coincided with the
come to mind: the match in Elista in 2006, when match in Astana.
the ailing and “weak” Vladimir Kramnik faced
the rampant and all-conquering Veselin Topalov; Sometimes, it’s possible to play well
and the match in Chennai in 2013, when when suffering emotionally. The player
the whole world anticipated the “inevitable” detaches himself from the game at hand,
crowning of Magnus Carlsen over the past-his- as the emotional turmoil becomes all-
prime champion Viswanathan Anand. encompassing, only to find that playing
in this disinterested state of mind enables
We already know the results of these him to play quite decently.
matches: Kramnik raised his level
compared to his previous appearances The match in Astana was full of ups and
and beat Topalov, while Anand couldn’t downs, probably mirroring Ding’s mental
do the same and was beaten by Carlsen. state, but, in view of the above, I now see
What will happen in Singapore? Which his epic 46...¦g6 in a different light – a
path of his predecessors will Ding Liren move played by someone who is brave
follow – Kramnik’s or Anand’s? because he doesn’t care as much.
I remember reading about Fischer’s After winning the title, Ding stepped
preparations for his match with Spassky and out of the public eye, visited clinics
what he said afterward. While preparing for and various doctors, and tried to get his
their match, he reviewed all of Spassky’s physical and mental health in order. Alas,
games and confidently claimed that Spassky’s as we have seen so far, he hasn’t been
level had dropped in the couple of years prior. very successful.
This gave him confidence going into the
match, and now we know he was right. What This has been reflected in his results,
he said after the match was also insightful – which have been underwhelming,
Spassky played as he expected him to, at the to put it mildly. These poor results
same level as in the tournaments leading up stem from several factors. The most
to the match. important one is his lack of mental
stamina – the ability to withstand the
This resonates with what Magnus Carlsen tension throughout an entire game. This
has said about how players perform in World problem has been particularly painful
Championship matches. He noted that they for Ding, as his opponents have come
play as they have played in the period leading with a simple game plan when facing
up to the match. Similar to Fischer, he meant him: play any complex position, keep
the level over a prolonged period before the the tension, and wait for Ding to
match, not based on one bad result. collapse. Unfortunately for Ding, this
strategy has worked all too well. Here
These observations from his predecessors is a typical example of that strategy
do not bode well for Ding Liren. working to perfection:

11/144
Alireza Firouzja – Ding Liren 14...¤g7 Possible, but somewhat timid.

Choosing timid continuations when more
11th Sinquefield Cup Saint Louis USA (7.4) dynamic and aggressive ones are available
has become characteristic of Ding’s post-
1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥c4 ¤f6 4.d3 ¥c5 championship play.
5.c3 d6 6.a4 a5 7.¥g5 h6 8.¥h4 £e7 A
small subtlety. Black could have played 8... 14...£f6 was more circumspect. After
g5 immediately, but he waits for White to 15.h3 ¥e6 16.¦f1 ¤e7 Black builds up his
commit with his king’s position. kingside play;
9.0–0 In case of 9.¤bd2 Black can still wait 14...f5 was another attempt. 15.exf5 £g7
with 9...¥a7. 16.£b3+ ¢h8 17.d4 exd4 18.¥d3 ¤xg3+
19.fxg3 ¦ab8 is a very sharp position with
9...g5 10.¥g3 ¥g4 11.¤bd2 ¥a7 12.¥b5 chances for both sides.
0–0 13.¦e1 ¤h5 14.¢h1
XIIIIIIIIY 15.h3 ¥h5 16.¥c4 ¢h8 17.¥d5 ¤d8 17...£d7
with the idea of ...f5 was more dynamic.
9r+-+-trk+0
9vlpzp-wqp+-0 18.d4
9-+nzp-+-zp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zpL+-zp-zpn0 9r+-sn-tr-mk0
9P+-+P+l+0 9vlpzp-wqpsn-0
9+-zPP+NvL-0 9-+-zp-+-zp0
9-zP-sN-zPPzP0 9zp-+Lzp-zpl0
9tR-+QtR-+K0 9P+-zPP+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zP-+NvLP0
The engine disapproves of this move. 9-zP-sN-zPP+0
14.h3 is natural, but likely Firouzja was 9tR-+QtR-+K0
worried about 14...¥xh3?! with the idea of xiiiiiiiiy
...¤xg3. The complications after (14...¥e6 is 18...f6 Ding plays solidly. Nothing wrong
better, after 15.¤f1 f5 16.exf5 ¦xf5 17.¤e3 with it, as the position is fine for Black.
¤xg3 18.fxg3 the position is quite unclear
with mutual chances.) 15.¤xe5! are in 19.¤f1 White could have waited for Black
White’s favour, but they are hard to calculate: to play ...c6 first before rerouting the knight,
15...¤xg3 16.¤xc6 bxc6 17.¥xc6 ¦ab8 as with the c6–square still available for the
(17...¥e6? 18.¥xa8 ¦xa8 19.£f3 traps knight, Black had an interesting change of
the knight on g3.) 18.gxh3 £e6 19.£g4 the course at his disposal.
most human move. (19.¢g2? ¥xf2! 20.¢xf2
£xh3 21.£f3 ¦xb2 22.¦ad1 f5! is a mess, 19...c6 Ding continues with his plan.
where Black has enough compensation
for the piece; 19.¦b1! cooly defending the 19...exd4!? 20.cxd4 ¤c6 was a curious way
pawn on b2 is what the engine prefers. It to take advantage of the availability of the
looks scary after 19...£xh3 but White has c6–square and attack White’s centre. Now
20.£f3 and keeps things under control after the pawn on d4 is under attack thanks to the
a subsequent d4.) 19...¦xb2 20.£xg3 ¦xd2 pin on the knight on f3, so White is on the
21.d4 and White is better thanks to the bishop defensive. 21.¥xc6 bxc6 22.¤1h2 £d7
on a7 being out of play. with ...f5 next and Black has the initiative.

November 2024
20.¥a2 ¤de6 21.¤e3 ¦ad8 A natural 23...¥g6? Ding misses his chance.
move, Black brings the last reserves into
the game. 23...¥xg4! 24.hxg4 ¦h8! was a great
way to start an attack on the h-file.
21...¦ae8 was an alternative. 22.¤f5 ¤xf5! White is in trouble here after 25.¢g1
(22...£d7? is bad in view of 23.dxe5 and h5 26.gxh5 ¢g8 27.¥a2 ¤xh5 28.¥h2
the queen is not defended on d7, so Black ¢f8 intending ...¤f4 and being able to
loses material.) 23.exf5 ¤g7 24.¥h2 ¥xf3 recapture with a knight. 29.¥xe6 £xe6
25.£xf3 e4! this is only possible because 30.£d3 ¦d7 with a strong initiative on
the rook on e8 supports it. 26.£d1 ¤xf5 the kingside.
and Black wins a pawn, though after 27.f3
White has certain compensation. 24.£d2 The game resumes its maneuvering
nature now.
22.¤g4 22.¤f5!? was possible now. After
22...£d7 (22...¤xf5 23.exf5 ¤g7 24.¥h2! 24...¤f4? A tactical mistake that went
with g4 next Black’s knight on g7 won’t unnoticed because it was very difficult to
be a happy piece. Here 24...¥xf3 25.£xf3 precisely evaluate the complications after
doesn’t help as Black cannot follow up with the capture of the knight. Black should have
...e4 as in the line after 21...¦ae8.) 23.¥xe6 continued with maneuvers with moves like
(23.¤xh6 exd4 24.¤g4 dxc3 25.bxc3 is 24...£f7 or 24...¦fe8.
very complicated and unclear after 25...d5
26.exd5 cxd5) 23...£xe6 24.¤xg7 ¢xg7 25.¥c2? Missing a chance, but it’s
25.¤xg5 temporarily this wins a pawn, pardonable in view of the complexity of the
but after 25...hxg5 26.£xh5 exd4 Black correct move.
regains it, with an unclear position.
25.¥xf4! was strong. Now whichever
22...¢h7 23.¥b1? Not only does this look way Black recaptures White plays ¤h4!
odd, shutting the rook on a1, but here even 25...exf4 (25...gxf4 26.¤h4 ¥f7 27.¥c2
the appearances don’t lie. White didn’t with further ¤h2, ¦g2 and opening of
have too many constructive moves at his the g-file with g3 gives White excellent
disposal, though. chances. However, this is not so easy
to grasp from afar.) 26.¤h4! # a piece
23.¥h2 doesn’t do much, but it also doesn’t sacrifice that works, but this is just the
spoil anything; beginning of a forcing line: 26...gxh4
27.£xf4 ¢h8 28.£xh6+ ¥h7 29.e5
23.¤e3 it was possible to go back, again f5 30.¤f6 ¦xf6 31.£xf6 ¦e8 32.£h6!
not spoiling anything. and White has a solid advantage, but the
XIIIIIIIIY position remains complex.
9-+-tr-tr-+0 25...£e6 Both players ignore the idea of
9vlp+-wq-snk0 ¥xf4 followed by ¤h4.
9-+pzpnzp-zp0 25...¤ge6 26.¦ad1 £f7 remains tense.
9zp-+-zp-zpl0
9P+-zPP+N+0 26.¦ad1 26.¥xf4 exf4 27.¤h4! works
again, though in a somewhat better
9+-zP-+NvLP0 version for Black after the difficult to see
9-zP-+-zPP+0 27...gxh4 28.£xf4 h5! 29.£h6+ ¢g8
30.e5! an amazing move, but the only
9tRL+QtR-+K0 one if White is not to become worse.
xiiiiiiiiy 30...¥xc2 31.exf6 £f7 32.fxg7 £xg7

11/144
33.£xh5 £g6 34.¤h6+ ¢h8 35.¤f7+

¢g7 36.£xg6+ ¢xg6 37.¤xd8 ¦xd8
38.¦e7 ¦b8 when the passive bishop on
a7 gives White good winning chances in
the endgame.
26...h5 27.¤gh2 The alternative was to put

the knight on e3, but perhaps Firouzja was
worried about a possible sacrifice on h3.
27.¤e3 objectively this was better, but

White had to see that after 27...¤xh3
28.¤f5! is good for him after 28...¤f4
29.dxe5 dxe5 30.£xd8! ¦xd8 31.¦xd8
which according to the engine is winning
for White. Ding Liren and Alireza Firouzja
Photo: Stev Bonhage
27...£f7 28.¤f1 Without the threat of
...¤xh3 White sends the knight to e3.
29...¢h8 kept the position complex.
28...¤fe6 Ding keeps the knight on g7 in
order to have better control of the f5–square, 30.cxd4 The pawn on a5 hangs.
but it was possible to keep the knight on f4
instead. 30...d5 30...¥b6 31.d5 and Black is
positionally busted.
28...¤ge6 29.¤e3 h4 30.¥h2 ¥h5
surrenders control of the f5–square, but 31.exd5 cxd5 32.¥xg6+ £xg6 33.£xa5
Black’s active pieces compensate for it. Black lost a pawn for nothing. The rest is
relatively simple.
29.¤e3
XIIIIIIIIY 33...¥b8 34.¥xb8 ¦xb8 35.£xd5 ¤f4
36.£b5 g4 37.hxg4 hxg4 38.¤h4 £g5
9-+-tr-tr-+0 39.¤ef5 ¤xf5 40.£xf5+ £xf5 41.¦e7+
9vlp+-+qsnk0 ¢h6 42.¤xf5+ ¢g6 43.¤h4+
9-+pzpnzpl+0 1–0
9zp-+-zp-zpp0
9P+-zPP+-+0 The fatigue, both mental and physical,
9+-zP-sNNvLP0 that seems to affect him when the
9-zPLwQ-zPP+0 game is complex also takes its toll on
his ability to calculate. Normally an
9+-+RtR-+K0 excellent calculator, more often than not
xiiiiiiiiy Ding fails to find the correct solution
29...exd4? Here comes the characteristic when precise calculation is needed.
moment. After a tense game that involved Here is another example from the same
a lot of calculation and strategical Sinquefield Cup:
considerations, Ding collapses. The
opening of the position is fatal for Black as
he simply loses the pawn on a5. Ding must
have miscalculated something here.

November 2024
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Ding Liren XIIIIIIIIY

11th Sinquefield Cup Saint Louis USA (9.5) 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+q+pmk-0
9-+lwq-mk-tr0 9Q+-zpr+-+0
9+r+-+p+-0 9zP-+-zp-+p0
9p+-zp-+n+0 9-zPp+P+lzP0
9+-+-zp-+p0 9+-zPn+-vL-0
9-zPp+P+-zP0 9-+-+-+P+0
9+-zP-+QvL-0 9tR-+-+R+K0
9P+L+-+P+0 xiiiiiiiiy
Black literally has nothing.
9tR-+-+R+K0
xiiiiiiiiy 34...¥e2 35.¦f5 ¦g6 36.¢h2 d5 37.¦g5
In this sharp position Black had only one
way to stay in the game. Ding didn’t find it. 1–0
26...¥g4? A "safe" move, but one that

practically loses. The other problem with the lack of mental
stamina is his desire to end the game as
26...¤xh4! Black had to bite the bullet quickly as possible. This was very apparent
and take the pawn. Now after 27.£f6 in his last tournaments, when at the first
£xf6 28.¦xf6 ¤g6 29.¦xd6 h4 30.¥f2 sight of a simplification or a draw, Ding
¢g7 he has enough counterplay because never hesitated to take that path, even in
White’s pair of bishops isn’t very effective very advantageous positions. His last game
and Black has his pawns covered - the against Gukesh was a crystal-clear example:
pawn on c4 can be defended by ...¥e6
and taking on a6 after 31.¦xa6? ¦d7! Ding Liren - Gukesh D
loses for White as the threat is ...¦d2,
hitting both bishops. 11th Sinquefield Cup Saint Louis USA (1.4)
27.£f2 Black is now helpess against the

XIIIIIIIIY
simple advance of White’s pawns on the 9r+-wq-trk+0
queenside. 9+p+-+p+p0
27...¢g7 28.a4 ¦e8 29.¥d1 ¦d7 30.a5 9-+-+l+pwQ0
Threatening ¥a4, a threat Ding ignores. 9zp-zp-zP-+-0
30...¤f4 A desperate counterattack, trying
9-+-zp-+-+0
to land a knight on d3. 9+-zP-+-tRP0
9PzP-+-zPP+0
Even 30...¥xd1 31.¦axd1 ¦e6 32.¢h2 is
long-term prospectless for Black, who has 9tR-+-+LmK-0
way too many weaknesses - a6, c4, d6 and xiiiiiiiiy
h5 cannot all be protected at all times. 20.¥d3? A characteristic moment. Ding
sees a chance to force a draw and takes it
31.¥a4 ¤d3 32.£b6 ¦e6 33.¥xd7 £xd7 immediately, in spite of having a pleasant
34.£xa6 attacking position.

11/144
20.¦e1! was strong. White has a safe 29...h6 was the only move to avoid mate.
position, his pieces cannot be chased After 30.¥xd4 ¥xd4 31.¦xd4 ¤e5 gives
away from the attacking positions on the Black decent compensation for the pawn
kingside and he can try to improve his thanks to his well-placed pieces.
position by means of ¦e4–h4, h4–h5, ¥d3
etc. The fact that Ding didn’t choose even 30.£xh7+ 30.£xh7+ ¢xh7 31.¦h4#
such a safe and at the same time very
promising option, speaks a lot about his 1–0
lack of confidence and ability to withstand
the tension of a game of chess played out
until its logical end. The following game from the Olympiad
was noted by Hikaru Nakamura as an
20...c4 21.¥e4 21.¥xg6 was already excellent example of the degradation
possible. of the quality of Ding Liren’s moves
as the game progresses. Starting from
21...d3 22.¥xg6 Taking the draw. There a pleasant endgame Ding drifted into a
was nothing better anyway, the chance was drawn one, then a drawn but unpleasant
missed on move 20. one, which eventually he even managed
to lose.
22...fxg6 23.¦xg6+ hxg6 24.£xg6+ ¢h8
25.£h6+ ¢g8 26.£g6+ ¢h8 27.£h6+ Ding Liren – Le Quang Liem
¢g8 28.£g6+
45th Olympiad 2024 Budapest HUN (6.1),
½–½ XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-trk+0
Blunders have also been a problem for 9zpp+nzpp+p0
Ding, the most famous one being the 9-+-+-vlpzP0
following:
9sn-+-+-+-0
Magnus Carlsen - Ding Liren 9P+r+L+-+0
12th Norway Chess 2024 Stavanger NOR (6.1) 9+-+-+-zP-0
XIIIIIIIIY 9-zP-+PzP-sN0
9-+-tr-wq-mk0 9+RvL-+RmK-0
9zp-+n+-zpp0 xiiiiiiiiy
White has a very comfortable position in
9-tr-+-zp-+0 the endgame thanks to the pair of bishops
9+-+LvlP+Q0 in a symmetrical position. Thanks to the
9-+PzpR+-+0 double attack on the bishop on e4 and the
pawn on a4 Black can win a pawn, but
9+-+P+-+-0 White still keeps the pressure.
9P+-+-vL-zP0
19.¥f3 ¦xa4 20.¤g4 The bishop on f6 is
9+-+-+R+K0 short of squares on the long diagonal.
xiiiiiiiiy
29...¦b2?? When this move appeared on 20...¤b3 20...¥h8 kept the bishop alive,
the board, I realised Ding didn’t see White’s though after 21.b3 ¦d4 22.¥e3 ¦d6
threat at all. That’s why he was spending a 23.¦fd1 with a pleasant initiative - the
lot of time, he thought he had a choice... bishops are very powerful.

November 2024
21.¦d1 ¤e5 22.¤xe5 Ding decides to 24...¦b8! 24...¤xe2+?! 25.¢g2 threatens

let the bishop on f6 live, keeping his own ¦e1. 25...¥f6 26.¥xf6 exf6 27.¦d7 and
bishop pair and regaining the pawn, but he Black still suffers with a weak king and a
had an interesting alternative at his disposal. possible attack on the f7–pawn after ¥d5
and the second white rook coming to the
22.¤xf6+!? exf6 23.¥e3 was very seventh rank.
interesting, the point being that after
23...¤xf3+ 24.exf3 b6 25.¦d6 f5 26.¢f1 25.¥f3 f6! Now Black manages to get
White dominates thanks to the superior some breathing space for the king and is
minor piece and the all-important pawn no longer worse. Perhaps Ding thought that
on h6, which emphasises the weakness of the game should end in a draw very soon
Black’s back rank. as the remaining pawns on the queenside
are eliminated, but things turn out to be
22...¥xe5 23.¥g5 White attacks the pawns not so simple.
on e7 and b7 at the same time.
26.¥e3 ¤xf3+ 27.exf3
23...¤d4?! This proves to be an unstable XIIIIIIIIY
construction.
9-tr-+-+k+0
23...¥d6 24.¥xb7 ¦b4 25.¥g2 a5 would 9zp-+-zp-+p0
have allowed Black bigger stability on the
dark squares. 9-+-+-zppzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-vl-+-0
9-+-+-trk+0 9r+-+-+-+0
9zpp+-zpp+p0 9+-+-vLPzP-0
9-+-+-+pzP0 9-zP-+-zP-+0
9+-+-vl-vL-0 9+R+R+-mK-0
9r+-sn-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
27...¥d6! Le senses the moment that for
9+-+-+LzP-0 the first time in the game it is Black who
9-zP-+PzP-+0 can press now.
9+R+R+-mK-0 The immediate 27...¦xb2 was also possible as
xiiiiiiiiy Black manages to cover the pawn on e7 after
24.¥xb7? Natural, but worse than the 28.¦xb2 ¥xb2 29.¦d7 ¢f7 30.¥c5 ¦a1+
alternative. As the next two moves show, 31.¢g2 ¦e1 but this is just a dead draw.
this allows Black to improve the position
of his king. 28.¦a1 ¦xa1 29.¦xa1 ¦xb2 30.¦xa7
The position is a draw, but it transpires that
24.¥xe7! ¦e8 (24...¤xf3+ 25.exf3 ¦e8 the pawn on h6, which was a big asset for
26.¦d7 is given as winning for White by the White earlier, confining Black’s king to
engine. The reason is the weak black king the eighth rank, not becomes a liability as
and the fact that White threatens a quick it’s hard to defend after ...g5, followed by
¦bd1 and ¦d8.) 25.¥c5 ¤xf3+ 26.exf3 b6 ...¢f7–g6. The tables have turned and now
27.b3 ¦a2 28.¥e3 the engine gives White it is White who needs to be a little careful.
a stable advantage thanks to the mobility of When we started our analysis we saw
his kingside pawns and the fact that Black’s Ding with the more pleasant position and
king is weak due to the constant possibility pressing, but he misplayed it and now he is
of threats along the eighth rank. the one that needs to exert care.

11/144
30...g5 Intending ...¢f7–g6.
31.¦a8+ ¢f7 32.f4 gxf4 33.gxf4 ¢g6

34.¦g8+ Giving up the pawn, but reducing
the material.
34.f5+ was an alternative, not giving up the

pawn because of the idea 34...¢xf5 35.¦h8
and Black cannot defend the pawn on h7
as 35...¢g6 36.¦g8+ ¢f5 37.¦g7 leads to
White capturing on h7.
34...¢xh6 35.f5+ ¢h5 36.¦g7 White goes

after the h7–pawn, but loses the f5–pawn in
the process. In view of the very reduced
material, this shouldn’t have mattered as Richard Rapport stood as Ding’s pillar
White should be able to make a relatively in the last match in Astana. Will he once
easy draw. again provide the support Ding needs?
Photo: Michal Walusza
36...¦b5 37.¦xh7+ ¢g4 38.¢g2 ¦b2
39.¦h8 ¢xf5
XIIIIIIIIY made more sense to bring the king to the
centre with 43.¢f3.
9-+-+-+-tR0
9+-+-zp-+-0 43...¦e7
9-+-vl-zp-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+-+k+-0 9-+-+R+-+0
9-+-+-+-+0 9+-+-tr-+-0
9+-+-vL-+-0 9-+-zpkzp-+0
9-tr-+-zPK+0 9+-+-+-+-0
9+-+-+-+-0 9-+-+-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+-+-0
40.¥c5 Ding decides to enter a rook 9-+-+-zPK+0
endgame. A matter of choice, as he could
have kept the bishops on the board, too. 9+-+-+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy
40...¦b7!? Le invites a rook endgame but 44.¦a8? Strangely enough, the losing mistake.
at least one where he gets a passed pawn.
44.¦d8! rooks behind passed pawns was
40...¥xc5 41.¦h5+ is an elementary draw valid here as well! After 44...d5 45.¢f3
after White recaptures the bishop on c5. ¢e5 46.¢e3 White draws as Black cannot
With 2 vs 1 without a passed pawn Black play ...d4 since with the rook on d8 White
has no chances to play for a win. simply takes the pawn. Compare this
position to the comment to White’s 46th
41.¥xd6 exd6 42.¦d8 ¢e6 43.¦e8+ move, 46.¢e3, to see the difference.
Somewhere around here it appears that Ding
started to lose the plot and plays carelessly. 44...d5! 45.¢f3 ¢e5 46.¦a1 White’s
The check doesn’t spoil anything, but it problem is that after 46.¢e3 d4+ 47.¢d3

November 2024
¢f4! cuts the white king from the kingside 49.f3 f5 50.¦a5+ ¢f4 51.¦d5 ¦b2+
and Black wins after 48.¢xd4 ¦e2 which 52.¢e1 ¦h2 With a cut off king on the first
will eventually lead to the Lucena position rank White has no chances.
when the Black pawn reaches the f2–square;
53.¢f1 53.¦xd4+ ¢e3 wins the rook.
46.¦a4 d4 47.¦a5+ ¢d6! again cuts White’s
king off, this time from the passed d-pawn. 53...¢xf3 54.¦xf5+ ¢e3 55.¦e5+ ¢d2
56.¦a5 White’s problem is that his rook is
46...¦e6? Allowing a saving opportunity. on the "short" side, so the side checks can
easily be dealt with.
46...¦c7! was correct as White doesn’t have
a useful move, for example 47.¦a4 ¦c3+ 56...¦h1+ 57.¢f2 d3 58.¦a8 ¦h7
48.¢e2 d4 and Black keeps advancing in a 59.¦a2+ ¢c3 60.¦a3+ ¢c2 61.¦a2+
similar fashion to the game. ¢b3 62.¦a8 ¦e7
XIIIIIIIIY 0–1
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0
A very poor loss, clearly indicating
9-+-+rzp-+0 Ding’s difficulty in maintaining a
9+-+pmk-+-0 consistently high level of play throughout
9-+-+-+-+0 the game.
9+-+-+K+-0 With all the damning characteristics we
9-+-+-zP-+0 mentioned above, it is not surprising
that nearly everyone believes the
9tR-+-+-+-0 match is already lost. Some have even
xiiiiiiiiy suggested that Ding might as well resign
47.¦a4? But Ding misses it. without playing. What chance does Ding
possibly have in the upcoming match?
47.¦e1+! ¢d6 48.¦a1 was the saving idea. Has there been any positive indication
Black’s pieces are awkwardly placed and he can build upon?
he cannot advance conveniently. 48...¢c5
(48...d4 49.¦a6+ ¢d5 50.¦xe6 ¢xe6 The simple answer is no. At World
51.¢e4 and Black loses the extra pawn Championship level, he stands no chance
with a drawn pawn endgame; 48...¦e4 with the level he has displayed so far,
49.¦a8 keeps the rook active when White including at the Olympiad. According
can give checks either from the side or to Fischer and Carlsen’s observations
from behind.) 49.¢f4! is the key move - above, Ding should continue to struggle.
White threatens ¢f5, but the king is also
close enough to come back to the e-file to Ding needs a miracle—a miracle that will,
fight against the passed d-pawn. 49...d4 (or out of nowhere, make him enjoy chess again,
49...¦d6 50.¢e3! involving the king in the make him feel free again, and ultimately
defence against the passed pawn; 49...¢c4 allow him to play chess as he knows he can.
50.¦c1+ ¢b3 51.¦d1 ¦d6 52.¢e3! is
similar.) 50.¢f5 ¦d6 51.¢e4! and the king It goes against the narrative, but I will
makes it back in time again. venture that Ding will surprise us. He
may not win the match, but he won’t be a
47...¦b6 Black is winning again. walkover. There is no such thing as an easy
World Championship match, and this one
48.¢e2 d4 Black advances now. won’t be either.

11/144
THE CHALLENGER
Gukesh is the exact opposite of everything
we’ve said about Ding above. Full of
confidence, showing high-level chess,
and able to withstand and sustain tension
throughout his games, he possesses a killer
instinct that drives him to fight until the end.
If we apply Fischer and Carlsen’s

observations, we see him as a stable
player who has demonstrated very high-
level chess over a prolonged period,
which we can also expect in the match.
These superlatives are well-deserved. Wei Yi and Gukesh

Nobody becomes a Challenger by chance, Photo: Michal Walusza
and even more so at the age of 18—the
youngest ever in history. At 18, players Liem he decided to skip the game against his
are typically unburdened by psychological Challenger, who prior to this game won all
problems arising outside the chessboard, his games. Wei Yi stepped in and with all the
which is another big plus for Gukesh. other games drawn, this was the last game to
finish. The endgame was drawn for a long
To illustrate Gukesh’s strengths, here’s time, but Gukesh kept looking for chances
a reminder from the last issue of BCM in and posing problems. By here he managed to
shortened form. Both games are from the make it very difficult for his opponent since
Olympiad and showcase his perseverance, in a very sharp position and with little time
ability to maintain tension until the end, on the clock it was hard for Wei Yi to find the
and a killer instinct that leaves no chances. narrow path to a draw.
Gukesh D – Wei Yi 71...h3? The losing mistake. It’s hard to
45th Olympiad 2024 Budapest HUN (7.1) blame Wei Yi, because the drawing line
was impossible to see.
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-mk-+-+0 71...¦d1+! is the only move. The hard
9+-+-+-+-0 part was to understand that after 72.¢c4
h3 73.f7 ¦c1+! (again strictly the only
9-+-+-zP-+0 move!) 74.¢d3 (74.¢b5 ¦f1! and Black
9zp-+-sN-+-0 draws.) 74...¢e7! 75.¤g5 h2 76.¤g6+
9P+-+N+-zp0 ¢d7 77.f8£ h1£ White has the move and
a queen and two knights around Black’s
9+-+K+-+-0 lone king, but there is no mate.
9-+-+-+-+0
72.f7 ¦f1 72...¢e7 also loses to 73.¤g5
9+-+-+-+r0 ¦d1+ 74.¢c4 ¦c1+ 75.¢b5! this makes
xiiiiiiiiy all the difference compared to the saving line
This was the decisive game of the blockbuster above, where it didn’t work. 75...h2 (75...¦f1
match India-China. The first surprise of the 76.¤g6+ ¢d6 77.f8£+ ¦xf8 78.¤xf8 h2
match was the absence of Ding Liren on 79.¤e4+ and White is right on time to stop
board one for China - after losing to Le Quang the h-pawn.) 76.¤g6+ ¢d7 77.f8£ h1£

November 2024
78.¤e5+ now this leads to mate, as the king Black’s last move was 15...c5 and White
on b5 takes away squares from the black one. immediately takes advantage of it.
73.¤g5 h2 74.¤gf3 White blocks the f-file 16.£a3! White now puts pressure on
and threatens to promote with check. Black’s centre.
74...¢e7 16...b6 17.¦ab1 17.£xa6?! cxd4 18.cxd4

XIIIIIIIIY £xd4 is good for Black, who exchanged
his a-pawn for White’s central d-pawn.
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-mkP+-0 17...¦fe8 Black defends the knight on e7 as
it can become vulnerable if the queen is to
9-+-+-+-+0 leave its defence from the f6–square.
9zp-+-sN-+-0
9P+-+-+-+0 18.dxc5 18.e5 £f5 is unclear. Taking the pawn
on a6 again gives Black counterplay after
9+-+K+N+-0 19.£xa6 cxd4 20.cxd4 ¦a8 21.£xb6 ¦xa2
9-+-+-+-zp0
18...d4?! Caruana plays sharply.
9+-+-+r+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 18...bxc5 was fine for Black and, more
74...h1£ 75.f8£+ ¢c7 76.£e7+ ¢b6 importantly, simpler. After 19.¦xb8 ¦xb8
77.¤c4+ leads to mate. 20.£xc5 ¦b2 Black has counterplay for
the pawn.
75.¤xh2 The rest is simple as Black cannot
stop the f7–pawn from promoting without 19.c4?!
giving up his rook for it. XIIIIIIIIY
75...¦a1 76.¤hg4 ¦a3+ 77.¢d2 ¦xa4 9-tr-+r+k+0
78.¤h6 ¦a2+ 79.¢e3 ¦a3+ 80.¢e4 Black 9+-+-snpzp-0
cannot stop ¤g6 as 80...¦g3 runs into 81.¤f5.
9pzp-+lwq-zp0
1–0 9+-zP-+-+-0
9-+PzpP+-+0
Gukesh D - Fabiano Caruana 9wQ-+-+-zP-0
45th Olympiad 2024 Budapest HUN (10.1) 9P+-sN-zPLzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+R+-+RmK-0
9-tr-+-trk+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+p+-snpzp-0 Gukesh wants to stabilise the position in
the centre, but this is not the best decision.
9p+-+lwq-zp0
9+-zpp+-+-0 19.¦xb6 dxc3 20.¤b3 was better. White
9Q+-zPP+-+0 controls the pawn on c3 and has firm
protection of his own passed pawn
9+-zP-+-zP-0 on c5. 20...¦bd8 21.£b4 and Black’s
9P+-sN-zPLzP0 compensation is questionable.
9tR-+-+RmK-0 19...£g5! This double attack on the knight on
xiiiiiiiiy d2 and the pawn on c5 allows Black to equalise.

11/144
20.¦fd1 bxc5 20...£xc5 was a safer but this is not immediately obvious.)
alternative as 21.£xa6 d3 the knight is 35.h4 £f1+ 36.¢h2 £f2+! 37.¢h3
coming to c6 and then either e5 or d4, £f1+ to avoid draw White must play
with sufficient counterplay. 38.¢g4 £xd1+ 39.¢f4 but after
39...£f1+ 40.¢e5 £xc4 Black should
21.f4 White uses the queen’s position to draw as the exposed king on e5 and the
gain space on the kingside. Play becomes attack on the pawn on a2 give enough
forcing now. counterplay to save Black.
21...£h5 22.f5 ¦xb1 23.¦xb1 £e2! The 32.¢g2 £xc4 33.a4 £c6 Black regained
only way to stay in the game. the pawn and position is finely balanced.
24.fxe6 £xd2 25.exf7+ ¢xf7 26.£xc5 34.£d4

Threatening £h5 and ¦f1, so Black must XIIIIIIIIY
move the king.
9-+-+r+-+0
26...¢g8 27.¦f1 ¢h7 28.£e5 £e3+ 9+-+-sn-zpk0
29.¢h1 d3 Black’s passed pawn gives
him enough compensation for the pawn, 9p+q+-+-zp0
but the position remains very sharp. 9+-+-+-+-0
30.¥h3 White activates the bishop.
9P+-wQP+L+0
9+-+-+-zP-0
30...d2 31.¥g4 £d3 9-+-zp-+KzP0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+R+-0
9-+-+r+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9+-+-sn-zpk0 34...£g6? Immediately after restoring
material parity, Caruana makes the
9p+-+-+-zp0 decisive error. It was high time to start
9+-+-wQ-+-0 playing with the other pieces, not just
9-+P+P+L+0 the queen. Black’s last developing
move was 17...¦fe8, which was 17
9+-+q+-zP-0 moves ago!
9P+-zp-+-zP0
34...¤g6 was natural, improving the
9+-+-+R+K0 position of the knight as it aims for
xiiiiiiiiy the beautiful e5–square. Caruana may
The human way. have been worried about the pin after
35.¥f5 but Black has more than one
Black had a tremendous resource after way of dealing with it. 35...¢h8 this
31...¦d8! 32.£xe7 d1£ 33.¦xd1 appears to be the simplest. Black gives
(or 33.¥xd1 ¦xd1! 34.¦xd1 £f3+ up the pawn on d2 but after (35...£c2
picking up the rook on d1 with check is the more energetic way, not giving up
and a draw.) 33...¦xd1+ 34.¥xd1 £f2! the pawn on d2. 36.¢h3 £c1 37.£f2
this is the pretty idea. White cannot ¦e5 with a tense position.) 36.£xd2
avoid losing the bishop with check. ¤e5 his untouchable blockading knight
(34...£e1+ is the more human move on e5 ensures against any danger;
and it also works: 35.¢g2 £xd1 and 34...¤g8 was another way to improve
the queen endgame should be drawn in the knight’s position. 35.¥f5+ ¢h8
spite of Black being two pawns down, 36.£xd2 £xa4 is fine for Black.

November 2024
35.¦f4! Domination - the rook secures Gukesh D - Rauf Mamedov

the e4–pawn and defends the bishop
on g4. Black’s pieces are awfully 39th European Chess Club Cup
uncoordinated. Gukesh doesn’t forgive Hotel Zepter, Vrnjacka Banja (3)
and wraps the game up without allowing XIIIIIIIIY
any counterplay.
9-+-tr-+k+0
35...£g5 36.h4 Forcing the queen back. 9+q+r+pzpp0
36...£g6 36...£a5 defends the pawn on 9pvl-+p+-+0
d2, but loses to 37.¦f7 and the mate on 9+psn-zP-+n0
g7 can only be defended by losing the 9-+-sN-+-+0
knight after 37...¦g8 38.¦xe7.
9+P+-wQNzPP0
37.£xd2 This time Black is a pawn 9PvL-+-zP-+0
down with no compensation at all. His
pieces are still very constrained and 9+-tR-tR-mK-0
Caruana finally tries to improve them, xiiiiiiiiy
but it’s already too late. White has an obvious advantage due to the
fact that the knight on h5 is in danger of
37...¦b8 38.£d7 h5 39.¥e6 ¦b6 40.¥f7 being trapped. For the time being Black
Forcing the exchange of queens and relies on tactics to keep the knight alive,
winning another pawn in the process. but had White played a precise move now,
this would not have helped.
40...£d6 41.£xd6 ¦xd6 42.¥xh5 Two
pawns up is more than enough. 24.¦c2? This loses the advantage.
Unsurprisingly, White had a stronger move
42...¤c6 43.¥e2 a5 44.¥b5 ¤e5 45.¦f5 at his disposal.
¦e6 46.¢f2
24.g4? ¤f4! is the tactic that keeps Black
1–0 alive, as 25.£xf4 is met by 25...¤d3;
24.¦cd1! was the correct move. White
covers the d3–square, thus avoiding ...¤d3
Unlike Ding Liren, who decided not jumps, and threatens g4. 24...¥a5 trying
to play anything after the Olympiad, to keep White occupied and not give
Gukesh played the European Club Cup, him time to push g4. (24...f5 is another
which ended approximately one month attempt, but after 25.g4 fxg4 26.hxg4 ¦f8
before the start of the match. He started 27.gxh5 ¦df7 28.¤g5 ¦xf2 29.£xf2 ¦xf2
very well, winning his first two games, 30.¢xf2 White’s two rooks and a knight
but then seemingly ran out of steam. He should overcome the black queen. Perhaps
drew his third game, lost the fourth and this was the line that confused Gukesh.)
drew the remaining three, resulting in a 25.¥c3 ¥xc3 26.£xc3 ¦d5 27.£e3
11-rating point loss. again threatening g4. 27...g6 freeing the
g7–square for the knight. 28.¦c1 and with
After the two convincing victories, the subsequent doubling of the rooks on the
Gukesh misplayed a very promising c-file White successfully transfers the game
position in the third round against GM to the queenside, where Black’s stranded
Rauf Mamedov. knight on h5 cannot help.
24...h6 25.h4 A rather vague move that

doesn’t change the position. It seems

11/144
Gukesh couldn’t find his way through not for the fact that there are still a lot
the complexities of the position - his of pieces on the board and tension in the
desire to trap the knight on h5 while centre. Usually a tremendous calculator,
at the same time keep Black’s tactical Gukesh would usually navigate these
counterplay at bay, but objectively this complexities superbly, but this time he
was no longer possible. uncharacteristically failed.
25.g4? ¤f4 still doesn’t work. 31...¦d5 32.¦c6! £d7 32...¥xd4

33.¦xd4 ¦xd4 34.¤xd4 ¦xd4 35.¦c8+
25...¢h8? Mamedov also struggles in this ¢h7 36.£c2+ ¤e4 37.¢g2 is similar
complex position. to later in the game, when Black is
deadly pinned on the b1–h7 diagonal.
It was time to set the knight free with
25...f5! 26.exf6 ¤xf6 and Black is fine, 33.£c2 £g4 34.¦d3 ¦e8 Black tries to
but he had to see that after 27.¤xe6 ¦e8 fish in muddy waters, but this allows a
28.¤xc5 ¦xe3 29.¤xb7 ¦xf3 30.¤c5 tactical shot by White.
¥xc5 31.¦xc5 ¦d2 32.¥xf6 ¦xf6 he
regains the pawn with a drawn double- 34...¥xd4 again doesn’t work in view of
rook endgame. 35.¤xd4 ¦xd4 36.¥xd4 ¦xd4 37.¦xd4
£xd4 38.¦c8+ ¤g8 39.£b3 and the
26.b4! knight on g8 is lost.
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-mk0 9-+-+r+-mk0
9+q+r+pzp-0 9+-+-+-zp-0
9pvl-+p+-zp0 9pvlR+-sn-zp0
9+psn-zP-+n0 9+p+r+-+-0
9-zP-sN-+-zP0 9nzP-sN-+qzP0
9+-+-wQNzP-0 9+-+R+NzP-0
9PvLR+-zP-+0 9P+Q+-zP-+0
9+-+-tR-mK-0 9vL-+-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Gukesh takes the second chance. 35.£d2 Not bad, as it keeps the advantage,
but the tension still persists.
26...¤a4 27.¥a1 £a7 28.¦d1 f5
Without a knight on c5 and the ...¤d3 35.¦xf6! gxf6 36.£c6 was an effective
resource, this is the only way to stop sacrifice that defuses the tension and
White’s threat of g4. makes it easier to play. After 36...¦ed8
37.£xf6+ £g7 38.£f4 White is winning
29.exf6 ¤xf6 30.£xe6 ¦d6 Black cannot as Black won’t be able to survive the
take on d4 in view of the weakness of weaknesses on the long diagonal.
the back rank after 30...¥xd4 31.¦xd4
¦xd4 32.¥xd4 ¦xd4 33.¤xd4 £xd4 35...¤e4 36.£e1 £d7 37.¦e3! Gukesh
34.¦c8+! ¢h7 35.£f5+ g6 36.¦c7+ finally finds a way to dissolve the tension
and Black gets mated. in the centre.
31.£b3 White won a pawn and should 37...¥xd4 38.¤xd4 ¦xd4 39.¦xh6+!
have a technically winning position if ¢g8 39...gxh6 40.¦xe4 is White’s idea,

November 2024
when Black loses material because of 47.¦b2 kept the status quo, though
the pin on the long diagonal. the knights are tricky when this close.
White controls them for the time being,
40.¥xd4 40.¦g6 was a bit more precise, as but he needs to be careful to continue
White wins a tempo compared to the game, to do so.
but both moves should win. XIIIIIIIIY
40...£xd4 41.¦xa6?! 9-+-+r+k+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+-+-zp-0
9-+-+r+k+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-zp-0 9+-+-+-+-0
9R+-+-+-+0 9-zpq+n+RzP0
9+p+-+-+-0 9+Rsn-+-zP-0
9nzP-wqn+-zP0 9P+-+-zP-mK0
9+-+-tR-zP-0 9+-+-wQ-+-0
9P+-+-zP-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
47...£c5? Missing a golden opportunity.
9+-+-wQ-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 47...£c8! was winning more or less on
This lets Black back into the game. the spot. The queen not only attacks
the rook on g4, but it also defends
41.¦g6! ¤ac3 42.¦g4 planning a slow a3 the rook on e8, allowing the knight
and eventually f3 would have won material on e4 to move. After 48.¦f4 ¤xg3!
for White, while 42...£xb4 43.f3 wins the Black wins material and the game
knight on e4. after 49.£xe8+ £xe8 50.fxg3 £e2+
51.¢h3 ¤d1! creating mating threats
41...¤ac3 42.¦a3 ¦c8 Black successfully against the white king. (perhaps the
avoided massive material losses because players thought that after 51...¤xa2
of the pin on the e-file and can be 52.¦fxb4 ¤xb4 53.¦xb4 White has a
reasonably happy with the outcome of the fortress, but Black wasn’t forced to go
tactical melee. for this line.)
43.¦f3 43.¢g2 was an alternative, though 48.¦f4 £c4 Perhaps Mamedov noticed
after 43...£xb4 44.¦b3 £c4 45.f3 ¦a8! what he missed and hoped for a repetition...?
46.¦bxc3! ¦xa2+ 47.¢g1 ¤xc3 48.£xc3
£xc3 49.¦xc3 b4 Black should draw the 49.¦f3! But Gukesh won’t allow him a
rook endgame since White’s king is cut off second chance!
on the first rank.
49...¤f6 50.£d2 ¦e2 51.£d8+ ¢h7
43...£xb4 44.¦b3 £c4 45.¢h2 b4 Black 52.£d3+? Giving Black a second winning
is safe now with the knights stable in the chance.
centre. If anybody, now it is White who
should exercise care. 52.¦xf6! was better because after 52...gxf6
53.£xf6 White has enough counterplay
46.¦f4 ¦e8 47.¦g4? It’s hard for anybody against Black’s naked king, with perpetual
to adjust properly when from a winning check always a possibility.
position the situation changes to an equal
one. Gukesh makes a losing mistake. 52...£xd3 53.¦xd3

11/144
XIIIIIIIIY This game was marked by an erroneous plan

9-+-+-+-+0 that Gukesh chose in the equal endgame
that arose immediately after the opening.
9+-+-+-zpk0
9-+-+-sn-+0 Dmitry Andreikin – Gukesh D
9+-+-+-+-0 39th European Chess Club Cup
9-zp-+-+-zP0 Hotel Zepter, Vrnjacka Banja (4)
9+RsnR+-zP-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9P+-+rzP-mK0 9r+l+-+-tr0
9+-+-+-+-0 9zpp+-mkp+p0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-+pzp-+0
53...¤xa2? Which Mamedov misses. The 9+-+n+-+-0
move is natural, preserving the passed b4– 9-+-+-+-+0
pawn, but with three pawns on the kingside
White can sacrifice his rook for that pawn 9zP-+-+NzP-0
and a knight and reach a fortress. 9-zP-+PzP-zP0
53...¦xf2+! 54.¢h3 ¦xa2 55.¦xb4 ¤ce4 9+-tR-mKL+R0
was correct, as the knights create mating xiiiiiiiiy
threats and here sacrificing a rook for a The endgame is equal as Black’s damaged
knight isn’t enough. kingside structure cannot easily be
approached. Black needs to decide how to
54.¦f3! Defending the pawn on f2. Now finish development now.
White draws by capturing the pawn on b4
and establishing a fortress. 16...e5?! The wrong plan, at least from
a practical perspective, since it makes
54...¤e4 55.¢g2 ¤c5 56.¦b1 b3 Forcing White’s play much easier and puts Black on
the inevitable exchange operation. the defensive. It may seem natural, it allows
the bishop to be developed on a more active
57.¦bxb3 ¤xb3 58.¦xb3 Black cannot square on e6, it limits the knight on f3 by
break through now. If he sends the king controlling the d4–square, but it weakens
towards the f2–pawn it will lead to a loss or the f5–square, something that White can
exchange of his last remaining pawn. take advantage of.
58...¦c2 59.¦b7 ¤c1 60.¦d7 ¦c3 61.¦e7 16...¥d7 was simplest, intending to oppose a
¢g6 62.¦e6+ ¢f5 63.¦e7 ¢f6 64.¦e4 rook on the c-file. The tactical justification is
¤b3 65.¦f4+ ¢g6 66.¦f3 ¦xf3 that 17.e4 (17.¥g2 ¦hc8 is just dead equal.)
17...¤b6 18.¦c7?! is met by 18...¦hc8!
½–½ and White cannot take the pawn on b7 as
19.¦xb7 ¦c2 gives Black a big advantage.
A very uneven game by Gukesh, going 17.¥g2 ¥e6 18.¤h4! White intends ¥e4
from a winning to a losing position and and ¤f5, to establish a bind on the kingside.
then allowing a second winning chance to
his opponent later in the game. This game 18...¦ac8 19.0–0 ¦hd8 20.¥e4 White’s
marked a drop in the level of Gukesh’s play play is easy and natural while Black needs
and this was shown in the next round when to defend. It wasn’t really necessary for
he lost to GM Dmitry Andreikin. Black to allow this.

November 2024
XIIIIIIIIY 25.¥f5! ¢g7 26.¥xe6 fxe6 27.¤g4 White

remains a pawn up as 27...b5 (27...¤xb2?
9-+rtr-+-+0 28.¦d7+ is just bad for Black.) 28.¦c1
9zpp+-mkp+p0 ¦d8 29.b3 ¤xa3 30.¦c6 ¢f7 31.h4 when
Black’s scattered forces cannot deal with
9-+-+lzp-+0 the advance of the h-pawn and defence of
9+-+nzp-+-0 the pawn weaknesses.
9-+-+L+-sN0 XIIIIIIIIY
9zP-+-+-zP-0 9-+r+-mk-+0
9-zP-+PzP-zP0 9zpp+-+p+-0
9+-tR-+RmK-0 9-sn-+lzp-sN0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-zp-+-0
20...h6?! Another natural move, but this 9-+-+LzP-+0
increases Black’s difficulties. It was already
time to search for more drastic solutions. 9zP-+-+-zP-0
9-zP-+P+-zP0
20...¤b6! is the engine’s solution, but one
that is very hard for a human, leaving two 9+-+-+RmK-0
pawns en prise. The point of the move is to xiiiiiiiiy
defend the rook on c8 and open the d-file so 24...¤c4?! Gukesh fails to find the best
that the counter-attacking resource ...¦d2 chance.
becomes available. 21.¥xb7 (or 21.¥xh7
¦d2 22.¥d3 ¦xb2 23.¤f5+ ¢f8 24.¤d6 24...exf4! 25.¦xf4 ¤c4 was better because
and now either the passive, but good it didn’t allow the binding f5 as in the game.
enough 24...¦b8 or 24...¦xc1 25.¦xc1 The engine assesses this position as equal,
¤d5 with dynamic equality.) 21...¦xc1 though this wasn’t that obvious to the
22.¦xc1 ¦d2 23.¢f1 ¦xb2 24.¥e4 ¤c4 players during the game. 26.¤g4 (26.¦xf6?
25.¥xh7 a5 with enough counterplay on ¢g7 loses material; 26.¥xb7 ¦b8 27.¥f3
the queenside. ¦xb2 gives Black apparent counterplay.)
26...¤xb2 27.¥xb7 (27.¤xf6 b5 activates
21.¤f5+ ¢f8 21...¥xf5? 22.¥xf5 is really Black’s queenside majority.) 27...¦c3
bad as the bishop dominates, especially by 28.¤xf6 ¦xa3 Black is pawn down, but his
forcing Black to abandon the c-file. After a-pawn should provide enough counterplay
22...¦c6 23.¦xc6 bxc6 24.¦c1 Black’s for a draw.
position is full of weaknesses.
25.f5! ¥d7 26.¤g4 White returns the
22.¦xc8 ¦xc8 23.¤xh6 ¤b6 A few moves knight to the game with tempo.
too late. White should be able to stabilise
the position now. 26...¢e7 27.¥xb7 ¦g8 27...¦b8 28.¥d5
¤xb2 29.¤e3 is winning for White - Black
24.f4?! White is wary of Black’s activity has no counterplay, his knight on b2 is out
and seeks his own dynamism to deter Black of play and he’s still a pawn down.
from play on the queenside. Objectively this
is worse than 24.¦d1, but from a practical 28.h3?! White is understandably unwilling
perspective fighting for the initiative is to send his knight back to h6, though that is
often rewarded. what the engine indicates as strongest.
24.¦d1! was the best way, though it was 28.¤h6! tempo play is necessary. 28...¦h8
not an easy move to make. After 24...¤c4 29.¥a6! ¤d6 (29...¤xb2 30.¤g4 with ¤e3

11/144
next, keeps White in control.) 30.¤g4 ¥xf5 38...¦d4? This allows White to rearrange
31.¤e3 and White stabilises the position. his pieces in an optimal way. The drawing
line was anything but easy.
28...¤d6! Black is back in the game now.
38...¦b4! was correct. The problem for Black
29.¥d5 ¥xf5?! Imprecise play by Gukesh. was that after 39.¦c6+ ¢d7 40.¦c2 he
needed to understand that he needs to pass
29...¤xf5! was stronger. The bishop time and play 40...¢d8!! when White cannot
defends the seventh rank while the knight make progress while the idea behind the king
can jump to d4. At the same time the pawn move is to allow for the double attack ...¦b5
on g3 is attacked. 30.¢h2 ¦xg4! 31.hxg4 without allowing ¥c6 with check. Impossible
¤e3 is a nice tactic that simplifies the to understand this on the last moves before time
position to a drawn one. control. 41.a6 (41.¢e3? ¦b5 wins the pawn on
a5.) 41...¦a4 42.¥b7 and now another difficult
30.¦c1! White again has the initiative now. move 42...¢e7! threatening to take on b7 and
play ...¦b4, avoiding a check with ¦c8.
30...¥xg4 31.hxg4 ¢d7 Black stops ¦c7.
39.¦c6+! ¢d7 40.¦c5 With the black king
31...¦xg4 32.¦c7+ ¢d8 33.¦xa7 cut off along the c-file Black cannot fight
looks dangerous for Black, allowing the advance of the white pawns.
two connected passed pawns, but it was
the better chance. After 33...¦xg3+ 40...¤e4+ The rook endgame is lost more
34.¢f2 ¦g4 we get a similar position easily than the alternatives.
to the game where Black has good
drawing chances. 40...¦a4? 41.¥c6+ is the problem that
haunts Black in many of these lines.;
32.¦c6 ¦xg4 33.¦a6 ¦xg3+ 34.¢f2 ¦h3 40...¢d8 41.¢e1 ¦a4 42.¢d2 with ¢c3
The engine wants to keep the rook on the and b4 should also win for White.
fourth rank, but this should also suffice.
41.¥xe4 ¦xe4 42.¦b5! Preventing ...¦b4
35.¦xa7+ ¢c8 36.a4 ¦h4 Gukesh comes and allowing for b4.
to the same realisation but a few moves
later. The lost time means that even though 42...¦a4 43.¢f3? Curiously enough, this
Black should draw, he should find an gives Black a last chance to save the game.
incredibly difficult line to do so.
43.b3 ¦a3 44.b4 was simple and straight-
37.¦a6 ¢c7 38.a5 forward.
9-+-+-+-+0 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-mk-+p+-0 9+-+k+p+-0
9R+-sn-zp-+0 9-+-+-zp-+0
9zP-+Lzp-+-0 9zPR+-zp-+-0
9-+-+-+-tr0 9r+-+-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+K+-0
9-zP-+PmK-+0 9-zP-+P+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9+-+-+-+-0
November 2024
43...¢e6? But Black misses it. MATCH STRATEGY

AND OPENINGS
43...¢c6! 44.¦b6+ ¢c7 45.b4 f5 and it turns
out the white king is in the wrong place - it is When a player is lacking in confidence, as
far from the queenside to support his pawns Ding Liren is, the usual strategy is to play
while getting there now would allow Black to safely to settle into the match and start
advance his own pawns to create counterplay. feeling comfortable. Ding tried this in some
of the tournaments he played, making quick
44.¦b6+ ¢d5 45.b4 Black cannot stop draws, but this strategy never worked for
the mechanism of a6, b5, ¦b7 etc. with him because eventually, he started losing.
automatic promotion. Things will need to change in the match:
even if he begins by playing for draws, at
45...f5 46.a6 ¦a3+ 47.¢f2 f4 48.b5 f3 some point, he will have to start playing
49.¦b7 fxe2 50.a7 f5 51.b6 more ambitiously.
1–0 I expect this will be his approach in

Singapore—starting slowly and cautiously,
While there were several moments where then gradually easing into the match.
Black’s decisions were very difficult, this
was still a game that Gukesh shouldn’t For Gukesh, the strategy will be the
have lost. In the remaining three games, he opposite. He should apply as much pressure
didn’t have winning chances, and the draws as possible from the start, not allowing
were a normal result. Ding to gain confidence and composure
with draws. An early win by Gukesh could
These last games at the European Club derail Ding easily and shatter his fragile
Cup will serve Gukesh well if they keep composure. Gukesh should strive for this,
him grounded after his series of incredible while Ding must try to avoid it at all costs.
results. They indicate that he still has work The start of the match will determine
to do, that sometimes he can miss chances everything. If Ding manages to keep the
and allow them, so knowing this before the score level, his chances will improve;
match is a useful warning sign. otherwise, the uphill task of coming from
behind may prove too much.
As a result of the hard work leading up
to the match, participants usually manage Ever since the Kramnik-Leko match in
to raise their level during it. I expect both 2004, when Leko employed an opening
Gukesh and Ding to do so, though to what strategy of changing his defences in every
extent remains to be seen. game with Black (unfortunately for him,
the only time he repeated an opening was
Generally speaking, if everything proceeds in the final game, where he needed only a
as it has up to now, Gukesh should win the draw to become World Champion), players
match comfortably. But will it? have tended to prepare two openings for the
black pieces—one main defence and one
IT’S CHALLENGING TO PREPARE back-up. It’s expected that both players will
BOTH OPEN AND CLOSED GAMES follow this path, though surprises shouldn’t
FOR A MATCH, BUT IF GUKESH be ruled out.
RELIES ON DING LIREN’S For Ding Liren, the main question will be
PREDICTABILITY AND LIMITED whether he will stick to his usual repertoire,
REPERTOIRE, THIS MAY BECOME the one he used against Nepomniachtchi:
the Ruy López and the Marshall with Black
A VIABLE STRATEGY against 1.e4, and the Queen’s Gambit

11/144
Declined against 1.d4. In Astana, he

ventured the French Defence in one game,
HISTORY WILL BE MADE ONE
which worked very well opening-wise, WAY OR ANOTHER: EITHER WE’LL
though he ultimately lost in time trouble. WITNESS THE YOUNGEST WORLD
He has extensive experience with these CHAMPION EVER, OR WE’LL SEE
openings and has put tremendous work into
them over the years, but relying on them A COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED
could make him predictable—something VICTORY BY THE UNDERDOG.
Nepomniachtchi exploited in Astana by
introducing various creative ideas. An and occasionally the Semi-Tarrasch, though
intermediate strategy might be to introduce it tends to be somewhat riskier. The Slav
surprises within these openings, exploring Defence and the Queen’s Gambit Accepted
sub-variations—a strategy well-known complete the list of solid openings, with
since the countless battles in the Queen’s only the Grünfeld Defence as a more
Gambit Declined during the Karpov- dynamic option.
Kasparov matches of the 1980s.
Gukesh will need to decide which will be his
With the white pieces, Ding has always main opening and which one will serve as a
preferred closed openings, making 1.d4 backup. All the above options are possible
and 1.c4 his main choices. He used since he’s used all except the Grünfeld
both against Nepomniachtchi. This year, Defence. While a powerful opening, it
he experimented with 1.e4 in several requires extensive memorisation, and one
tournaments, but my impression is that lapse can quickly lead to a loss—just recall
this was more of a decoy than a serious the first game of the Anand-Topalov match
intention for the match. in 2010.
With Gukesh, things are more complex. Gukesh is also harder to predict with the
white pieces, as he has played everything:
With Black against 1.d4, he has employed one 1.e4, 1.d4, and 1.c4, while in his youth
of the “usual suspects” in opening setups— he almost always opened with 1.¤f3. He
the Nimzo-Indian/Ragozin combination, doesn’t appear to have a clear preference,
made popular since Carlsen’s intended use giving him greater flexibility in his
in his 2013 match against Anand. He also opening choices. When preparing for his
used the Queen’s Gambit Accepted in his matches, Kasparov would decide on his
must-not-lose game in the final round of the main opening thrust—1.e4 or 1.d4—
Candidates against Nakamura. and concentrate all his resources in that
direction. It’s challenging to prepare both
Generally, there are only a few rock-solid open and closed games for a match, but if
openings against 1.d4 deemed “worthy” of Gukesh relies on Ding Liren’s predictability
a World Championship match, namely the and limited repertoire, this may become a
Nimzo-Indian, Queen’s Gambit Declined, viable strategy, with targeted preparation
against Ding’s preferred defences against
DING NEEDS A MIRACLE—A both 1.e4 and 1.d4.
MIRACLE THAT WILL, OUT OF
A fascinating match awaits us. History
NOWHERE, MAKE HIM ENJOY will be made one way or another:
CHESS AGAIN, MAKE HIM FEEL either we’ll witness the youngest World
FREE AGAIN, AND ULTIMATELY Champion ever, or we’ll see a completely
ALLOW HIM TO PLAY CHESS unexpected victory by the underdog,
as surprising as Botvinnik’s win in his
AS HE KNOWS HE CAN rematch with Tal in 1961.

November 2024
THE CHESS
KING FROM CHINA
WHO DEFIES THE ODDS
Photo: Stev Bonhage

11/144
THE WORLD CHAMPION, DING LIREN, IS A SYMBOL OF PERSEVERANCE IN CHESS.

RISING FROM HUMBLE BEGINNINGS IN THE CHESS-LOVING CITY OF WENZHOU,
HIS PATH TO THE WORLD THRONE IS MARKED BY NUMEROUS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
AND FIRSTS BUT ALSO BY CHALLENGES.
Born on October 24, 1992, in China, Ding 2017 to November 2018, Ding maintained
was introduced to chess by his mother at an unbeaten streak in classical chess across
the age of four. Fortune, or destiny, had it 100 games, a feat broken only by Magnus
that he was taught early on by Chen Lixing, Carlsen in 2019.
who also coached former Women’s World
Champion Zhu Chen. This led to Ding’s The year 2018 marked Ding’s peak, but
first of many notable successes on the also the beginning of his challenges. In his
global chess scene—tying for first place first shot at the world crown—the 2018
in both the Under-10 and Under-12 World Candidates Tournament in Berlin—he drew
Youth Championships (2003, 2004), 13 games and won just one out of 14. He
though finishing second on tiebreaks in silenced any doubts with his victory at the
both events. 2019 Sinquefield Cup, winning with 6.5/11
and a performance rating of 2845.
In 2009, at just 16 years old, Ding became
the youngest-ever champion of China, In 2020 came his second attempt at the
announcing to the world what was to Candidates Tournament in Yekaterinburg,
come. Thanks to his stellar performance Russia. The event started just as the Covid-19
at the national championship, he earned pandemic brought the world to a sudden
the Grandmaster title later that year. lockdown. Despite being a favourite, Ding
Ding would go on to claim the title of secured only 2.5 points after seven rounds.
Chinese champion two more times, in The tournament was then postponed due
2011 and 2012. to Russia’s Covid restrictions. When it
resumed in April 2021, Ding was in much
After conquering China, the next stage was better form—securing key victories in the
the world. In 2014, Ding’s performance final three rounds to finish with 7/14 and
earned China a gold medal at the Olympiad, clinch fifth place.
and again in 2015 at the World Team
Championships. That same year, he became His real shot at the title came in Madrid in
the second Chinese player to enter the top 2022, at his third Candidates Tournament.
10, after Wang Yue. This marked the beginning of a series
of fortunate turns for Ding, defying the
Ding’s consistent and solid play led him odds. He qualified for Madrid based on
to the finals of the 2017 and 2019 Chess his rating, but only after playing a series
World Cups, though he fell short in both of hastily organised tournaments in China
events. Despite these narrow-misses, and benefitting from Sergey Karjakin’s
Ding’s reputation as a world-class player disqualification. Ding’s performance in the
continued to grow. first half of the event was underwhelming—
starting with a loss, followed by seven
Another milestone came in 2018 when draws. However, he changed gears in the
Ding became the first Chinese player to second half, scoring key victories over
break the 2800 Elo rating, reaching a peak top players like Fabiano Caruana and
rating of 2816—the joint tenth highest Hikaru Nakamura, securing second place
in chess history. His firm and consistent behind Ian Nepomniachtchi. Under normal
performance earned him recognition as circumstances, this would not have been
one of the most difficult players to beat enough for the World Championship match.
in a game. And he proved it: from August However, with Magnus Carlsen confirming

November 2024
that he would not defend his title, the match

was organised between Nepomniachtchi
and Ding.
The World Championship match took

place in Astana, Kazakhstan. Ding’s
performance was shaky at the start, but
so was Nepomniachtchi’s as the match
progressed. At the end of the classical part
of the match, the score was 7-7, leading to
a rapid tiebreak. In the rapid match where
advantages were traded up and down, Ding
triumphed 2½-1½, becoming the first
Chinese player to hold the Classical World
Chess Champion title.
However, his monumental achievement

in 2023 soon became overshadowed
by struggles. After winning the World
Championship, Ding’s performance
dipped as he citied personal difficulties
and struggles with depression. This led to
a nine-month break from chess in 2024,
skipping major events to prioritize mental
health. Ding returned to the chessboard
later that year at the TATA Steel
tournament and the Olympiad, showing
that he is still in the game and remains a
force to be reckoned with.
In an interview ahead of the Match, Ding

gave this assessment: “My current state is
neither exceptionally good nor bad as I felt
in the one and a half years. I have definitely
moved past that sort of deepest or worst
moments in the last one and a half years. I
know that I have been playing great chess.
I just couldn’t win some of the positions. I
still believe I can turn that around, maybe
during the match.”
Ding’s mental strength and resilience on

the board have been defining traits. But,
Photo: Stev Bonhage
as he faces an opponent whose recent

performance and composure have been
significantly more consistent - will he
manage to overcome? Whether Ding
continues his reign as World Champion
or not, one thing is certain: his place
among the greatest names of modern
chess is unquestionable.

DING LIREN INTERVIEW
“A MATCH IS A MATCH”
In the run-up to the FIDE World Chess
Championship at the end of November where
he will play against 18-year-old Dommaraju
Gukesh, the reigning world champion from
China, Ding Liren, gave an interview where
he spoke about the challenges he faces, both
on and off the board
He was open about the shortfalls in his recent

performance: "I know my performances
haven’t been up to my usual high standards,"
Ding admitted, citing his underwhelming
result at the recent Olympiad in Budapest,
where he scored just 3.5 points from eight
games, including one loss and no victories. Photo: Stev Bonhage
"But at the end of the day, a match is a match. On a personal level, Ding said his life has
It’s between two players. When one player remained largely unchanged since becoming
starts to hit his stride, how the opponent World Champion in 2023, though he admitted
reacts depends on their experience and how to a dip in his professional form. "My career
they handle the situation at the moment," might have taken a downward turn, but I believe
Ding said, emphasizing that match play and there will be a turning point soon," he added.
tournament play "are two different things."
In the second part of 2023 Ding took a
When asked about his preparation for break from chess, in part to address mental
Singapore, Ding said his focus is more on the health challenges. Despite the poor showing
middlegame, an area where his challenger in Budapest, he said he believes the
excels. "I’m more cautious towards the participation in the Olympiad helped him
middle stage of the game because Gukesh regain focus ahead of the championship.
is strong in strategy, the middle game, and "My current state is neither exceptionally
positional understanding," Ding explained. good nor bad, but I’ve definitely moved
past the worst moments of the last one
While noting that he and Gukesh are not and a half years. I know I’ve been playing
close and therefore he doesn’t know much great chess—I just couldn’t convert some
about him, Ding said he expects to “get to positions. I still believe I can turn that
know him better as the match goes on”. Still, around, maybe during the match."
he gave credit to the maturity the 18-year-old
Indian is showing on the board. "He’s good In another interview just weeks before
at strategic understanding… he plays like a the match, Ding candidly admitted
seasoned player despite his young age." feeling like "the clear underdog" and
expressed fear that he might lose "very
Ding was also asked to share thoughts on badly." Speaking with Kaja Snare on
the rise of the younger generation in chess. TakeTakeTake's YouTube channel, Ding
"They play without any restriction or dogma opened up about his struggles and lack
that the previous generation had," he said, of motivation, saying, "Maybe I am not
noting they constantly play for initiative and so eager to play. I don't have the same
are more creative in opening preparation. ambitions to win the game."

November 2024
FROM A
SCHOOL IN
CHENNAI
TO THE WORLD
CHAMPIONSHIP
MATCH IN
SINGAPORE
Photo: FIDE / Michal Walusza
11/144
GUKESH DOMMARAJU, OFTEN REFERRED TO SIMPLY AS GUKESH D, IS THE

YOUNGEST PERSON IN THE HISTORY OF CHESS TO BECOME THE CONTENDER FOR
THE TITLE OF WORLD CHAMPION, ACHIEVING THIS AT JUST 17 YEARS OF AGE.
Born on May 29, 2006 in Chennai – went even further, breaking the 2750 ELO
the birthplace of several of India’s top mark in August and then in September he
players, including the five-times world reached the world number eight, overtaking
champion Viswanathan Anand – Gukesh Viswanathan Anand as India’s top-rated
learned chess in school, at the age of player, a title which he held for more than
seven. This ignited a passion for the 37 years. That same year, Gukesh finished
game that would see him rapidly advance second in the 2023 FIDE Circuit – a series
his FIDE rating and title, achieving of elite tournaments – which secured him a
remarkable successes in tournaments spot at the 2024 Candidates.
over the course of just ten years.
In April 2024, in Toronto, Gukesh again
Gukesh earned his FIDE Master title in surprised the chess world: in his first-ever
2015, after winning the Under-9 section of appearance at the Candidates tournament,
the Asian School Chess Championships. In he won the event with an outstanding
March 2018 – just 11-year-old – he became score of 9/14 (having just one inferior
an International Master. Gukesh clinched the position out of 14 games), becoming
Grandmaster at the 17th Delhi International the youngest-ever challenger for the
Grandmaster Open, on January 15, 2019, title of World Champion. Gukesh’s final
at the age of 12 years, seven months and grand appearance this year, before the
17 days, becoming the second-youngest Match, was at the 45th Chess Olympiad
person in history to achieve this, after in Budapest where he scored nine points
Sergey Karjakin. His coach at the time, out of ten games, leading his team to their
Indian GM Vishnu Prasanna, noted that first-ever team gold in the event.
Gukesh’s "strategic supremacy and unique
understanding" as well as his work ethic Beyond chess, Gukesh spends a lot of
helped set him apart from others. Over a time meditating. As a child who would
16-month period, Gukesh played no fewer get “very upset after a game” if he lost,
than 276 games in 30 tournaments across Gukesh worked hard on finding his inner
13 countries to achieve his GM norms, balance. In an interview with the British
underscoring his determination. Chess Magazine in May, after his victory in
His early successes include winning

the Under-12 World Youth Chess Delhi Open 2019
Photo: David Llada
Championships as well as taking five
gold medals at the Asian Youth Chess
Championships, winning competitions in
different formats (classical, rapid, blitz
and team). He gained global attention in
2022 when he won the individual gold
at the FIDE Chess Olympiad, securing a
phenomenal nine points out of 11 games
and helping India secure bronze in the
event. That same year Gukesh crossed
the 2700 ELO mark, becoming the third-
youngest chess player to do this (after
Wei Yi and Alireza Firouzja), entering the
realm of super-Grandmasters. In 2023 he

November 2024
GUKESH
DOMMARAJU:
“I JUST
WANT TO
Photo: Michal Walusza

ENJOY THE
EXPERIENCE”
Toronto, he noted how important mediating
is for his mental stability: “I started taking Just 18, Gukesh Dommaraju is on the cusp of
mental health seriously. Started doing yoga an extraordinary achievement – he is about to
and meditating. Once I started doing that, fight against Ding Liren, in the match which
I made sure it was done regularly, and it will determine the new world champion. The
made a difference." Indian prodigy’s rapid ascend to the top has
stunned many in the chess world. In a recent
As the match in Singapore approaches, the interview with the media, organized by FIDE,
question on the table is: can Gukesh defeat Gukesh shared his thoughts on the upcoming
the World Champion Ding Liren? match, his preparation and what he thinks of
his opponent.
Despite recent successes, Gukesh doesn’t
have a favorable score against the World "The year so far has been quite good,"
Champion Ding Liren. Out of five classical Gukesh said, reflecting on his recent
games, Ding has won two (both as Black, successes. "A lot of interesting chess and
in 2023 and 2024), while the other three some nice achievements. I’m really looking
ended in draws, including a draw at the forward to the World Championship match
2024 Sinquefield Cup. Gukesh’s sole in Singapore. It’s coming soon, and I’m
victory came in a Fischer Random game in quite eager to start the match."
2024, but that format differs from classical
chess he will be playing in Singapore. While many have labelled him as
the favorite for the title, Gukesh is
In a press conference ahead of the match understandably more cautious.
in Singapore, Gukesh shared his thoughts
on his opponent: “Ding is quite universal. "In general, I don’t believe in predictions
Almost all the players at the top level have to and who are the favourites. I just think that
be universal at this point. So, there are minute whoever shows up every day as the best will
differences between all the players, and I’m win the game eventually," he explained.
trying my best to analyze them and use them
to my advantage.” As for predictions, the "I’m just focusing on the process, and I try
young Grandmaster remained pragmatic: “I to be at my best every day and play a good
don’t believe in predictions and who are the game. I just want to enjoy the experience."
favorites. I just think that whoever is able to
show up every day as the best will win the And when it comes to that process, he
game eventually.” outlined key elements of it: “The process

11/144
is pretty much typical for the World computers on chess preparation, something
Championships. I have a team, and we are Magnus Carlsen has openly expressed
preparing hard. I’m trying to be at my best frustration with in his decision not to
and enjoy each moment of this journey." defend the crown. But Gukesh’s outlook
is different: "It’s different for Magnus and
When asked about Ding Liren and whether me. Magnus has been doing this for so
he had any specific strategies in mind for many years, and I’m just coming up, so
the match, Gukesh was diplomatic yet it’s a new experience for me. I basically
insightful. "It’ll be an interesting match enjoy the process," he said. "It’s hard
for sure. We are both strong players, and work, but I’m enjoying it, and let’s see
there’ll be a lot of exciting games. I hope how things unfold."
it’s a beautiful experience for all chess
lovers," he said. "As for my team, I can say Another topic was his age and the
Gajewski will be my trainer for the match, advantages and disadvantages that come
but beyond that, I can’t reveal much." with it.
A key theme throughout the interview "Because of my age, compared to the more
was the question about how well can the experienced players, I have more energy
18-year-old handle the pressure of playing levels, and it’s easier to stay focused
such a demanding and high-profile event, during long tournaments," he said, before
particularly on the international stage where acknowledging, "The disadvantage is
he represents India. "It’s always a privilege obviously that I’m not as experienced and
to play for India at such a high level, and I haven’t played as much as them. But, so far,
enjoy the experience. I think how I handle it’s been positive."
pressure is mostly through experience. I’ve
played in many high-pressure situations, For the first time in the history of the game,
though not the World Championship, of both players come from Asia – signifying a
course," he noted. "But I’m looking forward symbolic return of chess to its roots.
to the new experience."
"It’s nice that this will be the first time there
It’s a rare feat to become a role-model at is no European in a World Championship
18, but Gukesh seems to have achieved match. I hope it becomes even more popular
that as well as many players are inspired in Asia," Gukesh remarked. "We’re already
by his meteoric rise. But his message to seeing some very nice growth. China has
anyone wanting to follow in his footsteps been a superpower for a few years, and
is simple: "Just enjoy the game; chess is a Uzbekistan is catching up. But in India,
beautiful game. It has many benefits. If you chess is already quite popular, and I hope it
enjoy it, it’s a very good hobby to have. grows even bigger."
And if you’re talented, it’s very nice to be a
professional chess player." The venue for this momentous match
holds a special place in Gukesh’s heart
Gukesh, like many of his contemporaries, as well—Singapore. "I’ve been there a
belongs to the “computer generation” – kids couple of times. Once on vacation before
who grew up with engines significantly I started playing chess, and the other time
stronger than humans, and who learnt with was one of my first international wins—
those engines and not via books. In the some Asian under-nine tournament, I
interview, he was asked about the influence think. I have some pleasant memories
computers have on chess preparation. from that championship in Singapore,"
he shared with a smile. "Singapore is a
One of the interesting points raised during beautiful country, and I’m super glad to
the interview was about the influence of have the match there."

November 2024
Interview: Steve Doyle, Chair of the U.S. Chess Trust
LESSONS FROM HALF

A CENTURY IN THE GAME
By Milan Dinic; Photo: Photo: U.S. Chess Trust
A grandee of U.S. chess – Steve Doyle - I met Doyle in New York this past summer
reflects on his five-decade journey from for an interview for FIDE and BCM. With
the Fischer-Spassky boom to the modern the World Rapid and Blitz Championships
digital era, sharing insights on the past, set to take place in the U.S. this Christmas
present, and future of the game. – a historic first – I was eager to get a
seasoned U.S. perspective on chess’s
In the summer of 1972, chess experienced current landscape and future. With over
an unprecedented surge in global attention half a century of involvement, Doyle, a
as Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky straight-talking corporate big-shot who no
clashed in the historic World Championship longer needs to prove anything to anyone,
match in Reykjavik. The match became a had much to share.
cultural phenomenon, drawing in millions,
including Steve Doyle, who was captivated THE FISHER BOOM
by Shelby Lyman’s innovative PBS
broadcast that brought chess into American Reflecting on the changes in chess since
living rooms. 1972, Doyle called the transformation
“remarkable,” emphasising the U.S.’s early
Starting as an enthusiast, Doyle’s chess adoption of online platforms. “I remember
journey soon evolved into one of the most participating in online chess as early as the
influential careers in U.S. chess, lasting 1980s, which was pioneering back then.
over 50 years. From organising the U.S. By the late ’80s, we had a real presence
Amateur Team East Championship in New online,” he recalled.
Jersey to serving as president of the New
Jersey State Chess Federation to becoming In 1978, Doyle introduced “Electric
the youngest president of the U.S. Chess Byte,” a Florida-made computer, in a
Federation in 1984, holding the post until chess tournament, registering it as a
1987. His international roles included youth competitor. “It was the first time
serving as Vice President of FIDE from a computer had played in a tournament,”
1996 to 2006. For over 30 years, he wrote a Doyle said, mentioning how Bill Lombardy
chess column for the Newark Star Ledger, and Arthur Bisguier were intrigued by
New Jersey’s largest newspaper. Notably, this novelty. The computer later achieved
all of this was in addition to a career as significant commercial success, selling
a high-powered executive at Fortune 100 millions of units.
companies such as Prudential and Aetna,
where he held positions from CFO to IN THE SUMMER OF ’72, CHESS WAS
division president. Since 2019, Doyle
has led the U.S. Chess Trust, bringing in THE NATIONAL OBSESSION, BUT BY
major sponsors to advance chess across FALL, PEOPLE HAD MOVED ON.
the nation.

11/144
The Fischer boom brought millions to

chess in the early 1970s, but enthusiasm
waned as fast as it had built up. “In the
summer of ’72, chess was the national
obsession,” Doyle said, “but by fall,
people had moved on.” While Shelby
Lyman’s broadcast made him a household
name, it couldn’t maintain the momentum
alone. The challenge was transforming
passing interest into lasting participation:
“New players would join clubs, play a
few times, and then lose interest. The
more dedicated stayed, but most drifted
away. Now that generation is in their 60s
and 70s.”
THE POST-COVID CHESS SURGE

Fast-forward to recent years, Doyle
pointed to the surge of interest during
the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding
with The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix.
“COVID gave people time to reconnect
with board games, and with platforms sets, and eventually computers, which
readily available, people could start became big sellers."
playing immediately. This time, we had
the infrastructure to support that surge,” The effects are evident today, with the U.S.
he said. boasting top global players like Fabiano
Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura, and four
Still, in the 1970s, the seeds of chess more in the top 20 – a stark contrast to
spread in the U.S. In many parts of Fischer’s era of singular dominance.
the country, such as New Jersey or
in urban centres such as New York, The St Louis Chess Club and the huge
Chicago or LA, schools introduced investment put in by its founder Rex
active chess programs, notes Doyle. The Sinquefield, helped immensely in
1980s saw former players transform elevating the status of the game in the
into entrepreneurs, particularly in States, and the U.S. standing in the
the burgeoning field of scholastic chess world. Today, St Louis is the
chess education. "We tried to increase biggest chess centre in the world west
revenue to sponsor more activities," of Moscow. But, what about the broader
Doyle explains. "We sold books, chess perspectives for U.S. chess?
COVID GAVE PEOPLE TIME TO Looking ahead, Doyle sees the future of
RECONNECT WITH BOARD GAMES, chess in the U.S. as promising, though
AND WITH PLATFORMS READILY challenges remain for the game itself.
“The Kasparov-Deep Blue match in the
AVAILABLE, PEOPLE COULD START ’90s created a temporary lull, as people
PLAYING IMMEDIATELY. THIS TIME, thought computers had ‘solved’ chess.
WE HAD THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO But the internet revitalised interest,
and now people can play anytime,
SUPPORT THAT SURGE. anywhere,” he explained.

It´s
The relationship between chess and the
now
corporate world has also been a defining even easier
theme in Doyle’s career. “Chess taught to subscribe to
me to think several moves ahead,” he said. British Chess Magazine
“Blitz taught me to make quick, sound An exclusive chess magazine!
decisions, essential in the boardroom.”
This mindset served him well during
his time as mayor of Island Heights,
New Jersey, particularly through the Great news, BCM just got better! More
challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. content, more pages, more GM and IM
writers (including top UK grandmasters),
SEARCHING FOR THE “MEDIA HOOK” outstanding photography and design, and
the regular features which have long been
On the topic of expanding chess’s part of BCM’s tradition.
media presence, Doyle emphasised that
significant events are key. “The Fischer- BCM offers more high class, authoritative
Spassky match did it in 1972, ‘The and in-depth coverage of major
Queen’s Gambit’ did it recently, and international and British chess events and
‘Searching for Bobby Fischer’ brought leading players, a brand new look,
new audiences in the 1990s,” he noted. and of course
But to bring major events like the World our much loved regular articles.
Rapid and Blitz to the U.S., sponsorship is
vital. “We need a unique hook to engage
big corporations,” Doyle said, citing a Purchase or renew your subscription
past U.S.-USSR match he pitched during and have BCM delivered to your door:
the Cold War era, which successfully
captured sponsors’ interest due to its On-line: visit our website
geopolitical intrigue. www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk
Email:
Doyle also acknowledged the surge support@britishchessmagazine.co.uk
of chess in India, where players enjoy By post:
celebrity status akin to movie stars. Albany House, 14 Shute End,
“India’s growth, sparked by Viswanathan Wokingham, Berkshire, England RG40 1BJ
Anand, has only been amplified by
young talents like Praggnanandhaa and
Gukesh. Their success, combined with printed magazine
strong institutional support, mirrors
Fischer’s impact but with sustainable
momentum,” he said. £65 UK
The game that enthralled Doyle in 1972
has transformed in many ways, yet its
£96 Non-UK
12 issues per year postage included
core allure endures. With the World
Rapid and Blitz coming to the U.S. this
Christmas, many in the chess world are
hoping to see a spike in interest in the
game in the U.S. and, potentially, get
more people like Doyle involved in the
sport and help it move forward.
11/144
TOURNAMENT REPORT:
NORTHUMBRIA FESTIVAL
By IM Shaun Taulbut
This successful chess festival was held Black moves in the centre offering an
in Darlington and featured a number of exchange on d5 adopting a Grunfeld
tournaments, the Masters Open had a number approach rather than a Kings Indian
of grandmasters and ended in a tie between structure with ...d6 and ...e5.
Frode Urkedal, Jung Seo and Oleg Korneev.
8.£e2 e6 Black now can play for …c5 so
We look at some of the games, starting with White pushes forward with e4 which is a
a win by Jung Min Seo in the Masters Open. slight mistake
Mark Hebden Jung Min Seo 9.e4 dxe4 10.¤xe4 ¤c6 .

Northumbria Masters Open Darlington ENG (5.2)
The attack against d4 presents White
1.d4 ¤f6 2.¤f3 b6 3.e3 ¥b7 4.¥d3 g6 with an awkward choice as the pawn
XIIIIIIIIY must be defended.
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0
9zplzppzpp+p0 11.¥e3 ¤b4 12.¤xf6+ £xf6 13.¤e5
If 13.¥b1 c5 is awkward for White
9-zp-+-snp+0 undermining the knight on e5.
9+-+-+-+-0
13...¦ad8 14.f4 ¤xd3 15.¤xd3 £f5
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-+LzPN+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9PzPP+-zPPzP0 9-+-tr-trk+0
9tRNvLQmK-+R0 9zplzp-+pvlp0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-zp-+p+p+0
Black opts for a double fianchetto against 9+-+-+q+-0
the modest opening by White, waiting for 9-+PzP-zP-+0
White to move in the centre.
9+-+NvL-+-0
5.0–0XIIIIIIIIY
¥g7 6.c4 0–0 7.¤c3 d5 9PzP-+Q+PzP0
9rsn-wq-trk+0 9tR-+-+RmK-0
9zplzp-zppvlp0 xiiiiiiiiy
Black has the edge with his two bishops
9-zp-+-snp+0 and control over the light squares and
9+-+p+-+-0 pressure against d4
9-+PzP-+-+0 16.¤e5 ¦d6 17.b4 £e4 18.¦f2 ¦fd8
9+-sNLzPN+-0 19.b5 a6 20.a4 f6 21.¤f3 ¦6d7 22.¦c1
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 £f5 23.h3 axb5 24.axb5 ¦a8 25.¤d2
¦a3 26.c5 ¥d5.
9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
November 2024
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+k+0
9+-zpr+-vlp0
9-zp-+pzpp+0
9+PzPl+q+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0
9tr-+-vL-+P0
9-+-sNQtRP+0
9+-tR-+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
Black’s grip on the position has increased Black has invaded the White kingside
and the White pawns are now liable to and there is no defence against the
attack; Black can place his King on f7. mating threats
27.¤b1 ¦a2 28.£e1 ¦xf2 29.£xf2 £d3 38.h4 £g1+ 39.¢h3 ¥f2 Perhaps easier is
30.cxb6 cxb6 31.¦c8+ ¢f7 32.¤c3 39...£h1+ 40.¢g3 £e1+ 41.¢h3 ¥f2 as
XIIIIIIIIY now White sacrifices for a series of checks.
9-+R+-+-+0 40.¦f8+ ¢xf8 41.£f6+ ¢e8 42.£xg6+
9+-+r+kvlp0 ¢d8 43.£d6+ ¢c8 44.£c6+ ¢b8
45.£d6+ ¦c7 46.£d8+ ¢b7 47.£xd5+
9-zp-+pzpp+0 ¢a7
9+P+l+-+-0
9-+-zP-zP-+0 0–1
9+-sNqvL-+P0
Now a game from Matthew Wadsworth
9-+-+-wQP+0 who was the top English player in the
9+-+-+-mK-0 Masters.
xiiiiiiiiy Iwan Cave - Matthew J Wadsworth
32...f5 32...¥b7 is very strong here when White
has to give up the exchange with 33 ¦c6. Northumbria Masters Open
Darlington ENG (3.5)
33.¤xd5 exd5 34.¢h2 ¦e7 35.¥c1 ¥xd4
36.£h4 h5 37.£g5 £f1 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.¤d2 ¥e7 4.¥d3 c5
9-+R+-+-+0 9rsnlwqk+ntr0
9+-+-trk+-0 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
9-zp-+-+p+0 9-+-+p+-+0
9+P+p+pwQp0 9+-zpp+-+-0
9-+-vl-zP-+0 9-+-zPP+-+0
9+-+-+-+P0 9+-+L+-+-0
9-+-+-+PmK0 9PzPPsN-zPPzP0
9+-vL-+q+-0 9tR-vLQmK-sNR0
11/144
5.dxc5 ¤f6 6.£e2 a5 XIIIIIIIIY

XIIIIIIIIY 9rsn-wq-trk+0
9rsnlwqk+-tr0 9+-+-vlpzpp0
9+p+-vlpzpp0 9lzp-+p+-+0
9-+-+psn-+0 9+NsnpzP-+-0
9zp-zPp+-+-0 9p+-sN-+-+0
9-+-+P+-+0 9+-zP-+-+-0
9+-+L+-+-0 9PzPL+QzPPzP0
9PzPPsNQzPPzP0 9tR-vL-mK-+R0
9tR-vL-mK-sNR0 xiiiiiiiiy
xiiiiiiiiy 15.0–0 £d7 16.¦e1 f5 17.¥d2 ¦c8 18.b4
Preventing White protecting the pawn axb3 19.axb3 ¤c6 20.¤xc6 ¦xc6
on c5 with b4 and also preparing for the XIIIIIIIIY
queenknight to go to a6
9r+-+-+k+0
7.¤gf3 0–0 8.c3 ¤a6 9.e5 Playable is 9+-+qvl-zpp0
9.¥xa6 ¦xa6 10.e5 ¤d7 11.b4 f6 with
complex play.
9lzpr+p+-+0
9+NsnpzPp+-0
9...¤d7 10.¤b3 ¤axc5 11.¥c2 b6 9-+-+-+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+PzP-+-+-0
9r+lwq-trk+0 9-+LvLQzPPzP0
9+-+nvlpzpp0 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
9-zp-+p+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
9zp-snpzP-+-0 21.¥d3 21.£e3 is essential for unpinning
the knight.
9-+-+-+-+0
9+NzP-+N+-0 21...¦cc8 The pin is awkward so White
9PzPL+QzPPzP0 plays an exchanging combination.
9tR-vL-mK-+R0 22.¦xa6 ¦xa6 23.¤d6 ¦a2 24.¤xc8
xiiiiiiiiy £xc8 25.¦b1 Allowed a winning pin but
Black has the edge with the threat of Black was already in control.
…¥a6.
25..¥g5 26.¥xg5 ¦xe2 27.¥xe2 ¤e4
12.¤bd4 ¥a6 13.¤b5 a4 14.¤fd4 ¤b8 28.¥e3 ¤xc3 29.¦e1 d4 30.¥f4 ¤xe2+
Guarding c6. 31.¦xe2 £c3
0–1
Jonah Willow won this positional game

against Alex Golding in the GM section

November 2024
If 18...¥xc3 19.bxc3 leaves Black weak on

Jonah BWillow - Alex Golding the kingside dark squares.
Northumbria Masters GM 19.£f1 c6 20.¤f3
Darlington ENG (4.4)
XIIIIIIIIY
1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 9r+-wqr+k+0
5.0–0 ¥e7 6.¥xc6 dxc6 7.d3
9+-+-+pvlp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9lzpp+-+p+0
9r+lwqk+-tr0 9zp-zp-sn-+-0
9+pzp-vlpzpp0 9P+-+PtR-+0
9p+p+-sn-+0 9+-vLPsNN+-0
9+-+-zp-+-0 9-zPP+-+PzP0
9-+-+P+-+0 9tR-+-+Q+K0
9+-+P+N+-0 xiiiiiiiiy
9PzPP+-zPPzP0
If 20.¥xe5 ¥xe5 21.¦xf7 ¥xb2 22.¦b1
9tRNvLQ+RmK-0 ¥g7 is only slightly better for White
xiiiiiiiiy
The doubly delayed Exchange is interesting 20...¦a7 20...f6 is best as now Black loses
as Black has to regroup to defend e5. control of the dark squares.
7...¤d7 8.¥e3 0–0 9.¤bd2 ¦e8 10.a4 21.¤xe5 ¥xe5 22.¤g4 ¥xc3 If 22...¥xf4
a5 11.¢h1 c5 12.¤c4 ¥f6 13.¥d2 b6 23.¤f6+ is winning.
14.¥c3
23.bxc3 ¢g7 24.£f2 White prepares to
XIIIIIIIIY treble his pieces on the f-file.
9r+lwqr+k+0
9+-zpn+pzpp0 24...f5 If 24...£g5 25.¦f1 ¦ee7 26.h4
£h5 27.¤f6 £e5 28.h5 £xc3 29.hxg6
9-zp-+-vl-+0 fxg6 30.¤h5+ ¢h6 31.¦h4 with a mating
9zp-zp-zp-+-0 attack; or 24...¥c8 25.¤f6 ¦e6 26.¦f1 h6
27.¦f3 White has a clear advantage.
9P+N+P+-+0
9+-vLP+N+-0 25.exf5 gxf5 26.¤e3 26.¦xf5 ¥c8 27.¦f4
9-zPP+-zPPzP0 is also good.
9tR-+Q+R+K0 26...¢h8 27.¤xf5 £f6 28.¦f1 ¦f8 On
xiiiiiiiiy 28...£xc3 29.¤d6 is winning.
White has an edge with play against e5
29.£e1 ¦aa8 30.¤e7 Winning as after
14...g6 15.¤fd2 Preparing f4; a good plan rook exchanges on f8 White has £e5+
to play on the dark squares. followed by £b8+
15...¥a6 16.¤e3 White retains his knight 1–0

as the Black Bishop is limited on a6.
16...¥g7 17.f4 exf4 18.¦xf4 ¤e5

11/144
NORTHUMBRIA MASTERS OPEN DARLINGTON ENG

LEADING FINAL ROUND 9 STANDINGS:
Rk SNo Name Ti FED Rtg TB1
1 2 Urkedal, Frode Olav Olsen NOR 2564 6.5
3 Seo, Jung Min SWE 2478 6.5
4 Korneev, Oleg ESP 2469 6.5
4 5 Wadsworth, Matthew J ENG 2464 6
16 Dasgupta, Avyukt ENG 2159 6
20 Yoon, Jacob D ENG 2118 6
7 7 Dgebuadze, Alexandre BEL 2430 5.5
8 Lutsko, Artem UKR 2414 5.5
9 Hebden, Mark L ENG 2385 5.5
10 Derakhshani, Borna ENG 2348 5.5
12 Boswell, Jacob Connor ENG 2241 5.5
17 Vijayakumar, Rishi SCO 2157 5.5
18 Webb, Richard M ENG 2148 5.5
29 Wilks, Simon ENG 2015 5.5
40 O'Donnell, Matthew SCO 1966 5.5
16 1 Shkuro, Iuri UKR 2566 5
6 Turner, Matthew J SCO 2441 5
11 Kalavannan, Koby ENG 2248 5
12 Shafi, Declan SCO 2222 5
15 Brewer, Callum D ENG 2182 5
24 Cave, Iwan WLS 2047 5
25 Rathbone-Jones, Ifan WLS 2021 5
28 Malinovskii, Ilia ENG 2016 5
34 Blades, Kit ENG 1996 5
38 Mclean, Robert ENG 1972 5
41 Shaw, Dashiell L ENG 1960 5

November 2024
There was an all play all with the possibility of GM norms and an all play all with the
possibility of international master norms the results of which were as follows
NORTHUMBRIA MASTERS GM DARLINGTON ENG

CATEGORY: 6. AVE: (2400)
Rk Name FED ELO 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Pts TPR
1 GM Gasanov, Eldar UKR 2469 1 = 1 = = = 1 = 1 6.5 2558
2 FM Svanda, Ondrej CZE 2384 0 1 = 1 = = = 1 = 5.5 2482
3 IM Willow, Jonah B ENG 2414 = 0 1 1 = 1 0 = 1 5.5 2478
4 IM Murphy, Conor E IRL 2460 0 = 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 5.5 2473
5 GM Gormally, Daniel W ENG 2425 = 0 0 1 0 = = 1 1 4.5 2397
6 FM Lohia, Sohum ENG 2408 = = = 0 1 = = 0 = 4 2356
7 FM Golding, Alex ENG 2383 = = 0 0 = = 1 = = 4 2359
8 IM Papadiamandis, Elliot FRA 2324 0 = 1 0 = = 0 = 1 4 2365
9 IM Wachinger, Nikolas GER 2454 = 0 = 0 0 1 = = 1 4 2351
10 GM Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan SCO 2277 0 = 0 0 0 = = 0 0 1.5 2140
NORTHUMBRIA MASTERS IM DARLINGTON ENG

LEADING FINAL ROUND 9 STANDINGS:
Rk SNo Name Ti FED Rtg TB1
1 10 Moreby, James FM ENG 2236 7
2 4 Wall, Gavin IM IRL 2258 5.5
8 Large, Peter G IM ENG 2336 5.5
4 6 Dunnington, Angus J IM SCO 2256 5
7 Urh, Zala WIM SLO 2256 5
6 2 Hollan, Petr FM CZE 2249 4.5
7 1 Burnett, Andrew FM SCO 2193 3.5
3 Shearsby, Jude ENG 2164 3.5
9 9 Abhyuday, Santhosh IND 2203 3
10 5 Collin, Moritz Valentin FM SUI 2234 2.5

11/144
TONY BUZAN – CHESS LOVER

By Grandmaster Raymond Keene OBE
A celebration of the life and achievements
of Tony Buzan and a tribute to his passing
five years ago was held at the House of
Lords on Monday, 7 October, presided
over by Tony’s close friend and supporter,
Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein.
Tony Buzan, who died of a heart attack

five years ago at John Radcliffe Hospital,
Oxford, was originally motivated by the
question of “who is intelligent?” During
his time at junior school, the young Tony
was struck by the anomaly that one boy,
who had a tremendous knowledge of
nature, repeatedly failed school tests on
his favourite topic due to an inability to
express himself.
Unsurprisingly, the nature expert was

consigned to the bottom of the class, despite
Tony’s certainty that this boy’s knowledge
was far superior to his own. Authorities had Tony Buzan
decided who was intelligent and who was
not. Tony found this grotesquely unfair, and rower on his favourite stretch of the
it eventually led him to develop three beliefs. Thames at Marlow, where he often sculled
with Olympic multiple gold medallist Sir
The first was that an operations manual was Steve Redgrave. Tony also sponsored the
needed for the human brain—not for its annual Oxford vs. Cambridge Varsity
medical functions but rather for how it works. Chess Match, the world’s oldest running
The second was that every human has a spark chess fixture, for several years.
of genius within, but the challenge is to ignite
it. Tony’s third insight was his invention of The Mind Map’s value as a memory aid
the Mind Map, a tool for recording thoughts, led Tony to establish the World Memory
plans, and creativity, bypassing conventional Championship in London in 1991. This first
academic norms. The Mind Map was edition was won by the dyslexic Dominic
predicated on radiant thinking, spreading O’Brien, who later won seven additional
out from a central concept, utilising colour, titles. From eight entrants in 1991 to over
dimension, and association, and it also served 300 in 2018, the championship has grown
as a powerful memory aid. dramatically. That year, it was won by
a 14-year-old Chinese girl, Wei Qinrun.
Tony went on to write over 140 books, Both victors exemplify Tony’s belief that
translated into 40 languages. He lectured everyone possesses an immortal spark of
around the world and made numerous TV genius, awaiting only the right inspiration.
programmes about his ideas. He was an
enthusiastic player of mental games, such as Having known Tony for 30 years and
chess and Go, and a near Olympic-standard written his biography, I was struck by his

November 2024
inner child. His own school experiences offered £100,000 to teach mental literacy,
had left an indelible mark, and he often mind mapping, memory, and speed reading
positioned himself as the headmaster of to the star’s offspring. While Tony lectured on
humanity. One of his numerous unfinished mental improvement, the rock star retreated
books at his death was an ambitious “report to imbibe a potent, drug-infused concoction
card” on humanity, marking humanity out he called “Mother’s Milk.”
of 100 on topics such as the environment,
education, peace, economics, and race and Despite his extensive catalogue of manuals
gender relations. Another explored animal on brain function, what Tony craved most was
intelligence, a topic that fascinated him. He recognition as a poet. His favourites included
was particularly interested in how insects his friend and Poet Laureate Ted Hughes,
with micro-brains achieve such feats of Gerard Manley Hopkins, and Shakespeare’s
organisation, like ants and termites, or Richard II, especially Gaunt’s speech to his
arachnids like the Portia spider. son Bolingbroke on banishment.
Tony was particularly at ease with children. Tony’s enduring legacy will be the readers
One of his triumphs was the TV series In of his books and the attendees at his
Search of Genius, where he took a class of lectures who discovered new depths within
unruly comprehensive school children and, themselves and found inspiration to awaken
over six episodes, transformed them into what Tony called the “sleeping giant”—the
model pupils. human brain.
In contrast, at the elite end of the spectrum, Here is an example of my chess-themed

Tony once received a mysterious invitation to Mind Map on the Ruy Lopez opening,
a desert hideout in Bahrain from a major rock from Tony’s Mind Map book, published
star (who must remain anonymous). Tony was by the BBC.
Mind Map by Raymond Keene OBE in preparation for a

lecture given on Spanish television

11/144
A black-tie dinner celebrating Tony’s legacy 14… ¢xe7 is required to maintain threats. Then,
took place at the House of Lords on 7 October, 15. £b3 ¦ab8 16.¤d4 £xe5 17.¦fe1 gives
with Prince Philipp of Liechtenstein, one of White ample compensation for the lost pawn.
Tony’s major supporters, as guest of honour.
13… h6 14.¥h4 £c7 15.¥xe7 £xe7 If
One of Tony’s supporters and most brilliant 15… ¢xe7, then 16. £b3.
disciples was the American thinker and
motivational speaker Michael Gelb. On one 16.£a4+ White pursues exchanges, aiming
memorable occasion, with Poet Laureate for an even endgame.
Ted Hughes as our audience, I took on Tony
and Michael in a simultaneous chess and 16…£d7 17.£xd7+ ¢xd7 18.¦ad1 ¢e7
Go match. I managed to win at Go, mainly To avoid issues with c4.
conducted by Tony, while drawing in chess,
led by Gelb. Here is our chess game; sadly, 19.¢h1 ¦ac8 20.¤b1 ¥b6 21.¤d3 ¦c4
my Go victory has been lost to posterity: The half-open c-file offers Black some
initiative.
Tony Buzan and Michael Gelb vs.
Raymond Keene 22.f4 g6 23.g3 ¦hc8 24.¢g2 a5 25.¢f3
¥a7 Black prepares a queenside assault via
Consultation match, Hanbury Manor, 1995 …b5 and …b4.
1.e4 c6 2.¤f3 d5 3.exd5 This exchange is less 26.¦d2 b5 27.a3 ¥b6 28. fd1 ¦d8 With …b4
testing than 3.¤c3, a theoretical main line. delayed, Black aims for a central breakthrough.
3… xd5 4.d4 ¤c6 5.¤c3 ¥g4 6.¥e2 e6 7.h3 29.g4? Necessary was 29.¤f2.
¥h5 8.O-O ¥b4 White’s opening has been
unpretentious, but not necessarily bad. However, 29… d4 30.cxd4 ¤xd4 31.b4 a4 Fixing a
firm action is needed to avoid doubled pawns on weak a3 pawn. With the d-file pin, I felt a
the c-file, granting Black a permanent strategic Black win was close.
advantage. White’s knight foray is thus timely.
32.h4 ¦c4 Planning to strengthen the pin
9.¤e5 ¤xe5 10.dxe5 ¥xe2 If 10… ¥xc3, 11. laterally with …¦c3.
b5+ ¢f8 12. £xh5 resolves White’s issues.
33.¤b2 A bold choice, breaking the pin but
11.¤xe2 ¤e7 12. c3 ¥c5 13. ¥g5 allowing Black’s rook to target the weak
a3 pawn.
33…¦xd2 34.¦xd2
Tempting here is 13…£c7 to win White’s pawn

on e5, as 14.f4 is countered by the bishop on
c5. However, after 13…£c7 14.¥xe7, Black’s

November 2024
This error turns a likely win into a sure 38.¤d5+ exd5 39.¦xa3 ¥d4 White’s
draw. Correct was 34…¦c3+, meeting combination has won the exchange, rook for
35.¤d3 with …¦xa3. bishop, but Black’s control of a1 guarantees
he will recover White’s rook. Yet, White’s
35.¤d1 ¦a1 36.¦d3 ¦a2 White is low on resources are not fully exhausted.
moves but still has one option.
40.¦d3 ¥b2 41.¦xd5 a3 42.¦xb5 a2 43.¦a5
37.¤c3! ¦xa3 a1=£ 44.¦xa1 ¥xa1 45.b5 ¥d4 Despite
being a piece for two pawns ahead, Black
cannot prevent pawn elimination. Black’s
h-pawn promotes on a square unprotected by
his bishop, making a win impossible even if
the lone White king reaches h1.
46.¢e4 ¥b6 47.f5 gxf5+ 48.¢xf5 ¥f2

49.h5 ¥e3 50.¢e4 ¥b6 51.¢f5 ¢f8
52.e6 fxe6+ 53.¢xe6 ¢g7
A draw offered and accepted ½-½
The draw is forced by 54.¢f5 ¥e3 55.b6

Black must play 37…£a3. ¥xb6 56. g5.
ACMchess.com

Chess talents by BCM Staff
England's chess wonder:
Nine-year-old Ethan Pang
achieves historic milestone
Photo: fide.com
Nine-year-old Ethan Pang from England has
just hit a stunning milestone in chess. The
youngster topped 2300 rating points, making
him the youngest FIDE Master ever.
Looking at November’s rating list, you’ll

spot Pang at 2303 - he’s now leading Three-year-old from Kolkata
both U9 and U10 groups worldwide. At
Westminster Under School, this bright chess
becomes the youngest
talent reached this mark at just nine years FIDE-rated player
and seven months old, beating the previous
record set by IM Faustino Oro. Chess has a new record holder, and he’s
barely old enough for nursery school. Three-
Oro and Pang have been in a race for records year-old Anish Sarkar from Kolkata has
throughout this year but Pang’s been on fire. become the youngest player ever to earn a
Back in July, he broke another record, crossing FIDE rating, notching up 1555 points at just
2200 to grab his CM title. Then at Budapest’s three years, eight months and 19 days old.
Vezerkepzo tournaments, he shocked
everyone by beating three strong GMs – The tiny talent, born on January 26, 2021,
Slovakia’s Milan Pacher and Hungarian duo didn’t waste time getting stuck into serious
Attilla Czebe and Zoltan Varga. competition. He cut his teeth at the West
Bengal State Under-9 and Under-13 Opens
October brought more success, as Pang this October, taking on rated players like
pushed past 2300 in just four months - Arav Chatterjee and Ahilaan Baishya. He
lightning quick by chess standards. While even got a taste of top-level chess, facing
Oro hit the rating earlier, FIDE’s official nod India’s number one Grandmaster Arjun
makes Pang’s achievement special. Erigaisi in a simul match.
Speaking for the English Chess Federation What makes this feat even more remarkable
website, Raymond Pang, Ethan’s father, is that Anish has smashed the previous
said: “As his parents, we couldn’t be prouder record, set by another Indian youngster
of his recent accomplishments through his Tejas Tiwari, who was five when he got his
hard work and determination. He adopts a first rating in 2023. Under the watchful eye
‘never give up’ attitude that was instilled by of his coach, Grandmaster Dibyendu Barua,
one of his earlier chess coaches. young Anish shows incredible stamina for
his age, often training for seven or eight
“Chess is a sport that instils perseverance hours at a stretch.
and resilience, and it’s inspiring to see him
begin to realize how this journey will help Anish’s achievement comes at a time
him navigate both physical and mental when chess prodigies seem to be getting
challenges, not just for chess, but hopefully younger and younger. While most toddlers
in all aspects of life. are learning their ABCs, this little lad from
Kolkata is already making his mark in the
“We hope he continues to grow through these international chess scene, suggesting we
experiences, understanding that each challenge might be witnessing the start of something
is an opportunity to learn and evolve.” truly special.

Openings
for Amateurs By Pete Tamburro; ptamburro@aol.com
The most frustrating annotated game ever!

Many years ago (and this will date me), I used There to greet me in the July/August 1944
to read for instruction the annotated games by issue was Reinfeld’s column, "What to Do
the prolific Fred Reinfeld, who showed up After the Opening" along with that old nemesis
in seemingly countless books and magazine of a game. OK, no more Mr. Nice Guy. I’m not
articles. Along with I.A. Horowitz and Ruben going to be bullied by Reinfeld and his notes.
Fine, he was one of the triumvirate of chess I have a friend that’ll take care of him: Stocky
teachers that most young people studying A. Fish, XVI! He comes from a good family,
chess would turn to for direction. By the time known for taking care of outrageous notes.
I got to him, I had been through Morphy and What did I learn? My lesson was that I forgot
Marshall game collections by sheer luck and the very principles of approaching move
had developed a real feel (I thought) for open choice that I should have remembered. And for
lines, development and attacking exposed Spielmann to not apply those principles was
kings in the opening. Then, along came this astonishing, but also a reminder that it afflicts
Tartakower game. us all at the worst possible times.
Reinfeld was beside himself with praise for Rudolf Spielmann –

the genius of Tartakower for his creative and Savielly Tartakower
unorthodox defence against a genius of attack
- Rudolf Spielmann. I played it over and over, Copenhagen, 1923
read the notes and became frustrated because
something wasn’t right. What Black played 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 I recall being
was a violation of everything I had learned to influenced by Fischer’s win over Petrosian
the point about openings. I gave up trying to in the USSR v. World match, so Reinfeld’s
figure it out and every now and then would notes, even though decades before that,
look at it and just shake my head. were worth studying.
Recently, I bought some volumes of The Chess 3...cxd5 4.c3 Although 4.¥d3 and; 4.c4 are
Correspondent from the 1940s and 1950s. more popular, there is a reason for the c3

11/144
move. Lots of people don’t like the Panov- XIIIIIIIIY

Botvinnik Attack because of the isolated
pawn that can result and the c3 move first 9r+lwqk+-tr0
is one that, if you are not playing the PBA, 9zpp+-zp-vlp0
you know you will make while you may not
be sure where the bishop is going. It most 9-+n+-+p+0
likely will transpose, but not in this game. 9+-+-+p+-0
4...¤c6 5.¥f4
9-+-zPpvL-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-zP-+-+P0
9r+lwqkvlntr0 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
9zpp+-zppzpp0 9tR-+QmKL+R0
9-+n+-+-+0 xiiiiiiiiy
Reinfeld put his first diagram after White’s
9+-+p+-+-0 next move. That was his mistake. Mine
9-+-zP-vL-+0 was starting my "deep look" into the game
with his diagram rather than this one. The
9+-zP-+-+-0 obvious, even glaring, characteristic of this
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 position is the light squared diagonal from
b3 to g8. This king isn’t castling anytime
9tRN+QmKLsNR0 soon. Reinfeld explained that part really
xiiiiiiiiy well after White’s next move. In summary:
Very interesting. Spielmann is not following an e6 move "would be able to castle, but at
the usual recipe of developing the kingside. what a price" and "Black’s QB will have
This bishop attacks e5 and c7, where a Caro no scope and will be tied to the defence of
Kann queen likes to hang out. My best the KP."
guess is that he also has a suspicion that
Tartakower will fianchetto and Spielmann is 11.¥c4? What Spielmann, Tartakower,
thinking of castling queenside and going for Reinfeld and my lowly self didn’t consider
an eventual Bh6 with h4 idea of some kind. was the most precise move. White had
It seems rather cumbersome to arrange in an TWO choices to stop castling. ¥c4 seemed
efficient manner, but, hey, it’s Spielmann. so natural and routine, but natural and
routine don’t always win games. The real
5...¤f6 6.¤d2 g6 7.¤gf3 ¥g7 8.h3!? puzzle for me was why was this so much
What do you think? Is it part of the future better and what could I have done in my
assault plan with g4 or is it just to prevent thinking process to come up with the right
Bg4? move? Was there some opening principle
involved? Well, the opening principle is
There doesn’t appear to be any reason to solid--keep the king from castling and
prevent the pin: 8.¥d3 ¥g4 9.h3 ¥xf3 open lines. How about the decision making
10.¤xf3 and White is well-placed. process? I harkened back to "Think Like a
Grandmaster" by Kotov and his decision
8...¤e4?! My first thought back then was, tree.
"Shouldn’t you castle rather than move the
same piece twice in the opening?" Not only You were taught to go down a branch,
that, but the pawn seemed rather vulnerable make an evaluation and then go down the
on e4 because Black obviously couldn’t other candidate move branches and make
play f5 to support it. conclusions about them. White only had
two candidate moves to consider: Bc4 and
9.¤xe4 dxe4 10.¤d2 f5 £b3. Nobody did that and that omission

November 2024
cost Spielmann his game, Reinfeld his calculation and more branches sprouting
annotations, me my years of frustration off the main e5 branch. Think about your
in trying to understand the game and mind going through the following moves in
Tartakower putting the whole game in his your head at move eleven!
book of games. He just started with the
coming e5 move rather than put the game 12.dxe5
in. I would bet serious money that he found XIIIIIIIIY
£b3 after the game. As you will see, he did
miss one other thing towards the end that he 9r+lwqk+-tr0
didn’t mention in his book. Of course, the 9zpp+-+-vlp0
trick in all this is also anticipating the e5
move. That, too, was doable. Figuring out 9-+n+-+p+0
the positional weakness of e6 is one thing. 9+-+-zPp+-0
Going through the tactical sequence of an 9-+L+pvL-+0
e5 move is imperative and recognizing that
it has to be dealt with as your opponent’s 9+-zP-+-+P0
candidate move goes beyond "look for 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
all checks and captures" to "look for
all possible desperate freeing moves!" 9tR-+QmK-+R0
11.£b3!! e5 12.dxe5 ¤xe5 (12...¥xe5 xiiiiiiiiy
13.¥xe5 ¤xe5 14.0–0–0 £c7 15.¥b5+ And now we have two legendary GMs
¢f8 (15...¥d7 16.£e6++–) 16.f3! and we not doing the decision tree method. Once
have the makings of a rout.) 13.¥xe5 ¥xe5 you look at this opening as it evolves, you
14.£b5+. realize that concrete calculation plays a
decisive role in the openings just as much as
11...e5!! Tartakower finds the right move! in the middle game and endgame. Sure, it’s
How many amateur Caro players would easy to criticize with Stocky helping out,
find it? The knight move gives White but the one thing computers do really well
two good choices: 11...¤a5 12.¥b5+ is calculate. They teach us how to think.
(12.£a4+ ¥d7 13.¥b5 ¤c6 14.£b3 ¤a5 Look at the variations as they appear on the
15.£d5) 12...¥d7 13.£a4 ¤c6 14.£b3 In engine, one after the other. Each line has an
the interest of balance, how does Black find evaluation. We humans have a tendency to
e5?; "pre-filter" our move choices and thus not
consider lines that might be critical to our
Black might try to avoid the checks that understanding of the position.
come with e5 by playing the bishop out:
11...¥d7 12.0–0 e5 (Black now has to do 12...¤xe5?
this as f3 is threatened - something Reinfeld XIIIIIIIIY
did comment on.) 13.¥e3 exd4 14.cxd4
¤a5 15.¥f4 ¤xc4 16.¤xc4 0–0 17.¤d6 9r+lwqk+-tr0
with equal chances. Nicely posted knight 9zpp+-+-vlp0
vs. two bishops, and the passed d-pawn
can be strong or weak, depending on the 9-+-+-+p+0
players. However, what would make Black 9+-+-snp+-0
choose e5? It’s the same decision tree idea. 9-+L+pvL-+0
You look at candidate moves. Your concrete
calculations will give you two primary 9+-zP-+-+P0
conclusions about ¥d7 or e5. An amateur 9PzP-sN-zPP+0
would probably go with ¥d7 and rightly
so! It is clearer and the position is equal. 9tR-+QmK-+R0
The road the GM took required far more xiiiiiiiiy
11/144
Better was 12...¥xe5 13.¥e3 ¥d7 14.£e2 of those chase the king up the board and
£c7=. mate him games. Black does escape, but
the game shows us that you must exercise
13.¥xe5? Reinfeld was rather caustic here: extreme caution!
"This is necessary to continue the ’attack’
" Oops! 24...¢g5 25.h4+ ¢g4 26.¦df1 £b6 27.£c4
Mate in two threat. He doesn’t give up.
This could have been a miniature: 13.£b3!
£e7 (13...¤xc4 14.¤xc4 ¥e6 (14...0–0 27...¦d2 He could pack it in now, though.
15.¤b6+) 15.£b5+ £d7 16.¤d6+ ¢f8 However, we learn another lesson here at
17.£xd7 ¥xd7 18.¤xb7±) 14.0–0–0 ¥d7 the end.
(14...¥f6 15.g4 ¤xc4 16.£xc4 £e6
17.gxf5 £xc4 18.¤xc4 ¥xf5 19.¤d6+ 28.b4 £e3 29.¦h3 £b6 30.¦hf3 ¦xg2
¢e7 20.¤xb7+–) 15.¤xe4!! fxe4 16.¥xe5 31.¦f4+ ¢g3 32.£d5 ¦c8??
¥xe5 17.¦xd7+–. XIIIIIIIIY
13...¥xe5 14.£b3 £b6 Better was 9-+r+-+-+0
14...£e7 because then Black could hand- 9zp-+-+-+p0
castle with ¢f8 and ¢g7.
9-wq-+-+p+0
15.¥b5+! 15.£xb6 axb6=. 9+-+Q+p+-0
15...¢e7 15...¢f8 Same reason as above.
9-zP-+ptR-zP0
9+-zP-+-mk-0
16.¤c4 £c5 17.¤xe5 £xe5 18.0–0–0!? 9P+-+-+r+0
White could have tried to keep pressure on
the b7 pawn and prevent ¥e6 to that end 9+K+-+R+-0
with 18.¥c4 ¦d8 19.¥g8 ¥e6 20.£xb7+ xiiiiiiiiy
¢f6 21.¥xe6 £xe6 22.0–0! (22.£xh7? An incredible blunder that both players miss.
e3!=) 22...£c8 23.£xc8 ¦axc8 24.¦fd1 Time difficulties for both? These moves all
and although it’s a tough endgame, I’d win: 32...¦e8; 32...£e3; 32...¦d8.
rather be a pawn up than a pawn down.
33.£d7?? Rule Number One in my
18...¥e6 19.¥c4 ¥xc4 20.£xc4 ¦hd8 Openings for Amateurs books: Every move,
With the minor pieces gone, White’s attack before you move, look at all checks, captures
has dissipated into a likely drawn major and forced moves. 33.¦xe4! fxe4 (33...¦xc3
piece ending; however, Spielmann has one 34.£e5+ f4 35.£xf4+ ¢h3 36.¦h1+ ¦h2
last trick up his sleeve. He makes moves 37.¦xh2#) 34.£e5+ ¢g4 35.£xe4+ ¢h5
that force the king and then queen to make 36.£d5+ ¢h6 37.£xg2+–.
the only right move each time.
0–1
21.£b4+ 21.f3 b5 22.£b4+ ¢f6 23.fxe4?
a5µ.
33...£a6 What are we to make of all this? That
21...¢f6™ 22.£xb7 £f4+™ 23.¢b1 chess engines ruin defencive masterpieces?
£xf2™ 24.£c6+ An honourable ending That the GMs of long ago made mistakes?
to this battle would have been: 24.£xh7! That’s all very silly. What we should take
e3 25.g3 ¦xd1+ 26.¦xd1 £xg3 27.¦d7 away is how we discipline our thoughts in an
£g1+ and the checks go on. opening that is no longer in the opening book
in your brain. Please remember the decision
When I first saw this, it seemed to be one tree thinking process. I played my first rated

November 2024
A SPECIAL
THANK YOU
AND FAREWELL
It’s been over ten years writing this column.
My undying gratitude and thanks to James
Pratt, who took a chance on having an
amateur write for amateurs and to Josip Asik
who followed as editor and continued me
as a columnist, which led to our founding
American Chess Magazine in 2016, and, of be that when you were done saying what
course to Milan Dinic, whose intelligence you had to say, STOP! I will now follow
and devotion to this august publication is my own advice.
deeply appreciated by those who work
most closely with him. I just met him at an I have every British Chess Magazine in
airport in New Jersey for a brief lunch. We bound volumes back to the 1890s and in
will be friends for a long time, I hope. a CD before that. I have read them all and
even indexed them.
And a special shout out to my biggest
fan, Elliot Ainley, who kept up feedback This magazine is a national treasure.
and correspondence for these years. It was such an honour for me to be in
Much appreciated. the same pages as the heroes of British
chess that taught me so much on these
My third Openings for Amateurs book pages. That Shaun Taulbut and Stephen
is coming out this autumn with some Lowe have personally kept it afloat is
special additions that go a long way to the greatest service to a chess publication
demonstrating why I have written for ever in the history of chess. I hope legions
amateurs to give them tools, not just for of British chess players will recognise
openings, but for thinking and planning. I this and enter the subscription lists to be
always told my history classes when they a part of the noblest publishing venture in
asked about how long their papers should our royal game’s existence.
OTB game in 13 years this past February in to this day, as you can tell. Even if you ignore
the World Amateur Team Championship held the decision tree thinking process, you should
in my home state of New Jersey. l played one think about the old chess coach rule of making
game - with the black pieces. I beat a young moves you’re sure you have to make and
adolescent who is already over 1800. I stuck waiting on the ones you’re not sure of. You
like glue to the decision tree formula and it know you want to get on the diagonal that
worked - most of the time. prevents castling, so you know it has to be
the Q or B. Her majesty doesn’t have a better
At age 77, I found that I would go down square, but the cleric could be useful in going
one branch, make my conclusion and then to b5 as well, especially if you consider the e5
hit the other candidate move(s) and make sequence by Black. Why put it on c4 if you
conclusions. Unfortunately, by the time I may need it on b5 later? Put the queen on b3
finished, I couldn’t remember what the heck and use the bishop for a b5 check in one move
the first branch moves were! Do give it a try, instead of two. Think calmly and wring out the
though. The ¥c4/£b3 decision still bugs me truth of a position.

11/144
Lewis
Chessmen
show their hidden beauty in fresh Edinburgh display
Ten of the famous Lewis Chessmen are showing off their backs for the first time at
Edinburgh's National Museum of Scotland. The fresh display at the Kingdom of the
Scots gallery entrance lets visitors peek at previously hidden details of these 12th-
century masterpieces, with new lighting bringing out intricate carvings that have
been concealed for ages. Dr Alice Blackwell, who looks after medieval bits and bobs
at the museum, points out that these weren't just game pieces - they were proper
works of art meant to be admired from every angle, from their detailed thrones to
their fancy hairdos.
These chessmen, crafted from walrus ivory and whale teeth around 1200 in Norway,
are part of a bigger story. When they were found in the early 1800s on the Isle of
Lewis, there were 93 pieces in total - enough for four chess sets. While Edinburgh
gets to show off eleven of them, most of their mates - 82 pieces to be exact - live
down in London's British Museum, though six have popped back home to Museum
nan Eilean in Lewis. This new way of showing them helps us understand just how
skilled those medieval craftsmen were at their job.

November 2024
CELEBRATING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY

OF FIDE AND OF SURREALISM (PART TWO)
In celebration of FIDE’s 100th anniversary French journalist Pierre Cabanne: “Since
and the centenary of Surrealism, BCM 1917 America had been in the war, and I
presents a special series of articles written had left France basically for the lack of
by Celia Rabinovitch, from her book [my] militarism. For a lack of patriotism, if
Duchamp’s Pipe: A Chess Romance – you wish. [And] I had fallen into American
Marcel Duchamp & George Koltanowski. patriotism which certainly was worse.”
This series will explore the profound
intersections between chess and surrealist In Buenos Aires, Duchamp pursued a
art, drawing us into the captivating solitary life-writing letters, working on
worlds of artists and chess players who chess problems, and playing correspondence
bridged boundaries between creativity, chess with Walter Arensberg. “I play chess
imagination, and the chess board. alone for the time being,” he wrote to the
Arensbergs in January 1919. “I came across
From the surrealists in Paris who some magazines and cut out 40 [ Jose Raul]
embraced chess as a challenge to the Capablanca games that I am going to play
bourgeois norm, to the chess adventures over. I will probably also join the chess club
of Duchamp and Koltanowski in New here to try my hand again. I’ve had a set of
York and beyond, each chapter delves rubber stamps made (which I designed) that
into the rich stories and cultural context I mark games with. I’m sending a copy to
that connect these two realms. Through Walter with this letter.” Duchamp spent ten
this series, we invite readers to discover months in Buenos Aires, “studying chess
how chess became an inspiration, a and fashioning his own chess sets. [He]
rebellion, and a creative canvas for some designed a chessboard for correspondence
of the 20th century’s most iconic artists chess, the wooden Buenos Aires Chess
and thinkers. Set,” and a traveling table, Traveling Board
(1919). In The Imagery of Chess Revisited,
Chapter 6 curator and author Larry List notes how the
simple forms of the Buenos Aires Chess
Transatlantic Chess from Set (1918), made of traditional wood,
Paris to New York recall Brâncusi’s reductive abstraction.
Traveling Board, which employed folding
The beauty of a move lies not in its metal legs supported by castors,was both
appearance but in the thought behind it. elegant and practical.It was likely one of
ARON NIMZOWITSCH the first truly portable gaming tables made
with simple, modernist design principles.
THE WAR THAT IN 1915 had driven In addition, Duchamp’s chess inventions
Duchamp from Paris to New York, where prefigure contemporary portable games
he was fast becoming a leader of the avant- - as explored later in chapters 17 and 18.
garde movement, in 1918 pushed him to In his last letter to the Arensbergs from
an even more remote destination—all Buenos Aires, Duchamp writes: “I am
to escape the threat of US conscription. all set to become a chess maniac. I find
Marcel left for Buenos Aires, Argentina, all around me transformed into a knight
on August 14, 1918, a few months before or queen, and the outside world holds
WWI ended that November. Fifty years no other interest than its transposition in
later, Duchamp confided the following to winning or losing scenarios.”

11/144
his mind about me, and we became good

friends.” In 1923, Stieglitz photographed
Duchamp in the profile mug shot (see
figure 20) and described him in a letter to
gallery director Julien Levy: “He is ever
the master of masters. Whatever he does
fills me with great delight.” Note that at
first Duchamp did not reciprocate that
esteem—a pattern he also maintained
with women who adored him.
As his chess obsession grew Duchamp

frequented the Marshall Chess Club
on Eighth Street in Greenwich Village,
located above the Pepper Pot restaurant—
Figure 19. Marcel Duchamp seated where the games often continued, and
on a balcony looking at a chessboard, where Duchamp was to be found every
Buenos Aires, January 1919 night. His ambivalence with women
continued even while playing chess.
Ever the inveterate traveler, the sad young Man Ray, his close friend and creative
man on a train, Duchamp craved cerebral collaborator since 1915, describes how a
amusement. Chess offered an excellent young woman named Hazel “played the
means of achieving this engagement, piano in the Pepper Pot, a Greenwich
in part because it was a consuming Village restaurant much frequented by
pastime for transitions and travel. artists, and when Duchamp was there she
Duchamp resumed his travels when he ‘could not take her eyes off ’ him; but
returned to France to renew his visa in he passed his time playing chess.” Man
July 1919; five months later he again Ray recounts, “She asked whether I knew
left for New York, staying until 1923. Duchamp well; he was such a strange man,
He became known for rejecting what had responded to her advances at first, was
he termed “retinal art,” which relies on very affectionate, but had long periods of
optical vision and aesthetic pleasure. He indifference.” This was circa 1920, when
disdained the repetitive aspect of painting Duchamp invented a female alter-ego,
as a commodity of supply and demand. Rrose Sélavy—a pun on the French saying
By this time he considered painting to be “Eros, c’est la vie” (as we will discuss
a bourgeois indulgence—one that, like later). Rrose’s common-sounding name
conventional marriage, led to ennui. has been analyzed by many interpreters
of Duchamp. Perhaps it was impelled
But even within that cool self- by Duchamp’s simultaneous disdain
possession, Duchamp had a powerful for and attraction to the female artifice
effect on others, one of fascination commercialized by fashion and perfume
and impenetrability. As he told Pierre companies. Much has been written of how
Cabanne, “There was Alfred Stieglitz, Duchamp’s erotic and sometimes crude
the photographer, whose main irony punctured his art. (And we will again
characteristic was being a philosopher, write of his Belle Haleine perfume bottle.)
a sort of Socrates. He always spoke in a
very moralizing way, and his decisions By contrast, chess provided a refreshing
were important. He didn’t amuse me curative to the conflation of eros, gender,
much, and at the beginning I must say he and social rules or boundaries. Despite
didn’t think much of me either; I struck the complexity of chess, there was a set
him as a charlatan.… Later he changed of possible rules to be exploited in its

November 2024
strategy, and Duchamp was an expert.

He confirmed to writer Calvin Tomkins
that he loved the clarity and logic of
chess: “It’s complete. There are no
bizarre conclusions like in art, where
you have all kinds of reasonings and
conclusions. It’s absolutely clear-cut.
It’s a marvellous piece of Cartesianism.
And so imaginative that it doesn’t even
look Cartesian at first. The beautiful
combinations that people invent in
chess are only Cartesian after they are
explained. And yet when it’s explained
there is no mystery. It’s a pure logical
conclusion, and it cannot be refuted.”
He began to enter competitions, and

aspired to play the club’s founder, US
chess champion Frank Marshall. In a
1920 letter to his sister Suzanne and her
husband, the painter Jean Crotti (1878–
1958), Duchamp shared his obsession
with the game, which had led to his
latest chess design ideas: “This winter Figure 20. Marcel Duchamp, 1923,
I will be on Marshall’s chess team (his by Alfred Stieglitz
8 best players) against the other N.Y.
teams. Just as I had already done last
winter—but this time I’m hoping to win
a few games (which I didn’t then)—I
am crazy about it—.” He then described
his plans to “launch on the market a
new form of chess sets.” Though his
kings and pawns would be the standard
white and black,the other pieces would
instead be lighter and darker shades of
additional colors. The bishops would
be yellow: light yellow for the “white”
pieces and dark yellow for the “black”;
the knights would be light and dark
red; the rooks, light and dark blue. And
the queen: light green and dark green,
plus,“Please notice that the Queen in
her color is a combination of the Bishop
and of the Rook (just as she is in her
movements)—. 3rd I am going to ask
Marshall if I can use his name and call
them Marshall’s Chessmen. I will give
him 10% of the receipts [takings]. 4th
They will be made out of cast plaster
mixed with glue, which will make them Figure 21. Marcel Duchamp,
as sturdy as wooden pieces.” 1922–1923

11/144
The results of Duchamp’s plan to capture

Frank Marshall’s interest in this venture are
unclear. Francis M. Naumann remarks that
there may have been a plaster-cast replica
of the wooden Buenos Aires Chess Set
painted with the colors Duchamp specified
in the letter. He speculates that Henri-Pierre
Roché had a replica made in 1920, when
Duchamp returned briefly to Paris.
Marshall and Duchamp shared serendipitous

parallels in their lives. Both had a gracious
demeanor combined with cutting intellect.
Born ten years apart, they each learned to
play chess at an early age—Frank at ten and
Marcel at eleven. From the age of eight to
nineteen Marshall lived in French-speaking
Montréal, Canada, where he became a
champion of the Montréal Chess Club. In
1896 he returned to New York, and competed
successfully in national and international
tournaments. In 1915—the same year
Duchamp came to New York—he started
Marshall’s Chess Divan. In his memoirs,
Marshall wrote of his club’s purpose: “The
object was to establish in New York a central Hotel Le Cygne, c. 1900
meeting place for lovers of chess, much on
the same lines as such famous resorts as
Simpson’s Divan in London and the Café de
la Regence in Paris. It was my idea to make
the Divan a place of instruction where young
players would be encouraged and where all
chess players could feel free to gather.”
Duchamp may have played at Marshall’s

Chess Divan before he left for Argentina
in 1918. He certainly did after he returned
to New York in 1920, since he became a Swan over entrance of Hotel le Cygne
member of both Marshall’s club and team.
A photograph of Duchamp from the 1920s (le cygne) on the pediment. (In Belgium’s
(see figure 21) still hangs in the Marshall tolerant environment, Karl Marx often stayed
Chess Club today. at the Hotel le Cygne; his portrait hangs in
its interior today. It’s highly likely that he
Marcel maintained a transatlantic life for the wrote the Communist Manifesto there with
next few years, swapping between New York German philosopher Friedrich Engels; it was
and Paris and playing chess all the while. published in Brussels in February 1848.) In
His chess pursuit was at the fore when, in May Duchamp spent some time in Ghent,
February 1923, he headed to Brussels for where he played in the Belgian interclub
four months to study with Edmond Lancel games, then returned in October 1923 to
at Le Cygne chess club, based in the famous play in Brussels—where he was matched
Hotel le Cygne with its namesake swan against the young George Koltanowski.

Problem
World
by Christopher Jones
cjajones1@yahoo.co.uk
Grandmaster of Chess Composition
Solutions are given on page 702
Paul Michelet (London) Nicolae Popa and Christopher Jones
(Romania / Bristol)
Mate in 4 Helpmate in 2 – 2 solutions
Original Original
Abdelaziz Onkoud (France) Andrew Kalotay (USA)
Helpmate in 3 (b)Pe3>c4 Helpmate in 3.5 (b)a2=bB
Original Original

11/144
QUOTES AND QUERIES

FROM THE SCOTCH TO THE
RUY LOPEZ: UNCONVENTIONAL
USES OF ...G5 IN CHESS
By Alan Smith
The Scotch Game/Gambit is a bigger topic Karl Kuhn - Janos Gajdos
than I appreciated. Here is a stand-in.
Budapest 1912
6282 1.¤f3 in the openings has a
considerable heritage going back to 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4
Ahlhausen, Frank and Fred Brown, Grob ¤f6 5.0-0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3
and Basman. In later years players have ¤a5 9.¥c2 c5 10.d3 £c7 A flexible
deferred the move, so we have 1.d4 ¤f6 move; White doubtless expected Black to
2.g4, the Gibbins-Weidenhagen Attack, transpose into the main lines with ...0-0, but
1.c4 ¤f6 2.¤c3 e6 3.¤f3 ¥b4 4.g4, and Gajdos had different ideas.
even 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.¤¤c3 ¤f6 4.¤f3
¥e7 5.g4!? 11.h3 ¤c6 12.¤bd2 g5!? 13.¤xg5 Hoffer
preferred 13.¤f1 to meet 13...g4 14.hxg4
1...g5 is another story. Michael Basman – ¥xg4 with 15.¤e3.
well-known for his unorthodox opening
practices - experimented with this in 13...¦g8 14.¤f1 h6 15.¤f3 ¥xh3
the 1980s. Your columnist was sceptical 16.¢h2? A blunder; 16.¤f1 was correct.
until I saw Basman’s radical approach
at the 1981 Benedictine tournament. 16...¤g4+ 17.¢g1 17.¢xh3?? ¤xf2+.
There are others, such as the Göteborg
variation of the Sicilian Najdorf, a line 17...¥xg2 18.¤g3 ¥h3 19.¤h2 ¤xh2
of the Benko Gambit, and yes, even the 20.¢xh2 ¥g4 21.f3 ¥e6 Black has an
Ruy Lopez. edge.
If one thinks of ...g5 in the Spanish, then 22.¥e3 0-0-0 23.a4 ¥h4 24.¥f2 £e7
Brentano’s counter-gambit 3...g5 springs to 24...b4 slows White’s attack for a while.
mind, also Korchnoi - Portisch, Wijk aan
Zee 1968: 1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 25.axb5 ¥xg3+ 26.¥xg3 £g5 27.¦g1
4.¥a4 d6 5.0-0 ¥d7 6.¦e1 g5. £h5+ 28.¢g2 ¦xg3+!? This looks
tempting, but it is speculative.
Here are some other examples of ...g5!?.
Black goes off the iron rails of theory into 29.¢xg3 ¦g8+ 30.¢f2 £h2+ 31.¢e3
the wild unknown and drags White along ¤d4! 32.¦xg8+ ¢d7 33.¦c1?? White
for the ride. faltered here. I found some online analysis

November 2024
that favoured 33.¦xa6, but Black should Graham Chesters went on to win the Welsh
still be on top with accurate play. championship in 1964. I first came across
the next game in Edward Winter’s Chess
33...¢e7 34.¦a7+ ¢f6 35.¥a4 d5! 36.exd5 Notes 3754.
¤f5+ 37.¢e4 £f4# 33...f5! 34.¦g7+ ¢e8
35.exf5 ¤xf5+ 36.¢e4 £f4#. Peter Lee - David Mabbs
0-1 Oxford City - Cedars, 1964

Amsterdammer, 2nd March 1913
1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6
5.0-0 ¥e7 6.¦e1 b5 7.¥b3 d6 8.c3 ¤a5
Gajdos (1879–1918) reached 2400 according 9.¥c2 c5 10.h3 Pachman preferred 10.d4
to Edo ratings. £c7 11.a4!
B. Flynn - Graham Chesters 10...£c7 11.d4 ¤c6 12.¤bd2 g5!? 13.a4

¦b8 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.¤f1 There was a
Wales, 1963 case for 15.¤xg5 ¦g8 16.h4 h6 17.¤gf3.
1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 a6 4.¥a4 ¤f6 15...g4 16.hxg4 ¥xg4 17.¤e3 ¦g8
5.d3 ¥c5 6.0-0 Rather than 6.¥xc6 dxc6 18.axb5 axb5 19.£e2 19.¤d5! forces the
7.¤xe5? which is well met by 7...£d4 exchange of a pair of pieces.
8.¥e3 £xe5 9.d4 £xe4 10.dxc5 £xg2
11.¦f1 ¥h3 19...£c8 20.¤d5 ¤h5 21.£e3 ¥h3
22.¤xe7 White had to avoid 22.g3 ¤xg3!
6...d6 7.¥g5?! A positional error. This 23.fxg3 ¦xg3+ 24.¢h2 £g4 25.¦g1
should wait until Black has castled, which ¥g2!.
has been widely appreciated since Dubois -
Steinitz, London 1862. 22...¦xg2+ 23.¢f1 He had no choice;
23.¢h1 lost on the spot. 23...£g4 24.£g5
7...h6 8.¥h4? Far too casual; either 8.¥e3 £xf3.
or 8.¥xf6 was essential.
23...£g4 24.¢e2 24.¤xc6? ¤f4!.
8...b5 9.¥b3 g5! 10.¥g3 h5 11.h3 White
is in big trouble. The acquisitive 11.¤g5 h4 24...¤d4+! 25.cxd4 exd4 26.£h6 There is
12.¤xf7 hxg3 13.¤xd8 runs into 13...¥g4 no escape. 26.£g5 ¤g3+! 27.¢d2 ¦xf2+
14.£d2 ¤d4 15.¤c3 ¤f3+ 16.gxf3 ¥xf3 28.¢d3 £xf3+ 29.¥e3 £xe4# or 29.¦e3
and mate follows —Graham Chesters. ¥f1#.
11...h4 12.¥h2 g4 13.¤g5 gxh3 14.¤xh3 26...¦xf2+! 27.¢d3 £f3+ 28.¥e3 ¥f1+
14.¤xf7 £e7 15.¤xh8 £g7. 29.¦xf1 £e2#.
14...¥g4 15.£d2 ¥xh3 16.gxh3 £d7 0-1

17.¢h1 £xh3 18.f3? White is already lost. Middlesex Chessletter, June 1964
18.¤c3 £f3+ 19.¢g1 ¦g8+ or 18.£e2
¤d4 19.£e3 ¤f3.
Peter Lee went on to win the British
18…£xf1+ 19.¥g1 £xg1# championship in 1965.
0-1
Crewe Chronicle, 16th November 1963

11/144
Endgame Studies
by Ian Watson
ian@irwatson.uk
P. Byway J. Timman
Original composition 2024 The Problemist 2020
draw draw
D. Gurgenidze M. Pasman
FRME Ty 2022 Vecherny Peterburg 2021
draw draw

November 2024
THE KNIGHT PAIR REVISITED
In July’s issue, I extolled the pair of knights. The knight pair is usually viewed as greatly
inferior to the bishop pair, but I hope I convinced you of its numerous advantages. Paul
Byway has sent me a new study that shows yet another ability of the knight pair, one that
is particularly unexpected—two knights corralling a bishop on an open board. One would
expect the bishop to easily escape their net, but not here. The study has ¤¤ vs. ¥¦, which
is generally a win for the bishop and rook, so White has to create threats to exchange a
knight for the bishop.
The solution runs: 1.¤f4 ¥f1 2.¤ed3+ ¢c4 3.¤b2+ ¢b3 4.¤bd3 ¦a5 5.¤c1+ ¢b4
6.¤ce2 and White draws because he has constructed an unbreakable cage around the
bishop. It’s reasonably easy to understand that the final position must be a draw, but it’s
far from obvious why the thematic try 6.¤cd3+? fails. Black responds 6...¢b5, but that’s
just the start of a long set of manoeuvres that enable Black to break into White’s cage via
g3. The databases tell me that it takes 213 moves for Black to win! Instead, in the solution
line, the Black king would have to break in via e4, but he can’t do so without allowing his
bishop to be exchanged.
The sidelines are: 1...¦xe5/f4 2.¤d3+; 2...¢b5 3.¢e1 or 2...¢d4 3.¤e2+ ¢c4 4.¤g3;
3...¢d4 4.¤e2+ ¢c5 5.¤d3+ ¢~ 6.¤g3; 5...¢c4 6.¢e1. Notice also that in the solution
line after 4.¤bd3 White was threatening ¢e1—hence Black’s reply, 4...¦a5.
I didn’t offer this for solving because of the need for tablebases. Next, however, we have
another ¤¤ vs. ¥¦ study in which you don’t need them, so it’s for you to solve. The
composer is Jan Timman—yes, that Jan Timman, the one who fought so many fine OTB
duels with Tony Miles.
The other two studies have the same material—¤¤ vs. §§§—as did Paul Michelet’s
study in the July issue, but they display dramatically different drawing devices; further
evidence of the versatility of the knights. The first is by David Gurgenidze. He is one of
the leading modern study composers and a grandmaster of chess composition, but he is
not the same person as the late OTB grandmaster Gurgenidze. The final study, by Michael
Pasman, divides into two main lines after White’s first move.
The answers to the Timman, Gurgenidze, and Pasman studies are on page 703.

11/144
Solutions to Problems
This month’s originals
Do helpmates have a certain ‘marmite’ quality about them for chess players? Many players
take to them, while others find the collaborative nature of the play utterly alien. Your attitude
towards them will have a big influence on your estimation of this month’s column! As
you probably already know, we look for lines of play in which Black and White conspire
to reach a position in which Black is mated. Thus, in the shortest of them, we’re looking
for two Black-White-Black-White (#) move sequences. Occasionally, we have sequences
in which White starts, and so in the final one in this column, it’s one White-Black-White-
Black-White-Black-White (#) sequence when a2 is occupied by a black knight, and another
White-Black-White-Black-White-Black-White (#) sequence when it’s a black bishop at a2.
Before all that, an orthodox problem by Paul Michelet. White’s position is overwhelming,
but if 1.c8=£, 1...¥d4! enables Black to survive beyond move 4.
...not 1.c8=£—so...?
White prevents Black from playing ...¥d4 by means of 1.c5!. Now there are three fairly
obvious lines of play: if 1...¥b6 2.cxb6; if 1...¥xc5 2.c8=£, with £xc5 to follow; and if
1...¢b1, 2.c8=£ is again effective. But the crux of the problem is the much nicer defence
1...¥b8(!), when 2.cxb8=£ would be stalemate. So White must play 2.cxb8=¥!; the
upshot of this is that Black is defenceless against 3.¥xh2 and 4.0-0#: castling, a rather
unlikely-seeming outcome to the play.
A typical helpmate in two A typical helpmate in three
Helpmates in two tend to be explorations What I said above about orthogonal/

of reciprocal line effects in two parallel diagonal correspondence in the two
solutions, with what rooks do in one solution solutions of a helpmate in two applies
on orthogonal lines being counterpointed also to many helpmates in three,
by what bishops do on diagonal lines in including one by Abdelaziz. The extra
the other solution, and vice versa. The moves of White and Black permit greater
captures on Black’s first move in our second complexity. (From composers’ point of
problem, which unpin the black knights view, that usually means greater difficulty
and cause subsequent line clearances, are in making them sound, but on the other
grist to the composers’ mill. If Nicolae and hand, a greater chance that researchers
I have a misgiving about our problem, it is won’t find anything too closely
that somewhere among the compendia of comparable as an unwelcome forerunner.)
two-move helpmates, a researcher might In this case, an experienced solver will
find that it’s all been done before. The hope, piece together the implications of the
though, is that at least for all but the most thematically suggestive configuration of
knowledgeable researcher, it gives pleasure the four white officers and the need to
to alight upon the parallel lines: clear a path through the forest of black
pieces north of the black king (probably
1...¦xd3 remember, in helpmates it’s Black sacrificially), but might still struggle to
moving first. £e2 2.¤d2 £e6# and see the clever, and marvellously matched,
move sequences in the two solutions. In
1...¦exf3 £d2 2.¤e2 £g5#. the diagram position, it’s:

November 2024
(See page 697)

1.¥xe5 ¤xe4 2.¢xe4 ¥xe5 3.d3 ¤g5#. 1...¤b1 2.¤c1 ¦a1 3.¤d3 ¤a3 4.¤f2
Then, when the pawn that is on e3 in the ¦e1#.
diagram is placed instead on c4, we have:
The white knight, having had to go to b1 (as
1.¦xe5 ¤xd4 2.¢xd4 ¦xe5 3.¥d3 ¤b5#. moving to c4 gave an unwanted check), is
again in the way and has no non-detrimental
Not quite such a typical helpmate move other than back to a3. This infringes
the orthodox stricture that in the mate
When helpmates extend beyond three moves, position in helpmates, white officers should
the number of less easily thematically all be gainfully employed. But the quaint
classifiable examples increases, as play of this knight is rich compensation
exemplified by Andrew’s problem. Here, the for this disregard of orthodoxy. The second
focus is on activating the white rook, which solution is more orthodox, in that the knight
is hemmed in by its own pieces. We need to does end up guarding a flight square (one
get the white knight out of the way. It seems almost regrets this conventionality!). When
as though this should be straightforward, but it’s a black bishop at a2, we have:
in each part of the solution, a unique two-
move pathway must be followed. Perhaps 1...¤c4+ 2.¢e4 ¤xb6 3.¥e6 ¦a1 4.¥f5
the more piquant solution is the one in the ¦e1#. There’s another breach of orthodoxy
diagram position. (Andrew himself says that in the repetition of the moves of the white
this is "the interesting twin".) The solution rook in the two solutions, which again you
runs as follows: may find to be well-justifiable.
Solutions to Endgames (See page 700)

Timman Pasman
1.¢e6 ¦g4 2.¤d2 ¦xg6+ 3.¢f5 ¥h5 1.¤f3 with two lines:
4.¤b1+ ¢a4 5.¤c3+ ¢a5 6.¤b3+ ¢a6
7.¤c5+ ¢a7 8.¤b5+ ¢a8 9.¤c7+ ¢b8 1...f1¤ 2.¤f4 h2 3.¢d4 ¤d2 4.¢e3 ¤xf3
10.¤d7+ ¢xc7 11.¤f6 ¦h6 12.¢g5 5.¢xf3 g2 6.¤h3 g1¤+ 7.¢f2 ¤xh3+
¦g6+ 13.¢f5 ¦h6 14.¢g5 ¦g6+ 15.¢f5 8. ¢f1 draws, and 1...¢g2 2.¤h4+ ¢g1
with a positional draw. 3.¤f3+ ¢f1 4.¢c4 ¢e2 5.¤d4+ ¢e1
6.¤f3+ ¢e2 7.¤d4+ ¢e3 8.¤xg3 ¢f4
1...¥h5 2.¢f5 ¦g4 3.¤e2 ¦xg6 4.¤f4. 9.¤f1 draws.
In the main line, 2.¢f5? ¦g1 3.¤d4 ¥h5; 1.¤xg3+? ¢g2 2.¤df5 h2.
4...¢b2 5.¤d3+ ¢xb1 6.¤f4 ¦h6 7.¢g5. In the first solution line: 2.¤xg3+? ¤xg3
3.¤g5 ¤e4+ or 2.¢d4? g2 4.¤xd2 g2;
Gurgenidze 5...¢g1 6.¤e2+; 6...g1£ 7.¤f2+.
1.¤4xf5 ¢b2 2.¤g4 c2 3.¤f2 d2 4.¤e3 In the second solution line: 5...¢d1 6.¤xg3
c1£ 5.¤fd1+ ¢a1 6.¤c3 £g1 7.¤ed1 h2 7.¤df5 f1£+ 8.¤xf1 h1£ 9.¤1g3
draws. In Byway’s study, White constructed a £f3 10.¢d4 £f4+ 11.¢d5 ¢e1 12.¢e6
fortress to keep the Black king out; here White ¢f2 13.¤h5 £g5 14.¤f6, achieving a
constructs one to keep the Black king in. stable set-up and thus drawing.

RAY KEENE'S LATEST
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(ISBN: 979-8867676032)
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Volume 144

Chairman Shaun Taulbut

Prepress Specialist 644 Triumph and tragedy in Singapore:

642 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 643

By GM Aleksandar Colovic; www.alexcolovic.com

The upcoming match for the World

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 645

Alireza Firouzja – Ding Liren 14...¤g7 Possible, but somewhat timid.

646 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 647

33.£xh5 £g6 34.¤h6+ ¢h8 35.¤f7+

26...h5 27.¤gh2 The alternative was to put

27.¤e3 objectively this was better, but

648 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Ding Liren XIIIIIIIIY

26...¥g4? A "safe" move, but one that

27.£f2 Black is now helpess against the

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 649

650 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

21.¦d1 ¤e5 22.¤xe5 Ding decides to 24...¦b8! 24...¤xe2+?! 25.¢g2 threatens

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 651

30...g5 Intending ...¢f7–g6.

31.¦a8+ ¢f7 32.f4 gxf4 33.gxf4 ¢g6

34.f5+ was an alternative, not giving up the

34...¢xh6 35.f5+ ¢h5 36.¦g7 White goes

652 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 653

If we apply Fischer and Carlsen’s

These superlatives are well-deserved. Wei Yi and Gukesh

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74...¢e7 16...b6 17.¦ab1 17.£xa6?! cxd4 18.cxd4

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24.fxe6 £xd2 25.exf7+ ¢xf7 26.£xc5 34.£d4

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35.¦f4! Domination - the rook secures Gukesh D - Rauf Mamedov

24...h6 25.h4 A rather vague move that

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25.g4? ¤f4 still doesn’t work. 31...¦d5 32.¦c6! £d7 32...¥xd4

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XIIIIIIIIY This game was marked by an erroneous plan

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XIIIIIIIIY 25.¥f5! ¢g7 26.¥xe6 fxe6 27.¤g4 White

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43...¢e6? But Black misses it. MATCH STRATEGY

1–0 I expect this will be his approach in

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Declined against 1.d4. In Astana, he

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Photo: Stev Bonhage

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THE WORLD CHAMPION, DING LIREN, IS A SYMBOL OF PERSEVERANCE IN CHESS.

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that he would not defend his title, the match

The World Championship match took

However, his monumental achievement

In an interview ahead of the Match, Ding

Ding’s mental strength and resilience on

as he faces an opponent whose recent