Nodirbek Abdusattorov helped Viernheim to take the sole lead in the very competitive Bundesliga by scoring 2½ out of 3 points during last weekend. The Uzbek grandmaster defeated two strong 2600+ GMs, Gata Kamsky and Eduardo Iturrizaga, and drew Richard Rapport, a member of the elite.
At 19, Abdusattorov is now the highest-rated junior player in the world, though Gukesh, Praggnanandhaa and Vincent Keymer stand closely behind.
In his game against Kamsky, the youngster did not shy away from tactical complications out of a Sicilian Defence, creating play on both sides of the board while his opponent’s king remained in the centre.
White just played 19.Rh3, creatively bringing the rook to an active spot along the third rank. Amid such complexity, a single mistake is always costly, and it was Kamsky who miscalculated a few moves later.
It is Black to move here, as his knight has just been attacked by 24.f4, and there is only one manoeuvre that keeps the precarious balance. Kamsky’s 24...Bxd4 was not the way to go, though. Can you find the winning combination played by Abdusattorov?
