2/13/2017 – The Brazilian Championship is finally rounding the last curve as it enters the home stretch, and while it cannot claim the ultra-elite field of national championships such as Russia, it has more than made up for it in fighting spirit and fun. The top guns are leading as one might expect, but it has not been a smooth ride as even top-seed Fier nearly lost in 20 moves. Illustrated report with games and positions.
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All photos by Albert Silver
(photos are all high-resolution)
Running from February 6 – 14, 2017, the 83rd Brazilian Championship is underway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It brings twelve players including four grandmasters, who will fight a round robin at the rate of 90 minutes for the game plus a 30-second increment.
Looking at the crosstable after nine rounds, one would understandably be prone to conclude that it has been a strictly by the numbers event, with the four only grandmasters in the field taking up the top four spots. But really everything happened for things to be otherwise, and no small share of good fortune made It possible too. Feel free to quote the old “luck goes to the strongest”, but before you do, take a look at this flurry with death (on the board) by Alexandr Fier.
Fier (pronounced 'fear') has dodged more than one bullet in the tournament, which has let him stay in contention for the title.
Rafael de Paula certainly helped keep spectators glued to his board as he fought to save a game that had gone seriously bad against IM Quintiliano.
Tournament director GM Darcy Lima watches as Black puts up a staunch defense
Visiting players came to watch the action and were not disappointed
Round eight saw the key battle between the two leaders Alexandr Fier and Everaldo Matsuura
FM Ricardo Teixeira annotates what was the biggest game of the event by virtue of the standings: Matsuura vs Fier
Alexandr Fier vs Everaldo Matsuura (annotated by FM Ricardo Teixeira)
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1.d4d52.c4c63.Nf3e64.e3Nf65.b3For some time now, this move order has become a popular means to sidestep the more explored lines of this positions. Positions, it is worth noting, that Matsuura knows all too well, having played them innumrous times throughout his career. No doubt Fier didn't want to give Matsuura the luxury of feeling at home.5.Nc3Nbd76.Qc2Bd67.b30-08.Be2a69.0-0e510.cxd5cxd511.dxe5Nxe512.Bb2Be613.Rac1Rc814.Qb1Nfg4!Positions with isolated pawns, especially when in the center, require a very dynamic and active game.15.Nxe5Bxe516.Bxg4ou16.h3Bh2+17.Kh1Bb818.Bxg4Bxg419.Qd3Qd6?!20.f4Be6Mamedyarov,S - Andreikin,D, Tashkent 2014.0-1 in 51 moves.16...Bxg417.Na4Bb818.Rxc8Bxc819.Bd4Re819...Qh4NA novelty by Matsuura... in 2009!20.f4Qh521.Qb2f622.Nc3Bd623.b4Also with a complciated game as in Aranha, A - Matsuura, E, Americana/Brazil, 2009.0-1 in 55 moves.20.Nc3Qd621.f4f6 1/2, Portisch,L - Kasparov,G, Dubai 19865...Nbd76.Bd3Be7Solid, though less commonly chosen, than6...Bd67.0-00-08.Bb2b6but which is in keeping with the same idea of a harmonious piece development, until the central break with ...c5.7.0-00-08.Bb2b69.Nc3Bb710.Qe2c511.Rfd1cxd412.exd4Qc7Oddly, in spite of being a typical maneuver in this type of position, games with this move are rare in the databases. Since there is so little material available on this, it is no surprise that at any moment a brand new move could appear on the board.13.Ne5?!The alternative was13.Nb5Qf4?!13...Qb8!?is better14.Bc1Qg415.h3Qh516.Bf4 with a slightly better position for White.13...dxc414.bxc4Nxe515.dxe5Qc6Here is the psychologically interesting moment of the game and of the championship. The shots and counter shots are taking the game down an ever sharper path, but with his next move, Fier steps beyond what he could ask of his position. This was possibly due to the must-win situation he is in as his oponent is just a half point ahead, and a victory would change everything.16.Nd5Albeit complicated at first sight, this might have impressed a player who did not have the calm and serentiy of the experienced and gentle Everaldo. At the end of these skirmishes, Black will emerge with a big fat extra pawn. Other moves such as16.Qf1Ng417.Be4Qc818.Qe2would give White a nice dynamic position16...exd517.exf6dxc418.Qg4Bxf619.Bxf6Qxf620.Bxc4Rad821.h3Now White must bet all his chips on what is left of his heavy artillery, in search of some compensation for the pawn he lost. On the flip side, Black is in a pure "Sea of Tranquility", since he alone has winning chances and he has the enormous advantage of being able to settle for a draw without a second thought as he is the sole leader of the event.g622.Rac1Rxd1+23.Rxd1Bc824.Qe4Be625.Bxe6Qxe626.Qxe6fxe627.Rd6Rf5!? Interesting, though more direct, was27...Rc828.Rxe6Rc1+29.Kh2Rc228.Rxe6Ra529.Re2b530.Kh2Ra331.f3Kf732.Kg3Kf633.Rc2a634.h4Ra435.Rc7Rxa236.Rxh7b437.Rb7a538.Kh3Rb239.Ra7Ra240.Rb7Rb241.Ra7Ke5The game ended here, with the two players shaking hands. The line that follows helps illustrate the correctness of their decision.42.Rxa5+Kd443.Ra6b344.Rxg6Rb145.Rb6Rh1+46.Kg4Kc347.Rc6+Kd248.Rd6+Kc249.Rc6+Kd250.h5b251.Rb6b1Q52.Rxb1Rxb153.h6Ke354.Kg5Rg155.h755.g4Kxf356.h7Rh157.Kg6Kxg455...Rxg2+56.Kf6Rh257.Kg7Kxf358.h8QRxh859.Kxh8½–½
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 14 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.
Albert SilverBorn in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications, and the content creator of the YouTube channel, Chess & Tech.
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