Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
The CEZ Chess Trophy 2013 pits the world's number two female player, 19-year-old Chinese GM Hou Yifan, against the best Czech GM David Navara. Hou Yifan was the Women's World Chess Champion in years 2010-2012 and is the current challenger for the title.
The first three rounds of the exhibition match between David Navara and Hou Yifan has not seen either player able to pull ahead, and thus far three draws have ensued. Navara has chosen to avoid Yifan’s tactical strength, and attempt to impose his positional skills. Although he has certainly earned a few chances, the most notable in game one, the top Czech player has not been able to break the Chinese teenager’s resistance, and has seen his chances evaporate one after the other.
Michael Negele gives a presentation on the history of blindfold chess...
... and get an autograph before the start of the game
The second round game is officially started by event organiser Pavel Matocha...
... and the action can begin
The moves are displayed on a big flat-screen for the spectators...
--- with experts analysing in the commentary room
The second game was a Queen's Gambit with the well-known Carsbad pawn structure, which leads to the development of a strategic battle. David Navara chose the plan of launching a minority attack on the queenside, while Hou Yifan fought for space with the black pieces, occupying the right defense squares with her knights. After a "small gunflight" (official commentators) in the centre of the chessboard the game transposed into a balanced position, and immediately after the time controls the players agreed to a draw.
Afterwards David Navara shows Hou Yifan what he saw during their game
Pavel Matocha, the man behind the event (in a new, conservative hairstyle) opens round three
In her second white game 19-year-old Hou Yifan played 1.e4 and, as in the first game, a Sicilian Scheveningen occurred, with her opponent David Navara deviating from the first game on move six. This is how it continued:
That said, the purpose of the match goes beyond setting the best local against an international celebrity, and the high quality promotion of chess with presentations by Vlastimil Hort, live grandmaster commentary, and more. And in this it has been an unequivocal success. Yifan has to feel particularly proud since a draw or win in the final round would make her the first female since Judit Polgar to successfully hold her own against a top 100 player in a match.
Postmortem for the spectators after the game
Top Czech grandmaster David Navara
Former Women's World Champion Hou Yifan
LinksThe 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 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
|
