4/10/2018 – The final day of China versus the world match featured some amazing miniatures, inspiring comebacks and also a few incredible blunders! While the World team failed to overcome their two-point deficit on the final day, they came close and made sure the Chinese did not declare victory without breaking a sweat. Day 2 report and games.
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.
Whether it’s a weak pawn, a vulnerable king, or poor piece coordination, this course will teach you how to pinpoint the critical targets, prioritise your attack, and execute a clear, effective plan.
€39.90
Day 2
The Lee Hai Cup 2018, a.k.a. "China versus the World" came to a close on the evening of April 9th, 2018, at the Arcadia Hotel in Liaocheng, China. Going into the second day, the Chinese team was ahead by two points. At the end of the scheduled four rounds, both China and the World had scored two points apiece bringing the final score tally to 11:9 in favour of China.
Interestingly, the results of the first three rounds on the second day were just the same as on day 1. The first round of the day was a draw; China won the second one with a 4:1 margin and the World team came back with a 3:2 win in the third.
In the fourth round of the day (the tenth of the match), the World was in a must-win situation. Hopes diminished for the World team after Yu Yangyi demolished Dubov within 25 moves in a Pirc Defence. American GM Sam Shankland, who had had a terrible event so far, rose to the occasion at this point and scored a crucial win against Li Chao to level scores. Had the World team managed to pull off one more victory, they would have succeeded in levelling the match. But that was not to be; all three of the remaining games were drawn leaving China two points ahead in the final tally.
The World team at the closing ceremony | Photo: Official Website
Round 7
In the opening round of the second day, the top board for the ‘Rest of the World’ team — Jan-Krzysztof Duda — scored his first win of the event against the second highest rated member of the Chinese team, Yu Yangyi. For Duda, this was a welcome victory especially after his disappointing show on the first day of the match.
Duda had the white pieces in the game and went for the fashionable closed Italian. Yu Yangyi broke open in the centre quite early and stationed his central pawns menacingly on e4 and f4. However, Yu began to falter around the 20th move and lost an exchange. With an extra exchange and an overwhelming position, converting the game was child’s play for the Polish GM.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
1.e4
1,166,623
54%
2421
---
1.d4
947,298
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
281,602
56%
2441
---
1.c4
182,102
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,702
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,265
54%
2427
---
1.f4
5,897
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,801
51%
2384
---
1.b4
1,756
48%
2380
---
1.a3
1,206
54%
2404
---
1.e3
1,068
48%
2408
---
1.d3
954
50%
2378
---
1.g4
664
46%
2360
---
1.h4
446
53%
2374
---
1.c3
433
51%
2426
---
1.h3
280
56%
2418
---
1.a4
110
60%
2466
---
1.f3
92
46%
2436
---
1.Nh3
89
66%
2508
---
1.Na3
42
62%
2482
---
Please, wait...
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.c3Nf65.d30-06.Nbd2a6C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4
and 5 d36...d57.exd5Nxd58.Ne4Bb69.0-0Bg410.h3Bh511.Ng3Bg612.Re1Re813.d4Nf614.dxe5Qxd115.Rxd1Nxe516.Nxe51/2-1/2 (16)
Anand,V (2776)-Kramnik,V (2800) Moscow 20187.Bb3d58.exd5Nxd59.Ne4Be7LiveBook: 3 Games10.0-0Kh811.Re1f5NPredecessor:11...f612.Ng3Bc513.Nh4Nde714.Qf3Qd715.Ne4Bd616.Ng5Nd817.Nxh7Rg818.Nxf61-0 (18) Repkova,E (2329)-Blagojevic,T (2245) Sibenik 201612.Ng3f413.Nf1Bg414.h3Bh515.N1h2Nf616.Qd2 White is more active.Bd617.d417.Bc2=17...e418.Ng5f319.gxf3Bxh2+!20.Kxh2Qd6+21.Kg1Bxf321...Na5!=22.Qf4±Ne822...Bh5±was worth a
try.23.Nf7++-Rxf724.Qxf7
34.f3!exf335.Kf2Kg736.d5Nd837.Re7+Nf738.Rxc7Rh838...Kf639.Rxb7g439.d6Kf640.Kxf3Rxh3+41.Kg2Rh841...Rh442.Rd3Rg4+43.Kf1Rf4+44.Ke2Re4+45.Kd2Nd842.Rxb7f443.d7g444.Rb4Kf545.Rxf4+Kxf4KRN-KR46.Rf1+Ke547.Rxf7KR-KRKd648.Rf6+Kxd749.Rxa6Rh349...Rb850.b3Re850.Ra4White is clearly
winning.Re3and the idea ...Re2+ leaves Black hopeful.51.Rb4Kc652.a4Kc553.a5g354.a6Re655.Ra4Re856.a7Kd5Precision: White = 74%, Black = 29%.1–0
The Italian Game is considered a sound but quiet opening without early trades, giving rise to rich positions where plans are more important than forced variations. So shows black's plans on this DVD.
When it comes to playing sharp chess, Wei Yi definitely knows a thing or two | Photo: Official Website
China’s strike in the round came on the second board where Wei Yi defeated GM Etienne Bacrot in merely 20 moves from the black side of a French Tarrasch. The game got extremely sharp within the first ten moves. Bacrot seemed to be in good control but an unfortunate blunder on the 20th move turned the game in Wei Yi’s favour. Bacrot resigned immediately after his opponent played the refutation.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4e62.d4d53.Nc3Nf64.e5Nfd75.f4c56.Nf3Nc67.Ne2b58.a3C05: French Tarrasch: 3...Nf6 4 e5 Nfd7, 5
f4 and 5 Bd3 sidelinesQb68...Rb89.c3Be710.Be30-011.Qc2f612.g3a513.Bh3Nb614.Bf2b415.dxc5b31/2-1/2 (52) Chigaev,M (2566)
-Zvjaginsev,V (2639) Khanty-Mansiysk 20179.c3Be7
10.f5! The position is equal.exf5N
Find the theoretical novelty and annotate with similar games:10...cxd411.cxd4b412.fxe6fxe613.Nf4bxa314.bxa30-015.Bd3Nxd416.Nxd4Nxe5
1-0 (44) Arakhamia Grant,K (2435)-Repkova,E (2250) Debrecen 199211.Nf4cxd412.Nxd5Qb7!13.cxd40-014.Qc2Strongly threatening Qxc6!Bd8And now
...Nxd4! would win.15.Ne315.Nc3=remains equal.15...g615...Nxd4!?16.Nxd4Bh4+17.g3Qxh1=16.Bd2Bb617.Bxb517.Qc317...Nxd418.Nxd4Bxd419.Bc6
19...Qb8!20.0-0?20.e6fxe621.Bxa8Qxa822.Rd120...Nxe5Precision: White = 24%, Black = 78%.0–1
Round 8 was a total disaster for the World team. China won this round with a score of 4:1, winning three and drawing two of the games.
On the first board, Vidit Gujrathi was beaten convincingly by the Chinese top seed, Ding Liren, in a King’s Indian Defence. Quite uncharacteristically, Vidit made some tactically suspicious moves in the middle game and ended up in a dead lost position. Ding missed the crushing exchange sacrifice 24.Rxd4 a couple of times before finally playing on his 26th turn. Once the exchange sac was on the board, unavertable mates loomed around the black king. Vidit resigned three moves later.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.d4Nf62.c4g63.f3c54.d5e64...d65.e4e66.Nc3exd57.cxd5Bg78.Nge2Nbd79.Ng3h510.Be2Nh711.Bf4Qe712.Qd2h413.Nf1g514.Be3Ne515.g3Bd716.gxh4gxh41/2-1/2 (42) Aronian,L (2794)-Grischuk,A (2767) Berlin 20185.Nh3d6NPredecessor:5...b56.dxe6fxe67.cxb5d58.e4Bg79.Be20-010.0-0a611.Nc3axb512.Nxb51-0 (27)
Inarkiev,E (2684)-Savchenko,B (2550) Batumi 20186.Nf2E60: King's Indian:
Unusual lines and Fianchetto Variation without Nc3b57.e4Bg78.dxe6
White has an edge.Bxe69.cxb50-010.Be2d511.0-0a612.a4axb513.Bxb5Qb614.Nc3 White is more active.dxe415.Nfxe4Nxe416.Nxe4Bd4+17.Kh1Nc618.Bh6Rfd819.Qe1Strongly threatening Qh4.Nb419...Na720.Qh4!±White wants to mate with Nf6+.Bf520...Nd5was called for.21.Bg5Rd522.Bc4Rd722...Bg7keeps fighting.23.Bf6Bxe423.Rad1+-Nc2
Bologan: "If you study this DVD carefully and solve the interactive exercises you will also enrich your chess vocabulary, your King's Indian vocabulary, build up confidence in the King's Indian and your chess and win more games."
Yu Yangyi against Sam Shankland was another miniature that lasted only 24 moves. In a Ruy Lopez Archangel, Shankland was only slightly worse out of the opening when, on his 21st move, the American picked the wrong piece to place on the d6 square and had to resign three moves later.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.0-0b56.Bb3Bc57.c3d68.a4Rb89.d4Bb610.a5C78: Ruy Lopez: Archangelsk and Möller DefencesBa711.Be311.h30-012.Be3Ra813.Re1h614.Nbd2Re815.g4Qe716.Nf1Nd817.Ng3c5
0-1 (35) Caruana,F (2799)-Carlsen,M (2827) Douglas 201711...exd412.cxd4
LiveBook: 7 Games. Threatening e5.White has an edge.Bg412...0-0!=13.Qc1NPredecessor:13.Qc2Ne714.Nbd20-015.h3Bxf316.Nxf3Nd717.Bf4Ng60-1 (35) O'Donnell,C (1955)-Schweighoffer,M (1756) Prague 201213...Qd714.Nbd2!
Hoping for e5.14...0-015.e5dxe516.Nxe5Nxe517.dxe5Bxe318.fxe3Rbd8Black should play18...Nd519.exf6±Qxd220.fxg7Kxg721.Qc5
White wants to mate with Qg5+.21...Rd6?21...Qd6±22.Qg5+Qg623.Rxf7+Rxf724.Qxd8Qf622.Qe5++-White
is clearly winning.Kg623.Rf2f624.Qf4Weaker is24.Rxd2fxe525.Rxd6+cxd61–0
The ninth round saw the rest of the world team make a nice comeback beating China with a score of 3:2. Also, the round was quite an entertaining one with three out of the five games finishing decisively.
On the first board, Jan-Krzysztof Duda crushed Li Chao from the white side of an English Opening. Having sacrificed an exchange earlier on the queenside, Duda generated an overwhelming attack on the black king. On his 26th turn, Li was forced to give up his queen in order to avoid mate and resigned soon after.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.c4Nf62.Nc3d53.cxd5Nxd54.g3Nxc35.bxc3g66.Bg2Bg77.h4h5LiveBook: 8 Games. A16: English Opening: 1...Nf6 with ...d57...c68.h5Qa59.Nf3Nd710.Kf1Nc511.Rh4Bf612.Rh1Bg413.Nd4Rd814.hxg6hxg615.Rxh8+Bxh81/2-1/2 (26) Movsesian,S (2699)-Kurnosov,I (2657)
Khanty-Mansiysk 20138.Rb10-09.Nh3Nc6White is slightly better.10.Ng5Ne510...Na5!=11.0-0c612.d4NPredecessor:12.a4Rb813.d4Ng414.Qb3e515.Ba31-0 (34) Kravets,V (2310)-Korotkov,A Moscow
199612...Nc413.Qb3Na514.Qc2b615.Rd1Bf516.e4Bg417.Rd3Qc818.c4c5Black should try18...Qa6=19.d5!Qa620.Rb5Bd721.a4Bxb521...Rad822.axb5+-Qc823.Bh3Qe823...Qb8keeps fighting.24.Rf3Nb7?
24...Bf625.e5Bxg526.Bxg5Kg725.e5! White is clearly winning.Bxe5
26.Rxf7!Qxf726...Rxf727.Qxg6+27.Nxf7Kxf728.Qe4Bf629.Bh6
Precision: White = 72%, Black = 43%.1–0
Williams main teaching method behind this set of two DVDs is to teach you some simple yet effective set ups, without the need to rely on memorising numerous complicated variations.
In a more traditional kingside attack, Daniil Dubov got the better of the Chinese top seed, Ding Liren. The highlight of the game was the Russian GM’s positional queen sacrifice with which he mobilized his central pawns into dangerous passers.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4c52.Nc3e63.Nf3Nc64.d4cxd45.Nxd4Qc76.Be3a67.Bd3Nf68.0-0Ne59.h3Bc510.Qe2d6LiveBook: 103 Games11.Rad1B48: Sicilian:
Taimanov: 5 Nc3 Qc7 6 Be3 a6 without Be211.f4Ng612.Nb3Bxe3+13.Qxe30-014.a4b615.Nd2Bb716.Nc4Nd717.Qd4Qc518.Qxc5dxc519.e5Ne720.Nd6Bc621.Be4f522.Bxc6Nxc60-1 (53) Steel,H (2414)-Fier,A (2562) Fufeng
201711...0-012.f4Ng613.f5NThe position is equal.Find the
theoretical novelty and annotate with similar games:13.Qf2b514.e5dxe515.Nxe6Bxe316.Nxc7Bxf2+17.Rxf2Ra718.N7d5Nxd519.Nxd5exf420.Nxf4Rd821.Nxg6hxg622.Re1Rc723.Rfe2Kf824.g4Bb725.Kf21/2-1/2 (25)
Eremin,N (2278)-Kirpikov,A (2304) ICCF email 201413...Ne514.g4h615.Nf3exf5Hoping for ...Qb6.15...Qb6!?16.Bxc5Qxc5+17.Kg2b516.Nxe5dxe517.gxf5b518.Kh2Bb719.Rg1Kh720.Rg3Rg821.Rdg1b422.Na4Bxe323.Qxe3a524.b3Rad8
Threatens to win with ...Rd4.25.R1g2White should play25.Qa725...Rd426.Qg1
26...Nh5! Black is in control.Resist26...Bxe427.Bxe4Rxe428.Rxg7+Rxg729.Rxg7+Kh830.Rg227.Rg4Qd628.Nb2Qf629.Nc4Nf430.Qxd4exd431.Rxf4Qd832.Rg3Ba632...f6-+33.Rfg4Qc733.e5Bxc434.bxc434.Bxc4keeps fighting.Qc735.Re434...Kh8-+35.Kg2Re836.Re4Qd736...Qc8-+37.Reg4Rxe538.Rxg7Re337.Rf3?37.Reg4!Rg838.h437...Kg838.h4a439.Kf2?39.h539...Qc740.e6Qh2+41.Kf1Kf841...fxe6And now ...b3! would win.42.f6Rf842.c5Ke7?
42...a3keeps the pressure on. ...b3! is the strong threat.43.Rxd4
43...b3!44.cxb3Qxa243.f6+!+-gxf6?43...Kd844.exf744.Rxd4+Kc8=44...Rf844.exf7+Kxf745.Bc4+Kf846.Rxf6+Kg747.Rf7+Kg648.Rxe8Qh3+49.Ke2White mates.Qg2+50.Rf2Qg4+51.Kd2Precision: White = 48%, Black = 43%.1–0
Another startling highlight of the round was Etienne Bacrot’s patzer blunder in his game against Bu Xiangzhi. The Frenchman was already under a bit of pressure trying to put his opponent’s queenside passer under lock and key when he incredibly moved his rook to a square where it was en prise. Bu accepted the gift instantly and Bacrot had no option but to resign.
Etienne Bacrot - Bu Xiangzhi
Believe it or not, Bacrot played 35.Rb6 here!
Round 10
The tenth and the final round, American GM, Sam Shankland won his first and only game of this entire match against Li Chao. After a tense middle game that arose out of a Benko Gambit, Shankland generated a strong initiative against the white king. Li Chao’s tried seeking counterplay against black’s king but his 37.Bf8 stretched it too far. Shankland broke open the kingside by taking with his rook on f2 and all kinds of mating threats loomed over the white king.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.0-0b56.Bb3Bc57.c3d68.a4Rb89.d4Bb610.a5C78: Ruy Lopez: Archangelsk and Möller DefencesBa711.Be311.h30-012.Be3Ra813.Re1h614.Nbd2Re815.g4Qe716.Nf1Nd817.Ng3c5
0-1 (35) Caruana,F (2799)-Carlsen,M (2827) Douglas 201711...exd412.cxd4
LiveBook: 7 Games. Threatening e5.White has an edge.Bg412...0-0!=13.Qc1NPredecessor:13.Qc2Ne714.Nbd20-015.h3Bxf316.Nxf3Nd717.Bf4Ng60-1 (35) O'Donnell,C (1955)-Schweighoffer,M (1756) Prague 201213...Qd714.Nbd2!
Hoping for e5.14...0-015.e5dxe516.Nxe5Nxe517.dxe5Bxe318.fxe3Rbd8Black should play18...Nd519.exf6±Qxd220.fxg7Kxg721.Qc5
White wants to mate with Qg5+.21...Rd6?21...Qd6±22.Qg5+Qg623.Rxf7+Rxf724.Qxd8Qf622.Qe5++-White
is clearly winning.Kg623.Rf2f624.Qf4Weaker is24.Rxd2fxe525.Rxd6+cxd61–0
Yu Yangyi avenged the loss of Ding Liren in the previous round, beating Daniil Dubov in merely 25 moves. Yu Yangyi was only slightly better in this game when Dubov blundered and lost an exchange. The game did not continue for too long after this.
New ...
New Game
Edit Game
Setup Position
Open...
PGN
FEN
Share...
Share Board (.png)
Share Board (configure)
Share playable board
Share game as GIF
Notation (PGN)
QR Code
Layout...
Use splitters
Swipe notation/lists
Reading mode
Flip Board
Settings
Move
N
Result
Elo
Players
Replay and check the LiveBook here
Please, wait...
1.e4g62.d4Bg73.c4e64.Nf3Ne75.Be25.h4d56.e5c57.dxc5Nbc68.Bf4Qa5+9.Nc30-010.Qa4Qxc511.Rd1Qb612.Qb51-0 (30) Howell,D (2688)-Stefanova,A
(2521) Doha 20155...0-06.0-0B06: Modern Defenced57.cxd5exd58.e5The position is equal.Nd7NFind the theoretical novelty and annotate
with similar games:8...b69.Bg5c510.Nc3Be611.Bb5a612.Ba40-1 (43)
Sewiola,P (1737)-Hradil,V (1821) Valasska Bystrice 20149.Nc3f610.exf6Nxf611.Bf4c612.Be5Bg413.Ng5Bf514.h3h615.Nf3g516.Qb3b616...Qb6=17.Nd1Ng618.Ne3Be619.Qc2 White has good play.Qe820.Bd320.Bd6±20...Nxe5Black should play20...Ne4!21.Nxe5±Nd7?
21...c5±is more resistant.22.Bg6+-White is clearly winning.Weaker is22.Bh7+Kh8+-22...Rf723.Nxf7Bxf724.Bxf7+Kxf724...Qxf725.Qxc6Rf826.Nxd5Nf625.Nf5
Precision: White = 45%, Black = 36%.1–0
Aditya PaiAditya Pai is an ardent chess fan, avid reader, and a film lover. He holds a Master's in English Literature and used to work as an advertising copywriter before joining the ChessBase India team.
The free app from ChessBase! ChessBase Mobile has everything you need as a chess player on the go:
access your chess data in cloud databases - and 13 million games.
Whether it’s a weak pawn, a vulnerable king, or poor piece coordination, this course will teach you how to pinpoint the critical targets, prioritise your attack, and execute a clear, effective plan.
Videos by Nico Zwirs: Nimzo-Indian with 4.e3 b6 and Robert Ris: French Advance Variation with 6.Na3. Alexander Donchenko analyses his winning game against Fabiano Caruana from the Saint Louis Masters 2024. “Lucky bag" with another 43 analyses by Edouard,
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
YOUR EASY ACCESS TO OPENING THEORY: Whether you want to build up a reliable and powerful opening repertoire or find new opening ideas for your existing repertoire, the Opening Encyclopaedia covers the entire opening theory on one product.
The King‘s Indian Attack is a universal opening: easy to learn, flexible, and rich in both tactical and positional opportunities.
€39.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.