Danzhou Masters: Yu Yangyi comes out on top

Round 7

After a stormy penultimate round, the battle for the title of the 9^th Hainan Danzhou Masters was between the overnight tournament leader, Yu Yangyi and his compatriot Bu Xiangzhi. Bu was half-a-point behind the leader and had to win at all cost to remain in contention.

Yu Yangyi, on the contrary, could afford to take things calmly. He had the luxury of going for a solid draw and putting the onus of catching up on his rival. And that is what he did.

Sam Shankland vs Yu Yangyi

Yu had the black pieces against Sam Shankland in the final round and went for his favourite Petroff Defence. As is the case in most Petroffs, the position reached out of the opening was rather bland. By the 21^st move, a dead equal endgame with rooks and bishops of opposite colours was reached. The game went on for 17 more moves but the result of the game was never in doubt. 

A World champion's guide to the Petroff

The great popularity of the Petroff Defence at the highest level has attracted general attention as strong players employ this opening with great success and with both colours. Unfortunately, the opinion of the Petroff as a sterile drawish opening seems to be firmly implanted in many minds. The author tries to dispel these myths and examines the most popular lines and provides a large number of ideas that will enable you to play Petroff successfully, with either colour.

Yu Yangyi decided to go for a quiet draw in the final round | Photo: Official website

Vladimir Fedoseev vs Bu Xiangzhi

A draw in Yu Yangyi’s game meant Bu Xiangzhi had a chance to catch up with the tournament leader. However, Bu’s own position did not hold much promise.  Within the first 25 moves in a Queen’s Indian Defence, the game had reached a rook and pawn endgame with five pawns for each side. 

A strategic weapon against 1.d4: The Queen's Indian Defense

The Queen's Indian Defense is one of the most solid and rich openings against 1.d4. Together with the Nimzo-Indian and the Catalan it forms the so called "Classical Setup", which any player should know. Victor Bologan calls the b7 bishop “the soul of the opening, the most important piece...keep it active”. Every chess enthusiast, from beginner to high level player, can profit from this DVD. Enrich your chess vocabulary, be open to new ideas: play the Queen’s Indian!

Although the position looks more or less equal, Fedoseev is in the driver’s seat here. Despite material equality, black is under some pressure due to his weak pawns and passive rook. White managed to net a pawn here after 26.Rd6 Kf7 27.Rd7+ Kf6 and 28.Ra7. It took some time in the ensuing endgame for Fedoseev to convert the game but by move 58, he had secured his first win of the tournament. 

Power Play 16 - Test Your Rook Endgames

The aim of this DVD is to provide you with the practical skills and knowledge that you will need to play a rook and pawn endgame. Based on his own playing experience, Grandmaster Daniel King reveals what is essential knowledge, saving you time in your studies. The Power Play series is suitable for anyone looking to improve their chess, but also provides ready-made lessons and exercises for a trainer.
Running time: 5 hours

Vladimir Fedoseev won his first game of the tournament against Bu Xiangzhi | Photo: Official website

Vidit Gujrathi vs Le Quang Liem

Le Quang Liem had an extra pawn against Vidit Gujrathi for the most part of the game. Vidit, on the other hand, had the initiative and a better pawn structure.  On the 64^th move, by when the tide had already begun to turn in Le’s favour, Vidit cracked and made back-to-back errors.

Vidit had chased the king all the way from the kingside to its current post where it now looked safe. White had no checks and the discovered attack on the queen didn’t lead anywhere. Unwilling to take on c5 and give up the pin on the knight — which was the best way to proceed — Vidit decided to go with his king to h3. Now after 64…Ne5 65.Nxe5 Qxe2, the white king suddenly looks exposed. Vidit tried 66.Nf7+ but after 66…Kc6 (not allowing any checks) 67.Kg2 g4, Black just had an overwhelming advantage.

Le Quang Liem finished on a high note with two consecutive wins in the last two rounds | Photo: Official website

Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs Wei Yi

Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Wei Yi discussed the Mikenas variation of the English Opening. Wei was very well prepared for the game. Deviating from known theory on his 8^th turn, he went on to get a slight advantage early in the game. Although queens were off the board, Wei, with his extra space and double bishops, exerted considerable pressure on Duda’s position. Duda fought hard to restore equilibrium but Black’s advantages turned out to be too difficult for him to deal with. 

The English Opening Vol. 1

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.

On his 33^rd move, Duda allowed a deadly check on h6 and after 34.Ng5 f4+ 35.gxf4 exf4+ 36.Kxf4 Rd2, realized that the bishop did not have a decent square. After 37.Re3 or Ke3 Black has 37…Rxa2 after which the a-pawn is too strong. Duda gave up a piece here with 37.Bxh5 but did not survive for too long in the resulting endgame. 

Wei Yi came well prepared for his final round game against Jan Krzysztof Duda | Photo: Official website

Final Standings

All games

Links

• Official website
• Round 1: Duda the dauntless
• Round 2: Bu catches Duda
• Round 3: Bu races past Duda
• Round 4: The unfortunate b5
• Round 5: All games finish peacefully
• Round 6: Storm after the calm