Grigoryan came, saw and conquered Laos!

by Edwin Lam
1/13/2018 – Edwin Lam Choong Wai reports from the inaugural Laos International Open which was held from January 3rd to 7th in Vientiane, near the country's southern border with Thailand. | Pictured: Chess is booming amongst the juniors in Laos, thanks to the "Chess in Schools" program | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

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1st Laos International Chess Open

Laos is a relatively late entrant to the global chess family. Despite having established the Laos Chess Federation (LCF) in 2011, they have made great strides in various aspects of the game. Its crowning glory is the recently concluded 1st Laos International Open Chess Championship. This tournament saw progessional GMs descend on the country for the first-time (as players at least!). Not one, but four GMs: Karen Grigoryan, Bui Vinh, Sriram Jha and Gerhard Schebler. Armenian GM Grigoryan came, saw and conquered. He topped the standings with 7½ points.

The venue was the Don Chan Palace Hotel & Convention in Vientiane, Lao PDR

7 "magical" years

Despite only having formed its national chess federation seven years back, it has clocked many milestones in the development of the game. One of the first “wins” was when its Ministry of Education and Sports approved the implementation of "Chess in Schools" throughout the country. In seven years, the program has been successfully implemented in all but two provinces of Laos.

Chess in schools

Chess in Schools | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

Having scored its first "point", the LCF continued its push for chess to be included in the country’s National Games. They succeeded. Soon after, chess was also accepted as a sport in the tri-annual National School Games. Both successes together with the LCF being a member of the Laos National Olympic Committee formed the foundation of chess’ development as a sport in the country.

In the past four years, the LCF went about its efforts to strengthen their team’s chess organizational abilities. These efforts include a visit to Singapore to learn about how to go about organizing scholastic chess competitions. With a monetary grant from the Asian Chess Federation (ACF), they also managed to organize the FIDE Arbiters’ Seminar as well as a first-ever FIDE rated tournament in 2015. Both efforts resulted in the birth of 8 FIDE-rated local players as well as 14 qualified arbiters. 

Last month saw the organization of a first-ever National Blitz tournament. Held on December 22nd and 23rd, 2017, school-going junior chess players came together to fight for the Vice President Cup of Lao P.D.R.

National blitz tournament

The recently concluded National Blitz tournament | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

To top it all off is the recently concluded 1st Laos International Open Chess Championship, a festival of chess that brought together an international crowd of chess gladiators to compete in a nine-round FIDE rated tournament from January 3rd to the 7th, 2018. Co-organized between the LCF and KK Chan, the Vice-President of the Hong Kong Chess Federation (HKCF), this tournament was made possible with the grants provided by FIDE and the ACF.

group photo with LCF president

The President of Laos Chess Federation, Dr. Inthirath Khammany (Minister of Energy & Mines) together with the Deputy Ministers of Education & Sports and Tourism, being surrounded by the Organizing Committee and other LCF officials | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

Sixty-eight players from fifteen nationalities, including Laotians, competed in this tournament held at the 5-star Don Chan Palace Hotel in Vientiane, Laos. Aside from players who came from neighbouring Vietnam and Thailand as well as from Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines, the rest of the field came from Armenia, Germany, Spain, Switzerland, the United States of America, Canada, Australia, South Korea and India. With a top-class venue together with hardworking members of the organizing team, the event went by smoothly. With little to worry about, the players were able to focus wholeheartedly on playing their best chess!  

"I came, I saw, I conquered"

The top seed for the event is GM Karen Grigoryan of Armenia. He, together with three other GMs, GM Bui Vinh of Vietnam, GM Sriram Jha of India and GM Gerhard Schebler of Germany became the first-ever chess GMs (on official chess-playing duties, at least!!) to have set foot on Laotian land.

The four GMs were joined by four IMs as well as another eight more titled chess players in the event. Uncompromising chess were played at the event…And, the GMs were in for a rude shock!

The shocks came in round three. The 2172-rated Filipino player, Ric Portugalera, held the Vietnamese GM to a draw. Ric played exceptionally well in the game, which we share below:

 
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1.e41,170,31954%2421---
1.d4949,86755%2434---
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1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 a6 7.Qc2 Nc6 A more popular option here is the move of the knight to d7, a move that had been tried by GM Kamsky against GM Khalifmann in the following game: 7...Nbd7 8.cxd5 White stablizes the central pawn structure by exchanging on d5 here. This would either signal White's intention to play for a minority attack on the queenside or to castle on the queenside and then launch a kingside attack. exd5 9.Bd3 c6 10.h3 White prepares for the g2-g4 pawn push. Re8 11.g4 Nf8 12.0-0-0 Be6 13.Ng5 Rc8 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.g5 Nh5 16.Be5 Bxg5 17.f4 Bh6 18.Rhg1 White has seized control of the semi-open g-file. I would very much prefer White's game here... Kh8 19.Rg4 Nf6 20.Rdg1 N8d7 21.Rh4 Qe7 22.Kb1 c5 23.Qf2 Rf8 24.Qg3 cxd4 25.Bxd4 White's bishop pair dominates. He has the advantage, which he duly converted in the end. 1-0 Khalifman,A - Kamsky,G/ Las Vegas 1999. 8.a3 A natural move here to prevent the black knight from going to b4. In an earlier game, Colin Crouch as white played h2-h3 here and this allowed black to move his knight to b4, followed by a series of freeing move and exchanges. Black succeeded in trading down to an equal endgame. 8.h3 Nb4 9.Qb1 c5 10.a3 Nc6 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.Bg5 d4 13.Ne4 Be7 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.exd4 Nxd4 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 18.Qc2 Bd7 19.Be2 Bc6 Black achieved equality. 1/2-1/2 Crouch,C (2415)-Dumitrache,S/Cappelle la Grande 1993. 8...Nh5 9.Bg3 The immediate: 9.Be5 is also possible here. g6 10.Be2 Rb8 11.Rd1 dxc4 The delay of black in moving his knight back from the edge of the board will be a key factor in white's decision to trade down into an advantageous endgame. 12.Bxc4 b5 13.Ba2 Bb7 14.0-0 Nxe5 15.Nxe5 b4 16.axb4 Bxb4 17.Ne4 Qe7 18.Rc1 Bd6 19.Nc5 White is already better. Bxe5 20.dxe5 Rfd8 21.f4 Ng7 22.e4 White duly converted the advantage he has in this position. 1-0 Vouldis,A (2497)-Miladinovic,I (2563)/Ano Liosia 2001. 9...Bf6 10.Be5 g6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Be2 Qd6 Black is planning the e6-e5 pawn advance. 13.Rd1 Bd7 14.0-0 Rad8 15.b4 White continues to gain space - this will further limit black's options of freeing pawn breaks. Qe7 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Bc8 18.Rfe1 Nxe4 19.Qxe4 Qf6 20.Bf1 Rd7 21.Rd2 Rfd8 22.Red1 White has a slight edge. But, given black's solid pawn structure and lack of weakness, white may not be able to convert his advantage. Qg7 23.Qe3 Re7 24.Ne5 Bd7 25.b5 Nb8 26.a4 Be8 27.c5 axb5 28.axb5 f6 29.Nf3 Nd7 30.Bc4 White starts to attack the newly created black pawn weakness on e6. Nf8 31.Qb3 Kh8 32.Re1 g5 Black decides to counter-attack along the g-file. 33.h3 g4 34.hxg4 Qxg4 35.d5 Rg7 36.Bf1 exd5 37.Nd4 Bg6 38.Qc3 Re8 39.Rxe8 Bxe8 40.Re2 Bh5 41.Re3 Qg5 42.Rg3 Qf4 43.Rxg7 Kxg7 Equal. 44.g3 Qe5 45.Bh3 Bg6 46.b6 cxb6 47.cxb6 Be4 48.Qc7+ Kg6 49.Qc5 f5 50.Qxf8 Qxd4 51.Qe8+ Kg7 Despite black's extra pawn, the exposed position of his king cannot escape nor hide from the white queen's checks. 52.Qe7+ Kg6 53.Qe8+ Kg5 54.Qg8+ Kh6 55.Qe6+ ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Portugalera,R-Bui,V-½–½2018D371st Laos International Chess3

This DVD offers a complete repertoire for handling this solid opening, often featuring a dynamic approach to pose the opponent more practical problems. Both of the main continuations 3...Nf6 and 3...Be7 are covered in two separate parts.


Bui vs Ric

GM Bui Vinh’s (left) draw against Ric Portugalera of the Philippines | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

Also in the same round, GM Sriram Jha was also held to a draw by 1734 rated Vietnamese player, CM Tran Dang Minh Quang. Out of the four GMs, two of them came across stubborn oppositions.

In the next round, GM Bui Vinh conceded another draw. The GM’s opponent is CM Tran Dang Minh Quang. CM Tran played extremely solidly to again draw another GM. This draw proved that the preceding result against GM Sriram was no fluke. With such a strong showing, this 1734 rated Vietnamese player is the one to watch in the coming year!

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Bg7 6.Nc2 Nf6 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Be2 d6 9.0-0 Be6 10.f3 Rc8 11.Rb1 Nd7 12.Bd2 Nd4 13.Ne3 a5 14.Kh1 Re8 15.b3 Nxe2 16.Qxe2 Nc5 17.Rfd1 Rc6 18.Ncd5 Bxd5 19.cxd5 With this move, White opens up the opportunity for the heavy pieces to be traded along the c-file. Once the heavy pieces are gone, then the game will finish in no more than a draw. Black's extremely solid and accurate play here enables this 1700+ rated Vietnamese player to score a second draw in as many rounds against a GM. Rc8 20.Qb5 Qd7 21.Qxd7 Nxd7 22.Rdc1 Bh6 23.Nf1 Bxd2 24.Nxd2 Nb6 25.Kg1 Kf8 26.Kf2 Rxc1 27.Rxc1 Rc8 28.Rxc8+ Nxc8 29.Nc4 b6 30.Ke3 ½–½
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Bui,V-Tran,D-½–½2018B371st Laos International Chess4

The Accelerated Dragon is much more than just a dynamic yet solid means of countering 1.e4. By knowing how to counter the Maroczy Bind Black can counter both the English and Reti Openings and even develop the basis of a defence against 1.d4.

Whilst having been used extensively by superstars such as Bent Larsen and Tigran Petrosian, Davies argues that the Accelerated Dragon is an even more effective proposition for club players. As he explains on this DVD, many White players are under the mistaken impression that the positions are like a regular Sicilian Dragon. And if this is the case they can find himself being demolished right out of the opening.


On top board in round four, the "perfect scorers", GM Schebler and GM Grigoryan, were pitted against one another. GM Grigoryan essayed the favourite opening of Armenia’s strongest-ever chess player, Petrosian, the Caro-Kann against the German GM, and rejected entering into variations where White would be able to trade queens with Black. This signalled GM Grigoryan’s aggressive intention to win the game, which he duly converted when GM Schebler made some inaccuracies late in the middlegame:

 
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1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3 Nf6 7.c3 Nbd7 8.Nf4 Qc7 With his text move, GM Grigoryan delays the e5 pawn break by one move, but he keeps the queens on the board to have chances to play for a win. Another possible alternative is the immediate e7-e5 pawn push. But, this leads to a queen exchange and the subsequent trading of minor pieces only lead to a drawish endgame. 8...e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Qxd8+ Rxd8 11.Be3 a6 12.Nxg6 hxg6 13.Be2 Nd3+ 14.Bxd3 Rxd3 Equal. 15.Bd4 c5 16.Bxf6 It was agreed drawn here. 1/2-1/2 Palac,M (2570)-Zenklusen,R (2392)/Biel 2007. 9.Be3 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 10...Qxe5 11.Qd4 White, now, forces an exchange of queens. Qxd4 12.Bxd4 0-0-0 13.0-0-0 Bc5 Black has equalised, but he would also have nothing better than a draw. GM Grigoryan, having turned down an earlier variation of queen trade is clearly looking for more than a draw out of this game. 11.Be2 Bd6 12.0-0 12.Qb3 0-0 13.0-0-0 Neg4 14.Ne6 fxe6 15.Qxe6+ Bf7 16.Qxd6 White again would offer an exchange of queens here. Qxd6 17.Rxd6 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Bxa2 Equal. 12...0-0 13.Re1 Rfe8 14.Nxg6 hxg6 15.Bd4 Better for White to move his queen away from the d-file and place it temporarily on a4, in order to put pressure on a7 and prevent Black from immediately moving his rook from a8 to d8. 15.Qa4 Ned7 16.Rad1 Nd5 17.Bd2 Nc5 18.Qc2 15...Rad8 16.Qa4 c5 17.Bxe5 White should not have given up his bishop pair here. 17.Be3 Nd5 18.Bg5 f6 19.Bd2 a6 20.c4 Nb6 21.Qc2 Still roughly equal. 17...Bxe5 18.Nf1 18.Rad1 Bxg3 19.hxg3 Rxd1 20.Qxd1 Qe5 18...Nd5 19.g3 19.Bb5 Re6 20.Qc2 20.Bc4? Nb6 21.Qb3 Nxc4 22.Qxc4 b5 20...c4 21.Re4 19...Nxc3 20.bxc3 Bxc3 21.Ne3 Qe5 22.Rad1 Bxe1 23.Rxe1 Qc3 24.Kf1 As an option is the immediate move of rook to d1. 24.Rd1 24...a6 25.Rd1 25.Bf3 Re7 26.Re2 Rd4 27.Qc2 Qa5 28.Kg2 Qc7 White, despite having less space than Black, should be able to hold this position. 25...Rxd1+ 26.Nxd1 26.Qxd1 Qf6 26...b5 27.Qd7 Qa1+ 28.Kg2 Qe5 27.Qd7 Qe7 White is very close to getting a draw. 26...Qe5 27.Ne3?! Better is: 27.Bf3 Qe1+ 28.Kg2 Rd8 29.Qc2 White's counter-play against the black pawns coupled with the relatively safe white's king position, thanks for the combination of the white's bishop on f3 and knight on d1 would enable white to hold this game. 27...Qe4! Black, now, forces the exchange of queens in order to reach an endgame where his rook and two pawns on the queenside is stronger than white's knight and bishop. 28.Qxe4 Rxe4 29.Nc2 b5 30.Ke1 Kf8 31.Kd2 Ke7 32.Bf3 Re6 Black is winning. 33.Bd5 Rf6 34.f3 g5 35.Ne3 Kd6 36.Kc3 Ke5 37.a3 c4 38.a4 Rd6 39.Be4 g6 40.g4 Rd7 41.axb5 axb5 42.Kb4 Rd4 43.Kc3 Rxe4 GM Grigoryan went for the most economical continuation: He gave up his rook for White's bishop and with it, the rest of White's kingside pawns will fall in the coming moves. 44.fxe4 Kxe4 45.Nc2 Kf4 46.Nd4 Kxg4 47.Nxb5 Kh3 48.Nd6 f5 49.Nxc4 Kxh2 50.Kd3 g4 51.Ke2 g3 52.Nd2 g2 53.Nf3+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Schebler,G-Grigoryan,K-0–12018B181st Laos International Chess4

GM Schebler

GM Schebler (left) from Germany | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

GM GrigoryanAfter round four, only one out of the four GMs maintained the perfect score: GM Grigoryan. Despite conceding a draw in round five, he never looked like losing sight of the first prize. In rounds six and seven, GM Grigoryan defeated GM Bui and IM Nguyen Anh Khoi respectively to lead the field by an entire point. He guaranteed the win via a hard-fought draw against Thai FM Wiwatanadate Poompong, in round eight. GM Grigoryan (right), having won the tournament with a round to spare, went for a quick draw in round nine to finish the tournament with 7½ out of 9 points.

Playing solid and economical chess throughout, GM Grigoryan came, saw and conquered! Finishing second is IM Le Tuan Minh, who is then followed by IM Duong The Anh, GM Bui Vinh and FM Causo Deniel. GM Sriram Jha finished in seventh position, while GM Schebler finished in fourteenth spot.

Final standings (top 20)

Rk. Name Pts.  TB1 
1 Grigoryan Karen H. 7,5 0,0
2 Le Tuan Minh 7,0 0,0
3 Duong The Anh 6,5 0,0
4 Bui Vinh 6,5 0,0
5 Causo Deniel 6,5 0,0
6 Lee Jun Hyeok 6,5 0,0
7 Sriram Jha 6,0 0,0
8 Ferriol Gerald 6,0 0,0
9 Rom Jasper 6,0 0,0
10 Wiwatanadate Poompong 6,0 0,0
11 Habla Jony 6,0 0,0
12 Chan Peng Kong 6,0 0,0
13 Nguyen Anh Khoi 5,5 0,0
14 Schebler Gerhard 5,5 0,0
15 Tran Dang Minh Quang 5,5 0,0
16 Ayza Leon David 5,5 0,0
17 Nguyen Thi Minh Oanh 5,5 0,0
18 Khumnorkaew Tupfah 5,5 0,0
19 Kim Changhoon 5,5 0,0
20 Tantipura Noppakorn 5,5 0,0

Fuelling the fire

The top Laotian finisher is the 1372 rated Nattaky Insesuphun. Together with the other nine participating Laotian players, they managed to get a great exposure of competing against serious chess players from other countries. They also managed to watch first-hand the games of GMs in a tournament. The chess festival ended with a free chess clinic by Malaysian NM Jonathan Chuah and his fellow Malaysian arbiter from Penang, PS Lim, for budding junior chess enthusiasts. After the success of this chess festival, the LCF is committed to its efforts in chess development moving forward, by planning to hold the next Laos International Chess Open in December 2018!

Jonathan Chuah

NM Jonathan Chuah of Malaysia explaining the finer points of the game to Laotian kids | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

John Vilavane

General Secretary of LCF, John Inthava Vilavane with the arbiters in the background | Photo: Laos Chess Federation

The baptism of fire for chess has been ignited in a country where this game was hardly known eight years ago. Kudos to the efforts of the LCF and its General Secretary, John Inthava Vilavane. The only way forward is up, as the team at LCF prepares to further fuel chess development in Laos.

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Edwin Lam Choong Wai is a Malaysian chess player and author. He was previously attached to Procter & Gamble doing local, regional and global marketing roles, before joining Pfizer, Essilor and Yeo’s in both Malaysia and Singapore. He had also previously been attached to The Purpose Group, a creative and digital marketing agency in Ho Chi Minh City. He is now based in Malaysia having started an education venture known as My SKOLA+ (http://myskolaplus.com) since end-2017.

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