Hoogeveen: Blitz decides the fate of both matches

by Aditya Pai
10/27/2017 – After an action-packed first half, play continued with the same intensity in rounds 4-6 in Hoogeveen. While Adhiban and van Foreest continued exchanging blows in round 4-6, Ivanchuk tried his best to keep his one-point lead by holding his Chinese opponent to draws. Going into the final round, Adhiban had caught up with van Foreest in terms of the score while Wei was in a must-win situation.| Photos: Lennart Ootes

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Ivanchuk and Van Foreest for the win

Picking up where we left off at the half way mark, Vassily Ivanchuk was out in front by a point over the Chinese Champion, and van Foreest had just pulled level with his Indian opponent.

Round 4

On Tuesday evening, Adhiban Baskaran was perhaps lost musing on where exactly he mixed up his prep in his fourth game against Jorden van Foreest. Keeping up the trend so far, of alternating between the Queen’s Gambit accepted and the Italian, the players essayed the modest king’s pawn opening once again.

Jorden van Foreest before his fourth round game

Jorden van Foreest was evidently happy to have levelled scores with Adhiban | Photo: Lennart Ootes 

Adhiban, with whom van Foreest had now levelled scores, seemed to be desperate to regain his lead. Out of the opening, he audaciously rolled his pawns down the king-side. His 13th move, 13…h5, was in fact, never seen in grandmaster play before. And even though there was no concrete attack in sight, Adhiban, with his kingside expansion, hoped to wreak havoc in white’s camp. Was this a plausible novelty or a gross overextension?

An important consideration was that the situation in the centre wasn’t clear.  And as theory dictates, overextension on the wings is usually punished through the centre. Sticking to this principle, van Foreest broke the centre open with 16.dxe5.

 
Van Foreest vs. Adhiban
Position after 16.dxe5

You can play the variations right on the live diagram!

At this point, Adhiban’s knight was en prise and if he took back with 16…dxe5, a queen exchange would not only fizz out his attack but also cost him some pawns: 16...dxe5 17.Qxd8+ Kxd8 18.Bxa7 Rxa7 19.fxg4 Nxe4 20.Rae1 and white is clearly better. 

Things looked bleak. Leaving the centre to its fate, Adhiban sought counterplay on the kingside by piling up his pieces there.

 
Van Foreest vs. Adhiban
Position after 19...Nh5

Adhiban Baskaran before his fourth round game

Needless to say, he was taking a gamble. But perhaps, his best chance.

Van Foreest could simply have gobbled another pawn with 20.exd6. But instead of letting his opponent unnecessarily complicate the position with 20…Qg5 in return, he, very pragmatically, chose 20.f4 — a move which stalled black’s preposterous attack once and for all.

Soon Adhiban was forced into an endgame where he was not only a pawn down but also had the several weak pawns scattered around the board. A second pawn fell soon after. It didn’t take long for van Foreest to convert this ending into a win.

No matter what his match situation is, Adhiban is always in high spirits | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Jorden van Foreest 1-0 Adhiban Baskaran
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.a4 C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3 6.0-0 0-0 7.Re1 a5 8.Nbd2 Be6 9.Bb5 Qb8 10.Nf1 Qa7 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Nxe3 Ne7 13.a4 Ng6 14.Bc4 Bxc4 15.Nxc4 1/2-1/2 (47) So,W (2810)-Ding,L (2777) Tbilisi 2017 6...a6 7.0-0 Ba7 8.Na3 Ne7 9.Bg5 LiveBook: 3 Games Ng6 10.Nh4 Nxh4 11.Bxh4 h6 12.d4 g5 13.Bg3! h5N And now ...h4 would win. Predecessor: 13...Qe7 14.f3 Nh5 1-0 (27) Lesiege,A (2521) -Masse,H (2179) Montreal 2016 14.f3 h4 15.Bf2 g4 15...Qe7 16.dxe5± Hoping for Bxa7. Bxf2+ 17.Rxf2 g3 18.Rd2 And not 18.exf6 gxf2+ 19.Kxf2 Qxf6 18...gxh2+ 19.Kxh2 Nh5 20.f4 Nxf4 21.Qf3 Qg5 22.exd6 cxd6 23.Rf1! White attacks with force. Qg3+ 24.Qxg3 hxg3+ 25.Kxg3 Nh5+ 26.Kh2 Rh7 27.Rxd6 Ke7 28.Rb6 Nf6+ 29.Kg1 Nd7 30.Rb4 a5 30...Nc5 31.Bd5 Be6 31.Rb5+- b6 32.Rbf5 f6 33.Bb5 aiming for Nc4. Ne5 34.Rxf6 Be6
35.R6f4! Rah8 36.Kf2 36.Re1 36...Ng4+? 36...Rg7± keeps fighting. 37.Ke2 Rh2
38.Rg1! R8h3 39.Nc2 Kd6 40.Nd4 Rg3 41.Kf1 Ke5? 41...Ke7 42.Rf3 Rxf3+ 43.gxf3 Ne3+ 44.Ke1 Kf6 42.Rf3 White is clearly winning. Ne3+ 43.Kf2 Rgxg2+ 44.Rxg2 Nxg2 45.Kg1 Nh4 46.Kxh2 Nxf3+ 47.Nxf3+ Kxe4 48.Ng5+ Precision: White = 92%, Black = 55%.
1–0
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Van Foreest,J2609Adhiban,B26711–0201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20174

In recent years the Italian Game has undergone a renaissance, transforming it from the Cinderella of 1.e4 openings into a major system which offers excellent chances for White to gain the advantage.


Vassiy Ivanchuk during his fourth round game against Wei Yi

Ivanchuk contemplates his lead | Photo: Lennart Ootes 

In the other match, Ivanchuk went for the Sicilian yet again, but this time, it was the Taimanov. Just like Adhiban, Ivanchuk was also a couple of pawns down. But unlike in Adhiban’s case, the weak pawns in his game were in his opponent’s camp.

Some of Ivanchuk's moves looked strange at the outset, but it turned out that he knew exactly what he was doing. Out of the opening, he gave up not one but two pawns to shatter Wei's pawn structure and gain enough counterplay.

 
Ivanchuk's 'h' pawn advance
Position after 16...h5

17.Bg5 h4 18.Bxc6+ Bxc6 19.Ne4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 h3

This audacious advance prevented Wei from claiming any advantage, and the Chinese teenager said he should perhaps have captured the pawn immediately after it reached h3 instead of bringing the rook out which led to its exchange. But in any case, black would have enjoyed sufficient counterplay. The players drew by repetition by move 33.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bd3 d5 8.0-0 Qc7 B46: Sicilian: Taimanov: 5 Nc3 a6 9.Re1 Bb7 10.Qf3 Bd6 11.e5 Bf8 12.Ne2 LiveBook: 4 Games Ne7 13.Ng3N Predecessor: 13.Nf4 g6 14.Qg3 c5 15.c3 h5 16.h4 1-0 (34) Anand,V (2779)-Svidler,P (2742) Rishon Le Ziyyon 2006 13...c5 14.c4 14.c3 14...dxc4= 15.Be4 Nc6 16.Qc3 h5 17.Bg5 h4 18.Bxc6+ Bxc6 19.Ne4 Black must now prevent Nd6+! Bxe4 20.Rxe4 h3 21.Rd1 Be7! 22.Bxe7 Qxe7 23.gxh3 0-0 24.Rxc4 Rfd8 The position is equal. 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Rxc5 Endgame KQR-KQR Qg5+ 27.Qg3 Qd2 28.Qh4 Rb8 29.Qc4 Qg5+ 30.Qg4 Qd2 31.Qc4 Qg5+ 32.Qg4 Qd2 33.Qc4 Precision: White = 49%, Black = 74%. ½–½
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Wei,Y2740Ivanchuk,V2732½–½201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20174

In our Powerbook we have brought together all games with the ECO codes B40-B49. Added to 62 000 selected master games from both Mega and correspondence chess there 122 000 high class games from the engine room on playchess.com.


Round 5

Going into the penultimate round, leaders had emerged on both boards. While Ivanchuk had kept his lead with a draw against Wei, Jorden van Foreest, with two consecutive wins had overtaken Adhiban. With just two more rounds to go, the road ahead was difficult for the ones trailing behind.

Desperate for a win, Wei Yi fought with all his might in round five. Ivanchuk, with the white pieces, played a novelty on move 13 in the Rubinstein variation of the Nimzo-Indian but soon ended up conceding a small edge to his Chinese opponent. Creative as he is, Wei then sacked his queen for a rook and a minor piece and began pushing on the queenside. 

 
Ivanchuk vs. Wei Yi, Game 5
Position after 19.Ne4

Here instead of the entering the line 19...Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Qe5, 21.Bxh7 Kh8 22.Bd3 Bd6! 23.f4 Qxe3+, Wei opted to muddy the waters with 19...dxe4 20.Rxd6 Bxd6 21.Qd1 Be5 22.Be2 Bxb2

Vassily Ivanchuk and Wei Yi playing their fifth round game

Wei Yi shot out an interesting queen sacrifice at Ivanchuk | Photo: Lennart Ootes 

By move 28, he gave up a further exchange, to keep his far advanced queenside passer alive, and was left with only two minor pieces against Ivanchuk’s queen. However, one of the perks of having more material is that you can give it back if the situation demands. Soon, Ivanchuk gave back the extra exchange to get rid of his opponent’s dangerous passer and reached an endgame where both sides had equal pawns on the queenside. The big difference, though, was that Ivanchuk had a queen against Wei’s rook and knight. If Ivanchuk had succeeded in extracting a win from this position, he would have won the match with a round to spare. Understandably, Ivanchuk tried hard for almost fifty moves to bring home victory. But Wei's fortress left him no choice but to sign the truce.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 E53: Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein: Main Line (4...0-0 5 Nf3 d5 6 Bd3 c5 7 0-0) 8.dxc5 Nbd7 9.Bd2 Nxc5 10.Be2 Ne6 11.0-0 LiveBook: 3 Games a6 12.Qb3 Be7 13.Nd4N Predecessor: 13.Rfd1 b5 14.Be1 Bb7 15.a3 0-1 (62) Krush,I (2468) -Wojtaszek,R (2723) Doha 2015 13...Bc5 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.Qc2 15.Qxb7? Qd6-+ 15...Qd6 16.Rfd1 Rac8 17.Be1 b5 18.Bf3 b4
19.Ne4! dxe4 20.Rxd6 Bxd6 21.Qd1 Be5 22.Be2 22.Bxb4? Rfd8-+ 22...Bxb2 23.Rb1 Bc3 24.Bxa6 Bxa2 24...Ra8 25.Qe2 h6 25.Bxc3± Resist 25.Bxc8?! Bxb1 26.Bxc3 26.Qxb1 Rxc8 27.Bxc3 bxc3= 26...bxc3 25...bxc3
26.Ra1! White is on the roll. c2 27.Qc1 Bb1 28.Bxc8 Rxc8 29.Rxb1 cxb1Q 30.Qxb1 Endgame KQ-KRN h6 31.h3 Rd8 32.Qb2 Re8 33.Qd4 Re6 34.Kh2 g5 35.Kg1 Nh7 36.Qd1 Nf6 37.Kh2 Kg7 38.Qd4 38.h4± 38...Re7 38...Kg8!= 39.f3 Re6 40.Kg1 exf3 41.gxf3 Kg8 42.Kf2 Nh7 43.Kg3 Nf8 44.Kg4 Rg6 45.Kg3 White should play 45.h4± 45...Ne6 45...Re6= keeps the balance. 46.Qe5 46.Qd5 with more complications. Ng7 47.Kf2 Re6 48.Qd3 f5 49.Qd7 46...Ng7 47.Kf2 Re6 48.Qd5 Kh7 49.h4 gxh4 50.e4 White should try 50.Qd3+± Rg6 51.Qf1 50...f5 51.e5 Black must now prevent Kg2. White has compensation. 51.exf5?! Rf6+- 51...Rg6! 52.Qd8 h3 53.Qh4 Re6 54.Qg3 Kf1 is the strong threat. Re7 54...Rb6= 55.Qxh3 Rb2+ 56.Ke1 Rb4 55.Kg1 Re6 55...Rb7 56.Kh2 Much less strong is 56.Qxh3 Rxe5 57.Qh4 Re6± 56...Rg6 57.Qf4 Rg5 58.Kxh3 Rg6 59.Kh2 Rg5 60.Qc4 And now e6 would win. Rg6 61.Qf7 Re6
62.Qc7! Rg6 63.Kh3 Kg8 64.Qc8+ Kh7 65.f4? 65.Qd7+- 65...Rg4= The position is equal. 66.Qc4 aiming for e6. Nh5 67.e6 Nxf4+ 68.Kh2 Nh5 69.Qc7+ Ng7! 70.Qf7 Rh4+ 71.Kg2 Rg4+ 72.Kf3 Re4 73.e7 Re5 74.Qf6 Re4 75.Qf7 Strongly threatening Kg3. Re5 76.Kg3 Hoping for Kf3. Re3+ 77.Kg2 Precision: White = 46%, Black = 57%.
½–½
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Ivanchuk,V2732Wei,Y2740½–½201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20175

However, this draw meant that Wei Yi was in a must-win situation in the final round. And with the white pieces in hand, he was sure to come out all guns blazing. 

Jorden van Foreest analysing his position against Adhiban on the demonstration board in round 5

It seems, van Foreest preferred analysing his position on the demonstration board | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Adhiban, after his win in round two, had lost two consecutive games against the Dutch GM Jorden van Foreest. And to add to it, playing against the same opponent, to whom he had lost those two games, must have made it all the more difficult.

But Adhiban is made of sterner stuff; his optimism knows no bounds. Despite his blunder in the third game, regardless of his prep mix-up in round four, Adhiban went into the fifth round undeterred. Keeping in mind that the games so far had been alternating between the Queen's Gambit Accepted and the Italian, the Indian number five came to the board with thorough preparation, got a slight edge out of the opening and fostered it immaculately to take home the full point.

Until quite late in the game, the position had remained thoroughly equal. Queens were traded quite early, the exchange of rooks and a pair of minor pieces followed soon. It all looked well balanced when van Foreest gave Adhiban a small window of opportunity on move 30.

 
Ahdiban vs. Van Foreest, Game 5
Position after 29.Rc5

After 29...Bd6 30.Rxh5, Adhiban was a pawn ahead. But the position was far from won; van Foreest had decent activity with pieces. Besides, this wasn’t the first time in this match that he was a pawn down against Adhiban.

More pawn trades left both sides with pawns on opposite wings. By now, Adhiban had acquired a clear edge. But it was a race now. It did not matter who had more pawns, who queened first would decide the game. Of course, the silicon machines gave Adhiban a decisive advantage by now. But with pawns rolling down on opposite wings and no forced win in sight, one must always be on his toes not to fall for tricks.

And Adhiban did just that. Sacrificing a pawn — although only temporarily — he got his pawns rolling decisively while keeping van Foreest’s pawns in check and forced resignation. Do take a look at the game with detailed analysis below.

Adhiban Baskaran 1-0 Jorden van Foreest (annotations by IM Sagar Shah)
 
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Adhiban was trailing by a full point. Jorden's Queen's Gambit Accepted had been a tough nut to crack. But Adhiban persists with 1.d4. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Adhiban sticks to his preparation. Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.0-0 Nc6 7.a3 Ater Nc3 in game one and Qe2 in game two Adhiban goes for 7.a3!? Some kind of waiting move which keeps the options open and also prepares dxc5 followed by b4. 7.Qe2 a6 8.Nc3 b5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.a4 bxa4 11.Rxa4 Nb4 12.Bb1 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Be7 14.Rd1 Qb6 15.e4 Rd8 16.Be3 Bc5 17.Qc4 Rc8 18.Nxe6 Bxe3 19.Nxg7+ Kf8 20.Qxb4+ Kxg7 21.Qxb6 Bxb6 22.Rb4 Rc6 23.e5 Re8 24.exf6+ Rxf6 25.Kh1 Rfe6 26.h4 Bc7 27.f4 Ba8 28.Kg1 Ba5 29.f5 Re1+ 30.Kf2 Bxb4 31.Rxe1 Bc5+ 32.Kf1 Bxg2+ 33.Kxg2 Rxe1 34.f6+ Kxf6 35.Bxh7 Bd4 36.Nd5+ Kg7 37.Bd3 a5 38.b3 Rg1+ 39.Kf3 Rh1 40.Kg4 Bf6 41.Ne3 Rxh4+ 42.Kf3 Kf8 43.Bc4 Bg5 44.Ng4 f5 45.Ne5 Kg7 46.Kg2 a4 47.bxa4 Re4 48.Nf3 Rxc4 49.Nxg5 Rg4+ 0-1 (49) Adhiban,B (2671)-Van Foreest,J (2609) Hoogeveen NED 2017 7.Nc3 a6 8.dxc5 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bxc5 10.b3 b5 11.Nxb5 axb5 12.Bxb5 Bb7 13.Bb2 0-0 14.Rdc1 Nd7 15.b4 Nxb4 16.Bxd7 Nd3 17.Rc3 Nxb2 18.Rxc5 Nd3 19.Rc3 Bxf3 20.Rxd3 Be4 21.Rd4 Bd5 22.a4 Rfb8 23.Rc1 Bb3 24.f4 h6 25.Bb5 Ra5 26.Rc3 Ba2 27.Rc7 e5 28.fxe5 Raxb5 29.axb5 Rxb5 30.Rd8+ Kh7 31.Re7 Be6 32.Rf8 Kg6 33.Kf2 Rb4 34.h3 h5 35.Kg3 Ra4 36.Rd8 Re4 37.Kf3 Rxe5 38.e4 Bg4+ 39.hxg4 hxg4+ 40.Kxg4 Rxe7 1/2-1/2 (40) Adhiban,B (2671)-Van Foreest,J (2609) Hoogeveen NED 2017 7...a6 8.dxc5 Qxd1 9.Rxd1 Bxc5 10.b4 Be7 11.Bb2 White's main advantage in this position is his slight lead in development. 0-0 11...b5 12.Be2 Bb7 It seems as if the position is very symmetrical, but White's next move shows that it is sometimes better to not have developed! 13.Nbd2! The knight will be ideally placed on b3 looking at c5 and a5. 12.Nbd2 Bd7 13.Be2 Freeing the c4 square for the knight. Rfd8 14.Nc4 Be8 15.Nd4 15.Nb6 Rxd1+ 16.Rxd1 Rd8 would have not been easy to convert. 15...Nxd4 16.Bxd4 Bb5 17.Bf1 Rac8 18.Na5 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 Rc7 20.Be5! White is able to now create some issues for Black in terms of his coordination because the b7 pawn is hanging. Rcd7 20...Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Rc2! 22.Nxb7 Ng4 23.Bg3 h5 gives Black excellent counterplay. 21.Rxd7 Rxd7 22.Rc1 With all his pieces superiorly placed as compared to his opponent, White surely has a slight edge. h5 23.Rc8+ Kh7 24.Bxf6 Objectively this might not have been the best of decisions, but practically this is great as it creates an imbalance. 24.Ke2 Ne4 25.f3 Rd2+ 26.Ke1 Rd5 27.fxe4 Rxe5 28.Nxb7 Rxe4 29.Kf2± 24...Bxf6 25.Ke2 Bb2 26.Nc4 Bc3 27.Nb6 Rd2+ 28.Kf3 Be5?! This loses a pawn, but it is not so easy to suggest something else. 28...Rd6 29.Na4 Be5 30.Rc5 f6 31.Rc7 29.Rc5! Bd6 29...f6 30.Nc4± 30.Rxh5+ Kg6 31.Rh8 Ra2 32.h4! Great accurate play by Adhiban. With minimal forces, he is weaving a mating attack around the black king. Bh2 32...Rxa3 33.Nc4 Rd3 34.Rd8+- 33.Nd7 Bd6 33...Rxa3 34.h5+ Kg5 35.h6! gxh6 36.Rg8+ Kh4 37.Rg4+ Kh5 38.Nf6# 34.h5+ Kg5 35.Rh7 Rxa3 36.Rxg7+ Kxh5 37.g4+ Kh6 38.Rxf7 Bxb4 39.Rf6+ Kg7 40.Rxe6 Usually when it is a race with pawns on both sides of the wing, the bishop is better piece. But in this particular scenario the knight, king and rook combine to create some deadly mating threats against the black king. b5 41.g5 41.Ke4!+- 41...Ra2 42.Nf6 Be1 43.Ng4 a5 44.Rb6 b4 45.Kf4 Bc3 45...Bxf2 46.Rb7+ Kf8 46...Kh8 47.Nf6+- 47.g6+- 46.Rb7+ Kg6 47.Rb6+ Kg7 48.Kf5 a4 49.Rb7+ Kf8 50.Nf6 50.Ke6 b3 51.g6 b2 52.g7+ Bxg7 53.Rb8# 50...Rxf2+ 51.Ke6 Bxf6 52.gxf6 Kg8 53.Rxb4 The rest is not so interesting. a3 54.Ra4 a2 55.e4 Kh7 56.Kf7 Rb2 57.e5 Rb7+ 58.Ke8 Rb8+ 59.Kd7 Kg6 60.Rxa2 Kf7 61.Ra6 Rh8 62.e6+ A very powerful game by Adhiban who played the endgame in Karpov style! 62.e6+ Kxf6 63.e7+ Kf7 64.Ra1+- 1–0
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Adhiban,B2671Van Foreest,J26091–02017D26Van Foreest-Adhiban m5

In this DVD Sam Collins presents a repertoire for Black based on the Queen’s Gambit Accepted, 1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4. Rather than get involved in the heavy theory of the Classical Main Line, the lynchpin of the repertoire is the active development of the queen’s bishop. The resulting positions have close similarities to the Nimzo Indian and Slav Defences, and Collins explains the way for Black to approach the middlegame with confidence based on a blockade and light square strategy. The resulting repertoire is solid, reliable, and suitable as either a main weapon or an occasional surprise choice. Video running time: 3 hours 30 min


Round 6

Wei YiGoing into the final round, We Yi needed a win as badly as anyone can imagine. This was not only because he would lose the match if he didn't win, but also since he had not won a game against Ivanchuk in five tries.

Once again, the Taimanov variation appeared on the board. But this time, Wei went for a sharper version with 9.Qe2 and 11.f4 and even tossed in a novelty with 13.Bg3 to counter it. Ivanchuk only needed a draw and thought it was best to avoid pawn grabbing with 13...Qb6+ opting instead to castle.

Wei got in the typical Sicilian pawn breaks with e5 and f5 to induce weaknesses around Ivanchuk's king and began engineering an attack with some neat manoeuvre with his queen and bishop. Ivanchuk cracked under this pressure exerted by the white pieces and soon the white pieces came crashing in. 

Ivanchuk reacting to his loss against Wei Yi in round 6

Of course, Ivanchuk wasn't very happy with this turn of events | Photo: Lennart Ootes

After the game, Wei pointed out that Vassily should have tried 22…Nf6 instead of 22…h5 which allowed white's pieces enter the black camp.

 
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1.d4 1 Nf6 6 2.c4 3 e6 5 3.Nc3 2 Bb4 6 4.e3 2 0-0 54 5.Bd3 4 c5 11 6.Nf3 4 d5 49 7.cxd5 5 exd5 1:27 E53: Nimzo-Indian: Rubinstein: Main Line (4...0-0 5 Nf3 d5 6 Bd3 c5 7 0-0) 8.dxc5 5 Nbd7 1:04 9.Bd2 7 Nxc5 8 10.Be2 3 Ne6 1:54 11.0-0 5 LiveBook: 3 Games a6 8:37 12.Qb3 4:04 Be7 55 13.Nd4N 14:10 Predecessor: 13.Rfd1 b5 14.Be1 Bb7 15.a3 0-1 (62) Krush,I (2468)-Wojtaszek,R (2723) Doha 2015 13...Bc5 9:48 14.Nxe6 1:12 Bxe6 11 15.Qc2 7:04 Nicht 15.Qxb7? Qd6-+ 15...Qd6 9:02 16.Rfd1 3:35 Rac8 4:36 17.Be1 50 b5 36 18.Bf3 3:30 b4 5:17 19.Ne4! 1:13 dxe4 31:12 20.Rxd6 14 Bxd6 2 21.Qd1 28 Be5 20 22.Be2 24 But not 22.Bxb4? Rfd8-+ 22...Bxb2 9 23.Rb1 3:10 Bc3 1:47 24.Bxa6 1:19 Bxa2 19 24...Rc6= 25.Qa4 Rc7 25.Bxc3 17:18 But not 25.Bxc8?! Bxb1 26.Bxc3 26.Qxb1 Rxc8 27.Bxc3 bxc3 26...bxc3= 25...bxc3 8:42
26.Ra1! 1:59 c2 7:14 27.Qc1 6 Bb1 1:04 28.Bxc8 3:09 Rxc8 2 29.Rxb1 9:54 cxb1Q 6 30.Qxb1 5 h6 16 31.h3 23 Rd8 1:11 32.Qb2 4:16 Re8 5 33.Qd4 3:53 Re6 16 34.Kh2 3:46 g5!= 46 35.Kg1 1:36 Nh7 2:17 36.Qd1 6:56 Nf6 51 37.Kh2 50 Kg7 26 38.Qd4 36 38.h4± 38...Re7 33 39.f3 1:44 Re6 35 40.Kg1 1:08 exf3 1:01 41.gxf3 7 Kg8 2 42.Kf2 27 Nh7 20 43.Kg3 7:56 Nf8= 3:39 44.Kg4 5:43 Rg6 1:36 45.Kg3 3:02 45.h4± 45...Ne6± 23 46.Qe5 16
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Ivanchuk,V2732Wei,Y2740201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20175

Adhiban and van Foreest, meanwhile, had exchanged quite a few blows before going into the final game of their match in Hoogeveen. Every game, except the first one, had ended decisively. But in the final round, it ended just as it had started as the players agreed to a draw, letting a blitz tie-break decide the fate of the match.

Adhiban in his sixth game against Jorden van Foreest

For the third time in a row, in game six, Adhiban countered Jorden van Foreest’s 1.e4 with the Italian | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Unlike in their previous Italian battle, instead of the 6.d6 line, he went with 5.O-O and 6.d5 which is a more direct way of approaching the position.

 
Van Foreest vs. Adhiban, game 6
Position after 7...Nxd5

Van Foreest, too, had a small surprise up his sleeve. On the 10th move, instead of playing it cool with 10.Nbd2, he went for the more audacious b4-b5 pawn push in the centre and eventually gobbled a pawn on e5. But Adhiban reacted well and countered the Dutchman’s attempts to generate play on the kingside and centre by exchanging his knight for van Foreest’s light-squared bishop and then harvesting the weak pawns that were left behind. By move 33, Adhiban had recovered his pawn while van Foreest found a rook exchange that led to a forced repetition of moves.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.h3 C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3 Bh5 10.b4 10.Nbd2 Nb6 11.Bb5 Bd6 12.Ne4 Re8 13.Bg5 Qd7 14.Ng3 Bg6 15.Nh4 a6 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Nxg6 hxg6 18.h4 Re6 19.h5 Rae8 20.hxg6 Rxg6 1/2-1/2 (34) Annaberdiev,M (2496)-Le,Q (2739) Ashkhabad 2017 10...Be7 11.b5 Na5 12.Rxe5 Nf6 13.Nbd2 LiveBook: 3 Games Bd6 14.Re1 Re8 15.Bb3 Rxe1+N Predecessor: 15...Qd7 16.c4 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 0-1 (27) Heinrich,O (2233) -Toedter,H (2342) Remote email 2013 16.Qxe1 Nxb3 17.axb3 Nd5 18.g4 Bg6 19.Ne4 h5 next ...hxg4 is good for Black. 20.Ra4 hxg4 21.hxg4 Qd7 22.Nxd6 cxd6 23.Rd4 Re8 Black has compensation. 24.Qd2 Nc7 25.c4 Ne6! 26.Rd5 Nc5 27.Qg5 Nxd3 28.Bf4
28...Qe6 28...Re6! ...Be4 is the strong threat. 29.Be5 Nxe5 30.Nxe5 Qc8 31.Nxg6 Rxg6 29.Be3!= The position is equal. Nb4 30.Rd1 Nc2 31.Nd4 Not 31.Bxa7? Qe2-+ 31...Qe4 32.Nxc2 Qxc2 33.Rxd6 Qxb3 34.Rd8 Rxd8 35.Qxd8+ Kh7 36.Qh4+ Precision: White = 71%, Black = 91%.
½–½
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Van Foreest,J2609Adhiban,B2671½–½201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20176

The Tiebreaks

With scores tied at 3-3, the players went into a two-game blitz playoff with a time control of 3 minutes plus 2 seconds increment from the first move.

Adhiban had the black pieces in the first game and was pushed to the back foot after an overextension on the queenside in a London System. Once he had the initiative, van Foreest’s knights began to tango all over the board. Soon, his pawns also plunged in both on the kingside and in the centre. In order to curb white’s initiative, Adhiban decided to sac a piece. But this did not really help his case and had to resign soon after. 

Despite losing his first blitz game against Jorden van Foreest Adhiban was seen smiling

Despite losing the first blitz game, Adhiban was seen smiling! | Photo: Lennart Ootes

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 b6 6.c3 A46: 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6: Torre, London and Colle Systems Be7 7.Nbd2 0-0 8.h3 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.0-0 Qc8 LiveBook: 3 Games 11.Qe2 Qb7 12.Nc4 Nd5N Predecessor: 12...Qe4 13.Be3 Nc7 14.a4 1/2-1/2 (34) Grachev,B (2640)-Leko,P (2741) Moscow 2008 13.Bh2 b5 13...Nac7= remains equal. 14.Na5 Qb6 15.a4! b4! 16.Nc4 White fights for an advantage. Qb7 17.Nd6 Qc6 18.Nb5 bxc3 19.Ne5 Qb7 20.bxc3 f6 20...d6 21.Nc4 Better is 21.Nf3± 21...Qc6 21...Nac7!= keeps the balance. 22.Na5 Qc8 23.c4 Ndb4 24.Rab1 Re8 25.Bd6 Nc6 26.Nb3 Qd8 27.Rfd1 Bxd6 28.Nxd6 Rf8 28...Re7± 29.d5 exd5 29.d5+- Ne5 30.c5 30.dxe6 Threatens to win with f4. Rb8 31.c5 30...Nc7 31.f4 Ng6 32.f5 exf5 33.Nxf5 Re8 33...Qe8 was worth a try. 34.Qc2 Nf4 34.Qg4 Re5 35.h4 Qf8 36.h5 Nxd5? 36...Ne7 is tougher. 37.Nh6+ Kh8 37.hxg6 hxg6 38.Qxg6
Strongly threatening Nh6+. 38...Ne7 39.Nxe7+ Qxe7 40.Qg4 f5 41.Qd4 Rd8?
41...Re8 42.Qc4+ Kh8 42.c6! White is clearly winning. d5 42...dxc6 43.Qxd8+ 43.Rbc1 Kh7 44.Qf2 g6 45.Nd4 Re4 46.c7 And now Nxf5 would win. Rc8 47.Nb5 a6 48.Nc3 Re5 49.Nxd5 Qf7 50.Qd4 Qg7 Precision: White = 72%, Black = 29%.
1–0
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Foreest,J2609Adhiban,B26711–0201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20177

Now a point ahead, it seemed van Foreest was in the mood for some pawn fishing. Or perhaps, his nerves were failing him badly. First, his queen came wandering to a2, having gobbled a pawn on b3. And then, his knight also couldn’t resist the temptation of munching on the c3 pawn on the 24th move. Incredibly, the knight was en prise there and even Adhiban ignored capturing it! What’s even more curious is that Adhiban could have won on the spot a couple of moves later but went for an exchange sacrifice that spoiled his advantage. Van Foreest regrouped well after this and forced resignation in a few moves.

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nc3 e5 4.e3 exd4 5.exd4 Nf6 6.Bxc4 Be7 7.Nf3 0-0 8.0-0 Nbd7 9.Re1 C42: Petroff Defence: 3 Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves Nb6 10.Bb3 c6 LiveBook: 38 Games 11.Qe2 White is slightly better. Re8 12.Bg5 Strongly threatening Bxf6. Bd7N Predecessor: 12...Bg4 13.Bxf7+ Kxf7 14.Ne5+ Kf8 15.Nxg4 Qxd4 16.h3 1-0 (29) Riazantsev,A (2705)-Hasangatin,R (2496) Loo 2013 13.Ne5 Nfd5 14.Bd2 Be6 15.Qf3 a5 16.Rad1 Bf8 17.Bc2 Nxc3 18.bxc3 g6 19.Bb3 Bxb3 20.axb3 Qd5 21.Qh3 21.Qf4 Bd6 22.c4 21...Qxb3 22.Rb1 Qa2 22...Qc2!= 23.Qf3 Rxe5 24.dxe5 Qxd2 23.Bg5 White should play 23.Qd3! Ra6 24.c4 23...Nd5 23...Rxe5?! 24.dxe5 Bc5 25.Be3± 23...Na4= 24.Rxb7± Nxc3? 24...Be7 was necessary. 25.Be3?
25.Qxc3+- Bb4 26.Qa1 26.Qxc6 Bxe1 27.Rxf7 Bc3= 26...Qxa1 27.Rxa1 25...Nd5? 25...Qe6! stays on course. ...Qxh3 is the strong threat. 26.Qh4 Re7 26.Rxf7+- Bg7 27.Rxg7+? White has some attack. 27.Qd7+- Bf8 28.Ng4 28.Rxh7 Nf6 28.Qxc6 Nxe3 29.fxe3 Qe6± 27...Kxg7= 28.Bh6+ Kg8 28...Kh8= 29.Qd7 Re7 30.Qxc6 Rae8 31.h4 31.Bg5 31...Nb4= 32.Qf6?
32.Qb6= 32...Nd3? 32...Rf7!-+ 33.Nxf7 Rxe1+ 34.Kh2 Qxf7 33.Nxd3 Rxe1+ 34.Nxe1 Rxe1+ Endgame KQR-KQB 35.Kh2 Qf7 36.Qd8+ White should try 36.Qa6= 36...Re8 37.Qxa5 Qxf2 38.Bg5 38.Qd5+ Qf7 39.Qc5 38...Qxd4-+ 39.Qa2+ 39.Qc7 was called for. 39...Kg7 40.Qc2 40.Qb3 keeps fighting. 40...Qe5+ 41.Kh3? 41.Kh1 41...Qf5+ Precision: White = 27%, Black = 42%.
0–1
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Adhiban,B2671Foreest,J26090–1201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20178

Vassily Ivanchuk and Wei Yi during the blitz playoff

Even though Wei Yi and Vassily Ivanchuk were pretty evenly matched in classical games, the blitz playoff painted a totally different picture | Photo: Lennart Ootes

In the first game, Wei was able to win a pawn from the black side of a Nimzo-Indian. But soon things began going south for him as Ivanchuk’s pieces came rushing in through the centre. This made Wei consume a lot of time on his clock and eventually left him a pawn down in a lost position. Ivanchuk took his time converting this one but there was never really a doubt about the game’s outcome.

In the final game, Wei Yi went down without a fight after Ivanchuk played the central break 14…e5 in the Scandinavian. Maybe it was the match situation or perhaps Wei was just tired as he blundered and lost a piece. In just 18 moves, ‘Chucky’ won the game and, with it, the match. 

 
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1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 c6 5.Bd2 Bf5 6.Bc4 e6 7.Qf3 LiveBook: 3 Games. B01: Scandinavian Defence 7.Qe2 Bb4 8.Nf3 Nd7 9.0-0 Ngf6 10.a3 Bxc3 11.Bxc3 Qc7 1/2-1/2 (11) Kovacevic,A (2557)-Savic,M (2515) Kragujevac 2012 7...Nd7 8.0-0-0 Ngf6N Predecessor: 8...Qc7 9.g4 Bg6 10.Nge2 Bd6 11.Nf4 Nb6 12.Bb3 Ne7 13.Bxe6 fxe6 14.Nxe6 Qd7 15.Nxg7+ 1-0 (36) Huschenbeth,N (2279)-Almond,R (2088) Dresden 2007 9.Nge2 The position is equal. Qc7 10.h3 h6 11.Rhe1 0-0-0 12.Kb1 Bd6 13.g4 Bh7 14.Nf4
14.Bd3 stays ahead. 14...e5! 15.dxe5 15.Nfe2! 15...Nxe5-+ 16.Qe2 Rhe8 17.Be3? 17.Ng2 was worth a try. 17...Nxc4 18.Qxc4 b5 Precision: White = 26%, Black = 79%.
0–1
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Wei Yi2740Ivanchuk,V27320–1201721st Hoogeveen Matches 20178

Final Score

Final score of the matches between Vassily Ivanchuk and Wei Yi, and Jorden van Foreest and Adhiban B

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Aditya 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.

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