Jerusalem GP Final: Nepomniachtchi strikes

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
12/22/2019 – Game one of the final in Jerusalem favoured Ian Nepomniachtchi, who won a 96-move game with the black pieces after Wei Yi declined to force a draw by repetition in the middlegame. Nepomniachtchi now only needs a draw in the second classical game to reach the Candidates Tournament, leaving Maxime Vachier-Lagrave out of the race to challenge Magnus Carlsen in the next World Championship match. | Photo: Niki Riga

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The fourth leg of the FIDE Grand Prix is being played in Jerusalem, Israel. The 16-player knockout has a €130,000 prize fund, with the series as a whole having an additional prize fund of €280,000 plus two qualifying spots for the 2020 Candidates Tournament. The tournament takes place in the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Centre from December 11th to 23rd.


Things look dire for Maxime Vachier-Lagrave after the first encounter of the Jerusalem Grand Prix Final ended in favour of Ian Nepomniachtchi. The Russian struck first against Wei Yi and now only needs a draw to get the remaining spot in the Candidates granted by the GP series. This was the Frenchman's last hope to reach the eight-player event that awards the winner a chance to face the world champion in a direct match-up. Moreover, if Nepomniachtchi gets tournament victory, 'MVL' would miss out on playing the Candidates by the smallest of margins for a second cycle in a row.

Nevertheless, Wei Yi is a highly dangerous opponent, so it is very much a possibility for the Chinese to even the score in game two. The youngster played enterprising chess on Saturday and, given Nepomniachtchi's style, it is very likely for the rematch to turn into a sharp fight.  

Wei Yi

Wei Yi | Photo: Niki Riga

The struggle kicked off early on. Out of a Four Knights variation in the English, Nepomniachtchi already spent nine and eleven minutes on moves 9 and 10. The contenders continued to follow lines previously explored until move 12:

 
Wei Yi vs. Nepomniachtchi
Position after 12.Rb1

Previously, Black had gone for 12...d6, 12...♝e7 and 12...♞c6 in this position, while Nepomniachtchi, who seemed not to be prepared to face this line, spent over twelve minutes on 12...b4. Up to this point, Wei Yi had not spent more than a minute and a half on any of his moves, but this decision by Black seemed to catch him by surprise, as he invested a whopping 53 minutes on 13.d1.

Evgeny Miroshnichenko, in the commentary booth, spent most of the lengthy thinking period analysing 13.♕xb4 and the natural-looking 13.♗f4, which prompts us to think that the Chinese considered those lines to be insufficiently ambitious after his rival played a move he probably did not analyse during his preparation. 

Ian Nepomniachtchi

Alone on stage — Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: Niki Riga

During the middlegame, Wei Yi showed once and again that he was in for a fight, while Nepomniachtchi displayed his ability to make moves both quickly and precisely.

White gave up a pawn on move 26:

 
Position after 25...Nd7

Wei Yi found the best 26.d1, allowing 26...xa2 in order to transfer his queen to the kingside with 27.g4+. There followed 27...h8 28.h5 g8 29.g4+ h8 30.h5 and 30...g8 back. Would the Chinese star accept the implied draw offer?

 
Position after 30...Kg8

Not when he can go for a sharp line instead! Wei Yi opted for 31.b5, as he apparently did not assess White's exchange sacrifice — 31...xb5 32.xb5 xb2 33.b1 c2 — to be dangerous for him. With little time on his clock, the Chinese failed to find the most accurate move at this point:

 
Position after 33...Qc2

Instead of 34.fc1, White needed to go for an immediate 34.♖a1. After the text, there followed 34...d2 35.xb4 xe3+ 36.h1 a2, when White needs to be permanently alert due to the menacing position of Black's heavy pieces.

But Nepomniachtchi was also short of time and did not play the most clear-cut way to improve his advantage. A long manoeuvring fight ensued after a couple of rooks left the board on move 46. White had queen, rook and three pawns against Black's queen, knight and five pawns. Later on, Wei Yi explained that perhaps it is possible to defend such a position, but to do it for so long is not an easy task at all.

The Chinese held the dynamic balance for quite a while, but he started to lose the thread on move 84. Soon after, White had a totally winning position:

 
Position after 87.Qe5

The Chinese had spent three minutes on the losing 87.e5, to which Nepomniachtchi responded with the strong 87...e4. After 88.xe4 fxe4, Black's connected passers were too much for White to handle. Wei Yi accepted defeat eight moves later. A remarkable fight!

 
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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.g3 Qb6 7.Ndb5 Ne5 8.Bg2 a6 9.Qa4 Threatens to win with Be3. Rb8 A33: Symmetrical English: 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 e6 5 Nc3 Nc6 10.Na3 10.Be3 Bc5 11.Bxc5 Qxc5 12.Qa3 b6 13.Nd6+ Ke7 14.Qxc5 bxc5 15.Nxc8+ Rhxc8 16.b3 d5 17.cxd5 1-0 (47) Ivanchuk,V (2708) -Saric,I (2685) Mali Losinj 2018 10...Bc5 11.0-0 0-0 The position is equal. 12.Rb1 Qb4N Predecessor: 12...Be7 13.Bf4 d6 14.b4 Bd7 15.Qb3 Qc7 16.c5 b5 17.Bxe5 dxe5 1-0 (60) Yermolinsky,A (2528)-Kudrin,S (2571) Saint Louis 2010 13.Qd1 d6 Don't blunder 13...Nxc4? 14.Nc2+- 14.Na4 b5 15.Nxc5 Qxc5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Bg5 Ba6 18.Nc2 b4 19.Nd4 Bb7 20.Rc1 Qa5 21.Bxb7 Rxb7 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Qb3 Ra8 24.f4 Qa7 25.e3 Nd7 26.Qd1 Qxa2 27.Qg4+ Kh8 28.Qh5 Kg8 29.Qg4+ Kh8 30.Qh5 Kg8 31.Nb5
31.Qg4+= Kh8 31...Rxb5! 32.Qxb5 Double Attack Qxb2 33.Rb1 Wrong is 33.Qxd7? Ra2-+ 33...Qc2! 34.Rfc1 But not 34.Qxd7? Ra2-+ 34.Ra1! Rxa1 35.Rxa1 34...Qd2!-+ 35.Qxb4 Qxe3+ 36.Kh1 Ra2! 37.Rc8+ Kg7 ( -> ...Qf3+) 38.Rb2 Qf3+ 39.Kg1 Qd1+ 39...Ra3! 40.Rb1 Qe3+ 41.Kh1 Ra2 40.Kg2! Ra1 41.Qb5 41.Kh3 41...f5 41...h5! 42.Qe2= Qd5+ 43.Kh3 Nf6 44.Rbb8 Black must now prevent Qb2! Ra2 45.Rc2 Rxc2 46.Qxc2 Endgame KQR-KQN Qf3 ...Nd5 is the strong threat. Black fights for an advantage. 47.Rb3 Qf1+ 48.Qg2! Qe1 49.Qb2 Kg6 50.Kg2 d5 51.Rb8 Qe4+ 52.Kh3? 52.Kg1 52...Qf3-+ aiming for ...Ne4. 53.Rb3 Qf1+ Black should play 53...Qd1! 54.Ra3 d4 54.Qg2 Qe1 55.Qc2 Qf1+ 56.Qg2! Qc4 57.Rb8 57.Qf3 is a better defense. 57...h6!-+ 58.Kh4 Qd3 59.Rb2
59...Ng4 59...d4! 60.Rd2 Qc4 60.Qe2 Qd4 61.Kh3 Qg1 62.Qg2! Qd4 63.Qe2 Qc5 64.Qc2 Qg1 65.Qg2! Qe3 66.Qe2 Qd4 67.Qc2 67.Qd2= Qe4 68.Qc3 67...Ne3 68.Qb3 Nd1 Black should try 68...Qe4 Strongly threatening ...Qf3! 69.Qb8 Kg7 70.Qe5+ Qxe5 71.fxe5 Nc4 69.Re2= Nf2+ 70.Kg2 Ng4 71.Qb8 Nf6 72.Qb2 Qc5 73.Rc2 Qe3 74.Re2 Qa7 75.Qa2 Qc5 76.Qc2 Qd6 77.Qb2 77.Rd2= 77...Ne4 77...d4 78.Rd2 Qd5+ 79.Kg1 d3 78.Qd4 Qa6 79.Rc2 Nf6 80.Rd2 Qa5 81.Re2 Qa3 82.Qb2 Qa7 83.Qa2 Qd7 84.Qb2 84.Rd2= keeps the balance. 84...d4 85.Rd2 Qd5+ 86.Kg1 d3 87.Qe5? 87.Qa3 was the crucial defense. 87...Qe4-+ 88.Qxe4? 88.h3 Nd5 89.Kf2 88...fxe4 KR-KN 89.Kf2 Nd5 90.Ke1 Kf5 91.Rd1 e5 92.Kd2 exf4 93.gxf4 Nxf4 94.Ra1 Ke5 95.Ra6 h5 96.Ra8 f5 Accuracy: White = 46%, Black = 58%. 96...Nd5 97.Ra4 f5 98.h3 f4 99.Ra3 f3 100.Ra1 Kf4 101.Rf1 e3+ 102.Kxd3 Nb4+ 103.Kc3 e2 104.Rb1 Ke3 105.Kc4 f2 106.Rb3+ Ke4 107.Rxb4 e1Q 108.Kb3+ Ke3 109.Rb5 Qb1+ 110.Ka4 Qa2+ 111.Kb4 f1Q 112.Re5+
112...Kd4! 113.Re4+ Kxe4 114.Kc5 Qfa6 115.h4 Q2c4#
0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Wei,Y2725Nepomniachtchi,I27670–12019Grand Prix Jerusalem 20194.1

Wei Yi

In a must win situation — Wei Yi | Photo: Niki Riga


Commentary webcast

Official broadcast with GM Evgeny Miroshnichenko via worldchess.com


Match results


All games

 
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1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.0-0 Bf5 7.b3 A37: Symmetrical English vs ...g6: 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 Nf3 7.h3 Nf6 8.d3 0-0 9.Be3 a6 10.Qd2 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.Nxb5 Qa5 13.Nc3 Rab8 14.Rfc1 Rfc8 1-0 (43) Carlsen,M (2845)-Vachier Lagrave,M (2773) Karlsruhe/Baden Baden 2019 7...Nf6 8.Bb2 Ne4N Predecessor: 8...0-0 9.Nh4 Bg4 10.h3 Bd7 11.e3 Qc8 12.Kh2 a6 13.a4 Rb8 14.d3 e6 15.Qd2 Qc7 16.Nf3 Rfd8 ½-½ (27) Eljanov,P (2727)-Khairullin,I (2629) Jerusalem 2015 9.Na4 White has an edge. Bxb2 10.Nxb2 Qd7 11.Nh4 Nf6 12.Nxf5 Qxf5 13.e3 0-0 14.Na4 Rad8 15.a3 Qc8 16.Rc1 Kg7 17.Qc2 h5 18.h3 b6 19.Nc3 Rfe8 20.f4 e6 21.Qb2! Threatens to win with Ne4. Kg8 22.Ne2 Nh7 23.d4 cxd4 24.Nxd4 Nxd4 25.exd4 Nf6 26.Kh2 Kg7 27.b4 Qc7 28.a4 e5 29.fxe5 dxe5
30.c5 30.Qf2!± Qe7 31.Bc6 30...h4!= The position is equal. Reject 30...exd4?! 31.cxb6 Qb8 32.Rc6± 31.cxb6 hxg3+ 32.Kh1 Qxb6 33.Rc6       Double Attack 33.dxe5?
33...Ng4!      
33...Qxd4 34.Qxd4 Rxd4 35.Rcxf6 Re7 36.R6f3 Accuracy: White = 57%, Black = 57%.
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Topalov,V2737Vachier-Lagrave,M2780½–½2019A37Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2780Topalov,V2737½–½2019C67Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Giri,A2769Wei,Y2725½–½2019Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
So,W2760Yu,Y27381–02019C43Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Wang,H2756Navara,D2707½–½2019C65Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Karjakin,S2754Harikrishna,P2724½–½2019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Wojtaszek,R2725Andreikin,D2724½–½2019D37Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Andreikin,D2724Wojtaszek,R2725½–½2019D38Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Jakovenko,D2698Mamedyarov,S2772½–½2019B45Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Gelfand,B2684Nepomniachtchi,I2767½–½2019A33Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2780Topalov,V27371–02019C67Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Mamedyarov,S2772Jakovenko,D26981–02019D37Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Giri,A2769Wei,Y2725½–½2019D88Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2767Gelfand,B26841–02019B30Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Wang,H2756Navara,D2707½–½2019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Yu,Y2738So,W2760½–½2019E06Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Wojtaszek,R2725Andreikin,D2724½–½2019D37Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Harikrishna,P2724Karjakin,S2754½–½2019E06Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.3
Nepomniachtchi,I2767Gelfand,B2684½–½2019Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Karjakin,S2754Harikrishna,P2724½–½2019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Topalov,V2737Vachier-Lagrave,M27800–12019B92Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Wei,Y2725Giri,A27691–02019B21Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Andreikin,D2724Wojtaszek,R27251–02019D37Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Navara,D2707Wang,H2756½–½2019E07Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Jakovenko,D2698Mamedyarov,S27721–02019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Gelfand,B2684Nepomniachtchi,I27670–12019A16Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.4
Mamedyarov,S2772Jakovenko,D2698½–½2019E36Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.5
Wei,Y2725Giri,A2769½–½2019B90Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.5
Harikrishna,P2724Karjakin,S2754½–½2019E05Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.5
Navara,D2707Wang,H2756½–½2019D12Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.5
Wang,H2756Navara,D2707½–½2019E05Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.6
Karjakin,S2754Harikrishna,P2724½–½2019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.6
Harikrishna,P2724Karjakin,S2754½–½2019C67Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.6
Jakovenko,D2698Mamedyarov,S27721–02019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.6
Wang,H2756Navara,D2707½–½2019C65Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.7
Harikrishna,P2724Karjakin,S2754½–½2019D37Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.7
Navara,D2707Wang,H2756½–½2019E07Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.7
Mamedyarov,S2772Jakovenko,D2698½–½2019E21Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.8
Karjakin,S2754Harikrishna,P2724½–½2019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.8
Navara,D2707Wang,H27561–02019D37Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.8
Harikrishna,P2724Karjakin,S2754½–½2019D00Grand Prix Jerusalem 20191.9
Vachier-Lagrave,M2780Andreikin,D2724½–½2019C01Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.1
So,W2760Nepomniachtchi,I2767½–½2019D85Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.1
Karjakin,S2754Wei,Y2725½–½2019Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.1
Jakovenko,D2698Navara,D2707½–½2019C54Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2767So,W2760½–½2019C77Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.2
Wei,Y2725Karjakin,S2754½–½2019E52Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.2
Andreikin,D2724Vachier-Lagrave,M2780½–½2019A34Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.2
Navara,D2707Jakovenko,D26981–02019B36Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.2
So,W2760Nepomniachtchi,I2767½–½2019A33Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.3
Wei,Y2725Karjakin,S27541–02019C22Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.3
Andreikin,D2724Vachier-Lagrave,M27800–12019B23Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2780Andreikin,D2724½–½2019B06Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.4
Nepomniachtchi,I2767So,W27601–02019C88Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.4
Karjakin,S2754Wei,Y27251–02019B12Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.4
Karjakin,S2754Wei,Y27250–12019B12Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.5
Wei,Y2725Karjakin,S2754½–½2019B91Grand Prix Jerusalem 20192.6
Nepomniachtchi,I2767Vachier-Lagrave,M27801–02019D97Grand Prix Jerusalem 20193.1
Wei,Y2725Navara,D2707½–½2019A11Grand Prix Jerusalem 20193.1
Vachier-Lagrave,M2780Nepomniachtchi,I2767½–½2019E60Grand Prix Jerusalem 20193.2
Navara,D2707Wei,Y2725½–½2019D97Grand Prix Jerusalem 20193.2
Navara,D2707Wei,Y2725½–½2019D90Grand Prix Jerusalem 20193.3
Wei,Y2725Navara,D27071–02019A06Grand Prix Jerusalem 20193.4
Wei,Y2725Nepomniachtchi,I27670–12019A33Grand Prix Jerusalem 20194.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2767Wei,Y2725½–½2019B06Grand Prix Jerusalem 20194.2

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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