Jon Speelman: To and fro - 2023 and 2024

by Jonathan Speelman
1/7/2024 – As the new year gets underway, it's traditional to look both forwards and backwards. 2023 saw Magnus Carlsen abdicate his world title, Ding Liren capture the vacant crown after a nail-biting match against Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ju Wenjun retain her world title also by a narrow margin after defeating her countrywoman Lei Tingjie. Jon Speelman looks back to 2023 and forward to 2024. | Photo: Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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The most significant moments of 2023

[Note that Jon Speelman also looks at the content of the article in video format, here embedded at the end of the article.]

The previous year, Uzbekistan had won the Chess Olympiad in Chennai and as China gained both world titles for the first time, the centre of gravity of world chess does seem to be moving east, with India in particular the home to an extraordinary flowering of young talent. Indeed as we look forward to the Candidates tournament in Toronto in April, three of the eight players are Americans and three are Indians.

The battle last month for the final spots in the Candidates has been discussed on ChessBase and throughout the chess world in minute detail. What I would say, is that FIDE rather obviously needs to make better rules. You simply can't expect professional games players not to game regulations which are so patently gameable....

The battle to reach Toronto was perhaps all the keener because the winner will play Ding rather than Carlsen. Shorn of the glorious responsibility of being champion, Carlsen had a tremendously successful year except for some games in huge open tournaments in which impertinent players rated in the 2500 and 2600s very much refused to roll over and die.

Being the first Chinese champion must be a massive responsibility and Ding has hardly played since the match. At least he is scheduled to be in Wijk aan Zee at the end of this week.

By the end of April we'll know who will challenge Ding next year. I guess that Fabiano Caruana is the favourite, but a priori it looks very open.

In the meantime there will be furious action in 2024 both over the board and virtually including the 45th Olympiad which will be held in Budapest in September. With so many emerging talents, this is a very exciting time to play and follow chess and there should be some glorious battles.

For now here are a some of not necessarily the best games but the most significant moments of 2023. I've got three of the world championship games, a win by Magnus Carlsen during his world cup triumph and one of his losses against a young gun in Qatar; and one of Vidit Gujrathi's wins in the Isle of Man. These are the annotations I already had in my databases and I've added small introductions as well.

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1.d4 This, game 2, set the tone for the early part of the world championship match as Ding was tentative and Nepo played splendidly. Nf6 1...d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.0-0 a6 and just oine instanc eof h3 in twicbase 7.Nc3 Nc6 8.a3 b5 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.a4 b4 11.Ne4 cxd4 12.exd4 Be7 13.Be3 Qd5 14.Nfg5 h6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Be4 Qd7 17.d5 exd5 18.Nxf7 Kxf7 19.Bxd5+ Kf8 20.Qh5 Nd4 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Qc5+ Kg8 23.Bxd4 Rc8 24.Qd6 Rd8 25.Qe6+ Qf7 26.Qxf7+ Kxf7 27.Bxf6 Kxf6 28.Rac1 Rd2 29.Rc6+ Kf7 30.Rb1 Re8 31.h4 Ree2 32.Rxa6 Rxf2 33.Rf1 Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Rxb2 35.Rb6 ½-½ (35) Thorfinnsson,B (2349)-Hardarson,R (2285) Hafnarborg ISL 2003 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.h3!? An interesting idea to try to put psychological pressure on Mepo immedaite;ly. Apaarently Richard Rapport is in Ding's team and this is perhaps his sort of thing. dxc4 Going into a sort of Queen's Gambit Accepted in which h3 is probably not a huge asset. 4...Be7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Bxf6 8.Qc2 dxc4 9.0-0-0 c5 10.dxc5 Qc7 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Qxc4 Na6 13.e3 Nxc5 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Qxc5 Bxc5 16.Bd3 Rb8 17.Be4 f5 18.Bc2 b5 19.Ne5 Rb7 20.Kb1 a5 21.g3 a4 22.Rd2 g5 23.Rhd1 f4 24.exf4 gxf4 25.Ng6 Re8 26.Rd8 Kf7 27.Nxf4 Rxd8 28.Rxd8 Bd7 29.Rh8 Bxf2 30.Rh7+ Kg8 31.Be4 Ra7 32.Nxe6 Bxe6 33.Rxh6 Bc4 34.Rf6 Bd4 35.Rf4 Bc5 36.Rf5 Be3 37.b3 axb3 38.axb3 Be2 39.Re5 Kf8 40.Bf5 Re7 41.Rxe7 Kxe7 42.Kc2 Bf2 43.Bd3 Bxd3+ 44.Kxd3 Bxg3 45.Kc3 Kd6 46.Kb4 Kc6 0-1 (46) Meshkovs,N (2535)-Shuvalova,P (2498) chess.com INT 2022 4...c6 5.Nc3 Bb4 6.e3 0-0 7.Bd2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 Re8 9.0-0 b6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Qc2 Bb7 12.a3 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 c5 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Bb5 d4 16.exd4 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qb6 18.Qa4 Re7 19.Rfe1 Rae8 20.Bxd7 1-0 (20) Botev,S (1627)-Hristov,P (1988) Teteven BUL 2018 5.e3 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6 7.Qc2 b5 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Be2 c5 11.dxc5 Bxc5 12.0-0 Rc8 13.Qd1 Qc7 14.a4 b4 15.Nbd2 Nxe5 16.Nb3 Nxf3+ 17.Bxf3 0-0 18.Nxc5 Qxc5 19.Bg5 h6 20.Rc1 Qa5 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.Bd2 Bc6 23.b3 Nc3 24.Bxc3 bxc3 25.Bxc6 Rxc6 26.Qc2 g6 27.Rc1 Qb4 28.g3 a5 29.Kg2 Qc5 30.h4 Qd4 31.Rd1 Qe5 32.Kh2 Rb6 33.Rd3 Rc6 34.Rd8+ Kg7 35.Rd3 h5 36.Re3 Qd4 37.Kg2 Qd5+ 38.Kh2 Qf5 39.Rd3 Kh7 40.Kg2 Rc7 41.Kg1 Qxd3 42.Qxd3 c2 43.Qb5 c1Q+ 44.Kh2 Qc5 45.Qd3 Rb7 46.Qf3 Rd7 47.Kg2 Kg7 48.Kh2 Qf5 49.Qe3 Rd5 50.Qa7 Rd3 51.Kg2 Rxb3 52.Qxa5 Qxa5 0-1 (52) Gatineau,Y (2423)-Gago Padreny,I (2289) chess.com INT 2020 5...c5 6.Bxc4 a6 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Nc3 b5 8...cxd4 9.exd4 Be7 10.Be3 0-0 11.Rc1 b5 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.Qe2 Nb4 14.Bb1 Nbd5 15.Bd2 Nxc3 16.Bxc3 b4 17.Bd2 Bxf3 18.Qxf3 Qxd4 19.Rc2 Qd5 20.Qe2 a5 21.Be3 Rfd8 22.Rd2 Qe5 23.Rfd1 Rxd2 24.Rxd2 Rc8 25.Rd1 Nd5 26.Qd3 g6 27.Bd4 Qc7 28.Qf3 Qf4 29.Be4 Qxf3 30.Bxf3 Bf6 31.Bxd5 Bxd4 32.Bb7 Rd8 33.Kf1 Rd7 34.Bf3 e5 35.b3 Rc7 36.Rd2 Kg7 37.Bd5 Rc1+ 38.Ke2 Bc3 39.Rd1 Rc2+ 40.Kf3 Bd4 41.Rf1 Rxa2 42.g4 f5 43.Kg3 Kf6 44.h4 h6 45.gxf5 gxf5 46.f3 Be3 47.Kh3 Bf4 48.Rh1 Ke7 49.Bg8 Rf2 50.Bh7 Kf6 51.Bg8 Rxf3+ 52.Kg2 Rg3+ 0-1 (52) Kosasih,C (2320)-Nay Oo Kyaw Tun Jakarta INA 1997 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.a4 b4 11.Ne4 Na5
A very similar position has arisen a couple few times with White playing a3 rather than h3 and then a3-a4 (so that Whiote's h pawn was on h2). Howdver in none of the three games I've seen did Black try the ctitical Na5 12.Nxf6+ A bit submissive. White want sto play Nxc5 but Ding must have talked himself out of it. 12.Nxc5 Bxc5 13.dxc5 Rc8?! was my first reaction but 13...Qd5 is apparently what Anand suggested. 14.Qe2 Ne4 15.Rd1 Qxc5 16.Nd2 Nxd2 17.Bxd2 Nb3 18.Qg4 Nxa1 19.Bxb4 Qc6 20.Rxa1 0-0-0 21.Bf1 13...Nd7 is the engione's choice. 14.c6 Bxc6 14...Nxc6 15.Qe2 0-0 16.Rd1 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.Bc2 Bd5 17.Qg4 Qf6 18.Bd2 Rb8 19.e4 Nxe4 20.Bxe4 Qxd4 21.Qg3 0-0 22.Bf4 13...Be4 14.Bxe4 Qxd1 15.Rxd1 Nxe4 14.e4! is strong 14.Qe2 Nb3 14...Nxe4 14...Bxe4 15.Bxa6 15.c6 Bxc6 16.Bxa6 Qxd1 17.Rxd1 Ra8 18.Bb5 0-0 19.Be3 12...gxf6! Taking e5 away from the white knight and opening the g file. Both a rook on g8 and the b7 bishop will now point towards g2. 12...Qxf6 13.e4 is a very strong response. If then cxd4 13...h6 14.Bg5 Qg6 15.Bh4! Qh5 16.Rc1 13.e4 13.dxc5 was better to avoid ...c4. Bxc5 13...Qd7 14.c6 Bxc6 15.Nd4 Bb7 16.Qe2 13...c4! 13...cxd4 14.Nxd4 Rg8 15.Be3 f5 16.Nxe6! I was looking at 16.Qh5 fxe4 17.Bb5+ axb5 18.Nxe6 16...fxe6 17.Qh5+ with a massive attack. 14.Bc2 Qc7 15.Bd2 Rg8 15...0-0-0 was also poosisble immediately when Blakc has the extra option of 16.Rc1 Kb8 16...Rg8 17.Bd3 Kb8 16.Rc1 16.Qe1 f5 17.d5 0-0-0 18.Bxb4 Bxb4 19.Qxb4 fxe4 20.Bxe4 Qf4 not 20...f5? 21.d6 20...exd5 16...0-0-0 17.Bd3 17.Qe1 f5 18.Kh1 17...Kb8 18.Re1 Of course White wants to play Bxc4 but after 18.Bxc4 Nxc4 19.Qe2 19.b3 Bxe4 20.Rxc4 Qb7 19...Rc8 20.b3 Nxd2 21.Rxc7 Nxf3+ 22.Qxf3 Rxc7 Black has a bug material advantage and should win. 23.Qf4 23.Qxf6 Bxe4 24.Qd8+ Rc8 25.Qb6+ Bb7 26.f3 Be7 23...Rg6 24.Rc1 e5 25.dxe5 Bh6 18...f5! 19.Bc2 19.exf5 Rxd4 20.Nxd4 20.Bf1 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Rxd2-+ II looked ror something "cleaner" for Black but actually this is very easy. 20.Be2 Bc5 21.Kh1 Qd6 20...Rxg2+ 21.Kf1 Rxf2+! I missed this and was looking at Qh2 21...Qh2 22.Be3 Bh6 23.Nf3 Qh1+ 24.Ke2 Bxf3+ 25.Kxf3 Qxh3+ 26.Ke2 Qxe3+ 27.Kf1 Qxf2# 22.Kxf2 Qh2+ 23.Ke3 Bh6# 19.Kh1 f6 20.Bc2 e5 19...Nc6 20.Bg5
20...Rxg5! 21.Nxg5 Nxd4 22.Qh5 f6 23.Nf3?! This makles it pretty easy for Black though nNxh7 and Nf7 should both loose too. 23.Nxh7 Bc5 24.Bd1 24.Nxf6 Qf4 24...Rf8 25.Bb1 Nb3 26.Rc2 Nd2 27.Qe2 Bxe4 28.Nxe4 fxe4 24...Bd6 24...Rh8 25.Rxc4 25.Nxf6 Bh2+ 26.Kh1 Bf4 23.Nf7 Rd7 23...Nxc2 24.Rxc2 Bxe4 24...b3 25.Rd2
25.Rcc1 Bc5 25...c3 26.bxc3 bxc3 26.Kh1 c3 27.bxc3 Bxf2 28.cxb4 Qg3 25.Rxe4 fxe4 26.Nd2 c3 27.bxc3 f5 25...Bd6! 26.Kh1 26.Nd4 c3 27.bxc3 bxc3 28.Rdd1 c2 29.Nxc2 Bxc2 30.Ra1 Be5 26...c3 27.bxc3 bxc3 28.Rd4 c2 29.Qh6 e5 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding Liren2788Nepomniachtchi,I27950–12023D30FIDE World Championship 20232
Ding Liren2788Nepomniachtchi,I27951–02023D04FIDE World Championship 202312.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2795Ding Liren27880–12023C84FIDE World Championship 2023 Rapidplay4.1
Carlsen,M2835Abasov,N26321–02023B30FIDE World Cup 20237.1
Suleymenov,A2512Carlsen,M28391–02023E12Qatar Masters Open 20232.1
Vidit,S2716Niemann,H26671–02023C88FIDE Grand Swiss 20236.6

The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.

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Jonathan Speelman, born in 1956, studied mathematics but became a professional chess player in 1977. He was a member of the English Olympic team from 1980–2006 and three times British Champion. He played twice in Candidates Tournaments, reaching the semi-final in 1989. He twice seconded a World Championship challenger: Nigel Short and then Viswanathan Anand against Garry Kasparov in London 1993 and New York 1995.
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