On June 2, on his 39th birthday, Gata Kamsky defeated Russia's Alexander Morozevich at the FIDE Grand Prix tournament in Thessaloniki, Greece. The U.S. champion took a half point lead into the last round. But last games are often full of tension, the pressure rises and blunders are made. Could Kamsky hold onto his lead?
The game Kamsky-Dominguez attracted the attention of FIDE officials and local dignitaries.
Things were looking up for Kamsky already in the first game when he defeated Leinier Dominguez Perez. But the Cuban grandmaster didn't give up, chased Kamsky throughout the event and was right behind him. In the last round Dominguez beat Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and won the first prize after Kamsky faltered and lost to Fabiano Caruana, an American who plays for Italy. This is a life-time achievement for Dominguez Perez.
Many grandmasters have played several events in a row and seemed tired. Vassily Ivanchuk, Morozevich, Peter Svidler and Topalov lost considerable amount of rating points. The top-rated American Hikaru Nakamura also struggled.
When two thinkers clash the tension is obvious. Dramatic moments increase with higher stakes, nerves take over and players are doing things we don't expect them to do. Poor decisions a mistakes creep in.
But there is also tension on the board, reflected in the interaction of the pieces. According to the former world champion Mikhail Botvinnik, chess is a game of exchanges. What is left on the chessboard is as important as what is taken off. The more pieces on the board, the more difficult it becomes to handle the tension.
Pawn play matters in the openings. Masters handle the pawn tension better than the amateurs, knowing how to keep the pawns on the board longer, when to block them and at what moment to get rid of them. Releasing the tension too soon may create problems.
Morozevich does not pay much attention to these chess rules. He goes his own way and we often find that he is on the right track. But surrendering the center against Kamsky in the Main line of Spanish didn't work. The American got space, lots of freedom, and was able to win a nice miniature.
Morozevich concentrates before the start of the game against Kamsky.
Pictures by Anastasiya Karlovich, FIDE Press Officer
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