Levitov Chess Week: Nepo and Svidler share the lead at halftime

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
9/24/2023 – An inspired Ian Nepomniachtchi and a fighting Peter Svidler climbed to shared first place in the standings of the Levitov Chess Week rapid tournament. Levon Aronian, who had finished day 1 as the sole leader, is now sharing third place with Vishy Anand, as the second half of the double round-robin remains to be played in Amsterdam. The players will return to the boards on Monday, after a rest day. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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No draws for Nepo

A perfect 4 out of 4 on Saturday allowed Ian Nepomniachtchi to climb to shared first place in the standings of the Levitov Chess Week tournament. The 2-time Candidates’ champion had obtained two wins (with black) and two draws (with white) on the first day of action, which means he has yet to sign a draw at the event in Amsterdam.

Sharing first place with the drawless Nepo is Peter Svidler. The veteran from Saint Petersburg did agree to a couple of draws on Saturday, but he also defeated Vladimir Kramnik and former sole leader Levon Aronian on his way to the top of the standings.

A double round-robin, the tournament will see the players facing each other with colours reversed on Monday and Tuesday. With the leaders on 6/9 scores and the tailenders on 3/9, it is still anyone’s game at the fancy Walford Astoria Hotel in the Dutch capital.

Levitov Chess Week 2023

The participants during the opening ceremony | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Aronian 0 - 1 Svidler

Analysis by Klaus Besenthal

Aronian, Levon27420–1Svidler, Peter2688
Levitov Chess Week 2023
Amsterdam23.09.2023[Besenthal,Klaus-Gunther]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bd3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Ng3 Bg4 10.Be2 Be6 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Bc8 13.f4 Nd7 14.Nf5 Bf6 15.c3 exf4 16.Bxf4 Ne5 17.Nd4 Re8 18.Kh1 Bg5 19.Qd2 Bxf4 20.Qxf4 Bd7 21.Rad1 Qb6 22.Rd2 Re7 23.h3 Rae8 24.Bd3 Qc5 25.Nb3 Qc7 26.Nd4 Qa5 27.Bb1 Nc4 28.Re2 Ne5
The position is balanced, but the struggle surrounding White's d5-pawn might create chances for both sides. 28...Qxd5? 29.Bxh7+± 29.Nf3? After this mistake Black could have simply captured the d5-pawn. Correct was 29.c4! If Black were to capture this pawn, White would win in style: Nxc4 30.Bxh7+ Kxh7 31.Rxe7 Rxe7 32.Qh4++- 29...Bb5? 29...Qxd5! 30.Bxh7+?
Now this doesn't work at all. 30.c4! results in an advantage for White: Bxc4 31.Rxe5 Bxf1 32.Bxh7+ Kxh7? 33.Rh5+ Kg8 34.Qh4 and mate will follow soon. 30...Kxh7 31.Ng5+ Kg8 32.Rxe5 Bxf1 33.Qf5 g6 34.Qf4 dxe5 35.Qh4 Bxg2+ 36.Kh2 f6 0–1

Standings after round 9

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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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