London Classic: Exciting round leaves Adams as sole leader

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
12/5/2023 – A second consecutive round with four decisive results ended with Michael Adams atop the standings of the London Chess Classic. Former co-leader Gukesh had a clear edge against Jules Moussard — however, a blunder by the Indian star allowed Moussard to take over and convert his newfound advantage in style. Similarly, Shreyas Royal first gave up his advantage and then lost the game he played with black against Hans Niemann. Adams and Niemann are the only two players who remain undefeated in the event. | Photo: Tao Bhokanandh
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Ups and downs

Fighting chess has been the norm in the revived London Chess Classic. With 13 out of 20 games ending decisively so far, the tournament is a nice change for chess enthusiasts all over the world — the mixed lineup invites more risky play, without needing to resort to shorter time controls nor overly complicated formats.

Round 4 was particularly chaotic. At some point, Gukesh seemed to be on his way to a third win in four games, as he had a clear advantage against Jules Moussard, while Shreyas Royal had a promising position with black against Hans Niemann.

At the end of the day, though, both Moussard and Niemann not only managed to neutralise their opponents but collected full points after the tables turned in their favour.

Meanwhile, Amin Tabatabaei and Mateusz Bartel continued to mimic each other — as they did in the first three rounds — in terms of results. Both grandmasters scored a loss, a win, a loss and a win (in that order) on the first four days of action in London.

In the one game that ended drawn on Monday, Nikita Vitiugov and Michael Adams manoeuvred their pieces around a closed pawn structure without finding an effective way to create a favourable imbalance. The 51-move draw allowed Adams to go into round 5 (the last one before the rest day) as the sole leader with 3 points to his name.

Moussard, Niemann and Gukesh are sharing second place a half point back.

London Chess Classic 2023

The playing hall during an exciting fourth round | Photo: Tao Bhokanandh

Gukesh 0 - 1 Moussard

Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

Gukesh D27460–1Moussard, Jules2639
13th London Chess Classic 2023
04.12.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 Nd7 9.0-0-0 Nf6 10.Bd3 Re8 11.a3 d5 12.Rhe1 Bg4 13.h3 Bxf3 14.gxf3 Qd7 15.Rg1 Qxh3
Very bold, but probably playable. 15...c5= is more natural. 16.Bd4 16.Rg3 Qh5 17.Bf4 is favored by the engines. 16...g6 17.Qf4 Nh5 18.Qxc7 Qxf3? Objectively this loses. Only after 18...Bf6 19.Be3 19.Bxf6 Nxf6 20.Bb5 Red8= 19...Re7 20.Qd6 Qxf3= can the pawn be taken. 19.Bb5 Rac8 19...Qf4+ is met by 20.Qxf4 Nxf4 21.Rge1+- 20.Qxb7 Rb8 21.Qa6 Red8 22.Be2 Qf4+ 23.Be3 Qe5 24.Qxa7 Nf4 25.Bf3 25.Bxf4? Qxf4+ 26.Qe3 Qc7 gives Black compensation. 25...Bd6 26.Rd2? 26.Qd4 Qf5 27.Bg4+- consolidates and wins. 26...Bxa3‼
A beautiful bishop blow. 27.Rd4?! White's set up does not offer real resistance. 27.Qxa3! Ra8 28.Qxa8 Rxa8 29.Rdd1! was forced. But Black is winning in the long run anyway, e.g. Ra1+ 30.Kd2 Ra2 31.Rg4 Ne6 32.Rb4 Ra5-+ 27.bxa3?! Qxc3 28.Bd4 Qxf3-+ 27...Bxb2+ 28.Kd2 Ne6 29.Rd3 Bxc3+
The next bishop blow. 30.Rxc3 d4 31.Rd3 dxe3+ 32.Qxe3 Rxd3+ 33.cxd3 33.Qxd3 Rd8-+ 33...Nd4 33...Nd4 34.Qxe5 Nxf3+ 35.Ke3 Nxe5-+ 0–1

Jules Moussard

Jules Moussard | Photo: Tao Bhokanandh

Niemann 1 - 0 Royal

Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

Niemann, Hans Moke26591–0Royal, Shreyas2404
13th London Chess Classic 2023
04.12.2023[Mueller,Karsten]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 Nf6 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 a5 7.Re1 0-0 8.h3 h6 9.Nbd2 Be6 10.Bb5 Qb8 11.Nf1 Qa7 12.Re2 a4 13.Ng3 Qa5 14.Bxc6 bxc6 15.Rc2 Rfb8 16.c4 Qb6 17.Qe2 Kh7 18.Rb1 Qa7 19.Bd2 Bb6 20.b4 20.Nh4!? 20...axb3 21.axb3 c5 22.Nh4 Ng8?!
Quite passive. 22...c6= is called for. 23.f4! White follows the attacking guideline "f for forward". exf4 24.Bxf4 Re8 24...g5? is refuted by 25.Bxg5 hxg5 26.Qh5+ Nh6 27.Nhf5+- 25.Bd2?! This retreat is quite slow. 25.Rf1 Qb8 26.Nhf5 g6 27.Qf3 makes more pressure. 25...c6 26.Ngf5 d5 27.Bc3?! 27.Nd6 Red8 28.Bf4 is favored by the engines. 27...d4 28.Bd2 Bc7?! 28...Qb8 is more precise. 29.Qf3?! 29.g4= is favored by the engines. 29...g6 30.g4 Bd8?! 30...Qb8 31.g5 Qd8 was called for. Then White's attacking coordination is destroyed. 31.Ng2 gxf5 32.gxf5 Bc8 33.Kh1 Qe7 33...Bg5!? is an alternative to reduce White's attacking potential: 34.Bxg5 hxg5 35.Qh5+ Nh6 36.Qxg5 Rg8 37.Qh4 Qc7 38.Nf4 Qd8 39.f6 Qd6= 34.Rg1 Bc7?
This is too slow. Only after 34...Ra3 35.Qh5 Qf8 36.Rb2 Nf6 37.Qf3 can Bc7= be played. 35.Qh5 Be5? This defensive setup does not hold. Black had two alternativs, when White is better, but matters are not totally clear: 35...Bg3 36.Qg4 Qe5 37.Nh4 Bxh4 38.Qxh4 Bxf5 39.exf5 Qxf5 40.Bxh6 Nxh6 41.Rf2 Qg6 42.Rxg6 fxg6± 35...Qf8 36.Bg5 Qg7 37.Bf4 Nf6 38.Qh4 Nxe4 39.Bxc7 Ng5± 36.Nh4! The knight enters the attack with decisive effect. Ra7 37.Nf3 Bg7 38.Bf4 Bf8 38...f6 does not defend due to 39.Rcg2 for example Qd8 40.Rg6 Ree7 41.e5 fxe5 42.Bxh6 Nxh6 43.f6 Bf5 44.Rxh6+ Bxh6 45.Ng5+ Kg8 46.Nf7+ Kf8 47.Nxd8+- 39.Rxg8 The knight was a good defender. Kxg8 40.Rg2+ Bg7 40...Kh7 41.Qg4+- 41.Rxg7+
The next exchange sacrifice to open attacking roads. 41...Kxg7 42.Bxh6+ Kh7 43.Bg5+ Kg8 44.Bxe7 Rexe7 45.f6 45.f6 Re6 46.Qg5+ 46.e5 is even better. 46...Kf8 47.Qg7+ Ke8 48.Qg8+ Kd7 49.Qxf7+ Kd8 50.Qxa7+- 1–0

Let us learn together how to find the best spot for the queen in the early middlegame, how to navigate this piece around the board, how to time the queen attack, how to decide whether to exchange it or not, and much more!

Standings - Round 4

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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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