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Newcomers often have a hard time in this kind of tournament. That’s what happened to the Norwegian Johan-Sebastian Christiansen, for example, as he was not able to score a single point on the first day of the New In Chess Classic.
On the other hand, 15-year-old Indian prodigy Praggnanandhaa, who recently earned his place in the tournament by winning the Polgar Challenge, has already shown that he can fight neck in neck with the big names on the first day: he currently shares fourth place with Vidit, Aronian and Nakamura!
The standout on day 1 of the #NewInChess Classic was 15-year-old Indian prodigy @rpragchess who scored an early win and went on to finish the day on 3/5. #ChessChamps https://t.co/87FLyZsu7t
— Champions Chess Tour (@ChampChessTour) April 24, 2021
The youngster’s victory over former World Championship challenger Sergey Karjakin almost felt like an official change of guard.
Praggnanandhaa R (2608) - Karjakin,Sergey (2757)
New in Chess Classic 2021 (5), 17.04.2021
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bg2 0-0 10.0-0 Bb7 11.Ne5 Nbd7 12.Bf4 Re8 13.Rc1 Nf8 14.Nb5 Ne6 15.Nc6 Qd7 16.Nxe7+ Rxe7 17.Nc3 Nxf4 18.gxf4
Master Class Vol. 12: Viswanathan Anand
This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.
The position is better for Black as he has somewhat better prospects for his minor pieces, and he can also allow himself to eventually look for c7-c6.
18...a5 [Perhaps somewhat better was the direct 18...c6]
19.e3 Ba6 20.Re1 Rd8 21.Rc2 g6 22.Qd2 h5
Black’s pawn pushes on the edges of the board seem to have made little difference.
[Good was 22...Ne4]
23.Rec1 h4 24.h3 Qf5 25.Na4 Rdd7 26.Qd1 Kg7 27.Nb2 Kh6 28.Rc6 Bb5 29.R6c2 Ba6
Remarkable: Karjakin’s ‘draw offer’ to young Pragg!
30.Kh2 And he doesn’t want it!
30...Kg7 31.Bf1 Bxf1 32.Qxf1 Ne4 33.Rc6
After the exchange of bishops, this troublesome rook tries to infiltrate.
33...Kf8 34.Nd3 f6 35.R1c2 Ke8 36.Qg2 Nd6 37.Ne5!?
A strong piece! Objectively speaking, White doesn’t achieve anything with this move, but in a rapid game Black will need to spend a lot of energy to ward off the speculative attack.
37...fxe5 38.dxe5 Ne4
[Interesting here was the counterattack with 38...d4 39.exd6 dxe3]
39.Rxg6 Kd8 40.Rg8+ Re8 41.Rxe8+ Kxe8 42.Qg8+ Qf8 43.Qe6+ Kd8 44.Qc6 Nc5 45.Rc1 d4 46.Rg1
In any case, the white piece sacrifice was correct as there is sufficient compensation. At the same time, it is Black who constantly has to ward off threats — and now he falters.
46...d3? The losing move.
[Correct was 46...Ke7! and, for example, 47.Qf3 d3 48.f5 d2 49.f6+ Ke8 50.Qh5+ Kd8 51.Qf3 Ke8 52.Qh5+=]
This DVD emphasizes the importance of training your calculation skills. Dutch IM Robert Ris made a selection of training material which he uses in lessons with students ranging from 1400 to 2400.
47.Rg8 Qxg8 48.Qa8+ Ke7 49.Qxg8 Rd8
[49...d2 50.f5 Ne4 51.Qg7+ Ke8 52.Qh8+ Ke7 53.Qxh4+ Ke8 54.e6 also loses.]
50.Qg7+ Ke6 51.f5+ Kd5 52.e6
1-0
And who knows, maybe the affectionate nickname Pragg is already a kind of anticipated accolade for the 15-year-old. After all, other great players also get their names shortened: Naka and Nepo, Vishy and Shak!
But you might have achieved even more if an opening variation bears your own name — or a certain type of endgame! Fischer and Petrosian have achieved the latter, as has Capablanca. And now Karsten Müller shows us the ‘Carlsen endgame’.
And finally, an endgame victory by Wesley So also caught the attention of our expert. The position showcases ‘the power of the queen’.
Endgames of the World Champions Vol. 2 - from Steinitz to Spassky
Enjoy Capablanca's fine technique, Tal's magic, Lasker's fighting spirit, Petrosian's defensive skills, Smyslov's feeling for harmony, and Alekhine's and Spassky's flair for the attack.
