Niemann achieves crushing victory over Vitiugov

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
8/19/2024 – Hans Niemann defeated Nikita Vitiugov by a crushing 27½-14½ score in their 5-day match at the Gem Fitzrovia Hotel in London. The contest consisted of 6 classical, 6 rapid and 12 blitz games, with Niemann prevailing in all three formats. His 8-4 victory in the rapid was particularly important, as it forced Vitiugov to take too many risks in Sunday's blitz session - a strategy that badly backfired, as Niemann got a 9-3 win in the final segment of the match. | Photo: Frans Peeters
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Clearly superior in rapid and blitz

The three first days of the match between Hans Niemann and Nikita Vitiugov saw Niemann getting a 3-point lead by scoring the one win recorded in the classical section (consisting of 6 games). The disadvantage on the scoreboard was surely surmountable for Vitiugov, as 24 points were still up for grabs in the rapid and blitz sections. However, things went from bad to worse for the English GM, as Niemann was even more superior in the final two days of action.

In Saturday's rapid session, the intrepid US star scored 3 wins, with 2 games ending drawn and 1 victory for Vitiugov. Those results left Niemann with a 7-point lead going into the blitz segment - i.e. only a 10-2 win on Sunday would grant Vitiugov overall victory.

The first game of Sunday finished drawn, which was followed by Niemann winning 3 out of the next 4 games. By that point, overall victory was secured for the 21-year-old. Perhaps discouraged by his slow start, Vitiugov failed to score a single win in the final 7 games of the match - instead, it was Niemann who continued to impress, as he grabbed 4 more wins to get a final 9-3 victory in the blitz segment of the match.

Two days from now, starting Tuesday, Niemann will play yet another match with the same format. His next rival will be 41-year-old Etienne Bacrot. The match will take place at the picturesque Blitz Society Bar in Paris.

Results

  • Classical: Niemann 10½ - 7½ Vitiugov
  • Rapid: Niemann 8 - 4 Vitiugov
  • Blitz: Niemann 9 - 3 Vitiugov

Nikita Vitiugov, Hans Niemann

The final day of action at the Gem Fitzrovia Hotel in London | Photo: Frans Peeters

Niemann 1 - 0 Vitiugov

Rapid game #2

Niemann, Hans Moke27111–0Vitiukov, Nikita0
Hans Niemann vs The World 2
London17.08.2024[CC]
1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 0-0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 c5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.Be3 Be6 10.Qa4 Nd7 11.Rfd1 Qc8 12.Nd5 Re8 This whole line had been seen in a game between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Pentala Harikrishna from 2014. Despite the symmetrical pawn structure, the position is rich in possibilities. Also playable is 12...Bxb2 13.Rab1 Bf6 Not 13...Bg7 due to 14.Qxc6 bxc6 15.Nxe7+ 14.Nxf6+ Nxf6 and, for the sacrificed pawn, White gets the bishop pair and the initiative. 13.Bf4 Nde5 Inviting simplifications - which, in fact, favour White. Better is 13...Bf5 followed by the forcing sequence: 14.Nc7 Bxb2 15.Rab1 Bxb1 16.Rxb1 Bg7 17.Nxe8 Nb6 18.Qb5 Qxe8 with a double-edged position. 14.Nxe5 Bxe5 15.Bxe5 Nxe5
White is better, but he still needs to find a plan to make the most of his positional edge. 16.Rd2 Bd7 17.Qb3 Bc6 Not the most accurate. Stronger is 17...Bh3 18.Bh1 Be6 18.Rad1 Rb8 19.f4 Niemann goes for it - importantly, he had a 7-minute advantage on the clock at this point. Ng4 20.Qc3 e6 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Qxf6 Bxg2 23.Rd7
The white rooks control the open e-file, and now one of them inflitrates the opposite camp. 23...Rf8 24.Kxg2 Qc6+ 25.Kf2 The best square to escape the check - preventing an eventual check from e3. Qe4 26.b3 a6 27.Qe7 b5 A strong practical choice by Vitiugov, who decides to give up a pawn in order to slow his opponent's initiative. 28.cxb5 axb5 29.Qxc5 b4 30.Qd4 Now that he's a pawn to the good, Niemann begins to look for simplifications. Also, he did not stop playing quickly, putting pressure on his opponent, who had less time on the clock. Qa8 31.Qa7 e5
A big mistake by Vitiugov, not because he should not have given up another pawn but because White will eventually get to play e5-e6, breaking through Black's defences. Stronger is a quiet move like 31...h6 and White still needs to find a way to penetrate Black's position, e.g.: 32.h4 Rbd8 33.Qxa8 Rxa8 34.R1d2 32.fxe5 Qe4 33.Qe3 Qf5+ 34.Qf4 Qh3 35.Kg1 Ra8 36.Re7 Rxa2 37.e6 Black is in deep trouble now. Qf5 38.exf7+ Rxf7 39.Rxf7 Qxf7 40.Qb8+ Kg7 41.Qe5+ Kh6 42.Rf1 Qa7+ 43.Kg2 Qa8+ 44.Rf3 Black has run out of checks. The rest is simple for a player of Niemann's calibre. Qa6 45.Qf4+
45...g5 46.Qf8+ Kg6 47.Qf7+ 1–0

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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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