Simon Says: Resilience pays off in Leon

by Simon Williams
7/20/2020 – In this "Simon Says", Simon looks at the Masters section of the Chess Festival in Leon, Spain. Since he was giving commentary for the official website, we get to enjoy a number of insights from the very strong rapid tournament that was played online this year. | Watch "Simon Says" for free and on-demand (for a limited time, or forever with a ChessBase Premium account). (Normally 16:00 UTC (18:00 CEST / 12 Noon EST). | Photo: Georgios Souleidis

Simon Williams presents the London System, providing the theory you need for your games (7 h 16 min). In addition Williams also introduces into typical tactics and patterns in a seperate product. (53 games, 96 training questions and 3h 14 min)

Resilience pays off in Leon

Leinier Dominguez beat Jaime Santos in the final of the three-day knockout in Leon to win the main event of the traditional festival. 

Defending champion Maghsoodloo was probably the toughest pairing Dominguez could get in the first round. However, once the match started, it seemed like the Cuban-born grandmaster was going to easily prevail over his young opponent as he got clean wins in games 1 and 2.

But the Iranian is known for his fierce fighting spirit and took the match to Armageddon. Dominguez had the black pieces and only needed a draw:

 
Maghsoodloo vs. Dominguez - Armageddon
Position after 41.Rc7

Both players were in extreme time trouble, and with 41.Rc7 it looks like Parham is about to break through. What defence did Dominquez now find?

(See the full game and the solution below)

This week's show

The show starts at 16:00 UTC (18:00 CEST / 2 PM EDT). You can also watch it in the archive with a ChessBase Account. Don't have an account? You can register a free 90-day account to watch! 

Simon is on air most Mondays at 16:00 UTC (18:00 CEST / 12 Noon EST)

Previous shows on-demand

View all past shows, with a ChessBase Premium Account.


About Simon Says

In early 2015 Simon Williams launched his own show called "Simon says" after producing the first of his ChessBase video series. On a weekly basis (with breaks for tournaments and chess events) Simon entertains the chess world with attacking ideas, play strategies and witty manoeuvres on the chess board.

ChessBase Premium members have permanent access to the videos in the archive. Over 60 shows and counting have been published to date. Their lengths differ but most of them run for about 60 minutes.

Read more in Meeting Simon Williams.

Much more from Simon's shows in the archive at Videos.ChessBase.com

Recent Simon Says shows

Still more Simon

Simon's latest DVD series duo the "London System Reloaded" and the "Tactic Toolbox London System" are now available. Check them out, starting with the sample below: 

Video sample


Resilience pays off in Leon

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,166,62354%2421---
1.d4947,29855%2434---
1.Nf3281,60256%2441---
1.c4182,10256%2442---
1.g319,70256%2427---
1.b314,26554%2427---
1.f45,89748%2377---
1.Nc33,80151%2384---
1.b41,75648%2380---
1.a31,20654%2404---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d395450%2378---
1.g466446%2360---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c343351%2426---
1.h328056%2418---
1.a411060%2466---
1.f39246%2436---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 c5 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb5+ Bd7 5.a4 g6 6.0-0 Bg7 7.Ba3 Qc7 8.c4 a6 9.Bxd7+ Nbxd7 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.bxc4 0-0 12.Qb3 Rab8 13.Rac1 e6 14.Rfd1 Rfd8 15.h3 Ne5 16.Nxe5 Qxe5 17.a5 Qc7 18.Qb6 Qxb6 19.axb6 Nd7 20.Na4 Rbc8 21.d4 cxd4 22.exd4 Bf8 23.Bxf8 Kxf8 24.f4 Rc6 25.c5 Nb8 26.Nb2 Rcc8 27.Nc4 Nc6 28.Nd6 Rb8 29.Kf2 Rd7 30.Ke3 Ke7 31.g4 Rxd6 32.cxd6+ Kxd6 33.Ke4 f5+ 34.Kf3 Rd8 35.h4 Rd7 36.h5 fxg4+ 37.Kxg4 gxh5+ 38.Kxh5 Ne7 39.d5 Nxd5 40.f5 exf5 41.Rc7 Ke6 42.Rxd7 Nf6+ 43.Kg5 Nxd7 44.Rc1 Nxb6 45.Rc7 Kd6 46.Rxb7 Kc6 47.Rxh7 a5 48.Kxf5 Kc5 49.Ke4 Kb4 50.Kd3 a4 51.Rb7 Kb5 52.Kc3 Kc6 53.Rh7 Kb5 54.Kb2 Kb4 55.Ka2 Kb5 56.Ka1 Nc4 57.Rh5+ Kb4 58.Rh4 Kb3 59.Rh3+ Kb4 60.Rh8 Kb5 61.Rb8+ Kc5 62.Ka2 Kd4 63.Rd8+ Kc5 64.Rc8+ Kb5 65.Rb8+ Kc5 66.Rh8 a3 67.Rh5+ Kb4 68.Rh4 Kb5 69.Rg4 Kb4 70.Rh4 Kc3 71.Rh3+ Kb4 72.Rb3+ Kc5 73.Rb8 Kc6 74.Ra8 Kd5 75.Rg8 Kd4 76.Rg5 Kd3 77.Rg8 Kd4 78.Rh8 Kc3 79.Rh4 Kb4 80.Rg4 Kc5 81.Rg5+ Kb4 82.Rf5 Kc3 83.Rh5 Kb4 84.Rh4 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Maghsoodloo,P-Dominguez Perez,L-½–½2020A0633rd Leon GM 20201.7

Simon Williams presents the London System, providing the theory you need for your games (7 h 16 min). In addition Williams also introduces into typical tactics and patterns in a seperate product. (53 games, 96 training questions and 3h 14 min)


Links


Simon Williams became a IM in 1998 and a GM in 2008. For the last 15 years he has concentrated on teaching, playing and making instructional chess DVDs. He also has a lot of experience commentating about chess. Being the regular commentator at the strongest and best open tournament in the world, Gibraltar. Simon Williams is the author of numerous chess books. His first chess book. 'Play the Classical Dutch' got voted, in New in Chess, as one of the top 10 chess books of all time. His playing style is very aggressive, preferring attacking chess to positional grinds. No wonder he produced two widely acclaimed ChessBase DVDs on the King's Gambit. More information about Williams can be found on his website.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.