SuperUnited Croatia: Firouzja starts strong

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
7/21/2022 – The SuperUnited Rapid & Blitz tournament, the third event in this year’s Grand Chess Tour, kicked off Wednesday in Zagreb. Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi, the contenders of the last World Championship match, were paired up against each other in the first round and drew their game. Once the day’s action was over, Alireza Firouzja emerged as the sole leader with 5 out of 6 points (wins are worth 2 points in the rapid section). | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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A memorable International Chess Day

What a day it was for the chess community. On International Chess Day, Magnus Carlsen announced he will not defend his title, Gukesh rejoined the 2700-club (in the live ratings list) and the SuperUnited Croatia tournament kicked off in Zagreb — with both Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi heading a star-studded field.

Moreover, Carlsen and Nepo were set to play in the very first round. A smiling world champion saw a young boy making the ceremonial opening move (the kid chose 1.c4) to get things started at the 5-day rapid and blitz event:

The game would end in a 39-move draw, as the contenders entered a theoretical line in which the queens leave the board early in the game.

Meanwhile, Alireza Firouzja, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Jorden van Foreest got off to winning starts. Firouzja beat Ivan Saric with the white pieces, before drawing Nepo in round 2 and beating Veselin Topalov in the final round of the day. These results left the 19-year-old in the sole lead with 5/6 points (wins are worth 2 points in the rapid section).

Four players are sharing second place a point behind: Carlsen, Nepo, MVL and Wesley So. The second day of action will feature another stellar matchup right from the get go, as Carlsen will get the white pieces against Firouzja in round 4.

Jorden van Foreest, Wesley So

Jorden van Foreest kicked off with back-to-back wins and then was stopped by Wesley So, who beat the Dutchman with the white pieces | Photo: Lennart Ootes

After a disappointing performance in the Candidates Tournament, Firouzja quickly shared his thoughts on social media. A fierce fighter, he asserted that “[the] future is bright”, as he thanked his fans for all the support:

Despite ups and downs, I’m happy with the experience and the lessons that I received from this very iconic tournament. I want to thank all my fans and supporters for believing in me. Future is bright.

The French representative, who has announced that he will not play in the upcoming Olympiad (much like MVL), showcased his proficient endgame technique to defeat Saric in the first round. The game lasted 97 moves. GM Karsten Müller analysed the instructive rook endgame starting from move 56.

 
Firouzja, Alireza27931–0Saric, Ivan2680
Super United Croatia GCT Rapid 2022
Zagreb20.07.2022[Mueller,Karsten]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.h3 e5 5.Bc4 Be7 6.d3 0-0 7.Nh2 Nc6 8.Ng4 Be6 9.Ne3 Nd4 10.0-0 Rb8 11.a4 a6 12.Ncd5 b5 13.axb5 axb5 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.Bd5 b4 16.c3 bxc3 17.bxc3 Nb3 18.Bxe6 fxe6 19.Rb1 Nxc1 20.Qxc1 Bg5 21.Re1 Qf6 22.Rb2 h6 23.Qc2 Bxe3 24.Rxe3 Rxb2 25.Qxb2 Qh4 26.Re1 Kh7 27.Qe2 Rf6 28.Ra1 Qf4 29.c4 Rf7 30.g3 Qf3 31.Qxf3 Rxf3 32.Ra3 Kg6 33.Kg2 Rf7 34.Ra6 Rd7 35.Kf3 Kf6 36.Kg4 g6 37.h4 h5+ 38.Kf3 Ke7 39.g4 hxg4+ 40.Kxg4 Kf6 41.Rb6 Rd8 42.Rb7 Ra8 43.Rd7 Ra6 44.Kf3 Rb6 45.Ke3 Ra6 46.f3 Rb6 47.Kd2 Rb2+ 48.Kc3 Rf2 49.Rxd6 Rxf3 50.Rc6 Rh3 51.Rxc5 Rxh4 52.Rc8 g5 53.Rg8 Rh1 54.c5 Rg1 55.Kb4 Kf7 56.Rh8
The rook belongs behind the passed pawn. Dr. Tarrasch's famous guideline is often useful: 56...Rc1!? 57.Kb5 Rc3 58.c6 Ke7! The king must come closer. 58...g4? runs into the typical trick 59.c7 Rxc7 60.Rh7++- 59.Rh7+ Kd8 60.Rd7+ Kc8 61.Rd6 g4 62.Rxe6 Rxd3 63.Rxe5 g3?
Black rushes. 63...Rb3+ draws, e.g. 64.Kc5 64.Kc4 Rb1 65.Rg5 Kc7= 64...Rc3+ 65.Kd6 Rd3+ 66.Rd5 66.Ke6 Kc7 67.Rg5 g3 68.e5 Kxc6 69.Rg8 Kc7 70.Kf6 Re3 71.e6 Kd6 72.Rd8+ Kc7 73.e7 g2 74.Rg8 Kd7 75.Rxg2 Rxe7= 66...Rxd5+ 67.exd5 g3 68.Ke7 g2 69.d6 g1Q 70.d7+ Kc7 71.d8Q+ Kxc6= 64.Rg5! The rook belongs behind the passed pawn. Re3 65.Kb6 Rb3+ 66.Kc5 Rc3+ 67.Kd5 Rd3+ 68.Kc4 Ra3 69.Rg7 Ra1 69...Re3 70.Kd4 Ra3 71.e5 Ra5 72.Rxg3+- 70.Rxg3 Kc7 71.Rg6 Rc1+ 72.Kd5 Rd1+ 73.Ke5 Re1 74.Re6 Rh1 75.Kf6 Rh6+ 76.Kf7 Rh4 77.e5 Re4 78.Kf6 78.Re8 wins more quickly, e.g. Kxc6 79.e6 Rh4 80.Rc8+ Kd6 81.Rd8+ Kc7 82.e7+- 78...Rf4+ 79.Kg5 Rf1 80.Rd6 Rf2 81.Kg6 Rf1 82.Rd2 Re1 After 82...Kxc6 83.e6 White will reach Lucena's winning position sooner or later, e.g. Rg1+ 84.Kf7 Rf1+ 85.Ke8 Kc7 86.e7 Rf3 and then White wins by building a bridge: 87.Rc2+ Kb7 88.Rc4 Rf1 89.Kd7 Rd1+ 90.Ke6 Re1+ 91.Kd6 Rd1+ 92.Ke5 Re1+ 93.Re4+- The bridge has been built. King and rook are the pillar in the middle. 83.Kf6 Rf1+ 84.Ke6 Rh1 85.Rc2 Rh6+ 86.Kf7 Rh7+ 87.Kg6 Rh1 88.e6 Rg1+ 89.Kf7 Rf1+ 90.Ke8 Re1 91.e7 Rf1 92.Rh2 Rf3
93.Rd2 93.Rh8 Kxc6 94.Kd8+- 93...Rf1 94.Rd7+ Kc8 95.c7 Rh1 96.Rd8+ Kxc7 97.Kf7 1–0

Veselin Topalov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Veselin Topalov had a rough first day in Zagreb, while Maxime Vachier-Lagrave scored 4/6 despite having played twice with black | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Standings after round 3 - Rapid

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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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