Tata Steel R12: Almost there

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
1/31/2021 – Anish Giri failed to convert a superior position against Alireza Firouzja in the penultimate round of the Tata Steel chess tournament. The Dutchman nevertheless goes into the final day of action as the sole leader, with three players standing a half point behind. In case of a tie for first place, a blitz tiebreaker — and Armageddon, if necessary — will decide the winner. | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021
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Firouzja does not give up

Anish Giri was two pawns up in and endgame with rooks and minor pieces in his crucial encounter against Alireza Firouzja in round 12. Eventually, that turned into a position with four passed pawns against a knight, with a rook per side on the board. For a long time it seemed like Giri was heading to a victory, in which case a draw in the final round would have been enough to secure tournament victory. However, Firouzja never stopped creating practical problems for his opponent and was rewarded with a half point after a lengthy struggle.

The 17-year-old wunderkind commented:

It was a miracle. I guess it was payback for yesterday — the same thing happened yesterday, so I’m very happy for the result and I look forward for tomorrow.

Firouzja referred to the chances he missed against Fabiano Caruana in round 11, when he was first in deep trouble and then got a clearly better position after the time control. No matter what happens on Sunday, Firouzja has once again proved he is not only amazingly strong but also a fearless fighter. And he could still end up winning the tournament!

In fact, there are five players who still have theoretical chances of taking the title. Giri, of course, who will play black against David Anton; Firouzja (white against Wojtaszek), Caruana (black against Tari) and Jorden van Foreest (white against Grandelius) are a half point behind; while Andrey Esipenko (black against Donchenko) would need a number of results going his way to catch up with Giri, as he is currently trailing the leader by a full point.

The action on Sunday starts two hours earlier, at 11.00 UTC (12.00 CET, 06.00 ET).

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

Another lengthy and enjoyable edition of the tournament is coming to an end | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

It’s never easy to beat a top GM

It does not make sense to keep calling Firouzja a talented rising star, as he has so far gained 10.8 rating points in Wijk to reach the 14th place in the live ratings list — he is provisionally above Vishy Anand, Hikaru Nakamura and Peter Svidler in the ranking. And on Saturday he demonstrated that he is not all about tactical skirmishes and spectacular attacking wins, as he defended a worse position for hours against one of the strongest technical players in the world.

Against 1.e4, the youngster played the French instead of his usual Caro-Kann Defence. Giri, also a renowned theoretician, was ready for the challenge, and played a line which Firouzja described as “a very good, solid way” to get a better endgame.

Firouzja considered his 36th move to be a key mistake:

 
Giri vs. Firouzja
Position after 36.Rc2

Instead of 36...Kf8, the youngster thought 36...f6 was better in order to bring his king to the centre more quickly. 

Nine moves later, White had two passed pawns on the queenside, and it seemed a matter of time before he converts his position into a win:

 
Position after 46...Kd4

Converting this into a full point is by no means trivial, especially five hours into the game in the twelfth round of a tough elite tournament. However, as Giri pointed out, playing 47.a4 only complicated matters for white, as he will always need to keep an eye on his b4-pawn.

Soon after, Giri agreed to give up his bishop to get four passed pawns (connected in pairs) against Black’s knight, with the rooks still on the board:

 
Position after 54.Rxg6

This position is still winning for white, but Firouzja continued to find the most stubborn defensive resources until a draw was agreed on move 67.

Nigel Short explained on Twitter:

German GM Karsten Müller took a closer look at the complex ending seen in the most important game of the round.

Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.a3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bc5 10.Qd2 0-0 11.Be2 Qc7 12.0-0 b6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.b4 Bxe3+ 15.Qxe3 Bb7 16.Bd3 d4 17.Qe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Bd5 19.Ng5 g6 20.Nf3 Bxf3 21.Rxf3 b5 22.Be4 Rad8 23.Rd3 Nb6 24.Bb7 Na4 25.Bxa6 Nc3 26.Bb7 Ne2+ 27.Kf2 Nxf4 28.Rd2 Amazing king roads, knight strikes and knightmares In the endgame the king often should be activated: d3?! The pawn will be very weak. 28...f6!? makes it harder for White's king to activate, e.g. 29.exf6 Rxf6 30.Kg1 e5 and it is almost equal according to the computer. 29.c3 Ne2?! Another step on a wrong knight road. 29...Rb8 30.Bf3 g5 was called for. 30.Ke3 Nxc3 31.Rxd3 Rxd3+? Now White's active king will decide the day. Black must keep more dynamic counterpotential with 31...Rb8 32.Bc6 Na4 33.Rc1 Rfc8 with practical drawing chances. 32.Kxd3 Na4 33.Rc1 Rd8+ 34.Ke2 34.Kc2!?+- 34...Kg7 35.Bc6 Rb8 36.Rc2? This is artificial. The direct king transfer 36.Kd2 g5 37.Kc2+- was called for. 36...Kf8? This king retreat is too slow. 36...g5! was better to open the quicker king road via g6. White still has very good practiocal winning chances, but I can not say, if he can break through against best defense. 37.Kd2 Ke7 38.Kc1‼ Slowly but surely Giri's king will come. f6 39.exf6+ Kxf6 40.Kb1 Ke5 41.Ka2 Kd4 42.Kb3 Kd3 43.Rf2 The direct 43.Bxb5+ Rxb5 44.Kxa4+- wins as well according to the computer. 43...e5 44.Rf7 Nb6 44...e4?! 45.Rd7+ Ke3 46.Re7+- 44...Rb6 45.Bxb5+ Rxb5 46.Rd7+ Ke3 47.Kxa4 Rb8 48.b5 e4 49.Kb4+- 45.Bxb5+ Kd4 46.a4 Nd5 47.Rxh7 e4 48.Rf7 e3 49.Rf1! The only winning move. The passed e-pawn must be controlled. Nc3 50.Rf4+ Ke5 51.Rf3! Again the only winning move. 51.Kxc3? Kxf4 52.Be2 Rc8+ 53.Kd4 Rd8+ 54.Kc3 Rc8+= 51.Rf1? Nxb5 52.axb5 Kd4= 51...Nxb5 51...Kd4 52.Rxe3 Kxe3 53.Kxc3+- 51...Nd5 52.Rf1!+- 52.Rxe3+! The sacrifice is Giri's point. Of course not 52.axb5? Kd4= 52...Kd4 53.Rg3 Nd6 53...Nc7 54.Rxg6 Re8 55.Rg4+ Kd5 56.b5 Kc5 57.Rc4+ Kd6 58.h4 Re3+ 59.Rc3+- 54.Rxg6 Ne4 55.a5 Kd5 56.a6 Nc5+ 57.Ka3 Nd3 58.a7 Ra8 59.Rg7 Kc6 60.h4 Nf4 61.g4? This runs into a blow. 61.Ka4 wins, e.g. Ne6 61...Kb6 62.Kb3 Rxa7 63.Rxa7 Kxa7 64.g4 Kb6 65.h5 Nh3 66.h6 Ng5 67.Kc4 Kc6 68.Kd4 Kb5 69.Ke3 Kxb4 70.Kf4 Ne6+ 71.Kf5 Nf8 72.g5+- 62.b5+ Kb6 62...Kc5 63.Re7 Nd4 64.Rb7+- 63.Rg6 Rxa7+ 64.Kb4 Re7 65.h5 Kc7 66.h6 Kd6 67.b6 Kc6 68.h7 Rxh7 69.Rxe6+ Kb7 70.Rg6+- 61...Ne6! The knight strike is a knightmare for White. 62.Rf7 62.b5+ Kxb5 63.Re7 Nd4 64.h5 Nc6 65.Rb7+ Kc5 66.g5 Nxa7 67.h6 Nc6+ 68.Kb2 Ne5= 62...Nc7 63.g5 Rxa7+ 64.Kb2 Ra8 65.g6 Ne6 66.h5 Rh8 67.Rh7 Rg8 67...Rg8 68.Kc3 Nf4 69.g7 Nxh5 70.Rh6+ Kb7 71.Rxh5 Rxg7 72.Kc4 Rg6 73.Rh7+ Kb6 74.b5 Rg1= ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Giri,A2764Firouzja,A2749½–½2021C1183rd Tata Steel Masters 202112.4
 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.a3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bc5 C11: French: Classical System: 4 e5 and 4 Bg5 dxe4. 10.Qd2 0-0 11.Be2 Qc7 12.0-0
12...b6N Predecessor: 12...Nxd4 13.Bxd4 b5 14.Qe3 Bxd4 15.Qxd4 Qa7 16.Qxa7 Rxa7 17.Bd3 g6 18.Ne2 Nc5 19.g4 b4 20.axb4 Nxd3 1/2-1/2 (20) Faber,H (2502)-Glatzel,H (2460) Remote email 2013 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.b4 Bxe3+ 15.Qxe3 Bb7
16.Bd3! d4 17.Qe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Bd5 19.Ng5 g6 20.Nf3 Bxf3 21.Rxf3 b5 22.Be4 Rad8 23.Rd3 Nb6 24.Bb7 White has good play. Na4! 25.Bxa6 Nc3 26.Bb7 Ne2+ 27.Kf2 Nxf4 28.Rd2 d3 29.c3 Ne2 29...Rb8 30.Bf3 g5 30.Ke3 30.a4± 30...Nxc3 Threatening ...Nd5+. 31.Rxd3 Rxd3+ 31...Rb8! 32.Kxd3 Endgame KRB-KRN Na4 33.Rc1 Rd8+ 34.Ke2 Kg7 34...f6± 35.Bc6!+- Rb8 36.Rc2 36.Kd3+- is more deadly. 36...Kf8 36...g5± was worth a try. 37.Kd2 Ke7 38.Kc1 f6 39.exf6+ Kxf6 40.Kb1! Ke5
40...e5± was necessary. 41.Ka2 Ke6 41.Ka2! Kd4 42.Kb3 Kd3 43.Rf2 e5 44.Rf7 Nb6 45.Bxb5+ Kd4 46.a4 Nd5 47.Rxh7 e4 48.Rf7 e3
49.Rf1! Nc3 50.Rf4+ Ke5 51.Rf3 Stronger than 51.Kxc3 Kxf4 52.Be2 Rc8+ 53.Kb3 Rc1= 51...Nxb5 52.Rxe3+ KRN-KR And not 52.axb5 Kd4= 52...Kd4 53.Rg3 Nd6 53...Nc7 54.Rxg6 Re8 54.Rxg6 Ne4 54...Kd5 55.h4 Re8 56.Rg5+ Kd4 55.a5 Kd5 56.a6 Nc5+ 57.Ka3 Nd3 58.a7 Ra8 59.Rg7 Kc6 59...Nf4 60.b5 Ne6 60.h4 Nf4 and the idea ...Ne6 leaves Black hopeful. 61.g4? 61.Ka4+- 61...Ne6= The position is equal. 62.Rf7 aiming for g5. 62.b5+ keeps more tension. Kxb5 63.Re7 Nd8 64.h5 Nc6 65.Rg7 62...Nc7 63.g5 Kb3 is the strong threat. 63.Kb2 is more complex. Rxa7 64.h5 Ra4 65.Kb3 Ra1 66.Rg7 63...Rxa7+ 64.Kb2 Strongly threatening g6. Ra8 65.g6 Ne6 66.h5 Hoping for h6. Rh8 67.Rh7 Rg8 Blacks defense is rewarded with a draw. Weighted Error Value: White=0.11/ Black=0.29 ½–½
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Giri,A2764Firouzja,A2749½–½202183rd Tata Steel Masters 202112.4

Anish Giri

Still the favourite to win the event — Anish Giri | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

Harikrishna gets the one win of the day

After his loss against Van Foreest on Friday, Pentala Harikrishna immediately bounced back to a fifty-percent score by beating Alexander Donchenko with the white pieces. The players reached a sharp heavy-piece endgame which the engines evaluated as equal. But, with queens still on the board, a single slip can lead to disaster:

 
Harikrishna vs. Donchenko
Position after 42.Rxg5

42...Qxc3 was playable here for black, while his 42...Qf6 turned out to be the deciding mistake. Harikrishna spent two minutes deciding on 43.c5, when White gets to coordinate an attack first. There followed 43...dxc5 44.Rxc5 a3 45.e5 Qh8 46.Qb4:

 
Position after 46.Qb4

White threatens a deadly discovered check and there is no defence for his opponent. After 46...Qa8+ 47.Kh2 Ke8 48.Rb5 Qc6 49.Rb8+ Kd7, a double attack put an end to the game:

 
Position after 49...Kd7

50.Qd4+ and Donchenko resigned.

Endgame specialist Karsten Müller analysed how Black could have defended from the critical position that arose on move 42, noting that “constellations with queens and rooks have endgame and middlegame components”.

Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 Ne4 6.Qd3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nc5 9.Qf3 d6 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Rd1 Nb6 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.Qd3 Rd8 18.a4 Ra5 19.Rdb1 Bd7 20.Rb4 Bc6 21.Qd4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Rc5 23.Rab1 h6 24.Qd3 Rc6 25.a5 bxa5 26.Rxb7 Qc8 27.Qf3 Rf8 28.Rb8 Qd7 29.R1b7 Rc7 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Rb8+ Ke7 32.Rg8 Qc6 33.e4 g6 34.Qe3 g5 35.h4 Qc5 36.Qf3 Qe5 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.Ra8 Qc5 39.Qh5 Ra7 40.Rg8 Qe5 41.Qg4 a4 42.Rxg5 An amazing Houdini-like king escape. Constellations with queens and rooks have endgame and middlegame components. This case is a pure middlegame attack. The question is, how to defend with Black: Qf6? This is too passive. Amazingly 42...Qxc3 saves the day: 43.Rb5 43.Rg8 Qxc4 44.Qg5+ Kd7 45.Qd8+ Kc6 46.Qc8+ Rc7 47.Qa8+ Kc5 48.Qa5+ Kc6 49.Qa8+ Kc5= 43...Qxc4 44.Rb8 e5 45.Qg5+ Kd7 46.Qd8+ Ke6 47.Qh4 Kd7 48.Rd8+ Kc6 49.Qg4 Rc7= and Black's king survives in both cases. 43.c5! The battering ram knocks at the door. Now Black's king cannot be saved anymore. dxc5 43...d5 44.e5 Qh6 45.Rg8 a3 46.c6+- 44.Rxc5 a3 44...Qh8 45.Qg5+ Qf6 46.Qe3 a3 47.Rc8 Kd7 48.Rb8 Ra6 49.Qd3+ Kc7 50.Qb5 a2 51.Rb7+ Kd8 52.Qd7# 45.e5 Qh8 46.Qb4! Black's king has no shelter against this powerful battery. Qa8+ 47.Kh2 Ke8 47...Kd7 48.Rb5 Qc6 49.Rb8 a2 50.Qd4++- 48.Rb5 Qc6 48...a2 49.Rb8+ Kd7?! 50.Qd6# 49.Rb8+ Kd7 50.Qd4+ 50.Qd4+ Qd5 51.Qxa7++- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Harikrishna,P2732Donchenko,A26681–02021E2083rd Tata Steel Masters 202112.7
 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 Ne4 6.Qd3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nc5 9.Qf3 d6 E20: Nimzo-Indian: 4 g3 and 4 f3. 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0 The position is equal. 12.Nb3 12.Rd1 12...Qc7 13.Rd1
13...Nb6N Predecessor: 13...Ne5 14.Qf4 Na4 15.c5 Nxc5 16.Ba3 Re8 17.c4 Rb8 18.Nxc5 dxc5 19.Bb2 f6 1-0 (47) Moiseenko,A (2628)-Donchenko,A (2615) Riga 2019 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.Qd3 Rd8 18.a4 Ra5 19.Rdb1 Bd7 20.Rb4 Bc6 21.Qd4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Rc5 23.Rab1 h6 24.Qd3 Rc6 25.a5 bxa5 26.Rxb7 Qc8 27.Qf3 Rf8 28.Rb8 Qd7 29.R1b7 Rc7 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8= Endgame KQR-KQR 31.Rb8+ 31.c5 with more complications. dxc5 32.Rb8+ Ke7 33.Rg8 g5 34.Qa8 31...Ke7 32.Rg8! Qc6 33.e4 g6 34.Qe3 34.c5= 34...g5 34...Qxc4 With the idea ...g5. 35.h4 e5 35.h4! Qc5
Threatens to win with ...Qxe3. 35...Qxc4? 36.hxg5 h5 37.Qf4+- 36.Qf3 36.Qd2= 36...Qe5 Black should try 36...gxh4 37.Qg4 hxg3 38.Qh4+ f6 39.Rxg3 39.Qxg3 Kd7 39...Qxc4 40.Rg7+ Kd8 41.Qxf6+ Kc8 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.Ra8 Qc5 And not 38...Rxc4 39.Ra7+ Kd8 40.Qxf7 Qxe4+ 41.Kh2 Qh4+ 42.Kg1 Qxg3+ 43.fxg3 Rc7 44.Qxc7+ Ke8 45.Qe7# 39.Qh5 aiming for Qh8. Ra7
39...Qxc4= remains equal. 40.Qxg5+ Double Attack Kd7 40.Rg8! Rg7! is the strong threat. White is out for blood. Qe5 41.Qg4 41.f3! Qf6 42.Rxg5 41...a4= 42.Rxg5 Qf6 42...Qxc3= and Black has nothing to worry. 43.Rg8 Qxc4 43.c5+- dxc5 44.Rxc5 a3? 44...Qh8 45.Rb5 Rd7 46.Qg5+ f6 45.e5 Qh8 46.Qb4 White wants to mate with Rc7+! Less strong is 46.Qg5+ f6+- 46...Qa8+ 47.Kh2 White threatens Rc7+! and mate. Ke8 48.Rb5 Rb8+ would kill now. Qc6 49.Rb8+ Kd7 50.Qd4+ Double Attack. Weighted Error Value: White=0.15/Black=0.52 1–0
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Harikrishna,P2732Donchenko,A26681–0202183rd Tata Steel Masters 202112.7

Alexander Donchenko

Alexander Doncheko was invited as a late replacement | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

MVL and Duda play an instructive endgame

Out of a Petroff Defence, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Jan-Krzysztof Duda — both currently on 5/12 in the standings table — reached the following endgame by move 29:

 
Vachier-Lagrave vs. Duda
Position after 29...Kxe6

White played the imprecise 30.d5+ here, and further worsened his position in the next move. Duda, however, was not able to finish off his opponent and a draw was agreed after 76 moves.

GM Müller took a closer look at the instructive ending with rooks and minor pieces.

Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bf5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 0-0 9.c4 Nc6 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Rae8 13.Bf4 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Bd6 15.Ng5 g6 16.Ne4 Re6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Qe2 Qc4 21.Qd1 Nd7 22.Qb3 Qxb3 23.axb3 a6 24.c4 Rc8 25.Ra5 Kf7 26.h4 d5 27.cxd5 Rc3 28.b4 Rb3 29.dxe6+ Kxe6 The exposed pawn. In the endgame it is usually good to push passed pawns. But this should not be overpressed: 30.d5+? This exposes the pawn too far. One natural option is to activate the king with 30.Kf1 Rxb4 31.h5 Rb5 32.Rxb5 axb5 33.hxg6 hxg6 34.Ke2 b4 35.Kd3 Kd5 36.g4= 30.Bd2= is an alternative. 30...Kf7?! This retreat is very passive. 30...Ke5!? 31.g3 Rxb4 32.Bf4+ Kd4 is better according to the computer, but probably also only drawn. 31.g3? This slow move loses. The extra pawn should be given back by 31.Bd2 Rb1+ 32.Kh2 Rb2 33.Bc3 Rxf2 34.b5 axb5 35.Rxb5 b6 36.Kg3 Ra2 37.Bd4= 31...Rxb4 32.d6 After 32.Ra1 the d-pawn is encircled by Rb5 33.Rd1 Nf6 34.d6 Rd5-+ 32...Nb8? Black does not have time for this regrouping. The direct 32...Rb5! wins the too far advanced d-pawn first and the game later, e.g. 33.Ra4 33.Ra1 Ke6 34.Bf4 Ne5 35.Rd1 Kd7 36.Kg2 a5 37.g4 Nc6 38.Ra1 Rd5 39.Bh6 b5-+ 33...Ke6 34.Bf4 Ne5 The pawn is now surrounded. 35.Bxe5 Rxe5 36.Rd4 Kd7 37.f4 Re6-+ 33.h5 Rb5 33...Ke6 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.Rg5= 34.hxg6+ hxg6 35.Rxb5 axb5 36.Kf1 Ke6 37.Ke2 Nd7 38.f4 Kxd6 39.g4 Kd5 40.f5 gxf5 41.gxf5 Ke4 42.Kd2 Kxf5 43.Kc3 Ke4 44.Bg1 Kd5 45.Kb4 Kc6 46.Bf2 This configuration is usually drawn and this is no exception. By the way: with a knight on f2 instead of a bishop White would be lost. After ...Nf6 Black would mate in 70 moves. Ne5 47.Bg1 Nd3+ 48.Kc3 Nf4 49.Kb4 Nd5+ 50.Kb3 Nc7 51.Kb4 Na6+ 52.Kb3 Kd6 53.Kc3 Kc6 54.Kb3 Nc5+ 55.Kb4 Nd7 56.Bf2 Nb6 57.Bg1 Nd5+ 58.Kb3 58.Ka5?? b6+ 59.Ka6 b4 60.Bh2 b3 61.Be5 Nb4+ 62.Ka7 Nd3-+ 58...b6 59.Bf2 Kb7 60.Be1 Ka6 61.Bd2 Ne7 62.Bb4 Nc6 63.Bd2 Ne5 64.Kb4 Nd3+ 65.Kc3 Ne5 66.Kb4 Nc6+ 67.Kb3 b4 68.Bxb4 Nxb4 69.Kxb4 b5 70.Kb3 Ka5 71.Ka3 b4+ 72.Kb2 Ka4 73.Ka2 b3+ 74.Kb1 Or 74.Kb2 Kb4 75.Kb1!= 74...Ka3 75.Ka1 b2+ 76.Kb1 Kb3 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Duda,J2743½–½2021C42Tata Steel Masters12.6
 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bf5 7.0-0 Be7 8.Re1 0-0 9.c4 Nc6 10.cxd5 C42: Petroff Defence: 3 Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves. Qxd5 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 White has an edge. Rae8 13.Bf4 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Bd6 15.Ng5
15...g6N
Predecessor: 15...f5 16.Bxd6 cxd6 17.Nh3 Ne5 18.Qg3 Ng6 19.Nf4 Nxf4 20.Qxf4 Re4 21.Rxe4 fxe4 1/2-1/2 (38) Shirov,A (2649)-Kuzubov,Y (2643) chess.com INT 2020 16.Ne4! Threatens to win with Nf6+. Re6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Qe2 Qc4 21.Qd1 Nd7 22.Qb3 Qxb3 23.axb3= Endgame KRB-KRN a6 24.c4 Rc8 25.Ra5 Kf7 26.h4 d5 27.cxd5 Rc3 28.b4 Rb3 29.dxe6+ Kxe6 30.d5+ 30.Kf1= remains equal. 30...Kf7 30...Ke5 31.g3?
31.Bd2= 31...Rxb4-+ 32.d6 Nb8 32...Ke6 33.Bf4 Rb5 34.Rxb5 axb5 33.h5 Rb5 33...Rb1+ 34.Kg2 Rd1 34.hxg6+ hxg6 35.Rxb5 axb5= KB-KN 36.Kf1 Ke6 37.Ke2 Nd7 38.f4 Kxd6 39.g4 Kd5 40.f5 gxf5 41.gxf5 Ke4 42.Kd2 Kxf5 Black keeps a firm grip on the game. 42...b4 with more complications. 43.Bg5 Kd4 44.f6 Ne5 45.Kc2 Kc4 43.Kc3 Mate. Ke4 44.Bg1 Kd5 45.Kb4 Kc6 46.Bf2 Ne5 47.Bg1 Nd3+ 48.Kc3 Nf4 49.Kb4 Nd5+ 50.Kb3 Nc7 51.Kb4 Na6+ 52.Kb3 Kd6 53.Kc3 Kc6 54.Kb3 Nc5+ 55.Kb4 Nd7 56.Bf2 Nb6 57.Bg1 Nd5+ 58.Kb3 b6 59.Bf2 Kb7 60.Be1 Ka6 61.Bd2 Ne7 62.Bb4 Nc6 63.Bd2 Ne5 64.Kb4 Nd3+ 65.Kc3 Ne5 66.Kb4 Nc6+ 67.Kb3 b4 68.Bxb4 Nxb4 69.Kxb4 KP-K b5 70.Kb3 Ka5 71.Ka3 b4+ 72.Kb2 Ka4 73.Ka2 b3+ 74.Kb1 Ka3 75.Ka1 b2+ 76.Kb1 Kb3 Weighted Error Value: White=0.13/Black=0.10 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Duda,J2743½–½202183rd Tata Steel Masters 202112.6

Jan-Krzysztof Duda

Jan-Krzysztof Duda checking his colleagues’ game; while Giri calculates his difficult ending against Firouzja? | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit 

Round 12 results

 

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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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