1/29/2024 – It was a thrilling event from start to finish. The final round of the Tata Steel Masters saw four co-leaders grabbing wins to set up a four-way blitz playoff. Wei Yi, Gukesh D., Anish Giri and Nodirbek Abdusattorov played the knockout tiebreaker, which saw 24-year-old Wei claiming overall victory after showcasing his well-known tactical sharpness in the deciding stage. Meanwhile, Leon Luke Mendonca took clear first place in the Challengers after beating Divya Deshmukh with the white pieces. | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
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A long time coming
In March 2013, almost exactly ten years ago, Wei Yi became the fourth youngest-ever grandmaster in the world after scoring a 7½/10 score at the Reykjavík Open, where he defeated, among others, a 22-year-old Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
That same year, in November, he became the youngest player to ever surpass the 2600-rating mark (a record that has been broken since), after knocking out Ian Nepomniachtchi and Alexei Shirov in the first two rounds of the FIDE World Cup. Wei was 14 at the time.
The prodigy’s deep chess understanding and incredible tactical eye prompted pundits to often refer to him as Magnus Carlsen’s biggest threat for the coming years. Up to August 2017, Wei continued his quick ascent, as he reached his peak rating of 2753 shortly after winning his third consecutive Chinese Chess Championship.
In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM†with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.
At that point, the rating growth stopped, though. Since the second semester of 2017 until the end of 2023, Wei’s rating never fell below 2700, but he seemed to had hit a wall just when he was about to become a fixture in the elite circuit. The Chinese talent never quite modified his attacking style to obtain better results in strong tournaments, while some of his younger colleagues — e.g. Alireza Firouzja, Nodirbek Abdusattorov or Gukesh — surpassed him in the world ranking and collected triumphs in top-notch events.
Now, at 24 (still very young), the man from Yancheng has collected the biggest victory of his career at the Tata Steel Masters. His 8½/13 performance also gained him 14.8 rating points, which means he has joined the world’s top-10 in the live ratings list and achieved a new peak rating of 2755 — just two points higher than his rating in August 2017.
Wei Yi just obtained the biggest success of his one-of-a-kind career | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Jurriaan Hoefsmit
In a recent interview conducted by chess.com’s Peter Doggers, world champion Ding Liren talked about his friendship with Wei, and the latter’s human sensibility. Before the Astana match against Ian Nepomniachtchi, Wei sent Ding a poem which reflected on the purity of chess and the human side of the royal game.
Back in 2015 the down-to-earth side of Wei came up at the Danzhou International Tournament, where three participants — Ding, Wei and Yu Yangyi — recited poems written by Su Dongpo, a Chinese writer considered to be “the pre-eminent personality of the eleventh century”. Back then, Liang Ziming highlighted Wei’s recitation abilities. He was 16 at the time.
Find below one of the poems recited in Danzhou — “Remembrance” by Su Dongpo, translated by Arthur Waley:
To what can our life on earth be likened? To a flock of geese, alighting on the snow. Sometimes leaving a trace of their passage.
Kudos to Wei for making it this far while keeping in touch with his human, sensible side!
Wei Yi and women’s world champion Ju Wenjun during the closing ceremony | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
The final round
An exciting penultimate round saw Vidit Gujrathi beating Nodirbek Abdusattorov to create a climactic scenario for Sunday — five players entered the final round sharing first place, while Praggnanandhaa and Alireza Firouzja (who stood a half point back) still had theoretical chances to win the event.
Only in one of the seven games two of the co-leaders were paired up against each other (Wei v. Vidit), while the three remaining co-leaders were set to face players with scores below 50%.
At the end of the day, all three players facing contenders out of contention for tournament victory scored full points, while Wei defeated Vidit in the marquee matchup of the round. Thus, four players ended tied for first place, each with 8½/13 points in the final standings.
Following an unpleasant controversy in the 2021 edition of the Tata Steel Masters, the organizers created a new tiebreak system, which considered the players’ fatigue after 13 rounds of classical games. As per the new rules, the four players tied for first went on to fight in a blitz knockout (semifinals and finals) with sudden-death games in case of a tie.
Find below expert analyses by GM Karsten Müller, who looked at Wei v. Vidit (1-0) and Giri v. Warmerdam (1-0).
In this Video-Course we deal with different dynamic decisions involving pawns. The aim of this Course is to arm club/tournament players with fresh ideas which they can use in their own practice.
Defending champion Anish Giri once again had a remarkable performance in Wijk aan Zee | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
The blitz tiebreaker
To decide the champion, 2-game semifinal matches with sudden-death encounters in case of a tie followed. Out of the four contenders, Wei was clearly the underdog, which, as he told Fiona Steil-Antoni, allowed him to relax. In the semis, the Chinese GM was paired up against Abdusattorov, while Giri faced Gukesh.
Giri won the first game and saw Gukesh first bouncing back and then winning the tiebreaker with white. Meanwhile, Wei had the black pieces first, and miraculously escaped with a draw after Abdusattorov failed to prevent a perpetual check in a totally winning endgame.
Wei v. Abdusattorov - Blitz game #1
Black had just promoted his c-pawn, forcing his opponent to play 51.Rxc1. Then, with three seconds on his clock, Abdusattorov played the automatic 51...Qxc1, allowing 52.Qe6+ Kg7 53.Qe7+, with a perpetual check.
Instead, 51...Qe2+ would have won the game for Black — e.g. 52.Kg3 Qe5+ 53.Kh3 Rxc1 (diagram), and Black is not only a rook up but his queen is perfectly centralized to prevent a draw by perpetual check.
Analysis diagram
Wei won with black in the next game, qualifying to the final blitz match against Gukesh. A second 1½-½ victory gave the Chinese star overall victory. Referring to his attitude in the blitz playoff, Wei noted: “I just wanted to do my best”.
The final match of the tiebreakers | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
It was still a great tournament for Gukesh, who will play the Candidates in three months’ time | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
Nodirbek Abdusattorov was inches away from winning the Tata Steel Masters for a second year in a row | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
This allows White to bring the rook into his attack.12...Be7is called for, when White is only slightly better.13.Rxe4!Bb714.Rc1Qb815.Rh4f516.Bc4Qe817.Qb3Kh8?Black does not have time for this.17...Bxf318.Qxf3Qg6was forced in order to limit the damage.18.Re1!The decisive reinforcement of the attack. Again by a rook on the e-file.18.Bxe6?is met byBxf319.gxf3Qg620.f4Nf6=18...Be419.Bxe6Qg620.Bd2Nf620...Bxf321.Qxf3+-21.Ng5f422.Rxh7+!
A very important defender is captured.22...Nxh723.Nxe4f3This counter is easily parried.24.g3!White's king is safe, Black's king is not. The mighty bishop e6 on makes this big difference.Be725.d5Rad826.Qa4a527.Qc6Bb428.Bxb4axb429.h4Ra830.Nd6Ra731.Qxb6Rxa232.Qc7
The queen enters the attack with decisive effect.32...Nf633.Nf7+Kh734.Ne5Qh635.Qc2+g636.Nxg6!Another important defender is taken.Rfa836...Qxg637.Bf5+-37.Ne5+Kg738.Qc7+38.Qc7+Kh839.Nf7++-1–0
86th Tata Steel Masters 2024 Wijk aan Zee28.01.2024[Mueller,Karsten]
1.Nf3d52.e3Nf63.b3e64.Bb2Bd65.c40-06.Nc3c57.g4Nc67...Nxg4is met by8.Rg1with sharp play.8.g5Ne49.h4Re8?
Black does not have time for this.9...a6to meet10.Qc2withf5was called for.10.Qc2Nxc3?This plays into White's hand.10...Nb411.Qb1b612.Nxe4dxe413.a3Nd3+14.Bxd3exd315.Qxd3Bb7with some compensation, limiting the damage.Now10...f5?runs into11.gxf6Nxf612.Ng5+-11.dxc3!The right recapture.g612.h5?!Now Black can regroup.The engines favor12.0-0-0!to meetNe5?with13.Nh2+-12...Ne513.Nxe5Bxe514.0-0-0Bg715.f4e516.hxg616.Rxd5!?Qe717.h6was the alternative.16...hxg617.Bd3exf418.exf4Qc7?!This is very slow.18...Bg4=is favored by the engines.19.Rh4!?
Giri puts all his money on the attack, which is a good practical decision.19.cxd5Qxf4+20.Qd2Qxd2+21.Rxd2Re5is only very slightly better for White.19...dxc420.Bxg6!This sacrifice is strong and forced.fxg621.Qxg6Kf822.f5Qf723.Qd6+Kg823...Qe7!?is favored by the engines.24.f6Qg624...Bf5!?with the idea25.fxg7Qe6was the alternative.25.Qf4Qf5?!This looks artificial.25...Bf526.Qxc4+Re627.fxg7Rae8was much more natural and almost equal.26.Qg3Be6?26...Re5!is forced to reduce the attacking potential with27.fxg7Qxg5+28.Qxg5Rxg529.Rxc4Kxg7with drawing chances.27.fxg7Bf728.Rf4!Qe6?!28...Qg6is more tenacious, but does not defend in the long run after29.Qh4Qh530.Rxc4+-as the opposite colored bishops favor the attacker here as usual in the middlegame.29.Qh2Kxg730.Rxf7+!?
A beautiful final combination.The normal30.Rf6wins as well.30...Qxf731.g6!An unwelcome guest opens Black's house.Qe631...Qxg632.Rg1+-32.Rd7+32.Rd7+Qxd732...Kxg633.Rd6+-33.Qh7+Kf634.Qxd7+-1–0
Anish Giri with his wife, IM Sopiko Gurashmivili, and their two kids | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
In this video course, twenty-nine examples with multiple questions are presented in the interactive format, which is ideal for a range of playing strengths. Step by step you will be taken through the complex positions.
Despite losing two out of his six first games in the tournament, Leon Luke Mendonca qualified for next year’s Masters tournament by winning the Challengers section with a remarkable 9½/13 score. Mendonca collected 6½ points in the last seven rounds, beating dangerous opponents who still had chances to win the event mid-tournament: i.e. Anton Korobov, Mustafa Yilmaz and Saleh Salem.
With two rounds to go, world junior champion Marc’Andria Maurizzi had a full-point lead over Mendonca after winning four games in a row — the French youngster was at that point the clear favourite to take the title.
This video course features the ins-and-outs of the possible setups Black can choose. You’ll learn the key concepts and strategies needed to add this fantastic opening to your repertoire. An easy-to-learn and yet venomous weapon.
In round 12, though, Maurizzi lost to Daniel Dardha while Mendonca scored a fine victory with black over Salem. Maurizzi could only draw early leader Erwin l’Ami in the final round. Thus, Mendonca’s victory over Divya Deshmukh gave the 17-year-old from Goa a spot in the 2025 edition of the Masters.
Mendonca is now 9th among juniors in the live ratings list with 2631 Elo points. In May 2020, the youngster was a promising talent with a 2452 rating (by then, Pragg, for example, had already surpassed the 2600-rating mark). A fateful stay in Budapest amid Covid-related restrictions helped him improve his level, as he got to meet living legend Judit Polgar.
Leon Luke Mendonca | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
Besides Mendonca’s crucial victory, four more games ended decisively in the final round of what turned out to be a very entertaining Challengers tournament.
Daniel Dardha defeated Liam Vrolijk to finish in shared second place. He and Maurizzi scored 9/13 points.
Anton Korobov got the better of Mustafa Yilmaz to end the event with 8½ points.
Saleh Salem beat Stefan Beukema with the black pieces. The Emirati grandmaster only drew three games throughout the event and finished with 7½ points. (This game was analysed by GM Karsten Müller).
Harika Dronavalli defeated Eline Roebers with the white pieces.
86th Tata Steel Challengers 2024 Wijk aan Zee28.01.2024[Mueller,Karsten]
1.c4c52.g3g63.Bg2Bg74.Nc3Nc65.a3d66.Rb1e67.e3Nge78.Nge20-09.b4Rb810.0-0b611.d4Bb711...cxd412.exd4Bb7=is favored by the engines.12.bxc5?!12.d5!?is more critical here.12...dxc513.d5?!
Now this is highly dubious as White has many weaknesses.13.dxc5Ne514.Qxd8Rfxd815.cxb6Bxg216.Kxg2axb617.c5bxc518.Rd1is more or less completely equal.13...Ne5The engines favor13...Na5!?14.Qa4exd5?!This opening of the position plays into White's hand.14...Qe815.Qxa7Nxc4was called for.15.cxd5a6!?Black wants more complications than the ones resulting from15...Nxd5?!16.Nxd5Bxd517.Rd1b518.Qxa7Nf3+19.Bxf3Bxf320.Rxd8Rbxd821.Bb2Bxb222.Qxc5where only White can play for a win.16.e4Nd317.Bg5b518.Nxb5?
This sacrifice is too bold.18.Qc2c419.Nc1was called for and White is slightly better.18...axb519.Qxb5Ne520.Qxc5f621.Bf4Ba6!This counterblow refutes White's concept.22.Bxe5?!The engines favor22.Rxb8Qxb823.Re1but Black is still better of course.22...Rxb1?Now White has full compensation.22...fxe5with the idea23.d6Nc624.Qxc6Bxe2makes more pressure.23.Rxb1fxe524.Nc3Kh824...Rf6!?25.Bh3Ng826.Rb6?This runs into a strong counterattack.The direct26.d6was called for, e.g.Nh627.Be6Nf728.Bxf7Rxf729.a4=and the computer claims equality.26...Bd3!27.d6?Black will be quicker.27.Qb4to meetQg5with28.Qb2was forced to limit the damage.27...Qg5!The only winning move.28.f4Now Black's queen will enter the attack with decisive effect.28.Qe3is more tenacious, but also loses due toQxe329.fxe3Bh6-+28...Qh529.Qe3Qxh330.Qxd3exf431.d7?!fxg332.hxg3Rf1+
The final mating combination.33.Qxf1Bd4+34.Qf2Qxg3+35.Kh1Bxf236.d8QQh3#0–1
In over 4 hours in front of the camera, Karsten Müller presents to you sensations from the world of endgames - partly reaching far beyond standard techniques and rules of thumb - and rounds off with some cases of with own examples.
Yet another successful edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament is on the books | Photo: Tata Steel Chess Tournament / Lennart Ootes
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos 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.
The Black Sniper is back – sharper and deadlier than ever! This dynamic system (1...g6, 2...Bg7, 3...c5 against 1.e4, 1.d4 and 1.c4) creates unpredictable, high-pressure positions, leaving opponents struggling to adapt.
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