Vincent Keymer: Germany's youngest grandmaster of all time

by Thorsten Cmiel
10/26/2019 – Germany's long and illustrious chess tradition has been shaped by top players such as Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch, Emanuel Lasker, Wolfgang Unzicker, Wolfgang Uhlmann or Dr. Robert Hübner. However, the youngest German Grandmaster ever is the 14-year old Vincent Keymer who just got the title at the FIDE chess.com Grand Swiss tournament on the Isle of Man. Thorsten Cmiel had a closer look at Keymer's way to this historic record. | Photo: John Saunders

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Vincent on his way

Some people may believe that Vincent Keymer (born in 2004) could have become grandmaster earlier... but he still is the youngest German grandmaster of all time. At the Isle of Man FIDE chess.com Grand Swiss tournament in October 2019 the 14-year old made his third and final GM norm which brought him the title. The powerful field that guaranteed strong opponents helped Keymer to achieve his goal.

 In round nine Vincent only needed a draw against Russian Grandmaster Vadim Zvjaginsev, who after seven draws in a row had suffered a bitter defeat in round 8 against the young Indian Grandmaster Gukesh (born in 2006).


Video by Jonathan Reichel | ersolutions.de


But let's follow the young German step by step on his way to his final grandmaster norm. Keymer began the tournament with a solid draw against the Ukrainian Grandmaster Kryvoruchko. Throughout the game Vincent enjoyed a slight though only rather symbolic advantage. A solid start.

 
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1.e41,165,57054%2421---
1.d4946,47455%2434---
1.Nf3281,31256%2441---
1.c4181,93756%2442---
1.g319,68856%2427---
1.b314,23654%2427---
1.f45,88648%2377---
1.Nc33,79651%2384---
1.b41,75348%2380---
1.a31,19754%2403---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d394850%2378---
1.g466246%2361---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c342651%2425---
1.h327956%2416---
1.a410860%2468---
1.f39147%2431---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5! The ChessBase Online Database knows more than 350 games in which this move was played. Nxc5 11.Be5 Bf6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Qd4 Qe7 is not the most popular move. Black also often plays 13...Qd6 or 13...Qxd4 which leads to an endgame in which White has a minimal edge. 14.Rd1 Rd8 15.Be2 Bf5 16.Qh4N 16.Qb4 was twice tried by Wesley So. Both games - against Levon Aronian (2017) and against Veselin Topalov (2016) - ended in a draw. 16...Qxh4 17.Nxh4 Be6 18.Nf3 Rac8 19.Nd4 Bd7 20.Rb1 Ne6 21.Kd2 Nxd4 22.exd4 Kf8 23.Bd3 Ke7 24.Rbe1+ Kd6
A nice picture though White's rook should be on d1. 25.h4 White avoids "Fischer's mistake": 25.Bxh7? 25.Te3 g6 25...Re8 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.h5 h6 28.f3 Re7 29.Rh4 f6 30.Rh1 Be8 31.g4 Rc7 32.Re1 Re7 33.Rxe7 Kxe7 34.Ke3 Ba4 35.Bf5 b6 36.Kf4 Bd1 37.Bc8 Bc2 38.Bf5
½–½
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Keymer,V2506Kryvoruchko,Y2669½–½2019D37FIDE Grand Swiss1

In round 2 followed Ivan Saric who put Vincent's Najdorf Sicilian to the test. Vincent had to withstand considerable pressure and had to give the queen for two rooks while his king was still in danger. After a dramatic fight and with some help of his opponent Vincent managed to draw the game. Incidentally, Saric had a rather peculiar tournament: none of his opponents from the first five rounds was older than 16. Saric drew against Lance Henderson De La Fuente from Spain, against Vincent and Ranauk Sadwhani, while winning against Gukesh and losing against Abdusattorov from Uzbekistan.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 Currently fashionable. e6 6...e5 In round 5 of the IoM tournament Ganguly tried this typical Najdorf move against Magnus Carlsen - and lost. 7.g4 Nfd7 On the day of the game this move had already occurred in more than 300 games of the ChessBase Online Database. On top level Alexander Grischuk played it relatively often in 2018. 8.Bg2 Be7 9.g5 0-0 10.h4 Nc6 11.b3 11.Be3 is more popular. 11...Qb6 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Na4 Qc7 14.Bb2N 14.Be3 Bb7 15.0-0 c5 16.c4 f5 happened in game Demchenko (2649) vs Mustafa Yilmaz (2633) in 2017 that ended in a draw. 14...e5 15.Qd2 Nb6 16.Nxb6 Qxb6 17.0-0-0
Castling to opposite sides indicates the will to fight. 17...f6?! A surprising concept that gives Black some grief. Usually, Black does not want to weaken the kingside where White attacks him. 17...a5 seems to be more natural, e.g. 18.a4 Bg4!? 19.f3 Bh5 and Black managed to stop the first attacking wave. 18.g6!? 18.f3 keeps the status quo and protects the f-pawn from being attacked after the opening of the f-file. 18...hxg6 19.f4 Bg4 20.Bh3!? Apparently, Saric was in attacking mode. Bxh3 The position after 20...Bxd1 21.Qxd1 f5!? 22.h5!? is hard to evaluate. Taking on h3 is more practical. 21.Rxh3 exf4?! Giving the bishop on b2 more scope. 21...Rad8 22.Qxf4 Qa5 23.Rg3 Qh5 24.Rdg1 Kh7
The black queen helps defending. 25.Kb1 25.Qf1!? Ra7 26.Rxg6 Bd8 Black cannot take on g6: 26...Qxg6? 27.Rxg6 Kxg6 28.Qg1+ winning the rook on a7. 27.Qd3 25...Rfe8 26.Qf1 d5!? 27.Rxg6 27.exd5 Bb4 was probably Vincent's idea. 27.Qg2!? close to being "Alekhine's gun" and a powerful set-up. 27...Qxg6 28.Rxg6 Kxg6 29.Qf5+ Kf7 30.e5 g6 31.Qd7 31.Qf4 It seems to be more natural to keep an eye on the pawn f6. f5 32.h5 Rg8 33.c4 31...fxe5 32.Bxe5 Rad8 33.Qb7 33.Qxc6 33...Rc8 34.Bd6 Rcd8 35.Bc7 Rc8 36.c3?! One should not criticise this move too harshly but it weakens White's second rank. Apparently Saric did not want to make any committal decisions before reaching the time control. 36.a4 was a more natural waiting move. 36...Rh8 37.Be5 37.Qxc6 see previous note. 37...Rhf8 38.Bd6 Rce8 39.Bg3 39.Qxc6 Bxd6 40.Qxd6 Re2 and White seems to have serious problems to win, e.g. 41.Qxd5+? 41.Qxa6 41...Kg7= 39...Kg8 40.Qxc6 Bf6
Time-trouble is over and White is still clearly better. 41.Qxd5+ Kg7 42.h5 gxh5 43.Qxh5 Re4 44.c4 Rd8 45.Qf5 Rd1+ 46.Kc2 Rdd4
The engines evaluate this position as clearly better for White. However, playing such a position in a practical game is far from easy. 47.Qh5?! Here, the queen seems to stand on the sidelines and cannot even give a check. 47.c5? Re2+ 48.Kc1 Re3= 47...Re3! 48.Qh2 48.Bc7!? 48...Rde4! Now Black has sufficient counterplay and White has to be careful. 49.Bf2 Re2+ 50.Kd1 Bg5 51.Qc7+ Re7 52.Qg3 Rd2+ 53.Kc1 Kg6 54.Qxg5+ Kxg5 55.Kxd2
55...Kf5 56.Bc5 Rc7 57.Bb6 Rb7 58.c5 Rg7 59.Kc3 Rg4 60.b4 Ke6 61.c6 Kd6 In the second part of the game Vincent defended excellently.
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Saric,I2667Keymer,V2506½–½2019B81FIDE Grand Swiss2

In round 3 Vincent had White again. His opponent tried desperately to play creatively and wound up in a bad Benko-position. Vincent showed his attacking and won convincingly. This time Vincent had two rooks and a bishop for the queen – and a lasting attack to boot.

 
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1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.g3 c5 5.d5 b5!? 6.cxb5 Qa5+ A creative attempt - however, in this game Black's concept could not convince entirely. 6...a6 7.Nc3 a6 7...Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qxc3+ 9.Bd2 Qb2 was not too Black's liking. 8.b6 Qxb6 A declined Benko in combination with a fianchetto of the white-squared bishop is a rare guest in tournaments. 9.Nd2 Nf6 10.Bg2 0-0 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.b3 a5 13.Nc4 Qa6!? In these structures Black always has to decide on which square to put his queen. 14.Na4 Ng4 15.Bb2 Bxb2 15...Nde5 16.Naxb2 Nge5 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.f4!?
18...Nd7 18...Ng4!? 19.Qd2 19.Nc4 a4!? 19.Rc1 Nb6 20.a4 Bg4?! The bishop does not do much on g4 and will soon be chased away by h3. ...Qa7 combined with ...Ba6 and ...Rfb8 was worth considering, after all, the biggest weakness in White's camp is the pawn on b3 and not the pawn on e2. 21.Rf2 Rfc8?! Black seems to want to play ...c4. 22.h3 Bd7 23.e4 Qa7 23...c4 24.bxc4 Nxc4 25.Rxc4 Rxc4 26.Bf1± 24.f5!? The black pieces cannot exploit the weaknesses created by White. Sjugirov tries to stop White's expansion but Keymer continues his robust play. 24.e5!? was also strong. 24...f6 25.h4 Kg7 26.g4 Rf8 27.g5 Vincent continues his uncompromising attack. Rf7? An unfortunate position for the rook. The engines want to activate the other rook and put it to b8 though they still think that White has the better chances. 28.Nd3! The knight knows his way. c4 29.Nf4 29.bxc4!? Bxa4 29...Nxa4 30.c5!? Nxc5 31.Nxc5 dxc5 32.d6 30.Qf3 29...cxb3 30.Qxb3 Nxa4 31.Qg3 31.Ne6+! 31...fxg5 32.Qxg5 Raf8 33.Rcf1 Black can no longer defend g6. Bxf5 33...Rf6 34.fxg6 hxg6 35.Nxg6 Rxg6 36.Qxe7++- 34.exf5 Rxf5 35.Ne6+ Kg8 36.Nxf8! Vincent does not shy away from unusual material balances which indicates self-confidence and is a strength. Rxg5 37.hxg5+- Qe3 38.Kh1 Nc5 39.Nxh7 Nd7 40.Nf8 Nc5 The last move before the time-control. Now both players had more time to think. 41.Nxg6 Qxg5 42.Rf8+ Kg7 43.R1f7+ Kxg6 44.Rg8+ Kxf7 45.Rxg5 Kf6 46.Rh5 a4 47.Bf1 Ne4 48.Kg2 Nc3 49.Bc4 a3 50.Kf3 e6 51.dxe6 d5 52.Rxd5 a2 53.Ra5 A nice win by Vincent.
1–0
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Keymer,V2506Sjugirov,S26621–02019A41FIDE Grand Swiss3

In round 4Vincent faced another heavy-weight: Pavel Eljanov. Eljanov took some risks to create winning chances but failed to have success against a well-prepared Keymer.

 
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1.d4 2 Nf6 7 2.c4 8 e6 4 3.Nf3 7 d5 12 4.Nc3 35 c5 8 5.cxd5 7 Nxd5 4 6.e4 0 Nxc3 6 7.bxc3 2 cxd4 6 8.cxd4 3 Bb4+ 5 9.Bd2 3 Bxd2+ 5 10.Qxd2 2 0-0 7 11.Bc4 55 Nd7 24 12.0-0 8 b6 0 13.Rfe1 33 Bb7 14 14.Rad1 47 Rc8 25 15.Bb3 12 15.Bd3 15...h6 59 16.Re3 1:44 16.Qf4 16...Nf6 2:51 The position is equal. 17.d5 2:04 exd5 54 18.exd5 3 18.Qe1! 18...Qd6= 13:55 19.Nh4 2:55 And now White would win after Nf5. Rfe8! 0 20.Nf5 12:10 20.h3 20...Qd7 1:38
21.Rf3 23:12 21.Rxe8+!± Rxe8 22.Ne3 21...Bxd5! 12:10 22.Bxd5 7:14 Rc5! 1:19 Of course not 22...Qxd5?! 23.Qxd5 Nxd5 24.Nd6± Less good is 22...Nxd5 23.g4+- 23.Qd4 f6= 23.Nxh6+ 13:47 Kf8 24:14 24.Qb4 33:31 Threatening Bb3 and White wins. 24.Rxf6? gxf6 25.Ng4 Qxg4 24...a5! 8:45 25.Qb1? 1:45 A mistake would be 25.Rxf6? gxf6 26.Qg4 Qxg4-+ 25.Qxb6= with a safe position for White. Rxd5 26.Rf1 25...Rxd5-+ 1:16 26.Rf1 3:41
26...Qb5 8:38 26...b5!-+ offers better winning chances. 27.h3 Re6 27.h3 3:32 Qxb1 2:50 28.Rxb1 4 Re6 1:08 29.Nf5 22 g6 0 30.Ne3 42 Rd4 1:55 30...Rc5 31.Rc1= 1:08 Nd7 3:47 32.Rc8+ 2:04 32.g3= 32...Re8 3:54 Better is 32...Ke7 33.Rc7 42 b5 4:50
½–½
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Eljanov,P2663Keymer,V2506½–½2019D41FIDE Grand Swiss4

In round 5 Vincent had to play with White against his coach Peter Leko who had just won convincingly against Nihal Sarin in round four. The encounter between coach and student ended in a quick draw.

 
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In round 5 Peter Leko had to play against his student. This led to an unspectacular game. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bf5 7.e3 e6 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 Bd6 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.0-0 0-0 12.Rfc1 Rfc8 13.Ne2 h6 The database contains five games with this position - and all ended in a draw. 14.Nf4N Ne7 15.h3 Rxc1+ 16.Rxc1 Rc8 17.Rxc8+ Nxc8 18.Qc2 Qd8 19.Nd3 Nd6 20.Nd2 Qc8 21.Qxc8+ Nxc8 22.f3 Nd6 23.Kf2 g5 24.g4 Kg7 25.Ne5 Ng8 26.Ke2 Ne7 27.b3 f6 28.Nd3 Nc6 29.Nb1 Kf7 30.Nc3 b6 31.Kd2 Ke7 32.a4 a5 33.Ne2 Kf7 34.Ng3 Ke7 35.Nh5 Kf7 36.Ng3 Ke7 37.Nh5 Kf7 ½–½
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Keymer,V2506Leko,P2670½–½2019D14FIDE Grand Swiss5

In round 6 Vincent's Najdorf Sicilian was tested again, this time by the Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem. For a long time it seeme as if Vincent might even have a chance to get an advantage. However, he cracked under pressure and wound up in an unpleasant queen endings a pawn down which he lost after missing a chance to try for a more stubborn defense.

 
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1.e4 In round 6 Keymer was paired against the strongest player of the group with players who were half a point behind Keymer. c5 2.Nc3 a6 3.Nge2 d6 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.0-0 e6 With this move Black opts for a Scheveninger should White play d2-d4 after all. 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Be3 Ne5 9...Be7 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.a4 0-0 12.a5 Nd7 13.Na4 f5 14.Nb6 Nxb6 15.Bxb6 Qd7 16.Qd3 fxe4 17.Bxe4 Bxe4 18.Qxe4 Bd8 19.Bd4 Bf6 20.Rad1 d5 21.Qe3 1/2-1/2 (65) Malakhov,V (2722)-Naiditsch,A (2712) Danzhou 2017 10.h3 Rc8 11.a4 11.Nce2!? Nc4 12.Bc1 Be7 13.b3 Na5 14.c4 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Qd3 happened in a game Sanchez Gonzales (2322) - Candela Perez (2416) from Jahr 2010. White is better but the game ended in a draw. 11...Be7 12.Nde2 0-0 13.b3 Nc6 14.g4 Le takes risks and weakens his king. In the following difficult phase of the game both sides had a number of alternatives. Nb4N According to the online database a new move. Predecessor: 14...Qc7 15.g5 Nh5 16.f4 Nb4 17.Rf2 d5 18.exd5 exd5 19.Nxd5 Nxd5 20.Qxd5 1/2-1/2 (28) Savicevic,V (2330)-Cvetkovic,S (2332) Vrnjacka Banja 2014 Bc6!? 14...h6!? followed by Nh7 is often the standard reply against advances of the g-pawn. 15.a5 Whites continues to play aggressive and committing moves. 15.Qd2 d5!? 16.e5 Ne8 17.f4 Qc7 15...Bc6 16.g5 16.f4!? 16...Nd7 16...Nh5!? 17.f4 Nc5 17...Bb5!? is a proposal by the engine. With the queen on d2 this would not have been possible because then White could first take on b5 with his knight and then on b4 with his queen. 18.Nxb5 Nxc2 19.Bf2 Nxa1 20.Nbc3 Qxa5 21.Qxa1 Qxa1 22.Rxa1∞ 18.Ng3 18.Nd4!? 18...d5 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Bxd5 exd5 22.Rf2
White wants to follow up with Rd2. However, his kingside is more damaged than the kingside of his opponent. Here, Black can still be very happy about the course of the game. 22.Nf5!? 22...Ne6?! This move seems to be a bit artificial - after all, the knight on c5 restricted White's knight on g3. 22...Re8!? 23.Rd2 Qd7 24.Kh2 24.Rxd5? Qxh3 24...Qe6 25.Qf3 Bd6 23.Bb6! Qd7 24.Qg4 Qc6 25.Re1 Bb4 26.Ree2 Nc5?! Black does not really seem to know what to do (Nc5-e6-c5). 26...Bc5 27.f5 Hitting the bishop on b4. Ne4 27...Qd6!? with a counterattack against g3 was the alternative to sacrificing a pawn. 28.Nxe4 dxe4 29.Rxe4 After 29.Qxe4 Bc5 30.Bxc5 Qxc5 31.Qxb7 Qxa5 32.Kg2 it is not yet clear how White wants to make progress but White managed to defend his weak pawns and to get the long diagonal under control. And he is a pawn up. 29...Bc5 30.Bxc5 Qxc5 31.b4 Qc3
32.f6 32.Kg2 Qb2 33.Ree2 32...Rfe8
33.Re7! Rxe7 34.fxe7 Re8 35.Re2 Qc7 36.Kf1 Rxe7 37.Rxe7 Qxe7 38.Qc8+ Qf8 39.Qxb7 h6 40.gxh6 After 40.Qxa6 Qxb4!? Black has better chances to hold though Le should still be able to win. 40...Qd6 41.Qc8+ Kh7 42.hxg7 Qf4+ 43.Kg2 Qe4+ 44.Kg3 Qe3+ 45.Kg4 Qe4+ 46.Kg5 Kxg7 47.Qc3+ 47.Qxa6 Qe5+ 48.Kg4 Qe4+ 49.Kg5 Qd5+ 50.Kf4 Qd4+ 51.Kg3 Qxb4 47...Kg8 48.Qg3 Kg7 49.c3 Kf8 50.Qd6+ Kg8 51.Qd4 Qf3 52.Kh4 Kh7 53.Qe5 Qf2+ 54.Kg4 Qg2+ 55.Qg3? 55.Kf4! 55...Qe4+?! The computer showed a more tenacious defense: 55...f5+! 56.Kf4 Qe4+ 57.Kg5 Qe7+ 58.Kxf5 Qf7+ 59.Kg5 Qg7+ 60.Kh4 Qh6+ 61.Kg4 Qg7+ 62.Kf3 Qxc3+ 63.Kg2 Qc2+ 63...Qxb4 64.Qd3+ 64.Qf2 Qg6+ 65.Kf1 Qb1+ 66.Qe1 Qd3+ 67.Qe2 Qxh3+ 68.Kg1 Qc8 69.Qd3+ Kg8 56.Qf4 Qg2+ 57.Kh4 Qg6 58.Qf3 Kh6 59.Qf4+ Kh7 60.c4 Qe6 61.c5 Qe1+ 62.Kg4 Qe2+ 63.Qf3 f5+ 64.Kf4 Qc4+ 65.Ke5 An unfortunate loss. Vincent had a good position after the opening and later could have defended more tenaciously. 65.Ke5 Qxb4 66.Qxf5+ Kh6 66...Kg7 67.Qg4+ 66...Kh8 67.Qh5+ Kg7 68.Qg4+ 67.Qf4+
1–0
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Le,Q2708Keymer,V25061–02019B80FIDE Grand Swiss6

After the restday Vincent came to a draw against the Russian GM Alexander Motylev. Vincent again was excellently prepared and for a long time he had the definitely better chances. However, Motylev managed to liquidate into a rook ending with four vs three pawns on the kingside which Vincent could not win.

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.b3 Bd6 6.Bb2 0-0 7.h3 b6 8.d4 Nbd7 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.0-0 c5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Rc1 Rc8 12...Qe7= 13.Qe2 13.Nh4 13.Lf5 0.76 Re8 14.Nf5 Bb8 14...Bf8= 15.Nb5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.f4 15...Nf8 15...Re6 16.dxc5 16.Qf3= 16...bxc5 17.Bb1 17.Qf3!= 17...a6 17...Ng6 18.f3 a6 18.Nc3 is known from a game played in 1997. 18.Na3 13.dxc5 ist überlegen. bxc5 14.Bf5 13...Re8 13...Qe7= 14.Ba6 Qc7 15.Rfd1 Bf8 16.a4 16.Bb5± 16...Qb8 16...Bxa6= 17.Qxa6 Ra8 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.dxc5 bxc5 19.Qb5 Qxb5 20.axb5
20...Nb6 21.Na4 Nfd7 22.Ra1 Re4 22...Rc7 23.Nxb6± Nxb6 24.Rxa7 24.Bc3!? tries to restrict the enemy rook. 24.Bc3± 24...Rb4= 25.Rb7 Rxb5 26.Be5 26.Nd2! 26...Rxb3= 27.Bc7 c4 28.Bxb6 Threatening Rc7. Rc6 29.Rxd5 Rbxb6 30.Rxb6 Rxb6 31.Rd8 f6 31...Rb1+= 32.Kh2 Rb5 32.Rc8± Rb1+ 33.Kh2 Kf7 34.Rc7+ But not 34.Rxc4 Rb2= 34...Kg8 ...Bd6+ is a real threat. 35.g3 Of course not 35.Rxc4 Rb2= 35...Rc1! 36.Kg2 Bd6 36...Bb4 37.Rc8+ Kf7 38.Nd2! c3
39.Nb3! Rc2
40.Nd4! Rc1 41.Ne2 Rc2 42.Kf1 Bb4 43.Rc7+ Kg8 44.Rc4 Rb2 45.Nxc3 45.Nd4 is interesting. g5 46.Kg2 h5 47.g4 hxg4 48.hxg4 Ba5 49.Nc6 45...Bxc3 46.Rxc3
White has only minimal winning chances. 46...Rb5 Better is 46...g5 47.Rc8+± Kf7 48.Rc7+ Kg6 49.Kg2 h5 50.Rd7 Rb2 51.Kf3 Ra2 52.h4 Rb2 53.Rd3 Ra2 54.e4 Rb2 55.Ke3 Ra2 56.f4 56.Rb3± 56...Ra4 57.Kf3 Rb4 58.Ke3 Ra4 59.f5+ Kh7 60.Rd7 Kh6 61.Rd6 Kh7 62.Rd4 Ra3+ 63.Kf4 Ra1 63...g6= 64.Rd7 Kh6 65.Re7 65.Rd6± 65...Ra4 65...g6= 66.Re6 Kh7 67.Rb6 Ra1 68.Rb3 68.Kf3± 68...Ra4 68...g6!= is still a draw. 69.Kf3 Preferable is 69.Rb7± 69...Kh6 69...g6!= keeps the balance. 70.Re3 70.Rb8± Ra3+ 71.Kf4 70...Ra5= 71.Rc3
½–½
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Keymer,V2506Motylev,A2651½–½2019A11FIDE Grand Swiss7

In round 8 Vincent played against GM Sandro Mareco from Argentina. And once again his Najdorf was put to the test. White castled queenside, Black kingside, but both sides tried to launch an attack. At first, things looked for fine for Vincent who did not play as hesitantly as he had done against Esipenko at the Tata Steel Challengers at the beginning of the year. However, after a somewhat slow move by Vincent in a sharp position the Argentinian really got going. Vincent again got two rooks for his queen but his king was in danger - similar to his game against Saric. Mareco continued his energetic play and finally won convincingly. Despite this loss Vincent at this point in the tournament still had a GM-performance of more than 2600.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e6 7.g4 Nfd7 8.Be3 Be7 9.g5 b5 10.a3 Bb7 11.h4 Nc6 12.Qd2 0-0 13.0-0-0 Nc5 14.f3 Rb8 15.Kb1 Qc7 16.Rh3 b4!? 17.axb4 Nxb4 18.h5 Bc8 19.Qh2 Nc6 20.Nxc6 Qxc6 21.Bc1 Bd7 22.f4 Rfc8?! 22...Rb4 23.g6 Nxe4 24.gxf7+ Kf8 25.Rdd3 Nxc3+ 26.Rxc3 Qxc3 27.Rxc3 Rxc3 28.h6 g6 29.f5! Rf3 30.fxg6 Rxf1 31.Qh5 Bf6 32.g7+ Ke7 33.c3 Rg1 34.f8Q+ Rxf8 35.gxf8Q+ Kxf8 36.Qh2 Rd1 37.Qc2 Rd5 38.Qxh7 Bb5 39.Qc7 Bd3+ 40.Ka2 Be7 41.b3 Re5 42.Bf4 Rd5 43.c4 Rc5 44.Qb6 e5 45.Bg5 1–0
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Mareco,S2634Keymer,V25061–02019B81FIDE Grand Swiss8

In round 9 Vincent had Black against Zvjaginsev – and after drawing a dramatic and difficult game he had secured his third and final GM norm and with that the title.

 
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1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 d5 4.e3 dxc4 5.Bxc4 a6 6.a4 c5 7.b3 A predecessor: 7.d4 Nc6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Ne5 Bd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.dxc5 Qxd1 12.Rxd1 Bxc5 13.Kf1 Ke7 14.Ke2 Rac8 15.Bd2 Bd6 16.Be1 Rc7 17.h3 1/2-1/2 (55) Mamedyarov,S (2801)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2018 7...Nc6 8.Bb2 Be7 9.g4!?
The Russian is known for his unconvential play. Not the most welcome opponent if you just need half a point to become grandmaster. 9...h6 10.Rg1 b6 11.h4 Nd7 12.Ne4 Nf6 Vincent probably did not hope for a repetition here. 12...Bb7!? 13.Qb1 13.d3!? 13.Nc3 Nd7 14.Ne4 Nf6= 13...Bb7 14.g5 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Na5 Maybe it was better to take on g5 immediately: 15...hxg5 16.Nxg5 Na5 17.Qg4 17.Qf4 Bf6 17...b5!? 18.axb5 Nxc4 19.bxc4 axb5 16.Qf4 Nxc4 17.bxc4 hxg5 18.hxg5 f6 19.gxf6 Bxf6 20.Ne5 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Ne5!? might have been a better try and would have forced the opponent to play the following sequence: Rh5!? 22.Qxf6 gxf6 23.Rg8+ Ke7 24.Rg7+ Kf8 25.Rxb7 Rh1+ 26.Ke2 Rxa1 27.Nd7+ Ke8 28.Nxf6+= 20...Qd6 21.0-0-0 0-0-0 22.d3 Rh5 23.Nf7 Qxf4= 24.exf4 Rd7 25.Ng5 Re7 26.Rde1 Bxg5 27.Rxg5 Rxg5 28.fxg5
This endgame should end in a draw - which would make Vincent a grandmaster. 28...Kd7 29.g6 e5 30.Rxe5 30.a5!? 30...Rxe5 31.Bxe5 Bf3 32.a5!? b5 Seemingly risky because White can create a second passed pawn. However, White's a-pawn has the "wrong" colour - White's dark-squared bishop cannot support the a-pawn to queen. 32...bxa5 33.cxb5 axb5 34.Bxg7 Bh5 35.Bf8 Bxg6 36.Kd2 36.Bxc5 Bxd3 37.Kd2 and Black draws if he gives his bishop for the f-pawn. 36...Kc6 37.a6 Kb6
38.Bxc5+ Kxa6 39.d4 Bf7 40.Ke3 Kb7 41.Ke4 Kc6 42.Ke5 Bc4 43.f4 Bb3 44.f5 Bc4 45.Bb4 Bb3 46.Bc3 Bc4 47.Kf6 Kd7 48.Kg7 Ke8 49.Kg6 Bb3 50.Kf6 Kd7 Draw agreed - and the 14-year old Vincent Keymer achieved his third and final grandmaster norm and became a grandmaster. Congratulations!
½–½
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Zvjaginsev,V2644Keymer,V2506½–½2019A17FIDE Grand Swiss9

In round 10 the new Grandmaster played against the reigning German Champion Niclas Huschenbeth who had missed a couple of chances in this tournament. At first, Huschenbeth also dominated the game against Vincent but after the time control it was Vincent who had winning chances in a queen endgame. However, Vincent's 41st move was not energetic enough and the game petered out into a draw.

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 b6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.g3 A predecessor: 6.Bb5+ c6 7.Be2 Bd6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 Bb7 10.Bb2 Nbd7 11.Rc1 Re8 12.Re1 Rc8 1-0 (69) Dubov,D (2696)-Wei,Y (2734) Liaocheng 2018 6...Bd6 7.Bg2 0-0 8.0-0 Bb7 9.b3 Nbd7 10.Bb2 Re8
Black opted for a set-up that is often seen when White's bishop is on e2. However, both sides and continue manoeuvering. 10...Nc5!? and Black already threatens Nd3 and/or Ba6. 11.d3 c6 11...Ba6 12.Ne1 c6 13.b4 Ne6 14.b5!? 11...a5!? 12.b4 Ncd7 11.Rc1 a6 12.Re1 12.Ne2!? 12...b5 13.d4!? Vincent stops Black's central expansion. If Black now plays ...c5 he has to live with an isolated queen's pawn. Ne4 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Ne5!? Bd5!? ≤15...Nxe5 16.dxe5 Bxe5 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Qxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rxc7 and White is clearly better. 16.Nc6 Qg5 17.Qd2 Bxc6 Black takes the useless blockading knight though he had two interesting alternatives. Maybe Huschenbeth was worried about knight moves to b4 or a5. 17...Qf5!? 17...Re6!? 18.Rxc6 Qd5 19.Rc2 a5 20.Bc3?! A provocative move. b4! 21.Bb2 h5 21...a4 22.Bf1 Nb6 and it would have been difficult to explain what White has achieved with the manoeuvers by his bishop. 22.Qe2 Nf6 23.Qc4 Qf5 24.d5!? A pawn sacrifice to free the white bishop. Nxd5 24...h4!? 25.Rd1 Nb6 26.Qd4 Qg6 27.Rc6 Rad8 28.h4 Kh7 29.Qd2 Qg4 30.Qc2 Qe6 31.Rd4 f5 32.Qe2 g6 33.Qc2 Nd7 34.Bf1?! 34.Rxc7!? Bxc7 35.Qxc7 34...Qe7 34...Ne5!? 35.Bb5?! 35.Rxc7!? Be5 36.Rd2 Bxc7 37.Qxc7± 35...Ne5?!
36.Rdxd6! Rxd6 36...cxd6 37.Rc7 Nd7 38.Qc6± 37.Bxe5 Qxe5 38.Rxd6 cxd6 39.Bxe8 Qxe8 40.Qc7+ Kh6
The time-trouble is over and the dust settles. 41.Qxd6? 41.Qxa5 Qb8 42.a3 bxa3 43.Qxa3 offered good winning chances. 41...Qb5 activates the queen and equalizes. 42.Qf8+ Kh7 43.Qf7+ Kh6 44.Qg8 White threatens mate but Black simply centralizes his queen to parry this threat. Qe5 45.Kg2 Qg7 46.Qb8 Kh7 47.Qd6 Qb7 48.Qc5 Qa6 49.Qd5 Kg7 50.Qd7+ Kg8 51.Qe8+ Kg7 52.Qe7+ Kg8 53.g4 fxg4 54.Qxe4 Qf6 55.Qd5+ Kg7 56.Qxa5 Qxh4 57.Qxb4 Qh3+! 58.Kg1 g3! 59.Qe7+ Kh6 60.Qf8+ Kh7 61.Qf7+ Kh8 62.Qf3 gxf2+ 63.Kxf2 Qh2+ 64.Qg2 Qd6 65.Qa8+ An interesting game in which both players had chances.
½–½
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Keymer,V2506Huschenbeth,N2624½–½2019A17FIDE Grand Swiss10

In the last round Vincent lost rather clearly in a Paulsen Sicilian. With a final score of 4½/11 Vincent reached an Elo-performance of 2593 and gained him 12 Elo-points.

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 No Najdorf but a Paulsen. 5.Bd3 Bc5 6.Nb3 Ba7 7.0-0 Ne7 8.Qe2 Nbc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.Rd1 10.Bxa7 Rxa7 11.c4 11.N1d2 11...d5 12.exd5 exd5 13.Nc3 d4 14.Ne4 Ng6 15.f4 f5 16.Ng3 b6 17.Rad1 Re7 1-0 (46) Jakovenko,D (2735) -Artemiev,V (2704) Poikovsky 2018 10...d6 10...Bb8!? 11.c4 e5 12.Bxa7 Rxa7 13.Qe3 Ra8 14.Nc3 Be6 15.Bf1 Qb8 16.Rd2 16.Nd5 b5 17.Rac1 bxc4 18.Nxe7+ Nxe7 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.Rxc4 16...a5
Probably a novelty. But Vincent's move weakens b5 and in the game this turns out to be a serious disadvantage. 16...f5 17.f3 f4 18.Qf2 b5 19.Nd5 19.c5!? Bxb3 20.cxd6 19...Bf7 20.Rad1 Nxd5 21.cxd5 Ne7 22.Rc2 22.Na5 22...Rc8 22...a5 23.Rdc1 Rxc2 24.Qxc2 Qb6+ 25.Kh1 25.Qf2 Qd8 26.g3 25...Rc8 26.Qd2 Rxc1 27.Nxc1 g5= 0-1 (40) Zhai,M (2243) -Nisipeanu,L (2686) Canberra 2014 17.Rad1 17.a4 17...a4 18.Na1 Nd4 19.Nc2 Nec6 20.Nb5! Nxb5 20...Nxc2 21.Rxc2 Nb4 22.Rcd2 Nxa2?? 23.Qa3 21.cxb5 Na5 22.Qa3 Qc7 Maybe Black should try to create complications and hope for the best. 22...Nb3!? 23.Rxd6 Rc8 24.Ne3 Nd4 23.Nb4 Rfc8 24.Rc2 24.Rxd6 Nc4 25.Bxc4 Qxc4 26.Nd5 24...Qd8 25.Rxc8 ≤25.Qxa4? Nb3 25...Rxc8 26.Qxa4 Nc4 27.Nd3
Piorun is clearly better and converts his advantage smoothly. 27...f6 28.Qb4 Kf7 29.b3 Nb6 30.f4 Bg4 31.Rd2 Qc7 32.f5 Ke7 33.a4 Bh5 34.Nb2 Bf7 35.a5 Nd7 36.Na4 Nc5 37.Nb6 Rd8 38.Nd5+ Bxd5 39.Rxd5 g6 40.Qc4 Rc8 41.Rd1 Qd7 42.Qd5 gxf5 43.exf5 Qxf5 44.Bc4 Qe6 45.Qd2
1–0
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Piorun,K2643Keymer,V25061–02019B42FIDE Grand Swiss11

An interview with Fiona Steil-Antoni after round 9 shows how happy Vincent is about his success and the GM-title:

 


Thorsten Cmiel is FIDE Master, lives in Cologne and Milano and works as a freelance finance journalist.

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