Who is the world's best junior? Wei Yi vs Richard Rapport

by Marco Baldauf
12/22/2016 – Wei Yi and Richard Rapport are the world's top two juniors and both are known for their entertaining and uncomprosing attacking chess. From 20th to 23rd December they play a match in Yancheng, China. Wei Yi won the first game, Rapport the second, the third was a draw and this leads to a current score of 1.5-1.5. Analyses and photos.
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The match Wei Yi vs Richard Rapport

The match is played in Wei Yi's hometwon Yancheng, a town with 1.5 million inhabitants situated about 300 km north of Shanghai. Wei Yi and Rapport play four games with classical time-control. If the match is tied after four games, two blitz-games with a time-limit of 5+3 will follow and should the match still be tied after these two games, an Armageddon game will decide the winner.

The Chinese Chess Federation organizes the event

Richard Rapport (left, 19 years old) and Wei Yi (right, 17 years old) at the press conference.

The first game starts

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 b6 Rapport is well-known for his opening experiments - 3...b6!? is no exception. 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.c4!? 6.Bd3 leads to a more static game where White gains space on the kingside while Black gains space on the queenside. c5 7.c3 Ba6 8.Bxa6 Nxa6 9.0-0 Nc7 10.Re1 c4 11.Nf1 b5 12.Ng3 h6 13.h4 Nb6 14.h5 a5 15.Nh2 b4 16.f4 Qd7 17.Rf1 0-0-0 18.f5 Kb7 19.Ng4 Ra8 20.f6 Nb5 21.Qf3 gxf6 22.Nxf6 Qc6 23.Ng4 Ka6 24.Qxf7 bxc3 25.bxc3 Nxc3 26.Rf6 Re8 27.Nxh6 Re7 28.Qxf8 Rxf8 29.Rxf8 Rg7 30.Bf4 Ne4 31.Nxe4 dxe4 32.Rg8 Rxg8 33.Nxg8 Nd5 34.Bg5 Qb6 35.Rd1 c3 36.Kh1 e3 37.Nf6 c2 38.Rg1 Qb1 39.Nxd5 c1Q 40.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 41.Kh2 exd5 42.h6 Qc2 43.Bxe3 Qe4 44.Bg5 Kb7 45.Kg3 Kc6 46.Bf4 Kd7 47.Kg4 Ke6 48.g3 Kf7 49.Kg5 Qg6+ 50.Kh4 Qf5 51.Bg5 Kg6 52.Bf4 Qh5# 0-1 (52) Safarli,E (2657) -Morozevich,A (2711) Berlin 2015 6...c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Re1 After a few moves a very interesting position is on the board. The pawn constellation creates a lot of tension in the center, both sides have to reckon with the moves dxc5 or cxd4. Exchanging on d4 is good for Black if the white knight on d2 goes to f1 because White then no longer can play Nb3 followed by Nxd4. Nf8 10...0-0 is more obvious but Rapport first wants to send the knight on d7 on his way to e6. However, it is not entirely clear how White should have contined after 10...0-0. 11.Nf1 11.dxc5?! bxc5 12.b3 12.Nf1?! c4! 13.Bb1 Nc5 14.Ne3 Be6 12...a5 13.Nf1 Nb4 14.Bb1?! a4 11...Nxd4 Black can exchange on d4 when the knight on d2 leaves its post because after 12.Nxd4 cxd4 White does not have Nb3. 13.Ng3 Nc5 and Black has no problems at all. 14.Bb1 Re8 14...d3 15.Bxd3 Nxd3 16.Qxd3 in this position White can strive for a "good knight vs bad bishop" scenario which, however, is still far away - moreover, Black can prevent it with the dynamic d4!? 17.Ne4 Bf5 18.Nf6+ Bxf6 19.Qxf5 Qd5!= 15.Qxd4 g6= and with ...Ne6 and ...d4 Black will have sufficient counterplay. 11.Bb5 11.Nf1 Ne6 11...Nxd4? 12.Nxd4 cxd4 now the Nd7 is too passive and White can get a dangerous initiative with 13.f4 e.g. Ne6 14.f5 Nc5 15.f6+- 12.Ne3! a tactical trick on the diagonal h1-a8 allows White to ignore the pawn on d4. Bb7 12...Ncxd4? 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Nxd5! and White regains the pawn with a good position. ∆Qxd5 15.Be4 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qb3! this move that is difficult to see justifies White's play. Rb8 15.Qxd5 0-0 and Black does not have enough compensation for the lost center pawn, e.g. 16.Qxd8 Rfxd8 17.Be4 Ncd4 18.Bxb7 Rxb7 19.Nxd4 cxd4 20.Nc4 11...Bd7 12.dxc5 12.Nf1 this sequence of moves would have stopped Black from later winning a tempo with ...Rb8. Ne6 12...Nxd4!? 13.Nxd4 cxd4 14.Bxd7+ Qxd7 15.Ng3 g6 and White has slight pressure but after exchanging the white-squared bishops Black should not be in danger. 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Ne3 Rb8 15.Bf1 and White's position is more harmonious than the one he got in the game because Black is now forced to play d4 which gives White squares. d4 16.Nf5 12...bxc5 13.Nf1 13.Nb3 Qb6! 13...Rb8? 14.Bxc6 Bxc6 15.e6! Nxe6 16.Rxe6! fxe6 17.Ne5 Ba4 18.Qh5+ g6 19.Nxg6 hxg6 20.Qxh8+ Kd7 21.Qg7 14.Bxc6 Bxc6 15.Bg5 15.e6? Nxe6 16.Rxe6 fxe6 17.Ne5 0-0-+ 15...Ne6 16.Bxe7 Kxe7∞ 13...Rb8 14.Be2 Be6! Black strengthens d5 and thus considerably restricts White's knights. White has to undermine the black center quickly, otherwise his pieces will soon find no more good squares. 15.Qa4 Qb6 16.Ne3 16.b4!? would be an interesting attempt to gain control over the black squares: c4 16...cxb4? 17.Be3 Qb7 18.Ba6 Qc7 19.Rac1± 16...Nd7 17.bxc5 Nxc5 would be a partial success for White - but Black still had the initiative. 18.Qc2 0-0 17.Be3 17.a3 Nd7 18.Ne3 0-0 19.Rd1 Qb5 19...Ndxe5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Nxd5 Bxd5 22.Rxd5 Qe6 20.Qxb5 Rxb5 21.a4 Rxb4 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Nb6 17...Qb7! 17...Qb5 18.Qxb5 Rxb5 19.a3 Ng6 20.Bd1! Ngxe5 21.Nxe5 Nxe5 22.Ba4 a6∞ 23.Bd4 Nd3 23...Nc6 24.Bxg7 Rg8 25.Bb2 d4 26.Rac1 c3 27.Bxc3 dxc3 28.Rxc3 24.Reb1 0-0 25.Bxb5 axb5 26.Ne3 18.a3 18.Nd4 Bd7 19.Nxc6 Bxc6 20.Qxa7 Qxa7 21.Bxa7 Rxb4 18...Nd7 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Bxd4 a5= 16...Nd7?! 16...Ng6! would allow Black to defend d5 without problems. The transfer of the white queen to the kingside would also be prevented. 17.Rd1 17.Qd1 Rd8 17...d4 18.Nc4 Qc7 17.Qf4!? brings the queen to the kingside, initiating an attack. 17.Qd1 a rather simple strategy: White exerts pressure against the most important point in Black's camp. d4 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.Bd3 0-0 20.b3 with a complex position. 17...Qb4!? Rapport wants to win material. 17...0-0 18.Nf5 Qb4! 18...Rfe8? 19.Nxg7! Kxg7 20.Qh6+ Kh8 21.Bd3 Nf8 22.Bg5± 19.Nxe7+ Nxe7 20.Qxb4 Rxb4= leads to equality. 18.Qg3 Nd4 Rapport uses the vulnerability of White's pieces tactically. 19.Bd2!? Wei Yi gives the pair of bishops and the b-pawn to get an attack. 19.Qxg7?? Nxf3+ 20.Bxf3 Qxe1+ 19.Kf1!? is the move the engine prefers - White does not lose material but runs into a dangerous attack: Nxe2 20.Qxg7 Rf8 21.Rxe2 d4 22.Nc2 Qb7 23.Na3 White is a pawn up but Black has tremendous compensation. Bd5 19...Nxe2+ 20.Rxe2 Qxb2 21.Rae1
Black's queen is now rather exposed and the natural move 0-0 fails tactically. 21...g6? 21...0-0?? 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Bh6 g6 24.Rxb2 Rxb2 25.Bxf8+- 21...Kf8 gives Black more control over the black squares and White has to build up his attack more slowly. 22.Nh4 22.Nxd5? now Black gets too much material for the queen. Bxd5 23.Bh6 gxh6 24.Rxb2 Rxb2 25.Qf4 Rb6 22...Bxh4 22...g6? 23.Nxd5 23.Qxh4 d4 23...Qd4?! 24.f4! 24.Nf1
and the question will be how well Black - who controls the white squares - can hold. 24...d3 chases the rook away and forces White's knight to do his defensive duties first. 24...Qc2!? 25.f4 Qg6 26.Bc1 h6 27.Nd2 Kg8 28.Ne4 24...Qb6 25.f4 Qd8 26.Qh5 Kg8 27.Ng3 25.Re4 h6 26.f4 Kg8 27.Qf2 g6 28.Ne3 22.Ng4 Qxa2 Rapport's queen grabs another pawn but leaves Black's king to its fate. 22...Qb6 keeps an eye on the Rb8, allowing 23.Nf6+ Nxf6 24.exf6 Bxf6 but White's attack is still too dangerous: 25.Ba5! Qb7 26.Qf4! Be7 26...Bg7? 27.Rxe6+ fxe6 28.Rxe6+ Kd7 29.Qf7+ Kc8 30.Re8+ Rxe8 31.Qxe8# 27.Bc3 d4 28.Rb2! Qxb2 29.Bxb2 Rxb2 30.Qc7± 22...Qa3! pins the Nf3 and prevents a crucial idea of White. 23.Nf6+ Kd8 24.Bc1 Qa6 25.Ng5 and White still has a strong attack for the pawn. Kc8 26.Nxf7 Bxf7 27.e6 Bxf6 28.exf7 Rb1! 29.Re8+ Kb7 30.Qh3 Qa4 31.Qf3 Qc4 32.Qh3 Qa4= 23.Nf6+ Kd8 24.Ng5 Rb6 25.Bc3 Qa3? now White's attack is too powerful. 25...Qa6 defends the important square e6 once again. 26.Nxf7+ 26.Rd2 d4 27.Bxd4 cxd4 28.Rxd4 Bxf6 29.exf6 Kc8 30.Nxf7! Bxf7 31.Rxd7 Kxd7 32.Re7+ Kc6 33.Rc7+ Kb5 34.Qe5+ Kb4 35.Qc3+ Kb5 36.Qb2+ Ka4 37.Qa1+ Kb5= 26...Bxf7 27.e6 Rxe6 28.Rxe6 Bxe6 29.Nxd7 d4 30.Nb8! Qd6 30...Qc8 31.Qe5 Rf8 32.Bd2 Ke8 31.Ba5+ Kc8 32.Rxe6 Qxg3 33.hxg3 Re8 34.Nc6 Kd7 35.Rxe7+ Rxe7 36.Nxe7 Kxe7= 26.Nxf7+! Bxf7 27.e6 Bxe6 28.Rxe6 Rxe6 29.Rxe6 Qa2 29...d4 30.Nd5! dxc3 31.Qc7+ Ke8 32.Rxe7+ 29...Bxf6 30.Bxf6+ Nxf6 31.Qxa3+- 30.Nxd7 Kxd7 31.Rxe7+! Kxe7 32.Qc7+ Ke6 33.Qc6+ Ke7 34.Qxc5+ Ke6 35.Qc6+ Ke7 36.Qb7+ a check on the b-file - to control b1 - and then Wei Yi will take on h8 - therefore 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Wei Yi2707Rapport,R27171–02016C03Wei Yi - Rapport Match1

Rapport recovered well after this loss and won the second game convincingly:

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 e5 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.Ngf3 Nxf3+? Now Wei Yi runs immediately into trouble because his pieces are not well enough developed to keep the center under control. 7...Nc6 8.Bd3 Be7 9.0-0 0-0 10.Re1 h6 11.Bh4 Be6 12.a3 a5 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Rxe4 Bxh4 16.Rxh4 Ne5 17.Nxe5 Qxh4 18.Qf3 Qf6 19.Qe4 g6 20.Qe3 Rad8 21.Re1 Qg5 22.f4 Qf6 23.Rf1 Bf5 24.Bc4 b6 25.g4 Bc8 26.g5 Qf5 27.Bd3 Qe6 28.Bc4 Qh3 29.Qe2 Be6 30.Bd3 Bf5 31.Bc4 Be6 32.Bd3 Bf5 33.Bc4 hxg5 34.fxg5 Qh4 35.Qe3 Kg7 36.b3 Rh8 37.Qg3 Rd2 38.Nf3 Qxg3+ 39.hxg3 Rc2 40.Nh4 Rxc3 41.Nxf5+ gxf5 42.Rxf5 a4 43.Rxf7+ Kg6 44.Rf6+ Kxg5 45.Rxb6 Rf8 46.Rb5 Kg4 0-1 (46) Tu,H (2496)-Li,C (2622) Dresden 2008 8.Nxf3 Be7 9.Bb5+! Bd7 10.Bxd7+ Qxd7 11.Ne5 Qf5 12.Qa4+ Kf8 12...Nd7 13.Bxe7 Kxe7 14.Nxd7 Qxd7 15.Qh4+ f6 16.0-0-0± 13.Bxf6 gxf6 The opening went very well for Rapport, Wei Yi's king has not castled and Black's pawn structure is shattered. 14.Nf3
14...Rg8 15.Nh4 Qe6 16.Qc2 In the long run Black's position is a catastrophe and therefore he is forced too play actively with ...d4 here. 16.g3!? d4 17.Ng2! would have given White more control. 16...d4! 17.g3 17.0-0? Qg4 18.g3 Qxh4 17...Qd5? 17...dxe3 18.0-0! exf2+ 19.Qxf2± 17...Rd8 18.Rd1 18.0-0? d3 19.Qd1 Qe4 18.0-0-0 Qxa2 19.exd4 cxd4 20.Rxd4 Rxd4 21.cxd4 Rg5‼ 22.Qc8+ Bd8 23.Qxd8+ Kg7 24.Qc8 24.Rd1? Rb5-+ 24...Qa1+ 25.Kc2 Qxh1 26.Nf5+ Rxf5 27.Qxf5= 18...dxe3 19.Rxd8+ Bxd8 20.0-0 exf2+ 21.Qxf2 18.e4! Qc4 19.b3 Qxc3+ 20.Qxc3 dxc3 21.0-0-0
Though Wei Yi managed to parry the direct attack on his king the resulting endgame is a catastrophe. White is better developed, has the much better minor piece, the better king, the better structure, better coordination - everything you could wish for! 21...f5 gets rid of the pawn weakness to activate the rook on the 6th rank. 22.Nxf5 Rg6 23.Rd7 Re6
24.Rxe7 Rapport opts for the rook endgame 6 vs 5, but 24.f3 and 24.Rxb7 were ambitious alternatives. He probably saw the winning plan and opted for the clearest line. 24.f3 is a bit complicated because Black keeps c3 and gets a little counterplay: b5 25.Rhd1 Bg5+ 26.Kc2 b4 27.R1d5! is still good enough because Bd2 no longer works and White threatens h4, winning. Ra6 28.Kb1 c4! 28...Rc8 29.h4+- Bd2 30.Rd8+ Rxd8 31.Rxd8# 29.bxc4 Rxa2! 30.Kxa2 c2 31.Rd1 cxd1Q 32.Rxd1 a5 33.Rd7+- 24.Rxb7 will finally lead to a similar but perhaps better endgame than the move played in the game. Rxe4 25.Rd1 Re5 25...Re8 26.Rdd7 Re5 27.Rxe7 R5xe7 28.Rxe7 Rxe7 29.Nxe7 Kxe7 30.Kc2+- 26.Nxe7 Rxe7 27.Rxe7 Kxe7 28.Kc2+- this endgame should be simpler because White can make obvious progress with Kxc3-Kc4. 24...Rxe7 25.Nxe7 Kxe7 26.Kc2 Rd8 27.Kxc3 b5 28.Kc2 Rd6 28...Rd4 29.f3 Kd6 29...Rd6 30.Rd1 Rh6 31.Rd2 30.Rd1 Rxd1 31.Kxd1 Ke5 it is not too difficult to assume that White should win this pawn ending: 32.Kd2 Kd4 33.h4 c4 34.bxc4 bxc4 35.e5! Kxe5 36.Kc3 Kd5 37.a4 Kc5 38.g4 Kd5 39.g5 Kc5 40.a5 a6 41.h5 Kd5 42.h6 Kc5 43.f4 Kd5 44.f5 Ke5 45.g6 fxg6 46.fxg6 29.Rd1 Rh6 30.h4 Rf6 31.Rd2 Ra6 32.Kd3 the king is activated and the Rd2 defends all pawn weaknesses. Ke6 33.Rc2 Kd6 34.g4 c4+? 34...Ra3!? would have posed more problems. 35.Kc3 might be the most simple. 35.g5 c4+ 36.Kc3 cxb3 36...Kc5 37.Kb2! Ra6 37...Kb4? 38.bxc4 bxc4 39.Rxc4+ Kxc4 40.Kxa3 Kd4 41.Ka4+- 38.Rd2+- 37.axb3 Ra1 38.Rd2+ Ke5 39.Rd7 Ke6 40.Rb7 Rf1 41.Rxa7 Rxf2 42.Ra6+ Ke5 43.Rh6 Kxe4 44.Rxh7+- 35.f4? c4+ 36.Kc3 Kc5! 37.g5 37.Kb2 Kb4 38.bxc4 bxc4 39.Rxc4+ Kxc4 40.Kxa3 Kd4= 37...b4+ 38.Kb2 c3+ 39.Kb1 Kd4 35...Ke5 35...Ra6 36.f4+- 36.Kb2 Ra6 37.Rxc5+ Kxe4 38.Rxb5 Rf6 39.Rf5! 35.bxc4 bxc4+ 36.Kd4 36.Kxc4? Ke5 36...Ra4 37.Rxc4 Rxa2 38.e5+ Kd7 39.f3 Ra6 40.Rb4 Kc7 41.g5 Re6 42.Ra4 Kb6 43.f4 a5 44.f5 Re8 45.e6 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Rapport,R2717Wei Yi27071–02016D00Wei Yi - Rapport Match2

The beginning of game two

Game three saw a rather unspectacular draw - analyses will follow in in the final report tomorrow.

All games

 
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1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 b6 4.Ngf3 Nf6 5.e5 Nfd7 6.c4 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.Bd3 Nc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.Re1 Nf8 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.dxc5 bxc5 13.Nf1 Rb8 14.Be2 Be6 15.Qa4 Qb6 16.Ne3 Nd7 17.Qf4 Qb4 18.Qg3 Nd4 19.Bd2 Nxe2+ 20.Rxe2 Qxb2 21.Rae1 g6 22.Ng4 Qxa2 23.Nf6+ Kd8 24.Ng5 Rb6 25.Bc3 Qa3 26.Nxf7+ Bxf7 27.e6 Bxe6 28.Rxe6 Rxe6 29.Rxe6 Qa2 30.Nxd7 Kxd7 31.Rxe7+ Kxe7 32.Qc7+ Ke6 33.Qc6+ Ke7 34.Qxc5+ Ke6 35.Qc6+ Ke7 36.Qb7+ 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Wei Yi2707Rapport,R27171–02016C03Wei Yi - Rapport Match1
Rapport,R2717Wei Yi27071–02016A45Wei Yi - Rapport Match2
Wei Yi2707Rapport,R2717½–½2016B15Wei Yi - Rapport Match3
Marco Baldauf, born 1990, has been playing since he was eight. In 2000 and 2002 he became German Junior Champion, in 2014 he became International Master. He plays for SF Berlin in the Bundesliga.

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vladivaclav vladivaclav 12/23/2016 09:59
tie
SULAYI_LANG SULAYI_LANG 12/23/2016 08:13
By beating both Ivanchuk and Kamsky and finishing on top eight during the World Cup at the age of 16, So was way ahead of them in terms of strength. Rating somehow didn't correspond to actual strength. So had also won Dubai Open and Aeroflot invitation in his teen years. He was probably one of the youngest national champion in any nation at the age of 12! Without much exposure to invitational tournaments because of lack of financial support, but still he managed to breach 2600 at the age of 16. a remarkable record.
MichelDeNostredameDeEchecs MichelDeNostredameDeEchecs 12/23/2016 05:30
@AsaltedRook
It does win the Bishop, but White gets a very dangerous attack: it's typical to sacrifice a piece to speeds up the attack by gaining tempo(i). The White Q will snatch the g7 pawn hence forcing Rf8 and the Rook on a1 will join the attack by threatening Black's Q. Now the Black King is stuck in the middle of the board for the rest of the game, while the d5 pawn is soon going to fall. That's more than enough for the Bishop.
e.g. 19...Nxf3+ 20.Bxf3 Qxd2 (not 21.Rad1 now because after 21...Qxb2 22.Qxg7 runs into 22...Qxe5 and the Rook is defended.) 21.Qxg7 Rf8 22.Rad1 with a raging attack coming.

An engine would probably defend the position in a regular game, but a human GM has no reasons to enter in such complications if (s)he thinks there are better options. Moreover Wei Yi has already proven to the world to have attacking skill second to none. i.e. http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1795096
Having said that the position is still very sharp even after the continuation Black chose in the game. After 23...Kd8 White still seems to have plenty of play for two pawns. Indeed Rapport couldn't hold it.
KrushonIrina KrushonIrina 12/23/2016 05:19
Monster talents. One or both will be playing for WC in less than eight years.
AsaltedRook AsaltedRook 12/23/2016 03:54
I am quite sure that in the 1st game. After 19. Bd2???? Nxf3+ and Rapport wins the Bishop @ d2.
mellekvese mellekvese 12/23/2016 03:44
Let me also add that Rapport doesn't even have a coach.
mellekvese mellekvese 12/23/2016 03:42
neither of them will be WC contender

They both have much higher ratings than So had at similar age. So is the most likely WC contender. Sooo what do you know that we don't?

fixpont fixpont 12/23/2016 01:06
neither of them will be WC contender
AzingaBonzer AzingaBonzer 12/22/2016 10:53
Actually, I'm fairly sure Rapport is actually 20 years old, not 19. He turns 21 in March of 2017.
Malcom Malcom 12/22/2016 10:44
So Fairfield now the rules of what exactly is a junior at chess must be to your liking!?
Sorry dude you're REALLY (like REALLY REALLY!) not cute or charming enough to change the minds of anybody... so for now give Rapport his due and change profile pic! ;-)
Fairfield1466 Fairfield1466 12/22/2016 10:23
Wei Yi is the top junior. He's 17 years old. Richard Rapport is young but he's an adult at age 19.
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