World Teams: Spain, India, China and Uzbekistan in semis

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
11/24/2022 – The quarterfinals of the World Team Championship were played on Wednesday at the Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. One of the four matches was decided in tiebreaks, with India beating France in blitz to get a spot in the semis. China, Spain and Uzbekistan, on their part, knocked out Poland, Azerbaijan and Ukraine, respectively. | Pictured: Spain’s David Anton and Daniil Yuffa | Photo: Mark Livshitz

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Spain upsets Azerbaijan

Perhaps the most surprising result of the quarterfinals was Spain’s victory over a strong Azerbaijani squad. After signing four draws in the first set, wins by David Anton and Miguel Santos in the second mini-match gave Spain overall victory, despite Alexei Shirov’s loss against Gadir Guseinov on board 3 — importantly, Jaime Santos held a draw with black against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov on the top board.

Facing Rauf Mamedov with white, Miguel Santos had a better pawn structure and a slightly safer king in and endgame with queens, rooks and five pawns per side.

 
Santos vs. Mamedov - Set #2

Black’s position is falling apart. After 45.Rxa6 Qb2 46.Qe3 Qxb4 47.Rxc6, White had created the queenside passed pawn that would end up giving him a crucial victory in the second set of the match.

 

The 23-year-old from Sevilla needed nine more moves to convert his advantage into a win.

Miguel Santos Ruiz

Miguel Santos Ruiz | Photo: Mark Livshitz

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 3 e5 2 2.Nf3 1 Nc6 2 3.Bb5 2 a6 4 4.Ba4 0 Nf6 2 5.0-0 3 Nxe4 2 6.d4 2 b5 2 7.Bb3 1 d5 1 8.dxe5 3 Be6 2 9.Be3 2 Be7 17 10.c3 4 Qd7 1:58 11.Nbd2 0 Rd8 17 12.Re1 1:03 0-0 1:17 13.Bc2 24 Bf5 4:05 14.Qb1 3:37 Nxd2 20 15.Bxd2 2 Bxc2 3:01 16.Qxc2 8 d4 19 17.cxd4 21 Nxd4 0 18.Nxd4 2 Qxd4 2 19.Ba5 1 Qd5 6 20.a3 1:07 Rc8 1:59 21.h3 1:57 c5 4:11 22.Rad1 54 Qc6 0 23.Rd3 1:12 Rfe8 3:19 24.Qd2 6:11 c4 1:07 25.Rd5 3:26 c3 47 26.Bxc3 6 Bxa3 1 27.Rd1 55 Bf8 0 28.Qd4 2:32 Qc4 1:34 29.Qxc4 1:49 Rxc4 4 30.Rd8 22 Rc8 58 31.Rxe8 1:01 Rxe8 3 32.Rd7 20 h5 0 33.f4 5:10 Rc8 2:37 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Santos Latasa,J-Mamedyarov,S-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Radjabov,T-Anton Guijarro,D-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Shirov,A-Guseinov,G-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Mamedov,R-Yuffa,D-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Mamedyarov,S2747Santos Latasa,J2622½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Anton Guijarro,D2633Radjabov,T27181–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Guseinov,G2616Shirov,A25901–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Santos Ruiz,M2480Mamedov,R25671–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
 

Select an entry from the list to switch between games

India beats France in tiebreaks

Both in the preliminaries and in the quarterfinals, a gritty Indian team showcased great fighting spirit to now be among the four squads that still have chances to win the tournament in Israel. 

Facing a French team led by the ever-dangerous Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the Indians got ahead on the scoreboard by comfortably winning the first set of the match. The Frenchmen bounced back, though, with MVL and Laurent Fressinet scoring with black to take the contest to tiebreaks.

In the blitz, France made a substitution, as Maxime Lagarde, a quick-play specialist, joined to play on board 4 instead of Tigran Gharamian. The strategy worked out for the Europeans insofar Lagarde defeated Sasikiran, but wins for Nihal Sarin and Narayanan meant the Indians had gained a spot in the semifinals.

Narayanan’s bishop was the stronger minor piece in his first-set game against Fressinet.

 
Fressinet vs. Narayanan - Set #1

When there is action on both sides of the board, bishops are often stronger than knights. Here Black’s bishop defends the passer on a2 from the distant f7 square, allowing 47...Rb1 48.b7 Rxb7, which prompted Fressinet’s resignation. The centralized white knight looks strong, but is too slow in this setup.

Krishnan Sasikiran

India’s Krishnan Sasikiran | Photo: Mark Livshitz

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.c4 3 e5 2:05 2.g3 2 d5 0 3.cxd5 43 Qxd5 3 4.Nf3 2 Nc6 4 5.Nc3 3:03 Qd8 5 6.Bg2 27 Nf6 18 7.0-0 51 h6 12 8.e3 3:15 Bd6 5:22 9.d4 2:26 exd4 2:07 10.Nxd4 2:18 Nxd4 8 11.Qxd4 2 Qe7 2:35 12.b3 2:04 Be5 0 13.Qd3 3 0-0 12 14.Bb2 2 Rd8 38 15.Qc2 3 c6 8 16.h3 0 Be6 3:10 17.f4 2:45 Bf5 42 18.Qc1 4:10 Bxc3 4:02 19.Qxc3 3 Be4 5 20.Rad1 1:16 Bxg2 14 21.Kxg2 4 Qe4+ 5 22.Kh2 2:13 Rxd1 0 23.Rxd1 4 Qf3 3 24.Qe1 1:46 Ne4 1:58 25.b4 2:40 b6 2:32 26.b5 22 cxb5 4:18 27.Rc1 2 Rd8 0 28.Bd4 36 b4 19 29.Rc2 1:46 a5 35 30.Qg1 2 b5 5:04 31.Qg2 0 Qxg2+ 2 32.Kxg2 2 Nc3 40 33.Kf3 3:35 f6 1:30 34.Bb6 1:13 Ra8 52 35.f5 1:54 Ra6 2:02 36.Bd4 0 Rd6 12 37.g4 43 h5 53 38.g5 2:23 fxg5 15 39.Rg2 1 Rd7 0 40.Rxg5 1:02 Nxa2 3 41.Ke4 50 b3 13 42.Kd3 6 b4 1:09 43.f6 23 Nc3 27 44.Rg2 1 a4 0 45.Kc4 6 Na2 10 46.Be5 1:16 Nc1 1 47.Bb2 19 Nd3 21 48.Ba1 37 b2 6 49.Bxb2 2 Nxb2+ 0 50.Rxb2 9 b3 5 51.Kb4 48 Ra7 10 52.Rg2 28 Rb7+ 21 53.Ka3 1 b2 7 54.Rxb2 2 Rxb2 0 55.Kxb2 1 g5 0 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M-Vidit,S-0–12022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Nihal,S-Moussard,J-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Fressinet,L-Narayanan,S-0–12022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Sasikiran,K-Gharamian,T-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Vidit,S2662Vachier-Lagrave,M27750–12022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Moussard,J2634Nihal,S2616½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Narayanan,S2588Fressinet,L26840–12022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Gharamian,T2637Sasikiran,K2577½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Vidit,S2662Vachier-Lagrave,M2775½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2023.1
Moussard,J2634Nihal,S26160–12022FIDE WTC-KO 2023.1
Narayanan,S2588Fressinet,L26841–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2023.1
Lagarde,M2573Sasikiran,K25771–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2023.1
 

Uzbekistan gets 2-0 win over Ukraine

Only one of the four matches saw the winning team scoring victories in back-to-back sets. The Uzbek team, despite missing top star Nodirbek Abdusattorov, has impressed since day 2 of the competition — they had a slow start, as they lost to Azerbaijan in the first round of the preliminary round-robin.

Against Ukraine in the quarterfinals, Jakhongir Vakhidov was the hero for the latest Olympiad champions, as he won both his games on Wednesday. Facing Igor Kovalenko with white, Vakhidov chose the correct capture in a superior queenless position.

 
Vakhidov vs. Kovalenko - Set #1

Black’s 28...Bxb5 was a mistake, but only 29.cxb5 keeps White’s advantage. Much like in Narayanan’s game, the bishop is the stronger minor piece here.

There followed 29...Ne4 30.Re3 Nf6 31.Rxe8+ Rxe8

 

Vakhidov here found the most straightforward way towards victory with 32.Rxf6 gxf6 33.Bxc7, and Black is doomed. Kovalenko continued fighting until move 56, but the Uzbek never lost control over the position. 

Nodirbek Yakubboev

Nodirbek Yakubboev twice drew Vasyl Ivanchuk on the top board | Photo: Mark Livshitz

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 2 Nf6 2 2.c4 3 g6 0 3.Nc3 2 Bg7 2 4.e4 2 d6 1 5.Nf3 2 0-0 7 6.Be2 0 Na6 1:10 7.0-0 33 e5 8 8.Be3 10 Qe7 2 9.Nd2 4:07 exd4 0 10.Bxd4 4 Nc5 2 11.Re1 25 c6 2:13 12.Bf1 41 Ne6 2:30 13.Be3 2:30 h5 12 14.h3 46 h4 2:21 15.Rc1 5:32 Nh5 4:44 16.Nf3 32:50 Nef4 2:07 17.Qd2 0 Be5 1:51 18.Rcd1 0 Be6 3:47 19.Nd5 0 cxd5 0 20.exd5 0 Bxh3 4 21.Bxf4 0 Nxf4 2 22.Qxf4 0 Bxf4 1 23.Rxe7 0 Bc8 2 24.b4 0 a5 0 25.b5 0 b6 10 26.Nxh4 0 Bg5 2 27.Re4 0 f5 2:04 28.Red4 0 Kf7 18 29.Nf3 0 Bf6 0 30.R4d2 0 Ra7 1:07 31.Nd4 0 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ivanchuk,V-Yakubboev,N-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Sindarov,J-Shevchenko,K-1–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Volokitin,A-Vokhidov,S-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Vakhidov,J-Kovalenko,I-1–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Yakubboev,N2563Ivanchuk,V2686½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Shevchenko,K2584Sindarov,J25541–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Vokhidov,S2471Volokitin,A26591–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Bernadskiy,V2544Vakhidov,J25070–12022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
 

China knocks out Poland

Given their dominant performance in the preliminaries, it is not surprising that China managed to beat Poland in the quarterfinals, despite fielding lower-rated players on three out of four boards.

After winning the first set by a 2½-1½ score — with wins by Lu Shanglei and Bai Jinshi — the Chinese drew on all four boards in the second set to reach the semifinals. The draws were by no means fightless, though, with Bai and Xu Xiangyu playing 90 and 134 moves respectively before getting the all-important half points.

In the game that lasted 90 moves, Poland’s Mateusz Bartel failed to play a pawn break that would have increased his chances of winning the game from a closed position.

 
Bartel vs. Bai - Set #2

Bartel’s 44.g5 was not the most precise here, since 44.d4, using the pin, was the most trying continuation to break up the closed setup. The lost tempo allowed Bai to regroup and keep things under control in the remainder of the encounter.

World Team Chess Championship 2022

China versus Poland | Photo: Mark Livshitz

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 4 e5 2 2.Nf3 6 Nc6 3 3.Bb5 2 a6 2 4.Ba4 0 Nf6 2 5.0-0 3 Be7 2 6.Re1 3 b5 3 7.Bb3 2 0-0 5 8.c3 27 d5 9 9.exd5 3 Nxd5 2 10.Nxe5 2 Nxe5 4 11.Rxe5 4 c6 5 12.d3 4 Bd6 10 13.Re1 3 Qh4 5 14.g3 21 Qh3 2 15.Qf3 3:12 Bg4 55 16.Qg2 0 Qh5 3 17.Be3 1:25 Bf3 6:23 18.Qf1 50 f5 7:47 19.Nd2 3:10 f4 0 20.Bxf4 12:36 Rxf4 1:30 21.c4 10 Rf6 20:14 22.Nxf3 4:39 Nf4 57 23.c5+ 3:06 Kh8 3 24.Bd1 3 Nh3+ 0 25.Kg2 32 Bxc5 17 26.d4 3:39 Bxd4 1:31 27.Nxd4 22 Qd5+ 1 28.Nf3 18 Ng5 20 29.Re5 23 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Lu,S-Wojtaszek,R-1–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Piorun,K-Xu,X-½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Bai,J-Bartel,M-1–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Gumularz,S-Li,D-1–02022FIDE WTC-KO 2021.1
Wojtaszek,R2636Lu,S2627½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Xu,X2574Piorun,K2494½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Bartel,M2533Bai,J2498½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
Li,D2441Gumularz,S2530½–½2022FIDE WTC-KO 2022.1
 

World Team Chess Championship 2022


There are few names which, like that of Alexei Shirov, can be associated with fantastically imaginative and tactically influenced play. Now the Latvian grandmaster is presenting a DVD on precisely that element of the game of chess. And one that is completely based on his own games.


Links


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.

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.