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| Leonard Barden on Chess | |
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| Leonard Barden | |
| Fri 25 Aug 2017 20.17 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 03.54 GMT | |
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| Winning a top tournament by a three-point margin normally captures the headlines but Levon Aronian’s impressive result at the St Louis speed event last week was sweepingly upstaged by Garry Kasparov’s return to competitive play after a 12-year absence. | Winning a top tournament by a three-point margin normally captures the headlines but Levon Aronian’s impressive result at the St Louis speed event last week was sweepingly upstaged by Garry Kasparov’s return to competitive play after a 12-year absence. |
| This one-off comeback by the 54-year-old, whom many regard as the all-time No1 ahead of Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen, sparked a tidal wave of interest, with six-figure internet audiences reportedly watching the live video. It was gripping stuff, too, as Kasparov showed his old skills with deep strategic plans yet for most of the event simply could not or would not handle his clock time sensibly. He took 22 minutes to his opponent’s four in a 25-minute rapid game, and spent two of his five minutes for blitz on a single move. He was often down to a few seconds at the end of his games. | This one-off comeback by the 54-year-old, whom many regard as the all-time No1 ahead of Bobby Fischer and Magnus Carlsen, sparked a tidal wave of interest, with six-figure internet audiences reportedly watching the live video. It was gripping stuff, too, as Kasparov showed his old skills with deep strategic plans yet for most of the event simply could not or would not handle his clock time sensibly. He took 22 minutes to his opponent’s four in a 25-minute rapid game, and spent two of his five minutes for blitz on a single move. He was often down to a few seconds at the end of his games. |
| For a while the legend was in danger of the wooden spoon but on the final blitz day he suddenly clicked into gear, went through his last eight games unbeaten, performed his Najdorf Sicilian with a gracefully dominant knight dance on the dark squares and sparked memories of his vintage years. | For a while the legend was in danger of the wooden spoon but on the final blitz day he suddenly clicked into gear, went through his last eight games unbeaten, performed his Najdorf Sicilian with a gracefully dominant knight dance on the dark squares and sparked memories of his vintage years. |
| The overall impression for expert viewers was frustrating and tantalising. If Kasparov had been as practical and sharp on the first three days as he was at the end, he could have achieved a high position. Even third place behind Aronian, who was powerful throughout, and Sergey Karjakin, who dominated the blitz, could have been possible. In his closing interview, when he had the chance to reaffirm that this was strictly a one-off to support Rex Sinquefield making his home city into a global chess capital, he hedged, replying, “Never say never” and, “If I come back again, it could only happen here at St Louis.” | The overall impression for expert viewers was frustrating and tantalising. If Kasparov had been as practical and sharp on the first three days as he was at the end, he could have achieved a high position. Even third place behind Aronian, who was powerful throughout, and Sergey Karjakin, who dominated the blitz, could have been possible. In his closing interview, when he had the chance to reaffirm that this was strictly a one-off to support Rex Sinquefield making his home city into a global chess capital, he hedged, replying, “Never say never” and, “If I come back again, it could only happen here at St Louis.” |
| The St Louis rapid/blitz followed the Sinquefield Cup and was part of the Grand Chess Tour, whose final event will be the London Classic at the Kensington Olympia on 1-11 December. Magnus Carlsen, the world champion, is the current tour leader but both Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the new world No2, and Aronian are in contention. England’s No1, Michael Adams, will be the wildcard in the 10-player field. | The St Louis rapid/blitz followed the Sinquefield Cup and was part of the Grand Chess Tour, whose final event will be the London Classic at the Kensington Olympia on 1-11 December. Magnus Carlsen, the world champion, is the current tour leader but both Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, the new world No2, and Aronian are in contention. England’s No1, Michael Adams, will be the wildcard in the 10-player field. |
| Aronian’s bravado performance in St Louis began in the very first round with this imaginative attack, which had two critical moments. At move 19, he sacrificed his knight intuitively, since “retreating wasn’t an option. I had to go for it”. Black’s defence was difficult, but Navara had a chance to hold by 23...Qc7! 24 Re4 h5! After that White’s attack crashed through, and Black sportingly allowed checkmate to appear on the board. | Aronian’s bravado performance in St Louis began in the very first round with this imaginative attack, which had two critical moments. At move 19, he sacrificed his knight intuitively, since “retreating wasn’t an option. I had to go for it”. Black’s defence was difficult, but Navara had a chance to hold by 23...Qc7! 24 Re4 h5! After that White’s attack crashed through, and Black sportingly allowed checkmate to appear on the board. |
| Levon Aronian v David Navara | Levon Aronian v David Navara |
| 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 b3 Bb4+ 6 Bd2 Be7 7 Nc3 O-O 8 Bg2 d5 9 cxd5 exd5 10 O-O Re8 11 Ne5 Bb7 12 Qc2 c5 13 dxc5 bxc5 14 Rad1 Qc8 15 e4 Bf8 16 f4 d4 17 Nd5 Nxd5 18 exd5 f6 19 Rde1! fxe5 20 fxe5 Nd7 21 e6 Nf6 22 Rxf6 gxf6 23 Qf5 Qd8? 24 Re4 Re7 25 Rg4+ Kh8 26 Be4 Rc8 27 Rh4 Kg8 28 Rxh7! Bxd5 29 Qg6+ Rg7 30 Qh5 Bxe4 31 Rh8 mate | 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 b6 4 g3 Ba6 5 b3 Bb4+ 6 Bd2 Be7 7 Nc3 O-O 8 Bg2 d5 9 cxd5 exd5 10 O-O Re8 11 Ne5 Bb7 12 Qc2 c5 13 dxc5 bxc5 14 Rad1 Qc8 15 e4 Bf8 16 f4 d4 17 Nd5 Nxd5 18 exd5 f6 19 Rde1! fxe5 20 fxe5 Nd7 21 e6 Nf6 22 Rxf6 gxf6 23 Qf5 Qd8? 24 Re4 Re7 25 Rg4+ Kh8 26 Be4 Rc8 27 Rh4 Kg8 28 Rxh7! Bxd5 29 Qg6+ Rg7 30 Qh5 Bxe4 31 Rh8 mate |
| 3509 1 Nc6+?? Qxc6+! 2 Qxc6 (or 2 Kxc6 Rc1+ wins) Rd6! (not Kxe6?? 3 Qd7 mate) and Kasparov resigned. If 3 Qxd6+ Kxd6 4 exf7 Ke7 and Black’s f4 pawn queens | 3509 1 Nc6+?? Qxc6+! 2 Qxc6 (or 2 Kxc6 Rc1+ wins) Rd6! (not Kxe6?? 3 Qd7 mate) and Kasparov resigned. If 3 Qxd6+ Kxd6 4 exf7 Ke7 and Black’s f4 pawn queens |
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