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Sarajevo 2

Raymond Keene

THIS week I give the full results of the important Sarajevo tournament. Although they achieved virtually identical results, Britain's Michael Adams will doubtless be elated while Alexei Shirov will be disap- pointed. Fired by his desire to outperform Kasparov and thus demonstrate that he should be the challenger in the world-title match later this year, Shirov led for much of the tournament. However, his com- bustible style let him down in the penulti- mate round, Kasparov streaked past him and Shirov had to be content with a share of second prize. Adams, on the other hand, had much less to prove and coasted unde- feated to the same score as Shirov. For him, it is close to being a career best. Adams has also managed to go through two tournaments without losing to Kasparov. A good sign for the future.

Sarajevo, Final Crosstable

3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 Y:121211 1 12 1 1 1 8V 12 1 1 12 1 12 12 y, 1 1 8 * y: 1 1 12 0 1 1 1 1 8 Y2* 12 12 1 0 12 1 1 12 6 o 12 * 12 12 Y2 1 12 1 1 6 o1, *y=1211 Y2 1 6 12 0 12 Y2 * 1 y1 12 y1 1, 4y, 11 Y2 Y,0 * Y=0 0 0 4 0 y, 00YY2*1 .

. 2 . Y ,Y 2 _4

0 0 12 0 12 1 * 12 12 4 0 0 0 YX 12 1 12 12 * 1 4 0 0 12 0 0 12 1 12 12 0 * 3 In the above table, 1 represents a win, y, a draw and 0 a loss.

1 1. Kasparov * 2. Adams Y2 3. Shirov

4. Morozevich Y2 5. Topalov y,

6. Bareev 0 7. Sokolov 0 8. Movsesian 0

9. Short y,

10. Georgiev 0 11. Gurevich 0 12. Bacrot 0 2 12

*

12 0 0 12 0 12 12 Y,

0

Adams–Morozevich: Sarajevo 2000; French Defence

1 e4 e6 2 d4 (15 3 Nd2 Be7 4 Bd3 c.5 5 dxc5 Nf6 6 Qe2 Nc6 7 Ngf3 Nh4 Tempting fate. Safer is 7

BxcS. 8 Nb3 Nxd3-I- 9 cxd3 a5 It was still not too late for 9 ... BxcS 10 NxcS Qa5+ though after 11 Bd2 Qxc5 12 Rel. White has a clear edge. Morozevich prefers to speculate. 10 Bg5 Interestingly, these two players had reached this exact position before. In the game Adams–Morozevich, Wijk aan Zee 2000 White played 10 a4 when after 10 ... b6 11 e5 Nd7 12 c6 Nc5 13 Ndb4 Ba6 14 Nb5 Nb3 15 Rbl Bb4+ the position was unclear. 10 ... a4 11 Nbd2 h6 If now 11 Bxc5 12 e5 is most uncomfortable. Morozevich therefore resolves to stay a pawn behind for ever but gains the bishop pair in com- pensation. 12 Bicf6 Bxf6 13 e5 Be7 14 Rd Ra5 15 Qe3 0-0 16 0-0 Bd7 17 Rc2 Qa8 18 Rfcl Rc8 19 Nfl Qa7 20 d4 After much manoeuvring around the c5-pawn White eventually decides to defend it by the most secure means possible. Adams

Diagram 1

doubtless delayed this, in the hope of using d4 for a knight. 20 ... Qa6 21 Ng3 b6 22 c6 This pawn will either be a source of strength or weakness. If Black rounds it up, his bishops might even give him the upper hand. 22 ... Be8 23 Nh5 White's counterplan is obvious. While Black is trying to regain the c6-pawn, White will try to obliterate the black king. 23 ... Qb5 24 g4 Ra7 25 g5 hxg5 26 NxgS Rac7 27 Khl A vitally important move in White's future plans. 27 ... Rxc6 28 Rxc6 Rxc6 29 Rgl Using the square vacated by White's king. 29 ...Qxb2 (Diagram 1) Now Black is a pawn ahead but the powers menacing his king are overwhelming. 30 Nxg7 Qc3 If 30 ... Kxg7 31 Nxe6 + + is murderous. 31 Nxe8 Black resigns Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 34 Black to play and win — first move only required. This puzzle is taken from the game Movsesian–Bacrot. Can you spot the immediate win?

Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 27 June or via e-mail to vanessa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first cor- rect answer drawn out of a hat, and each week I shall be offering a prize of a bottle of Ardbeg Malt Whisky.

Last week's solution: ... Qxc1 + Last week's winner: Mr J.A. Gammon, Suffolk.