RdbN The U ltimate Islay Malt.
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CHESS
Garry triumphant Raymond Keene
GARRY KASPAROV has reasserted his authority in the chess world, winning the powerful tournament at Wijk aan Zee in Holland by the overwhelming margin of one and a half points. Impressive though this is, it will have little effect on Kasparov's already immense rating, which towers above his rivals. Sharing second prize were Vladimir Kramnik, Viswanathan Anand and Peter Leko, one of whom must figure in a champi- onship challenge this year against Kasparov. Great tournament results are fine, but the chess championship has traditionally been decided by a match, and since Kasparov last defended his title in 1995 a mano a mano challenge match is long overdue.
Kasparov—Van Wely: Wijk aan Zee 2000; Sicilian Defence 1 e4 c5 2 Islf3 d6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Be3 e6 7 f3 An exciting and modern line of the Sicilian Defence in which White invariably castles queenside while Black frequently leaves his king in the centre. 7 ...b5 8 g4 h6 9 Qd2 Nbd7 100-0-0 Bb7 11 h4 b4 12 Na4 Interestingly, Kasparov has changed sides for this game. In his game against Anand from Linares 1999 Anand, as White, played 12 Nbl against Kasparov. 12 ...d5 12 Qa5 is more usual. 13 Bh3 g5 This is a risky new move attempting to improve upon 13 ... Qa5 which has not proved successful. 14 Bg2 Modern high-level chess sometimes looks a bit like rocket science. One would have expect- ed here 14 hxg5 but Kasparov doubtless believes that the threat is stronger than the execution. 14 gxh4 15 Rxh4 dxe4 This looks suicidal. I would have preferred 15 ...Ne5 with the threat of ... Nc4. If however 15 ... Nxe4 16 Exe4 Qxh4 17 exd5 with numerous threats against Black's virtually undeveloped position. 16 g5 Nd5 17 Rxe4 hxg5 18 Bxg5 Qa5 19 f4 Rh2 11 19 ... Oxa2 20 Nxe6 fxe6 21 Rxe6+ Kf7 22 Bxd5 when the full fury of White's centralised pieces is unleashed against the black king. 20 Nxe6 White is not to be denied. 20 ... fxe6 21 Rxe6+ IC17 22 Qd3 A fabulous quiet move. A piece down already White leaves knight, rook and bishop hanging in order to create a light-squared avenue towards the black king. 22 ...Bg7 If 22 ICxe6 23 Bxd5+ followed by 0g6+. 23 Qf5+ 1Cg8 24 Rxd5 Qxa4 25 Re7 Black resigns If 25
Bxd5 26 Qxd5 + Kh8 27 Qxa8+ Nf8 28 Bf6 and Black's resistance collapses.
Wijk awl Zee Final Crosstable
1 23 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
1. Kasparov Y2 Y2 YE 1 12 YE 1 1 h 1 1 YE 1 912 2. Kramnik Y2 * Y2 Y2 Y2 1 Y2 Y2 12 y, y, y, 8 3. Leko Y2 Y2 * h Y2 h11 1 12 12 1 1 Y2 8 4. Anand 12 h YE * Y2 YE 12 YE 1 Y2 Y2 1 1 y, 8 5. Morozevich0 Y2 12 YE * 12 h 0 112 1 12 11 7Y2 6. Adams 12 0 12 12 1 * 12 1 0 1 %, y, 1 7 7. Piket 12 12 12 12 12 * 1 0 1 0 0 112 612 8. Timman 0 12 VI Y, 1 0 0 * y2 YE Y2 YE 11 612 9. Nikolic 12 0 0 0 1 1 1, * Y2 1 12 12 6 10. Short Y2 0 Y2 Y2 Y2 0 0 Y2 Y2 * 1 Y2 h Y2 5Y2 11. Polgar 0 Y2 Y2 y, o y, 1 y, y, 0 y, 0 y„ 5 12. Korchnoi 0 Y2 0 0 12 12 1 12 0 12 Y2 * 0 1 5 13. Lputian 12 00 0 0 12 0 0 Y2 h 11 * Y2 4Y2 14. Van Wely 0 lh YE YE 0 0 Y, 0 y, V y: 0 h.* 4
In the above table, 1 represents a win, V a draw and 0 a loss. The top 12 in the new rating list are as follows: Kasparov 2851, Anand 2769, Kramnik 2758, Shirov 2751, Morozevich 2748, Leko 2725, Adams 2715, Ivanchuk and Bareev 2709, Topalov 2702, Karpov 2696 and Gurevich 2694. Nigel Short is rated number 15 on 2675 while Alexander Khalifman the FIDE 'world champion' is number 31 on 2656.
Ardbeg Malt Whisky Puzzle No. 14 White" to play and win — first move only required. This position is a variation from the game Morozevich–Lputian, Wijk aan Zee 2000. White has various strong moves here but only one forces mate in three moves. Can you see it?
Answers to me at The Spectator by Tuesday 8 February or via e-mail to vanessa@spectator.co.uk or by fax on 020 7242 0603. The winner will be the first correct 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: Qx116+ Last week's winner: J. Wilman, Dundee.
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