The World Rapid Championship took place in Berlin last week with a host of leading grandmasters. Although rapid chess cannot boast the cachet of its more serious cousin, classical chess played at an appropriately sedate time limit, it is still a most exciting experience for the spectators and plenty of interesting positions are thrown up. Final results at the top were as follows: Magnus Carlsen 11½/15 ahead of Ian Nepomniachtchi, Teimour Radjabov and Lenier Dominguez Perez who all scored 10½.
White: Levon Aronian. Black: Igor Kovalenko. World Rapid, Berlin 2015. English Opening.
1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 Nf3 Nc6 4 g3 Nd4 If now 5 Nxe5 Qe7 is very strong, eg, 6 Qa4+ Kd8 or 6 Nd3 Bf5. 5 Bg2 Nxf3+ 6 Bxf3 Bb4 7 0-0 0-0 8 Qb3 a5 9 Rd1 Re8 10 d3 h6 11 Bg2 Ra6 12 h3 Rae6 While White dithers with marginal pawn moves, Black effects a powerful concentration of force in the centre. 13 Be3 d6 14 Na4 b6 15 a3 Bc5 16 Bd2 Nh5 17 Nxc5 dxc5 18 Bf3 Nf6 19 Qc2 Qe7 20 Bg2 e4 Black is already working up a pleasant initiative but White’s next move is a blunder which overlooks an ingenious sacrifice. 20 dxe4 would maintain parity. 21 Re1 e3 22 Bc1 22 Bxe3 Rxe3 23 fxe3 Qxe3+ 24 Kh2 Nh5 wins. Thus White must leave the pawn on e3 where it wreaks havoc. 22 ... Nh5 23 Rf1 exf2+ 24 Rxf2 Nxg3 25 e4 Rg6 26 Qd1 f5 27 exf5 Nxf5 28 Kh2 Qh4 29 Qf3 Bb7 30 Qxb7 Qxf2 White resigns
Spot the Move 981: White to move
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This position is from Van Wely-Pavlovic, World Rapid, Berlin 2015. Can you spot White’s fine tactical finish?
Send your solution (first move only), to Sunday Times Spot the Move 981, The Sunday Times, 1 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9GF, or email to puzzle.entries@sunday-times.co.uk. The first correct answer drawn after next Saturday wins £20.
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Solution to Spot the Move 979: 1 ... Qd5! wins by forking the rook and bishop since 2 Rxd5 Rg1+ leads to mate.
Winner
Chess 978
D Carter, Winkleigh, Devon