Sponsored by the London Chess Center
| Round 2 Wijk aan Zee |
The John Henderson Report: Round 2 January 16th 2000
THE WIJK WAY
Round 2 (January 16, 2000)
Anand, Viswanathan - Nikolic, Predrag 1-0 40 A90 Dutch defence
Piket, Jeroen - Kasparov, Gary 1/2 41 D97 Gruenfeld indian
Morozevich, Alexander - Kramnik, Vladimir 1/2 16 C42 Petroff defence
Short, Nigel D - Leko, Peter 1/2 41 B26 Sicilian; Closed
Van Wely, Loek - Korchnoi, Viktor 0-1 55 D20 QGA;
Adams, Michael - Polgar, Judit 1/2 27 B47 Sicilian
Lputian, Smbat G - Timman, Jan H 0-1 61 A34 English; 1.c4 c5
Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (NED), 15-30 i 2000 cat. XVIII (2697)
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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4
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1 Kasparov, Gary g RUS 2851 * . . = . . . . . 1 . . . . 1.5 2839
2 Anand, Viswanathan g IND 2769 . * . . = . . . . . . 1 . . 1.5 2850
3 Kramnik, Vladimir g RUS 2758 . . * . . = . . . . . . 1 . 1.5 2924
4 Piket, Jeroen g NED 2633 = . . * . . . . . . . . . 1 1.5 2921
5 Timman, Jan H g NED 2655 . = . . * . . . . . . . . 1 1.5 2880
6 Morozevich, Alexander g RUS 2748 . . = . . * = . . . . . . . 1.0 2741
7 Leko, Peter g HUN 2725 . . . . . = * = . . . . . . 1.0 2715
8 Short, Nigel D g ENG 2683 . . . . . . = * . . . = . . 1.0 2692
9 Polgar, Judit g HUN 2658 . . . . . . . . * . = . = . 1.0 2680
10 Korchnoi, Viktor g SUI 2659 0 . . . . . . . . * 1 . . . 1.0 2748
11 Van Wely, Loek g NED 2646 . . . . . . . . = 0 * . . . 0.5 2465
12 Nikolic, Predrag g BIH 2659 . 0 . . . . . = . . . * . . 0.5 2533
13 Adams, Michael g ENG 2715 . . 0 . . . . . = . . . * . 0.5 2515
14 Lputian, Smbat G g ARM 2605 . . . 0 0 . . . . . . . . * 0.0
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THE tradition of holding a chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee started in 1938 solely for the benefit of employees of Hoogovens, a large steel company whose furnaces dominate the surrounding area. On the occasion of the third tournament, in 1940, the organisers decided to make it a bit special by inviting ex-world champion Dr Max Euwe and, from then on, Wijk grow and grow to become one of the world's most famous tournaments.
Spectators in the tournament hall.
Only in 1945, due to virtually no transport in Holland in the closing days of WWII, did the tournament fail to take place. But, by 1946, it was back - even bigger and better with a line-up of ten players in the international. However, it wasn't until the 50s and 60s that the top players caught on to the chess magic that was happening in Wijk. Subsequent tournaments became stronger and stronger, becoming a must for the world's elite. In fact, of the world champions since the war, only the names of Vassily Smyslov and Bobby Fischer are missing from the winner's trophy.
Defending champion Garry Kasparov, perhaps the greatest of all the world champions, has been a late convert to Wijk when he played there for the first time last year. The story goes that he'd always disliked the idea of playing in the same playing hall as ordinary players. But this has been the 'Wijk way' and the organisers we're never going to change this tradition - even for one of the world's greatest. Finding his tournament diary a bit on the empty side due to one or two little problems with organising a title defence, Kasparov was having a lean time of it and was itching to get back to what he does best - playing chess.
Kasparov ready for action against
Piket
It's at this point I have to raise my hand to being party to his playing in 1999. Quite by chance at the Isle of Man tournament a couple of months before the tournament, Nigel Short informed me that he'd decided to withdraw form the line-up that day as his wife, Rhea, was expecting a baby (a healthy boy, Nicholas Darwin Short) and he wanted to be present at the birth. He felt that it was the least he could do - after all, he'd been there for the conception! Knowing that Garry wanted to get 'his hand in' before the 1999 Linares tournament, I contacted his agent in Florida, Owen Williams, that afternoon to inform him of a 'sudden vacancy'. The rest, as they say, is history.
Quite why Garry didn't like this idea of playing in the same hall as ordinary players is beyond me - it's what makes Wijk so special. Today, being a Sunday and meaning a larger than usual audience, saw them at least seven deep along the whole width of the playing venue as they watched the GM games on the large TV monitors - and in particular the meeting of Jeroen Piket and Garry Kasparov. It's this atmosphere that makes the tournament so unique with a constant buzz around the playing hall.
When you enter the De Moriaan Centre it's your gateway to chess heaven. Just outside, a permanent statue of a king on a board, cast in steel from the local foundry, is there as a gift from the chessplayers to the municipality of Beverwijk (of which Wijk aan Zee is part) on the celebration of the 50th tournament in 1988. Leading off the foyer to the De Moriaan Centre is a big marquee that is put up especially for the tournament due to the popularity of the commentaries for the GM tournament.
The event has been so popular that a marquee
has been erected.
Combinations of Rob Hartoch, Gert Ligterink, Hans Ree, John van der Wiel and Genna Sosonko - as well as foreign guests - are among the commentators who'll be sharing the commentary rota this year. Such is the Dutch eagerness for the game, each day the 300 seats there are always taken, leaving other chess fans standing wherever they can to hear the entertaining commentaries. Monitors show the games live and the visitors have a special duty to vote for the 500 guilder 'Best Game of the Day'; which is much sought after by the grandmasters.
It was GM John van der Wiel's turn on the demo
boards during round 2.
Today it was the turn of GM John van der Wiel to grace the stage offering us his thoughts on the games in progress. However, most of the interest from the large audience was on how Piket would fare against Kasparov…
Piket's struggle against Kasparov was the
focus of interest.
Initially things went Kasparov's way as Piket, who had worked hard on this line of the Grunfeld with 8 Bf4 and 9 d5 with both Viktor Korchnoi and Matthew Sadler, fell into the legendary Kasparov homework in a line he'd analysed in 1986 in preparation for his forthcoming title defence against Anatoly Karpov. Kasparov, with a trademark adjusting of the tie, uncorked the TN of 10..e5 after hardly looking at the position. It was a matter of preparation he informed his opponent afterwards. "I thought I was well acquainted with this position after working with Korchnoi and Sadler on it," said Piket at the press conference after the game. "But it turned out I didn't know enough. Kasparov said he had based his preparation on a game from the fifties that he had thoroughly analysed in 1986. It was a game between players I have never even heard of."
Piket-Kasparov round 2 at the start of
play.
Piket,J (2633) - Kasparov,G (2851)
Grunfeld Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 d5 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Qb3 dxc4 6 Qxc4 0–0 7 e4 Na6 8 Bf4 c5 9 d5 e6 10 d6 e5 11 Bxe5 Nb4 12 Rd1 The only other option looked dangerous. 12 0-0-0 Be6 13 Qb5 Nxa2+ 14 Nxa2 Bxa2 15 Qxb7 Rb8 16 Qxa7 Nxe4 17 Bxg7 (17 Qxa2 Bxe5 18 Nxe5 Qg5+ 19 Kc2 Qxe5) 17 ..Kxg7 18 Qxa2 Nxf2. 12 ..Be6 13 Qxc5 Nc2+ 14 Kd2 Nd7 15 Qc7 Nxe5 16 Qxd8 16 Nxe5 gives Kasparov enough play for the pawn with 16 ..Nb4 17 Nd3 (17 Qxd8 Rfxd8 18 Nd3 Rxd6) 17 ..Nxd3 18 Bxd3 (18 Qxd8 Rfxd8 19 Bxd3 Rxd6) 18 ..Qg5+ 19 Kc2 Rfc8 16 ..Raxd8 16 ..Nxf3+ 17 gxf3 Raxd8 18 Kxc2 Be5, as pointed out by Piket, would have given Kasparov easy equality due to the weak pawns. 17 Kxc2 Ng4 18 Rd2 Bh6 19 Re2 Rxd6 20 h3 Nf6 21 g4 Nd7 22 e5 Rb6 23 Nd4 On reflection, Piket felt that 23 b3!? may have been better for him. 23 ..Nc5 24 b3 Rd8 25 Nxe6 Nxe6 26 Re4! Rc6 Another option for Kasparov was 26 ..Rd2+ 27 Kb1 Rxf2 A) 28 Nd5 Nc5 29 Rc4 Nxb3 30 Nxb6 (30 axb3 Rxb3+ 31 Ka1 Ra3+) 30 ..Nd2+ 31 Ka1 axb6 32 Rc8+ Kg7 33 Bd3 Bf4; B) 28 Bc4 28 ..Rc6 with the idea of a6 and b5. 27 Bc4 a6? 27 ..Rd2+ 28 Kb1 Rxf2 like the previous note, is equality for Kasparov. 28 Rd1 Rdc8 The reason that Kasparov had played 27..a6? was that he'd expected to win with 28 ..Rxd1 29 Kxd1 b5 30 Bxe6 Rxc3. It was only after Piket had played 28 Rd1 he realised he'd missed 30 Nd5! Kf8 (30 ..Ng5 31 Rd4 Re6 32 f4) 31 Nb4 turning the tables. 29 Rd6 Nc5 30 Rxc6 Rxc6 31 Rd4 b5 32 b4 Piket was in desperate time-trouble at this stage with less than a minute to reach the time control. Its due to this pressure that he misses a couple of winning shots; the first being 32 Bd5 Ne6 (32 ..Rc7 33 f4) 33 Bxe6 Rxe6 (33 ..fxe6 34 Kd3 Bg7 35 Rd8+ Kf7 36 Rd7+ Kg8 37 f4) 34 f4 g5 35 Rd8+ Kg7 (35 ..Bf8 36 f5 Rxe5 37 Nd5) 36 f5 Rxe5 37 Nd5 f6 38 Kd3 Re1 39 Ra8. 32 ..bxc4 33 bxc5 Rxc5 34 f4 Bf8 35 Rd7 His second attempt, favoured by the pressroom, was 35 Rd5 Rc6 36 Ne4. But, with just under 30 seconds left, he opted for the instinctive rook to the seventh - allowing Kasparov to escape with a draw. 35 ..Ra5 36 g5 h6 37 h4 hxg5 38 hxg5 Bb4 39 Nd5 Rxa2+ 40 Kb1 Rd2 41 e6 fxe6 and with 42 Nf6+ Kf8 43 Nh7+ leading to a perpetual check, both players agreed a draw ½-½
The draw kept Kasparov and Piket at the top of the standings as Vladimir Kramnik, the third winner from the first round, agreed a quick draw in the Petroff Defence with his fellow Russian, Alexander Morozevich.
Morozevich - Kramnik round 2. A quick
draw.
The front-running trio got company from India's Viswanathan Anand, who was awarded the 500 guilder spectators' prize for his fine victory with White over Dutch champion Predrag Nikolic.
Viswanathan Anand broke through against
Nikolic's Stonewall Defence to take the daily spectators' prize .
The ever-smiling Indian, second behind Kasparov on the new FIDE rating list, had a good day at the office by crunching Nikolic's Stonewall Dutch with a few well-aimed pawn thrusts, culminating in a nicely worked out rook sacrifice for a decisive attack on the defenceless Black king.
Anand,V (2769) - Nikolic,P (2659)
Stonewall Dutch
1 d4 f5 2 g3 Nf6 3 Bg2 e6 4 c4 d5 5 Nh3 This is an interesting way of breaking down the Dutch Stonewall.Apart from supporting a potential Bf4 challenging Bd6, the ultimate idea behind it is for control of the all-important e5 square in the Stonewall.This is achieved with the double knight tour from h3-f4-d3 and b1-d2-f3. 5 ..c6 6 0-0 Bd6 7 Qc2 0-0 8 Nd2 Bd7 9 Nf3 Be8 10 Bf4 h6 11 Qb3! White's advantage is clear. 11 ..b6 12 Rfc1 Be7 12 ..g5 just opens up more problems for Black. 13 Bxd6 Qxd6 14 Ne5 Nbd7 15 cxd5 cxd5 16 f4 Ne4 17 Qe3! 13 cxd5 Nxd5 13 ..exd5 14 Ne5 and Black has development problems due to the weak c6 pawn. 14 Bd2 g5 15 Ne5 a5 16 e4! More open lines leading to the Black king ultimately proves decisive.16 ..fxe4 17 Bxe4 Ra7 18 f4 gxf4 19 Kh1! Moving out of the way of a potential check on d4 and at the same time clearing the way for the rook to come into the attack via the g-file. 19 ..Bf6 20 Nxf4 Qd6 21 Nfg6 Bxg6 22 Nxg6 Rff7 23 Bf4! Nxf4 24 gxf4 Bg7 24 ..Bxd4 25 Qh3 25 Qh3 Rf6 26 Rc3! Anand's coordination is superb.From c3, he threatens doubling on the c-file, the d-file or even to triple on the open g-file with Rg3, Qg2 and Rg1. 26 ..Qxd4 27 Qg2 Rd7 The knight on b8 is a sorry piece. 28 Rg1 b5 29 Rg3 Qa7 30 Ne5 Re7 31 Qd2 Qc7 32 Rd3 Re8 33 Rd6 c5 34 Ng4 Rff8 35 Nxh6+ Kh8 36 Ng4 36 Qd1 heading for h5 would have put Nikolic out of his misery a bit earlier. 36 ..Rd8 37 Qg2 Rxd6 38 Qh3+ Kg8 39 Qh7+ Kf7 40 Bg6+ 1-0
Jan Timman was perhaps a little
fortunate to join the leaders after round 2.
Holland's Jan Timman joined the quartet in first place thanks to a piece of good fortune against Armenia's Smbat Lputian. After sacrificing an exchange for a pawn and the imitative with Black in the English Opening, the position remained dynamically balanced for a long time. Due to the fact that Lputian had to spend a lot of time on the clock unraveling his uncoordinated pieces, he'd just managed to make the first time-control. As usual in such circumstances, Lputian tripped up on the 46th move - missing not just a way to stay alive but perhaps even a winning shot….
Lputian played 46 Qg3? and Timman wrapped it up nicely with 46..Qb6 47 Qe3 b4 48 Qxb6 Bxb6 49 Rxf7+ Kxf7 50 Bf1 Bc2 51 Rd2 b3 52 Bc4 e3 53 d6+ Kf6 54 fxe3 Be4+ 55 Rg2 b2 56 Ba2 Bxe3 57 h4 g4 58 d7 Ke7 59 Kh2 Bf4+ 60 Kg1 Bxg2 61 Kxg2 h5 0-1
However, it's not all that clear if Timman can hold on after 46 Rc1! with the idea of Rc6 and Qxh6+. Some supporting lines are: 46 Rc1! Bc4 47 Qc3+ Kg8 48 Ra8+ A) 48 ..Rf8 49 Rxf8+ Kxf8 50 Qh3 g4 51 Qg3 Qxg3 52 hxg3 e3 53 Bf1! A1) 53 ..Bxd5+? 54 Kh2 Bb6 55 Rb1! (55 fxe3 b4!) 55 ..Bc6 56 fxe3 Bxe3 57 Bg2; A2) 53 ..Bxf1 54 Rxf1 exf2 55 Kg2; B) 48 ..Bd8 49 Qd4 Rf4 (49 ..Bxd5 50 Rc6! Qxc6 51 Rxd8+ Rf8 52 Qxd5+ Qxd5 53 Rxd5 Rxf2 54 Rxb5 e3 55 Re5 Re2 56 Bf3 Re1+ 57 Kg2).
Viktor Korchnoi had much the worse for most of his game with Black in the Alekhine Variation of the Queen's Gambit Accepted against Holland's Loek van Wely. As the Dutchman continued to press, Gert Ligterink turned round in the pressroom and said to me: "The more van Wely presses for the win, the more I can see Korchnoi winning this game". And, sure enough, the mess van Wely left in the wake of his attack allowed Korchnoi to use his mastery of the endgame to finesse his opponent and win after six hours of play.
The two remaining games of the day were drawn: England's Michael Adams having the worst of it against Judit Polgar's Taimanov Sicilian Defence, while Polgar's fellow Hungarian, Peter Leko, equalizing with ease against Nigel Short's Closed Sicilian.