Chess

THE SEVENTH Sigeman and Co tournament in Malmo ended on Wednesday in victory for Boris Gelfand by a clear point, on 7/9.

He had started the category 14 event (average 2,578) with a magnificent 6/7, all but assuring him of victory with two remaining.

Gelfand eased down as Black against Lars Karlsson in the penultimate round to draw in just 15 moves, but then fought hard in the last round against Jan Timman before they both ran out of ammunition on move 46.

Behind Gelfand came Movsesian 6, Agrest 5.5, De Firmian (who, upsettingly, was in second after seven rounds but lost both his last two games to the Swedes Hall and Karlsson), Lautier and Timman 5; Lars Karlsson and Hall 4, Jonny Hector - who always seems to play terribly in Malmo and indeed was clear last the previous two years - on 2, and Akesson just 1.5.

Apart from the last two rounds and draws with De Firmian and Hector, Gelfand won all the rest. This powerful attacking game was the second in a string of four victories, from rounds two to five.

The interesting pawn sacrifice 13 d5 opened lines for both white's bishops towards the enemy king.

It looks very dangerous, but I do feel that Black should be able to defend - perhaps with 17...Qe7.

19 ...Kh8! was forced in view of the threat of 20 Qg6!. In the diagram, 23 ...Nf8? was terrible and Lautier had to resign just four moves later, since he was losing his queen for grossly inadequate compensation. But after the excellent deflection 23 ...b5! (which can't be taken in view of 24 Bxb5? Qb7+) it's much more complex, eg:

A) If 24 Bd5 c4! (not 24...Nb6? 25.Rxh6+! forcing mate) I don't see anything better than 25.Bxf6 Nxf6 26.Rxf6 gxf6 27.Qxf6+ Kh7 28.Qf5+with a draw

B) 24. Bd3! c4 25.Rg2! Nf8 28. Bb1! is very dangerous. Not then 28...Qc5 29.Qxf6! and if 28...Qd7 29.Qh5! helps White so perhaps 28...Qb7!?

White: Boris Gelfand

Black: Joel Lautier

Malmo 1999 (Round 3)

Queen's Gambit Meran

jspeelman@compuserve.com

1 d4 d5

2 c4 c6

3 Nf3 Nf6

4 Nc3 e6

5 e3 Nbd7

6 Qc2 Bd6

7 Bd3 0-0

8 0-0 h6

9 b3 b6

10 Bb2 Bb7

11 Rac1 dxc4

12 bxc4 c5

13 d5!? exd5

14 Nxd5 Nxd5

15 cxd5 Bxd5

16 Rfd1 Bxf3

17 gxf3 Qc7

18 Bc4 Rad8

19 f4 Kh8

20 Qf5 f6

21 Kh1 Rfe8

22 Rg1 Re7

23 Rg6 (see diagram)

23 Nf8?

24 Rxh6+! gxh6

25 Bxf6+ Rg7

26 Bxg7+ Qxg7

27 Rg1

Black resigns