Independent Pursuits: Chess
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED for Azov in Russia at the end of November, the European Club Championships were, like almost everything Fide, involuntarily rerouted - in this case to Belgrade from 11-13 January.
The eight immensely powerful finalists, every one stronger than all but the top two dozen national sides, were led by Agrouniversal from Zemum, in the former Yugoslavia, the line-up of which started Kramnik, Anand, Beliavsky, Gelfand...
You would have thought that a powerhouse like this would have walked the competition, or at least into the final. But in an amazing upset they went down 3.5-2.5 in the very first of the three knockout rounds to Polonia Warsaw. Meanwhile an even greater upset in rating terms occured when Beersheva beat the powerful St Petersburg team 4.5-1.5. The next day, too late, Agrouniversal redeemed themselves by crushing St Petersburg 4-2. And in the battles between the winners, Panfox, from Breda, slaughtered Bosna Sarajevo 5-1, while Polonia defeated Beersheva 4-2.
To begin with, it looked as though Panfox would win the final easily after the Polonia top board, Alexei Shirov, fell into a prepared variation in his favourite Grunfeld defence, while the Dutch team had good positions on all other boards. But after a long think Shirov found an excellent pawn sacrifice, and when his opponent blundered a rook and lost, the match appeared to have turned on its head.
Only in the time scramble did things go Panfox's way and they finally prevailed 3.5-2.5. Michael Adams's win against Rozentalis led the charge. Black appeared to be doing quite well but the excellent demolition sacrifice 34.Bxg6! proved decisive since the queen and two rooks were too powerful an attacking force. After 36.Qh5! the threat of 37.R7xg7! Rxg7 38.Qh8+ was decisive. More games from this excellent event later in the week.
White: Michael Adams
Black: Eduardas Rozentalis
Belgrade 1999
French Defence
1.d4 e6
2.e4 d5
3.Nd2 dxe4
4.Nxe4 Bd7
5.Nf3 Bc6
6.Bd3 Nd7
7.c3 Ngf6
8.Nxf6+ Nxf6
9.0-0 Bxf3
10.Qxf3 Qd5
11.Qe2 Be7
12.Re1 0-0
13.Bf4 c6
14.a4 Rfd8
15.Bc7 Re8
16.Be5 a5
17.Qc2 g6
18.Rad1 Qd8
19.Qb3 Qd7
20.h4 Ng4
21.h5 Nxe5
22.dxe5 Qc8
23.Re3 Bg5
24.Rh3 Qc7
25.Re1 Rad8
26.Qc2 Re7
27.Re4 Red7
28.Rg3 Bh6
29.hxg6 hxg6
30.Rh4 Bg7
31.f4 Kf8
32.Kh2 Rd5
33.Rh7 R8d7
34.Bxg6 fxg6
35.Qxg6 Rf7
36.Qh5! Bxe5
37.Qh6+ Rg7
38.fxe5 Qxe5
39.Qxg7+
Black resigns
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments