An Elite Player Fails to Learn From a Competitor’s Mistake
Submitted by
avishka on Fri, 06/19/2009 at 4:18am.
Before the Internet and laptop computers and chess databases, players who wanted to keep abreast of developments in the opening phase of the game had to rely on magazines and books. They were published weeks or even months after important games, so the information was often out of date.
Today’s top competitors have a wealth of up-to-the-minute information, particularly about games of other elite players. So they should be prepared for every match.
But that’s not necessarily the case.
At the rapid tournament in León, Spain, which ended last weekend, Wang Yue of China was leading Magnus Carlsen of Norway in a semifinal match. All he had to do was to draw the last regulation game to advance.
Instead, he blundered into the same losing line that led to the defeat of Viswanathan Anand of India by Vassily Ivanchuk of Ukraine in last year’s final. Afterward, Wang said he had not looked at that game.
The opening was a well-analyzed variation of the Nimzo-Indian Defense.
White’s 11 d5 is meant to take advantage of Black’s temporary weakness on the h1-a8 diagonal. Black can play 11 ... Bc3, although after 12 de6 Bb4 13 ed7 Qd7 14 a3 Bd6 15 Bg5, White has some uncomfortable pressure against Black’s position.
Wang’s 11 ... Nc5 was also played by Anand, and Carlsen continued as Ivanchuk had with 12 Rd1. Through 14 Nc7, the games were identical, but then Wang erred, although differently than Anand. Anand played 14 ... Qe4, and after 15 Rd4 Qg6 16 Nh4 he resigned because 16 ... Qh5 17 Qh5 Nh5 18 Be2 and Black’s rook, bishop and knight are all attacked, so he must lose material.
Instead, Anand could have played 14 ... Qe2 15 Be2 Rb8, when Black is fine. For example, 16 Bf4 Rb7 17 a3 Nb3 18 Rab1 Bc5 19 Nd5 Nd5 20 Rd5 Be6 is good for Black. Or 16 Bf4 Rb7 17 a3 Nb3 18 ab4 Na1 19 Ra1 Nh5 20 Nd5 Rd7 21 Ne5 Rd5 22 Bh5 f6 23 Bf3 Rd4 24 Be3 fe5 25 Bd4 ed4, when Black actually has an edge.
Wang also missed 14 ... Qe2, and retribution was swift. He resigned because he had no compensation for his material deficit and faced a hopeless endgame. For example, 23 ... Re8 24 Nd7 Nd7 25 Rd7 Re7 26 Rd8 Re8 27 Re8 Ke8 28 f4, and Black has no good prospects.
After tying the match against Wang, Carlsen beat him in a playoff. He then went on to beat Ivanchuk in the final.
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