Chess from Malcolm Pein Chess for Wednesday December 28th 2005

Malcolm Pein writes for the Daily Telegraph

The 81st Hastings International Chess Congress starts today at the Horntye Park Sports Complex. The Open Masters Tournament has attracted 108 players from a record 30 countries. The field is led by last year's Premier winner, Vladimir Belov of Russia and Sergey Erenburg of Israel. There are many other sections for more casual players of any strength and the games end with the traditional Weekend Congress which takes place on 7th 8th January.

Britain's longest running tournament is supported by Hastings Borough Council and the English Chess Federation together with a coalition of local businesses including Carr Taylor Vineyards, Deutsch Ltd, General Dynamics, KC Computers, Medoil plc, The Pig in Paradise and the White Rock Hotel.

Russian Championship Round five results.

Tomashevsky 0-1 Kramnik
Volkov 0-1 Morozevich
Jakovenko draw Svidler
Zvjaginsev draw Bareev
Khalifman draw Dreev
Rublevsky 1-0 Motylev

Round six results Kramnik 0-1 Bareev
Morozevich draw Zvjaginsev
Svidler draw Khalifman
Dreev 0-1 Volkov
Motylev 0-1 Jakovenko
Tomashevsky draw Rublevsky

Scores:

1 Rublevsky 4.5/6; 2-4 Svidler, Jakovenko, Zvjaginsev 4; 6-7 Bareev, Morozevich 3.5; 7 Kramnik 3; 8-11 Motylev, Dreev, Tomashevsky, Khalifman 2; 12 Volkov 1.5;

Alexander Morozevich has been in a mean mood since oversleeping and losing a game by default.

S Volkov - A Morozevich
Nimzo Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Nge2 Re8 6.a3 Bf8 7.g3 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bg2 a5 10.0-0 Na6 (This looks very comfortable for Black who develops while obstructing White's Minority Attack with pawns on the queenside.. The Bc1 and Ne2 are passively placed ) 11.Bd2?! ( Better not to move it at all. 11.f3!? c6 12.e4) 11...c6 12.Rc1 (12.f3 Bf5) 12...Nc7 13.Na4 Ne6 14.b4 Ne4 (Black is already more active) 15.Be1 axb4 16.axb4 Nd6 17.Nc5 Nc7! (Avoiding simplification) 18.Nb3 h5 19.Na5?! (A knight on the rim... 19.h4 was better) 19...h4 20.Nf4 hxg3 21.hxg3 Ne6 (Now the object is to remove a defender of the king) 22.Nd3 Ng5! 23.g4? f5 24.Ne5 fxg4 25.Nxg4 Ngf7 (With the idea of Re6-g6 or Qh4) 26.f4 (26.Ne5!? would have made some sense of the Na5 and Rc1 in the following strange variation 26...Nxe5 27.dxe5 Rxe5 [27...Nf5 is better for Black, coming to h4] 28.Rxc6 bxc6? 29.Nxc6 Qf6 30.Nxe5 Qxe5 31.Qxd5+ ) 26...Bxg4 27.Qxg4 Rxe3 28.f5 Ne4 29.Nxb7 Qf6 30.Rd1 Ra2 31.Nc5 Bxc5 32.bxc5 Ree2 (A rout ensues as all 5 Black pieces converge on the white king but White misses a chance for survival) 33.Bf3 Rh2 34.Bxe4 dxe4 (34...Qg5!?) 35.Bf2 (35.Rf2! Rh4 36.Qg6 Rxf2 37.Qxf6 gxf6 38.Bxf2 Rg4+ 39.Kf1 Rf4 40.Ke2 Rxf5 41.Rg1+ with good chances to save the game) 35...Qh6 36.Qxe4 Re2! 37.Qg4 (37.Qxe2 Rh1+ 38.Kg2 Qh3#) 37...Ng5 38.Qg3 Nh3+! 39.Kxh2 Nxf2+ 40.Kg1 Qh1 mate

Morozevich

Volkov

Final position after 40...Qh1 mate