Malcolm Pein on…The Cautious Candidate

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It’s back to the FIDE Candidates Tournament in today’s Daily Telegraph column, as Malcolm Pein resumes his coverage of the important event.

Malcolm Pein on…The Cautious Candidate

The wild card to the Candidates, given to Kiriil Alekseenko of Russia, was controversial at the time as he became by far the lowest-rated participant. The organising country has the right to nominate a player, a rule that FIDE should abolish.

Alekseenko’s selection had some sporting merit, as he narrowly missed direct qualification at the 2019 FIDE Grand Swiss on the Isle of Man. His poor play in round 10 may have gifted tournament victory to another fellow-Russian, Ian Nepomniachtchi, who extended his lead to a full point with four to play.

Michael Adams analysed Nepo-Alekseenko in Saturday’s paper, so instead, this wild encounter. Grischuk thought for 72 minutes over his 11th move.

Wang Hao – A. Grischuk
French Classical

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nce2 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.f4 Be7 8.Nf3 f6 9.Be3 0–0 10.g3 Qb6 11.Qd2

Cautious Candidate: Wang Hao – A. Grischuk

11…cxd4 12.Nfxd4 (Grischuk struggled to unravel 12.Nexd4 fxe5 13.Nxe6 d4 14.Nxf8 dxe3 15.Bc4+, see puzzle below) 12…Nc5 13.exf6 Bxf6 (If 13…Rxf6 14.Nb3 Ne4 15.Qd3 Nc5 16.Bxc5 Bxc5 17.Nxc5 Qxc5 18.0–0–0 with an edge) 14.Nb3 Ne4 15.Qd3 Qc7 16.Bg2 Nd6 17.Bf2 Nc4 18.Qc2 Ne7 19.0–0 e5 (After 19…Bd7 20.Rfe1 e6 is weak) 20.fxe5 Bf5

Wang Hao – A. Grischuk

21.exf6 Bxc2 22.fxe7 Rfe8 23.Nf4 Nb6 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.Bxd5+ Kh8 26.Nd4 Qd7 27.c4 Bg6 28.Ne6 Rxe7 29.Rae1 Bf7 (29…Bf5!) 30.Nxg7 Bxd5? (Time trouble, 30…Rxe1 31.Bxe1 Kxg7 32.Rxf7+ Qxf7 33.Bxf7 Kxf7 is better for Black) 31.Rxe7 Qxe7 32.Nf5 Qf8 33.Bd4+ Kg8 34.cxd5 h5! 35.d6 Kh7 36.Ne7 Qe8! 37.Rf6 Rd8 38.Bc3 Rxd6 39.Rxd6 Qxe7 40.Rd4 Kg6 41.a3 Qe3+ draw

Test Your Strength

Wang Hao – A. Grischuk Alternative Variation

Today’s puzzle. 15…Kxf8 or 15…Kh8?

Highlight the space below this line to reveal the answer.

15…Kh8! 16.Qd5 Nf6! is good for Black. Not 15…Kxf8 16.Qd5 Ke8 17.Qg8+ Nf8 18.0-0-0.

Play Through the Game

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