Chess Classic was impressive (From The Oxford Times)

Chess Classic was impressive

6:20am Thursday 31st December 2009

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December’s London Chess Classic was the most prestigious tournament held in England for years. I visited the Olympia Conference Centre and found first-class organisation and superb facilities.

The grandmaster commentary provided by, among others, Danny King, Stephen Gordon and Lawrence Trent was particularly well done.

The good news is that tournament organiser, Malcolm Pein, has more plans for major events up to and beyond the 2012 Olympics. In the invitation tournament, Norwegian teenager Magnus Carlsen confirmed his world-number-one status by finishing first ahead of ex-world champion Vladimir Kramnik.

In the supporting Fide Open Tournament, Carlsen’s compatriot, Jon Ludvig Hammer, scored a magnificent 8/9 — finishing a full point clear of the English trio Simon Williams, Mark Hebden and Jovanka Houska. Oxford University’s Michael Healey had an excellent tournament finishing on 5/9, culminating in the following demolition of a strong Nigerian player in the last round.

White: Michael Healey Black: Chiedu Maduekwe 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 There is a vast amount of literature on the French advance, of course; but it still counts as a sideline compared to the alternatives 3.Nc3 or 3.Nd2.

3…c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bd7 6.a3!? The main move here is 6.Be2. Michael’s move is more often seen — and is slightly more logical — against 5…Qb6.

6...f6!? 6...c4 is possible, but only for French Defence stodge merchants. Unfortunately — at least at club level — these are not rare animals.

7.Bd3! Qb6?! 7...Qc7 makes more sense. Then 8.0–0!? Represents a sacrifice since, although 8...0–0–0 is usually played, 8…fxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 is possible. Then if 10.Bf4 (10.dxe5 Qxe5 11.Re1 gives some compensation) 10...Qb6! 11.Bxe5 Qxb2 leaves Black on top.

8.b4 cxd4 9.cxd4 0–0–0 Obviously 9...Nxd4? 10.Nxd4 Qxd4 11.Bg6+ is not good for Black.

10.Bb2 Kb8 11.0–0 Nge7 12.b5 Na5 Against12...Nf5, 13.Qa4 is a good reply.

13.Nc3 Nc4 14.Bxc4 dxc4 15.a4 Rc8 Here Black might have tried 15...Nd5 16.a5 Nxc3!

16.a5 Qd8 17.Qe2 Nd5 18.Rfb1 Bb4 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Bc1!? Bxa5 This is suicide; but what else should Black play? In fact, he is under a lot of pressure and would have done very well to find the best move 20...Bc3! White could reply 21.Ra3 and this looks good – until you see that 21…Bf5! is possible.

21.e6 Be8 22.b6! This is an excellent move – clearing lines for White’s heavy pieces.

22…axb6 This loses; but 22...Bxb6 23.Bf4+ Bc7 (or 23...Ka8 24.e7!) 24.Qa2 was no better.

23.Bf4+ Ka7 The desperate 23...Rc7 is nicely met with 24.Rxb6! Bxb6 25.Qa2 24.Qb2 b5 25.e7! Qb6 26.Qb4 Ka6 27.Ra3 1–0

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