Magnus Carlsen, the 17-year old Norwegian prodigy, has won a convincing victory at the Aerosvit tournament at Foros in the Ukraine.  Significantly, he not only outclassed Vassily Ivanchuck, the current high-flier in terms of international performance, but also beat Ivanchuck, who was competing on his home turf, in their individual game:

Carlsen finished on 8/11 ahead of Ivanchuk, Karjakin and Eljanov.  Carlsen now has real chances of smashing the record set by Kasparov for becoming the youngest ever world champion.  Kasparov did this age 22 in 1985.  Magnus therefore has around five years left in which to topple the record.

Nisipeanu - Carlsen
Aerosvit Tournament (7), Foros Ukraine 2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6

 

 

Carlsen is one of the few top players who is prepared to risk the Dragon variation.  In the past, it has been espoused by Garry Kasparov, Tony Miles and Viktor Korchnoi.

 

However, Miles is no longer with us, Kasparov has retired and Korchnoi’s most famous game with it was a loss to Karpov.  Hence, Carlsen’s espousal of the Dragon must indicate that he is satisfied with its theoretical foundations.  In modern computer-orientated opening theory any holes in preparation will inevitably be exploited.

 

6.Be2

 

This is far from being the most testing line.  6 Be3 followed by f3, Qd2 and 0-0-0 is considered more dangerous.  The less noxious version chosen by White here is confirmation that Carlsen’s opponents tend to fear his openings erudition.

 

6...Bg7 7.0-0 Nc6

 

 

White’s coming manoeuvres show that he is losing the thread.  There is nothing wrong with the simple 8.Be3.

 

8.Nb3 0-0 9.Kh1 a6 10.f4 b5

 

 

In time honoured fashion, where the Sicilian Defence has gone wrong for White, Black expands on the queenside.

 

11.Bf3 Bb7 12.a4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Na5 15.c3 bxc3 16.bxc3 Rc8

 

 

Black could of course capture on c3 here but prefers to increase the pressure to intolerable proportions.

 

17.Rb1 Ba8 18.Nd2 Nc4 19.Nxc4 Rxc4 20.Bd2 Qa5 21.Qe1 Bxd5 22.Be2

 

 

22...Qxa4

 

Black’s decision to sacrifice the exchange, i.e. rook for bishop, is essentially routine.  After the trade Black’s pieces dominate the board and there is little that White will be able to do to prevent the advance of the a-pawn.

 

23.Bxc4 Bxc4 24.Rf2 e6 25.Be3 Bd5 26.Rfb2 Qe4 27.Qd2 h5 28.Bd4 Bh6 29.Be3 a5 30.Rb8 Kh7 31.h3 Rxb8 32.Rxb8 Bg7 33.Bd4 Bxd4 34.cxd4 a4 35.Kh2 a3 36.Rb4 a2 37.Ra4 Qb1 0-1 White resigns

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The Masquerade-like conundrum was drawn up in a police station cell by a man who says he knows the spot where a woman’s body is buried in a shallow grave.  Raymond Keene, a former British chess champion and a chess correspondent of The Times stayed awake until 4.30am yesterday studying the man’s scribblings on two sheets of paper after he was called in by police desperate to end the six-month mystery.  Overnight Keene deduced that the body of Therese Terry, a 43-year-old divorcee from Preston, Lancashire was buried near Limerick, Ireland... Learn More!

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