Round 1 6th July 2002

MEIN SYSTEM

Venue

AS anybody who’s ever seen Germans very early in the morning neatly spreading their towels on all the best seats around the swimming pools of the world, Germany is sehr systematisch.

The government machine purrs like a Mercedes in overdrive. Regional and city government work hand-in-hand. Every town has an orchestra, a ballet troupe, a Stadttheater, a choir and probably a puppet theatre also. Every village has a band. Everything looks permanently spring-cleaned. Everything is ultra-modern. Vorsprung durch Technik, as the Germans would say.

Banks and financial institutions think and act long-term. Companies have constitutions which stress they should do more than just make money for their shareholders. The whole country behaves like a republic which wishes it was a monarchy which is probably why they have a Fatherland when everyone else has a Motherland. Away from the swimming pools, where the early morning towel-laying ceremony seems to antagonise everybody, all the Germans I’ve ever met know they are living in the best place this side of paradise. But they are still not happy. They want to be loved. Which, as Goethe said somewhere or other, ist der Schüssel ze allem.

And it’s precisely because Germans are systematic and thorough that they are efficient. Somehow it just seems to be in their blood. I once heard a story that the day after the Berlin Wall came down in Wunderjahr of 1989, the first thing the East Germans did was to take back to the libraries in West Berlin the books they had borrowed before they were cut off from the rest of the world. One man apparently took back Thomas Mann’s Death in Venice which was nearly thirty years overdue. I can’t make up my mind whether it would have been more German for the library to make him pay the fine, which must have been well over DM5,000, or let him off, or whether the man himself would have wanted to pay or to be let off.

Being so thorough and systematic, I think this is the main reason why Dortmund organiser Carsten Hensel didn’t want to “spoil” his little tournament by expanding it to allow in the likes of Ivanchuk and Anand. His reasoning was sound: players had exchanged contracts way back in January, expecting to play in an eight player tournament. The Prague accord was only made in May, so therefore all the players playing in Dortmund would have had to revise their plans for preparation. Not only that, but with the addition of an extra couple of players (not that for one moment Anand was ever going to accept an invitation to Dortmund after the way he felt he had been treated the year before) the logistics of trying to reorganise the tournament would have been too much for any decent, law abiding German to deal with. Why change the format when the original is already organised as it is, ja?

And talking about systems, this is a particularly new one for the players to deal with, but they unanimously agreed during the press conference on the eve of the tournament that at least with it they are getting back to something they all want to see: the return of Classical Chess. Big Vlady’s new backers Einstein TV want to be seen as the custodians of Classical Chess. Not for them the lottery of rapidchess that seems to be indoctrinated within FIDE these days. This was the in-joke with all the hacks as we patiently awaited an announcement during the Prague Deal, the main reason why the meeting couldn’t be adjourned was that FIDE had forgotten how to these days!

Malcolm Pein, Dr Toby Murcott (Channel editor of Einstein tv) and Carsten Hensel at press conference.

According to Einstein, who were represented at the press conference and opening ceremony by their Channel Editor Dr Toby Murcott, "wherever Einstein goes, chess will go." It was at this point I felt like chipping in with something like "Since your shares have been suspended (when they started trading again on Friday they rallied to something like 1.3p - not even enough to buy Ray Keene a decent meal these days if he cashed in his shares) on the Alternative Investment Market for failure to publish your accounts, not to mention the fact that your brokers have coincidently resigned at the same time, does this mean if you go down the plughole then you want to take chess with you?". I must be losing my touch, but I didn't feel like rocking the boat so early on - in any case, I didn't fancy the long journey home to be left covering all the excitement of the Scottish Championships in Stirling. However, I think they were expecting someone to ask this tricky question and seemed confident enough to answer without 'doing an Enron' by pleading the fifth - a fact that was confirmed to me later by their chess advisor, Malcolm Pein - who co-incidentally pays my wages and all these foreign junkets. Not that I would ever let that sway my journalistic integrity.

According to Murcott, Einstein has big plans for the future broadcasting of chess on TV, which in the past programmers have placed just behind the excitement of exclusive drip by drip coverage of watching paint dry – both gloss and emulsion. Einstein today broadcast to the UK, Germany and Switzerland. Shortly they hope to be offering coverage in the Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine and Italy – and hope by the end of the year to be broadcasting in some 25 million homes in the US. “All of which,” explained Murcott, “will include high-quality chess coverage.” Just now you can only get coverage of Einstein on Sky Digital on channel 576, where apparently I’ve been reassured by Dr Murcott that some coverage of Dortmund will be shown there. I also have it on good authority that Einstein are involved in some delicate negotiations just now with the BBC for showing coverage of Big Vlady’s Brains in Bahrain showdown with Deep Fritz this October, which if it all works out could lead to the Beeb covering Kramnik’s first defence of his Classical World Chess Championship.

Dr Murcott

One thing I liked about Dr Murcott was his impish sense of humour. He had the nerve to open his press conference speech with a joke at the expense of the Germans – I thought it was only me that did silly things like that. He then asked me for some advice in what to say during the official opening ceremony for the tournament. Unfortunately he didn’t feel like using the bit I gave him about congratulating Brazil in deservedly winning the World Cup! One thing we were in agreement about, though, was that how the system would have to change if chess was going to go on TV.

I’m afraid the notoriously reliable German system let us down here. You try getting a clear picture – either camera or TV – of the players on a small stage when their board seem to be surrounded with flags and pendants. “That’ll have to go,” murmured the good Doctor. I heartily agreed. Unfortunately the Germans, through ChessGate, also ran the technology for relaying the moves to the press room. Whilst they have to be congratulated on a (near) flawless transmission on the internet, it wasn’t exactly all systems go in the press room. To their utter frustration – “It should vork perfectly!” – we had next to no coverage in the press room, which I suppose could be compared to a pub with no beer – did someone mention beer?

Morozevich,A (2716) - Bareev,E (2726) [B14]

1 e4 c6 2 d4 d5 3 exd5 cxd5 4 c4 Nf6 5 Nc3 e6 6 c5 [A favourite of former world correspondence world champion and Two Knight's guru, Yacob Estrin. White intends a quick pawn-roller on the queenside, forcing Black to react actively to avoid being pushed off the board in the opening.] 6 ..Be7 7 Nf3 0–0 8 b4 b6! 9 Rb1 bxc5? [After the game, Bareev admitted he had a "completely miserable position after this". He should have opted for 9 ..a5. Releasing the tension too early is good for White. Also instead of 9 ..a5, Black can play 9 ..Ne4: 9 ..Ne4 10 Qc2 f5 11 Bd3 Bf6 12 0–0 g5 13 Ne2 a5 14 c6 Na6 15 Bxa6 Rxa6 16 b5 Ra7 17 Ba3 Re8 18 Ne5 Nd6 19 Bxd6 Qxd6 20 f4 a4 21 Nc1 Ree7 22 Ncd3 Rg7 23 Rb4 a3 24 Ra4 gxf4 25 Rxa7 Rxa7 26 Rxf4 Qf8 27 Rf3 Kh8 28 Rh3 Rg7 29 Qa4 Qg8 30 Qc2 Rg4 31 Qf2 Re4 32 Rf3 Qg7 33 Rf4 Kg8 34 Qg3 Re2 35 Rf2 Re4 36 Rf4 Re2 37 Qxg7+ Kxg7 38 Rf2 Re4 39 Rf4 Re2 40 Rf2 Re4 41 Rf4 1/2–1/2 Estrin,Y-Goldberg,G/Moscow 1955/MCD.] 10 bxc5 Ne4 11 Nxe4 dxe4 12 Ne5 Qc7 [12 ..f6? 13 Rxb8 Rxb8 14 Nc6 Qc7 15 Nxb8 Qxb8 16 Qb3!] 13 Bf4! Rd8

14 Qa4?! [Morozevich misses the best shot: 14 Ng6! Qa5+ 15 Bd2 Qc7 16 Nxe7+ Qxe7 17 Ba5 with a big advantage.] 14 ..g5! [The only move] 15 Bd2 [ 15 Bg3!? f5 16 Nf7 f4 17 Nxd8 Qxd8 18 Bb5 Bf6 19 Rd1 also looked good for White.] 15 ..Bd7 16 Bb5 Bxb5 17 Qxb5 Rxd4! [Bareev was convinced that Morozevich had simply missed this resource - Black now frees his game.] 18 Qe8+?! [We at least had the insight of former Candidate Vlastimil Hort in the press room, who couldn't see why Morozevich didn't play c6 now: 18 c6! Rxd2! 19 Kxd2 Bd6 20 Ng4 ( 20 Nd7 Bf4+ 21 Ke1 Nxc6 22 Qb7 Qxb7 23 Rxb7 Kg7 and Black should have enough compensation here for the draw.) 20 ..Bf4+ 21 Ke2 ( 21 Ne3? Nxc6 22 Rhc1 Qd8+! 23 Ke1 Ne5) 21 ..Nxc6 22 Rhd1 f5 ( 22 ..Rd8? 23 Rxd8+ Qxd8 24 Rd1 ( 24 Qxc6 Qd3+ 25 Ke1 Bd2+ 26 Kd1 Bc3+ 27 Kc1 Qd2#) 24 ..Nd4+ 25 Kf1! and Black's in trouble) 23 g3! fxg4 24 gxf4 gxf4 25 Qg5+ Kf7 26 Qh5+ with a complicated position - though White seems to have the better of it.] 18 ..Bf8 19 Bc3 [ 19 Ng4 Rxd2 20 Nf6+ Kg7 21 Nh5+ Kg8 22 Nf6+ ( 22 Kxd2 Qxc5 23 Rb5 Qxf2+ 24 Kc1 Qe3+ 25 Kb1 Na6 26 Nf6+ Kg7 27 Qxa8 Qd3+ 28 Ka1 Qxb5 29 Nh5+ Kg8 30 Nf6+ Kg7=) 22 ..Kg7=] 19 ..Qxe5 [ 19 ..Rd8?? 20 Ng4!!] 20 0–0? [ White could have bailed out with a draw with 20 Rb7! Nd7 21 Qxa8 Qxc5 22 Bxd4 Qc1+ 23 Ke2 Qc2+ 24 Ke1 Qc1+=] 20 ..Qd5!

21 c6 [ 21 Bxd4 Nd7! and White's losses his queen.] 21 ..Qd8 22 Qxd8 Rxd8 23 c7 Rc8 24 cxb8Q Raxb8 25 Rxb8 Rxb8 26 Bd4 a6 27 g3 h6 [The rest is academic - Black's is simply two pawns ahead with an easy endgame. Morozevich just plays out to the time control as Bareev only had 4 minutes left on the clock.] 28 Rc1 Rb4 29 Be3 Bg7 30 h4 Bd4 31 Bxd4 Rxd4 32 hxg5 hxg5 33 Rc5 Rd5 34 Rc4 Re5 35 Kf1 Kg7 36 Ke2 f5 37 a4 Kf6 38 Ke3 Rd5 39 g4 Rd3+ 40 Ke2 Ke5 0–1

Topalov,V (2745) - Lutz,C (2650) [B48]

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nc3 Qc7 6 Be3 a6 7 Qd2 Nf6 8 0–0–0 Bb4!? [A relatively obscure sideline that was first played by Luis Bronstein in the 1988 Argentine Championships.] 9 f3 Ne5 10 Nb3 b5 11 Kb1 Nc4? [According to Topalov, this move is a mistake as it gives White an ideal position.] 12 Bxc4 bxc4 13 Nc1 Qb7 14 N1e2 Rb8 15 b3 0–0 16 Bf4 Ra8 17 Bd6!

17 ..Bxd6 18 Qxd6 cxb3? [As pointed out by Hort, Black should try and keep the pawns together by playing: 18 ..a5! 19 Rd4 Ra6 20 Qa3 ( However, 20 Qc5! instead of retreating to a3 could prove problematic for Black.) 20 ..d5 with a better position than the game.] 19 axb3 a5 20 Rd4 Ra6 21 Qa3! d5 22 exd5 exd5 23 Nf4 Be6 24 Rhd1 h6 [ 24 ..a4 25 Rxa4 Rc6 26 Nce2! and the extra pawn with the knight swinging in to d4 gives White a decisive advantage.] 25 Ncxd5 [White can't hang around and take the pawn a later stage as Black will consolidate his position.] 25 ..Nxd5 26 Nxd5 Rb8 [ Black's last hope now was to play ..a4, however it looks as if the same winning plan works for Topalov: 26 ..a4 27 Nf6+! gxf6 28 Rd8 Rxd8 29 Rxd8+ Kh7 30 Qf8 Kg6 ( 30 ..h5 31 Qh8+ Kg6 32 Rg8+ Kf5 33 Qxh5+ Kf4 34 Rd8 Bd7 35 Qh4+ Ke5 36 Rxd7 Qxd7 37 Qe4+ Kd6 38 Qd3+ Ke7 39 Qxa6 and the ending is won for White.) 31 g4! f5 32 Qg8+ Kf6 33 Qh8+ Ke7 ( 33 ..Kg5 34 Qg7+ Kf4 35 Qxh6+ Ke5 ( 35 ..Kxf3 36 Rd3+ Kg2 37 Qh3+ Kf2 38 Qe3+ Kg2 39 Qe2+ Kg1 40 Rd1#) 36 Qg7+ Kf4 37 Qd4+ Kxf3 38 Qc3+ Kf4 39 Qd2+ Kxg4 40 Rg8+ Kf3 41 Qg2+) 34 Qf8+ Kf6 35 Qxh6+ Ke7 36 Qf8+ Kf6 37 g5+ Ke5 ( 37 ..Kxg5 38 Qg7+ Kf4 39 Qg3+ Ke3 40 Rd3+ Ke2 41 Qg2+ Ke1 42 Re3+ Kd1 43 Qe2#) 38 Qg7+ Kf4 39 Qd4+ Kxf3 40 Qc3+ Kf4 41 Qg3+ Ke4 42 Qg2+ Kf4 43 Qxb7] 27 Nf6+!

27 ..gxf6 28 Rd8+ Rxd8 29 Rxd8+ Kh7 30 Qf8 Kg6 31 Qg8+ Kh5 32 Qg7 f5 33 Rd4 [The King's caught in a mating net - the threat from White is Rxh4+! and Qxh6 mate.] 33 ..Bc8 34 g3 1–0

You can contact John Henderson at: jbhthescots@blueyonder.co.uk

The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of TWIC, Chess & Bridge Ltd or the London Chess Center.