Chess
For the Sasha Cells chess tournament, a beginner’s section was introduced. Miranda Ramnarine won a trophy for being the top achiever in that section.
Among the juniors in the Sasha Cells chess tournament, it was Rashad Hussein of Queen’s College who prevailed. But a surprise finisher in the winner’s circle was Carlos Griffith, a student of Dolphin Government School. Carlos learnt to play chess recently, and up to December 2008 was still not comfortable with moving the pieces around the chessboard. However, he has since grasped the nuances of the game and played well to take second place in the tournament. For his efforts he received a tournament size chess set and a trophy.
Carlsen v Naiditsch
Six of the world’s strongest grandmasters are currently participating in the 37th edition of the Sparkassen Chess Meeting in Dortmund, Germany. Each player is committed to playing two games with his opponent, once with the white pieces and the other with the black pieces. Leading is Magnus Carlsen, the 18-year-old Norwegian grandmaster who is ranked number three in the world. In the following game, Carlsen demolishes his opponent’s Berlin Defence of the Ruy Lopez.
Carlsen, M (2772) – Naiditsch, A (2697)
Sparkassen GM Dortmund GER (5), 6.7.2009
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 h6 10.h3 Ne7 11.Bf4 Ng6 12.Bg3 Ke8 13.Rad1 Bb4 14.Ne2 h5 15.Ned4 h4 16.Bh2 Nf8 17.Bf4 Bd7 18.Bg5 Be7 19.Rfe1 c5 20.e6 fxe6 21.Bxe7 Kxe7 22.Nf5+ Kf6 23.Ne3 Be8 24.Ng4+ Ke7 25.Nge5 Bg6 26.Rd5 b6 27.Rd2 Bf5 28.Ng5 Kf6 29.f4 Ng6 30.Nd7+ Ke7 31.Nxe6 Bxe6 32.f5 Nf4 33.fxe6 Rhd8 34.Rf2 g5 35.Kh2 a5 36.a4 Rg8 37.Ne5 Rae8 38.Nf3 Nxe6 39.Re5 Kd6 40.Rd2+ Kc6 41.Rde2
Now the position is objectively a draw, with Carlsen doing his usual thing: pottering around, setting up threats and giving the opponent ample opportunity to err. It works, one move after the time control: 41…Kd6? The move that is required was 41…Kd7, as it prevents the coming shot by providing a defender to the rook on e8. 42.Nxg5! Ng7. The knight cannot be taken: 42…Rxg5 43.Rxg5 Nxg5 44.Rxe8. As mentioned the king should have been on d7 to defend the black rook on e8.
43.Rxe8 Rxe8 44.Rxe8 Nxe8. White is a pawn up and Magnus has traded down to a knight ending he knows he can win. And win it he does, with impeccable technique: 45.Nf3 c4 46.Nxh4 c3 47.b3 Kc5 48.Nf5 Kb4 49.g4 Ka3 50.Kg3 Kb2 51.Ne3 Kc1 52.Kf3 Kd2 53.h4 Ng7 54.h5 Ne6 55.h6 c6 56.Ke4 b5 57.Ke5 Ng5 58.Kf5 Nf7 59.h7 Kxe3 60.g5 Black Resigns! 1-0.
