From Boy to Man to Challenger

The Fiercest Battles of Gukesh D

Cyrus Lakdawala
 3

From Boy to Man to Challenger: The Fiercest Battles of Gukesh D Contents

Author: Cyrus Lakdawala
Index of Games............................................................................................ 4
Introduction................................................................................................. 6
Typesetting by Andrei Elkov
Front cover: Gukesh at the TePe-Sigeman tournament, May 2023. Chapter 1: Playing World Champions............................................................ 9
Taken by and courtesy of David Llada Games 1-17
Sources used for this book: ChessBase Magazine, with annotations by Chapter 2: The Challenger ......................................................................... 69
Sagar Shah Games 18-24
New In Chess Magazine, June 2024 issue Chapter 3: On the Attack.......................................................................... 102
© Elk and Ruby and Cyrus Lakdawala, 2024. All rights reserved Games 25-34
Follow us on Twitter/X: @ilan_ruby Chapter 4: Defence and Counterattack..................................................... 132
www.elkandruby.com Games 35-44
ISBN 978-1-916839-39-7 (paperback); 978-1-916839-48-9 Chapter 5: Dynamic Element................................................................... 166
(hardback) Games 45-50
Chapter 6: Chaos...................................................................................... 185
Games 51-57
Chapter 7: Accumulating Advantages........................................................ 214
Games 58-65
Chapter 8: Exploiting Imbalances............................................................. 241
Games 66-70
 Index of Games 5

Index of Games Game White Black Opening Year

37 C. Aryan D. Gukesh Sicilian Defence 2022
Game White Black Opening Year 38 D. Gukesh A. Fier Semi-Slav Defence 2022
1 D. Gukesh M. Carlsen French Defence 2022 39 A. Gupta D. Gukesh Queen’s Gambit Declined 2023
2 M. Carlsen D. Gukesh London System 2021 40 A. Donchenko D. Gukesh Nimzo-Indian Defence 2024
3 D. Gukesh M. Carlsen Giuoco Piano 2023 41 P. Maghsoodloo D. Gukesh Queen’s Gambit Declined 2024
4 D. Gukesh M. Carlsen Giuoco Piano 2023 42 D. Gukesh P. Maghsoodloo Nimzo-Indian Defence 2023
5 D. Gukesh M. Carlsen Sicilian Defence 2023 43 D. Gukesh R. Praggnanandhaa Giuoco Piano 2023
6 D. Gukesh M. Carlsen London System 2023 44 D. Gukesh A. Erigaisi London System 2021
7 M. Carlsen D. Gukesh Sicilian Defence 2023 45 M. Mohammad D. Gukesh Caro-Kann Defence 2021
8 M. Carlsen D. Gukesh Nimzo-Larsen Attack 2023 46 D. Gukesh Z. Varga Scandinavian Defence 2022
9 D. Gukesh M. Carlsen Two Knights Defence 2024 47 D. Gukesh J. Hjartarson Queen’s Indian Defence 2022
10 D. Liren D. Gukesh Queen’s Gambit Declined 2021 48 D. Gukesh V. Mikhalevski Pseudo-Grunfeld 2022
11 D. Gukesh D. Liren Queen’s Indian Defence 2023 49 D. Gukesh A. Suleymanli Queen’s Gambit Declined 2022
12 D. Gukesh D. Liren Giuoco Piano 2024 50 J. Van Foreest D. Gukesh Scotch Game 2024
13 D. Gukesh V. Kramnik Queen’s Indian Defence 2023 51 R. Vaishali D. Gukesh Sicilian Defence 2021
14 V. Kramnik D. Gukesh English Opening 2023 52 D. Gukesh R. Praggnanandhaa Colle System 2023
15 V. Kramnik D. Gukesh English Opening 2023 53 D. Gukesh R. Praggnanandhaa English Opening 2023
16 V. Kramnik D. Gukesh Sicilian Defence 2023 54 D. Gukesh V. Akobian London System 2023
17 D. Gukesh V. Anand Caro-Kann Defence 2023 55 P. Harikrishna D. Gukesh Colle System 2023
18 R. Praggnanandhaa D. Gukesh Catalan Opening 2024 56 D. Gukesh R. Vaishali Queen’s Gambit Declined 2023
19 D. Gukesh N. Abasov Petroff Defence 2024 57 Y. Wei D. Gukesh Giuoco Piano 2024
20 A. Firouzja D. Gukesh London System 2024 58 D. Gukesh M. Cornette Reversed Benoni 2019
21 S. G. Vidit D. Gukesh Two Knights Defence 2024 59 D. Gukesh B. Adhiban King’s Indian Defence 2022
22 N. Abasov D. Gukesh Nimzo-Indian Defence 2024 60 F. Caruana D. Gukesh Sicilian Defence 2022
23 D. Gukesh A. Firouzja Ruy Lopez 2024 61 D. Gukesh M. Yilmazyerli Petroff Defence 2023
24 H. Nakamura D. Gukesh Queen’s Gambit Accepted 2024 62 A. Esipenko D. Gukesh Bogo-Indian 2023
25 V. Prraneeth D. Gukesh Semi-Slav Defence 2017 63 D. Gukesh S. Sevian London System 2023
26 D. Gukesh M. Warmerdam Semi-Slav Defence 2021 64 D. Gukesh M. Bartel French Defence 2023
27 K. Georgiev D. Gukesh Nimzo-Indian Defence 2021 65 D. Gukesh G. Vescovi Ruy Lopez 2023
28 Y. Hou D. Gukesh Sicilian Defence 2021 66 G. Quparadze D. Gukesh Caro-Kann Defence 2023
29 D. Gukesh G. Jones Grunfeld Opening 2022 67 D. Gukesh A. Giri Sicilian Defence 2023
30 D. Gukesh C. Vr Aravindh Slav Defence 2023 68 D. Gukesh A. Smirnov Petroff Defence 2023
31 D. Gukesh M. Bryakin Caro-Kann Defence 2023 69 D. Gukesh A. Giri Grunfeld Opening 2024
32 D. Gukesh A. Volokitin English Opening 2023 70 D. Gukesh I. Nepomniachtchi Queen’s Gambit Declined 2024
33 S. Sjugirov D. Gukesh Giuoco Piano 2023
34 D. Gukesh V. Keymer Nimzo-Indian Defence 2024
35 S. S. Ganguly D. Gukesh Nimzo-Larsen Attack 2021
36 B. Adhiban D. Gukesh Sicilian Defence 2022
 Introduction 7

Introduction doesn’t adequately prepare a soldier for actual combat. Hypotheticals are not
the same as actual experience.
3. Ding enjoys a sizable plus score against Gukesh from past encounters,
There is birth and there is death. The most important part though is all which which I discount since if we look back at the Capablanca-Alekhine and first
happens in between Spassky-Fischer matches, the challengers began the match with dismal scores
Dommaraju Gukesh, affectionately known as Guki by the Indian against the champion, yet both won. If Ding is a stylistic problem for Gukesh,
commentators, emerged from what felt like nowhere to become the youngest this could be a factor in the result.
challenger ever for the world chess championship. Dommaraju is a patronymic, 4. Ding has likely peaked in strength, while Gukesh, who just turned 18,
derived from the name of his father’s ancestors. Gukesh is so young that his life seems to be improving with each passing month. In the coming match, he may
is only a partially painted canvas. We don’t know if he has peaked (which is be even stronger than he was in the Candidates tournament.
highly unlikely) or if he will go on to become a world champion and candidate
for greatest player of all time. My intuition says there is a decent chance that he The source of Gukesh’s power
may do just that since he is - and you may agree or disagree with this - probably What are some qualities which led to Gukesh coming ahead of favourites
the strongest teenager of all time. Caruana, Nakamura and Nepomniachtchi in the 2024 Candidates tournament
which gave him the right to challenge Ding Liren for the world chess
The match with Ding championship?:
In centuries past when two monarchs went to war, both sides believed the 1. A sober maturity, well beyond his then 17 years. This is what Gukesh said
words: “God is on our side!” If a challenger loses a match to a world champion, after he won the Candidates: “It’s good to be ambitious, but ambition should be
sometimes he is relegated to the level of a footnote in chess history. This controlled. You need to do what is demanded of the position. That was my main
is unlikely to occur with Gukesh, since even if he loses his upcoming world focus. I was trying to do it throughout the tournament - just know what the
championship match to Ding Liren, it’s not the end of Gukesh’s career. He is position needs and play it accordingly. If it’s a draw, go for a draw. And if I have
so young that he may well have one or even two more shots at the title. In fact, a chance then I take it. Mainly, I was trying not to do anything stupid!” If you
if he loses this match he may well become the challenger the following cycle look at the games of other young, more volatile players in the tournament, like
and win that match. If this happens, Gukesh will still be the youngest world Vidit, Praggnanandhaa and Firouzja, their play was up and down, seesawing
champion in chess history! Will the old dynasty survive a challenge against a between brilliance and disaster. One astonishing factor about Gukesh’s games
young pretender to the throne? Who will win the match, Ding or Gukesh? Well, in the Candidates tournament was that he never got outplayed even once, when
I don’t know, since this book was written before the match took place. Let’s he had time on the clock.
look at some of the factors: 2. An intense work ethic. You know that infomercial which claims that
1. Since becoming World Champion, Ding, dealing with clinical depression, we can achieve six-pack abs, with only three minutes of exercise per day?
has been in a horrible funk with minus scores in every tournament in which he Well, they are lying to us. Mastery comes with a mammoth level of hard
participated. The question remains: will Ding shake off his slump and enter the work, no matter how great the natural talent. It’s clear from Gukesh’s play
match at his old 2800 strength? Magnus Carlsen doesn’t believe so. He recently and opening preparation that he logs a massive number of hours into his
tweeted this: “The question is whether he (Ding) is sort of permanently broken chess training.
from the last world championship that he played. I’m not sure, but I think there 3. Mental toughness. After the heartbreaking loss to Firouzja in round 7 (had
is a possibility that he could be.” Your writer’s opinion is that Ding is likely Gukesh won the game, he would have been in sole possession of first place),
being underestimated. I have a feeling that he will indeed be in form to defend some pundits expected Gukesh to collapse mentally. The opposite happened
his title. If not, Gukesh may blow him out in the match. and Gukesh went on a roll after the disheartening loss.
2. Ding has the experience advantage from both being older and having 4. Gukesh obviously has strong nerves from his play in the latter part of
played one previous World Championship match. Gukesh is of course heavily the Candidates tournament, which will likely transfer over to the coming
preparing for the match, but keep in mind that studying the theory of war championship match against Ding. Gukesh’s second, GM Grzegorz Gajewski,
8 Introduction

said in a press conference after the tournament that nothing seems to fluster Chapter 1
him.
5. Gukesh engages in both yoga and tennis for physical stamina. It’s Playing World Champions
important to remember that at this level, chess is just as much a physical sport
as it is a mental art form. In this chapter, we look at how the younger version of Gukesh measures up
6. Adaptability and a Universal Style. Although mainly a strategist, Gukesh against past (and present) world champions. If I were asked the question: “How
demonstrates that he can play chess in any style, from arid positions to pure many world champions did you draw and defeat when you were a teenager?”
chaos, with great competence. My answer would be zero. Gukesh is not like other teens. In this chapter, we
see that even at such a young age, he racked up a huge number of wins against
Gukesh’s style the chess gods. Let’s begin with the Big Kahuna, Magnus Carlsen, himself a
We all want to be copies of Morphy, Capablanca, Tal, Fischer, Kasparov candidate for the title of greatest player of all time. Gukesh began with a bang,
or Carlsen, yet we are so far off that we don’t even reach the level of a cheap winning his first game against the Norwegian.
knockoff. Gukesh’s Anaconda-like play, on the other hand, reminds us of a
young Karpov who was a master of incremental gains so subtle that opponents No. 1 14...Ea6 15.f5!?
barely noticed their positions degenerating. In fact, even Gukesh’s critics D. Gukesh – M. Carlsen XIIIIIIIIY
remind me of Karpov’s critics who continually underestimated him as well. Meltwater Champions INT, 2022 9r+-+k+-t0
Nepomniachtchi: “Kids grow very fast, but I don’t see anything special in French Defence
Gukesh’s play. It’s very strong, but it’s not bright. It’s hard for me to bet on
9+-+-+pzp0
him, but at the same time it’s more like betting against Ding than betting on 1.e4 e6!? 9lwn+p+-+0
someone else.” This is how I responded to a Gukesh critic on my Facebook Magnus doesn’t often play the 9z-spZP+-0
feed: “I don’t believe he (Nepo) is right at all. Nepo certainly didn’t have the French. 9-z-+-+-+0
skill to win the Candidates at age 17. Also, the criticism I heard from many on 2.d4 d5 3.Cc3 Cf6 4.e5 Cfd7 5.f4 9+-+L+N+-0
social media that Gukesh didn’t beat any of the top players is nonsense. It was c5 6.Cf3 Cc6 7.Ee3 a6
likely his tournament strategy to draw the top players and beat up the lower This is Black’s most popular line
9PZP+NWPZ0
ones. And he did just that. Gukesh’s record against past world champions is in the Classical French.
9T-+-+RM-0
quite high, even though he only scored a half point out of three games against 8.Id2 b5 9.dxc5 Exc5 10.Exc5 xiiiiiiiiy
Ding.” Let’s end the Gukesh-can’t-beat-the-top-players false narrative in the With this swap, White secures the Are you certain you want to do
first chapter of the book, which is exclusively Gukesh’s battles against world superior remaining bishop. this? With a single speculative move,
champions, past and present. 10...Cxc5 11.Ed3 Gukesh enters the Great Out There.
11.If2 is White’s main line. He boldly offers to sacrifice a pawn
11...Ib6 to accelerate his kingside initiative.
Black scores horribly after 11... The idea is sound yet soon goes
Cxd3+?! 12.cxd3!. horribly wrong. 15.Kh1 is White’s
12.If2 b4 13.Ce2 a5 main line.
The idea is to debadify Black’s bad 15...exf5 16.Cf4
bishop, via a6. 16.Exf5?? Exe2 17.Ixe2 g6
14.0-0 18.Eh3 Cb3+ wins a full exchange.
It would be crazy for White to 16...Ce7 17.e6 f6!?
castle queenside since Black already This is an ambitious decision.
has a head start in the attacking race. Carlsen hopes to later round up
10 Chapter 1 Playing World Champions 11

and win White’s e6–pawn. 17...0-0 3. Black owns an entrenched, Exercise (planning): When we No. 2
18.exf7+ Gxf7 19.Cg5 Gf6 20.Cge6 monster knight on e4. turn our win into a loss with a M. Carlsen – D. Gukesh
Exd3 21.cxd3 d4 22.Ixd4 Ca4 is 4. Black is up a pawn, with the horrible blunder, our browser history Goldmoney Asian Prelim INT, 2021
also equal. potential for more white pawns to fall. may show the Google search: “Best London System
18.Gac1? 23.Cd4 Gxa2 ways to commit suicide.” How did
A novelty and a bad one. This is Not good. Gukesh is down two White exploit Black’s last move 1.d4 d5 2.Ef4 Cf6 3.e3 Eg4!?
an unnatural plan to play for c2–c3. pawns against the highest ranked blunder? Damned hippies and their
18.Gad1 is correct. After 18...0-0 player in the world. At this point, heathen ways! This is no longer your
19.Exa6 Gxa6 20.Cxd5 Cxd5 it appeared as if the Indian prodigy Answer: Move the queen to b6, grandfather’s London System. All
21.Gxd5 Cxe6 22.Ixb6 Gxb6 was getting blown out. 23...g5! looks threatening Gxe7! followed by Id8+, kinds of newfangled ideas for both
23.Gxf5 Ga8 chances are balanced. even stronger. 24.Cd3 f4 25.Ie1 forcing mate, as well as threatening sides have emerged since I began
18...0-0 19.c3!? Ib6! 26.Ixb4 Ia7!. Threats include Cd3! trapping Black’s queen in mid- playing the London decades ago and
The attempted remedy only ...Gb8 and ...Ga4. 27.Kh1 Ga4 board! the opening is - dare I say it? - a lot
intensifies White’s pain. 19.h4 g6 28.Cb5 Gxb4 29.Cxa7 Gd4 30.Ce1 26.Ib6! Cg5 more interesting now than it was in
20.Gfe1 Ic7 21.Ie3 Ce4 doesn’t Cf5 and White is busted. a) 26...Kh8 27.Cd3 traps Black’s the past.
look like much fun for White either. 24.Cb5 Ie5 queen in mid-board! 4.Ee2
19...Id6! More accurate is 24...Ib8! 25.Cc7 b) 26...d4 27.Gxe7!. The rook Gukesh as White played 4.Cf3
Now both ...Ixf4 and ...Cxd3 are Gxb2 26.Cfxd5 Cxd5 27.Cxd5 Ge8 can’t be touched, due to the deadly on Yu Yangyi, while I would be more
threatened. 28.e7 Ie5 29.Gcd1 b3 and here too, queen check on d8. 27...Gb8 28.Ib7! inclined to toss in 4.f3 which Magnus
20.Exa6 Gxa6 21.cxb4 Ce4 White is busted. exploiting Black’s weak back rank. played three times on Aronian.
There will be no way to evict the 25.Gc7 Ge8?? Black is unexpectedly mated after 4...Exe2 5.Ixe2 e6
entrenched squatter from e4. With 25...Cg6! Black’s survival 28...Kh8 29.Ch5! Cc5 30.Ge8+!. Gukesh doesn’t worry about a
22.Ie3 axb4 instinct jolts awake. This is lost for Clearance. 30...Gxe8 31.Ixg7#. white queen raid to b5.
XIIIIIIIIY White due to 26.Ch5 (if the knight 27.Gxe7! 6.Cf3
9-+-+-tk+0 moves to d3, Black’s queen isn’t The rook’s DNA and fingerprints 6.Ib5+ Cbd7 7.Ixb7 Gb8
trapped since he has the simple push are all over the crime scene. Just like 8.Ixa7 Gxb2 is judged even by the
9+-+-s-zp0 of the d-pawn, counterattacking that, Carlsen finds himself down a engine.
9r+-wPz-+0 White’s queen) 26...f4! and if 27.Ih3 piece. 6...c5 7.dxc5
9+-+p+p+-0 Cg5 28.Ig4 Cxe6 Black wins. 27...Gea8 Magnus attempts to complicate.
9-z-+nS-+0 XIIIIIIIIY No point in brooding. What’s 7...Cc6
9+-+-WN+-0 9-+-+r+k+0 done is done. 27...Ib8 28.Gxe8+ On 7...Exc5 White can go pawn
Ixe8 29.Cd6 If8 30.Ic7 and there grabbing with 8.Ib5+ Cbd7 9.Ixb7
9PZ-+-+PZ0 9+-T-s-zp0 is no reasonable defence to the push although the engine believes in
9+-T-+RM-0 9-+-+Pz-+0 of the e6–pawn. Black’s full compensation.
xiiiiiiiiy 9+N+pwp+-0 28.Ic7 Ie3+ 29.Kh1 1-0 8.Ib5!?
Carlsen achieved a winning 9-z-+nS-+0 Black’s back rank is weaker than
position: 9+-+-W-+-0 White’s. 29…Kh8 30.Id7 Gg8
1. The a2–pawn hangs. 31.Ge8 Ga8 32.Gxa8 Gxa8 33.e7 h6
2. Black also threatens ...g7–g5
9rZ-+-+PZ0 34.Cd6 Ixf4 35.e8=I+ wins.
followed by ...Ixe6.
9+-+-+RM-0
xiiiiiiiiy
68 Chapter 1

Anand’s troubles. He likely had two The g-file is cleared for White’s rook. Chapter 2
goals, one secondary to the other: 38...Cxd5
1. Win against his slightly lower 38...Kh7 39.Gg1 Cxd5 40.h6 The Challenger
rated opponent from an inherently If8 41.Gg7+! Gxg7 42.hxg7+ Kxg7
balanced position. 43.Ce6+! Exe6 44.Eh6+ wins. Before the Candidates tournament, on a wild whim I posted on my Facebook
2. Don’t push too hard, so that the XIIIIIIIIY feed my pick of Gukesh to win it, ahead of favourites Caruana, Nakamura and
even position turns into inferiority. 9-+-+-+k+0 Nepomniachtchi. Despite being teased and mocked by a few Facebook friends,
Black’s last move was in violation of in the end I got the satisfaction of a few well-deserved “I told you so!” responses.
number 2 on the list.
9+p+r+q+-0 By winning the Candidates Tournament in early 2024, Gukesh earned the right
32...Ce5! 33.Ixd4 Cxd3! 34.d6 9p+-+-z-+0 to a match against World Champion Ding Liren and became the youngest
Cxf4 35.Exf4 is equal. Black’s queen 9Z-+n+l+P0 challenger in world championship history, at age 17. Gukesh will play Ding
shouldn’t chop the h5–pawn due to 9-+-z-S-W0 at age 18 and, if he wins, he beats Kasparov’s previous record of youngest
g2–g4. 9+-+P+P+-0 world champion by a staggering four years! Just as he did the last two times,
33.g4! Eh7 34.Gc1! Ian Nepomniachtchi led the Candidates tournament from start to (almost!)
Suddenly, Black’s back rank feels
9-+-V-M-+0 finish. To Nepo’s crushing disappointment, he was overtaken by Gukesh at the
wobbly.
9+-T-+-+-0 end when it counted. The Indian prodigy finished with a burst of 2.5 out of
34...g5!? xiiiiiiiiy his last three games where competitors’ nerves are the rawest. The final round
I don’t know if this is desperation The defence furiously pumps on was a nail-biter. Gukesh led with all the pre-tournament favourites on his tail
or a psychological coping mechanism. the handle of a dry well. a half-point behind. He faced down Nakamura with Black and needed a draw
Anand, searching for an emergency Exercise (planning): Do you see to ensure at least a tie for first. Caruana played White against Nepo with both
exit for his king, is willing to agree Gukesh’s winning plan? desperate to win. Gukesh almost effortlessly held off Nakamura’s desperate
to the devil’s bargain which weakens challenge and drew. Meanwhile, Fabi brilliantly outplayed Nepo and achieved a
both his pawn structure and his king Answer: Step 1: Give check on c8. completely won position. It looked as if there was going to be a playoff between
to offer his king air. 39.Gc8+! Kh7 Fabi and Gukesh. It wasn’t to be. Fabi blundered, Nepo defended ingeniously,
a) 34...Cxd5?? costs Black his Or 39...Kg7 40.Ig3+ Kh7 holding the draw. This allowed Gukesh to win the tournament by a half-point,
queen after 35.Gc8+. 41.Cg6! threatening mate in 2, with scoring 9 out of 14, with the frustrated group of Nakamura, Caruana and
b) 34...Kh8 35.Ixd4 leaves Black a rook check on h8, followed by Nepomniachtchi a half-point behind, which was so close yet still a million
a pawn down and paralyzed. h5–h6 mate. 41...Exg6 42.hxg6+ miles away.
35.hxg6 Ixg6 43.Ih3+ Kg7 44.Ih8+ Kf7 XIIIIIIIIY
Ensuring that Black’s kingside 45.Ie8+ Kg7 46.Ig8#. No. 18
structure suffers from hygiene issues. Step 2: Sink the knight into g6, after R. Praggnanandhaa – D. Gukesh
9rslwk+-t0
35...Exg6 which there is no reasonable defence to FIDE Candidates 2024 (2) Toronto, 9zpz-+pzp0
35...Cxg6?? 36.Gc8+! wins on the the threat Gh8+ and Eh6 mate. Black Canada, 2024 9-+-+ps-+0
spot, since if the king moves to g7, is also mated if the knight is captured. Catalan Opening 9+-+p+-+-0
then Ch5 is mate; if Black’s knight And if Black’s queen moves to g7, then 9-vPZ-+-+0
blocks on f8, then Ce6 is crushing. a knight check on f8 is devastating. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Cf3 Cf6 4.g3 9+-S-+NZ-0
36.Ih4! h5 40.Cg6! 1-0 Eb4+ 5.Cc3
36...Kh7 37.Kf2! with either Ce6 This knight reminds us of the alien This risky move, which turns
9PZ-+PZ-Z0
or Gh1 following is decisive. creature from the original Star Trek, the game into a gambit, is Pragg’s 9T-VQML+R0
37.gxh5 Ef5 38.Kf2! which fed on others’ fear. attempt at an ambush. 5.Ed2 is the xiiiiiiiiy
70 Chapter 2 The Challenger 71

overwhelming choice in the position. believe in White’s full compensation 16.h4 Cb3 17.Cg5 Id7 18.Ic2 Ic8 19.Eg5 d4 20.Exf6 Exf6
Gukesh faced this position against for the pawn, since Black is not so Exg5 19.hxg5. I don’t really believe 21.Cd5.
both Abdusattorov and Maghsoodloo far behind in development and at this the engine’s near-equal assessment 17...c6?!
in 2024. stage his position is weakness-free. If and I would take Black if given a This safe move isn’t best. 17...
5...dxc4 6.Eg2 12.e5?! Cd5 13.Cxd5 Ixd5! White choice. c5! 18.Cxd5 Cxd5 19.Gxd5 Exd5
6.Ia4+ Cc6 7.Eg2 Cd5 scores lacks a useful discovery on Black’s 14...Ce8 15.e6!? 20.Gd1 Exe6! 21.Gxd8 Gaxd8 is
well for Black in the database. queen. Pragg continues his bull-in-china- winning for Black, who picked up two
6...0-0 7.0-0 Cc6 8.a3 12...Ca5! shop lifestyle! rooks and two pawns for the queen.
Black scores over 50% in the line Multipurpose: 15...f5?! 18.Ixf5 Ie8 19.Cf7?
8.Ia4 Cd5 9.Ic2 Ee7 10.Gd1 Gb8. 1. The knight opens up the bishop’s XIIIIIIIIY The players are unable to orient
8...Ee7 attack on e4. 9r+-wntk+0 their minds to the position’s odd
After 8...Exc3 9.bxc3 Gb8 2. The knight frees Black’s c-pawn geometric nooks and crannies.
White’s bishop pair and centre offer for a potential break on c5, later.
9+lz-v-zp0 19.Gfe1 was correct.
full compensation for the sacrificed 3. The knight gets out of the way of 9p+-+P+-+0 19...Ec8!
pawn. White’s d4–d5 push, while eyeing the 9sp+p+p+-0 Also strong is 19...Gxf7! 20.exf7+
9.e4 a6 b3–square. 9-+p+-+-+0 Ixf7. Black’s two extra pawns are
The idea to play ...b7–b5 is slightly 13.d5 9Z-S-VNZ-0 worth more than White’s exchange.
offbeat. 9...Ca5 is Black’s main line. White thematically creates 20.Gfe1 Cb7?!
10.Ee3 b5 11.Ie2 confrontation while leading in
9-Z-+QZLZ0 20...Cb3! 21.Gxd5 Exe6!
After 11.e5 Cd5 12.Cxd5? exd5 development. 13.Ce5 Cb3 14.f4
9+-+R+RM-0 22.Ixe6 Exa3! 23.Ixe8 Gaxe8
White’s kingside attacking chances Shankland,S-Vokhidov,S PRO xiiiiiiiiy 24.Gg5 Exb2 25.Cd1 Ea3 and Black
look slower than Black’s monster League Prelim INT rapid 2023. I like A novelty and not a great one, picked up way too many pawns for the
queenside majority. Black’s chances after 14...Ie8! 15.g4 since suddenly the evaluation falls to sacrificed piece.
11...Eb7 12.Gad1 Gd8 16.g5 Cd7. dead even. 21.Eg5?!
XIIIIIIIIY 13...exd5 14.e5!? 15...fxe6! 16.Ef4 c6 17.Ixe6+ Somehow the position reminds
9r+-w-tk+0 Radical stuff. With so much at Kh8 18.Ce5 and draw agreed, me of a friend who loved to fish yet
stake, Praggnanandhaa fearlessly Troia,E-Vecek,M W-ch WS/M/339 didn’t know how to swim. He would
9+lz-vpzp0 gives away a second pawn, hoping ICCF email 2011. Here Black has take his boat out into the middle of
9p+n+ps-+0 his initiative and attacking chances the unplayed 18...Ed6! 19.Cf7+ Lake Murray and pray that it would
9+p+-+-+-0 compensate. Gxf7 20.Ixf7 Ie7. He has two solid stay afloat. The position’s insane
9-+pZP+-+0 a) 14.exd5 Ge8 15.Cd4 Ed6. Now pawns for the exchange and is close to complexity level makes it next to
9Z-S-VNZ-0 if 16.Cf5?! (16.h3 is better.) 16...Ec8! strategically winning. impossible for either side to find
17.Ic2 Exf5 18.Ixf5 Id7 19.Ic2 16.Ce5! the optimal moves. Both sides miss
9-Z-+QZLZ0 Cb3 Black has successfully unravelled Pragg unleashes more power upon the engine’s shot 21.Gxd5!! cxd5
9+-+R+RM-0 his forces and is a pawn up with d5. 22.Cxd5 Exe6! 23.Ch6+! Kh8
xiiiiiiiiy the superior position, Goltseva,E- 16...Cf6 17.Ic2?! 24.Ixe6 Exa3 25.Ixe8 Gaxe8
The engine calls it close to even. Kovalev,V Titled Tuesday international This move is too slow and should 26.Cxf6 Gxf6 27.Cg4 Gd6 28.bxa3
White sacrificed a pawn for a strong open Jan Early INT blitz 2024. lose the initiative. White gets full Cc5. This unbalanced position is
centre, which could later lead to b) 14.Cxd5 is the engine’s compensation for the sacrificed assessed as even by the engine.
attacking chances. I don’t really preference. 14...Cxd5 15.exd5 Ef6 pawns after 17.Gfe1! Cb3 18.Cf7 21...Ga7?!
72 Chapter 2 The Challenger 73

21...Cc5! 22.Exf6 Exe6! 23.Ch6+ brilliant shot which should have saved sleeping, now enter the game and Obvious moves can still be strong
Kh8 24.Exg7+ Kxg7 25.Gxe6 Cxe6! the game for him. participate. ones.
26.Ixe6 Kh8. Now ...Ef6 is coming 23...cxd5 24.Cxd5 26.Cxd8 32.Ig5 Exe6!
and White is in deep trouble. White threatens Cxf6+ followed This is a bad sign that White’s White’s e-pawn, the only source
22.Exf6! by Ig4 mate. Gukesh’s next move is initiative/attack ran out of fuel. of Pragg’s counterplay, is a far higher
22.Gxd5!? cxd5 23.Exf6 Exf6 forced. a) 26.Ch6+ Kh8 27.Cf5 Ec5 priority than the f2–pawn.
24.Cxd5 Exe6! 25.Cxf6+ gxf6 24...Ee7! 28.e7 Exf5! 29.exf8=I+ Ixf8 and 33.h6
26.Gxe6 Ixf7 27.Ed5 Kg7 28.Ee4 Not 24...Exe6?? 25.Cxf6+ Kxf7 Black consolidates. Dreams vanish when we awaken,
Gh8 29.Ig4+ Kf8 30.If5 Kg7. 26.Gxe6! Ixe6 27.Gd7+ Ixd7 b) 26.Id4 Cxe6! 27.Ch6+ yet ugly reality remains just as it is. By
When my wife says “Let’s discuss 28.Cxd7+ and White wins. gxh6 28.Ixa7 Ec5 29.Cf6+ Gxf6 this point Praggnanandhaa must have
this” the actual translation is: “I make 25.Ig4? 30.Ixc5 If8 31.Id5 Kg7. Once realized that he was dead lost.
demands and you obey!” which is Praggnanandhaa either incorrectly again, Black is winning. 33...Gxf2 0-1
exactly what is happening to Black’s rejected or missed the saving line 26...Exd8 27.Id4 Gb7 XIIIIIIIIY
king. 31.Ig4+ and a draw. 25.Ch6+! gxh6 26.Ig4+ Eg5 The annoying rook continues to 9-+-+-+k+0
22...Exf6 27.Id4! Cd8! (27...Ga8?? 28.e7 is safeguard the e7 and g7–squares.
awful for Black who loses after 28... White only has one pawn for the
9+r+-+-zp0
XIIIIIIIIY 9p+q+l+-Z0
9-+l+qtk+0 Gf7 29.Cc7) 28.Ixa7 Cxe6 which sacrificed piece. The power of his
is a totally unclear mess, unhelpfully passed e-pawn and centralized pieces 9+pvN+-W-0
9tn+-+Nzp0 judged at 0.00 by the engine. just isn’t enough to compensate the 9-+p+R+-+0
9p+p+Pv-+0 25...Cd8! material deficit. 9Z-+-+-Z-0
9+p+p+Q+-0 XIIIIIIIIY 28.Ge4
9-Z-+-t-+0
9-+p+-+-+0 9-+lsqtk+0 28.e7 Exe7 29.Ie3 If7! and if
30.Cxe7+?? Gxe7 31.Ixe7 Ixf2+
9+-+R+-M-0
9Z-S-+-Z-0 9t-+-vNzp0 xiiiiiiiiy
32.Kh1 Eg4! is deadly for White.
9-Z-+-ZLZ0 9p+-+P+-+0 28...Ef6 29.Ie3 Ee7! With this defeat of his Indian rival,
9+-+RT-M-0 9+p+N+-+-0 The b2–pawn is poisoned. 29... Gukesh moved to plus 1 and a tie
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+p+-+Q+0 Exb2?? 30.e7 Gf7 31.Cc7! Gxc7 for the lead. 34.Ce3 Ixe4 35.Ixc5
Watching this game live, your 9Z-+-+-Z-0 32.Gd8 Ed7 and White is right back Gf8 leaves White down a rook for no
bewildered writer only managed a in the game. compensation.
vague silhouette of White’s plan. We
9-Z-+-Z-Z0 30.h4
can gather loads of data and still not
9+-+RT-M-0 30.Id4 is met with 30...Ic6 No. 19
have a clear picture of the details. I xiiiiiiiiy intending ...Ec5. D. Gukesh – N. Abasov
realized that White needed to sacrifice This powerful multipurpose 30...Ic6! FIDE Candidates 2024 (5) Toronto,
on d5. But when and with which defensive move accomplishes the ...Ec5 is coming, after which Canada, 2024
piece? Pragg answered my questions following: White will be placed on the defensive. Petroff Defence
with his next move. Prepare to get 1. The f7–intruder is ejected. 31.h5
your mind seriously boggled. 2. More pressure is brought to bear At this stage everything loses. If GM Nijat Abasov played the
23.Exd5!! upon e6. 31.Gd2 Ec5 32.Ie1 Ge8 33.e7 Ef5 tournament of his life to qualify for
White’s position, like Dracula, 3. Both black queenside rook 34.Ge5 Ed3 White can resign. the Candidates. At the Candidates, he
refuses to remain dead. Pragg finds a and knight, who were previously 31...Ec5 was the underdog in every game and