After Aeroflot where 20-year-old Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem confirmed he was a world-class talent, another 20-year-old, Ian Nepomniachtchi, made a breakthrough in the European Championships. Euro, along with the Aeroflot, is undoubtedly among the very toughest Opens on the calendar.
The Russian GM (his surname literally translates as “one who forgets” and may indicate an ancestor who had a run-in with the Czars and deliberately changed name) has been on the radar for several years. However, Ian has a tendency to sudden blunders.
He was superb at the Euro, with 9 points from 11 games and a 2868 performance, winning three of his last four. Baadur Jobava, a very strong GM from Georgia, shared second with Artiom Timofeev (both 8.5). There was a tie from 4-10, with seven players scoring 8 points. There was an even more massive tie from 11-40 (!) with 7.5. The second tie will need resolution because only 22 World Cup spots are available. Sweden's Pia Cramling became European Champion in the women's section, scoring 9 with Viktorija Smylte second on 8.5.
The past year-and-a-half suggest that, apart from Magnus Carlsen, the potential world beaters in the 15-20 age-cohort include Nakamura, Liem, Nepomniachtchi, Caruana, So, Negi, Karjakin, etc. That is going to be a very strong generation — perhaps the strongest ever.
Carlsen recently pointed out that he and his peers grew up with computers. Many learnt the rules from engines and have playing engines and databases since they were toddlers. This could have accelerated development. But most chess players peak in their late 30s or early 40s. So, the Fritz generation as they are known, may scale hitherto undreamt of peaks.
The Amber started as the Euro was winding to its conclusion. The blindfold-rapid round-robin at Monaco began sensationally with Carlsen losing 0-2 to Ivanchuk in the first round. The Norwegian then stormed back with three successive 2-0 wipeouts. After the fourth round (every round is a mini-match where the first game is blind-rapid and the second, rapid), Carlsen shares the lead with Ivanchuk (both 6) with Gelfand and Grischuk at 3-4, on 5 points each. The lowest rated player in the 12-man field is Jan Smeets who is no:87 with 2651.
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There’s no dearth of nice games by the leading lights of Amber and the Euro. But the DIAGRAM, BLACK TO PLAY (Gvetadze Vs Moser, Euro Women’s Championship 2010) features an obscure pairing in the Women's event with a gorgeous finish.
Black has a strong attack but there’s only one clear route to victory. That is 29. - f3! 30. hxg4 Qh4+!! This is fabulous - 31. Bxh4 fxg2+ 32. Kh2 gxf1=Q+ is one variation. After 31. Kg1 fxg2 32. Kxg2 Rfxf2+ (0-1) was relatively prosaic.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player