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Carlsen’s club on top

IM Malcolm Pein
October 12, 2023

A BLUNDER in a rook and pawn endgame by Jorden van Foreest ensured that Magnus Carlsen’s club Offerspill still led top seeds Superchess of Romania on tie-break going into the last round of the European Club Cup.
The match between the two leading teams ended 3-3 as Carlsen drew with Richard Rapport on top board, and four games were drawn.
Bogdan-Daniel Deac positionally outplayed Aryan Tari to secure a win for the favourites.
The leaders have 11/12, with six teams on 10/12, including former winners Novy Bor and Parisians Asnières.

D Dardha – S Mamedyarov
King’s Indian Harry

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.h4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 0–0!? (A novelty, previously only 5...d6 was seen)
6.d5 Nb4 7.g3 (After 7.e4 d6 8.Be2 e6 9.Be3 exd5 10.cxd5 Re8 11.Nd2 c6 Black’s counterplay arrives)
7...e6 8.a3 Na6 9.Bg2 exd5 10.cxd5 Re8 11.0–0
(White could have tried 11.d6 c6 12.b4 Ne4 13.Nxe4! Bxa1 14.Bg5 f6 15.Qxa1 Rxe4 16.Bxf6 Qf8 17.Ng5 Re8 18.h5 or 18.Qa2+ which are both winning or if 11...cxd6 12.0–0 d5 13.Nxd5 Nxd5 14.Qxd5 with a clear edge)
11...Nc5 12.d6 c6

13.Nd2?! (The computer likes 13.Rb1 a5 14.e4 Nfxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Ng5 when Black is tied up)
13...a5 14.b3? Re6! (White loses his prize asset)
15.Qc2 Rxd6 16.Nc4 Re6 17.Be3 Bf8
(17...Rxe3 18.Nxe3 Ne6 followed by d7–d5 was also good, with a pawn and the centre for the exchange)
18.Bh3 Re8 19.b4 d5!! (A brilliant idea, White is already lost)