World Cup 2023

IM Malcolm Pein September 3, 2023

Vasyl Ivanchuk had a fine run in the FIDE World Cup that was only ended by Magnus Carlsen in the round-of-16.
The Ukrainian legend was allowed to play after a campaign to secure his participation. The rules in wartime Ukraine initially prevented him from leaving the country.
The great man won three matches, eliminating Wei Yi of China, world ranked 21, on the way.
A strategic masterpiece decided this fourth-round match after five draws.
White advances all over the board.

V Ivanchuk – V Sanap
FIDE World Cup 2023 Baku
Gruenfeld g3

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nf6 5.0–0 c6 6.c4 0–0 7.b3 Bf5 8.Bb2 Nbd7 9.Nbd2 Ne4 10.Nh4 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 Be6 12.e4 Nb6?

(After the superior 12...dxe4 13.Bxe4 Bh3 14.Rfe1 Nf6 15.Bh1 is still an edge for White as Black’s light bishop does not have a home. See board below.)

13.c5 (White was spoilt for choice; 13.exd5 cxd5 14.c5 Nd7 15.b4 Nf6 16.a4 A Whiteley – P Hempson, Bristol 1968, was good for White, as is 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e5 Rc8 15.f4 Qd7 16.f5!)
13...Nd7 14.e5 f5 (14...f6 gives Black a little freedom, now he is suffocated)
15.f4 Bf7 16.Rfc1 e6 17.Bf1! h6 18.Nf3 Re8 19.b4 a6 20.a4 Bf8 21.b5 Be7 22.Bc3 Rf8 23.Rcb1
axb5 (Black has potential weaknesses on a6 and c6. This eliminates one)
24.axb5 Rxa1 25.Rxa1 g5 26.Be2 gxf4?!

(This makes it worse. The dark squares prove Black’s undoing. After 26...g4 27.Ne1 cxb5
28.Bxb5, the b7-pawn will come under pressure).
27.Qxf4 Bg5 28.Nxg5 hxg5 29.Qf2 Bg6 30.Bd2 cxb5

31.h4! (Disaster strikes from an unexpected direction, Black pays a price for allowing the dark bishop to be exchanged)
31...f4 (If 31...gxh4 32.gxh4 or 32.Qf4 look good for White)
32.gxf4 gxh4 33.Kh2 Rf7 34.Rg1 Rg7

How did Ivanchuk break through to win material from this position?


 

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