Shirov Wins Again In 5th Round, Corus Chess 2010

At Wijk ann Zee, Corus Chess 2010, Shirov made an incredible fifth win in the fifth round over local chess player, Van Wely. As a result Shirov is making headlines in the chess world with his fantastic run at Corus.

Pix 1. Alexei Shirov (courtesy of Chessbase.com)
Van Wely,L (2641) - Shirov,A (2723) [A29]
Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (5), 21.01.2010
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3

7...g5!? This violent thrust has been played by Korchnoi in the analogous position after 8.Rb1, and serves as evidence of the Latvian's intentions. 9.d3 g4 10.Nd2 h5 11.b4 h4 12.Nc4 hxg3 13.hxg3 Nxc4 14.dxc4 Nd4 15.Nb5 Ne6

16.Qc2?! A committal decision, presumably made with the ensuing exchange sacrifice in mind. The simple 16.Qxd8+ looks enough for a solid and safe plus. 16...c6 17.Rd1 Bd7 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Rxd6 Qe7 20.Qd3 Nd4 21.Rxd4 exd4 22.Qxd4 Rh5 23.Bf4 Qxe2 24.Rd1 Be6 25.b5 Kf8 26.Bf1 Qf3 27.Bg2 Qe2 28.Bf1 Qc2 29.bxc6 bxc6 30.Re1 Kg8 31.Bd3 Qb3 32.Bd2 c5 33.Qd6

33...Bxc4? Now starts a tale of two bishop moves. Fritz 12 prefers the remarkable 33...Bd5!! 34.cxd5 Qxd3 with a big advantage. 34.Be4? Not surprisingly missing the equally remarkable zwischenzug 34.Bg6!! Rh3 and only now 35.Be4 when Black no longer has the reply 35...Bd5. 34...Bd5 35.Qf4 Bxe4 36.Rxe4 Qd1+ 37.Be1 Qf3 38.Qxg4+ Qxg4 39.Rxg4+ Kf8 40.Bd2 Rc8. The smoke of time-trouble has cleared and Black has a clear extra exchange. 41.Rc4 Ke7 42.g4 Rd5 43.Be3 Kd6 44.Kf1 Rd1+ 45.Ke2 Ra1 46.Ra4 c4 47.Kd2 c3+ 48.Kc2 Ra2+ 49.Kd3 c2 50.Bc1 Ra1 51.Rd4+ Ke6 52.Re4+ Kf6 53.Re1 Rb1 54.Kd2 Rb7 55.Re3 Kg5

With White tied down on the other flank, the entry of the black king decides.56.f3 Kf4 57.Rd3 Kg3 58.Ke2 Re7+ 59.Kd2 Kf2 0-1.

Here is another of Shirov’s win over Smeets in an earlier fourth round play at Corus.

4) Shirov - Smeets [C42]
Corus Chess 2010 Wijk aan Zee (4), 19.01.2010

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.0-0 Be7 8.c4 Nb4 9.Be2 0-0 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.a3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 Re8 14.cxd5 Qxd5 15.Bf4 Rac8 16.h3 h6 17.Nd2 Na5 18.Nf1 Qb3 19.Qd2 Nc4 20.Bxc4 Qxc4 21.Ne3 Qb5 22.c4 Qd7 23.c5 Bg6 24.Rac1 c6 25.Nc4 f6 26.Bxh6?! gxh6 27.Qxh6 Bh7 28.Re3 Bf8 29.Rg3+ Kh8 30.Qxf6+ Bg7 31.Qg5 Bxd4 32.Rd1 Rf8 33.Kh2 Rcd8?? [33...Rce8 is unclear] 34.Ne5 Qc7 35.Rxd4! Rxd4 36.Ng6+ Kg7 [36...Bxg6 37.Qh6+ Qh7 38.Qxf8+ Qg8 39.Qxg8+ Kxg8 40.Rxg6+ wins] 37.Nxf8+ 1-0
(source: Chessbase.com)