by National Life Master Loal Davis
Vassily Ivanchuk
The match between Vassily Ivanchuk of the Ukraine and Yi Wei of China was won by Ivanchuk in tie-breaks after each player won a single game. Despite the closeness of the scores I feel that Ivanchuk fully deserved this match win. His single win in the primary section of the match was the more convincing as he fully and confidently turned back (refuted) Wei’s “attack”. Vassily also won both tie-breaking games. Although I’m not partial to rapid tie-breaks, the last game clearly showed that – well – Wei has some work to do.
“Ivanchuk – Wei Yi 2017”
Date “2017.10.22”
Round “2”
White “Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR)”
Black “Wei, Yi (CHN)”
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. e3 Bf5 9. Rc1 Nbd7 10. Qb3 Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 c6 12. Nd2 Qa5 13. f3 Rfe8 14. Kf2 Rac8 15. Be2 c5 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Rhc1 g5 18. Bg3
Black To Move – And Lose
Rxe3 ?
This might mean something if Black had something – but he does not. It “looks” scary as White has to take a waltz with his King into the center of the board – but – nothing is nothing. Congratulations to Ivanchuk for turning this “demonstration” back on its heels.
19. Kxe3 d4+ 20. Kxd4 Re5
Not very comfortable looking the the White King – But – How to get at him?
21. Bd3 Be6 22. Qxb7 Kg7 23. Ne4 Nd5
Hoping something will turn up – It does not.
24. Bxe5+ Nxe5 25. Rc5 1-0
Final Position
In retrospect – rather embarrassing.
“Ivanchuk – Wei Yi 2017”
Date “2017.10.26”
Round “6”
White “Wei, Yi (CHN)”
Black “Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR)”
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 Qc7 8. O-O Nf6 9. Qe2 d5 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. f4 h6 12. Bh4 Be7 13. Bg3 O-O 14. e5 Ne8 15. f5 exf5 16. Bxf5 Qb6+ 17. Kh1 g6 18. Bd7 Rd8 19. e6 f5 20. Qd2 Kh7 21. Bf2 Qa5 22. Be3 h5 23. Qf2 c5 24. Qf4 g5 25. Qf3 g4 26. Qf4 Rf6 27. Bxe8 Rxe8 28. Qg5 Ref8 29. Qxh5+ Kg7 30. Qg5+ Kh8 31. Qh5+ Kg7 32. Bg5 d4 33. Bxf6+ Rxf6 34. Rxf5 1-0
Final Position
“Ivanchuk – Wei Yi 2017”
Date “2017.10.26”
Round “8” Final Tie-Breaker
White “Wei, Yi (CHN)”
[lack “Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR)”
1. e4 d5
The Scandinavian Defense.
2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 c6
Black’s Queen may need to withdraw to c7 with play similar to a Caro Kann.
5. Bd2 Bf5 6. Bc4 e6 7. Qf3 Nd7 8. O-O-O Ngf6 9. Nge2 Qc7 10. h3 h6 11. Rhe1 O-O-O 12. Kb1 Bd6
Black is solid and well developed. As in the Caro Kann Black will eventually effect an e5 or c5 break.
13. g4 Bh7 14. Nf4 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Qe2 Rhe8
Black has a beautiful position – White has a Queen/target running loose.
17. Be3 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 b5 0-1
Final Position
The Queen is hit/deflected away from the Knight on f4 – and Qd4 is met by c5 – more of the same.
Congratulations to Ivanchuk.
http://hoogeveenchess.nl/en/21st-hoogeveen-chess-tournament-2017