{"id":9436,"date":"2019-05-20T21:45:56","date_gmt":"2019-05-20T19:45:56","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mvlchess.com\/?p=9436"},"modified":"2019-06-03T14:20:02","modified_gmt":"2019-06-03T12:20:02","slug":"africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mvlchess.com\/en\/2019\/05\/20\/africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Africa!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

2019 Grand Chess Tour has begun in Africa, a premiere for a world class tournament. By the way, it was also a first for me\u2026 The tournament itself took place in the Pullman Hotel, where we were also accomodated. From this point of view, nothing new under the sun, as everything was on par with western standards, with the addition of a local flavor in the food that was welcome. Of course, our luxurious surroundings were sort of clashing with Abidjan\u2019s reality. And yes, I had the opportunity to visit the town during the tournament, which doesn\u2019t happen very often! Indeed, organized in collaboration with Vivendi and Canal+ teams – as will be the Parisan leg – this tournament has given place to another premiere; the filming of a 26-minute, two-part documentary for French-speaking audiences, with large highlights on my own tournament course. The second part will be filmed during Paris Grand Chess Tour leg, at the end of July. Thus, I had the opportunity to visit Abidjan during the first days, helped by the fact that games were scheduled at 5pm. I had a lot of good moments with Ivorian people; we played blitz sessions in the middle of nowhere, memorable though improvised football games with kids \ud83d\ude42 , or simply had a drink somewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Impromptu
Impromptu blitz games with Ivorian champion, MF Simplice Degondo (Photo Almira Skripchenko).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the Grand Chess Tour itself, organizers really tried to popularize chess in this part of the world, with the participation of Africa top player, Amin Bassem, but also by planning a side team event for players of Western Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coming back to the tournament itself, it was my first Rapid since Saint-Louis last August<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the first two days, I said that despite a very average result (2.5\/6), I felt the content of my games was correct anyway. At the end of the day, I\u2019ll be proven right \ud83d\ude42 .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s\nnow have a look at some important moments in my games;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is never plesant to begin with a loss\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Nakamura-Mvl,
Nakamura-Mvl, Rapid round 1.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In this position, I had planned 18…d4 19. Ne2 d3 with easy equality. Except that actually, 20.Ng3! controls f5 and wins a pawn for white. So I had to content myself with 18…Rhe8<\/strong> and I never fully equalize, even if I certainly could have put up a stiffer resistance afterwards (1-0, 52 moves).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"L\u2019acc\u00e8s
L\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 la salle de jeu (Photo Grand Chess Tour).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The second day began on better grounds, with a smooth technical win on the Bishop pair theme:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mvl-Wei
Mvl-Wei Yi, Rapid round 4.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After 27.Kc2<\/strong>, with the idea to bring the King up to a6 to take a7, I knew that his only chance was 27…Nh5 in order to generate counterplay on the Kingside. But he tried to bring his King back to the Queenside, and this plan doesn\u2019t work at all; I had already calculated that after 27…Kg8 28.Kb3 Kf8 29.Ka4 Ke7 30.Kb5 Kd8 31.Ka6 Kc7 32.Bd5!<\/strong>, it\u2019s curtains (1-0, 43 moves).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against Carlsen, I created difficulties for myself, as I didn\u2019t remember at all the theory – let alone the correct lines! – of this specific 6.Be3 Ng4<\/strong> Najdorf variation. By the way, on more general terms, almost everybody in Abidjan tried to catch me in the Najdorf, each one of my opponents having prepared his specific line, and I must confess that it\u2019s never easy for me to remember eveything. This being said, despite a few precarious positions, I don\u2019t think I should blame the opening itself in all these games \ud83d\ude42 .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Carlsen-Mvl,
Carlsen-Mvl, Rapid round 5.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

At the end of a very complex middlegame, I had the feeling I got out unscathed, until we reached this critical position where Magnus had just played 33.g4<\/strong>. My answer 33…Rxa4? <\/strong>has been criticized a lot, and quite rightly so, as I\u2019m totally lost after the opening up on my King 34.g5!<\/strong>. This being said, what seems obvious when looking at the comp is much less clear on the board where, despite the blatant danger looming, you can easily imagine that defensive ressources will show up.
But there\u2019s also another explanation for this mistake. First of all, I realized that the move I planned – 33\u2026Qc4 – didn\u2019t work because of 34.Qa7+ Kf8 35.Qa8+ Kg7 36.Qd5!. I also briefly saw that 33\u2026Ke8 didn\u2019t fix anything. And then, I didn\u2019t evaluate properly plan B 34\u2026Qc5 35.Qxc5 dxc5 36.Rd5, assuming I would suffer in this Rook ending, whereas it gives good drawing chances after 35\u2026Rc3. Hence my default choice 33\u2026Rxa4?, to try fishing in murky waters (1-0, 42 moves).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A last draw against So closed a not so brillant two-day run in accounting terms. But I remedied the situation the next day, by winning my last three games!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Topalov-Mvl,
Topalov-Mvl, Rapid round 7.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

After a rather well played opening, in which I quite liked the consolidating manoeuver \u2026Rc8-c6, I got this position, certainly winning, but assuming you find the correct path! 27…Rxc3! 28.bxc3 Rxc3 29.Rd2? Qb5+<\/strong> 0-1. I still had to make sure that 29.Rdh1 wouldn\u2019t have been enough: 29…Qb5+ 30.Kd2 Nf3+ 31.Kxc3 Nxd4 32.Rh7+ Kf8 33.Rh8+ Ke7 34.R1h7+ Ke6 (black\u2019s Queen covers e8!) 35.Kxd4 and as white has too many weaknesses, the Queen will dominate white’s Rooks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Filming
Filming in Abidjan (Photo: Leenart Ootes).<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This nice day was concluded by a victory against the African leg\u2019s local, Amin Bassem. But not without a few scares, in particular in the following position!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Amin-Mvl,
Amin-Mvl, Rapid round 9.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here, Amin played the terrible 32.R1e2?<\/strong> and black wins after 32…dxe5<\/strong>, the pawn being immune because of …Qf1 mate after the exchanges. However, had he played 32.Rf4, I assume I would have lost that game! Not because my position would have suddenly become terrible, but simply because I had already planned, against an opponent down on time, to unfold the pretty variation 32…Bh6 33.exd6 Bxf4 34.gxf4 Rxf4 35.Re7 Qxe7 36.dxe7 Rg4+ followed by 37…Rf1 mate or 37…Rf3 mate; and after 33.Rxf5 (instead of 33.exd6), I thought I had the clearance check 33…Qb7+ 34.Kg1 Bxd2; unfortunately, this latest variation is mined! 35.Rxf8 Bxe1 36.e6!, and the double threat 37.Rh8 mate and 37.Rf7+ is decisive. Would have I found it out in time? Nothing could be less sure!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"There\u2019ll
There\u2019ll be trouble! (Photo Grand Chess Tour).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

With 5,5\/9 in the Rapid, I was able to approach the Blitz part more smoothly, and I began it with 5 straight wins, bringing to 8 the number of my consecutive wins. I know it remains anecdotal, but it is rare enough to be worth mentionning! Series like this one are also based on details which go in the right direction, as I was completely lost in the first blitz against So, and clearly worse in the second against Carlsen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Carlsen-Mvl,
Carlsen-Mvl, Blitz round 2.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\nHere,\nthe world champion lost track with 43.a6?\n<\/strong>(43.Nd5!)\n43\u2026Bh4! 44.Qd2 Nf4<\/strong>\n0-1, as the mating attack is unstoppable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\nfollowing round against Nakamura, I was able to uncork a long\nhome-cooked prep in the Berlin Wall, that I had in store for previous\ntournaments!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mvl-Nakamura,
Mvl-Nakamura, Blitz round 3.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\nI\nknew 24…fxg6 was correct, because the King will need square f7, but\nNaka played 24…Bxg6?<\/strong>,\nwhich loses after 25.Nc5\nb6<\/strong>\n(25…Nc3 26.Rh1! is the point, black\u2019s King has no square!)\n26.Na6<\/strong>,\ntargeting simultaneously c7 and the Nd1. But I misplayed the\nconversion phase, and almost failed to win, which would have been\nquite embarassing though\u2026 Because I don\u2019t think I will ever again\nhave 4 minutes left when Naka only has 15 seconds! (1-0, 88 moves).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s\nDing Liren who put an end to my 8-game winning streak by earning a\ndraw in round 6. This is a fair return though, as I was the one to\nend his unbelievable 100-game series without losing in classical\ngames!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then,\ntiredness took over, and I threw in the towel against Topalov.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Topalov-Mvl,
Topalov-Mvl, Blitz round 7.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\nI\nam unable to recall why I was attracted to 20…Qxb6?<\/strong>\ninstead of the normal 20…axb6. And after 21.Rfe1?!<\/strong>\n(21.b5! is better), I forgot that 21…Qxb4 was possible, because of\n22.Ba3 Qb7!. Though the position wasn\u2019t that bad yet, I continued\nthis poor course and lost without real resistance. (1-0, 36 moves).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two\nerratic draws against Russians Karjakin and Nepo concluded this first\nday of blitz, though I was leading it with 6.5\/9.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Ivorian
Ivorian Sports Minister, Paulin Claude Dahno, neglected his development! (Photo: Leenart Ootes).<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

The next day, I lost from the outset against So, pushing a bit too boldly my Kingside pawns, before succombing to a nice tactic. Not a very good way to begin the day, especially when you have to play Carlsen and Nakamura next!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Surely,\nthe world champion wanted to take revenge from the previous day, and\neven if I probably didn\u2019t make all the good choices in the\nmiddlegame, the position remained approximately even.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mvl-Carlsen,
Mvl-Carlsen, Blitz round 11.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\nWith\nhis last move 33…Ne5<\/strong>,\nthreatening to penetrate on d3, Magnus probably believed he would put\nme under pressure. But after 34.f4\nNd3 35.Kf1!<\/strong>,\nI had anticipated that his Knight would be trapped on d3. Magnus\nblitzed out 35…Ra1+\n36.Ke2 Rd7<\/strong>,\nand then seemed to panick after 37.Nf3<\/strong>.\nHe took time to ultimately play 37…Rb1\n38.Rd2 Rb2?<\/strong>\nwhich loses by force, while 38…Rxb3 39.Ne1 Nxf4+ 40.gxf4 Rxd2+\n41.Rxd2 Rh3! would have given him very good drawing chances, as there\nare not lots of pawns left. In the game, after 39.Rxb2\nNxb2 40.Ne5<\/strong>,\nI quietly went on to win (1-0, 55 moves).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\ntopsy-turvy course of this last day continued afterwards. First a\nloss against Nakamura, then a terrible game with Amin Bassem, despite\nthe win. Against Wei Yi, I won again, but with energy rather than\ntechnique. Then came an uneventful draw against Ding Liren, and it\u2019s\nagain not cleanly at all that I beat Topalov, in a game full of\nmistakes on both parts. In the second to last round, I had an\nultimate standstill against Karjakin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Karjakin-Mvl,
Karjakin-Mvl, Blitz round 17.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Here, I played the pseudo-freeing move 24…d5?<\/strong>, and after 25.exd5 Rxd5 26.Rxd5 Nxd5 27.Qe4<\/strong>, I found myself with too many weaknesses to defend. I really don\u2019t know why I played this move. I was head to head with Naka for the second place, I just said to myself that I had to win this game, and thus play 24\u2026d5. But the follow-up was that I lost my pawns one after another, and I resigned very lately, through sheer inertia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"End
End of the very last game against Nepo, under the watchful eyes of Carlsen and Wesley So (Photo: Leenart Ootes).<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, all ended well, with a best-case scenario in the last round. Naka lost with white against Carlsen, though the position looked symetrical and completely equal. On my side, I concluded the Abidjan leg with a fine win against Nepo, which allowed me to catch in extremis the American for second place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mvl-Nepomniachtchi,
Mvl-Nepomniachtchi, Blitz round 18.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Focused on my game, I hadn\u2019t seen that Carlsen had beaten Nakamura. But I knew that anyway, I had to win to entertain hope, all the more as a loss would have cost me nothing. To prevent threats of a Rook infiltration on e7 or e8, black should have opted for 50…Qd6!. Then I would have had to find 51.Re4! in order to keep the advantage. In the game, Nepo tried to figure out a perpetual, but it doesn\u2019t exist if white\u2019s King demonstrates his fancy footwork! 50…Rd2? 51.Re8! Rxg2+ 52.Kxg2 Qd2+ 53.Kg3 Qd3+ 54.Kh4 g5+ 55.Kg4 Qd1+ 56.Kf5 Qd3+ 57.Kxf6 Qd4+ 58.Kxg5 Qg1+ 59.Kf5 Qc5+ 60.Nd5 Qc2+ 61.Re4 Qc8+ 62.Kg5 h6+ 63.Kh4 Ng6+ 64.Qxg6<\/strong> 1-0, as there will never be any stalemate because of the pawn on h6!<\/p>\n\n\n\n