Peter Svidler is the four-time champion of Russia. In other words, he is not exactly a slouch at the chessboard. Indeed, at the world championship competition in Mexico, he was considered to be one of the favorites. But Mr. Svidler put on a terrible performance. His only victory came in the last round. What happened? We do not know. But it appears that he was saving all of his energy for another less important event, the team championship of Europe, which started shortly after the world championship tournament came to an end.

In the team championship competition, held this year on the island of Crete, Mr. Svidler played in top form and achieved commensurate results. Playing on Russia’s first board, he won seven points in eight rounds and was a heavy-weight contributor to the victory of the Russian team. Here we see him in high style against the Bulgarian rising star, Ivan Chaparinov.

SVIDLER VS. CHEPARINOV

(white) (black)

Sicilian Defense

1.e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 e6 7.g4 h6!? This move became more popular in recent tournaments than 7…e5 8. Nf5 g6 9.g5! gxf5 10. exf5 which gives white a dangerous attack for the sacrificed piece. For example, Polgar-Anand 1999 continued 10… d5 11. Qf3 d4 12.0-0-0 Nbd7 13. Bd2! dxc3 14. Bxc3 and white won in elegant fashion. 8. Bg2 e5 This is the most principled approach. In Polgar-Topalov 2006 8…g5!? was played and after 9. Qe2 Nbd7 10.0-0-0 Ne5 11.h3 Nfd7 12.f4!? white incrementally developed a dangerous attack. 9. Nf5 g6 10.h3!! An amusing novelty: white gives away a piece for a lowly pawn, hoping for positional compensation. 10… gxf5 It made sense to decline the piece offer with 10…d5!? 11.f4! gxf5 12. fxe5 Nxe4 13. Nxd5 Nd7 (In white’s favor is 13…Qh4+? 14. Kf1) 14.0-0 Bc5 leading to a complex position. 11. exf5 Nc6?! After this, black’s position becomes distinctly uncomfortable. Black had to bring the c8 bishop into the fight, choosing between 11…Qc7!? 12. Qe2 (Black’s prospects are good after 12. Qf3 Nc6 13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.h4 Na5!) 12…Bd7 13.0-0-0 Bc6 14.f4 Bxg2 15. Qxg2 Nbd7 16.g5 exf4 and black’s position is clearly better then in the game, and; 11…Bd7!? 12. Bxb7 Bc6 13. Bxa8 Bxa8 14. Rg1 d5 with an unclear position. 12. Qe2 Qa5 Black position in the center would collapse in the event of 12…d5 13.0-0-0 13.0-0-0 Bd7 14.f4! Rc8 Not satisfied with 14…0-0-0 15. Qf2 Re8 16.a3!; or 14…Be7 15.g5 hxg5 16. fxg5 Nh5 17.f6 in which white would bring to bear strong pressure in both cases, black starts a counterattack. Unfortunately, for black it is brilliantly refuted. 15. Kb1! Nb4 It was better to suffer in silence after 15…Be7 16. Rhe1!? 16.a3 Rxc3!? 17. axb4! Of course not 17. bxc3 Nbd5 and black is better. 17… Qxb4 18. fxe5! Probably black hoped for 18. Bd2 Qc4! 18… Ba4 Compulsory aggression. Black loses after 18…dxe5 19. Bd2 but now a queen sacrifice decides the outcome.

(See Diagram)

19. exf6!! Bxc2+ 20. Qxc2! Rxc2 21. Kxc2 d5!? It’s bad, but it’s also forced. If black does not develop his bishop from f8, it blocks the h8 rook in lines like 21…h5 22.g5; or 21…Kd7 22. Bd5. The four white pieces would easily overwhelm the lonely black queen. 22. Rxd5 Qa4+ Black was equally defenseless after 22…Bd6 23. Rhd1 0-0 (23… Bc7 24. Bc5) 24. Rxd6 Rc8+ 25. Kb1 Qb3 26. Rd8+ Rxd8 27. Rxd8+ Kh7 28. Bc1. 23. Kb1 Bb4 24. Bc5! Cutting all escape routes of the black king and preparing the guillotine. 24… Qb3 25. Re5+ Kd8 26. Bxb4 Qxb4 27. Rc1! Unavoidable is 28. Rd5+ and 29. Rc8 mate. 1-0

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