New guard win Corus

Problem: Black to play and force mate.

The first major international event in 2008 was the annual Corus Chess Tournament held at Wijk aan Zee in the Netherlands last month. With the three top ranked players in the world taking part, there would have been few bets on someone other than Anand, Kramnik or Topalov taking first place. But from the start all three, aged in their 30s, had to chase the two leaders Levon Aronian (25) of Armenia and Norwegian Magnus Carlsen (17). The lead was swapped between these two until the end when they finished tied for first place on 8/13, half a point ahead of Anand (India) and Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan).

This was the second victory at Wijk aan Zee for Aronian, who finished in a three-way tie last year. In that same event Carlsen finished last, so his win here is a testament to his rapid improvement, which looks set to scale the heights of the chess Olympus.

Today's game is the crucial and significant win with Black by Carlsen over Vladimir Kramnik in the penultimate round. Kramnik is the strongest player in the world with the white pieces.

1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 c5
4. g3 b6
5. Bg2 Bb7
6. O-O Be7
7. d4 cxd4
8. Qxd4 d6
9. Rd1 a6
The Hedgehog pawn structure adopted by Black is essentially a counter-punching strategy.
10. Ng5 Bxg2
11. Kxg2 Nc6
12. Qf4 O-O
13. Nce4 Ne8
14. b3 Ra7
15. Bb2 Rd7
16. Rac1 Nc7!
A new move - designed to support either of the key pawn breaks b6-b5 or d6-d5.
17. Nf3 f5!
Another strong idea. Black risks a weakened centre to expand on the kingside.
18. Nc3 g5
19. Qd2 g4
20. Ne1 Bg5
21. e3 Rff7
22. Kg1 Ne8
The knight returns to exploit the e4 outpost.
23. Ne2 Nf6
24. Nf4 Qe8
25. Qc3 Rg7!
Preparing 26 ... Ne4 by stopping 27 Qh8 mate.
26. b4 Ne4
27. Qb3 Rge7
28. Qa4?! Ne5!
29. Qxa6? ---
A serious oversight by Kramnik.
29. --- Ra7
30. Qb5 ---
Accompanied by a draw offer. The planned 30 Qxb6 runs into Reb7 31 Qd4 Bf6! and the queen will be lost to 32 ... Nf3+.
30. --- Qxb5
Hmm. No thanks! The black rooks now invade.
31. cxb5 Rxa2
32. Rc8+ Kf7
33. Nfd3 Bf6
34. Nxe5+ dxe5
35. Rc2 Rea7
36. Kg2 Ng5
37. Rd6?! ---
Again missing a tactical point, which Black exploits by exchanging bishops to gain entry to the back rank and set up mating threats.
37. --- e4!
38. Bxf6 Kxf6
39. Kf1 ---
Or 39 Rxb6 Ra1 40 Kf1 Nf3 41 Re2 Rd7 with Rd7-d1-e1 mating.
39. --- Ra1
40. Ke2 Rb1
41. Rd1---
Black now wins with the extra pawn but 41 Rxb6 Raa1 loses since 42 Ng2 walks into mate (see today's diagram).
41. --- Rxb4
42. Ng2 Rxb5
43. Nf4 Rc5
44. Rb2 b5
45. Kf1 Rac7
46. Rbb1 Rb7
47. Rb4 Rc4
48. Rb2 b4
49. Rdb1 Nf3
50. Kg2 Rd7
51. h3 ---
Or 51 Rxb4 Rxb4 52 Rxb4 Rd1 53 Ne2 Ne1+ 54 Kf1 Nd3+ winning the rook.
51 --- e5
52. Ne2 Rd2
53. hxg4 fxg4
54. Rxd2 Nxd2
55. Rb2 Nf3
56. Kf1 b3
57. Kg2 Rc2
White resigns as 58 Rxc2 bxc2 59 Kf1 Nd2+ 60 Ke1 Nb3 and the b-pawn costs the knight.

0-1

Solution: 1 ... Nf3 and 2... Re1+ 3. Nxe1 Rxe1# can only be delayed.