ODT051220

=**Political chess battle looms**=


 * Problem:** White to play and mate in 3.

FIDE, the world chess organising body, has been particularly active lately. Following hard on the heels of the successful World Championship tournament in San Luis, Argentina comes the 128-player knockout event in Khanty Mansyisk, Russia. This event used to be known as the FIDE World Championship, but has been renamed the FIDE World Cup. A host of rule changes made over the last few months means it now serves as the major qualifying event to the next World Championship tournament.

So much activity after years of failing to organise successful World Championship matches may have something to do with the approaching FIDE Presidential election in May 2006. This time the incumbent, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, will have real competition in Dutch businessman Bessel Kok, who has recently announced he is running next year. Kok has a long and successful history of involvement with top-level chess, and is a popular choice among players and fans alike. However, Ilyumzhinov's commitment to democratic principles is best illustrated by his subsequent announcement of a plan to force all candidates to deposit US $1 million with FIDE for the privilege of running.

Today's game comes from the early rounds of Khanty Mansyisk and features a nice build-up into a crushing attack by Vasilios Kotronias of Greece playing White against Ni Hua of China. media type="custom" key="27131648" Tempting White to advance e5 and attack the Black King. Black's defence will be based around manouvring his knights to control e4. A typical Tarrasch French struggle has been taking place - White trying to control the central dark squares and pressure Black's centre pawns, while Black tries to activate his pieces and pawns. The last move allows White to force either a weakening pawn advance in front of the Black King, or the exchange of his vital dark-squared Bishop - Better was 16 --- Qe7. White calmly preserves his two fine Bishops and slowly sets about building and irresistible attack on the dark squares left vacant by the absent Black Bishop. Black can do nothing. Having placed all his pieces in readiness, White takes a simple precaution against back-rank checks before the final onslaught. The threat of Reg5 meant Black's situation was desperate. Now mate can only be prevented by catastrophic material loss. Even giving up the Queen with 35 --- Qg7 will not delay mate for long.
 * 1.e4 e6**
 * 2.d4 d5**
 * 3.Nd2 Be7**
 * 4.Bd3 c5**
 * 5.dxc5 Nf6**
 * 6.Qe2 0-0**
 * 7.Ngf3 a5!?**
 * 8.0-0 Na6**
 * 9.e5 Nd7**
 * 10.c3 Naxc5**
 * 11.Bc2 f6**
 * 12.exf6 Bxf6**
 * 13.Nb3 b6**
 * 14.Nxc5 Nxc5**
 * 15.Rd1 Ba6**
 * 16.Qe3 Qe8?!**
 * 17.Ng5! Bxg5**
 * 18.Qxg5 Ne4**
 * 19.Qh4! ---**
 * 19. --- Qc6**
 * 20.Be3 h6**
 * 21.Qg4 Nf6**
 * 22.Qg3 Kh8**
 * 23.Bd4 b5**
 * 24.Re1 Qe8**
 * 25.Re5 Qf7**
 * 26.Rae1 Bc8**
 * 27.Qh4 Bd7**
 * 28.R1e3 b4**
 * 29.h3! ---**
 * 29. --- bxc3**
 * 30.bxc3 Rab8**
 * 31.Rg3 Rb2**
 * 32.Bg6 Qe7**
 * 33.Rh5 Kg8**
 * 34.Rxh6! gxh6**
 * 35.Qxh6**


 * 1-0**


 * Solution:** 1 Rxh7+! Kxh7 (1 ... Kg8 2 Nxe7++ Kxh7 3 Qh4#) 2 Qh4+ Kg6 (2 ... Kg8 3 Nxe7#) 3 Nf4#)