Garry Kasparov endorsed the slower time control which was used at the Superbet Chess Classic. That event, which concluded this month in Bucharest, was the latest leg of the Grand Chess Tour, the annual series of events for elite players which comprises a mix of faster and slower formats. In the words of the former world champion: ‘The preservation of classical chess… is very important for helping players to realise their full potential, to put on display what they can do.’ He compared the format to ‘modern opera’, in contrast to rapid and blitz events where the action is faster, but the play is less refined.
At its best, classical chess contains ambitious, unusual ideas, such as the pawn sacrifice played by Firouzja in the game below. Alas, the players could not always inject such life into their games. In Bucharest, just seven out of 45 games ended decisively, and many of those draws could be attributed more to thorough opening preparation by both sides than to human creativity.
Alireza Firouzja-Wesley So
Superbet Classic, Bucharest 2024
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 a3 Bxc3+ 5 bxc3 b6 6 f3 Nc6 7 e4 Na5 (see left diagram) It is typical in the Nimzo-Indian defence (3…Bb4) that Black concedes the bishop pair in order to double White’s c-pawns. The central pawn mass looks imposing, but it can be blockaded with c7-c5, and attacked with Bc8-a6. Firouzja’s next move cuts across that. 8 c5 bxc5 9 Rb1 Recapturing on c5 would break up the strong central duo. At the cost of a pawn, Firouzja ensures easy future development, and the fluid centre favours his bishop pair. cxd4 10 cxd4 c5 This counter-sacrifice gives the Na5 something to do, but it doesn’t work out well. One might consider rerouting the knight to e7 (via c6). 11 dxc5 O-O 12 Bf4 Nb7 13 Qd4 Re8 14 Ne2 Qa5+ 15 Nc3 a6 15…Qxc5 16 Qxc5 Nxc5 17 Be3 Na6 18 Nb5 looks unappealing for Black. 16 Be3 Qxa3 17 e5 Nd5 18 Nxd5 exd5 19 Kf2 An important move, protecting the Be3 in preparation for Qd4xd5. Nd8 20 Qxd5 Bb7 21 Rxb7 Nxb7 22 Qxb7 Rab8 23 Qd5 On an open board, the bishop pair easily outweighs a rook. Qb2+ 24 Be2 Rxe5 25 Qd4 a5 26 Rb1 Qxb1 27 Qxe5 Kh8 28 Bd4 f6 29 Qd6 Qb7 30 Bxf6 Re8 31 Bc3 Black resigns Four players tied for first place, with Caruana winning the rapid tiebreak. In the position below, he found a beautiful tactical shot.
Fabiano Caruana-Alireza Firouzja
Superbet Classic Tiebreak, Bucharest 2024
17 Bf6! gxf6 17…Qd7 was no better: 18 Nc5! 18 Qxd5 Qe7 18…Qxd5 19 Nxf6+ leaves White a healthy pawn up. 19 Rac1 Rad8 20 Qf5 Kg7 21 Rxc6 bxc6 22 Qxa5 Rd5 23 Qc3 Caruana holds a huge advantage. He made heavy weather of it, but won in the end.
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