Raymond Keene

Game of the year | 4 January 2018

It is traditional that in my first column of the new year I review the previous 12 months and select the most outstanding game played at elite level to receive the accolade of game of the year. This time, there is little doubt that the most spectacular game of 2017 was the win by the Chinese grandmaster (and now World Championship candidate) Ding Liren against Jinshi Bei from the Chinese League. This game has become known as the Chinese Immortal and, as with the original bearer of the immortal accolade, Anderssen-Kieseritsky, London 1851, this game sees a queen sacrifice followed by a devastating attack against the opposing king. Indeed, the closing stages resemble one of the wild king hunts of the 19th century rather than a game between modern experts.
 
Also this week, I have selected a puzzle of the year. This marks the return to play of the former world champion Garry Kasparov, regarded by many as the greatest player of all time. In fact, the stunning winning move was wheeled out against Kasparov and it came as a terrible shock to him, as could be seen by anyone watching.
 
Bei-Ding Liren; Chinese League 2017; Nimzo-Indian Defence
 
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nc3 Bb4 4 Nf3 0-0 5 Bg5 c5 6 e3 cxd4 7 Qxd4 7 exd4 would be more normal. The text exposes White’s queen to counterattack. 7 … Nc6 8 Qd3 And here 8 Qh4 looks natural to be followed by Bd3. 8 … h6 9 Bh4 d5 10 Rd1 g5 11 Bg3 Ne4 The start of a vigorous counterattack. 12 Nd2 Nc5 13 Qc2 d4 14 Nf3 e5 15 Nxe5 dxc3 (see diagram 1) A bold sacrifice hoping to bring White’s king and queen into the firing line. 16 Rxd8 cxb2+ 17 Ke2 The critical error. It is far better to return material by retreating the rook to d2.





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