Pantheon

From 1950 to 1962, the challenger for the world title was determined by a Candidates tournament of the world’s leading grandmasters, apart of course from the world champion. This was deemed an improvement on the previous system whereby the incumbent could accept or decline challenges as he saw fit, subject to pressures of finance and prestige. Thereafter Fidé, the world chess federation, adopted a number of experiments, some successful, some less so, such as the qualifier for the 2012 championship which was determined by quickplay games, an affront to classical chess.
 
Since last year, though, Fidé has sensibly reverted to the great tournament format of yesteryear, with splendid events in London and Khanty-Mansisk. These have delivered two worthy winners, Carlsen in 2013 and Anand this year.
 
This week I pay tribute to some of the great Candidates tournaments of the past.
 
Keres-Smyslov: Candidates Tournament, Zurich 1953; Queen’s Indian Defence
 
1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 e3 Be7 5 b3 0-0 6 Bb2 b6 7 d4 cxd4 8 exd4 d5 The opening has been a slow variation against the Queen’s Indian much favoured by the great Polish master Akiba Rubinstein. 9 Bd3 Nc6 10 0-0 Bb7 Black of course avoids the pitfall 10 …dxc4 11 bxc4 Nxd4 12 Nxd4 Qxd4 13 Bxh7+ winning Black’s queen. 11 Rc1 Rc8 12 Re1 Nb4 13 Bf1 Ne4 14 a3 Nxc3 15 Rxc3 Nc6 (see diagram 1) 16 Ne5 Encouraged by the active position of his rook on the third rank Keres now tries to blast the black king. However he is looking at the wrong side of the board. White is, in fact, well placed to start a queenside attack with 16 c5 to be followed by b4. 16 … Nxe5 17 Rxe5 Bf6 18 Rh5 This looks terrifying but White’s attack is illusory. 18 … g6 19 Rch3 (see diagram 2) If now 19 … gxh5 20 Qxh5 Re8 21 a4 Qd6 22 Qh6 Bg7 23 Qxh7+ (23 Rg3 looks murderous but 23 … Qxg3 destroys White’s attack) 23 … Kf8 24 Rg3 Bf6 25 Qh6+ Ke7 26 c5 and White wins. 19 … dxc4 This capture reveals the depth of Smyslov’s defensive strategy. Although White’s rooks can now rage around the black king, Black’s domination of the centre is the decisive factor. 20 Rxh7 If 20 bxc4 gxh5 21 Bd3 (21 Qxh5 Be4) 21 … h4 wins. 20 … c3 Killing White’s attack stone dead for if 21 Bxc3 Rxc3 22 Rxc3 Kxh7. 21 Qc1 Qxd4 22 Qh6 Rfd8 23 Bc1 Bg7 24 Qg5 Qf6 25 Qg4 c2 26 Be2 Rd4 27 f4 Rd1+ 28 Bxd1 Qd4+ White resigns White’s pieces, stranded on the king’s flank, are useless. The triumph of the central defender!