World Cup

The recently concluded Fide (World Chess Federation) World Cup held at Tromso in Norway resulted in a triumph for Vladimir Kramnik. The ex-world champion’s form has been variable this year, including shared first place in the London Candidates’ tournament, with Carlsen, but a disastrous last place finish in the Tal Memorial in Moscow. Kramnik missed out on the qualifying slot in London, when he crashed to defeat against the ever mercurial Ivanchuck in a tense final round. However, Kramnik gained his revenge in a crucial game against the same opponent in Tromso.
 
Ivanchuk-Kramnik; FIDE World Cup, Tromso 2013
 
(Diagram 1) Here Ivanchuk, who stands only marginally worse, due to Black’s outside passed pawn on the queen’s flank, committed suicide by opening up his king’s position and blowing safety to the winds… 40 f4 h5 41 h4 Kg7 42 Qb4 Qc6+ 43 Kf2 Rb5 44 Qd4 Qc2+ 45 Kf3 Rb2 White resigns
 
It is precisely in major piece situations, with queens and rooks prowling the board, that it is vital to keep one’s king as secure as possible. This was a lesson which was evident from games by such past masters as Rubinstein, Capablanca and Alekhine. A measure of Kramnik’s superiority was that in the knock-out final he was able to agree a draw against the reigning Russian champion, in an overwhelming position when victory was virtually assured.
 
Kramnik-Andreikin; FIDE World Cup, Tromso 2013
 
(Diagram 2) This position is a win for White because of the apparently irrelevant doubled pawn on g2. 55 Raxf5+ Kg6 White’s idea is clear after 55 … Qxf5 56 Rxf5+ Kxf5 57 Kh3 Kg5 58 g4 Kg6 59 Kh4 Kh6 60 g5+ Kg6 61 Kg4 Kg7 62 Kf5 Kf7 63 g6+ Kg7 64 Kg5 Kg8 65 Kf6 Kf8 66 g7+ Kg8 and now 67 g3 Kh7 68 Kf7 forces the win. Note that there is a small trap here after 67 g4 (instead of 67 g3) 67 … Kh7 68 Kf7 Kh6 and now White must avoid 69 g8Q which results in stalemate, but 69 g8R wins. 56 Rfg5+ Kf6 57 Rb5 Qc2 58 Rh6+ Kg7 59 Rbb6 Qc5 60 Rbg6+ Kf8 61 Rh7 Qf5 62 Rgg7 Qe6 63 Re7 Black resigns
 
Tromso was a vast elimination competition, with few direct clashes between the elite, much of the amusement being to see which favourite had been terminated by which underdog at any stage.