English grandmaster John Nunn was the top seed in the over-65 section at the World Senior Championship, held in Italy last month. A series of crisp attacking games put him in the lead with 6.5/7. But an uncharacteristic miscalculation in round eight saw him lose a miniature against Danish grandmaster Jens Kristiansen. Going into the 11th and final round, Nunn still trailed by half a point, so his fate was no longer in his hands. As the games unfolded, Kristiansen had the draw well within reach, but succumbed to a neat endgame zugzwang against Jose Luis Fernandez Garcia. Meanwhile, against Valentin Bogdanov, Nunn spun a slim advantage into gold with a leisurely king manoeuvre from the h-file to the b-file. Nunn took the title with 9/11, ahead of a quartet on 8.5/11.
In the third round, Nunn capitalised on Black’s slow development with an energetic sacrifice. The move 6…g6 was a mistake, weakening the dark squares for just a moment.
John Nunn-David Shnaider
World Senior Championship, Assisi, Nov 2022
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Qb6 4 Nc3 e6 5 O-O Nge7 6 Re1 g6 7 Bxc6 Nxc6 8 d4 cxd4 9 Nd5 exd5 10 exd5+ Ne7 11 Bf4 d6 12 Nd2! (See left diagram)
Knight retreats are easily overlooked, but Nunn must have foreseen this well in advance. Via c4 or e4, the knight’s bounce to d6 is inevitable.
Qa6 13 Ne4 Bg7 14 Nxd6+ Kf8 15 Qf3 f5 15…Bd7 was more stubborn, but after 16 Rxe7 Kxe7 17 Re1+ Kf8 18 Qe4 Kg8 19 Qe7 Rf8 20 Qxd7 White has an ongoing initiative. 16 Qg3 Simple preparation for the sacrifice which follows. Bd7 There is nothing better, e.g. 16…Bf6 17 Bh6+ Kg8 18 Rxe7 Bxe7 19 Qe5 wins 17 Rxe7 Kxe7 18 Qg5+ Kf8 19 Re1 Be8 20 Qe7+ Kg8 21 Qe6+ Kf8 22 Qxe8+ Black resigns
John Nunn-Nathan Birnboim
World Senior Championship, Assisi, Nov 2022
(See right diagram)
The second diagram shows a critical moment from the seventh round. Nunn captured a knight on e5 and Birnboim responded with Qa3-a5, forking Be5 and Re1. The obvious option is 25 Rc1 but after 25… Qxe5 followed by Qe5-b8, a draw is likely. Nunn found a more venomous continuation. 25 Bxg7 Qxe1 26 Bh6! Much stronger than 26…Bxd4, because it is crucial to prevent counterplay with Rc8-c1. Now, Black must address the threat of Qc2-c5, since if White’s queen reaches the g-file the game will be over. Bd7 27 Qb2 e5 This natural move is the decisive error. 27…Qc3! was essential. After 28 Qe2 e5 29 Qh5 Qc6 the queen returns just in time, although I still prefer White’s chances in practice. 28 Qb6 Now the queen infiltration is unstoppable. The threat is Qb6-f6. Be6 29 Qb5 Black resigns in view of 29…f6 30 Qb7!
Comments