Living Large At London Chess Classic, Part 1

Introduction:

You may have heard of the London Chess Classic. This tournament became part of the Grand Chess Tour where some of your favorite players have played in it. For example in a given year they may have Fabiano Caruana, Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand and many more. 

Who is your favorite? One of those three or someone else?

I've been a part of the tournament a few times, and today I'm writing about my play in the 2019 event.

That's me on the far right. I have even had a chance to make the first ceremonial move in 2017 in the game between Carlsen and Anand!

This is a festival with many more sections. The second strongest is the FIDE Open which is the one I was playing in along with many grandmasters and even some 2600+ FIDE-rated players! This is my most recent FIDE-rated tournament, happening back in November- December in 2019 but it is also one of the best I have played with me just missing out on an IM norm!

Round 1: A good tournament normally has good starts and here the case was no different, but it did not seem like that for quite some time. I was white against a strong polish FM called Michal Paterek which would normally me put me off because of the ratings but just before this tournament I had learned to be confident -- it helps bring out the best in all of us.

He played a Semi Slav/Meran with pawns a6,b5,c6 and e6. In those type of positions Black aims for c5 which was something I should not have allowed. He got strong bishops and managed to get a battery (a combination of a queen and bishop) on the b8-h2 diagonal. My king was forced to f3 and I had a bad position, but I managed to get it e2 and threatened to attack his rook on d8. A good rule is trying to play risk free when you have a good position. My opponent did not follow this and got out calculated in a risk-free better position. After Round 1: 1.0/1 being a bit lucky but this filled me with confidence.

Round 2: Double-round days are never easy especially when you have to get up early, but I still was motivated. I was playing another polish FM called David Czerw, this time as black. It was a Queen's Gambit Declined (Catalan) in which I eventually got a Carlsbad structure in which the minority attack is the best way to deal with it.

He went for that, but I kept it solid and defended well until I went into a dead draw rook endgame where I was exhausted in what was about to be a four-hour game. I did not keep it risk free and even tried for a win but in the end, I got a loss. After Round 2: 1.0/2 which was still satisfactory especially after how well I played.

Round 3: I was playing a 2188 called Sacha Brozel as white in a c5 Bogo Indian. I was having unbearable stomach aches before and during the game and therefore was looking to play a short game, which indeed had happened. I managed to finish it of with some nice tactics

I'm white here, can you find a series of difficult moves to secure my win?

The line is 1. cxd6! Qxb6 2. Qxf7+ Kh8 3. Rc7 and my opponent played 3...Ne8 now leading to Qf8# but a better move instead would have been 3...Rg8 instead of 3...Ne8. Now we have 4. Qxf6! which wins a piece because if he takes we have 5. Rxh7#.

After round 3 : 2.0/3 I knew this was really good but was a bit scared of playing a really strong opponent tomorrow… 

Round 4: I was now playing 2400 FM called David Mirzoyan as black. It was another Queen's Gambit Declined in which I prepared a very effective but not so popular line. It was a very unbalanced game in which I was better in with a bishop for 3 pawns and a weak king. A good idea is to exchange pieces when you have an advantage which is what I did and went into an almost winning double rook endgame with me having a good bishop for his three pawns. I was elated for a draw when I forced repetition, but it turns out I could have aimed for more and despite my confidence improving I did not have enough to play on for a win in a better position. After Round 4: 2.5/4 

Stay tuned for part 2 to see an exciting finish!