Volume 145

MAY
2025
£8.00

BCM INTERVIEW
LEVY ROZMAN
VS THE CHESS
WORLD: HAT’S
WRONG AND
HOW TO
FIX IT
IS THE FUTURE OF
CHESS DECIDED
BY PLAYERS OR
STREAMERS?

GM RAYMOND KEENE OBE: AN OFFER THEY CAN’T REFUSE

WHAT CHESS CAN TEACH US ABOUT DIPLOMACY, DEADLOCK, AND DECEPTION
 IMPRESSUM
Contents
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Levy
Founded 1881

www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk

Rozman
Chairman Shaun Taulbut
Director Stephen Lowe

Editors

291
Milan Dinic and Shaun Taulbut
BCM Exclusive INTERVIEW:
Photo editor Levy Rozman vs the chess world:
David Llada What’s wrong and how to fix it

Prepress Specialist
Milica Mitic 260 The Women’s World Championship Match
Photography
Ju Wenjun retains title
FIDE Official / Anna Shtourman, with dominant display
EWCC Official / Jim Laga / Mark Livshitz, By GM Aleksandar Colovic
Rob Mieremet/Dutch National Archives,
gothamchess.com, Wikipedia 282 The European
Women’s Chess Championship
Advertising From a slip to a sweep : Serbia’s
Stephen Lowe Teodora Injac is the new
Enquiries
European Champion
editor@britishchessmagazine.co.uk
By GM Aleksandar Colovic
ISSN 0007-0440
© The British Chess Magazine Limited 298 An offer they can’t refuse
By GM Raymond Keene OBE
Company Limited by Shares
Registered in England No 00334968 304 The Trojan Horse problem
The chess puzzle that went viral
Postal correspondence: behind its creator’s back
Albany House, 14 Shute End
By Ben Schultz and BCM
Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1BJ

Subscription
306 Quotes and Queries
support@britishchessmagazine.co.uk The Morra Gambit
12 monthly issues By Alan Smith
UK: £64 | RoW: £96
310 Double Nelson
Printed in the UK: by Lavenham Press Ltd By V.S. Yanovsky
Cover photography: 312 Obituary:
Courtesy of Levy Rozman / FIDE
Fridrik Olafsson (1935 – 2025)

258 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 May 2025

Is the future of chess or inclination – or simply the personality – to

engage with wider audiences.
decided by players Secondly, influencers excel in storytelling and

or streamers? creating an emotional connection between

them and the audience. This is in stark contrast
with many of the players who are just eager to
Chess has a new cast of stars — and succinctly express their opinion on the game
most of them aren’t grandmasters. or go into details about the many lines and
positions, without much consideration given to
In recent years, chess has undergone a big whether the audience can take that in or not.
transformation – not just in how it’s played,
but in who its biggest stars are. Moving This all brings about important questions:
from over-the-board to online events, the Is today’s chess boom rooted more in
audiences and the interaction with chess entertainment than in the game itself? And
have shifted from earlier times. what does that mean for the players and the
way they position themselves?
As in most sports, chess’s brightest stars have
traditionally been its top players. That’s no With new formats such as “Freestyle”
longer a given – influencers now outshine even chess, Global Chess League where all team
the elite. members play with the same colour of
pieces, or faster time controls – what does
Influencers like GothamChess (Levy this mean for professional chess?
Rozman), Agadmator (Antonio Radić), the
Botez sisters and Anna Cramling all have Or, could there be a scenario where
far larger social media followings than many competitive chess becomes secondary to its
elite professionals. Even Magnus Carlsen, the online image? Arguments in favour suggest
most recognisable name in chess probably in there will be more engagement, more
history, trails behind Rozman on platforms financial opportunities for the game and
like YouTube and Twitch. On YouTube, more innovative and evolving competition
Rozman has 6.25 million subscribers – more formats. The drawbacks are risking the loss
than four times Carlsen’s 1.44 million. of the essence of the game and dependence
on ephemeral trends and personalities.
This parallel world of chess influencers –
born during lockdowns when many turned It’s also a pressing question for FIDE
online for connection – is reshaping how – the game’s official governing body –
people engage with the game. Goodbye along with organisers and sponsors. Can
chess books and deep computer analysis, influencer-driven popularity be harnessed
hello memes and witty comments! to broaden chess’s appeal while preserving
its heritage? Or are we headed for a version
What does this mean for the future of chess? of chess that’s more show than sport?

Though it’s still early, chess is becoming a The rise of influencers invites a rethinking
form of consumable entertainment – more like of what chess is – and what it might become.
playing videogames or watching Netflix. It’s The challenge is how to balance the essence
now accessible to people who might never have of the game with the entertainment that now
engaged with the game before. Influencers surrounds it. That’s why this issue features an
play the role of entertainers, creating personal interview with Levy Rozman, where he shares
connections to keep viewers clicking and his thoughts on the evolving face of chess.
following. That’s in stark contrast to most
professional players, who often lack the time Milan Dinic, Editor

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 259

The Women’s World Championship Match

JU WENJUN
RETAINS TITLE
WITH DOMINANT
DISPLAY
THIS CONVINCING WIN IN A
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
LEAVES LITTLE DOUBT ABOUT
THE STRONGEST WOMAN
PLAYER IN THE WORLD
By GM Aleksandar Colovic
www.alexcolovic.com
Photo: FIDE Official/Anna Shtourman

Ju Wenjun won the match with a The players were excellently prepared in
crushing 6.5-2.5 score and became only the openings, so the main battlegrounds
the fourth woman to have five World were the middlegames and the endgames.
Championship titles under her belt, after
Vera Menchik, Nona Gaprindashvili and The first game was a balanced Sicilian,
Maia Chiburdanidze. where Ju’s attempts to establish a blockade
against the IQP on d5 were met by active
The World Championship match between play by Tan’s rooks and bishop.
Ju Wenjun and Tan Zhongyi took place in
China, in Shanghai and Chongqing from In game two, Tan played 1.c4 and
3-16 April, ending ahead of schedule. the English Opening led to a position
where White had some initiative on
In a way, this match resembled the the queenside. Ju played carefully and
Candidates final match in Buenos Aires neutralised the pressure, but this took her
in 1971 between Fischer and Petrosian: the a lot of time, something she dearly missed
final score was the same, as was the fact in the endgame.
that the winner won four games in a row
to decide the match in convincing fashion. The players were excellently
This was not the first time Ju and Tan played prepared in the openings, so
in a World Championship match. They met in
2018 and then Ju won 5.5-4.5. In Ju’s words,
the main battlegrounds were
both players became stronger in the meantime, the middlegames and the
so a tough match was expected. The opening
games confirmed those expectations. endgames
260 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
 May 2025

Tan Zhongyi – Ju Wenjun Erecting a barricade on the long diagonal,

which White can try to undermine by the
WCh Women 2025 advance of the a-pawn.
Shanghai Chongqing CHN (2.1)
15...¦b8 16.¤c4 (16.d4 ¥d6 is fine for
1.c4 ¤f6 2.¤c3 e5 3.¤f3 ¤c6 4.g3 d5 Black.) 16...b6 is another approach - instead
5.cxd5 ¤xd5 6.¥g2 ¥c5 This line served of erecting a barricade, Black clears the
Caruana very well in the match against long diagonal.
Carlsen in 2018.
16.a5 ¥d7 Preventing ...a6 by covering the
7.0–0 0–0 8.d3 h6 Today this is the most pawn on c6.
popular move, preventing Carlsen’s idea
of ¥g5. 17.£b3 17.d4!? was likely somewhat more
precise. After 17...¥d6 18.¤c4 £h5 White
8...¦e8 was played twice by Caruana. wants to put pressure on the centre and
9.¥g5!? (9.¥d2 ¤xc3 10.¥xc3 ¤d4 force Black to take on d4. But even after
11.b4 ¥d6 ½– ½ (35) Carlsen,M 18...exd4 19.cxd4 ¥c7 Black is fine, with
(2835)-Caruana,F (2832) London m/4 the idea of ...¦ab8, ...¦fc8 and possibly
2018) 9...¤xc3 10.bxc3 f6 11.¥c1 ¥e6 ...b5. 20.£b3;
12.¥b2 ¥b6 13.d4 ½–½ (56) Carlsen,M
(2835)-Caruana,F (2832) London m/9 2018. 17...¦ab8 18.¤e4 18.d4 ¥d6.

9.¤xd5 £xd5 10.¥d2 £d6 The moves 18...¥d6 19.¤xd6 £xd6 20.d4 White has
10...a5 and 10...¦d8 are alternatives. a pawn mass on the dark squares, but Black
is extremely solid.
11.¥c3 £e7 11...¦d8 12.a3?! a5 ½–½ (87)
Caruana,F (2796)-Giri,A (2745) Zagreb 2024. 20...b6 21.axb6 axb6 22.¦a7 ¥e6 23.£a4
¦fc8
12.¤d2 ¤d4 Ju goes after the bishop on
c3, gaining the bishop pair, but this gives
White a compact pawn mass in the centre.
It’s somewhat easier for White to play the
ensuing position.

13.e3 ¤b5 14.a4 Forcing the exchange.

14...¤xc3 15.bxc3 c6

xiiiiiiiiy
Ju could have simplified the position earlier
to a drawn one, but she prefers to patiently
protect the c6–pawn first.

23...exd4 was a forcing continuation

which would have drawn. 24.cxd4 (24.
exd4 b5 25.£a6 b4 26.cxb4 ¦xb4
27.£xc6 £xc6 28.¥xc6 ¦xd4 with a
xiiiiiiiiy draw.) 24...b5 with equality. (Or 24...

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c5 25.d5 b5! 26.£f4 £xf4 27.gxf4 ¥c8 38...¦b3 made more sense, to keep the
which is equal, but very sharp.) white king cut off.

24.¦b1 ¥d5 One of the possible ways. 39.¢e3 h5 40.f4! Limiting the rook and
posing a serious question on the last move
24...exd4 25.exd4 b5; 24...b5 25.£a6 ¥c4 before the time control.
are both equal.
40...¢e8? The decisive mistake on move 40.
25.dxe5 £xe5 26.£d4 £xd4 27.exd4
¥xg2 28.¢xg2 b5 29.¦e1 ¦a8 29... 40...b4 is the only move to draw, but
b4 30.cxb4 ¦xb4 31.¦ee7 ¦f8 is also it is not a move that is easy to make
a draw. after having a "dead draw" for so long.
41.¦xb4 ¦a5 and Black should draw, but
30.¦ee7 ¦xa7 31.¦xa7 c5 This keeps only after a long suffering, something
the game going as White can make use that should have never occurred had
of her slightly more active king. Ju Black been more exact on the numerous
repeatedly missed chances to simplify previous occasions.
the position, and the game continued.
This was in Tan’s favour because only 41.¢e4 ¦f6 42.¦xb5 g6 43.d5
she could push for more, with her
slightly more active pieces.

31...b4 32.cxb4 ¦b8 was much more to the

point, eliminating the pawns.

32.¢f3 cxd4 33.cxd4 ¢f8 33...¦b8

34.¢e4 b4 35.¦a2 ¢f8 36.¢d5 ¢e7
37.¢c4 ¢e6 is easier as after 38.¦b2
¦c8+ 39.¢xb4 ¢d5 Black regains the
pawn.

34.¦b7 ¦c3+ 35.¢e4 ¦c2 36.¢e3 ¦c3+

37.¢d2 ¦f3 38.¢e2 ¦f5?! xiiiiiiiiy
White gained space and Black had no time
to activate the rook.

43...¦a6 44.¢e5 Allowing Black to play

...f6 with tempo, but still winning.

44.¢d4 was more precise. 44...f6 (44...¦a2

45.¢e5!) 45.¢c5 White got the same
position in the game but a tempo down.
45...¦a2 46.¦b6.

44...f6+ 45.¢d4 ¦a2 46.¢c5 Even a

tempo down the position is winning.
xiiiiiiiiy The difference in the king’s activity and
Ju was in her habitual time trouble. This coordination of pieces is enormous.
should still draw, but again it’s somewhat
too loose, allowing White to play on instead 46...¦xh2 47.¦b8+ ¢d7 48.¦b7+
of killing off the game. ¢c8 49.¦g7 g5 50.f5 h4 50...¦f2

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 May 2025

Ju Wenjun

51.¢c6 ¢d8 52.¢d6 ¢c8 53.¢e6 is 61...¢b7 62.¢e7

easily winning.
1–0
51.gxh4 gxh4 52.¦h7 h3 53.¢d6 ¢b8 54.¢d7
¢b7 55.d6 ¢b6 56.¢d8 ¦h1 57.d7 h2
This game already showed some
tendencies in Ju’s approach: to play
carefully, prepare everything (and as a
result miss some chances by not acting
more quickly) and take her time (leading
to time-trouble). Tan used these to her
advantage in game two, but it was
surprising that she could never use
them again. It is to Ju’s credit that she
managed to cover these vulnerabilities
for the remainder of the match.

In game three Ju struck back immediately.

xiiiiiiiiy In a way, the game was similar to the
58.¦h3! White will transfer the rook to the previous one – no advantage out of the
second rank, controlling the h2–pawn and opening, but persistent play in a drawn
securing an exit for her own king. endgame leading to a fatal mistake by
the defending side.
58...¢b7 59.¦b3+ ¢a7 60.¦b2 ¢a6
61.¦e2 With the idea of ¢e7.

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Ju Wenjun – Tan Zhongyi rated play, the players show us a more

human play.
WCh Women 2025
Shanghai Chongqing CHN (3.1) 12.¥f4 is the engine’s move. 12...a5
(12...¥xc3 13.bxc3 ¥e6 14.¦e1 is similar
1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 e6 3.c4 Avoiding the line to the game.) 13.¦c1 ¥a6 14.¥xa6 ¦xa6
from game one, where she played 3.d4. 15.£d3 and White will press against the
IQP on d5, but Black should be fine.
3...¤c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.¤xd4 ¥b4+ Tan
wants to avoid a transposition to the more 12...¥e6 13.¥g5 ¥xc3! 14.bxc3 ¦c8
common lines after 5...¤f6. Counterattacking the pawn on c3. The solid
defence of the pawn on d5 and the activity
5...¤f6 6.¤c3 is a line that was considered against the pawn on c3 give Black equal
harmless for many decades, but lately some chances.
ideas have been found for White.
15.£a4 White must try to keep the tension
6.¤c3 Covering the check with a bishop is in the position.
an alternative.
15.¥xd5 ¥xd5 16.¥xe7 £xe7 17.£xd5
6...¤ge7 6...¤f6 again would lead to the ¦xc3 is just dead equal.
theoretical lines after 7.¤xc6 bxc6 8.¥d3
15...h6 15...¦xc3 16.£xa7 ¦e8 was also
7.¥e2 7.¤db5 is an alternative. possible, but likely Tan didn’t want to allow
White a passed a-pawn in a position where
7...d5 Going for simplifications in the White still had the pair of bishops.
centre at the expense of a slightly worse
pawn structure. 16.¥d2 16.¥e3 ¤f5!

8.exd5 exd5 9.¤xc6 bxc6 10.0–0 0–0 16...a5 17.¦fe1 ¦c4 The rook is somewhat
11.cxd5 cxd5 11...¤xd5 12.¤xd5 cxd5 exposed here, but there is nothing wrong
13.¥e3 a5 should be easier for White, but with the move.
also very much holdable for Black.
17...¤f5 with the ideas of ...d4, ...¤h4 or
12.¥f3 ...¤d6–c4, as Tan played on the next move,
was somewhat better.

18.£a3 ¤f5 19.¥e2 ¦c8 20.¦ad1

xiiiiiiiiy
This and the next move are not the most
exact ones, at least according to the engine.
However, while the engine shows us 3700– xiiiiiiiiy
264 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
 May 2025

White somehow managed to keep the the only move. (41...¥c8? 42.¦a1 ¥b7
position from being too simplified, but 43.¦a7 ¥d5 44.b6 ¦a8 45.b7 and White
Black has little to worry about. In the next wins. 45...¥xb7 46.¦xb7 ¢h7 47.¢h2 if
14 moves, White maneuvers probing for a compared to the same line but with a pawn
chance, but Black doesn’t allow it. on f3, which is drawn, the difference is
that with a pawn on f2 White can use the
20...£d6 21.£xa5 ¦a8 22.£b4 ¦xa2 e3–square as a defended one for the bishop,
23.¥f4 £c6 24.¥b5 £b6 25.¦e2 securing the kingside and allowing the
Covering f2. white king to go all the way to f8.) 42.f3
¥c8 43.¦a1 ¥b7 44.¦a7 ¥d5 45.b6 ¦a8
25...¦fa8 26.¥d3 ¦a1 27.¦ee1 ¦xd1 46.b7 ¥xb7 47.¦xb7 ¢h7 with the pawn
28.¦xd1 £d8 29.h3 White has the pair on f3 the position is drawn as Black can
of bishops, but with play limited to a small create counterplay against White’s kingside
area in the centre, the bishops cannot show pawns.) 41.¦d8+ ¦xd8 42.¥xd8 hxg5
their strength. Still, White pushes. 43.¥xg5 f6 with an easy draw.

29...£f6 30.¦e1 ¦c8 31.¥e5 £g5 32.¥a6 39.£xg4 ¥xg4 40.¦d3 ¤xd5 41.¦xd5
¦a8 33.¥f4 £f6 34.¥b7 ¦d8 35.¥c7 ¦a8 The position objectively drawn, but
¦f8 Black sacrifices a pawn in order to White remains a pawn up.
enter a position with opposite coloured
bishops. It’s a characteristic moment - Tan 42.¥b6 ¥e6 43.¦d6 ¢f8 44.¥d4 ¢e7
loses her patience, something that will 45.¦b6 g6 45...f6 is another possibility, to
show in other games of the match as well limit the activity of the white bishop.
and will cost her dearly.
46.¢h2 h5 47.¢g3 ¦a5 48.¢f4 ¢d7
35...¦d7 keeping the pawn on d5 safely 49.g3 ¦f5+ 50.¢e3 ¦a5 51.¦b4 ¥d5
defended was an alternative. 52.¥b6 ¦a3 53.¢d4 ¥e6 54.¥c5 ¦a2
54...¦a5 latching onto the bishop on c5 was
36.¦d1 £g5 37.¥xd5 This is the maximum an alternative.
White can achieve after all the maneuvers.
55.¢d3 ¥f5+ 56.¢e3 ¥e6 57.¥d4 ¢c6
37...¤e3! 38.h4 £g4 58.c4 ¢c7 59.c5 ¥d5 59...¥d7 with the
idea of ...¦a4 was precise defence.

60.¢f4

xiiiiiiiiy
38...¤xd5 required some precise
calculation: 39.hxg5 ¤xb4 40.cxb4 ¦c8!
the simplest solution. (40...hxg5 41.b5 xiiiiiiiiy
does look a bit problematic for Black If White is to win, she must create a second
who needs to find 41...¥f5 which is weakness on the kingside.

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60...¥c6? Black misses the critical point. Tan couldn’t withstand the long torture and
succumbed. When it came to patience, Ju
60...¦e2 61.¥e3 (61.¢g5 ¦e4 was one was by far superior in this respect.
defence, limiting the mobility of both rook
and bishop.) 61...f6 the only move, stopping In the next game, Tan had a chance to
¢e5–f6; take the lead again. When Ju hesitated
in the opening (see the characteristic
60...¦a6 61.¢g5 ¢c6 62.¢f6 ¥e6 was above), Tan obtained a solid advantage.
a passive stance that holds - the bishop However, instead of transposing to a
secures the kingside, while the king and very favourable position with a pair of
rook take care of the passed c-pawn. bishop and a passed b-pawn, Tan played
too hastily (if Ju was too slow, Tan was
61.¢g5 Now White is winning and she often too fast) and let Ju off the hook.
converts confidently. Black’s problem However, Tan got more chances in the
is that she cannot coordinate her pieces endgame, which, while equal, still gave
to defend against both the attack on the White the opportunities to press on. Tan
kingside and the advance of the c-pawn. missed at least two excellent possibilities
and, in the end Ju held the draw with
61...¦a4 62.¥e5+ ¢d7 63.¦b2 White active counterplay.
naturally avoids the exchange of rooks.
As it turned out, these chances were the
63...¢e6 64.¥f4 ¦c4 65.¥e3 ¢e5 66.¦b8 last ones Tan would get. From the next
¥d7 67.¦d8 ¥e6 68.¦d6 ¦c2 69.¢h6 game onwards, the match went downhill
69.¥f4+ ¢e4 70.c6 was a faster way. for her very fast. It is a general rule that
one must take their chances when they
69...¢f6 70.¦d1 ¦c4 71.¦d6 ¦c2 appear – if unable to do so, the probability
72.¥d4+ ¢f5 73.f3 ¦c4 74.c6 ¦c2 is high that the opponent will take theirs
75.¢g7 g5 If Black waits then 75...¦c1 and, in this match, Ju made sure to take
76.¥f6 ¦c4 77.¦d4! ¦xd4 (77...¦c1 all of hers.
78.¦f4#) 78.¥xd4 and the white king goes
to support the c6–pawn. 78...¥d5 79.c7 The next game was simply a very bad
¥e6 80.¥f6 ¥d7 81.¢xf7 ¥c8 82.¥g5 game for Tan. She misjudged one decision
¥b7 83.¢e7. in the opening and then missed her only
middlegame chance, after which she had
76.hxg5 ¢xg5 77.¥b6 77.¥f6+ was no more opportunities.
faster, but Ju was in time-trouble. 77...¢f5
78.¦d4 ¦c4 79.g4+ hxg4 80.fxg4#.
In a way, this match resembled
77...¢f5 78.c7 ¦c3 79.¥a5 ¦c5 80.¦a6
¦c4 81.¢f8 ¥d5 82.¢e7 h4 82...¥xf3 the Candidates final match in
83.¦f6+ ¢g4 84.¦f4+ ¦xf4 85.c8£+
¦f5 86.¥c7 protects the g3–pawn to make Buenos Aires in 1971 between
the win trivial.
Fischer and Petrosian: the final
83.¦f6+ ¢e5 84.gxh4 ¥e6 85.h5 ¦c5 86.h6!
¥c8 86...¦xa5 87.¦xe6+ fxe6 88.c8£.
score was the same, as was the
fact that the winner won four
87.h7
games in a row to decide the
1–0
match in convincing fashion
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Tan Zhongyi

Ju Wenjun – Tan Zhongyi in the game famous for its double blunder.
1–0 (40) Carlsen,M (2863)-Anand,V
WCh Women 2025 (2792) Sochi m/6 2014.
Shanghai Chongqing CHN (5.1)
5...¥c5 This is how Black plays this
1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 e6 3.d4 This time Ju enters line nowadays.
the Open Sicilian, obviously prepared for
the Four Knights Variation she wanted to 6.¤b3 ¥a7 7.0–0 The other play is to play
avoid in game 3 by playing 3.c4. £e2, ¥e3, ¤c3 and go for long castle.

3...cxd4 4.¤xd4 a6 A surprise. In spite 7...¤e7 8.c4 White goes for the Maroczy
of the very successful opening in game 1 structure.
with 4...¤f6, Tan varies and goes for the
Kan Variation. While always considered 8...¤bc6 9.¤c3 ¤e5 A rare move, but the
somewhat risky, it was used by Anand engine doesn’t mind it. The main options
in his match with Carlsen in 2014 on are 9...d6 and 9...£c7.
two occasions.
10.c5!? An ambitious choice by Ju.
5.¥d3 The most popular move in the
position, also a favourite of Bobby Fischer. 10.¥e2 d6 11.¥f4 ¤7g6 12.¥g3 leads to
a complex middlegame with chances for
5.c4 has always been Carlsen’s favourite both sides.
move here. 5...¤f6 6.¤c3 ¥b4 7.£d3 ¤c6
8.¤xc6 dxc6 9.£xd8+ ¢xd8 10.e5 ¤d7 10...¤7g6 Possible, but it made more sense
11.¥f4 gave White a favourable endgame to get rid of the annoying pawn on c5.

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10...b6! would have solved Black’s 15.£d4 was more forceful, though it
problems. After 11.cxb6 (or 11.¥e3 bxc5 required some calculation. After 15...cxb2
12.¥xc5 ¥xc5 13.¤xc5 0–0 and Black 16.¥xb2 f6 17.f5! ¤e5 18.fxe6 ¤xc4
is fine.) 11...¥xb6 12.¥e2 ¤7g6 Black 19.£xc4 dxe6 20.¢h1 0–0 21.c6 White is
breathes more easily having exchanged close to winning as Black cannot get her
White’s c-pawn. queenside into play.

11.¥e2 Making ...d6 more difficult. 15...¥b7 16.£e2 Centralising the queen on
d4 was even stronger. Ju plays to solidify
11...b5? her advantage and this gives some chances
to her opponent.

16...0–0 17.¥d3?!

xiiiiiiiiy
A strange decision, to leave the c5–pawn
alive.
xiiiiiiiiy
11...b6 made much more sense. After Continuing in the same consolidating
12.¥e3 bxc5 13.f4 ¤c6 14.¥xc5 ¥xc5+ manner.
15.¤xc5 d6 16.¤5a4! White has some
initiative on the queenside thanks to the 17.e5 was good. After 17...f6 18.exf6 £xf6
weakened dark squares, but Black should 19.¥e3 White intends ¥d4 and Black has
be able to defend. little to show for the lost pawn.

12.f4 Now White has a solid advantage. 17...f5? It’s understandable that Tan wanted
to speed up the crisis in search for some
12...¤c4 This was Black’s idea after 11... compensation, but she is playing without
b5, but it was a wrong idea! the bishop on a7 and White is well-prepared
to deal with this activity.
12...¤c6 13.e5 is no fun either, fixing the
hole on d6. The more patient 17...£c7! was
better. Black finishes development
13.a4 Ju plays forcefully, undermining and introduces ideas like ...¦ab8 and
Black’s queenside. ...¥xe4 (targetting the knight on b3)
or simply ...d6, to open the c-file and
13.£d4 0–0 14.¥xc4 bxc4 15.£xc4 was target the pawn on c3. 18.¥e3 e5! 19.f5
also quite good, picking up a pawn. (19.fxe5 ¤xe5 20.¥c2 d6 21.cxd6 £xd6
gives Black sufficient compensation as
13...b4 14.¥xc4 bxc3 15.bxc3 Simple and White’s pawns on c3 and e4 are weak
strong. and can easily be targeted.) 19...¤f4
20.¥xf4 exf4 21.f6 (21.£f2 ¦fe8

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22.¦ae1 ¦ac8 ensures that Black will 27.¦xf4 ¥xf4 28.¦xf4 ¦e1+ 29.¦f1
capture the c5–pawn, after which the ¦xf1+ 30.¢xf1 £e4 31.¢g1 White’s
c-file will be opened and Black can king is safe and she has a decisive
continue to attack the second pawn on material advantage. In some time-
the c-file, the one on c3.) 21...¥xc5+ trouble Ju was careful enough not to
22.¤xc5 £xc5+ 23.¢h1 £e5 24.fxg7 spoil anything.
¦fe8 and Black has equalised.
31...£b1+ 32.¢h2 ¦e1 33.£d5 33.¥f2
18.exf5 exf5 19.¥e3 The bishop is headed was another good option. 33...¦h1+
for d4. 34.¢g3 £c2 35.a5.

19...£c7 19...¦e8 20.¥c4+ ¢h8 21.£f2 33...h6 34.¤d2 Improving the position of
keeps White’s control. the knight. It can go to c4 or f3 now.

20.¥xa6! 34...¦h1+ 35.¢g3 £e1+ 36.¥f2 £e2

36...f4+ 37.¢f3.

37.£d4 ¦d1 38.¥e3 Everything is defended!

38...¢h7 39.a5 ¦e1

xiiiiiiiiy
Ju doesn’t fear ghosts and takes another
pawn.

20...¦fe8 21.¥xb7 £xb7 22.£c4+ ¢h8

23.¥d4 White is in complete control and xiiiiiiiiy
the bishop on a7 is still out of play. 39...g5 with the idea of ...f4 allows
40.£xd7+ ¢g6 41.£e8+ ¢h7 42.£f7+
23...¦e6 24.h3 On the next few moves Ju ¢h8 43.¥d4+ and White mates first.
slows down again, just like after taking the
first pawn earlier in the game. 40.¥f2 Repeating moves to reach the time
control on move 40.
24.£b5 £c7 25.¦ad1 was more forceful,
the point being that 25...¤xf4 is met by 40...¦d1 41.¥e3 ¦e1 42.¤c4 ¦a1 43.¤d6
26.¥xg7+! ¢xg7 27.¦xd7+. ¦a2 44.¥f2 £e6 45.£f4 ¢g6 45...¦xa5
46.£xf5+ exchanges queens.
24...¦ae8 25.¦f2 Covering the second
rank and the g2–pawn (in view of a 46.¢h2 £f6 46...¦xa5 47.¥d4
possible ...¤h4). threatens £g3.

25...¥b8 26.¦af1 ¤xf4 Black cannot do 47.¤c4 ¢h7 48.¥d4 £e6 49.¤d6 £g6
much, so she gives up even more material 50.£f3 f4 51.a6 ¦xa6 52.£xf4 ¦a2
in search of some practical chances. 53.£f3 £e6 54.¤f5

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3...d5 4.¥b2 c5 5.cxd5 The alternative is

to play 5.e3.

5...exd5 6.g3 White again has the choice to

play 6.e3 or 6.g3.

6...¤c6 7.¥g2 7.d4?! is not quite good

at this point in view of 7...cxd4 8.¤xd4
¥b4+! 9.¥c3 £e7 and Black has excellent
development with serious threats like ...¤e4.

7...d4 Ju doesn’t want to allow White to

xiiiiiiiiy push d4 and enter lines where Black has an
White’s piece superiority easily decides
the game on the kingside as Black cannot IQP on d5.
defend only with a queen.
7...¥e7 8.d4 would have led to Tarrasch-
54...g5 55.¤e3 Threatening £f8. like positions.

55...d6 56.c6 ¦a8 57.¤d5 ¦c8 58.£d3+ 8.0–0 ¥e7 9.¤a3 0–0 10.e3 White must get
¢g8 59.¤e7+ A neat finish. If the knight rid of the pawn on d4, either immediately
is taken then £g6 is decisive. or after 10.¤c4 first.

1–0 10...dxe3 The engine prefers to keep the

tension with 10...¥g4, but Ju prefers
simpler solutions in principle.
Now trailing by a point, Tan stuck to 1.c4
but this time Ju equalised comfortably 11.dxe3 ¥f5 12.¤e5
and even obtained a position to her liking
– risk-free with clear strategical plans.
Tan was uncomfortable and, while the
position remained equal, it was clear that
Ju was having all the fun. Ju’s hesitation on
move 22 cost her the advantage, but then
it was Tan’s hastiness that turned an equal
endgame to a lost one.

Tan Zhongyi - Ju Wenjun

WCh Women 2025
Shanghai Chongqing CHN (6.1)
xiiiiiiiiy
1.c4 ¤f6 A third first move for Ju against 12.¤c4 is an alternative, played in a few
1.c4. In the previous two games she went high-level games. 12...£c7 (12...£xd1
for 1...e5 and 1...e6. was Giri’s choice. The endgame after
13.¦fxd1 ¦fd8 14.¤fe5 ¦xd1+ 15.¦xd1
2.¤f3 e6 3.b3 Instead of a transposition to ¦d8 16.¦xd8+ ¤xd8 is equal, but Giri
usual QGD positions after 3.d4, Tan insists lost it in an online game. 1–0 (46) Bok,B
on the modern set-ups with b3, which give (2620)-Giri,A (2762) Chess.com INT 2024)
White flexibility when it comes to the 13.¤fe5 ¦ad8 14.£e2 ¤xe5 15.¥xe5 £c8
development of the light-squared bishop: was fine for Black in the game: 0–1 (59)
White can later play e3 or g3. Duda,J (2732)-Anand,V (2754) Dubai 2023.

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12...¤xe5 13.¥xe5 £c8 Threatening to

exchange the strong bishop on g2 by ...¥h3.

14.£e2 White doesn’t have time to avoid

the exchange of the bishops with 14.¦e1?!
because Black’s more coordinated pieces
would allow her to take over the initiative
after 14...£e6 15.¥b2 ¦ad8 16.£c1 ¤e4.

14...¥h3 15.£f3 The queen takes over the

control of the long diagonal.

15.¥xh3 £xh3 16.¥xf6 ¥xf6 17.¦ac1

would lead to a rather sterile equal position.

15...¥xg2 16.¢xg2 £e6 17.¥b2?!

A moment of pressure:
Ju under the spotlight

19.¦ac1 was more patient. 19...a6 20.¤c4

b5 21.¤e5 f5 is similar to the game, but
here White can counter with 22.g4!?
leading to sharp play. The winning line for
Black from the next note doesn’t work here
in view of 22...¤d2 23.gxf5 ¦xf5 24.£e2
¦g5+ 25.¢h1 ¦xe5? (25...¤e4 is still
very messy.) 26.¥xe5 £xe5 27.¦xd2 and
White wins material as the rook is on c1
and not on a1.
xiiiiiiiiy
Tan wants to keep the strong bishop, but 19...b5 20.¤e5 f5 21.¤d3?!
the knight on e4 will not be any less strong!

17.¥xf6 ¥xf6 18.¦ad1 is equal and pretty

dull, but that was the best White could do
under the circumstances.

17...¤e4 Now Black has the easier play.

The knight is dominant in the centre, it
cannot be exchanged or chased away and
Black can advance on both wings while
White doesn’t have any active play. In a
way, the position resembles the scenario
of the famous game Marshall-Capablanca,
the last one from their match in 1909, the xiiiiiiiiy
one where Capablanca converted the same 21.g4? is the idea that works with the
queenside majority as in this position. white rook on c1 and the black pawn on
a6, like in the previous comment, but here
18.¦fd1 ¦ad8 19.¤c4 White is impatient to Black wins with 21...¤d2! 22.gxf5 ¦xf5
activate the knight on the rim, but this allows 23.£e2 ¦g5+ 24.¢h1 ¦xe5 25.¥xe5
Black to advance with the queenside majority. £xe5 with the whole difference being that

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the rook on a1 is hanging in case White 28...a6 29.¤f3 The hapless knight
takes on d2.; 21.£e2! was practicallt the again fights for its right to be involved
only move for White to contain Black’s in the game.
expansion by liberating the f3–square for
the knight. After 21...¥f6 22.¤f3 ¥xb2 29...¤f6 Threatening ...£d5 to pin the knight.
23.£xb2 a5 Black is safely better, but
White can resist. 30.£a8 The only move to avoid the pin.

21...g5! Energetic play to squeeze White on 30...h6 Keeping White restrained. It was
the whole board. also possible to play 30...g4, but Ju keeps
the tension and it brings immediate benefit!
22.¤e1 ¥f6? Ju’s preference for safer play
leads her to step off the gas and lose a big 31.h4? Tan lashes out, but this only
part of the advantage. improves Black’s position and the planned
queen exchange and knight endgame is
22...g4! 23.£e2 c4! was practically just winning for Black. This was a serious
winning according to the engine, but it misjudgement on Tan’s part that cost her
requires precise calculations. After 24.bxc4 the game in a position where the worst was
bxc4 25.¦ac1 £c6! is the most exact behind her.
move. (25...¦xd1 is the safer option. After
26.£xd1 ¦c8 Black is close to winning.) 31.¤e1 it is hard to go back from where
26.¦xc4 £b7 and White’s position falls you came from, but White had to stay
apart as 27.¢g1 ¦xd1 28.£xd1 £xb2 patient. Now the knight endgame after
loses a piece. 31...£d5+ 32.£xd5 ¤xd5 33.¤d3
c4 34.bxc4 bxc4 35.¤e5 c3 36.¤d3
23.¥xf6 £xf6 24.¦xd8 ¦xd8 25.¦d1 should be a draw as the white king can
¦xd1 26.£xd1 approach the c-pawn quickly and White
hasn’t weakened the kingside as in the
analogous line in the game, for example:
36...¤f6 37.¢f1 ¤e4 38.¢e2 c2 (38...
g4 39.¢d1) 39.f3! and the knight is
chased away;

31.£a7+ £d7!? (31...¢g6 32.£b7 keeps

the position as it is.) 32.£xc5 £b7 33.£xf5
g4 34.e4 gxf3+ 35.¢xf3 gives White three
pawns for the piece and she shouldn’t lose;

31.a4 is another move that keeps the white

pieces on their already optimal spots.
xiiiiiiiiy
White managed to simplify the position 31...g4 32.£b7+ 32.¤e1 £d5+ 33.£xd5
and equalise. However. the ensuing position ¤xd5 34.¤d3 c4 35.bxc4 bxc4 36.¤e5 c3
remains more pleasant for Black: she can 37.¤d3 ¤f6 38.¢f1 ¤e4 the knight is safe
advance with her queenside majority while on e4 as it cannot be attacked by f3. 39.¢e2
White cannot do the same on the kingside. c2 White is paralysed.
In addition to this, Black’s knight is much
better than White’s. 32...£d7 33.£xd7+ ¤xd7 34.¤d2 ¢f6
Black is winning because she still has a
26...£d6 27.£h5 ¢g7 28.£e8 Tan mobile pawn majority on the queenside,
correctly activates her queen. but also an active king and knight.

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35.f4

xiiiiiiiiy
This will give White a protected passed
pawn on f4 after e4, but that pawn will not Schoolchildren were also among the
go anywhere. spectators of the Match

35.f3 ¢e5 36.¢f2 gxf3 37.¢xf3 (37.¤xf3+

¢e4 38.¢e2 ¤f6 with threats like ...¤h5,
...¤g4 or ...¤d5.) 37...¤f6 and White is in
a sort of a zugzwang - if the knight moves
then ...¤e4 comes, if the king moves then
¢d5 followed by ...c4.

35...¢e6 36.e4 fxe4 37.¤xe4 ¢d5

38.¤f2 ¤f6 39.¢f1 ¢d4 40.¢e2 h5 The
last move on the control feels like one
of the last nails in the coffin - White can
barely move.

41.a4 41.¢d2 c4 42.bxc4 bxc4 43.¢e2 c3 xiiiiiiiiy

Black will use the c-pawn as decoy so that 49.f5 ¤xf5! 50.¢xf5 b4 White cannot stop
the king can go to the kingside. A sample all the pawns.
line is 44.f5 a5 45.a4 c2 46.¢d2 c1£+
47.¢xc1 ¢e3 and White will lose the 49...¤f3 50.f5 h4 51.¢e7 g3 52.f6 g2 52...g2
kingside pawns. 53.f7 ¤e5! ensures that Black will queen her
g-pawn but White won’t queen her f-pawn.
41...¢c3 41...bxa4 42.bxa4 c4 would be
similar to the previous note. 0–1

42.axb5 axb5 43.¤d3 ¤e4 43...¢xb3

44.¤xc5+ ¢c4 45.¤e6 ¤e4 is another way. After this game, the players moved from
Shanghai to Chongqing, which gave them
44.¢e3 ¤xg3 45.¤xc5 ¤f5+ 46.¢e4 several days to regroup. Tan was trailing by
¤xh4 46...g3 47.¢f3 ¢b4 48.¤e6 two points at this stage and she decided she
¢xb3 and Black wins thanks to the had to play for a win at all costs with both
passed b-pawn. colours. This led to the very sharp game
seven, where both players didn’t shy away
47.¢e5 ¢b4 48.¤e4 ¢xb3 49.¢f6 from ambitious choices.

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Ju Wenjun – Tan Zhongyi 14.£h5 Ju doesn’t want to weaken her kingside.

WCh Women 2025 14.g3 blunts the bishop on d6 and limits

Shanghai Chongqing CHN (7.1) the knight on g6, but after 14...c5 Black
gets rid of the backward pawn and the
1.e4 c5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 Tan avoids 2...e6 weak c5–square and opens the long
from her three previous games with the diagonal for the light-squared bishop.
black pieces. 15.¥e3 ¤e5 16.¥e2 c4 gives Black
active play.
3.¥b5 The Rossolimo is a main line in the
open Sicilian nowadays. 14...¦b8

3...e6 4.0–0 The other major option is to

take on c6.

4...¤ge7 5.d4 This line gives the position

an open Sicilian character, but with some
peculiarities, like the bishop on b5 and the
knight on e7.

5...cxd4 6.¤xd4 £b6 The main move,

with the alternative being 6...¤g6.

7.¤xc6 bxc6 Curiously enough, all the

captures on c6 are possible. xiiiiiiiiy
One of the several good moves Black had
7...£xb5?! is the only capture that doesn’t at her disposal.
quite work, as 8.¤d4 £a5 9.¤c3 gives
White a dangerous lead in development, 14...c5 was natural, as in the previous
for example 9...¤c6 10.¤db5 is already comment. 15.¥e3 c4 16.¥e2 ¥b7
difficult for Black. 17.¦ac1 (17.f3? ¤f4 18.¥xf4 ¥xf4 is
fantastic for Black who gets absolute
8.¥d3 An alternative is to put the bishop control of the dark squares.) 17...¥xe4
on e2. 18.¦xc4 £b7 leads to an equal position,
but with a lot of pieces still on the board.;
8...¤g6 9.c4 Ju goes for the Maroczy set- 14...¤f4 is another natural move, winning
up once again, after it brought her success the pair of bishops. After 15.¥xf4
in games 3 and 5. ¥xf4 16.g3 ¥e5 17.¦ac1 ¥d4 Black’s
domination on the dark squares ensures
9...¥e7 10.¤c3 0–0 11.¤a4 Immediate excellent counterplay.
action, with the idea to push c5 and fix the
dark squares. 15.b3 ¦d8 Tan prefers to develop most of
her pieces before starting activities. For
11...£c7 12.c5 d5 Black naturally wants to example, here 15...¤f4 and 15...c5 were
break the grip on the dark squares. Now after again perfectly fine.

13.cxd6 ¥xd6 White will try to prove 16.¦d1 ¦b4 Tan stays flexible with the
that the weaknesses that Black has on the options of ...¤f4 and ...c5, though it was
queenside, the isolated pawns on a7 and c6 possible to play either move.
and the weak square on c5 are worth more
than the activity of the black pieces. 17.¥b2

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up mated after 28.fxg3 £xg3+ 29.¢h1

¥f3#) 25...¦b5 Black’s concrete activity
doesn’t allow White to establish stability
on the dark squares. After 26.£e3! ¥xc5
27.£xe2 White is a pawn down, but in
view of the fact that that pawn is the one on
h2, meaning that Black cannot easily create
a passed pawn, White keeps excellent
drawing chances.

24.£e5 £e7 Black needs to keep the

queens in order to keep control of the
eighth rank.
xiiiiiiiiy
Ju allows ...¤f4 and sacrifices a pawn, a 25.¦ac1? A natural move, but it was more
brave and ambitious decision. She wants to exact to exchange on d8 first.
play on domination against the bishop on
c8 and eventually this works, but only due 25.¦xd8 £xd8 26.¦c1 ¦b5 would
to Tan’s missed opportunities. transpose to the game without giving Black
the extra option on the next move.
17.g3 was a way to stop ...¤f4 once and for
all. After 17...¥e5 18.¦b1 ¦bd4 19.£e2 25...¦b5?
¥a6 things look dangerous for White, but
she manages to stay afloat after 20.¤c5
with an equal position after 20...¦xd3
21.¦xd3 ¥xd3 22.¤xd3;

17.¥g5 an attempt to worsen the position

of the rook. 17...¦d7 18.¥e3 ¤f4
19.¥xf4 ¥xf4 20.¤c5 ¦d8 21.¥c4 is
relatively balanced.

17...¤f4 18.£f3 ¤xd3 19.¦xd3 ¥a6

Black develops the bishop before taking
the pawn on h2.
xiiiiiiiiy
20.¦dd1 ¥xh2+ 21.¢h1 ¥d6 22.£c3 Both players missed the importance of the
¥f8 23.¤c5 This is the position White had intermediate exchange of the rooks on d1.
in mind when playing her 17th move. The
absence of the pawn on h2 is not felt, while 25...¦xd1+! 26.¦xd1 ¦b5 was much
the domination on the dark squares can stronger. Now after 27.¥d4 (27.¦c1? ¦xc5
become an important factor. just loses a piece.) 27...¦xc5 28.¥xc5
£xc5 29.£xc5 ¥xc5 30.¦d8+ ¥f8 With
23...¦b6 Not a bad move, but this justifies two bishops for a rook Black should be
White’s concept to a certain extent. close to winning, though White keeps some
chances in view of the lack of coordination
23...¥e2! is the best move according to of the black pieces after 31.¦d7 followed
the engine. After 24.¦xd8 £xd8 25.¢g1 by ¦xa7 next.
(the point is that White cannot take the
rook with 25.£xb4? in view of 25...£h4+ 26.¦xd8 £xd8 27.£d4 White seeks an
26.¢g1 ¥d6 27.g3 ¥xg3! and White ends exchange of queens in order to decrease

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28.¢g1 ¥c8 29.e5 White is consistent,

playing against the bishop on c8.

29.a4 ¦b8 30.£e5 is the engine’s way

with the same idea in mind. After 30...¦a8
31.£c7 White is definitely in the driver’s
seat, though Black should somehow hang
on after 31...£g5 32.£xc6 ¦b8.

29...£xd4 30.¥xd4 a5 The position is a

hard one to play for Black, in spite of the
engine’s evaluation of 0.00. The bishop on
c8 is passive and only White can play to
improve her position.

31.f4 h5 32.¢f2 ¥e7 33.¢e3 g5 Black

All eyes on the trophy seeks active counterplay. It’s very likely
that the match result, trailing by two
Black’s dynamic potential and stabilise the points, affected Tan’s decisions - she
control over the c5–square. could have drawn this game on more
than one occasion, but she kept looking
27...£h4+? for chances and eventually she pushed
too hard.

33...¥xc5 would have likely led to a draw

after 34.¦xc5 ¦xc5 35.¥xc5 ¢h7 with
...¢g6–f5 to come.

34.¤e4 gxf4+ 35.¢xf4 ¥b7? Clinging

onto the extra pawn, but allowing White to
exchange Black’s good bishop.

35...¢g7 was better. Now after 36.¥c5

(36.¦xc6 ¥b7 allows Black to activate
the bad bishop.) 36...¥xc5 (36...¥h4!? is
xiiiiiiiiy a curious move.; 36...f5!? is the engine’s
This only helps White to improve the other preference. 37.¥xe7 fxe4 38.¦xc6
position of the king. ¥b7 with a draw.) 37.¤xc5 ¦b4+
38.¦c4 ¦xc4+ 39.bxc4 f6 White has the
27...£xd4?! 28.¥xd4 gives White domination, but the extra pawn Black has
excellent compensation, though objectively should ensure a draw.
the position is equal;
36.¥c5! ¥xc5 37.¤xc5 Black’s problem
27...£g5! was correct, and here White now is that the rook is tied down to the
must find 28.b4! (the point is that taking defence of the bishop on b7 and cannot be
the piece loses to 28.¤xa6? £h6+ activated, for example with ...¦b4–g4.
29.¢g1 ¦h5 and Black regains the piece
after ...¦h1xc1.) 28...¥xc5 29.¦xc5 37...¢g7 Too late.
¦xc5 30.£xc5 £xc5 31.bxc5 f6 Black
is a pawn up, but the opposite-coloured 37...¦b4+ 38.¦c4 and after the exchange of
bishops should lead to a draw. rooks the hapless bishop on b7 is hanging.

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38.¢g5 latter was particularly telling, as she

consistently refused to capitulate to a draw
even when it was obvious that she could
no longer hope for more. This decision
shows that she was no longer objective in
her judgment, something that Ju took full
advantage of.

In the next game, Tan switched to

1.e4 and avoided both the Petroff and
the Berlin, her opponent’s favourite
defences. However, the character of the
position was much more to Ju’s liking
and she outplayed her opponent in
xiiiiiiiiy convincing fashion.
Preventing the activation of the black king
with ...¢g6 and also avoiding the check Tan Zhongyi – Ju Wenjun
from b4.
WCh Women 2025
38...¥a8 Practically surrendering. From a8 Shanghai Chongqing CHN (8.1)
the bishop will never see the light of day.
1.e4 Trailing by three points, Tan changes
38...a4 was the last practical chance. from 1.c4 to 1.e4.
39.¦c4! (39.bxa4 ¦b2 allows Black to
activate the rook, though White is still 1...e5 2.¤c3 A peculiar choice, but Tan
much better.) 39...axb3 40.axb3 ¥c8 wanted to avoid a Berlin or a Petroff.
41.b4 and White should win, but it will
take some time. 2...¤f6 3.¥c4 ¤c6 One of the possible
options. The move 3...¤xe4 is also good,
39.¢xh5 ¦b8 40.¦c4 ¦h8+ 41.¢g4 ¦h2 though it does require some memorisation.
42.¢g3 ¦h5 43.¦g4+ ¢f8 44.¦a4 Going
after the bishop. 4.d3 Here 4.¤f3 ¤xe4 is easy equality
for Black.
44...¢e7 45.¦xa5 ¦xe5 46.¦a7+
¢d6 47.b4 The bishop is lost and Tan 4...¥b4 The main alternatives are 4...¤a5
resigned. This is the game that Tan chose and 4...¥c5.
as her favourite, as she felt she created
enough chances with the black pieces. It 5.¤f3 The main move is 5.¤ge2 but it is
was also the decisive one in the match, well-explored.
as in case of Tan winning the result
would have been only one point in Ju’s 5...d6 6.0–0 ¥xc3 Black eliminates the
favour. With Ju winning, it became 5–2 knight before it could jump to d5 or it is
and it was clear that Tan no longer stood rerouted to g3 via e2.
a chance.
7.bxc3 0–0 8.¥g5 Practically the only
1–0 way for White to introduce some tension
in the position. But Black can easily get
out of the pin.
Tan certainly had her chances, but she
missed them, first for playing for a win 8...h6 9.¥h4 ¤a5 The first step - Black
and then in the endgame to draw. The eliminates White’s light-squared bishop.

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10.¥b3 ¤xb3 10...¢h7 preparing ...g5 is collects some pawns.) 16...f6 17.d5 £f7 18.c4
the engine’s preference. b6 19.¤d2 with a complex struggle ahead.

11.axb3 £e7 The second step - the queen 15...¦e8 16.¥g3 Black played a useful
moves to e6 and escapes the pin. move, ...¦e8, while White’s ¦ad1 doesn’t
do much, so this retreat doesn’t work as well
12.¦e1 12.d4 is an attempt to start central as in the previous note.
play earlier. Black can continue with the
same idea, as after 12...£e6 13.d5 £g4 16...b5 Black grabs some space on the
14.¥xf6 gxf6 Black gets excellent play on queenside, preventing c4.
the g-file in combination with the ...f5–push.
16...f6 was a more constrained alternative,
12...£e6 Black eliminated the problematic pin. with ideas ...£f7, ...¤f8–e6(g6). 17.¤h4
¤f8 18.¤f5 £f7 19.¤e3 ¤e6 and Black is
13.d4 ¤d7 14.£d3 14.d5?! £g6 followed super solid.
by ...f5 is excellent for Black.
17.¤d2 ¤f6 18.b4 18.d5 £e7 19.c4 was
14...a6 15.¦ad1 another way to advance on the queenside.
After 19...¥d7 Black protects the
stronghold on b5 and will proceed with
...¤h5 to seek play on the kingside.

18...¤h5 19.¤b3 White targets the c5 and

a5–squares.

19.¤f1 is a more "centric" alternative for

the knight. After 19...£f6 20.¤e3 ¥e6
Black controls the possible entry squares f5
and d5 and the position remains balanced.

xiiiiiiiiy 19...£g6 20.dxe5 ¤xg3

After Black’s last move the rook had little
to do on the a-file.

15.¥g3!? is the engine’s ultra-precise

suggestion. The bishop puts pressure on the e5–
pawn, so the knight on d7 cannot leave its spot,
while at the same time it frees the h4–square
for the knight, so ¤h4–f5 becomes possible.
Tan plays this on the next move, when its
effect is lesser. 15...¦e8 (15...b5 stops c4, but
allows 16.¤h4 with some pressure.) 16.b4 (16.
c4 £e7 17.c5 is another option. After 17...dxc5
18.dxe5 a5!? with ideas like ...¦a6 the position y
becomes sharper, with mutual chances; Black needs to recapture on e5 with a rook
in order to keep the d6–pawn in place, as
16.¤h4 ¤f6 17.¤f5 d5! is a nice counter, but it is required to control the c5–square, thus
White can complicate things with 18.¤xg7!? limiting the options of the knight on b3.
¢xg7 19.¥xe5 ¢g6! 20.exd5+ £f5 though
Black should be able to defend and even be 21.hxg3 ¦xe5 22.¤a5 The knight does
a bit better with the extra piece after White very little here.

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Ju Wenjun with the Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, Dana Reizniece (left)
and former World Champion Zhu Chen

22.f4 ¦e7 23.¦e3 ¥d7 24.¦de1 ¦ae8 is 25.£d2 ¦xe3 26.£xe3 ¦e8 27.£d2 ¥xc2
a natural sequence of moves that leads to wins a pawn for Black. Compared to the
some sort of an impasse. analogous line from the next note, here
Black controls the e-file and the capture on
22...¥d7 23.¦e3?! A careless move that c2 comes with an attack on the rook on d1.
allows Black to take over the initiative.
24.¦de1 f5 Still good, but here White has
White had to insert 23.f4 first, and after a way out.
23...¦e7 24.¦e3 ¦ae8 25.¦de1 h5 we have
a similar impasse like in the previous note. 25.£d4?!

23...¦ae8?! Black continues naturally, but

it was more precise to strike in the centre
immediately. Ju often likes to prepare
everything first, but sometimes this leads to
missed opportunities.

23...f5! was strong. The point is that 24.exf5?

(24.£d4 as in the game is met by 24...fxe4
25.¦de1 ¢h7! and again the capture on f5
leads to loss of the pawn on c2 after 26.¦xe4
¦xe4 27.¦xe4 ¥f5 28.¦e7 ¦e8! and the
pawn on c2 cannot be defended - the knight
on a5 is painfully out of play.) 24...¥xf5 xiiiiiiiiy
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But this is not it!

25.exf5! this time leads to exchange of all

rooks and after 25...¥xf5 26.£d2 ¦xe3
27.¦xe3 ¦xe3 28.£xe3 ¥xc2 29.£e7
gives White sufficient counterplay.

25...¦xe4 26.¦xe4 ¦xe4 27.¦xe4 fxe4

Black won a pawn. White keeps some
chances to draw, though.

28.c4? The decisive mistake.

28.£a7 was natural, seeking counterplay xiiiiiiiiy

by attacking the queenside pawns. Now Black wins the endgame thanks to the
Black has to find the exact 28...¢h7! which principle of two weaknesses - White needs
avoids checks on the back rank. 29.¤b3! to bring the king to the c2–pawn (the first
the only move for White. (29.£xc7? e3! weakness, in this case a strength for Black),
30.fxe3 ¥f5 is winning for Black as the leaving the kingside (the second weakness)
pawns on g3, e3 and c2 are all vulnerable, without defence.
as is the white king: after ...£xg3 the threat
of ...¥e4 will be very hard to meet.) 29... 42.¢e3 ¢g5 43.¢d2 ¥f1 The principle
e3! 30.£xe3 £xc2 31.¤d4 £d1+ 32.¢h2 in action - Black abandons the c2–pawn in
£h5+ 33.¢g1 £e5 gives Black a clear order to destroy the kingside pawns.
advantage, but at least White centralised
the knight and keeps drawing chances. 44.¤b3 44.¢xc2 ¥xg2 45.f4+ ¢g4 and
after ...¢xg3 the h-pawn will promote.
28...e3! This powerful break allows
Black to capture the pawn on c2 and 44...¥xg2 45.¤d4 ¥xf3! A pretty
expose the remaining queenside pawns. combination to wrap up the game.
The knight is helpless against Black’s
29.£xe3 £xc2 30.£a7 30.cxb5 axb5 passed pawns.
is also winning for Black - there will
be two connected passed pawns on the 46.¤xf3+ ¢g4 47.¤d4 ¢xg3 48.¤f5+
queenside sooner rather than later. ¢g4 49.¤e3+ 49.¤xg7 h4 and the knight
cannot stop the h-pawn.
30...bxc4 31.£xc7 ¥b5 Securing the
pawns, especially the passer on c4. 49...¢f3 50.¤xc2 h4 51.¤e1+ ¢g3
52.¢e3 h3 53.¤f3 h2 Ju said that this was
32.¤b7 c3 33.¤xd6 £d3 34.£f7+ ¢h7 her best game in the match.
The c-pawn will promote, so White’s next
is forced. After 53...h2 54.¤xh2 ¢xh2 55.¢f4 ¢g2
56.¢f5 ¢f3 Black goes after the b4–pawn
35.¤f5 £d7 36.£xd7 A sad necessity. and the last remaining pawn on the board
will promote.
36.¤e7 keeps the queens, but after
36...£e8 37.£f5+ g6 38.£c5 c2 White 0–1
will lose the knight.

36...¥xd7 37.¤d4 ¥a4 38.¤e2 c2 39.f3 Four wins in a row is an incredible

¢g6 40.¢f2 ¥b5 41.¤c1 h5 feat and when this happens, it is more

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From Shanghai to Chongqing, through pressure and precision — Ju Wenjun

about one of the players cracking impose her own type of game, a more
psychologically than the other player dynamic and attacking one, and was
being much stronger. forced to fight on her opponent’s turf.
After the first four games, it appeared
Tan obviously couldn’t keep her that she could do that successfully, but it
psychological balance and kept on only took one bad game in game five for
pushing even when everything was everything to fall apart for Tan.
going against her. The last game was a
mere formality when Tan couldn’t even Ju deserves full credit for converting all
try to create something against Ju’s the chances. This convincing win in a
controlled opening. World Championship match leaves little
doubt about the strongest woman player
In the match, both players showed their in the world. With the next qualification
strengths and weaknesses. However, it cycle underway, it will be interesting to
was the World Champion who managed see who emerges as the next challenger
to cover her weaknesses and use her and whether she can pose a stronger threat
strengths to the maximum. Tan couldn’t to the reigning champion.

WOMEN'S WORLD CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2025

Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
JU WENJUN ½ 0 1 ½ 1 1 1 1 ½ - - - 6½
TAN ZHONGYI ½ 1 0 ½ 0 0 0 0 ½ - - - 2½

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THE EUROPEAN WOMEN’S CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP

RHODES, 31 MARCH – 11 APRIL
The top three – from left to right:
Irina Bulmaga (silver),
Teodora Injac (gold),
Narva Mai (bronze)

FROM A SLIP TO A SWEEP :

SERBIA’S TEODORA INJAC IS
THE NEW EUROPEAN CHAMPION
By GM Aleksandar Colovic; www.alexcolovic.com
Photo: EWCC Official / Jim Laga / Mark Livshitz
European Open and Women's Individual Chess Championships
Most championship stories begin with The European Women’s Chess
a confident start and build from there. Championship took place from 31 March to
Teodora Injac’s didn’t. The Serbian 11 April in Rhodes, Greece. With no players
number two seed opened her campaign rated above 2500, perhaps the European
in Rhodes with a painful loss to a lower- championship loses a bit of its allure. Still,
rated opponent, missing a mate in two—a given that the event serves as a qualifier for
psychological blow that ends many a the World Cup, a lot of players saw it as a
tournament before it begins. But what chance to advance to the next stage of the
followed was one of the most remarkable World Championship cycle.
comebacks in modern chess: nine
consecutive wins, a title clinched with a This year’s championship was exceptional
round to spare, and a performance that because it featured two rare events: the
didn’t just win a trophy, but signalled the number two seed won the event, the
rise of a player stepping confidently into highest seed ever to win the championship
the World elite. and only a second time in the event’s

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history that a top three seed wins it; and 37.¢b1 ¦a1+ 38.¢c2 b1£+ 39.£xb1
the nine(!) consecutive(!) victories of the ¦axb1 40.¦xg7+ ¢h8 41.¦f8+ ¦xf8
eventual winner. 42.¢xb1 The endgame is winning for
White since Black’s king is hopelessly
FROM A POOR START TO weak in the corner and the pawns are easy
AN EXCELLENT TOURNAMENT to collect.

Usually, the start can heavily influence the 1–0

rest of the tournament, with the expected
good start leading to a good tournament
and a bad start leading to a bad tournament, It’s the worst possible scenario – losing
but this time we saw the reverse. from a winning position (missing a mate
in two!) to a lower-rated opponent and
It takes a strong character to turn one’s immediately having to play catch-up
fortunes when it appears that things go with the others. A lot of players collapse
against us; the main problem being the after this type of blow, but in Rhodes
confidence to play on the level we know we witnessed a true fighting spirit and
we’re capable of playing. So how do you strength of character.
recover from a loss in the first round like
this one? Not only did Injac come back, she came
back with a vengeance, scoring nine(!)
Anastasia Kirtadze – Teodora Injac wins in a row to claim the title with a
round to spare! Truly a rare occurrence in
25th ch-EUR Indiv w 2025 Rhodes GRE (1.2) modern chess.

The nature of her victories ranged from

patient positional maneuvering to direct
attacks to endgame grinds. Here’s a neat
tactical trick from the game against Narva
in round seven:

Teodora Injac - Mai Narva

25th ch-EUR Indiv w 2025 Rhodes GRE (7.2)

xiiiiiiiiy
Both sides are attacking, but the rating
favourite has the move and the decisive threats.
She played the next two moves a-tempo.

35...£xa2+!! An elegant finish...

36.¢xa2 ¦a4+?? Only to be spoiled by a

horrendous miss. Instead of winning with a
beautiful combination Black now ends up lost.
xiiiiiiiiy
36...b1£+ 37.£xb1 ¦a4# would have Black just played ...b4, hoping to cope with
been the expected finish, but apparently the losses of the pawns on the kingside by
Injac missed it. pushing the b-pawn as far as possible. But

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she missed a shot that decides the game on 9...b5 10.¤e3 ¤f8 11.¥d2 a5
the spot.

34.¥e5! The bishop is untouchable - if the

pawn takes it, the queen is lost, if the rook
takes it, mate follows.

34...dxe5 34...¦xe5 35.¦xc8+ ¢h7

36.¦h8#.

35.£xb6 ¦b8 36.£xh6 b3 37.£xg5+

¢f8 38.£f6

1–0
xiiiiiiiiy
12.¦g1?! Preparing g4, but too blunt.
The decisive game for the championship
happened in round 10, against Irina 12.¤f5 was better, though Black can
Bulmaga, one of the strongest women deal with it in more than one way.
players on the continent. Bulmaga was 12...¤e6 (12...¥xf5 13.exf5 £f6
trailing by half a point, but she had the 14.£e4 ¤d7 15.¤g5 is rather unclear.)
white pieces. 13.¤g5 (13.0–0–0?! ¤f4! is problematic
for White, as now the threat is to take
Irina Bulmaga – Teodora Injac on f5 and follow up with ...£d5.) 13...
f6 14.¤xe6 ¥xe6 15.g4 a4 with a sharp
25th ch-EUR Indiv w 2025 Rhodes GRE (10.1) battle ahead;

1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥b5 ¤f6 After eight 12.h5 h6 13.g4 ¤e6 allows Black to block
consecutive wins Injac didn’t lose her the kingside.
composure - being in the lead, she doesn’t
mind a quiet game and what better than the 12...¥xe3 12...¤e6 was a good
Berlin to fit the occasion? alternative. 13.g4 (13.g3?! ¤d4 14.¤xd4
exd4 15.¤g2 f5! is excellent for Black.)
4.d3 Bulmaga wants to play a middlegame. 13...¤f4 14.£d1 a4 is quite good
for Black.
4...¥c5 5.¥xc6 dxc6 6.¤bd2 One of the
many possible moves for White in this 13.£xe3 £d6 Preparing ...c5.
tabiya of the anti-Berlin.
14.g4 c5 15.h5 ¤e6 Black’s position is
6...¤d7 Black also has a lot of moves at quite solid on the kingside. It appears that
her disposal, but the main question is where White made progress with the attack, but in
to castle. fact there is no attack just yet.

7.¤c4 0–0 Injac decides to castle short. 16.¤h4 ¤d4 16...f6 17.¤f5 £f8 with ...h6
The move 7...f6 would have kept Black’s next allows Black to lock in the kingside,
options open for a bit longer. while 18.h6 g5 is equally deadlocked.

8.£e2 Bulmaga shows her aggressive 17.0–0–0 b4 18.¤f5 £d7 Threatening

intentions. She prepares a long castle. ...£a4.

8...¦e8 9.h4 Following suit. 19.¢b1

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21...a4 was also possible.

22.¦c1 ¥a6

xiiiiiiiiy
19...¦a6 A standard defensive maneuver,
the rook is useful on the sixth rank to
defend the kingside from afar. xiiiiiiiiy
Targeting the pawn on d3.
19...a4 is the engine’s preference, but the
following line looks dangerous for Black: 23.¦gd1?! A strange decision - White
20.¤xg7!? ¢xg7 21.£h6+ ¢h8 22.¥g5!? gives up on the idea to play against the king
now Black must find the only move and switches her attention to the queenside.
22...¦a6! but the complications continue It marks the turning point in the game as
after 23.¥f6+ ¦xf6 24.£xf6+ ¢g8 now Black is in the driving seat.
25.h6 ¢f8 (or 25...¤e6 26.g5 a3 with total
chaos.) 26.£g7+ ¢e7 27.£xe5+ ¤e6 23.¥xa5 probably looked too dangerous.
28.d4 with a mess that would have suited 23...¤b3!? the simple retreat to c6 is
the aggressive style of Bulmaga. Now we another option. 24.¥xb6 ¥xd3+ 25.¦c2
can understand better Injac’s decision to ¥xc2+ 26.¢xc2 ¤d4+ 27.¤xd4 exd4
play the game move. 28.£g5 cxb6 (28...d3+ 29.¢d2 ¦xe4 adds
fuel to the fire, though the engine says
20.c4 Bulmaga is worried about her 0.00.) 29.h6 f6 30.£d5+ £xd5 31.exd5
queenside. ¦e5 leads to an equal rook endgame;

20.f4 was more direct, but Black has 23.¥xd4 is the most natural, getting rid
two options: 20...exf4 is the simpler one of the annoying knight and closing the
(20...¤xc2!? is the trickier one, but one d-file, thus shielding the pawn on d3. 23...
White can refute. 21.£xc5! (21.¢xc2? cxd4 the other recapture is also an option.
£a4+ 22.¢b1 ¥e6 and suddenly Black 24.£d2 ¦eb8 25.¦c2 c5 26.¢a1 when
has a winning attack.) 21...¦c6 22.£d5! White manages to soak up the pressure
and after the exchange of queens White on the queenside while at the same time
should have a comfortable endgame keeping the strong knight on f5 with
22...¤d4 23.£xd7 ¥xd7 24.¤xd4 exd4 threats like £g5 or the advance of one of
25.f5 as the black bishop is rather limited.) the pawns.
21.£f2 h6 22.¥xf4 f6 stabilising the
position on the kingside, 23...¦eb8 24.¦d2 a4 25.¥xd4 cxd4
26.£e2?! Bulmaga goes all out defencive
20...bxc3 Black opens the b-file. while there was no need for it.

21.¥xc3 ¦b6 Injac activates the rook and 26.£g3 attacks the pawn on e5. After
frees the a6–square for the bishop. 26...£e6 27.¢a1 White isn’t worse as she

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can double on the c-file, though she doesn’t

have many active options.

26...£d8 This stops g5.

27.¦c5? 27.f4! White had to try something

active with 27...exf4 28.£f2 and after
28...£g5 29.¦xc7 h6 the randomness
factor is still present especially as White
can transfer the knight to d5 after 30.¤e7+
¢h7 31.¤d5

27...g6! Finally getting rid of the annoying

knight.

28.¦d5 £f6 29.¤g3 c6 30.¦c5 £d6

31.¦c1 ¥c8 White’s pieces have been
pushed back and now Black can prepare
the attack at all leisure. The idea is to place
the bishop on e6.

32.hxg6 fxg6 33.¢a1 ¥e6 34.£d1 £b4

This is good enough.

34...¥b3! was strong. After 35.£h1 ¥xa2!

36.¢xa2 a3 Black’s attack crashes through. 42.g5

35.a3 £a5 36.¤f1 ¥b3 37.£e1 £b5

xiiiiiiiiy
White’s desire to create something (like the
xiiiiiiiiy idea (h2–g4–f6) is understandable, but now
White’s problem is that she has no active the pawn on g5 becomes a target.
ideas whatsoever and must wait and
anticipate Black’s threats. Sitting still with 42.£e2 £a7 43.£d1 £e7
would end badly for White as the threat is
38.£e2 ¥f7 Threatening ...£b3. ...¦xb2.

39.£d1 ¥b3 40.£e2 ¥f7 41.£d1 £a5 42...£a7! 43.¤h2 £e7 44.£xa4 £xg5
The control passed and brought little relief 45.£d1 £e7 White remained with equal
to White. material, but the removal of the a-pawn only

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opened an extra file against the white king.

Additionally, the knight on h2 is completely
out of the game while the bishop on e6 is a
key piece in Black’s attack.

46.£a4 £e6 47.b4 £e7 47...c5! was

strong, creating the threat of ...¦a6.
48.¦xc5 ¦a6 49.¦a5 ¦xa5 50.bxa5 ¦b3
with ideas like ...£c8 or ...£d6 and White
will soon resign.

48.¦dc2 £b7 49.¦xc6 ¦xc6 50.¦xc6 The

alternative wasn’t much better.

50.£xc6 £a7 51.¢b2 ¦xb4+! 52.¢c2

£xa3 53.¢d2 ¦b2+ 54.¦c2 £b4+
55.¢e2 £c3! also wins. The playing hall in Rhodes

50...¦a8 51.¦b6 £c8 52.¦c6 £e8 53.£c2

¦xa3+ 54.¢b1 ¢g7 Team Championship in 2023, Aleksandar
Indjic’s win of the European Individual in
2024, their incredible 5th place at the Budapest
Olympiad in 2024, now Teodora Injac wins
the European Women’s Championship!

With this result Injac enters the top 20

in the world, and at the age of 25 is still
in an excellent position to try to emulate
(her compatriot) Alisa Maric’s runs for the
world title in the 1990s.

THE BRITISH PERFORMANCE AT

THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP
xiiiiiiiiy
Calmly avoiding ¦c8. The attack is The British were represented by Lan Yao,
irresistible. Elis Denele Dicen, Bodhana Sivanandan,
Ruqayyah Rida, Anusha Subramanian,
55.£c5 ¦b3+ 56.¢c2 ¦c3+ 57.£xc3 dxc3 Shambavi Harinarah from the English
58.b5 £e7 59.¤f3 £b4 60.¦xc3 £xb5 Federation, and Kanishka Bhatia and
Chrysoula-Paraskevi Mitraka from the
0–1 Scottish Federation.

The highest rated and the one who scored

Injac proved stronger in this game, the best result was Lan Yao. She started
outplaying her opponent in a tense fight, well, with 2/2, but a loss to Eline Roebers
but Bulmaga can find comfort in the fact in round three in a very sharp game
that she still won the silver medal in the slowed her down considerably. A couple
championship. of draws and a loss in round six saw her
down to 50%, but then she won three
The amazing run of the Serbian chess players games in a row with the white pieces
continues: after their win of the European for an excellent final score of 7/11. She

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shared 15th place, though she was placed 39...¦c1 rook behind passed pawn was
25th on tie-break. more thematic as after 40.¢d4 ¦c2 the
rook immediately attacks the kingside
Worth noting is also the score of the pawns, giving sufficient counterplay.
13-year-old Ruqayyah Rida, who with
5.5/11 gained almost 57 rating points, thus 40.¢d4 ¦d1+ 40...¦e2 was again more
crossing 2100. in line with the active defence that Black
needs.
The prodigy Bodhana Sivanandan didn’t
have an exceptional event, but her 5/11 still 41.¢c5 ¦d8? Black suddenly switches
won her 10 rating points. The following is from active to passive defence and this is
a good example of her endgame technique, never good.
where she wins a drawn rook endgame.
41...¦d2 was essential. After 42.¢b6 ¦xg2
Bodhana Sivanandan - 43.c5 ¦xh2 44.c6 ¦c2 45.c7 h5 the ensuing
Dimitra Alexandri race should end in a draw after 46.¢b7 g5
47.c8£+ ¦xc8 48.¢xc8 ¢e5
25th ch-EUR Indiv w 2025 Rhodes GRE (7.51)
42.¦b7?

xiiiiiiiiy
The rook endgame is objectively equal,
but it is only White who can play for win. xiiiiiiiiy
White’s next move is the only way to break Sivanandan misses the first chance. She
Black’s central pawn chain. will arrive at the correct set-up a bit later.

34.b4 axb4 35.axb4 cxb4 36.¢xd4 White 42.¦b2! secures against counterplay on
is better centralised and it’s likely that the second rank. Now after 42...¦c8+
Black will lose the b-pawn, which means 43.¢d4 ¦d8+ 44.¢c3 it appears that
that she will need to seek active counterplay Black managed to push the king back,
to draw the endgame a pawn down. but White is ready to support the pawn
from behind (the c2–square) and then go
36...¢e6 37.¦b5 ¦d6+ 38.¢e3 ¦d1 Rook forward with the king. 44...¢e5 looks
activity is essential in rook endgames. tempting now for Black, but it allows
45.c5 ¢xe4 46.¦e2+ ¢f4 47.¢c4
38...¦a6 39.¦xb4 ¦a2 was another active when the c-pawn decides the game -
option for Black. Black cannot approach the white pawns
on the kingside.
39.¦xb4 ¦e1+ Black chases the white king
forward, where it wants to go. This should 42...¦c8+? Black misses the last
still draw. chance to come to the second rank and

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 May 2025

She stumbled at the start,

but then danced her way to the crown:
The new European Champion, Teodora Injac

create counterplay. After this mistake 58.¦b2 was much faster, with the same
Sivanandan is impeccable. idea to get the king out from c8.

43.¢b5 ¢d6 44.¦b6+ ¢e5 45.c5 ¢xe4 58...¢f5 59.¦d4 ¢e5 60.¦d2 ¢e4
46.¦xf6 ¦b8+ 47.¦b6 ¦c8 48.¦e6+ ¢d5 61.¢d8 ¢e3 62.¦d7 ¢f2 63.c8£ ¦xc8+
49.¦d6+ ¢e5 50.¦d2! 64.¢xc8 h5 65.¦d2+ ¢g1 66.g3

1–0

The tournament’s composition and results

show that European women’s chess is in a
state of flux.

The prodigies like Sivanandan are still

not ready to fight with the best European
players, but the continent’s best still seem
to be far from the world’s best.

xiiiiiiiiy As a comparison, Injac’s live rating after

This move shows good technique: White the tournament of 2473 still places her
eliminates any counterplay Black may almost 100 rating points behind Ju Wenjun.
have dreamed about against the pawns on It will take some time for the young talents
the kingside. The rest is automatic, as the to come through the ranks and we could
black king is cut off and the white c-pawn argue that players like the Muzychuk sisters
will promote. (Anna being rated 7th in the world, for
example) didn’t participate. However, for
50...¦b8+ 51.¢a6 ¦c8 52.¢b6 ¦b8+ the time being, the gap between Europe’s
53.¢c7 ¦b1 54.c6 ¢e6 55.¦e2+ ¢f7 champions and the global elite remains
55...¢d5 56.¢d7. noticeable. Bridging that gap will require
not just talent, but consistent exposure
56.¢c8 ¦c1 57.c7 ¢f6 58.¦e4 Building to top-level competition and structural
a bridge. support across federations.

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40
25TH EUROPEAN WOMEN'S CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2025
FINAL RANKING AFTER 11 ROUNDS
Rk SNo Name FED Rtg Pts TB1 TB2 TB3 TB4 TB5 Rp K rtg+/-
1 2 IM Injac, Teodora SRB 2454 9.5 0 70.5 74.5 5 9 2591 10 18.6
2 23 IM Bulmaga, Irina ROU 2362 8 0 71.5 76 5 6 2468 10 15.2
3 16 IM Narva, Mai EST 2380 8 0 69.5 74.5 6 6 2486 10 15.2
4 18 IM Maltsevskaya, Aleksandra POL 2376 8 0 68 72.5 6 7 2484 10 15.6
5 4 IM Tsolakidou, Stavroula GRE 2445 7.5 0 68.5 72 6 4 2410 10 -0.2
6 6 IM Javakhishvili, Lela GEO 2429 7.5 0 37.5 72.5 6 5 2413 10 -0.9
7 1 GM Batsiashvili, Nino GEO 2473 7.5 0 67 72 5 6 2448 10 -2.6
8 7 GM Ushenina, Anna UKR 2428 7.5 0 66 71 5 4 2444 10 3.1
9 13 IM Daulyte-Cornette, Deimante FRA 2389 7.5 0 66 71 5 4 2411 10 4.5
10 27 IM Mammadova, Gulnar AZE 2342 7.5 0 65.5 70.5 5 5 2399 10 9.5
11 14 IM Mkrtchian, Lilit ARM 2388 7.5 0 65 70 6 5 2434 10 7.6
12 20 IM Milliet, Sophie FRA 2371 7.5 0 63.5 67.5 5 5 2398 10 4.9
13 24 IM Kiolbasa, Oliwia POL 2360 7.5 0 62 66 5 4 2334 10 -2.4
14 10 IM Kulon, Klaudia POL 2401 7.5 0 59 64 5 6 2350 10 -5.1
15 50 WIM Urh, Zala SLO 2244 7 0 69.5 74.5 5 4 2434 10 57
16 9 GM Khotenashvili, Bella GEO 2418 7 0 69 74.5 5 4 2426 10 1.4
17 3 IM Arabidze, Meri GEO 2447 7 0 66 71 5 4 2400 10 -6.6
18 12 GM Danielian, Elina ARM 2398 7 0 64 70.5 6 5 2400 10 0.5
19 46 WGM Krasteva, Beloslava BUL 2257 7 0 63.5 68 6 4 2424 20 50
20 29 IM Savina, Anastasia FRA 2331 7 0 63.5 68.5 5 5 2335 10 1
21 17 IM Vega Gutierrez, Sabrina ESP 2380 7 0 61.5 66.5 5 5 2348 10 -4.3
22 32 WGM Zawadzka, Jolanta POL 2326 7 0 59 63.5 6 4 2291 10 -4.5
23 34 GM Zhukova, Natalia UKR 2306 7 0 58.5 62.5 5 5 2295 10 -0.6
24 15 IM Fataliyeva, Ulviyya AZE 2387 7 0 58 62.5 6 6 2288 10 -13.1
25 39 WGM Yao, Lan ENG 2294 7 0 58 62 5 5 2284 20 -0.6
26 70 WFM Kirtadze, Anastasia GEO 2180 6.5 0 78 85 6 5 2446 40 153.6
27 22 IM Roebers, Eline NED 2367 6.5 0 69 73.5 6 6 2370 10 1.1
28 11 WGM Beydullayeva, Govhar AZE 2400 6.5 0 68.5 73.5 5 4 2359 10 -5.5
29 31 WGM Toncheva, Nadya BUL 2329 6.5 0 66.5 71.5 5 5 2315 20 1.2
30 21 GM Socko, Monika POL 2369 6.5 0 64.5 69 5 4 2287 10 -11.2

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 BCM EXCLUSIVE
INTERVIEW
with GothamChess as he embarks on his first European tour

LEVY ROZMAN VS THE CHESS WORLD:

WHAT’S WRONG AND HOW TO FIX IT
The world’s most influential chess content creator talks openly about
his view of chess and the biggest issues facing the game

By Milan Dinic

To the wider world, Levy Rozman is better known

under his social media name – GothamChess. Born
in New York in 1995, Rozman started playing chess
at the age of six and – by 2018 – he became an
International Master. But his breakthrough in chess
happened not over the board but – online. The chess
Batman from New York has caught the public’s
attention in 2020, when COVID and The Queen’s
Gambit Series launched a wave of global interest
in chess.

His YouTube channel, GothamChess, quickly grew to

become the most-subscribed chess channel in the world,
with millions of followers across platforms. Known for
making chess accessible and fun, Rozman has helped
spark a global wave of enthusiasm for the game,
especially among younger and newer players but
also among novices. As he proudly mentions in
this interview, many of his followers are not even
chess players, but like the idea of the game and
his commentary.

His book “How to win at chess”, published in late

2023, has become very popular as a fun guide for
beginners and intermediate players. This May,
Rozman is embarking on his first-ever European
tour, promoting his work and chess. Starting
from Brussels on 8th May, Rozman will appear
in London (9th), Vienna (11th), Berlin (15th),
Munich (16th) and Warsaw (17th).

Ahead of the tour, BCM caught up with Levy

Rozman. In a conversation which lasted well

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over an hour, Rozman candidly spoke about have a clear structure. There’s a season,
the chess world today and how he sees the fixtures, cups, jerseys, players to support,
future of the game. tickets to buy. Fans play the sport and watch
the pros. In chess, that structure is missing.
British Chess Magazine: How do you Content creators have brought in fans who
see the global appetite for chess today? play casually, but there’s a big failure in
Is interest still rising, or did we miss the converting those players into spectators of
momentum created by the COVID wave? professional chess.

Levy Rozman: As of today more people are There’s no ticketing system, no

playing and thinking about chess than ever merchandising. And major events aren’t
before. Almost every day, a high number promoted well. It has happened to me
of people get into chess for the first time, countless times that I have been in cities
largely due to content algorithms. People where a major chess event is ongoing, and
see chess content on their phone or on the fans don’t know what’s happening. For
YouTube, then try it out—download an app example, when I was in Toronto for the
like Chess.com and start playing. Candidates, the first time the tournament
was held on North American soil in many
BCM: Has the COVID spike peaked? years, I met about 20 chess fans—and not
a single one knew the Candidates was
L.R: It’s been said before, but it’s worth happening. That’s a major indictment of
repeating: from 2020 to now, we’ve seen the institutions.
spikes due to cultural events, followed by
long tails of sustained interest. So, while Content creators have made chess accessible
the post-COVID spike may have peaked, and reignited interest, but there’s a huge
interest is still strong. disconnect when it comes to top-level play.
To give an example, Tata Steel 2017 ran
On the other hand, the mainstream almost exactly the same way it does now.
breakthrough hasn’t quite happened. Chess There hasn’t been much innovation in how
isn’t regularly on television. It’s hard to sell elite events are organised or presented.
tickets to events. And as famous as some
players are, chess doesn’t feel as prominent BCM: What about chess and TV?
or respected as it should be. Often, it only
enters the spotlight due to controversy. L.R: Chess is a complicated, frustrating
You can point the blame in many different game, and not an easy TV product.
directions, but - more people are playing But creating short, engaging videos—
chess and are following it than they ever like a gambit with a silly thumbnail—
have in the past. And it’s never been gets people interested. That’s what
simpler to do so! works. If I’m going to cover the world
championship, I will explain things in a
BCM: COVID and moving online way that’s very clear. I will get into the
has brought chess to millions around storyline and go through it in a light,
the world. How do you think the conversational way. I have many, many
chess institutions—like FIDE or the fans who watch my chess videos, and they
major tournament organisers—have don’t play chess at all. They’re captivated
responded to the digital transformation by the storyline and the storytelling.
of the game?
BCM: Why do you think all these new
L.R: It depends on what part you’re tournaments—Freestyle, GCL—are
referring to. In most sports governed by popping up? Is there actually money to be
international bodies—like football—you made in organising chess?

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FIDE wears suits - we make memes

Rozman with FIDE CEO Emil Sutovsky (centre) and sponsor

Timur Turlov (left) from Freedom Holding
Photo: FIDE/Rafal Oleksiewicz

BCM: You’ve also worked a bit with the International Chess Federation – FIDE.
They are doing a lot to attract sponsors and bring new events, but also to make chess
more accessible to the wider audience. What’s your take?

L.R: At the World Rapid and Blitz in New York, I was paid by Take Take Take—not
by FIDE. They might have invited me as a guest, but I wouldn’t have been involved
otherwise. At the World Corporate event before that, I spoke to some folks at FIDE
about a possible partnership. I never heard anything after that.

FIDE has a very corporate approach. People wear suits, events are held in elegant
venues, and sponsors mingle with top players. But that doesn’t necessarily grow the
game. Content creation is really not like that. Content creation spreads memes, fun
storylines, and relatable moments. It gets chess in front of people in a more accessible
way.

FIDE does a lot of good work: events for seniors, people with disabilities, prison
programmes, schools. Running ten different global initiatives isn’t easy! But I do wish
they’d secured a major broadcast deal. It feels like that opportunity was missed. Now,
you see other projects—like the Global Chess League or Freestyle—emerging to fill
the gap.

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L.R: That’s a good question. Historically, Chess players themselves aren’t focused
nobody has made money from chess— on legacy or changing the sport. Most just
except maybe content creators or Chess. want to play and earn. That’s really all they
com. Organising bodies have struggled. want to do. In the case of guys like Magnus,
Sports leagues make money through TV they just want to win everything. Other
rights, sponsorships, and merchandise. guys are more than happy to be fourth and
That doesn’t exist in chess at scale. get a hundred thousand dollars.

So why do people try? BCM: What would need to change to make

chess profitable?
I’d like to believe they see potential. They
don’t agree with how things have been L.R: If you want to make chess profitable,
done, and they want to bring the top players you need to change a lot of things. And I
together in a more modern, monetizable still see the same problems with the Global
format. Maybe they have a 5–10 year plan. Chess League and Freestyle.
Some, like the Global Chess League,
signed TV deals in many countries, Freestyle is kind of taking a different
probably to demonstrate reach rather than approach. They’re really looking into
generate revenue. Freestyle reportedly the content, the external content, all the
has $20–25 million in backing and forces hype around everything, and they’re
players to do media, like Formula One. saying the live portion is actually not
The players aren’t volunteering for that— the most important thing, which is
it’s part of the structure. And they’re taken interesting. Nobody has really tried to do
care of. that. In Formula One, people don’t really
necessarily care about the cars going in
But again, no one funds chess out of circles for three hours, but they care about
pure generosity forever. They’ll want all the other stuff. But if this strategy fails
returns eventually. We’ve long relied and they don’t get the numbers they want,
on wealthy, eccentric people to fund it’s going to be tough.
the sport. That hasn’t changed. FIDE
doesn’t partner with big brands often. BCM: Let’s talk about the players. How
They’ll cite Google Singapore, but I much responsibility do they bear for how
don’t know how big that partnership chess is perceived?
actually is.
L.R: There are stereotypes—chess players
BCM: Do you think it’s possible to make aren’t good interviews, they talk in
chess profitable on a big scale? technical language, they don’t open up. But
in other sports, players have media training
L.R: It’s possible, but you need very smart, and obligations. Even after a loss, they do
organised leadership, a great team, and interviews because they’re contractually
some luck. The Queen’s Gambit series was required—and because they’re paid well!
luck. My early growth was luck meeting When you play one tennis match and you’re
hard work. knocked out, you still made half a million
dollars. You still had all these sponsors
The Freestyle chess project is a big bet providing you with the shoes, the outfit. So,
and – if it fails, I don’t think people will you know that if you’re gracious in defeat
try [something new – BCM] for quite for a few minutes, you will still get paid
some time. At the same time, you have the loads. That’s not the case in chess.
E-sports World Cup, or people like Rex
Sinquefield who don’t care if they lose On top of that, all of these stars from a
money. But most people do. young age. By the time they’re 16, 17, and

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ON WOMEN’S CHESS:
I hope for a future
where someone like
Judit Polgar isn’t a unicorn
that is never to be replicated again
When the conversation with Rozman took
to the issue of women’s chess, he shrugged
and asked “How much time do we have?”,
which suggested that he clearly has some
very strong opinions.

- The biggest issue is that women aren’t

respected and often face uncomfortable,
creepy situations. That drives many
away from the game at a young age.
I’ve seen it firsthand—girls dropping
out of classes because of the behaviour
of boys.

BCM: You started out as a chess Judit Polgar taking a selfie with
educator – what’s your experience when Magnus Carlsen
it comes to girls and boys in chess at an Photo: Judit Polgar Facebook page
early age?

L.R: In all-girls classrooms, girls thrive. But that’s not the norm. And then you hear
horror stories about people behaving creepily or inappropriately to girls.

There’s all sorts of social pressures, and it begins from very young. When you’re the
only girl and there’s 10 other boys playing the game, it’s difficult.

BCM: One of the big issues is women-only events and women’s titles.

L.R: The topic of women’s tournaments and titles is complex. In an ideal

world, boys and girls would compete equally. But that’s not our world. I
support equality in principle, but the social pressures girls face are real and
start very young.

I fully believe that if you raised 20 kids - 10 boys, 10 girls from a young age, with the
same resources and the same societal conditions like, they would be mixed in terms
of chess strength. But that’s just not the reality,

I wish and I hope for some sort of a solution in the future where a person like Judit
Polgar is not some unicorn that is never to be replicated again.

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breaking into the pro circuit, athletes in big watch seven-hour games. Classical is
sports have verified social media accounts unpredictable—could end in three hours or
on every platform. There was a whole go a hundred moves.
ecosystem in all of these sports.
The big question is: what’s the goal? Do
BCM: How would you describe what it’s we want kids aspiring to be professional
like in chess? chess players? Or is it okay for it to stay a
casual hobby? Other sports have structured
L.R: In chess, players don’t make development. Even they are adapting—
anywhere near that amount of money. And changing rules, speeding things up.
they aren’t trained for the spotlight. From a
young age, there’s no ecosystem to support But in chess, speeding it up risks
communication or presence. Plus, many top compromising the game’s intellectual
players are introverted by nature. Add that integrity. That’s the debate.
to no media training, and you get awkward
interviews and low engagement. BCM: What’s the biggest threat to chess
right now?
There’s no payoff either. They see the
system hasn’t changed. Same tournaments, L.R: Fragmentation. Magnus has broken
same structure. The World Championship with FIDE. New tournaments pop up
prize fund hasn’t changed in decades. Why constantly, online and offline, with different
put in extra effort for media when there’s formats. There’s no cohesive structure.
no reward? People don’t know what’s happening or
what to follow. Chess remains a hobby for
BCM: Do you most. There’s no pathway to fandom like in
think speeding other sports.
up the game is
necessary for When it comes to the broader chess
wider appeal? audience, they play some chess, they watch
some chess, they study some chess. But -
L.R: You could they don’t buy into it like they do with their
have a fast local sports team or league, and that’s a big
classical format— miss. That’s a big miss for opportunities for
say 45 minutes per players around the world. And because of
side. I’m not anti- that, there’s fragmentation
classical. I find it
fascinating. But BCM: Let’s shift to your European tour.
I’m in the 0.001% of What inspired it?
chess fans. Most people
d o n ’t L.R: It started with my book [published
want in 2023 – Note, BCM]. Penguin asked if
t o I wanted to do a signing and Q&A. The
support in London was unbelievable. We
sold out all the places Conway Hall. So
I thought: why not do a full tour? Bring
in local guests, do live commentary, play
against the audience. It’s part stand-up,
part chess, part interviews.

The UK audience has been amazing for

me. London has the highest viewership

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for my channel—more than New York or Chess needs better presentation. We

any Indian city. I’ve got a lot of love for my also need self-generated hype—limited
UK audience! series, storytelling, something beyond
relying on scandals. Otherwise, content
BCM: Let’s look at your journey as a creators will keep being the main entry
content creator. What surprised you most point for fans.
over the years?
BCM: Are we in a golden age of Chess?
L.R: A weirdly contentious relationship Are we just scratching the surface?
with top chess players. Some are accepting.
Some are tolerating, but many are sarcastic L.R: If you asked me this a year ago,
and dismissive. That wouldn’t happen in or maybe two years ago, I’d say – yeah,
other sports. A top footballer wouldn’t we’re in a golden age. ? We don’t exactly
mock a top football YouTuber. But it know where the halfway point is. The
happens often in chess. pre-covid days were the “dark times” So,
compared to that, we’re a golden age,
BCM: What about the mistakes you made but if we don’t capitalize on it, it will be
over the years? Do any stand out? tremendously disappointing.

L. R: If anything, focusing too much on the BCM: Final question. If you were
algorithm. I wish I could title videos exactly president of FIDE for one day, what would
as they are, but that doesn’t work. If I put a you do?
lesser-known player in the thumbnail, no one
clicks. If I put Magnus, everyone watches. L.R: I’d call every major organiser and
It’s a balancing act. I want to highlight new say: let’s make a plan. Let’s build a
players, but sometimes I have to use big structured, followable tour—like tennis.
names to get people to watch. Let’s get sponsors, align formats, and turn
chess into an international sport with live
This is maybe the only thing, and it’s fans and consistent engagement.
one of the biggest criticisms I get - that I
click-bait. But, when it comes to covering Let’s turn this into a tennis system. Let’s
important things like scandals or whatever, figure out who will be our sponsors.
I always try to be fair and neutral. Let’s figure out how to make everybody
some money. And here’s the five-year
BCM: Is the chess community too toxic plan for how we’re going to turn chess
online? into an international, followable sport
with live spectators. And we’ll see. But
L.R: Only if you spend too much time on you know, then, then the second day
Twitter or Reddit. Most people are normal. would come...
The controversies grab headlines, but
they’re not representative. The problem
is - that’s the only time chess hits the
mainstream—when there’s a scandal.

BCM: What’s the future of chess content?

L.R: I’m not sure. One of the biggest obstacles

is the broadcast. You can watch any sport at a
bar with no sound. That’s not true for chess.
Even with sound, you might not understand
what’s going on. That has to change.

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AI-generated illustration

AN
Consider the following position. It will
recur later in this column

OFFER
THEY CAN’T
REFUSE
What chess can teach us about
diplomacy, deadlock, and deception –
a vivid parallel between the strategic Rescuing oneself from a seemingly
subtleties of chess and contemporary hopeless position forms part of the armoury
geopolitical manoeuvring of every strong chess player. The current
political situation in Ukraine reminds me
ineluctably of the chess player’s ability to
By Grandmaster salvage a draw from an inferior position.
Raymond Keene OBE And of the various ways to achieve a draw,

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Stalemate is by far the most emphatic. It with the game. One, as we have seen, is
is no accident that both Trump and Putin “stalemate” which means that one side
have associated themselves with chess cannot make any moves and that the
in the past and that both have earned a game is irrevocably drawn. There is no
reputation for strategic thinking, when, for such thing as a temporary stalemate. Thus
example, compared with the current crop the impasse on the western front of the
of western leaders. First World War is often described as
“stalemate”, but this is quite wrong, since
Stalemate is a situation in chess where the the deadlock was eventually broken by a
player whose turn it is to move is not in victorious Allied advance.
check and has no legal move. Stalemate,
therefore, results in a draw. During the Similarly, the war between Russia and
endgame, stalemate is a resource that can Ukraine has been inaccurately described
enable the player with the inferior position as a Stalemate, which is quite wrong,
to draw the game rather than lose. In more since the outcome remains fluid. It more
complex positions, stalemate is much rarer, closely resembles a situation where a
usually taking the form of what might be stronger player, who finds himself in a
termed a swindle , that succeeds, only if precarious position, simply offers a draw.
the superior side is inattentive. Stalemate is In the case of Russia vs. Ukraine, the
also a common theme in endgame studies stronger player is President Trump, the
and other chess problems. most powerful man in the world, backed
by Elon Musk, the most wealthy man in
The first recorded use of stalemate is from the world. In effect, President Trump has
1765. It is a compounding of Middle English- offered a draw to Vladimir Putin, over the
stale and mate (meaning checkmate). Stale head of President Zelensky. One might
is probably derived from Anglo-French describe this as: making an offer which
estale meaning "standstill", a cognate of cannot be refused!
"stand" and "stall", both ultimately derived
from the Proto-Indo-European root *sta-. The stalemate rule has had a convoluted
The first recorded use in a figurative sense history. Although stalemate is universally
is in 1885. recognized as a draw today, that was not
the case for much of the game’s history. In
Stalemate has become a widely used the forerunners to modern chess, such as
metaphor for other situations where there chaturanga, delivering stalemate resulted
is a conflict or contest between two parties, in a loss. This was changed in shatranj,
such as war or political negotiations, and however, where stalemating was a win.
neither side is able to achieve victory, This practice persisted in chess as played
resulting in what is also called an impasse, in early 15th-century Spain. Lucena (c.
a deadlock, or a Mexican standoff. Chess 1497), however, treated stalemate as an
writers note that this usage is a misnomer inferior form of victory; it won only half
because, unlike in chess, the situation is the stake in games played for money, and
often a temporary one that is ultimately this continued to be the case in Spain as
resolved, even if it seems currently late as 1600. From about 1600 to 1800, the
intractable. The term "stalemate" is rule in England was that stalemate was a
sometimes used incorrectly as a generic loss for the player administering it, a rule
term for a draw in chess. While draws are that the eminent chess historian H. J. R.
common, they are rarely the direct result Murray believes may have been adopted
of stalemate. from Russian chess. That rule disappeared
in England before 1820, being replaced by
Two chess terms are commonly the French and Italian rule that a stalemate
misunderstood by those not fully familiar was a drawn game.

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The other candidate for misuse is checkmate. Julius Caesar. Brutus and Cassius appear
Checkmate terminates the game absolutely, with their heads protruding, while Judas
with no possible comeback. is pitched in headfirst; only his legs
protrude, with all three mouths constantly
In previous columns I have referred masticating their victims, tearing the
to Dante’s use of the game in his traitors in pieces, while never actually
cosmological system, to describe the killing them.
number of angels in the heavens. The
formula is that of a piece of corn placed I like to imagine that there is a region of
on a corner of the chessboard, and Dante’s Ninth Circle, specially reserved
doubled on each square thereafter. This for traitors, who not only betray their
operation results in two to the power benefactors, but for politicians and
of 64 (minus one) pieces of corn, an commentators, who also get their chess
unimaginably vast number. metaphors hopelessly wrong.

Now let us turn to Dante’s Divine Comedy, Here are two classic examples of Stalemate
the Inferno, Canto 34. This depicts the offering salvation to a player in otherwise
final stage of Dante’s journey through desperate circumstances:
Hell, accompanied by his guide, the Latin
poet Virgil. Ossip Bernstein vs. Vasily Smyslov
Travelling towards the centre of the Ninth Groningen, 1946, rd. 7
Circle of Hell, Dante sees a huge shape
in the distance, while beneath his feet, Sometimes, a surprise stalemate saves a
he observes the sinners of this Circle game. In the game Ossip Bernstein–Vasily
totally immersed in ice. They are the most Smyslov
depraved of all sinners: Traitors to their
Benefactors. Their particular region of
Hell, the Fourth Ring of the Ninth Circle,
is named after the ultimate betrayal, Judas
Iscariot, who was a traitor to none other
than Jesus Christ Himself.

The giant figure in the distance is soon

revealed as Lucifer, otherwise known as
Satan or Dis. This hideous apparition has
three equally horrible faces, and below
each tripartite head, mocking The Holy
Trinity, rises a set of wings, flapping back
and forth. This action drives the icy winds
which keep Cocytus, the frozen lake of Black can win by sacrificing the f-pawn
the ultimate sinners, the betrayers, in its and using the king to support the b-pawn.
permanent condition of stasis. However, Smyslov thought it was good to
advance the b-pawn because he could win
Each of Lucifer’s mouths holds a sinner. the white rook with a skewer if it captured
According to Dante they are the three the pawn. Play went:
most heinous sinners of human history,
all Traitors to a Benefactor. In the central 59... b2?? 60.¦xb2!
maw hangs Judas Iscariot, while in the
left and right jaws of Satan they see Now 60...¦h2+ 61.¢f3! ¦xb2 would be
Brutus and Cassius, the assassins of stalemate.

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51.£xe6+ ¤xe6, or forces mate after

51.gxf4 ¦e1+ and 52...£a2+ Now,
however, comes the Deus ex Machina
which rescues White from his perilous
situation.

49.£g8+! ¢xg8 50. ¦xg7+! Game drawn

½-½

Smyslov instead played 60...¢g4, but the

game was drawn after 61.¢f1

Larry Evans vs. Samuel Reshevsky

US Championship, 1963/4, New York, rd. 9

One of the best-known examples of what

is known as the desperado sacrifice, is the
game Larry Evans–Samuel Reshevsky that In the first part of this column I suggested
was dubbed "The Swindle of the Century". that Trump could make Putin an offer which
Evans sacrificed his queen on move 49 and Zelensky could not refuse!
offered his rook on move 50. White’s rook
has been called the eternal rook. Capturing Of the major board games, Draughts relies
it results in stalemate, but otherwise it stays primarily on material superiority to achieve
on the seventh rank and checks Black’s victory. Meanwhile Wei Chi (otherwise
king ad infinitum (i.e. perpetual check). known as Go) depends on control of
The game would inevitably end in a draw territory, whereas chess, where triumph
by agreement, by threefold repetition, or by is ultimately confirmed by checkmate,
an eventual claim under the fifty-move rule. transcends any element of material, time
or space. Although such factors may well
contribute to advantage, only checkmate,
or its inevitability, can confer the final and
decisive laurels.

To my mind, this lends a quasi-mystical

aspect to chess, which is absent in the
alternative strategic board games. As that
dashing Grandmaster Rudolf Spielmann
opined in his classic book, the Art of
Sacrifice in chess:

“The beauty of a game of chess is usually

appraised, and with good reason, according
47.h4! ¦e2+ 48.¢h1 £xg3?? to the sacrifices it contains. Sacrifice — a
hallowed, heroic concept! Advancing in a
After 48...£g6! 49.¦f8 £e6! 50.¦h8+ chivalrous mood, the individual immolates
¢g6, Black remains a piece ahead after himself for a noble idea.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 301

05/145

Such sacrifice evokes our homage and

admiration even where the idea as such
does not meet with our full approval.
In chess, which we like to view as a
counterpart of life, a sacrifice arouses
similar feelings in us. On principle we
incline to rate a sacrificial game more
highly than a positional game. Instinctively
we place the moral value about the
scientific. We honour Capablanca, but our
hearts beat higher when Morphy’s name
is mentioned. The magic of the sacrifice
grips us and we care nothing for the
accompanying circumstances — whether
Morphy’s opponents were weaker than
Capablanca’s, how Morphy would fare
today, how Capablanca would have played
in those far-off days. The glowing power
of the sacrifice is irresistible: enthusiasm
for sacrifice lies in man’s nature.”

Pondering such thoughts, I have gradually

reached the conclusion that President
Trump has diversified his global strategy
into Go, as well as chess. Go has already
One of the most influential books on
been used as an analogy (in the book,
geopolitics, based on a chess analogy
The Protracted Game) for the policy
behind the campaigns of Mao Tse Tung.
In his determination to expand American Should the inhabitants of Greenland, rich
territory by annexing Greenland as the in resources, but low in population (around
fifty first US state, the 47th President is 50,000) prove recalcitrant to the Trumpian
simply adopting a time honoured device, overtures, might I propose that the USA offer
for which clear precedents exist in the each inhabitant a sweetener of $100,000 to
history of American deal making. express their democratic right to join the
American Imperium. Why, Elon Musk alone
Thus, in 1803, the fledgling USA bought could rustle up the required five billion
a giant chunk of territory from Napoleon dollars from his personal small change.
Bonaparte. For $15 million dollars the
USA acquired approximately 800,000 A valuable lesson of chess is to learn to
square miles of prime central real think out of the box . Accordingly, in that
estate, in what came to be known as the spirit, I offer the following modest proposal
Louisiana Purchase. to persuade Zelensky to agree to Trump’s
peace initiative between Ukraine and
Then in 1867, for a mere $7 million Russia. Should Zelensky prove ongoingly
dollars, Alaska (a similar landmass) was obdurate, rather than withdraw material
transferred from the Russian Empire of support for Ukraine in its war of attrition
Czar Alexander II to the USA. Once one with Russia, Trump should simply join
recalls such transactions, Trump’s attitude Russian and also declare war on Ukraine.
towards Greenland, Gaza, Panama and A bold move, and certain to attract a degree
even Canada, becomes more readily of opprobrium, but I predict that this step
comprehensible. would achieve a peace deal overnight.

302 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 May 2025

This game, a sublime performance by ¥xb5 28.¦xb5 cxd4 29. ¦xd5 dxe3
the late Boris Spassky, demonstrates in 30.fxe3 ¤xe3 31.¦xe3 ¦exe3 32.¤xe3
dramatic fashion the imperviousness ¦xe3 33.¦d1;
of chess to the elements of time, space
and especially material, when delivering and, 27.h3 c4 28. ¥xg6 fxg6 29.hxg4
checkmate is at stake. ¥xg4 30.f3 ¥f5 31.£c1 ¥xb1 32.£xa3,
keep the position level.
Gilles Andruet vs. Boris Spassky
Bundesliga,1987/88,
Federal Republic of Germany

1.d4 ¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.¤f3 ¥b4+ 4.¥d2

¥xd2+ 5.£xd2 d5 6.¤c3 O-O 7.e3 £e7
8.¦c1 ¦d8 9.£c2 ¤bd7 10. cxd5 exd5
11.¥d3 ¤f8 12.¤e2 TN

xiiiiiiiiy
27...¤e5 28.¥b5??

A losing error. White has remote chances

of salvaging something with, 28.¥xg6!
fxg6 29.¤d2 ¥c6 30.£b2 ¦c3 31.£a1
¦a8 32.£b2 ¦f8 33. f3 ¢h7 34.¦f1 ¤d3
35.£b6 ¦xc5.
xiiiiiiiiy
An unproductive departure from the 12. 28... £f3!! White resigns 0-1
O-O, played in van der Sterren-Andersson,
Hoogovens, 1988.

12...c6 13.O-O ¤g6 14.¤g3 ¦e8 15.£c5

£d8 16.¤d2 ¤h4 17. b4 a6 18. a4 ¥d7
19.¦b1 ¤g4 20.£c2 g6 21. b5 axb5 22.
axb5 h5 23. bxc6 bxc6 24.¦fe1?!

White does better with either, 24.¦b3 or

¤e2.

24...£f6 25.¤df1?!

It is better to continue with, 25.¦e2 £d6 xiiiiiiiiy

26. ¤df1 ¦a3 27.¦d2 ¦ea8 28.¤e2. Sacrificing the queen to overprotect g2
fails to, 29.£e4 dxe4 30.gxf3 ¤exf3+
25...¦a3 26.¦e2 c5 27.dxc5? 31.¢h1 ¥h3 32.¦a1 ¥g2#; capturing
the sacrificial queen fails to, 29.gxf3
A serious error when White had good ¤exf3+ 30.¢h1 ¥h3 31.£xg6+ fxg6
alternatives. For example, both 27.¥b5 32.¥xe8 ¥g2#.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 303

05/145

THE TROJAN HORSE PROBLEM

Although this might look completely drawn
The chess puzzle that at first glance, it’s White to move and win.
Can you figure out how to win against the
went viral behind its best defence?

creator’s back The puzzle got some good feedback at the

time of posting it online—perhaps 50 or 60
upvotes and dozens of nice comments.
By Ben Schultz and BCM
At the time, Schultz tried sending it off
It began as a clever chess study buried in a to a few prominent chess YouTubers
Reddit post. Four years later, it was being solved via Facebook, but never heard anything
by grandmasters, dissected by YouTubers, and back and assumed they were too busy to
racking up hundreds of thousands of views— check on it (or didn’t think it was worth
while its creator had no idea it had gone following up on).
viral. The “Trojan Horse” puzzle, designed by
Australian chess composer Ben Schultz, is now “It didn’t matter to me, though, because
something of classic—an engine-breaking, I at least got to share it with fellow chess
knight-sacrificing gem that demands both fans and get some positive feedback, and
human ingenuity and a bit of nerve. sometimes just getting something you
made out there to be seen is enough. I put
When Ben Schultz contacted BCM a while it to the back of my mind and carried on
back with his Trojan Horse puzzle – not with my life”.
many people were happy to open an email
with such a headline, given the ominous However, then came an unusual twist – four
reputation of Trojan horses when it comes years later! This is how Schultz explains it:
to emails. Still – after he got in touch with
our editor via LinkedIn, we were delighted “It was more than four years after I made
to read the email and to bring you this the puzzle that I ventured into a chess-
interesting study, which is unusual both in centric Twitch channel that only had a
design and in its history! couple of viewers but whose player had a
strong rating. I decided to share my puzzle
Ben Schultz is a chess composer from to challenge them, and that’s when things
Australia. He first published the following got a bit... weird. The other viewer in the
study on the /r/chess subreddit on August chat didn’t believe I made it. I thought
31, 2017. that was a bit of an odd thing to say, so
I pressed them on it, and they said it was
a famous study they saw online. I did
some googling of the FEN code, and, sure
enough, it was everywhere. I was honestly
shocked and humbled by all the attention
it was getting.

GM Surya Sekhar Ganguly (who has

served as a second to Vishy Anand)
had apparently tweeted it a couple of
times and helped magnify its notoriety.
It was being discussed by scores of
people on online forums, with some

304 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 May 2025

people wondering if it was an old

textbook study; it got picked up by
GM Simon Williams (aka Ginger GM),
who dedicated a wonderful 30-minute
YouTube video dissecting the puzzle;
it was being used as a chess lesson by
the Saint Louis Chess Club, much to
my bewilderment; it was solved by GM
Vasyl Ivanchuk, who is a really good
Twitch streamer now, apparently; and
it had even racked up around 300,000
views on the YouTube channel Chess
with Suren. Apparently, this puzzle had
gone viral and I was the last to know, as I
submitted it online pseudonymously. At
this point, I should also give a shoutout
to chessvision.ai, with which I was able
to track down some of these videos;
the aforementioned website allows
you to search YouTube to find analysis
videos of any position you feed it—it’s
extremely useful”.

An unusual story!

At the time the study was first uploaded,

most chess engines could not solve this
using consumer-grade hardware—even
after letting it run for hours. Indeed, some
Ben Schultz
engines even have difficulty with it five
years on. This was very much intended,
notes Schultz. Williams “about 10 minutes” to crack it,
so start a stopwatch and see if you can
“I wanted to make a puzzle that required beat Simon’s time. My suggestion is to
human planning rather than brute-force play this position out against the strongest
computation. I knew one of the best engine you can get your hands on. Figure
ways to trip up an engine was to create out the weak points in Black’s position
a fortress via a so-called Chinese wall and try to exploit them.
formation, so that was my starting point
for designing the setup”. There are a couple of hints below, so read
those if you’re having a hard time solving it.
A bit of advice from Ben Schultz ahead
of solving the puzzle Hint one: There is a hint in the puzzle’s
name itself.
Now that I’ve hyped this to the point that
it can’t possibly live up to the expectation, Hint two: The puzzle can be solved using
take your time trying to work this out, three phases.
because I can usually figure out when
a person has solved the final phase of Good luck!
the puzzle just by looking at their facial
expression. For reference, it took Simon Turn to page 314 for the solutions.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 305

05/145

QUOTES AND QUERIES

BRILLIANCE REDISCOVERED: A TRIO
OF TACTICAL TREASURES FROM
THE CHESS ARCHIVES By Alan Smith
A great deal of research underpins these 11.exd5 £xd5 12.¤c3 £h5 12...£d8.
columns, and occasionally the effort is
rewarded with the discovery of games 13.¦e1+ ¢d8 13...¢f8 14.¥a3+ c5 loses
that dazzle even decades or centuries later. quickly 15.dxc5 ¥xc5 16.¥g6! fxg6
Whether buried in 19th-century magazines 17.£d8+ ¢f7 18.£e8#.
or tucked away in old regional newspapers,
such games still sparkle with tactical clarity 14.¤g5! £xd1 When this game was
and creative flair. published in Sissa, 1854 page 60, the
magazine did not give the mate in four
This month, we feature three memorable which follows. See if you can spot it!
encounters—from a swashbuckling 1853
Evans Gambit in Berlin to a sparkling 15.¤xf7+ ¢d7 16.¥f5+ ¢c6 17.¤d8+!
correspondence finish in interwar Britain, ¢d6 18.¥f4#
and finally, a stunning modern miniature
from the Southend Open. Each game is a Schachzeitung, 1853, p 276
reminder that chess brilliance is timeless,
and often, just waiting to be rediscovered.
The opening of the next game is quiet, but
6288 the denouement is sparkling.

Max Lange - Carl Mayet A.R.C. Wells - Charles Warburton

Berlin CC, 1853 Kent - Lancashire , correspondence, 1930-31

1.e4 e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 3.¥c4 ¥c5 4.0-0 d6 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.¥d3 ¥d6
4...¤f6 5.d4 is the Max Lange Attack. 5.¤e2 ¥e6 6.¥e3 ¤f6 7.¤d2 0-0 8.¤f3
¤bd7 9.h3 ¦e8 10.£d2 c5 11.dxc5 ¥xc5
5.b4 ¤xb4 6.c3 ¤c6 7.d4 exd4 8.cxd4 12.¤fd4 12.¤ed4 makes more sense.
¥b6 Play has transposed back into the
main line of the Evans Gambit. 12...£b6 13.c3 13.0-0 was better.

9.h3 This was very popular in the 1850’s 13...¤e5 14.b3 ¦ad8 15.0-0 ¤e4 16.¥xe4
but then attention switched to 9.¤c3, dxe4 17.£c2 f5 18.¤xe6 ¦xe6 19.¥xc5
9.¥b2 and 9.d5. £xc5 20.¤f4 ¦ed6 21.c4 White could
have got away with 21.¦ad1 ¦xd1 22.¦xd1
9...¤a5 9...¤f6 was played in Mariotti ¦xd1+ 23.£xd1 £xc3 as he would then
- Gligoric Venice 1971. 10.¥d3 d5? have 24.£d5+ ¢f8 25.¤e6+ while 24...¤f7
This is quite logical, creating squares loses ground to 25.£xf5.
for his queen’s bishop, but opening
the position plays into white’s hands. 21...¦d2 22.£c1 e3 23.¤e6 ¤f3+!
10...¤e7 was safer. 24.gxf3 exf2+ 25.¢g2 £e3!! 26.£a3

306 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 It´s
now
even easier
to subscribe to
26.¤xd8 £g5+ 27.¢h1 £g3 28.¦xf2
¦xf2 Warburton. British Chess Magazine
An exclusive chess magazine!
26...£xe6 27.£c5 Piling up on f2 but it is
too late. 27.¦xf2? ¦xf2+ 28.¢xf2 ¦d2+
and white is soon mated. Great news, BCM just got better! More
content, more pages, more GM and IM
27...£g6+ 28.¢h1 £h5 29.¢g2 £g5+ 30.¢h2 writers (including top UK grandmasters),
£g1+!! 31.¦xg1 f1=¤+! 32.¢h1 ¦h2# outstanding photography and design, and
the regular features which have long been
Newton and Earlestown Guardian, part of BCM’s tradition.
22nd May 1931
BCM offers more high class, authoritative
and in-depth coverage of major
Columnist Gert Ligterink described the international and British chess events and
next as "a most remarkable game". leading players, a brand new look,
and of course
Michael Twyble - John Sugden our much loved regular articles.
Southend Open, 1986

1.¤c3 c5 Hoping to transpose into a Sicilian?

Purchase or renew your subscription
and have BCM delivered to your door:
2.¦b1!? 2.¤f3 is not bad either, but this On-line: visit our website
gets full marks for originality. www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk
2...¤f6 3.g3 d5 4.¥g2 e5 5.e4 ¥e6? The
Email:
losing move! He had to try 5...d4 but even
support@britishchessmagazine.co.uk
then White has no problems after 6.¤d5
By post:
¥e6 7.c4 dxc3 8.dxc3!
Albany House, 14 Shute End,
Wokingham, Berkshire, England RG40 1BJ
6.exd5 ¤xd5 7.£f3! ¤xc3 7...¤c7
8.£xb7 ¥e7 was better, even though white
wins the exchange with 9.¤b5. printed magazine
8.bxc3 White’s second
marvellously prescient.
move was
£64 UK
8...¤c6? 8...¤d7 9.¦xb7 ¦c8 minimised
the damage.
£96 Non-UK
12 issues per year postage included

9.¦xb7 ¦c8 10.£xc6+! ¦xc6 11.¥xc6+

¥d7 12.¦xd7 £g5 12...£b6 13.¥a4! and
black will lose his queen to a discovered check.

13.¤f3 £f5 14.¦d5+ ¢e7 15.¦xe5+ £xe5

16.¤xe5
1-0
de Volkskrant, 1st June 1991
Forget memorising lines—Start mastering ideas!

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 Problem
World
by Christopher Jones
cjajones1@yahoo.co.uk
Grandmaster of Chess Composition
Solutions are given on page 318

xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
David Shire (Canterbury) Miroslav Svitek (Czech Republic)
Mate in 2 Helpmate in 3 – 2 solution
Original Original

xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
Ljubomir Ugren (Slovenia) Luis Echemendia and Steven B. Dowd
(Cuba/USA)
Helpmate in 5 – 3 solution Helpmate in 7
Original Original
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 309
05/145

AI-generated illustration

Double
He played on, and each consecutive move was
like a newly opened window in springtime: the

Nelson (PART II)

knights raced—colts freed from their winter
enclosure—pawns quickened with blood—
queens’ crowns already dimly shimmering
on them. Everything filled with life, flowered,
By V.S. Yanovsky, glowed with a warm light, and in every section
of the board there were as many possibilities of
translated by Isabella Levitin truth and lies as in existence itself (from life to
And if you were wondering about the ending death). Turgai, inspired, was breaking through.
of "Double Nelson," here it is now, one He stood there, menacingly stretched out, like a
month later. It is clear that Mephistopheles scythe, ready to fall on the crouching, exhausted
was hard at work preventing the truth from Champion. This lasted for about twenty
getting out last month! minutes, maybe more—no one had counted, to
their shame or credit. And then, unexpectedly,
BCM on the penultimate white square, on B-K7,

310 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 May 2025

suddenly blossomed a pawn. Victory emerged face was sorrowful and tender. He nodded
out of miraculous depths with such palpable, helplessly at the steward and disappeared
impetuous force that all in the amphitheater through the side door.
rose as one, spellbound, many-handed being
and applauded in a unanimous ovation. Turgai It was nearly three o’clock in the morning. The
shivered, looked round bewildered, slowly tourists, attracted to this tavern by the display
coming to himself. The applause was loudest of medieval fetters, torture pincers, and tibiae,
from one direction. Suddenly anxious, he lifted had left long ago. In the basement, gigolos and
his face, trying to see who was making all the prostitutes were peacefully dividing tips. The
noise: in the front row, hanging over the rails owner, a man with an enormous, diseased belly,
directly above him, the familiar gentleman with stopped running to the toilet every few minutes
the old-fashioned black derby was applauding and, glancing round warily with the air of a
sonorously and smiling at Turgai. counterfeiter, broke wind loudly behind the bar.

Oaah...something thinly sobbed in Turgai’s Low voices were still to be heard from
breast, and, arms spread widely, he hurled the room where the poets met from time
himself blindly toward the smiling man, got to time. Writers and critics and guests had
entangled with a chair, overturned it, and with already gone to catch the last subway train.
a long-drawn dull moan collapsed onto the Only a few close friends and some night
floor. The onlookers remained frozen, petrified. birds were left. They sat on hard benches, at
Someone moved at last, then others, and a low refectory table, facing the wall with
soon the enormous hall—stands, gallery, and the stone tablet inscribed with the names of
boxes—was howling, groaning, and shrieking. the famous men who had visited this tavern;
People squeezed each other’s hands, stamped they were listening to N., the poet (later on,
with their boots, hoarsely explained, swore, his name adorned that same tablet). N. said:
argued, and all had the feeling that they had
been foreseeing this, had been waiting for “I would like to write one page only. One
something of the sort, but now—enough, the real page. A pure one. Depths and heavens—
spring was loosened, the danger past. And, as sifted. There is a German tale about a maker
though in confirmation, rain clouds, so vainly of rare clocks. Everything was measured,
expected for two months, had densely covered perfect, but the clock would not work. How
the sky and, blinking impudently its Tartar eyes, was he to find the missing, unique weight?
the storm came down with a deafening crash. Whatever he tried went wrong. So the
watchmaker hanged himself on the spring
Journalists, judges, guests, all who were able and died. But the clock started going. And it
to, rushed at last to Turgai’s motionless, prone is alive to this day. It is the same with us: in
form. “Fetch a doctor...a priest,” they shouted, order that a line should live, we must hang
running aimlessly to and fro, blabbering, ourselves on it, body and soul; choke, choke
eager to put the responsibility on another slowly, such is the nature...”
man’s shoulders. “A doctor...” But someone
was already approaching, confidently fraying “Good evening, or, rather, good morning,
his way through the pressing crowd. It was gentlemen!” came unexpectedly a low,
Stolz, offhanded as a clergyman, self-assured manly voice. Out of a dark corner by the
as a surgeon. The crowd opened for him, chimney a corpulent gentleman in a long coat
retreated, recognizing in him either a doctor resembling a cassock appeared and moved
or someone else customary and necessary towards the talking group. Light footed as an
at such moments. “May I...although I am acrobat, pompous as a master of ceremonies,
not practicing...” he briskly explained to the he approached N. and respectfully stretched
steward. They breathed with relief, stepped out his pale fleshy hand.
back, made more room. He bent over Turgai.
A minute later he straightened up. His END

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 311

05/145

Obituary:
FRIDRIK OLAFSSON
(1935 – 2025)

Photo: Rob Mieremet/Dutch National Archives

Olafsson at the 1976 Hoogovens Tournament
Fridrik Olafsson, Iceland’s first
Grandmaster and the fourth President
of FIDE, has died aged 90. A six-time
national champion and two-time Nordic
Chess Champion, he led the global chess
body from 1978 to 1982.

Born on January 26, 1935, in Reykjavik,

Olafsson was taught chess by his father
when he was eight. His first big national
success came at the age of 17, when he
won the Icelandic chess championship in
1952. This would be the first of six national
titles (1952, 1953, 1957, 1961, 1962,
and 1969). The following year, Olafson
became the Scandinavian Champion and
also won a bronze medal at the World Fridrik Olafsson -
Junior Championship. Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian
He rose to international prominence at Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade Candidates Bled,
the 1955–56 Hastings Chess Congress, Zagreb & Belgrade YUG (8), 18.09.1959
where he shared first place with Viktor
Korchnoi. Arriving late and without a hotel 1.c4 e6 2.¤f3 ¤f6 3.¤c3 d5 4.d4 ¥b4
reservation, he spent his first night in a 5.cxd5 exd5 6.¥g5 h6 7.¥xf6 £xf6
Hastings police station cell—courtesy of a 8.£a4+ ¤c6 9.e3 0–0 10.¥e2 ¥e6 11.0–0
sympathetic officer. a6 12.¦fc1 ¥d6 13.£d1 ¤e7 14.¤a4
b6 15.¤c3 ¦fb8 16.a4 ¤c6 17.e4 dxe4
Olafsson qualified for the 1958–60 World 18.¤xe4 £f4
Championship cycle, finishing joint 5th at
the Portorož Interzonal, which earned him
the Grandmaster title—making him the
first Icelander to do so—and a place in the
1959 Candidates Tournament.

This was the peak of his playing career.

Playing at the top, he defeated Bobby Fischer,
Tigran Petrosian and Mikhail Tal—each on
two occasions—establishing himself among
the world’s elite. At the 1959 Candidates
tournament in Yugoslavia, he famously
defeated Tigran Petrosian in front of a
crowd of 5,000 spectators, who – according xiiiiiiiiy
to Harry Golombek - celebrated by carrying 19.d5 £xe4 20.dxe6 ¦d8 21.exf7+ ¢xf7
him on their shoulders afterwards. 22.£e1 ¢f8 23.¦c4 £e8 24.¦ac1 ¤e5

312 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

 May 2025

25.¦e4 ¤xf3+ 26.¥xf3 £f7 27.¦e3 ¥f4 place with Gligoric, Petrosian and Ivkov.
28.¥xa8 ¥xe3 29.fxe3 ¦xa8 30.£g3 Olafsson represented Iceland in eight Chess
¢g8 31.¦xc7 Olympiads between 1952 and 1980.

In 1980, while serving as FIDE President,

Olafsson defeated reigning World
Champion Anatoly Karpov at the Clarin
Tournament in Buenos Aires. The victory
earned him membership in the so-called
“Mikhail Chigorin Club”—players who
beat a sitting world champion but never
became one themselves.

Although Fridrik Olafsson never secured

the World Chess Championship title, he
frequently stood atop the global chess
xiiiiiiiiy podiums—not as a player, but as the
31...£f6 32.£f2 £e5 33.¦d7 ¦e8 34.¦d3 President of FIDE. In 1978, at the Congress
£e4 35.£c2 ¢h7 36.£d1 ¦e6 37.¦c3 in Buenos Aires, he defeated Svetozar
¦g6 38.£c2 £xc2 39.¦xc2 ¦d6 40.¢f2 Gligorić to become the fourth president
¦d3 41.¢f3 ¦b3 42.¢e4 a5 43.¢d4 of the world governing body of chess,
g5 44.e4 ¢g7 45.¦f2 ¦b4+ 46.¢d5 succeeding Max Euwe.
¦xa4 47.e5 ¦a1 48.e6 b5 49.e7 ¦d1+
50.¢c6 ¦e1 51.¢xb5 ¦e5+ 52.¢a4 During his mandate as President,
¦xe7 53.¢xa5 ¦a7+ 54.¢b4 ¦a8 55.b3 Olafsson focused on securing more
h5 56.¢c5 ¦c8+ 57.¢d6 ¦d8+ 58.¢c6 commercial sponsorship for FIDE and
¦c8+ 59.¢d7 ¦c1 60.¦b2 improving relations between the Soviets
and the rest of the chess world. He also
oversaw the controversial 1981 World
Championship match between Viktor
Korchnoi and Karpov.

In the 1982 election, Olafsson lost to

Florencio Campomanes.

Though best known for his chess

achievements, Olafsson’s professional
background was in law. Before FIDE, he
worked at the Icelandic Ministry of Justice.
Afterwards, he served as Secretary-General
xiiiiiiiiy of the Icelandic Parliament.
60...¦h1 61.b4 ¦xh2 62.b5 ¦h1 63.b6
¦d1+ 64.¢e6 ¦d8 65.b7 ¦b8 66.¢f5 In January, he celebrated his 90th birthday,
at which he was joined by the active FIDE
1–0 President Arkady Dvorkovich.

Olafsson will be remembered as the man

In 1976 Olafsson shared first place with who put Iceland on the global chess map—
Ljubomir Ljubojevic at the prestigious well before the 1972 Fischer–Spassky
Wijk aan Zee tournament. He was a runner- match—and helped FIDE grow in stature
up at the event in 1971, sharing second during a pivotal era.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 313

 THE TROJAN HORSE PROBLEM - SOLUTIONS
CONGRATULATIONS if Black places their king on the left half
IF YOU SOLVED IT! of the board while White is on d5, White
can play ¤f6, ¤g8, and ¤xh6.
The first thing that comes to most
minds is a knight sacrifice. It’s a good As it turns out, Black’s only hope here—at
idea, to be sure, but where? All of the least in the short term—is to oscillate their
immediate knight sacs just lead to a king between e6 and e7.
locked position that results in a dead
draw. A sac on h5 looks tempting, but This is where Phase Two kicks in. White
Black can simply defend by shuffling can’t progress to the right side of the
his king to the right side. board against best defence, but retreating
back to a4 accomplishes nothing, so this
So, what’s the solution? Phase One is to is where some creativity is required and
manoeuvre the knight so that it intrudes where the lightbulb moment occurs. A
inside Black’s camp (hence the puzzle’s good sacrifice square is undoubtedly h4
title); this is a necessary step, and you’ll so that h6 can be attacked via f5, but
see why later. This is done by first it’s not possible to immediately get there
routing the knight to h3 and then back to from the original board position. This
a4. If Black plays optimally, we get the is the whole point of invading Black’s
following position: camp. White’s best plan now is to make
a strategic withdrawal from Black’s
position by playing ¤c7!. As we’ve
already discussed, Black can’t defend c7
on d6 or d7, as h6 will drop, so White can
secure this move unimpeded. White then
plays b5 followed by ¤a3!!, offering
the knight. However, so long as White’s
king remains on the left side of the board
(invoking the “rule of the square”, Black
cannot capture White’s knight, as this
leads to a pretty trivial winning king-
and-pawn endgame for White.

Now it’s time for Phase Three. If Black

Now what? wants to prolong their agony, their best
defence is to ignore the knight sacrifice.
A waiting move (let’s say ¢d2) forces White’s goal is now to play ¤h4!!.
zugzwang and removes the king’s
defence of the critical b6 square. Let’s
say Black plays ¢d6. White can now
play ¤b6 and follow it up with ¤b5, a
protected square. This is a critical point
for Black, as a single wrong move here
can allow White to manoeuvre their
knight back to a4 for a reroute to attack
an unguarded c5 square; this would
happen if White plays a passing move
with Black’s response being ¢g7?.
Alternatively, if Black plays ¢e8, White
plays ¤6+, Black plays ¤f7, and the c5
pawn is once again falling. Additionally,

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 May 2025

While it’s surprisingly possible to force Now, there are a few moves here Black can
a win by sacrificing the knight with the try after they take, but they’re all pretty
king as far left as on d1 or d2 using hopeless. The idea for White is to push
some triangulation shenanigans, this through with the g-pawn. If Black takes
is a needlessly complicated line. The the g-pawn, simply scoop up all the pawns
quickest and most logical continuation with the king; conversely, if Black plays
is to shepherd the knight over with the hxg5, simply play ¢g5 and push your
king so you get the position on the right. h-pawn. Black might get cunning and set a
stalemate trap by playing ¢h8! If they try
Black has two options: to take or not to this, once again go back for Black’s centre
take. Let’s first take a look at not taking pawns; the endgame is now trivially won
with White to move. In the position on for White. There are some other variations,
the right, Black’s best try after White as covered by Simon Williams, including
plays ¤g5 is ¢h7. However, white has one that will require White to force another
a lovely waiting move with his king zugzwang, but it should be clear to see at
(both legal king moves work), once this point that White is definitely winning
again putting Black in zugzwang and regardless of what Black tries.
forcing the king to leave the defence
of the h-pawn, as g7 is covered by the I’d like to give a shoutout to the many
knight. White must play ¤f5, and now Stockfish contributors and to Árpád Rusz,
White can go left and gobble up Black’s a Hungarian endgame study composer,
pawns—simple enough. for his support and encouragement.

ACMchess.com

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 315

05/145

Endgame Studies
by Ian Watson
ian@irwatson.uk

D. Gurgenidze & M. Minski U. Sayman

Bicentennial of Independence 2016 Azerbaijan CCC 45 2015
Win win

xiiiiiiiiy
V. Maksaev J. Timman
Rostov-250 Ty 1999 Chess Life 1983
win Draw

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 May 2025

MAY SOLVING CHALLENGE

Test yourself on these four studies that were set to solvers in recent national solving
championships.

The first two are from the Ukrainian Solving Championship at the end of March. In spite
of all the difficulties, the event went ahead and was held in Poltava, which is not very far
from the current front. I guess that in a war, one tries hard to distract oneself from the awful
world nearby and chess can help do that. 28 solvers took part, including many juniors, so
I suppose Poltava must be considered relatively safe at present. The top half of the solvers
all got the first study right, but only two solvers got full points on the second one.

The third and fourth studies are from the Greek Solving Championships, also at the end
of March, and held in Athens. By the time you read this, Athens will have hosted more
solving events, because this year’s European Chess Solving Championship takes place
there at the end of April. Britain will of course be taking part in the ECSC; you can see
how our team gets on by visiting the official ECSC 2025 site www.ecsc2025.com where
you’ll find the results and the problems that the competitors will have (attempted!) to
solve. I hope they do well, not least because I’m the British team selector! In the Greek
Championship, only Nikos Sidiropoulos, this year’s Greek national champion, got full
marks on both these studies.

The usual solving procedures apply: You’ll need to set up these positions on a board. In
solving events, you can use a chess set and you can move the pieces to try and help you
solve. You solve against the clock; for these four studies give yourself an average of 30
minutes for each one, so 120 minutes in total. Points are awarded according to how much
of the composer’s solution you find, with five points available for each study if you find
it all. In the answers, I’ll show you where the points were awarded. You need to find the
composer’s main line; you can also write down sidelines if you’re not sure what the main
line is, but only the main line moves earn points. So, look for the most artistic, elegant line.

The solutions are on page 319.

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Solutions to Problems
This month’s originals

The emphasis this month is very much on helpmates (in which Black plays first and
does all he can to help White achieve checkmate). We are delighted to welcome names
unfamiliar in this column – Miroslav Svitek and Luis Echemendia. We start with
what should prove to be a not-too-difficult mate-in-two problem, and indeed all the
problems should prove amenable to your solving skills – with the possible exception
of that of our celebrated and challenging contributor, Ljubomir Ugren!

"Not too difficult” a starter(?)

In David’s two-mover, the eye is drawn to the ♙ on g7. We’d like to promote it and
threaten mate next move. But if 1.g8=♘, threatening 2.♖e7, we have a mating response
to the defence 1…♘f5 (2.gxf5), but no mating response to 1…♘g6! So try 1.g8=♕,
threatening 2.♕e8. Again we have 1…♘f5 2.gxf5 and now we have 1…♘g6 2.♕xf7, but
there is a successful defence: 2.♕a4! So we have to wonder whether promotion works at
all. And we find that the key move is 1.♘b7!, threatening 2.♘d8. If 1…b5 then 2.♘c5. As
White no longer guards e7, Black’s other defensive try is 1…♔e7, and now we discover
the true purpose of the g7 pawn: it guards f8 and allows the mating move 2.♖e5!

Long-distance knights

Two-solution helpmates in three often show comparable strategy by White in the two
solutions. But in Miroslav’s neat construction, the comparison is between the solo
performance in one solution of the black ♘ and in the other of his white counterpart –
1.♘g6 e4 2.♘f4 e5 3.♘e6 f6# and 1.♖c8 ♘g6+ 2.♔d8 ♘f4 3.♗e7 ♘e6#. Identical
routes taken by the knights!

Three excellent helpmate solutions

There is no disgrace whatsoever in simply reading through the solutions to Ljubomir’s

challenging conundrum! The two white knights are initially pinned, but there is a wide
range of ways in which those pins can be lifted, and a multitude of possibilities thereafter.
So great kudos if you found any of the following very neat lines of play. (Also very
diverse, so finding one may not give you a clear idea of how to find the others.) 1.♗a7
♘b4 2.♔e5 ♘2xd3+ 3.♔d4 ♘xc2+ 4.♔c4 ♔b2 5.♗c5 ♘e5#;

1.♗c5 ♘c4 2.♕e2 ♘d2 3.♔e5 ♔b2 4.♔d4 ♘b4 5.♕e5 ♘c2#;

1.♖f8 ♘c3 2.♔f7 ♘xd3 3.♗g7 ♘e5+ 4.♔g8 ♘xd5 5.♕h7 ♘e7#.

The black king, which starts off with no black pieces adjacent to him (and thus blocking
potential flight squares) has to move toward areas of the board populated by his colleagues,
but there are so many ways to do this that the task of the solver is daunting. Daunting too
the constructional difficulties – I know that long helpmates with two white officers, like
this one, take many hours to compose, ensuring that the intended move sequences work
with absolute precision, and that there are no other ways to use White’s considerable force
to achieve unintended mates.

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 May 2025

(See page 309)

The one white pawn wins the day

I do like economizing on keystrokes, and so retain the header used for the fourth problem
last month! Once you get the idea of this problem everything falls perfectly into place. If
we could place a white queen at c4 that would immediately be mate. But to enable this to
happen Black must sacrifice his rook. So then he must make another rook! Here’s how the
solution goes:- 1.♖g6 f3 2.♖g4 fxg4 3.f3 g5 4.f2 g6 5.f1=♖ (not ♕, which would give
check) …g7 6.♖f6 g8=♕ 7.♖b6 ♕c4#.

Solutions to Endgames (See page 316)

Gurgenidze & Minski unusual to give points spread across multiple
lines, which the scoring for this study did. No
1.£a8+ (1 point) ¥xa8 2.¥f1+ ¢b7 surprise, then, that hardly any competitors
3.¥a6+ £xa6 4.¦b2+ (+4 points = 5) ¢a7 got full points for this study. I wonder if any
solvers protested. As far as our column is
5.¥b8 mate. concerned, if you gave the first line or the
second line, I’ll give you full points.
2.¥b7+? ¢xb7 3.¦xa2 stalemate.
Maksaev
Sayman
1.¥d4 (1 point) ¦d7 2.¤f5 (+1 point =
1.¤d5 (1 point) 2) ¤xf5+ 3.§exf5 ¦xd4 4.¤f3 (+1 = 3)
¦d6 5.¢g4 (+1 = 4) ¢d7 6.¦g8 (+1 =
1...£xf5 2.§g4+ 5) ¤e7 7.¤e5 mate.

2...¢xg4 3.§e3+ ¢g5 4.¤xf5 ¢xf5 5.¢c1 Timman

(+1.5 points = 2.5)
1.¦c5 (1.25 points) ¥a7 2.¥xb7+ ¢g4
2...£xg4 3.¤f6+ ¢g5 4.¤xg4 ¢xg4 3.¥a6 (+1.25 points = 2.5) ¦f4+ 4.¢d5
5.§b4 (+1.5 = 4) ¦f5+ 5.¢c6 (+1.25 = 3.75) ¦xc5+ 6.¢b7
(+1.25 = 5) draws.
1...£d8 2.¤f4+ ¢h4 3.§g3+ ¢g5 4.¤e6+
(+0.5 = 4.5) 2...¦f5 3.¥d5 ¦f4+ 4.¢e5.

1...£d2 2.¤f6+ ¢g5 3.¤e4+ (+0.5 = 5). 3.¥c8+? ¢g3 4.¥e6 ¦h2.

In my preamble, I told you the usual rule that 3...¦b2 4.¥c4; 3...¦a2 4.¥b5; 3...¢g3
only main line moves score points. It’s very 4.¥d3 ¦f3 5.¥g6 ¦f6 6.¢e5.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 319

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