WIPCC 1998 Semifinals -- Top 10 Games

Complete game scores for the semifinal round
Crosstables for the semifinal round
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The following are my selections for the top 10 games of the semifinal round of WIPCC 98. There were many interesting games played in this round. Some were of important theoretical value. I tended to give more weight to these games. Other games echoed known theory (Fogarasi-Linnemann) and so, although they are good games, I omitted them from the list because they had been played before. Others were simply very LONG and interesting. These games have it all, from the quirky and brilliant to the stunning early novelty, from the trench warfare draw to the disrupting check! Enjoy!

Here are the games, from 10 to 1!

10: Hyatt-Blazsik: The Leoncini Shattered
9: Kowalczyk-Ostrovskij: Black's Worst Knightmare
8: Prentos-Williams: Opportunities Missed
7: Vargiu-Hyatt: Just Barely Enough
6: Linnemann-Pfeiffer: The King in the Box
5: Kowalczyk-Sicker: Scintillating Zugzwang
4: Linnemann-Geissler: The Queen in Her Corner
3: Cassano-Sicker: Doomed to Repeat Itself
2: Pfeiffer-Fogarasi: The Titanic Battle
1: Hyatt-Prentos: The Immortal Series

#10

Hyatt-Blazsik: The Leoncini Shattered

1. e4
2. d5 Nc6
3. Qg4 Qxc8 Qxd8+
4. Kxd8 dxe4 Nf6 h5










Prior to this game, this position was one of some theoretical importance. 2. d5 Nc6 has been played, according to Battista, over 1000 times, with black winning 700+ games. However, the variation is completely unsound for black, as this game proves. The variation black has pinned his hopes upon is Leoncini's 4. Kxd8 dxe4 Nf6 h5. While this series attains a great lead in development for black, and indeed stops the obvious series involving Bxa8, what it fails to do is catch up in material. White, by not trying to take much material himself, and by catching up in development, achieves a winning position.

5. d4 d5 dxc6 Be2 h4 !








I found this novelty well before the first round even ended (back in fall 1998), but this was my first chance to play it in a tournament game. Black is completely blown out of the water by this 5. Everything gets mated or loses materially. This strong novelty should sound the death knell for 4. Kxd8 dxe4 Nf6 h5. The bishop on e2 and the rook on h1 are strong pieces for participating in mates. The dangling pawn on c6 must be captured, forcing black to waste time. In addition, white is up material (2 minor pieces).

6. e6 bxc6 Rb8 Rb3 Rh3 Rxh1









7. b4 b5 bxc6 Nc3 Nd5 Rb1 Rb8#

Not a particularly interesting conclusion, but the game is included for the importance of its novelty.

#9

Kowalczyk-Ostrovskij: Black's Worst Knightmare

1. d4
2. d5 Nc6
3. b4 b5 bxc6









This was a popular continuation in the semifinal round. Regardless of its theoretical assessment, the variation is of little importance, as 3. Bf4 Bxc7 Bxd8 and 3. Bg5 Bxe7 Bxd8 are both clearly winning.

4. bxc6 Bf5 Bxc2 Bxd1










This 4 is probably not sufficient to draw. Better is 4. Ne7 Nxc6 e5 Bb4+, as played in Fogarasi-Pfeiffer.

5. Nd2 Rb1 Rb8 Rxa8 Rxd8+
6. Kxd8 Bxe2 Bxf1 Bxg2 Bxh1 Nf6










Both sides have eaten maximal amounts of material. However, white now promotes, obtaining a winning material advantage.
7. h4 h5 h6 hxg7 gxh8Q Nh3 Qxf8+










8. Kd7 h5 Nh7 Nxf8 e6 Ke7 Bg2 Bxh3

Allowing white two remaining pieces on the 9. Kowalczyk keeps his knight and shows clearly why a knight is so much better in an ending than a bishop!

9. a3 Ne4 Ng3 Nxh5 Ng7 Nxe6 Nc5 Bh6 Bxf8+










10. Kxf8 Ke7 f5 Bg2 Bf1 Be2 Bh5 Be8 Bd7 Bc8
11. Na4 Nc3 Nb5 Nxa7 Nb5 Nc3 Na4 Nc5 a4 a5 Ke2










A perfect fortress! Black's king has no way in and the light-squared bishop can do nothing. A perfect example of how to win with a knight against a bishop.

12. Resigns

#8

Prentos-Williams: Opportunities Missed

#7

Vargiu-Hyatt: Just Barely Enough

#6

Linnemann-Pfeiffer: The King in the Box

#5

Kowalczyk-Sicker: Scintillating Zugzwang

#4

Linnemann-Geissler: The Queen in Her Corner

#3

Cassano-Sicker: Doomed to Repeat Itself

#2

Pfeiffer-Fogarasi: The Titanic Battle

#1

Hyatt-Prentos: The Immortal Series

Annotations by Doug Hyatt. Last modified April 19, 2000.