Sunday, August 08, 2010

Food and Chess in the Freezer

International master Aleks Wohl is recovering some form. The itinerant Australian is currently playing in this year's Arctic Chess Challenge and is scoring well, including a win over GM Vadim Malakhatko!

This is Aleks at his tactical best.

Arctic Chess Challenge 2010
Malakhatko, Vadim
Wohl, Aleksandar H
A40

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. a3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 Bb7 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. Bg5 h6 8. Be3 d6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. Qd2 a6 11. Bc2 c5 12. Rd1 g5 13. O-O g4 14. Ne1 Nc6 15. Ne2 Qe7 16. b4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Nce5 18. Qe2 Rc8 19. Bb3 Bxe4 20. Bc1 Bb7 21. Nec2 Rg8 22. Kh1

Position after 22. Kh1

22...Nf3 23. gxf3 Be5 24. Rg1 Qh4 25. Rg3 Bxg3 26. fxg3 gxf3 27. Qf2 Rxg3 Bang! The rook is off limits. 28. Ne3 Rh3 29. Kg1 Qxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rxh2+ 31. Kg3 Rh5 32. Nxf3 Ke7 33. Re1 Rg8+ 34. Kf2 Bxf3 35. Kxf3 Ne5+ 36. Ke2 Rh2+ 37. Kd1 Nd3 38. Rf1 Rg3 39. Bd2 Nf2+ 40. Ke1 Nd3+ 41. Kd1 Nf2+ 42. Ke1 Ne4 43. Bc1 Rhh3 44. Ke2 Rxe3+ 0-1 Quality down and quantity down, no hope.

Now compare this game to Duneas - Wohl from last year's Queenstown. If there's a learning here it's don't give Aleks the long diagonal!

After Malakhatko, the Australian then faced Mikhail Kobalia. From his blog, "I diligently prepared, got a good position out of the opening against GM Kobalia but then showed why it's better to relax and climb Mountains. Losing meant that tomorrow I cannot make a GM Norm anymore because I needed someone at least 2540 and got a 2500."

Another thing. Over the last decade, the affable IM has not only travelled the world over and enjoyed the culinary delights of his destination, but he's managed to also play some 1,006 rated games! I only found out about that thanks to this blog post from the ACC.

3 comments:

OzChess.com said...

The rook is not immune from capture on g3. According to Fritz, after fxg3, the queen goes back to h5 and the position is equal.

Peter Long said...

I can vouch for what the heat and humidity does to Alex from up close in events in the Philippines and in Malaysia. And the delicious but absolutely unhealthy food he cannot resist makes it worst. He immediately drops from a strong 2400+ IM to a weak 2000 player.

doubleroo said...

Oz Chess, you are looking at the wrong position.
Peter, thanks, I will continue to eat the delicous Malaysian food but will not play in tournaments before Olympiad selection again.