The 2nd Round Brilliancy Prize - Murali Karthikeyan of India |
| Written by Administrator | ||||
| Sunday, 14 December 2014 | ||||
  The Indian International Master deserved his prize for the beautiful win against Mihail Nikitenko of Belarus, played in a neo-romantic style. You do not see three piece sacrifices in one game too frequently!  Murali Karthikeyan receiving his prize from WGM Anna Rudolf before the start of the third round Scheweningen Sicilian Murali Karthikeyan (2497) - Mihail Nikitenko (2379) World Youth U16 Chess Olympiad 2014 Gyor round 4, 14.12.2014 [Mihail,Marin] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e6 7.Be2 b6 8.Bf3 Nfd7 9.00 Bb7 10.e5  10...d5 Strategically, Black would have been glad to exchange the light-squared bishops with 10...Bxf3 11.Qxf3 before blocking the centre, 11...d5 , but in the absence of the b7bishop the central light squares would have been too weak, allowing another (most probably brilliancy award winning) combination: 12.Nxd5 exd5 13.e6 with a very strong attack. 11.Bg4! White switches his interest towards another vulnerable light spot - e6. 11...Nxe5  Black obviously did not like the perspective of getting under a positional attack after f2f4f5. 12.Bxe6! A thematic sacrifice, opening files and diagonals nearby the uncastled black king. 12...Bc5?! After this hesitating move White's attack becomes unstoppable. Picking up the gauntlet was the best chance: 12...fxe6 13.Qh5+ Ng6 14.Nxe6 and now 14...Qh4 looks like slowing down White's attack a bit, offering Black hopes to stay in the game.  13.Bxd5! This bishop had a short, but rather entertaining life - it was the piece that moved most frequently! 13...Bxd5 14.Nf5 The key of the second combination. White attacks d5 and g7 simultaneously. 14...Be6 15.Nxg7+ Ke7 16.Qh5  Starting with this moment there is more than one way leading to Rome. With two pawns for a piece and a strong attack along the central files White should win without problems. 16...f6 17.Rd1 Nbd7 18.Nf5+ Bxf5 19.Nd5+ Kd6 20.Qxf5 Kc6 21.b4 Bd6 22.Qe4 f5 23.Ne7+ Kc7 24.Nxf5 Be7 25.Bf4 Bf6 26.Rd6 Re8 27.Rad1 Ra7  Time for the finishing stroke! 28.Rxd7!+ 10
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