The recently concluded Corus tournament at Wijk aan Zee was organized into four sections. At the very top, was a competition among the world’s very best players. But an ample number of lesser grandmasters competed in sections “B’ and “C.” And there was also an “open” tournament that anyone could join.

In the C section, Jan Nepomniachtchi of Russia, a 16-year-old rising star, displayed exceptionally bright play. After nine rounds, he had 8.5 points. But in the very last round of the competition, he lost to the only female player in his 14-player section. This allowed the Polish grandmaster, Mikhail Krasenkov, to overtake him and seize first place. Nepomniachtchi and Krasenkov met in the first round in what was the most spectacular game of their section.

KRASENKOW VS. NEPOMNIACHTCHI (white) (black) Queen’s Pawn Game

1. Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qd3 Bb7 8.e4 b4 9. Na4 Nbd7 10. Be3 An interesting conception: white tries to keep control over the important d5 square and the a8-h1 diagonal. In Nikolic-Ivanchuk 1999 white used another plan–10. Be2 Qa5 11.b3 c5 12.e5 Ne4 13. Be3 Rd8 14. Qb5 to arrive at an approximately equal game. 10… Be7 11. Nd2 0-0 12.f3!? Qa5 13. Qc2 Rac8 14. Nc5 White could realize his idea here by playing 14. Nc4!? Qc7 15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Nd7 17. Qf2 with a minimal advantage. This permutation of moves gives black an opportunity to take the initiative with an astonishing piece sacrifice. 14… Nxc5 15. dxc5

See Diagram

15… b3!! 16. Qxb3 Bxc5! 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18. Qc3 White wisely rejects the offer. In case of 18. Qxb7 Rb8 19. Qa6 Rxb2 20. Qc4 Qe3+ 21. Qe2 Qc3 22. Qd3 Qa5 23. Qd4 Rfb8 24. Be2 e5 25. Qe3 Rd8 26. Rd1 Rxa2 white is in trouble despite his extra piece. It’s not clear how he can escape from the deadly pin. 18… Qg5 19. Nc4 Ba6 20. Qe3 Also not solving white’s problem was 20. Qe5 Qh6 21. Be2. After 21… 21…Bxc4 22. Bxc4 Qe3+ 23. Be2 Nd5! the black knight suddenly joined the attack. 20… Qh5 21. Be2 Bxc4 22. Bxc4 Qa5+ 23. Kf2 Maintaining control of the g1-a7 diagonal. In case of 23. Qc3 Qb6 24. Ke2 the same knight move 24…Nd5! would give black the initiative. 23… Qe5 24.b3 Rcd8 25.g3 The serene 25. Qxa7 after 25…Rd2+ 26. Be2 Qf4! 27. Ke1 Rfd8 would give black heavy pressure, and the hasty 25. Rhd1 Qxh2 26. Qxa7 Nh5 is also dangerous for white, too. 25… Rd4 Threatening 26…Rxe4 27. fxe4 Ng4+ 26. Be2 Rfd8 27. Rac1 g5! An excellent plan: black undermines the e4 square. White would stabilize the position after 27…c5 28. Qf4! 28. Rxc6 g4! The tempting 28…Ng4+ 29. fxg4 Rxe4 30. Qf3 Qd4+ 31. Kg2 Re3 would permit white to escape via 32. Rd1! Rxe2+ 33. Qxe2 Qxd1 34. Qxd1 Rxd1 35. Ra6 with a drawish endgame. 29. Qf4 Not much relief comes from 29. Re1 gxf3 30. Bxf3 Rxe4 either. 29… Qxf4? Black has played brilliantly up until this moment, but now misses the opportunity to win immediately. After 29…gxf3! 30. Kxf3 (not better 30. Qxe5 Ng4+ 31. Kxf3 Nxe5+) 30…Qh5+ 31. Kf2 Rd2 32. Qf3 Rxe2+ 33. Qxe2 Rd2 34. Qxd2 Nxe4+ white would little choice but to resign. 30. gxf4 gxf3 31. Kxf3 It seems that both players were in a time shortage. Now white could equalize the game by 31. Bxf3!? Rd2+ (no advantage was derived from 31…Nxe4+ 32. Ke3 Nf6 33. Rc3 Rd2 34. Rg1+ Kf8 35. Rg2 as well) 32. Kg3 R8d3 33. Rg1 Kf8 34. Rc8+ Ke7 35. Rc7+ 31… Nxe4 32. Rhc1?! Now better was 32. Rc7! a5 33. Rg1+ and white is not worse. 32… Kg7! 33. Ke3 Here the initiative is again in the hands of black. Unattractive for white was 33. Ra6 Nd2+ 34. Kg3 Re4 35. Bb5 Rd5 36. Bc6 Rd3+ 37. Kf2 Rxf4+ 38. Ke2 Rd6 39. Rxa7 Rh4 with threats to the white king. 33… Nd2! 34. Rg1+? White overlooks black’s 36th move. He could struggle in an inferior position after 34. Rc7 Re4+ 35. Kf2 Rxf4+ 36. Ke1. 34… Kf6 35. Rg4 Re4+ 36. Kf2 Nxb3! 37. Rc4 Hopeless for white was 37. axb3 Rd2. 37… Rxc4 38. Bxc4 Na5 39. Be2 Rd2 40. Rh4 Rxa2 41. Rxh7 Nc4! 42.f5 White’s position would be losing after 42. Kf3 Ra3+ 43. Kf2 Nd6 as well. 42… exf5 43.h4 f4 44. Kf1 Ne5 0-1