Peter Svidler is a four-time Russian champion. In other words, he is by no means a slouch when it comes to moving the chess pieces around the 64 squares of the chessboard. But at the elite Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Svidler’s performance was undeniably slouch-like. In some games, he offered draws to his opponents even though his prospects on the board were bright. In other games, he outright blundered.

Nonetheless, despite this disturbing pattern in the third round from the last, Svidler abruptly managed to salvage a completely lost position and emerge victorious against the tournament frontrunner, Veselin Topalov. He himself suddenly had chances to take first place in the event. But to accomplish that goal, Svidler still had to face the Dutch grandmaster Loek Van Wely. But Svidler’s dreams of victory were shortlived. Van Wely demolished him in a mere 22 moves.

SVIDLER VS. VAN WELY (white) (black) Gruenfeld Defense

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 0-0 10.0-0 Bd7 The main line of the central variation of the Gruenfeld 10…Bg4 11.f3 cxd4 12. cxd4 Na5 13. Bd3 Be6 14.d5 Bxa1 15. Qxa1 suffered a serious blow in Topalov-Shirov at Corus this year, (which we annotated in one of our previous columns). At least temporarily, until a fix is found, it is sure to lose adherents. 11. Rb1 Qc7 As of late 11…a6 was more popular, but in recent tournaments the move played in this game has become more fashionable. 12. Bf4 In the first round of this tournament, Shirov tried 12. Bd3 Rad8 13. Bf4 Qc8 14.d5 Ne5 15. Bxe5 Bxe5 16.f4 Bg7 17.c4 e6 18.f5 against Svidler and after 18… 18…exf5 19. exf5 b5! black obtained sufficient counterplay. 12… Qc8 13. Rc1! Keeping tension in the center is probably more promising than 13.d5 Na5 14. Bd3 e5 15. Bg3 f5, which Carlsen tried in the first round of this tournament against Navara. This game continued 16.f4 fxe4 17. Bxe4 Nc4 18. Qd3 Nd6 19. fxe5 Nxe4 20. Qxe4 Bf5 with a complex struggle. 13… a6!? This is a novelty, which probably offers more prospects than the old move 13…Rd8. 14. Qd2 b5 15. Bd3 Qb7!? The alternative is 15…e5 16. Bh6 Qc7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18.f4!? and white has chances for attack on the kingside. 16. Bh6 Bxh6?!

Now white queen will be too close to black king. More prudent was 16…Qb6 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qe3 cxd4 19. cxd4 e5! with sufficient counter-play for black. 17. Qxh6 cxd4 18. cxd4 Qb6?!

(See Diagram)

This inaccuracy places black in a very difficult situation. Correct was 18…Rac8 19. Rfd1 (White doesn’t have 19. Rc5? Nxd4) 19…Nb4 20. Bb1 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rc8 with a defensible position. 19. Rc5! Bg4

Suddenly black is in grave danger. Losing immediately is 19…Nxd4? 20. Rh5 and the g6 pawn is pinned; Not much better was 19…Rfd8 20. Rh5 gxh5 21.e5 f5 22. exf6 exf6 23. Qxh7+ Kf8 24. Nf4 Ne7 25. Re1 with decisive threats; only 19…e5 20. Rfc1 Rfe8 (losing 20…exd4 21. Nf4 Rfc8 22. Nh5 gxh5 23. Rg5+) 21.d5 permits black to defend an unpleasant position. 20. Nf4! Nxd4

The attempt to parry the threat 21. Nd5 Qb7 22. Rxc6 by playing 20…Kh8 didn’t help – 21. Rg5 Bd7 22.e5 Rg8 23. Rxg6 and white is winning. 21. Rg5! Bf3 22. Rg3!

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