Following Timur Radjabov’s tie for first-place in the Corus su pertournament at the beginning of the year, the chess world began to focus on how he would perform in the next major event, the Inter continental, the first part of which was to be staged in Mexico, and the second in Spain. Radjabov arrived in Mexico sev eral days early to acclimate him self to the altitude, climate, and time-zone of the mountain resort in which the event was to be held But shortly after his arrival, Rad jabov discovered that all his be longings had been stolen from his room. Among them was his note book computer containing his analyses of the play and opening choices of his opponents The un settled Radjabov withdrew from the event. Vasily Ivanchuk was asked to step in at the last moment as his replacement. Without any period of acclima tion to the thin air or anything else Ivanchuk unveiled an astonishing combination in his first-round game against Peter Leko. But, un fortunately for Ivanchuk, he sub sequently made one small inaccu racy and Leko managed to steal a draw.

IVANCHUK VS. LEKO (white) (black) Scotch Game

1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Be3 Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.g3 d5 8. Bg2 dxe4 Another popular line starts with 8…Bxd4 9. cxd4 dxe4. 9.0-0 Contemporary attempts by white to generate an initiative are connected with this move. The old line, 9. Nb5 Bxe3 10. Nxc7+ Kf8 11.0-0! Rb8 12. fxe3 Qe5 13. Qb3 f5 14. Nb5 Na5 15. Qb4 Nac6 brought a draw by repetition in Sveshnikov-Geller 1976. 9… 0-0 10. Nd2 Bb6 An idea dreamed up by the young Indian grandmaster Harikrishna. In Smeets-Beliavsky 2006 white obtained a modest advantage after 10…Bxd4 11. cxd4 Be6 12. Nxe4 Qf5 13. Nc3 Rad8 14. Be4 Qa5 15.a3 Nd5 16. Qc2. 11. Re1! An interesting novelty. In Sutovsky-Harikrishna 2004 black equalized after 11. Nxe4 Qg6 12. Nc5!? Nxd4 13. cxd4 c6 14. Re1 Nd5. 11… Nxd4 12. Nxe4 Qg6 13. Bxd4 Nc6 It looks like white would have the initiative after 13…Rd8 14. Qe2 as well. For example, 14…Bxd4 15. cxd4 Bg4 16. Qc4 c6 17. Nc5 and white’s position is better. 14. Bxb6 axb6 15. Qd2 Qf5 This position occurred via a different move order in Rublevsky-Sasikiran 2005. Black tried 15…Ra5 16. Qf4 Ne5 17. Rad1 f6 and White won beautifully after 18.b4! Ra8 19. Ng5! Bg4 20. Rd2 Rae8 21. Rxe5! 16.h3 h6 The natural desire to give some air to the black king yields white the opportunity to execute a brilliant attack. White would be better after 16…Rd8 17. Ng5! (White has nothing after 17. Qxd8+ Nxd8 18. Nd6 Qd7) 17…g6 18. Qe3. 17.g4! Qb5

(See Diagram)

18.a4!! Rxa4 The rejection of the offer 18…Qe5 19.f4 Qe7 20.f5 brought no relief. The threat f5-f6 would then be very unpleasant. 19. Nf6+! The attack develops unexpectedly. Also very strong was the simple 19. Rxa4 Qxa4 20.g5! (Now 20. Nf6+ Kh8 already is not dangerous.) A) This is forced. Black would be mated after 20…hxg5 21. Qxg5 f6. 19… gxf6 Here black doesn’t have a choice: 19…Kh8? 20. Qc2. 20. Rxa4 Qxa4 21. Qxh6 Qa5! The only defense. For example, black is losing after 21…f5 22. Qg5+ Kh7 23. gxf5 Rg8 24. Qh5+ Kg7 25. Re4; or 21…Qb5 22. Be4 f5 23. gxf5 Bxf5 24. Qg5+ and black doesn’t have 24…Bg6 because the queen is hanging on b5. 22. Qxf6? Too sophisticated. White would win after the simple 22. Be4 f5 23. Bxc6! bxc6 24.g5! Qc5 25.g6 fxg6 26. Qxg6+ Kh8 27. Qh5+! Kg7 28. Re3! f4 (to no avail was 28…Kf6 29. Qh6+ Kf7 30. Qh7+ Kf6 31. Rg3 Ke6 32. Qg7 Rf7 33. Re3+ Qxe3 34. Qg6+ as well.) 29. Re5 Qd6 30. Rg5+ Kf6 31. Rg6+ 22… Qc5! 23. Be4 Ne7 24. Rd1 Ng6! Black defends with forced moves. Black would lose in case of 24…Be6 25.h4! Bxg4 (or 25…Re8 26.h5 and the h-pawn brings white victory.) 26. Rd5! Nxd5 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Qh6+ 25. Bxg6 White agrees to a draw. Ivanchuk could have checked to see if Leko would have found, in the two minutes remaining on his clock, the only defense after 25. Bd5! – A) because hopeless for black was both 25…Nh8 26.b4! Qb5 27. Qg5+ Kh7 28. Be4+ f5 29. Qh4+ (only not 29. gxf5 Rg8 30.f6+ Bf5!) 29…Kg7 30. gxf5 Rxf5! 31. Rd5! Rxd5 32. Qh7+ Kf6 33. Qxh8+ Ke7 34. Bxd5; B) and 25…Qd6 26. Bxf7+ Rxf7 27. Rxd6 Rxf6 28. Rxf6; C) 25…Kh7! After 26. Be4 (not good for white was 26. Bxf7 Nf4! 27. Qxf4 Qe7) 26…Kg8 which would reach a draw as in the game.

25… fxg6

26. Qxg6+ Kh8

27. Qh6+ Kg8

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