This year, however, the Chinese men thumped their Russian counterparts 14.5-10.5 while the Chinese women lost 11.5-13.5 to a rapidly improving young Russian squad.
But then again, the top three Russian men and the top two Chinese women did not participate.
According to our annotator, IM Jack Peters, the match concluded with rapid (25-minute) and blitz (three-minute) games. The Russian men won, 13-7, in rapid play but lost, 6-14, in blitz. The women tied, 10-10, in rapid play, and the Russian women won, 11-9, in blitz.
Next week, we’ll talk about the 12-game world championship match between Anand and Kramnik.
Game of the week.
White: GM Ni Hua (2705)
Black: GM Peter Svidler (2738)
China vs. Russia Match
Ningpo 2008
1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Sometimes called the Moscow system against the Sicilian Defense. Nc6 Both 3…Bd7 and 3…Nd7 have solid reputations too. 4 0-0 Bd7 5 Re1 Nf6 6 c3 a6 7 Ba4 b5 8 Bc2 e5 Now the position resembles a Ruy Lopez. 9 h3 g6?! Trying to save time over the usual 9…Be7, when Black often follows with…0-0, …Rf8-e8, …g7-g6 and…Be7-f8-g7. 10 d4 Bg7 11 dxc5 dxc5 12 a4! Well timed. The immediate 12 Qd6 Bf8 does not worry Black. 0-0 13 axb5 axb5 14 Rxa8 Qxa8 15 Qd6 c4 16 Bg5! Not so clear is 16 Nxe5?! Nxe5 17 Qxe5 Bc6. Be6 17 Nxe5 Nxe5 18 Qxe5 Nd7 19 Qg3 White has snatched a pawn against the world’s 11th-ranked grandmaster, but his development lags. b4!? Black tries to fight back. Also plausible is 19…Qa2 20 Bc1 Nc5. Then 21 Nd2 lets White handle 21…Nb3?! smoothly by 22 Bxb3 cxb3 23 e5. 20 cxb4 Bxb221 Bd2! Rb8 22 f4! The threat of 23 f5 retakes the initiative and induces a weakness, as 22…Nb6 23 f5 Bd7 24 Bc3 nullifies Black’s compensation. f6 23 Kh1 Bd4 24 Bc3! Bxc3 25 Qxc3 White had to foresee that 25…Qb7 26 Rd1 saves the b-pawn, as 26…Qxb4? drops a piece to 27 Qxb4 Rxb4 28 f5. If Black tries 26…f5, then 27 Rd6! Nf8 28 exf5 gxf5 29 Qe5 wins on the Kingside. Rb7 26 Qd2 Qf8 No better is 26…Qb8 27 Nc3, when 27…Rxb4? 28 f5 still costs a piece. 27 Nc3 Welcoming 27…Rxb4? 28 f5 and 27…Qxb4? 28 Rb1. Nb6 28 Qd4 Nd7 Against 28…Qxb4, most convincing is 29 Rb1 Qa5 30 Qxf6. 29 Rb1 g5 Hastening the end, but White threatened to consolidate with Bc2-a4-c6-d5. 30 e5! Relying on the double attack 30…fxe5 31 Qe4. Rxb4 31 Rxb4 Qxb4 32 f5 fxe5 After 32…Bxf5 33 Bxf5 Nxe5, White destroys Black’s fortress with 34 Be6+ Kg7 35 Qa7+ Kh8 (as 35…Kg6 36 g4! leads to mate) 36 Qa8+ Kg7 37 Qg8+ Kh6 38 Bf5 Qe7 39 Ne4 Qg7 40 Qd8. 33 Qd2 Bf7 Allowing an amusing finish. 34 Qxd7 Qxc3 35 Qd8+ Kg7 36 f6+ Kh6 37 Qf8+ Kh5 38 Qxf7+ Kh4 39 Qxh7+ Kg3 40 Qe4,Black Resigns.
Puzzler.
White — pawns on b3, b4, h2; Qa8, Ke1, Be4, Ne7
Black — pawns on a5, b5, e5, g5; Na7, Bb6, Ke3
White to play and mate in three moves.
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