He is survived by his wife, painter Ingrid Evans, and two stepsons. Known as the “dean” of American chess, Evans was also a distinguished chess journalist and many chessnuts remember him as the writer of those intriguing introductions to each of the gamesin Bobby Fischer’s magnum opus, “My 60 Memorable Games.” Evans, who served as Fischer’s second in the 1971 candidates matches, was a member of eight U.S. Olympiad teams from 1950 to 1976. “A superb natural talent,” was how British GM Raymond Keene described Evans as a chess player. Soviet chess guru GM Yuri Averbakh agreed. In the 1954 USSR vs USA match — won, of course, by the mighty Soviets — Evans and Robert Byrne were the only the Americans who won their four-game matches.“What has this boy done to me?” Soviet GM Mark Taimanov was quoted as saying after losing 1.5.-2.5 to Evans.
In Moscow last week, Armenia’s Lev Aronian won the world blitz championship with Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan half a point behind and Norway’s Magnus Carlsen finishing third.
In the 16th Asian Games, 2004 FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdhzanov of Uzbekistan and Vietnam’s rising star Liem Le Quang tied for first place in the rapid tourney, but Rustam won the gold because he defeated Liem in the seventh round. Liem got the silver while the bronze went to Chinese GM Bu Xiangzhi, a point behind the two. Filipino GM Wesley So finished a disappointing14th, behind veteran compatriot Rogelio Antonio. There were 20 participants. In the women’s division, 16-year-old Chinese GM Hou Yifan — who recently lost to 59-year-old Anatoli Karpov 2.5-3.5 in an exhibition match — won the gold, while her compatriot GM Zhao Xue received silver and India’s IMHarika Dronavalli got the bronze.
Game of the week. The most important novelty of Chess Informant 107 is the game last year between world champ Vishy Anand and former classical world championship challenger Peter Leko. Anand stunned the extremely solid Leko with the sac 22. Nd4! “The world champion,” the Informant editor says, “continues to surprise the chess world with his deep preparation.”
White: V. Anand (2788)
Black: P. Leko (2752)
Semi-Slav Defense
Moscow 2009
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.0-0 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nd7 Nd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.a4 e5 15.Bg4 ed4 16.e5 c5 17.Re1 Ne5 18.Be5 0-0 19.Bg7 Kg7 20.Ne2 f5 21.Bh5 f4 22.Nd4! [a novelty] cd4 23.Re6 Bc8? [23…Rf6 24.Qe1 (24.Qe2 Bd5 25.Re7 Kf8 26.Re1 d3 27.Qe5 Qd6 28.Re8 Kg7! 29.Qe7 Bf7 30.Ra8 d2 equal; 25…Kg8) Bd5 25.Re7 Kg8 26.ab5 Qd6 27.ba6 Ra6 28.Re8 Rf8 29.Rf8 Kf8 30.Qe8 Kg7 31.Ra6 Qa6 32.Qe5 Kh7 equal] 24.Rg6 Kh7 25.ab5 Rf6 [25…Ra7 26.Rc6 d3 27.Qd2 Rf6 28.Rc4 Bf5 (28…Rd6 29.Qc3 and White is superior) 29.h3 and White is slightly better] 26.Rf6 Qf6 27.Qc2! Bf5 28.Qc4 Rc8 29.Qd5 ab5 30.h3! (and White is superior) Kh8 [30…Rc7 31.Ra8 Be6 32.Qd6 Rd7 33.Qc6 Re7 34.Ra6 d3 35.Qd6 Kg7 36.Bg4 d2 37.Qd2 Qe5 38.Qd8 Bg4 39.hg4 Rc7 40.Kh2 only move, and White is winning] 31.Qb5 Rf8 [31…Be6 32.Qb6! (32.Ra6 f3) Qe5 (32…f3 33.Re1 and White is winning) 33.Ra5 Rb8 (33…Qe1 34.Kh2 Qe4 35.Ra6 and White is winning) 34.Qa7 Rb5 35.Bg6 and White is winning] 32.Ra6 Qg7 33.Rd6! d3 34.Qb6 Qe5 [34…Kh7 35.Rc6 d2 36.Rc7 Rf7 37.Rf7 Qf7 38.Bf7 d1Q 39.Kh2 and White is winning] 35.Bg6! d2 [35…Bg6 36.Rg6 d2 37.Rh6 Kg8 38.Qd6! (38.Qg6 Qg7 39.Qg7 Kg7 40.Rd6 Rb8 41.Rd2 Kg6) Qd6 39.Rd6 Rb8 40.Rd2 Kf7 41.Kf1 Kg6 42.Ke2 Kh5 43.Kd1 Kh4 44.Kc2 Rc8 45.Kb1 Rb8 46.Rd3 Re8 47.Kc1 and White is winning] 36.Bf5 Qf5 37.Qd4 Kh7 38.Qd2 Rf7 39.f3 h5 40.Rd5 Qg6 41.Qa5! (and White is winning) Rg7 42.h4 Qb1 43.Kh2 Qb2 44.Rg5 Rg5 45.Qg5 and 1-0.
Puzzler.
White: Qa8, Nd5, Bg5, Kh7
Black: Ke5
White to play and mate in three.
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