BCC Open round 1: riverside luxury, near misses and a local hero

Round one of the 22nd edition of the Bangkok Chess Club Open started right on schedule at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Bangkok. With an even 200 players competing in the Open section and another 100 in the Challengers group, this year’s turnout is somewhat below expectations. Some players who had initially registered likely got spooked by the recent earthquake in Myanmar, which was also felt in neighbouring areas, including Bangkok.

Nevertheless, this year’s lineup is stellar with popular favorites such as top seed Jan Gustafsson returning to his old stomping grounds, alongside fellow former winners Nigel Short and Surya Ganguly as well as the defending champion, Vitalyi Bernadskyi.

The tournament venue is located alongside the Chao Phraya, which is also known as the river of kings – probably because it is what it means in Thai. While still on the topic of Thai names, it is noteworthy that Bangkok holds the world record for the longest city denomination: Krung Thep Maha Nakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit. A useful tidbit of information for those minded to discard chess for Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy, but still value theory.

Among a sea of lopsided first round pairings which typically resulted in a comfortable win for the higher rated player, the encounter between Chinese teenager Lanqin Yang and FM Alexander Chernyavsky stood out in striking fashion.

Yang, Lanqin – Chernyavsky, Alexander
Pirc Defense: Classical Variation

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. Qd2 Bg4 7. d5 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Ne5 9. Be2 c6 10. O-O-O Ned7 11. Be3 a6 12. Kb1 Qc7 13. f4 b5 14. dxc6 Qxc6
15. f3?! A move one should never play, according to GM Finegold. Qd4 instead would maintain White’s significant opening advantage.
15… Rc8 16. h4 Nb6 17. Bxb6 Qxb6 18. e5 Nh5 19. exd6 O-O?! Looking for complications, which is understandable given the difference in ratings but not necessarily wise. …Qxd6 was best.
20. dxe7 Rfe8 21. Nd5 Qc5? 22. f5 White is now winning.
22… Ng3? Strike that – very winning. 23. f6 Bh8?! 24. Rhg1?!

Already under time pressure, White misses the clincher 24. h5!
24… Qd6 25. Rxg3 Qxg3 26. Qg5 Qf2? 27. Bd3 Rc5 28. Be4 Qe2 29. Qg1?? Heartbreak. Rc1 wins instead. Now the position is equal, though not for long…
29… Rxd5 30. Rxd5 Bxf6 31. h5 Rxe7 32. hxg6 hxg6 33. Rd8+ Kg7 34. Qh1 Bh4 35. a3?? From ecstasy to agony in a matter of minutes. The seasoned FM doesn’t let his chance pass by: 35… Rxe4 0-1

In other news, local player Apichit Buakird heroically held Czech GM Kraus to a draw with the Black pieces. He promised to share his impressions of the game with the BCC press team as soon as he gets sober.