Chess: How does Black win?

THE E50,000 Russia paid Ukraine in 2009 to secure Sergey Karjakin’s allegiance is the largest transfer fee ever for a Grandmaster.

It benefited both sides: Russia needed to bolster their playing strength, and Karjakin needed access to Russia’s legendary training methods to improve further.

Karjakin was seen as Magnus Carlsen’s main rival, and both were born in the “golden year” of 1990. Carlsen was the third youngest grandmaster in history; Karjakin the youngest.

Unlike Carlsen, Karjakin hasn’t set the heather alight, neither storming up the rankings nor winning so many tournaments. He lacks consistency, as at the 74th Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk aan Zee, where he’s drawn one, lost four and won four.

Karjakin’s last win though, against Carlsen, in round nine, proved a double blow for the Norwegian World No 1, as it not only removed any chances of his eclipsing Garry Kasparov’s all-time high rating, but it also saw Levon Aronian taking a big advantage with a one-point lead at the top having demolished Fabiano Caruana – and the Armenian is also closing in fast now on Carlsen’s No 1 spot.

M Carlsen - S Karjakin

74th Tata Steel GM-A, (9)

Queen’s Indian Defence

1 Nf3 Nf6 2 c4 b6 3 Nc3 Bb7 4 d4 e6 5 a3 d5 6 Bg5 Be7 7 e3 0–0 8 Rc1 h6 9 Bxf6 Bxf6 10 cxd5 exd5 11 Bd3 c5 12 0–0 Na6 13 Ne5 cxd4 14 exd4 Bxe5 15 dxe5 Nc5 16 Re1 Re8 17 f4 d4 18 Ne4 Bxe4 19 Bxe4 d3 20 Rc4 Rc8 21 Bf5 Qd5 22 Rc3 Rcd8 23 Qd2 Qd4+ 24 Kh1 a5 25 Rb1 a4 26 Rd1 Rd5 27 h4 g6 28 Bxd3 Red8 29 Qe1 Qxf4 30 e6 Nxe6 31 Bc2 b5 32 Rxd5 Rxd5 33 Re3 Nd4 34 Bd3 Kg7 35 Kg1 Qf6 36 Kh2 Rh5 37 Rh3 Ne6 38 Rf3 Rxh4+ 39 Kg1 Qd4+ 40 Qf2 Qxf2+ 41 Kxf2 b4 42 Re3 Rd4 43 Bb5 Kf6 44 Rf3+ Ke7 45 Rd3 bxa3 46 bxa3 Rf4+ 47 Ke3 f5 48 Rd7+ Kf6 49 Rd6 Re4+ 50 Kf2 Kg5 51 Be8 Nf4 52 Bb5 Re5 53 Bc4 Nh5 54 Ra6 Nf6 55 Rxa4 Ng4+ 56 Kf1 Kh4! 57 Be2 Kg3 58 Bxg4 fxg4 59 Rb4 h5 60 a4 Kh2 0–1