Chess: How does White win?

CAN life get any better right now for Peter Svidler? On the same day as England became the world No 1 cricket team by thrashing India, he won a record-breaking sixth Russian Championship title with a round to spare.

Svidler is an unlikely cricket fanatic who once famously played on the Internet Chess Club under the soubriquet of "Tendulkar". Many believed it was Vishy Anand owing to the high rating and Indian connection.

Sachin Tendulkar is Svidler's favourite cricketer, and thanks to Nigel Short, he is also a diehard England supporter who religiously follows all their test matches, even if he's playing in a top tournament. And if there is a clash, he generally underperforms, as he'd rather follow the live cricket than sleep or prepare for an opponent.

I remember once listening to Test Match Special when there came the memorable comment from Henry Blofeld: "A Mr P Svidler from St Petersburg emails to ask … my goodness, we have a fan in Russia!" Svidler also owns a complete set of the cricketers' almanack, Wisden; and two years ago, when I asked him what he wanted for a Christmas present, he had no hesitation: Duncan Hamilton's biography of the England "Bodyline" bowler Harold Larwood.

Svidler easily bowled over Ian Nepomniachtchi in the penultimate round in Moscow to clinch his sixth title, as he moved 1.5-points clear of his closest rival, Alexander Morozevich.

P Svidler - I Nepomniachtchi

64th Russian Ch. Super-final, (6)

English Opening

1 Nf3 c5 2 c4 Nc6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 g3 d5 5 cxd5 Nxd5 6 Bg2 Nc7 7 0–0 e5 8 a3 f6 9 e3 Qd3 10 Ne1 Qg6 11 d3 Be6 12 Qa4 Bd7 13 Nb5 Nxb5 14 Qxb5 Rb8 15 Qc4 Bd6 16 b4 cxb4 17 axb4 Ke7 18 b5 Nb4 19 Qb3 Be6 20 Qb1 Qe8 21 Rxa7 Qxb5 22 Bd2 Qb6 23 Ra3 Bc5 24 d4 exd4 25 exd4 Na6 26 Qxb6 Bxb6 27 Bf4 Bc7 28 Nd3 Bxf4 29 Nxf4 Bc8 30 Re1+ Kd6 31 Rae3 Nb4 32 Rb1 Nc6 33 Rc3! Bf5 34 Rb6 Kc7 35 Rb5 Bd7 36 d5 Rhe8 37 h4 Re5 38 Rb2 Rc8 39 Nd3 Ree8 40 dxc6 Bxc6 41 Nb4 1–0