Chess - The Scotsman 16/04/13

THIS year is providing an Indian summer for Peter Svidler, the erudite cricket-loving six-time Russian champion. Recently, it was announced the in-form 36-year-old would replace former world champion Vladimir Kramnik in next month’s super-tournament in Norway, playing alongside world championship contenders Magnus Carlsen and Viswanathan Anand.

But Svidler almost became the unlikely title challenger. After losing in 36 moves to Carlsen, during the first half of the Candidates tournament, Svidler mused to the press on his opponent’s marketability. “He’s exceptionably good, and so gets extra opportunities,” he said. “Somehow, I’m less marketable than Magnus. I’m somewhat less young, and somewhat more Soviet.”

He had the last laugh, though, beating Carlsen in the final round in London to take third place on tie-break - and but for his first-half disaster to the young Norwegian superstar, he could have been the contender. From the Candidates, Svidler moved to the final Bundesliga weekend, leading his team, OSG Baden-Baden, to their sixth successive German league title. And the Svidler success story carried over to the Russian Team Championships in Loo, on the Black Sea, where he led St Petersburg to a narrow tiebreak victory over top seeds Malakhit. Along the way, Svidler has played some of the best chess of his career so far this year and is now back in the top 10.

F Caruana - P Svidler

20th Russian Team Ch., (6)

King’s Indian Defence

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 f3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nc3 0–0 6 Nge2 a6 7 Bg5 c6 8 Qd2 b5 9 h4 h5 10 0–0–0 Nbd7 11 g4 b4 12 Na4 hxg4 13 Ng3 Nh7 14 Bh6 gxf3 15 Bxg7 Kxg7 16 h5 g5 17 Qxb4 Ndf6 18 Rd3 g4 19 Rg1 Qc7 20 Qd2 Kh8 21 c5 Rb8 22 b3 Rg8 23 Rc3 e5 24 dxe5 dxe5 25 Qe3 a5 26 Nb6 Be6 27 Nc4 a4 28 bxa4 Rb4 29 Nb6 Qa7 30 a5 Rd8 31 a6 Bxa2 32 Bd3 Bb3 33 Nf5 Be6 34 Kc2 Bxf5 35 exf5 e4 36 Bc4 Rxc4! 37 Rxc4 Qxa6 38 Qb3 Qa5 39 Rc3 f2 40 Rb1 e3 41 Nc4 e2 0–1