58 the spectator | 7 september 2019 | http://www.spectator.co.uk
LIFE
Ding Liren, the Chinese grandmaster, has
scored a career best in the Classical time
limit section of the Grand Tour in St Louis
which concluded late last month. Ding tied
for first prize with world champion
Magnus Carlsen in the main tournament,
and then went on to crush the champion in
the quickplay tie-break.
Carlsen was on the verge of holding a
draw in this game, until Ding decanted a
vintage win in the endgame.
Ding-Carlsen, St Louis 2019 (see diagram 1)
This is the position from the first play-off game
where Carlsen lost on time. Black has control over
the g8-square so the win is not straightforward.
The key to White’s winning plan is to relocate the
rook to the a-file and establish the bishop on the
a1-h8 diagonal. White will then win by creating
threats of sacrificing the rook for the bishop. The
following line is certainly not forced but it gives
an idea of how this can be done. 88 Re7+ Kc6
89 Kf6 Rg3 90 Re3 Rg2 91 Rc3 Kd7 92 Ra3
Rg4 93 Ra7+ Kc6 94 Ra1 Kd7 95 g7 Bg8 96
Ra7+ Kc6 97 Ra6+ Kc7 98 Ra8 Bb3 99 Ra3
Bg8 100 Kf5 Rg2 101 Ra7+ Kc6 102 Bd4
Rg3 103 Be5 Rg2 104 Rc7+ Kb6 105 Rc8
Bd5 106 Bd4+ Kb7 107 Rc5 Bc4 108 Rxc4
bxc4 109 Bf6 (diagram 2) and White has the
winning threat of 110 Bg5.
Reader Richard Booth wrote in referring
to the game Mamedyarov-Aronian,
published in this column on 24 August.
The key position is as follows
(see diagram 3):
He gives the line 42 d7 White actually played
42 f4. 42 ... Kf7 43 Kf3 Ke6 44 Re2+ Re5
45 Rb4 Rxe2 46 Kxe2 Rxd7 47 Rxb5 Rc7
48 Rb1 as being a likely draw, which is correct.
However, Black can improve with 45 ... Rxd7
46 Rxe5+ Kxe5 47 Rxb5+ Kd4 when the black
king will shepherd the c-pawn to promotion,
for example 48 Ke2 c2 49 Kd2 Kc4+ winning
the black rook.
In Competition No. 3114 you were invited to
submit estate agents’ details in the style of
a well-known author.
Highlights, in a cracking entry, included
Jeremy Carlisle’s Hemingway: ‘Who needs a
house? Certainly no real man known to this
agency. Cabin by lakeside for sale... A cabin
of strong oak-framed construction. The tim-
bers are as honest and straight as the men
who worked them...’; Bill Greenwell’s Har-
old Pinter: ‘I mean, if you want cosy, I can
do you cosy. Cosy. Bijou with all the trim-
mings, no word of a lie...’; Frank McDon-
ald’s Oscar Wilde: ‘Here is security wrapped
in splendour, with all the intoxication of
alcohol. There is nothing to declare about
the architect but his genius.’ And Rachael
Churchill’s Ogden Nash: ‘Surrounding the
house is a wooden deck,/ Which is ideal for
al fresco dining, or hosting an outdoor disco-
theque...’ And I could happily move in to
Tennyson’s Camelot (Max Ross), Jane Aus-
ten’s Northanger Abbey (Hugh King) or
Coleridge’s Pleasure-dome (Julie Steiner).
Commendations also go to Hamish Wil-
son, David Shields and Max Gutmann, but
it was the five below who made the final cut
and are rewarded with £30 each.A shy, brick, sly slick town mouse of a house,
hunched quiet in a neighbour-gossiped,
hatchbacked-clustering corner of a close. It is
shuttered, sheltered, smiling over its southerly
aspect, snugly sought-after, dreaming of its
three-bedroomed family, steps loud in the sunlight
of its lounge, shouts clean in the proud flush of
its bathroom, gleamed white in the morning.
Its kitchen whispers, the cooker ready to hiss
electric, base units mounted steadied for riding
out daily, its window is opening swing-summer to
the fenced, tree-fendered, dew-grazed growth of
its garden. The glassy green of its greenhouse
glimmers. The barbecue beckons, brave on the
patter-patterned patio. Space settles on the drive
for two cars, whiling the evening into dusk.
A house with heart to come home to, held safe
in its easy maintenance, immaculate in the wholly-
heaven of its present.
D.A. Prince/Dylan ThomasRejoice! For the Lord hath prepared for thee
a dwelling
In a place which is much desired,
Yet its price is not set above rubies.
For hath it not warmth which cometh from the
earth,
And windows of redoubled crystal?
Yea, in its apartments mayst thou feast,
Or bathe, or lay thee down to take thine ease.
And space there is which accommodateth two
chariots,
And there is a dwelling-house set apart
Meet for the grandmother of thy children.
And lo! It is close to the habitations of merchants,
And to the houses of learning.
Thus saith the Lord: Many shall covet this dwelling,PUZZLE NO. 570
Black to play. This is from Carlsen-Ding, St Louis
- The black pieces are converging on the white
king but he must deal with the threat of Qf8 mate.
How did he do this while bringing his own attack
to a conclusion? Answers to me at The Spectator
by Tuesday 10 September or via email to victoria@
spectator.co.uk. There is a prize of £20 for the first
correct answer out of a hat. Please include a postal
address and allow six weeks for prize delivery.
Last week’s solution 1 ... b5+
Last week’s winner John Nugée,
New Malden, Surrey
Chess
Ding an sich
Raymond Keene
Competition
Home delivery
Lucy Vickery
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WDW$WDW)DW0WDWDW
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Diagram 1
Diagram 2
Diagram 3
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