Bruzon wins Barcelona on tiebreak
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
The recently concluded Barcelona International saw the Cuban Bruzon win on tie-break over the Spanish youngster Salgado. Bruzon went thru the tournament undefeated and adds one more title to an already victorious year.
The annual tournament pits some of Spains lesser known players against a mixture of international stars. Inarkiev and Yussupov finished in 3rd and 4th place, followed by the French star Edouard. The American Hess simply was in awful form and ended in the cellar.
Bruzon has an interesting style that often throws off his opponents. Witness the following game where it seems that Bruzon is not ever going to do better than a draw after the opening (slightly inferior position). But Bruzon has a knack of provoking big one move blunders against his opponent (my own experience has taught me this: I blundered several good positions against the Cuban star, once even turning down a draw in the process!)
POSITION AFTER BLACK’S 24th MOVE:
GM BRUZON
GM INARKEV
In principle, White has a slight advantage because of his better pawn structure. However, Black’s active pieces offer compensation: his Bishop on b6 is dynamite and he has easy access to the open d-file. In praxis, in this kind of position, the more subtle manoeuvrer usually comes out on top.
Inarkiev made a blunder that unexpectedly loses material. 25.Bg3? which allowed Bruzon the opportunity that he was waiting for: 25…Nxg3ch! 26.NxN Rg5! 27. Ne4 (there is nothing better)
27…Rxf3ch!
White can not recapture because of mate on g1. Bruzon won on move 46