First round upset: amateur (1)–grandmaster (0)
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Here, as in the previous note, good enough is 20. Rxg7! Kxg7 21. Rg1 Kh8 22. Bc3 Nbd7 23. Qc1 with a mating attack, but Kwossek finds even better!
It is not often that an experienced 2600-gm loses to a player almost 600 points less, but that is exactly what happened to Lithuanian grandmaster Ed Rozentalis (a well-known player to my Canadian readers) in the first round of the Bavarian Open (October 29 to November 6).
Georgi Kwossek did not play the opening very well, but then the grandmaster played too passively, allowing his opponent to build up an ideal attacking position:
POSITION AFTER WHITE’S 19th MOVE:
GM E.Rozentalis 2600
G. Kwossek (2000)
Something has gone horribly wrong for the grandmaster. Virtually every White piece is now aimed towards Black’s King like missles! The open g-file, the White Bishop pair and the strongly posted White Queen on b2 are too much to handle…
For example, after the plausible 19… Kh8 White crashes thru with the spectacular 20. Rxg7!! Kxg7 21. Bxh6! Kxh6 (21… Kh8 22. Bxf8) 22. Qc1 with forced mate; nor is 19… d4 20. Bxh6 any better; and 19… g6 20. Bxh6 simply goes off.
Rozentalis bravely throws himself forward, hoping for mercy from his opponent
19… dc!?
Here, as in the previous note, good enough is 20. Rxg7! Kxg7 21. Rg1 Kh8 22. Bc3 Nbd7 23. Qc1 with a mating attack, but Kwossek finds even better!
20. Bxh6!
Mercilessly precise! Rozentalis can now only hope for a miracle…
20… g6!? 21. Bxg6!
This is getting bloody! The spectators love this!! Black can now throw in the towel, but momentum keeps the Lithuanian gm going until it is virtually mate!
21… fg 22. Rxg6 Kh7 23. Reg1!
It can not be long now…
23… Qd3!? 24. Rg7 Kh8
Now comes a pretty mate!
25. Rg8! Kh7 26. R1g7!
After 26…KxB 27.Qc1 is curtains.
Quite an upset! How often does one lose to an opponent 600 points lower rated?