Today’s razor sharp tactic
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
The 16th Bora Kostic Memorial, honoring the first Serbian chess globetrotter, is taking place from 2nd to 12th November in Vrsac, the city of his birth.
Six players are competing in the double round robin tournament: Vasil Spasov (BUL 2621), Ivan Ivanisevic (SRB 2613), Aleksandar Kovacevic (SRB 2582), Vladislav Nevednichy (ROM 2577), Boban Bogosavljevic (SRB 2554) and Nikola Sedlak (SRB 2550).
I have played twice in this bi-annual tournament (2006 and 2008) and I can tell you that it is one of the best organized tournaments that you can find anywhere in the world. The city of Vrsac is proud of its chess heritage and this tournament is an important part of its culture.
I suggest the readers take a quick look at the above link and check out all of the photos and tidbits.
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GREAT TACTICAL FIGHT IN ROUND 1
The first round game between GM Ivanisevic (l) and GM Bogosavljevic (r)
GM Ivan Ivanisevic (born November 1977) is one of the strongest grandmasters in Europe at present. His sharp style and keen tactical eye has gained him many fans –including this author–and Ivan has produced a volume of Tal-like tactical masterpieces. This blog has already published some of his recent efforts.
In round 1 Ivanisevic fought for the initiative right from the start and went unashamedly for his opponent’s jugular.
POSITION AFTER BLACK’S 9th MOVE:
BOGOSAVLJEVIC
IVANISEVIC
Here White played the super-sharp 10.e4!? offering a pawn for sake of development. Black is forced to take it and soon finds himself having to defend against White’s growing threats.
The following position occurred after Black’s 18th move:
Black has still not found the time to finish his development and castle. Ivanisevic senses that it is ripe for another pawn-sacrifice to try to expose the Black monarch. White played 19.d5! Soon every single White piece was aimed towards the Black position. The following position occurred after Black’s 26th move: the time is ripe for the decisive blow and Ivanisevic does not let the spectators down:
27.Rxe6!!
See how this brilliant attacking game concluded in the pgn-viewer below.