Interesting chess at Chinese Championship

He who dares, wins.

The 2021 Chinese Chess Championships (m/w) are taking place in Xinghua between the 7th and 15th of this month. Top rated are Wei Yi and Yu Yangyi, Women’s World Chess Champion Ju Wenjun also competes. The women’s event has Tan Zhongyi as the top seed. Both events are round robbins.

As we can see above in the crosstable of the men’s championship, not all of the top Chinese players are participating. Ding Liren and Wang Hao are missing, amongst others.  However, the event is still very strong.

Yu Yangyi pulled ahead of Wei Yi today (in their individual game Wei Yi lost in a fascinating struggle), and with just one round remaining (tomorrow) the excitement is nerve racking!  Yu Yangyi will play against the World Woman Champion Ju Wenjun, while Wei Yi will face Xu Zhihang.

gm Yu Yangyi – gm Wei Yi
China Ch 2021; Rd 10
1-0

Could this be the decisive game of the tournament?  We will have to wait until tomorrow to see!  I have not had a chance yet to analyze this game, but both players were playing for a win and both took chances.  Wei Yi took more chances, but with the Black pieces this is understandable. Eventually the game was decided in the ending, where White’s Knight dominated Black’s Bishop. Wei Yi could have played on in the final position, but there is no doubt as to the final result.  I give the game without comments.

Fantastic King Walk!

gm Xu Yi – gm Xu Yinglun
China Ch 2021; Rd.8
1-0

This game features a daring and original King march in the very middle game!  White builds up a winning bind on the Kingside and then brings up his King to deliver the coup d’etat!  Of course, it is not as simple as I described (it never is when two grandmasters play), but from the pure entertainment point of view this game is great!