Rapport vs. Wei Yi

[Paul Cooksey]

I have just noticed a 4 game match kicks off tomorrow in Yancheng between these two great talents: link for anyone who reads Chinese

I don't read Chinese so I have no idea who the sponsors are, but I'd like to thank them for an excellent match-up anyway.

[Steven DuCharme]

muchas gracias and happy holidays

[John Moore]

Oh err - it's China Brain Games Network!

[Mick Norris]

Google Translate gives me White Snow Chess Cup

Game 1 in progress

[Paul Cooksey]

[Event "Rapport vs. Wei Yi"] [Date "2016.12.20"] [Round "1"] [White "Wei, Yi"] [Black "Rapport, Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [Board "1"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2707"] [WhiteCountry "CHN"] [WhiteFideId "8603405"] [WhiteEloChange "5"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackElo "2717"] [BlackCountry "HUN"] [BlackFideId "738590"] [BlackEloChange "-5"] 1. e4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} e6 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 2. d4 {[%clk 1:30:30]} d5 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 3. Nd2 {[%clk 1:30:30]} b6 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 4. Ngf3 {[%clk 1:29:01]} Nf6 {[%clk 1:30:30]} 5. e5 {[%clk 1:25:10]} Nfd7 {[%clk 1:29:17]} 6. c4 {[%clk 1:25:10]} c5 {[%clk 1:27:49]} 7. cxd5 {[%clk 1:21:42]} exd5 {[%clk 1:27:49]} 8. Bd3 {[%clk 1:20:08]} Nc6 {[%clk 1:26:20]} 9. O-O {[%clk 1:18:40]} Be7 {[%clk 1:26:20]} 10. Re1 {[%clk 0:53:06]} Nf8 {[%clk 1:12:36]} 11. Bb5 {[%clk 0:41:39]} Bd7 {[%clk 1:11:18]} 12. dxc5 {[%clk 0:41:39]} bxc5 {[%clk 1:07:50]} 13. Nf1 {[%clk 0:40:09]} Rb8 {[%clk 0:54:17]} 14. Be2 {[%clk 0:26:39]} Be6 {[%clk 0:38:46]} 15. Qa4 {[%clk 0:23:11]} Qb6 {[%clk 0:38:46]} 16. Ne3 {[%clk 0:17:45]} Nd7 {[%clk 0:37:11]} 17. Qf4 {[%clk 0:16:15]} Qb4 {[%clk 0:33:43]} 18. Qg3 {[%clk 0:10:44]} Nd4 {[%clk 0:32:12]} 19. Bd2 {[%clk 0:07:16]} Nxe2+ {[%clk 0:30:43]} 20. Rxe2 {[%clk 0:07:16]} Qxb2 {[%clk 0:30:43]} 21. Rae1 {[%clk 0:07:16]} g6 {[%clk 0:29:10]} 22. Ng4 {[%clk 0:07:16]} Qxa2 {[%clk 0:19:41]} 23. Nf6+ {[%clk 0:03:49]} Kd8 {[%clk 0:19:41]} 24. Ng5 {[%clk 0:03:49]} Rb6 {[%clk 0:14:08]} 25. Bc3 {[%clk 0:03:49]} Qa3 {[%clk 0:12:39]} 26. Nxf7+ {[%clk 0:03:49]} Bxf7 {[%clk 0:12:39]} 27. e6 {[%clk 0:02:20]} Bxe6 {[%clk 0:09:09]} 28. Rxe6 {[%clk 0:02:20]} Rxe6 {[%clk 0:03:37]} 29. Rxe6 {[%clk 0:02:20]} Qa2 {[%clk 0:02:07]} 30. Nxd7 Kxd7 {[%clk 0:02:07]} 31. Rxe7+ Kxe7 {[%clk 0:02:07]} 32. Qc7+ Ke6 {[%clk 0:02:07]} 33. Qc6+ Ke7 {[%clk 0:02:07]} 34. Qxc5+ Ke6 {[%clk 0:02:07]} 35. Qc6+ Ke7 {[%clk 0:02:07]} 36. Qb7+ 1-0A good start

I enjoy these exhibition matches, and a good choice of players too.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Er, in that game, what was wrong with 19...Nxf3+ and 20...Qxd2. Doesn't that just win a piece?

[Roger de Coverly]

Er, in that game, what was wrong with 19...Nxf3+ and 20...Qxd2.

Having asked the chessbomb Houdini, it appears that White's idea was to take on g7, forcing Rf8, following up with Rad1 and Nxd5. Black's King is stuck in the centre with a pair of Rooks gunning for it. The engine gives a line where Black returns the material for what looks a messy position with chances for both players.

[AustinElliott]

Second game to Rapport, apparently, so now one-all, with White winning both times.

[Paul Cooksey]

chess.com have a report on Rapport's win, and a video:

https://www.chess.com/news/view/rapport ... china-4792

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzNEDYnzawU