In February the Cambridge International Open returned to the University Arms Hotel. In the penultimate round, the experienced Dutch grandmaster Sergei Tiviakov was half a point clear of a strong field, and looked to be coasting towards victory against his Danish opponent. Playing White in the position below, his bishop and two passed pawns outweigh Haubro’s extra rook.
Sergei Tiviakov-Martin Haubro
Cambridge International Open, February 2024 (see left diagram)
Tiviakov, co-author of Rock Solid Chess (New In Chess, 2023) is the epitome of a safe pair of hands at the chessboard. His position is characteristically tidy, in that every unit is protected by something else. But the most efficient path to victory involves some precise tactics: that is 40 Rxb8! Rxb8 41 Bd5 which cunningly invites 41…Rxb3+, since after 42 f3 Rb8 43 Be6! the c6-pawn marches on. Or if 41…Kc5 42 b4+! Kb6 43 f4, White will bring up the king to support another passed pawn on the kingside, with an easy win.
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