Grand prix

When this article appears, the AGON Grand Prix at Simpson’s-in-the-Strand, brought to London by Andrew Paulson, will be reaching its midway stage. The players who have shone in the early stages of this stellar event are Boris Gelfand of Israel, the World Championship challenger earlier this year, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, and Peter Leko from Hungary, a World Championship challenger in 2004. Here are some extracts from play.

Nakamura-Gelfand: Fidé Grand Prix, London 2012

Opposite bishops often indicate a draw but here Black exploits his control of the dark squares to infiltrate White’s position.

41 … Rbf8 42 Rxf5 gxf5 43 Bxh5 Kf6 44 Rh1 Kg5 45 Bd1 Kh4 46 Rf1 Rg8+ 47 Kh1 Rg5 48 Bc2 Kxh3 49 Rf2 Kg3 50 Rh2 Rg4 51 Rg2+ Kf4 52 Rf2+ Kg5 53 Rd2 Rg3 54 Re2 White could make a desperate break with 54 c5 but this is met by 54 … Rh3+ 55 Kg2 (55 Kg1 Bxc5+ is check) 55 … Rh2+.