From the New York Times website (photo from my files)
By ROBERT BYRNE
Published: June 11, 2000
Published: June 11, 2000
Judit Polgar of Hungary surpassed a former world champion, Anatoly Karpov, and the current International Chess Federation champion, Aleksandr Khalifman, both of Russia, in winning the Japfa Classic International Tournament in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, recently.
In this 10-player invitational event, held April 22 to May 2 at the Bali Beach Hotel, the 23-year-old grandmaster scored 6 1/2-1 1/2 and picked up a $20,000 prize.
As the last round got under way, four players -- Polgar, Karpov, Khalifman and the Brazilian grandmaster Gilberto Milos -- were tied at 5 1/2 each.
Polgar defeated Milos to take undisputed first place as Karpov and Khalifman played to a draw and tied for second.
Control and precision were Polgar's weapons in her victory over Milos.
The attack with 6 Bc4 against the Najdorf Variation of the Sicilian was considered ridiculous half a century ago. Black simply plays 6 . . . e6, as in this game, and continues with an early . . . d5. This was thought to spoil the opponent's plan.
Actually, this line leaves Black with an isolated d pawn after ed ed, and there is no joy in that. Bobby Fischer brought 6 Bc4 to life in the 1960's.
An alternative to 7 . . . b5, namely 7 . . . Nbd7 8 f4 Nc5, worked out well for Black after 9 e5 Nfd7 10 ed Nf6 11 Be3 Bd6 12 Qf3 Qc7 13 O-O-O Bd7 in a Lanc-K. Hertel correspondence game, 1997-99. But Polgar wants something more adventurous.
After 10 . . . Qb7, the black defense has taken shape. The black queen and king knight bear down on the e4 pawn, while the queen bishop guards against a possible sacrifice on e6. This was introduced by Lubomir Kavalek against Yevgeny Vasyukov in a Moscow-Prague match in 1966.
After 11 . . . Nbd7, Milos abstained from 12 Qg7?! because 12 . . . Rg8 13 Qh6 Ne4 14 Qh7 Ndf6 15 Qh3 Nc3 16 bc e5 costs him his queen.
On 17 . . . bc, Milos could have kept material even by recapturing with 18 bc, although after 18 . . . Nb3 19 Rab1 e5 20 Nc2 f5! 21 Rb3 Qc6 22 ef Bf5, Polgar would have the advantage of the two bishops.
Instead, he chose a line that played directly into Polgar's 22 . . . Qb3, winning a pawn.
After Polgar's 35 . . . Bc4!, there was nothing for Milos to do but go into 36 Nd6 Nd6 37 Rd6 Qd6 38 Qd6 Rd6 39 Rd6, when her 39 . . . a3! set up a winning endgame.
He could not play 40 Rd1 because 40 . . . ab 41 Rb1 Rb3! 42 Bb2 Bd3! 43 Rd1 Rb2 44 Rd3 ends in 44 . . . Rb1.
After 44 . . . Rc2, Milos had to lose heavy material. For example, 45 Be1 Bc4, and there is no coping with the looming 46 . . . Rc1. He gave up at once.
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