The recent chessboxing spectacle in Berlin proved to be a high-quality event and one match was featured in today’s Times Chess column penned by the doyen of British Chess, GM Raymond Keene O.B.E.
Mr Keene writes: “Chessboxing is becoming increasingly popular and a landmark was set by a recent chessboxing event in Berlin. This featured a chessboxing duel between the world’s two oldest chessboxing clubs, London and Berlin. London won by two bouts to one, to cement its place as the leading global force. One of London’s victories was this game between Tim Bendfield and Germany’s Alexander Troll….”
Raymond Keene, OBE
White: Tim Bendfield, Black: Alexander Troll, Chessboxing Berlin 2011, Kings Indian Defence
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nf3 0-0 6 Be2 c5 7 d5 e6 8 0-0 exd5 9 exd5 Re8 10 h3 a5 11 a4 Na6 12 Re1 Bf5 13 Bf4 Qb6 14 Nh4 Bd7 15 Nb5 Bf8 16 Bd3 Rxe1+ 17 Qxe1 Re8 18 Qc3 Kg7 19 Bg5
19 g4 would create serious trouble for Black’s pinned knight. Curiously, Black’s best reply is the retrograde 19 … Kg8 as 20 Qxf6 is met by 20 … Be7 regaining the piece.
19 … Be7 20 Re1 Bd8 21 Rxe8 Bxe8 22 Bf4 Bc7
This is a blunder. 22 … Bxb5 23 axb5 Nb4 leaves White with a small advantage but now he can win by force.
23 Nxc7
The immediate 23 Bh6+ wins at once, but this capture does not spoil anything.
23 … Qxc7 24 Bh6+ Kxh6 25 Qxf6 Qd7 26 Nf5+
26 g4 would actually force a quick checkmate but by this stage it doesn’t matter.
26 … Qxf5 27 Bxf5 Black resigns
(For a report of the Bendfield V Troll bout see previous post below)