Vishy Anand's Blitz Brilliance 🎇and Nigel Short vs Judit Polgar!

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This video features two fantastically exciting games from the Intel Grand Prix event in New York, 1994. First we see Vishy Anand’s phenomenal speed chess in action then Nigel Short vs Judit Polgar in an incredible game where both players took turns to have the upper hand.

We join commentators GM Maurice Ashley and GM Daniel King for the game between Ilya Smirin and Vishy Anand. With the score tied in their previous 2 games, this decider was played under Armageddon rules: White (Smirin) gets 6 minutes to Black’s 5 but must win. If the game is drawn, Black progresses.

The game didn’t take long to get interesting. A few moves into a Petroff (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4), GM Smirin surprised Anand with the seldom seen 4.Nxe5. I doubt many players would be too disturbed by this but Anand seemed shocked. He sat thinking about his move, waiting… and waiting. The commentators go ballistic, not understanding why Anand is letting his clock tick down when he has a minute less than his opponent to start with.

Vishy sits there for 1m 43s before playing the simple 4…d6. Now he’s 2m 30s down on the clock compared to Smirin! From what follows, you have to wonder if Anand was just making things more interesting!

Smirin lines up an attack against f7, willing to give up a piece for a few pawns and open lines. Vishy, however, finds ways to nullify the attack with ease. It might have taken him nearly 2 minutes to find d6 but he nails the more complicated defensive moves in seconds! His pieces come to life, forcing exchanges that leave him up on material. Smirin throws in the towel when his position becomes untenable. Incredibly, Vishy used only 2 minutes for the last 46 moves!

Next up, we get an astonishing game, another installment in the Nigel Short vs Judit Polgar grudge match. The game starts with a French Defense, Judit choosing to support e5 with f4 and Nigel attempting to block any Kingside activity with an …f5 counter.

Then comes a shocker. Judit, thirsty for blood, pushes an early h3 and g4, allowing …Bh4+. The Knight captures, and the Queen recaptures with check, forcing the horrible 13.Kd2. Not only can White no longer castle, the King is blocking the development of her pieces and in real danger of being attacked! It’s no exaggeration to say White should already be lost.

Nigel gleefully takes a pawn, and Judit feels she must hurry her King to safety and plays 15.Kc3 allowing Qf3+, winning the h1 Rook in return for a Knight. 4 of Judit’s last 6 moves have been with her King!

After castling, Nigel must have thought he had an easy win. However, Judit Polgar is an attacking genius and activates her pieces with ruthless efficiency.

The a-pawn leaps forward, threatening to go one square further and harass the b6 Knight. Nigel blocks with …a5 but Ra2 follows, attacking the Queen before swinging over to the g-file. The Bishop comes to the long diagonal with tempo and suddenly the game is taking on a different complexion.

Lines open, sacrifices are offered and Nigel’s pieces are pitifully stuck in the corner, unable to join in. The final position sees Nigel with a Knight on a8, the Bishop unable to move and his King facing some nasty threats. Not to mention the likely promotion of a White pawn.

This game was the 3rd Nigel Short vs Judit Polgar clash and Judit kept her 100% record. For all Nigel’s famous comments about women’s abilities in chess, he always had a terrible time against Judit.

In classical games, Nigel Short vs Judit Polgar ended 8-3 to Judit. Add in rapid and exhibition (blindfold) games and it was 3 Nigel Short vs Judit Polgar 12!

Enjoy these superb games and check out the complete Intel Grand Prix New York 1994.

Видео Vishy Anand's Blitz Brilliance 🎇and Nigel Short vs Judit Polgar! канала iChess Channel 2