Download PGN of January ’25 Open Sicilian games
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Sveshnikov 7.Nd5 Be7 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.c4 [B33]
We start with Murzin, V - Caruana, F, where Fabiano employed the fresh (for our site) 14...g6!?:
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and managed to fully solve his problems. However, soon he chose a faulty strategy - sitting and waiting. As a result, 21...Qc5?! let White develop a powerful attack by advancing the f-pawn. The further play was full of mutual mistakes, but Volodar's eventual win is well-deserved.
Kan 5.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4 7.Bd3 [B41]
In Grischuk, A - Lou Yiping White went for the relatively rare gambit 8.0-0!?:
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This opening choice got Black confused, and 10...Bxc3? allowed White to take full control over the dark squares At some point Alexander wrongly decided to regain the pawn, but even after 21.Bxc6?! Black's defensive task was tough. The endgame phase was very exciting and instructive, despite mutual mistakes.
Taimanov 5...Bc5 [B45]
In the next game, Lou, Yiping - Oparin, G, Grigoriy chose the rare 5...Bc5 in order to take his lower-rated opponent out of his comfort zone, and this approach fully paid off: in the position after 7...Nf6:
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White played a-la Grivas Sicilian with 8.Qe2, but it doesn't seem to pose Black any problems. Moreover, the inaccurate 10.Kb1? quickly put White's king under a strong attack. I expect further tests of 5...Bc5.
Taimanov 5...Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.a3 [B48]
The game Can, I - Ghaem Maghami, E is a sort of opening disaster. In the position after 10.h5:
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Ehsan deviated from the previously covered Blohberger - Kacharava with 10...Bc5? It quickly led to a difficult position, when 12...Nf6? let White score a relatively easy win.
Najdorf 6.Bd2 [B90]
The game Praggnanandhaa, R - Woodward, A saw the original 6.Bd2!? that only occurred in 1 game a long time ago. Andy reacted well with a novelty 10...Nc6:
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so Black didn't have much to worry about. The impulsive 15.f5? put White on the verge of a collapse, but Black returned the favor at the very end. A spectacular struggle!
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.f3 0-0 [B90]
The next game, Firouzja, A - Volokitin, A, saw the rare line where Black postpones ...Be6, and White quickly pushes the g-pawn. Even so, in the position after 11.Rg1:
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it was Andrei who eventually deviated from known paths with 11...Nf4!? This idea looks reasonable, but it was wrongly followed by 12...h6? that puts Black's king in big danger. GM Volokitin got another opportunity after 14.Nd4?, but Andrei was far from his best in this game.
Najdorf 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 h5 9.Be2 [B90]
In Paravyan, D - Salem, A the players entered a typical, but rather rare theoretical position after 14.Rfd1:
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Instead of the usual 14...0-0 that seems to offer Black acceptable play, GM Salem chose a risky plan with 14...Nf8, followed by 16...Ng6, fully relying on his attacking potential. David reacted well, and his positional advantage became almost decisive. Alas, this game was decided by the blunder 26.Qb4?? - so typical for Rapid games.
Najdorf 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.0-0 0-0 9.Qd3 [B92]
In the last game, Nepomniachtchi, I - Firouzja, A, Ian went for a relatively rare plan with 10.Rd1, and after a few natural moves by both sides the position after 12.a3 has arisen:
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Alireza came up with a dubious novelty 12...Nd7?! and soon found himself in a passive and unpleasant position. One more mistake, 16...Nc5?, should have led to a quick collapse, but the careless 24.f3? and 25.c3? let Black develop a crushing attack. Luckily for Ian, his opponent soon returned the favor with 29...Qxd4? and then committed a few serious mistakes in the endgame.
See you next month, Michael
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