Leko looking masterly

• Chess

By Tony Dowden

Peter Leko (25), of Hungary, has won the Corus grandmaster tournament at Wijk aan Zee in Holland.
    Leko finished unbeaten, half a point ahead of Vishy Anand, of India, and a commanding one and a-half points ahead of current world champion Vladimir Kramnik.
    With age still on his side, Peter Leko could be the player to break three decades of world dominance by Russian trio Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kasparov and Kramnik.
    Two New Zealanders recently gained international qualifications.
    Christchurch administrator Chris Wright officiated in three international events in Hungary to gain his final “norms” for the coveted title of International Arbiter.
    Former Aucklander Igor Bjelobrk, now based in Melbourne, gained a FIDE Master title in the Auckland Zonal.
    Today’s game features Leko as White against Lazaro Bruzon, of Cuba, in the Corus event.

1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 d6 8 c3 0-0 9 h3 Na5 10 Bc2 c5 11 d4 Qc7 A well-known defence to White’s Ruy Lopez. White traditionally attacks Black’s king, seeking to liberate the “Spanish” bishop on c2 with a timely e5 push. Black usually looks for play on the queenside or in the centre.
12 Nbd2 cxd4 13 cxd4 Bd7 14 Nf1 Rac8 15 Re2 Nc6 16 a3 exd4 17 Nxd4 Rfe8 18 Ng3 d5 19 Nxc6 Bxc6 20 e5! —
The thematic break.
20 — Ne4 21 Bf4 g5?
Black had pinned his hopes on this counterthrust but White refutes it with an elegant piece sacrifice which opens attacking lines to Black’s king.
22 Nf5!! gxf4 23 Rxe4 Kh8
If 23 — dxe4? 24 Qg4 mates. 24 Re1 Bd7 25 e6! — The long diagonal opens with deadly effect. Black loses a piece as after 25 — Qxc2 or 25 — Bxe6 he is quickly mated after 26 Qd4+. 1-0

Problem: Black to play and win.

Solution: 1 — Rh1+!, 2 Bxh1 (2 Kxh1 Qh2#) 2 — Qh2+, 3 Kf1 Qxf2#.