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TWK93.904
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1993-09-06
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THE WEEKLY KNIGHT
===================
(September 4, 1993)
It's not uncommon for a Grandmaster to play a few training
games with a GM friend or compatriot as a tune-up for an
important upcoming tournament or match. Often the results of
such a training match are not disclosed to anyone, giving the
player a chance to try out new ideas against high quality
opposition without the fear of losing (or revealing his
secret to the rest of the world.)
There is another kind of training match which has the sole
purpose of getting the GM into the right frame of mind.
For all intents, this kind of match is virtually the same
as any other between two players: moves are published, a
prescribed number of games is agreed to beforehand, etc.
However, there is one significant difference: the strength
of the opposition. In this case, an opponent is selected
who is capable of providing a challenge to the player--but
not quite strong enough to beat him. In the end, the GM is
assured of winning the match and gaining the confidence he
needs to play well in the one that counts, and the underdog
invitee gets some useful experience.
The four game match between FIDE World Championship
contender 41 year old Jan Timman from the Netherlands and
35 year old Greek GM Spyridon Skembris played in Corfu,
Greece during July seemed to fit this latter scenario to a
tee. Timman, whose tournament results have been anything
but inspiring as of late, was in desparate need of a
convincing victory before facing Anatoly Karpov on
6 September. Skembris, a little known player whom he
outrated by 75 points, looked to be the ideal opponent.
The only problem is that no one bothered to tell the Greek
GM that he was supposed to roll over and play dead. In one
of the year's biggest upsets, it was Timman who was soundly
defeated as Skembris won both games as White and drew twice
with Black, for a 3-1 victory. Now, not only does Timman
have to worry about whether he's ready for Karpov, but he
must also be contemplating how he could lose a match to a
player who has never been ranked in the top 100 in the
world.
Skembris made it look easy in the third game.
White: S.Skembris Black: J.Timman Queen's Gambit
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dc4 5.e3 a6 6.a4 Bb4 7.Bc4
c5 8.O-O O-O 9.Na2 b6 10.Nb4 cb4 11.Bd2 a5 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.f3
Nc6 14.Nc6 Bc6 15.Qe2 Qd7 16.b3 Ne8 17.Rfd1 Nd6 18.Be1 Nc4
19.Qc4 Bb7 20.e4 Ba6 21.Qc1 Rac8 22.Qe3 h6 23.d5 Rc5 24.Bf2
ed5 25.Qf4 Rc2 26.Rd5 Qe6 27.Rad1 Rb2 28.Bd4 Rb3 29.Rd6 Qc8
30.Bg7 Qc5 31.Bd4 Qg5 32.Rh6 f6 33.Rh8 1-0
World Championship match predictions:
Kasparov over Short, 12-8; Karpov over Timman, 12.5-9.5.
Both matches are scheduled for 24 games but neither will go
that long.
Glenn Budzinski
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++