Sunday, August 10, 2014
Hint and Explanation:
Sacrifice and Mate
The notion of world champion has a magical quality.
But it means different things to different people in different contexts.
After Brazil’s elimination in the recent World Cup, Luiz Felipe Scolari,the coach of the defeated team, called the loss “a catastrophe” and “the worst day of my life.”
When Joe Louis defeated Max Schmeling in a 1938 rematch for the world heavyweight title in the South Bronx, it was a moment of empowerment for black Americans as the population of Harlem poured out into the streets to celebrate joyously.
I recall another world title moment, in 1969, also on the streets of Manhattan.
The “lowly” New York Mets had won the World Series. It was a moment of celebration — especially for working-class fans — who were the team’s strongest supporters.
In the early morning hours after the victory, when streets were otherwise deserted, I encountered a Mets fan — denim-clad with T-shirt — running about in the comparative darkness while screaming with fists raised, “We won. We won.”
Hours had passed, but he was still celebrating.
For Bobby Fischer, the world title was a holy grail he pursued with relentless intent.
Yet, after he defeated Boris Spassky in 1972 to become world champion, he turned down a ticker-tape parade on Fifth Avenue. “I do not believe in heroes,” he said.
After forfeiting the title in 1975 without playing a single game, Fischer insisted until the end of his life that he be addressed as “world champion.”
Below is a win by Emil Sutovsky against Baadur Jobava from the ACP Golden Classic in Bergamo, Italy.
Sutovsky Jobava
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 b6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Bb7
5. Nc3 Nf6
6. e5 Nd5
7. Nxd5 Bxd5
8. Nb5 Be6
9. Bd3 Nc6
10. Be4 g6
11. Bg5 Bg7
12. O-O Bxe5
13. f4 h6
14. fxe5 hxg5
15. Qd2 Qb8
16. Qxg5 Bc4
17. Nd6ch exd6
18. Qf6 Rg8
19. e6 Ne5
20. exf7ch Bxf7
21. R(a)e1 Black resigns
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Solution to Beginner’s Corner: 1. ... Rh1ch! 2. Kxh1 Qf3ch 3. Kg1 (or Kh2) Qg2 mate (Sass-Jensen ’14).