Wong Zi Jing in Oxford vs Cambridge Varsity Match REVISITED !

This article was originally publish on the 9th April 2009. Today i receive a Facebook message from Zi Jing about the real situation during the games. Below are my original analysis and in red is Zi Jing comment.

IM Wong Zi Jing (right) against Alvar Kangur in Oxford - Cambridge varsity Chess Match 2009

After reading Marcus Yeoh blog, i found that British GM - Luke McShane has also writen an article about Wong Zi Jing game against Alvar Kangur in the DailyExpress !

Recently , IM Wong Zi Jing who is studying in Cambridge University , played in annual versity chess match between Oxford and Cambridge University. The 127th Varsity Chess Match between these both famous university in the world was held at the RAC Club, Pall Mall, London on 14 March 2009.

it is true that I (Wong Zi Jing) was in serious time trouble during the game. But that's before the first 40 moves where I blundered with 35.exf5??. My 42. Kf2 is a strategically necessary move, not a blunder, in order to avoid a forced draw which would result in Oxford winning the match. For more details, you can either read my Facebook notes or read the Daily Express article by Luke McShane. Also, in the game, I rejected his draw offer.

Zi Jing Facebook notes about the game.

Last month, I took part in the 127th Cambridge vs Oxford Chess Match in London. It is the longest running annual chess match in the history of mankind, according to some resources.It turned out to be a disaster for me. I reached a winning position but one little mistake under time trouble caused me the half-point, where it became a drawish position. Then, the worst thing happened. My team (i.e. Cambridge) was trailing 3-4 and I must avoid the draw by all means. (Or else we lost the match 3.5-4.5). I thus had to go for the losing lines in order to keep the slightest chance of winning and tie the match. And I lost. Thanks to Grandmaster Luke McShane (who once ranked 42th in the world) who analyzed the above game of mine and published the analysis in the Sunday Express newspaper in UK last Sunday. -http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/91562 . I appreciate the fact that he understood my thoughts during the game even though I didn't mention it to him. Yes, he sat right in front of me during the formal dinner and we chatted mainly on topics like his current job, my prospective research field in USA (which he was so fascinated about), the financial situation in UK, etc. A very young and nice guy he is.Anyway, I wasn't feeling too bad about the game either. It's nice to be part of the Oxbridge tradition. And I kind of expected that. Life should be fair. I miraclely gained plenty of admission to US universities. Certain negative things should occur. In fact, the legs of my chair in my room literally 'disconnected' the night after I received the good news. And I fell down hard on the floor! I am expecting more of such things to come. Hahaha. ...................... IM Wong Zi Jing

IM Wong Zi Jing (2410) - Alvar Kangur (2231) [B78]
Varsity Oxford-Cambridge RAC Club, London (2), 14.03.2009

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Bc4 0–0 8.Bb3 d6 9.f3 Bd7 10.Qd2 Rc8 11.0–0–0 Ne5 12.h4 h5 13.Bg5 Rc5 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Nd5 Rxd5 17.Bxd5 Qb6 18.Bb3 a5 This is all thoery 19.f4 a4 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.Ne2 Bb5?

A higly tactical position has arise and Black missed the correct continuation 21...axb3 22.Qxd7 bxa2 23.Qa4 Qb5 24.Qxa2 Qxe2 25.Rhe1 Qf2 26.Rf1 Qc5 27.Rd5 Qb4 28.Qa5 Qxe4 29.Bxe7 Bh6+ 22.c4 Fritz 11 a great tactictian found amazing winning move which i think is hard for human to find 22.Bd5 e6 23.Qb4! exd5 24.Rxd5 and the bishop on b5 will drop. 22...axb3 23.cxb5 bxa2 Black pawn on a2 is quite disturtbing. 24.Kc2 Qxb5 25.Nc3 Qc5 26.Qe3 Qc6 27.Bxe7 Rc8 28.Rd8+ Kh7? Black voluntarily pinned his own knight on h5. Black should simply exchange on d8 with 28...Rxd8 29.Bxd8 and now or later the knight on h5 is free to move for eg. Nf4 29.Rxc8 Qxc8 30.Ra1 30.Qa7 Is better for eg. 30...Qc7 31.Bh4 Bh6 32.Qxa2 30...g3 31.Qf3 Qh3 32.Rh1 32.Bc5! and then 33. Rxa2 is simpler 32...Qe6 33.Bc5 Bh6 34.Ra1 f5 35.exf5 35.Rxa2! f4 36.Ra8 Nf6 37.Nd5 Nxd5 38.exd5 Qf5+ 39.Kc3 e4? 40.Bd4 Bg7 41.Qh1+ Qh5 42.Qxe4 f3 43.Bxg7 g2 44.Qe7 35...Qxf5+ 36.Qxf5 gxf5

37.Nxa2? 37.Rxa2! Taking the a2 pawn with the rook gave white better chance to win the game because white's knight will be nearer to stop black's passed pawn 37...Kg6 38.Nc3 Kg5 39.Kd3 Kg4 40.Ke2 Nf4+ 41.Kf1 g2+ 42.Kf2? Probably Zi Jing was in deep time trouble because he lost a piece after this move 42.Kg1 Nd3 43.Bb6 42...Nd3+ 43.Kxg2 Nxc5 44.Ra5 Be3 45.Rb5 f4 46.b4 f3+ 47.Kf1 Nb3 48.Nb1?

The losing move, white last chance to save the game is with 48.Nd1 Bd4 (48...Nd2+ 49.Ke1) 49.Rxb7 e4 50.Nf2+ creating a blockade 48...e4 49.Rxb7 Bd4 50.Re7 e3 51.b5 Kf4 52.Ke1 Nc5 53.Na3 Ne4 54.Rf7+ Kg3 55.Nc2 Bc3+ 56.Kf1 56.Kd1 e2+ 57.Kc1 Nf6 58.Re7 f2 59.Re3+ Kh4 60.Rxc3 e1Q+ 56...Nd2+ 56...e2+ 57.Kg1 Bf6 and white can resihn 58.Kf1 e2+ 59.Kg1 Ng5 60.Rf5 Nh3+ 61.Kh1 f2 62.Rxf2 Nxf2+ 63.Kg1 Ba5 64.b6 Bxb6 65.Ne1 Ba5 66.Nc2 Ng4 67.Kh1 Kf2 0–1 Zi Jing Lost on time

Photo's from Wong Zi Jing's Facebook