Mok beat Commonwealth Champion !

IM Mok Tze Meng (photo right) produced a stunning result in round 7 by beating the regaining Commonwealth Chess Champion – GM R.R Laxman (2503) from India.

White IM Mok, Tze-Meng (2416) - GM R.R. Laxman (2503)

7th IGB Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysia Open, Round 7, 6.9.2010

Analysed by Centaur (Hairulov + Rybka 4)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 The Exchange Variation - Mok's favourite variation. Mok might has a limited opening repertoire but he understand his repertoire from upward, downward, and from beside! 4...dxc6 5. O-O Qf6 6. d3 Bg4 Theory recommend 6... Ne7 7. Be3 Ng6 8. Nbd2 Bd6 9. h3 O-O 10. Nc4 b5 11. Nxd6 cxd6 12. d4 Qe7 13. Re1 Bb7 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. c4 Rfd8 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. h3

8...Bxf3 Black can try the thematic speculative idea a'la Shirov with 8... h5!? and if white accept the bait, he will be usually punish after for e.g 9. hxg4? hxg4 10. Ne1?? (10. Re1 and black can still defend) 10... Qh6 11. f4 g3 and mate will follow. 9. Qxf3 Qe6 10. Qg4 It seems that Mok was opting a safe strategy by offering a queen exchange which can lead into a drawish position - an understandably decision against a much higher rated player. 10. Nc4 is a good alternative with the idea of playing Na5 or Ne3 later. 10... Qxg4 11. hxg4 c5 12. Nb3 Nc6 13. Be3 b6 14. g3 Bd6 15. Kg2 Ke7 16. a3 Nd4 17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. f4 f6

It seems that black is burying his own bishop. Majority of his pawns is on the black square which made his bishop looks bad. 19. Nd2 h5 20. gxh5 exf4 20... Rxh5!? Is probably better. 21. g4 Later, this particular pawn decide the outcome of the game. 21...g5 22. hxg6 Rh4 23. Kf3 Rh3+ 24. Ke2 Rg8 25. Rh1 Re3+ 26. Kf2 Rxg6 27. Rag1 Stronger is 27. Nf3! Be5 (27... Rxg4? 28. Nxd4) 28. g5 Kd6 29.Rh6 with a strong initiative for white 27... Rg3 28. Rh4 b5?

This move took away the important b5 square from black's rook. Black's rook actually have a strong manuevering idea with Rg5-Rb5 attacking the b2 pawn and a3 pawn indirectly. 29. Rxg3 fxg3+ 30. Kf3 Stronger for white is 30.Kg2 leaving the f3 square for his knight for e.g after 30...Ke6 31.Nf3 c5 32.Ng1 and later 33.Ne2 winning the g-pawn. 30...Rg5 31. Nb3 c5 32. Nd2 32. Nc1!? with the idea of 33.Ne2 to win the g-pawn is interesting alternative. 32... Ke6 33. Nf1 g2 34. Kxg2 c4 35. Ng3 Rc5 Black have an interesting counter attack idea with 35... Bxg3 36. Kxg3 Rc5 followed by 36...cxd3 and 37...Rc2 36. Nf5 cxd3 37. cxd3 Rc2+ 38. Kf3 Rxb2 39. g5!! Bxa3 other moves also as good as lost for e.g:-

39... fxg5?? 40. Rh6+ Kf7 41. Nxd6+

39... Rd2 40. g6 Rxd3+ 41. Ke2 Rc3 42. Nxd4+ Ke5 43. g7 Rg3 44. Nf5 Rg5 45. Rh8

39... Rh2 didn't change the final outcome after 40. Rxh2 Bxh2 41. g6 Be5 42. Nh6 f5 43. exf5+ Ke7 44. Ng4 Bg7 45. Ke4 a5 46. Kd5

40. g6 This pawn ensure white victory. 40...Rb1 41. Nxd4+ Ke7 42. Nf5+ Ke6 43. Rg4 And black have to give a piece to stop the g-pawn from queening so black decided to call it a day. 1-0 Black resign.

Way to go Mok !