Chess
is a game of impending tragedy. A minute
mistake, a terse lapse of attention, a momentary
concession to fatigue, and the game might
be over. But chess is not life in its entirety,
it is a tiny part of it. Microcosmically
speaking, there is always a next game to
do better; but life is not always like that.
A minute mistake, a terse lapse of attention,
a momentary concession to fatigue, and life
itself can be over.
That
is what happened to Ivan “Vanja” Somov in
2002 when he died in a car accident at the
blossoming age of 12. Vanja was one of the
most promising young talents in chess, and
when he died, he was on his way to make
it to the top.
His
story is a real tragedy, like what happens
in chess, but with direr consequences of
the finality real life can bring. His life
is annually commemorated in a chess tournament,
The World’s Youth Stars, also called “Vanja
Somov Memorial,” which this year held its
5th edition in Kirishi, Russia.
The
promoter of the event is Gennadi Nesis,
Vanja’s former trainer. This former international
chess master and at present, FIDE‑trainer,
is one of the most prestigious trainers
of the world. Among his disciples, we can
find another Russian, ex‑FIDE world
champion Alexander Khalifman.
All
the participants in the “Vanja Somov Memorial”
are youngsters with wide potential from
all over the world. This year’s victor was
the Russian 17‑year‑old international
master Ian Nepomniachtchi. Today we present
Nepomniachtchi’s victory in the 5th round.
His opponent, playing black and also a 17‑year‑old
international master, was Falko Bindrich
from Germany. The game lasted only 27 moves
before black capitulated–a short game to
honor a short life.
