On Gibraltar, Hikaru Nakamura is a Rock star

He may never have trashed a hotel room or shredded his way through a 35-minute guitar solo (as far as we know), but make no mistake — GM Hikaru Nakamura is a Rock star.

Or at least a chess star on the Rock of Gibraltar, host to one of the world’s strongest open tournaments and a place where the 30-year-old American player has had exceptional success. The winner the past three years, Nakamura was at it again last month at the 2018 Gibraltar Masters, finishing in a seven-way tie for first with an undefeated 7½-2½ score.

Despite being one of the world’s best — and most enthusiastic — blitz players, Nakamura’s win streak was technically stopped this year when he was eliminated from the rapid playoff by GM Vachier-Lagrave. (The Frenchman in turn lost to Armenia’s red-hot GM Levon Aronian in the final playoff match.) Still, the U.S. star played several fine games in Gibraltar, including a positional gem against Argentine GM Federico Perez Ponsa as part of a blazing 5-0 start to the event.

In a Caro-Kann Two Knights Opening, Nakamura has largely solved his opening problems by 14. Bf4 e5 15. Bd2 Rb8 and is ready to begin queenside operations. All White’s subsequent woes may trace back to his decision here not to challenge Black’s queenside play (16. Nc4 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. Na5 was one way to do it), but to pursue his own kingside break with 16. Rf1?! b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. f4 Bh6! 19. Qh4 Bxf4! exf4 21. Rxf4 Ne5 22. Raf1 N7c6 — Nakamura has had to give up his fianchettoed bishop, but his impregnable knight on e5 pretty much kills White’s f-file play while supporting the assault on the queenside and in the center.

On 23. Qf2 b4 24. Nb1 (Nc4 Nxc4 25. dxc4 Ne5 26. b3 Ra8 is also very pleasant for Black) b3! (a small but telling positional shot in a game studded with them) 25. c4 Nb4, Black’s two knights embarrass the White minor pieces, and after 28. Na3 Nc2! 29. Nb5 (Nxc2? bxc2 and the White b-pawn is lost) Qe7 30. R4f2 Ra8 31. Rb1 Ne3, the second knight grabs its own dominating post. Perez Ponsa can only shuttle his pieces and brace himself for the coming attempt to breach his position.

Nakamura masterfully mixes in some Capablanca-like mini-tactics to steer his pieces to their optimal posts: 36. Nd2 Qc7! 37. Kg1 (Nxb3 f4! 38. Rxf4 Rxf4 39. Qxf4 Nf3+ 40. Kg3 Qxf4+ 41. Kxf4 Nxe1 and wins, while 37. Nf3 runs into 37…Nxf1+ 38. Rxf1 Nxd3 39. Ng5 Rfe7) f4! 38. Qh4 Ref8 39. Be2 Qa5!, and the queen infiltration only amps up the pressure on White’s defenses.

Even giving up the exchange for a bishop and pawn can’t ease White’s cramp, as Black’s play resembles a spider wrapping up its web-caught prey: 43. Rbf1!? (desperation, but at least it preserves the b-pawn) Nxf1 44. Bxf1 Qc1 45. Qxc5 f4! 46. g3 (no better are 46. Qxd4 fxg2 47. Kxg2 Rxf2+ and 46. gxf3 Rxf3 47. Qd5+ Kg7 48. Qxd4+ Kh6 49. Rxf3 Rxf3 50. Qf2 Rxf2 51. Kxf2 Qxb2+) Qe3! (a pin that paralyzes another White defender) 47. Qd5 h5 48. h4 Kh7 49. Qg5 (see diagram) Ra7! — the final positional nail in the coffin, as the rook invasion pushes White’s position over the edge.

The rout is complete after 50. Qc5 (Qxe3 dxe3 51. Rh2 Ra1) Ra1 (threatening 51…Rxf1+! and 52…Qc1 mate) 51. Qe7+ Kg8 52. Qe6+ Kg7 53. Qe7+ Rf7; White resigns as the check runs out and there is no salvation in 54. Qg5 (Qb4 Rfa7 55. Qd2 Rxf1+ 56. Kxf1 Ra1+) Qe2 55. Qe5+ Kh7 56. Rxe2 fxe2 57. Qf4 exf1=Q+ 58. Qxf1 Raxf1+ 59. Kh2 R7f2+ 60. Kh3 Rh1 mate.

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Congrats to American GMs Samuel Sevian and Awonder Liang, who will share this year’s Samford Fellowship awarded to the country’s most promising young players. The stipend associated with the 32-year-old prize helps pay living expenses and training fees to allow recipients to work on their game for a full year. Sevian, 17, was the youngest American ever to earn the grandmaster title, and Liang, 14, the U.S. junior champion, is the world’s highest-rated player under 16.

Perez Ponsa-Nakamura, 2018 Gibraltar Masters, Calatea, England, January 2018

1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 e6 6. Be2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. Rd1 d4 9. Nb1 Ne7 10. d3 c5 11. a4 Nbc6 12. Na3 O-O 13. Qg3 a6 14. Bf4 e5 15. Bd2 Rb8 16. Rf1 b5 17. axb5 axb5 18. f4 Bh6 19. Qh4 Bxf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. Rxf4 Ne5 22. Raf1 N7c6 23. Qf2 b4 24. Nb1 b3 25. c4 Nb4 26. Qg3 f6 27. Kh2 Qd6 28. Na3 Nc2 29. Nb5 Qe7 30. R4f2 Ra8 31. Rb1 Ne3 32. Na3 Rf7 33. Re1 Kh8 34. Bf1 Re8 35. Nb1 f5 36. Nd2 Qc7 37. Kg1 f4 38. Qh4 Ref8 39. Be2 Qa5 40. Qg5 Qxd2 41. Qxe5+ Kg8 42. Rb1 Qc2 43. Rbf1 Nxf1 44. Bxf1 Qc1 45. Qxc5 f3 46. g3 Qe3 47. Qd5 h5 48. h4 Kh7 49. Qg5 Ra7 50. Qc5 Ra1 51. Qe7+ Kg8 52. Qe6+ Kg7 53. Qe7+ Rf7 0-1.

• David R. Sands can be reached at 202/636-3178 or by email dsands@washingtontimes.com.