Book Reviews

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Vassily Ivanchuk – 100 Selected Games

by Nikolay Kalinichenko

Hello again! This time I’ve chosen something rather different, a biographical games collection. I rarely have any real interest in such books (the only others I have are volumes on Alekhine, Fischer and Korchnoi) but this time the subject, GM Vassily Ivanchuk, drew my interest and thus we have my selection this time, titled “Vassily Ivanchuk – 100 Selected Games” by Ukrainian ICCF GM Nikolay Kalinichenko (New in Chess 2013).

As its title implies, the book is a collection of best games played by the mercurial Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk who has maintained his place amongst the world’s elite for some 25 years (nowadays we have similar such books devoted to players who weren’t even born when Ivanchuk burst upon the world scene in the late 80’s!) in its 302 pages.

As expected the book begins with its first chapter titled “Vassily Ivanchuk, a Portrait” but which runs to only 11 pages and contains only the briefest biographical details including several quaint and unusual statements - “born in 1969…into a family of intelligent parents” is one I found rather amusing! Doubtless this privileged upbringing helped him burst upon the chess scene with 1st place of the USSR U-25’s Ch. in 1985, no mean feat for a 16 year old.

Instead this first section consists mainly of quotes attributed to Ivanchuk and others culled from numerous other sources over the years. Ivanchuk has very much “seen it, been it and done it” on numerous occasions throughout his lengthy career and I was a little disappointed that relatively few of the numerous “highs and lows” he has experienced over the years are mentioned.

However, a few of these are highlighted, the first being perhaps the greatest success of his career, outright first place in the 1991 Linares “Super Tournament” where he finished ahead of an elite field which included Kasparov and Karpov, defeating both in their individual games, and also his greatest disappointments, his tragic loss to Yusupov in their Candidates match shortly thereafter and his unexpected loss in 2002 to his much younger countryman, Ponomariov, in the Final of the FIDE World Ch. Knock-out event.

One quote however attributed to Ivanchuk in this first section is perhaps especially pertinent to to-days correspondence players: “The computer is a good assistant. If the player leads the computer, and it helps him, this is good. But if the computer leads the player, this is bad. When there is time, it is best to work by oneself, or at least, try to do so.”

Thereafter the book provides a selection of 100 best games from Ivanchuk’s lengthy career. Ivanchuk is one of those who “lives and breathes” chess and his longevity amongst the world’s elite is almost unequalled. His style of play is universal yet uniquely creative and, I think, unlike that of any of the really top players before him.

Over the years critics have claimed that his temperament is his Achilles heel, preventing him, like a few other “greats” (Keres comes to mind), from achieving the ultimate prize, World Champion.

His games are noted for their originality as well as brilliant sacrifices, energetic attacks and stunning tactical blows. However he is also capable of quietly converting small positional advantages in some games and excelling in strategically complicated positions in others. Who else would, after 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 Qb6 play 4.a3!? (so that after Black’s e6 he can play Nc3 and not be concerned by Bb4), and then go on to beat a top GM in just over 30 moves?

Many of his rivals are quoted as saying “it’s impossible to prepare against Ivanchuk as he plays almost everything…” and the very wide range of openings amongst the 100 games are testimony to this – indeed the selected games serve almost as an openings manual!

Whilst Ivanchuk has produced many significant opening innovations during the course of his career, he gives the impression that, unlike say Fischer and Tal, he doesn’t seek to simply “blow away” his opponent in the opening, being satisfied instead to obtain an open position with his pieces well developed where he can then proceed to outplay his opponents.

As stated, both his style of play and choice of openings are universal although he does seem to prefer to avoid closed positions with pawn chains and so rarely defends openings such as the King’s Indian where such positions are more likely to arise.

As mentioned, Ivanchuk has held a place amongst the world elite for some 25 years, during which time his rating has only once slipped below 2700. However, it’s now become noticeable that, at the age of 45, his results have become more erratic and that, whilst he still plays almost continuously in events throughout the world, he is now no longer a regular participant in the very top events – evidence perhaps of the start of a gradual decline as becomes older. However, whatever the future holds, he has thus far enjoyed a truly glittering career and leaving a legacy of a great many outstanding games.

The book’s back cover claims that its author, ICCF GM Nikolay Kalinichenko, has experience of chess writing although nothing is listed. However, this book represents a very considerable accomplishment and surely will be widely acclaimed. He is little known in ICCF circles, doubtless because he has never played on the ICCF server, his last event being a postal World Ch. Candidates event which started in 1999!

One small disappointment is perhaps that the book doesn’t contain any tournament cross-tables although this omission is compensated by a number of photographs. All Ivanchuk’s successes over the years are listed – the list runs to 2 whole pages, listing all the events he’s played would take many more!

All in all, this is another typically well-produced publication by New in Chess – the English translation is very good and all the games are very well annotated and include many diagrams. So, switch off the computer, take out your board and set and then enjoy the wonderful games!