 Vasily Ivanshuk joins us in our studio to take us through his game. Sit back and enjoy, you don't want to miss this one. Vasily, first a nice win, we will get to chess but first tell us about the impressions about playing in Gibraltar. Okay, excellent impression, very nice play, so I want to thank very much for all of the organizers of this really excellent competition and probably the best open tournament in the world at the moment. So I like to be here, I like atmosphere, I like organization, so everything here in the highest level I can admit it. We love having you here and that's a very nice hat you're wearing. Okay, I bought in the city, yes. Expressing how much you enjoy playing here. Yes, okay, so I didn't play very well but I remember that Viktor Korchnoy suggested me, okay, if something wrong with the result, please go to the city to visit some shops. You can buy something pleasant for yourself and your mood will be improved very soon. Korchnoy's advice. Yes, such advice. When I lost the game in total winning position in three rounds before the end, okay, very soon my mood was in norm, so I'm happy again. And now it's just a pity for me that the tournament had finished, so I won two games in a row and I want to continue but unfortunately it was a round. Right, well it's finished, but you finished it in style, today's game was quite nice. Can you show us some critical moments? Okay, so she played, okay, usually Black plays such ideas with knight on f3, for example, in this position knight f3, for example, knight bd7, b-shop g5. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, for me difficult. Basi, we'll have to just move a little bit so the camera can get the board. Yeah, just right here. Perfect, perfect. Yet three. Without mouse it's difficult, so something like this it's more or less typical for modern chess. But if compare, okay, now White has pawn on f2, so not block it with the knight, so it's logical to consider to play f4 in some moment. But the problem is that, for example, if I play f4, g4 is possible. Of course, if allow knight f3 it will be excellent for White and of course Black cannot attack this pawn because I am just ignoring such a threat and after taking b1 and then... Rook e1 is coming. Yes, yes, so this is, of course, but this is... But you're doing f4 because of... Yes, but because g4, so I will need to develop my knight on e2 and e3 is a little bit weak, so I will need to push e4 in some moment, okay? But this b-shop pair advantage Black will have some contra-play surely. So I decide, okay, we'll just play some moves and... Wait for the right time for f4. Yes, so b-shop e6, okay, same, f4, g4, f5 it's possible, but not so convincing because somewhere queen g5 is possible, so okay, I'm just playing some moves. Logical move. Okay, queen f6, okay, I'm not sure is it necessary to hurry with knight e5, but quite reasonable plan to play. If Black, more or less, obviously will castle in long side, so more or less very logical to play king b1 and then rook c1 or even king a1, rook b1, b4, so king b1 anyway was logical move, but okay, I started with knight e5, I was in aggressive mood, so f4... Okay, maybe, so somewhere f5, b-shop d7, f4, e4, I will create some threats, but okay, she played king b8, some correct move and now f5, she has already bishop c8, so positionally f5 it's very risky for b, okay, so I'm just waiting. Okay, b1, okay, I expected she will play maybe, okay, I don't know what, maybe bishop c8 even, but I didn't expect she will take pawn, I don't know why, okay, many moves, okay, but it's not so stupid because it takes with e-pawn, rook g8 a little bit, also possible, although he takes f4 and rook g8. And queen f2, but okay, queen g7, somewhere I need to consider, okay, I decide to play normally, which it seems to me normally, okay, but she played rook g8, okay, this is more or less I expected and okay, I decide that. What is this? Rook h5, this may be interesting move. Instead of rook h2 here. Yes, this idea bishop f5, somewhere, but I wasn't completely sure about bishop g4, knight takes g4, rook takes g4, so is it good for me? So this is, I wasn't sure that I have advantage in this position. So because of this, I put my rook in, yes, in more passive position, but useful position because now my pawn g2 is protected, rook g3 gives nothing because queen f2. So I was quite optimistic about my chances now because if she moves bishop, I can attack, so not so easy to play, but she finds f5, okay. And suddenly it's possible to understand if center will be open and this rook will be a little bit out of play. So, okay. You played rook f1 here? Yes, but this is already interesting moment. So if before, okay, I could play more or less by intuition, so my moves not required any deep calculation, so more or less standard, okay, knight e5, f4, bishop b1, okay, rook h2, prophylactic move. Okay, after c5 or it's situation changing, okay, so surely I need to calculate something because black has some threats. Takes and takes on f4, somewhere c4 is possible and if bishop go here, bishop f5, bishop h7, okay, maybe dangers for white, maybe not, okay, so I have work. Okay, takes doesn't look so good because she takes and now pawn is handing and if I try, if push queen, bishop f5, it's like option at least, maybe not the best option, but at least I need to consider this. If rook e1, I need even consider such a tactic, yes. I don't know, maybe even it works. Yes, it looks like it works. Yes, okay, so such a tactic. I have seen it, it wasn't fortunately so difficult for me. So if there was a nice move creating something. Yes, yes, okay, it was possible of course, queen f2, if bishop f5, takes, takes, and queen c2 back was possible. But I didn't want to allow queen, bishop f5, so I started to calculate, so I decided to play rook f1. Of course, looks risky because after c4, okay, bishop e2, bishop f5, e4, d takes, e4 looks like good for black, so. This position is very black here because e9 is done really fast. Okay, it's not final, it's g4, it's still play, okay, maybe even more precise take with bishop immediately. Instead after e4 takes with bishop and then take, pawn d4 hanging, okay, so. Knight is coming to d5. Yes, okay, white also has his trumps, queen takes f4 and bishop in some positions, not so clear maybe. My plan was bishop h7, okay, because bishop e2 is solid and normal, bishop h7 is some kind of craziness, so. With bishop h7. Yeah, like rook h2, rook f1, bishop h7, very interesting piece position. Okay, so if rook g3, I can even play queen f2 and already my bishop will can go back if I want. I'm looking at that bishop, I'm scared that it's about to get trapped somewhere. Yes, but fortunately if rook h8, for example, okay, black has threat, but I know this move. And bishop f5 is prepared and everything is correct. After rook g7 also I have rook h5 with some ideas, so, okay, I decide. Okay, it's a little bit tricky, but okay, at least I didn't see refutation, so I will try. Okay, so she took, okay, I have no choice, easy to play such moves. Okay, rook c8 was possible, logical, but she played knight c4 and I started to think, okay. So first, okay, something hanging, I have f5, I have many moves, but not so easy. For example, what I calculated. First of all, of course, first of all, better to calculate some possibility of take. So knight takes d5, for example. If bishop takes d5, bishop takes c4 and looks like black has no sufficient compensation for the pawn. Yes, but not so clear. Can we go knight a3 maybe? Oh, knight a3, it's very strong move. You made my day. Yes, but, but, but. What is going on here? Yes, I take this bishop and of course my king is terrible. So of course, knight d5 is blind, but okay, you see tactics much better than me. So during the game. I will not be able to continue with this interview if you say that. Yes, that's true. But unfortunately, okay, fortunately, unfortunately, during the game, I didn't see knight a3. Okay, I can see that bishop d5, bishop c4, an advantage and started to calculate rook takes d5. And here I didn't find anything special because if bishop c4, rook takes d4, if queen takes c4, many moves. Ah, if queen takes c4, rook takes e5 is possible. And yes, just simply. And if bishop c4, you just take on d4. Yes, but okay, knight a3 is strong, but it was too difficult for me in that moment. You're very kind, but you decided to not go for knight d5. Yes, okay, so more tempting was to play f5 immediately. It looks interesting because knight a3, f takes e6, knight takes f1. That is insane, we should have that on the board. Yes, it's hardly good for black. It takes f7 is possible or even simpler, rook a3, so of course this is much better for white. And knight takes e5 is impossible because I take. You take on e6 first. Yes, but okay, so f5 has not only an advantage because now my knight is not protected but yeah, I didn't see something convincing for me. For example, knight takes d5 looks tempting. Again, knight a3, sorry. So I didn't see this idea at all. So thank you that you helped me to improve my tactical abilities, but during the game I considered rook takes d5. And now you take on c4 with queen. Because with bishop, rook takes d4. Firstly, I considered something like queen d6, knight takes f7. Like the rook is hanging up and you take care. Yes, something like this. I started to consider it okay. Maybe this is nice for me, but I changed it back with my calculation. So okay, if queen d6 or queen d7, I have knight takes f7. So I started to consider just primitive move. I was not so sure that I'm better because black wants bishop d6. All black pieces well coordinated. You still have this d4 weakness? Yes, yes, bishop, yes. So a little bit strange rook. So okay, so I decide I don't need this. So I played rook f3. So ideas, primitive, stop knight is 3. And okay, somewhere I could dream maybe rook will come to be 3 and attack. Okay, this is in the future. But the main reason was okay, I started rook f3. I stopped at threats. What black will play? I saw during the game. So rook c8 is hardly possible because knight takes d5 and knight d7. So rook c8 is not. So bishop before it seemed to me natural, but after bishop before I planned okay. So I will play this and everything okay. Because queen b3 immediately I cannot. Now I'm more or less ready for queen b3. And black has those. Rook c8 not working. I was quite optimistic about my position. But position is very unclear. She took surprisingly for me, of course. She took okay. f takes e5, queen g5, excellent for black surely. So d takes f5. So now positionally I am excellent. But coordination of my pieces looks like shame. Okay, now black has choice. Okay, queen g7 was possible, but she correctly played queen e7. So okay, pawn is still hanging, but she wants to play rook c8. She has some threats. I have to ask you, Vasily, you said positionally you were feeling much better here. Tell us why were you, what are your positional trumps and what did you feel? Okay, my pawns are much better. So black has three isolated pawns. So if imagine I will transpose my knight to d4 and rook to c1, of course I will be much better. Some n games almost always will be... Winning for you almost. Maybe not winning, but much better. But the problems that black has concrete threats. So rook c8 is coming, d4 is coming, bishop d5. So position is open, my rook on h2 a little bit out of play. So okay, what to do? So I understand position. At least not so clear. Okay, so what was my choice? Okay, I will play a3. So normal move. Okay, so bishop c3. Okay, I had feelings that best move here is bishop a5 and black should play this. And rook c8 is coming. Yes, but okay, it was position not clear for me, so I planned to play something like this. You want to come to d4? Yes, but because knight b5, rook c8, check is coming. So I preferred, my plan was to play this and after rook c8 to play queen a4. Yes, and after bishop d2, queen d1. So I am not losing immediately at least. But okay, black... And then you go knight d4 after that. And knight d4, always I need to consider some check, but so after... Something like this? Okay, but it's a little bit stupid. So maybe more logical to play bishop b6 and... Bishop a5, knight d2. Rook c8, queen a4, maybe better to play just bishop b6, very complex position. Black has serious contraplay, sometimes even f6 they can push because... My position is shaky, but okay. She took on c3, okay. So at least more easy for me to play. So you were happy to see this trade on the board? Yes, so bishop c3, okay. Maybe objectively black has some threats, but at least I have more or less program what I need to do. And also he played d4, okay. This is weakness. Okay, now end game it's not so clear because bishop d5 and if rook goes, rook g3, but okay, queen d2. So not so easy to give... Okay, looks like my king in danger, but not so easy to make me even if... Give black to play some moves like queen d7, queen d5, okay, bishop b1, I'm still alive. And this is hanging, this is hanging. This is hanging, so she must to demonstrate something. Okay, there are some ideas with rook c8 and rook c3, but it works or not, it's a big question. So okay, but she played bishop g4. So okay, bishop g4, I am happy. So my king now it's out of danger. So now I more or less understood that okay, I'm not in danger anymore to lose this game. So okay, maybe I have some advantage, maybe not enough for me, but okay, now... Now you can start improving your rooks and your pieces. So my first idea was to play rook f2, okay, rook g3, h5 also was idea to attack. So rook g3? Yes, it was like Kafe style attack. Kafe style attack, that's interesting. But okay, after f6, rook b3, rook d7, okay, it looks like something wrong with my rook. So Kafe style means the kind of chess you play in a coffee house, coffee house chess. Oh, sorry. Don't worry about it. Okay, but you decided? Bishop c6, rook c7, so... Maybe if it was a blitz game you would have... Okay, it depends against whom. It's also important and it depends. Is it important game for me or I'm just playing for my pleasure? It's also important. This game was for pleasure, for your enjoyment? Okay, so last round, so okay, I'm not pretending for prizes. Okay, so, okay, right and is it so important for me? Okay, so okay, in this position I have nice position. I have healthy pawns, black has not. So I have good mood because... Yesterday I bought many nice things for myself. Was the Kafe one of them? Kafe I bought before but some others. So I need to understand... Over here. My first idea, okay, so it looks very logical to play rook f2, attacking pawn if h5, rook h1 and rook e1. But okay, of course I want something but sometimes I need to understand that my opponent also can want something. So I started to understand what she wants. So if bishop is here, okay, if she wants attack somehow, bishop must be in this diagonal. So if bishop is on g4, she wants to play h5 but okay, what after? Then I understood that if I play more or less primitively h5 and now rook h1, okay, she will play f6. So after this chain will be changed, it's not so easy. For example, rook e1, she will take, rook takes e5, queen f6 somehow. Of course I'm bad but because this is blocked but is it maximum what I can reach from this position? I didn't want to believe it so I decided to play rook f1, pawn is attacked, she played h5 and now rook e1. So for f6 you want to go e6? Yes, f6 is 6. I just stop it. This is nice, so you keep these center pawns. I want to activate rook so black has weakness. I want to stabilize position, okay, please show me what you want. She played rook c8, okay, maybe not the best move but I don't know what is the best way. Okay, maybe was reason to consider something like f6 if e6 f5 but it's extremely risky, need calculation because now okay, I'm enjoying. You're really enjoying because you went rook h2, then you went rook f1, rook f3, then you're bringing them back. Yes, but she took my knight, I was happy that she hasn't reached a fair advantage anymore. So I'm enjoying. So rook h1, okay, I'm just waiting if f6 is 6. Okay, I want to push f5 somehow. I think this is a very instructive idea about always meeting f6 with e6 because this is a big advantage for you. Maybe rook c5, queen b4, it will be questions for her. Okay, maybe rook c5 was the best choice for her but she played queen c5, okay. And now you went ahead and you changed. Yes, now it's correct moment. Yes, because after rook g8, for example I have queen f4, king a8, rook c1 even possible. You're threatening e6 right now. Yes, a6 and f6 in some moment or e6 and take. So it's very pleasant position. So she played a6 and... You went queen f4? Yes, queen f4, king a7, more or less natural movement. In such position, very important if you have time just not play with your hands but sinks. Okay, so for example, looks very natural, rook e4, attack pawn and then rook e1. There is illusions that okay, excellent position, I am just enjoying. But it's not so easy because if to play in such style, for example, if two natural moves and... Rook d5, very strong prophylactic. e6 doesn't work anymore because black has something like 4-3. Okay, white has knight position but... Hard to improve now. Yes, how to improve it? It's a big question. So I find the better way. So rook c1. That's important that queen d5 bishop e4 I have, it's pleasant for me. So queen b6. Of course I could play some baiting move even like g3, so excellent position. Maybe it was technical move for g3, for some bishop and games to fix the weakness. On the light square as your bishop? Yes, yes. Maybe g3 was more precise, but okay, I decide. So what was my idea that her bishop a little bit out of play? If I will change rooks, it will be more painful for her. But also I can even calculate some variation. So you change all her good pieces and then you keep this one? Yes, yes. So what was important that queen b3 I expected she will play? So it looks natural move because she's attacking my bishop. Of course now I see on position maybe even e6 is possible. This idea f takes e6, f6, queen takes d3. Queen c5, king a8, f7, queen e5. So this doesn't work. So queen c5, queen d4 doesn't work because of queen d1, bishop f5? This was my main calculation. So queen c5 check is correct move. So queen b8 doesn't work because queen d6 you have. So this. But let's show it to our audience. So king b8 is incorrect? Yes, because I'm simply taking and after check this. And you can't take on f5? Yes, queen b6. So instead of king b8 you have to go king a8? Yes, so and this was critical movement. So I calculated. So e6 takes, so queen takes d4 doesn't work anymore. No, queen d4 isn't. And there's no good check that we have. Yes, I need to perpetual. But then, so firstly it seems to me that black has contraplay, that I need to do something else. But then I realize, okay, she's playing without bishop. So I can play just bishop e4 and she has no real, if d3, okay, go. I'm waiting. I see what you did there. Yes. So black is totally home. So if you, yeah, we should be, but can she still try to play something like this and give this pawn? Okay, maybe just e6. Instead of taking, yeah? Or maybe you can take and then come back and go e6. Yes, but okay, maybe if your king on a8, so maybe better. It's better for you. Maybe better just push my pawn, okay? Yeah, because it's more difficult for me. Very nice. Nice, Vasily. But only... d2? Yes, if takes maybe d2 is possible. Queen d2, bishop c4, double threat. So maybe here f6 is correct. Sorry. Because now d2 doesn't work, queen takes d2 and bishop b1. Okay, maybe this is still some chances. Bishop c4 in the end? Yes. Yes, bishop c4. Bishop b1. Be1 e5 somehow, maybe. This is still some chances for black. But we can get all of this after taking on a6 as well. Yes, yes, yes. So okay, very close to win, but this is queen b3 I expected. And queen f5. She surprised me with queen a5. Firstly I started to consider it's queen f4, but then I realized that e6 is just winning. Because after taking f6 and surprisingly she cannot stop my pawn. Stop your pawn. This idea of giving this pawn and going a6 and not capturing. Very nice. I am just pushing, so she played f6, no choice. Another quiet move. So I am attacking pawn, check it, nothing. So she played, okay, queen a4. Also I can play queen e4 for example. But she played this, okay, now it's game is over. You're just pushing your pawn and this. Yes, okay, if queen a7 I'm just taking it. I'm doing everything what I want. This is a beautiful game, but for me, Vasily, what was really nice was how you played against this g4 bishop throughout the game. Yes, I played against this. And you just treated the rooks and then won nicely. Yes, the domination. Yes, and some nice rook maneuvers as well. So you're feeling good after this game? Yes, yes. But anyway I'm feeling very good because I am in very nice place. I can speak with really nice people. So it's a lot of reason for happiness. And will you be coming back next year? Yes, surely. I want to win next year. I need to refresh my memory. I won Gibraltar many years ago. It's time to do it again, Vasily. Yes. Before you go, I want to ask you about what is going on on our top board here because it was quite an interesting position that we had in this game. Okay, so one, two, three, four, one. So two pawns up, black. Black has two pawns. And I'm going to update our position because I think some moves have been played right now. In fact, we have an update that it's been finished and... Queen C1, maybe. Queen C1 here. Let me pull up the game because Navarro actually won. Okay, we're going to get that game up. Okay, Queen C1, he played? Look stamped in this idea. Let's see if he got Queen C1. So it's here. Incredible. Let's get that game up. There we have it. So we were around... Queen C3, he played? He played Queen C3. Okay, this is a sharp position. Okay, Queen C3. Why not Queen C1? Maybe... Just a moment. So Queen C1, you're threatening Bishop G7. Maybe Knight H5, it works. Maybe. This idea, some check. So maybe Queen C3. Idea, if Knight H5, rook takes H5, Bishop C3, rook d5. This is very nice. So if Knight H5, you take here, you can't take on H5 because of mate and then you... Yes, but okay. Sorry, Queen C3 position. The threat is to take in G4. If Knight E8, rook G4 also is... But then... Okay, maybe it was the best choice but... But after a move like 98, can we just go Queen F6 here or you've got Queen E6. Yes, Queen E6, yes. Right. So rook G4 is F6. You have to go F6, yeah. Yes, it's only a move. Okay, next black move, what will be rook F7? Okay, but white has excellent attacking chances. For example, even this, rook F7 and maybe rook G3 somehow. And then the bishop is coming to H5. Well, not right now but... But maybe Knight D6. Okay, so not so clear. Not so clear, so 98 maybe something... I wonder if we have something stronger here. I don't think so. But now Knight H5 is not a possibility so we can probably come back. Like Queen E3 maybe? Queen E3 of course, you can do it. And now I want to take on G7 and go... Yes, but... Okay, if I just play... Okay, it's risky of course, need some calculation but... My idea is that I have F7 square for my... You're running away. Okay, white has attack but it's still not clear for me so... Let's take a look at how... So, bishop H6? Okay, bishop H6 looks very ugly for this. So, bishop H6. I don't like... Okay, 98 looks like the best choice for Black. But bishop H6, okay, rook H7. Knight H7 and A4. I like this move because now the C4 pawn. So you have... Yes, but he played rook D8. The one after all was C6. Yeah, I'm just wondering why not C6? Yes, so maybe it's still... Ah, but Queen G3... Queen G3 and Queen G5 as well. Yes, so... Maybe still playable position for Black, surprisingly. Yeah, it's because C6 looks like a very natural reaction here. Yes, C6 very natural. Okay, but he played rook D8, allow... He predicted and then... Sorry, rook H4. Why not take immediately? Ah, because Queen D1? So you mean here? Queen D1? So we have Queen G3. Queen G3, king f8 maybe. Yeah, it's a mess. Yes. And then we probably have to take here. King H2. King H2. Queen f6. What is this? What is this? Queen D6 is coming? Yes, so it looks like something drawish in fast view at least. Yeah, yes. Let's take a look at how David Manus should convert this. And after he won rook H4, Queen f5. Why Queen f5 just a moment? May I see this? So rook G4 and Queen G7 is red. Yes. So after all looks... Queen D4, Queen G3. Queen G7 rook G4. But can you go King H8 in that position? Okay, King H8. It's not something you want to play. So this is very smart move. I like this. And after f5 it's already... He can take... But maybe f5 is possible. After taking Queen D1, is it so hopeless? In this position, Queen G3? Ah, Queen G3 and Queen G6 is coming. Yes, yes, yes. So rook H4 is very nice move probably. Okay, but bishop H6. Yeah, it's the kind of move which is very hard to risk. You don't know what to play against it. Yes, yes. But probably he missed the rook H4 in his calculation. So Queen f5 and smart move bishop e2. Also the only move is easy to make. Yes, knight f6. Queen G3 check. Ah, I'm here. And it's over because you have c7 now. Oh, you, you, you, you. So brilliant game. Okay, so I have advice for you. For me? Not just for you, but for organizers of Gibraltar. Yes. As a beauty prize in this tournament, as I know not. So probably for next year... No, we have best game prize Vasili. Ah, you have? Would you nominate this game? So this game, I think at least one of... It's interesting you say that Vasili because David's yesterday's game was also just superb. So that has already gone into nomination for best game. Yes, I think he totally deserved it. All right, well thank you so much Vasili and for your time. It's such a pleasure to have a chat with you. And we hope you enjoy your last day in Gibraltar. Yes, I am very enjoyed. Thank you Vasili.