Game of the Week: Nepomniachtchi, Svidler

When I was eight-years-old, my uncle showed me the classic game Hamppe-Meitner from 1872. The White king was lured forward by a series of sacrifices and nearly pulled into the corner originally occupied by Black’s queen’s rook. Meitner tried to organize a mate with the limited material he had left. Well, a game just played in the Russian Team Championship forcibly recalled that game. Svidler’s king went for a walk along the lines of Herr Hamppe. While Nepomniachtchi had a queen on the board, the wandering king still proved to be surprisingly elusive. It’s possible that the whole thing was opening preparation for one or both players…no matter, it still stands as an instant classic, one that will entertain and intrigue future generations.