When faced with a flank attack, counterattack in the centre. The wording of this rule is very clear, but it can be very difficult to execute, as in the splendid game in this video. Because the flank action initiated by the Polish Mateusz Bartel – winner, just a few days ago, of the traditional Villa de Benasque Open, with 502 participants – on move 16 would be good if it were not for the fact that his rival, Igor Kovalenko, reacts on move 18 with a piece sacrifice, which is the only way to avoid being lost. The fight that follows is very intense, and the winner culminates by giving up his queen for a spectacular finish.
Kovalenko, 36, also has a very striking biography. He would currently be ranked 53rd in the world, with 2,674 Elo points, if he were still active. He is not active because he fights with the army of Ukraine – the country where he was born, although he has been twice champion of Latvia, with whose team he played at the 2014, 2016 and 2018 Olympics – where he also works as a sapper, chess teacher and chaplain (he is a member of the Jewish community of Kiev). For all this he has been decorated by President Volodymyr Zelensky. And, in any case, this game makes him immortal.
