This Holi, Indian GMs share the most colourful games of their life!

by Sagar Shah - 21/03/2019

Today, 21st of March is when the entire country celebrates the festival of colours - Holi. We, at ChessBase India, decided to ask the top grandmasters of our country two questions - 1. Which is the most colourful game that you have played in your chess career? and 2. Why do you find that game colourful? A total of 21 GMs replied to this question including Vishy Anand, Harikrishna, Adhiban, Sasikiran, Sethuraman, Ganguly, Nihal Sarin, Gukesh and many more. Each of them shared with us their beautiful gem, the best creative effort in their chess career. It's an article filled with unparalleled beauty. We ask you to have a look at these splendid games and get inspired for your upcoming tournaments!

Holi is the Indian festival of colours! For us, chess players, the game of black and white has filled our life with colour. All the players who have played the sport seriously have gained so much from it - name, fame and most of all, an aim in life. This Holi, we asked the top players of Indian chess to share their most colourful game with our readers! We also asked them to tell us why they think that game is the most colourful! Let's enjoy some brilliant games!

Vishy Anand, 2779

Vishy Anand - the Legend | Photo: Alina l'Ami

Vassily Ivanchuk vs Vishy Anand, Linares 1998

Ivanchuk has just recaptured on d5 with his pawn. It's Black to play here. How did Anand stun Ivanchuk?

Anand: "Finding the most colourful game is hard, but I thought of a nice game. My win with Ivanchuk from Linares 1998 was colorful. I was Black in a Rauzer. It helped me win that event."

The analysis of this game is taken from CBM 64 by Ftacnik:

P. Harikrishna, 2730

India no.2 and one of the finest players in the world of chess! | Photo: Vladimir Jagr

Mamedyarov - Harikrishna, Baku Olympiad 2016

White has just played his queen to f3. What did Harikrishna play?

Harikrishna: "My most colourful game is against Mamedyarov, Baku 2016. The reason I find it colourful is because I was happy to find idea of ...Rd5 (in the above position) and demonstrate the power of pawns at the end."

Harikrishna's victory against Mamedyarov has been annotated by Elshan Moradiabadi in CBM 175. We present it here. Additionally you can also check Hari's analysis in video format from the 13th ChessBase India show.

B. Adhiban, 2701

Is he the Beast, the Superman or the Unstoppable Force?! Adhiban recently crossed 2700, becoming the fifth Indian in the history to do so!

Kryvoruchko vs Adhiban, Sharjah Masters 2018

Kryvoruchko has just played his knight to a4. How did Adhiban continue?

Adhiban: "I have played too many colourful games. But the one that comes to my mind first is against Kryvoruchko. In the words of my coach "checkmating a 2700 in 23 moves from the black side of the Caro Kann! Of course, it can be only you!"

The analysis of this game is taken from the article Adhiban in superman mode from Sharjah 2018.

K. Sasikiran, 2678

The wall of Indian chess - K. Sasikiran | Photo: David Llada

Sasikiran vs Krasenkow, Mallorca Olympiad 2004

Krasenkow has just moved his bishop to e8 and he is threatening ...Bg6. What did Sasikiran do?

Sasikiran: "I have played many colorful games and it is difficult to pick one. But my game against Krasenkow in 2004 Olympiad immediately comes to mind because of the queen sacrifice for just two minor pieces and there was no direct win, just positional compensation."

The game analysis is done by Michael Roiz and was published in CBM 104:

Sethuraman, 2637

The master of excellent opening preparation S.P. Sethuraman | Photo: David Llada

Ding Liren vs Sethuraman, India-China Summit 2015

Ding Liren played h3 expecting Sethuraman to retreat his knight. But forward was the only word for Sethu in this game. Black to play.

Sethuraman: "This was one of my short and sweet wins against a strong 2700 player like Ding at that time. Winning the game in style in 23 moves was really entertaining. I was like in a daredevil mode leashing out some nice dynamic moves! :)"

The game analysis is taken from CBM 166 by Alejandro Ramirez:

Surya Sekhar Ganguly, 2633

2850 performance at the World Teams! Ganguly is on an upward trend even at the age of 36! | Photo: Sophie Triay

Sandro Mareco vs Surya Sekhar Ganguly, Spanish Team Championships 2017

White has just moved his bishop make from d2 to c1. He now threatens to play Qe2-f1 and beat off Black's attack. How did Ganguly continue with the Black pieces?

The number of sacrifices that Ganguly made in this game are quite mind boggling! Fire on board for sure! Ganguly himself has annotated this game for CBM 181. Enjoy his insightful commentary:

Aravindh Chithambaram, 2599

When it comes to creative chess, the current National Champion of India Aravindh Chithambaram is second to none! | Photo: David Llada

Aravindh Chithambaram vs Pham Chuong, HD Bank 2018

In a position that has been played over 3000 times Aravindh found a move that has never been played. White to play. Can you be as creative as Aravindh?

Aravindh: "The most colourful game of my career is yet to come! :) But if you want me to pick one from the past, I would say my game against Pham Chuong in HD Bank Open Vietnam 2018. You will get to know the reason when you see the game!"

S.L. Narayanan, 2593

The latest entrant from India into the 2600 club - GM S.L. Narayanan | Photo: Niklesh Jain

S.L. Narayanan vs Igor Kovalenko, Najdorf Memorial 2015

The queen on c3 is hanging. How do you deal with it? White to play.

S.L. Narayanan: "The game I would like to share with the readers is the one I played against Igor Kovalenko (2682) of Latvia in the Metlife Najdorf Memorial Chess 2015 in Poland. I chose this game as it was an original game which had its tints of fireworks. I would have been more glad if I had played the brilliant move 23.Bxf6!! The point is that after Nxf6 24.e7+ Kg8 25.Rxg7+ Kxg7 26.Qg3+ Kh6 27.Qg5+ Kh7 and Bf5.And if 23...gxf6 then 24.Qg3 wins. It was a real pleasure to find this win even though only after the game which I eventually lost. I hope you too enjoy the game like I did."

Nihal Sarin, 2578

2578 Elo at the age of 14. Nihal Sarin is the real deal! | Photo: David Llada

Vrolijk Liam vs Nihal Sarin, Lieden Open, 2018

The position is mind-boggling! But Nihal found the key element in the position which helped him win in just 19 moves! Black to play.

Srinath Narayanan, 2555

Srinath Narayanan - The coach of the Indian national team at the World Team Championships and also a fine player himself | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Srinath Narayanan vs Oliver Mihok, Kecskemet Open 2011

Black has captured the pawn on e4. The queen on h4 is hanging and also the rook on g3. How should White continue?

Deepan Chakkravathy, 2534

Deepan Chakkravarthy tries to make every game that he plays as colourful as possible! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Deepan Chakkravarthy vs Deep Sengupta, Kolkata Open 2018

Deepan stunned his opponent with a powerful move here. White to play.

D. Gukesh, 2529

D. Gukesh vs Aditya Samant, 2015

Gukesh: "I like two games very much. My win against Prraneeth Vuppala from the National under-11, 2017 and the one against Aditya Samant (below). They both were interesting attacking games and involves attractive sacrifices which I enjoyed thoroughly."

The most unique part about the analysis of the game below is that it is done by Aditya Samant, the boy who lost the game. The article with the game was published right after Gukesh made his maiden IM norm.

Vishnu Prasanna, 2524

The man who is now famed as a trainer has also played some very strong games as a player - GM Vishnu Prasanna | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Alberto David vs Vishnu Prasanna, Kolkata Open 2012

White has just pushed his pawn to d5. What did Vishnu do here? It is Black to play.

Vishnu: "My first choice for the most colourful game would be David Alberto - Vishnu Prasanna 2012 and the reason would be that a lot of exciting things happened in a few moves and more importantly both of us enjoyed the complications."

Shyam Sundar, 2508

Shyam Sundar was the member of the Indian analytical team at the Batumi Olympiad 2018. When he is not training someone or working as a second, he is seen winning a lot of international tournaments!

Evgeny Postny vs Shyam Sundar, Sunway Sitges 2016

Shyam's queen looks trapped. There is a square available on a2, but it already looks very dangerous. What did Black play here?

Shyam: "Queen sacrifice was something that I found over the board. It wasn't my preparation. When playing my 13th move, I had visualised the position that I would get after my 19th move and I was so attracted with the beautiful pawn structure that I instantly decided to go for it!"

Stany GA, 2507

Stany's attacking style makes him a perfect candidate for a colourful game! | Photo: Niklesh Jain

Stany G.A vs Xavier Mastalerz, Capelle la Grande 2018

White has a nice attacking position. But it is one thing to have a dominating position and quite another to finish it off with accurate moves. White to play.

Stany: "If you ask why I like the game very much, I would say that, almost all my pieces participated in the festival and played with colors!"

P. Iniyan, 2487

The latest GM of Indian chess - no.61 P. Iniyan | Photo: Amruta Mokal

P. Iniyan vs Robert Hovhannisyan, Abu Dhabi 2017

In this crazy looking position, White has only one way to win. Can you find it?

Iniyan: "I think my game against Robert Hovhannisyan is the most colourful because my pawn march in the center of the board is artistic and beautiful and also because he was one of the highest rated players I had beaten at the time."

Shardul Gagare, 2483

Shardul Gagare at one point was one of India's brightest talents. You can see his brilliant tactical vision in the game below as he destroys the author of this article! | Photo: John Saunders

Shardul Gagare vs Sagar Shah, Mayor's Cup 2014

A lot of pieces are hanging in the air! Through all of this mist, can you see the way clearly? White to play and win.

Shardul Gagare: "I was looking through my games and I think most colourful game of my chess career was against Sagar Shah in the 5th round of Mumbai Mayors Cup 2014. The reason why it is colourful is I liked the last position where 6 pieces are attacked simultaneously and still Black cannot prevent mate."

Saptarshi Roy, 2480

Saptarshi Roy's attacking style has been well known in the Indian chess circles for years! | Photo: Lennart Ootes

Saptarshi Roy vs Vahap Sanal, Zalakaros Open 2017

It seems as if Black's kingside is well fortified. How did White breakthrough?

Saptarshi Roy: "I played over the board most of the moves For the first 23 moves I thought for 20 minutes and then played very fast. He came in time troubled and I won the game happily. In this game the way I sacrificed my pieces, we can compare it applying a lot of color to opponent's face without any obstructions! Jokes apart, wishing all the readers of ChessBase India a very happy Holi."

R.B. Ramesh, 2472

The super coach of Indian chess had quite a few brilliant games to his credit before he switched professions | Photo: David Llada

Surya Ganguly vs Ramesh, Kasaragod 1996

This is a position worthy of detailed analysis. White to move.

Below you can see how R.B. Ramesh used to analyze even before the computer era. Much of his analysis below is done without any engine. He has not changed any of them. Looking at it gives you an idea of how hard the players used to work on their games to find out the truth in the position.

Sriram Jha, 2381

Sriram Jha is a strong positional player, but a player of his strength definitely has played a few attacking gems in his chess career!

Oleg Korneev vs Sriram Jha, Ubeda 2001

White has an extra pawn and good control on the queenside, but Black has the move and an idea to launch a powerful kingside attack. How does he do it?

Sriram Jha: "The game against Korneev is colourful for me, as I was black and had won the game in 27 moves. 18 years back it was a memorable one for me."

Bhakti Kulkarni, 2322

The current national champion of India - Bhakti Kulkarni

Bhakti Kulkarni vs Shyam Nikhil, HD Bank, Vietnam 2018

Black has misplayed the opening. His last move was ...Na6. How did Bhakti play powerful chess to nip her opponent's ideas in the bud?

Bhakti Kulkarni: "I selected this game mainly because my style is a bit positional but in this game I played sharp chess and tried to play according to the demands of the position and won in just 26 moves which happens very rarely against a strong IM. It was played in the HD Bank in 2018 (This is my favourite tournament because of its fantastic organisation) where I had gained 42 rating points and tied for the 2nd place in women section with the Chinese GM Lie Tinjie and won good prize money as well! Happy memories!"

We hope that you enjoyed this article! If you have a colourful game of yours which is worth sharing with the readers, then please do post it in the comments below. If it is a fine game, we will add it to this article, so that your gem will also share the same space as some of the greatest minds that Indian chess has ever seen!

Reader's contribution:

Rahul Yadav sent us his colourful chess game with the words, "Even though I lost this game, I was happy because I played my 100% to beat an IM." We have to tell the readers that the difference between Rahul and his opponent's rating was nearly 900 Elo points, but Rahul fought like a lion.

Rahul Yadav from Delhi, who sent us his most colourful game.

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