DAY 0
Irene Sukandar Lecture and Simultaneous Exhibition
The Festival is on, with IM/WGM Irene starting off the activities!
DAY 0 – Irene Sukandar Lecture and Simultaneous Exhibition
Indonesian IM/WGM Irene Sukandar kicked off the Singapore Chess Festival activities with a lecture at SCF for girls from the National Training Programme (9th June 2022) and a simultaneous exhibition for 12 players (10th June 2022).
Irene walked through a few games at different stages in her chess career and emphasized the importance of fighting with spirit, no matter who your opponent is. She also highlighted the point of making steps towards making your ideas work over the board – these key elements will help one to evolve into a better chess player.

Our special guest lecturer from Indonesia, IM/WGM Irene Sukandar
National Women’s Runner up Fang Kun (Hwa Chong Institution) was the only player to snag a point from Irene in the simul which was completed just under 3 hours and Aditya Sviram also provided stern resistance. Congratulations to both Fang Kun and Aditya!

Fang Kun (right) successfully defended and counterattacked from the Black side of the Spanish in the 12-person simul conducted by Irene.
IM Irene Sukandar – Fang Kun
12 board Simul SGChessFestival, 10.06.2022
1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6
3.Bb5 a6
4.Ba4 Nf6
5.d3 b5
6.Bb3 d6
7.a3 Be7
8.0–0 0–0
9.Nc3 Bg4
10.Be3 Na5
10…Nd4
11.Bxd4 exd4
12.Nd5 c5 is a favourite of the World No 2 Chinese GM Ding Liren.
11.Ba2! c5
12.h3
Theory considers 12.Nd5! as the most accurate move order to take control of the d5–square. For example, after 12…Nc6 13.c3 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Rc8 15.b4 Qc7 16.h3 Bd7 17.Qb3 Bf6 18.Rac1 White has a nice pull in Yu,Y (2721)-Vocaturo,D (2579) Skopje 2015
12…Be6

13.b4N
A double edged move, trading White’s pressure on the a-file for Black’s on the c-file.
13…cxb4
14.axb4 Nc6
15.Qb1 d5
16.exd5 Bxb4?
Overtly ambitious. Trying to gain a tempo by hitting c3.
16…Nxd5
17.Bxd5 Bxd5=
17.dxe6!+–

Irene makes a powerful exchange sacrifice here to get a monster f7–pawn.
17…Bxc3
18.exf7+ Kh8
19.Bc5 Ne7
20.Bb3
Perhaps even stronger is…
20.Qb3 Bxa1
21.Rxa1
20…Qc7

21.Bxe7?
Fang Kun is back in the mix with this bishop trade. 21.d4+– or; 21.Ba3+– give White good winning chances.
21…Qxe7= 22.Ra2?
22.Ba2= is a better defence.
22…a5!–+

The rook and bishop get in each others’ way while dealing with Black’s pawn rollers.
23.Rb2 a4
24.Ba2 b4
25.Bc4 e4
26.Ng5 e3!
27.Nf3 exf2+
28.Rxf2 Qc5
29.Kf1

Here, Fang Kun chose the most clinical way to win…. tactically forcing trades.
29…Ne4!
30.dxe4 Qxc4+
31.Re2 Bxb2
32.Qxb2 a3
33.Qa1 Rxf7
34.e5 a2
35.Kf2 Qc3
36.Re1 Qxc2+
37.Kg1 b3
38.e6 Re7
39.Nd4 Qc5
40.Kh1 Qb4
41.Nc6

41…Qxe1+!
Cool finish.
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