Those of us of a certain age remember Gata Kamsky‘s original rise to the top of the chess world, when he emigrated to the United States in 1989, and quickly earned the right to play in the Candidates tournaments (plural, as this was during the FIDE-PCA split). After some disappointing results (as well as well-publicized issues caused by his overbearing father), he gave up chess in the mid-90s.
Not much was heard from Gata, besides earning a law degree, until he started making appearances at tournaments in 2004. It took some time to shake the dust (and rust) off, but earlier this year he won the US Championships, and right now he is looking to take first in the FIDE Grand Prix in Greece. Today’s victim was Morozevich, who was probably still smarting from his loss to Topalov yesterday.
White: Gata Kamsky
Black: Alexander Morozevich
FIDE Grand Prix, Greece, Round 10
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 cxd4 12. cxd4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 14. Nc3 Bb7 15. Nf5 Rc8 16. Bg5 Nc4 17. Qd4 Nxb2 18. Bb3 Nc4 19. Rad1 Qd7 20. Rd3 Bd8 21. Nxg7 Re5 22. Nf5 Nxe4 23. Nh6+ Kf8 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 25. f4 1-0
I like to think there’s a parallel between Gata and myself. I also stopped playing tournament chess (in 1994), and didn’t take it up again until 2007. Of course, that’s where the similarities end…
En Passant 
Kamsky loses in final round to Carauna. Lenient Perez defeats Topalov to win the tourney. Still a fine result by Kamsky who got in severe time trouble in today’s game. Nakamura finished the tournament with a win.