In pic Amateurs playing with a view of the big playing hall. | Photo: Alina l’Ami/Tata Steel Chess.
[image: PeterDoggers] <www.chess.com/member/peterdoggers> PeterDoggers <www.chess.com/member/peterdoggers>
Jan 21, 2019, 12:50 AM| 34|Chess Event Coverage <www.chess.com/news/chess-events>
The Tata Steel Chess Tournament <tatasteelchess.com/> is down to two leaders as both Vishy Anand and Magnus Carlsen won excellent games in round eight.
Vladimir Kramnik’s suffering continued as he lost to Jan-Krzysztof Duda whereas Vladimir Fedoseev defeated Sam Shankland.
Carlsen’s 21-game drawing streak seems part of a distant past now that he won his third game in Wijk aan Zee. His attacking victory against Richard Rapport was appreciated a lot by the fans, but the Norwegian star was more down to earth about it.
“I don’t think it was a masterpiece by any stretch. I think I had very nice position early on and then it kind of played itself. And I missed a number of things. But it’s good to get a win.”
Two years ago, in the same eighth round, Rapport had managed to beat the world champion. “It was nice to get a revenge,” said Carlsen.
Carlsen, Magnus (2835) vs. Rapport, Richard (2731) Tata Steel Chess Masters 2019 | Wijk aan Zee | Round 8.1 | 20 Jan 2019 | ECO: B47 | 1-0
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd44. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3I always suspected that this system was designed for the world champion.6… a6 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O d6 9. Nxc6bxc6 10. Na4 Rb8(Ganguly defended differently in a recent game with:10… Bb7 11. c4 c512. Qe2 Be7 13. b3 O-O 14. Bb2 Nd715. Rad1 Bc6 16. Nc3 Bf6and managed to bring both his bishops out to equalize, Swiercz,D (2654) -Ganguly,S (2657) Saint Louis 2018)11. c4 c5 12. b3 Be7 13. Bb2 O-O14. Qe1! NA strong novelty. The queen is extremely well posted on e1. It supports the advance of the e-pawn and thus prevents Black’s relieving maneuvers from Ganguly’s game from above.(The predecessor did not see White posting too many problems after:14. Qc2Bb7 15. Rad1 Rfd816. h3 Nd7 17. Kh2 Bc618. Nc3Gantar,J (2134)-Mazi,L (2375) Aschach 2010)(Please note that14. Qd2can be met with 14… Bb7)14… Nd7(Now14… Bb7fails to 15. e5!which demolishes Black’s pawn structure and leads to a slight, but long-term edge for White.)15. Rd1 Bb7(Once more the queen proves to be in an ideal position in the line:15… Bf6?!16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. e5! dxe518. Qe3when White’s advantage is even bigger than in the similar line from above.)(Black’s best is perhaps:15… Ne516. Qc3(Worse is:16. f4 Nxc4! 17. bxc4 Bd718. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Nc3with unclear play.)16… Bf6 17. f4 Nc6 18. e5 dxe519. Qe3 exf420. Qxc5 Bxb221. Nxb2 Bb7 22. Rxf4although White also keeps a small edge in this line too.)16. Qc3 Bf6 17. Qd2 Be7(After17… Bxb2 18. Nxb2Black cannot protect his d6 pawn.)18. Qc3 Bf6 19. Qd2 Be720. f4Carlsen’s novelty worked perfectly fine. Rapport could not find a way to trade at least a pair of light pieces and White’s space advantage is significant. He is already threatening e4-e5. 20… e5(If20… Rfd821. Bc3!with the threat of a skewer.)(Whereas20… Bc6is refuted by21. e5!)21. Bc3!the world champion uses every little chance to improve his pieces.(Many people would have automatically opted for:21. Nc3 exf422. gxf4)21… Bc6 22. Ba5Qb7 23. Nc3 exf424. gxf4 Rfe8It seems as Black managed to stabilize, but…25. e5!Strong anyway. 25… Bxg226. Qxg2 dxe5(The queen trade26… Qxg2+27. Kxg2will leave the pawn on d6 defenseless.)27. Nd5 e4(In case of:27… exf4White can at least win the exchange with:28. Bc7Since the rook is immobile-(But there is nothing wrong with:28. Rde1 Nf8 29. Rxf4with powerful initiative.)28… Rbc8 29. Nxe7+)28. Bc3 f6(If28… Bf8 29. f5 Qc6White can even attack with the cunning rook lift:30. Rd3)29. Kh1Carlsen is in attacking mood and wants to finish it off with a direct attack.(If White wanted large advantage without any risk he could have opted for:29. Rfe1 Bd8 30. Rxe4 Rxe431. Qxe4 Nf8 32. f5with domination.)29… Kh8 30. Rg1 Bf8(Not30… g6 31. f5!when Black’s position quickly falls appart since:31… g5 32. Qxg5)31. Ne3Brings every piece into the attack. The rook will be lifted along the fifth rank, the knight will get even closer to the enemy king thanks to the f5 square.(Once more White rejects a risk-free edge and does not regain the pawn:31. Bxf6 Nxf6 32. Nxf6 Re733. Nd5)31… Qc6Rapport finds the only defence. 32. Rd5 Qe6!(Since32… g6is beautifully refuted:33. Rh5!)33. Rh5Qf7 34. Qh3 g6Now the queen cannot handle the kingside on her own.(The best chance was:34… h6 35. Nf5Kh7Now White has the spectacular blow: 36. Nxh6(Or36. Qg4!?)36… gxh6 37. Rd5 Rbd8 38. Qf5+Kh8Here the materialistic: 39. Rxd7(However:39. Ba5!should preserve White’s edge.)39… Rxd7 40. Bxf6+Bg7 41. Rxg7Qxg7 42. Bxg7+ Rxg743. Qh5should not lead to a win as Black’s pawn is very strong: 43… Ree7)35. Rh4 Rb6(If35… Kg8 36. Rxg6+ Qxg637. Rg4wins for White.)36. f5!And Rapport could not keep his flank intact. 36… Ne5(On36… gxf537. Nxf5 Rbe6both38. Rhg4with the idea Qh3-g3(And38. Ng7!?should win.))37. Nd5 Rd6An oversight, but Black’s position was hopeless anyway.38. fxg6 Nxg6 39. Bxf6+!It all ends with “petite combinaison.” 39… Rxf640. Rxh7+(Black resigned due to:40… Qxh741. Qxh7+ Kxh7 42. Nxf6+)1-0
Anand, the opponent of Carlsen in two world championship matches, won a splendid game as well, against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. Interestingly, Black’s mistake came quite early, on move 12, as Anand explained. White got a good setup on the queenside and then the desired break c2-c4 worked tactically as well. In fact, everything worked for White in this game.
What happened to Kramnik is what we have seen multiple times now: over-optimistic play, a crazy sharp game and in the end… a loss. The 14th world champion is now in last place.
Once again Kramnik pushed his h- and g-pawns, as if he doesn’t know any other type of chess anymore than coffeehouse. Duda then nicely demonstrated that Black’s king position was more weakened than White’s.
“I think it’s my biggest win in classical ever so far,” Duda remarked. “I’m very happy with it.”
…….cntd
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