10/6/2011 – One would have been justified in thinking that after his fifth round loss to Carlsen, and the terrible incident that marred his trip to Bilbao, Ivanchuk would be unable to continue his Grand Slam Masters ravage. However, the tire marks he left on Nakamura, after he ran over the American's Sicilian, dismissed this thought. The other games drew. Pictorial and video with analysis by GM Romain Edouard.
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The first leg of the Grand Slam was staged in São Paulo, Ibirapuera
Park, from September 25th to October 1st, the second leg takes place in Bilbao,
Alhóndiga, from 5th to 11th October. Tournament system: double round
robin with six players over ten rounds. Time control: 90 minutes/40 moves +
60 minutes + 10 seconds/move starting with the first move. Games begin at 16:00h
local Spanish time (10 a.m. New York, 18:00h Moscow).
A group shot with Vallejo, Anand, Carlsen, tournament director Juan Carlos Garcia,
Nakamura, Aronian, and Ivanchuk.
The audience comes to watch the players while overhead screens
display show the action from afar.
In spite of the fact that Carlsen and Anand are solidly entrenched in the top two spots in the world ranking, albeit with Aronian breathing down their necks, their game soon lost its appeal when it became clear no fireworks were forthcoming. It was all very correct, but nothing to break a sweat over.
A pas-de-deux in which neither dancemaster had any trouble with the steps
Carlsen has had trouble getting his game into top gear
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1.e4
1,168,430
54%
2421
---
1.d4
948,593
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
282,135
56%
2441
---
1.c4
182,404
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,724
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,321
54%
2427
---
1.f4
5,913
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,814
51%
2384
---
1.b4
1,759
48%
2379
---
1.a3
1,221
54%
2405
---
1.e3
1,073
49%
2409
---
1.d3
954
50%
2378
---
1.g4
666
46%
2361
---
1.h4
449
53%
2374
---
1.c3
435
51%
2426
---
1.h3
283
56%
2419
---
1.a4
112
59%
2465
---
1.f3
93
46%
2435
---
1.Nh3
89
66%
2508
---
1.Na3
42
62%
2482
---
Please, wait...
1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nc3Bb44.Nf3b65.Qc2Bb76.a3Bxc3+7.Qxc30-08.Bg5d69.Nd2Nbd710.f3h611.Bh4Rc812.e4c513.Bd3d514.exd5exd515.0-0dxc416.Bxc4NBoth a novelty and the computer's first choice!16.Nxc4cxd417.Qxd4Nc5was just equal in Van Wely-Leko (2008).16...cxd417.Qxd4Nc518.Bxf6Qxf619.Qxf6gxf620.Rfd120.Rfe1is no improvement
afterRfd821.Nf1Na422.b3Nb223.Re7Nxc424.Rxb7Nd220...Na4!21.Rab1Rfd822.Bb5Bc623.Be2Bd524.Nf1Be625.Ne3f525...Bb3is a
different route with the same destination.26.Rd326.Rxd8+Rxd826...Rxd327.Bxd3Ba228.Ra1Be626.g3Kg727.Kf2Kf628.Ba6Rb829.b4Nc330.Rxd8Rxd831.Rc1Nd532.Ng232.Rd1Ke733.Nxd5+Rxd534.Rxd5Bxd5
should just be a draw, as Black has not enough weaknesses.32.Nxd5+Rxd533.Ke3Rd7should also be nothing special, though White stands a little bit
better.32...Rd733.Rc2Rc734.Ne3Rxc2+35.Nxc2f436.Nd4Bd737.Ke2fxg338.hxg3Ne739.Ke3Nf5+40.Nxf5Kxf541.Kd4Ke642.Bc4+Ke743.f4f644.Bd5Kd645.Bf3Be646.Ba8Bf547.Bf3Be648.Ba8Bf549.Bf3Be6½–½
The game between Vallejo and Aronian was a different affair, in which the Armenian chose to leave the well-travelled roads, even at the risk of being worse off than usual as Black, in the hopes of outplaying his lower-rated opponent as the game unfolded.
Always ready to fight, Aronian came close to losing
The stratagem certainly highlighted his combativity, however it came dangerously close to blowing up in his face as he got into considerable trouble, before regaining control, and the draw.
To his credit, Vallejo nearly succeeded in punishing Aronian for not giving him his
due respect.
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1.Nf3d52.d4c53.c4dxc44.e4cxd45.Qxd4Bd75...Qxd46.Nxd4Bd7
or 6...a6 was the normal way to play. A strange opening choice by Aronian in
my opinion. As several people asked me to explain it, I thought it could be a
cool idea to try! Indeed, somehow White should be always slightly better
everywhere, while Black hopes to make a draw if White makes one or several
inaccurate moves. For me, it is very hard to know at what moment in a game top
players like Aronian go for a draw, or decide to go for a win. If I were
playing this opening with Black, it was planning for both a draw, and for some
side-line just to change a bit from the usual stuff. But Aronian played 5...
Bd7, declining a drawish queen exchange, though White should be very slightly
better after that. As a result I would say Aronian didn't want to go
desperately for a win, but also wanted to be creative, feeling that it should
be possible to hold even a slightly worse position due to the (almost) hundred
points difference. However, Vallejo is an extremely strong player, and I think
Aronian was not far from getting punished right after the opening.6.Bxc4Nc67.Qe3e68.0-0Qb8N8...Nge79.b3was much better for White in
Tregubov-Jonkman (2002), though Black won.9.b3Ne510.Bb2Bd610...Nxc4?!11.bxc4and Black cannot develop.11.Nbd2Nf612.Qg5A decent move.
White is slightly better, though I think 12.Qc3! is the real way to punish
Black, though I might be missing a good defensive concept.To illustrate,
after12.Qc3!Nxf3+12...Nxc413.bxc4Be714.e5Ng415.h3Nh616.Ba3±13.Nxf3b514.Bd3!14.Be2gives a long forced line:0-015.Rfd1e5Forced.16.Nxe5Nxe417.Qd4Bxe518.Qxe5Qxe519.Bxe5Rfe820.f4Re721.Rac1f622.Bb2Rae823.Bf3f5and White is better, though I cannot
say by how much.14...Qb714...0-015.e5Nd516.Bxh7++-15.Qa5!?15.Rfd1Rc816.Qa5Bc517.Ne5Bb618.Qd20-019.Qe215...Be715...Rc816.e5Bc717.Qd2Nd518.Qg5±16.Rac1Bd817.Qd20-018.Rfd1and
White seems much better to me.12...Ng613.Bxf6h614.Qa5Bc714...gxf615.Bb515.Qc515.Qc3!gxf616.Rac1!?16.Qxf6b517.Be2Rg818.g3Nf4!18...e519.Kh1a6(threatening ... Bd8)20.Ne1doesn't give
Black full compensation.19.Rae1e520.Kh1Nxe221.Rxe2Rg622.Qh8+Ke723.Qxb8Rxb824.Rc1and Black surely has compensation due to the two
bishops, but I think White should be slightly better anyway.16...Be516...Bd817.Rfd1±17.Nxe5Qxe518.Qe3and White is simply better.15...Bd616.Qa5Bc717.Qh5?!gxf618.Bb518.Rfd1might be better, keeping
the Queen on h5, and aiming to advance slowly but surely, with Bf1, g3...
White is slightly better and it is still a question of how Black is going to
secure his king.18...Bxb519.Qxb5+Kf820.Rad1Kg721.Nc4?!21.g3a622.Qe2h5is equal.21...h5After21...a6!22.Qh5b523.Nb223.Ne3Qb723...Qb7followed by ...Bb6, I actually think Black starts to be
slightly better. No big deal probably, but still a bit unpleasant for White...22.Rd7a623.Qb4b524.Nd6Bxd625.Rxd6Qc726.Rfd1Rad8Ok, dead draw.
27.g3h428.Rxd8Rxd829.Rxd8Qxd830.Qd4Qc831.Nxh4Nxh432.gxh4Qc233.e5fxe534.Qxe5+Kh735.Qh5+Kg736.Qg5+Kh737.Qh5+Kg738.Qg5+Kh739.Qh5+½–½
The last game to end was also the one that held the audience enraptured. Pundits and spectators alike would be perfectly justified in thinking that after his fifth round loss to Carlsen, and the tragic incident that marred his trip to Bilbao, Ivanchuk's ravage of the Grand Slam Masters would end. His sensitivity is well-known after all.
Leontxo García provided animated live commentary
However, it is extremely fitting that the most active player in the elite (by far!) instead continued what he does best, by playing brilliant chess. This is after all, a player whose sheer number of brilliancies could easily fill up several books, and he was in bright form this round as he ran over Nakamura's Sicilian Kan with creativity and verve.
For Nakamura, it was one of those days where things just didn't work out
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1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4a65.Nc3Qc76.Bd3Nf67.f4Bb48.Nb3Bxc3+9.bxc3d69...Qxc3+?10.Bd2Qc611.Qe2gives White huge
compensations.10.Ba30-011.Qd2Rd812.0-0Nc613.Rf3b514.Rg3Kh815.Rf1Bb716.f5Rg817.Qg5e5?!A tempting move: closing the position and
aiming to play ...d5 very soon. Of course, Nakamura is taking risks, playing
sharp positions as always, which is more than pleasant for the spectators.
I think the brave17...exf518.Rxf5Qd8!should simply be fine for
Black, since after19.Qh4Black is in time to play19.Rh3?Bc8or even just 19...Ne520.e5?Nxe521.Rxf6Bxh3-+19...Ne518.Qh4Ne7?A losing move
in a very complicated position.Black had to play18...Nb8!with the
idea of19.Rh319.Rxg7Rxg720.Qxf6Nd7∞19...Nbd7!20.Bc1and
now Black would be able to realize his plan withd5!21.exd521.g4dxe422.Be2Nf8is good for Black.21...Qd6and the position is quite unclear.
Of course Black had to find only moves, and will probably need to find more!19.Rh3!A good move, though 19.Bc1 is also very strong.19.Bc1!?d5Otherwise Bg5 just wins.20.Nd4!This is purely a computer move, and
while not the only strong move, it is the best: so let's put it as a main move,
even though it is completely impossible to find without assistance :) I
checked several lines with my engine, but as it wasn't extremely deep, there
might be mistakes!20.Rh3!?Rgd821.g421.Bg5?Neg821...dxe422.Be2and Black wants to go reply Nxf5! if White pushes g5 followed by
...Bc8, but White can even prepare slowly (starting with Be3) and I don't see
what Black can do. It seems winning for White.22.g5Nxf523.Rxf5Bc824.Rxf6Bxh325.Qxe425.Bxe4Rd1+26.Kf2Rf1+27.Kg3Rg1+28.Kxh3Qc8+29.Bf5Qxc3+30.Bd3Qc8+31.Rf5g632.Qf2Rxc133.Nxc1gxf5is not entirely
clear.25...g626.Bb2±20.Bg5Qb6+21.Be3!Qd621...Qc722.Rh3Rgd823.g4dxe424.g5Nxf525.Rxf5Bc826.Rxf6Bxh327.Bxe4Rd1+28.Kf2Rf1+29.Kg3+-22.Rh3dxe422...Rgc823.g4+-23.Bg5Ned524.c424.Bxe4Rgc8is not so clear.24...bxc425.Bxc4e326.Rff3Qb627.Bxd5e2+28.Be3Qd629.c4Rgc830.Bd2Bxd531.cxd5Rc232.Re3a533.Rxe2a434.Nc1Rxd235.Rxd2Qc5+36.Kf1Qxc1+37.Qe1±20...dxe4∆20...exd4?21.Bg5Qd622.Rh3+-20...Qd621.Rh3!Rge822.g4dxe423.g5+-20...Qb621.Be3+-20...Qxc321.Nf3+-21.Bg5Qd622.Rh3Ned523.Bxe4Rgb824.Bxd5Qxd525.Nf3+-19...d520.Nc5?!Only "dubious",
even though the evaluation of the position drops down a lot. In my opinion
this is a brillant conception by Ivanchuk, though the game is going to carry
on longer!20.Rff3!just wins, though Black can get "only" a lost
endgame after finding some genius moves:Rgc8!Far from easy to find in my
opinion!! But anyway, all lines are pretty computer-like, so Ivanchuk must
have miscalculated something, since 20.Rff3 is a very attractive and logical
move.20...dxe4?21.Qxh7+Oops!Nxh722.Rxh7+Kxh723.Rh3#20...h621.Bc1+-20...Rgd8?21.g4Neg822.g5dxe423.gxf6Nxf624.Rfg3!+-21.Bxe721.g4Neg822.g5dxe423.gxf6Nxf624.Rfg3Qb6+The rook
on c8 avoids Bc5!25.Kf1exd326.Rxg7Kxg727.Rg3+Kh828.Qh6Rg829.Be7Rxg330.Bxf6+Qxf631.Qxf6+Rg732.cxd3is is not entirely clear.21...Qxe722.g4h622...dxe423.g5h624.gxf6Qxf625.Bxe4+-23.g5Nh723...Ng824.f6Qf825.fxg7+Qxg726.Rfg3+-24.f6Qf825.exd525.Rfg3dxe426.Bxe4Rc427.Nd2Rxe428.Nxe4Bc829.fxg7+Qxg730.Qxh6±25...Bxd526.Rfg3e427.Bxe4Bxe428.Qxe4Re829.Qf3Re1+30.Kg2Rae831.Nd4R8e332.fxg7+Qxg733.gxh6Qxg3+34.Rxg3Rxf335.Rxf3should be
winning.20.g4dxe421.Be2Ned522.g5e3is not so clear.20.Bc1!?20...dxe420...Rac821.Rff3!21.g4dxe422.Bxe4Bxe423.Nxe4Qa7+
preventing Bc5 is, once again, the idea of playing ...Rc8.21...Qb622.Kh1Rgd823.Nxb7Qxb724.Bxe7Qxe725.g4h626.g5Nxe427.f6Qf828.Bxe4dxe429.fxg7+Qxg730.Rf6+-21.Bxe4Bd522.g4h622...Qb6
should be best, but White is much better:23.Rf2!23.g5??Bxe4-+23.Bxd5Nexd524.g5Rac825.gxf6Nxf626.Qf2Ng427.Qh4Nf6=23...Rgd823...h624.Bd3e425.Bc1Nxg426.Qxg4exd327.cxd3±24.Nd3!h624...Bxe425.Bxe7+-25.Bxd5Nexd526.g5Nf427.Nxf4Rd1+28.Kg2Qc6+29.Rhf3Ne430.Nh3Nxf231.Nxf2Rg1+32.Kxg1Qxf333.f6h5and the
position is not entirely clear, but of course Black had to defend like crazy
and find very difficult moves.23.g5Nh723...Nxe424.Nxe4Bxe425.Qxe4Rad826.f6Ng627.Bc1is better for White, and probably better than the
game.24.f6Ng625.fxg7+?In these kinds of positions, it's easy to
blunder with Black, but not only...White should go25.Qg4!in order
to play fxg7+ and then take with the rook on h6, which is a much better
concept.25...Rxg726.Qxh6Rd827.Bxg6fxg628.Rf6Qc829.Rh4Bf7?
Black misses a way to escape!After29...Bg8!Black seems to be fine:30.Ne4With the idea30.Rxg6?Rd1+31.Kg2Bd5+32.Ne4Rf7!-+30.Nd3Qxc3∞30...Qc4!31.Bf8Rd1+32.Kg2Rf7is not clear.30.Nd3?White misses a way to win!30.Ne4!Rd1+30...Qb731.Bd6Qd532.Be7Re833.Rxf7Rxf734.Bf6++-31.Kg2!31.Kf2?Qc4!=31...Qb731...Qc432.Bf8+-31...Re132.Qxg7+!32.Kf2+-32...Kxg733.Rxf7+Kxf734.Nd6++-32.Bf8+-30...Kg8?And... Black misses a way
to escape!30...Rxd3!31.cxd3Qxc3seems to be enough to make a draw!31.Bd6!e4?31...Re832.Nxe5Qxc333.Qxg7+!33.Rxf7Qe3+34.Rf2Qb6is less clear: thank you, engine!33...Kxg734.Rxf7+Kg835.Rhxh7Qe1+36.Kg2Qe2+37.Kh3Qe3+38.Rf3Qxf3+39.Nxf3Kxh740.Be5and I
suppose this should be winning for White...32.Be5+-Now it's over.Rd533.Rc6Qf834.Bxg7Just for chess beauty?34.Rc8+-34...Qxg735.Rxe4Rxg5+36.Qxg5!Nxg537.Rc8+Be838.Rcxe8+Kh739.Rh4+1–0
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