Anand wins Corsican Masters Knockout

by ChessBase
11/1/2011 – The fourteen top players from the Corsican Open were joined by two seeded world-class grandmaster for the Masters Knockout. The latter showed why they sit on the top of international rating lists by going through to the final. There World Champion Vishy Anand outplayed Azeri Super-GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov with a clean 2-0 result. Annotations by GM Elshan Moradiabadi.

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The 15th edition of the Corsican Circuit was staged on an island that breaks the world record per capita chess players (5375 active members in a population of 300,000). In a difficult economic environment the organisers managed to maintain the same level of prizes (95,000 €), having mobilised a total of 124 sponsors! Hundreds of young people participated in the festive event, which this year welcomed over 800 friends from the five continents.

The Open tournament consisted of nine rounds and finished with the following top results:

Pl Ti Player
Rtng
Fed
Pts
Tr.
Bu.
Perf
1 g Sasikiran Krishnan
2689
IND
7.5
44.5
55.5
2792
2 g Jones Gawain C B
2624
ENG
7.0
45
56.5
2692
3 g Melkumyan Hrant
2619
ARM
6.5
46.5
57.5
2647
4 g Fressinet Laurent
2696
FRA
6.5
45.5
55.5
2664
5 g Durarbeyli Vasif
2526
AZE
6.5
45
54
2542
6 g Baron Tal
2505
ISR
6.5
44.5
54.5
2559
7 g Cheparinov Ivan
2650
BUL
6.5
44
54.5
2597
8 m Arnold Marc T
2505
USA
6.5
44
54
2629
9 m Battaglini Gabriel
2452
FRA
6.5
43
53
2455
10 g Grigoryan Avetik
2614
ARM
6.5
43
52.5
2588
11 g Mamedov Rauf
2660
AZE
6.5
42.5
53
2599
12 m Mullon Jean-Baptiste
2379
FRA
6.5
42.5
51.5
2464
13 g Tregubov Pavel V.
2602
RUS
6.5
41.5
51
2554
14 f Massoni Michael
2304
FRA
6.5
40.5
49.5
2387
15 f Berthelot Yannick
2286
FRA
6.5
39.5
49
2421
16   Baghdasaryan Vahe
2362
ARM
6
42.5
52.5
2427
17   Inants Aghasi
2288
ARM
6
42.5
50.5
2360
18 m Bedouin Xavier
2406
FRA
6
41.5
50.5
2344
19 g Flear Glenn C
2471
ENG
6
41
51
2435
20 g Sulava Nenad
2540
CRO
6
41
51
2394
21 f Coleman Teddy
2312
USA
6
41
49
2366
22 m Debray Christopher
2402
FRA
6
40.5
50.5
2354
23   Ivanov Stojan Emilov
2221
BUL
6
40.5
47.5
2339
24 m Dimitrov Radoslav
2424
BUL
6
39.5
49
2343
25 gf Mamedjarova Turkan
2277
AZE
6
39
47.5
2310
26   Egozi Nadav
2173
ISR
6
38
47.5
2225
27   Humeau Cyril
2261
FRA
6
36.5
44.5
2165

Now came the final phase: the top fourteen players were joined by two seeded world class grandmasters for a sixteen-player knockout competition, with two games per match, played at a rate of fifteen minutes for all moves plus three seconds increment per move from the start. Turned out that the "two seeded world class grandmasters" were in a league of their own, since both went through to the final, which was played on Monday. Here is a table with the pairings and results:

Corsica Masters Knockout

The great success of Corsica Circuit apparently caught the organisers unprepared: the official web site (given in the link below) crashed and there was no information available. Luckily we had been following the games on Playchess, and the super-reliable Mark Crowther of TWIC soon had them up as well. And one of the Playchess visitors provided us with light commentary: GM Elshan Moradiabadi of Iran (picture right) submitted them a few hours after the games had finished.

As soon as we receive visuals from Corsica we will add them to this page, but until then we give you Elshan's thoughts on the final for your enjoyment and as a special treat. We have also tagged on an endgame lesson sent in by GM Karsten Müller, which examines a missed opportunity from an earlier round.

  

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A very nice and complicated game, truly in the spirit of a final! 1.d4 4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3!? A good sign! I do not remember Anand ever trying this rare line. The line is quite new and fresh and hardly has anything one could call its "history"! On the other hand, Mamedyarov has some quite "decent" experience with both colors. Does Anand have something spectacular up his sleeves in this "cutting-edge" opening?! d5 To be expected, as Mamedyarov plays the Gruenfeld frequently. 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nb6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Be3 0-0 8.Qd2 This is the "tabiya" of this opening. Nc6 8...Be6 9.d5 Bc8 10.Bh6 1-0 (78) Mamedyarov,S (2657)-Eljanov,P (2592) Dubai 2004 is one of "Shak"'s successful experiences in this line. 8...e5 used to be the main line but not nowadays! 9.0-0-0 Qd6 A rare choice which seems acceptable . This is one of the main lines in which the theory is highly developed. There are many games in this line including the controversial... 9...f5 10.h4 fxe4 11.h5 gxh5 12.d5 Ne5 13.Bh6 Nec4 14.Qg5 Rf7 15.Bxc4 Nxc4 16.Rd4 Qd6 17.Bxg7 Rxg7 18.Qxh5 Qf4+ 19.Kb1 Bf5 20.fxe4 Bg4 21.Nge2 Qd2 0-1 (21) Mamedyarov,S (2724)-Kurnosov,I (2602) Moscow 2009 Remember the story? 10.Kb1 The assault with 10.h4 Rd8 11.Nb5 Qd7 12.h5 a6 13.Nc3 Nxd4 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.g4 Qc6 led to a wild position in 1/ 2-1/2 (49) Grischuk,A (2760) -Mamedyarov,S (2761) Moscow 2010 10.Nb5 Qd7 11.Na3 Only Ivanchuk can play this move! 11.Bh6?! Bxh6 12.Qxh6 a6 13.Nc3 Nxd4 1-0 (53) Mamedyarov,S (2657)-Petrosian,T (2539) Antalya 2004 11...e5 12.d5 Nd4 13.Kb1 c6! 1-0 (33) Ivanchuk,V (2768)-Sutovsky,E (2700) Ningbo 2011 10...Rd8 11.Nb5 Qd7 12.d5 Ne5?!N A dubious novelty! What was worrying "Shak " so much that he felt compelled to deviate from the usual (and fine) continuation which has been played recently? Anand's preparation?! 12...a6 13.Nc3 Na5 14.Bd4 Nbc4 14...e5!? 15.Bxb6 cxb6 with unclear play 15.Qf2 e5 16.Bc5 b6 17.Bb4 c5! And Black was fine in the game (38) Gustafsson,J (2647) -Mekhitarian,K (2529) 1/2-1/2 Reykjavik 2011 13.Qc2! Anand was ready, and reacted accordingly. White wins a pawn and now Black has to prove that he has enough compensation for his "sacrificed" material. c6 14.Nxa7 What else?! A knight's retreat!!? Rxa7 15.Bxb6 Ra8 16.Ne2?! Anand chooses the safest continuation which in my opinion is too optimistic. He could have gone for the more aggressive: 16.f4 Ng4 17.Nf3 Re8 18.h3 Nf6 19.Ne5 Qd6 20.dxc6 Qb4 21.Bc4! Qxb6 22.Bxf7+ Kf8 23.Qc4 e6 24.c7 and White dominates with a winning attack. 16...Re8 17.Nc3 Qd6 18.Be3 Bd7 19.dxc6 Another option was: 19.f4 Ng4 20.dxc6 Qxc6 21.Bb5 Nxe3 22.Bxc6 Nxc2 23.Bxd7 Ne3 24.Bxe8 Nxd1 25.Bxf7+ Kxf7 26.Rxd1 Bxc3 27.bxc3 e5 28.Rd7+ Ke6 White has 2 pawns more after this more or less forced move order, however he also has to deal with many practical issues in this "rook ending", for which, Vishy may not have had enough time on the clock. 19...Qxc6 20.Bb5 Qe6 21.Bxd7 Nxd7 22.Qb3 Qxb3 23.axb3 Though Anand's modest play has reduced his advantage, on the other hand he achieves an "easy" ending which he can conduct blindfolded. Ne5 24.Nd5 Rac8 It is true that White's extra pawn is doubled but the two on the b-file are doing their defensive duties pretty well and do not allow the knight on e5 any specific "jump". As my mentor GM Nigel Short always points out: "A pawn is a pawn"! 25.Rd2 e6 26.Nb6 Rcd8 27.Rhd1 Rxd2 28.Rxd2 f5 29.Nc4 fxe4?! 30.fxe4?! 30.Nd6 could have sealed Black's fate on the spot. 30...Rf8 31.h3 Rf1+ 32.Kc2 Nc6 33.Rd1 Rf7 34.Rd6 Re7 35.Bc5 Anand has started a dominating plan in the center in spite of Mamedyarov's bold defence. Rf7?! This makes things easier for Anand. 35...Rc7 was more stubborn in face of the the "poisoned" e6 pawn. 36.Rxe6?? Kf7 37.Rd6 Bf8 and now White is the one seeking a draw. 36.Rxe6 Bd4?? The final blunder, and now it is all over. 37.Rxc6! Rf2+ 38.Kd3 bxc6 39.Bxd4 Rxg2 40.Ne5 Rg3+ 41.Kc4 Rxh3 42.Nxc6 h5 43.b4 The pawn will queen of his own "volition" 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Anand,V2817Mamedyarov,S27461–02011D70Final of Corsica Circuit 20111

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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 The Queen's Gambit Declined! One the most solid variations against 1.d4. Now one wonders what Shak's reaction will be. He needs to win... 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 Nbd7 7.g4!?N This aggressive move has been tried by Mamedyarov in some other games with a similar "flavor". For example, against Ponomariov if I am not mistaken. This "flank attack" is becoming playable thanks to our Super GMs and engines! dxc4 7...c5!? could be another reasonable move following the known principle which states: "in order to face a flank attack one must seek counter play in the center." 8.Bxc4 c5 9.g5 Nh5 10.Be5 a6 The greedy 10...Bxg5 is possible but that is the engines' taste, not the World Champion's! 11.Bd3 11.dxc5 11...g6 12.h4 Nxe5 13.dxe5 White's arsenal is focused on Black's king, however, lack of coordination and the well-placed knight on h5 which hinders White's onslaught for several moves. In the meantime Black gets a strong initiative thanks to his strategical advantages: his pair of bishops, and better pawn structure. b5 14.Nh2? Mamedyarov plays for the win at any cost and gambles "all in" wtih his position. Unfortunately for him, he has to "bet" it against Anand! Ra7! Masterfully played! Black brings in his troops with the highest amount of efficiency. 15.Qe2 c4! This move wins a pawn by force. 16.Bc2 Qa5 17.0-0 b4 18.Ne4 Qxe5 19.Ng4 Qc7 20.Rad1 a5?! 20...Bd7 21.Rd4 Bb5 was more accurate. 21.Rd4 Ba6 22.Rfd1 c3 23.Bd3 Bxd3 24.R4xd3?! I suppose Mamedyarov is still counting on a mistake by Anand, otherwise he would have captured the Bishop with his Queen. Qc4 25.Nef6+ Bxf6 26.gxf6 Qc5? Finally it comes! Anand makes a mistake, not only losing his edge but even handing White a dangerous initiative. 26...h6!? 27.bxc3 27.Nxh6+?? Kh7 28.Ng4 Qxa2 is winning for Black. 27...bxc3 28.Rc1 Rb7 29.Rcxc3 29.Nxh6+?? is still a blunder. Kh7 30.Ng4 Rb2-+ 29...Rb1+ 30.Kh2 30.Kg2?? Qe4+ 31.f3 Nf4+ loses the queen 30...Qe4 31.f3 Qb7 32.Qg2 32.Rc2? Rh1+ 33.Kg2 33.Kxh1 Ng3+ loses the queen 33...Qb1 with a devastating attack for Black which would finish the game very soon 32...Rb2 33.Rc2 Rxc2 34.Qxc2 Qxf3 And Black still has the upper hand. One should not forget that with the clock ticking away, all these accurate moves can fade away in an instant! 27.bxc3 bxc3 28.Rd8? Mamedyarov returns the favor. He could grab the dangerous c3 pawn and after consolidating his position on d and c file try to invade Black's weak back rank. 28.Rc1 Qb5 29.Rcxc3 Qb8 30.Qd1 28...h6 Anand reacts cautiously... 29.Rxf8+ Qxf8 30.Qc4 Qb4! Since the tables turned, Vishy does not give "Shak" a single chance to come back. 31.Qc8+ Kh7 32.f3 Qb7 33.Qf8? Mamedyarov stays close with the threat of mate, nevertheless it remains just a "threat" until the end of the game. Ra8 34.Qxh6+ Kg8 The dusts has settled, the back rank is covered and the "dangerous" (remember?) c-pawn will triumph. 35.Ne5 Nxf6 35...c2 was even quicker 36.Qf4 Nd5 37.Qd4 Qb2 38.Nd3 Qe2 39.Re1 Qxf3 40.h5 A spectaculart game, but one has to switch off the engines and enjoy the dramatic course of the game! 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2746Anand,V28170–12011D37Final of Corsica Circuit 20112


Winner of the Corsica Masters Knockout: World Champion Viswanathan Anand

Dominance Duel

In addition to the GM commentary of Elshan Moradiabadi we bring you analysis by our resident GM Karsten Müller, who looks at a critical game from the first round. French GM Laurent Fressinet had contrived to lose his first game, with the white pieces, against his compatriot IM Gabriel Battaglini, rated 244 points lower than him on the rating scale. In their second game Fressinet had a chance to equalise (and force tiebreak games) in an endgame that saw the fight of bishop against knight zugzwang, where dominance often plays a crucial role:

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1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Be3 a6 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 b5 8.a4 b4 9.Ne2 Bb7 10.Ng3 Nbd7 11.Qd2 c5 12.c3 bxc3 13.bxc3 Qc7 14.Bh6 e5 15.Qg5 Ne8 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nf5+ Kh8 18.Ne7 Ndf6 19.dxe5 Qxe7 20.exf6 Qxf6 21.Qxf6+ Nxf6 22.e5 Ne8 23.exd6 Bxf3 24.d7 Nf6 25.gxf3 Nxd7 26.a5 Ne5 27.Be2 g5 28.Rab1 c4 29.Rfd1 Rab8 30.h4 h6 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.Kg2 f6 33.Kg3 Rb5 34.Rxb5 axb5 35.Rb1 Rb8 36.f4 gxf4+ 37.Kxf4 Kg7 38.Ke4 Kf7 39.f4 Nc6 40.Rxb5 Re8+ 41.Kf3 Rc8 42.Bxc4+ Kg7 43.Rb7+ Kg6 44.Bd3+ f5 45.Rb6 Kg7 46.Ba6 Rc7 47.Rb7 Rxb7 48.Bxb7 Nxa5 49.Bd5 Kf6 50.Ke3 Ke7 51.Kd4? Walks onto the mined square. Tiptoeing around it with 51.Kd3! wins: Kd7 51...Kd6 52.Kd4+- Zugzwang 52.Kc2 Kd6 53.c4 Nc6 53...Kc5 54.Kc3 Kb6 55.Kb4+- 54.Bxc6 Kxc6 55.Kc3 Kc5 56.Kd3 Kc6 57.Kd4 Kd6 58.c5+ Kc6 59.Kc4 Kd7 60.Kd5 Kc7 61.Ke5+- 51...Kd6 Reciprocal zugzwang with White to move. 52.Bg8 52.c4 opens the cage and allows a blockade on the dark squares: Nb3+ 53.Kc3 Nc5 54.Kb4?! Nd3+= 52...Nc6+ 53.Kc4 Ne7 54.Bh7 54.Bf7 Kc6 55.Kd4 Kd6 56.Be8 Nd5= 54...Kc6 Now the knight dominates the bishop, which occurs only very seldom. 55.Kd4 Kd6 56.c4 Nc6+ 57.Kc3 Ne7 58.Kd4 58.Kb4 Kc6 59.c5 Nd5+= 58...Nc6+ 59.Kc3 Ne7 60.Kd4 Nc6+ ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Battaglini,G2452Fressinet,L2696½–½2011B08Corsica Masters KO 20111.2

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