Candidates R10: Caruana wins, joins lead

The 2016 FIDE World Chess Candidates Tournament is a 14-round event, which determines the next Challenger to Magnus Carlsen's title, is taking place in Moscow from March 10–30. Eight players, including six of the World’s top-ten rated grandmasters. The time control is 100 minutes for the first 40 moves, 50 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move one. The guaranteed prize fund is US $420,000.

Candidates round ten – Caruana wins, joins the leader

Report from Moscow by Sagar Shah and Amruta Mokal

Note that ChessBase is doing daily one-hour roundup shows after each round

It was quite a sight when three of the four games in the Candidates 2016 reached the same position after six moves! It is almost unbelievable because not only did the players reach exactly the same position, but they also played the same move order to get there! The line chosen by them was a the Classical Four Knights Variation in the English. Let us try to delve into its history a little bit.

The first game played in this line was in 1938 between Hanaeur and Rehevsky in the 1938 US Championships. Since then a lot of top players have used this variation. Its real popularity increased in the 70s. Name a World Champion and he has either tried this system with white or with black, some with both colours – Smyslov, Petrosian, Karpov, Kasparov, were the main exponents. Wolfgang Uhlmann was one of the players who played it exclusive with white and brought in a lot of new ideas. The line reached its pinnacle of popularity in the year 1987 when Kasparov played it thrice with the white pieces against Karpov in their World Championship Match and this produced three decisive results (one win for Kasparov and two for Karpov). Garry used this same preparation to blow Vassily Ivanchuk off the board in 1988, in a game that is considered as one of the great classics.

The reason why this line was so popular at the top level is because of the rich and varied possibilities that arise for both sides. Such variations always attract top players, and is one of the reason why we are seeing it being played in a high level event as the Candidates. While Nakamura and Topalov continued with the more position line with 6…d6, Anand chose the more complex approach with 6…e4 followed by Bxc3. White got a comfortable position in all the three games, but only Caruana was able to squeeze out a win. Let’s begin with this, the only decisive game of the day.

Fabiano Caruana – Viswanathan Anand 1-0

With two victories in last three rounds, Fabiano is making a dash towards the finish line!

I might not be completely wrong to say that 12.Qc2, which was a novelty, was the winning move of the game. The reason is very simple – Rustam Kasimdzhanov found this idea on the night before the game, discussed it with Caruana. Together they must have seen quite a few variations and also understood how things flow in this line. In short Caruana had a feel for the position. When Anand got it on the board he couldn’t really unravel the details in just 10-15 minutes. The position was just too complicated. As you can see in the analysis below, Fabiano showed a few variations which, according to him, even the computers do not understand. This shows that the move 12.Qc2 was an excellent practical choice and something that we can expect from a top level second like Kasimdzhanov, who incidentally used to be Anand's second.

The duo of Fabiano and Rustam have had their ups and downs at the event
but when it was is needed the most things have started to fall in place for them

Peter Svidler analyzes the game of Caruana and Anand in the playing hall after his own game ended in a draw

Fabiano revealed a secret after the game: “Today I got a forecast from a fortune cookie which said – with every day my probability for a big financial success is increasing, which seems to be pretty accurate!”

Fabiano Caruana discusses his game with Ian Nepomniachtchi
as German reporters Ulrich Stock and Steffan Loeffler look on

Peter Svidler – Hikaru Nakamura 0.5-0.5

White seemed to have a slight edge that remained right until the end of the game. Maybe with 25.Bc3 Peter could have kept his extra pawn and made Black to suffer. Instead he allowed Rh4 and the game ended in a draw. In the post-game interview Nakamura did say something interesting which would be interesting for chess analysts to go over.

Hikaru said that in the above position Black’s move 11…Qe7 is the best. That is also the move he played. Why did he not play 11…Qd7 which looks more logical? Hikaru said that 11…Qd7 is a mistake. Working for a few minutes with the engine I wasn’t able to find anything particularly wrong with Qd7. But maybe there is a deep point which I am missing and I invite the readers to have a crack at this position to know whether Nakamura was correct or not.

Unbelievable! All the games have the same position!

Sergey Karjakin – Anish Giri 0.5-0.5

Maybe I too should have tried the English? Karjakin looking at the big screen to check other games

Another game which will end up in the Meran books showing how Black can equalize without any problems out of the opening! Anish Giri has made ten draws on a trot in this tournament. But against Karjakin it wasn’t his fault that Sergey was not in an ambitious mood. Anish made the most solid moves out of the opening, got in …c5 after due preparation and made a relatively easy draw.

Black must make sure that his bishop on b7 doesn’t become passive forever. The thing about these top players is that you will never see them making a committal decision like a5-a4 if they aren’t sure that they cannot get in c5. One can bank on Anish to find the best way to engineer the c5 break in the position. He began with 20…Qe7 and then after 21.Qc2 came the important move 21…Rfe8! 22.Bf3 c5! You can have a look at the analysis below for more information.

How do I get this draw monkey off my back?!!

How does he do it? Sergey Karjakin has looked extremely solid in this event.

Incidentally one of the leaders, Sergey Karjakin, is the subject of an interesting new ChessBase DVD:

Levon Aronian – Veselin Topalov 0.5-0.5

Aronian began the game with a slight advantage. His edge grew substantially when instead of going Bh3 Topalov decided to play Ne4. After that it seemed as if Levon would grind down his opponent, or at least put some pressure on him. But it turned out that he wasn’t in the best possible shape and let the advantage slip in a matter of four moves. The pressure is surely getting to the Armenian, who in some ways is unable to showcase his best chess here as the tournament is coming close to an end. Yet, he is just half a point behind the leaders and definitely still has chances to win the tournament.

In this final position Topalov played 58…Bd8.
But there was a more interesting way to draw the game

Although Veselin has absolutely no chances to fight for the first place, he can really
make a difference in the tournament standings, as he faces Fabiano Caruana today

It doesn’t matter whether Levon wins, draws or losses,
he always has affectionate fans waiting for him outside the playing hall

Levon Aronian cannot believe that he was so much better in the game!

As soon as a game is over, people representing different newspapers and media houses have to proceed towards the commentary room from the press centre. While doing that they have to pass a corridor manned by security guards. Whenever a player goes to the restroom this corridor is locked making the reporters wait on either side. Sometimes there is quite a bit of traffic jam, as you can see above!

Look who made it to the playing venue (1): Anatoly Karpov! The 12th World Champion is extremely busy these days with his political engagements and finds very little time to stay in touch with chess.

Yet, his eyes light up when an interesting chess position flashes in front of him!

Look who made it to the playing venue (2): Joel Lautier. This top French grandmaster has stopped playing active chess for quite some time now. He is based in Moscow where he has started his own enterprise and is the CEO of RCG Capital, a firm that deals in Mergers and Acquisitions.
 

Paul Hoffmann is the president and CEO of Liberty Science Centre in Jersey City

Paul was the last man standing when world champion Magnus Carlsen played blindfold blitz chess against three challengers. He is currently assisting LSC visiting grandmaster Fabiano Caruana in his quest to become the first American to win the world chess championship since Bobby Fischer in 1972.

When we asked this lady who her favourite player was, she replied, “Viswanathan Anand,because like me he is a vegetarian!” But does she know that he eats chicken and seafoods?

Susanna Gaboyan, rated 2175, has come all the way from Armenian to support Levon Aronian

Russian Higher League 2014 winner and twice silver medalist at the World Juniors, Olga Girya (left),
comes to the tournament hall almost every day and plays as many blitz games as she can.
Is it a good way to improve your chess? Ask Mikhail Tal!

WGM Karina Ambartsumova supports Levon Aronian in this event

A visitor, captivated by the 64 squares!

On the rest day, Amruta and I made our way to the home of one of the most famous trainers in the world, Mark Dvorestsky. In the picture above Mark is seen with his wife Inna. The readers of ChessBase will be treated to a huge interview with Dvoretsky, one that deals with how to become better at the game and also how to become a better trainer, after the Candidates tournament is over. I have read almost all of his books, and he is one reason I became an IM.

On a parting note we leave you with a short video of the Red Square. This prime tourist location in Moscow is spacious and beautiful. This video will give you a feel, and we will promise you special pictures of the place in our next report.

The games to look forward in the eleventh round are Anand taking on Karjakin with the white pieces and Topalov as White against Fabiano Caruana! The tournament is still wide open, although one gets the feeling that it now going to be a battle between four players: Karjakin, Caruana, Anand and Aronian. Let’s see if Anish can get back into the tournament with his first win today!

All photos by Amruta Mokal of ChessBase India

Standings after ten rounds

Pairings and results

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