The FIDE Candidates Tournament is taking place in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia). The first round will start on Thursday, March 13 at 3 p.m. local time, the final round is on Sunday, March 30, 2014. The event is a double round robin (14 rounds). The time control is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 and 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional 30 seconds per move starting from move 61.
The tournament will determine the challenger who will face the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen in a title match later this year. The prize fund is 600,000 Euros (= US $832,000), the first place 135,000 and last (8th) place 25,000 Euros. |
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Round two
Round two – 14.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Kramnik Vladimir |
1-0
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Svidler Peter |
1-0
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Topalov Veselin |
½-½
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Aronian Levon |
1-0
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |

A nice shot of the stage and spectator area from behind the stage
After a slightly hesitant start in round one, in which Vishy Anand was only player able to break out of his shell ready for outright war, round two set the stage for open hostility by the other competitors.


It was both the longest game and the shortest
Topalov-Anand was a classic clash, in which the Bulgarian sidestepped the massive preparation he knew Anand would still have stored up from his World Championship match, and played a flexible Reti setup. This led to uncharted waters as of 7…Bd6. Black gave a pawn to complete his development and play against the fractured pawn structure, which was enough to keep the balance but no more. It is almost ironic that when they shook hands on move 54, with their bare kings, their game was the first to end, despite having the most moves played of all the skirmishes in the round.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Levon Aronian shake hands before the game
Levon Aronian had commented in the round one press conference after his loss that statistically he had a record for playing better after a loss, and he felt this. He quipped that he had might as well get it out of the way as early as possible. Still, even he could not have predicted what happened though, when Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, a great tactician in his own right, carelessly went astray in a Queen’s Gambit, and fell for a vicious tactic that lost his queen.

This was the position after Mamedyarov's ill-fated 13...Ne7?
White to play and win. (Answer below)

Aronian is already on the comeback trail
The conversion was far from straightforward, and the Armenian spent quite some time trying to cope with the winning, but very unorthodox position, causing his fans to worry whether he might fail to win, but he reeled in the point and self-fulfilled his prophecy.
Answer to position: After 14.Ne4!! dxe4 15.Nxe4 the queen is trapped with 15...Qh4 16.g3 Qh3 17.Nf2 and Black has nothing better to do than 17...Qxf1+.
Dmitry Andreikin chose the Sicilian Kalashnikov as his weapon of choice against Peter Svidler’s 1.e4, and seemed unprepared when Svidler improvised a novelty (13.b4) two moves after Black had entered a less travelled route with 11…Qg5. Andreikin failed to find the best continuation, and blundered with 22….Bd3 missing White’s zwischenzug 24.Nf5! after which he is essentially lost. Some precise calculation was required on Peter’s part, but he had seen it through and the game was over by move 31.

The post-mortem with Svidler and Andreikin
GM Alejandro Ramirez annotates:
1.e4 | 1,184,215 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 958,932 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 286,327 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 184,722 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,884 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,598 | 54% | 2428 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,953 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,906 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,790 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,250 | 54% | 2406 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,081 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 969 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 670 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 466 | 54% | 2382 | --- |
1.c3 | 439 | 51% | 2425 | --- |
1.h3 | 289 | 56% | 2420 | --- |
1.a4 | 118 | 60% | 2461 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 47 | 62% | 2476 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Be6 8...f5 9.Be2 Bg5 10.Nc2 10.0-0 Bxc1 11.Rxc1 Nf6 12.Nc2 10...Bxc1 11.Rxc1 Qg5 12.0-0 Rd8 13.b4 Nf6 14.Qd3 0-0 15.Rfd1 Rc8 16.Nd5 b5?! 16...Bxd5 17.exd5 17.cxd5 Nxb4 18.Qb3 Nxe4! 19.Qxb4 Nc3 20.Bc4 Nxd1 21.Rxd1 Qf4 17...Ne7∞ 17.Qg3! Qxg3 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.hxg3 bxc4?! 19...Bxc4! 20.Bxc4 bxc4 21.Rxd6 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Ne3 Nxb4 24.Rxc4 Nxa2 25.Nd5 a5 26.Nxf6+ 20.f4! 20.Rxd6 Rfd8 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20...f5 20...Rfd8 21.f5 Bd7 22.Bxc4± 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Ne3 Bd3 23.Bxd3 cxd3 24.Nf5! 24.Rxd3 Nxb4 24...e4 24...f6 25.Rxc6 24...Kh8 25.Nxd6 Rc7 26.a4 Rd8 27.Rxc6! 25.Nxd6 e3 26.Nxc8 d2 27.Rxc6 e2 28.Rcc1 28.Ne7+ Kh8 29.Rcc1 dxc1Q 30.Rxc1 Re8 31.Kf2 Rxe7 32.Re1 Rb7 33.Rb1 Re7 34.a4+- 28...exd1R+ 29.Rxd1 Rxc8 30.Rxd2 Rc3 30...Rc1+ 31.Kh2 Rb1 32.Rd6 31.Rd5 1–0
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Svidler,P | 2758 | Andreikin,D | 2709 | 1–0 | 2014 | B32 | FIDE Candidates Tournament 2014 | 2 |
Please, wait...

Karjakin found out why Kramnik is considered the foremost openings analyst of the day
The game of the day was unquestionably the battle of the Ks. 20 years back, a reference to the Ks was a clear and unmistakable allusion to the two greatest players of the day, but today it was a battle of generations between Vladimir Kramnik and Sergey Karjakin. As guest grandmaster commentator, GM Rafael Leitão, notes "It is almost a general consensus among professional chessplayers that no one has better opening preparation than Kramnik."
GM Rafael Leitão annotates:
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 Nf6 4.e5 Nd5 5.Bxc4 Nb6 6.Bd3 Nc6 7.Be3 Nb4 8.Be4 f5 9.a3! fxe4N 9...N4d5 10.Bf3 10.Bd3 Nxe3 11.fxe3 e6 10.axb4 e6 11.Nc3 Bxb4 12.Qh5+! g6 13.Qg4 13.Qh6 Bf8 14.Qh3 Be7 15.Nge2 13...Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 Qd5 15.Ne2± Bd7 16.0-0 Qc4 17.Ng3 Bc6 18.Ra5! 0-0-0 19.Rc5! 19.Rxa7 Na4 19...Qb3 20.c4?! 20.Rxc6! bxc6 21.Nxe4 20...Kb8 20...Rhe8!? 21.d5 Nxc4! 22.Rxc4 Bb5! 22...Qxc4 23.dxc6 Qxc6 24.Rc1± 23.Rcc1 Bxf1 24.Rxf1 Qxd5 25.Rc1 20...Bd7?! 21.Nxe4 Nxc4 22.Nd6+ Nxd6 23.exd6 c6 24.Ra1+- 21.Qxe6 Rde8 22.Qh3 Nxc4 23.Rxc6 bxc6? 23...Nxe3! 24.Nxe4 Qd5! 25.Qxe3! 25.Rc5 Qxe4 26.fxe3 26.Qxe3 Qxe3 27.fxe3 Rhf8= 25...Qxc6 26.Rc1 Qb6 27.Nc5 24.Nxe4± Nb6 25.Nc5 Qd5 26.Rc1 Ka8 27.Na6! Kb7 28.Nb4 Qf7 29.Qg4 29.Bh6!+- 29...Nd5 30.Nxc6 Re6! 31.Na5+ Ka8 31...Kb8! 32.Qe4 Rb6 33.g4!? 33.Rc5! c6 33...Rd8 34.Nc6 Re8 35.h3 Qe6 36.Nxa7+- 34.Nxc6 Rc8 35.h3 Rbxc6 36.Rxd5 33...h5? 33...Qe6! 34.Rc5 34.Rxc7 Kb8 35.Rc5 Nf6! 36.Qf3 Qxg4+ 37.Qxg4 Nxg4 38.Bf4± 34...c6 35.Nxc6 Nf6! 36.Qf3 Qxg4+ 37.Qxg4 Nxg4 38.d5± 34.Rc5 Rd8 35.Nc6+- Rxc6 36.Rxc6 hxg4 37.Rf6 Qh7 38.Bg5 Qg8 39.Rxg6 1–0
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Kramnik,V | 2787 | Karjakin,S | 2766 | 1–0 | 2014 | D20 | FIDE Candidates 2014 | 2.4 |
Please, wait...

Vladimir Kramnik was all smiles after the game
Curiously, Anatoly Karpov, one of the Ks alluded to above, went on record saying that he felt that of the two highest-rated Russian players in the tournament, Sergey Karjakin had the greatest chances. Obviously, they must have forgotten to send the memo to Kramnik. Nevertheless, a fantastic game showing that the Candidates tournament is well and truly underway.
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About Rafael Leitão
Rafael Leitão is the top-ranked player in Brazil with 2645 FIDE, having won the Brazilian championship six times, the first in 1996, and the most recent in 2013. He is also the only Brazilian to have won World Youth titles, with gold in under-12 in 1991 and in the under-18 section in 1996. More information can be found at his official website.
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GM Daniel King shares highlights of round two:
Games of the round:
1.e4 | 1,184,215 | 54% | 2421 | --- |
1.d4 | 958,932 | 55% | 2434 | --- |
1.Nf3 | 286,327 | 56% | 2441 | --- |
1.c4 | 184,722 | 56% | 2443 | --- |
1.g3 | 19,884 | 56% | 2427 | --- |
1.b3 | 14,598 | 54% | 2428 | --- |
1.f4 | 5,953 | 48% | 2377 | --- |
1.Nc3 | 3,906 | 50% | 2384 | --- |
1.b4 | 1,790 | 48% | 2378 | --- |
1.a3 | 1,250 | 54% | 2406 | --- |
1.e3 | 1,081 | 49% | 2409 | --- |
1.d3 | 969 | 50% | 2378 | --- |
1.g4 | 670 | 46% | 2361 | --- |
1.h4 | 466 | 54% | 2382 | --- |
1.c3 | 439 | 51% | 2425 | --- |
1.h3 | 289 | 56% | 2420 | --- |
1.a4 | 118 | 60% | 2461 | --- |
1.f3 | 100 | 47% | 2427 | --- |
1.Nh3 | 92 | 67% | 2511 | --- |
1.Na3 | 47 | 62% | 2476 | --- |
Please, wait...
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Qc2 e5 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.d4 Bd6 8.dxe5 Nxe5 9.Nxe5 Bxe5 10.Qe4 Qe7 11.Nxd5 cxd5 12.Bb5+ Kf8 13.Qxd5 g6 14.Bd2 Kg7 15.Qxe5+ Qxe5 16.Bc3 Qxc3+ 17.bxc3 Be6 18.Ke2 Rac8 19.Rhc1 Rc5 20.a4 Rhc8 21.Ra3 a6 22.Bd3 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.Rb1 Rxc3 25.Rxc3 Rxc3 26.Rxb5 Bc4 27.Bxc4 Rxc4 28.Kf3 h5 29.h3 Rc2 30.Rb1 Kf6 31.Re1 g5 32.Ra1 Kg6 33.Ra6+ f6 34.Ra4 h4 35.g3 hxg3 36.Kxg3 Rb2 37.e4 Rb1 38.f3 Rg1+ 39.Kf2 Rh1 40.Kg2 Rb1 41.Ra6 Kf7 42.Ra5 Kg6 43.Ra6 Kf7 44.Ra2 Ke6 45.Kg3 Rg1+ 46.Rg2 Rxg2+ 47.Kxg2 Ke5 48.Kf2 Kf4 49.Kg2 Ke5 50.Kg3 f5 51.exf5 Kxf5 52.h4 gxh4+ 53.Kxh4 Kf4 54.Kh3 Kxf3 ½–½
- Start an analysis engine:
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Topalov,V | 2785 | Anand,V | 2770 | ½–½ | 2014 | A11 | FIDE Candidates Tournament 2014 | 2 |
Please, wait...
Click on drop-down menu for all games
Standings after two rounds

Schedule and results
Note: the games are played at 3 PM local time, which is 10 a.m. CET (Paris) and 5 a.m. EST (New York). Click here if you are uncertain what that means for your local time.
Round one – 13.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Andreikin Dmitry |
½-½
|
Kramnik Vladimir |
Karjakin Sergey |
½-½
|
Svidler Peter |
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
½-½
|
Topalov Veselin |
Anand Viswanathan |
1-0
|
Aronian Levon |
Round two – 14.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Kramnik Vladimir |
1-0
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Svidler Peter |
1-0
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Topalov Veselin |
½-½
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Aronian Levon |
1-0
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
Round three – 15.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Andreikin Dmitry |
-
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Svidler Peter |
-
|
Kramnik Vladimir |
Topalov Veselin |
-
|
Aronian Levon |
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
-
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Round four – 17.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
-
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Karjakin Sergey |
-
|
Topalov Veselin |
Aronian Levon |
-
|
Svidler Peter |
Anand Viswanathan |
-
|
Kramnik Vladimir |
Round five – 18.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Andreikin Dmitry |
-
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Karjakin Sergey |
-
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
Svidler Peter |
-
|
Topalov Veselin |
Kramnik Vladimir |
-
|
Aronian Levon |
Round six – 19.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Aronian Levon |
-
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Anand Viswanathan |
-
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
-
|
Svidler Peter |
Topalov Veselin |
-
|
Kramnik Vladimir |
Round seven – 21.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Karjakin Sergey |
-
|
Aronian Levon |
Svidler Peter |
-
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Kramnik Vladimir |
-
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
Andreikin Dmitry |
-
|
Topalov Veselin |
Round eight – 22.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Kramnik Vladimir |
-
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Svidler Peter |
-
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Topalov Veselin |
-
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
Aronian Levon |
-
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Round nine – 23.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Karjakin Sergey |
-
|
Kramnik Vladimir |
Andreikin Dmitry |
-
|
Svidler Peter |
Anand Viswanathan |
-
|
Topalov Veselin |
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
-
|
Aronian Levon |
Round ten – 25.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Karjakin Sergey |
-
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Kramnik Vladimir |
-
|
Svidler Peter |
Aronian Levon |
-
|
Topalov Veselin |
Anand Viswanathan |
-
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
Round eleven – 26.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Andreikin Dmitry |
-
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
Topalov Veselin |
-
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Svidler Peter |
-
|
Aronian Levon |
Kramnik Vladimir |
-
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Round twelve – 27.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Anand Viswanathan |
-
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
-
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Topalov Veselin |
-
|
Svidler Peter |
Aronian Levon |
-
|
Kramnik Vladimir |
Round thirteen – 29.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Andreikin Dmitry |
-
|
Aronian Levon |
Karjakin Sergey |
-
|
Anand Viswanathan |
Svidler Peter |
-
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
Kramnik Vladimir |
-
|
Topalov Veselin |
Round fourteen – 30.03.2014, 15:00h (GMT+6) |
Aronian Levon |
-
|
Karjakin Sergey |
Anand Viswanathan |
-
|
Svidler Peter |
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar |
-
|
Kramnik Vladimir |
Topalov Veselin |
-
|
Andreikin Dmitry |
Playchess commentary
Date |
Round |
English commentary |
German commentary |
March 13 |
Round |
Simon Williams/Chris Ward |
Oliver Reeh/Merijn van Delft |
March 14 |
Round 2 |
Daniel King/Simon Williams |
Oliver Reeh/Karsten Müller |
March 15 |
Round 3 |
Simon Williams/Irina Krush |
Klaus Bischoff |
March 17 |
Round 4 |
Alejandro Ramirez/Simon Williams |
Klaus Bischoff |
March 18 |
Round 5 |
Daniel King/Chris Ward |
Klaus Bischoff |
March 19 |
Round 6 |
Alej. Ramirez/Parimarjan Negi |
Oliver Reeh/Merijn van Delft |
March 21 |
Round 7 |
Simon Williams/Daniel King |
Oliver Reeh/Merijn van Delft |
March 22 |
Round 8 |
Daniel King/Yasser Seirawan |
Oliver Reeh/Karsten Müller |
March 23 |
Round 9 |
Simon Williams/Alejandro Ramirez |
Oliver Reeh/Merijn van Delft |
March 25 |
Round 10 |
Daniel King/Simon Williams |
Klaus Bischoff |
March 26 |
Round 11 |
Alejandro Ramirez/Irina Krush |
Klaus Bischoff |
March 27 |
Round 12 |
Daniel King/Yasser Seirawan |
Klaus Bischoff |
March 29 |
Round 13 |
Daniel King/Irina Krush |
Klaus Bischoff |
March 30 |
Round 14 |
Daniel King/Yasser Seirawan |
Klaus Bischoff |