Tata Steel Rd2: all games drawn

by Albert Silver
1/17/2016 – In the key encounter Caruana held Carlsen to a 32-move draw with the black pieces after an unorthodox opening. Giri vs Ding was one move longer, also drawn. Hou fought So for 54 moves, but that game too ended in a draw. In the Challengers there were no less than five decisive games, with Batsiashvili remarkably beating van Foreest with black. Report, pictures, video.

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The 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament takes place from January 15 to 31, 2016, in the coastal village of Wijk aan Zee, North Holland. It is one of the most prestigious events in the international chess calendar. The "Wimbledon of Chess" attracts the very best chess grandmasters in the world, along with thousands of amateur players, live event visitors and online visitors from around the world. The tournament has two main player groups, each with 14 players. They are known as the Tata Steel Masters and the Tata Steel Challengers. You will find the schedule, starting times, pairings and results at the bottom of the page.

Tata Steel 2016

Photos by official Facebook page

Round two results for Masters and Challengers

Round 2 - Sunday the 17th
Karjakin, S. - Van Wely, L.
½-½
Tomashevsky, E. - Mamedyarov, S.
½-½
Eljanov, P. - Wei, Y.
½-½
Carlsen, M. - Caruana, F.
½-½
Adams, M. - Navara, D.
½-½
Giri, A. - Ding, L.
½-½
Hou, Y. - So, W.
½-½
Round 2 - Sunday the 17th
van Foreest, J. - Batsiashvili, N.
0-1
Sevian, S. - Nisipeanu, L.
½-½
Abasov, N. - Safarli, E.
½-½
Admiraal, M. - Baskaran, A.
0-1
Bok, B. - l'Ami, E.
1-0
Ju, W. - Dreev, A.
0-1
Haast, A. - Antipov, M.
0-1

Sunrise in Wijk an Zee (photo by Alina L'Ami)

The second round of Tata Steel was somewhat of a letdown for those hoping following only the Master tournament. It wasn’t merely the lack of decisive results, but the somewhat lackadaisical games as well. However the chess fans who had no qualms of checking in on the Challenger event had no shortage of entertaining battles on the board to enjoy.

Fabiano Caruana and his second Rustam Kasimdzhanov arriving at the venue (photo by Alina L'Ami)

If the Master group was defined by the many draws, not all draws are equal. Magnus Carlsen’s game against Fabiano Caruana was certainly the most interesting, in spite of the short number of moves. For one, the players were playing a highly unorthodox opening, which clearly meant both were ready to fight from the very beginning. This is the sort of situation that Carlsen excels in, readily giving up his potential opening advantage in order to remove the computer preparation factor from the equation. Things threatened to get out of hand for the young American, but a missed chance by Magnus let Fabiano off the hook and the game was drawn

Magnus Carlsen - Fabiano Caruana

[Event "78th Tata Steel GpA"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2016.01.17"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "2844"] [BlackElo "2787"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2016.01.16"] 1. g3 g6 2. Bg2 Bg7 3. e4 e5 4. Ne2 c5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Be3 d6 7. Qd2 Nd4 8. c3 Nxe2 9. Qxe2 Ne7 10. h4 h6 11. h5 g5 12. f4 exf4 13. gxf4 gxf4 14. Bxf4 Nc6 15. Na3 Be5 16. Be3 Be6 17. Nc4 Bg3+ 18. Kd2 Qd7 19. d4 cxd4 20. cxd4 Ne5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. d5 Bg4 23. Bf3 Bxf3 24. Qxf3 Qb5 25. Rac1 ({White misses an opportunity to take advantage of Black's wayward bishop on g3.} 25. b3 $1 Qb4+ 26. Kd3 Bf4 (26... Qb5+ 27. Kc2) (26... Rg8 $2 27. Rhg1 $1) 27. Rhc1 ({The tempting} 27. Bxf4 {allows Black to sneak in} Qd4+ $1 {which gives enough counterplay to keep the balance.} 28. Ke2 exf4 29. Rad1 Qb2+ 30. Rd2 Qe5 31. Rf1 Rg8 {and Black is ok.}) 27... Rg8 28. Rc4 $1 Qd6 29. Rg1 Rxg1 30. Bxg1 { and White has a clear advantage thanks to the strong rook on the c-file, and more active pieces.}) 25... Qxb2+ 26. Kd1 Bf4 27. Bxf4 exf4 28. Qxf4 Rg8 29. Rf1 Qd4+ 30. Ke1 Qb4+ 31. Kd1 Qd4+ 32. Ke1 Qb4+ 1/2-1/2

 

A quick interview with Fabiano Caruana after his game

Fans hoping Ding Liren would unleash his King's Indian a second straight year were disappointed

Even Mamedyarov (right) was unable to impose his character on the game

The Challenger event was quite the opposite with an astonishing 7/7 decisive games in round one, and round two was not far off with only two draws. Still, what stood out was how many players from the previous day found themselves switching chairs in the second round.

Jorden Van Foreest who had won in round one, lost in round two, as did Erwin L’Ami, and Ju Wenjun. On the other hand, Nino Batsiashvili, Mikhail Antipov, and Benjamin Bok, all of whom had come up with the short end of the stick in round one, bounced back with important wins in round two.

Nino Batsiashvili showed grit as she bounced back from her loss with a win over Dutch talent van Foreest

The only two players to succeed in securing two straight wins out of two are the Indian grandmaster Baskaran Adhiban and the Russian Veteran Alexei Dreev.

 Adhiban (left) along with Dreev are the only players in either the Masters or Challenger to have 2.0/2

Replay all games from round two: Masters and Challengers

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Playing schedule + Playchess commentary

The two main tournaments are round robins. Both groups start on the 16th of January 2016 in Wijk aan Zee. The Masters move to Amsterdam on January 21, and to Utrecht on January 27. All rounds in Wijk aan Zee begin at 1.30 p.m., except for the last round on 31 January 2016, which begins at 12.00 p.m. Round five will take place in the Science Center NEMO in Amsterdam, and round ten in the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht. Both these external rounds start at 2.00 p.m.

Round
Date English commentary German commentary
1
Saturday, 16 Jan GM Daniel King GM Klaus Bischoff
2
Sunday, 17 Jan GM Simon Williams GM Klaus Bischoff
3
Monday, 18 Jan GM Simon Williams GM Klaus Bischoff
4
Tuesday, 19 Jan GM Simon Williams GM Klaus Bischoff
Free
Wednesday, 20 Jan    
5
Thursday, 21 Jan GM Daniel King GM Sebastian Siebrecht
6
Friday, 22 Jan GM Yannick Pelletier GM Sebastian Siebrecht
7
Saturday, 23 Jan GM Daniel King GM Klaus Bischoff
8
Sunday, 24 Jan GM Yannick Pelletier GM Klaus Bischoff
Free
Monday, 25 Jan    
9
Tuesday, 26 Jan GM Daniel King GM Klaus Bischoff
10
Wednesday, 27 Jan GM Yannick Pelletier GM Sebastian Siebrecht
Free
Thursday, 28 Jan    
11
Friday, 29 Jan GM Adrian Mikhalchishin GM Sebastian Siebrecht
12
Saturday, 30 Jan GM Karsten Müller GM Klaus Bischoff
13
Sunday, 31 Jan GM Karsten Müller GM Klaus Bischoff

Schedule and results of Tata Steel Masters 2016

Round 1 - Saturday the 16th
Hou, Y. - Karjakin, S.
½-½
So, W. - Giri, A.
1-0
Ding, L. - Adams, M.
1-0
Navara, D. - Carlsen, M.
½-½
Caruana, F. - Eljanov, P.
1-0
Wei, Y. - Tomashevsky, E.
½-½
Mamedyarov, S. - Van Wely, L.
½-½
Round 2 - Sunday the 17th
Karjakin, S. - Van Wely, L.
½-½
Tomashevsky, E. - Mamedyarov, S.
½-½
Eljanov, P. - Wei, Y.
½-½
Carlsen, M. - Caruana, F.
½-½
Adams, M. - Navara, D.
½-½
Giri, A. - Ding, L.
½-½
Hou, Y. - So, W.
½-½
Round 3 - Monday the 18th
So, W. - Karjakin, S.  
Ding, L. - Hou, Y.  
Navara, D. - Giri, A.  
Caruana, F. - Adams, M.  
Wei, Y. - Carlsen, M.  
Mamedyarov, S. - Eljanov, P.  
Van Wely, L. - Tomashevsky, E.  
Round 4 - Tuesday the 19th
Karjakin, S. - Tomashevsky, E.  
Eljanov, P. - Van Wely, L.  
Carlsen, M. - Mamedyarov, S.  
Adams, M. - Wei, Y.  
Giri, A. - Caruana, F.  
Hou, Y. - Navara, D.  
So, W. - Ding, L.  
Round 5 - Thursday the 21st
Ding, L. - Karjakin, S.  
Navara, D. - So, W.  
Caruana, F. - Hou, Y.  
Wei, Y. - Giri, A.  
Mamedyarov, S. - Adams, M.  
Van Wely, L. - Carlsen, M.  
Tomashevsky, E. - Eljanov, P.  
Round 6 - Friday the 22nd
Karjakin, S. - Eljanov, P.  
Carlsen, M. - Tomashevsky, E.  
Adams, M. - Van Wely, L.  
Giri, A. - Mamedyarov, S.  
Hou, Y. - Wei, Y.  
So, W. - Caruana, F.  
Ding, L. - Navara, D.  
Round 7 - Saturday the 23rd
Navara, D. - Karjakin, S.  
Caruana, F. - Ding, L.  
Wei, Y. - So, W.  
Mamedyarov, S. - Hou, Y.  
Van Wely, L. - Giri, A.  
Tomashevsky, E. - Adams, M.  
Eljanov, P. - Carlsen, M.  
Round 8 - Sunday the 24th
Karjakin, S. - Carlsen, M.  
Adams, M. - Eljanov, P.  
Giri, A. - Tomashevsky, E.  
Hou, Y. - Van Wely, L.  
So, W. - Mamedyarov, S.  
Ding, L. - Wei, Y.  
Navara, D. - Caruana, F.  
Round 9 - Tuesday the 26th
Caruana, F. - Karjakin, S.  
Wei, Y. - Navara, D.  
Mamedyarov, S. - Ding, L.  
Van Wely, L. - So, W.  
Tomashevsky, E. - Hou, Y.  
Eljanov, P. - Giri, A.  
Carlsen, M. - Adams, M.  
Round 10 - Wednesday the 27th
Karjakin, S. - Adams, M.  
Giri, A. - Carlsen, M.  
Hou, Y. - Eljanov, P.  
So, W. - Tomashevsky, E.  
Ding, L. - Van Wely, L.  
Navara, D. - Mamedyarov, S.  
Caruana, F. - Wei, Y.  
Round 11 - Friday the 29th
Wei, Y. - Karjakin, S.  
Mamedyarov, S. - Caruana, F.  
Van Wely, L. - Navara, D.  
Tomashevsky, E. - Ding, L.  
Eljanov, P. - So, W.  
Carlsen, M. - Hou, Y.  
Adams, M. - Giri, A.  
Round 12 - Saturday the 30th
Karjakin, S. - Giri, A.  
Hou, Y. - Adams, M.  
So, W. - Carlsen, M.  
Ding, L. - Eljanov, P.  
Navara, D. - Tomashevsky, E.  
Caruana, F. - Van Wely, L.  
Wei, Y. - Mamedyarov, S.  
Round 13 - Sunday the 31st
Mamedyarov, S. - Karjakin, S.  
Van Wely, L. - Wei, Y.  
Tomashevsky, E. - Caruana, F.  
Eljanov, P. - Navara, D.  
Carlsen, M. - Ding, L.  
Adams, M. - So, W.  
Giri, A. - Hou, Y.  
 

Schedule and results of Tata Steel Challengers 2016

Round 1 - Saturday the 16th
Haast, A. - van Foreest, J.
0-1
Antipov, M. - Ju, W.
0-1
Dreev, A. - Bok, B.
1-0
l'Ami, E. - Admiraal, M.
1-0
Baskaran, A. - Abasov, N.
1-0
Safarli, E. - Sevian, S.
1-0
Nisipeanu, L. - Batsiashvili, N.
1-0
Round 2 - Sunday the 17th
van Foreest, J. - Batsiashvili, N.
0-1
Sevian, S. - Nisipeanu, L.
½-½
Abasov, N. - Safarli, E.
½-½
Admiraal, M. - Baskaran, A.
0-1
Bok, B. - l'Ami, E.
1-0
Ju, W. - Dreev, A.
0-1
Haast, A. - Antipov, M.
0-1
Round 3 - Monday the 18th
Antipov, M. - van Foreest, J.  
Dreev, A. - Haast, A.  
l'Ami, E. - Ju, W.  
Baskaran, A. - Bok, B.  
Safarli, E. - Admiraal, M.  
Nisipeanu, L. - Abasov, N.  
Batsiashvili, N. - Sevian, S.  
Round 4 - Tuesday the 19th
van Foreest, J. - Sevian, S.  
Abasov, N. - Batsiashvili, N.  
Admiraal, M. - Nisipeanu, L.  
Bok, B. - Safarli, E.  
Ju, W. - Baskaran, A.  
Haast, A. - l'Ami, E.  
Antipov, M. - Dreev, A.  
Round 5 - Wednesday the 20th
Dreev, A. - van Foreest, J.  
l'Ami, E. - Antipov, M.  
Baskaran, A. - Haast, A.  
Safarli, E. - Ju, W.  
Nisipeanu, L. - Bok, B.  
Batsiashvili, N. - Admiraal, M.  
Sevian, S. - Abasov, N.  
Round 6 - Friday the 22nd
van Foreest, J. - Abasov, N.  
Admiraal, M. - Sevian, S.  
Bok, B. - Batsiashvili, N.  
Ju, W. - Nisipeanu, L.  
Haast, A. - Safarli, E.  
Antipov, M. - Baskaran, A.  
Dreev, A. - l'Ami, E.  
Round 7 - Saturday the 23rd
l'Ami, E. - van Foreest, J.  
Baskaran, A. - Dreev, A.  
Safarli, E. - Antipov, M.  
Nisipeanu, L. - Haast, A.  
Batsiashvili, N. - Ju, W.  
Sevian, S. - Bok, B.  
Abasov, N. - Admiraal, M.  
Round 8 - Sunday the 24th
van Foreest, J. - Admiraal, M.  
Bok, B. - Abasov, N.  
Ju, W. - Sevian, S.  
Haast, A. - Batsiashvili, N.  
Antipov, M. - Nisipeanu, L.  
Dreev, A. - Safarli, E.  
l'Ami, E. - Baskaran, A.  
Round 9 - Tuesday the 26th
Baskaran, A. - van Foreest, J.  
Safarli, E. - l'Ami, E.  
Nisipeanu, L. - Dreev, A.  
Batsiashvili, N. - Antipov, M.  
Sevian, S. - Haast, A.  
Abasov, N. - Ju, W.  
Admiraal, M. - Bok, B.  
Round 10 - Wednesday the 27th
van Foreest, J. - Bok, B.  
Ju, W. - Admiraal, M.  
Haast, A. - Abasov, N.  
Antipov, M. - Sevian, S.  
Dreev, A. - Batsiashvili, N.  
l'Ami, E. - Nisipeanu, L.  
Baskaran, A. - Safarli, E.  
Round 11 - Friday the 29th
Safarli, E. - van Foreest, J.  
Nisipeanu, L. - Baskaran, A.  
Batsiashvili, N. - l'Ami, E.  
Sevian, S. - Dreev, A.  
Abasov, N. - Antipov, M.  
Admiraal, M. - Haast, A.  
Bok, B. - Ju, W.  
Round 12 - Saturday the 30th
van Foreest, J. - Ju, W.  
Haast, A. - Bok, B.  
Antipov, M. - Admiraal, M.  
Dreev, A. - Abasov, N.  
l'Ami, E. - Sevian, S.  
Baskaran, A. - Batsiashvili, N.  
Safarli, E. - Nisipeanu, L.  
Round 13 - Sunday the 31st
Nisipeanu, L. - van Foreest, J.  
Batsiashvili, N. - Safarli, E.  
Sevian, S. - Baskaran, A.  
Abasov, N. - l'Ami, E.  
Admiraal, M. - Dreev, A.  
Bok, B. - Antipov, M.  
Ju, W. - Haast, A.  
 

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Born in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications, and the content creator of the YouTube channel, Chess & Tech.

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