The Candidates – Peter Svidler, 2747, World #14

Peter Svidler (2747 – World #14)

Many times Russian Champion (’94, ’95, ’97, ’03, ’08, ’11) Peter Svidler enters this year’s Candidates Tournament as the second lowest rated player in an elite field. No stranger to the concept of performance under pressure, however, he has noteworthy World Championship results to his credit, including equal second (with Anand) at the 2005 event in San Luis and a credible fifth at the 2007 edition in Mexico City. It also bears mentioning that he qualified to the semi-finals of the 2002 FIDE Knockout World Championship, where he had the misfortune of being burned 2.5-1.5 by a red-hot Ponomariov, who went on to take the Champion’s title. Above all, though, let us not soon forget that Svidler enters this year’s edition as 2011 World Cup Champion, after a 2.5-1.5 result of his own against none other than his fellow countryman and Candidate, Grischuk.

If we revisit the 2007 World Championship briefly, we see that a number of familiar faces have returned since we last saw Svidler competing at this level. Namely, these are Kramnik, Gelfand, Aronian, Grischuk and, of course, Svidler himself. In this event, Svidler secured two draws against Kramnik (1-1), two draws against Gelfand (1-1), two draws against Aronian (1-1) and a match victory over Grischuk (1.5-0.5). In combination with his result against Grischuk at the 2011 World Cup, this appears to bode well for his chances at the 2013 Candidates Tournament, but allow us now to take a closer look at his record against the various Candidates he is imminently due to face.

Svidler's opponents at the Candidates

Boris Gelfand (2740 – World #18)

Overall: 6 Wins, 20 Draws, 3 Losses
White: 4 Wins, 11 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 2 Wins, 9 Draws, 2 Losses

Gelfand has shown he is adaptable and open to wreaking havoc on the ambitions of any player at this level, but his successes against Svidler pale in comparison to the relationship in reverse. Peter has won more recently and more often, holding a clear edge with the white pieces and good odds of fighting as black. These two have had a recent love affair with the English and the Petrov, giving both a go at the 2007 World Championship. Will they take the battle to new turf, or do they have yet to say their final words in regard to these openings?

Alexander Grischuk (2764 – World #10)

Overall: 7 Wins, 16 Draws, 1 Loss
White: 4 Wins, 8 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 3 Wins, 8 Draws, 0 Losses

As we can see, Svidler is highly effective against Grischuk, as either colour. His wins with black came relatively recently, however, while his wins with white were much earlier in their series of lifetime encounters. In an event of this magnitude one hesitates to guess what openings might make an appearance, but the Sicilian Najdorf seems like a strong possibility, with these players having tested it at both the 2007 FIDE World Championship and the 2011 World Cup.

Vassily Ivanchuk (2757 – World #13)

Overall: 5 Wins, 22 Draws, 5 Losses
White: 4 Wins, 8 Draws, 2 Losses
Black: 1 Win, 14 Draws, 3 Losses

Ivanchuk has proven a tough opponent for Svidler over the years. Vengeance seems to be a theme in their struggles – one takes a lead in their lifetime score and the other ensures he levels it. Note that the Grunfeld has handed Svidler all of his black losses against Ivanchuk, so don’t be surprised to see it again in London. Meanwhile, the Ruy Lopez has treated Svidler nicely as White when facing the Ukrainian, although he has demonstrated himself to be at home in a variety of openings. Rest assured that the games between these two will be titanic.

Teimour Radjabov (2793 – World #4)

Overall: 1 Win, 12 Draws, 2 Losses
White: 1 Win, 5 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 0 Wins, 7 Draws, 1 Loss

Radjabov, as a world-beater for years now, has proven a puzzle for Svidler. Early on, matters were compounded by the fact that Svidler received seven blacks in their first eight encounters. More recently, however, he has received six whites in seven games. Relatively speaking, they have not seen much of each other over the board, but, for the most part, they have been fairly evenly matched. Radjabov has secured victory against Svidler as recently as 2011, though, while Svidler has to hop in his time machine and revisit 2008 to see his only victory against the (other) boy from Baku. With that considered, one has to slightly favour Teimour in their upcoming battles. Weighing that Peter has fallen victim on both sides of the Queen’s Gambit Declined, perhaps we can expect to see it again here.

Vladimir Kramnik (2810 – World #2)

Overall: 3 Wins, 14 Draws, 6 Losses
White: 3 Wins, 10 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 0 Wins, 4 Draws, 6 Losses

As a former World Champion, Kramnik is versatile and dangerous to any opponent, but Svidler has managed to be a pest when it counts – holding Kramnik to two draws at the 2007 World Championship tournament and getting the better of him in two Russian Superfinals. That said, in their lifetime encounters, neither has ever managed to crack the other with the black pieces. With his recent manhandling of Kramnik in 2011, watch for Svidler to go all-out with the white pieces, while seeking to hold with black. The Petrov recently crept back into Kramnik’s repertoire, as he faced off in a blitz game against Anand during Zurich 2013. After an unfortunate kneejerk move by Anand (45.Rxb3), victory belonged to the Russian. Perhaps this will inspire Kramnik to try it again, in light of his six outings in this opening against Peter; none (yet) victories for K #3.

Levon Aronian (2809 – World #3)

Overall: 2 Wins, 17 Draws, 2 Loss
White: 0 Wins, 6 Draws, 0 Loss
Black: 2 Wins, 11 Draws, 2 Losses

Aronian is yet another colleague that the veteran Svidler, historically, has a handle on. Their most recent encounter was a decisive result in favour of the Armenian, but, again, the Russian put in a clutch performance at the 2007 World Championship, holding Levon to a split point in both games. The black pieces have been frequent companions to Peter when facing Aronian, with mixed results, but he has yet to yield as white. The Grunfeld has been topical where these two are concerned and Svidler may be anxious to try it once again on the stage that counts the most.

Magnus Carlsen (2872 – World #1)

Overall: 2 Wins, 9 Draws, 0 Loss
White: 1 Win, 5 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 1 Win, 4 Draws, 0 Losses

If Svidler-Radjabov encounters are rare, then opportunities to catch games between Svidler and Carlsen have proven to be even more fleeting. That said, Svidler has made his punches count. He has a lifetime +2 against Carlsen and it is an undefeated record at that. On the other hand, he was facing mini-Carlsen at the time and not the beast ascendant we now have before us. Count on Carlsen to make an effort to level their lifetime score and count on Svidler to put up stiff resistance. With a resoundingly successful outing against Magnus in the Sicilian at the 2012 World Blitz Championship, you can bet Peter will at least be considering it as an option in this event.

Overall Stats Against Field

Repertoire white

As we can see, in general, Svidler is dangerous as White against most any mainline opening. The French variation of the Sicilian Defense has been particularly kind to him, so woe be to him that springs it on Peter in a misguided fit of optimism.

Repertoire black

As Black, Svidler has not been a happy camper when facing the English against world-class opposition, but, like all openings, he has enjoyed some success against it. He will undoubtedly be facing it again here and one can only hope he acquits himself well.

The Candidates Tournament in London

The London Candidates 2013 will be the strongest tournament of its kind in history. The Prize Fund to be shared by the players totals €510,000. The winner of the Candidates will become the Challenger to Viswanathan Anand who has reigned as World Champion since 2007. Schedule:

• Detailed schedule here

Players

• Full information on the players here

Links

• World Chess Web Site
• FIDE Web Site