
The 2015 Tata Steel Chess Tournament had two main round robin tournaments, both with 14 players each. The time control was 100 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the remaining moves with 30 seconds cumulative increment for each move starting from the first move.
In third place in the final table we find US American GM Samuel Shankland. Born in San Francisco, Sam was California State champion in 2008, 2009, and 2011 (and US Junior Champion in 2010). At the 2014 Chess Olympiad in Tromsø, he took home gold for his performance as a reserve player. Going undefeated, he scored an incredible 9 points out of 10 games, giving him a performance rating of 2829 for this tournament. By our count he has currently played 68 standard games undefeated.
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In Wijk Samuel Shankland did not play any sort of flashy chess.
He was rock solid and remained unbeaten, scoring 9.0/13.
This is how Samuel described his event on facebook:
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Shankland won a miniature against David Klein. What is interesting to note in the game is Black’s simple central play against the unorthodox opening employed by White.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5 3.e3 e6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d4 c5 6.Nf3 a6 6...Nc6 7.Bd3 Bg4 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.h3 Bh5 10.a3 Nc6 11.e4 11.g4 Bg6 12.Ne2 11...0-0 12.g4 Bg6 13.Qe2? 13.exd5 exd5 14.Bxg6 fxg6 13...Nd4! 14.Nxd4 Bxd4 15.f3 15.exd5 Nxd5! 16.Na4 Nf4-+ 15.e5 Ne4 16.Bxe4 16.Nd1 Nxf2 17.Bxd4 Nxh1-+ 16...Bxe4 17.f3 Qh4+ 18.Kf1 f5!-+ 15...Qc7 16.Kd2 dxe4 17.fxe4 Qf4+ 18.Kd1 Qe5 18...Rac8 18...Qe5 19.Qh2 19.Kd2 Rac8-+ 19...Qa5! 20.Qd2 Rac8 21.Na4 Qe5 22.Bxd4 Qxd4 23.Rb1 Nxe4-+ 0–1
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Klein,D | 2517 | Shankland,S | 2652 | 0–1 | 2015 | A01 | 77th Tata Steel GpB | 11 |
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Klein’s choice of opening was not so good …

… but his choice of chocolate was excellent!
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One of the best performers could definitely be Samuel Sevian. He lost his first two games
of the tournament but recovered well to score 7.5 and gain 20 Elo points.
Samuel’s style is very aggressive and reminds of the great Mikhail Tal. Here is a Tal-like sacrifice by America’s youngest grandmaster:
Sevian - Timman, Round 13

White to play. What do you think about the queen sacrifice with Qxc8?
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27.Qxc8+? 27.g6!+- Bd7 28.Bxd7 Qxd7 29.Nxe6+ Kg8 30.Qb3 Rc8 31.Rxc8+ Qxc8 32.d6! Qc1+ 33.Ke2+- 27...Rxc8 28.Rxc8+ Kf7 29.dxe6+ Qxe6? 29...Kg6! 30.Rxh8 Bxh8 31.Be8+ Kh7 32.g6+ Kg8 32...Nxg6? 33.Bxg6+ Kg8 34.Bf7+ Kh7 35.Bg8+ Kh6 36.Nxf5# 33.Bf7+ 33.g7 Bxg7 34.Rxg7+ Kf8 35.Rg5 Nf3+! 36.Nxf3 Qxe6+ 37.Kf1 Kxe8 33...Kf8 34.g7+ Bxg7 35.Rxg7 Nf3+! 36.Kf1 36.Kd1 Kxg7-+ 36.Ke2 Qe5+ 37.Kxf3 Qe4+ 38.Kg3 h4+ 39.Kh2 Kxg7-+ 36...Qa6+! 37.Kg2 Kxg7-+ 30.Nxe6 Nf3+ 31.Kd1 Rxc8 32.Rg3 Kxe6 33.Rxf3 a6 34.Bd3 Rf8 35.Bc2 Ke5 36.Be1 1–0
- Start an analysis engine:
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Sevian,S | 2511 | Timman,J | 2593 | 1–0 | 2015 | B07 | 77th Tata Steel GpB | 13 |
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It is depressing to see one of the finest players of the 1980s having such a bad tournament. Jan Timman finished last with a score of 3.0/13. In his defence it could be said that he played quite creatively in few of the games and was unable to convert many promising positions.

Valentina Gunina lost a few Elo points, but she did beat Salem, l’Ami and Timman!
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The lowest rated player of the event, Ari Dale, was unable to win a game, but he scored seven draws and also gained 13 Elo points. One thing is sure, he goes back home with an unparalleled experience of facing great players in one of the best tournaments in the world.
Coming to the last round, Wei Yi already had a one point lead over Navara. Finally, David rose to the occasion and scored a nice victory over David Klein.

The battle between two Davids!
Klein - Navara, Round 13

It’s Black to play. You are in a must win situation. What would you do?
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19...Nf5! 19...Rfe8 20.Nd7! 20.Rhg1 Qe4 21.Qg3 Nxh5-+ 20...Nxd7 21.Rdg1 Qf2 22.Rf1 Qg2 23.Rfg1= 20.Bxf8 Rxf8 21.Qf3? 21.Rdg1 Qf2 22.Qf3 Qxd4 23.Rd1 Qc5 24.Kb1 21.Kb1 21...Qxf3 22.Nxf3 Ne3 23.Rde1 Nxc4 24.f5 exf5 25.Nh4 Nd6 26.Rhf1 f4! 27.Re5 27.Rxf4 Nxh5 27...Nc4 28.Rc5 Nd5! 29.Rxc4 Ne3 30.Rxf4 Nxc4-+ 31.Nf5 Rd8 32.Ne7+ Kh7 33.Rxf7 Rd7 0–1
- Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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- Drag the split bars between window panes.
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Klein,D | 2517 | Navara,D | 2729 | 0–1 | 2015 | B18 | 77th Tata Steel GpB | 13 |
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a score of +7 would be good enough for the first place on more occasions than not!
David Navara was now on 10.0/13, Wei Yi had to draw or win in order to take the clear first place.

Salem could pose very few problems to the Chinese, and a truce was signed in 37 moves

In the end it was Wei Yi who edged out Navara just by a half point in this marathon 13 round event!

With 10.5/13, Wei Yi became the deserving champion! He not only gained 20 Elo points and took his live ratings to 2695 but he also gets something special:

An invitation to Tata Steel Masters 2016!
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Born in 1999, Wei Yi is just 15 years and 238 days old. With a live rating of 2695 he moves into the top 50 players bracket of the world. Magnus Carlsen was the youngest player to breach 2700 Elo mark, at the age of 16 years, seven months and one day. Wei Yi is just five points away and has nearly a year to break this record.
Pictures by Alina l’Ami