GCT Finals: Evenly matched

No six-pointer win

When a football match is played between two teams in similar — usually leading — positions in the standings table, the match is said to be a six-pointer. Getting a win not only adds three points to the team that got the victory but also denies three points to the losing squad. At the Grand Chess Tour finals, getting a win in a classical game literally gains the winning player six points, getting him a considerable advantage before the rounds of rapid and blitz. In this year's semi-finals, no one collected a six-pointer, as all four games ended in draws.

After signing an eventful draw on Monday, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Magnus Carlsen explored a line of the Ruy Lopez that the world champion had tested with Black against Fabiano Caruana at the Zagreb GCT event. Back then, Caruana had got a favourable position, but was not able to score a full point. With 11.b3, Vachier-Lagrave deviated from that game, following a line used by Hikaru Nakamura at the Sinquefield Cup — also against Caruana:

Open Ruy Lopez

The Open Ruy Lopez gives Black free piece play and chances for the initiative. This sharp and interesting variation has been used by many of the all-time greats, including Anand, Kortschnoi, Botvinnik, Keres, Euwe, Fine and Reshevsky and this is by no means an exhaustive list. White will argue that Black loosens his position in the Open Variation, but if Black takes the time and trouble to learn the ideas and tactical themes that underpin this line, he has every chance to win the game. This will be especially interesting to the club player as it doubtless has been to the grandmasters mentioned above.

Carlsen called 11.b3 "the safe way to play here". The ensuing variations gave the world champion what he described as "very easy play". When it was Vachier-Lagrave's turn to make his 17^th move, the Frenchman took his time — more than 15 minutes — before going for simplifications:

'MVL' needed to evaluate specific continuations before choosing the forcing 17.c4. Talking to Maurice Ashley, Carlsen explained:

Basically his mindset here was that he's trying to equalize, since, even though his structure is better, the knight on a3 is so bad that there isn't anything [else] to do for him.

The world champion had a slight edge, but when he realized 21...♛b7 did not get him real chances to fight for more, he opted for 21...♛d7 and went on to force a draw. 

This means two of the strongest players in quicker time controls will decide their match-up in Wednesday's rapid and blitz encounters. Two rapid games, with each win worth four points, will be followed by four blitz games, with each win worth two points. A fine spectacle is in store for the fans. Vachier-Lagrave:

It's gonna be a tough fight tomorrow, but I hope I can play my trumps. [...] I think it will be vital not to get out-prepared like I did today, so I'll need to be more ready for the openings, and I think it can be a fair fight.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

The other semi-final saw Levon Aronian getting a superior position out of the opening with the black pieces. Things seemed to be delving into regular paths until Ding Liren decided to force the issue with a pawn push:

Semi-Tarrasch: A universal weapon against 1.d4

Even though the Semi-Tarrasch cannot offer a complete repertoire against 1.d4, being conditioned of White’s move order, it is an excellent complement to the Nimzoindian Defence. Throughout history, great players like Fischer, Kortschnoj and Kramnik have included the Semi-Tarrasch in their repertoire which strongly speaks about its safe character and Black’s possibilities for counterplay. GM Mihail Marin presents a complete Semi-Tarrasch repertoire for Black, explaining the main strategic ideas of the resulting structures.

China's number one later declared that he saw nothing better than 11.g4, describing his play in the ensuing middlegame as "unnatural". After hearing Ding's interview, commentator Alejandro Ramirez gave some insights into the Chinese's declarations. Ramirez referred to Ding's use of the phrase "normal position", something that according to his experience with other Chinese players usually means "equal position". Apparently, Ding felt he needed to look for an advantage after Aronian's unprincipled exchange of pawns on move 8, which pushed him to look for more when the position did not really call for such measures.

As the game progressed, Aronian had reasons to be optimistic. But suddenly, on move 25, he went for a repetition:

The draw was signed after 25...♜h4 26.♘f3 ♜h8 27.♘d2 ♜h4 28.♘f3 ♜h8. Aronian did not attend the usual post-game interview, but Ding excused his rival by mentioning the fact that he still feels under the weather. With his typical mild demeanour, Ding concluded:

It seems he's not in his best physical shape, but I'm not in my best playing shape (smiles).   

Thus, the finalists of the 2017 World Cup — Aronian won that match-up — also go into the deciding third day of the semi-finals with the score tied. 

Ding Liren | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Commentary webcast

Endgames of the World Champions from Fischer to Carlsen

Let endgame expert Dr Karsten Müller show and explain the finesses of the world champions. Although they had different styles each and every one of them played the endgame exceptionally well, so take the opportunity to enjoy and learn from some of the best endgames in the history of chess.

Commentary by Jennifer Shahade, Peter Svidler, Alejandro Ramirez and Maurice Ashley

Schedule of the Grand Chess Tour Final

Times in UTC.

Closing ceremony to follow

Scoring

6 points for a win, 3 points for a draw and 0 points for a loss in the two Classic games
4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and 0 points for a loss in the two Rapid games 
2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw 0 points for a loss in the four blitz games

Links

• Official site: London Chess Classic
• Official site: Grand Chess Tour
• Full schedule of the London Chess Classic
• Preview: Magnus tops the bill at London Classic extravaganza  
• SF Day 1: Trying something new