Tata Steel Chess: Kramnik shines

No change afoot

Maybe there is a generational change in top chess, as some believe, but it is certainly doesn't seem a foregone conclusion at the moment — at least if you look at the table of the Tata Steel tournament after four rounds of play. The wintry, rainy and often stormy fishing village of Wijk aan Zee is once more a playground for some of the world's best players, but the world elite gathered there represents more than age demographic. Unlike other sports, chess players are known to be able to perform well in the "advanced" age. Chess not only connects people, but also connects the generations.

Many open tournaments are played alongside the elite tournaments | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

Speaking of demographics: Where do the top players of this year's Tata Steel tournament come from? In the Masters tournament, there are four players from Russia, two from the USA, two from India and one each from China, England, Norway, Azerbaijan and the Netherlands.

In the Challengers tournament there are two other players from Russia, two more Indians, one more American and one more Norwegian, a Ukrainian, a German, a Pole, an Egyptian and four other players from the host country. 

If you look at the age of the players, Anand, Kramnik (two world champions!) And Svidler represent the "older" generation. All three are over 40 years old, but they are anything but old-fashioned. Svidler recently won the Russian championship for the eighth time. Anand became Rapid Chess World Champion. Kramnik will play in the Candidates Tournament — and is certainly not among the outsiders, seeing how his rating has held up for decades.

On the other hand, Wei Yi, at the age of 18, is the youngest participant in the Masters tournament. Lucas van Foreest, who scored a big upset today in the Challengers tournament by beating Bassem Amin, is even a little younger, being just 16 years of age.

Masters — Round 4

At the age of 23, Anish Giri is of course part of the younger guard. The former "prodigy" got off to a good start in the Masters and, after four rounds is alongside his senior colleague Anand. Giri's victory over Kramnik in round two made a splash, and today he shared the point with reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen.

Magnus ordered up a new dish from the openings menu with the black pieces; apparently, the French defense is the Norwegian's latest love. In the 7.Qg4 variation of the Winawer system, the two young grandmasters held a theoretical duel on quite unexplored terrain and both showed their best.

Warning! This game was played by trained experts. Please do not attempt imitation! | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

Fascinated by the French Winawer

The Winawer Variation in just 60 minutes - that can only work by reducing it to a clear repertoire for Black and, where possible, general recommendations rather than variations. Alexei Shirov was surprised at how quickly he managed to make of the French Winawer an opening he himself could play. And now he will let you share in his conclusions.

Magnus: "For all the banter [and] nonsense, he's still very strong." | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Giri was prepared for the Winawer but not exactly the line in the game | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Wanted to use the line in the world blitz, but thought it was too unsound https://t.co/ikcPGGy9u4

— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) January 16, 2018

Anand had dispatched Fabiano Caruana — who has now dropped to third in the live world rankings — and the newcomer Maxim Matlakov in prior rounds. Today, the multiple world champion had black against his combative compatriot Adhiban. The younger man brought a Volga gambit with reversed colors to the table, and while Anand gradually took command, it was not enough to win.

Adhiban: "Hopefully one day I will succeed [Anand]" | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Reti - A Repertoire for White

Starting with 1.Nf3 the Reti is designed for those players who like strategy, manoeuvres and plans. Bologan presents a repertoire based on 1.Nf3 giving you options for all major replies.

Vladimir Kramnik was the star of the round, turning in his second win in the four rounds played so far, and it goes a long way toward compensating for his loss to Giri. The 14th world champion didn't shy away from Peter Svidler's Grünfeld terrain, but managed a veritable massacre today with the otherwise quiet Fianchetto variation. After a mere 24 moves, the game was over. Svidler's may have resigned a little early, but it seems justified, as in the final position he is virtually paralyzed. 

Winning against the Grünfeld

The Grünfeld is a highly dynamic opening in which Black's position often seems to hang together by a single thread; and yet, this apparently precarious equilibrium appears to be enough to make it entirely viable — up to the highest level.

Kramnik's classical score with white against Svidler is 9 : 1 | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Solid and safe against the Indian openings: Play the Fianchetto

The King''s Indian and Grunfeld are notoriously tricky and theoretical openings. The Fianchetto variation avoids the main lines which Black players enjoy, and goes for a small but safe edge. GM Nick Pert played the Fianchetto variation for over 20 years, and at the time of recording was unbeaten with White since November 2011!

Maxim Matlakov could be happy finally earning a full point. The Russian GM with the black pieces was favorite on paper facing Hou Yifan. The Chinese responded to Matlakov's Marshall attack with a not-so-common twist (9.d4) that German Grandmaster Thomas Luther also enjoyed playing. The game then takes on the character of the open variation. For a long time the fight was balanced, but then Matlakov went up an exchange for a pawn, and successfully completed the technical phase.  

Black Repertoire against 1.e4 Vol. 1: The Marshall Attack

The Marshall Attack is one of the most dynamic replies Black has at his disposal against 1.e4. At the cost of a pawn, Black takes over the initiative from the get - go and goes after the white king. Wrongly considered to be mainly a drawing weapon by some, this DVD offers many new ideas for Black, showing how to keep the queens on the board and to play for a win in almost all cases.

Hou gave up an exchange here with 28.Rxa4 but it proved to be dubious.

Wei Yi also celebrated his first victory in his game against Gawain Jones. In the King's Indian Defense, the world's best U20 player with white gained the iniative on the kingside. A queen exchange brought no relief for Black.

With 26.Rg5 White won a pawn after 26...Bg6, since 26...Bxg5 27.hxg5 would leave the light-squared bishop homeless.

Wei Yi's first win was Gawain Jones' first loss | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

What a brawl between Caruana and So - tremendous resourcefulness, blinding complications in time scramble, ridiculous tactical variations... #TataSteelChess

— Jonathan Tisdall (@GMjtis) January 16, 2018

Fabiano Caruana got favorable position against Wesley So in the Nimzo-Indian defense, but then missed a hidden, but strong, opportunity.

Caruana missed a chance with 37.Rd6, when after 37...Nxf4, he would have 38.Ng5 and black's knight is lost. Instead after 37.Bg5 the game ended in a draw ten moves later.

The all-American clash: Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

The match between Sergey Karjakin and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov also remained without a winner.

Daniel King's round-up of Round 4

All round-up shows are available in ChessBase Videos, for Premium account holders.

Results of Round 4

All games (rounds 1-4)

Standings after four rounds

Challengers

With three wins in four rounds, Anton Korobov and Vidit Gujrathi are setting a brisk pace in the Challenger tournament. Korobov won against Olga Girya today. Vidit defeated his compatriot Harika Dronavalli, and Lucas van Foreest upset Bassem Amin. All other games ended drawn.

Vidit Gujrathi Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

Results of Round 4

All games (rounds 1-4)

Standings after four rounds

Complete Round 4 commentary

Commentary by GM Robin van Kampen and Stefan Kuipers | Tata Steel Chess YouTube

Tomorrow we'll be visiting our first #chessontour location: @GemeenteHsum ! Will we be seeing you there? 😉 #Hilversum https://t.co/6YXUpfCbkW pic.twitter.com/hmhbBcsNP9

— Tata Steel Chess (@tatasteelchess) January 16, 2018

Round and daily round-up show schedule

All rounds start at 13:30 CET except January 17th and 24th at 14:00, and the final round on January 28th at 12:00 Noon.

We'll be recapping each day's action with a live webcast at 21:00 CET (3pm EST) from a variety of familiar ChessBase contributors:

13. Jan	Round 1	Yannick Pelletier
14. Jan	Round 2	Daniel King
15. Jan	Round 3	Simon Williams
16. Jan	Round 4	Daniel King
17. Jan	Round 5	Simon Williams
18. Jan	Rest day
19. Jan	Round 6	Simon Williams
20. Jan	Round 7	Daniel King
21. Jan	Round 8	Yannick Pelletier
22. Jan	Rest day 2
23. Jan	Round 9	Lawrence Trent
24. Jan	Round 10	Yannick Pelletier
25. Jan	Rest day 3
26. Jan	Round 11	Daniel King
27. Jan	Round 12	Lawrence Trent
28. Jan	Round 13	Daniel King

Translation from German: Macauley Peterson

Links

• Official site
• Watch live
• Round 3: Anand ups the ante
• Round 2: Giri grabs early lead
• Round 1: And they're off!
• Wijk aan Zee turns 80 — and other stats
• On the bucket list: Wijk aan Zee
• Tata Steel Chess 2018 field complete