Sinquefield 08: Carlsen forgives Nakamura

by Alejandro Ramirez
9/1/2015 – Today's round featured three solid draws, after which two very long games were the only ones left in the playing hall. Giri suffered slightly against Caruana as he lost a pawn and had to defend, but it wasn't too hard. Nakamura, however, is the one that was lucky. Carlsen's prep basically gave him a winning position, but the World Champion was careless, and Naka found a way to survive!
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

2015 Sinquefield Cup

This super-GM single Round Robin brings together some of the best players in the world. This is the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour.

The players – Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Levon Aronian (Armenia), Fabiano Caruana (USA), Hikaru Nakamura (USA), Veselin Topalov (Bulgaria), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Alexander Grischuk (Russia), Anish Giri (Netherlands), Viswanathan Anand (India), Wesley So (USA).

The venue is the Chess Club and Scholastic Center at 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108. Tickets can be purchased at the Saint Louis Chess Club.

Round Eight

Round Eight
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Grischuk, Alexander 2771
½-½
 Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
Giri, Anish 2793
½-½
 Caruana, Fabiano 2808
So, Wesley 2779
½-½
 Topalov, Veselin 2816
Aronian, Levon 2765
½-½
 Anand, Viswanathan 2816
Carlsen, Magnus 2853
½-½
 Nakamura, Hikaru 2814

Daniel King shows the game: Carlsen vs Nakamura

Even in tournaments in which the level of fighting spirit is extremely high, such as the 2015 Sinquefield Cup, sometimes there is a chance that every game ends in a draw simply due to the high class strength of the players.

The draws today came in many different flavors, and a few players must be disappointed with the result, either because they were pressing and were unable to convert or because they allowed their opponent’s such advantages to begin with. As it stands, the tournament has been served to Aronian in a platter as he will only need a half a point in his last round to clinch first place - he will be playing Topalov with the Black pieces. If he loses, there are four hungry players behind him one point behind that could potentially catch him.

Despite the fact that So-Topalov played over 50 moves, it didn’t last long in regards to playing time. Wesley So obtained a slight advantage somehow after Topalov made inaccurate form during the opening. Unfortunately, the position was so locked up that an incredible amount of precision was required in order to create even minor problems. So kept lashing out his moves, and was even above two hours on the clock (more than he started with, due to the extra hour at move 40) at some point. Topalov held comfortably in the endgame.

Topalov with two solid draws, unusual for him

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,180,95054%2421---
1.d4956,91055%2434---
1.Nf3285,50956%2441---
1.c4184,27056%2442---
1.g319,85756%2427---
1.b314,56954%2428---
1.f45,94648%2377---
1.Nc33,89750%2383---
1.b41,78848%2379---
1.a31,24754%2406---
1.e31,08049%2409---
1.d396550%2378---
1.g467046%2361---
1.h446554%2381---
1.c343851%2425---
1.h328956%2420---
1.a411860%2461---
1.f310047%2427---
1.Nh39267%2511---
1.Na34762%2476---
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Nge2 d5 6.a3 Bd6 7.c5 Be7 8.b4 b6 9.Bb2 a5 10.Nf4 axb4 11.axb4 Rxa1 12.Qxa1 Nc6 13.Nd3 bxc5 14.bxc5 Ne4?! Topalov mentioned that this move was not good. 14...Bb7 followed by 15.Be2 Qd7 16.0-0 Ra8 17.Qc1 Ba6 close to equal. 15.Be2 Bd7 16.f3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 Black is suffering here slightly. Qa8 18.Kd2 Rb8 19.Qxa8 19.Rb1! keeping some pressure. 19...Rxa8 20.Ra1 Rxa1 21.Bxa1 Kf8 22.Bc3 Ke8 23.g4 g6 24.f4 h6 25.h3 Bf6 26.Bf3 Bc8 White is still better thanks to his space advantage but it is difficult to create any kind of play. Wesley tried to maneuver around for a long time, but was unable to create something. 27.Bd1 Bd7 28.Ne1 Na7 29.Ba5 Bd8 30.Nf3 The position is so locked up. The players actually blitzed out many moves, as there is not much going on. So needs to create some pawn break to do anything but it seems almost impossible to find. Bb5 31.Bc3 Nc6 32.Ke1 Nb8 33.Bc2 Nd7 34.Ba5 Nf6 35.g5 hxg5 36.fxg5 Nd7 37.h4 Nb8 38.Ne5 Nc6 39.Nxc6 Bxc6 40.Kf2 Kd7 41.Kg3 Be7 42.Kf4 Bb5 43.Ke5 c6 44.Bd1 Bd3 45.Bb6 Bf1 46.Ba7 Bd3 47.Bb8 Bb1 48.Bd6 Bd8 49.Bb8 Bd3 50.Bd6 Bb1 There is simply nothing to do here in this position. ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2779Topalov,V2816½–½2015E463rd Sinquefield Cup 20158

Aronian tried to put some pressure against Anand, but he ran into some deep opening preparation. The Indian player successfully neutralized White’s strong pawn center with some clever moves. Aronian sacrificed a pawn for some pressure on the b-file, taking advantage of an awkward knight on a5 for Anand, but Black had everything under control.

All draws? Aronian will take it!

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.Ng5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Re8 9.f3 exf3 10.Nxf3 d5 11.d4! dxc4 11...Ne4 12.Qc2 dxc4 13.Rb1 f5 was the game Kasparov-Ivanchuk from 1988. The former World Champion mentioned how he had prepared this position quite deeply, including the variations that happened in the game. Back in 1988 he thought that White was much better with his central control, while it seems that Anand played confidently enough, perhaps trusting his engine evaluation that keeps it around equal. 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.e4! 14.Ne5 Qe6 15.Bxc6 15.Nxf7 Rf8= 15...bxc6 16.Nxf7 16.Rxf7 c5 is messy, but not better for White. 16...Qe3+-+ 14...Bg4 15.Qa4 Qd6 16.Rae1?! 16.Qxc4 Anand said he analyzed this, but not 16.Rae1. Rxe4? 17.Ng5± 16...Rab8! 17.Qxc4 b5 18.e5 changing the character of the position, going into an endgame. If White refused to go into this he would have to allow some interesting pawn breaks. 18.Qb3 Na5 18...b4!? 19.Qc2 c5 18.Qd3 b4 19.e5 Qd7= 18...bxc4 19.exd6 cxd6 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Nd2 Black is up a pawn, but he is under some pressure because c4 and d6 are weak. Na5 22.Ne4 Rd8! 23.Rb1 d5! Precise play from the Indian player. He finds a tactical way to solve his knight on a5 problem. 24.Nc5 Be6 25.Rb5 Nc6 26.Na6= 26.Rb7 Rb8 27.Rc7 Rb1+ gives Black enough counterplay. 26...Rd7 27.a4 Kf8 28.Nc5 Rc7 29.Na6 Rd7 30.Nc5 Rc7 31.Na6 There is simply no way of making progress. ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2765Anand,V2816½–½2015A293rd Sinquefield Cup 20158

Grischuk repeated the variation that Carlsen played against Vachier-Lagrave earlier in the tournament, but MVL was not going to be caught off-guard in this variation twice. He came up with the strong early Qb6 idea, neutralized all play from Grischuk and the game was eventually drawn when neither side could find a constructive idea.

Grischuk tried to repeat the success of Carlsen

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c5 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 0-0 7.Nc3 Qc7 8.Nd5 a repeat from Carlsen-MVL earlier this tournament. The Frenchman obviously had an improvment over that game Nxd5 9.cxd5 In the annotations to the aforementioned game we noticed that Qb6 was a move, though most people played Qa5. Kasparov mentioned that Qb6 is better, and that he prepared this position for a match a long time ago. Qb6 10.Nb3 d6 11.0-0 Na6 12.Be3 Qb4 13.Bd2 Qa4 14.Na5 Qxd1 15.Raxd1 Bxb2 Perhaps giving up the b7 pawn for the b2 pawn is not necessary. 15...Nc5!? 15...Bg4 was perhaps an improvement. 16.Rb1 Bf6 17.Nxb7 Kg7 18.Na5 thanks to the weakness of c6, White has a little pressure. That being said it is not the end of the World. Nc5 19.Rfc1 Ba6 20.Kf1 Rfb8 21.Rb4 Rxb4 22.Bxb4 Rb8 23.a3 Bb5 White's pressure has been basically neutralized. There aren't any real threats that Grischuk can create in this position. a7 is the only pawn to attack, and it can only be done so by the knight. 24.Bf3 Na6 25.Nc6 Rb7 26.Na5 Rb6 27.Bd2 Nc5 28.Bb4 Na6 29.Bd2 Nc5 30.Bb4 Na6 Vachier-Lagrave even thought that at some point he was slightly better, but couldn't find anything constructive to do. ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Grischuk,A2771Vachier-Lagrave,M2731½–½20153rd Sinquefield Cup 20158

MVL had a good counter ready

The next two games took a very long time to finish. Caruana was able to minimize the danger from the opening with his typical Grunfeld, though this time he brought in an interesting idea with an early e5 break. Giri’s advantage was negligible, and he started playing carelessly. Suddenly he saw himself down a pawn without full compensation. He had to suffer in a very long two pawns and rook vs. one pawn and rook endgame that he eventually drew.

Giri made life hard on himself

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Be3 c5 8.Rc1 0-0 9.Qd2 e5!? An unusual approach to a known position. This double break 10.Nf3 cxd4 11.cxd4 exd4 12.Nxd4 Bd7 13.Bc4 Nc6 Black is close to equality, but Whtie will retain a small pressure as he can still avoid the trade of pieces and can install a bishop on d5 at some point. 14.Nf3 Bg4 15.Qxd8 Raxd8 16.0-0 Rfe8 17.Rb1 17.Ng5 was what Kasparov thought was going to happen. Ne5?! 17...Re7! 18.h3 Bc8 19.Bc5 Rc7 18.Bb3! 18.Bd5 h6 19.f4 Rxd5! 20.exd5 Nd3-+ 18...h6 19.f4 hxg5 20.fxe5 Be6 21.Bxg5 Rd4 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Bf6± 17...Na5 18.Bd5 Be6 19.Bxe6 Rxe6 20.Bxa7 Ra8 21.Bd4 Bxd4 22.Nxd4 Rxe4 This position is very close to equal, but somehow White finds his a-pawn hard to defend. 23.Nf3 23.Nb5= 23...Re2 24.a4 Re4 25.Rfc1 Rxa4 26.h3 Black is up a pawn now, after not putting in much effort. The game is close to a draw because b7 is so weak and the kingside is easy to attack for White, but it still involves plenty of suffering. Re8 27.Rc7 h6 28.Rb5 Re2 29.Ne5 Ra1+ 30.Kh2 Rxf2 31.Ng4 Rff1 32.Nxh6+ Kg7 33.Ng4 Rh1+ 34.Kg3 Rhb1 35.Rd5 Rd1 36.Rb5 Rd6 37.Ne5 Rf6 Black is hard pressed to find something to do. 38.Rc3?! 38.Ng4 just not releasing the pressure from the seventh rank, should be fine for White. 38...Rf5 39.Rcc5 This clearly seems artificial. b6?! 39...Ra3+! keeps the pressure up 40.Kh2 Rb3! 41.Rxa5 b6 42.Rcb5 bxa5 43.Rxb3 Rxe5 is probably a draw, but with more chances than the game. 40.Rxb6! Caruana must have thought this wasn't possible.. Rg5+ 41.Kf2 Ra2+ 42.Kf1 42.Kf3! Rgxg2 43.Rbb5!= 42...Rgxg2 43.Rxa5 Rxa5 44.Kxg2 Rxe5 45.h4 This position is a draw, but Black has some chance of pushing. Re6 46.Rb7 Kf6 47.Ra7 Re3 48.Ra5 Re5 49.Ra7 Re4 50.Kg3 Ke6 51.Ra5 f6 52.Ra6+ Kf5 53.Ra5+ Re5 54.Ra3 Rd5 55.Rf3+ Ke6 56.Re3+ Re5 57.Ra3 Re4 58.Ra6+ Kf5 59.Ra5+ Re5 60.Ra3 Rd5 61.Rf3+ Ke6 62.Re3+ Kf7 Black can't make any progress. 63.Ra3 Rd4 64.Ra6 Ke7 65.Ra3 Ke6 66.Re3+ Kf5 67.Rf3+ Ke5 68.Re3+ Re4 69.Ra3 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Giri,A2793Caruana,F2808½–½20153rd Sinquefield Cup 20158

Last and certainly not least was the game between Carlsen and Nakamura. The American player very clearly was in trouble straight from the opening. Kasparov came around to talk about the game with me and he was saying how it was a position that Carlsen and he had analyzed a few years ago, and that Black wasn’t lost, but it was very very bad. Slowly the World Champion pushed Nakamura around, got a winning position… and then made mistake after mistake. Somehow Nakamura was able to create counterchances in what should have been a straightforward win. Eventually, after a long torture, he survived.

Naka survived... somehow!

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Bf4 Nf6 5.e3 0-0 6.a3 c5 6...b6! Is better, according to Kasparov. 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Be7 11.Be2 Ne4?! 11...dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nh5 13.0-0 Nxf4 14.exf4 gives White some pressure, and Kramnik used to win against Carlsen in 2009. Kasparov and Carlsen worked on the position and concluded that White has pressure, but Black's position is "somewhat playable". 12.cxd5 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 14.bxc3 exd5 15.Rxd5 Bxa3 16.Nd4 Kasparov mentioned that this position was already bad for Black. It was based on a 2009 game by Sokolov (against Meier). Black isn't lost, but it is not fun to play this, especially against Carlsen. Nxd4 17.exd4 b6 18.Kd2 Be6 18...Bb7 19.Rd7 Bxg2 20.Ra1 susprisingly traps the bishop. 19.Rb5 Bd7 20.Rb3 Be7 21.Bf3 Ba4 22.Rb2 Rad8 23.Ra1 b5 24.Bc6 a6 25.Bb7 Bd6 26.Be3 a5 Black somehow is retaining his material parity, but it is clear that his pawns are weak, the bishop on a4 is awkward and the king on d2 is far more useful than the one no g8. 27.Bc6 Rb8 28.d5 Rfd8 29.Kd3 29.Ba7 was possible but not fully necessary yet. Carlsen slowly improves his position. 29...Bf8 30.Bd4 f6 31.Ke4 why not? Bd6 32.c4 Bb4 33.Ba7?! This seems to forcing, and not in a good way 33.g4! was worth considering, simply paralyzing black. 33...f5+ 34.Kf3 Rbc8! The best practical chance, forcing the two bishops vs. rook endgame. 35.cxb5 Bxb5 36.Bxb5 Bc3 37.Rab1 37.Rba2 Bxa1 38.Rxa1 Rxd5 39.Rxa5 Kf8 40.Bb6 at least takes the pawn on a5 immediately, but it isn't 100% clear whether the endgame is winning or holdable. 37...Bxb2 38.Rxb2 Rxd5 39.Be3? A move that is almost impossible to understand. Basic chess understanding tells us that White should retain his rook, not allow it to be exchanged. 39.Ba4 should lead to a technically won game. The rook and bishops will tear apart Black's pawns. 39...Rb8 40.Bc4 Rxb2 41.Bxd5+ Kh8 Now this is not even close to easy. 42.Bd4 Rb1 43.Ke2 a4 44.g3 a3 45.Kd2 h5 46.h4 Kh7 47.Bc4 g6 48.Kc2 Re1 48...Rb8 is probably the easier way to draw in this position, simply keeping the king cut off on the b-file and there is no way to make progress with the bishops. 49.Be3 simplifying a couple of pawns. The a-pawn is doomed, but not the game. f4! 50.Bxf4 a2 51.Bxa2 Re2+ 52.Kb3 Rxf2 53.Bb1 Re2 54.Kc4 Kg7 55.Kd5 The king comes in, but this is as far as he goes. He will not cross into f6, where he needs to be. Re1 56.Bc2 Re2 57.Bd3 Re1 58.Be4 Rd1+ 59.Ke5 Black's defense is tedious, but not particularly demanding. Re1 60.Bd2 Re2 61.Bc3 Kh6 62.Bb4 Rf2 63.Bc5 Rf1 64.Bb4 Rf2 65.Be7 Rf1 66.Bf6 Rg1 67.Bg5+ Kg7 68.Bf4 Re1 69.Kd5 Rd1+ 70.Ke6 Re1 71.Ke5 Re2 72.Kd5 Re1 73.Bd3 Kh7 74.Kd4 Kg7 75.Be3 Ra1 76.Ke4 Ra4+ 77.Kf3 Ra3 78.Bb5 Rb3 79.Be8 Rb1 80.Bc6 Rb4 81.Bd2 Rb6 82.Bc3+ Kh6 83.Bd5 Rb1 84.Kf4 Rf1+ 85.Ke5 Rg1 86.Bd2+ Kg7 87.Bf4 Re1+ 88.Kd6 Kf6 89.Bf3 Kf5 90.Kd5 Rf1 91.Be4+ Kg4 92.Bxg6 Rxf4 93.gxf4 Kxf4 94.Bxh5 Kg3 95.Bd1 Kxh4 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2853Nakamura,H2814½–½20153rd Sinquefield Cup 20158

Garry Kasparov was a guest of honor today, and even joined Jenn, Maurice and Yasser in the analysis table!

Kasparov analyzing with yours truly. He was usually right..... ok, ok, maybe always.

Kasparov with his partner for ultimate moves (an exhibition match after the tournament), Rex Sinquefield

Garry with Maurice. In the foreground, Jen Huemmer, the producer of the broadcast.

Standings

Round Eight Games

New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 Bb4 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.Ng5 Bxc3 8.bxc3 Re8 9.f3 exf3 10.Nxf3 d5 11.d4! dxc4 11...Ne4 12.Qc2 dxc4 13.Rb1 f5 was the game Kasparov-Ivanchuk from 1988. The former World Champion mentioned how he had prepared this position quite deeply, including the variations that happened in the game. Back in 1988 he thought that White was much better with his central control, while it seems that Anand played confidently enough, perhaps trusting his engine evaluation that keeps it around equal. 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.e4! 14.Ne5 Qe6 15.Bxc6 15.Nxf7 Rf8= 15...bxc6 16.Nxf7 16.Rxf7 c5 is messy, but not better for White. 16...Qe3+-+ 14...Bg4 15.Qa4 Qd6 16.Rae1?! 16.Qxc4 Anand said he analyzed this, but not 16.Rae1. Rxe4? 17.Ng5± 16...Rab8! 17.Qxc4 b5 18.e5 changing the character of the position, going into an endgame. If White refused to go into this he would have to allow some interesting pawn breaks. 18.Qb3 Na5 18...b4!? 19.Qc2 c5 18.Qd3 b4 19.e5 Qd7= 18...bxc4 19.exd6 cxd6 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.Nd2 Black is up a pawn, but he is under some pressure because c4 and d6 are weak. Na5 22.Ne4 Rd8! 23.Rb1 d5! Precise play from the Indian player. He finds a tactical way to solve his knight on a5 problem. 24.Nc5 Be6 25.Rb5 Nc6 26.Na6= 26.Rb7 Rb8 27.Rc7 Rb1+ gives Black enough counterplay. 26...Rd7 27.a4 Kf8 28.Nc5 Rc7 29.Na6 Rd7 30.Nc5 Rc7 31.Na6 There is simply no way of making progress. ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2765Anand,V2816½–½2015A293rd Sinquefield Cup 20158
Carlsen,M2853Nakamura,H2814½–½20153rd Sinquefield Cup 20158
Giri,A2793Caruana,F2808½–½20153rd Sinquefield Cup 20158
Grischuk,A2771Vachier-Lagrave,M2731½–½20153rd Sinquefield Cup 20158
So,W2779Topalov,V2816½–½2015E463rd Sinquefield Cup 20158

Select from the dropdown menu to replay the games

Photos by Lennart Ootes

Pairings

Round One
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Giri, Anish 2793
1-0
 Grischuk, Alexander 2771
So, Wesley 2779
0-1
 Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
Aronian, Levon 2765
1-0
 Caruana, Fabiano 2808
Carlsen, Magnus 2853
0-1
 Topalov, Veselin 2816
Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
1-0
 Anand, Viswanathan 2816
Round Two
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Grischuk, Alexander 2771
1-0
 Anand, Viswanathan 2816
Topalov, Veselin 2816
1-0
 Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
½-½
 Aronian, Levon 2765
Giri, Anish 2793
½-½
 So, Wesley 2779
Caruana, Fabiano 2808
0-1
 Carlsen, Magnus 2853
Round Three
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
So, Wesley 2779
1-0
 Grischuk, Alexander 2771
Aronian, Levon 2765
½-½
 Giri, Anish 2793
Carlsen, Magnus 2853
1-0
 Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
½-½
 Caruana, Fabiano 2808
Anand, Viswanathan 2816
½-½
 Topalov, Veselin 2816
Round Four
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Grischuk, Alexander 2771
½-½
 Topalov, Veselin 2816
Caruana, Fabiano 2808
½-½
 Anand, Viswanathan 2816
Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
½-½
 Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
Giri, Anish 2793
½-½
 Carlsen, Magnus 2853
So, Wesley 2779
0-1
 Aronian, Levon 2765
Round Five
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Aronian, Levon 2765
½-½
 Grischuk, Alexander 2771
Carlsen, Magnus 2853
1-0
 So, Wesley 2779
Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
½-½
 Giri, Anish 2793
Anand, Viswanathan 2816
½-½
 Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
Topalov, Veselin 2816
0-1
 Caruana, Fabiano 2808
Round Six
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Grischuk, Alexander 2771
1-0
 Caruana, Fabiano 2808
Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
1-0
 Topalov, Veselin 2816
Giri, Anish 2793
½-½
 Anand, Viswanathan 2816
So, Wesley 2779
0-1
 Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
Aronian, Levon 2765
½-½
 Carlsen, Magnus 2853
Round Seven
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Carlsen, Magnus 2853
½-½
 Grischuk, Alexander 2771
Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
0-1
 Aronian, Levon 2765
Anand, Viswanathan 2816
½-½
 So, Wesley 2779
Topalov, Veselin 2816
½-½
 Giri, Anish 2793
Caruana, Fabiano 2808
0-1
 Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
Round Eight
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Grischuk, Alexander 2771
½-½
 Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731
Giri, Anish 2793
½-½
 Caruana, Fabiano 2808
So, Wesley 2779
½-½
 Topalov, Veselin 2816
Aronian, Levon 2765
½-½
 Anand, Viswanathan 2816
Carlsen, Magnus 2853
½-½
 Nakamura, Hikaru 2814
Round Nine
Name
Rtg
Res.
Name
Rtg
Nakamura, Hikaru 2814   Grischuk, Alexander 2771
Anand, Viswanathan 2816   Carlsen, Magnus 2853
Topalov, Veselin 2816   Aronian, Levon 2765
Caruana, Fabiano 2808   So, Wesley 2779
Vachier-Lagr, Maxime 2731   Giri, Anish 2793

Games start at 1 p.m. local time (20:00h CEST, 22:00h Moscow, Thursday 12:30 New Delhi, 03:00h Tokyo, 04:00 Canberra – check your location here).

Playoffs, if necessary, will be on the 2nd at 1pm.

The games will be broadcast live on Playchess, with expert analysis (see schedule below).

Broadcast Schedule

Day Date Time Event German
English
Sunday Aug. 23 1 PM Round 1 Thomas Luther   
Mihail Marin
Monday Aug. 24 1 PM Round 2 Calrstedt/Pähtz
Mihail Marin
Tuesday Aug. 25 1 PM Round 3 S. Siebrecht  
Simon Williams
Wednesday Aug. 26 1 PM Round 4 S. Siebrecht  
Simon Williams
Thursday Aug. 27 1 PM Round 5 S. Siebrecht  
Simon Williams
Friday Aug. 28 Rest Day
Saturday Aug. 29 1 PM Round 6 Reeh/Breutigam
Y. Pelletier
Sunday Aug. 30 1 PM Round 7 Reeh/Breutigam
Y. Pelletier
Monday Aug. 31 1 PM Round 8 S. Siebrecht  
Daniel King
Tuesday Sept. 1 1 PM Round 9 Y. Pelletier
Daniel King
Wednesday Sept. 2 1 PM Playoffs  
 

Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.
 
Grandmaster Alejandro Ramirez has been playing tournament chess since 1998. His accomplishments include qualifying for the 2004 and 2013 World Cups as well as playing for Costa Rica in the 2002, 2004 and 2008 Olympiads. He currently has a rating of 2583 and is author of a number of popular and critically acclaimed ChessBase-DVDs.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.