9 games out of 15 end decisively on day one of Tal Memorial 2018

by Sagar Shah
3/3/2018 – The Tal Memorial 2018 is turning into one of the most exciting super tournaments. The rapid format is forcing the players to err and we had 9 out of 15 games end decisively. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov scored 2.5/3 and is the sole leader. He is followed by Vishy Anand, Alexander Grischuk and Hikaru Nakamura on 2.0/3. Few things that you will get to witness in this report are Dubov's brilliant opening prep, Kramnik's piece blunder, Mamedyarov's excellent endgame play and Vishy Anand's powerful start. Amruta Mokal and Sagar Shah bring you all the updates from Moscow.
The Rossolimo Variation 3.Bb5 is considered to be one of the strongest replies to 2…Nc6 in the Sicilian Defence. The fact that the move has been played by practically all the top players proves its popularity and strength. But the most interesting aspect of playing 3.Bb5 is that we force sharp, attacking players who love to have the initiative to forget about the Open Sicilian and to adjust themselves to a new world, one full of positional ideas, manoeuvres and nuances.

Intro: Tal Memorial 2018 consists of two standalone events - nine rounds of rapid and thirteen rounds of blitz. Nine players participate in both the events. They are Anand, Nakamura, Mamedyarov, Gelfand, Kramnik, Karjakin, Grischuk, Nepomniachtchi and Svidler. For the rapid, the qualifier is Daniil Dubov, while four spots for the blitz section are yet to be decided. Rapid games are played with a time control of 25 minutes + 10 seconds increment, while blitz will be 5 minutes + 3 seconds increment. 2nd-4th March will have 3 rounds of rapid on each day, while on 5th you have 13 rounds of blitz. The total prize fund is US$ 1,50,000. 

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov leads with 2.5/3

Video summary of rounds 1-3 on day one of Tal Memorial 2018

In the search for the most exciting format for top-level chess, it seems as if the organizers of the Tal Memorial 2018 have got things in the right place. 15 games (3 rounds of 5 games) of rapid chess was played on the first day and we had nine decisive games! That's how the scoreboard looks at the end of day one:

There was only one player who didn't have a decisive game on day one and that's Sergey Karjakin!

The magic of Vishy Anand:

After two rounds Anand was the sole leader with 2.0/2. However, he lost his third round to Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Photo: Amruta Mokal 

When the Tal Memorial began the question on everyone's mind was whether Vishy would be able to keep up his form of the World Rapid Championship 2017 where he won the gold medal. It seemed as if he picked up just from where he had left off. In the first game itself he showed some excellent chess to demolish the young Russian talent Daniil Dubov.

 
...a5 was a new move in a well known position. One of the ideas was to swing the rook over via a7.
 
Vishy has just taken the knight on e5 with his bishop. How would you recapture?

If Dubov would have taken back on e5 with his bishop, he would have had an excellent position. Perhaps he was worried about the exchange sacrifice with Rxe5, but after that Black is doing fine. In the game, he took back ...dxe5 and after the simple Nf3, not only did the e5 pawn fall, but White had complete control on the board. Vishy converted it into a full point without any difficulties.

 
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1.e4 0 c5 1 2.Nf3 0 Nc6 2 3.Bb5 0 Anand goes for the Rossolimo. g6 1 4.Bxc6 1 bxc6 2 5.0-0 0 Bg7 3 6.Re1 3 Nh6 2 7.c3 5 0-0 4 8.h3 6 f5 15 9.e5 5 Nf7 5 10.d3 5 This has already been seen over 60 games, but now Dubov comes up with a new idea. a5!? 5 The idea of this move is get the rook to a7 at some point and transfer it to kingside as it happened in the game later. 11.Bf4 40 e6 3 ...g5 is now a threat. 12.Qd2 2:01 h6 2 13.h4 3 Anand stops g5 and it seems as if Black has no counterplay for the time being, but Dubov is tricky. Re8! 2 Black threatens now to play d6 and after exd6 to push in the centre with ...e5. 14.c4 1:46 d6 52 15.Nc3 1:08 15.exd6 e5 16.Be3 16.Bh2 e4 16...Qxd6 15...Ra7 4:02 16.Na4 3:50 g5!? 6:15 Dubov plays in the spirit of the position. He had to do something or else exd6 followed by Be3 would have led to the loss of the c5 pawn as well. 17.hxg5 34 hxg5 3 18.Nxg5 12 Nxe5 0 19.Bxe5 4:29 dxe5? 2:06 19...Bxe5! Black should have take on e5 with the bishop. Perhaps Vishy was ready to sacrifice an exchange on e5. 20.Rxe5 20.Nxc5 Rg7 21.Nf3 Bf6 And although White is a pawn up, Black is in control as next he plays c5 and then Bb7 with excellent play. 20...dxe5 21.Nf3 e4 22.dxe4 fxe4 23.Qxd8 Rxd8 24.Ne5∞ 20.Nf3! 1:07 White will now take on e5 and is in complete control of the position. Bf6 1 21.Nxe5 0 Rh7 16 22.Qf4 1:42 Bg5 1:34 23.Qg3 46 Rg7 1:38 24.Qf3 1:05 Qd6 2 25.Re2 1:21 Bf6 51 26.Rae1 8 Black's position is filled with weaknesses. White has absolutely no problems. Rg5 10 27.Qe3 1:17 f4 1:56 Desperation. 28.Qxf4 30 Rf8 1 29.Re3 52 Rf7 32 30.Rg3 22 Rxg3 2 31.Qxg3+ 4 Rg7 2 32.Qe3 9 Rg5 12 33.Nf3 12 Rf5 0 34.Nc3 10 Bd4 8 35.Ne4 14 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Anand,V2776Dubov,D27011–02018B3111th Tal Mem Rapid 20181

In the second round against Ian Nepomniachtchi, Vishy played the opening in fine style. He won a couple of pawns and was clearly better. But it was one of those positions which was very difficult for Black (Anand) to play in rapid time control. Nepo's pieces were active and he generated quite some counterplay. The critical moment of the game arrived when the following position was reached:

 
Black has just taken on f4. It is White's decision now whether to take on b6 or d6. What do you think is the right move?

Nepo took the pawn on b6 and this seems like the right move as the b-pawn seems like a better candidate to push than the c-pawn. However, it turns out that Kxd6 would have been better as after ...g5 White can push c5 without wasting any time. In the game, the king was on b6 and hence c5 would have been met with Rxb4 (check!).

Final moments of Anand winning against Nepomniachtchi

 
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1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 We have to start calling this Anand's special. 3.Nd5 a5 3...Bc5 has been Anand's main choice, and he did play it against Nepo in Riyadh and had lost. So, it was time for a change. 4.Nf3 d6 5.a3 Bc5 6.e3 c6 7.d4 Ba7 8.Nc3 Nd7 9.Ne4 Bb8!? The bishop has made four moves and finds itself on a very interesting square! 10.d5 Ngf6! 11.dxc6 Nxe4 12.cxd7+ Bxd7 This net exchange has led to a very nice edge for Black. He would like to play a4, put his knight on c5 and look at all the queenside weaknesses. So Nepo's next move is sort of forced. 13.b3 Bc6 14.Bb2 Qb6 15.Qc2 Nc5 16.Nd2 0-0 The main problem for White is that he cannot develop his f1 bishop without losing the g2 pawn and f3 is not really possible. 17.Be2 Bxg2! The pawn had to be taken! 18.Rg1 Bc6 19.0-0-0 Although this seems clearly better for Black, White has a plan. Double the rooks on g-file and sacrifice something. Black has to play carefully. Qd8 20.Rg3 Qh4 21.Rdg1 g6 The queen stands very well on h4. 22.f4 Qxh2! The h2 pawn is taken and White is in trouble. The bishop on c6 does a wonderful job of stopping all the moves on f3 and g2 squares. 23.Kd1 Bc7 24.Nf3 Bxf3 24...Qh6 keeping the bishop on c6 would have been better, but when you are ahead on material, you just want to exchange pieces. 25.Bxf3 Qxc2+ 26.Kxc2 This is a better position for Black as he is two pawns up But he has to be careful as White has the bishop pair and also the active pieces. Rab8 27.Rh3 Kg7 28.Rgh1 Rh8 28...h5 There wasn't anything particularly wrong with this move. But Anand plays it ultra safe. 29.b4 Nd7 29...Na4 30.Ba1 axb4 31.axb4 Nb6 32.Kb3 30.Rd1 Rhd8 31.Kb3 h5 32.Rd5 b6 33.Ka4 Nf6 34.Rd2 Ng4 Slowly and steadily Anand unravels. 35.Bc6 Kh6 36.Kb5 f5 37.Bc3 Rf8 38.Bf3 Rbe8 39.Rg2 Bd8 39...d5! would have been a powerful blow to end the game. 40.cxd5 exf4 41.exf4 Bxf4 42.Bxg4 fxg4 43.Rxg4 Rd8-+ 40.Kc6 The king is really active and Black is under quite some pressure. Bf6 41.Bxg4 fxg4 42.Rxg4 exf4 43.Bxf6 Rxf6 44.Rxf4 Rxf4 44...Rfe6 45.exf4 axb4 46.axb4 Re4 Anand made this move confidently and it seems as if he is still in control, but he isn't. 47.Rc3 Rxf4 48.Kxb6? 48.Kxd6! was the correct move. But when you have little time you want to take the pawn that is further away. In principle the b-pawn pushing down the board looks much better. But when you have a race ever tempo is important and here the route for the c-pawn is completely open, while in the game when the pawn on b6 was taken c5 was no longer good because Rxb4 would come with a check. g5 49.c5 bxc5 49...Rxb4 50.c6 Rd4+ 51.Ke5 Rd8 52.c7 Rc8 53.Kd6 h4 54.Kd7 Rxc7+ 55.Rxc7! The rook must come from behind. g4 56.Ke6 g3 57.Kf5 g2 58.Rc1 h3 59.Kf6 h2 60.Rc8 with a study like draw. Kh5 61.Kf5 Kh4 62.Kf4 Kh5 63.Kf5= 50.bxc5 Rd4+ 51.Ke5 Rd8 52.c6 h4 53.c7 Rc8 54.Kf5! 54.Kd6? g4 55.Kd7 Rxc7+ 56.Rxc7 g3 57.Ke6 g2 58.Rc1 Kg6!-+ 58...h3? 59.Kf6 h2 60.Rc8 Kh7 61.Rc7+ 54...Kh5 55.Rc1 g4 56.Kf4 g3 57.Rc5+ Kg6 58.Kg4 g2 59.Rc1 Rxc7 60.Rg1 Rc2 61.Kxh4= 48...g5 49.Kc6 g4 50.b5 h4 51.b6 h3 Black pawns are just too fast. 52.b7 Rf8 53.Kxd6 h2 54.Rc1 g3 55.Rh1 Kg5 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Nepomniachtchi,I2751Anand,V27760–12018A2111th Tal Mem Rapid 20182

With 2.0/2 Vishy snatched the sole lead in the tournament. Just when it seemed he was unstoppable, he was paired against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in the third round.

The Shak effect:

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov played an excellent game in the French Defence to beat Vishy Anand. The Azeri is playing the Candidates within a week from now. So Shak can surely not reveal all his preparation. French Defence might not be one of his main weapons in Berlin, but he showed great knowledge and won the opening duel.

 
Anand's move Ra1-a2 was already an inaccuracy. The right moves were either Bb2 or Bd3. After Ra2, Shak equalized with ease.

The rook endgame was perhaps equal, but Anand played not so well and Mamedyarov won. With this, he moved onto 2.5/3, the sole leader of the tournament.

Final moments of Mamedyarov overcoming Vishy Anand in a rook endgame

 
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1.e4 e6 One of the main things Shak has to do is conceal his preparation for the Candidates. Something new has to be played and he decides to go for the French. 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5!? 6.b4 cxd4 7.Nb5 Bc7 8.f4 Bd7 9.Nxc7+ Qxc7 10.Nf3 Ba4 11.Ra2?! This move has been played in four games, but not by any strong players. Better was surely either Bb2 or Bd3. 11.Bd3 Qc3+ 12.Bd2 Qxd3 13.cxd3 Bxd1 14.Kxd1 This is a great position for White as he places his king on e2 and captures the c-file with his rooks. 11.Bb2 Qxc2 12.Qxc2 Bxc2 13.Nxd4 Ba4 14.Bb5+ Bxb5 15.Nxb5 Kd7 16.Nd6 11...Ne7 12.Nxd4 a6 13.Be3 Nbc6 14.Bd3 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Bb5! Black has solved all his opening problems. This is usually the problem piece in the French. But with this move he has been able to exchange it off. 16.0-0 Nf5 17.Bf2 h5 18.a4 Bxd3 19.cxd3 This position is obectively equal, but in Rapid, it is just easier for Black to play. He has the c-file and the knight on f5 is powerfully placed. Rc8 20.a5 d4! 21.Ra1 Qd7 22.Qf3 Qd5 22...Rc3 23.Rac1 0-0! The h5 pawn is not so important. Getting control of the c-file is. 23.Qxd5 exd5 24.Rfc1 Kd7 25.Be1 f6 26.exf6 gxf6 Black pawns are in a mess, but his pieces control all the strategic points. 27.Kf2 Ne3 28.Kf3 Nc2 29.Ra2 Nxe1+! This is what Mamedyarov is all about. He is flexible and he gives up his knight for the bishop. It's not like he clings on to his advantage. He quickly switches from one to the other. 30.Rxe1 Rc3 31.Rae2?! Vishy as always goes for activity. But perhaps it was better to just defend the d3 pawn. 31.Rd2 Rb3 32.f5 Rxb4 33.Re6 Rf8 34.Kg3 Rb5 35.Kh4 Rxa5 36.Kxh5± This is going to be race, but it seems as if White is the one who is faster here. 31...Rxd3+ 32.Kf2 Rh7 33.b5 axb5 34.Rb2 Kc6 35.Re6+ Kc5 36.Rb6 Ra3 37.Rxf6 Vishy takes the f-pawn and hopes that his f-pawn would be faster than Black d-pawn but it doesn't turn out that way. 37.R2xb5+ Kc4 38.Rb4+ Kc3-+ The king is just getting too active. 37...d3 38.f5 Kd4 39.Rb4+ Kc3 40.Rxb5 Rd7 41.Rc5+ Kd4 42.Rc1 Ra2+ 43.Kf3 d2 44.Rd1 Kd3 Step by step, Mamedyarov has used his king to great effect. 45.Re6 d4 46.f6 Ra3! One may argue that it was too early to resign, but it wasn't. 46...Ra3 47.Re7 47.Kf2 Kc2 48.Ke2 d3+-+ 47...Rxe7 48.fxe7 Kc2+ 49.Ke2 Re3+-+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Anand,V2776Mamedyarov,S28090–12018C1711th Tal Mem Rapid 20183

The sole leader after day one with 2.5/3 - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Earlier in the day, Shak had beaten Peter Svidler:

 
What would you play in this position as White? 0-0, right? Well, now put yourself in Mamedyarov's shoes and think!
 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 c5 5.e3 cxd4 6.exd4 b6 7.c3 0-0 8.Bd3 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.Qe2 Nc7 11.h4!? Typical Mamedyarov. Normal players would 0-0, Mamedyarov goes for an attack. b5 12.h5 b4 12...Nxh5 13.Bxe7± 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.c4 White has a very nice position here. He has the central pawns and the open h-file. He can even just 0-0-0 and then launch an attack on the kingside. Ne6 15.Be3 d5 16.c5 Ne4 Svidler understands the need to be as active as possible and he tries his best to unsettle the play. 17.0-0-0 f5? Svidlers idea is to play f4 at some point and create pressure on the d4 pawn. But this loses tactically. 17...Qc7 18.Kb1 Nc3+!? This works well now. 19.bxc3 bxc3 20.Nb3 a5 Black is the one who has made inroads in the position. 17...Nc3?! 18.bxc3 bxc3 19.Nb3 a5 20.Rd3 a4 21.Na1+- White will round up the c3 pawn and be just better. 18.Nxe4! fxe4 18...dxe4 19.Qc4 Qc8 20.Ng5+- 19.Ne5 Rf6 19...Bxe5 20.dxe5+- 19...Nxc5 20.Nxg6 Nd3+ 21.Kb1 Rf6 22.Qh5+- The attack on the king is decisive. 20.Qg4 Nf8 21.Bh6 Bxh6+ 22.Rxh6 Qc8 23.Qh4 It was a very short and unusual game. Svidler with his great chess sense would always smell such attacks in advance, but in this case it turned out that he was not in the best frame of mind, and Mamedyarov's attack crashed through. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2809Svidler,P27601–02018A4811th Tal Mem Rapid 20182

Daniil Dubov's brilliant opening preparation:

We had warned you about how good Dubov is with his opening preparation. Nakamura got the first-hand experience in his game | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The game of the day was surely between Daniil Dubov and Hikaru Nakamura. Daniil played the Mikenas Variation in the English and sacrificed two pawns out of the opening.

 
In the above position White played the bold move 0-0. It was of course possible to take cxd4, but then the bishop comes to b4 with a tempo. Dubov played in uncompromising style

Nakamura was taking his time in the opening while Dubov was just blitzing out his moves. The real shocker for the American came when Dubov without a care in the world flicked his pawn from c4 to c5.

 
c4-c5 came as a big surprise to both Naka and his second Kris Littlejohn

After this, things started to go downhill for Nakamura as he took a lot of time. Hikaru did find some great defensive moves and was pretty close to a draw on numerous occasions but being under pressure right from the opening got to him and he finally blundered and lost on time.

Daniil Dubov hunts Nakamura's king

 
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I would say that this is the game of the day. Nakamura is always well prepared in the opening, and Dubov managed to trick him with some very nice ideas that he had prepared at home. At some point Dubov had 26 minutes on his clock while Naka was struggling below ten minutes! 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 Qxf6 7.d4 e5 I have always found this line to be exciting. It is a clash of styles. White is aiming at speedy development while Black wants a perfect structure. It all boils down to whether White can damage Black in the opening. From how things progressed in this game, it was White who used his trumps better. 8.Nf3 Nc6 9.Be2 This has not been played by any GM above the rating of 2508. So this is sure that Dubov had worked out things on his own at home. 9.Bg5 is more common. 9...exd4 10.Bg5 Qg6 11.0-0! Black is not allowed to develop his bishop on b4 with a tempo. 11.cxd4 is normal, but then you are not playing in the spirit of the position. Bb4+ 12.Bd2 0-0 And the position remains complex, but Black shouldn't be complaining too much. 11...dxc3 Hikaru thought for a few seconds and took the pawn. He was clearly recalling his preparation. 12.Bd3 Qd6 13.Re1+ Be7 14.c5! As mentioned by Hikaru's second Kris Littejohn, this move was something that he hadn't considered in his preparation. Qxc5 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Re5 White is three pawns down, but he has some amazing bit of activity going his way. Qd6 17.Bb5+ Kf8 17...Bd7 18.Bxd7+ Qxd7 18...Kxd7 19.Qa4++- 19.Qxd7+ Kxd7 20.Rd1+± 18.Qe2 Dubov was still blitzing out his moves. f6 18...Be6 19.Ng5± 19.Rd1 19.Re3 looks possible. Bd7 20.Bxd7 20.Rd1 Bxb5-+ 20...Qxd7 21.Rd1 Nd5 looks fine for Black. 19...fxe5 20.Nxe5! A very strong move. The queen cannot move because of mate on d8. Bf5 21.Rxd6 cxd6 22.Nd7+ Kf7 23.Qc4+ Be6 24.Qf4+ Nf5 24...Kg8 25.Qxd6± 25.g4 The knight is lost, but the one on d7 is also trapped. Rad8? 25...Rhd8 26.gxf5 Bxd7 27.Bc4+± 25...c2!? 26.gxf5 Bd5 Black somehow survives here. 25...Rhc8 26.gxf5 Bxd7 27.Bxd7 c2 28.Be6+ Ke8 29.Bxc8 Rxc8 30.Qc1 Kf7= This cannot be won by White. 26.gxf5 Bxd7 27.Bc4+ 27.Qc4+! was much more accurate. Ke7 28.Qh4+! This check is easy to miss. Ke8 29.Qh5+ Ke7 30.Qg5+ Ke8 30...Kf7 31.Bc4+ Kf8 32.Qxd8+ 31.Qxg7+- 27...d5! Hikaru was low on time but finds the trickiest defence. The position is still lost, but Dubov has to be very alert. 27...Kf6 28.Qd4+ Kxf5 29.Qd5+ This check is very strong. With the bishop on d5, the co-ordination is ruined. 28.Bxd5+ Kf6 29.Qd6+ Kxf5 30.Bc4 Rhe8 31.Bd3+ Kg5 32.h4+ 32.f4+ Kg4 33.Qd5+- 32...Kh5 33.Qg3 Bg4 34.f3! Rd4 35.Kf2 c2 36.Bxc2 Over here Naka thought for a while, shook his head and before he could make his next move, his flag fell. The position is already lost. Rf8 is met with Qe5+ and the rook is lost. Rf8 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Dubov,D2701Nakamura,H27871–02018A1811th Tal Mem Rapid 20182

Hikaru Nakamura speaks about his games from day one

Normal chess or chess960? "I don't want to be jobless so I will choose normal chess!" - Nakamura's second Kris Littlejohn

Kramnik's mega blunder:

The biggest blunder of the day was made by Kramnik in the second round against Alexander Grischuk | Photo: Amruta Mokal

 
What do you think Kramnik played? c6? Just leaving his knight en prise!

Vladimir Kramnik made the biggest blunder of the day when he left his knight on d3 hanging. After pushing his pawn to c6 he picked up the queen from the side of the board signalling to his opponent that his pawn was going to reach the last rank. Grischuk took the knight and it was then that Kramnik realized that the bishop could just go back to a6 to stop the pawn.

This video shows Kramnik blundering a full piece!

 
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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.d4 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.c3 0-0 5.e3 d6 6.h3 c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.Bc7 Rd7 10.Bh2 Rd8 11.Nbd2 Nc6 12.Bc4 b6 13.0-0-0 Bb7 14.Rhe1 Nd7 15.Kc2 a6 16.Ng5 Nce5 17.Bf1 b5 18.Nb3 Rac8 19.Na5 Ba8 20.f4 h6 21.fxe5 hxg5 22.e6 fxe6 23.c4 b4 24.Nb3 Be4+ 25.Kc1 a5 26.Nxa5 Ne5 27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Nb3 Rc8 29.Rd1 Bf6 30.Be2 Bxg2 31.Bxe5 Bxe5 32.Bg4 Kg7 33.Rg1 Ba8 34.Bxe6 Rc7 35.Nd2 Bc6 36.Bd5 Bd7 37.Rxg5 Bf6 38.Rg3 Ra7 39.Ne4 Rxa2 40.Nxc5 Bc8 41.Be4 g5 42.Nd3 b3 43.c5 Ra4 44.Bd5 White has taken over the initiative and is clearly better. His c-pawn is strong and he has good winning chances. Ba6 45.c6? A big blunder from Kramnik. 45.e4 Bxd3 46.Rxd3 Ra1+ 47.Kd2 Bxb2 48.Rxb3± This could end in a draw, but White has his chances. 45...Bxd3 46.e4 Bxe4! Grischuk has calculated the win. 47.c7 Bxd5 48.c8Q Rc4+ 49.Qxc4 Bxc4 with a completely winning position. The game just turned in a matter of few moves. 50.h4 Kg6 51.Kd2 Bxb2 52.Rxg5+ Kh6 53.Rc5 Bf7 54.Rb5 Bf6 55.h5 b2 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kramnik,V2800Grischuk,A27670–12018A4811th Tal Mem Rapid 20182

"I just didn't want to lose all my games. I achieved that aim after the first round. After that, I was just freeballing!" - Alexander Grischuk

Players travel from the Sheraton Hotel to the playing hall in a bus | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Moscow traffic is bad, but the great news is that the distance is only two kilometres! | Photo: Amruta Mokal

That's how far the venue is from the hotel

That's the Russian Museum of Impressionism (left) from the outside | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The beautiful playing hall of the tournament in the Russian Museum of Impressionism | Photo: Amruta Mokal

There's not much time in between the games. These refreshments are for the players. | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Instead of his laptop (as in Riyadh), Vishy Anand is seen with his mobile in between the rounds | Photo: Amruta Mokal

Sergey Shipov is giving commentary in Russian online as well as for the people present at the venue | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The paintings in the museum | Photo: Amruta Mokal

The great man in whose honour this tournament is held: Mikhail Tal | Photo: Amruta Mokal

On this DVD Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Karsten Müller present the 8. World Chess Champion in video lessons: his openings, his understanding of chess strategy, his artful endgame play, and finally his immortal combinations.

Replay all the games from round one:

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Bxf6 exf6 4.e3 c6 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.Nd2 0-0 7.Qf3 a5 8.Ne2 Na6 9.c3 Nc7 10.h4 Re8 11.g4 Ne6 12.0-0-0 b5 13.Rdg1 g6 14.h5 Ng5 15.Qg2 b4 16.c4 Ba6 17.Kb1 Ra7 18.Nc1 dxc4 19.Bxc4 Bxc4 20.Nxc4 Bf8 21.Rd1 a4 22.Ne2 a3 23.b3 Qd5 24.Qxd5 cxd5 25.Nd2 Bd6 26.Rc1 Rc7 27.Rxc7 Bxc7 28.Kc2 Kg7 29.Kd3 f5 30.gxf5 gxf5 31.Rc1 Bd6 32.f4 Ne4 33.Nxe4 fxe4+ 34.Kd2 Kf6 35.Rg1 h6 36.Rg2 Rc8 37.Rg1 Be7 38.Rg2 Bd6 39.Ng1 Rc3 40.Rg8 Rd3+ 41.Ke2 Rc3 42.Kd2 Rd3+ 43.Ke2 Rc3 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2809Kramnik,V2800½–½2018A4511th Tal Mem Rapid 20181
Svidler,P2760Nepomniachtchi,I2751½–½2018A2011th Tal Mem Rapid 20181
Anand,V2776Dubov,D27011–02018B3111th Tal Mem Rapid 20181
Nakamura,H2787Gelfand,B26951–02018D4311th Tal Mem Rapid 20181
Karjakin,S2763Grischuk,A2767½–½2018C4211th Tal Mem Rapid 20181
Kramnik,V2800Grischuk,A27670–12018A4811th Tal Mem Rapid 20182
Gelfand,B2695Karjakin,S2763½–½2018E0011th Tal Mem Rapid 20182
Dubov,D2701Nakamura,H27871–02018A1811th Tal Mem Rapid 20182
Nepomniachtchi,I2751Anand,V27760–12018A2111th Tal Mem Rapid 20182
Mamedyarov,S2809Svidler,P27601–02018A4811th Tal Mem Rapid 20182
Svidler,P2760Kramnik,V28000–12018A0811th Tal Mem Rapid 20183
Anand,V2776Mamedyarov,S28090–12018C1711th Tal Mem Rapid 20183
Nakamura,H2787Nepomniachtchi,I27511–02018E6011th Tal Mem Rapid 20183
Karjakin,S2763Dubov,D2701½–½2018A0411th Tal Mem Rapid 20183
Grischuk,A2767Gelfand,B2695½–½2018A0111th Tal Mem Rapid 20183

 

Sagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.

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