8/16/2019 – Levon Aronian won the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz 2019 despite losing the first and last game on the final day. Aronian managed to score only 5 points out of the last nine rounds but that was enough to beat Vachier-Lagrave. MVL's only consolation is that he beat Aronian in both of their blitz encounters. Caruana got his much awaited revenge against Carlsen in round fourteen. IM VENKATACHALAM SARAVANAN reports from Saint Louis. | Pictured: Aronian on being just informed by fellow Armenian GM Manuel Petrosyan that he has won the tournament. | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
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Levon pips a trio at the post
Levon Aronian emerged as the winner of the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz leg of the Grand Chess Tour after a tumultuous day of blitz games here at the Saint Louis Chess Club. The day almost belonged to the wildcard participant from China, Yu Yangyi, who excelled and barely missed tying for the title — which would have forced an eagerly awaited tiebreak match — as well as winning the blitz tournament. The day was disappointing for the overnight leader Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and for World Champion Magnus Carlsen, as they could score only 4 and 4½ points respectively.
To keep things in perspective, there was almost no one who managed to score heavily on the last day, with Yu (6 points out of the final nine rounds) the top scorer of the day, followed by Levon Aronian, Ding Liren and Sergey Karjakin with 5 points each. It underscores the tough level of this tournament, as well as the great battles seen throughout.
Yu Yangyi | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
The World Champion suffers
To begin with, Magnus Carlsen continued his indifferent form in a topsy-turvy encounter with Vachier-Lagrave:
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1.e4
1,170,319
54%
2421
---
1.d4
949,867
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
282,628
56%
2440
---
1.c4
182,731
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,745
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,347
54%
2427
---
1.f4
5,917
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,816
51%
2384
---
1.b4
1,759
48%
2379
---
1.a3
1,222
54%
2404
---
1.e3
1,073
49%
2409
---
1.d3
955
50%
2378
---
1.g4
666
46%
2361
---
1.h4
449
53%
2374
---
1.c3
435
51%
2426
---
1.h3
283
56%
2419
---
1.a4
114
60%
2465
---
1.f3
93
46%
2435
---
1.Nh3
90
66%
2505
---
1.Na3
42
62%
2482
---
Please, wait...
1.e4c52.Nf3Nc63.c3Nf64.e5Nd55.Bc4Nb66.Bb3d57.exd6Qxd68.0-0Be69.d4cxd410.Na3[Surprising to see that both the players went for
a sharp line of the Sicilian Alapin]Bxb311.axb3a612.Nxd4Nxd413.Be3Nf514.Qxd6Nxd615.Bxb6Rc816.Rad1Rc617.Be3e5
[The opening has
gone well for Vachier-Lagrave and he has a clear way to increase his advantage
here]18.Rd5f619.Rfd1Kf720.Nc2..and he misses it!20.Nc4Nxc420...Ke621.Na5Rc722.Bb6Rc822...Rf723.Bc523.b4and white is
clearly better21.Rd7+Be722.bxc4Rxc423.Rxb7±20...Ke621.f4Be722.fxe5fxe523.c4Ne424.Ne1Rd625.Nd3Rxd526.cxd5+Kd627.b4Rb828.Bb6Bd829.Bxd8?[After this exchange, white's pawn weaknesses become more
pronounced]29.Ba7Ra830.Nc5!Nxc531.Bxc5+Kd7with a complex ending29...Rxd830.Re1Kxd531.Nf4+Kc632.Ne6Rd633.Nxg7Rd4
[Carlsen
has slowly outplayed MVL in the ending, and is much better now]34.Nf5??Rxb435.Re2a536.g4Ng537.Kf2Rxg438.Rxe5Rb4?It was important to
create a future passer on the queenside with38...a439.Rxa5Rxb2+40.Kg3[It's no more an easy win for white]Ne4+41.Kf4Nc542.h4Kd543.Ne3+Kc644.Nf5b645.Ra7Rb4+46.Kg5Ne4+47.Kh6Nd648.Ne7+Kb549.h5Rh450.Nd5Ne451.Rxh7Kc652.Nxb6Rxh5+53.Kxh5Nf6+54.Kg6Nxh755.Kxh7½–½
Sergei Tiviakov started playing the line 1.e4 c5 2.c3 in the Sicilian Defence as White in 1988. Since then, he has employed it in more than 100 games, including a yearlong period when he I managed to win twelve 2.c3-games in a row. White tries to occupy the centre with a second pawn, and Black must know his stuff very well in order to be able to equalize. And this is only possible with 2...Nf6 – all other lines give the first player a small edge everywhere. Especially against stronger opponents, 2.c3 is an excellent weapon.
Vachier-Lagrave ½-½ Carlsen | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
Carlsen followed that with a very smooth win over Karjakin, and then a win over Ding, outfoxing his opponent in a typical endgame grind:
Just when there was a hope that Carlsen was indeed coming back to form, another old rivalry popped up again:
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5f54.d3fxe45.dxe4Nf66.0-0d67.Bc4Bg48.h3Bh59.Nc3Qd710.Be3Be711.a4Rf8!?[Can you understand the idea behind
this move?]12.Be2Bxf313.Bxf3Kf7[He actually wanted to castle short
with 11...Rf8?! Can anyone recall anyone doing this over the chess board,
EVER?!]14.Nd5Kg815.a5a616.c3Kh817.Qb3±Nd818.Rad1Nxd519.Bg4!Qb520.Qxd5Qxb2?21.Qc4c622.Rb1Qa323.Bb6Nf724.Ra1Qb225.Rfb1d5??[Black loses a piece by force now]25...Qc226.Rc1Qd227.Be3d528.Qb3Qd329.exd5Qxd530.Qxb7±26.Qd3dxe427.Qd7Qxc328.Qxe7
and Caruana went on to convert his advantage slowly
In this DVD Sam Collins provides a complete and detailed repertoire for Black. Numerous novelties and improvements are suggested, with the conclusion that White has no clear route to an opening advantage.
You can also follow the game from 6.0-0 directly with the video:
Pause if you want to try your own variations or analyse with the engine!
The next game was an absolute shock!
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nf63.Nxe5d6
4.Nxf7!?[It is difficult to believe
that such moves can work in modern chess! It is impossible to believe that the
world champion was in a proper frame of mind to play so aggressively]Kxf75.d4c56.Nc3cxd47.Bc4+Ke88.Qxd4Nc69.Qe3Qb610.Qg3Nd411.0-0Be612.Bxe6Nxe613.Nd5Qc614.Nxf6+gxf615.Qg4Ke7and black went on to win
With a further loss to Dominguez in the 16th round, Carlsen finished a forgettable tournament.
At least his hair was in form for the occasion! | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
Rapport fades
It was also a day when Richard Rapport couldn't build upon the momentum he had gained over the previous day's blitz games. He too lost a topsy-turvy, but very interesting game to Vachier-Lagrave with a glorious trading of 'shots' between the two heavyweights of sharp play:
Rook endings are amongst the most frequently encountered endgames there are, and so your training effort will be quickly repaid in the form of half and full points. Knowing even a few rules of thumb and key methods makes life a great deal easier and provides a guiding light even in complex positions. This DVD focuses on the important themes which are to be found in common rook endings.
Rapport vs Yangyi, Round 12
Position after 69.♖a5
In a winning position, Yangyi blundered with 69...♜e5??
The point is, the pawn ending is a draw after 70.♖xe5 fxe5 71.♔e3 ♚h4 72.♔d2!! ♚h3 73.♔d3!! keeping the opposition. If Black goes back with the king: 71...♚g6, 72.♔f2 ♚f6 73.♔e3 ♚f5 74.♔e2!! holds. Check the variations for yourselves — it's a lot of fun!
Trusting his opponent, Rapport too blundered with 70.♜a4?? after which he went on to lose the game.
Another disaster struck soon after:
Mamedyarov vs Rapport, Round 15
Position after 25.e4
25...♛c2 26.♘b4 and White went on to win. He lost two more games in the tournament — momentum killed.
Richard Rapport turned out in a colourful shirt on the last day | Photo: V.Saravanan
A Ding down day
Ding Liren started the day disappointingly, losing to his own countryman:
Ding vs Yu, Round 10
Position after 30.♖hc1
Ding conducted the game well for the most part, nursing a slight advantage from the opening phase. But Yu showed his dynamic skills here:
30...d4! Ding is suddenly faced with a big surge of counterplay from Black now. 31.exd4 ♞d5! 32.dxc5 ♞f4+ and Black's mating attack succeeded further on.
In a repetition of the same story, Ding further mishandled an equal position against the eventual winner:
Ding vs Aronian, Round 12
Position after 29...♜b8
Here, 30.a5! ♚f8! (30...♜bxb4 31.♖xb4 ♜xb4 32.♖e7) 31.b5 ♜c5 32.b6 might have led to a draw. Liren missed his changes with 30.♖e7? a5 31.b5 ♜xa4 and black went on to win the game. He further lost to Carlsen in the 13th round.
Though he did fight back and won four games after that, there was simply no time to fight for the top honours.
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1.e4c62.d4d53.exd5cxd54.Bd3Nc65.c3Qc76.h3Nf67.Na3a68.Nc2g69.Nf3Bf510.Be2e611.0-0h512.Nce1Bd613.Nd3Ne414.Be30-0-0
[It is not everyday that you will see Ding Liren play such directly tactical
chess]15.Rc1g516.Nxg5?[Opening up the kingside for attack - Caruana
never recovered from this]Rdg817.f417.h4f617.Nxe4dxe4!18.Ne1Bxh3-+17...Ng317...Rxg5!18.fxg5Bh2+19.Kh1Ng3+20.Kxh2Nxf1+21.Kg1Nxe3-+18.Rf2f619.Nf3Ne420.Rf1Bxh321.Nfe1h422.Kh2Qg7-+[Black's attack flows easily and decisively]23.Bf3Bxg224.Bxg2Qg3+25.Kh1Qxe326.Rf3h3!0–1
The videos on this DVD give White a repertoire with concrete variations against all main lines Black can play and also show the typical strategic and tactical ideas of the Slav and the hidden subtleties of the position.
Ding Liren had poor start to the final day | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
Crackin' Karjakin
Counting the games from the first day of blitz, Karjakin blazed to a 5½ out of 6 games streak in the middle of the tournament, only to be stopped by Carlsen in the eleventh round. His chances ended with a peculiar piece of play in the fifteenth round:
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29.Kg3?[Where is the white king going?!]29.Raa2![Safeguarding the
2nd rank]Rb329...Rcc330.a430.Re3!=29...Rb330.a4Rcxb431.axb5axb5and black went on to convert this position32.Ra7Rb233.Rxb2Rxb234.Rb7b435.h4h536.Kh3b337.g4hxg4+38.Kxg4Rb139.Kg3b240.Kg2Kg641.Rb5e542.Rb8f543.Rb6+f644.exf5+Kxf545.h5Kg546.h6Kg647.Kh2Kh70–1
Karjakin's promising run ended midway through | Photo: Grand Chess Tour
Vachier-Lagrave disappointment
One of the most disappointing stories of the last day was the leader from the previous day, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave. Though he was in lead with three games to go, his Waterloo came in the 16th game:
Yu vs Vachier-Lagrave, Round 16
Position after 17.♗h5
Here, MVL could have maintained his advantage with 17...♛a6+ after which it is Black who has the initiative. But for a second, he lost his sense of danger and played 17...e5, after which he was hit with 18.♘xh7!!
The point is, 18...♝xh7 is met with 19.♗xf7! ♚xf7 20.♖xf7 and White's attack will be decisive. 18...♛a6+ 19.♗e2 ♛d6 20.♘xf6+ and White had an overwhelming advantage, which he converted.
Though he defeated Aronian in the last round, it was not enough to catch up with the Armenian, as he had already built up a full point advantage over his opposition and 1½ points more than the Frenchman.
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[Badly needing a win in the last round, MVL goes for his chances]16...dxc4!17.Nxc8Rxd118.Rcxd1c319.Nd6h519...c2!20.Ne420.Rd2Qxf2+!20...Qb221.Nxc521.Rc1Ba3-+21...cxd1Q22.Rxd1Kf8!23.Nxa6Qxe224.Ne324.Rd8+Ke725.Ra8Qd1+24...Qxa6-+20.Ne4Qe521.Nxc5Nxc522.Ne3b523.b4Ne424.Rd3h425.gxh4Qf626.f3Nd227.Rc1?27.Rd1with fighting chances27...Nxf3+!28.Kh128.exf3Qg6+29.Kf2Qxd328...Nd429.Rf129.Rdxc3Nxe230.Rc8+Kh731.Rf1Qxh4-+29...Qxh4-+30.Ng2Qe431.Rxc3Qxe232.Rc8+Kh733.Rcc1f634.Rce1Qxa235.Re3e536.Rh3+Kg837.Ne3Qa8+38.Kg1Ne2+39.Kf2Nf440.Rf3Qa2+41.Kg1Qd242.Rd1Qxb443.Nf5Qe444.Nh4Ne2+45.Kf2Nd40–1
Special attention will be paid to Intermediate Moves, Quiet Moves, Sacrifices on Empty Squares, Mating Patterns, Ignoring Opponents Threat, Calculation in Defence and Method of Comparison. Plus 50 interactive examples to test your knowledge.
'MVL' suffered from a poor run on the last day | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
We have seen bits and pieces of Yu Yangyi's performance throughout, and one of his best efforts came against the previous challenger to the throne:
But Yu Yangyi missed a golden opportunity in the last round when he missed a beautiful shot in a bishop ending. Arguably, it could have been the most interesting game of the tournament if Yu had won, as it featured one of the best elements of the endgame: Zugzwang. Actually not just one — a total of three of them in succession!
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[The ending should be equal, but both the players were down to their last
few seconds]48.Kh4Kg6[It is important for black to stop the white king
from penetrating into his camp]49.Bh5+Kf6??49...Kh650.Bf7Bc651.Be651.Bg8Kg752.Be6Kg651...Kg6and white cannot make progress50.Bf3Be650...Bc651.Kh551.Kh5+-Bf7+52.Kh6Be653.Bh553.Kh7!
[The point is, white has to penetrate white's positin through the g8 square,
for which he has to create a zugzwang and force the black bishop out of the
a2-g8 diagonal]Bf754.Bg2!Be655.Bh1![Wasting a move - ultimately
white's bishop has to get to h5-square]Bf756.Bf3![Zugzwang-1]Be657.Bh5![And white wins!]Bd758.Kg8!Ba458...Bc659.Kf8Ke660.Kg7Bb761.Bg6Bc662.Bf7+Ke763.Kg6Bb764.Bg8and black loses either of
his pawns on f5 or d559.Bf7Bc660.Kf8![Watch THAT King!]Bb761.Bh5Bc662.Bf3![Zugzwang-2!]Ke662...Bb763.Be2!Bc664.Bh5
transposes to a later position resulting in a zugzwang63.Be2!Kf664.Bh5!Ke664...Bb565.Bf7Bc666.Bg8Zugzwang65.Bf7+Kf665...Kd666.Be8Bb767.Kf7and the f5-pawn will fall66.Bg8[Zugzwang-3]Bb767.Ke8Kg668.Be6Kf669.Kd7and the d5-pawn will fall53...Bg854.Be8Be654...Ke755.Kg7!55.Kh7Ke756.Bb556.Bg6!Kf657.Bh5leads to
zugwang analysed earlier56...Kf657.Bc6Kf758.Kh6Kf659.Be8Ke760.Bb5Kf661.Bc6Bf762.Bd7Bg863.Kh5Bf7+64.Kh4??[There is no win
anymore]Bg665.Bc6Bf766.Bb7Be6??[Black allows a win, but by this
time both the players were convinced that the position was a draw]67.Kh5Bf7+68.Kh6Be669.Kh7Kf770.Bc6Kf671.Be8Ke772.Bb5?½–½
Yu Yangyi interviewed by Maurice Ashley (with an interpreter) after one of his best ever performance | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
And then there was Lev...
That finally brings us to the winner of the day, Levon Aronian. He showed his brilliance most of the time, as in his win over Mamedyarov. But an important point to understand is that, Aronian messed up two easy positions, against the world champion and the erstwhile challenger, which could have given him a point more:
I was curious about his pronouncements after the end of the first day of Blitz. So, what did he do different on the last day?
“I played fast throughout the day, and focussed on keeping the initiative more. And except some of the games, it worked. It was done consciously done, though it didn't happen in every game, but it was fine.”
I pointed out the two wins he missed against Carlsen and Caruana. After those two misses, how confident was he before the last round, on winning the tournament?
“I was certain to win the tournament, but did not expect to win in such a dramatic way! Which doesn't really do me any good, losing in such a stupid way”.
Did his emotions get the better of him?
“Yeah, I was too eager to see what would happen to Yu Yangyi, which was not a good thing. I was not happy about that”.
After all the games were over and Aronian was about to enter commentary enclosure for his interviews, he encountered his friend Vachier-Lagrave in the hallway, and both of them had a laughter with a handshake, when Aronian proclaimed, “Maestro! I promised you and I haven't let you down!”
Aronian and Vachier-Lagrave share a laugh after the end of the tournament | Photo: Austin Fuller / Grand Chess Tour
So, what were they talking about?!
Aronian grinned broadly. “Yesterday we were having dinner. I (told him), if you need any help (tomorrow) I am there for you! Jokingly, obviously”, he explains, as everyone around us break into a smile. Truly, he is one of the friendliest of all the top players around.
Thus, thanks to Yu Yangyi's miss against Mamedyarov, Aronian goes on to win the title, $37,500 and 13 tour points. This is the second win for Aronian since the inception of the tournament in 2017, and he has also ended Carlsen's streak winning all the tournaments he has participated this year!
Venkatachalam SaravananSaravanan is an IM from Chennai, the southern-most state of Tamil Nadu, India. He has been an active chess player in the Indian circuit, turning complete chess professional in 2012, actively playing and being a second to strong Indian players. He has been consistently writing on chess since late 1980s and is a correspondent to national newspapers and news channels.
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