ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024
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Like a raging inferno of Norwegian cheese, Carlsen has held the world in rapt attention since his arrival on the scene. Upon the conclusion of Biel in 2006, the victor, Morozevich, was asked: “How do you judge Magnus Carlsen, your executioner in Biel?” His response was telling: “He is a free spirit; he calculates and plays fast. If he continues on this path, he can go far, very far.” Some might consider Magnus’ accomplishments to date to be “very far,” but the World Championship is the one title he needs to secure in order to silence the doubters.
"He can go far, very far" – Magnus back in 2005
In response to Fischer’s voiced outrage over possible Soviet collusion following the 1962 Candidates tournament, the traditional round-robin format was dispensed with in favour of match-play, which made its debut at the 1965 Candidates tournament. The years have progressed, the nature of the game has changed and rapidplay tiebreaks have become increasingly more commonplace; therefore, in no small part thanks to Carlsen, the chess world has now come full circle, with round-robin play being the format of choice for the 2013 Candidates tournament. That said, it remains to be seen whether this format is truly to be preferred.
Carlsen’s rise has been shocking, even more so when one considers that he is still only 22 years old. The heights he has reached are stratospheric, leaving the oxygen thin, but one can assume he has done a great deal of training leading up to this event, seeking to push himself to the mesosphere. Ignoring his varied accomplishments, which are many and well-documented over the past few years, it goes without saying that Carlsen is top-of-mind and heavily favoured to win this event. At stake is his ability to match Kasparov in securing the World Champion’s title at the age of 22.
The world in his hand – Magnus in 2008
Magnus’ previous World Cup and FIDE Knockout World Championship experiences came at a very young age, starting in 2004 when he was defeated by Aronian. He met with a similar fate at the 2007 Candidates tournament, which was quickly redeemed by a semi-final appearance at the 2007 World Cup. Since that time, he has been a hold-out, but no longer!
Allow us now to explore what Magnus’ fellow candidates have in store.
# | Result |
Moves
|
Year | Event | Opening |
1 | Draw (b) |
29
|
2005 | Biel | E12 Queen's Indian |
2 | Draw (w) |
26
|
2005 | Biel | B96 Sicilian, Najdorf |
3 | Loss (w) |
38
|
2006 | Tal Memorial | D17 QGD Slav |
4 | Draw (w) |
27
|
2007 | Dortmund | D11 QGD Slav |
5 | Draw (w) |
37
|
2007 | Tal Memorial | A20 English |
6 | Draw (w) |
67
|
2008 | Corus | D45 QGD Semi-Slav |
7 | Draw (b) |
27
|
2009 | Tal Memorial | D80 Grunfeld |
8 | Draw (w) |
40
|
2010 | Bazna | D43 QGD Semi-Slav |
9 | Draw (b) |
33
|
2010 | Bazna | D37 QGD |
10 | Win (w) |
38
|
2011 | Tal Memorial | D12 QGD Slav |
11 | Win (w) |
52
|
2012 | Wijk aan Zee | D12 QGD Slav |
Overall: 2 Wins, 8 Draws, 1 Loss
White: 2 Wins, 5 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 0 Wins, 3 Draws, 0 Losses
Although they may not yet have faced often, Gelfand has proven a fairly difficult opponent for Carlsen over the years. Their most recent two encounters, however, have both ended in victory for Magnus, so the momentum is in his corner. Neither player has scored victory as black, which may remain a theme. Expect the Slav to be played and to be punished.
# | Result |
Moves
|
Year | Event | Opening |
1 | Draw (w) |
43
|
2006 | Spitsbergen Chess Festival | C77 Ruy Lopez |
2 | Loss (b) |
31
|
2006 | Spitsbergen Chess Festival | B30 Sicilian |
3 | Draw (b) |
29
|
2006 | Tal Memorial | C95 Ruy Lopez, Breyer |
4 | Loss (w) |
47
|
2007 | Corus | C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed |
5 | Draw (b) |
27
|
2007 | Linares-Morelia | B35 Sicilian |
6 | Draw (w) |
29
|
2007 | Linares-Morelia | E60 KID |
7 | Draw (b) |
43
|
2008 | Baku Grand Prix | C80 Ruy Lopez, Open |
8 | Draw (b) |
22
|
2008 | Aerosvit | E15 Queen's Indian |
9 | Draw (w) |
55
|
2008 | European Club Cup | A15 English |
10 | Draw (b) |
40
|
2009 | Tal Memorial | B30 Sicilian |
11 | Draw (w) |
53
|
2011 | Tal Memorial | D86 Grunfeld, Exchange |
Overall: 0 Wins, 9 Draws, 2 Losses
White: 0 Wins, 4 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 0 Wins, 5 Draws, 1 Loss
Svidler is one of the few players among the world’s elite who can say that he has never lost a classical game against Carlsen. Moreover, he has managed two victories against the young Norwegian, one as each colour. Magnus will seek to restore the cosmic balance when they face-off again. Expect some opening surprises.
# | Result |
Moves
|
Year | Event | Opening |
1 | Win (b) |
60
|
2007 | Linares-Morelia | A46 Queen's Pawn Game |
2 | Win (w) |
35
|
2007 | Linares-Morelia | D86 Grunfeld, Exchange |
3 | Draw (b) |
93
|
2007 | Tal Memorial | B33 Sicilian |
4 | Draw (b) |
19
|
2008 | Corus | C68 Ruy Lopez, Exchange |
5 | Draw (w) |
39
|
2008 | Linares-Morelia | B90 Sicilian, Najdorf |
6 | Win (b) |
40
|
2008 | Linares-Morelia | C67 Ruy Lopez |
7 | Win (w) |
46
|
2008 | Aerosvit | E97 King's Indian |
8 | Draw (b) |
29
|
2008 | Bilbao | B78 Sicilian, Yugoslav |
9 | Loss (w) |
32
|
2008 | Bilbao | D37 QGD |
10 | Loss (b) |
39
|
2008 | European Club | D94 Grunfeld |
11 | Draw (b) |
24
|
2009 | Corus | C92 Ruy Lopez, Closed |
12 | Draw (w) |
34
|
2009 | Linares | D81 Grunfeld, Russian |
13 | Draw (b) |
22
|
2009 | Linares | D56 QGD |
14 | Draw (w) |
54
|
2009 | M-Tel Masters | D11 QGD Slav |
15 | Draw (b) |
41
|
2009 | M-Tel Masters | B30 Sicilian |
16 | Draw (b) |
31
|
2009 | Tal Memorial | A48 King's Indian |
17 | Win (w) |
35
|
2010 | Corus | D10 QGD Slav |
18 | Draw (b) |
33
|
2011 | Bazna | C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin |
19 | Win (w) |
72
|
2011 | Bazna | D38 QGD, Ragozin |
20 | Win (b) |
45
|
2011 | Bilbao | C11 French |
21 | Win (w) |
34
|
2011 | Bilbao | E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights |
22 | Draw (b) |
74
|
2011 | Tal Memorial | D82 Grunfeld, 4.Bf4 |
23 | Draw (b) |
57
|
2012 | Wijk aan Zee | D56 QGD |
Overall: 8 Wins, 13 Draws, 2 Losses
White: 5 Wins, 3 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 3 Wins, 10 Draws, 1 Loss
Ivanchuk is a favourite customer of Carlsen’s, with four of their last eight encounters ending in victory for the Norwegian, the other four ending in draws. The Ukrainian has had similar woes with either colour, but is quite capable of shocking the World #1, given the opportunity. Expect sharp struggles, as both players seek to shake things up.
# | Result |
Moves
|
Year | Event | Opening |
1 | Draw (b) |
17
|
2006 | Tal Memorial | D38 QGD, Ragozin |
2 | Draw (b) |
55
|
2007 | Biel | E10 Queen's Pawn Game |
3 | Draw (b) |
39
|
2008 | Baku Grand Prix | D17 QGD Slav |
4 | Draw (b) |
34
|
2009 | Linares | B33 Sicilian |
5 | Win (w) |
37
|
2009 | Linares | B85 Sicilian, Scheveningen |
6 | Draw (b) |
19
|
2011 | Wijk aan Zee | D07 QGD, Chigorin |
7 | Draw (w) |
40
|
2012 | Tal Memorial | C78 Ruy Lopez |
Overall: 1 Win, 6 Draws, 0 Losses
White: 1 Win, 1 Draw, 0 Losses
Black: 0 Wins, 5 Draws, 0 Losses
In the few games played between Grischuk and Carlsen, caution has generally been the prescribed medicine, which has netted Magnus but one win as white. Expect the Norwegian to drop all pretenses here and to land some crushing blows with either colour. Careful play will be met with harsh rebuke. The Sicilian may be tried again between these two.
# | Result |
Moves
|
Year | Event | Opening |
1 | Draw (w) |
33
|
2006 | Turin Olympiad | B30 Sicilian |
2 | Draw (b) |
68
|
2006 | Biel | A58 Benko Gambit |
3 | Draw (w) |
30
|
2006 | Biel | E97 King's Indian |
4 | Draw (w) |
21
|
2007 | Corus | B32 Sicilian |
5 | Win (w) |
28
|
2007 | Biel | B09 Pirc, Austrian Attack |
6 | Draw (w) |
65
|
2008 | Corus | A48 King's Indian |
7 | Loss (b) |
43
|
2008 | Linares-Morelia | C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin |
8 | Draw (w) |
69
|
2008 | Linares-Morelia | C63 Ruy Lopez, Schliemann |
9 | Win (b) |
40
|
2008 | Baku Grand Prix | B77 Sicilian, Yugoslav |
10 | Win (w) |
37
|
2008 | Bilbao | B78 Sicilian, Yugoslav |
11 | Draw (b) |
53
|
2008 | Bilbao | B12 Caro-Kann |
12 | Draw (b) |
31
|
2008 | European Club Cup | C67 Ruy Lopez |
13 | Draw (w) |
60
|
2009 | Corus | B40 Sicilian |
14 | Draw (b) |
34
|
2009 | Linares | C53 Giuoco Piano |
15 | Draw (w) |
53
|
2009 | Linares | B30 Sicilian |
16 | Win (w) |
25
|
2009 | Pearl Spring | B30 Sicilian |
17 | Draw (b) |
34
|
2009 | Pearl Spring | D86 Grunfeld, Exchange |
18 | Draw (b) |
74
|
2010 | Bazna | B25 Sicilian, Closed |
19 | Win (w) |
64
|
2010 | Bazna | B30 Sicilian |
20 | Draw (w) |
37
|
2011 | Bazna | D37 QGD |
21 | Draw (b) |
29
|
2011 | Bazna | D37 QGD |
22 | Draw (b) |
44
|
2012 | Wijk aan Zee | A07 KIA |
23 | Win (b) |
59
|
2012 | Tal Memorial | C45 Scotch Game |
Overall: 6 Wins, 16 Draws, 1 Loss
White: 4 Wins, 8 Draws, 0 Losses
Black: 2 Wins, 8 Draws, 1 Loss
Radjabov was a young star a few short years before Carlsen’s rise. Since that time, the Azerbaijani has become another customer, dropping three of their last eight encounters, while stealing no points of his own. The English and French may both make appearances between these two, as Radjabov seeks to get a handle on his archrival.
# | Result |
Moves
|
Year | Event | Opening |
1 | Draw (w) | 31 | 2004 | FIDE World KO Ch | E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical |
2 | Draw (b) | 19 | 2004 | FIDE World KO Ch | B10 Caro-Kann |
3 | Loss (b) | 74 | 2006 | Tal Memorial | E15 Queen’s Indian |
4 | Draw (b) | 20 | 2007 | Corus | E15 Queen’s Indian |
5 | Draw (b) | 31 | 2007 | Linares-Morelia | E04 Catalan, Open |
6 | Draw (w) | 28 | 2007 | Linares-Morelia | E15 Queen’s Indian |
7 | Loss (w) | 36 | 2007 | Candidates | C78 Ruy Lopez |
8 | Draw (b) | 21 | 2007 | Candidates | A58 Benko Gambit |
9 | Win (w) | 41 | 2007 | Candidates | A30 English, Symmetrical |
10 | Loss (b) | 40 | 2007 | Candidates | E11 Bogo-Indian |
11 | Win (w) | 49 | 2007 | Candidates | E12 Queen's Indian |
12 | Draw (b) | 47 | 2007 | Candidates | D17 QGD Slav |
13 | Draw (w) | 36 | 2008 | Corus | C78 Ruy Lopez |
14 | Win (w) | 40 | 2008 | Linares-Morelia | C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed |
15 | Draw (b) | 28 | 2008 | Linares-Morelia | E17 Queen's Indian |
16 | Win (b) | 51 | 2008 | Bilbao | A32 English, Symmetrical |
17 | Win (w) | 36 | 2008 | Bilbao | D47 QGD Semi-Slav |
18 | Draw (w) | 65 | 2009 | Corus | D45 QGD Semi-Slav |
19 | Draw (b) | 37 | 2009 | Linares | E06 Catalan, Closed |
20 | Loss (w) | 93 | 2009 | Linares | D45 QGD Semi-Slav |
21 | Draw (w) | 32 | 2009 | Tal Memorial | D47 QGD Semi-Slav |
22 | Draw (w) | 28 | 2011 | Wijk aan Zee | C45 Scotch Game |
23 | Draw (w) | 56 | 2011 | Bilbao | C78 Ruy Lopez |
24 | Draw (b) | 50 | 2011 | Bilbao | D55 QGD |
25 | Draw (b) | 57 | 2011 | Tal Memorial | E15 Queen's Indian |
26 | Draw (b) | 39 | 2011 | London Classic | D12 QGD Slav |
27 | Win (w) | 68 | 2012 | Wijk aan Zee | D31 QGD |
28 | Draw (w) | 60 | 2012 | Tal Memorial | C67 Ruy Lopez |
29 | Draw (w) | 48 | 2012 | Bilbao | C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin |
30 | Draw (b) | 44 | 2012 | Bilbao | E17 Queen's Indian |
31 | Win (w) | 59 | 2012 | London Classic | C77 Ruy Lopez |
32 | Draw (b) | 46 | 2013 | Wijk aan Zee | E90 King's Indian |
Overall: 7 Wins, 21 Draws, 4 Losses
White: 6 Wins, 9 Draws, 2 Losses
Black: 1 Win, 12 Draws, 2 Losses
Carlsen has declared Aronian to be his main threat in this event. Games between these two have been consistently hard-fought, with Aronian taking a point off the Norwegian as recently as 2009. For his part, however, Magnus bookended 2012 with victories against Aronian at both Wijk aan Zee and the London Classic. Expect an attempt for nothing less here. The games will be extremely sharp and unpredictable.
# | Result |
Moves
|
Year | Event | Opening |
1 | Draw (b) |
28
|
2007 | Corus | E04 Catalan, Open |
2 | Loss (b) |
30
|
2007 | Dortmund | E05 Catalan, Open, Classical |
3 | Draw (b) |
40
|
2007 | Tal Memorial | E05 Catalan, Open, Classical |
4 | Win (b) |
57
|
2008 | Corus | A30 English, Symmetrical |
5 | Draw (w) |
19
|
2009 | Dortmund | E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical |
6 | Loss (b) |
36
|
2009 | Dortmund | D37 QGD |
7 | Draw (w) |
58
|
2009 | Tal Memorial | E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical |
8 | Win (w) |
43
|
2009 | London Classic | A29 English, Four Knights |
9 | Loss (w) |
38
|
2010 | Corus | E04 Catalan, Open |
10 | Loss (b) |
45
|
2010 | Bilbao | E15 Queen's Indian |
11 | Draw (w) |
73
|
2010 | Bilbao | A29 English, Four Knights |
12 | Draw (b) |
86
|
2010 | London Classic | D07 QGD, Chigorin |
13 | Win (b) |
80
|
2011 | Wijk aan Zee | E00 Queen's Pawn Game |
14 | Draw (b) |
41
|
2011 | Tal Memorial | A20 English |
15 | Draw (w) |
55
|
2011 | London Classic | E20 Nimzo-Indian |
16 | Draw (w) |
23
|
2012 | Tal Memorial | E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical |
17 | Draw (b) |
62
|
2012 | London Classic | A37 English, Symmetrical |
Overall: 3 Wins, 10 Draws, 4 Losses
White: 1 Win, 5 Draws, 1 Loss
Black: 2 Wins, 5 Draws, 3 Losses
Kramnik is another elite player who can proudly point to a plus record against Carlsen in classical time controls. There is obviously some question as to whether this can last, but Kramnik is still capable, spry, and ambitious. One can bet that, Aronian aside, Kramnik is on Carlsen’s mind. Back-to-back victories by the Russian in 2010 were answered by a lone victory from Carlsen in 2011. Plenty has been left unresolved. Magnus may face the English again as black.
Wins
|
Draws
|
Losses
|
Draw %
|
|
Overall |
27
|
83
|
14
|
66.94%
|
White |
19
|
35
|
6
|
58.33%
|
Black |
8
|
48
|
8
|
75.00%
|
Line |
score
|
Perf.
|
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 |
68%
|
2674
|
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 |
68%
|
2778
|
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 |
70%
|
2788
|
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 |
60%
|
2736
|
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 |
62%
|
2737
|
1.Nf3 |
61%
|
2633
|
Despite his career stats, Carlsen can be said to be relatively comfortable in any opening, making him difficult to be prepare against. This is only accentuated by the fact that he now has Peter Heine Nielsen in his camp. Perhaps expect a shift away from his e4 repertoire.
Line |
score
|
Perf.
|
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 |
42%
|
2575
|
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 |
43%
|
2614
|
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 |
41%
|
2659
|
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 |
53%
|
2730
|
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 |
45%
|
2638
|
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 |
48%
|
2655
|
1.c4 |
45%
|
2556
|
Carlsen is no less dangerous on the black side of the pieces than he is on the white side. Expect him to play anything and everything as black.
The London Candidates 2013 will be the strongest tournament of its kind in history. The Prize Fund to be shared by the players totals €510,000. The winner of the Candidates will become the Challenger to Viswanathan Anand who has reigned as World Champion since 2007.
Full information on the Candidates – pairings and commentary schedule