Candidates: Draw at the top

by Klaus Besenthal
3/23/2018 – Fabiano Caruana had to face his most persistent pursuer in Berlin, Shakriyar Mamedyarov, in the tenth round with the black pieces. Both players wanted to win the game and thus take a huge advantage into the remaining games, but ultimately played to bare kings. The tournament is still completely open at the top. On the other end of the standings table, Vladimir Kramnik staged a small comeback after several bruising defeats, by winning against Levon Aronian. Both the remaining games, Ding Liren vs So and Grischuk vs Karjakin were drawn. | Photo: Niki Riga

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Kramnik still kicking

Three draws, including between the top two leaders Caruana and Mamedyarov meant no change at the top of the standings. Caruana clings to a half point advantage with four rounds to play. But one of the other big stories of the tournament has been the rollercoaster ride of "Big Vlad", who has been involved in the most decisive games of the tournament — four losses but now after beating Levon Aronian for the second time this tournament — also three wins. The Armenian is on the verge of becoming the first player to be mathematically eliminated.

German football legend Felix Magath scored the winning goal in the 1983 European Team Championship, and is also a chess fan | Photo: World Chess

Mamedyarov ½-½ Caruana

ChessBase contributor IM Marco Baldauf explains in detail in his game commentary how the two top players today tried to secure an advantage, but in the end were unsuccessful: 

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.0-0!? Mamedyarov is already showing he wants to steer today's game along a risky path! 6.Qa4 is the alternative, leading to much too calm endgames. Catalan is a fine opening when everyone is involved - you can take it easy or play instead like Mamedyarov Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nd5 8.Bxb4 Ndxb4 9.0-0 Rb8 10.Na3 0-0 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qd5 14.Qxd5 Nxd5 15.a4 Na5 16.Ne5 1/2-1/2 (34) Anand, V (2800)-Kramnik,V (2780) Bilbao 2010 CBM 139 [Edouard,R] 6...Rb8 Now Black is the liberty to threaten to defend the c4-pawn possibly with ...b5. 7.e3 Be7 7...b5 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 8.Nfd2 White backtracks to prevent b5, but reduces his control of the center and so lets Caruana get in e5!? too. A similar position but with ...a6 instead of ...Be7 has been played many times, including by Mamedyarov from the black side. It is clear that this version is better for Caruana. 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.Nxc4 Be6 12.Nbd2 12.Qxd8+ Rxd8 13.Nbd2 Bb4 14.e4 Bxd2 15.Nxd2 Nxe5 16.f4 Nd3 17.f5 Nxc1 18.Raxc1 Bxf5 19.exf5 Rxd2 20.Rxc6 Kd7 21.Rfc1 1/2-1/2 (21) Van der Stricht,G (2424) -Hausrath,D (2507) Belgium 2008 12...h5 13.f3 Qd3 a little less crazy approach. White has "only" two pawns extra, and black has close to full compensation. 13...h4!? can't be dismissed either, but leads to equality. 14.fxg4 hxg3 15.Qf3 15.hxg3 Qd3 15...Rxh2 16.Qxg3 Rh4 17.Rf4 Qd3 14.fxg4 Bxc4 15.Nxc4 Qxc4 16.gxh5 both were still playing quickly up until now, so it is clear that this was still home preparation. Caruana, happy to take a half a point off Mamedyarov with the black pieces is nevertheless not playing for one - generally a wise move. In any case, he probably has enough compensation for the material deficit: a weak white king, poor development of the queenside and a shattered pawn structure. Still, two pawns are two pawns and Mamedyarov could certainly be just as satisfied. Qe6 Caruana finally spent time thinking on this one. 17.Qf3!? I like this modest move, but considering the king position it's probably a reasonable solution. Mamedyarov angles to get the queens off as soon as possible. Rb5 18.Qf5 Rxe5 19.Qxe6 Rxe6 By the time Mamedyarov arranges a queeen exchange, Caruana recapture at least one of the pawns. And for the remaining pawn he should still have enough compensation. 20.Rf5 20.g4? g6 21.hxg6 Rxg6 22.Rf4 Bd6 20...Rd6 20...Reh6?! 21.Bd2 Rxh5 22.Rxh5 Rxh5 23.Rc1 21.Kg2 Rd1 22.b3 g6 22...Bf6 23.Rb1 and it is not clear how black should continue 23.Re5 c5?! 23...Rxh5 would probably be the easier solution for Caruana 24.Rxe7+ Kxe7 25.Ba3+ Rd6 26.Rc1 Kd7 27.Bxd6 cxd6= 24.hxg6 fxg6 25.e4 Rh7 26.h4 Caruana probably overestimated this position when he was weighing 23 ... c5 against the simple solution 23 ...Rxh5 decided Rf7 probably the best solution for Caruana. But the resulting endgame was no fun. 26...Kf8? 27.Bh6++- 26...Kd7?! 27.Rd5+ Rxd5 28.exd5 27.Kh3! White's king is safe here and can be activated quickly at the right moment. Rff1 28.Bg5 Rxa1 29.Rxe7+ Kf8 29...Kd8 30.Re6+ Kd7 31.Rxg6± 30.Rxc7 Rxa2 31.Be7+?! the first step in the wrong direction - the bishop will later be AWOL from defending the g3 pawn. 31.e5 and Caruana has one difficult task ahead Re2 32.Rxc5 31...Kg8 32.Rc8+ Kg7 33.Bxc5 Re2 34.e5 Rd1! 35.Re8 Rd5 36.Bd6 now the bishop is slightly offside and Caruana is in time to gain counterplay against g3. Re3 37.Re7+ Kg8 38.Re8+ Kf7 39.Re7+ Kg8 40.b4 Rdd3!= and black has enough activity. 41.Kg4 Rxg3+ 42.Kf4 Rgf3+ 43.Ke4 Rfe3+ 44.Kf4 Rf3+ 45.Kg5 Rf7 46.e6 Rd5+! Caruana finds a very clean solution and the draw is ready to be signed. 47.Kxg6 Rxd6 48.Rxf7 Rxe6+ 49.Rf6 Re4 50.b5 Rxh4 51.Ra6 Rh7 52.b6 Rg7+ 53.Kh6 Rh7+ 54.Kg5 Rg7+ 55.Kf5 axb6 56.Rxb6 Rf7+ 57.Rf6 Rxf6+ 58.Kxf6 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2809Caruana,F2784½–½2018E04FIDE Candidates 201810

GM Daniel King also takes a crack at it for his Power Play Chess channel

Kramnik 1-0 Aronian

Vladimir Kramnik had a lot of plans for this tournament — you could see that easily from his furious start. As the fortunate beneficiary of the wild card, he received a fresh chance to vie for the highest title once more. But his enterprising play has ended in catastrophe one too many times, and Kramnik's win today is but cold comfort. Barring a miracle, he's out of the running to face Carlsen.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 a6
Aronian continues with an unusual move. Of course, most "normal" is the symmetrical 5...d6. 6.Nd5 Nxd5 7.Bxd5 d6 8.Be3 Bxe3 9.fxe3
This motif is also taught to beginners: The open f-line offers attacking opportunities; at the same time, the doubled pawns ensures good control of the central square d4. Hard to believe at this moment that Kramnik actually has grave plans of attack! 9...0-0 10.0-0 Nb8 11.b4 Nd7 12.Qd2 c6 13.Bb3 a5 14.a3 Nf6 15.h3 h6 16.Rab1 b5 17.Qc3 Bd7 18.Rf2 Qb6 19.Re1 Rfe8
Now Black is a bit better. On the kingside, nothing is going on, while White looks passive on the queenside as well. 20.Nh4 c5 21.Ref1 cxb4 22.Qe1
22...d5 Black had to do something. After 22...bxa3? the white attack would become overpowering: 23.Rxf6 gxf6 24.Rxf6 Be6 23.axb4 dxe4 24.bxa5 Rxa5 25.Ng6
Kramnik remains true to form for this tournament and is fighting for victory. 25...Be6 26.Nxe5 exd3 27.Rxf6 gxf6 28.Rxf6 d2 29.Qg3+ Kf8 30.Rf1 Ra7
The position is completely balanced. But for Black, defense is extremely difficult and time is running short. 31.Ng6+ Kramnik finds the best continuation. Kg7 32.Nf4+ Kh8 33.Nh5 f6 34.Nxf6 Rf8 35.Qf4 Rh7 36.Qe5
Both players have a whole series of more precise options, but it's not merely about moves on the board at this point. 36...Qc7? Aronian makes a game ending mistake just before the time control. 36...Rg7! 37.Bxe6 Rg5 38.Nd5+ Rxe5 39.Rxf8+ Kh7 40.Rf7+ Kg6 41.Rf6+ Kg7 42.Rf7+ etc. would have led to a drawn conclusion. Hard to see without enough time on the clock. 37.Ne8+ 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Kramnik,V2800Aronian,L27941–02018C50World Chess Candidates 201810

The Popular Italian

In the actual DVD Bologan covered all answers by Black against 3.Bc4, especially 3...Bc5, presenting all relevant possibilities for White.

Grischuk ½-½ Karjakin

The game today between the two Russians was somehow lacking on both sides, that absolute will to win, to grab the very last (Karakin) or perhaps penultimate (Grischuk) chance of winning the tournament:

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 0-0 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Qc2 c6 9.Rc1 b6 10.a4 Ne4 11.Be1 a5
The board is still full, the tension unresolved - much can still happen. But for now both players have developed their pieces well and the position is balanced. 12.Nbd2 Nxd2 13.Nxd2 Bf6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4
Grischuk starts a plan for activity... 15...Bxd4 16.Nb3 Bf6 17.exd5 exd5 18.Bxd5 Ra7
... but only a symmetrical, tension-free position has emerged, and barring an unlikely blunder, we're heading for a draw. 19.Bg2 h6 20.Bc3 Quite interesting maybe the fact that the computer considers this position "0.00" from now until the very end of the game. Rc7 21.Bxf6 Rxc2 22.Bxd8 Rxc1+ 23.Rxc1 Rxd8 24.Rd1 Kf8 25.f4 Ke7 26.Re1+ Kf8 27.Rd1 Ke7 28.Re1+ Kf8 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Grischuk,A2767Karjakin,S2763½–½2018E11World Chess Candidates 201810

Ding Liren ½-½ So

A tenth draw in the tenth game for the Chinese Ding Liren, who is thus all but out of the race for the Carlsen challenge. Wesley So had already cratered at the beginning of the tournament, and in light of this the game between the two was not the most exciting, although there was a certain imbalance after the opening:

 
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Be7 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Bf4 0-0 6.e3 b6 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 Qxd5
A position already frequently reached in grandmaster practice, however, most now continue with 9.Bd3 at this point. 9.Be2 This move is naturally also good. 9.Bxc7 Bb4+ 10.Nd2 Ba6 Black would have a comfortable game with good compensation for the pawn guaranteed: 11.Bxa6?! Qxg2! 9...Bb7 10.Bxc7 Qa5+ 11.Kf1 Nd7
Also now Black, whose rooks are already connected, has good compensation via his lead in development. 12.h4 Rac8 13.Bf4 Rfd8 14.Kg1 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 e5 16.Bg5 Bxg5 17.hxg5 exd4 18.Qxd4 Qxg5 19.Rh5 Qf6 20.Rd5 Qxd4 21.Rxd4
White has returned the pawn and thereby fully equalised the position. The players make a few more moves before the inevitable becomes obvious. 21...Ne5 22.Bd5 Nc6 23.Rdd1 Kf8 24.Bxc6 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rxc6 26.Rd7 Rc2 27.Rxa7 Rxb2 28.a4 Ra2 29.Rb7 Ra1+ 30.Kh2 Rxa4 31.Rxb6 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2769So,W2799½–½2018D37World Chess Candidates 201810

Day by day, draw by draw, Ding's chances of winning the tournament quickly wane | Photo: World Chess

Standings after ten rounds

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All games of round ten

 
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Round-up show with GM Simon Williams

Translation from German: Macauley Peterson

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Klaus Besenthal is computer scientist, has followed and still follows the chess scene avidly since 1972 and since then has also regularly played in tournaments.

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