Candidates: Karjakin's last chance

by Klaus Besenthal
3/24/2018 – In the Candidates Tournament in Berlin, the leader and his closest pursuer played draws in the eleventh round: Fabiano Caruana found precise answers to Vladimir Kramnik's opening ideas, Shakriyar Mamedyarov steered Wesley So towards an early peace. With three rounds to go, Caruana is still half a point ahead of Mamedyarov. Musical chairs in the chasing group. The Chinese Ding Liren was on the verge of a brilliant victory against Alexander Grischuk, but in mutual time pressure, Grischuk managed a miraculous escape. For Ding, his eleventh consecutive draw. | Photo: World Chess

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A late Russian charge?

Will the next challenger of Magnus Carlsen be Fabiano Caruana, Shakriyar Mamedyarov or still with an outside chance Sergey Karjakin, and Alexander Grischuk, who after Friday's play are just a point behind. Any other winner is highly unlikely now. We really have a four-way race with three rounds still to play. Let's start with the standings:

Standings after round eleven

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Caruana ½-½ Kramnik

It may not have been a memorable game in its entirety, but Kramnik's creative opening choice with Black will definitely be one of the highlights of the tournament. Caruana was forced to invest 30 minutes for his next three moves to work out how to proceed. You don't see that very often at this level on move five!

 
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1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 c6 4.e4 dxe4 5.Nxe4
5...c5 An interesting manifestation of Kramnik's creativity! This has never been played at this level, and Kramnik described it as "a bad move", but it turns out to be quite playable! 5...Bb4+= would be a normal move here. 6.Nxc5 Nc6 The next original follow up. 7.Nf3 Here Caruana invested a good chunk of time, and opted for one of the safer variantions. 7.Nb3 was just one of several alternatives. 7...Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Qxd4 9.Nxd4 Bxc5 10.Nb5 Ke7
Kramnik was well aware of this position from his home preparation. 11.Bd2 11.Nc7 was possible, e.g. Rb8 12.Bf4 Bb4+ 13.Ke2 Bd6 14.Bxd6+ Kxd6 15.Nb5+ Kc5 16.Rd1 Nf6 17.Nd6 Rf8= 11...Bd7 12.b4 Bxb5 13.cxb5 Bd6 14.g3 Rc8 15.Bg2 b6 16.Ke2 Nh6 17.Rac1 Nf5 18.Bc3 f6 19.f4 h5 20.Bc6 Rcd8 21.a4 h4
Kramnik tries to get something out of his majority on the kingside, but it doesn't amount to much. In the end, his small structural advantage is balanced by Caruana's bishop pair. 22.Kf3 hxg3 23.hxg3 Rxh1 24.Rxh1 Bb8 25.Be4 Kf7 26.Rc1 Ne7 27.Be1 f5 28.Bb1 Rd4 29.Bc3 Rc4 30.Ba2 Rc8 31.Bb2 Rd8 32.Bc4 Rc8 33.Bb3 Rxc1 34.Bxc1 Bd6 35.Bd2 Nd5 36.Bxd5 exd5 37.Bc3 Be7 38.a5 Bf6 39.Bxf6 Kxf6 40.Ke3 Undoubtedly one of the most accurately played games in Berlin. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2784Kramnik,V2800½–½2018D31World Chess Candidates 201811

Caruana and Kramnik

Fabiano Caruana defended his lead in round eleven | Photo: World Chess

So ½-½ Mamedyarov

After drawing with Caruana yesterday, Shakriyar Mamedyarov was still happy with a draw today with Black. After looking at Caruana's game against Kramnik, he had come to the conclusion that his rival would not be able to extend his lead, and he'll have another chance to pull level. In any case, the Azerbaijani's opening choice lead to equality from which it would have been impossible for him to get more than half a point.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2
7...c6 Here 7...a6 is the most common by far. There follows 8.Qxc4 or 8.a4 and a balanced position. 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Nc3 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Qb6 12.Ne5 Rfd8 13.Be3 Nd5 14.Nxd5 cxd5
Now, after some detours we have a familiar structure from the Slav exchange variation. Since the white g2-bishop is not quite in the game black probably doesn't need to worry much. 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Qd3 b4 17.Rxc8 Bxc8 18.Qc2
18...Nxe5 The start of exchanges, which result in a pawn down for Black, however, due to the opposite-coloured bishops, a drawn ending results. 18...Bb7 would be a completely risk-free way to end the game. 19.dxe5 d4 20.Bxd4 Rxd4 21.Qxc8+ Rd8 21...Bf8= was probably the most precise. 22.Rxd8+ Qxd8 23.Qxd8+ Bxd8 24.b3 Bc7 25.f4 Bb6+ 26.Kf1 Be3 27.h4 h5 28.Bh3 Kf8 29.Kg2 Ke7 30.Kf3 Bd2 31.e3 Be1
There are still some moves, but White is no longer making progress. 32.f5 exf5 33.Bxf5 g6 34.Bd3 Bc3 35.Kf4 Be1 36.Bc4 Bf2 37.Bd5 Be1 38.g4 hxg4 39.Kxg4 Bc3 40.Kf4 Be1 41.Kg4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2799Mamedyarov,S2809½–½2018D30World Chess Candidates 201811

Mamedyarov and Aronian

Mamedyarov is behind the front-runner, and Aronian will regret not being there too
For So, the tournament was over early, not he can just enjoy playing | Photos: World Chess

Wesley So

Aronian 0-1 Karjakin

Levon Aronian has clearly not been in his best shape in Berlin. But the story is less clear with Sergey Karjakin: After a bad start to the tournament, the Russian has almost imperceptibly climbed his way back to the top again. He still has a small chance to reach a second match against Magnus Carlsen with a strong finish, but he will certainly need more wins in the next few days — draws will not be enough.

 
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1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Qa4+ c6 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qb3 Bb7 8.0-0 Be7 9.d4 0-0 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Nd7 13.Bf4 Qc7 14.Nd2
Not an easy position to handle. 14...Rfd8 14...Nxe5 15.Qe3 f6 16.Nb3 Rad8 17.Nd4 with compensation for the pawn. 15.Rac1 a6 16.Qe3 c5 17.Bxb7 Qxb7 18.Ne4 c4 19.h4 h6 20.Rd4 Nf8 21.b3 Rxd4 22.Qxd4 Rd8 23.Nd6 Bxd6 24.exd6 f6 25.Be3 e5 26.Qb2 Qc6 27.bxc4 bxc4 28.Qb4 Rc8 29.f3 h5 30.Kf2 Kf7 31.Rd1 Nd7 32.Qb1 g6 33.g4 Rh8 34.g5 f5 35.Qc2 Rc8 36.Qc3 Ke6 37.Kg2 Qa4 38.Qd2 Qb5 39.a4 Qc6 40.Qc2 Rb8 41.Bd2 Rb3
The players have been holding a delicate balance, but now Aronian makes a mistake. 42.Bc3 42.a5! Kxd6 43.Bb4+ Kc7 44.Rd6 Qb5 45.Qd2 Rxb4 46.Rxd7+ Qxd7 47.Qxb4 and due to Black's weak king position he cannot capitalise on the extra pawn. 42...Qxa4 43.Ra1 Qc6 44.Ra5 Rb5 45.Qa4 Nb6 46.Qa1
Now we reach and ending in which Black is up two pawns. 46...Rxa5 47.Qxa5 Qb5 48.d7 Kxd7 49.Qa3 Nd5! A powerful knight, combined with the queen, decides the game in Karjakin's favour. 50.Bxe5 Qc6 51.Qf8 Qe6 52.Qb8 c3 53.Qb7+ Ke8 54.Qb8+ Kf7 55.Qb7+ Ne7 56.Bxc3 Qxe2+ 57.Kh3 Qb5 58.Qc7 Qc6 59.Qe5 Qxf3+ 60.Kh2 Qf2+ 61.Kh1 Qxh4+ 62.Kg1 Qxg5+ 63.Kh2 Qh4+ 64.Kg1 Qe4 65.Qg7+ Ke6 66.Bf6 Nd5 67.Bb2 f4 68.Kh2 Kf5 69.Qf8+ Kg5 70.Qd8+ Kg4 71.Qc8+ Kh4 72.Bg7 Qe2+ 73.Kh1 Qf3+ 74.Kh2 Qg3+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Aronian,L2794Karjakin,S27630–12018A13World Chess Candidates 201811

Aronian and Karjakin

After a weak start, Karjakin has not yet given up the fight for another match with Magnus Carlsen | Photo: World Chess

Ding ½-½ Grischuk

This might have been not only the first victory for the Chinese Ding Liren, but also a very impressive one. In hair-raising time scramble there were mistakes on both sides, but overall the two grandmasters produced an absolutely thrilling game, with drama worthy of any sporting endeavour. For purists who care more about correctness, it might not have been great, but at least it gives fans fodder for days worth of enjoyable analysis.

 
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1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.a3 dxc4 7.Bxc4 a6 8.0-0 b5 9.Ba2 Bb7 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.Bd2 Be7 12.Rac1 c4 13.e4 Rd8 14.Be3 Ng4 15.e5 Na5 16.Bf4
We reach a dynamic position - no early draws here - and indeed both players needed a win. At the moment, White has a small edge with his strong center. It's not much, but it is something to work with in a practical game. 16...Qb6 17.Rcd1 h5 18.h3 Nh6 19.Bb1 Nb3 20.Be3 Qc7 21.Rfe1
White has brought his heavy pieces to the center, where the enemy king remains. 21...Kf8 22.d5! The Chinese stages a breakthrough in the center. exd5 23.e6 23.Bc2! is the move the computers favour. In fact, it seems it is appropriate, to first bring all the pieces to their best squares, e.g. the knights on d4 and f4. The ideal set up would be to exchange the crippling b3-knight for one of white's bishops. Black would not be able to do much to stop the e5-e6 push. 23...fxe6 24.Ng5
Now the game is actually equal, but as always in such situations it's harder to defend than attack. Black immediately makes a mistake. 24...Qd7 This move has at least two serious disadvantages: The moves Nc3-e4 and Bb6 (in addition to Nxe6) are now possible. But there are so many variations that require concrete calculation. 24...Qc6!= 25.Bg6! This prepares a motif that is barely recognizable: a back rank mate! Bf6 26.Bb6! Rc8 27.Nxe6+ Kg8 28.Nxd5 Bxd5
29.Nf4 Ding's move is good enough, but there was a better one... 29.Nd8! Threatening Qe8 mate. If now Rxd8 then 30.Rxd5! 29...Nc1 Everything played in extreme time trouble - and players still have to reach move 40! 30.Qxh5 30.Qe3! 30...Nd3 31.Nxd5 Nf7 32.Qe2 32.Nxf6+! gxf6 33.Bxf7+ Qxf7 34.Qg4+ Kh7 35.Qf5+ Kg7 36.Re4 32...Nfe5 33.Be4 Rh4 34.f4 Rxf4 35.Nxf4 Nxf4 36.Bh7+ Kh8 37.Qe4 Qc6 38.Bd4 Nxh3+ 39.Kh2 Ng5 40.Qxc6 Rxc6 41.Bc2
The time-control is reached. Ding is still much better, but Grischuk has fought his way back into the game. Ding must have been fairly demoralised, knowing that he surely missed a dozen wins. 41...Ngf7 42.Bxe5 Nxe5 43.Rd5 Re6 44.Kh3 Kg8 45.b3 This move finally brings Black fully back to life. Kf7 46.bxc4 Nxc4 47.Rd7+ Be7 48.Rxe6 Kxe6 49.Ra7 Nxa3 50.Rxa6+ Kd5 51.Bh7 Nc4 52.Kg4 Bf6 53.Ra7 Kd4 54.Bg8 Nd6 55.Kf3 Kc5 56.Ra8 b4 57.Ke2 Bc3
There have been many fascinating moments in this Candidates Tournament - this one belongs among them: Black has built a kind of "fortress" in the middle of the board. 58.Kd3 Kb6 59.Ke3 Kc6 60.Kf4 Nb7 61.Kf5 Nc5 62.g4 Kb5 63.g5 b3 64.Kg6 Kb4 65.Bd5 Bd4 66.Kh7 Kc3 67.g6 b2
And so slowly, it is White who must now be on guard. 68.Ba2 Kc2 69.Rb8 Ne4 70.Rb4 Nc3 71.Be6 Not 71.Rxd4?? Nxa2 71...Kc1 72.Bf5 Be5 73.Rb7 b1Q 74.Bxb1 Nxb1 75.Rxg7
Black needs to keep his the bishop to stop the pawn - grapping White's rook would lose! The ending of rook against knight, which could result is fairly common and drawn. The knight then has to stay close to the king and the defender has to avoid getting stuck in a corner. Rudimentary for any super GM. 75...Nc3 and still not 75...Bxg7?? 76.Kxg7 76.Re7 Bd4 77.Rd7 Be5 78.Kh6 Kc2 79.Kg5 Kb3 80.Kf5 Bh8 81.Rb7+ Kc2 82.Rh7 Bd4 83.Ke6 Kb3 84.Rd7 Bh8 85.Rd8 Bg7 86.Kf7 Be5 87.Re8 Bd4 88.Rb8+ Kc2 89.Rb7 Be5 90.Rb6 Bd4 91.Rf6
Grischuk knows the endgame knight vs. pawn is coming. 91...Bxf6 92.Kxf6 Nd5+ The rule is this endgame is safely draw when the knight gets in front of the pawn. 93.Kf7 In this case, every other move immediately leads to a draw. Ne3! Only thus! 94.Kf6 Nd5+ 95.Kf7 Ne3 96.g7 Nf5! One should remember this point! ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2769Grischuk,A2767½–½2018D40World Chess Candidates 201811

Ding an Grischuk

It was difficult to watch how Ding let a brilliant win slip in horrendous time trouble | Photo: World Chess

All games of round ten

 
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Round-up show with GM Erwin l'Ami

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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