9/24/2017 – Right on the heels of the World Cup, which is now in the Finals, is the Chess.com Isle of Man International bringing a very impressive lineup with several of the world’s best, including Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and more. Innovating from the Swiss pairings, the organisers decided that the first round would be entirely random, and this led to some very surprising round one match-ups. Report with analysis by GM Tiger Hillarp-Persson. | Photo: John Saunders
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Some random grandmasters
To say the Chess.com Isle of Man International started with a bang would be a massive understatement. The biggest news came from the last minute registration by none other than Magnus Carlsen. The registration for the Masters section had closed months ago, but who could possibly refuse the World Champion in the lineup? Aside from not being a regular Open player, in spite of his one-off (at the time) participation in the Qatar Masters a couple of years ago, there was the practical issue of overlap: should Carlsen make it to the final of the World Cup currently underway, he would be unable to play in Isle of Man (IoM).
Magnus Carlsen did not want to wait until December to play, so entered the Isle of Man Open at the very last minute, ten days before the start | Photo: John Saunders
We now know that things did not go as planned for the Norwegian, as he got knocked out unexpectedly in the third round of the World Cup, and it had to come as quite a shock to the organizers to learn that Carlsen wanted to play in it. As reported in Aftenposten, those close to him saw this as a good sign, since it suggested he still felt quite confident in his play and was jonesing to cross swords with the world’s best.
With names such as Vladimir Kramnik, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Vishy Anand, all in that unique atmosphere of a large open, there would be no lack of good chess to be had, should he wish. This actually led to a rather unexpectedly jocular episode on the day of registration, one day before the first round. John Saunders who is on the spot, reported this exchange he was privy to:
A player (we'll call him Mr X) approached the arbiter's desk... Arbiter (seeing Mr X): "Have you come to register?" Mr X: "Yes." Arbiter: "Where are you from?" Mr X: "Norway."
No, this was not a joke. As Saunders explains, arbiters know the names of the players of course, but may not follow reports closely like fans, so that changes in appearance such as hair, glasses, or other, might easily throw them off.
All that said, this was hardly the end of the surprises the opening held for players and fans. Also innovating with the regular format, the first round of the event would hold completely random pairings, after which the normal pairing method would take over. For the players, as we will see, this was a veritable Pandora’s Box, since a top player might face an even weaker than usual first round, or a fellow elite. For fans and reporters this was a boon though. This idea stemmed from John Saunders, a highly respected veteran in chess reporting, who complained to the organizer that the first round or two of such Opens were usually completely devoid of interest, forcing reporters to try to find something, anything, to spice up what is usually a list of David vs Goliath matchups across the boards, with Goliath doing the usual beating up. Why not randomize the pairings for the first round, and after the results, the next rounds would follow traditional pairing methods? To his utter shock, the idea was not only developed, and finetuned, but was adopted as an experiment.
In an astonishing turn of events, the first round pairing was as dramatic as could be, with the Candidates and potentially World Championship match on the line | Photo: John Saunders
In a public drawing of lots, the top players went on stage to draw a random name from a tombola, just like a raffle. Magnus Carlsen went first and drew Bardur orn Birkisson, rated 2167. In a normal Swiss, Magnus would certainly expect an easy first round against a player probably rated some 400 Elo less, but here he was looking at a player rated 660 Elo less. Next went Vladimir Kramnik, the official second seed, and in went his hand into the tombola. Smiling he drew out a paper with his first round opponent’s name. He unfolded it with not a little surprise as he read it out wide-eyed: Caruana, Fabiano! Second seed meets third seed right off the bat. Wow.
First round of IoM against Kramnik! Well ya can't accuse the pairings of being dull.
However, this was not the only surprise in pairings as one might expect. While many names enjoyed more usual easy opponents, other tough-as-nail pairings included Baskaran Adhiban against Boris Gelfand, and more notably the top two female seeds drew themselves: Hou Yifan against Alexandra Kosteniuk! Of all the opponents she could draw, what were the odds she would not only choose a female colleague, but here nearest rival for the Women's Prize?
No less surprising was Hou Yifan facing Alexandra Kosteniuk. They drew in the end. | Photo: John Saunders
Alexandra Kosteniuk vs Hou Yifan (annotated by Tiger Hillarp-Persson)
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1.e4
1,185,008
54%
2421
---
1.d4
959,510
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
286,503
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,834
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,892
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,600
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,954
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,911
50%
2384
---
1.b4
1,791
48%
2379
---
1.a3
1,250
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,081
49%
2409
---
1.d3
969
50%
2378
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
466
54%
2382
---
1.c3
439
51%
2425
---
1.h3
289
56%
2420
---
1.a4
118
60%
2461
---
1.f3
100
47%
2427
---
1.Nh3
93
66%
2506
---
1.Na3
47
62%
2476
---
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1.e4c52.Nf3e63.d4cxd44.Nxd4Nf65.Nc3d66.g4h67.h3This move avoids the long forcing lines that arise after7.h4Nc68.Rg1d5The result is that White gets some kind of fianchetto variation, where instead of g2-g3/h2-h3/g3-g4, White has achieved the same set-up with only two moves.7...Nc68.Be3Bd79.f49.Qd2Nxd410.Bxd4Be711.f4Bc612.Bg2e513.Be3Black has followed a very logical plan, but what to play next?Nd714.0-0-0exf415.Bxf4Ne516.Ne2?!16.Kb116...Qb6?!16...Ng617.Be316...0-0!?17.Nd4Bf617.Nd4Bf618.b3Rd819.Be3was promising for White, in Harutjunyan,G (2410)-Fier,A (2610) 1st Paytakht Cup 2016.9...Be7Now White has a choice between four candidate moves:9...Nxd410.Qxd4! and it becomes obvious why White waited with Qd2.10.Nf3!?...and you will point out that this is the "fifth candidate move". However, this is a move that didn't even make my "candidate move" list. It seems un-Sicilian-ish to retreat the knight in such a manner. Still, perhaps I'm just too conservative. Kosteniuk's move is not bad:10.Qe2Nxd411.Bxd4Qa512.0-0-0e513.Be3Rc8with the idea of Rxc3!10.Nb3is the standard move if one wants to stop Black from playing Nxd4, followed by Bd7-c6.Rc8!and it is rather hard to see White's next move as both11.Qd2and11.Bg2is well met withNa510.Qd2appears to be the most flexible move. One point is that - compared to Qe2 -Nxd411.Bxd4Qa512.0-0-0e513.Be3Rc814.Bd3is far more harmonious.10.Bg20-011.0-0Nxd412.Qxd4Bc6 , followed by d6-d5, looks fine for Black.10...d5!If Black can play it, then Black should play it.11.exd5Nxd512.Nxd5exd513.Bg2d4!?13...Bh4+?!14.Nxh4Qxh4+15.Bf213...0-014.0-0Re815.Re1Qc716.c3Rad817.Qd2Bd6is balanced.14.Nxd4Bh4+15.Bf2Qe7+15...Bxf2+16.Kxf2Qh4+16...Qb617.Bxc6!Bxc618.Re1+17.Kf10-018.Nxc6Bxc619.Bxc6bxc620.Qf3Rad821.Rh2f522.Kg1Qf623.Rf2Qxb224.Qb3+Qxb325.axb3fxg4=16.Kf1Bxf217.Kxf20-0-018.Qf3!Qc518...Qb419.c3Qb619...Qxb2+20.Kg3±is suicidal, as White will soon take the b-file.20.Rad1Rhe821.Kg3Nxd422.cxd4Kb8and White's position is a little too loose for her to claim any real advantage.19.Rhd1h5!?A curved ball. Hou is setting White new problems move by move.20.gxh5!20.g5Bg4!21.hxg4Rxd422.Rxd4Qxd4+23.Kg3Qxb224.Re1is still not bad for White, but it is easy to get lost when things turn out in a way that you did not imagine. However, Kosteniuk steers clear of any fancy stuff, and in the process she keeps some advantage.20...Be621.Qc3This simiplifies the position should lead to a drawish ending.It was more ambitious to play21.c3Bd522.Qg4+22.Qe2Bxg223.Kxg2Nxd424.Rxd4Rxd425.cxd4Qxd426.Kg3Qc5=22...Kb823.Bxd5Rxd524.Qxg7Rdxh525.Rd3, although it is hard to chose such a line for a human. Black's king looks rather forlorn.21...Qxc322.bxc3Rxh5?!22...Nxd4!23.cxd4Rxh524.Kg3Rdh825.Rh1R8h6 and White will have to give the pawn back.23.Nxe6!fxe624.Rxd8+Kxd825.Rg1Ne726.Bxb726.Re1!?keeps a minimal initiative, but should also lead to a draw. White's pawn structure is too bad to promise any real winning chances.26...Rxh327.Bf3Rh2+28.Rg2Rxg2+29.Bxg2Kc730.Ke3Kd6 planning ...e531.Kd4Nf5+32.Ke4Ng3+33.Kf3Nf534.Ke4Ng3+35.Kd3Nh536.Ke3Nf637.c437.Be4e537...Nd7!When the knight reaches c5, there is not much White can do.38.Kd4Nc5=39.Bf3Nd740.Bh5Nc541.Be8Nb742.a4Nc543.a5Nb744.c5+Nxc545.Kc4Na646.Bh5Nc747.Bf3Na648.Bg2Nc749.Bb7Ne850.Kd4Nf651.Bf3Nd752.Bg2e5+53.fxe5+Nxe554.a6Nd755.Bf1Nc556.Bb5Ne6+57.Ke4Kc558.Ke5Nc759.Bd3Kb660.Kd6g561.Be2Nb5+62.Ke5Kxa663.Kf5Kb664.Kxg5Kc565.Kf4Nc365...a566.Bxb5Kxb567.Ke3=66.Ke3a567.Kd2Kb468.Bh5a469.Kc1a370.Bf7Kc571.Bb3Kd472.Bf7Ke373.Bb3Kd4½–½
The Sicilian has been known for decades as the most reliable way for Black to obtain an unbalanced but good position. Among the most popular Sicilians at the top level the two that certainly stand out are the Najdorf and the Paulsen.
This opening round pairing for Vladimir Kramnik and Fabiano Caruana was problematic for more than one reason. From a pure tournament point of view, it means they are less likely to get off to the flying start they could expect as they built up momentum and speed. A top player expects a couple of easy opening rounds in a Swiss. Now, some will have easy starts, and some will be forced to concede a draw or loss, playing catchup for the rest of the event.
There is a second and more serious consideration though: the Candidates tournament. Although the Isle of Man Open does not seed a player into the Candidates like the World Cup, three players are in a neck-and-neck struggle for the two spots reserved for the top average Elos of 2017: Wesley So, Caruana, and Kramnik. So and Caruana are in a dead heat for that rating, while Kramnik trails behind by an average 3.5 Elo. However, there are few if any events scheduled after the Isle of Man before December [Kramnik is on the roster for Siberia in the European Club Cup in November -Ed.], thus the ratings after it will likely be the ratings that are repeated for the next three ratings lists. So lost points and is therefore quite vulnerable to a surge by Kramnik, and the Russian needs to earn 8 Elo by the end of the event to snatch that coveted spot. Of course, if Kramnik surged and Caruana faltered, Caruana could be the one left outside. As you can see, a lot more is riding on this event for them than prize money or standings on the podium.
It was more than just a game between giants, but one that could have deep repercussions | Photo: John Saunders
So how did that game between the two giants go? A quick draw? No indeed! Here is the dramatic game with detailed notes by GM Tiger Hillarp-Persson.
Fabiano Caruana vs Vladimir Kramnik (annotated by Tiger Hillarp-Persson)
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1.c4e62.Nc3d53.d4Nf64.cxd5exd55.Bg5c66.Qc26.e3Bf5!6...Be77.Bd3is a clear improvement on the main game (for White) ash68.Bh4Nbd79.Nge2Nh510.Bxe7Qxe711.Qd2is more dangerous for Black than it would be had White already committed the queen to c2.Nb612.f3 Mamedyarov,S (2765)-Adams,M (2750) Sharjah Grand Prix 2017, can be found on the Chessbase homepage with my comments.7.Qf3Bg68.Bxf6Qxf69.Qxf6gxf610.Nf3Nd711.Nh4Be712.Ne2Nb613.Ng3Bb4+14.Kd1Na4?15.Ngf5 lead to a nice win for White in Carlsen,M (2851)-Kramnik,V (2801) Stavanger 2016, a game that has been extensively commented on by Mihail Marin in CBM. Is if fair to believe that Kramnik had an improvement prepared here? I believe so. 6...h67.Bh4Be78.e30-0I always thought the point of this line is to continue8...Nbd79.Bd3Nh510.Bxe7Qxe7aiming to meet 0-0-0 with 0-0-0, and after having played h6 it seems a bit dangerous to invite opposite side castling.9.Bd3Re810.Nge2Nh510...Ne4?!11.Bxe7Qxe712.Bxe4dxe413.Ng3f5Horrible but necessary...14.0-0and in Kuzubov,Y - Hayrapetyan,H Al Ain 2015, faced with the threat of f3, Black self-destructed withQg5?!14...Na6is the better move here, when White has too keep up the pressure in order to gain some advantage:15.f3!15.a3Nc716.f3exf317.Rxf3Rf818.Qf2Be619.Re1Rad820.Nxf5Bxf521.Rxf5Rxf522.Qxf5Rxd415...Nb416.Qd2exf317.Rxf3Be618.Re1Rf819.a3Nd520.Nxd5cxd521.Ne2g522.Nc1!and with the knight arriving at e5, White can look forward to the somewhat easier game.15.Rae1h5, allowing16.Qb3+Be617.Qxb7with a winning advantage for White.11.Bxe7Qxe712.h312.0-0Nd713.Rae1Nf814.Nc1Nf615.Nb3Ne616.f3a517.Na4Qd818.Nbc5Nf8!Both White's knights strive to occupy c5, so there is no need to exchange one of them.19.Qb3!b5!?20.Nc3Ne621.Nxe6Bxe622.Qc222.Rc122...Qb623.Qf2a424.Rc1b425.Ne2Ra526.h3c5!was a high level instruction in how to play this line with Black, although White eventually won, in Nepomniachtchi,I (2750)-Kramnik,V (2810) Zurich Korchnoi CC Blitz 2017.12...a5This move and the next is the start of a cat and mouse game, where Black is trying to give away as little information as possible, while discouraging White from castling long, whereas White is trying to set the stage for a good moment to do just that.13.a313.g4Nf614.Ng3c5! as in Novotny,M (2219)-Konopka,M (2424) Zdar nad Sazavou 2007, showed the downside of evacuating the knight from e2.13.0-0-0?!b514.Kb1Nf6 leaves White quite discoordinated and vulnerable to Nb8-a6-b4.13...Nd714.Na4Qh415.g3Qd816.g4Nhf617.Ng3Black cannot play c5, so the knight can move.Nf818.0-0-0Ambitious.b6Kramnik is looking for a way to get counterplay without leaving a weak square on c5. I completely symphatize with this.18...b5!?19.Nc5N6d720.Kb1Nxc521.Qxc5looks like a nightmare for Black, as the queenside will be blockaded. But looking at the whole board situation it is far from clear:Qf6!21...b422.a422.Rh2b423.a4Ba6and Black's counterplay is no slower than than White's.19.Kb1Bd720.Nf5c5?!This natural move is the right one, but the timing is wrong:The engine suggests20...Rb8with "a small advantage" and it seems correct. The point is that it is hard to find a good move for White:21.Rhg121.Ka1 is again the engine, but if we accept that this move is the best, then indeed Rb8 must be an improvement.21.Nc3b522.Ne2b423.a4b3!With the idea of ...Rb421...c5!22.dxc5Bxa423.Qxa4bxc5is a crucial attacking-tempo better for Black, compared to the game.21.dxc5Bxa422.Qxa4bxc523.Bb523.h4c4!24.Bxc4Re425.g5!N8d7!is messy. After 26.gxf6Rxc427.Ne7+Kf828.Qb3Rb829.Qd3Nxf630.Nxd5Rc531.Nf4 the game is still unclear.23...Re624.Qc2Rb6!?This allows Caruana to set the bishop on b5 in a cement foundation, but Black can deal with it. The only way to avoid this scenario is to play24...a4!and the only reason not to play this move is that one is afraid of25.Qxc5Perhaps Kramnik calculated thatRc826.Qa726.Qb4Rb826...Ra827.Qc5 is a draw!?25.a4!Ne626.h4White's attack hits first.Nc727.Qxc5!This wins a pawn, but more important; the d4-square for the knight.Nxb528.axb5Qb8?!This is the first mistake in the game. With the queen behind the rook the threat against b2 is not strong enough to distract White's forces from attacking:28...Rab8!29.Ne7+!29.Nd4Ne430.Qc2Nd631.Ka1Nxb532.Nc6Qc733.Rc1Re834.Rhd1Re429...Kh830.Nc6Qc8!30...Qc731.Qd4R8b732.Nxa5Rb833.Rc1Qd734.Nc6R8b735.g531.Qd4R8b732.Nxa5Rb833.Rc1Qxg434.Qxg4Nxg435.Nc6R8b735...Re836.f3Nxe337.Rc536.Nd4Nxf237.Rc8+Kh738.Rhc1I'm not sure how to evaluate this position with precision. The doubled b-pawn is very dangerous, but Black will have counterplay.29.g5Rxb530.Qc2Ne431.Ne7+Kh832.Rxd5!Rxd533.Nxd5Qe534.Rd1Rd835.Rd4Rxd536.Rxe4Rd1+!37.Ka2Qd5+38.Qc4hxg538...Kh7immediately, might have been strong, in order to leave the (weak-er) h4-pawn on the board.39.hxg5Kh740.Qxd5Rxd5±I'm not sure about the details in the rest of the endgame, but it seems that Black had a tough job to defend it.41.f4Kg642.Rd4Rb543.Ka3Kf544.b3f645.Ka4Rb746.Rc4Ra746...fxg547.Rc5+47.Rc5+Ke448.Rxa5This looks like the losing move.Re7?Instead48...Rf749.g649.gxf6gxf650.b4Kxe351.f5Kd452.Rc5Ra7+53.Kb3Ra1=49...Rb750.f5Kxe351.Rc5Kd452.b4Rb8 leads to a position from where I see no way forward for White.53.Kb353.Rc7Ke554.Rxg7Kxf555.b5Kg556.Ka5f557.b6Kf653...Rb754.Rc1Ke555.Rf1Rb856.Ka4Ra8+57.Kb5Rb8+58.Kc5Rc8+49.gxf6gxf650.Ra6Kf550...Rf751.Re6+Kf552.Re8Ra7+53.Kb4Rb7+54.Kc3Rc7+55.Kb2Rb756.Rc8Ke457.Rc3and it seems to me that Black is in a kind of zugzwang (although those with more time at their hands will have to find the truth about that).51.Rd6+-Ra7+52.Kb5Rb7+53.Kc4Rc7+54.Kd4Rb755.e4+Kxf456.Rxf6+Kg557.Rf5+Kg458.Kc4Re759.Rd5Kf460.e5!Kf561.b4Ke662.b5Ra763.b6Rb764.Rb5Kd765.Kd5Kc866.e6Kd867.Kc61–0
A huge win for the American, not only making a big statement on his ambitions, but also securing his Elo that much more against any ninja moves his Russian rival might try to make.
Other top players did not suffer such dramatic opening games, in spite of the numerous big pairings. Hikaru Nakamura had a fairly balanced game against the Indian GM Das Neeloptal, 350 Elo his junior, for some 60 moves, but finally the Indian cracked, and let Black in with a powerful maneuver that won the day.
Das Neeloptal vs Hikaru Nakamura
Position after 60. Rd3. Here Black played 60...d5! and after 61. exd5 e4! 62. Bxe4 Qb1! He had a decisive attack.
Magnus Carlsen, lest one forget, played a game against a player who gave up more than 650 Elo to him, and just outclassed his opponent. He did not crush him as quickly as fans might have wished, but one expects it was hard for him to be motivated enough to put his all into it.
Magnus Carlsen was a bit distracted by some of the other games, understandably | Photo: John Saunders
Magnus Carlsen vs Bardur orn Birkisson (annotated by Tiger Hillarp-Persson)
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1.c4Nf62.Nc3e63.d4Bb44.e30-05.Nf3This slightly unusual move order looks slighty less flexible than5.Bd3, but that's all. There is no real downside to it otherwise.5...b66.Bd3Bb7One of the most critical lines against the Rubinstein system is seen after6...d5!7.cxd5exd58.0-0Ba6This position has been played a lot in the last years. The most ambitious try was seen in Wojtaszek,R -Harikrishna,P Huaian 2016:9.Bxa6Nxa610.Bd2Re811.Rc1Bf812.Ne5!c513.Be1Nc7with a balanced position.7.0-0d58.cxd5exd59.Ne5!?Nbd7This natural move seems slightly inexact to me.I prefer9...Bd6, when10.f4c511.Ne2Nc6! is a clear improvement on the game (for Black) since the d4-pawn comes under direct attack, thus making it harder for White to continue with Ne2-g3.9...c5is similar, when10.f4Nc611.Ne2, but here Black needs to find a way to deal with the bishops awkward position on b4. In a recent game Black did not deal with it in the best manner:c4(I don't like playing such a move unless Black is able to get a clear grip on e4 in such a way that it is possible to jump in with the knight and take back with a piece.)12.Bc2Ne713.Ng3Nc8This is logical and strives to set in motion the kind of idea that I mentioned in the parenthesis above, but it also seems too slow.14.Nh5Be715.b3cxb316.axb3Nd617.Nxf6+Bxf618.Ba3Bc8?!19.Qf3was cruching, in Caruana,F (2805)-Karjakin,S (2770) Saint Louis Rapid 2017. After Bb7 there is no defence against Qh3/Rf1-f3-g3.10.f4Ne4?!11.Nxe4dxe412.Bc4White's set-up is ideal and it is almost impossible for Black to expel the knight from e5.Qe713.a3Bd614.b4Nf615.Bb2c6Built on the assumption that the d5-square can be used for the knight, but this is easier said than done. Still, it's hard for Black to come up with a decent remedy against Qb3, Rc1, etc.16.Qc2b5!Black is rightly seeking counterplay and this is what is to be got.16...a517.bxa5Rxa518.a4±17.Bb3a5!18.h3?!Perhaps I'm missing something, but this seems rather too cool.The direct18.bxa5!Rxa519.Rfc1looks much better. Black has problems with c6, f7 and e4. The best continuationNd520.Qxe4Bxa321.Rxa3Rxa322.Bxa3Qxa323.Rb1,leaves White clearly better, although Black can still fight on withBc8hoping for24.Nxc6??Nc3-+18...axb419.axb4Bxb4After19...Rac8!the c-pawn is safely defended and it is very unclear how White can build up more pressure.20.Ra720.g4is quite messy afterNd521.Qxe4f621...Nxb422.Ra7Rc7∞22.Qf3Kh8!23.Bxd5cxd524.Nd3whenRfe8is terribly ugly for both sides and still balanced.20...Bb8is a dead end20.Rxa8Bxa821.Ra1White is threatening to take on f7. Nd5?21...Bb722.Ra7c523.Nc6Qd724.Nxb4cxb425.d5±Nxd5?26.Qxe4+-22.Rxa8!Rxa823.Qxc6Nc724.Bxf7+Kh825.Qxe4Rf826.d526.Bb3, followed by rolling the pawns, also wins easily.26...Rxf727.Nxf7+Qxf728.Qxb4Nxd529.Qxb5Nxe330.Qb8+Qg831.Bxg7+A nice final touch.Kxg732.Qe5+Kf733.Qxe3Qg634.Kh2h535.Qb3+Kf836.Qb8+Kg737.Qe5+1–0
Does this mean there were no surprises at all? Hardly. The Israeli GM Maxim Rodshtein, rated 2695, faced the English amateur Zaki Harari, rated only 2027. Although he did draw in the end, Rodshtein was dead in the water after 64 moves, facing heavy material loss, a mating attack, or an enemy pawn promotion. All the while, the engines were singing songs of +12 (really). So how did he escape? A fancy tactic, or a brilliant shot? No, they shook hands on move 74, in a winning position for White, the weaker player. We don’t know who offered the draw, but presume it was White, oblivious to his win, and just happy to draw.
Usually the chess cliché "I was winning" is a case of sour grapes when all went wrong, but in this case, White was indeed completely winning when he agreed to a draw. Let us not be hard on him, in spite of the missed chance at even greater glory. Nerves when facing such moments can strike even the best blind.
Maxim Rodshtein survives a scare against an opponent rated nearly 700 Elo less | Photo: John Saunders
Indian prodigy IM Praggnanandhaa is still hoping to break Sergey Karjakin's record as the youngest GM in history. In round one he beat a German IM, and in round two will face top Brit Michael Adams
IM Praggnanandhaa is one to watch in IoM | Photo: John Saunders
You can use ChessBase 14 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs to replay the games in PGN. You can also download our free Playchess client, which will in addition give you immediate access to the chess server Playchess.com.
Albert SilverBorn in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications, and the content creator of the YouTube channel, Chess & Tech.
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