Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.
Ciudad de León 2005
|
 |
The presentation of the event, with GM Vishy Anand (second from left)
The press conference before the event, with Alexei Shirov, Magnus Carlsen,
Vishy Anand and Rustam Kasimdzhanov
In the first semi-final on Friday FIDE world champion Rustam Kasimdzhanov defeated top Spanish GM Alexei Shirov by a clear margin of 3:1, with two black wins and two draws.
In the first game, instead of playing safe with black, Kasimdzhanov opted for the risky Najdorf variation of the Sicilian Defense, and soon got a splendid position. In a very complex game he outplayed Shirov.
In the second game Shirov played a solid Petroff Defence, won a pawn but did not get a better position. The game ended with a draw by repetition of moves.
In the third game, which offered to repeat the Najdorf of the first game, Shirov deviated very early, but again Kasimdzhanov got a good position, and Shirov, trying to win, went too far. He was forced to sacrifice material for a dubious attack, which was easily rejected.
In the last game, the world champion pressed very hard and was close to win again, but Shirov defended his position accurately and obtained a draw.
Rustam Kasimdzhanov, Zenón Franco Ocampos and Alexei Shirov in the
press conference
In the press conference Kasimdzhanov said he had prepared the Najdorf variation and he wanted to test his new repertoire against the sharp lines Shirov normally played. All that could be said was that he had succeeded. Shirov praised the accurate play of Kasimdzhanov, and said that he had deserved to win.
In the second semi-final on Saturday Vishy Anand beat young Norwegian star Magnus Carlsen, 15, Elo 2548, with a score of 3:1.
Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand
Anand won the first and third games with white, overcoming Carlsen's Petroff Defence in both cases. With White the younger player tried a Ruy Lopez and a Sicilian Taimanov, but only in the second game did he have small chances of success.
The final will be held on Sunday, June 12 at 4:30 p.m. You can watch the games live on the official site or in the Broadcast room of the Playchess server
