This event took place from January 14th to 30th, 2011 in the traditional De
Moriaan Center in Wijk aan Zee. There were three Grandmaster Groups, with 14
players each and each competitor playing against every other. The rate of play
was 100 minutes for 40 moves, then 50 minutes for 20 moves and finally 15 minutes
for the rest of the game, with a 30 seconds/move increment starting with the
first move of the game.
A traumatic encounter for Vlad Kramnik in round 11 [photo Frits Agterdenbos]
In round eleven Magnus Carlsen, who had lost against Nepomniachtchi in the
previous round, bounced back with a fantastic endgame win over Kramnik. The
Russian has clearly found his chess nemesis in Carlsen, as Magnus seems to constantly
defy expectations in their games. When the Norwegian is lost, he
somehow survives, and when the position is equal or unclear, a strange voodoo
takes place and Kramnik is seen resigning at the end. Despite not having anything
near a winning edge, Carlsen clearly sensed his opponent’s vulnerability,
when after 22 moves Vladimir proposed a draw. “I know Kramnik well,”
Carlsen said afterwards, “and I know what it means when he offers a draw.
It meant I had to play on.”
Carlsen won the game in the final phase. Here it is, deeply analysed by the
ChessBase Magazine endgame specialist Dr Karsten Müller. You can replay
the analysis in the following window.
Note that in the replay windows below you can click on the
notation to follow the game.
Links
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the
chess server Playchess.com.
If you are not a member you can download the free PGN reader ChessBase
Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program
to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009! |
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