Leuven!

by André Schulz
6/29/2016 – In June the Grand Chess Tour came to Paris and Leuven. Hikaru Nakamura won in Paris, Magnus Carlsen won in Leuven, and the top players are already on their way to other top events in Dortmund or in Bilbao. Paris is a justly famous city but the lesser known Leuven is also worth a closer look. Which André Schulz took while he was visiting the Grand Chess tour.

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Leuven!

According to wikipedia Leuven "is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in Belgium. It is located about 25 kilometres (16 miles) east of Brussels. ... It is the 10th largest municipality in Belgium and the fourth in Flanders. Leuven is home to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, the largest and oldest university of the Low Countries and the oldest Catholic university still in existence. ... The city is also known for being the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest brewer and one of the five largest consumer-goods companies in the world."

One of many squares in the historic city of Leuven

History

About the history of Leuven Wikipedia writes: "The earliest mention of Leuven ("Loven") is from 891, when a Viking army was defeated by the Frankish king Arnulf of Carinthia .... According to a legend the city's red and white arms depict the blood-stained shores of the river Dyle after this battle.

Situated beside this river, and near to the stronghold of the Dukes of Brabant, Leuven became the most important centre of trade in the duchy between the 11th and 14th centuries. A token of its former importance as a centre of cloth manufacture is shown in that ordinary linen cloth is known in late-14th-century and 15th-century texts as lewyn (other spellings: Leuwyn, Levyne, Lewan(e), Lovanium, Louvain).

In the 15th century a new golden era began with the founding of what is now the largest and oldest university in the Low Countries, the Catholic University of Leuven, in 1425.

In the 18th century the brewery Den Horen (meaning "the horn") flourished. In 1708 Sebastien Artois became the master brewer at Den Horen, and gave his name to the brewery in 1717, now part of AB InBev, whose flagship beer, Stella Artois, is brewed in Leuven and sold in many countries.

Leuven has several times been besieged or occupied by foreign armies; these include the Battle of Leuven (891), Siege of Leuven (1635) and Battle of Leuven (1831).

Both world wars in the 20th century inflicted major damage upon the city. Upon Germany's entry into World War I, the town was heavily damaged by rampaging soldiers. In all, about 300 civilians lost their lives. The university library was also destroyed on 25 August 1914, using petrol and incendiary pastilles. 230,000 volumes were lost in the destruction, including Gothic and Renaissance manuscripts, a collection of 750 medieval manuscripts, and more than 1,000 incunabula (books printed before 1501). ... It was rebuilt after the war, and much of the collection was replaced. Great Britain (on the initiative of the John Rylands Library, Manchester) and the United States were major providers of material for the replenishment of the collection. The new library building was financed by the National Committee of the United States for the Restoration of the University of Louvain and built to the design of architect Whitney Warren; it was officially opened on 4 July 1928.

In World War II, ... from 14 to 16 May 1940, the German Army Group B assaulted the city with heavy air and artillery support. The British withdrew their forces to the River Senne on the night of 16 May and the town was occupied the next day. The new university library building was set on fire by shelling on 16 May and nearly a million books were lost."

The old post office

De Kotmadam, a statue by Fred Bellefroid built in 1984 in honour of the kotmadam.

According to the "Guide to the statues of Leuven" “'Kot' is Flemish slang for a student room, and the 'kotmadam' is the landlady of the building, who would prepare meals for the students, tidy their rooms and help them when help was needed".

Old buildings everywhere

A café close to the library

Bust above the restaurant "Het Moorinneken"

Shop with chess decoration

Leuven, city of beer

The restaurants around the station square offer ample
opportunities to drink the beer that is brewed in Leuven.


The University of Leuven

"The University of Leuven was founded in 1425 by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull of Pope Martin V. It flourished for hundreds of years as the most prominent university in what would become Belgium, and one of the more prominent in Europe." (Wikipedia)

Hadrian VI, the only Dutchman ever to become pope, studied in Leuven
and later was permanent vice-chancellor of the University.

Statue in the honor of Pieter de Somer, the first rector
of the Flemish Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

The University of Leuven is one of the world's most renowned and prestigious universities and listed as number 35 on the "World University Rankings".

University library

Close to the library is the "Ode to friendship" sculpture

University building with...

... garden

Another look on the library

The celestial globe of Ferdinand Verbiest

"Ferdinand Verbiest (9 October 1623 – 28 January 1688) was a Flemish Jesuit missionary in China during the Qing dynasty. ... He is known as Nan Huairen (南懷仁) in Chinese. He was an accomplished mathematician and astronomer and proved to the court of the Kangxi Emperor that European astronomy was more accurate than Chinese astronomy. He then corrected the Chinese calendar and was later asked to rebuild and re-equip the Beijing Ancient Observatory, being given the role of Head of the Mathematical Board and Director of the Observatory.

He became close friends with the Kangxi Emperor, who frequently requested his teaching, in geometry, philosophy and music.

Verbiest worked as a diplomat and cartographer, and also as a translator, because he spoke Latin, German, Dutch, Spanish, Hebrew, and Italian. He wrote more than thirty books." (Wikipedia)

Ferdinand Verbiest's celestial globe

De groot Beguijnhof

"The Groot Begijnhof has the appearance of a small town in the city. It is a succession of streets, squares, gardens and parks, with tens of houses and convents in traditional brick and sandstone style.

As a community for unmarried, semi-religious women ... this béguinage originated in the early 13th century. The oldest written documents date back from 1232. A Latin inscription on the church mentions 1234 as founding date. The community is presumably a few decades older. Local historians from the 16th century, including Justus Lipsius, mention 1205 as founding date. ...

The last priest of the Beguine community died in 1977 at the age of 107. He is buried in the graveyard of Park Abbey. The last Beguine died in 1988." (Wikipedia)

Map of the community

Erbaut im 15. Jahrhundert 

The municipal park

Close to the city hall and the university is the municipal park, which still contains parts of the old city wall.

The old city wall

The last remains of a city gate

The city hall

"The building today known as the city Hall was the Voirste Huys (front house) of a larger complex of municipal buildings on which construction started in 1439 at the site of an existing City hall. The first architect, Sulpitius Van Vorst, died soon after the back wings of the complex got started and was succeeded briefly by Jan Keldermans II, whose death in 1445 ended the first construction campaign.

The project resumed in 1448 under the direction of Matheus de Layens. The first stone of the Voirste Huys was laid on 28 March of that year. The cellars of some demolished houses were incorporated into the new construction and can today be accessed through a small door at the left side of the cHall. The initial plans, influenced by the City hall at Brussels, included a belfry tower at one of the corners. This design was modified by de Layens, resulting in the symmetrical arrangement of turrets observed today.

The exterior masonry and roof were finished in 1460, and in 1469 the building was complete.

In the 19th century, the city Hall underwent renovations made necessary by centuries' worth of decay. The building remained standing amid the devastation of Leuven during World War I, escaping with only minor damage. In the Second World War, a bomb strike in front of the building caused yet more damage; it took until 1983 before repairs were completed." (Wikipedia)

City Hall

The building next to the city hall is impressive but pales in comparison.

Ah, here chess is played.

Team Nakamura: Kris Littlejohn, Sunil Weeramantry and Hikaru Nakamura, giving an autograph to a young fan.

Entrance to the city hall - and the chess tournament

The entrance hall. On several monitors the public could follow the games.

Or they could listen to the live commentary by Jan Gustafsson and Anna Rudolph. Magnus Carlsen just arrived to share his thoughts about his latest game.

The tournament venue

The walls of the city hall are decorated by numerous paintings - here is one

Chess

The "Blitz and Rapid Tournament" in Leuven was played from 17th to 21st June in the old City Hall. Ten of the world's best players took part: World Champion Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Levon Aronian, Hikaru Nakamura and Anish Giri, Wesley So, Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov. It is a while ago since Belgium was host to a world class tournament but the tournament in Leuven is the strongest tournament that ever took place in Belgium. The tournament was part of the "Grand Chess Tour 2016". It is the second Grand Chess Tour, a series of tournaments that last year comprised the Norway Chess Tournament, the Sinquefield Cup and the London Chess Classic.

Norway Chess decided to go their own ways but with Paris and Leuven two new attractive venues were found. In Paris the organisers found a new sponsor in the real estate company Vivendi and a new media partner in Canal plus. Both, Vivendi and Canal Plus, were satisfied with the start and want to continue to support the event next year. The tournament in Leuven was sponsored by the chess foundation "Your next move" which is closely linked to the Kasparov Chess Foundation. Garry Kasparov is "Spiritus Rector" of the Grand Chess Tour. Sponsor of the tournament in Leuven is Jan Callevaert, a renowned Belgian businessman and owner of the Option N.V. company.

The tournament in Paris was won by Hikaru Nakamura. This year, World Champion Magnus Carlsen cannot play in the tournaments in St. Louis and London because he will have to defend his title in November, but Carlsen played in Paris and in Leuven. In Paris he did not finish where he usually finishes but in Leuven he soon found his stride and won the tournament convincingly.

All rapid games

 
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1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.0-0-0 h5 11.Nd5 Rc8 12.g3 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb6 14.Bh3 Nc4 15.Qe2 Rc7 16.Bg5 Be7 17.f4 Ng4 18.Bxg4 hxg4 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Rhe1 Kf8 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Nd4 Qxe2 23.Rxe2 g6 24.Nc6 Kg7 25.Rd4 f5 26.a4 Ne5 27.axb5 axb5 28.Nxe5 dxe5 29.Rxe5 Rxh2 30.c3 Ra7 31.Kb1 Rh3 32.d6 Rd7 33.Re3 Kf6 34.Kc2 g5 35.Red3 Ke6 36.Re3+ Kf6 37.Red3 Ke6 38.Re3+ ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2770Carlsen,M2855½–½2016B90GCT Rapid YourNextMove1.1
Kramnik,V2812Nakamura,H27871–02016A14GCT Rapid YourNextMove1.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Anand,V27700–12016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove1.3
Caruana,F2804Topalov,V27611–02016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove1.4
Aronian,L2792Giri,A27821–02016A15GCT Rapid YourNextMove1.5
Anand,V2770Aronian,L2792½–½2016C67GCT Rapid YourNextMove2.1
So,W2770Kramnik,V2812½–½2016D53GCT Rapid YourNextMove2.2
Carlsen,M2855Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2016A20GCT Rapid YourNextMove2.3
Giri,A2782Caruana,F2804½–½2016C50GCT Rapid YourNextMove2.4
Topalov,V2761Nakamura,H27871–02016C53GCT Rapid YourNextMove2.5
Caruana,F2804Anand,V2770½–½2016A09GCT Rapid YourNextMove3.1
Aronian,L2792Carlsen,M28550–12016A40GCT Rapid YourNextMove3.2
Kramnik,V2812Topalov,V27610–12016A07GCT Rapid YourNextMove3.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789So,W2770½–½2016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove3.4
Nakamura,H2787Giri,A27820–12016D04GCT Rapid YourNextMove3.5
Carlsen,M2855Caruana,F28040–12016C77GCT Rapid YourNextMove4.1
Giri,A2782Topalov,V2761½–½2016C50GCT Rapid YourNextMove4.2
Anand,V2770Nakamura,H2787½–½2016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove4.3
So,W2770Aronian,L2792½–½2016E32GCT Rapid YourNextMove4.4
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Kramnik,V28121–02016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove4.5
Caruana,F2804So,W27700–12016A09GCT Rapid YourNextMove5.1
Topalov,V2761Anand,V27700–12016A20GCT Rapid YourNextMove5.2
Nakamura,H2787Carlsen,M28551–02016D38GCT Rapid YourNextMove5.3
Aronian,L2792Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2016D14GCT Rapid YourNextMove5.4
Kramnik,V2812Giri,A2782½–½2016D77GCT Rapid YourNextMove5.5
Anand,V2770Giri,A27821–02016C50GCT Rapid YourNextMove6.1
So,W2770Nakamura,H2787½–½2016D37GCT Rapid YourNextMove6.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Caruana,F2804½–½2016A78GCT Rapid YourNextMove6.3
Carlsen,M2855Topalov,V27611–02016E21GCT Rapid YourNextMove6.4
Aronian,L2792Kramnik,V2812½–½2016A14GCT Rapid YourNextMove6.5
Kramnik,V2812Anand,V27701–02016A14GCT Rapid YourNextMove7.1
Caruana,F2804Aronian,L27920–12016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove7.2
Topalov,V2761So,W27700–12016A10GCT Rapid YourNextMove7.3
Giri,A2782Carlsen,M28550–12016B12GCT Rapid YourNextMove7.4
Nakamura,H2787Vachier-Lagrave,M2789½–½2016B90GCT Rapid YourNextMove7.5
Carlsen,M2855Anand,V27701–02016C50GCT Rapid YourNextMove8.1
So,W2770Giri,A2782½–½2016D45GCT Rapid YourNextMove8.2
Aronian,L2792Nakamura,H27871–02016E21GCT Rapid YourNextMove8.3
Caruana,F2804Kramnik,V28121–02016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove8.4
Vachier-Lagrave,M2789Topalov,V2761½–½2016B51GCT Rapid YourNextMove8.5
Kramnik,V2812Carlsen,M28550–12016A04GCT Rapid YourNextMove9.1
Topalov,V2761Aronian,L27921–02016A28GCT Rapid YourNextMove9.2
Anand,V2770So,W2770½–½2016C65GCT Rapid YourNextMove9.3
Nakamura,H2787Caruana,F28041–02016A05GCT Rapid YourNextMove9.4
Giri,A2782Vachier-Lagrave,M27891–02016A04GCT Rapid YourNextMove9.5

All blitz games

 
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1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Bc5 4.Nf3 c6 5.Nc3 d6 6.e3 Bb4 7.Qc2 Nf6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.Qxc3 0-0 10.d3 Re8 11.Be2 e4 12.Nd2 d5 13.0-0 exd3 14.Bxd3 Nbd7 15.cxd5 Ne5 16.Be2 Nxd5 17.Qc2 Bg4 18.Bxg4 Nxg4 19.Nf3 Qf6 20.Bd2 Qg6 21.Qb3 Rab8 22.Rad1 Ngf6 23.Bc1 h6 24.Rd4 Ne4 25.Rfd1 Re6 26.Qc2 Rbe8 27.b4 Rf6 28.Nh4 Rxf2 29.Rxe4 Rxg2+ 30.Qxg2 Qxe4 31.Qxe4 Rxe4 32.Nf5 Re5 33.Rf1 f6 34.Kg2 Nb6 35.Nd6 Re7 36.Rd1 Rd7 37.Rd2 Nd5 38.Nf5 g6 39.Nxh6+ Kg7 40.e4 Ne3+ 41.Kf3 Rxd2 42.Bxd2 Nc4 43.Bc1 Nxa3 44.Nf5+ gxf5 45.Bxa3 fxe4+ 46.Kxe4 Kg6 47.Kf4 b6 48.Bc1 a5 49.bxa5 bxa5 50.Ba3 Kh5 51.Kg3 f5 52.Be7 a4 53.h3 Kg6 54.Kf4 Kh5 55.Kg3 Kg6 56.Ba3 Kg5 57.Bc1+ Kh5 58.Ba3 Kg5 59.Bc1+ Kh5 ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Topalov,V2761Anand,V2770½–½2016A21GCT Blitz YourNextMove1
Carlsen,M2855Aronian,L2792½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove1
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Nakamura,H27870–12016C65GCT Blitz YourNextMove1
Kramnik,V2812So,W27701–02016A07GCT Blitz YourNextMove1
Caruana,F2804Giri,A27821–02016A06GCT Blitz YourNextMove1
Anand,V2770Giri,A2782½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove2
So,W2770Caruana,F28041–02016A35GCT Blitz YourNextMove2
Nakamura,H2787Kramnik,V2812½–½2016D00GCT Blitz YourNextMove2
Aronian,L2792Vachier Lagrave,M2789½–½2016A04GCT Blitz YourNextMove2
Topalov,V2761Carlsen,M28550–12016B90GCT Blitz YourNextMove2
Carlsen,M2855Anand,V2770½–½2016D38GCT Blitz YourNextMove3
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Topalov,V2761½–½2016D78GCT Blitz YourNextMove3
Kramnik,V2812Aronian,L27921–02016A07GCT Blitz YourNextMove3
Caruana,F2804Nakamura,H2787½–½2016A05GCT Blitz YourNextMove3
Giri,A2782So,W2770½–½2016C65GCT Blitz YourNextMove3
Anand,V2770So,W2770½–½2016C53GCT Blitz YourNextMove4
Nakamura,H2787Giri,A27821–02016D11GCT Blitz YourNextMove4
Aronian,L2792Caruana,F28041–02016E21GCT Blitz YourNextMove4
Topalov,V2761Kramnik,V2812½–½2016A13GCT Blitz YourNextMove4
Carlsen,M2855Vachier Lagrave,M27890–12016B53GCT Blitz YourNextMove4
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Anand,V27700–12016A08GCT Blitz YourNextMove5
Kramnik,V2812Carlsen,M28550–12016A04GCT Blitz YourNextMove5
Caruana,F2804Topalov,V27610–12016B90GCT Blitz YourNextMove5
Giri,A2782Aronian,L2792½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove5
So,W2770Nakamura,H27871–02016A18GCT Blitz YourNextMove5
Anand,V2770Nakamura,H2787½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove6
Aronian,L2792So,W27701–02016A09GCT Blitz YourNextMove6
Topalov,V2761Giri,A27821–02016A09GCT Blitz YourNextMove6
Carlsen,M2855Caruana,F28040–12016E21GCT Blitz YourNextMove6
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Kramnik,V28121–02016C65GCT Blitz YourNextMove6
Kramnik,V2812Anand,V2770½–½2016A04GCT Blitz YourNextMove7
Caruana,F2804Vachier Lagrave,M27890–12016A04GCT Blitz YourNextMove7
Giri,A2782Carlsen,M2855½–½2016C55GCT Blitz YourNextMove7
So,W2770Topalov,V27611–02016B54GCT Blitz YourNextMove7
Nakamura,H2787Aronian,L2792½–½2016A45GCT Blitz YourNextMove7
Anand,V2770Aronian,L2792½–½2016C65GCT Blitz YourNextMove8
Topalov,V2761Nakamura,H2787½–½2016A13GCT Blitz YourNextMove8
Carlsen,M2855So,W27701–02016D11GCT Blitz YourNextMove8
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Giri,A2782½–½2016C77GCT Blitz YourNextMove8
Kramnik,V2812Caruana,F28041–02016A04GCT Blitz YourNextMove8
Caruana,F2804Anand,V27701–02016A01GCT Blitz YourNextMove9
Giri,A2782Kramnik,V2812½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove9
So,W2770Vachier Lagrave,M27891–02016A04GCT Blitz YourNextMove9
Nakamura,H2787Carlsen,M2855½–½2016E11GCT Blitz YourNextMove9
Aronian,L2792Topalov,V27611–02016A14GCT Blitz YourNextMove9
Anand,V2770Topalov,V27611–02016B90GCT Blitz YourNextMove10
Aronian,L2792Carlsen,M2855½–½2016A90GCT Blitz YourNextMove10
Nakamura,H2787Vachier Lagrave,M27890–12016B90GCT Blitz YourNextMove10
So,W2770Kramnik,V28120–12016A14GCT Blitz YourNextMove10
Giri,A2782Caruana,F2804½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove10
Giri,A2782Anand,V2770½–½2016A14GCT Blitz YourNextMove11
Caruana,F2804So,W2770½–½2016A05GCT Blitz YourNextMove11
Kramnik,V2812Nakamura,H2787½–½2016A14GCT Blitz YourNextMove11
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Aronian,L2792½–½2016C84GCT Blitz YourNextMove11
Carlsen,M2855Topalov,V27611–02016D80GCT Blitz YourNextMove11
Anand,V2770Carlsen,M28550–12016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove12
Topalov,V2761Vachier Lagrave,M2789½–½2016A20GCT Blitz YourNextMove12
Aronian,L2792Kramnik,V2812½–½2016D41GCT Blitz YourNextMove12
Nakamura,H2787Caruana,F28041–02016B08GCT Blitz YourNextMove12
So,W2770Giri,A2782½–½2016A13GCT Blitz YourNextMove12
So,W2770Anand,V2770½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove13
Giri,A2782Nakamura,H2787½–½2016C67GCT Blitz YourNextMove13
Caruana,F2804Aronian,L27921–02016A13GCT Blitz YourNextMove13
Kramnik,V2812Topalov,V27610–12016A07GCT Blitz YourNextMove13
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Carlsen,M28550–12016E11GCT Blitz YourNextMove13
Anand,V2770Vachier Lagrave,M27891–02016B90GCT Blitz YourNextMove14
Carlsen,M2855Kramnik,V2812½–½2016C67GCT Blitz YourNextMove14
Topalov,V2761Caruana,F28040–12016A30GCT Blitz YourNextMove14
Aronian,L2792Giri,A2782½–½2016D43GCT Blitz YourNextMove14
Nakamura,H2787So,W2770½–½2016D05GCT Blitz YourNextMove14
Nakamura,H2787Anand,V27700–12016A21GCT Blitz YourNextMove15
So,W2770Aronian,L2792½–½2016C89GCT Blitz YourNextMove15
Giri,A2782Topalov,V27611–02016D78GCT Blitz YourNextMove15
Caruana,F2804Carlsen,M28550–12016A09GCT Blitz YourNextMove15
Kramnik,V2812Vachier Lagrave,M27890–12016A48GCT Blitz YourNextMove15
Anand,V2770Kramnik,V2812½–½2016C50GCT Blitz YourNextMove16
Vachier Lagrave,M2789Caruana,F2804½–½2016B40GCT Blitz YourNextMove16
Carlsen,M2855Giri,A27820–12016B23GCT Blitz YourNextMove16
Topalov,V2761So,W27700–12016C53GCT Blitz YourNextMove16
Aronian,L2792Nakamura,H2787½–½2016E21GCT Blitz YourNextMove16
Aronian,L2792Anand,V27701–02016D17GCT Blitz YourNextMove17
Nakamura,H2787Topalov,V27611–02016D02GCT Blitz YourNextMove17
So,W2770Carlsen,M2855½–½2016A80GCT Blitz YourNextMove17
Giri,A2782Vachier Lagrave,M2789½–½2016A15GCT Blitz YourNextMove17
Caruana,F2804Kramnik,V28121–02016C65GCT Blitz YourNextMove17
Anand,V2770Caruana,F2804½–½2016C65GCT Blitz YourNextMove18
Kramnik,V2812Giri,A27821–02016D03GCT Blitz YourNextMove18
Vachier Lagrave,M2789So,W2770½–½2016A36GCT Blitz YourNextMove18
Carlsen,M2855Nakamura,H2787½–½2016E21GCT Blitz YourNextMove18
Topalov,V2761Aronian,L2792½–½2016A28GCT Blitz YourNextMove18

 

Tournament director Malcolm Pein

The playing venue could seat about 150 spectators and on all four days was filled to capacity.

Anish Giri

Wesley So

"Big Vlad"

Carlsen and Giri

Anand and Kramnik

And the winner was...

Aronian and Carlsen

Vachier-Lagrave and Nakamura

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave helps to make chess in France more popular

Fabiano Caruana

Giri and So

Veselin Topalov

 

 

This is the man who occasionally disturbed the quiet of the games - he is responsible for striking the time on top of the Sint Pieter church. Listen carefully and you can hear him in the video.

The first three rounds were scheduled for 2 pm, the fourth and last round should start at noon. But on Saturday, the second day of the Rapid tournament, there was a slight delay before the round. Almost all players were present and sat in first row but the organisers took their time and did not seem to be in a hurry to start the round. Maybe they were waiting for Magnus Carlsen who was not present. But Giri soon inquired why the round did not begin: "Seriously, what is this? We always start at two o'clock, don't we?" And seconds after tournament director Malcolm Pein had started to introduce the players and to announce the pairings, Magnus Carlsen arrived with, to quote Pein, "his impeccable timing" and soon after the games began.

Malcom Pein a press officer Jan Poté

The players wait for the round to begin

Veselin Topalov

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Vladimir Kramnik

Fabiano Caruana

Wesley So

Levon Aronian and Vishy Anand

Photos: André Schulz

 

Tournament page Grand Chess Tour...

Grand Chess Tour on Twitter...

Tournament page Leuven...

Your next move...

Website of Leuven...


André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.

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