Leuven Day 2: Carlsen wins rapid after 4/4 day

by Albert Silver
6/18/2016 – If day one of the rapid games in Leuven was full of surprises, day two was no less so, though thankfully not due to record numbers of blunders. Vishy Anand started the day with a win, but after two losses lost the lead as he was caught up by Wesley So. In the meantime, Magnus Carlsen showed he was back and managed to win the rapid phase after a fabulous 4/4. Illustrated report.

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The greatest chess tournament ever staged in Belgium, Your Next Move Grand Chess Tour, is taking place in the historic Town Hall of Leuven from Friday 17 June to Monday 20 June. The best chess players in the world at the moment will take part in the tournament: World Champion Magnus Carlsen, former World Champions Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik, as well as Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hikaru Nakamura, Aronian Levon, Wesley So and Veselin Topalov.

The players will compete in a Rapid Chess and Blitz Chess tournament during the four days. The prize money for the tournament is $150.000 (€134.100). Chess fans will be able to enjoy the experience of seeing the greatest players compete live in Leuven or watch the streaming broadcast, complete with grandmaster commentary.

Follow the games live on playchess

All photos by Lennart Ootes

The sixth round of the rapid games phase of Leuven, or the first round of day two, seemed to suggest a continuation of the first day. Only two wins were notched and one of those was for the leader Vishy Anand who beat Anish Giri in just 26 moves after the latter suffered from a couple of moments of chess blindness. This helped secure his lead by a full point now with 4.5/6.

Magnus Carlsen, who had suffered a dreadful start the previous day, including a disaster against Nakamura in round five, seemed to have recovered well enough as he outplayed Topalov to start the new day with a win.

Veselin Topalov greets Magnus with a jovial smile

One outside help for a symbolic first move is normal.... but two?

A small clock malfunction at the start...

... That is soon resolved. Andiamo!

Round seven was the first turning point as Anand faced his friend and rival Kramnik in a classic bout. Neither player was able to get the better of it, until the endgame when Kramnik held on to an edge for a long time, requiring precise play from the Indian.

A classic: Kramnik vs Anand

Kramnik - Anand

[Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A14"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2770"] [PlyCount "101"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bd7 11. Qb1 Rc8 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. d4 Qe7 14. Qb2 cxd4 15. Nxd4 b6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Rac1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd8 22. Rc7 {[#] It's more than a little remarkable that Kramnik once more finds himself with a favorable rook endgame that looks very reminiscent of his game against Nakamura.} Rd2 23. Rxa7 Rxe2 24. Kf3 Rb2 25. g4 {Although the position is balanced, if anyone has hopes of a win, it is White thanks to the queenside majority.} Kg7 26. h4 e5 27. Ra6 Kg6 28. Rxb6 Rxa2 29. g5 Kh5 30. Rxf6 Kxh4 31. Rxf7 Kxg5 32. Rxh7 Rb2 33. Rb7 Kf5 {In spite of the exchnages, little has chnaged fundamentally: White has an extra passed pawn on the queenside, but Black's strong king and rook should be more than enough to neutralize it. Still, White alone can aspire to the full point.} 34. Ke3 Rc2 35. Kd3 Ra2 $2 {Though not losing per se, it is a fundamental mistake in concept.} (35... Rc1 {was the principled move. The reason is simple: it keeps the white king cut off from supporting his pawn.}) 36. Rc7 Rb2 37. Kc3 Ra2 38. Rd7 Kf4 $2 {In spite of struggling, Black had been holding on, but short of time, he misses a subtlety.} (38... Ke4 $1 {was correct. The point is that} 39. Rd2 {cannot be stopped anyhow, but this prepares the flight of the black king to stop the b-pawn's march.} Ra8 40. b4 Rc8+ 41. Kb3 Rb8 42. Rc2 Kd5 {and White will be very hard-pressed to make progress.}) 39. Rd2 Ra8 40. b4 Rc8+ 41. Kb3 Rb8 42. Rd6 $2 {White allows Black to correct his mistake, and while he does, for a move, it is clear the main defensive idea was missed.} Ke4 43. Rd2 Kf3 $2 44. Rb2 $1 e4 45. Ra2 $2 {A very complex endgame, in spite of the simplified material, that presents swings in the evaluation that only a computer is able to see in the time control the game was played in.} (45. Rc2 { was winning.}) 45... Rh8 46. b5 Rh2 47. b6 Rh6 48. Ra6 $1 {The threat is b7 of course.} Rh1 49. Kc2 Rh6 50. Ra3+ Kxf2 51. b7 1-0

For the rest of the field this was crucial as it suddenly blew open the doors to the podium, allowing everyone to consider wresting the gold. One player who took advantage of this was Wesley So, who went into a bareknuckle fight with Topalov as the two fought an exciting opposite castling duel.

Wesley So, a top player but still building experience against elite opposition explained that
his MO, or Modus Operandi, was to not lose any games. That doesn't mean he was declaring
a challenge to fellow drawing experts, but that he wanted to lose fewer games.

Topalov - So

[Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A10"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2770"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. c4 g6 2. e4 e5 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd4 Nc5 6. Nc3 Ne6 7. Qe4 Bg7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. f4 O-O 10. O-O-O d6 11. c5 Ne7 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. Rxd6 Qc7 14. g4 Nc5 15. Qc4 b6 16. Bxc5 bxc5 17. h3 $2 {This is the source of White's problems. The seemingly innocuous move is precisely that: innocuous. Both sides are playing an opposite-wing race to see who's attack gets there first, and h3 is both slow and passive.} (17. Qe2 Rb8 18. Bg2 {and if} f6 {then} 19. Nh3 fxe5 20. Rhd1 {the most energetic continuation.} exf4 21. Ng5) 17... Rb8 18. Qe2 Rb4 19. Qd2 Rd4 $1 20. Rxd4 $2 (20. Nb5 {was more resilient.} Rxd2 21. Nxc7 Rf2 22. Ne2 g5 $1 {and Black is still better thanks to his bishop pair and power rook on the seventh, but the game is far from over.}) 20... cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rd8 $1 { Instead, it is Black who has sacrificed a pawn in order to gain valuable (decisive) tempi in his attack.} 22. Qf2 Nd5 23. Nge2 Nb4 24. Kb1 Nd3 25. Qh4 Bb7 26. Rh2 Rb8 (26... Nxb2 {was already possible, but the move in the game wins too.} 27. Kxb2 Rd2+ 28. Kc1 (28. Ka1 Qb6) 28... Rxa2 29. Qf2 Bf8 {with Bc5 and/or Ba3 deciding the game.}) 27. b3 Nxf4 $1 28. Nxf4 Qxc3 0-1

This left Wesley So tied with Anand for first, while Aronian and Carlsen, also victorious, trailed by just half a point with two rounds to go.

If round seven was a turning point, then round eight was no less pivotal. Magnus Carlsen, who had clawed his way back into the tournament, now faced Vishy Anand, and it was another classic, but this time with the rapid event at stake.

Carlsen and Anand playing for all the marbles

The Norwegian played strong and manged to box his rival in the type of position he is notorious for milking mercilessly. This big win for Carlsen, his third straight, pushed him to the top of the heap, but he was not alone. He shared it with Wesley So, who had drawn against Anish Giri, and Levon Aronian, who overcame Hikaru Nakamura, still unable to shake off his rough event.

Levon Aronian was also a contender for first in the Rapid after his win over Nakamura

Top French player Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, very much in the spotlight, had a lukewarm
event, with a loss to Anand, a win over Kramnik, and the rest drawn.

While Topalov also won his game against Aronian, there still remained one last obstacle for Magnus:

His fellow 2800 player: Vladimir Kramnik

Kramnik - Carlsen

[Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A04"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2855"] [PlyCount "108"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. Nf3 e6 2. g3 b5 3. e4 Bb7 4. Qe2 {The gloves are off! Phooey with theory, show me what you got!} c5 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nf6 7. e5 Nd5 8. b3 Nc6 9. Bb2 Be7 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. dxc3 O-O 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. c4 Rad8 14. h4 {In spite of playing Rad8, Black is very reticent to push the d-apwn and let White unleash his powerful Bb2 with exd6.} f6 {Still not his favorite, at least with this he can neutralize the bishop.} 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Qxb5 Nb4 19. Qe2 Nxa2 20. Qc4 {White wants to prevent ...Nc3, not only for the double attack, since Ra1 would parry this as well, but ...Ne4 after that, centralizing the knight very nicely.} Kh8 21. Ra1 Ra8 22. Rfe1 {An imprecision that now swings the game in Black's favor.} d5 23. Qg4 e5 {and these black pawns are beginning to look extremely uncomfortable.} 24. h5 Bc8 25. Qh4 Bb7 26. Nh2 Nb4 27. Rxa8 Bxa8 28. c4 Nc2 29. Rd1 Nd4 30. cxd5 Qf7 31. Qe4 Rd8 32. h6 Bxd5 33. Qg4 Bxb3 34. Ra1 Be6 35. Qe4 Qg6 36. Ra8 Rg8 37. Rxg8+ Bxg8 38. Qxg6 $4 {The losing blunder.} (38. Qa8 {was the correct continuation.} c4 39. Be4 Qg5 (39... Qxh6 {would allow White to capture the c-pawn after} 40. Bd5 Qg7 41. Bxc4) 40. Nf3 Nxf3+ 41. Bxf3 c3 42. Qc8 {and Black can no longer relly progress. For example} Qxh6 (42... Qd2 43. Qf8 {is mate for White!}) 43. Qxc3 Qf8 44. Be4 {and White should hold.}) 38... hxg6 39. Ng4 c4 {and the pawn will cost White a piece and the game.} 40. Nxf6 c3 41. Be4 c2 42. Bxc2 Nxc2 43. Nd7 e4 44. Nf6 e3 45. fxe3 Nxe3 46. g4 Nd5 47. Nxd5 Bxd5 48. g5 Kg8 49. Kf2 Kf8 50. Ke3 Bg8 51. Kd4 Ke8 52. Ke4 Kd7 53. Kd3 Ke6 54. Ke4 Bh7 0-1

In the final round, Nakamura put in a huge effort as he ground down Caruana in 117 moves
in a position even Carlsen, kibitzing live, was unsure could be won

A fantastic performance by Magnus Carlsen, who came back in heroic fashion with four wins in four. However, the Rapid tournament is but half of Leuven, and here remains the Blitz phase now. Although the rapid games are worth double, there are also twice as many blitz games to be played, so only half the total points have been covered and the game is very much afoot. That means Sunday will be full of top notch blitz almost non-stop. Don't miss it!

Replay games of Rapid Rd6-9

[Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2782"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Giuoco Piano"] [WhiteFideId "5000017"] [BlackFideId "24116068"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 O-O 6. c3 d6 7. Nbd2 a5 8. a4 Be6 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Nc4 Qe8 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Nxe3 b6 13. Re1 Rd8 14. Qe2 Qf7 15. Nd2 d5 16. Nc2 Rd7 17. Nf3 Re8 18. b4 Qh5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. b5 Nd8 21. Qxe5 Qg6 22. c4 Nf6 23. Qb2 Nf7 24. d4 e5 25. dxe5 Nh5 26. e6 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "6.2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2787"] [ECO "D37"] [Opening "QGD"] [Variation "classical variation (5.Bf4)"] [WhiteFideId "5202213"] [BlackFideId "2016192"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. a3 c5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Be5 Bf5 12. Be2 Bf6 13. O-O Be4 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Nd4 Ne6 16. Rc1 Nxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxd4 18. exd4 Rfc8 19. Rc5 Rxc5 20. dxc5 d4 21. Rd1 Rd8 22. Bc4 Kf8 23. f3 Bf5 24. Kf2 a5 25. g4 Be6 26. Bd3 Bb3 27. Rd2 Rc8 28. Be4 Rxc5 29. Rxd4 h5 30. h3 hxg4 31. hxg4 Ke7 32. Ke3 b6 33. Kd2 Be6 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2804"] [ECO "A78"] [Opening "Benoni"] [Variation "classical with ...Re8 and ...Na6"] [WhiteFideId "623539"] [BlackFideId "2020009"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. Nd2 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 Re8 10. O-O Na6 11. Re1 Nc7 12. a4 Rb8 13. Bf1 a6 14. a5 Bd7 15. Nc4 Bb5 16. Bf4 Bxc4 17. Bxc4 Nh5 18. Bd2 b5 19. axb6 Rxb6 20. Ra2 Qd7 21. Be2 Nf6 22. f3 Nh5 23. Na4 Rbb8 24. Bc3 Bh6 25. Bc4 Nb5 26. e5 Qf5 27. e6 Bf4 28. b3 Nxc3 29. Nxc3 Be5 30. Ne4 Nf6 31. Rxa6 Nxe4 32. Rxe4 Ra8 33. Ra4 Qf6 34. f4 Bd4+ 35. Kh1 Rad8 36. Qf3 Re7 37. g3 Qf5 38. Ra2 fxe6 39. g4 Qf8 40. Rxe6 Rf7 41. Re4 Ra8 42. Rxa8 Qxa8 43. Kg2 Qa2+ 44. Qe2 Qb1 45. Kh3 Qc1 46. Qf3 Kg7 47. Qf1 Qc2 48. Qe2 Qc1 49. Qf1 Qc2 50. Qe2 Qc1 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "6.4"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2855"] [BlackElo "2761"] [ECO "E21"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian"] [Variation "three knights variation"] [WhiteFideId "1503014"] [BlackFideId "2900084"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. Qxc3 O-O 8. Bg5 d6 9. Nd2 Nbd7 10. e3 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. b4 Ncd7 13. f3 Rc8 14. Be2 Ne5 15. Qb2 Ng6 16. Rc1 h6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Kf2 Rfd8 20. Rhd1 Bc6 21. Nb1 Kf8 22. Nc3 f5 23. Rd4 Ke7 24. Rcd1 Rd7 25. g3 Rcd8 26. h3 Kf6 27. f4 Ne7 28. g4 Kg7 29. Bf3 Rc8 30. Be2 Rcd8 31. b5 Bb7 32. a4 a5 33. bxa6 Bxa6 34. Bf3 fxg4 35. hxg4 f5 36. Rb1 Rc8 37. Rxb6 Bxc4 38. Rdxd6 Rxd6 39. Rxd6 Bb3 40. Ne2 Rc2 41. Ke1 fxg4 42. Bxg4 h5 43. Bxe6 Bxe6 44. Rxe6 Nf5 45. Re5 Nd6 46. Rxh5 Ra2 47. Nc3 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "6.5"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2812"] [ECO "A14"] [Opening "English"] [Variation "Neo-Catalan declined"] [WhiteFideId "13300474"] [BlackFideId "4101588"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 a5 12. Rfd1 h6 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 14. Ne5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qd5+ 16. f3 c5 17. e4 Qxd4 18. Qxd4 cxd4 19. Nb3 Rfd8 20. Rxd4 Rxd4 21. Nxd4 Rd8 22. Nb3 g5 23. Kf1 h5 24. h3 g4 25. hxg4 hxg4 26. Nxg4 Nxg4 27. fxg4 b6 28. Ke2 Bf6 29. Rb1 Kg7 30. Nd2 Rd4 31. b3 Be7 32. Rf1 Bb4 33. Nc4 Rxe4+ 34. Kd3 Re1 35. Rxe1 Bxe1 36. Nxb6 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2770"] [ECO "A14"] [Opening "English"] [Variation "Neo-Catalan declined"] [WhiteFideId "4101588"] [BlackFideId "5000017"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 c5 7. Bb2 Nc6 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bd7 11. Qb1 Rc8 12. Rd1 Bf6 13. d4 Qe7 14. Qb2 cxd4 15. Nxd4 b6 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxf6 gxf6 19. Rac1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Rd8 22. Rc7 Rd2 23. Rxa7 Rxe2 24. Kf3 Rb2 25. g4 Kg7 26. h4 e5 27. Ra6 Kg6 28. Rxb6 Rxa2 29. g5 Kh5 30. Rxf6 Kxh4 31. Rxf7 Kxg5 32. Rxh7 Rb2 33. Rb7 Kf5 34. Ke3 Rc2 35. Kd3 Ra2 36. Rc7 Rb2 37. Kc3 Ra2 38. Rd7 Kf4 39. Rd2 Ra8 40. b4 Rc8+ 41. Kb3 Rb8 42. Rd6 Ke4 43. Rd2 Kf3 44. Rb2 e4 45. Ra2 Rh8 46. b5 Rh2 47. b6 Rh6 48. Ra6 Rh1 49. Kc2 Rh6 50. Ra3+ Kxf2 51. b7 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2792"] [ECO "C65"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez"] [Variation "Berlin defence"] [WhiteFideId "2020009"] [BlackFideId "13300474"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. Qe2 Bd6 8. Ng5 Bg4 9. f3 Bh5 10. Nc4 Nd7 11. h4 h6 12. Nh3 Qe7 13. g4 Bg6 14. h5 Bh7 15. Bd2 f6 16. Ne3 Qf7 17. f4 O-O-O 18. Nf5 Nc5 19. Be3 Ne6 20. Nxd6+ cxd6 21. f5 Nc5 22. a4 Qc7 23. O-O a5 24. Rfb1 Na6 25. c3 Bg8 26. b4 c5 27. bxa5 Qxa5 28. Qc2 d5 29. Nf2 Bf7 30. Rb5 Qc7 31. Rab1 d4 32. Bd2 Be8 33. R5b2 dxc3 34. Rxb7 Qxb7 35. Rxb7 Kxb7 36. Bxc3 Ka7 37. Bd2 Bf7 38. Nd1 Rd7 39. Nc3 Rc8 40. Qb1 Bc4 41. dxc4 Rxd2 42. Qb5 Rd6 43. Kf2 Rb8 44. Ke2 Ka8 45. Qa5 Rb2+ 46. Ke1 Kb7 47. Nd5 Ka7 48. Kd1 Rb4 49. Ke2 Rb2+ 50. Kd1 Rb4 51. Kc2 Rxc4+ 52. Nc3 Rb6 53. Kd3 Rd4+ 54. Kc2 Rc4 55. Kd3 Rcb4 56. Nd5 Rd4+ 57. Kc2 Rc4+ 58. Kd3 Rd4+ 59. Kc3 Rb7 60. Qd8 Nc7 61. Qd6 Na6 62. a5 c4 63. Qc6 Rb3+ 64. Kc2 Rxd5 65. Qxc4 Rdb5 66. g5 Rc5 67. Kxb3 Rxc4 68. Kxc4 hxg5 0-1 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2770"] [ECO "A10"] [Opening "English"] [Variation "Adorjan defence"] [WhiteFideId "2900084"] [BlackFideId "5202213"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. c4 g6 2. e4 e5 3. d4 Nf6 4. dxe5 Nxe4 5. Qd4 Nc5 6. Nc3 Ne6 7. Qe4 Bg7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. f4 O-O 10. O-O-O d6 11. c5 Ne7 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. Rxd6 Qc7 14. g4 Nc5 15. Qc4 b6 16. Bxc5 bxc5 17. h3 Rb8 18. Qe2 Rb4 19. Qd2 Rd4 20. Rxd4 cxd4 21. Qxd4 Rd8 22. Qf2 Nd5 23. Ne2 Nb4 24. Kb1 Nd3 25. Qh4 Bb7 26. Rh2 Rb8 27. b3 Nxf4 28. Nxf4 Qxc3 0-1 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2782"] [BlackElo "2855"] [ECO "B12"] [Opening "Caro-Kann"] [Variation "advance variation"] [WhiteFideId "24116068"] [BlackFideId "1503014"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Bb4+ 6. c3 Ba5 7. O-O Nd7 8. a4 Bc7 9. Nbd2 f6 10. Re1 Nh6 11. Nf1 fxe5 12. dxe5 O-O 13. Bxh6 gxh6 14. Qd4 Be4 15. Ng3 c5 16. Qe3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Qg5 18. Qxg5+ hxg5 19. Bg4 Rae8 20. Re2 Nxe5 21. Bh5 Rd8 22. Rd1 c4 23. Nf1 Nd3 0-1 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "7.5"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2787"] [BlackElo "2789"] [ECO "B90"] [Opening "Sicilian"] [Variation "Najdorf"] [WhiteFideId "2016192"] [BlackFideId "623539"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Nb3 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. g4 b5 10. g5 Nfd7 11. h4 Bb7 12. Bd4 Nc6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Qd2 b4 15. Nd5 a5 16. h5 a4 17. Nc1 a3 18. b3 e6 19. Nxb4 Nxb4 20. Qxb4 Nc5 21. f3 Qxg5 22. Nd3 Nxd3+ 23. cxd3 Rac8 24. Kf2 Rc2 25. Qd4+ e5 26. Qxd6 Rfc8 27. Rae1 Rxa2 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Qd7 Rh8 30. Rxh8 Kxh8 31. Qxf7 Qh4+ 32. Kf1 Qh1+ 33. Kf2 Qh4+ 34. Kf1 Qh1+ 35. Kf2 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2855"] [BlackElo "2770"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Giuoco Piano"] [WhiteFideId "1503014"] [BlackFideId "5000017"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7 8. Na3 Ne7 9. Nc2 O-O 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 Ng6 12. a5 Ng4 13. h3 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Qe7 15. Qb3 c6 16. d4 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Rad1 Rae8 19. Qb4 exd4 20. cxd4 e5 21. dxe5 dxe5 22. Qxe7 Rxe7 23. Rd6 Nh8 24. Nd2 Nf7 25. Rd3 Ng5 26. Rf5 h6 27. h4 Nh7 28. Nb3 Nf6 29. Nc5 Rff7 30. h5 Kh7 31. Rd8 g6 32. hxg6+ Kxg6 33. Rd6 Kg7 34. Ne6+ Kg6 35. Nd8 Rf8 36. g4 c5 37. b3 Ree8 38. Nxb7 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "8.2"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2782"] [ECO "D45"] [Opening "QGD semi-Slav"] [Variation "Stoltz variation"] [WhiteFideId "5202213"] [BlackFideId "24116068"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 Bb7 11. a3 Rc8 12. b4 a5 13. Rb1 c5 14. bxc5 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Rxb5 Nd5 18. Rxc5 Qg5+ 19. Kh1 Qh5 20. f4 Qf3+ 21. Kg1 Qg4+ 22. Kh1 Qf3+ 23. Kg1 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "8.3"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2792"] [BlackElo "2787"] [ECO "E21"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian"] [Variation "three knights variation"] [WhiteFideId "13300474"] [BlackFideId "2016192"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. e3 c5 8. dxc5 Nbd7 9. Rc1 Qa5 10. a3 Bxc3+ 11. Rxc3 Ne4 12. b4 Nxc3 13. Qa1 Qa4 14. Qxc3 a5 15. b5 Nxc5 16. Qxc5 Bf5 17. Qc3 Rfc8 18. Qa1 Qc2 19. Nd4 Qc1+ 20. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 21. Kd2 Rac8 22. Nxf5 R8c2+ 23. Kd3 Rxf2 24. Ne7+ Kh8 25. g3 Ra1 26. Kd4 Rc1 27. Bg2 Rd2+ 28. Ke5 f6+ 29. Kd6 Rc3 30. Rf1 h6 31. Rxf6 hxg5 32. Rf8+ Kh7 33. Bh3 g4 34. Bxg4 Rxe3 35. Bf5+ g6 36. Bxg6+ Kg7 37. Rg8+ 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "8.4"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2804"] [BlackElo "2812"] [ECO "C65"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez"] [Variation "Berlin defence"] [WhiteFideId "2020009"] [BlackFideId "4101588"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nbd2 Ne7 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 Bb6 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. a4 a6 13. Bf1 Nc6 14. a5 Ba7 15. Ra4 h6 16. Qc2 Re8 17. Bd3 Bg6 18. b3 Qd7 19. Bb2 Nh5 20. d5 Ne5 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. Nf3 Nf4 23. Nxe5 Qd6 24. Ng4 Nxd5 25. Rd1 Nf4 26. Qc3 Ne6 27. Bc2 Qc5 28. Rc4 Qg5 29. Rd5 Qh4 30. Kh2 c6 31. g3 Qe7 32. Nxh6+ Kh7 33. Nf5 cxd5 34. exd5 Qf6 35. Rh4+ Kg8 36. Nh6+ Kf8 37. Ba3+ Nc5 38. Bxc5+ Bxc5 39. Qxc5+ Qe7 40. Nf5 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "8.5"] [White "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2789"] [BlackElo "2761"] [ECO "B51"] [Opening "Sicilian"] [Variation "Canal-Sokolsky (Nimzovich-Rossolimo, Moscow) attack"] [WhiteFideId "623539"] [BlackFideId "2900084"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. Re1 e6 7. c3 b5 8. Bc2 c4 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8 Qxa8 12. Na3 Be7 13. Nxb5 O-O 14. Qe2 Rc8 15. Na3 Ba6 16. d4 cxd3 17. Bxd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nc5 19. Qe2 Ncxe4 20. Ng5 d5 21. Nc2 Nc5 22. Be3 Qa6 23. Qxa6 Nxa6 24. Ra1 Nc7 25. Nd4 Bd6 26. Ngf3 Ne4 27. Nd2 Nxd2 28. Bxd2 Kf8 29. Kf1 Ke8 30. Ke2 Kd7 31. Kd3 g6 32. b4 e5 33. Nb3 e4+ 34. Kc2 Ra8 35. Rxa8 Nxa8 36. Be3 Nc7 37. Nd4 Be5 38. c4 dxc4 39. Kc3 Nd5+ 40. Kxc4 Nxe3+ 41. fxe3 Bxh2 42. Kd5 f5 43. b5 Bg1 44. Nc2 Kc7 45. Ke5 Kb6 46. Nd4 Kc5 47. Kf4 Bh2+ 48. g3 h5 49. Kg5 Bxg3 50. Kxg6 f4 51. Kf5 f3 52. Kxe4 f2 53. Nb3+ Kxb5 54. Nd2 Kc6 55. Kf3 h4 56. Nf1 Kd5 57. Nd2 Kc6 58. Nf1 Kc5 59. Nd2 Kd5 60. Kg2 Ke6 61. Ne4 Ke5 62. Nxf2 Bxf2 63. Kxf2 Ke4 64. Kg2 Kxe3 65. Kh3 Kf3 66. Kxh4 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2855"] [ECO "A04"] [Opening "Reti opening"] [WhiteFideId "4101588"] [BlackFideId "1503014"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. Nf3 e6 2. g3 b5 3. e4 Bb7 4. Qe2 c5 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nf6 7. e5 Nd5 8. b3 Nc6 9. Bb2 Be7 10. Nc3 Nxc3 11. dxc3 O-O 12. Rad1 Qc7 13. c4 Rad8 14. h4 f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Qxb5 Nb4 19. Qe2 Nxa2 20. Qc4 Kh8 21. Ra1 Ra8 22. Rfe1 d5 23. Qg4 e5 24. h5 Bc8 25. Qh4 Bb7 26. Nh2 Nb4 27. Rxa8 Bxa8 28. c4 Nc2 29. Rd1 Nd4 30. cxd5 Qf7 31. Qe4 Rd8 32. h6 Bxd5 33. Qg4 Bxb3 34. Ra1 Be6 35. Qe4 Qg6 36. Ra8 Rg8 37. Rxg8+ Bxg8 38. Qxg6 hxg6 39. Ng4 c4 40. Nxf6 c3 41. Be4 c2 42. Bxc2 Nxc2 43. Nd7 e4 44. Nf6 e3 45. fxe3 Nxe3 46. g4 Nd5 47. Nxd5 Bxd5 48. g5 Kg8 49. Kf2 Kf8 50. Ke3 Bg8 51. Kd4 Ke8 52. Ke4 Kd7 53. Kd3 Ke6 54. Ke4 Bh7 0-1 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "9.2"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2761"] [BlackElo "2792"] [ECO "A28"] [Opening "English"] [Variation "four knights, Marini variation"] [WhiteFideId "2900084"] [BlackFideId "13300474"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. a3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. d3 h6 9. Nd2 Ne7 10. b4 c6 11. e4 Be6 12. Bb2 Rc8 13. Ne2 Qd7 14. d4 Rfd8 15. Qc2 Bh3 16. Rad1 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 exd4 18. Bxd4 c5 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. b5 a6 21. a4 axb5 22. axb5 Ra8 23. Nf3 Bg7 24. Nf4 Ra3 25. Rd3 Rxd3 26. Qxd3 Nc8 27. Rd1 Re8 28. Nd5 Qg4 29. Re1 Kh8 30. h3 Qd7 31. Rd1 Qd8 32. Rd2 Nb6 33. Ra2 Nxd5 34. Qxd5 Qd7 35. Ra7 Re7 36. h4 Bf6 37. h5 g5 38. Nh2 Kg7 39. f3 Bd4 40. Ng4 Qe6 41. Qxe6 fxe6 42. Ra8 Rd7 43. Rc8 Bc3 44. Kf1 Ba5 45. Ke2 Rd8 46. Rxd8 Bxd8 47. f4 Bf6 48. Kf3 Bd4 49. f5 d5 50. cxd5 exd5 51. exd5 c4 52. Ke4 Bc5 53. f6+ Kf7 54. Ne5+ Kxf6 55. Nd7+ 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "9.3"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2770"] [BlackElo "2770"] [ECO "C65"] [Opening "Ruy Lopez"] [Variation "Berlin defence"] [WhiteFideId "5000017"] [BlackFideId "5202213"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Nc4 Re8 8. Qe2 b5 9. Ne3 a5 10. O-O Nh5 11. g3 Bh3 12. Rd1 Qf6 13. Nh4 Nf4 14. Qf3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 Bg2 16. Qg4 Bh3 17. Qf3 Bg2 1/2-1/2 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "9.4"] [White "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2787"] [BlackElo "2804"] [ECO "A05"] [Opening "Reti opening"] [WhiteFideId "2016192"] [BlackFideId "2020009"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. e3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. c4 O-O 5. Be2 c5 6. d5 e6 7. Nc3 d6 8. O-O Re8 9. Nd2 Na6 10. e4 Nc7 11. Re1 b6 12. dxe6 Nxe6 13. Nf1 Nd4 14. f3 Nh5 15. Bd3 Be5 16. Be3 Nf4 17. Qd2 Qf6 18. Nd5 Nxd5 19. cxd5 Qd8 20. Rac1 a5 21. Bg5 Bf6 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. Qf2 b5 24. Ne3 Bd7 25. f4 a4 26. Bb1 a3 27. b3 Rac8 28. Rcd1 Re7 29. h3 h5 30. Rf1 Rce8 31. Rde1 Rxe4 32. Bxe4 Rxe4 33. Ng4 hxg4 34. Rxe4 gxh3 35. gxh3 Bxh3 36. Rfe1 Bg4 37. R4e3 Qf5 38. Rg3 Kg7 39. Qg2 Bh5 40. Qe4 Nf3+ 41. Kf2 Qxe4 42. Rxe4 Nd2 43. Re7 Kf6 44. Rge3 Bg4 45. Ra7 b4 46. Ra6 Kf5 47. Rd3 Ne4+ 48. Ke3 Bh3 49. Rd1 f6 50. Rg1 g5 51. fxg5 fxg5 52. Re1 Ke5 53. Ra8 Nc3 54. Rg8 Kxd5 55. Rxg5+ Kc6 56. Ra1 Kb5 57. Rg8 Bf5 58. Kd2 Bb1 59. Kc1 Be4 60. Rb8+ Kc6 61. Rh8 d5 62. Rh6+ Kb5 63. Rh5 c4 64. bxc4+ Kxc4 65. Rh8 d4 66. Kd2 Bc6 67. Rc8 Ne4+ 68. Ke1 Kc5 69. Ke2 Kd5 70. Rb8 Nc3+ 71. Kd2 Bb5 72. Rh1 Ne4+ 73. Ke1 Nc3 74. Rh5+ Kc4 75. Kd2 Bd7 76. Rb7 Ne4+ 77. Kc1 Bg4 78. Rhb5 Nc3 79. Rxb4+ Kc5 80. Rb3 Nxa2+ 81. Kd2 Nc3 82. Rxa3 Bf3 83. Rb8 Be4 84. Ra5+ Kc4 85. Rc8+ Kb4 86. Ra7 Nb1+ 87. Kc1 Nc3 88. Rd7 Nb5 89. Re7 Bf5 90. Rc6 Bd3 91. Kd2 Bc4 92. Rd7 Bf1 93. Rc1 Bc4 94. Rd8 Be6 95. Re8 Bd7 96. Re5 Nc3 97. Rh1 Kc4 98. Rh7 Bb5 99. Rc7+ Kb4 100. Rc8 Nb1+ 101. Kc1 Nc3 102. Kc2 Ba6 103. Rb8+ Kc4 104. Re7 Nd5 105. Ra7 Bb5 106. Kb2 Kc5 107. Ra5 Nc3 108. Kb3 Kc6 109. Rc8+ Kb6 110. Raa8 Bd7 111. Rab8+ Ka7 112. Rd8 Ne4 113. Kc4 Ng5 114. Rb2 Bc6 115. Rxd4 Nf7 116. Rd1 Bb7 117. Rxb7+ 1-0 [Event "GCT Rapid YourNextMove"] [Site "Leuven BEL"] [Date "2016.06.18"] [Round "9.5"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [WhiteElo "2782"] [BlackElo "2789"] [ECO "A04"] [Opening "Reti opening"] [WhiteFideId "24116068"] [BlackFideId "623539"] [EventDate "2016.06.17"] 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 e5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Be2 d5 6. d4 cxd4 7. exd4 e4 8. Ne5 dxc4 9. Qa4 Be7 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. d5 O-O 12. dxc6 Be6 13. Bxc4 Bxc4 14. Qxc4 Qc7 15. O-O Rfc8 16. Nxe4 Qxc6 17. Qxc6 Rxc6 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Rd1 Rc2 20. Rb1 h6 21. a4 Rb8 22. g3 Bg5 23. Bxg5 hxg5 24. b3 Ra2 25. Kg2 Rb6 26. Rd5 Rf6 27. Rf1 Rb6 28. Rxg5 g6 29. Rg4 Rxb3 30. Rc1 a5 31. Rcc4 Rbb2 32. Rgf4 Rc2 33. Rce4 Re2 34. Rxe2 Rxe2 35. Kf3 Ra2 36. h4 Kg7 37. Ke3 Ra3+ 38. Kd2 f5 39. Kc2 Kf6 40. Kd2 Ra2+ 41. Ke3 Ra3+ 42. Ke2 Ke6 43. Kf1 Ra1+ 44. Kg2 Rb1 45. g4 fxg4 46. Rxg4 Kf6 47. f3 Ra1 48. Rc4 Rb1 49. Kf2 Rb3 50. Kg3 Rb4 51. Rg4 Kf7 52. Kf2 Rb2+ 53. Ke3 Rb3+ 54. Ke2 Rb2+ 55. Kd3 Rb3+ 56. Ke2 Rb2+ 57. Ke3 Rb3+ 58. Kf2 Rb2+ 59. Kg3 Rb4 60. Re4 Kg7 61. Kf4 Rb3 62. Rc4 Kh6 63. Kg4 Rb4 64. Re4 Rb1 65. Kf4 Rb3 66. Kg3 Rb4 67. Kg4 Rb1 68. Re6 Rb4+ 69. f4 Rb1 70. Re5 Rg1+ 71. Kh3 Rh1+ 72. Kg3 Rg1+ 73. Kf3 Rf1+ 74. Kg3 Rg1+ 75. Kf2 Rg4 76. Kf3 Rxh4 77. Rxa5 Rh3+ 78. Ke4 Ra3 79. Ke5 Ra1 80. Ra8 Kh5 81. a5 Kg4 82. a6 Ra5+ 83. Kf6 Kxf4 84. Kxg6 Ke5 85. a7 Ra6+ 86. Kg5 Ra5 87. Kg4 Ra4+ 88. Kg3 1-0

Final rapid standings

Note: In the overall standings, rapid games are worth 2 points for a win, one point for a draw and zero for a loss.
Thus each score above is worth double. Blitz games are worth the usual one for a win and half a point for a draw.

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Born 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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