A new name in the list of champions
Vietnamese Grandmaster Le Quang Liem defeated five-time world champion Vishy Anand this past Sunday to claim the title at the 38th edition of the Ciudad de León Masters tournament.
Le Quang Liem displayed solid play throughout and made the most of his opportunities with great assurance. A tremendously strong GM, he now inscribes his name in the list of champions of the León Masters, overcoming the tournament's most beloved and decorated player, Anand, who has won it ten times. Le will return to León next year, as it is tradition for the reigning champion to be invited back to defend their title in the following edition.
This DVD allows you to learn from the example of one of the best players in the history of chess and from the explanations of the authors how to successfully organise your games strategically, and how to keep your opponent permanently under pressure.
The ceremonial first move in the final match between Le and Anand was made by León City Council's Sports Councillor, Vicente Canuria, accompanied by the tournament director, Marcelino Sión.
Before the match began, a minute's silence was held in memory of GM Zenón Franco, who passed away in 2024 and had long been closely associated with the tournament. A tribute was also paid to Manuel García Cob, president of the Chess Federation of Castilla y León, who recently passed away.

The finalists of the "Magistral", Vishy Anand and Le Quang Liem
The closing ceremony
The closing and awards ceremony brought this event to a fitting end - an event that attracts hundreds of enthusiasts each year, who come to enjoy not only the masters' games but also the wide range of side activities designed for all audiences.
As is tradition, the renowned chess journalist and promoter Leontxo García hosted the ceremony, during which the Masters' participants received their trophies. This year's prizes featured a distinctly Leonese flair: reliefs representing the rooster of San Isidoro, the Casa Botines, the Cathedral and the Chalice of Doña Urraca.
During the closing event, held at the Barceló Conde Luna Hotel, the Mayor of León, José Antonio Diez, presented the champion's prize to GM Le Quang Liem, who won the León tournament for the first time.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
In this insightful video course, Grandmaster David Navara shares practical advice on when to calculate deeply in a position — and just as importantly, when not to.
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Invisible moves
Meanwhile, young IM Faustino Oro received the prize for the most beautiful game, presented by Ana Díaz, a member of the executive board of INCIBE. Runner-up Vishy Anand was awarded his prize by Eduardo Diego, the regional delegate of the Junta in León.
María Perrino, Director of Sports at the University of León, and Sports Deputy Patricia Martínez presented trophies to the two semi-finalists, Jaime Santos and Faustino Oro respectively.

Final match games
Commentary by IM Sergio Estremera
The first game of the final of the Ciudad de León Masters features ten-time tournament champion Viswanathan Anand against the very strong Vietnamese GM Le Quang Liem. The Vietnamese GM used the same variation of the Spanish Opening that he had employed the day before to defeat Jaime Santos in the tiebreak of the semifinal. Anand tried to gain space on both wings but achieved nothing tangible, eventually agreeing to a queen exchange that led to an endgame where a draw was unavoidable.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Nd5 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Nbd2 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.Ne4N 10.Nb3 dxe5 11.Nxe5 Nce7 12.a3 Bd6 13.Nc5 Ng6 14.Ncd7 Bxd7 15.Nxd7 Re8 16.Nc5 10...dxe5 11.a3 11...Be7 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Nxe5 Qe8 14.Re1 f6 15.Nd3 Bf5 16.Qf3 Qd7 17.Nec5 Bxc5 18.Nxc5 Rae8 19.Bd2 19.Nxd7? Rxe1# 19...Qc8 20.h3 Bg6 21.Qb3 Rxe1+ 22.Rxe1 Re8 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.a4 h5 25.a5 Kh7 26.Qf3 Bg6 27.g4 Qe8 28.a6 Kg8 29.Kg2 Bf7 30.Kf1 Nb6 31.b3 Qd8 32.Be3 32.Qxc6 Qxd4 33.Ne4 Qd3+ 34.Ke1 Qxh3 34...Bxb3 35.Qe8+ Kh7 36.Qxh5+ Kg8 37.Qe8+ Kh7 38.f3= 34...Qxb3 35.Nc3 35.gxh5 Qh1+ 35...Qxb3 36.Nc3 35...Bxh5 36.Ng3= 35...Bxb3 36.Qe8+ Kh7 37.Nxf6+ gxf6 38.Qe7+ Kh8 39.Qxf6+ Kh7 40.Qe7+ Kh8 41.Qe8+ Kg7 42.Qg6+ Kh8 43.Qf6+ Kg8 44.Qg6+ Kh8 45.Qe8+ Kh7 46.Qg6+ Kh8= 35...Qxh5? 36.Nc5-+ 36.Ke2 Bxh5+ 36...f5? 37.Nf6+ gxf6 38.Qxh1+- 37.Ke3 Qf3+ 38.Kd4 Qxb3-+ 32...hxg4 33.hxg4 Qd6 34.Kg1 Nd7 35.Nb7 Qd5 36.Qxd5 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.
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Anand,V | 2743 | Le,Q | 2729 | ½–½ | 2025 | | 38th Magistral de Leon 2025 | 2.1 |
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The second game of the final saw the first victory in the classical phase of the entire tournament, as all eight classical semifinal games ended in draws. Le Quang Liem took the lead by outplaying Anand in a flawless positional game, employing the Catalan Opening - so named after it was first played at the Barcelona International Tournament in 1929.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.0-0 Nc6 7.Be3 Nd5 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Bxe7 Ndxe7 10.e3 b5N 10...0-0 11.Nbd2 b5 12.b3 c3 13.Ne4 Nd5 14.a3 f5 15.Nc5 a5 16.h4 Rb8 11.b3 cxb3 12.Qxb3 Rb8 13.Rc1 0-0 14.Nbd2 Bb7 15.Rc5 Nd5 16.Rac1 Nce7 17.Ne5 Ng6 17...Re8 18.Nc6 Bxc6 19.Rxc6 a5 19...Nb6 20.Bxd5± a4 21.Qb4 21.Qb1± Qxd5 22.R1c5 22.Rxc7 Qh5± 21...Qxd5 22.Rxc7 22.a3± 22...e5!= 22...Qxa2? 23.e4+- 23.R7c5 Qxa2 24.d5 e4? 25.Qd4!+- 25.Rxb5? Rxb5 26.Qxb5 Qxd2-+ 25.Nxe4 Ne5 26.Nc3 26.Rxb5 Rxb5 27.Qxb5 a3= 26...Qd2+- 25...Ne5 26.R1c2 26.Qxe5 Qxd2 27.R5c2 Qb4 26...Qb1+ 27.Nxb1 Nf3+ 28.Kf1 Nxd4 29.exd4 b4 30.Ra5 a3 31.Rcc5 f5 32.Ke2 Ra8 33.Nd2! Rxa5 33...Kf7 34.d6 g6 34.Rxa5 Rc8 35.d6 Kf7 35...g6 36.Ra4 Kf7 36.d7 Rb8 37.Rb5! Ra8 38.Rxb4 38.Rxf5+ Ke7 39.Nxe4 Kxd7 40.Nc5+ Kc6+- 38...Ke7 39.Nb3 Kxd7 40.Kd2 a2 41.Na1 Kc6 42.Kc3 g5 43.Kc4 43.Rc4+ Kd6 44.Rc5 Ra3+ 45.Kb2 43...Ra5± 44.Rb8 Ra4+! 45.Kc3 Ra3+ 45...f4 46.Rb3 Ra4 47.Rb4 47.Rb2± 47...Ra3+ 47...Ra8!? 48.Kc4 48.Kb2= Rf3 49.Rc4+ 49.Kxa2 Rxf2+ 50.Kb3 e3 49...Kd5 50.Rc2 48...Ra5! 49.Rb2 Ra4+ 49...Ra6± 50.Rc2 f4 50.Kb3+- Rxd4 51.Rxa2 f4 52.Nc2 Rd3+ 52...Rd1 53.Kc4 Kd6 54.Ra6+ Kd7 53.Kc4 Kd6 54.Nd4 Rd1 55.Ra6+ Kd7 56.gxf4 gxf4 57.Rf6 f3 58.Kd5 1–0 - 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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Le,Q | 2729 | Anand,V | 2743 | 1–0 | 2025 | | 38th Magistral de Leon 2025 | 2.2 |
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Another win for Le Quang Liem in the third game made him the champion of the Masters tournament with one game still to play, which would no longer influence the result. The Vietnamese GM is known for his solid style, excellent preparation, and flawless technique in converting advantages. It remained to be seen whether the ten-time champion could bow out with a win in the fourth and final game of this 38th edition of the Ciudad de León Masters.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 a6 7.Rc1 Bf5 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.h3N 10.Nf3 Be7 11.Ne5 Rc8 12.Nxc6 Rxc6 13.0-0 0-0 14.Ne2 Rxc1 15.Rxc1 Qa5 16.Qb3 10...Qb6 11.Rb1 Be7 12.Nf3 0-0 13.0-0 Rfc8 14.Rfc1 Qd8 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Rc6 17.Ne2 Rac8 18.Rxc6 Rxc6 19.Rc1 19...Qc8 20.Rxc6 Qxc6 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Qc3 Qxc3 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.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Le,Q | 2729 | Anand,V | 2743 | ½–½ | 2025 | | 38th Magistral de Leon 2025 | 2.4 |
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The fourth game ended in a draw without much significance, resulting in a final score of 3–1 in favour of the new champion, Le Quang Liem.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.cxd5 cxd5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 a6 7.Rc1 Bf5 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Qxd3 e6 10.h3N 10.Nf3 Be7 11.Ne5 Rc8 12.Nxc6 Rxc6 13.0-0 0-0 14.Ne2 Rxc1 15.Rxc1 Qa5 16.Qb3 10...Qb6 11.Rb1 Be7 12.Nf3 0-0 13.0-0 Rfc8 14.Rfc1 Qd8 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Rc6 17.Ne2 Rac8 18.Rxc6 Rxc6 19.Rc1 19...Qc8 20.Rxc6 Qxc6 21.Bxf6 Bxf6 22.Qc3 Qxc3 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.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
Le,Q | 2729 | Anand,V | 2743 | ½–½ | 2025 | | 38th Magistral de Leon 2025 | 2.4 |
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In this video course, kings will play a role of strong and active pieces. We will explore how Kings can be helpful in defence and prophylaxis, or even in attack!

Vishy Anand and Le Quang Liem with commentator José "Pepe" Cuenca during the post-match press conference
All games
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
Please, wait...
- 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.
- Create an account to access the games cloud.
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