Comebacks
Tuesday's match-ups featured four participants of the 2020 Candidates. Pre-tournament favourites in Yekaterinburg Fabiano Caruana and Ding Liren were paired up against each other, while current co-leaders Ian Nepomniachtchi and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave faced over the (digital) board after their round-seven crucial clash.
Ding and Vachier-Lagrave had a full-point lead after three rapid games. Coincidentally, both of them were defeated in game four and went on to lose the match in the Armageddon deciders. Caruana came from beating 'Nepo' without needing tiebreaks in round one (getting three points), and with this victory caught up with Carlsen in the shared lead on five points.
Given the fact that more than half the players live in Europe, the starting times of each round have been accommodated for them, which means Caruana, Nakamura and Ding play at a time chess players are not so used to competing — Ding late at night, and the Americans before noon. When asked about this, Caruana replied:
I was pretty groggy. I usually start out the first game pretty groggy, but I start to get into it. But the nice thing is that I do have pretty much all day, and today it's actually kind of helpful because now I have a match coming up tomorrow.
Indeed, getting well-prepared for tomorrow's match might be key, as Caruana is set to play co-leader Carlsen on Wednesday. The world champion is not in the best of shapes chess-wise, as he told the Norwegian TV channel currently broadcasting the event. However, he is known for starting tournaments slowly and then gaining strength. His latest World Championship challenger will be a tough nut to crack nevertheless.
Nepomniachtchi 2:2 Vachier-Lagrave
Continuing the trend from his round-one match against Caruana, Nepomniachtchi kicked off his confrontation with Vachier-Lagrave letting a golden opportunity slip away:
The aim of these Dvd's is to build a repertoire after 1.c4 and 2.g3 for White. The first DVD includes the systems 1...e5, the Dutch and Indian setups. The second DVD includes the systems with 1...c5, 1...c6 and 1...e6.
Nepomniachtchi vs. Vachier-Lagrave - Game 1
'Nepo' had sacrificed a piece on f7, following a line played previously in correspondence chess. The try served him well, as in the diagrammed position he already had the upper hand. Here, however, he opted for the timid 20.Rab1 instead of the very strong 20.Re6, targetting c6 while keeping a strong initiative. The Russian later said about this decision:
What a shame. I was very tilted after this game.
He was tilted because not only did he fail to make the most of his successful opening choice but also went on to lose the game. He entered an inferior position by following his 20th-move blunder with two subpar consecutive decisions.
In game two, the players continued their discussion on the French Winawer — 'MVL' beat the Russian from the white side of this opening in round seven of the Candidates. The Frenchman got an advantage once again, but this time it was him the one letting the opportunity go to waste. When asked about whether he is 'saving' preparation, 'Nepo' responded:
Everyone thinks my preparation is dumb after I played the Winawer, so at least I'm not worried to show the Winawer anymore (laughs).
In game three, Nepomniachtchi missed another golden opportunity:
Nepomniachtchi vs. Vachier-Lagrave - Game 3
White spent over one minute (these are rapid games) on 53.Qh8, failing to go for the winning 53.h4+, when capturing, for example, with 53...Kxh4 would run into the killer 54.Bf6+. After the text, five more moves were played before the draw was agreed.
The tilted Nepomniachtchi went on to win game three smoothly — by rapid-time-control standards — and showed a nice idea out of a Petroff Defence with Black in the Armageddon decider, one that he was surprised 'MVL' did not see in advance:
The Petroff (or Russian) Defence which is characterised by the moves 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 has been popular at the highest levels for many years and enjoys the reputation of being an extremely solid defence.
Vachier-Lagrave vs. Nepomniachtchi - Armageddon
15...e5 is the move that justifies Black's previous play here. The idea is that after 16.dxe5, Black gives up a piece with 16...Nxe5, busting open the position. Capturing the knight or going 17.Bxh7+ are both acceptable continuations, while Vachier-Lagrave's 17.Bb5 is bad due to 17...Neg4 (attacking the e3-bishop) 18.Bxe8 Rxe8. White resigned the game and the match two moves later.
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1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.0-0 Nbd7 6.Na3 Nb6 7.Qc2 Be6 8.Ng5 Bg4 9.Nxc4 Bxe2 10.Ne5! Bh5! 11.Re1 h6 12.Ngxf7 12.Ne4!? e6 13.Nxf6+ gxf6 14.Bxc6+! bxc6 15.Qxc6+ Ke7 16.Qb7+ Ke8 17.Qc6+ Ke7 18.Qb7+ Ke8 19.Qc6+ Ke7= 12...Bxf7 13.b4 13.Nxf7? Kxf7 14.Bh3 14.Qf5? Qd7-+ 14...g6-+ 13...a6 14.a4 14.Nxf7? Kxf7 15.Bh3 15.Qf5? Qd7-+ 15...g6-+ 14...g5N 14...h5 15.a5 Nbd5 16.Bh3 Qd6 17.Ba3 Qb8 18.Nxf7 Kxf7 19.Be6+ Ke8 20.Qg6+ Kd8 15.Ba3 15.Nxf7? Kxf7 16.Bb2 Bg7-+ 15.Ra3= 15...Bg7? 15...Rg8 16.b5 16.Nxf7 Kxf7 17.b5 axb5-+ 16...axb5 17.axb5 17.Nxf7? Kxf7 18.axb5 cxb5-+ 17...Bd5 18.bxc6 Bxg2 19.Kxg2 Qd5+ 20.Kg1 bxc6 21.Nxc6 Rg7 16.Ng6 16.Nxf7 Kxf7 17.b5 16...Bxg6 16...Nfd5 17.Nxh8 Bxh8 17.Qxg6+ Kf8 18.b5! Nbd5 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.Rab1 Qd7 21.Rb3 21.Re5= Qe8 22.Qf5 21...Kg8! 22.Reb1 Qe8 23.Qd3 Rh7 24.Bb2 Bf8 25.Be5 Nd7 26.Bxd5+ 26.Bd4 26...cxd5-+ 27.Qxd5+ e6 28.Qd4 Rf7 29.Bd6 Bxd6 30.Qxd6 Qe7 31.Qc6 31.Qxe7 Rxe7 32.Rd3 31...Raf8 32.Re3 Rxf2 33.Rxe6? 33.Qxe6+ Qxe6 34.Rxe6 33...Qf7 34.Qe4 Nf6 35.Qc4 35.Qc2 Rxd2 36.Qxd2 Qxe6 37.Re1 Qb6+ 38.Qf2 35...Rf3? 35...Nd5! 36.Qxd5 Rf1+ 37.Kg2 Rxb1 38.Rg6+ Kh7! 39.Qxf7+ Rxf7 40.Rxa6 g4 36.Kg2? 36.a5 36...g4 36...Nd5! 37.Qxd5 Rf2+ 38.Kh1 Rf1+ 39.Kg2 Rxb1 40.Rg6+ Kh7! 41.Qxf7+ Rxf7 42.Rxa6 Rd7 37.Rbb6 Kh8 38.h3? 38.Qc5-+ 38...Nh7? 38...Rxg3+ 39.Kh2 Rxh3+ 40.Kg2 Rg3+! 41.Kxg3 Nh5+ 42.Kh4 Qf2+ 43.Kxh5 Rf5+ 44.Kxh6 Qh4+ 45.Kg6 Qh7# 39.Qd4+ 39...Qg7! 40.Qxg7+ Kxg7 41.Re7+ Kh8 42.Re2 gxh3+ 43.Kxh3 R3f6 44.Rb7 Rg6 45.Ra7 Ng5+ 46.Kg2 Rgf6 47.d4 R8f7 48.Ra8+ Kg7 49.d5 Rd7 50.Rd2 Rfd6 51.g4 51.a5 51...Ne4 52.Rc2 Nf6 53.Rc6 Rxd5 54.Raxa6 Rd2+ 55.Kg3? 55.Kf3-+ R7d3+ 56.Kf4 Rf2+ 57.Ke5 Rd5+ 58.Ke6 Re2# 55...R7d3+ 56.Kf4 Rf2+ 57.Ke5 Re2+ 58.Kf4 Nd5+ 0–1 - Start an analysis engine:
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Nepomniachtchi,I | 2778 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2860 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.1 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2860 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2778 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.2 |
Nepomniachtchi,I | 2778 | Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2860 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.3 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2860 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2778 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.4 |
Vachier-Lagrave,M | 2860 | Nepomniachtchi,I | 2778 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.5 |
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Caruana 2:2 Ding
While 'Nepo' sacrificed a piece in the other match, Ding and Caruana entered another materially imbalanced position right out of the gate. This one, however, ended peacefully, after the world numbers two and three proved they knew how to handle the complications.
Game two was a lengthy affair which ended with a theoretical stalemate position — a white queen versus Black's king and f-pawn on the second rank. The consecutive streak of decisive results started in the third encounter, when Caruana chose the wrong way to capture a pawn in a sharp position:
Which wing should I be playing on? When do I need to watch for counterplay? Flank attacks are an important theme in every game. FM Lilov will teach you how to employ a range of techniques to perfection!
Ding vs. Caruana - Game 3
Caruana later confessed that he cannot understand why he played 24...gxf5 here, when 24...Nxf5 is the natural and correct way to take the pawn. The idea is that after 25.Rf4, attacking the queen as in the game, Black has 25...d4 and capturing with 26.Qxh4 would lose to 26...dxc3, while 26.Nb1 would fail to 26...Rc2 (you can try the variations on the diagram above). After the text, the continuation 25.Rf4 d4 26.Nb1 works for White, and Caruana found nothing better than 26...Qxf4, giving up the queen. The American did get a lot of play, but it was not enough to compensate for the material.
In game four, Caruana needed to win on demand to avoid defeat, and he won by outplaying his opponent in a 64-move struggle out of a Ruy Lopez.
Ding got white in the Armageddon decider and saw his opponent showing both good preparation and confidence on the other side of the (digital) board. Caruana was a pawn down but had a strong initiative when the Chinese blundered decisively:
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
Ding vs. Caruana - Armageddon
White faltered with 36.Qb2 and resigned after 36...Rxa2, as recapturing with the a-rook is impossible because the queen is attacking d1.
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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nc6 3.d4 Bf5 4.Bg2 e6 5.0-0 Nb4 6.Na3 Nc6 7.Nb1 Nb4 8.c4 Nc2 9.cxd5 Nxa1 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e4! Bxe4 12.Nc3! 12...Bxf3N 12...Bf5 13.Nh4 Qd7 14.Nxf5 exf5 15.Bxb7 Rb8 16.Re1+ Be7 17.Bd5 Rb6 18.Bg5 Kf8 19.Bf4 Nf6 20.Bc4 h5 13.Bxf3 Qd7 14.Bxb7 Rb8 15.Bg2 Nf6 16.Qe2 Be7 17.Bf4 0-0 18.Rxa1 Nd5 19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Rc1 Rb7 21.Qh5 Rf5 22.Qe2 22.Qf3 Rxb2 23.Qc3 Qb5 24.Qxc7 Qb7 25.h4 22...Rf7 22...Rf8= 23.h4 c6 24.Bf3 Bf6 25.Bg4 Re7! 26.Bxd7 Rxe2 27.Bxc6 27...Rbxb2 28.Bxd5+ Kf8 29.Rc7 Bxd4 30.Bd6+ Ke8 31.Bc6+ Kd8 32.Rd7+ Kc8 33.Rc7+ Kd8 34.Rd7+ Kc8 35.Rc7+ Kd8 ½–½ - Start an analysis engine:
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Ding,L | 2836 | Caruana,F | 2773 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.1 |
Caruana,F | 2773 | Ding,L | 2836 | ½–½ | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.2 |
Ding,L | 2836 | Caruana,F | 2773 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.3 |
Caruana,F | 2773 | Ding,L | 2836 | 1–0 | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.4 |
Ding,L | 2836 | Caruana,F | 2773 | 0–1 | 2020 | | Magnus Carlsen Invitational 2020 | 2.5 |
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Round-up show
GM Yannick Pelletier analysed the games of day four
All games
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- Start an analysis engine:
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