11/19/2022 – Magnus Carlsen has a 4-point lead with two rounds to go at the Meltwater Champions Chess Tour Finals. The world champion defeated Le Quang Liem in Armageddon, as he remains the big favourite to take the title. Praggnanandhaa beat Jan-Krzysztof Duda, also in Armageddon, while Wesley So and Arjun Erigaisi won their matches ‘in regulation’.
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Pragg beats Duda
Remarkably, six consecutive games in the match between Jan-Krzysztof Duda and Praggnanandhaa finished with wins for the white side — which led to an Armageddon decider. Playing black, Pragg got a draw and thus won the confrontation.
Karsten Müller analysed the very instructive first game of the day, in which Duda showed great technique and a nice trick in a knight ending.
Knight endings are like pawn endings.
Botvinnk's law is valid here:40...Nb7White's outside passed pawn together with
his active pieces will decide the day:40...Nxc4runs into41.b7+-41.Kf2The invasion of White' king will decide.Kg742.Nxe5h543.Ke3Kf644.Kf4Ke745.Kg5Kd646.Ng6Na547.Kxh5Nc448.b3Nd248...Nxb649.Kxg4e550.Kf5Nd551.Nxe5+-49.Ne5!?
A beautiful knight trick.49...Nxb349...Kxe550.b7+-50.Nc4+Kc651.Kxg4Nd452.h4Kb553.b7Nc654.Nd6+Kb655.h5c456.Nxc4+Kxb757.h6What a knightmare for Black!57.h6Ne758.Kg5Ng859.h7+-1–0
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1.d40Nf602.c41e6143.g34d534.Bg21dxc425.Nf32c616.Ne57Bb4+37.Bd20 White has compensation. E04: Open Catalan: 5 Nf3.Be72
The main line 7...Be7 scores better than 7...Qxd4.7...Qxd4!?8.Bxb4Qxe58.e33b519.a410 Black must now prevent axb5. White is slightly better.b44110.0-01:170-02411.Qc21:2311.Nxc6Nxc612.Bxc6Rb811...a51:5412.Rd11:47
Better is14...b315.Qc115.Rxd4bxc216.Na3c315...Qc515.Nd2!±13 White is more
active.Nbd75716.Nexc41:33Qh5416...Ng4?17.Nb3Qh518.h3+-17.Rac120Ba60
17...Ng4?18.h3Ngf619.Nf3+-17...g5deserves
consideration.18.Bf3Ng419.Bxg4Qxg418.Bf3!2:40Ng41:2219.Bxg429Qxg4020.Nxa50Rc81:4021.Ndc44
Inhibits e5. aiming for Rxd7! Pair of Knights!21.Nxc6Bc522.Qxc5Nxc5=21...Qh53622.Rd21:39h62623.Qd11:09Qxd1+1724.Rcxd10Bxc41625.Nxc40Nf64326.Be317c53027.f340b3127...Rcc7±28.Bf429g53429.Be50g41330.f4?1:0230.Kg2+-30...Nxe4=2131.Rd74Rca817 ...Rxd7 is
the strong threat.32.Nb618Rxd7233.Rxd70Ra61 Threatens to win with ...Bf8.34.a5!13Bf62634...Rxa5=35.Rxe7f636.Rxe6fxe537.Rxe5Ra1+38.Kg2Nd635.Nc4±10Bxe51336.fxe50 Endgame KRN-KRNf6?8
This move loses the game for Black.36...Kf8±was worth a try.37.Rb7+-10fxe5938.Rxb329Nd6?1438...Ra839.Rb639.Nxe5Rxa540.Rb8+Kg7=39...Kf740.Nxe5+Kf641.Nxg4+Kg539.Rb635Rxb6140.axb611 KN-KNLess strong is40.Nxb6h541.Kf1Kf842.Nd7+Kf7+-40...Nb7141.Kf27Kg7042.Nxe56h5243.Ke31Kf6144.Kf42Ke72045.Kg520Kd6246.Ng62Na5047.Kxh56Nc4248.b330
Threatening mate with b7.Nd217
49.Ne5!18
Nc4+ would kill now.Nxb31849...Nf350.Nxg450.Nc4+4Kc6851.Kxg40Nd429
White mates.52.h43Kb51353.b716Nc6254.Nd6+10Kb6555.h52c42356.Nxc4+22Kxb7857.h60
Weighted Error Value: White=0.11 (very precise) /Black=0.391–0
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Carlsen no longer perfect, beats Le in tiebreaks
After beating Le Quang Liem in Armageddon, Magnus Carlsen confessed that he was hoping to end the tournament with a perfect 21/21 by winning all his matches in the rapid section. Nonetheless, he will win the event with a round to spare if he beats Pragg in rapid on Saturday. The Norwaegian already secured overall victory in the tour with an event to spare.
An endgame wizard, Carlsen demonstrated his ability to handle technical positions by converting a superior ending with queen against rook and knight in the first game of the day. Karsten Müller shared instructive analysis of the endgame.
Black's burg. Sometimes
against a queen a fortess can be created, but not in this case:38.h5‼
This pawn is important to break Black's burg.Kg738...Nxh5also does not
defend due to39.Qc7+Kg640.d6Ng741.d7Ne642.d8QNxd843.Qxd8Kg743...Re344.Qg8+Kf545.Kg1h646.Kf2Ra347.Qf7Ra148.Qh7+Ke649.Qxh6Ra450.Qf8Rf4+51.Ke3Kd552.Qf7+Ke553.Kd3Rd4+54.Kc3Rf455.Qe7+Kf556.Qxc5++-44.Qd7+Kg845.Kg345.Qd3?Re546.g446.Kh3Kg747.Kg4Re148.Qd7+Kg649.Qf5+Kg750.Qxc5Re4+51.Kf3Re552.Qc7+Kg653.Qc2+Kg754.Kg4Re155.Qd3Re756.Kh5Rb757.Qd8Ra7=46...c447.Qxc4+Kg748.Qc7+Kf849.Qxh7Re7=45...h546.Qd3Re647.Qg6+Kf848.Qxh5Kg749.Qf3Re550.Qd3c451.Qxc4+-39.Qxc5Rxg2+39...Nxd5does not
defend due to40.Qxd5Re741.Qf5Rf742.Kg3Rf843.Kg4Rf744.Qe6Rf845.Kf5Rf746.h6+Kg847.Qd5g448.g3Kh849.Qd8+Rf850.Qxf8#40.Kh1Re241.d6Ne642.Qa7+Kh643.Qe7
43...Kxh544.d7Re545.Qxf6Re1+46.Kh2Kg447.Qe747.d8Q?!Nxd848.Qxd8wins as well (DTM in 45 moves), but would be
bad technique.47...Re2+48.Kg1Kf348...Kf549.d8QNxd850.Qxe2+-49.Qf7+Not the direct49.Qxe6?Rxe650.d8QRe1+51.Kh2Re2+52.Kh3g4+53.Kh4Rh2+54.Kg5h6+55.Kf5g356.Qd3+Kg257.Kg4h5+58.Kf4Rh4+=49...Kg450.Qxh7Rd251.Qe4+51.Qf7is the other winning move.
Of course not51.Qe7?Kf5=51...Nf452.Qe8Ne2+53.Kf153.Qxe2+?!Rxe254.d8Qwins as well (DTM in 40 moves), but would be bad technique.53...Ng3+54.Ke154.Ke1Re2+55.Qxe2+Nxe256.Kxe2Kh357.d8Q+-1–0
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1.e40e502.Nf30Nc613.Bb51a624.Ba41Nf615.0-01Nxe406.Re158Nc557.Bxc61dxc638.Nxe51Be769.d40Ne61410.Be310-0511.c43f61:57 C80: Open Ruy Lopez: Sidelines and 9
Nbd2.12.Nf33Re8113.Nc326Nf85 The position is equal.14.Qb356b61:36
15.h3N2:42Predecessor:15.Rad1Bg416.c5+Be617.d5cxd518.cxb6d419.Qc2c520.b7Rb821.Ne40-1 (39) Le
Pen,S (1853)-Dubois,P (1930) Cholet 201115...Be6815...Ng6seems wilder.16.c5+Kh817.Rad1Bf516.Rad147Bf72917.d52:18c52:0518.Bf40Bd61:3819.Rxe843Bxe8020.Bxd63cxd63721.Re122b51:0622.cxb549axb5023.Nxb51
Black must now prevent Rxe8!Rb8!7But not23...Bxb524.Qxb5Qd725.Qxd7Nxd726.a3±24.a40Bxb5725.axb51Qa526
Inhibits Ra1.26.Qe33:19 White fights for an
advantage.Qxb51426...Rxb5keeps more tension.27.Qe7Qa628.Nh4Rb727.Nd24 Against Qc4Qxb23:5528.Rb13Qxb1+729.Nxb10Rxb1+1
Endgame KQ-KRN30.Kh20 Strongly
threatening Qe7.Kf734 Inhibits Qe7+.31.Qa325
Hoping for Qa7+. White has compensation.Rb73
Inhibits Qa7.31...Ke7!=32.Qa6±3 Black is on the
road to losing.Rd7433.f411 White is more
active.Ng636
34.Qc8!18Re7034...Nf8±was worth a try.35.Qc651Nxf4036.Qxd61g51:0536...Nd3±is a
better defense.37.h41:52Resist37.Qxc5?!Re2±37...Re233
38.h5!1:03Kg7?1:2938...Rxg2+39.Kh1Rd240.Qc7+Kf841.d6Rd1+42.Kh2Rd2+43.Kg1Nxh544.d7+-38...Nxh539.Qc7+39.Qxc5Nf4=39...Kg639.Qxc5+-33Rxg2+540.Kh10Re21:23 Inhibits Qe7+.41.d611Ne6142.Qa7+4Kh6043.Qe716Kxh51944.d731Re5645.Qxf66Re1+446.Kh21146.Kg2Nf4+47.Kf3Rd148.d8QRxd849.Qxd8Kg650.Ke4Ne651.Qd646...Kg43 White is clearly winning.47.Qe732Re2+1348.Kg11Kf3049.Qf7+19Kg42650.Qxh79
Qd3 is the strong threat.Rd221 Inhibits Qd3.51.Qe4+32Nf4252.Qe82Ne2+053.Kf1853.Kf2Nf4+54.Ke1Rxd755.Qxd7+Kg356.Qe753...Ng3+1154.Ke13 Weighted Error Value:
White=0.23 (precise) /Black=0.361–0
Wesley So has grabbed 3 points in the last three rounds after a disappointing start with back-to-back losses in the first two days of action. Against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, he got to win by a convincing 3-0 score.
In game 3, Shakh’s queen found herself trapped in the middle of the board.
So vs. Mamedyarov - Game #3
29.Qc3 leaves the black queen without a way to escape — 30.Rf3 is coming! Shakh resigned.
8.Nxe5!?4
A promising side line.Bxe589.Bxc6+2
White is slightly better.bxc6710.Re10Qe7311.Kh144Much weaker is11.d4Bxh2+12.Kxh2Be6=11...0-010 aiming for ...Qf6.12.f40
12...f6N4Predecessor:12...Qh413.Rxe5f614.Qe1Qg415.Re2Bb716.Nc3c517.Qg3Qxg318.hxg3Rfe8½-½
(41) Rog,B (2055)-Kujawski,A (2246) Bydgoszcz 202213.fxe52:44fxe5514.Nc330Nd52315.Ne41:15Bf5216.Bg531Qb4017.b31:19Qd41118.Rc12:41Bxe41:2819.dxe435
Wrong is19.Rxe4?Nc320.Rxd4Nxd1-+19...Qxd11:0220.Rcxd116Nc31321.Rd71:38
White has the initiative.Nxe41:2522.Be71:32Rf74323.Rxc77Nf63:56
Threatens to win with ...Nd5.24.Bd616Not24.Rxe5?Ne825.h3Nxc7-+24...Rxc7725.Bxc70 Endgame KRB-KRNe4126.Kg125Re81927.c427Kf71328.Kf23Re71:3029.Bd834Re5030.Ke318Ke65931.h311 Inhibits Ng4+.h5732.Re20 White is more active.Ne81:3232...Rf5±33.Rd2Rg533.Bh450Nd610 Strongly threatening ...Nf5+.34.g42 Inhibits Nf5+.hxg4235.hxg40Nf71:0836.Bg35Ra51637.Kxe48Ng5+?137...Kd738.Kf4Nd838.Kf4++-7
White is clearly winning.Kf7639.Be117Ne6+12
Much like So, Arjun Erigaisi had a subpar start and managed to bounce back in the second half of the tournament. After beating Mamedyarov in round 4, the Indian prodigy inflicted Anish Giri’s third consecutive loss to leapfrog his Dutch colleague in the standings.
1.d40Nf602.Bf44g633.Nc34d514.e31Bg725.h43h506.Nf34 A45: Trompowsky Attack.0-0107.Qd212c5198.Ne50 The position is equal.Nc6199.f34cxd41:1410.exd41Bf5011.Bb56Nxe51712.dxe522Nd70
Strongly threatening Qxb6.19...Qxd4320.Rxd40Rc71321.g40hxg4222.fxg40Be61323.a41:12Kg71024.h51:27Rh81:2525.Bd31:11gxh52026.gxh50b62427.Be21:17Rc55928.Re313Rg51829.b40Kf65330.Kd21:37Rd51530...Rg2=31.Rxd516Bxd50
Endgame KRB-KRB32.c41Bb74033.a50e5634.Ra344Rd8+4635.Kc31:37Kg5636.Ra128Be45337.axb634axb6138.Ra68Rb82339.Ra724Rf8040.Rd736Kf4641.h625Bg64941...Ke3!?42.Bf1f542.c50bxc5643.bxc50Bf52044.Re711Kg51144...Rc8=keeps the
balance.45.Rxe5±8 And now Bd3 would win. White is more
active.Kf6?2 Loses the game.45...Kf4±
is a better chance.46.Kd4Rh846.Rd5+-9Rh80
47.Bd3!32Bxd32747...Be6+-48.Kxd30 Kd4 would kill now. KR-KRKg6049.Rd6+1:52
White mates.f6150.c62Rf81251.Kd434Kxh61252.c73Rc8153.Rxf6+2Kg7054.Rc61Kf7055.Kc53Ke7856.Kb61
Weighted Error Value: White=0.05 (flawless) /Black=0.461–0
Let our authors show you how Carlsen tailored his openings to be able to outplay his opponents strategically in the middlegame or to obtain an enduring advantage into the endgame.
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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