MVL takes sole lead at Saint Louis Blitz

by Venkatachalam Saravanan
8/14/2019 – Ding Liren and Sergey Karjakin were the heroes of the day as both of them scored 6½/9 on Day 1 of Blitz. Wild cards Richard Rapport and Yu Yangyi also had a fantastic start in the Blitz as they scored 6.0/9 and 5½/9 respectively. Magnus only managed to score 50% while Caruana scored a meagre 1½/9 in Blitz. IM VENKATACHALAM SARAVANAN brings you all action from Saint Louis. | Photo: Crystal Fuller / Grand Chess Tour

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MVL and Carlsen score only 50% on Blitz day 1

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave scored only 50% on the first day of the Blitz part, but took the overall lead with a combined score of 17½ at the end of the penultimate day of the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz tournament. He did that with a crucial victory in the last round on Tuesday by beating Levon Aronian (who ended the day with 17 points) in a sharp game.

In a way, status quo prevailed at the top from the Rapid standings, except that Vachier-Lagrave bumped up just half a point ahead of Aronian, the other joint leader from the Rapid cycle. They were followed by Ding Liren and Yu Yangyi, who continued their decent showing in the rapid and occupied the third and fourth places.

But the biggest news of the day was the continued slide of the world champion, Magnus Carlsen, who managed only 4½ today, an equal score, with three each of wins, losses and draws. Looking at his play, Yasser Seirawan recalled one of the most memorable quotes of Vishy Anand, “Sometimes I feel like a scientist, some days I feel like an artist, and some days I feel like an idiot!”

Magnus Carlsen — Low on confidence | Photo: Justin Kellar / Grand Chess Tour

His story was almost the focal point in Saint Louis, and Carlsen himself visited the commentary box at the end of the day with words that shocked his fans.

“Everything is going wrong, my confidence is long gone, I don't really care any more. To be honest, my number one wish is for the tournament to get over...you are probably going to see more of the same tomorrow. I cannot really be bothered (with my performance) at this point”. Whoa! Very strong words from a man who personifies self-confidence otherwise.

Do you have any explanation? “When things start to go wrong, it is easy to doubt yourselves. I tried to play more aggressively than trying to play safer, but it doesn't really seem to work out any more. I am constantly doubting myself. I don't really care any more — I'm just waiting for the classical [i.e. Sinquefield Cup] to start”. Seriously!? Well, whether it was a momentary outburst of being interviewed immediately after a bad result, or he meant what he said, will only be known at the end of the tournament Wednesday.

We could almost understand the reasons behind such depressing words from Carlsen, considering his results. He scored just half a point from his four games with black pieces. Just as in the Rapid, he lost to Ding and Karjakin once again, and Yu too, each opponent outplaying him via a direct assault on his position. 

 
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21...Rc8? [Giving white to target a5-pawn and dark square weaknesses on the kingside] 21...Qa7 22.Be3 Qxd4 23.Bxd4 Bf8= 22.Rxc8+ Qxc8 23.Bd2! Qc7? 23...Bc5 24.Qf6 Qc7 25.Qc3! 25.Bc3 d4 25...Bb6 26.Qxc7 Bxc7 27.Kf1± 24.Bc3 f6 25.b4 axb4 26.Bxb4 Bxb4 27.Qxb4+-
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2779Carlsen,M29201–02019D37GCT Saint Louis Blitz 20194
Yu,Y2718Carlsen,M29201–02019B72GCT Saint Louis Blitz 20196

True to his tastes in blitz chess, Carlsen didn't seem to be doing anything drastic. Perhaps fans might think he was a little desperate when they saw this position in the seventh round.

 
Carlsen – Dominguez, round 7
Position after 2.Qh5?!

But we shouldn't forget that he has already played this stock move of Hikaru Nakamura before, against Shamsiddin Vokhidov at the World Rapid Championship, St. Petersburg 2018. 

The best of Carlsen probably came in the last game of the day, when he beat Rapport in more typical style.

 
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[A familiar situation - an almost equal ending has been reached, with black having a slight disadvantage due to his 'bad' bishop. Carlsen has converted many dozens of such endgame positions in his career, and he proceeds to do the same here] 20...Rc8 21.Rf1 Rc6 22.Rf3 Rb6 23.b3 Bb5 24.Bd1 Ra6 25.a4 Bd7
26.g4! [An important principle - the principle of two weaknesses. White has to do a bit of 'nettlesome' play on the kingside - remember?!] h6 27.h4 Rb6 28.Bc2 a5 29.Rf1 Rc6 30.Rb1 Rb6 31.Re1 Rc6 32.Rg1 Rc8 33.Bd3 Rc7 34.Rb1 Rc8 35.b4
35...b6? [And finally Rapport cracks] 35...axb4 36.Rxb4 Bc6 offered much better chances of a defence 36.bxa5 bxa5 37.Rb7 [This rook invasion is difficult to face in a blitz game - Carlsen wins the game quite efficiently from hereon] Kd8 38.Ra7 Rb8 39.Rxa5 Rb4 40.Ra8+ Kc7 41.Ra7+ Kc8 42.Kc3 Rxa4 43.Ba6+ Kb8 44.Rxd7 Rxa6 45.Rxf7 h5 46.Rxg7 hxg4 47.h5 Ra3+ 48.Kb4 Rh3
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2920Rapport,R27361–02019C00GCT Saint Louis Blitz 20199

But the last round belonged to Vachier-Lagrave, who scored an important win over Levon Aronian — the sole leader in the combined standings till the penultimate round.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.0-0 d6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Re1 0-0 9.h3 b5 10.Bb3 b4 11.Nbd2 bxc3 12.bxc3 Na5 13.Bc2 Rb8 14.Nf1 Be6 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bh4 g5
17.Nxg5!? [This came as a shocker, not only for Aronian but also for the commentators] hxg5 18.Bxg5 Kg7? [After this timid reply, white is on top] After the game, Yasser Seirawan wanted to know about black's resource 18...Bxf2+! and Vachier-Lagrave confessed that he was going to follow 19.Kxf2 Nxe4+ 20.Rxe4 Qxg5 Vachier-Lagrave: I thought I will go for it anyway. Maybe slightly worse for me - but this is something you can play in blitz! 19.Qf3 19.d4! Qe8 20.Ng3 with an attack 19...Rh8 20.Ne3 Rb2 21.Re2? Better was 21.Rac1 with an unclear position 21...Kg6? 21...Bxe3! 22.Bxe3 22.Qxe3 Ng4! 23.Qc1 23.hxg4 f6 23...Rxc2! 24.Rxc2 f6 25.Bd2 Nb3-+ 22...Nh5 22.Nf5 Kxg5? 22...Nb3 23.Qg3+ Kh5 24.Bd1 Bxf5 25.Rxb2+ Kh6 26.exf5 Nh7?? 26...Nd5∞ 27.Rb4 Ng5 28.Rg4 f6 29.h4 Rh7 30.Rb1 Kg7
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M2939Aronian,L28401–02019C54GCT Saint Louis Blitz 20199

Vachier-Lagrave and Aronian were in a jolly chat and seen heartily laughing | Photo: Austin Fuller / Grand Chess Tour

Asked about their pre game chat and laughter later in the commentary box, an embarrassed Vachier-Lagrave declined, commenting saying, 'it wouldn't be appropriate'!

Aronian was not happy with his play throughout the day, and didn't attempt to mask his emotions, a la Carlsen. “The way I played today, being in second position is a miracle! Occasionally I have this problem — I am too sleepy, which I was today. I will try to change something from tomorrow”.

And how would he do that? “Generally, the openings. Some of the openings I played badly — for example against Dominguez and Vachier-Lagrave. You have to come up with a plan for the whole tournament — I did, for rapid — and stick to it”. Aronian's mood was understandable, as he scored a win, two losses and no less than six draws on the day!

Unbeknownst to him, one of his games featured the biggest unspotted tragicomedy of the tournament so far: 

 
Aronian – Yu Yangyi, round 5
Position after 27...Nc4

28.c1?? Allowing 28...♛d1+ with mate to follow! 28...xb1?? and the game went on to end in a draw, even though black still holds a winning position!

But Yu Yangyi played an excellent round of Blitz chess otherwise.

 
Mamedyarov – Yu Yangyi, round 9
Position after 23.Nf3

23...xb2! Nice shot to spot in Blitz 24.c2 [24.♔xb2 ♛b5+ followed by 25...♛xe2] 24...xa3 and Black went on to win.

Yu Yangyi – Excellent blitz play | Photo: Austin Fuller / Grand Chess Tour

His fellow countryman Ding Liren had one of the best days of his career, when he scored 4 wins and drew the rest to remain as the only unbeaten player of the tournament. He too gained from one of the biggest blunders of the event.

 
Ding Liren – Dominguez, round 2
Position after 26.Ne5

No doubt, white has a huge advantage, as it is difficult to defend the g7 square once black's checks run out on the kingside. But his opponent came up with

26...a7?? 27.xa7 1-0

Ding Liren had one of the best days of his career | Photo: Austin Fuller / Grand Chess Tour

Along with Ding, the best result of the day from the Blitz cycle with the same 6½ points came from Karjakin, who played his brand of beautiful quick chess, though not without its drama. 

 
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28.Nxg7! Kxg7 29.Bb2+ Kg8 30.Qh5?? 30.f5 with the idea of g5-g6 wins easily 30...Ng6?? 30...Nf5 holds black's position, miraculously 31.Qh3 31.Rf3 Bd4! 32.Bxd4 Rxc4 33.bxc4 Rxe4 is fine for black 31.exf5? Qxf5 31...Bb6 32.exf5 Rxc4 33.bxc4 with an unclear position 31.Bf6 as white's threat of Qh5-h6 is decisive 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Karjakin,S2798Caruana,F27721–02019E14GCT Saint Louis Blitz 20197

Sergey Karjakin — the top blitz scorer | Photo: Justin Kellar / Grand Chess Tour

Richard Rapport was the other remarkable turnaround of the Blitz day, with many creative wins, finally showing the tactical sharpness he is known for.

 
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21...g5 22.Bxg5!? Rxd4? 22...hxg5 23.Nxg5+ Kg8 24.Nxe4 fxe4 23.Be3! Re4? 24.Bxb6 axb6+-
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Rapport,R2732Vachier-Lagrave,M28021–02019D00GCT Saint Louis Blitz 20192
Rapport,R2736Mamedyarov,S27871–02019D06GCT Saint Louis Blitz 20196

Richard Rapport — the best turnaround | Photo: Justin Kellar / Grand Chess Tour

But still, the leader of the event, Vachier-Lagrave, despite scoring only a moderate equal score 4½ points was the most interesting performer of the day, as his games had four wins, four losses and a draw out of them. This, and the fact that he had six wins, two losses and a solitary draw in the Rapid part of the tournament, makes him the most decisive player so far!

Compared to Paris, I feel my level of play in general is not that bad. I was unlucky in three of my losses — Rapport, Dominguez — I had 4 minutes on the clock and I can take a draw whenever I want. He played very well under time pressure — and Liren was a heartbreak. I am losing may be another 50 points (in Blitz Rating) but that's ok! The field here in Blitz is much more competitive than Paris.

So what does it take to win this tournament now? “Keeping the rhythm, I felt I was playing fast also in the last few games — may be even too fast — and that's really a positive. This is the way I see I am going to win the event — playing faster!” Just like yesterday, confident words.

So how did everyone fare in the final analysis? By calling-in, the commentary team brought in an expert, Garry Kasparov, who had not so pleasant words for the quality of play in Saint Louis. 

It's unbelievable to see the kind of blunders these guys are making! (They) are playing way too much. And (Magnus) plays every tournament to win — it's hell of a pressure on you.

Get the feel of Saint Louis Blitz 2019 | Video: V Saravanan

Current overall standings

Standings

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Current blitz standings

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Results of Rounds 1-9

Click or tap any result to open the game via Live.ChessBase.com.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Live commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Maurice Ashley and WGM Jennifer Shahade from 18:00 UTC (20:00 CEST, 14:00 EDT)

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Saravanan is an IM from Chennai, the southern-most state of Tamil Nadu, India. He has been an active chess player in the Indian circuit, turning complete chess professional in 2012, actively playing and being a second to strong Indian players. He has been consistently writing on chess since late 1980s and is a correspondent to national newspapers and news channels.

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