New in Chess Classic Finals: Carlsen wins first set

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
5/2/2021 – In a hard-fought first set of the New in Chess Classic finals, Magnus Carlsen grabbed the lead by scoring a 3-1 win over Hikaru Nakamura. After drawing the first two games and losing the third encounter, Naka had a better position in a must-win situation. The American mishandled his advantage and Carlsen ended up scoring a second win in a row. Meanwhile, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Levon Aronian tied the first set in the match for third place. | Photo: Lennart Ootes

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A tense struggle

The era of elite online chess tournaments has seen a major rivalry develop between world champion Magnus Carlsen and blitz specialist Hikaru Nakamura. In the very first event organized by the Norwegian, the Magnus Carlsen Invitational, the world champion defeated Nakamura in a closely-contested final match — which, by the way, was played almost exactly one year ago, on 3 May 2020. The same players would also play the deciding match of the tour finals in August, with Carlsen again getting the better of his opponent. Naka, on the other hand, knocked Carlsen out of the Lindores Abbey Challenge in the semifinals.

In the first set of the New in Chess Classic finals, Carlsen scored a 3-1 victory. After two draws, the Norwegian scored the first win of the day with white. In a must-win situation, Nakamura had a comfortable position in game 4 and a large advantage on the clock. The American star, however, could not make the most of his chances and ended up losing the game in 31 moves.

Meanwhile, in the match for third place, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Levon Aronian each scored two wins with black to go into the second set with the score tied. The Azerbaijani has proven to be a nice addition to the lineup of the tour, as his dynamic style has made for a number of exciting games both during the preliminaries and during the knockout.

New in Chess Classic 2021

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Carlsen 3 - 1 Nakamura

After drawing the first two games (in 65 and 38 moves), Carlsen got ahead on the scoreboard by winning with the white pieces. The world champion had a positional advantage, when he blundered a bishop.

 
Carlsen vs. Nakamura - Game 3

The commentators were not sure whether this was a sacrifice or if Carlsen had miscalculated the forcing line. Later, he confessed it had been a blunder. Carlsen had prepared the sacrifice for a different variation, but missed the intricacies of this exact position. He even looked at 27.Bxb7 Rxb7 28.e5 Qe7 29.exd6 and here 29...Qxe1 30.Rxe1 Rxe1 31.Qxb7 Be4+ (attacking queen and king at the same time) does not work for black:

 
Analysis diagram

White can capture the bishop with 32.Qxe4 and after 32...Rxe4 33.d7 there is no way to stop the pawn from promoting. However, none of this happened, as Nakamura played 29...Qd7, equalizing. As Carlsen explained later, this was a case of him having such a superior position that even after giving up a piece he was better.

The world champion went on to win an endgame with queen, rook and bishop against queen, rook and two extra pawns. GM Karsten Müller took a closer look.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 0-0 6.0-0 d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.a4 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.a5 Nf6 11.b4 Bd6 12.Nbd2 a6 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.dxe4 Kh8 15.Qd3 Qe7 16.Re1 Nd8 17.g3 Ne6 18.Nh4 Rad8 19.Nf5 Qf6 20.g4 Bg6 21.Qf3 h6 22.Kg2 Nf4+ 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.Nxd6 cxd6 25.Bd5 Rd7 26.Rad1 Re8 27.Bxb7 Rxb7 28.e5 Qe7 29.exd6 Qd7 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Rd4 Rd7 32.Qxf4 Qb8 33.Kg3 f6 34.h4 Kg8 35.Kg2 Bf7 36.Kg3 Be6 37.g5 hxg5 38.hxg5 fxg5 39.Qe5 Bf7 40.f3 Kf8 41.Kf2 Kg8 42.Kg3 Kf8 43.Qxg5 Rxd6 44.Qc5 Ke7 45.Qe5+ Kd7 46.Kf2 "Head for the hills" - This is a typical strategy for the attacking king in a queen endgame. It often heads for the enemy pawns to hide there first and win them later: Qf8? Now White can force a winning queen endgame. 46...g6= defends. 47.Qf5+ Kc6 48.Qc5+ Kd7 49.Qf5+ Kc6 50.Rxd6+ Qxd6 50...Kxd6?! runs into 51.Qc5++- 51.Qxf7 The queen endgame is won. Qd2+ 52.Kg3 Qxc3 53.Qe8+ Kc7 54.Qe4 Kd6 55.Kg4 Qa1 56.Qd3+ Ke7 57.Qe3+ Kf7 58.Qc5 Kg8 59.Kf4 Qd1 60.Ke5 Kh7 61.Qd5 Qa4 62.Qe4+ Kh8 63.Kd6 Qb5 64.Kc7 Kg8 65.Qe6+ Kh7 66.Qd6 Qe2 67.f4 Qb5 68.Qc5 Qf1 69.Qh5+ Kg8 70.Qd5+ Kh7 71.Qe4+ Kh8 72.Kb6 Qb5+ 73.Ka7 The king hides in the hills as recommended in the endgame textbooks. Qf1 74.Qe8+ Kh7 75.Qh5+ Kg8 76.Qd5+ Kh7 77.f5 Qb1 78.Qd6 Qxf5 79.Kxa6 g5 80.b5 Qf1 81.Kb6 Qf2+ 82.Qc5 Qf6+ 82...Qxc5+?! is met by 83.Kxc5 g4 84.Kd4 g3 85.Ke3+- 83.Ka7 Qf7+ 84.Ka6 g4 85.b6 g3 86.b7 Qf1+ 87.Ka7 Qf2?! 87...g2 is more tenacious: 88.b8Q g1Q 89.Qxg1 Qxg1+ 90.Qb6+- 88.Qb6!? 88.Qxf2?! gxf2 89.b8Q f1Q is mate in 59 moves and very bad technique of course. Black's king can not reach the drawing zone in the southeast corner in time. 88...Qf7?! 88...Qxb6+!? was more tenacious 89.axb6 g2 90.b8Q g1Q+- and White mates in 28 moves as Black's king can not reach the drawing zone in the south east corner in time. But some technique ist still required. 89.Qb1+ Kh6 90.Qe4 Qg7?! This loses directly, but Black is lost in any case. 90...Qg7?! 91.Qh4+ Kg6 92.Qxg3+ Kh7 93.Qxg7+ Kxg7 94.b8Q+- After 90...Kh5 91.Ka8 Qf1 92.Qc6 Of course not the direct 92.b8Q? Qa6+= 92...g2 93.b8Q g1Q White wins the 4th phase of the game as he has the first check: 94.Qbe8+ Kh4 95.Qh6+ Kg3 96.Qe5+ Kg2 97.Qhg5+ Kh1 98.Qh5+ Kg2 99.Qe4+ Kf2 100.Qhf3# 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2847Nakamura,H27361–02021C54New In Chess Classic KO 20213.1

The highlight of the day was game 4, as Nakamura chose the correct strategy in the opening, not hurrying to create tactical opportunities but slowly finding good squares for his pieces, planning to take advantage of his bishop pair later on. The American also had a major edge on the clock. However, just when the commentators were talking about Carlsen’s position being on the brink of collapse, Nakamura made a strange decision.

 
Nakamura vs. Carlsen - Game 4

Naka played the strange-looking 28.f3, weakening his king without getting much in return. Carlsen quickly grabbed his chance to simplify the position, happily giving up two pieces for a rook and a pawn. Shortly after, the American blundered while very short on time and resigned the game.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Bg5 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Rd1 Ba6 10.Qa4 h6 11.Bh4 Qe7 12.Nf3 Rd8 13.e3 Bxf1 14.Rxf1 c5 15.dxc5 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 g5 17.Bg3 Qxc5 18.Kd2 Nbd7 19.Rc1 Qd5+ 20.Ke2 Nc5 21.Qc4 Rd8 22.Qxd5 Nxd5 23.Nd4 a5 24.Rc4 Rd7 25.f3 a4 26.Nb5 f6 27.e4 Ne7 28.Bc7 Ng6 29.g3 Ne5 30.Bxe5 fxe5 31.Nc3 Nb3 32.Nxa4 b5 33.Rc8+ Kf7 34.Nc5 Rd2+ 35.Ke3 Rxb2 36.Rc7+ Ke8 37.Nxe6 Rxh2 38.Rb7 Nc1 39.f4 gxf4+ 40.gxf4 Rh3+ 41.Kd2 Nb3+ 42.Kc2 Na5 43.Rxb5 Nc4 44.Rb4 Ne3+ 45.Kd2 exf4 46.a4 Ng2 47.e5 f3 48.Ng7+ Kf8 49.Nf5 f2 50.e6 Rd3+ 51.Ke2 f1Q+ 52.Kxf1 Rf3+ 53.Kxg2 Rxf5 54.Rb5 Rf4 55.Ra5 Ke7 56.Ra6 h5 57.a5 Ra4 58.Kh3 h4 59.Ra8 Kxe6 60.a6 Kd7 61.a7 Kc7 62.Rh8 Rxa7 63.Rh7+ Kb8 64.Rxa7 Kxa7 65.Kxh4 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2847Nakamura,H2736½–½2021E32NIC Classic KO 20213.11
Nakamura,H2736Carlsen,M2847½–½2021C65NIC Classic KO 20213.12
Carlsen,M2847Nakamura,H27361–02021C53NIC Classic KO 20213.13
Nakamura,H2736Carlsen,M28470–12021D11NIC Classic KO 20213.14

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Mamedyarov 2 - 2 Aronian

All four games of the first set finished decisively, with all victories going for the player with the black pieces in the match for third place. The first two encounters were highly tactical, lasting 24 and 21 moves respectively. 

Game 3 was the first one to reach an endgame, with Mamedyarov getting good chances to hold a draw with the white pieces from a slightly inferior position. The Azerbaijani, however, faltered on move 31.

 
Mamedyarov vs. Aronian - Game 3

Should White play 31.b4 or 31.Kg3 here? Mamedyarov chose the former and resigned the very next move. Karsten Müller explains why.

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nfd7 6.Qxc4 Bg7 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d4 Nb6 9.Qc2 0-0 10.Rd1 Bf5 11.Qd2 Qc8 12.Nc3 Rd8 13.Qf4 h6 14.h4 a5 15.a3 Bc2 16.Rd2 Bb3 17.Rd3 Bc4 18.Rd1 Nxd4 19.Rxd4 Rxd4 20.Nxd4 e5 21.Nf5 Qxf5 22.Qxf5 gxf5 23.Bxb7 Rd8 24.Be3 e4 25.Rc1 Bxc3 26.Rxc3 Bxe2 27.Rxc7 Rd1+ 28.Kh2 Nc4 "Activate the king" - This is one major difference from the middlegame, and several authors use this even to define an endgame: 29.g4! This strong blow opens the king's road. 29.Rc5? runs into Kg7 30.Rxf5 Nd6-+ 29...Nxe3 30.fxe3 Bxg4 31.b4? Instead the plan should be executed and the king activated. The prophylactic 31.Kg3 draws, e.g. Rf1 32.Bxe4 fxe4 33.Kxg4 Rf3 34.Rc3= 31...axb4 32.axb4 f4! The decisive breakthrough. 32...f4! 33.exf4 e3 34.Ba6 e2 35.Bxe2 Bxe2-+ 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2770Aronian,L27810–12021D76New In Chess Classic KO 20213.1

Despite the rather painful loss, Shakh managed to bounce back in the fourth game of the set. And he did it after getting a tough middlegame position.

 
Aronian vs. Mamedyarov - Game 4

White is better here. Black’s knight on h3 looks menacing at first sight, but is in fact unable to move, while the passed pawn on the e-file is more a weakness than a threat. Given these factors, it is almost impossible that Aronian would not have found the strong 30.Bxf6 in a classical game — in this 15-minute game, though, he went for 30.Rae1, giving Black a chance to activate his knights with 30...Ng4

 

White cannot capture with 31.Bxh3 due to 31...Ne3, so after 31.Nf4 Mamedyarov got to coordinate his pieces with 31...Ngf2+ 32.Kh2 Nhf2+. The tricky Azerbaijani went on to outplay his opponent in the ensuing tactical skirmish, getting the win he needed to go into day 2 with the score tied.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 9.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxc3+ 11.Kf1 gxf6 12.Rc1 Qa5 13.Qf3 Ke7 14.a4 Qxa4 15.e5 fxe5 16.Qh5 Nc6 17.Qg5+ Kf8 18.Nf5 Rg8 19.Qh6+ Ke8 20.Qf6 Qb4 21.h4 Rg6 22.Qh8+ Qf8 23.Qxh7 exf5 24.h5 Rh6 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Mamedyarov,S2770Aronian,L27810–12021D39NIC Classic KO 20213.11
Aronian,L2781Mamedyarov,S27700–12021B40NIC Classic KO 20213.12
Mamedyarov,S2770Aronian,L27810–12021A07NIC Classic KO 20213.13
Aronian,L2781Mamedyarov,S27700–12021A49NIC Classic KO 20213.14

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Carlos 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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