11/28/2016 – Game 12 ended in a short draw - we will witness tiebreaks on Wednesday. Carlsen's 26th birthday. Carlsen chose to avoid a fight and settled for a quick draw by playing one of the most solid variations against the Berlin Defence. Karjakin also seemed to be happy with the draw. Maybe the press conference after the game was harder than the game itself. Yasser Seirawan shows mixed emotions. Newsblog 2016-11-29...
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World Chess Championship Carlsen Karjakin, New York - Newsblog 2016-11-28
Game No 12 - Notes by Yasser Seirawan
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1.e4
1,181,693
54%
2421
---
1.d4
957,432
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
285,720
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,375
56%
2442
---
1.g3
19,859
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,577
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,947
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,899
50%
2383
---
1.b4
1,790
48%
2378
---
1.a3
1,248
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,080
49%
2409
---
1.d3
966
50%
2379
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
466
54%
2382
---
1.c3
439
51%
2425
---
1.h3
289
56%
2420
---
1.a4
118
60%
2461
---
1.f3
100
47%
2427
---
1.Nh3
92
67%
2511
---
1.Na3
47
62%
2476
---
Please, wait...
Notes by Yasser Seirawan - While both players have much to lament, each
receiving a sympathetic ear, let's face it: The Arbiters have been brilliant.
They have been out of sight and nary a word about them has been spoken. Out of
the spotlight they have trebled checked that bane of all chess players - the
clock. The battery is functioning (good), the time control has been set to the
right one (very good), the board and pieces have been set up correctly (most
excellent). And so it all comes down to this: After eleven hard fought games
the twelfth and final game would be played for all the marbles. I wanted
to describe the situation as high drama. But my 'Spidey sense' began to tingle
as I considered the word. Blessed with a heightened sense of caution I decided
to look up the current definition of the word. You see the English language
changes. Nearly every day in fact. Just like the FIDE rules committee that
loves to change the rules of chess, so to do the committees that define words
in the English language. It can get pretty confusing. To assuage my internal
warnings I double-checked and learned something new while bringing myself
up-to-date: drama: Top definition: "Something women and especially
teenage girls thrive on. Consisting of any number of situations that have an
easy solution, which would bring a fairly good outcome, but these girls choose
another, shitty, bad way to deal with it, again consisting of backstabbing,
blackmailing/gossiping/betraying their friends, or the all-too-common, "I want
to break up with him but I still love him!" It drives men and what I like to
call "normal" girls nuts." Urban Dictionary. Hmm. Right. Just as expected a
surprising change. Oh boy, I'm already in trouble and this is before
annotating move one. Somehow, I can't quite put my finger on it but the (for
me) new definition just feels a tiny bit to be politically incorrect. I
confess I'm not the most astute in such matters. Therefore, let us put high
drama aside for a moment and instead set up the situation from a different
point of view... Many fans and even none-fans have asked me the question,
"What makes one grandmaster stronger than another?" A fair question. Once when
describing himself against his colleagues World Champion Mikhail Botvinnik saw
himself, "As first amongst equals." It seems the top grandmasters know all the
various chess skills and instead to find an answer to such a question we
should consider the intangibles: Confidence; ambition; determination; good
health; a supportive team; good food; a strong stomach; a working internet
connection; staying regular and other key factors. The twelfth game would
require a supreme effort by both players featuring nerves of steel coupled
with boundless energy. They would before the gong imagine a long, hard fought
game where conquering their nerves and remaining calm at those crucial moments
is vital. They would review their preparation to the best of their abilities
while hoping to out-calculate their opponent in the heat of battle. Doing all
the things that grandmasters do so well. But there is another intangible to
consider as well: At such a moment are you capable of getting a good night's
sleep? Don't laugh. It is an important question. Imagine yourself in the
role of Challenger Sergey Karjakin. You are to have a career defining moment.
An opportunity to become World Chess Champion. A dream come true. With so
many thoughts and emotions racing through your mind, will you be able to
recharge your battery for the biggest contest of your life? But which
player is carrying the bigger pressure? Same questions for Magnus Carlsen, the
World Champion. Experts, pollsters and fans had all been unanimous predicting
an easy match win. They were stone-cold wrong. Lucky to be at a level score,
what risks should Magnus take to try to clinch the match? To go all in as
White in the final game? As did Veselin Topalov with White against Viswanathan
Anand in 2010? A decision which cost him the match... So many questions. So
many worries and all you really want is to rest and recharge your battery. To
sleep peacefully with pleasant dreams of victory. Perhaps such an ability,
that one, to cast aside your concerns and get a good night sleep, is what
makes one grandmaster stronger than another? Before the battle commenced, I
wondered, would we see a real drama? Wait, now I'm certain that's not the word
I want to use. In this preamble I've got it all wrong entangling myself in
knots. I think National Basketball Association legend Michael Jordan said it
best at such moments, "Go out and just enjoy the game. Don't think about the
consequences. If you do, you'll freeze."1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.0-0A first indication that perhaps the "decisive" final Classical game in the
match might not be all that decisive after all. For Game 10, Magnus played:4.d3Keeping all the pieces on the board.4...Nxe45.Re1Uh oh. The
second indication the game is about to fizzle.Nd66.Nxe5Be77.Bf1Nxe58.Rxe50-09.d4Bf610.Re1Not repeating Game 3, where Magnus tried:10.Re2!?A move that didn't promise much but almost brought him great success.10...Re8All according to modern theory as well as strategic principles. The
e-file is open and therefore the chopping block for the major pieces.11.Bf4Rxe112.Qxe1Ne8The first moment of "excitement" quickly passes. I'm a
notorious pawn-grubber but the d4-bait is poisonous:12...Bxd4?!13.Bxd6cxd613...Bxb2??14.Bxc7Simply wins for White.14.Nc3When I much
prefer White's position. Black has difficulties developing while White's moves
play themselves:Rb815.Rd1Be516.Nd5White's initiative is getting
serious.13.c3d514.Bd3g6Practice has proven that the symmetry in the
position is hard to crack. With a draw being the most likely result.15.Na3?!A confounding move. After all, where is the Knight heading? I will
certainly not claim that after the standard:15.Nd2Ng716.Qe2c617.Re1Bf518.Bxf5Nxf519.Nb3It is all "blue sky" for White. Truly, there is not
much in the position but the chances for a pull lay in this direction.15...c616.Nc2Ng717.Qd2This one also had me perplexed. Trying my best to
channel my "inner Magnus" I wrongly thought his Knight maneuver was designed
to cover the f5-square:17.Ne3Seemed to be his intended follow-up. True,
it does stop Black's: ...Bc8-f5, plan but allows another in its stead:Nh5!18.Bh6Bg519.Bxg5Qxg5With a Knight coming to the f4-square Black has
solved all his Opening problems.17...Bf518.Bxf5Nxf519.Ne3Nxe320.Qxe3Qe721.Qxe7Bxe7The mutual hacking continues. The board is nearly
empty. Just one last trade along the chopping block remains.22.Re1Bf8
I'm sorely tempted to give this move an exclamation mark. After all I'm a
paid commentator and I have to earn my keep. That would make one for the whole
game. In truth Black had a perfectly decent alternative as well.22...Re8
Grandmasters do not make such moves: Walking into a "self-pin." However, there
is no way for White to exploit the moment:23.Bg5Kf824.Bh6+Kg8Black is
ready to play: ...f7-f6, and ...Kg8-f7, releasing the pin, with the time
honored ritual of signing the scoresheets to follow.23.Kf1f624.g4
This bold thrust does not hold the promise of a vicious attack, so hold the
trumpets. Actually it is actually quite safe.Kf725.h3!At last, I'm in
a generous mood, "Give the man an exclam!" The text shows "understanding." In
a Bishop ending, pawns should be on the opposite colored squares from the
Bishop. The text also insures against adversity: The possibility of blundering
a pawn is greatly reduced.Re826.Rxe8Kxe8The tasks along the chopping
block have all been completed. The play must continue until move thirty. At
least.27.Ke2Kd728.Kd3Ke629.a4a630.f3Be7Draw agreed. Oh boy.
My preamble was longer than my notes to the game. Likely for good reasons.
I'll leave it to other more gifted writers to share their thoughts on this
downer. Instead, I'll just boldly state the obvious: A very disappointing
conclusion to an intense World Championship match. Such games do not kindle
interest in our glorious sport. Maybe I pegged it right after all? Perhaps
Magnus did not get enough sleep? Now another rest day follows and on
Wednesday the tension will be at its zenith as the title of who will be World
Chess Champion will be decided by tiebreaks.½–½
16.15 / 10.15: Okay, game 12 was short and maybe disappointing. But it raised questions:
Routine questions...
What can you say about game 12?
Questions of self-confidence...
Do you think you are stronger on tie-break?
Questions one should perhaps not answer truthfully...
Which color would you choose for the Armageddon game?
Questions about the opponent...
What do you think about Karjakin's nervous system?
Questions about the match in general...
Is that your toughest match so far?
And questions about some particular moves...
In the game you played h3, were you also thinking of f3?
16.00 / 10.00: A lot of people were disappointed by game 12. On his website chessintweets Eric van Reem gathers tweets about the match. Here's a sample of three tweets about game 12: @reachvsara: “Frankly, it was one of the worst games ever in a worldchess championship”; @benjamin_bok: “What an anti-climax”, @willtomford: “Is anyone else enjoying Carlsen-Karjakin as a soothing, meditative thing to fall asleep to? “
14.05 / 8.05 am: Tie-breaks are played on Wednesday - we can expect up to 15 games, the last one being the famous Armageddon or Sudden-Death blitz game.
Rapid
First, the players start with a match consisting of four rapid games (25 min + 10 sec/move) - Karjakin will have the white pieces in the 1st game. If the score is level after these four games, we enter the 2nd stage.
Blitz
This consists of a two-game-blitz-match (5 min + 3 sec/move), which will in case of a level score be repeated for four time. So in total this could sum up to ten blitz games.
Armageddon
If the score is level after the 2nd stage, an Armageddon game will be played. This format guarantess a winner, as in case of a draw the player with the black pieces will be declared as the winner. In this format, white has five minutes, black only four. An increment of three secsonds is given from move 61.
13.29 / 7.29: Jonathan Tisdall reports there is an article in Norwegian media that covers Sergey Karjakin helping people who stammer to identify theirselves with a new role model:
Very interesting article in Norway today about #Karjakin becoming a role icon for people who stammer.
20.20 / 2.20 pm: "This game might be a very short one" - Judit Polgar
20.12 / 2.12 pm: Magnus coach Peter Heine Nielsen explains their quite careful opening choice for today's game.
"Magnus is extremely good at getting a lot from very small things"
20.08 / 2.08 pm: Magnus tries a quiet opening this time - but as we saw in game three, the possiblities to outplay Sergey in such positions are still given.
20.02 / 2.02 pm: Magnus repeats the variation from game three: 5.Re1 in the Berlin Defense.
20.00 / 2.00 pm:
1.e4 was the kickoff of the shortest game in the match (Foto: Max Avdeev)
19.14 / 1.14 pm: We eagerly look forward to game twelve, which starts in less than an hour from now. The last two World Championship matches were already decided sooner. 2013 in Chennai Carlsen won after ten games (+3), while in Sotchi 2014 the match was over after eleven games (+2). The last time we saw a 12th game was in the 2012 match between Anand and Gelfand. Its last game was drawn then and we saw a tiebreak, where Gelfand missed a lot of chances and Anand retained his title.
19.03 / 1.04 pm:Chess fever rolls over Norway: according to Norway's TV station NRK a quarter of a million people in Norway stayed up late to watch game ten on Thursday night till they saw Carlsen winning. A quarter of million, that's 7 percent of Norway's population.
18.40 / 12.40 pm: Should today's game end in draw, rapid and, if necessary, blitz tie-breaks will follow on Wednesday. If you trust the live ratings Carlsen is a slight favorite in both disciplines - but far from being a clear favorite. Not to mention that nerves might play a role - to put it mildly.
16.30 / 10.30: Game 12 is thrilling and might decide the World Championship. Another interesting question is what Carlsen wants to play with White. 1.e4 or 1.d4 are the most likely first moves but a search in the ChessBase database reveals that Carlsen in the past has also opened with moves such as 1.a4, 1.a3, 1.b3 or 1.g3. Admittedly, he mainly tried these moves in blitz games. But maybe Carlsen also opts for 1.c4 or 1.Nf3. In a few hours we will know!
11.39 Hamburg / 5.39 am New York: The last bullet today. If the game has a winner we will have a World Champion. White smoke above Pier 16. If not: the tiebreak shall decide.
Last year, in Berlin, Magnus Carlsen and Sergey Karjakin playing in the Rapid- and Blitz-World Championships in Berlin , a fascinating show. Carlsen was always playing at the top but Karjakin also showed his class. And we know that he is calm under pressure. One day, Sergey Karjakin was playing bullet on playchess.com when his opponent blundered in a tense situation. With with 12 seconds or less on the clock Karjakin found the time to type "lol".
Poll: Who will win the match? And will there be a tie-break?
Who will win the World Championship Match 2016?
Magnus Carlsen, after 12 games
170
47%
Magnus Carlsen, after tie-break
134
37%
Sergey Karjakin, after tie-break
34
9%
Sergey Karjakin, after 12 games
22
6%
Game No 11 - Notes by Wesley So
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Notes by Wesley So - After wining Round 10 both players are tied now 5-5 but
I have a sneaking suspicion that Magnus is gaining in control. If he achieves
two more draws and they end tied, it's clear he won't be unhappy with rapid
playoffs. Sergey just hasn't played as much Rapid and Blitz recently ... but
then again ... this is the powerful Sergey Karjakin ... so we could be very
surprised. Okay two games left to go and this is Number 11.1.e4This first
move is expected, as Sergey sticks to the type of positions that he knows the
best - 1.e4 gives him the best results based on his previous games. At least
here he achieves playable and fighting positions, which are not easy to get
against a well-prepared Magnus. A good idea I'm sure, as Sergey tried serving
with 1.d4 back in Round 7, but was worse as early as move 11.e5Did you
expect something else? Magnus replies with this almost 90% of the time lately,
so obviously he feels at home with it. Garry Kasparov once advised that in
important games it's best to stick to the opening in which you have the most
experience.2.Nf3Nc63.Bb5The Ruy Lopez may be the most classical
opening in chess history, with references to it going all the way back to the
year 1490.a6Magnus' preference.3...Nf6was Sergey's choice in Rounds
3 and 10.4.Ba4Nf65.0-0Be7The main line. Black wants to keep the
tension. Magnus has already played like this in Rounds 2, 4, and 6 of the
match, so I guess this is what I expected him to play today. Naturally he is
hoping to outplay White again like he did in Round 4 and in general his
results with Black here are very good. (Which is why I was surprised he went
for 5...b5 in Round 9.)5...Nxe4leads to very forcing variations, where
prepration and memory play a huge part. However, the problem is that Black has
to play very exact moves, and chances to win are almost non existent.5...b56.Bb3Bc5was played in Round 9. But why is there a need for this when 5..
.Be7 is serving him well?6.d3Aiming for a closed setup, White hopes for
a long game and plenty of manuevering and the reason White aims for the Closed
Ruy Lopez these days, is because it has become increasingly difficult to gain
anything in the Marshall Attack.6.Re1b57.Bb30-08.c3d59.exd5Nxd510.Nxe5Nxe511.Rxe5c6is the starting position of the Marshall Attack.
Black goes ...Bd6 and ..Qh4 next, gaining compensation for the sacrificed pawn
based on the fact that White's queenside pieces are still undeveloped.6...b57.Bb3d6I always thought that7...0-0is slightly more accurate to
keep open options of playing d7-d5 in one move, but still after8.Nc3d69.a3it just transposes to the game anyway.8.a3Reserving the a2-square
for the bishop and controlling the b4-square.8.a4is an active
alternative here and it leads to a slightly unusual position. I think the main
difference is b4 is not controlled and Black may consider gaining space withb48...0-09.Nc3Be6Clever Magnus! He never plays the exact same line
twice in a row. Just when Sergey is ready to face 9...Na5 again, as in Round 2,
Black chooses a different move.10.Nd510.Bxe6fxe6is an interesting
possibility. Black has firm control of the center, but at the same time he has
permanent doubled-pawns. Now I like the regrouping11.Ne2with the idea of
preventing any kingside attacks by posting a knight on g3. Not sure if going
for quiet positions like this is enough to beat the World Champion though.10...Nd4This move is well-known as Black's best here. It was first played
by Peter Svidler of Russia back in 2013. I myself remember spending many, many
hours of analysis work on this move back in 2014 (how fast time flies) however,
not ever really being able to use it. After that, I decided not to waste so
much time on lines that have a low chance of appearing in my games. I
sometimes think perhaps that's what Magnus does as well. He knows how to be
time-efficient. In this regard Anatoly Karpov is a good example, as he is
well-known for being the most practical of the World Champions. He didn't
really spend hundreds of hours researching the openings, but instead focused
on the skill of selecting and absorbing new ideas. Anyway let's go back to the
game.10...Bxd5is not recommended as in general you shouldn't give up
your bishop pair at an early stage of the game. After11.exd5Nd412.Nxd4exd413.Bd2White is slightly better.If10...Na5White does not
retreat his bishop, but instead goes11.Nxf6+Bxf612.Bxe6fxe6when the
doubled e-pawns give him a head start.13.b4Nc614.c3White is much
better.11.Nxd4exd412.Nxf6+I was a little surprised to see this move,
which is thought to be harmless, appear in this game.In my notes I had12.Nxe7+Qxe713.Bg5as the most critical and the only way to trouble Black.
For example:Bxb313...c514.f414.cxb3h614...Rac815.b4c516.f415.Bh4The pin is highly unpleasant and afterQe616.f4White has chances
for an attack on the kingside.c516...Nd717.f5Qe518.b417.b4Rfe817...Rac818.Rc118.f5!?18.Rc1Rac819.Re1c4∞18...Qe519.Bg3Qe720.bxc5dxc521.e5Nd522.f6Qe623.fxg7Ne324.Qd2Nxf125.Rxf1∞with a really complicated position. It's very possible though that my
notes are outdated. However it seems to me that Black still has to play
extremely accurately to equalize.12...Bxf613.Bxe6fxe614.f4Sergey
makes a natural move, while keeping all of his options open. Options such as
Qg4, g4-g5, or Rf3-h3. White is basically up a pawn on the kingside right now
(3 vs 2), so it is clear he should focus his attention there. But I thought
that Black showed the way to equalize after two top level games played in 2013,
when everyone was still using the chess engine 'Houdini' and computers and the
Internet were significantly slower. In those two games, Black made easy draws.14.a4c515.Qg4Qd716.axb5axb517.Bd2c418.Bb4Ra4!The best way
to force exchanges.19.Rxa4bxa420.dxc4Rc821.Qg321.Qe2Qc6=21...Rxc422.Bxd6Rxc2=and the game ended in a draw soon in Anand-Svidler,
Alekhine Memorial 2013.14.Qg4Qc815.f4e516.f5c5Black has a 'pawn
diamond' in the center and quick counterplay along the c-file. His king's
position is quite shaky but White does not have enough time to exploit this.17.Bg517.Rf3c418.Rh3Qe8∞prevents Qh5, and prepares Rc8-c2.17...Kh817...c418.Bxf6Rxf6=might be easier.18.Rf3c419.Rh319.Raf1might be a possible improvement to allow defence of the 2nd rank later
in some cases with R1f2.19...Bxg520.Qxg5Rf621.g4cxd322.cxd3Qc223.Rc1Qe2!24.Rc7Qe1+25.Kg2Qe2+26.Kg1Qe1+27.Kg2Qe2+28.Kg1
½-½ Leko -Caruana, Dortmund 2013.14...c5Preparing queenside
counterplay later with c5-c4.14...e5is an alternative, but perhaps
Magnus didn't want to close the center right away. After15.f5c516.Rf3c417.Rh3looks quite scary for Black, and ifQe818.g4!?with some
attacking chances.14...Qd715.Qg4c5just transposes to the game.15.Qg415.Rf3c416.Rh3can simply be met byRf7to meetOr16...Qd717.Qh5withg615...Qd715...Qc8!?like in Leko-Caruana was a good
option. Later after the opening of the c-file, a quick Qc2 is in the agenda.
After16.Bd216.f5exf517.exf5Be518.Qf3Ra7∞16...e517.f5c4
Black has sufficient counterplay.16.f5Releasing the tension and allowing
trades. I feel that Sergey no longer believes that White has much going on and
decides to loosen up the position. After all, in the event of an endgame Black
still has his doubled d-pawns to worry about (though it's hard for White to
make use of his better pawn structure).If White wants to keep fighting
chances then perhaps he should go for 16.Bd2 or 16.Rf3. So here I can
recommend for White16.Bd2c4And now17.b317.Rf3c3!18.bxc3dxc319.Be3d520.e5Be721.Rh3Rf717...Rac818.h3cxb319.cxb3Rc220.Bb4Be721.a4with a small advantage.16.Rf3c4Or16.b3c4and the
overall position of the picture does not change.16...Rae8Already, Black
has more than one way to equality.16...exf5Is just fine, to clarify the
situation right away.17.exf517.Rxf5Rf718.Bd2g6=17...Rae817...Rf718.Bd2Re818...c419.Rae1Be520.Rf2c4=18.Bd2And nowg6
to eliminate White's spearhead.19.h319.Bh6Bg720.Bxg7Rxf521.Rxf5gxf522.Qg3Qxg7=19...Be520.fxg6Qxg421.gxh7+Kxh722.hxg4Bg3!
And with control over the open file, Black should be able to play ...Re2 in
the near future. Control of the 2nd rank should give him enough compensation
for the pawn.Even16...e5although it's no longer necessary to go for
a complicated middlegame.17.Bd2c418.h3Protecting the queen on g4 so
he can take on f5 later with the rook. It also puts a pawn on a light-square
to ensure that in case they go into some deep endgame, Black cannot capture
this h-pawn with his bishop.18.fxe6Qxe619.Qxe6+Rxe620.Bb4Rd8
followed by posting a bishop on e5, hence guarding his doubled-pawns. The
endgame is level.18.b3exf519.exf5Be519...cxb320.cxb3Re5=20.Rf2cxb321.cxb3Rc8=in general, Black's play is quite easy and he has
many options to choose from in each move.18...c3!?The most unbalanced
continuation. Black disrupts the coordination of White's queenside before he
has the time to consolidate with b3 and a4.Many paths lead to equality. A
normal continuation would be18...Be519.fxe6Rxf1+20.Rxf1Qxe6=18...exf519.Rxf5and now Black just has to avoidg6?20.Rxf6when the
White queen is protected.18...e5∞also gives an unclear position, but
as I said, there is no more point to keeping the center closed, when Black has
easier alternatives.19.bxc3d5!?Perhaps trying to confuse White, but as
usual, Sergey keeps his nerve.19...dxc320.Be3d521.Bc5Rf7=20.Bg5What follows now is another series of
exchanges, where each side takes away material from the board consecutively.
The most obvious continuation is20.fxe6but afterQxe621.Qxe6+Rxe622.exd5Re2White has some tricky problems to solve.23.Rf2Rxf224.Kxf2Bg5+24...dxc325.Be1Rd8=is perhaps just equal too.25.Ke2Bxd226.Kxd2Rf2+27.Ke1Rxc2White's position looks scary, but according to the
calculator, White holds the balance with:28.c4!28.cxd4?Rxg229.Kf1Rh230.d6Kf7-+looks like a typical Carlsen grind.28.d6Kf7and the
difference in the activity of the kings will be crucial.20.c4!?
is fine, since the pawn on c3 was lost anyway. White now gets some stability
in the center and afterdxc420...dxe421.Bb421.Bb4Rf722.fxe6Qxe623.Qxe6Rxe624.Rf5=the ending is just equal.Though not20.exd5exf521.Qf3dxc322.Be3when White is slightly worse, as now it is he who
has the doubled-pawns.Re520...Bxg520...dxc321.Bxf6Rxf622.exd5exd523.a4=21.Qxg5dxe422.fxe6Rxf1+23.Rxf1Qxe624.cxd4e3!?Perhaps trying to put
psychological stress on the opponent. There is always pressure when you have
to make a draw from a defensive point of view. Now instead of making natural
moves, White has to remain alert that the passed e-pawn does not become
unstoppable.Instead of 24...e3, Black has at least three ways to make a
relatively easy draw.24...exd325.cxd3Qe3+25...h626.Qc5Qe3+27.Kh2Qxd3=is another way.26.Qxe3Rxe327.Rd1Re2!And because of the
control of the 2nd rank and counterplay on the a3-pawn, Black makes a draw by
straightforward moves.28.Rc128.d5Kf729.Rc1Ra2=28...Ra229.Rc3Kf7=Or24...Qd625.Qc525.Qe3Qxa325...Rd826.Qxd6Rxd627.dxe4Rxd428.e5Re429.Rf5Re3=as they say, all rook endings are drawn.25.Re125.Qg4Qe726.Qf3=25.d5?!is an example of how things
can go wrong for White.Qb626.Re1e2+27.Kh1Qf228.Qd2Re329.d6Kf7
and there is some problems with the White king immobile in the corner.25...h625...e226.Qd2g627.Qf427.d5=27...Qe728.Qd2=26.Qh5e227.Qf3a5!?Pushing the a-pawn one step closer to promotion, just in case a
pawn race happens down the line. Is Magnus still trying to win? Surely he's
hoping for Sergey to make a small mistake or better, a major blunder, but
really that doesn't happen often. Also, Black's problem is that his king lacks
a fortress, meaning it is going to be hard to escape from queen checks later
on.Almost all moves lead to a draw now.27...Qd628.Rxe2Qxd4+29.Kh1Rxe230.Qxe2Qa1+31.Kh2Qxa3=28.c328.d5Qe528...Qe729.d6Qxd630.Rxe2=29.d6=28...Qa2Protecting the e2-pawn while at the same
time threatening to take the guy on a3, or play Qd2, attacking the rook on e1.29.Qc6!But Black's queen escapade has left his rook and king a little
vulnerable too.Re629...Re730.Qc8+Kh731.Qf5+Hoping for perpetual
check.g632.Qf8=There is no way for Black to make progress, as he
cannot attack and defend at the same time.30.Qc8+Now is not the time to
grab pawns:30.Qxb5?Qd231.Qb1Qxc332.d5Qd4+33.Kh2Qxd5
and White's greed has got him nothing but trouble.30...Kh731.c4Qd232.Qxe6Qxe1+33.Kh2Qf234.Qe4+Draw. A quiet but well-played game by two
experienced players. Today they decided to go for the Closed Ruy Lopez with 6.
d3. Sergey played the same moves as in Round 2, but Magnus decided to deviate
with 9...Be6 just in case his opponent prepared something viscious against his
pet line with 9...Na5. What followed after 9...Be6 was a series of
liquidations, with each player trading three minor pieces each, though Black
had to accept doubled d-pawns. Moves 14-16 were critical to see if White can
prove an advantage, but in the end Sergey decided to release the tension with
16.f5. What followed was a series of exchanges and with even Magnus trying to
spice up the game a bit with 18...c3!? and 19...d5!? Sergey held fast,
exchanged a few more pieces, and in the end the game never really left the
boundaries of equality. Tomorrow is the last Round and let's see if Magnus'
sister's prediction that he will win his last two White games comes true.
Maybe this game is just the deep breath before the explosion.½–½
2025 European Championship with a German double victory and analyses by Bluebaum, Svane, Rodshtein, Yuffa, Navara and many more. Opening videos by Engel, King and Marin. Training sections “The Fortress”, “The Trap” and “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" etc.
2nd Move Anti-Sicilian Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12090 games from Mega 2025 or the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 874 are annotated.
Ruy Lopez Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12092 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 1276 are annotated.
€9.90
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