ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024
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66th Wijk aan Zee Tournament –
Jan. 10-25 |
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It was the day of the upset in Wijk aan Zee. The world's #2, 3, and 4 players all lost! Ivan Sokolov picked up his first win of the event by beating none other than Vladimir Kramnik in very fine fashion. Back in 1999 the Bosnian-Dutchman beat Garry Kasparov in Wijk, halting the 13th world champion's seven-game win streak.This win wasn't so dramatic since Kramnik had already lost twice. Now he's dropped to an even score.
Kramnik had coffee, Sokolov opened up a can of whupass.
Next to fall was Peter Svidler, who was convincingly wiped out by Bologan, who has scored 3.5/4 to move to a plus score. Finally Vishy Anand's first loss was inflicted by Veselin Topalov in excellent style. This was Anand's first loss in Wijk aan Zee since Judit Polgar beat him in the first round in 1998!! That's 76 Wijk supertournament games without a loss.
Unlucky number 77 is underway.
Adams ground down a fading Timman to move back into a tie for second with Leko, who drew with Bareev. They are both now just a half-poing behind Anand. The pairings for the final round make that half point look more like three-quarters. Anand has white against Sokolov while Leko and Adams have black against Kramnik and Svidler, respectively. Both of these duets have produced many sensational games in the past, but the final round is, sadly, rarely a major battleground these days. Of course we'd love to be wrong!
Adams uncorks a move that is exactly the sort of thing you don't want to see on the last move of time control. 40.Rc6!+- Qf7 [The rook is immune. 40...Qxc6 41.Nxc6+] 41.Na6+ Bxa6 42.Rxa6 Qb7 43.Rxa5 [43.Rad6] 43...Qb6 44.b4 Qc6 [44...Ra7 45.Rxa7 Kxa7 46.Rd5+-] 45.Kb2 [45.Qd1 Kc8 46.Rd6+-] 45...Rc7+/- 46.Rc2 e4 [46...Rb7!?+/-] 47.Qf1+- Re5 48.a4! [48.a4 Kb7 (48...Rb7 49.Rd2) 49.axb5+-] 1-0 |
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35.Qb1! Nice re-direction to the kingside. Topalov was down below ten minutes at this point while Anand had over 30. Knowing he was in some trouble Anand continued to play quickly to put pressure on his opponent. It didn't pay off. [35.c4 Be6 36.b7 Qb8+/-] 35...Qc3 [35...Be6 36.b7 (36.Rg3 Bxh4 37.Rg2 Qc6) 36...Qc3 37.Bd3 Rb8 38.Rg3 Bxh4? 39.Rg6] 36.Bd3 Rb8 37.Qg1 Bc4 [>=37...Bh5!?+/=] 38.Qg6+/- Bxh6 can't be stopped. 38...Bxd3 [38...Bf8 39.Rg3 Bxd3 40.cxd3 Qe1 41.Bxh6 Qf2+ 42.Kh3 Qf1+ 43.Kg4 Qf2 (43...gxh6?? 44.Kh5) 44.Kh5 Rb7] 39.Rg3 [39.cxd3?! Qc2+ 40.Kh1 Qd1+ 41.Qg1 Qxd3=] 39...Bf6 [39...Bf8 40.cxd3 Qe1 41.Bxh6 Qf2+ 42.Kh3 Qf1+ 43.Kg4+-] 40.cxd3 Rxb6?! The only way to prevent Bxh6, but the cure is worse than the disease. [40...Qe1 41.Bxh6! Qf2+ 42.Kh3 Qf1+ 43.Kg4 Qf2+-] 41.Bxb6 Qb2+ 42.Rg2 Qxb6 43.Rc2 Bd8 44.h5 [44.h5 Qe3 45.Qe8+ Kh7 46.Qxd8 Qxf3 47.Qh4 Qxd3 48.Rg2+-] 1-0 |
Standings after round twelve
All the games in PGN (no notes) GM group A • GM group B • GM group C
Schedule – (Rest days 12, 16, 21)
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