Opera Euro Rapid Finals: All square

by Klaus Besenthal
2/14/2021 – Wesley So scored a win on demand to tie the score in the first mini-match of the Opera Euro Rapid’s finals against Magnus Carlsen. Meanwhile, Teimour Radjabov got ahead on the scoreboard against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the match for third place. Report with instructive analysis by Karsten Müller. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

Radjabov beats Vachier-Lagrave

Much like their previous final match at the Skilling Open, Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So go into the second day of the confrontation with the score tied. While on that occasion the deciding mini-match was played on Carlsen’s 30th birthday, this time around the four-game ‘set’ will be played on Valentine’s Day.

Meanwhile, in the match for third place, Teimour Radjabov got ahead on the scoreboard against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, as he won twice with white and lost one of the four games to go into Sunday’s mini-match only needing a draw to get third place.

Opera Euro Rapid Chess 2021

Click to enlarge

Carlsen 2 : 2 So

In the first game of the finals, which ended in a draw, So missed a strong move in the opening. For our endgame expert Karsten Müller that was reason enough to start his analysis at this early stage.

Game two was won by Carlsen. Although the rook ending was materially equal, the world champion was able to exploit the advantages of his distant passed pawn. Karsten Müller showed the subtleties.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
1.e41,170,31954%2421---
1.d4949,86755%2434---
1.Nf3282,62856%2440---
1.c4182,73156%2442---
1.g319,74556%2427---
1.b314,34754%2427---
1.f45,91748%2377---
1.Nc33,81651%2384---
1.b41,75948%2379---
1.a31,22254%2404---
1.e31,07349%2409---
1.d395550%2378---
1.g466646%2361---
1.h444953%2374---
1.c343551%2426---
1.h328356%2419---
1.a411460%2465---
1.f39346%2435---
1.Nh39066%2505---
1.Na34262%2482---
"The story of the missed zwischenzugs" - This time I have decided to start from the very beginning: 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Qb3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.Bd2 Bxc5 8.Bg5 b6 9.e3 Bb7 10.Be2 Bb4 11.a3? This runs into a surprise shot. The computer favors 11.Rc1 11...Bxc3+? Wesley So misses a strong zwischenzug (German for in-between-move): 11...Nc5! 12.Qc2 12.Qxb4? a5 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Qb5 Bc6-+ 12...Be4 13.Qd1 Bxc3+ 14.bxc3 h6 15.Bh4 Rc8 and Black is for choice. 12.Qxc3 Ne4 13.Bxd8 Nxc3 14.Be7 Rfe8 15.Bd6 Nxe2 16.Kxe2 Rac8 17.Rac1 Nc5 18.Rhd1 Ne4 19.a4 f6 20.b3 a5 21.Ba3 d5 22.Nd4 dxc4 23.bxc4 Nc5 24.Nb5 Red8 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.f3 26.Nd6 Rc7 27.Nxb7 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Rxb7 29.Rd8+ Kf7 30.Ra8 Rb2+ 31.Kf3 Rb4 32.Rxa5 Rxc4= 26...Kf8 27.e4 Ke7 28.Ke3 e5 29.g4 Rb8 30.h4 Bc6 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.g5 Be8 33.gxf6+ gxf6 34.Rg1 Bf7 35.Rg7?! 35.Na7 Ke8 36.Nc6 Rd6 37.Nxa5 Ra6 38.Nb7 Rxa4 39.Nd6+ Kf8 40.Rb1 Bxc4 41.Rb8+ Ke7 42.Nxc4 Rxc4 43.Rb7+= 35...h5?! This just loses time. Again Wesley So misses a strong zwischenzug. This time 35...Kf8! was called for. It does not win, but it makes much more pressure as the following sample line shows: 36.Rg1 After 36.Rxh7? the rook is caught: Kg8 37.Rxf7 Kxf7 38.Na7 Rd4 39.Nb5 Rd7 40.Nc3 Ke6-+ 36...Bxc4 37.Rc1 Rd3+ 38.Kf2 Bb3 39.Rxc5 Bd1 40.f4 exf4 41.Rf5 Bxa4 42.Rxf6+ Ke7 43.Rf5 Bd1 44.Nc7 a4 45.Nd5+ Kd6 46.Nxf4 Rf3+ 47.Ke1 a3 48.Kxd1 a2 49.Rd5+ Kc6 50.Ra5 a1Q+ 51.Rxa1 Rf1+ 52.Ke2 Rxa1 53.Kf3 with a tablebase draw. But over the board Black can still try many things. 36.f4! Now too many pawns are exchanged and the game peters out to a draw: Kf8 37.Rg1 Bxc4 38.fxe5 fxe5 39.Rc1 Rd3+ 40.Kf2 Rd2+ 40...Bb3 41.Rxc5 Bxa4 42.Nc7= 41.Ke3 Re2+ 42.Kf3 Bd3 43.Rxc5 Rxe4 44.Nc3 Rxh4 45.Rxa5 Rc4 45...e4+ 46.Ke3 Rh3+ 47.Kd4 h4 48.Nxe4= 46.Nd1 Bc2 47.Ne3 Rf4+ 48.Ke2 Bxa4 49.Rxe5 h4 49...Be8 50.Rf5+ Rxf5 51.Nxf5= 50.Rf5+ Rxf5 51.Nxf5 Bd7 51...h3 52.Kf2 h2 53.Kg2= 52.Nxh4 Bg4+ 53.Nf3 Bxf3+ ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2862So,W2770½–½2021E22Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.1
So,W2770Carlsen,M28620–12021C58Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.2

Select an entry from the list to switch between games

After the third game had ended in a draw, Wesley So managed to level the score in the fourth encounter of the day. Carlsen was not at his best in this game.

So, W. (2770) - Carlsen, M. (2862)
[Besenthal, Klaus-Günther]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Bg6 13.Qb3 Ne7 14.0-0 c6 15.Bd3 Nf5 16.Qc2 

 

Up to this point, it has all been played before. 16...Nxc3 But this is new.

[Previously, 16...Nxe3 17.fxe3 Ng3 had been tried.]

17.bxc3 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Bxd3 19.Qxd3 f6 20.c4 Bc7?!

 

After this move Black is on the back foot.

[It was possible to play 20...fxe5 21.Nxe5 Qd6! with good play for Black, who can go c6-c5 next if White does nothing about it.]

21.cxd5 Qxd5

[21...cxd5?! 22.Qb3]

22.exf6 gxf6

 

[The alternative 22...Rxf6 23.e4 Qd7 24.e5! might not have pleased Carlsen.]

23.e4

[23.Nh4! was more precise here. Now after 23...Qd6 24.Nf5 Qh2+ 25.Kf2 the queen and bishop construction has lost its power.]

23...Qd7

[23...Qe6! was more precise. The knight on f3 moves to f5 anyway, where it will protect the d4-bishop. So it made sense for Black to increase the pressure on e4.]

24.Rad1 Rad8 25.Nh4 Kh8 26.Nf5 

 

Nevertheless, this position was still defensible for Black. 26...c5?! Not a good move.

[Better was, for example, 26...Qe6]

27.d5! Now White is dominating the board. Black has no more active options, while White could, for example, first advance the a-pawn.

27...Be5 Otherwise d5-d6 could be played.

28.Rb1 b6 29.Qc4 Rfe8 30.Kh1 Bd4 31.Rf4 

 

31...Rxe4! The world champion continues to fight — in search of activity, he gives up an exchange.

32.Rxe4 Qxf5 33.Rbe1 Rxd5? But this loses immediately.

 

[33...Qxd5 34.Re8+ Kg7 35.R1e7+ Kg6 36.Qd3+ would of course have been comfortably won for White as well; after 33...Be5! Black might also have lost in the long run, but at least the e-file would have been blocked temporarily.]

34.Rg4 h5 [34...Rd8 35.Qf7 or; 34...Be5?? 35.Qxd5 is no longer of any use here.]

35.Re8+ Kh7 36.Re7+ Kh8 37.Qc1!

 

A final attack in which everything just fit perfectly! 1-0

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Qb3 c5 6.dxc5 Na6 7.Bd2 Bxc5 8.Bg5 b6 9.e3 Bb7 10.Be2 Bb4 11.a3 Bxc3+ 12.Qxc3 Ne4 13.Bxd8 Nxc3 14.Be7 Rfe8 15.Bd6 Nxe2 16.Kxe2 Rac8 17.Rac1 Nc5 18.Rhd1 Ne4 19.a4 f6 20.b3 a5 21.Ba3 d5 22.Nd4 dxc4 23.bxc4 Nc5 24.Nb5 Red8 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.f3 Kf8 27.e4 Ke7 28.Ke3 e5 29.g4 Rb8 30.h4 Bc6 31.Rxd8 Rxd8 32.g5 Be8 33.gxf6+ gxf6 34.Rg1 Bf7 35.Rg7 h5 36.f4 Kf8 37.Rg1 Bxc4 38.fxe5 fxe5 39.Rc1 Rd3+ 40.Kf2 Rd2+ 41.Ke3 Re2+ 42.Kf3 Bd3 43.Rxc5 Rxe4 44.Nc3 Rxh4 45.Rxa5 Rc4 46.Nd1 Bc2 47.Ne3 Rf4+ 48.Ke2 Bxa4 49.Rxe5 h4 50.Rf5+ Rxf5 51.Nxf5 Bd7 52.Nxh4 Bg4+ 53.Nf3 Bxf3+ ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2862So,W2770½–½2021E21Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.1
So,W2770Carlsen,M28620–12021C58Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.2
Carlsen,M2862So,W2770½–½2021C67Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.3
So,W2770Carlsen,M28621–02021C53Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.4

Radjabov 2½ : 1½ Vachier-Lagrave 

The match between Radjabov and Vachier-Lagrave started with a draw by perpetual check in the first game. In the next game, we saw an exciting endgame, which also fascinated Karsten Müller. The endgame expert had good reasons to title his game commentary “Radjabov’s king”.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Qxd1+ 7.Kxd1 f6 8.h4 h5 9.e5 Nc6 10.Bd3 Kf7 11.Re1 Bg4 12.Kc2 Rd8 13.Bf4 Bh6 14.Bg3 Kg7 15.Be4 f5 16.Bxc6 bxc6 17.Ng5 Bxg5 18.hxg5 f4 19.Bxf4 Rhf8 20.Be3 Bf5+ 21.Kb3 Radjabov's king The king should be activated in the endgame: Rd5? This just loses time. 21...Be6+ should be played first and after 22.Ka3 Rd5 Black has practical drawing chances. 22.c4 Rd3+ 22...Rb8+ 23.Ka4 Bc2+ 24.b3+- 23.Ka4 Kf7 24.b3 24.Ka5!?+- is favored by the engines. 24...Rfd8 25.Ka5 Radjabov's king is completely safe and very active. Really fascinating! a6 26.Bc5 Ke6 27.Be3 27.Kxa6 wins as well. 27...Be4 28.f3 Bf5 29.Re2 Ra8 30.Rh1 Rdd8 31.Bc5 Rd3 32.Rh4 Rd1 33.g4 Radjabov opens the gates. Bd3 34.Reh2 Re1 35.gxh5? This is bad technique. Now I can not say, if White still has a win or not. More time is needed as matters are very deep. 35.f4! wins according to the computer as the following sample lines show: hxg4 36.Rxg4 Be2 36...Kf5 37.Rgh4 Rf1 38.Bxe7 Rxf4 39.R4h3 Be4 40.Bf6 Rc8 41.Rh7+- 37.Rg3 Bh5 38.Rd3 Rf1 39.Rhd2 Rxf4 40.Rd7 Rf7 41.Rxc7 Bf3 42.Rf2 Re8 43.a4 Kxe5 44.b4 Kf4 45.Rxc6 Kxg5 46.Be3+ Kh5 47.Rh2+ Kg4 48.Rxg6++- 35...Rxe5 36.b4 gxh5 37.Rxh5 Bxc4 38.Rh6+ Kd7 39.g6 Rg8 40.f4 Rf5 41.Rh7 Re8 42.Rd2+ After 42.a4 White's king is in a prison, e.g. Kc8 43.Rh8 43.R2h4 Kb7 44.R7h5 Rxh5 45.Rxh5 Rd8 46.Bxe7 Rd2 47.Bf6 Ra2 48.Rh1 Bb3 49.Ra1 Rxa1 50.Bxa1 Bc2 51.g7 Bb3= 43...Rxh8 44.Rxh8+ Kb7 45.g7 Rxf4 46.g8Q Bxg8 47.Rxg8 Rf5 48.Re8 Rh5 49.Rxe7 Rg5= 42...Kc8 43.g7 43.Rd4 Bg8 44.Rg7 Kb7 45.a4 Kb8 46.Kxa6 Be6 47.Re4 Bc8+ 48.Ka5 e5 49.Rxe5 Rfxe5 50.fxe5 Rxe5 51.Re7 Rxe7 52.Bxe7 Kb7= 43...Rxf4 44.Rh8 Bg8 45.Re2 Kd7? This runs into a beautiful combination. 45...Rf3! defends, e.g. 46.a4 Rf7 47.Rxe7 Rfxe7 48.Bxe7 Kb7 49.Bf8 Re5+ 50.Bc5 Re8= 46.Rxe7+! Rxe7 47.Rxg8 Rf3 48.Rd8+ Kxd8 49.g8Q+ Re8 50.Qg5+ 50.Qg5+ Kc8 51.Qg4+ Kb7 52.Qxf3+- 1–0
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Radjabov,T2765Vachier-Lagrave,M27841–02021A16Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.2

In the third game, MVL bounced back to tie the score, but the Frenchman was also the one making the last mistake, as a single blunder in game 4 cost him the mini-match:

 
Radjabov vs. Vachier-Lagrave - Game 4
Position after 39.Kd3

The passive 39...Re6 gave white a large advantage after 40.Bd5 Re7 41.Rxd6. In the diagrammed position, Vachier-Lagrave needed to play 39...Bh3, attacking the rook and giving way for his passive rook along the seventh file — 40.Rf2 Rce7 with counterplay.

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 Nf6 9.Nc2 0-0 10.Be2 Be6 11.Be3 Rc8 12.Qd2 Na5 13.b3 b5 14.0-0 bxc4 15.b4 Nc6 16.Rfd1 Ng4 17.Bxg4 Bxg4 18.f3 Be6 19.a4 f5 20.Rab1 Kh8 21.Nd5 Bh4 22.b5 axb5 23.axb5 c3 24.Nxc3 Na5 25.Nd5 Nc4 26.Qe2 f4 27.Bf2 Bxf2+ 28.Qxf2 Rb8 29.Rb4 Bxd5 30.Rxd5 Qc7 31.Rd3 Nb6 32.Rb1 Na4 33.Na3 Nc3 34.Rb3 Nxb5 35.Nxb5 Qc1+ 36.Qf1 Qc5+ 37.Qf2 Qc1+ 38.Qf1 Qc5+ 39.Qf2 Qc1+ ½–½
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Radjabov,T2765½–½2021B32Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.1
Radjabov,T2765Vachier-Lagrave,M27841–02021A15Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2784Radjabov,T27651–02021B32Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.3
Radjabov,T2765Vachier-Lagrave,M27841–02021A15Opera Euro Rapid KO 20213.4

Additional reporting by Carlos Colodro

Links

Klaus Besenthal is computer scientist, has followed and still follows the chess scene avidly since 1972 and since then has also regularly played in tournaments.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.