Shamkir R4: 3.5/4!
4/20/2015 – Wesley So continues his rampage in Shamkir. What a recovery after the "worst tournament of his life"!. The American beat Rauf Mamedov, who had managed to hold all his games until round four. The other games were draws, some more interesting than others, with Magnus Carlsen pushing against Michael Adams and Vladimir Kramnik playing a crazy sacrificial line against Vishy Anand.
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The Vugar Gashimov Memorial, is being held in Shamkir, Azerbaijan, from the 17th to the 26th of April, in memory of the great Vugar Gashimov, who passed away on the 10th of January 2014. The tournament consists of some of the strongest players in the World: reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen, former World Champions Viswanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik, as well as, Fabiano Caruana, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Michael Adams, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Rauf Mamedov will compete in this prominent event.
Round Four
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Michael | 2746 |
½-½
|
Carlsen Magnus | 2863 |
| Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
½-½
|
Caruana Fabiano | 2802 |
| Giri Anish | 2790 |
½-½
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 |
| Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
½-½
|
Anand Viswanathan | 2791 |
| So Wesley | 2788 |
1-0
|
Mamedov Rauf | 2651 |
Daniel King shows the highlights of round 4
Adams, Michael ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus
A very interesting game. Carlsen essayed his 3...g6 Spanish we had previously played against Nakamura in the Sinquefield Cup last year. Black's position was without a doubt preferable, but breaking through was not easy. Carlsen sacrificed an exchange to get a powerful knight on f3, but it seems as if Adams' position held together, even if it did look uncomfortable.
Carlsen pushed for a win but couldn't find a way to break through
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ Caruana, Fabiano
Two of the top Grunfeld experts in the World playing each other. MVL tried to surprise Caruana with a quick Na4, but Black was well prepared. He obtained an easy equality and the game evolved into a very drawn endgame.
Solid! MVL had four draws, same as Anand.
Giri, Anish ½-½ Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
A Slav defense in which Mamedyarov set up his defenses based on a light-squared blockade. It was quite successful, and Giri never broke through.
Anish Giri has yet to find a win in Shamkir
Kramink, Vladimir ½-½ Anand, Viswanathan
A complicated Semi-Slav, but it seemed that Anand had everything under control.
[Event "Vugar Gashimov Mem 2015"] [Site "Shamkir AZE"] [Date "2015.04.20"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D43"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2791"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2015.04.17"] [SourceDate "2015.02.07"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. g3 {Kramnik had used this with success against Giri last year in Qatar.} dxc4 6. Bg2 Nbd7 7. O-O b5 8. e4 Bb7 9. e5 Nd5 10. Ng5 {If White doesn't play actively he runs the risk of simply being down a pawn.} h6 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Qh5+ Ke7 13. Ne4 Qe8 14. Bg5+ N5f6 { this is the first time this move has been since in GM-level play.} (14... hxg5 15. Qxh8 Kd8 16. Qg8 Qg6 {was Lalith-Ding Liren from the India-China Summit, 2015.}) 15. exf6+ gxf6 16. Bxf6+ (16. Qxe8+ Rxe8 17. Bf4 {keeps some pressure, but with the queens off one has to wonder how dangerous this is for Black.}) 16... Nxf6 17. Nxf6 Qxh5 18. Nxh5 Kf7 {White has some pressure on the diagonal, against the e-pawn and it seems like he is clearly better. However, upong a deeper inspection it is not so easy to play for either side. Black's pair of bishops and counterplay is also quite real.} 19. a4 a6 20. axb5 axb5 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. Ra1 Be7 23. Nf4 Bb7 24. Ra7 Rb8 25. Be4 Kf6 26. Ng6 c5 $1 {Black can't sit back and wait until White gets in f4 and Ne5 and every move he wants to make.} 27. Rxb7 (27. Bxb7 Kxg6 $15) 27... Rxb7 28. Bxb7 Kxg6 29. dxc5 Bxc5 { oposite colored bishops, the rest is dead drawn.} 30. Ba6 Bd4 31. Bxb5 Bxb2 32. Bxc4 e5 33. f3 Kf6 34. Kg2 Bc1 35. Bd3 Bb2 36. Bc4 Bc1 37. Bd3 Bb2 38. Bc4 1/2-1/2
Dome deep opening understanding by Vishy Anand
You can learn more about this opening by looking at Igor Stohls' article in CBM 165.
|
So, Wesley 1-0 Mamedov, Rauf
[Event "Vugar Gashimov Mem 2015"] [Site "Shamkir AZE"] [Date "2015.04.20"] [Round "4.4"] [White "So, Wesley"] [Black "Mamedov, Rauf"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B38"] [WhiteElo "2788"] [BlackElo "2658"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2015.04.17"] [SourceDate "2015.02.07"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 d6 {The Maroczy isn't seen at the top level very often. Mainly because most of the time Black ends up suffering for no real reason.} 7. f3 {Not the most common move order, but it makes sense. It avoids some of the quick Nxd4 ideas.} Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Be2 Nh5 $5 {A typical idea in these structures, though not in this specific move. f4 is a little lose and changing pieces is almost always good.} 10. g3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be6 12. f4 {I have the feeling taking on d4 would have given better rpactical chances, but the computer disagrees with me.} Nf6 13. O-O Rc8 14. b3 {White has a nice space advantage everywhere.} Qa5 15. f5 Bd7 16. a3 e6 17. b4 Qd8 18. fxg6 $1 (18. fxe6 Bxe6 $1 {does not have the same effect.}) 18... fxg6 (18... hxg6 19. e5 dxe5 20. Bxe5 $16 {and there are problems with the knight on f6 lacking defense.}) 19. e5 $1 (19. Bxa7 {seems to be possible, but it hands the initiative over to Black after} Bc6 {and even though it shouldn't compensate a full pawn, it is, from a practical point of view, better to keep material even and a strong position.}) 19... dxe5 20. Bxe5 Bc6 21. b5 Ne4 22. Qxd8 $1 Rcxd8 (22... Rfxd8 {was a better choice. The endgame looks bad, but it might be holdable.} 23. bxc6 Nxc3 24. cxb7 Nxe2+ 25. Kg2 Rb8 26. Bxb8 Rxb8 27. Rad1 $16) 23. Rxf8+ Rxf8 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Rc1 Nxc3 26. Rxc3 Bd7 {Material is even, but Black's position is horrible. White's pawns on the queenside are fast and Black's e-pawn is more of a weakness than anything.} 27. c5 Rc8 28. a4 Kf6 29. Kf2 Ke5 30. Ke3 Be8 31. Bf3 $16 Rc7 32. Kd3 g5 33. Kc4 h5 34. a5 g4 35. b6 $1 axb6 36. axb6 Rd7 37. Re3+ Kf6 38. c6 {The b ishop has been attacked for a few moves, but Black has no time to take it. White's pawns simply march forward.} bxc6 39. Bxc6 Rd8 40. Bxe8 Rxe8 41. b7 (41. b7 Rb8 42. Rb3 Ke7 43. Kc5 Kd7 44. Kb6 {is very obviously lost.}) 1-0
Wesley So is the clear leader with 3.5/4 (+3!)
Replay Round Four Games
Select from the dropdown menu to replay the games
Photos taken from the official website
Standings
Schedule
Round 1
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
1-0
|
Adams Michael | 2746 |
| So Wesley | 2788 |
1-0
|
Giri Anish | 2790 |
| Mamedov Rauf | 2651 |
½-½
|
Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
| Anand Viswanathan | 2791 |
½-½
|
Carlsen Magnus | 2863 |
| Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 |
½-½
|
Caruana Fabiano | 2802 |
Round 2
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Michael | 2746 |
½-½
|
Caruana Fabiano | 2802 |
| Carlsen Magnus | 2863 |
1-0
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 |
| Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
½-½
|
Anand Viswanathan | 2791 |
| Giri Anish | 2790 |
½-½
|
Mamedov Rauf | 2651 |
| Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
½-½
|
So Wesley | 2788 |
Round 3
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| So Wesley | 2788 |
1-0
|
Adams Michael | 2746 |
| Mamedov Rauf | 2651 |
½-½
|
Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
| Anand Viswanathan | 2791 |
½-½
|
Giri Anish | 2790 |
| Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 |
½-½
|
Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
| Caruana Fabiano | 2802 |
0-1
|
Carlsen Magnus | 2863 |
Round 4
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Michael | 2746 |
½-½
|
Carlsen Magnus | 2863 |
| Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
½-½
|
Caruana Fabiano | 2802 |
| Giri Anish | 2790 |
½-½
|
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 |
| Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
½-½
|
Anand Viswanathan | 2791 |
| So Wesley | 2788 |
1-0
|
Mamedov Rauf | 2651 |
Round 5
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamedov Rauf | 2651 | - | Adams Michael | 2746 |
| Anand Viswanathan | 2791 | - | So Wesley | 2788 |
| Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 | - | Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
| Caruana Fabiano | 2802 | - | Giri Anish | 2790 |
| Carlsen Magnus | 2863 | - | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
Round 6
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Michael | 2746 | - | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
| Giri Anish | 2790 | - | Carlsen Magnus | 2863 |
| Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 | - | Caruana Fabiano | 2802 |
| So Wesley | 2788 | - | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 |
| Mamedov Rauf | 2651 | - | Anand Viswanathan | 2791 |
Round 7
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anand Viswanathan | 2791 | - | Adams Michael | 2746 |
| Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 | - | Mamedov Rauf | 2651 |
| Caruana Fabiano | 2802 | - | So Wesley | 2788 |
| Carlsen Magnus | 2863 | - | Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
| Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 | - | Giri Anish | 2790 |
Round 8
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adams Michael | 2746 | - | Giri Anish | 2790 |
| Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 | - | Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 |
| So Wesley | 2788 | - | Carlsen Magnus | 2863 |
| Mamedov Rauf | 2651 | - | Caruana Fabiano | 2802 |
| Anand Viswanathan | 2791 | - | Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 |
Round 9
| Name | Rtg | Res. | Name | Rtg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mamedyarov Shakhriyar | 2754 | - | Adams Michael | 2746 |
| Caruana Fabiano | 2802 | - | Anand Viswanathan | 2791 |
| Carlsen Magnus | 2863 | - | Mamedov Rauf | 2651 |
| Vachier-Lagrave Maxime | 2762 | - | So Wesley | 2788 |
| Giri Anish | 2790 | - | Kramnik Vladimir | 2783 |
Commentary on Playchess
One of the major tournaments of the year, you can count on www.playchess.com to deliver quality commentary every round!
| Day | Date | Round | English | German |
| Friday | April 17 | Round 1 | GM Daniel King | GMs Oliver Reeh/Dorian Rogozenco |
| Saturday | April 18 | Round 2 | GM Simon Williams | GM Klaus Bischoff |
| Sunday | April 19 | Round 3 | GM Simon Williams | GM Klaus Bischoff |
| Monday | April 20 | Round 4 | GM Daniel King | GM Klaus Bischoff |
| Tuesday | April 21 | Round 5 | GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov | GM Klaus Bischoff |
| Wednesday | April 22 | Free | ||
| Thursday | April 23 | Round 6 | GM Daniel King | GM Klaus Bischoff |
| Friday | April 24 | Round 7 | GM Simon Williams | GM Klaus Bischoff |
| Saturday | April 25 | Round 8 | GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov | GMs Oliver Reeh/Karsten Müller |
| Sunday | April 26 | Round 9 | GM Daniel King | GM Klaus Bischoff |
English Commentators
LinksThe games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 13 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |
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Discussion and Feedback
Join the public discussion or submit your feedback to the editors
Magnus thanks Anand. Noteworthy that the previous FIVE meetings, Vachier was able to draw Carlsen -- not this time!
In everything there is always advantage and disadvantage. If Wesley plays for the Philippines, the moral support is strong but the financial support is weak. If there is financial support "anywhere", I'd rather choose the Philippines (for him), because he is a Filipino..And he said that he's always be a Filipino by citizenship and by heart.
expect a very long article from ramirez because wesley lost his game against anand...
Winning but not yet won. But Anand just found the best move, 39 Qh3
Wesley So has that certain special something that makes even lowly patzers like me sit up and pay attention. Fischer had it, Shirov, Morozevich, Topalov... but Kramnik, Anand, Carlsen don't have it. A certain derring-do, a greater willingness to take risks, to explore branches of the tree that look unpromising.
An entertaining player, hope he has a long career.
An entertaining player, hope he has a long career.
Anand is currently bringing So back down to Earth. He's got a winning endgame against him right now.
I would agree there is very little bias at Chessbase. It's a good mag. A few articles ago, Ramirez wrote that So had a "wonderful rebound" in the US champ. How is that biased? On the other hand, some Filipinos are stirring things up, they are almost jingoist if that is the right word -- fanatically patriotic.
Why don't you confine yourselves to discussing the play, instead of expecting the journalists to gush praise for Wesley all the time?
Why don't you confine yourselves to discussing the play, instead of expecting the journalists to gush praise for Wesley all the time?
@eja616 I agree. 1st~4th rounds were two lower rated GMs the full points were expected. Brit GM Adams was last hour substitute for Azeri GM Radjabof. Dutch GM Geri was the victim of its own underestimation. Ahead in 5th~9th rounds higher rated GMs are schedule. GMs: Anand, Caruana, Shakhriyar, Carsen, and MLV. Gashimov Memorial is not the Grand Prix or World Cup tourney where world champion challenger is crown. GM So is immigrant and USCF member. US GM Ramirez Chessbase recent report is fine.
Shamkir looks very well organized, it attracts the best players in the world so why does the Gashimov memorial always ask people from the street to ask the post match questions. If you ever get time, look back at past years and this years too and listen to the questions from the chess media lol They are awful . It made me laugh when Rauf was asked a another stupid question , he says, 'I dont even know how to answer that' Rauf did look visibly annoyed by his loss before the questions even were asked. Shamkir must import some decent post match questions from somewhere else.
Ok we get the point samvils, but that is just silly. You can't enjoy that the title of the chessbase Round 4 article is "3.5/4!" but have to indulge your paranoia? It does readers the credit of knowing what it means. Would u have complained if the headline had said "7!" and not "Caruana in the Sinquefield Cup in St Louis: 7/7!" (p.s. have you considered that you may be more 'biased' than Ramirez? From the way you write, it doesn't seem so.)
imagine my frustration i waited for this article to be good but this what i found out. wesley name not even mentioned in the title of the article??..
There is no bias. I'm rooting for Wesley too but I know that until he actually wins more games and perhaps even this tournament, the star of the show is still Magnus Carlsen. Not only because he is the winner last year, but also because he is the world champion and is obviously more popular than Wesley. It is normal for reporters to keep following whoever is most popular - it's how the media works. So just wait until Wesley makes a name for himself, and he will be talked about more not only by this reporter, but by many who follows chess.
Please someone tell me how this article is biased, I fail to see any bias anywhere.
America. Historically the land of opportunity. So can kick ass. If America cant produce someone that can beat Carlsen, they are wise to do the only next logical thing- import. Caruana sounds like an American through and through tho.
chessbase this is not the first time this author showed his dislike to wesley so. i have been observing him since tatasteel tournament.
chessbase should give this bias author a lecture...
Biased opinionated articles by author. When his favorites don't win, the content is dry like this one. Time for another author to step up?
70% draw rate. Yawn.... Only redeeming factor is Wesley So.
@ alekhina
I do not share your views that Filipinos are committed to support Wesley So in his chess undertakings. Please go to So's forum and you will see why. There you will see Filipino's crab-mentality at its best. Why do you think So left the Philippines chess federation. It was headed by thieves like Prospero Pichay who is now indicted for buying a distressed bank using government's money. So is better staying in the US. He made the right decision. Now he is in the Top 10 after playing for US Federation and hopefully will challenge Carlsen soon.
I do not share your views that Filipinos are committed to support Wesley So in his chess undertakings. Please go to So's forum and you will see why. There you will see Filipino's crab-mentality at its best. Why do you think So left the Philippines chess federation. It was headed by thieves like Prospero Pichay who is now indicted for buying a distressed bank using government's money. So is better staying in the US. He made the right decision. Now he is in the Top 10 after playing for US Federation and hopefully will challenge Carlsen soon.
alenjandro ramirez vs wesley so
This Alejandro Guy is clearly jealous of wesley playing for the US flag, Its understandable among st immigrants. If you can notice during the forfieture of wesley in the US Championship, he seems to agree with the decision of Tony Rich.
It's clear that So has a great natural talent. It's a shame that the National Chess Federation of the Philippines could not provide necessary support for him to reach his goal of becoming one of the top ten chess players in the world, which they would never have the chance to have such a player in the foreseeable future anymore. I don't know whether they regret it or not. I hope So surrounds himself with supportive individuals, including a great coach and chess partners to open the door for the World Championship, maybe in the next two or three
years.
years.
This article was clearly rushed. That's all.
If Carlsen won, this would have been a long article by Alejandro Ramirez. But since Wesley won, it's just another short article. Ramirez could be a big adoring fan of Carlsen, or he simply doesn't like the Filipino.
Oh, please. From Wikipedia: "In modern English, 'Americans' generally refers to residents of the United States; among native English speakers this usage is almost universal, ..." Unlike terms for some other nationalities or cultures, the term "American" is more inclusive.
Sorry to say but Alejandro Ramirez seems to be so aloof to be calling Wesley So American when he is Filipino by citizenship but only plays only for the US flag. So sad to witness this arrogant ignorance. Anyway, Wesley you make us Filipinos happy again.Go Wesley go!
Wesley seems to be really motivated since his loss to Akobian.
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