
Shanghai Masters 2010
The
Shanghai Masters is taking place from September 3rd to 8th, 2010, to coincide
with the WorldExpo in Shanghai, China.
The participants are in Shanghai are Vladimir Kramnik, Levon Aronian, Alexei
Shirov, Wang Hao. The two winners will join Viswanathan Anand and Magnus Carlsen
for the second (final) half, which will be held a month later in the “Atrio
de Alhóndiga Bilbao” in Bilbal, Spain.
Spectators in Shanghai
Before we start a word about the lack of spectators. Our colleague David Llada,
who is in Shanghai, wrote to us to explain: "The Bilbao organizers have
chosen to host the games in very iconic places, like the Spanish pavilion at
the World Expo in the present case. The disadvantage is that for security reasons
the inside areas of the pavilions are very restrictive, and that doesn't help
to bring spectators to the playing hall. We hear there will be a different venue
for the last three rounds. But in any case they preferred the symbolism of playing
in very famous places, with the hope that it would attract the press and the
authorities, rather than in more crowded but second class venues. I think it
has paid off for them, so far. The event has made it to CCTV5, the Chinese Sports
channel, which is like making it to CNN!"
Round four
Round 4: Monday, 6th September 2010 |
Levon Aronian |
½-½ |
Wang Hao |
Alexei Shirov |
1-0 |
Vladimir Kramnik |
It had to be deeply satisfying for Shirov, who had not won a serious game against
Kramnik since 2003, losing only two it is true, to finally defeat him, and in
style no less. The two played what has to be one of the oddest Nimzo-Indians
one could dig up, looking more like the four-pawn variation in the Alekhine
than anything. Poor Nimzowitsch would have been screaming that this was not
the plan! Fight for the e4 square? White had pawns on c4-d5-e5-f4 here, though
there was still plenty of hypermodern spirit to be had by undermining that advanced
phalanx from all sides.
Shirov managed to stick his pawn on e6, but it seemed doomed to fall with no
support and any number of black pieces to pick it off when they wished. Ironically,
Kramnik took so much time preparing that perfect moment that it eventually became
a linchpin he could not unlatch. On move 17 the Russian played d5, a move all
engines screamed blunder at, but deeper analysis showed this was undoubtedly
a horizon effect as the alternatives didn’t offer any respite. In the
end, his ‘blunder’ may simply have been the lesser of evils. Shirov
will probably give his final verdict in the next issue of Chessbase Magazine.
The sheer complexities caused both players to consume their clocks greedily,
and a missed move by the Spaniard allowed Kramnik to surprise him with a tactic
that offered genuine hopes of survival. He faltered just after though, and Shirov
had the last word when a last-minute blunder ended the game for Kramnik, albeit
in a very ugly situation as it were.

Alexei Shirov and Vladimir Kramnik at the start of the game. In the background
Bilbao organiser Juan Carlos Fernández with Tian Hongwei, Vice General
Secretary of the Chinese Chess Association
Shirov,A (2749) - Kramnik,V (2780) [E20]
Shanghai Masters Shanghai CHN (4), 06.09.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 b5 6.e4 0-0 7.e5 Ne8 8.f4
Hard to believe old Nimzowitsch had this in mind when he hatched his opening
idea, the Nimzo-Indian. Black's idea is still quite hypermodern though, and
is remniscent of the four-pawn variation of the Alekhine, where white is encouraged
to push, push, push, and see his pawn center get ambushed from all sides. Note
that at the highest level, Mamedyarov, one of the elite's most adventurous openings
players, essayed this against Fressinet, though the French player took on c4
instead of castling. 8...exd5. This move leaves played opening theory,
but once again is part of analysis found in the Rybka4 opening book. Shirov
is clearly familiar with it, as his sacrificial play against Aronian, officially
a TN, was also in it. The book recommends 8...bxc4 instead of the played
exd5, though both are in it. 9.cxd5 d6 10.Nf3 c4. This is no longer part
of the analysis. 10...Nc7 had been the indicated continuation. 11.a4.
Two can play at the undermining game. 11...Bg4 12.axb5 Nd7 13.e6 fxe6
14.dxe6 Nb6. Black feels no hurry to take on e6, as it cannot be protected
at the moment, and instead secures a good square for the knight where it supports
c4 and d5. 15.Be2 Nc7. Another well placed piece where it exerts a multifunctional
role of attacking e6 and b5 while also supporting an eventual d5. 16.Ng5.
Not the best, though it looks attractive. White cannot really protect e6,
and really needs to look after his development before his weaknesses become
his downfall. 16.0-0 was better, after which play might continue 16...Bxc3
(16...d5 17.Nd4 Bxe6 18.Be3 is good for White.) 17.bxc3 Nxb5
18.Bd2 Bxe6 19.Ng5 and the position is balanced.
16...Bxe2? Chess engines are oblivious to this error, even approving
it, declaring Black's next move as the real blunder. Analysis indicates this
is in fact a horizon effect, therefore the error came earlier. This was Black's
chance to rid himself of the e6 pawn and achieve a dynamic equality with 16...Bxe6!
17.0-0 (Or 17.Nxe6 Nxe6 18.0-0 d5 19.f5 Nc7 20.Be3) 17...d5 18.Be3.
17.Qxe2 d5!? This move is flagged by the engines as a big mistake,
mostly because of a horizon effect, and may actually have been the lesser of
two evils. The initially suggested improvement 17...Qe7 still runs into
serious problems after 18.0-0
Analysis diagram
Now if Black tries to boot the knight with 18...h6? White has the very strong
sacrificial continuation: 19.f5! hxg5 20.Ne4 d5 (20...Nxe6? 21.Nxg5) 21.Bxg5
Qe8 22.Ng3 Be7 (not 22...c3? 23.bxc3 Bxc3 and White gets a strong
attack after 24.Rac1 Bd4+ 25.Kh1 Rc8 26.Qg4) 23.Qg4! and White has a
strong attack. For example 23...Qd8 24.Bxe7 Qxe7 25.Nh5 and White is not only
threatening f6, but will also bring the other rook into play with Ra3-f3 with
deadly effect.
The alternative 18...Bc5+ 19.Kh1 h6 also runs into 20.f5! hxg5 21.Ne4 Qe8 22.Nxc5
(22.Bxg5?! would let Black neutralize the attack by returning the piece
with 22...Nxe6! 23.fxe6 Qxe6 24.Rfe1 and Black should survive.) 22...dxc5
23.Bxg5 Ncd5 24.f6! Nxf6 25.e7! Rf7 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Rae1 and Black is lost.
The threat of Qg4 and Rf3 are fatal.
18.0-0 Qf6 19.f5 Rae8 20.Rxa7?
A serious mistake that gives Black chances to survive. 20.Be3! would
prevent the tactical trick played in the game. 20...Nxe6! 21.Nxe6 Rxe6! 22.Qf2.
The point is that White loses if he takes with 22.fxe6 because of 22...Bc5+!
23.Kh1 Qxf1+ 24.Qxf1 Rxf1#. 22...Qe5? A mistake now, placing the wrong
piece on e5, but time trouble was already looming its nasty head. Black
had to play 22...Re5 23.Be3 (23.g4? would be a serious mistake now due to 23...d4
24.Na4 (24.Qxd4 Bc5) 24...Nxa4 25.Rxa4 Rxb5 and Black is better.) 23...Rxe3
24.Qxe3 d4 25.Qe6+ Qxe6 26.fxe6 dxc3 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.bxc3 Bxc3 29.Kf2 and Black
should make it. 23.g4 Rg6 24.Qg2 Rgf6 25.Bf4 Qd4+ 26.Qf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 d4
28.Ne4 R6f7 29.Rxf7 Rxf7 30.Ra1 h6 31.Be5 d3 32.Bd4 Rb7 [32...Nd7 33.b6!]
33.h4 Bf8 34.Rc1 Nd5 35.Rxc4 Rxb5 36.Rc8 Kf7 37.g5
37...Ne7?? A final blunder that ends it on the spot, but time trouble
had its hand. 37...d2 would have offered better chances, but with seconds
on the clock, it was far from obvious. 38.Nxd2 and now Kramnik could have played
38...Ne7. 38.Nd6+ 1-0. [Click
to replay]

Alexei Shirov and Vladimir Kramnik in the press conference after their
game
Aronian and Wang Hao followed the Open Catalan played by Giri in NH Chess,
though the Chinese player avoided the line that had brought Nielsen his last
round victory against the young Dutchman. Aronian was unable to break Hao’s
position despite refusing a repetition at move 32 and eventually acquisced on
move 50.

Levon Aronian vs Wang Hao, with Juan Carlos Fernández, Tian Hongwei
and the arbiter

The game under way, after Wang's move 4...Be7
Aronian,L (2783) - Wang Hao (2724) [E06]
Shanghai Masters Shanghai CHN (4), 06.09.2010
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bg2 0-0 6.0-0 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7
9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nc3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 c6 14.Qb3.
So far the players are following Nielsen-Giri, in which Giri lost in the last
round of NH Chess, after 14...Ra7, when the Danish player improved with 15.Ne4!
Bxd4 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Qd3 eventually winning the game. 14...Qc7 15.Rfd1
Rd8. 15...a5 is the known move. 16.Ne4 Nd7 17.a5 Be7 18.e3 Rab8 19.Nd2
Nf6 20.Nc4 Ne8 21.Nb6 Nd6 22.Rac1 Nb5 23.Be2 Qd6 24.Qa2 Bf6 25.Bc4 Qb4 26.Bb3
Nd6 27.Kg2 Kh8 28.Bc2 Nc8 29.Nc4 Nd6 30.Nb6 Nc8 31.Nc4 Nd6
32.Bd3. Aronian declines the repetition and draw, still hoping to crack
his Chinese opponent. 32...Nxc4 33.Rxc4 Qe7 34.Be4 Rd7 35.Rc3 g6 36.Qc4 Kg7
37.Rcd3 Rbd8 38.f4 h5 39.h4 Qd6 40.Kf2 Be7 41.Qc3 Qb4 42.Qxb4 Bxb4 43.Ra1 f5
44.Bf3 Kf7 45.Ra4 Bd6 46.Rc4 Bc7 47.Rc5 Bd6 48.Rc4 Bc7 49.Rc5 Bd6 50.Rc4 1/2-1/2.
[Click to replay]
Photos by the Chinese Chess Federation
Bilbao system scores
Player
| games
| wins
| draws
| losses
| points |
Alexei Shirov |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
8 |
Levon Aronian |
4 |
1 |
3 |
0 |
6 |
Vladimir Kramnik |
4 |
0 |
3 |
1 |
3 |
Wang Hao |
4 |
0 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Traditional:
Impressions of the city
By Josu Fernandez
The skyline of Shanghai, the most populous city in China and one of the
most populous in the world

A view from the ferry on the Yangtze river, which flows through Shanghai

Spectacular skyscrapers, typical of modern-day China

Dizzy hights and daring architectural forms

More traditional: Lu Bo Lang, Shanghai's most famous restaurant
The specialties of Lu Bo Lang are dim sum, Shark’s fin (boo!), crab meat
and well fried fish, as well as jellyfish with mixed sauce. The preserved vegetables
with green beans was a favorite of Chelsea Clinton, who ate three portions at
when she dined in the restaurant. Other dishes: baked cuttle fish, marinated
chicken in brine, sautéed fried river shrimp, and bean curd with crab
meat.

The Yuyuan Gardens, one of the most lavish and finest in the region

Today's winner Alexei Shirov doing an interview in front of the Shanghai skyline
The skyline at night (scroll to the right for a full view)
Schedule and results
Round 1: Friday, 3rd September 2010 |
Wang Hao |
0-1 |
Levon Aronian |
Vladimir Kramnik |
½-½ |
Alexei Shirov |
|
Round 2: Saturday, 4th September 2010 |
Levon Aronian |
½-½ |
Alexei Shirov |
Wang Hao |
½-½ |
Vladimir Kramnik |
|
Round 3: Sunday, 5th September 2010 |
Vladimir Kramnik |
½-½ |
Levon Aronian |
Alexei Shirov |
1-0 |
Wang Hao |
|
Round 4: Monday, 6th September 2010 |
Levon Aronian |
½-½ |
Wang Hao |
Alexei Shirov |
1-0 |
Vladimir Kramnik |
|
Round 5: Friday, 3rd September 2010 |
Levon Aronian |
|
Vladimir Kramnik |
Wang Hao |
|
Alexei Shirov |
|
Round 6: Friday, 3rd September 2010 |
Alexei Shirov |
|
Levon Aronian |
Vladimir Kramnik |
|
Wang Hao |
|
Links
The 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 the free PGN reader ChessBase
Light, which gives you immediate access. You can also use the program
to read, replay and analyse PGN games. New and enhanced: CB Light 2009! |
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