Sinquefield Rd9: Wesley So takes first

2016 Sinquefield Cup The 2016 Sinquefield Cup is an elite international event, featuring 10 of the strongest chess players in the world. Over the course of nine rounds, these competitors will battle for $300,000 in prize money (first: $75,000, second: $50,000, third: $40,000, last: $15,000) plus points toward the Grand Chess Tour and the coveted title of 2016 Sinquefield Cup Champion. The venue is the Chess Club and Scholastic Center at 4657 Maryland Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63108. Tickets cost $10 per round or $80 for all ten rounds. Full information available at the official web site.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators worldwide are expected to enjoy the all-star commentary team of GM Yasser Seirawan, GM Maurice Ashley and WGM Jennifer Shahade as they provide keen insights and analysis, in depth player interviews and witty discussions. Commentary is also available on the CCSCSL YouTube Channel, Livestream and Twitch.

Participants

Rounds start at 1 p.m. local time (CDT), which is UTC-5, 20:00h Europe, 23:30 India.
Check the start time at your location here.

Round nine

Photos by Lennart Ootes from official site

Sponsor and patron Rex Sinquefield is also always a good sport and self-effacing in his interviews

If the final round, and ending of the tournament, were to be described in a word, it would be ‘anticlimactic’. By no means is this meant as a slur of Wesley So, who won the great Sinquefield Cup as sole first and a magnificent feather to his cap, or to the other players, all the very cream of the crop in the chess world. However, as reader Arthur Nugent put it, “Yes, everyone is close in rating but boring results!”

The round was hardly denuded of excitement, either in anticipation before the start, or during the round after the action had started, but somehow, despite all the rumbling and spewing the promised volcanic eruption never seemed to take place. Three Berlins in five games no doubt played a role in this.

Wesley So took first and that is what counts!

In the first game, Wesley So faced MVL who had black, and the foremost question was whether the Frenchman would be able to defeat the leader to bring him down to his size and set up a potential tiebreak. This never seemed to happen. So played the Berlin, and though the endgame did produce a few tactical sparks, these were more along the lines of handwaving from the famous illusionist David Copperfield than genuine magic. When they shook hands, it came as no surprise to anyone.

There is no question MVL came with the intention of changing the fate of the event, but it did not work out

Right behind So, just a half point away, were three players: Aronian, Anand, and Topalov. Should any of them win, they would draw level with Wesley and a tiebreak match would be played. Tiebreak scores are only for the alternate places, but the tournament winner was going to be decided by combat.

Vishy Anand’s task was certainly nothing easy as he played black against Svidler, and though the Russian had had serious trouble in the event, that hardly meant he was a pushover for the last round. Anand’s choice of the Berlin did not mean he was seeking a peaceful end, but rather a protracted battle that left him room and time to try to outplay his opponent. Sadly for the Indian’s many fans, there seemed no chance this would take place as Svidler held his own comfortably and drew.

Anand had a significant mountain to climb, break down a top experienced grandmaster with black. It did not work out as he might have hoped, but he still took second place.

The two next players with a chance actually had to duke it out between themselves: Veselin Topalov and Levon Aronian. This was by far the greatest letdown for chess fans in general, and certainly a massive disappointment for Topalov. This was the third Berlin of the round, chosen by the Armenian, and whatever his intentions were they certainly did not materialize as he found himself in an inferior rook and bishop endgame. Things went from worse to outright bad for Black, and the Bulgarian had a winning position once he transitioned to a rook endgame. Time and time again he failed to find the clearest path, and whether from fatigue, overconfidence, or nerves, his last chance evaporated as did his opportunity to force a tiebreak with So.

Topalov's game was the center of attention of fans and players alike

Veselin Topalov - Levon Aronian

Although most fans were glued to their seats waiting to see if Topalov would convert or not, the day did not end on a tally of five draws. It is not without irony that the two wins of the day were precisely games that had no effect on the top spot.

The fastest game of the day was none of the ones described above, and if it is brought up in the end, it is not because the game was poor by any means, but simply because from a sporting point of view, the main interest was in the games that affected the winner of the tournament. Playing white, Hikaru Nakamura defeated Ding Liren in no time at all, and after 28 moves the Chinese player resigned. Nakamura faced a Semi-Slav, and after choosing a slightly less popular, but reputable line with 14.b3, his opponent immediately went astray and never recovered from his misstep.

It was 14 moves of theory rattled out at full speed, and another 14 to win

The second decisive game was between Fabiano Caruana and Anish Giri, and compounding the misery (in chess) of the likable Dutch player, his Open Ruy Lopez went sour in the middlegame and Caruana was mercifully efficient in his win, not dragging it out any longer than needed. This did put Caruana at plus one with 5.0/9, the same score as Anand, Aronian, and Topalov, but left him in fourth on tiebreak, behind Anand and Aronian, though just ahead of Topalov.

Fabiano's positive thinking was reflected as much in his game as in his t-shirt

Fabiano Caruana - Anish Giri (annotated by GM Elshan Moradiabadi)

In the end, one must congratulate So for his victory, even if lamenting the modest score that still gave him sole first. However, it was up to his rivals to show him up if they felt likewise. In second place was Anand, and third Aronian.

Anish shows what he thinks of his game and his tournament

Garry Kasparov is already there, ready for good times with the Ultimate Moves

On Tuesday August 16 will be the Ultimate Moves challenge with Garry Kasparov, and promises to be a ton of fun as usual. Be sure to not miss it.

Closing ceremony

Trophies and winner's check

Two players pondering their last round wins and possibly missed opportunities in the event

A happy Wesley So next to a jubilant Kasparov

Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield bestowing the prizes and first place check for US$75 thousand

Wesley So, winner of the 2016 Sinquefield Cup

Garry Kasparov, Wesley So, Jeanne Sinquefield, and Rex Sinquefield

About GM Elshan Moradiabadi Elshan Moradiabadi is a GM born and raised in Tehran, Iran. He moved to the US in 2012. Ever since, he has been active in US college chess scenes and in US chess. Elshan co-authored "Chess and the Art of War: Ancient Wisdom to Make You a Better Player" with Al Lawrence. He has also published written articles for ChessBase, and edited opening materials for fellow authors. Elshan Moradiabadi is a veteran instructor and teaches chess to every level, with students ranging from beginners to IM. He can be contacted for projects or teaching at his email. You can contact him at his email or follow him on Twitter.

Replay games of round nine

Standings after nine rounds

Pairings

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