Champions Showdown: Three winners, Carlsen dominates

by André Schulz
11/13/2017 – Three matches of the Champions Showdown in St. Louis are over: Hikaru Nakamura crushed Veselin Topalov, Wesley So needed an incredible comeback to defeat Leinier Dominguez, and Fabiano Caruana won a close match against Alexander Grischuk. Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren still play, but Carlsen dominates. | Photo: Lennart Ootes
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Champions Showdown, Day 4

The Saint Louis Chess Club hosts a series of four matches, the Champions Showdown, November 9th to14. In an exciting twist, the three top American players and current World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, face their opponents in 10 games of rapid and 20 games of blitz.

The matches

  • Hikaru Nakamura (won) vs. Veselin Topalov
  • Fabiano Caruana (won) vs. Alexander Grischuk
  • Wesley So (won) vs. Leinier Dominguez
  • Magnus Carlsen vs. Ding Liren (through November 14)

Schedule

  • Thursday Nov. 9th —  G/30 Rounds 1 - 4 (except for Carlsen vs. Ding)
  • Friday Nov. 10th — G/20 Rounds 1 - 6
  • Saturday Nov. 11th 1 - 5:30 PM G/10 Rounds 1 - 8 & Carlsen vs. Ding G/30 Rounds 1 - 4
  • Sunday Nov. 12th — G/5 Rounds 1 - 12 & Carlsen vs. Ding Liren G/20 Rounds 1 - 6
  • Monday Nov. 13th  — Magnus Carlsen vs. Ding Liren G/10 Rounds 1 - 8
  • Tuesday Nov. 14th — Magnus Carlsen vs. Ding Liren G/5 Rounds 1-12

No delay or increment will be used. Wins are weighted depending on the time control. Game 30 wins are worth 5 points with draws worth 2½ points. Game 20 wins are worth 4 points, with draws adding 2 points. In Game 10, a draw nets 1½ and a win 3 points.

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The matches

Caruana vs. Grischuk

Fabiano Caruana vs Alexander Grischuk | Photo: Lennart Ootes

For a long time the match between Fabiano Caruana and Alexander Grischuk had been rather balanced. But in the 5-minute-games Caruana got the better of Grischuk, the three-time World Champion in blitz chess, and decided the match in his favour.

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1.e41,166,62354%2421---
1.d4947,29855%2434---
1.Nf3281,60256%2441---
1.c4182,10256%2442---
1.g319,70256%2427---
1.b314,26554%2427---
1.f45,89748%2377---
1.Nc33,80151%2384---
1.b41,75648%2380---
1.a31,20654%2404---
1.e31,06848%2408---
1.d395450%2378---
1.g466446%2360---
1.h444653%2374---
1.c343351%2426---
1.h328056%2418---
1.a411060%2466---
1.f39246%2436---
1.Nh38966%2508---
1.Na34262%2482---
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 6 B92: Sicilian Najdorf: Be2 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.0-0 Be7 11.Nd5 Nd7 LiveBook: 3 Games 12.Bc4 Rc8 13.Qe2 Nb6 14.Nxb6 Qxb6 15.Bb3 0-0 16.Rfd1
16...Kh8N 17.h3 Rcd8 18.Nd2 Bc8 19.Nc4 Qc6 20.a4 Bh4 21.g3 Be7 22.h4 g6 23.a5 f5 24.Nb6 f4 25.Rd3       Black must now prevent Rc3. fxg3 26.fxg3 aiming for Rc3. h5?      
26...d5= and Black has nothing to worry. 27.exd5 27.Rxd5 Be6= 27...Bc5+ 28.Kh1 Qd6 27.Rc3+- Qe8 28.Rc7 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.Nxc8 Qxc8± 28...d5 28...Bg4 29.Qe3 g5 29.Qe3 29.Nxc8 Rxc8 30.Ba4 30.exd5? Rxc7 31.Qxe5+ Bf6-+ 30.Rxb7? Bc5+ 31.Kg2 Rf2+ 32.Qxf2 Bxf2-+ 30...Qd8± 29.Ba4 Qf7 30.Nxd5 30.exd5 Qf6+- 30...Rxd5 31.exd5 Qxd5 32.Rd1 32.Qe3 Bg5± 32...Bc5+ 33.Kh2 29...Rf7 30.Nxd5 Resist 30.Nxc8 Rxc8 31.Rxc8 31.exd5 Rxc7 32.Qxe5+ Kh7 31...Qxc8+- 30...Bf8 31.Rxf7       White goes for the king. Qxf7 32.Rf1 Qg7 33.Kg2 Be6 34.Qg5 Rc8?
34...Rb8 35.c3 Rc8 35.Nb6 Be7 36.Qe3 Not 36.Nxc8 Bxg5 37.Bxe6 Bf6± 36...Rc6 37.Bxe6 Rxe6 38.Nd5 Bd8 39.b4 g5 40.Qc5 Re8 41.hxg5 Rg8 41...Qxg5 42.Rf8+ Rxf8 43.Qxf8+ Kh7 44.Qf7+ Kh6 42.Rf5 Bxg5 42...Kh7 43.Qc8 Bxg5 43.Qd6 h4 44.Qxe5 Qxe5 45.Rxe5 hxg3       Endgame KRB-KRN 46.Rf5 Bd2 47.Rh5+ Kg7 48.Kxg3 Rf8 49.Rf5 Rh8 50.Rf3 Rh1 50...Re8 51.Rd3 Bc1 51.Rd3 White is clearly winning. Be1+ 52.Kg2 Rh4 53.Kf3 Kf7 54.c3 Rh3+ 54...Rh2 55.Kg4 Ke6 56.Nf4+ Ke5 55.Ke2 Precision: White = 79%, Black = 40%. 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27851–02017B92Champions Showdown 20171
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F2794½–½2017D20Champions Showdown 20172
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27850–12017C65Champions Showdown 20173
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F2794½–½2017D20Champions Showdown 20174
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A2785½–½2017C65Champions Showdown 20175
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F2794½–½2017D20Champions Showdown 20176
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27851–02017C65Champions Showdown 20177
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F2794½–½2017D20Champions Showdown 20178
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27850–12017C65Champions Showdown 20179
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27941–02017D20Champions Showdown 201710
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27850–12017C65Champions Showdown 201711
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F2794½–½2017D27Champions Showdown 201712
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27850–12017C24Champions Showdown 201713
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27941–02017A41Champions Showdown 201714
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27851–02017C24Champions Showdown 201715
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27940–12017C16Champions Showdown 201716
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27851–02017D42Champions Showdown 201717
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F2794½–½2017D30Champions Showdown 201718
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27851–02017B90Champions Showdown 201719
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F2794½–½2017A46Champions Showdown 201720
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A27851–02017B23Champions Showdown 201721
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27941–02017D30Champions Showdown 201722
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A2785½–½2017B24Champions Showdown 201723
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27940–12017D30Champions Showdown 201724
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A2785½–½2017A05Champions Showdown 201725
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27940–12017D30Champions Showdown 201726
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A2785½–½2017A05Champions Showdown 201727
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27940–12017A20Champions Showdown 201728
Caruana,F2794Grischuk,A2785½–½2017B07Champions Showdown 201729
Grischuk,A2785Caruana,F27940–12017A20Champions Showdown 201730

So Dominguez

Wesley So vs Leinier Domnguez | Photo: Lennart Ootes

The match between Wesley So and Leinier Dominguez took a different course. The Cuban had been clearly dominating the first part of the match and was leading by a huge margin. But in the 10-minute and the 5-minute games So suddenly surged to form, winning one game after the next and finally the match.

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence (3...Nf6), unusual lines and 4 0-0 Bc5 Be6 7.0-0 Bd6       8.d4 Nd7 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 LiveBook: 9 Games 11.f4 Bd4+ 12.Kh1 f5 13.Qe2 0-0
14.Nf3N
Black must now prevent exf5. 14...Bf6 White should prevent ... fxe4. 15.e5 Be7 16.Rd1 Qe8 17.Nd4 Qf7 18.Nxe6 Qxe6 19.Be3 a6 20.c4 Rad8 21.Kg1 g6 22.h3 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Bxd8 25.b3 Kf7 26.g4 Be7 27.Kg2 Ke8 28.Bf2 Kf7 29.Kg3 Ke8 30.Qe3 b6 31.Qf3 Kf7 32.Be3 Ke8 33.Bf2 Kf7 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.Kh2 Ke8 36.Bh4 Bb4 37.Bf6 37.Qd1± aiming for Qd8+. Be7 38.Bf2 37...Qd7 38.Qg2 Qd2 39.Qxd2 Bxd2=       Endgame KB-KB 40.Kg3 Be1+ 41.Kf3 Kd7 42.Ke2 Bb4 42...Bg3 keeps more tension. 43.Bg5 Ke6 44.Bh6 Ke7 45.Kd3 Kd7 43.Bh4 Bf8 44.Kf3 Bb4 45.Bg5 Be1 46.Bh6 Bb4 47.h4       Be1 48.h5 Bb4 49.a4 Bc3 The position is equal. 50.Bf8 Bd2 51.Ba3 Bc3 52.Ke2 Ke6 53.Bf8 Kd7 54.Kd3 Be1 55.Ke2 Bc3 56.Kd3 Be1 57.Ke2 Precision: White = 46%, Black = 64%. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L2739½–½2017C65Champions Showdown 20171
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W2788½–½2017C65Champions Showdown 20172
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L2739½–½2017C65Champions Showdown 20173
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27881–02017C65Champions Showdown 20174
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L2739½–½2017C65Champions Showdown 20175
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27881–02017C11Champions Showdown 20176
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27390–12017C65Champions Showdown 20177
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27880–12017C42Champions Showdown 20178
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27390–12017C65Champions Showdown 20179
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W2788½–½2017C42Champions Showdown 201710
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L2739½–½2017D35Champions Showdown 201711
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W2788½–½2017C11Champions Showdown 201712
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L2739½–½2017D35Champions Showdown 201713
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W2788½–½2017C11Champions Showdown 201714
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27390–12017E06Champions Showdown 201715
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27880–12017B12Champions Showdown 201716
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27391–02017E06Champions Showdown 201717
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27880–12017C18Champions Showdown 201718
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27391–02017A01Champions Showdown 201719
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27880–12017D05Champions Showdown 201720
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L2739½–½2017A01Champions Showdown 201721
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27880–12017D05Champions Showdown 201722
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27391–02017D02Champions Showdown 201723
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W2788½–½2017C18Champions Showdown 201724
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27391–02017A13Champions Showdown 201725
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27881–02017C42Champions Showdown 201726
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27391–02017D02Champions Showdown 201727
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W2788½–½2017B12Champions Showdown 201728
So,W2788Dominguez Perez,L27391–02017E92Champions Showdown 201729
Dominguez Perez,L2739So,W27881–02017B07Champions Showdown 201730

Nakamura Topalov

Hikaru Nakamura vs Veselin Topalov | Photo: Lennart Ootes

The match between Hikaru Nakamura and Veselin Topalov was rather one-sided. Nakamura later admitted that the final result was too high and that Topalov missed a couple of good or very good chances. But the Bulgarian again and again blundered, sometimes in incredible fashion.

 

In this position Topalov played 76...Ne5??, probably because he suffered from the illusion that the knight on e5 would check White's king. Nakamura hesitated for the blink of an eye but then grabbed Black's bishop on b8. 77.Nxb8. Topalov had been winning but now the position is drawn. However, the game was not over yet. After 77...g5 78.hxg5 Kf7 79.Kf4 Nd3+ 80.Ke4 Ne1 81.Nc6 Nxg2 82.Ne5+ Ke6 83.Nf3 the following position arose on the board:

 

With only seconds on the clock Topalov, who just wanted to make a move, any move, grabbed his knight and only then realised what he had done: the knight has no square to move to. Topalov hesitated a few seconds before accepting the inevitable: he then played 83...Nh4 but immediately resigned after 84.Nxh4.

The drama on film

On this DVD Grandmaster Daniel King:
● demonstrates typical tactical patterns
● shows how strong players use their tactical awareness
● puts your tactical abilities to the test — but this is a test with a difference. Although the emphasis is on tactics, there are also positions that require a strategic solution. You don’t know what’s coming next...

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1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.c3 Nd7 7.0-0 h6 8.Nbd2 B12: Caro-Kann: Advance Variation 8.a4 c5 9.dxc5 Nxc5 10.Nd4 Bg6 11.a5 a6 12.Be3 Nf5 13.Nxf5 Bxf5 14.Nd2 Be7 15.Nb3 Rc8 16.Nxc5 Bxc5 1/2-1/2 (46) Fressinet,L (2676)-Melkumyan,H (2653) Germany 2017 8...g5 9.Re1 Qc7 10.Nf1 LiveBook: 3 Games. White is slightly better. Bh7 11.Ng3 Nf5 12.Bd3N aiming for Nxf5. Predecessor: 12.Nh5 0-0-0 13.b4 Kb8 14.a4 Ng7 15.Nd2 1-0 (42) Milliet,S (2387)-Horton,J (2179) Reading 2017 12...Nxg3 13.Bxh7 Rxh7 14.fxg3 Be7 15.Qd3 Rg7 16.a4       0-0-0 17.a5 c5 18.Be3 h5 19.Rf1 Kb8 20.Qd2 Rdg8 21.b4 c4 22.Rae1 Qd8 23.Re2 Ka8 24.Ne1 f6 25.exf6 Nxf6 26.Nf3 Ne4 27.Qc2 Rf7 28.Rfe1 28.a6!? 28...Bd6 The position is equal. 29.Nd2 Nf6 30.Nf3 Ne4 31.Nd2 Nf6 32.Nf3 Ne4 33.Nd2 Precision: White = 61%, Black = 46%. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017B12Champions Showdown 20171
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017C26Champions Showdown 20172
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H27741–02017B12Champions Showdown 20173
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017C28Champions Showdown 20174
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H27740–12017B90Champions Showdown 20175
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V2749½–½2017C26Champions Showdown 20176
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017B90Champions Showdown 20177
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V2749½–½2017D37Champions Showdown 20178
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017B90Champions Showdown 20179
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017E32Champions Showdown 201710
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H27740–12017B90Champions Showdown 201711
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27490–12017D31Champions Showdown 201712
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H27740–12017D37Champions Showdown 201713
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27490–12017D31Champions Showdown 201714
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017B90Champions Showdown 201715
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V2749½–½2017D31Champions Showdown 201716
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017B90Champions Showdown 201717
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V2749½–½2017A30Champions Showdown 201718
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H27740–12017D37Champions Showdown 201719
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017A01Champions Showdown 201720
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H27740–12017E97Champions Showdown 201721
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017A06Champions Showdown 201722
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017A06Champions Showdown 201723
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017A06Champions Showdown 201724
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017D37Champions Showdown 201725
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017B13Champions Showdown 201726
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H27740–12017E97Champions Showdown 201727
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017A06Champions Showdown 201728
Topalov,V2749Nakamura,H2774½–½2017B90Champions Showdown 201729
Nakamura,H2774Topalov,V27491–02017C26Champions Showdown 201730

Ding Carlsen

Ding Liren vs Magnus Carlsen | Photo: Lennart Ootes

The match between World Champion Magnus Carlsen and Ding Liren began with three draws but than Carlsen began to dominate the Chinese number one. He won game four of the 30-minute games with a typical Carlsen endgame grind and on day two the World Champion won three of the six 20-minute games and now leads 30½ : 13½.

Carlsen dominated in the endgame and in the middlegame. Two examples:

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 9.Nf3 Qc7 10.Be2 b6 11.Bb2 Ba6 12.c4 cxd4 13.Nxd4 Nbd7 14.0-0 Rac8 15.Nb5 Qb8 16.a4 Rfd8 17.Qd6 Bxb5 18.Qxb8 Nxb8 19.axb5 Rd2 20.Bxf6 gxf6 21.Rfe1 Rc7 22.Rad1 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Nd7 24.g4 Kf8 25.Kg2 Ke7 26.Kg3 Nc5 27.f3 This endgame is equal. a5 28.bxa6 Nxa6 29.Ra1 Nc5 30.Ra8 Nd7 31.h4 Ne5 32.Ra4 h6 33.f4 Nc6 34.h5 Ra7 35.Rxa7+ Nxa7 And in this position White is definitely not worse. But with the seconds ticking away Ding Liren maneuvered himself into a difficult situation. 36.Kh4 Kf8 37.g5 Kg7 38.gxh6+ Kxh6 White's h-pawn is now a passed pawn - but a weak one. 39.Kg3 Nc8 40.Kf2 Nd6 41.Ke1 Ne4 42.Bf3 f5 43.Ke2 Nf6 44.Kd3 Ng4 45.Kc3 Kxh5 Suddenly Black is winning. The white king is too slow and Black's kingside pawns are faster than the white c-pawn. 46.Kb4 Kh4 47.Kb5 Kg3 48.Bd1 Nxe3 49.Bb3 e5 50.Kxb6 exf4 51.c5 f3 52.c6 f2 53.c7 f1Q 54.c8Q f6 55.Qc7+ Qf4 56.Qxf4+ Kxf4 57.Kc5 Ke4 58.Ba4 f4 59.Bc6+ Kd3 60.Kd6 Nf5+ 61.Kd7 Nd4 62.Bb7 Ke3 63.Ke7 f5 64.Kf6 f3 65.Kg5 f2 66.Bg2 Nf3+ 67.Kf6 f4 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2772Carlsen,M28260–12017E53Champions Showdown MCDL 20176
Danish GM Jacob Aagaard introduces you to the secrets of the Nimzoindian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4). In 15 lessons that last 4 hours and 4 minutes Aagaard shows you how you can successfully play this opening by understanding key ideas instead of memorizing long tedious variations.
 
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1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 d6 6.Nd5 Ba5 7.a3 Nxd5 8.cxd5 Ne7 9.b4 Bb6 10.Bc4 0-0 11.Bb2 Bf5 12.d3 Ng6 13.h4 h6 14.h5 Ne7 15.Nd2 Rc8 16.e4 Bg4 17.d4?! White opens the position - but this backfires. exd4 18.f3 Bd7 19.Qd3 c6 20.dxc6 Bxc6 21.b5 Bd7 22.0-0 d5 Black's pieces suddenly spring to life and White has too many weaknesses to protect. 23.exd5 After 23.Bxd5 Nxd5 24.exd5 Rc3! 25.Bxc3 dxc3+ 26.Rf2 cxd2 27.Qxd2 Qh4 Black is clearly winning. 23...Bf5 24.Ne4 Nxd5 25.Bxd5 Qxd5 26.Rad1 Rfd8 27.Rfe1 Rc3 27...Rc3 If White takes the rook he loses an exchange, and after e.g. 28.Qf1 Bxe4 29.Rxe4 d3+ 30.Kh2 Qxh5+ 31.Kg3 Rc2 Black is two pawns up and still has a strong attack. 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2772Carlsen,M28260–12017A28Champions Showdown MCDL 20178

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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.Re1 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.Nbd2       Re8 12.Nf1 Nc6 13.Ne3 Bf8 14.a4 b4 LiveBook: 4 Games. C90: Closed Ruy Lopez with 7. ..d6: Early deviations 14...Bd7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.exd5 Na5 17.axb5 axb5 18.b4 Nb7 19.Be3 Bg4 20.Rxa8 Qxa8 21.Qa1 Qc8 22.Bd1 1-0 (38) Nguyen,T (2441) -Caletka,R (2349) Ostrava 2017 15.Bb3 h6 16.Nd5 Rb8 17.a5 Nxd5 18.Bxd5 Qc7 19.Nh4N       Predecessor: 19.Nd2 Be6 20.Nc4 Bxd5 21.exd5 Ne7 1/2-1/2 (31) Kocks,F (2089)-Heide,E (2100) GER email 2012 19...Be6 20.Bxe6 Rxe6 21.Nf5 Rb5 22.Ne3 Rxa5 23.Nd5 Qd8 24.Be3 Rxa1 25.Qxa1 a5 26.Qa4 Ne7 27.Ra1! Nxd5 28.exd5 Re7 29.Qxa5 Qxa5 30.Rxa5 bxc3 31.bxc3=       Endgame KRB-KRB Rb7
( -> ...Rb1+) 32.Kf1 f5 33.Ke2 Kf7 34.Kd1 Be7 35.Kc2 g5 36.Ra6 h5 37.Bd2 g4 38.c4 h4 39.h3 Rb8 40.Ra7 Bg5 is the strong threat. Rg8 41.Kd1 f4 aiming for ... f3. 42.f3! gxf3 43.gxf3 Rg1+ 44.Be1? 44.Ke2!= 44...Rh1-+ 45.Ke2 Rxh3 Strongly threatening ...Rh2+. 46.Bf2? 46.Kf2 Rh1 47.Bc3 46...Kf6? Black should play 46...Rh2-+ Threatens to win with ...h3. 47.Rc7 h3 47.Kf1!= The position is equal. Rxf3 48.Kg2
48...Rg3+! 49.Bxg3 hxg3 KR-KB 50.Kf3 Bf8 51.Ke4 Be7 52.Kf3 Bf8 53.Ke4 Be7 54.Kf3 Bf8 Precision: White = 72%, Black = 87%. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2826Ding,L2772½–½2017C90Champions Showdown 20171
Ding,L2772Carlsen,M2826½–½2017D11Champions Showdown 20172
Carlsen,M2826Ding,L2772½–½2017C84Champions Showdown 20173
Ding,L2772Carlsen,M28260–12017E06Champions Showdown 20174
Carlsen,M2826Ding,L2772½–½2017E21Champions Showdown MCDL 20175
Ding,L2772Carlsen,M28260–12017E49Champions Showdown MCDL 20176
Carlsen,M2826Ding,L2772½–½2017C50Champions Showdown MCDL 20177
Ding,L2772Carlsen,M28260–12017A28Champions Showdown MCDL 20178
Carlsen,M2826Ding,L27721–02017C84Champions Showdown MCDL 20179
Ding,L2772Carlsen,M2826½–½2017E06Champions Showdown MCDL 201710

 

Carlsen Ding standings

Today and tomorrow Carlsen and Ding Liren play the 10-minute and the 5-minute games.

Day 4 on video

Scarcely any world champion has managed to captivate chess lovers to the extent Carlsen has. The enormously talented Norwegian hasn't been systematically trained within the structures of a major chess-playing nation such as Russia, the Ukraine or China.

On-demand playlist

Illustrating the effect of no increment time control, last week GM commentators Alejandro Ramirez and Christian Chrila played a trio of bullet games.

You can also find each days complete commentary in the playlist menu (click or tap the icon in the upper left of the video player).

2017 Champions Showdown playlist | Source: CCSCSL on YouTube

Translation from German: Johannes Fischer

Links

André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.

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