1/18/2020 – Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana signed a draw on a day that saw Anish Giri and Daniil Dubov getting wins at the Tata Steel Masters in Wijk aan Zee. Thus, Wesley So and Alireza Firouzja are still co-leaders on 'plus two' — Fabiano Caruana, Daniil Dubov and Jorden van Foreest are a half point back. In the Challengers, Pavel Eljanov took advantage of a blunder by Max Wardermam to take the sole lead. Expert analysis by GM TIGER HILLARP-PERSSON and IM LAWRENCE TRENT. | Photo: Alina l'Ami
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Carlsen's drawing streak
The 82nd edition of the chess festival in Wijk aan Zee takes place from January 11th to 26th. The Masters and the Challengers are both 14-player single round robins. Rounds start at 12:30 UTC, except January 16th in Eindhoven, when it starts 30 minutes later.
Magnus Carlsen has not lost a single classical game since July 2018, but he has not yet been able to score a win at the 2020 Tata Steel Masters. In round six, he had White against the last player to challenge him in a World Championship match, and for the first time in the event signed a rather uneventful draw. As Carlsen himself explained afterwards, it is looking more difficult by the day to call him a favourite to win in Wijk for an eighth time:
It's hard to call me a competitor for tournament victory with six draws in the first six games, but I'll continue to play. I mean, the first five draws were a problem; this one was not necessarily a problem.
It must be added, however, that seven rounds are still left to go, and nobody has been able to get a big edge at the top of the standings table — Carlsen, in fact, is only a point behind Wesley So and Alireza Firouzja. For the world champion, it is not about not losing at this point, but about collecting some wins:
I'm just hoping that my drawing streak will not be a hundred anytime soon (smiles).
The Ruy Lopez is one of the oldest openings which continues to enjoy high popularity from club level to the absolute world top. In this video series, American super GM Fabiano Caruana, talking to IM Oliver Reeh, presents a complete repertoire for White.
The Magnus Carlsen v Fabiano Caruana duel is just starting | Photo: Alina l'Ami
Carlsen could not get winning chances with White, but his former second Daniil Dubov managed to do precisely that against his compatriot Vladislav Artemiev. The latter used his pet Caro-Kann, but was quickly under pressure, as Dubov got control of the open c-file in addition to the usual space advantage White gets in these systems.
The Exchange Variation (1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3) is a simple and easy to learn answer to the Caro-Kann. By clarifying the central tension White gives himself a clear plan of attack using the half open e-file and the e5 square. This is far from easy for Black to meet as Bobby Fischer, Jan Timman, Walter Browne and other leading Grandmasters have demonstrated in their games. Black too has his resources but he needs to know what he's doing.
Dubov vs. Artemiev
Position after 28.Qf3
Black is already in trouble, but 28...♜b6 only hastened his defeat, as White now has the added possibility to infiltrate with his rook through the a-file. The game continued 29.gxh5 ♛xh5 30.♕f6+ ♚g8 31.♖a5 and Artemiev resigned two moves later.
Swedish grandmaster Tiger Hillarp-Persson analysed the game in full:
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1.e4c6After six rounds Artemiev is the only one in the Masters who has
defended with Caro Kann. Perhaps the absolute elite players consider it to be
less solid than we common mortals do.2.d4d53.e5This has taken over as
the main line in the Caro Kann. Black has a wide choice of setups to chsose
from, but the same can be said for White. It leads to the kind of positions
that one is generally happy to play in situations where a draw is less than
acceptable.Bf53...c54.dxc5e65.Nf3Bxc56.a3Ne77.b4Bb68.Bb2
intending to keep the bishop on f1 and prepare Nbd2/c4 is quite dangerous for
Black.Ng6is no good due to9.h4!4.h4In an earlier round, Artemiev
showed some good preparation against Anand:4.Nf3e65.Be2c56.Be3cxd47.Nxd4Ne78.0-0Nbc69.Bb5a610.Bxc6+bxc611.c4Qd712.Na3Bg613.Qa4Nf5!and Black later managed to equalize.4...h5A survey of books
written on the subject will disclose that this is considered the most reliable
move.I haven't played 1.e4 in a while, but I have vivid memories of not
quite understanding why Black suffers after4...h65.g4Bd7After the logical5...Be4is quite playable too (although I would not dare stating
anything unequivocal on the subject).6.h5c57.c3
we end up in a French-Advance-like structure, in which Black's kingside has been
robbed of most dynamic possiblities. The upside is that Black is somewhat
ahead in development on the other flank. A possible continuation isNc68.Na3Qa59.dxc5e6with good play for Black.5.c4e66.Nc3Be7This line was
tested in correspondence games quite a few times ten years ago or so, but it
seems to have gone out of fashion lately.In round three, Artemiev played the
theoretical main line against Firouzja:6...Ne77.Nge2Nd78.Ng3Bg69.Bg5Qb610.Rc1!?10.Qd2used to be the main line.10...dxc4Perhaps
Artemiev feared an improvement on the line starting with10...Qxb2, or
maybe he just knows more about this than we can imagine, and thus decided to avoid it
for some more objective reason. After11.Bd3Bxd312.Qxd3dxc413.Qxc4Nb614.Qd3Ned515.0-0Qa3White has a strong initiative for the pawn. There
have been two games from this position in the last year:16.Nge4!?16.Rfd1Nxc317.Rxc3Qxa218.Rb3Qa619.Qxa619.Qb1Nd520.Rxb7Nb621.Rc7Nd5=19...bxa620.Ra1Nd521.Rb7c522.dxc5Bxc523.Ne4Bb424.Nd6+Bxd625.exd60-026.Rxa6Nf627.Raxa7Rxa728.Rxa7Rd829.Ra51/2-1/2 (29)
Perunovic,M (2569)-Donchenko,A (2631) Barcelona ESP 201916...Bb417.Qf3Ne717...Rf818.Qg318.Rfd1Nf519.Rd3Qa520.Rb1Rc8?20...Bxc321.Rxc3Qd522.Rb4∞21.Ne2±Kadric,D (2558)-Doric,D (2467) Mali Losinj
2019.11.Bxc4Nf512.0-0!Be713.Nxf5Bxf514.Bxe7!Kxe715.Qd2Qd816.Nd1Nb617.Ne3Kf818.Nxf5exf519.Bb3Firouzja,A (2723)-Artemiev,
V (2731) Wijk aan Zee 2020.7.cxd5cxd58.Bd3Bxd39.Qxd3Nc69...Bxh410.Qb5+Nd711.Qxb7Be712.Nf3g613.Bd2Nh614.Rc110.Nf3Nh6?!
It's quite possible there is nothing really wrong with this move, but I find the
position that arises more attractive for White. An alternative plan was seen in
a correspondence game:10...Rc8!?11.g311.Kf1!?would stop Black's
idea...11...Bb4This I like better.12.Bg5Nge713.0-0Bxc314.bxc3Qd715.Bxe7!Otherwise, the bishop might end up with a lonely life on the
dark squares.Nxe716.a4Rc417.a50-018.Rfb1Rfc819.Rb3Qc720.Raa3g6and Black held a draw, in Hegoburu,P (2389)-Bericat,Á (2307) ICCF 2011, although I would not bet on Black having equal chances here. There is a cold
draught on the dark squares close to Black's king.10...a611.Bxh6Rxh612.Rc1Kf813.g3g6Black has a solid position on the kingside, but he can
forget about any kind of dynamic break (since it would leave him with a wreck
of a pawn structure). White can increase the pressure on the queenside and try to
combine threats on both flanks.14.0-0Kg715.Na4!White must decide
what to do with the knight on c3. It looks juicy to continue15.Ne2Qd716.Nf4, but the knight is more cosmetic here than really doing something. In
the game, Dubov decides to swap the knight for Black's bishop, which will
accentuate the weaknesses on the dark squares.15...Rh816.Nc5This turns
out well, but it is not clear that it should have reached its aim so easily.Bxc516...Qb6!?17.Rc3!and it becomes hard for Black to play around
the knight, since Rb3 is a direct threat that cannot be ignored.17.a3Rhc818.b4a518...a619.Na4Qd820.b5Na7∞17...a518.Rb3Nb419.Qd2Bxc520.dxc5Qxc520...Qc721.Qf421.a317.Rxc5Qd718.Rfc1Rhc819.Qc3a5?!Black should start exchanging stuff instead of creating
further weaknesses in his pawn structure.19...Ne7!20.Rc7Rxc721.Qxc7Rd8White is obviously better here, but with Nc6 coming next it is not clear
how White should keep up the pressure:22.b4Nc623.Qxd7Rxd724.a3a625.Kf1Rc726.Nd226.Ke1Rc827.Kd2Na728.Rc5b629.Rxc8Nxc8=26...b626...f627.Nb3Rf728.exf6+Kxf627.Nb3Rc828.a4Ne729.Rxc8Nxc830.a5bxa531.bxa5Na7=It is very possible that I missed something here.20.a3White should increase the pressure against Black's biggest weakness on the
kingside:20.Ng5!and Black can barely move. The standard
defensive ideaNe7doesn't work any longer due to20...a4is better,
but after21.Kg221.Qf3!?21...Na722.Qf322.Rc7Rxc723.Qxc7Rd824.Rc5Nc625.Qb6±22...Rxc523.Rxc5Nc624.g4Rh825.gxh5Rxh526.Rc3Black's king is about to be forced to abdicate.21.Rc7Rxc722.Qxc7Rd823.Qxa5+-20...a421.Ne1?!Qe7?!From what I understand, Black
took a long time to come up with this move. I do not undertand it. Is Artemiev
trying to find a way to avoid a draw? There is no fancy coordination in sight
that can explain it, or am I just lacking in imagination?Perhaps Artemiev
did not like21...Ne722.Rc7Qd823.Nd3Rxc724.Qxc7Qxc725.Rxc7Nf526.Rxb7Nxd427.Kf1when White is active and the a-pawn could turn out to be
weak. However, White's queenside majority is frozen and the knight on d4
dominates the board. AfterKf828.Ke1Rc829.Kd1Rc4White is unable to
make progress. It is quite common that one makes a strange move when one is
not happy with the "natural" continuation.22.Nf3The knight should not go
too far away from g5.Qd723.Kg2!Black needs to do something. If he did not
play Ne7 earlier, then he is unlikely to play it now.23.Ng5!?23...Rc7?The rook is a tactical liability here since it becomes impossible to move
the knight.24.Qc224.Ng5!Rac825.Qc2Ra826.Qd1Qd827.R1c3
and Black has no defence against g4, Rf3 etc.24...Qd824...Rcc8!25.Qd1Perhaps the best move, but most of all a very good "human" move. From d1
the queen protects d4, attacks a4 and can be used to support g4 when the
knight moves.Rd7?Now Black loses his last remnant of coordination.25...Rcc826.Ng5Qd727.Qf3Rf828.R1c3f629.exf6+Rxf630.Qd1Raf831.Rc2is also losing, but much slower.26.Ng5Ra627.g4!Qh828.Qf3Rb6
After28...Ra829.Qf4!?hxg430.R5c3Qh531.Rg3Rf832.Rxg4Ne733.Nf3Nf534.Rg5Qh735.h5Rh1 and Black is unable to stem the tide of heavy
artillery.29.gxh5Qxh529...gxh530.Ra5!30.Qf6+Kg831.Ra5!Qg4+32.Kf1Nd833.Ra8Dubov makes it look easier than it is.1–0
The other winner of the day was Anish Giri, who immediately bounced back from his loss against Firouzja by taking down Vladislav Kovalev with the white pieces. Giri was clearly the one calling the shots in the opening, almost blitzing out all his twenty-one first moves while his opponent struggled to find the correct continuations from move 9. Kovalev put all his hopes on a direct kingside attack:
On this DVD Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Karsten Müller present the 8. World Chess Champion in video lessons: his openings, his understanding of chess strategy, his artful endgame play, and finally his immortal combinations.
Giri vs. Kovalev
Position after 25...Rxf2
It is hard not to play the direct 26.♘f5+ here — which Giri did — but in fact 26.♗g1 is much stronger. After the text, there followed 26...♚h8 27.♖g1 ♜xh2+ and Black's attack is scary. At that point, White had lost most of his edge according to the computers, but Giri had more time on his clock and a material advantage.
Soon enough, the Dutch player gave back the exchange and pushed for trades in order to fend off the attack. He was a pawn up in the endgame, and duly converted his advantage into a 51-move victory. The world number nine showcased his usual wit in the post-game interview:
Q: In a way you beat him twice today?
A: I wouldn't say so. Maybe I out-prepared him, but I think one win a day is enough for me.
Q: But you had a winning position and at some point you had to start all over again.
A: Well, in terms of computer evaluations, yes, but to be honest with the rook on f2 and the queen on g5 you're happy you're not gonna blunder mate.
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.c3Nf65.d3d66.Bg5h67.Bh4a68.Nbd2C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5
d4 and 5 d3Ba79.0-00-010.a4White has an edge.g511.Bg3Kg712.Re1Nh713.b4h5White must now prevent ...h4.14.h3h415.Bh2g416.hxg4Bxg417.b5Ne718.d4Ng6
19.bxa6N
Predecessor:19.Be2Qf620.bxa6bxa621.Kh1Nf41/2-1/2 (21) Anand,V
(2757)-Nakamura,H (2741) Kolkata 201919...bxa620.Nf1exd421.cxd4Bxf322.gxf3f522...Qf623.Ne3Not23.Bxa6f423...fxe424.fxe4Qg5+25.Kh1!Threatens to win with Rg1.Rxf2Strongly threatening ..
.Nf6.26.Nf5+26.Bg1+-Rb227.Qc126...Kh827.Rg1Rxh2+! Remove Defender, Decoy28.Kxh2Qf4+
Double Attack29.Kh3Ng5+30.Rxg5!Qxg531.Qg1! White mounts an attack.Nf4+32.Kh2Qxg1+33.Rxg1Rg4! is the strong
threat.d534.Bxd5Nxd535.exd5 Endgame KRB-KRNRe836.Kh3Bb6?36...Re4!37.Kxh4+-Rd838.Rg5Kh739.Rh5+Kg6
None of the remaining draws lasted more than forty moves. Co-leaders Firouzja and So will face Jeffery Xiong and Artemiev in round seven respectively, while world champion Magnus Carlsen will play against Vishy Anand with the black pieces.
In the Challengers, a sole leader emerged in round six, as Pavel Eljanov defeated Max Warmerdam while Surya Shekhar Ganguly and Erwin l'Ami — the other co-leaders after round five — only managed to score half points. Eljanov took advantage of a one-move blunder by his young Dutch opponent:
Warmerdan vs. Eljanov
Position after 19.Nce2
Warmerdam's 19.♘ce2 allowed 19...♞xe5 and White cannot capture the piece due to 20...♜xh4#. Resignation came a couple of moves later.
What is Erwin l'Ami laughing about? | Photo: Alina l'Ami
On this DVD Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Oliver Reeh and Karsten Müller present the 8. World Chess Champion in video lessons: his openings, his understanding of chess strategy, his artful endgame play, and finally his immortal combinations.
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
2025 European Championship with a German double victory and analyses by Bluebaum, Svane, Rodshtein, Yuffa, Navara and many more. Opening videos by Engel, King and Marin. Training sections “The Fortress”, “The Trap” and “Fundamental Endgame Knowledge" etc.
2nd Move Anti-Sicilian Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12090 games from Mega 2025 or the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 874 are annotated.
Ruy Lopez Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 12092 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 1276 are annotated.
€9.90
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The 82nd edition of the chess festival in Wijk aan Zee takes place from January 11th to 26th. The Masters and the Challengers are both 14-player single round robins. Rounds start at 12:30 UTC, except January 16th in Eindhoven, when it starts 30 minutes later.
