Tata Steel R11: Caruana and Firouzja miss chances, draw

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
1/29/2021 – Anish Giri is still the sole leader with two rounds to go at the Tata Steel chess tournament. The Dutchman drew world champion Magnus Carlsen with black while none of the players from the chasing pack managed to score a full point. Fabiano Caruana and Alireza Firouzja played a thrilling game, in which both missed chances to win. Jorden van Foreest rejoined the group trailing Giri by a half point with a victory over Pentala Harikrishna. | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit – Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

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Van Foreest and Tari score

It will all be decided during the weekend, and it seems all but impossible for Magnus Carlsen to clinch and eighth tournament victory in Wijk aan Zee. The world champion is 1½ points behind sole leader Anish Giri, as he could not defeat him in their direct encounter on Friday.

Three players still have very realistic chances of getting the title. Fabiano Caruana, Alireza Firouzja and Jorden van Foreest have collected 7 points so far and will be looking to overcome the local hero in the final stretch of the competition. Out of these three, only Firouzja is yet to face Giri, as he will have the black pieces in their round-12 face-off.

In round 11, Caruana and Firouzja predictably played a fighting game, with the American getting the upper hand out of the opening and letting it slip away during time trouble. Firouzja then was a pawn up in the major-piece endgame, but was not able to make the most of his advatange against the defending champion’s stubborn defence.

Van Foreest and Aryan Tari were the winners of the day. The Dutchman defeated Pentala Harikrishna to score his third win of the event, while Tari took down previously-undefeated Andrey Esipenko. 

Anish Giri

Anish Giri drew Magnus Carlsen with black and goes into the last rounds as the sole leader | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

Tactics, tactics

One of the two most anticipated matchups of the day delivered plenty of excitement for the many viewers following the games online. Firouzja played a strange novelty out of an Italian, with Caruana later commenting:

I had a very promising position, and also Alireza had like 50 minutes less than me, so I was extremely optimistic, and after 18.Be3 I spent I think at least 50 minutes, maybe more, just calculating 18...Nxg2 — it was the only move I was thinking about.

This is the position he was referring to:

 
Firouzja vs. Caruana
Position after 18.Be3

Caruana finally decided not to give up his knight on g2 and played 18...c6 instead. The capture on g2 was not wrong at that point, but in fact it was winning after Firouzja’s mistaken 19.Bc4:

 
Position after 19.Bc4

Once again the defending champion rejected going for the knight sacrifice, and explained:

I didn’t quite see how to follow up, and I thought that I shouldn’t sac a piece without actually seeing a follow-up.

Caruana played 19...Bc7, when 19...Nxg2 would have given him a large advantage — 20.Kxg2 Qh4 21.Nf3 Qxh3+ 22.Kg1 Rd8 [see diagram below] is very good for black according to the engines, but the ensuing lines are long and need to be precisely calculated. The world number 2 confessed that “every part of me wanted to take on g2”, so following his instinct would have been the right choice in this game.

 
Analysis diagram

After the text, a strategic battle ensued. Caruana erred before the time control, and Firouzja managed to get a superior endgame. The 17-year-old star did not find the most precise plan, however, and ended up allowing his opponent to save a half point.

Endgame specialist Karsten Müller sent us a thorough analysis of the final phase of the game.


Analysis by GM Karsten Müller

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.Re1 0-0 8.Nbd2 Bb6 9.a4 a5 10.Bb5 Ng4 11.Re2 Ne7 12.d4 Ng6 13.Nf1 d5 14.exd5 exd4 15.h3 Nf6 16.Nxd4 Nxd5 17.Re1 Ndf4 18.Be3 c6 19.Bc4 Bc7 20.Ng3 Nd5 21.Bd2 Qd6 22.Bb3 Bd7 23.Nf3 Rfe8 24.Qc2 Ngf4 25.Rad1 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Qf6 27.Nd4 Rd8 28.Re4 Qg6 29.Bxd5 Nxd5 30.Ngf5 Qf6 31.Rg4 g6 32.Nxh6+ Kf8 33.Re4 Nf4 34.Ng4 Bxg4 35.hxg4 Kg7 36.Bxf4 Bxf4 37.Nf5+ gxf5 38.Rxf4 Qg5 39.Rxf5 Qxg4 40.Rf3 Qh5 41.c4 Rd4 42.Qc3 Qe5 43.Rd3 c5 To enter an endgame or not, that is the question. Positions with queen and rook angainst queen and rook have middlegame and endgame components. In this case White would like the endgame components to predominate to convert his extra pawn. Black wants dynamic counterplay in middlegame style or a dynamic trump in the endgame: 44.Rg3+? This misplaces the rook and improves Black's king. 44.Kf1! to prepare for the endgame was called for, e.g. Qe4 44...Kf8 45.Rxd4 cxd4 46.Qa3+ Ke8 47.Qf3± 45.Re3 Qh7 46.Kg1 Qb1+ 47.Re1 Qd3 48.Qxd3 Rxd3 49.Re3± and in both cases White has practical winning chances. The time for the endgame has not come as 44.Rxd4? cxd4 Of course not 44...Qxd4? 45.Qxd4+ cxd4 46.Kf1+- 45.Qd2 45.Qg3+?? Qxg3 46.fxg3 Kf6-+ 45...d3 46.Qxd3 Qxb2= gives Black enough dynamic counterplay. 44...Kf8 45.Qxa5 45.Qc1?! Qh5 46.Rf3 Rh4 47.Rh3 Rxh3 48.gxh3 Qxh3= 45...Rd1+ 46.Kh2 Qh5+ 47.Rh3 Qe5+ 48.g3 Qf5! Caruana's queen controls the whole board. 49.Qa8+ 49.Rh8+? even backfires completely due to Kg7 50.Qc3+ f6-+ 49...Ke7 50.Qxb7+ Rd7 51.Qh1 White has nothing better than the resulting rook endgame as 51.Qg2 is met by Rd2 52.Kg1 Rd1+ 53.Kh2 Rd2= 51...Qxf2+ 52.Qg2 Rd2 53.Qxf2 Rxf2+ 54.Kg1 Rxb2 This rook endgame is easily drawn due to Black's activity and White's lack of coordination: 55.Rh5 Ra2 56.Rxc5 Rxa4 57.Kg2 Kd6 58.Rd5+ Ke6 59.Rd4 Ke5 60.Rf4 f5 61.Kh3 Ra3 61...Ra3 62.Kh4 Rc3 63.c5 Rxc5 64.Kg5 Ke6= ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Firouzja,A2749Caruana,F2823½–½2021C5483rd Tata Steel Masters 202111.5

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.Re1 0-0 C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3. 8.Nbd2 Bb6 9.a4 a5
10.Bb5N Predecessor: 10.Nf1 Ne7 11.Ng3 Ng6 12.h3 c6 13.Bb3 d5 14.exd5 Nxd5 15.Nh5 Re8 16.Qd2 1-0 (24) Chigaev,M (2588)-Nakamura,H (2736) chess.com INT 2020 10...Ng4 11.Re2 Ne7 12.d4 Ng6 13.Nf1 d5 14.exd5 exd4! 15.h3 Nf6 16.Nxd4 Nxd5 17.Re1 Ndf4 18.Be3 c6 19.Bc4
19.Be2= 19...Bc7 19...Nxg2! 20.Kxg2 Qh4 20.Ng3
20...Nd5 20...Nxg2! 21.Kxg2 Qh4 21.Bd2 Qd6 22.Bb3 Bd7 23.Nf3 Rfe8 24.Qc2 Ngf4 25.Rad1 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Qf6 White must now prevent ...Nxh3+! 27.Nd4 Rd8 28.Re4 Qg6 29.Bxd5 29.Bxf4= Nxf4 30.Re7 Qxc2 31.Nxc2 29...Nxd5 30.Ngf5! Strongly threatening c4. Qf6 ...c5 is the strong threat. 31.Rg4
31.g4 31...g6? 31...Kh8! 32.Rh4 32.Rxg7? c5-+ 32...Bxf5 33.Nxf5 Ne7 34.Nxh6 Qxh4 35.Nxf7+ Kg8 36.Nxd8 Bxd8 37.Qb3+ Kf8 32.Nxh6+ Kf8 33.Re4 Black is under pressure. Nf4 33...g5 34.Ng4 Qg6 34.Ng4± Bxg4 35.hxg4 Kg7 36.Bxf4 Bxf4
37.Nf5+! gxf5 38.Rxf4 Endgame KQR-KQR Qg5 39.Rxf5 39.Qxf5? gets mated. Rd1+ 40.Kh2 Qh4# 39...Qxg4 And now ...Rd1+ would win. 40.Rf3 aiming for Rg3. Qh5 41.c4 Rd4 42.Qc3 Qe5 ( -> ...Rd1+) 43.Rd3 c5 44.Rg3+ White should try 44.Kf1± 44...Kf8= The position is equal. 45.Qxa5 Rd1+ Discovered Attack 46.Kh2 Qh5+ 47.Rh3 Qe5+ 48.g3 Threatens to win with Qa8+. Qf5! 49.Qa8+ Double Attack Ke7 50.Qxb7+ Rd7 51.Qh1 Hoping for Qe1+. 51.Qg2 feels hotter. Rd2 52.Kg1 Rd1+ 53.Kh2 Rd2 51...Qxf2+ Double Attack 52.Qg2 Rd2 53.Qxf2 Rxf2+ KR-KR 54.Kg1 Rxb2 55.Rh5 Ra2 56.Rxc5 Rxa4 57.Kg2 Kd6 58.Rd5+ Ke6 59.Rd4 Ke5 60.Rf4 f5 61.Kh3 Ra3 Weighted Error Value: White=0.16/Black=0.15
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Firouzja,A2749Caruana,F2823½–½202183rd Tata Steel Masters 202111.5

Alireza Firouzja, Fabiano Caruana

In the midst of a fierce tactical battle — Alireza Firouzja and Fabiano Caruana | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

A tough conversion

In his game with black against Van Foreest, Harikrishna incorrectly sacrificed a piece early in the game, as Van Foreest himself explained:

This idea is quite known, but I think it doesn’t really work in the position we had. [...] I knew that my position was very good, and that it was maybe close to winning after the opening, but there were so many hurdles to overcome, and I was never sure I was gonna win this game.

Even though the engines already give white a +3 advantage by move 20, things look quite different for the players dealing with the specific problems that arise over the board. As Jonathan Rowson said on Twitter:

Van Foreest gave back the piece on move 32:

 
Van Foreest vs. Harikrishna
Position after 31...Qh3

32.Bxc5 dxc5 33.Rd8+ Kh7 34.Rxc5 and White now has a single extra pawn, but a very dangerous one, on the b-file.

Known for his strength in technical positions, Harikrishna defended stubbornly from this point on, but could not save the draw in the end. However, his young rival needed to continue finding the right manoeuvres until move 60 to get the full point.

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.Re1 0-0 C54: Giuoco Piano: 4 c3 Nf6, main lines with 5 d4 and 5 d3. 8.Nbd2 a6 9.a4 Ng4 The position is equal. 10.Re2 Kh8 11.h3 f5
12.d4N Of course not 12.hxg4 fxg4 13.Nh2 g3= Predecessor: 12.Qe1 Nf6 13.Nh4 Kh7 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.exf5 d5 16.Bb3 Qd7 17.g4 Rae8 18.Bc2 1-0 (40) Schoppen,C (2508)-Vestby Ellingsen,M (2363) Hoogeveen 2019 12...exd4 ...Nxf2! is the strong threat. 13.hxg4 d3 14.Bxd3 fxg4 15.Nd4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Bxd4 17.Nf1 Qf6 18.Qc2! c5 19.Be3 Be5 20.Bc4 Bd7 21.Bd5 Rab8 22.Ng3 b5 23.axb5 Rxb5 24.Qd1 a5 25.Ra2 Rfb8 26.Rd2 Qh4 26...Be6 27.Nh5 Qf7 27.b3+- R5b6 and the idea ...a4 leaves Black hopeful. 28.Rxa5 Bc6 29.Bxc6 Rxc6 30.Nf1 Rcb6 31.g3 Qh3 32.Bxc5 dxc5 33.Rd8+ 33.Rxc5 Bf6+- 33...Kh7 34.Rxb8 Rxb8 35.Rxc5 Re8 36.Qd7 Qh5 37.Ne3 Ra8? 37...Qg6 38.Nxg4 Bd6 38.Qb5 Re8 39.Qa5? 39.b4 39...Qg5
40.Rd5! Qe7 41.Nxg4 Bb2 42.f3 Rc8 43.Qd2 Qa3 44.Rd7 Qxb3 White must now prevent ...Rc1+. 45.Qxh6+ White is out for blood. Kg8
This move loses the game for Black. 46.Qh5 Qe6 47.Qd5 Qxd5 48.Rxd5 Endgame KRB-KRN Not 48.exd5 Kf8+- 48...Rc2 49.Kf1 Bc1 50.Rd7 Kf8 51.e5 Bb2 51...Rc3 keeps fighting. 52.Kf2 Rc2+ 53.Ke1 Rc3 52.f4 White is clearly winning. g5 52...Rc3 53.Kg2 Ba3 53.Ne3 Rc5 54.e6 gxf4 55.gxf4 Rc1+ 56.Ke2 Ba3 57.Nf5 Rc8 58.Rf7+ Kg8 59.Kf3 Re8 60.Nh6+ Weighted Error Value: White=0.15/Black=0.27
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Van Foreest,J2671Harikrishna,P27321–0202183rd Tata Steel Masters 202111.4

Jorden van Foreest

Only a half point behind the leader — Jorden van Foreest | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit

Tari’s first win, Esipenko’s first loss

Perhaps considering this game as a good opportunity to take some risks in order to catch up with the leader, Esipenko played a couple of overly-optimistic moves in the opening, allowing Tari to get a strong initiative on the kingside as early as move 15:

 
Tari vs. Esipenko
Position after 15.h4

The Norwegian was very comfortable in this position, and, after skilfully increasing his advantage, got to play a nice tactical trick to convert his position into a win:

 
Position after 28...f4

29.Ra8 was the killer blow, as the queen cannot capture the rook due to 30.Qxh5+ with mate-in-3 on the board. Esipenko responded with 29...Qg6, but had to resign after 30.Rxf8+ Bxf8 31.Bd2 Na3 32.Bd3 Qxg5 33.Qe4:

 
Position after 33.Qe4

1-0   

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.0-0 Nf6 6.Re1 Bd7 7.c3 g6 8.d4 Bg7 9.Nbd2 9. h3 is more fashionable. C79: Ruy Lopez: Steinitz-type lines with 3...a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0 d6. 0-0 10.Bc2!? Leaves trodden paths. Nh5
11.dxe5N White is slightly better. Predecessor: 11.Nf1 Bg4 12.d5 Ne7 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 f5 15.Qd1 f4 16.Nh2 Nf6 17.c4 1-0 (62) Makropoulou,M (2201)-Ozturk,K (2239) Mardin 2011 11...dxe5 12.Nf1 Nf4 13.Ne3 Kh8 13...Be6= 14.Nd5 Ne6 15.h4 h5 16.Be3 f6 17.b4 Ne7 18.Qe2 Nc8 19.c4 Qe8 20.c5 a5 21.a3 Na7 22.Bb3 Nb5
22...Kh7 23.Bc4 23.a4!± Nbd4 24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Qc4 23...axb4= 24.axb4 aiming for Rxa8. Rxa1 25.Rxa1 f5 25...c6± 26.exf5+- gxf5 26...Rxf5 27.Ng5 e4 27.Ng5 Nxg5 28.hxg5 And now Ra8! would win. Don't do 28.Bxg5?! Nd4+- 28...f4
29.Ra8‼ Qg6 29...f3 was necessary. 30.Rxe8 fxe2 31.Rxf8+ Bxf8 32.Bxe2 h4 30.Rxf8+ White is clearly winning. Stronger than 30.Bxb5 Rxa8 31.Bxd7 Ra1+ 32.Kh2 fxe3 30...Bxf8 31.Bd2 Less strong is 31.Bxb5 Bxb5 32.Qxb5 fxe3+- 31...Na3 31...Qxg5 32.Bxb5 c6 32.Bd3 Qxg5 33.Qe4 Weighted Error Value: White=0.20/Black=0.31
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Tari,A2625Esipenko,A26771–0202183rd Tata Steel Masters 202111.3

Aryan Tari

Aryan Tari | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit


Round 11 results

 

Standings after Round 11

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Carlos 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.

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