Tata Steel Chess: Reversals of fortune

by Alex Yermolinsky
1/20/2018 – The rest day after round five obviously did not hurt the fighting spirit at the Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee. Round 6 brought dramatic games, two wins and a new leader: Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. He won with some luck against Adhiban Baskaran and is now the sole front runner with 4½ out of 6. Peter Svidler and Magnus Carlsen had an entertaining exchange and Wesley So pulled a rabbit out of a hat to beat Wei Yi from a losing position. In the Challengers Anton Korobov leads with 5½ out of 6. | Photo: Alina l'Ami, Tata Steel Chess on Facebook © 2018 Tata Steel

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Mamedyarov takes the lead

Hello, my dear readers! I'm happy to join the star-studded team of commentators for the first premier tournament of the year, Tata Steel Chess in Wijk aan Zee. I cherish my memories of participating in this grand event in 1997 and 1999, no matter the results. It's a great honor for any player to be part of it.

Morning in Wijk aan Zee

Nice weather for a change | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

This year celebrates the 80th anniversary of Wijk aan Zee tournaments and fittingly it features many of the world elite players. One look at the crosstable shows that the status quo remains in place, as all the high-rated players, with a notable exception of Fabiano Caruana find themselves in top places almost halfway through the distance.

Standings after six rounds

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Round six impressions | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Wijk aan Zee tournaments have always given us fighting chess, possibly due to a mixed field of participants, or maybe it's the weather that helps to keep the players in the tournament hall? Whatever it is, every round has exciting games, and today's round six was no exception.

Peter Svidler and Magnus Carlsen at the start of the game | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

We all accustomed to World Champion Magnus Carlsen's setting the pace in Wijk. He won this tournament five times, the feat only equaled by Anand. However, this year, Magnus has been struggling a bit. Standing at only +1 at the first intermission, Carlsen was looking to make a push today, but he met his match in veteran Peter Svidler. The result was a frontrunner for the Best Draw of 2018 award.

 
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1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 Bb4!? Back in the day we used to call it a Poor Man's Nimzo, but, in fact, it is a fully playable line. 3.Qb3 c5 The more solid 3...Ba5 was seen in Giri-Kramnik earlier in this tournament. 4.Nb5!? This extravagant move has been known for some time. I'm sure Carlsen counted on it in his preparation. Nc6 5.Nd6+ Kf8 5...Ke7!? 6.Qg3 Kf8 is an interesting nuance. The white queen may find herself not supported by other pieces, and therefore, out of place on the K-side. 6.Nf3?! It is funny to even question this natural developing move, but the thing is, that knight is going to be driven back! Instead, let's take a look at one possible alternative. 6.g3 Qe7 7.Nxc8 Rxc8 8.Bg2 Nf6 9.Nf3 e5 10.0-0 e4?! More reasonable is 10...g6 11.d3 Kg7 11.Ne1 Nd4 12.Qd1
It may seem from a casual glance that Black have made some progress, but his position has a rotten foundation. The absence of a light-squared bishop, a stray bishop on b4, uncastled king and disconnected rooks do not inspire confidence in his success in the long run. One thing left to do is to play 12...h5 and hope for the best. 6...Qe7 7.Nxc8 Rxc8 8.e3 e5!? Carlsen is absolutely right: Black must act fast and disrupt White's smooth development. In that respect 8...g5!? also comes into consideration. 9.Qc2 e4 10.Ng1 Nf6 11.Ne2 Ba5 12.a3 h5! A remarkable move. It serves as a deterrent against White's idea of fianchettoing his light-squared bishop, and prepares a possibility of development for the h8-rook. 12...d5 13.cxd5 Nxd5 14.Ng3 13.b3 13.g3? h4 13...Rd8 Magnus prepares to open the d-file to pressurize d2. He could have done so right away, 13...d5 14.cxd5 Nxd5 15.Ng3 15.Bb2 Ncb4 16.axb4 Nxb4 17.Qb1 Nd3+ 18.Kd1 Nxf2+ 19.Ke1 Nd3+ 20.Kd1 would give Black a choice between a draw by repetition, and a more ambitious try Bb4!? 15...Nf6 16.h4 and play Rd8 then. Either way, Black is getting some play, and possibly, more! 14.Bb2 d5 15.cxd5 Rxd5 16.0-0-0!
Excellent play by Svidler. With the black rook off the c-file he is safe against all Nb4 tricks. 16...Ng4! Once again Carlsen shows his deep understanding of dynamic factors. A slow approach, such as 16...h4 17.Nf4 Rd8 would allow White to switch to positional tracks with 18.Bb5!? Bc7 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.d3 17.Ng3!? Peter Svidler is no stranger to tactical battles. He knows the value of being the one in the driver's seat. He rejected 17.Nf4 Rf5 18.Nh3 most likely on account of c4! Not 18...Nxf2 19.Nxf2 Rxf2 20.Bc4 f6 21.Bd5 19.b4 19.Bxc4 b5 look out for that rook coming to c5! 19...Bxb4 20.axb4 Nxb4 21.Qa4 b5 with big intiative for Black. 17...Nxf2 18.Bc4 Nxd1 19.Rxd1 Rg5! The white knight had to be kept off f5. 20.Rf1
This looks very difficult to defend, but no worries, it's Magnus at the controls. 20...Nd8! 20...f6? 21.Nxe4 Rxg2 22.Nxf6!+- 21.Nf5 With no target present on f6 21.Nxe4 is pointless: Rxg2 21...Qd7 22.Qxe4 Rg4 Carlsen's move forces White's hand. 22...b5 23.Bd5 h4 24.Qf3 is very much unclear. 23.Bxg7+ After some consideration Svidler decided to wrap up this exciting game. I can't blame him for taking a draw, as 23.Qc2 Rxg2 24.Bxg7+ Rxg7 25.Nxg7 would have led to an ending, Qxd2+ no need to allow 25...Kxg7?! 26.b4! 26.Qxd2 Bxd2+ 27.Kxd2 Kxg7 28.Ke2 b6 29.Rd1 Nc6 30.Rd7 Ne5 31.Rxa7 Rh6 where chances are about even. 23...Rxg7 24.Nxg7 Qxd2+ All is forced now. 25.Kb1 Bc3 26.Rxf7+ Nxf7 27.Qe8+ Kxg7 28.Qxf7+ Kh6 29.Qf4+ Kg6 30.Qf7+ Kh6 31.Qf4+ With draws like this, who needs decisive games? ½–½
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Svidler,P2768Carlsen,M2834½–½2018A1380th Tata Steel Masters 20186

Carlsen and Svidler's post-mortem discussion was streamed live | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Carlsen is yet to hit on all cylinders, and it gives an opening for his competition to pull ahead. One guy who made it happen is Wesley So, although today he needed a bit of luck.

Wei Yi — too little time for a sharp game | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 With this move order White aims to avoid standard QGD positions. Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 4...a6 5.b3 Bd6 6.Bb2 0-0 7.g4! Nepomniatchichi-Anand, London Classic 2017. 5.Bxc4 a6 6.b3!? Much more interesting than the routine 6.d4 b5 7.Be2 Bb7 leading to a favorable for black version of the Queens Gambit Accepted 6...c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.Qc2 Be7 9.a3 b6 A bit passive. What's wrong with 9...b5 I guess Wesley didn't want to subject his pawn structure to a typical assault 10.Be2 Bb7 11.a4 although considering the time Black gains on chasing the white knight back, it shouldn't be too bad for him. b4 10.g4! This idea is floating around similar structures — see the note to Black's 4th move. h6 11.Rg1 b5 12.Be2 Bb7 13.g5 hxg5 14.Nxg5 Rh6! This rook deployment helps So to guard the g6-sqaure against the threat of Nxf7. 15.Nce4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4
16...g6?! Perhaps, a bit conservative, 16...Qd5 17.Bxg7 Rxh2 18.Nf6+ Bxf6 19.Bxf6 looks somewhat threatening, but the black king has the d7-square, and Ne5 should provide for counterplay. 17.Nxc5 Bxc5 18.Qxc5 Rxh2 19.a4! It's all about this move. Wei Yi switches the point of his attack to the queenside with endgame prospects in mind. Qh4 I'm sure he planned to answer 19...Rc8 with 20.Bg7! forcing not 20.axb5? Qh4! 21.Rf1 Nb4 20...Qe7 21.Qxe7+ Kxe7 22.axb5 axb5 and then take it from there. 20.Rf1 Rc8 21.Qb6! Very strong. Black's position is collapsing. Nd8 22.axb5 Bg2 23.Ra4 Qh3 24.Ba3 Unnecessary. The simple 24.bxa6 Bxf1 25.Bxf1 Rh1 26.Qb5+ Nc6 27.a7 should suffice. 24...Rh1 25.bxa6 Qh8!?
In a desperate situation Wesley tries a geometrical motif. 25...Bxf1 26.Qb5+ Nc6 27.Bxf1 Rc7 28.a7 forces Black into a gloomy ending after Qxf1+ 29.Qxf1 Rxf1+ 30.Kxf1 Rxa7 31.Bc5 Rb7 32.b4 etc. 26.Rd4? Way too fancy. Generally speaking it's never a bad idea to open the game with 1.d2-d4, and here 26.d4 was just winning. Bxf1 27.Qb5+! An important Zwischenzug. 27.Bxf1?? Rxf1+ 28.Kxf1 Qh1+ 29.Ke2 Rc2+ 27...Nc6 28.Bxf1 Qh5 29.Qxh5 gxh5 30.Ke2 etc. 26...Bxf1 27.Qb5+? In time trouble Wei Yi totally loses the handle. 27.Bxf1 Nc6 28.a7 Nxd4 29.exd4 and Black has no better than a perpetual after Rxf1+ 30.Kxf1 Qh1+ 31.Ke2 Qe4+ 27...Nc6 28.Bxf1 Rxf1+ 29.Kxf1? 29.Qxf1 Nxd4 30.exd4 Qxd4 31.Qb5+ was a better try. In all possible endgames after a queen trade Black's won't have an h-passer, as he had in the game. 29...Qh1+ 30.Ke2 Qh5+! 31.Qxh5 Nxd4+ Talking about in-between moves. 32.exd4 gxh5 33.b4 33.Bc5 Kd7 34.Kf3 Rg8! and the h-pawn is marching on. 33...Rb8 34.Kf3 Kd7 35.Kg3 Kc6 36.b5+ Black's task would have been quite a bit harder in case of the correct 36.a7 Ra8 37.b5+ Kxb5 38.Bc5 36...Rxb5 37.Bc5 Rb2 38.a7 Kb7 39.d5 exd5 40.Be3 Rb4 41.d4 Rb1 0–1
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Wei,Y2743So,W27920–12018A1780th Tata Steel Masters 20186

A terrible disappointment for the young Chinese, and Wei Yi need to discipline himself for poor time management. 

Wesley So on his turning the tables | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Time trouble must have been a big factor in the following encounter as well. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov has the ability to make things difficult for his opponent no matter the position, and he often takes huge risks along the way. Pardon me, I'm not quite buying Shak's theory of his playing "old man's chess" now. To me, regardless of Mamedyarov's current number two position in world rankings, he will always remain the same player we love to watch and root for.

 
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1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.a3 Bc5 7.Be3 Nxd4 8.Bxd4 b6 9.e4 Bb7 10.b4 Be7 11.Bd3 d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.Qe2 Nd7 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.Rac1 Qc7 16.Nb5 Qb8 17.Qg4 Nf6 18.Qe2 Nd7 19.Qg4 Ne5 20.Qg3 Ng6 21.f3 Rfd8 22.Bf1 Bh4 23.Qg4 h6 24.Be3 Bf6 25.Nd4 Re8 26.Nb5 Rcd8 27.a4 Bc6 28.Qg3 Bh4 29.Qg4 Re7 30.Bd3 Bf6 31.f4 Qa8 32.Re1 Rdd7 33.Bf2
Long maneuvering in a standard Hedgehog structure didn't produce much, and Shakh decided to rock the boat. 33...a5!? 34.Bxb6 34.bxa5 Qxa5 34...axb4 35.a5 b3 36.Kh1 From the point of view of keeping Black's counterplay to minimum 36.Rb1 b2 37.g3 Re8 38.Qe2 Rb8 39.Rxb2 Bxb2 40.Qxb2 comes into consideration. 36...e5?! I'm not sure I like that, as the b-pawn loses the support of the dark-squared bishop. 37.f5 Nf4 38.Bb1 d5 39.exd5 Bxb5 40.cxb5 Qxd5 41.Be4 Qd2
White looks totally winning here. 42.a6 Swapping the passed pawns after 42.Qf3 b2 43.Rc8+ Kh7 44.Rb1 Qb4 45.Rc2 Qxb5 46.Rcxb2 was perhaps not the fastest but the surest way to victory. 42...b2 43.Rb1 Qb4 44.Bc6 Rd3 45.Be3? 45.Re3 would put the stop to Black's idea of sacrificing the exchange as it happened in the game. 45...Ra3! 46.a7 Rexa7 47.Bxa7 Rxa7 Now it's anyone's game, and we all know how good Shakh is in such situations. 48.Qd1 Ra3 49.Be4 Qxb5 50.Qd2 Rb3 51.g3 Nh3 52.Bg2 Ng5 53.h4 Nf3 54.Bxf3 Rxf3 55.Rxb2 Qa4
56.Re3 Sometimes it's necessary to accept a little defensive task, just like Magnus Carlsen did against Vladimir Kramnik a couple of days ago. I vote for 56.Qb4 Qxb4 57.Rxb4 Rxg3 58.Rf1 hanging tough. 56...e4 57.Rb8+ Kh7 58.Kg2 Qc6 59.Rxf3?! I don't think it was forced just yet. exf3+ 60.Kf2 That king in the middle is going to give Adhiban a lingering headache. I wonder if 60.Kh3 was a better option. 60...Be7! From this point on there was simply no stopping to the surging Mamedyarov. 61.Qd3 Bc5+ 62.Kf1 Ba7 63.Rb1 Qc5 64.Ke1 Qf2+ 65.Kd1 f6 66.Rb3 Qg1+ 67.Kc2 Qg2+ 68.Kc3 Qxg3 69.h5 Qe5+ 70.Kb4 Qf4+ 71.Kb5 f2 72.Rb1 Qg4 73.Ra1 Bd4 74.Rf1 Qg2 75.Kc4 Bb6 76.Kb5 Be3 77.Ka4 The white king is wandering in the emptiness. Bd2! 78.Kb5 Be1 79.Kc5 Qg4 80.Kd6 Qxh5 81.Ke7 Qh2 82.Qd8 Qh3 83.Qc8 Bb4+ 84.Ke8 Qh5+ 85.Kd8 Qe2 86.Qc1 Be1 0–1
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Adhiban,B2655Mamedyarov,S28040–12018A3380th Tata Steel Masters 20186

Mamedyarov: "I don't know why I play these moves over the board" | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

It is fun to watch Vladimir Kramnik, particularly with the white pieces. These days Vladimir plays a variety of off-beat lines, aiming to set up new problems for his opponents. It almost worked today, but Gawain Jones put up a massive resistance and was able to salvage a draw.

 
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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.Re1 c6?! I think 6...c5 represents Black's best option here. 7.e4 Qc7 Probably 7...Bg4 has to be played, but parting with the bishop is a concession, particularly here where, unlike in the KID, the white c-pawn can give protection to the d4-pawn. 8.e5! A novelty, but the reason it had not been played before is because good players never had a crack at this position. dxe5 9.dxe5 Nd5 10.Qe2 Sometimes White goes from an early e4-e5 in various variations of the Pirc, but here with the fianchettoed light-squared bishop he has the perfect version of it. b5 10...Bg4 11.c4 Nb6 12.Bf4 Qc8 13.Nc3 c5 11.Nbd2 a5 12.c4 Nb4 13.Nd4 Rd8! I have to give credit to Gawain Jones for his spirited defense. 14.a3 Rxd4 15.axb4 bxc4 16.Nxc4 Bg4!
Black's counterplay isn't so easy to contain. 17.Qf1!? Watch Kramnik's solution to the problem. 17.Qc2 Bf5 18.Be4 Be6 19.Nxa5 Rxb4 20.Bd2 Rd4 is a bit confusing. and the same goes for 17.f3 Be6 18.b3 a4 19.f4 axb3! 20.Rxa8 Rxc4 17...Bf5 18.Be3! There's nothing Vladimir values more in chess than an opportunity to take away the opponent's counterplay, even at the cost of a small material concession. We have seen many of his games with exchange sacrifices, and now Kramnik is happy to part with his queen. Bd3 19.Bxd4 Bxf1 20.Bxf1 c5 21.Bxc5 Nd7 22.Bd4 a4 23.b5 Rb8 24.Rec1 h5± 25.b6?! Perhaps that pawn spoke too soon. Further preparation, beginning with 25.Bg2 was in order. 25...Qc6 26.Na5 26.Bg2 Qb5 26...Qe6 27.Bc4 Qg4 28.Nc6 Rxb6 Jones was happy to get rid of that pawn no matter the cost. 29.Bxb6 Nxb6 30.Nxe7+ Kf8 31.Nd5
31...Bxe5!? Now Gawain shows his ambitions. 31...Nxd5 32.Bxd5 Bxe5 33.Rc4 Qe2 34.Rcxa4 Bxb2 would be enough for a draw. 32.Nxb6 Bxb2 33.h3?! Being short of time Kramnik decides to eliminate the a-pawn. 33.Rab1 Bxc1 34.Rxc1 a3 35.Nd5 Qd4 36.Ne3 would be safe for him anyway, but I'm not sure White would have been able to generate winning chances from there. 33...Qxh3 34.Bf1 Qe6 35.Nxa4 Bxa1 36.Rxa1 h4 37.Nc5 Qd5 38.Rc1 hxg3 39.Nd3 gxf2+ 40.Kxf2 Qd4+ 41.Ke2 Qg4+ ½–½
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Kramnik,V2787Jones,G2640½–½2018A4980th Tata Steel Masters 20186

Endgame Fireworks

On this DVD Alexei Shirov shows that also in the endgame, it is possible to keep struggling for the full point to the very last - if you are creative and ambitious. Because even in objectively quite balanced positions, you can frequently find ways to sharpen up or complicate the fight. For the tournament player, often all that matters is to be able to pose practical problems which his or her opponent might finally fail to solve.

Of other games, I'd point out a solid positional effort from Caruana, who made Matlakov find a series of only moves to maintain the balance. Giri-Anand and Hou-Karjakin were significantly less entertaining.

Caruana vs Matlakov attracted some heavy hitting spectators

Caruana vs Matlakov attracted some heavy hitting spectators | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel

Results of round six

Br. Title Name FED Elo Res. Title Name FED Elo
1 GM Fabiano Caruana
 
 2794 ½ - ½ GM Maxim Matlakov
 
 2730
2 GM Vladimir Kramnik
 
 2794 ½ - ½ GM Gawain Jones
 
 2640
3 GM Peter Svidler
 
 2760 ½ - ½ GM Magnus Carlsen
 
 2826
4 GM Anish Giri
 
 2762 ½ - ½ GM Viswanathan Anand
 
 2783
5 GM Wei Yi
 
 2740 0 - 1 GM Wesley So
 
 2788
6 GM Hou Yifan
 
 2678 ½ - ½ GM Sergey Karjakin
 
 2765
7 GM Baskaran Adhiban
 
 2671 0 - 1 GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
 
 2791

All games round 1 to 6

 
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1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 g6 LiveBook: 6 Games. C42: Petroff Defence: 3 Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves 9.Nd4 a6 10.Bf4N Predecessor: 10.h3 Bg7 11.g4 Bd7 12.Bf3 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 15.Bd2 h5 16.g5 Nd5 17.Nxd5 cxd5 18.0-0-0 Kd7 1/2-1/2 (18) Shirov,A (2710)-Kramnik,V (2790) Cazorla 1998 10...Bg7 11.h3 Bd7 12.Bf3 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 15.0-0-0 Kd7 16.Rhe1 Rhe8 17.Ne4 Nd5 18.Bd2! f5 19.Ng5 h6 20.Nf3 g5 21.c3 c5 22.Kc2 Bf6 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Re1 Rf8 25.Rh1 Re8 26.g3 g4 27.Ng1 Bg5 28.Kd1 a5 29.Ne2 a4 30.Bxg5 hxg5 31.hxg4 fxg4= Endgame KRN-KRN 32.Rh5 Re5 33.Rh7+ Ke6 34.a3 Rf5 35.c4 Nf6 36.Rh2 Rf3 37.Kc2 Nd7 38.d4 Nb6 39.dxc5 The position is equal. dxc5 40.Nc3 Ke5 41.Nd1 Precision: White = 65%, Black = 62%. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2834Caruana,F2811½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20181
So,W2792Mamedyarov,S2804½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20181
Kramnik,V2787Wei,Y27431–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20181
Svidler,P2768Adhiban,B2655½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20181
Anand,V2767Matlakov,M27181–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20181
Giri,A2752Hou,Y26801–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20181
Jones,G2640Karjakin,S2753½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20181
Caruana,F2811Jones,G2640½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20182
Karjakin,S2753Anand,V2767½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20182
Giri,A2752Kramnik,V27871–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20182
Wei,Y2743Svidler,P2768½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20182
Matlakov,M2718So,W2792½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20182
Hou,Y2680Mamedyarov,S28040–1201880th Tata Steel Masters 20182
Adhiban,B2655Carlsen,M28340–1201880th Tata Steel Masters 20182
Carlsen,M2834Wei,Y2743½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20183
Mamedyarov,S2804Matlakov,M2718½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20183
So,W2792Karjakin,S2753½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20183
Kramnik,V2787Hou,Y2680½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20183
Svidler,P2768Giri,A2752½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20183
Anand,V2767Caruana,F28111–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20183
Jones,G2640Adhiban,B26551–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20183
Caruana,F2811So,W2792½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20184
Kramnik,V2787Svidler,P27681–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20184
Karjakin,S2753Mamedyarov,S2804½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20184
Giri,A2752Carlsen,M2834½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20184
Wei,Y2743Jones,G26401–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20184
Hou,Y2680Matlakov,M27180–1201880th Tata Steel Masters 20184
Adhiban,B2655Anand,V2767½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20184
Carlsen,M2834Kramnik,V2787½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20185
Mamedyarov,S2804Caruana,F28111–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20185
So,W2792Adhiban,B26551–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20185
Svidler,P2768Hou,Y26801–0201880th Tata Steel Masters 20185
Anand,V2767Wei,Y2743½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20185
Matlakov,M2718Karjakin,S2753½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20185
Jones,G2640Giri,A2752½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20185
Caruana,F2811Matlakov,M2718½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20186
Kramnik,V2787Jones,G2640½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20186
Svidler,P2768Carlsen,M2834½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20186
Giri,A2752Anand,V2767½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20186
Wei,Y2743So,W27920–1201880th Tata Steel Masters 20186
Hou,Y2680Karjakin,S2753½–½201880th Tata Steel Masters 20186
Adhiban,B2655Mamedyarov,S28040–1201880th Tata Steel Masters 20186

Challengers

The Challengers Group shapes up as a race between Korobov and Vidit. Today Anton was able to open up a full point lead by running his score to 5½/6. Korobov is known for his incredible skills, and often it's his motivation that is questioned, but here with an invitation to the big show next year at stake, he has so far been exceptional.

Korobov: "To tell the truth I am too fat and too old to be in great shape...still I am very cold blooded." | Tata Steel Chess on YouTube

Results of round six

Br. Title Name FED Elo Res. Title Name FED Elo
1 GM Anton Korobov
 
 2652 1 - 0 GM Aryan Tari
 
 2578
2 GM Matthias Bluebaum
 
 2643 ½ - ½ GM Bassem Amin
 
 2698
3 GM Jeffery Xiong
 
 2629 ½ - ½ GM Michal Krasenkow
 
 2651
4 GM Dmitry Gordievsky
 
 2605 ½ - ½ GM Dronavalli Harika
 
 2528
5 GM Benjamin Bok
 
 2611 ½ - ½ GM Santosh Gujrathi Vidit
 
 2713
6 WGM Olga Girya
 
 2505 ½ - ½ GM Jorden Van Foreest
 
 2609
7 IM Lucas Van Foreest
 
 2489 ½ - ½ GM Erwin L'Ami
 
 2611

All games round 1 to 6

 
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1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.0-0 e5 5.d3 Ne7 6.e4 0-0 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Nc3 c6 9.Re1 Re8 10.Bg5 Qc7 11.d4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bg4 13.h3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 h6 15.Bf6 Nd7 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Re3 Re6 18.h4 Rae8 19.h5 Nf6 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.Qe2 e4 22.c4 h5 23.Rb1 b6 24.Re1 Qf7 25.Bh3 R6e7 26.a4 Nh7 27.Bg2 Nf6 28.Bh3 Nh7 29.Bg2 Nf6 30.Bh3 ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Amin,B2693Harika,D2497½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20181
Krasenkow,M2671L'Ami,E2634½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20181
Korobov,A2652Bluebaum,M26401–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20181
Xiong,J2634Bok,B2607½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20181
Van Foreest,J2629Van Foreest,L24811–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20181
Tari,A2599Vidit,S2718½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20181
Girya,O2489Gordievsky,D26220–1201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20181
Vidit,S2718Krasenkow,M26711–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20182
Bluebaum,M2640Girya,O24890–1201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20182
L'Ami,E2634Amin,B2693½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20182
Xiong,J2634Korobov,A2652½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20182
Gordievsky,D2622Van Foreest,J2629½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20182
Bok,B2607Harika,D2497½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20182
Van Foreest,L2481Tari,A25991–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20182
Amin,B2693Vidit,S27180–1201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20183
Krasenkow,M2671Van Foreest,L2481½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20183
Korobov,A2652Bok,B26071–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20183
Van Foreest,J2629Bluebaum,M26400–1201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20183
Tari,A2599Gordievsky,D2622½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20183
Harika,D2497L'Ami,E2634½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20183
Girya,O2489Xiong,J2634½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20183
Vidit,S2718Harika,D24971–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20184
Korobov,A2652Girya,O24891–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20184
Bluebaum,M2640Tari,A2599½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20184
Xiong,J2634Van Foreest,J2629½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20184
Gordievsky,D2622Krasenkow,M2671½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20184
Bok,B2607L'Ami,E2634½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20184
Van Foreest,L2481Amin,B26931–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20184
Amin,B2693Gordievsky,D26221–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20185
Krasenkow,M2671Bluebaum,M2640½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20185
L'Ami,E2634Vidit,S2718½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20185
Van Foreest,J2629Korobov,A26520–1201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20185
Tari,A2599Xiong,J26341–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20185
Harika,D2497Van Foreest,L2481½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20185
Girya,O2489Bok,B2607½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20185
Korobov,A2652Tari,A25991–0201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20186
Bluebaum,M2640Amin,B2693½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20186
Xiong,J2634Krasenkow,M2671½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20186
Gordievsky,D2622Harika,D2497½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20186
Bok,B2607Vidit,S2718½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20186
Girya,O2489Van Foreest,J2629½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20186
Van Foreest,L2481L'Ami,E2634½–½201880th Tata Steel Challengers 20186

Standings after six rounds

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Yermo is enjoying his fifties. Lives in South Dakota, 600 miles way from the nearest grandmaster. Between his chess work online he plays snooker and spends time outdoors - happy as a clam.

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Petrarlsen Petrarlsen 1/23/2018 02:15
@ macauley : Thanks !!
macauley macauley 1/22/2018 11:05
@ Petrarlsen - Ratings have been fixed.
Pionki Pionki 1/20/2018 10:41
It's hard to imagine anything more chaotic than a conversation between two chess players fresh after their game. Two birds squabbling over scattered grain. Funny.
Petrarlsen Petrarlsen 1/20/2018 07:09
Once more, I notice that the Elo ratings are wrong, in both tournaments' (Masters and Challengers) standings... And the rating performances are missing for the Masters tournament...
Petrarlsen Petrarlsen 1/20/2018 06:43
Hooray ! Not one or two annotated games by GM Yermolinsky (...even if this would still be good news...), but FOUR of them ! Excellent !
Kilovs 2016 Kilovs 2016 1/20/2018 03:00
Go Wesley!! Go Go Pinoy!!
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