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It was a dark day for the Chinese players, as both Hou and Wei lost their games to Carlsen and Mamedyarov respectively. In all, we the most number of decisive games in the Masters in a single round, with Kramnik and Karjakin both notching wins as well. Saturday represents the mid-way point in this very long struggle, so there is still plenty of time left for four players a point behind Mamedyarov on 4½ points.
Magnus Carlsen was relieved to get his second win, coming at the end of an endgame which he says Hou Yifan could have held. Indeed in a strange coincidence, the fatal blunder 50...h5? somewhat mirrored one Yifan made agains the World Champion here in Wijk aan Zee in 2016:
In both cases, the position went from equal to completely winning for White.
Happier times at the start of the game for Hou | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel
Carlsen: "Hopefully I can get it going now" | Tata Steel Chess YouTube
Amazing how Carlsen is able to put huge pressure on in these seemingly dull and drawn endgames- surely a lesson to those who agree draws in such positions thinking that they are dead and lifeless #TataSteelChess
— Daniel Gormally (@elgransenor1) January 20, 2018
Kramnik takes a moment to analyse blindfold | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel
Anand went for an Italian game against Kramnik, which followed their 2017 blitz encounter in Zurich until Anand deviated with 7.Bg5 (last year he first castled, allowing 7...h6). Kramnik beat Anand twice with black last year in Norway Chess, but both in a Ruy Lopez which Anand has preferred lately against his age-old rival.
Kramnik is in excellent position in the tournament and has yet to play Mamedyarov | Tata Steel Chess YouTube
Mamedyarov won despite a "very bad move" | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel
Mamedyarov is in Wijk aan Zee with his wife, but without a second, though he shared after the game that he of course has someone helping him prepare remotely. His choice of the Catalan today was unusual, as he said he has rarely played this line in the past.
This was his third classical win against Wei Yi, however, having previously beaten him in 2016 in the Chinese league. Mamedyarov also elminated Wei from the 2013 World Cup in Tromso in a tiebreak, when Wei was still quite new on the international scene.
Mamedyarov has yet to play Carlsen — they are paired in the eighth round — but he has a fairly appaling record lifetime agains the world number one. He hasn't won a classical game against Magnus since 2008.
Mamedyarov: Third consecutive win and on a roll | Tata Steel Chess YouTube
Sergey Karjakin was clearly pleased to get his first win of the tournament, benefitting from a blunder from Caruana in a position, however, which Karjakin felt was already better for him.
Karjakin: It's always nice to win against such a great player | Tata Steel Chess YouTube
Wesley So and Anish Giri drew and both remain tied for second. Giri plays Mamedyarov on Sunday with White, so that will be his big chance to make a play for first place. He said that he "got a bit creative" in the opening, deciding to "improve" over theory at the board, but ending up with a worse position.
Giri describes the difficulty in assessing the kind of position he received with a computer | Tata Steel Chess YouTube
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Commentary by GM Robin van Kampen and GM Eric Hansen| Tata Steel Chess YouTube
No changes at the top of the leader board as both Korobov and Vidit drew their games, so the Ukrainian maintains a one point lead. Both decisive games went against the women in the tournament. Matthias Bluebaum got his second win, dealing Harika her second loss, and Aryan Tari pulled back to an equal score, beating Olga Girya.
Korobov has been solid at the top | Photo: Alina l'Ami © 2018 Tata Steel
