The veterans' clash
The first DVD with videos from Anand's chess career reflects the very beginning of that career and goes as far as 1999. It starts with his memories of how he first learned chess and shows his first great games (including those from the 1984 WCh for juniors). The high point of his early developmental phase was the winning of the 1987 WCh for juniors. After that, things continue in quick succession: the first victories over Kasparov, WCh candidate in both the FIDE and PCA cycles and the high point of the WCh match against Kasparov in 1995.
Running time: 3:48 hours
The big news was Anand's win over Kramnik, which enabled the Indian to join the leaders at 4½/7. Vishy and Vlad must have played each other nearly a hundred times [nearly 200 in total! -Ed.], but it's hard to recall a stranger game than the one they had today. First, it was Kramnik totally getting off the rails with 14.g4? and 16.h4? played in a position that allowed for a quieter treatment, then it was Anand inexplicably trading down to an endgame when he had all the chances to hunt down the white king. The last part of the game saw Kramnik throwing the game away due to some strange, if not outright bad, play. Here I'm quoting Mark Crowther, who was actually referring to Vlad's exploits throughout the entire tournament.
The contrast between the two former Champs has never been as visible as it was today. On one side we have Kramnik, a tormented soul who claims he's there just to play interesting games as if he doesn't care about the result (we know it's not true). Across the board is the ever-tranquil Anand, who has long accepted his limitations (due to age) and actually, does look like he's having fun playing chess against the young generation (and does well at).
The game itself seemed so disjointed that I decided to take a pass on annotating it. [You can see the highlights in our Round 7 report. -Ed.]

Giri looks mildly perplexed by the World Champion's choice | Photo: Alina l'Ami
The leaders
On this DVD Vladimir Kramnik retraces his career from talented schoolboy to World Champion in 2006. With humour and charm he describes his first successes, what it meant to be part of the Russian Gold Medal team at the Olympiad, and how he undertook the Herculean task of beating his former mentor and teacher Garry Kasparov.
The two leaders who faced each other today, Giri and Ding, had a semi-theoretical battle in the Bb4+ Catalan, which never left the bounds of equality. In the end, it seemed both players were relieved to stumble upon a convincing drawing line.
Having broken out of his much-publicized drawing streak, Carlsen was glad to draw today. His opponent, Fedoseev, is not having a good tournament (particularly his loss to Van Foreest could have easily been avoided), but he took the task of playing the World Champion seriously. 'Fedo' snatched a pawn out of a Grunfeld sideline and held onto it like a bulldog. It took some cool-headed defending from Magnus to avoid an upset.
Nepo continues to surprise with his newly found solid approach. Today he went for a symmetrical structure against Duda's Petroff and kept the pressure on until it almost seemed Black was about to crack. Give credit to Jan-Krzysztof for hanging tough. He really earned his draw today.
Nepo can be a bit disappointed by not scoring victories in any of the two Whites he had against Rapport and Duda, but those are good players nobody can take for granted. The way Ian is playing, fast and confident, it's very likely that further wins won't be long in coming.
Richard Rapport once again proved hard to beat today, as he thwarted Mamedyarov's attempts to make any headway in the Bogo-Indian. I liked Shakhriyar's idea of sacking the f2-pawn, but in the end, his king was too vulnerable to perpetual check for this to work out.
The Round 7 winners
It was Mamedyarov's countryman and teammate Teimour Radjabov who made the biggest splash today. His win over Vidit was beautiful from start to finish.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ 5.Bg5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 5...Nc6 6.e3 0-0 7.Qc2 7.Bd2 dxc4! 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.0-0 e5 10.h3 a6 11.Qc2 exd4 12.exd4 b5! 13.Be2 Nb4 14.Qd1 Bb7 7...Re8 7...dxc4 7...Ne7 7...b6 8.Bd2 Bd6 9.h3 9.c5 Bf8 10.Bb5 Bd7 11.Bxc6 Bxc6 12.Ne5 9...a6 10.a3 Bd7 11.Be2 dxc4 12.Bxc4 h6 13.g4‼ 13.0-0 e5 14.Rae1 Qe7 15.Nh4 13...e5 13...b5 14.Ba2 b4 14.g5 b5 14...Nxd4 15.exd4 exd4+ 16.Ne2 b5 17.Bd3 hxg5 18.Nxg5 c5 15.Ba2 exd4 15...Nxd4 16.exd4 exd4+ 17.Ne2 Qe7 18.Nfxd4 hxg5 16.gxh6‼ dxc3 16...Bf4 17.0-0-0 Bxh6 17...dxc3 18.exf4 cxd2+ 19.Rxd2 Qe7 20.Qg6 18.exd4 Bxd2+ 19.Qxd2 b4! 17.Bxc3 Be6 17...Bf4 18.Qg6 Bxh6 19.Rd1! 19.0-0-0 Qe7 20.Bxf6 Qc5+ 21.Bc3 Be6 19...Qe7 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.Rxd7 18.Bxe6 18.Rg1 Bxa2 19.Rxg7+ Kf8 20.Rxa2 Be5 21.Ng5 18...Rxe6 19.Rg1 19...Ne8 19...Nh5 20.Bxg7 Bg3‼ 21.Rd1 Qe7 22.Ke2 Re8 23.Bc3 Rxe3+ 24.Kf1 20.Bxg7 Nxg7 21.Rxg7+ Kf8 22.Qh7 Qf6 23.Ng5 Rxe3+ 24.Kf1 Nd8 25.Qg8+ Ke7 26.h7 Bg3 27.Ne4! Rxe4 27...Qf3 28.Rxg3 Rh4 29.Rd1 Rxh7 30.Re3+ Ne6 31.Qxa8 Rh8 32.Qc6 Kf8 33.Rxe6 Qxe6 34.Rd8+ Kg7 35.Qc3+ f6 36.Qxc7+ 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
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Radjabov,T | 2757 | Vidit,S | 2695 | 1–0 | 2019 | D38 | 81st Tata Steel Masters 2019 | 7 |
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See the player's extensive post-mortem analysis in our Round 7 report!
The Ragozin is being played by every top grandmaster in the world - it is time you also add it to your repertoire to get interesting and dynamic positions against 1. d4!
GM Alejandro Ramirez analyses every single move that White can play once the Ragozin is reached, but due to several transpositional possibilities he always emphasises strategic goals to keep in mind.
I know Teimour hasn't played a whole lot lately and often has been criticized for taking too many draws, but it's been a long journey back from the disastrous London Candidates in 2013, and one cannot blame Teimour for being cautious. As he said himself, risky play doesn't get rewarded in modern chess (ask Kramnik how it's working out for him), and the only way to get attention from the organisers is to gain rating.
Well, Radjabov is now at a respectable 2757, and that's why he's playing in Wijk aan Zee this year. I can only hope that once Teimour is back in Top Ten he will feel free to play every game like he did today.
Another small, but important step forward was made by Sam Shankland. Sam blew two winning endgames at the start of the tournament, and he really needed a win today to (hopefully) regain his confidence. It came at the expense of the young Jorden Van Foreest, who missed a golden opportunity early in the middlegame.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.c4 e5 2.d3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e3 a5 7.Be2 Bd6 8.b3 0-0 9.Bb2 f5 10.Nbd2 Qe7 11.Qc2 Bd7 12.g3 Kh8 13.0-0 Rae8 14.Rfe1 14...e4! 15.Nd4 15.Nh4 Be5 15...f4 16.Nxe4 fxe3 17.fxe3 Nxe3 18.Qc1 16.dxe4 16.Ng2 exd3 17.Bxd3 Ndb4 16...fxe4 17.Ng2 15...Nxd4 15...f4‼ 16.exf4 16.dxe4 fxe3 16.gxf4 Nxf4 17.exf4 Bxf4 18.Nf1 Bxh2+ 19.Nxh2 Qg5+ 20.Kh1 Rxf2 16.Nxe4 fxe3 17.fxe3 17.f4 17...Nxe3 18.Qc1 Nxd4 19.Bxd4 Nf5 16...e3 17.Ne4 exf2+ 18.Kxf2 Bxf4 16.Bxd4 exd3 17.Qxd3 Bxa3 18.Bf3! Nb4 18...Nf6 19.Bxb7 Bb4 19.Qc3 Nc6 20.Bxg7+ 20.Rxa3 Nxd4 21.Rxa5 Nxf3+ 22.Nxf3 c6= 20...Qxg7 21.Qxg7+ Kxg7 22.Rxa3 22...f4 23.Be4 23.Bxc6 fxe3 24.Rxe3 Rxe3 25.fxe3 Bxc6 26.Rxa5 Rd8 23...fxe3 24.Rxe3 Rf6 25.Ra1 Bf5 26.Rc1 Bxe4 27.Rxe4 Rxe4 28.Nxe4 Rf5 29.Kg2 29...Kf7 29...Rb5 30.Rc3 Kg6 31.f4 Rb4= 30.Nc5± Nb4?! 30...b6 31.Ne4 30...Nd4 31.Nxb7 Nxb3 32.Rxc7+ Kg6 33.Nd6 Rf6 34.Nc4 Ra6 30...Nd8 31.Nxb7 31.Nxb7 Rxf2+ 32.Kxf2 Nd3+ 33.Ke3 Nxc1 34.Nxa5 Ke6 35.g4? 35.Ke4 35...Na2? 35...Ke5 36.h4 c5 36.Kd4 Nb4 37.h4 Nd5 38.Nc4 Nf4 39.Ne3 Ng6 39...Ne2+ 40.Ke4 c5 41.Nc4 Nc3+ 42.Kf4 h6± 40.Nf5 Kf6 41.Ke4 Nf8 42.Ne3 c6 43.Nc4+- Ng6 44.g5+ Ke7 45.h5 Nf8 46.Ne5 Ne6 47.Nxc6+ Kd6 48.Kf5! Ng7+ 49.Kg4 Kxc6 50.h6 Ne8 51.g6 Kd7 52.Kg5 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
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Shankland,S | 2725 | Van Foreest,J | 2612 | 1–0 | 2019 | A20 | 81st Tata Steel Masters 2019 | 7 |
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Williams main teaching method behind this set of two DVDs is to teach you some simple yet effective set ups, without the need to rely on memorising numerous complicated variations.
In the Challengers Group, a big win was scored today by another youngster, a 17-year-old Russian Andrey Esipenko, who downed the top-rated Anton Korobov in an impressive fashion.
Replay and check the LiveBook here |
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1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.0-0 Bg7 12.Nxf7!? 12...Kxf7 13.e5 Nd5 14.Ne4 Qb6 15.Nd6+ Ke7 16.a4 16.Bg4 h5 17.Bxh5 Raf8 18.Qg4 Bh6 19.h4 Rhg8 16...a5 16...Raf8 17.Bf3 a6 18.Bxd5 cxd5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Kh1 Bc6 21.f4 gxf4? 22.Bh4+ Bf6 23.Qg4 17.Bf3 Rhf8 17...bxa4 18.Bxd5! cxd5 19.axb5 19...Rf5!? 20.Kh1 20.Qh5 Rg8 21.Nxf5+ exf5 22.e6 20...Kf8 20...Raf8 21.Qd2 Rf4 21.f4 Kg8 22.Nxf5 exf5 23.fxg5 Nf8 24.gxh6 Qxh6 25.Rxf5 Bc8 26.Rf1 Be6 27.Qe1 Qg6 28.Qd2 28...Nd7 28...Qd3 29.Qf2 29.Qxd3 cxd3 30.Be1 Bg4 31.Rxa5 Rc8 32.Bc3 Bh6 33.Ra6 Be3 34.b6 Rb8 29.Bh4 Bh6 30.Qe1 Qe4 31.Qf2! Kh7 32.Ra3 Rf8 33.Bf6! Nxf6 34.exf6 Bg5 35.b6! Rxf6 36.Rf3 Rxf3 37.Qxf3 Qxd4 38.Qg3 Bf6 39.b7 Be5 40.b8Q Bxg3 41.hxg3 1–0 - Start an analysis engine:
- Try maximizing the board:
- Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
- Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
- Drag the split bars between window panes.
- Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
- Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
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Esipenko,A | 2584 | Korobov,A | 2699 | 1–0 | 2019 | D43 | 81st Tata Steel Challengers 2019 | 7 |
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In interactive format IM Robert Ris offers you a lot of exercises, including hints and advice that help you to know key tactical patterns of this variation to play it with success.

The relative veteran Korobov was given something to think about | Photo: Alina l'Ami
On the strength of this win, Esipenko is now in second place trailing Kovalev, one of the rating favourites, and another Russian — Maksim Chigaev — who wasn't mentioned much in predictions before the start. If Esipenko or Chigaev win this tournament, the organisers shouldn't worry about having a sub-2600 guy in their Masters Group next year. The way these guys are going, by the time 2020 rolls in, both Andrey and Maksim may already be 2700+!
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