1/27/2016 – All eyes were on Giri vs Carlsen, since the young Dutch GM has a positive score against the World Champion, but a draw ensued. Caruana took advantage, closing the distance to half a point after completely dominating Wei Yi. The big game in the Challengers between the two leaders Adhiban and Safarli ended in an important win for the Indian. Large illustrated report with analysis by Carlsen.
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The 78th Tata Steel Chess Tournament takes place from January 15 to 31, 2016, in the coastal village of Wijk aan Zee, North Holland. It is one of the most prestigious events in the international chess calendar. The "Wimbledon of Chess" attracts the very best chess grandmasters in the world, along with thousands of amateur players, live event visitors and online visitors from around the world. The tournament has two main player groups, each with 14 players. They are known as the Tata Steel Masters and the Tata Steel Challengers. You will find the schedule, starting times, pairings and results at the bottom of the page.
The 10th round of the Tata Steel Masters was played in the Dutch Railway Museum (Spoorwegmuseum)
in Utrecht. The round was opened by Utrecht mayor Jan van Zanen. (Click on photo for high-res)
The players had the opportunity to visit the legendary Orient Express train (click for high-res)
The venue was packed with fans, a fact that was much appreciated by the players
The game of the day, at least for sporting reasons, was Anish Giri against Magnus Carlsen
It was a feast for the photographers
Anish Giri is the only player with a positive score against Magnus. Although he did not win,
nor did he lose and his score remains intact.
After his game was over, Magnus Carlsen joined the live commentators where he stayed
for nearly half an hour commenting the games that were running.
Here is the full video of Magnus Carlsen commenting the games of his rivals. Great stuff!
The draw between Carlsen and Giri gave Caruana the chance to close the gap somewhat.
He took full advantage and after a mistake in the opening, Wei Yi never got a chance.
Fabiano Caruana - Wei Yi
[Event "78th Tata Steel GpA"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2016.01.27"] [Round "10"] [White "Caruana, F."] [Black "Wei Yi"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C83"] [WhiteElo "2787"] [BlackElo "2706"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2016.01.15"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Bc2 {Fabiano explained this was a fairly rare move, that undoubtedly caught his younger opponent off-guard.} Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nd4 Qd7 14. f4 Nxd4 15. cxd4 f5 16. Be3 O-O 17. Nc3 {[#]} c6 {Caruana pointed out that this is a nearly decisive mistake, after which he feels Black is close to lost already.} (17... Nxc3 {was forced, after which it is just a fight.}) 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. d5 b4 20. dxc6 Qxd1 21. Nxd1 Rfd8 22. Rc1 Rd3 23. Bc5 Bd8 24. e6 Rc8 25. e7 Ba5 26. gxf5 Be8 27. Nf2 Rd5 28. Nxe4 Bxc6 29. Bxb4 Bxb4 30. Rxc6 Re8 31. f6 Rd4 32. Re6 1-0
Fabiano Caruana in a short interview after his game
No less impressive was Michael Adams who fought a game with opposite-side castling and
attacking, and he scored an impressive win over Sergey Karjakin
Sergey Karjakin - Michael Adams
[Event "78th Tata Steel GpA"] [Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"] [Date "2016.01.27"] [Round "10"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Adams, Mi"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A45"] [WhiteElo "2769"] [BlackElo "2744"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2016.01.15"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bd3 b6 9. Ne5 Bb7 10. f4 {Although perfectly standard in this position, and by far the most popular choice, one detail does stand out: the extremely low number of draws. The database says it is only 52% for White, but not because of peaceful results. EIther White kills Black, or Black kills White.} Ne7 11. Qf3 (11. Qc2 c4 12. Be2 Nf5 13. Bf2 Be7 14. Ng4 Nxg4 15. Bxg4 Nd6 16. f5 exf5 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. Qxf5 Qc8 19. Qf3 b5 20. h4 a5 21. h5 h6 22. Bh4 Re8 23. Nf1 Qe6 24. Kf2 Bf8 25. Ng3 b4 26. Nf5 Qe4 27. Raf1 Bc8 28. Ng3 Qxf3+ 29. gxf3 a4 30. Ne2 a3 31. cxb4 Bxb4 32. Nf4 axb2 33. Nxd5 Rxa2 34. Rb1 Ba5 35. Rhg1 Kf8 { 1/2-1/2 (35) Andreikin,D (2720)-Karjakin,S (2762) Baku 2015}) 11... Nf5 12. Bf2 Be7 13. g4 Nd6 14. g5 Nfe4 15. O-O-O c4 16. Bc2 b5 17. Qh3 {[#]} b4 $1 { Black has played unflinchingly, and now takes the upperhand.} 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. Be1 Bd5 20. Rg1 b3 21. axb3 cxb3 22. Bb1 f5 23. gxf6 Bxf6 24. Rg4 Nf5 25. Kd2 Qa5 26. Ke2 Bxe5 27. dxe5 Rad8 28. Kf2 Qa1 29. Bd2 Bc4 30. Qh5 Qxb2 31. Ke1 Rxd2 0-1
Michael Adams shares his impressions of the game
Pavel Eljanov was expecting a draw with Hou Yifan, when the Chinese player blundered it
all away in two moves after which there was no saving it
The Masters tournament wasn't the only event held in the Dutch Railway Museum
The children loved the idea and were quick to embrace chess on a train
There were plenty of chess-related activities surrounding it all
Replay round ten Masters games (with times per moves)
5.0/6 - things were looking pretty good for Adhiban at the 2016 Tata Steel Challengers. And they got better when the 23-year-old from Chennai got the better of the co-leader Alexei Dreev in the seventh round to lead the tournament with 6.0/7. A slightly lucky draw in the eighth round round against Erwin l'Ami saw Adhiban still being the sole leader with 6.5/8 - half a point ahead of Eltaj Safarli. But what happened next must have thrown Adhiban completely off balance.
Jorden van Foreest has proved again and again that he is not a player to be messed with
In the ninth round he faced the talented Dutch soon-to-be GM Jorden van Foreest. Adhiban had the white pieces and was high on confidence. But it is one thing to be confident and play objectively and quite another to just go for some tempting line of play that may or may not work.
Instead of taking fxe6, Adhiban played Bd2. Jorden confidently picked
up the pawn on f5 with exf5. Now Nxf5 doesn't make much sense as
after Bxf5 Rxf5 Nxd4 the bishop on c4 starts to hang. Hence Adhiban
went Bd3 but after g6....
...he found nothing better than to sacrifice his knight for the pawn on
f5. But this was more out of desperation than anything else. Van Foreest
picked up the piece with gxf5 and after a few moves...
...with the knight coming to g6, Black had consolidated and from there
on it was one way traffic. Adhiban tried hard but the position was just
impossible to defend.
A heart-breaking loss for Adhiban who was now joined by Eltaj Safarli
on the same score - 6.5/9
The way people react to a loss decides the level of their greatness. Some people after a loss are just not able to maintain their balance. They feel dejected and depressed and this shows in their next games. These are the guys who usually say that the first half of their tournament was great but the second half was terrible.
And then there are people like Adhiban. Every loss motivates them to play stronger. They cannot wait for the next game to begin and stamp their authority on the opponent. Such players are hard to find but believe me when I say that this is a quintessential quality to become a great champion.
When Adhiban lost to Jorden van Foreest, he must have gone back to the room and prepared really hard for his next encounter. And he must have relished the opportunity to meet the tournament co-leader Eltaj Safarli at the perfect moment. His destiny was now in his own hands. He could decide whether he would be the sole leader or not at the end of the tenth round. With great confidence and energy Adhiban pushed his pawn to d4.
The game was highly exciting as you can see from the analysis given below. But in the above position Safarli who was black scored a self goal with 38...Rxd4. It was just better to play Ke5 and there was everything to play for. After the exchange sacrifice, the game was one sided in Adhiban's favour, although the Indian went wrong on many ocassions and a draw was missed by the Azerbaijani plyer at least on three different moves.
1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 {The Trompowsky of course! Adhiban wants to play an
unconventional game of chess.} Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. c3 {
When I looked at this position five minutes after the game had started, I was
surprised that Adhiban chose the London System. Knowing the kind of
uncompromising player that he is, London just doesn't suit him. But then I
played the moves from the start and realized it was the Trompowsky. Things
were normal in Adhibanland.} Nc6 7. Nd2 Bg4 8. Ngf3 e6 9. Qa4 c4 $6 {Somehow
positionally this seems like a bad choice as e4 will really cause some issues
to Black. But Eltaj is a concrete player and he sees that Bc2 will cut off the
queen's route and if Bb1 then the rooks will be disconnected. Of course Be2 is
not something you would like when your bishop is on such a nice diagonal.} 10.
Bb1 Bd6 11. Bg5 O-O 12. O-O Be7 13. Re1 Rb8 14. b4 $5 {Takins some early
measures against the queenside pawn storm of b5-b4 before starting with his
own play in the centre with e4.} b5 15. Qd1 a5 16. a3 Ra8 17. Bc2 e5 {Safarli
is playing really some cool chess. With this move he makes White's idea of e4
less potent than what it was.} 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Nxf3 Ne4 (19... e4 $15 {would
also have been strong. I would surely give Black a slight edge for his space
advantage.}) 20. Bxe7 Qxe7 21. Bxe4 dxe4 22. Nd2 axb4 23. axb4 f5 24. d5 Rxa1
25. Qxa1 Nd8 26. f3 $1 {It is important to fight back and gain some space.}
exf3 27. Nxf3 Nf7 (27... Qb7 {was much better stopping the queen infiltration
to a6.} 28. Nxe5 Qxd5 $11 {should be around equal.}) 28. Qa6 $1 Qd7 29. Qe6 Rd8
30. e4 $1 {Once Adhiban has the initiave it is not so easy to face him.} fxe4
31. Rxe4 Qxd5 32. Rxe5 Qxe6 33. Rxe6 $16 {+/- ?? What exactly is going on? And
Why this evaluation? Well the answer to this is very simple. The black rook
would love to move down to d3 and attack the c3 pawn but Re8 mate is
threatened. If you prevent it, the knight comes to d4 and then attacks the b5
pawn, closing down the d-file at the same time! It's a game of one tempo and
currently Adhiban enjoys that advantage.} Kf8 34. Nd4 Rd5 35. Rc6 (35. Kf2 {
Bringing the king in was also good.}) 35... Ke7 36. Rc7+ Kf6 37. Rb7 Nd6 38.
Rd7 Rxd4 $6 {Some sort of a suicide in time pressure. It was not at all
necessary for Eltaj to sacrifice the exchange.} (38... Ke5 {And Black has
decent drawing chances.}) 39. cxd4 Ke6 40. Rc7 $18 {Now it is just winning for
White.} Ne4 41. Kf1 Kd6 42. Rc8 Kd5 43. Rd8+ Kc6 44. d5+ Kc7 45. Re8 Nc3 46.
Re7+ Kd6 47. Rxg7 Na2 48. Ke2 Nxb4 49. Rxh7 {The queenside pawns looks risky
but the rook and the king will take care of them. Meanwhile the kingside pawns
will be difficult to stop.} Nxd5 50. h4 b4 51. h5 b3 52. Rb7 (52. Kd1 $1 $18 {
was necessary and easily winning. For example} c3 53. Rb7 $1 b2 54. Kc2 $18)
52... Nf4+ 53. Ke3 Nxh5 $2 (53... Kc6 $1 {Would have saved the day for Eltaj.}
54. Rb8 Kc7 55. Kxf4 (55. Rb4 Nd5+ $19) 55... Kxb8 56. h6 b2 57. h7 b1=Q 58.
h8=Q+ $11) 54. Kd4 $2 (54. Rb5 $1 Nf6 55. Kd4 $18) 54... Nf4 $1 55. g4 Nd3 $2 (
55... Nd5 $1 56. g5 c3 57. Kd3 (57. Rxb3 c2 $19) 57... Nf4+ 58. Kxc3 Ke6 59.
Kxb3 Kf5 60. Rb5+ Kg6 $11 {And the knight will pick up the g5 pawn with a draw.
}) 56. g5 $18 {Now everything is back on track.} Kc6 57. Rb8 Kc7 58. Rb5 Nf4
59. Kxc4 Kd6 60. g6 Ne6 61. Rxb3 Ke7 62. Rf3 $1 {Just in time. The king is cut
off and the game is won!} 1-0
Some mistakes cost Eltaj Safarli the lead in the tournament
Still things are not really clear at the event as Dreev is right on Adhiban's heels. The Indian player has to face Nisipeanu, Batsiashvili and Sevian. So there won't be any strolling to the finish line!
The two main tournaments are round robins. Both groups start on the 16th of January 2016 in Wijk aan Zee. The Masters move to Amsterdam on January 21, and to Utrecht on January 27. All rounds in Wijk aan Zee begin at 1.30 p.m., except for the last round on 31 January 2016, which begins at 12.00 p.m. Round five will take place in the Science Center NEMO in Amsterdam, and round ten in the Spoorwegmuseum in Utrecht. Both these external rounds start at 2.00 p.m.
Round
Date
English commentary
German commentary
Free
Thursday, 28 Jan
11
Friday, 29 Jan
GM Adrian Mikhalchishin
GM Sebastian Siebrecht
12
Saturday, 30 Jan
GM Karsten Müller
GM Klaus Bischoff
13
Sunday, 31 Jan
GM Karsten Müller
GM Klaus Bischoff
Schedule and results of Tata Steel Masters 2016
Round 1 - Saturday the 16th
Hou, Y. - Karjakin, S.
½-½
So, W. - Giri, A.
1-0
Ding, L. - Adams, M.
1-0
Navara, D. - Carlsen, M.
½-½
Caruana, F. - Eljanov, P.
1-0
Wei, Y. - Tomashevsky, E.
½-½
Mamedyarov, S. - Van Wely, L.
½-½
Round 2 - Sunday the 17th
Karjakin, S. - Van Wely, L.
½-½
Tomashevsky, E. - Mamedyarov, S.
½-½
Eljanov, P. - Wei, Y.
½-½
Carlsen, M. - Caruana, F.
½-½
Adams, M. - Navara, D.
½-½
Giri, A. - Ding, L.
½-½
Hou, Y. - So, W.
½-½
Round 3 - Monday the 18th
So, W. - Karjakin, S.
½-½
Ding, L. - Hou, Y.
½-½
Navara, D. - Giri, A.
½-½
Caruana, F. - Adams, M.
1-0
Wei, Y. - Carlsen, M.
½-½
Mamedyarov, S. - Eljanov, P.
0-1
Van Wely, L. - Tomashevsky, E.
½-½
Round 4 - Tuesday the 19th
Karjakin, S. - Tomashevsky, E.
1-0
Eljanov, P. - Van Wely, L.
1-0
Carlsen, M. - Mamedyarov, S.
½-½
Adams, M. - Wei, Y.
½-½
Giri, A. - Caruana, F.
½-½
Hou, Y. - Navara, D.
1-0
So, W. - Ding, L.
½-½
Round 5 - Thursday the 21st
Ding, L. - Karjakin, S.
1-0
Navara, D. - So, W.
½-½
Caruana, F. - Hou, Y.
½-½
Wei, Y. - Giri, A.
½-½
Mamedyarov, S. - Adams, M.
1-0
Van Wely, L. - Carlsen, M.
0-1
Tomashevsky, E. - Eljanov, P.
½-½
Round 6 - Friday the 22nd
Karjakin, S. - Eljanov, P.
½-½
Carlsen, M. - Tomashevsky, E.
1-0
Adams, M. - Van Wely, L.
½-½
Giri, A. - Mamedyarov, S.
1-0
Hou, Y. - Wei, Y.
½-½
So, W. - Caruana, F.
½-½
Ding, L. - Navara, D.
½-½
Round 7 - Saturday the 23rd
Navara, D. - Karjakin, S.
½-½
Caruana, F. - Ding, L.
1-0
Wei, Y. - So, W.
½-½
Mamedyarov, S. - Hou, Y.
1-0
Van Wely, L. - Giri, A.
0-1
Tomashevsky, E. - Adams, M.
½-½
Eljanov, P. - Carlsen, M.
0-1
Round 8 - Sunday the 24th
Karjakin, S. - Carlsen, M.
½-½
Adams, M. - Eljanov, P.
½-½
Giri, A. - Tomashevsky, E.
½-½
Hou, Y. - Van Wely, L.
0-1
So, W. - Mamedyarov, S.
½-½
Ding, L. - Wei, Y.
½-½
Navara, D. - Caruana, F.
1-0
Round 9 - Tuesday the 26th
Caruana, F. - Karjakin, S.
½-½
Wei, Y. - Navara, D.
1-0
Mamedyarov, S. - Ding, L.
½-½
Van Wely, L. - So, W.
½-½
Tomashevsky, E. - Hou, Y.
½-½
Eljanov, P. - Giri, A.
½-½
Carlsen, M. - Adams, M.
1-0
Round 10 - Wednesday the 27th
Karjakin, S. - Adams, M.
0-1
Giri, A. - Carlsen, M.
½-½
Hou, Y. - Eljanov, P.
0-1
So, W. - Tomashevsky, E.
½-½
Ding, L. - Van Wely, L.
½-½
Navara, D. - Mamedyarov, S.
½-½
Caruana, F. - Wei, Y.
1-0
Round 11 - Friday the 29th
Wei, Y. - Karjakin, S.
Mamedyarov, S. - Caruana, F.
Van Wely, L. - Navara, D.
Tomashevsky, E. - Ding, L.
Eljanov, P. - So, W.
Carlsen, M. - Hou, Y.
Adams, M. - Giri, A.
Round 12 - Saturday the 30th
Karjakin, S. - Giri, A.
Hou, Y. - Adams, M.
So, W. - Carlsen, M.
Ding, L. - Eljanov, P.
Navara, D. - Tomashevsky, E.
Caruana, F. - Van Wely, L.
Wei, Y. - Mamedyarov, S.
Round 13 - Sunday the 31st
Mamedyarov, S. - Karjakin, S.
Van Wely, L. - Wei, Y.
Tomashevsky, E. - Caruana, F.
Eljanov, P. - Navara, D.
Carlsen, M. - Ding, L.
Adams, M. - So, W.
Giri, A. - Hou, Y.
Schedule and results of Tata Steel Challengers 2016
The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.
Albert SilverBorn in the US, he grew up in Paris, France, where he completed his Baccalaureat, and after college moved to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He had a peak rating of 2240 FIDE, and was a key designer of Chess Assistant 6. In 2010 he joined the ChessBase family as an editor and writer at ChessBase News. He is also a passionate photographer with work appearing in numerous publications, and the content creator of the YouTube channel, Chess & Tech.
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