5/5/2018 – In a town rich in history, comes a tournament to match. This year's Sigeman & Co tournament (now co-sponsored by the oral hygiene company Tepe) is the 24th edition and has an interesting mix of six players participating for five days in Malmo, Sweden. Vidit Gujrathi is the top seed, but Alexander Morozevich is sure to garner some attention as he makes a rare appearance in a strong tournament. More young talents, Aryan Tari and Benjamin Gledura join Swedes Nils Grandelius and Linus Johansson to round out the field. The Swedish number one leads after one round. GM TIGER HILLARP PERSSON annotates his win. | Pictured: At the opening dinner, Tari leans towards Vidit as Gledura looks on. | Photos: Macauley Peterson
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Magic in Malmo
At the opening ceremony to kick off the 2018 Tepe Sigeman & Co tournament, founder and lead sponsor Johan Sigeman, invoked the name of 'the Magician from Riga', Mikhail Tal, holding a book of his games aloft as a prop. After inspirational opening remarks on the merits of chess education, Mr. Sigeman marvelled that the tournament has returned for consecutive years, following two years in which the event was not held (2015 and 2016). The 2017 tournament, was the first with a new named sponsor TePe, a Swedish manufacturer of dental products, and was won by Nils Grandelius and Baadur Jobava, who tied for first with one win and four draws apiece.
Mr. Sigeman, speaking to a room of around 70 guests, said that being able to once again mark the start of the tournament at the historic Malmo Town Hall was, for him, "like magic". As if to drive home the point, the entertainment for the evening was provided by an actual magician.
The mayor of the city, Kent Andersson, opened the evening by highlighting some of the region's history, calling special attention to a painting of the 11th-century Danish king Knut, who was canonized in 1101 as the patron saint of Denmark. (Malmo was a part of Denmark until the 17th century.)
After the drawing of lots, the players and guests adjourned to the adjacent Knut Hall, whose mirrored walls and vaulted ceiling evoke the French Palace of Versailles, for a buffet dinner.
Knut hall — see photo gallery above for more
Round 1
Nils Grandelius intimated during his introduction at the opening ceremony that he was glad to be back defending his first place finish in last year's tournament. A year ago he started with three draws before scoring his only win against the much lower rated Erik Blomqvist. This time he's grabbed an early lead and seemed totally in control against Benjamin Gledura, the 18-year-old talent from Hungary.
After the game, Grandelius chastised himself a bit for unnecessarily complicating instead of playing simply, but what can you expect from such a brash player.
Grandelius 1-0 Gledura (annotated by GM Tiger Hillarp Persson)
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1.e4
1,184,215
54%
2421
---
1.d4
958,932
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
286,327
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,722
56%
2443
---
1.g3
19,884
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,598
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,953
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,906
50%
2384
---
1.b4
1,790
48%
2378
---
1.a3
1,250
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,081
49%
2409
---
1.d3
969
50%
2378
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
466
54%
2382
---
1.c3
439
51%
2425
---
1.h3
289
56%
2420
---
1.a4
118
60%
2461
---
1.f3
100
47%
2427
---
1.Nh3
92
67%
2511
---
1.Na3
47
62%
2476
---
Please, wait...
1.e4c5Surprise number one, as Gledura usually plays1...e52.Nf3e63.c3Surpirse number two, as Nils used to play consistent main lines earlier in his
career. It seems he has adopted to a world where one is trying, mostly, to get
to out of the book, or at least out of the opponent's preparation. Since
Black's first move indicates a preparation, Nils steps out of his usual ways.Nf64.e5Nd55.Bc4b6The next surprise and a very rare move. It seems that
Gledura is following in the footsteps of his compatriot Richard Rapport, in
steering towards (very) unclear and somewhat dubious territory.The main
lines are reached with5...d6or5...Nb66.Bb3d66.d4Bb77.0-0Be7Instinctively I would evaluate7...cxd48.cxd4Be7as more proper, but
Gledura's choice leads to a higher complexity.8.dxc5!Nils picks up the
gauntlet. If White plays anything else, Black "got away" with not taking on d4.
bxc59.Nbd2The engines prefer9.Na30-010.Bd3, but eventually
comes to the realization thatd611.Nc4dxe512.Nfxe5Nd7gives Black good
dynamic play for a small price (slightly worse pawn structure).9...0-010.Ne4f5?!10...Qc711.Re1Nc612.Bg5!12.Bd3c413.Bc2Rad812...f612...Bxg5?!13.Nexg5Nf414.Qc213.exf6Nxf614.Bd3
leads to a balanced position, where White has a slight structural advantage in
that it is hard for Black to arrange the central pawns in such a way that none
is left behind. On the bonus side Black has active pieces and nice play on the
f-file.11.Nd6!?Both players carry out the most ambitious ideas again
and again. Here11.exf6Nxf612.Nxf6+Rxf613.Ne5d514.Bd3Nd715.Ng4
would have led to some advantage for White.11...Bxd612.exd6Qf6
In the analysis room Yassir Seirawan and Ferdinand Hellers started looking into
12...Qb6almost immediately and it was also my first choice. The point is
that; since the d6-pawn is under threat, White's forces are unable to
immediately reach their optimal squares (Ne5, Re1, Bf1), so that Black gets
time to develop the knight. In the mean time the c5-pawn is also properly
protected.13.Qb313.Bb3was suggested by the commentators, Hellers and
Seirawan, and it is one of the best moves:Rc814.Ne5Qxd615.Re1Qc716.Bg513.Be2was my instinctiv "first choice", but Black is doing fine
here aftera5, followed by Nc6 and Ba6. I would even rather play the black
side here.13...Nf614.Ne5Bd515.Bxd5exd516.Bf4looks like the best
try for White, but Black has a few decent defences. One isNc617.Rfe1Nxe518.Bxe5Qxb319.axb3Kf7which is about equal.13.Re1!Keeping an eye
on e5, while allowing the bishop on c4 to retreat all the way back to f1. The
latter is quite important as - which is a usual case when knights play against
bishops - the bishop is out of the way and cannot be further attacked by a
knight. Nor does it obstruct the rook on the e-file, or end up in limbo on b3.Nb614.Bf1Ferdinand Hellers suggested14.Bb5!?which is a move
designed to create some disarray in Black's position. Aftera6?!15.Bf1
Black has to look out for Qd1-b314.Be2is the engine's first choice,
mainly since it turns Bxf3 into a bad move. Still I doubt it is any better
than Bf1.14...f4!?This blocks Bc1 out of the game and is the only
ambitious move that isn't hopeless. The other (not ambitious) alternative is14...Bxf3!15.Qxf3Nc6, when White can win a pawn with16.Be3c417.Bxb6axb618.Bxc4Ne519.Qe2Nxc420.Qxc4. However, afterRfc8the
position is quite hard for White to win due to Black's active pieces. An
important point is that the d6-pawn is an asset for White when there are many
minor pieces on the board, but in this situation it is more of a liability. If
the queens come off, it can be attacked with e5, Kg8-f7-e6/Rc6 and before that
it keeps d7 from coming under long distance scrutiny.15.a4!An
excellent move that the commentators also came up with. The point is that both
bishop and knight need the d5-square, but only one of them can stay there. The
downside is that it becomes less attractive for White to play c4 later, since
this would give Black access to the d4-square.Bd5?This move is far too
slow and is Black's reaction to ending up in a position that he is not
comfortable with. He would like to play Bd5 before Nc6, but it is a fantasy to
be able to do both. Black is behind in development and has to deal with a very
insidious pawn on d6, but there is no way to deal with all the problems with
one move. So, catching up in development should be the first priority.15...Bxf3is necessary and after16.Qxf3Nc6White, at least, has to worry
about the passive position of the bishop on c1. One possible continuation
would be17.a5Nd518.Ra4Rab819.Bd3when, objectively, White is much
better, but Black is not without chances.16.a5!Now Black's pieces all
end up in disarray.Nc816...Nc417.Ra4!Nxd618.Rxf4+-17.Ra4g518.Ne5?!18.h4!is stronger and would have finished the game quickly:h619.hxg5hxg520.Ne5Qg721.c4Bc622.Ra3Rf523.Ng4followed by Rh3,
is game over. However, perhaps Nils saw the line in the game and didn't find a
reason to look for a better one.18...Qg7Making way for the rook to
question the strong knight on e5.18...Nxd6?19.c4Bc620.Nxc6Nxc621.Qxd6+-19.c4?!Now it becomes complicated again.19.h4!Rf520.Bd3Rxe521.Rxe5Qxe522.Qh5Nxd623.Bxf4wins by force, but I understand the
attraction of keeping things simple.19...Bc620.Ra3I was curious about
20.Bd2!?Bxa421.Qxa4Nxd622.Bc3during the game, and it seems to be
quite strong too. The best defence according to the silicon monster isQe723.Bd3Nc624.Nxc6dxc625.Qxc6Rad826.Qxc5Nf5, but27.Qxe7Nxe728.Be2Nc629.Bg4e530.Bf3leaves Black in a terrible pickle. No reason to take
such chances though.Another version of the Bd2-c3-idea is20.b3!
, which allows White to hang on to the d6-pawn a while longer. AfterBxa421.bxa4Rf522.Bb2Nc623.Nxc6Qxb224.Rxe6‼Rf825.Re2Qg726.Qd5+Kh827.Ne5Rb828.Qxc5Rb129.Qd4Black is playing without the knight on c8, so
White is basically playing with two minor pieces against a rook.20...Rf5!21.Ng4h522.Bd3!Nxd622...hxg423.Bxf5exf524.Re8+Kf725.Rxc8Na626.Rxa8Bxa8at first looks like some kind of compensation for Black, due to
the lack of squares for the bishop and rook. However27.h3!is winning
for White, sincegxh328.Qh5+Qg629.Rxh3opens up for the rook to enter
on the h-file.23.Bxf5Nxf524.Ne5h4?!If only Black's knight wasn't on
b8, this might be called "compensation for the exchange". It is on b8 though.Here24...d6!25.Nxc6Nxc626.Rxe626.Qxh5?Ncd4∞26...Ncd427.Re1Qf7looks like a better chance to survive a bit longer, but after28.b4!the end result is not in question.25.Rd3Nd426.b4!d627.Ng4Nd7White can take on d4 any time now, but Nils prefers to kick the bishop
back first.28.b5Bb729.a6Bc830.Rxd4!cxd431.Rxe6Ne532.Nf6+Kf733.Rxd6Be634.Ne4Nxc435.Rxd4Now Nxg5+ and Nc5 are threatened.Rc8
This stops Nc5, but allows36.Rd7+Black resigned.1–0
Sergei Tiviakov started playing the line 1.e4 c5 2.c3 in the Sicilian Defence as White in 1988. Since then, he has employed it in more than 100 games, including a yearlong period when he I managed to win twelve 2.c3-games in a row. White tries to occupy the centre with a second pawn, and Black must know his stuff very well in order to be able to equalize. And this is only possible with 2...Nf6 – all other lines give the first player a small edge everywhere. Especially against stronger opponents, 2.c3 is an excellent weapon.
Nils has the hot hand so far | Photo: Macauley Peterson
After analysing together Nils and offered commiserations:
“What to do? White tomorrow...”
“No black”
“Ah black again!?”
"Against Morozevich."
"Oh, well good luck."
Speaking of 'Moro', the former world number two Alexander Morozevich was evidently glad to receive a low pairing number at the opening drawing of lots, giving him three black games.
Morozevich, sporting his new Wyatt Earp moustache | Photo: Macauley Peterson
Johansson ½-½ Morozevich
His first round effort against Linus Johansson followed unconventional lines in a Reti opening, and after just 25 moves the players traded down into an endgame of king, bishop and knight for both sides. In an equal position, Morozevich boldly launched his f-pawn in a bid to gain connected passers on the queenside:
Johansson vs Morozevich
Position after 27.Ke3
Move the pieces on the live diagram
27...f5?! A creative idea, the point is after 28.e5 f4?!, a temporary pawn sacrifice, 29.Kxf4 Nd5+ 30.Ke4 Nc3+ Black wins the a2 pawn. The problem is, he is clearly worse if White were to notice that 31.Ke3 Nxa2 32.Ne6+ Kg8 he would win the g6-pawn after 33.Bd3 and likely the game.
Position after 32...Kg8
White should play 33.Bd3!
Instead 33.Nd8 allows the knight to be dominated after 33...Bd5 34.Kd4 (34.e6 Kf8 is no help) 34...Nb4, and Johanssen opted to exchange the bishops leaving a drawn knight ending.
Linus, the local hero, remarked on his underdog status as a non-professional player at the opening ceremony and said he would savour any points he could manage.
Morozevich, who arrived five minutes after the round began and also left hurriedly after the game, was maybe kicking himself for not taking advantage of the massive rating disparity afforded by his first-round pairing. Or perhaps he just had a date for another Go game — he was also the first player to depart Thursday's opening dinner, once the opportunity presented itself to play a few games of Go against Swedish GM (and ChessBase contributor) Tiger Hillarp Persson in the lobby of the players' hotel.
Morozevich takes Go seriously against Tiger | Photo: Macauley Peterson
The Caro Kann is a very tricky opening. Black’s play is based on controlling and fighting for key light squares. It is a line which was very fashionable in late 90s and early 2000s due to the successes of greats like Karpov, Anand, Dreev etc. Recently due to strong engines lot of key developments have been made and some new lines have been introduced, while others have been refuted altogether. I have analyzed the new trends carefully and found some new ideas for Black.
Vidit Gujrathi, the top seed, won the Tata Steel Chess Challengers tournament and reached a new peak rating of 2723. He slipped back a bit at the Aeroflot Open in February but is still the Elo favourite in Malmo by a wide margin. He's 23 years old, and is looking forward to playing alongside Vishy Anand for India's Olympiad team.
Aryan Tari is the current World Junior Champion, and is at his peak rating of 2603. He also played in Wijk aan Zee in January alongside Vidit, but finished three points back, tied for 8th-10th places. Like Vidit he has played alongside a World Champion at the Olympiad. Whether he will have a chance to repeat this in Batumi remains to be seen.
In the near future, after Sigeman, the next challenge before him is to finish out his high school semester. Exams are looming in June. Once school gets out, he expects to take time to focus on being a chess professional.
The game followed a Sicilian Four Knights variation that Tari had prepared for his game at Tata Steel Chess against Michael Krasenkow. It's a curious line were White voluntarily strands his king in the centre, blocking his own bishop in exchange for play against Black's weak dark squares.
Tari vs Vidit
Position after 11.Ke2
Vidit's preparation went quite deep as well, and he noted afterwards that the position after 17...Be4 had been reached in a game Teimour Radjabov won (in 2007).
Out of the dozens and dozens of openings played nowadays the Sicilian Defence remains the most fascinating, entertaining and complex opening. Here White understands that Black will not be a patient lamb but will try to get at him at the very first opportunity. This series includes the Sveshnikov/Cheliabinsk Variation, the Rauzer Attack, the Maroczy Bind and a few other minor sidelines. The approach is typical for Bologan’s videos, as he tries to describe, in a compact format, plans and reactions from White’s point of view. Forget about fears concerning the tons of theory in the Open Sicilian and can get straight into the real fight!
Tari vs Vidit
Position after 17...Be4
18.Rg1 was the first new move. "My idea was to play g4, but somehow I never got it to work", Tari explained.
White's king looked a bit shakey, stuck in the centre of the board after a small tour e1-e2-d1-e1, and yet, the engines prefer Tari's position, particularly after 25.Qa3.
Position after 25.Qa3
White has a slight edge
25...a5 was played but the pawn becomes a weakness. Vidit observed the nice line 25...Qg6 26.b4 and was looking at 26...Qf6, with the idea of 27.b5 Qh4! 28.g3 Qxh2 winning as 29.bxc6 is bet by Rf2! and mate in eight. But Vidit saw that 27.g3 is just better for White and therefore abandoned the line.
Click or tap to expand photo | Photo: Macauley Peterson
A dozen moves later, after several pieces were exchanged, Tari's king completed a further trek from e1-e2-d2-c1-d2-e1, where it was met by Vidit's queen and a perpetual check.
Macauley PetersonMacauley served as the Editor in Chief of ChessBase News from July 2017 to March 2020. He is the producer of The Full English Breakfast chess podcast, and was an Associate Producer of the 2016 feature documentary, Magnus.
Rossolimo-Moscow Powerbase 2025 is a database and contains a total of 10950 games from Mega 2025 and the Correspondence Database 2024, of which 612 are annotated.
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Focus on the Sicilian: Opening videos on the Najdorf Variation with 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 (Luis Engel) and the Taimanov Variation with 7.Qf3 (Nico Zwirs). ‘Lucky bag’ with 38 analyses by Anish Giri, Surya Ganguly, Abhijeet Gupta, Yannick Pelletier and many more.
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