Zagreb GCT: Playing it safe

by Antonio Pereira
7/7/2019 – Round ten of the Grand Chess Tour event in Zagreb finished with all six games drawn. Wesley So had the white pieces against leader Magnus Carlsen and decided to use a safety-first approach which resulted in a 36-move tie. Only Caruana v Mamedyarov, by far the longest game of the day, saw the players creating some imbalances at the board. In Sunday's final round, Carlsen will have White against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and So will face Levon Aronian with the black pieces. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

No drama whatsoever

While round nine showed how enticing a draw between two elite players can be, round ten was a guidebook to what is pejoratively known as a "grandmaster draw". Pretty much all participants of the Zagreb GCT decided to play it safe on the same day, which resulted in five out of six games finishing at around two hours after the start of the round. Thus, the standings table remained unchanged and Magnus Carlsen will be able to secure his eighth consecutive tournament victory on Sunday with a win over Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.  

Three out of six games on Saturday finished with an opposite-coloured bishops endgame, two ended up with perfectly symmetrical pawn structures in a rook endgame, while Vachier-Lagrave v Ian Nepomniachtchi was the only encounter that saw both queens surviving until the finish line.

The final round on Sunday will have the same starting time as all ten previous rounds. Only Magnus Carlsen or Wesley So can win the whole thing — Carlsen will have White against Vachier-Lagrave and So will play with Black against Nepomniachtchi.  

Read a small tutorial on what you get if you follow the games live on ChessBase.com.

Results of Round 10
 

Grand Chess Tour Zagreb 2019

Croatian fans gave the players a warm welcome on Saturday | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

A little less than two hours after the round kicked off Vishy Anand signed a 45-move draw with Sergey Karjakin. The Indian ace had faced a Berlin Defence and, after having had a tough tournament in Croatia, decided to simplify and go into an absolutely drawn position with opposite-coloured bishops and symmetrical pawn structures. This is how the board looked when the game had ended:

 
Anand vs. Karjakin
Position after 45...Bc3

Right when the former world champion was being interviewed by Maurice Ashley, Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen shook hands, which meant the Norwegian would go into last round with a half point advantage over his closest pursuer. Ashley took that chance to ask Anand for his opinion, as he is someone well-versed in dealing with fights for first place in top tournaments. This is what he had to say:

There isn't one answer for this situation. I mean, of course Wesley had White and he could have pressed more, but he's coming off a difficult year and suddenly he has what is really a very good result — you know, tour points, prize money, everything — so I can also understand he didn't want to take excessive risk today.

Viswanathan Anand

Former world champion Viswanathan Anand | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Wesley So had gone for a tame line against the world champion, following theory until move 14, when his novelty was an invitation to further simplify the position:

 
Position after 14...Bd7

There followed 15.e5 xe5 and complete liquidation was achieved by move 36. 

The first one to go have a conversation with Maurice Ashley was Carlsen. Was he happy with the result? This was his response:

Sure, I'm happy with the draw, and it seems that, you know, Wesley wasn't gonna go all-in, that's not the way he plays, so he just tried a little bit, and I can understand that — it's not like it's only first place that's worth something here...I mean, it's a qualifier for the final and everything. He has played an excellent tournament.

It was Wesley So's turn, and he was rather apologetic regarding his decision to play it safe:

Coming into this game, I was quite in a bad mood because yesterday I played very badly, and I feel that my level of play is going down, and of course I'm playing the best player in the world, who is a hundred rating points [above] anybody else and is clearly on fire. So I wasn't particularly thrilled.

The American also pointed out the fact that it has been a long tournament — eleven rounds with a single rest day — echoing what Levon Aronian and Garry Kasparov had mentioned earlier in the event.

Magnus Carlsen

Will world champion Magnus Carlsen get an eighth tournament victory in a row? | Photo: Justin Kellar / Grand Chess Tour

Anish Giri v Hikaru Nakamura, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave v Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren v Levon Aronian followed suit, signing similarly quiet draws, so only two players were left in the playing hall.

Mamedyarov plays the Scandinavian

Fabiano Caruana is currently sharing third place, after having scored two wins and a loss (against Nepomniachtchi, from a completely winning position), but he has talked about how he is not happy with the quality of his play. On the other hand, his rival from round ten, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, is sitting on 'minus two' and is not having the greatest of years.

But the Azeri grandmaster is known for showing a good attitude almost no matter what. And, against Caruana, he decided to play 1...d5 against the king's pawn opening.

The longest game of the day saw both players getting small chances that were duly neutralized by the opponent. 

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bd2
Strongly threatening Nd5. B01: Scandinavian Defence 7...Bb4 8.a3 Bxc3! 9.Bxc3 Qb6 10.0-0 10.b3 Nbd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 Be4 13.Re1 Qc6 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.dxe5 1/2-1/2 (71) Nepomniachtchi,I (2763)-Kovalenko, I (2657) St Petersburg 2018 10...0-0 11.b3 Rd8N Predecessor: 11...Nc6 12.Ne5 Rad8 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.Bb2 e5 1-0 (45) Kopinits,A (2298)-Kreisl,R (2431) Austria 2018 12.Re1 Nbd7 13.Bb2 c6 14.Qc1 h6 15.h3 Rac8 16.Bf1 Bh7 17.Nd2 Qc7 18.c4 b5 19.cxb5 cxb5 20.Qxc7 Rxc7 21.Rac1 Rb7 22.Bc3 Nf8 23.Bb4 g5 24.Rc5 a6 25.Rec1 Kg7 26.Rc6 Ra7 27.Ba5 Rdd7 28.a4 Ng6 29.axb5 axb5 30.b4 Nf4 31.Nb3 Bd3 32.Rd1 Bxf1 33.Kxf1 e5 Better is 33...Rd5 34.Rc5= exd4 35.Rxb5 Ne6 36.Re5 Kg6 37.g3 Nd5 38.Rd2 But not 38.Nxd4 Nf6 38...Rab7 39.Nc5 Nxc5 40.bxc5
aiming for c6. 40...Rb1+ The position is equal. 41.Re1 White is not keeping still Rb5 42.c6 Ra7 43.Bd8 And now Rc1 would win. Rb8 44.c7 Nxc7 45.Bxc7 Rxc7 46.Rxd4 Endgame KRR-KRR Rcb7 47.Rd2 Rb1 48.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 49.Kg2 Rb6 50.Kf1 Rb1+ 51.Kg2 Rb6 52.Kf1 Rb1+ Accuracy: White = 60%, Black = 49%.
½–½
  • 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.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Caruana,F2819Mamedyarov,S2774½–½2019GCT Zagreb 201910.2

Fabiano Caruana, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Fabiano Caruana and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov were left alone on the stage | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

The final round will be played on Sunday, with Carlsen v Vachier-Lagrave and Aronian v So the highlights of the day. We should not forget that the world champion's rival is the current number one in the blitz ratings — after having taking down Carlsen three times in a row at that speed of play. Also, Aronian is not one to run away from a fight. You can follow the games live on our page, with running machine commentary, openings analysis, engine evaluation, and a lot more. 

Ding Liren

Ding Liren will face Mamedyarov in round eleven | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Standings after Round 10

Loading Table...

Commentary webcast

Commentary by GM Yasser Seirawan, IM Jovanka Houska and GM Alejandro Ramirez


All games

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.h4 h5 B30: Sicilian: 2...Nc6 3 Bb5, lines without ...g6 7.e5 d6 8.exd6 Ng6 White is slightly better. 9.Nfd2N Predecessor: 9.Bg5 f6 10.Qe2 Bxd6 11.Qe4 Ne7 12.Nbd2 fxg5 13.hxg5 e5 0-1 (33) Lu,S (2514)-Yu,Y (2615) Beijing 2012 9...Bxd6 10.Nc4 Be7 11.Nc3 Ba6 12.Qf3 Bxc4 13.Qxc6+ Kf8 ...Rc8 is the strong threat. 14.dxc4 Nxh4 15.0-0 Nf5 16.Ne2 16.Rd1!? Qe8 17.Qe4= 16...Rc8 17.Qa4 17.Qe4= 17...Rc7 18.Bf4 Rd7 19.c3
19.Ng3= 19...g5!       Black has strong initiative. 20.Rad1? 20.Be5 f6 21.Rad1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 20...Rxd1-+ 21.Rxd1
21...Qa8! 22.Bc7 h4 23.f3 h3 Accuracy: White = 39%, Black = 64%.
0–1
  • 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.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Giri,A2779Carlsen,M28750–12019B30GCT Zagreb 20191.1
Caruana,F2819Nakamura,H27541–02019D37GCT Zagreb 20191.2
So,W2754Ding,L28051–02019A23GCT Zagreb 20191.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2779Aronian,L2752½–½2019C67GCT Zagreb 20191.4
Anand,V2767Nepomniachtchi,I27750–12019C55GCT Zagreb 20191.5
Mamedyarov,S2774Karjakin,S2748½–½2019E20GCT Zagreb 20191.6
Carlsen,M2875Anand,V2767½–½2019D39GCT Zagreb 20192.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2775Caruana,F28191–02019B33GCT Zagreb 20192.2
Ding,L2805Karjakin,S2748½–½2019E11GCT Zagreb 20192.3
Aronian,L2752Giri,A2779½–½2019E05GCT Zagreb 20192.4
So,W2754Vachier-Lagrave,M2779½–½2019A30GCT Zagreb 20192.5
Nakamura,H2754Mamedyarov,S2774½–½2019D85GCT Zagreb 20192.6
Caruana,F2819Carlsen,M2875½–½2019C84GCT Zagreb 20193.1
Mamedyarov,S2774Nepomniachtchi,I27750–12019E61GCT Zagreb 20193.2
Vachier-Lagrave,M2779Ding,L2805½–½2019C54GCT Zagreb 20193.3
Anand,V2767Aronian,L2752½–½2019C54GCT Zagreb 20193.4
Giri,A2779So,W2754½–½2019C54GCT Zagreb 20193.5
Karjakin,S2748Nakamura,H2754½–½2019D37GCT Zagreb 20193.6
Nepomniachtchi,I2775Karjakin,S2748½–½2019C54GCT Zagreb 20194.1
Carlsen,M2875Mamedyarov,S2774½–½2019A16GCT Zagreb 20194.2
So,W2754Anand,V2767½–½2019A20GCT Zagreb 20194.3
Aronian,L2752Caruana,F2819½–½2019D04GCT Zagreb 20194.4
Vachier-Lagrave,M2779Giri,A2779½–½2019C83GCT Zagreb 20194.5
Ding,L2805Nakamura,H2754½–½2019D27GCT Zagreb 20194.6
Nakamura,H2754Nepomniachtchi,I2775½–½2019D85GCT Zagreb 20195.1
Karjakin,S2748Carlsen,M2875½–½2019D31GCT Zagreb 20195.2
Caruana,F2819So,W2754½–½2019C54GCT Zagreb 20195.3
Anand,V2767Vachier-Lagrave,M2779½–½2019B52GCT Zagreb 20195.4
Giri,A2779Ding,L28050–12019D45GCT Zagreb 20195.5
Mamedyarov,S2774Aronian,L2752½–½2019D39GCT Zagreb 20195.6
Ding,L2805Nepomniachtchi,I27751–02019A20GCT Zagreb 20196.1
Carlsen,M2875Nakamura,H27541–02019D37GCT Zagreb 20196.2
So,W2754Mamedyarov,S27741–02019A16GCT Zagreb 20196.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2779Caruana,F28190–12019C78GCT Zagreb 20196.4
Aronian,L2752Karjakin,S27481–02019C67GCT Zagreb 20196.5
Giri,A2779Anand,V2767½–½2019C81GCT Zagreb 20196.6
Nepomniachtchi,I2775Carlsen,M28750–12019B30GCT Zagreb 20197.1
Karjakin,S2748So,W2754½–½2019C67GCT Zagreb 20197.2
Caruana,F2819Giri,A2779½–½2019D78GCT Zagreb 20197.3
Nakamura,H2754Aronian,L2752½–½2019C65GCT Zagreb 20197.4
Anand,V2767Ding,L2805½–½2019C88GCT Zagreb 20197.5
Mamedyarov,S2774Vachier-Lagrave,M2779½–½2019E60GCT Zagreb 20197.6
Ding,L2805Carlsen,M28750–12019E05GCT Zagreb 20198.1
So,W2754Nakamura,H27541–02019C67GCT Zagreb 20198.2
Aronian,L2752Nepomniachtchi,I2775½–½2019D91GCT Zagreb 20198.3
Anand,V2767Caruana,F2819½–½2019B52GCT Zagreb 20198.4
Giri,A2779Mamedyarov,S27741–02019B51GCT Zagreb 20198.5
Vachier-Lagrave,M2779Karjakin,S2748½–½2019C67GCT Zagreb 20198.6
Carlsen,M2875Aronian,L2752½–½2019D39GCT Zagreb 20199.1
Nepomniachtchi,I2775So,W2754½–½2019C65GCT Zagreb 20199.2
Caruana,F2819Ding,L2805½–½2019C90GCT Zagreb 20199.3
Karjakin,S2748Giri,A2779½–½2019D37GCT Zagreb 20199.4
Mamedyarov,S2774Anand,V27671–02019D24GCT Zagreb 20199.5
Nakamura,H2754Vachier-Lagrave,M2779½–½2019B51GCT Zagreb 20199.6
So,W2754Carlsen,M2875½–½2019E34GCT Zagreb 201910.1
Caruana,F2819Mamedyarov,S2774½–½2019B01GCT Zagreb 201910.2
Ding,L2805Aronian,L2752½–½2019A14GCT Zagreb 201910.3
Vachier-Lagrave,M2779Nepomniachtchi,I2775½–½2019B11GCT Zagreb 201910.4
Giri,A2779Nakamura,H2754½–½2019C67GCT Zagreb 201910.5
Anand,V2767Karjakin,S2748½–½2019C67GCT Zagreb 201910.6
Carlsen,M2875Vachier-Lagrave,M27791–02019D85GCT Zagreb 201911.1
Aronian,L2752So,W2754½–½2019C54GCT Zagreb 201911.2
Nepomniachtchi,I2775Giri,A27790–12019B51GCT Zagreb 201911.3
Karjakin,S2748Caruana,F2819½–½2019A61GCT Zagreb 201911.4
Mamedyarov,S2774Ding,L2805½–½2019D41GCT Zagreb 201911.5
Nakamura,H2754Anand,V2767½–½2019E35GCT Zagreb 201911.6

Final round pairings

Round 11 - Sunday, July 7th (14:30 UT = your local time)
 

Links


Antonio is a freelance writer and a philologist. He is mainly interested in the links between chess and culture, primarily literature. In chess games, he skews towards endgames and positional play.

Discuss

Rules for reader comments

 
 

Not registered yet? Register

We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.