GCT Zagreb: A fighting round

by Antonio Pereira
6/30/2019 – There were no decisive results in round four of the Croatian Grand Chess Tour, but not for a lack of trying. Most notably, Magnus Carlsen vs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Anish GIri were wild struggles which could have gone either way. Levon Aronian and Fabiano Caruana also fought hard, while fortune continues to smile on Ian Nepomniachtchi, who was in a difficult position against Sergey Karjakin but ended up taking home the half point and still commands the standings table. | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

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Classical chess still alive

Garry Kasparov joined the commentary webcast of the Croatian leg of the GCT for a second time during round four. The living legend talked about how classical chess is not dead by any means, and that getting fighting games is only a matter of attitude. The development of the day's action only proved him right, as, despite the total absence of decisive results, the fans definitely had a good run for their money.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov seemed to be about to go completely bust after choosing a dubious setup in the Grünfeld against Magnus Carlsen, but the world champion did not find the precise way forward and ended up needing to struggle for the draw; Anish Giri went for a sharp attack with Black against Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, but when his attempt backfired he was almost steamrolled by his rival; Fabiano Caruana and especially Sergey Karjakin also got advantageous positions with Black but could not convert them into full points.

The draws kept the standings table unchanged, with Ian Nepomniachtchi still in the sole lead. 

Results of Round 4
NameRtg.Nt.Pts.Pts.NameRtgNt.
2775
3
½-½
2748
2875
2
½-½
1
2774
2752
½-½
2819
2754
2
½-½
1
2767
2779
½-½
1
2779
2805
1
½-½
1
2754

Ian Nepomniachtchi, Magnus Carlsen, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Ian Nepomniachtchi is still the leader in Zagreb | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Former world champion Garry Kasparov not only talked about the death, or lack thereof, of classical chess, but he also praised Magnus Carlsen for the fighting spirit he has been showing lately, explaining to Maurice Ashley:

I think [there] is a conflict between his natural style [and his] fighting spirit. He wants to win and he knows he has to take risks. And, again, I'm grateful, I mean as I think most will be grateful to him, that instead of just trying to play for plus two or plus three he's fighting in every game. So I think he spends more time at the chessboard than any other player. So that's phenomenal, it's absolutely phenomenal.

Ashley asked Kasparov to talk about the rivalry between Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, since he has first-hand experience in this sort of tug-of-war situation. The former world champion mentioned that "[Caruana] is still missing something", but also concluded:

If you look at other players, I think Fabi is the only one who can really give Magnus a run for his money.


Full interview with Garry Kasparov


Mamedyarov cannot break the streak

The player who last beat Magnus Carlsen in a classical game is Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who not only defeated the world champion but also finished ahead of him at last year's Biel Festival. Almost a year has passed since then, and the Norwegian has not lost any of his subsequent 72 classical encounters. 

On Saturday, the number one player from Azerbaijan resolved he would not shy away from complications by choosing to lay out a Grünfeld Defence. Carlsen responded in kind by playing 5.h4, and already after the eighth move the computer assessed the position as considerably better for White:

 
Carlsen vs. Mamedyarov
Position after 8.Rb1

Follow the game's moves and try your own on the diagram above

Getting some pieces to join the fray quickly was a priority for Black here, so playing 8...b6 instead of 8...♞c6 invited White to really go for it on the centre and on the kingside. The game continued 9.e4 0-0 (there is nothing better for Black, despite the presence of a white pawn on h5) 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.d4 b7:

 
Position after 11...Bb7

Carlsen understood it was time to play energetically and, after thinking for over twenty minutes, correctly opted for 12.g5. It only made sense for Black to at least take the central pawn with 12...cxd4, but now White has a strong continuation at his disposal:

 
Position after 12...cxd4

Instead of 13.g4, planning to double on the h-file, White had 13.♗c4, as after 13...♞d7 he can go 14.♕b3, both targeting f7 and planning to transfer the queen to the h-file after an eventual cxd4. After the text, the computer thought White had given up his opening edge, but from a human point of view a huge fight was still in store.

Carlsen continued to go for the throat, but his 16.e6 was not the most precise:

 
Position after 16.e6

Now it was Mamedyarov the one who missed a great chance — he could have gone for 16...f6, getting rid of the treacherous knight (after 17.♗d3, Black can play 17...fxg5, as White's attack is not lethal). Instead, the Azeri played 16...d5 and Carlsen responded with 17.exf7+.

Soon enough, White captured the exchange, but now it was his king the one that was in danger. The rest of the game was a demonstration of how challenging it can be for chess players to keep it together under enormous pressure. And, in this case, both contenders managed:

 
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1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.h4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 A16: English Opening: 1...Nf6 with ...d5 Bg7 6...h6 7.e4 Bg7 8.d4 c5 9.Rb1 0-0 10.Be2 b6 11.Be3 Bb7 12.d5 e6 13.c4 0-1 (46) Mareco,S (2649) -Ivanchuk,V (2710) Batumi 2018 7.h5 c5 8.Rb1 White has an edge. b6N Predecessor: 8...Nc6 9.e3 b6 10.d4 cxd4 11.cxd4 Bf5 12.Rb2 Rc8 13.Bb5 1-0 (35) Podzielny,K (2451)-Gutman,L (2415) Senden 2014 9.e4 0-0 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.d4 Bb7 Better is 11...Bg4 12.Ng5± cxd4 13.Qg4 13.Bc4± Nd7 14.cxd4 13...Nd7!= 14.Qh3 Nf6 15.e5 Nh5 16.e6
16.Be2= Qd5 17.cxd4 Qxg2 18.Qxg2 Bxg2 19.Rh4 16...Qd5 16...f6! 17.Nf7 Qd5 17.exf7+ Rxf7 Threatens to win with ...Rd8. 18.Bd3 18.Rb5= Qxa2 19.Nxf7 18...Qe5+ 19.Kd1! dxc3 19...Rxf2 20.Rb5± 20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Re1
Avoid the trap 21.Qg4?
21...c2+! 22.Bxc2 Rd8+ 23.Bd2 Nf4-+
21...c2+! 22.Bxc2 22.Kxc2 Qxe1 22...Rd8+ 23.Bd2! Qd6 Black has compensation. 24.Qe3 Nf4 25.Kc1! Bh6 26.Kb2! Strongly threatening Rbd1. White has some pressure. Rc8 26...Qxd2? 27.Qxe7+ Kg8 28.Rbd1+- 26...Bg7+!= 27.Bc3 Nxg2 28.Bb3+ Ke8 29.Ba4+ Kf7 30.Bb3+ Ke8 31.Ba4+ Kf7 32.Bb3+ 27.Rbc1 White should play 27.Rbd1! 27...e6 27...Nd3+= 28.Qxd3 Bxd2 29.Rxe7+ Remove Defender 29.Bb3+ Kg7 29...Kxe7 30.Qxd6+ Kxd6 28.Kb1± Bxg2 29.Bb3 29.Bxg6+± Nxg6 30.Qxh6 Be4+ 31.Kb2 31.Rxe4 Rxc1+ 32.Kxc1 Qc6+ Double Attack 33.Kb2 Qxe4= 31...Qd4+ Double Attack 32.Bc3 Rxc3 33.Rxe4 Deflection Qxe4 34.Rxc3 29...Rxc1+= 30.Bxc1 Bh3 31.Bb2 Black must now prevent Rd1. Bf5+ 32.Ka1 Bg7 33.Bxg7 Kxg7 34.Rd1 Nd3 35.Bc4 Qe5+ 36.Qxe5+ Nxe5 Endgame KRB-KBN 37.Be2 g5 38.Rc1 Kf6 The position is equal. 39.Rc7 Bd3 40.Bxd3 Nxd3 41.Rxa7 next Ra3 is good for White. Nxf2= KR-KN 42.Rb7 g4 43.Rxb6 Hoping for a4. g3 44.a4 And now a5 would win. Ne4 45.Rb1 Rc1 is the strong threat. Nc5 46.a5 aiming for Ka2. Ke5 47.Kb2 Kf4 48.Kc3 g2 49.Kc4 Na6 50.Kb5 Nb8 51.Kc4 Na6 52.Kb5 Nb8 53.Kc4 Na6 54.Rg1 Kg3 55.Kd4 Kf2 56.Rxg2+ Kxg2 57.Ke5 Nc5
58.a6! Nxa6 ( -> ...Nc5) 59.Kxe6 Accuracy: White = 61%, Black = 60%.
½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Carlsen,M2875Mamedyarov,S2774½–½2019GCT Zagreb 20194.2

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov seems to know he is in for the long haul | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Photographer Lennart Ootes witnessed first-hand what had gone on at the board and twitted:

More fighting draws

To only look at the results from round four will mislead any reader who thinks this was a quiet day in Zagreb, as three other games — besides Carlsen vs Mamedyarov — also featured combative confrontations. 

Leader Ian Nepomniachtchi chose what he called "literally the worst move order" in the opening against Sergey Karjakin and found himself struggling with the white pieces right from the get go. Karjakin had the half open g-file at his disposal with the white king already castled on that side of the board — he was looking for ways to break through, but failed to find the right manoeuvre on move 24:

 
Nepomniachtchi vs. Karjakin
Position after 24.Ne3

Before pushing the h-pawn, Black needed to prevent the exchange of queens with either 24...♞e7 or 24...♞g5, covering the f5-square. Karjakin played 24...h4 immediately and Nepomniachtchi quickly took his chance to force the queen trade with 25.f5+. Black no longer had the strongest attacking piece on the board, and the game quickly fizzled out into a 35-move draw.

Ian Nepomniachtchi

The leader Ian Nepomniachtchi giving an interview | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

In Maxime Vachier-Lagrave vs Anish Giri, the Dutchman closed the position and went for a 19...g5 push in the middlegame, which led to a sharp fight on the kingside. There were many twists and turns, but the biggest missed chance arrived after Giri's 33rd move:

 
Vachier-Lagrave vs. Giri
Position after 33...Ng5

Here the computers were screaming for 34.♖xf4, but after thinking for almost ten minutes Vachier-Lagrave chose 34.xf4 instead. After the rook capture, the French grandmaster probably was afraid of 34...♜xh3+ 35.gxh3 ♛xh3+ 36.♔g1, thinking that some discovered check would be deadly at this point, but actually no continuation is good for Black:

 
Analysis diagram
Position after 36.Kg1

In case of 36...♞e4+ White can simply go 37.♕xg8+ and retain a material edge after 37...♚xg8 38.♖xe4 — just to give an example. After Vachier-Lagrave's move, Black had some chances to create some imbalances, but there were too difficult to find with little time on the clock. Eventually, the draw was signed after 46 moves.

Anish Giri

Anish Giri thinking hard | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave did not lose the smile | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Fabiano Caruana advanced his kingside pawns against a tame opening approach by Levon Aronian, but could not make the most of it, as the Armenian showed resourcefulness in defence. Meanwhile, Wesley So found a perpetual check against Vishy Anand after not being able to get much with the white pieces out of the opening, and Hikaru Nakamura held Ding Liren to a 45-move draw with Black.

Levon Aronian

Armenian hero Levon Aronian | Photo: Lennart Ootes / Grand Chess Tour

Standings after Round 4

Rk.NameRtg.Nt.Pts.n
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
TBPerf.
1
2775
3.5
4
6.00
3113
2
2875
2.5
4
4.00
2880
3
2754
2.5
4
4.00
2878
4
2748
2.0
4
4.00
2777
5
2819
2.0
4
3.75
2789
6
2779
2.0
4
3.75
2773
7
2752
2.0
4
3.50
2786
8
2767
1.5
4
3.50
2702
9
2779
1.5
4
3.25
2703
10
2774
1.5
4
3.00
2701
11
2805
1.5
4
2.75
2672
12
2754
1.5
4
2.50
2700
TBs: Sonneborn-Berger

Commentary webcast

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


All games

 
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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
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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

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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.

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