ChessBase 17 - Mega package - Edition 2024
It is the program of choice for anyone who loves the game and wants to know more about it. Start your personal success story with ChessBase and enjoy the game even more.
From April 14 to April 30, 2013, the third stage of the FIDE Grand Prix Series 2012-2013 is taking place in Zug, Switzerland. Twelve players are competing in a round robin tournament with time controls of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes and an increment of 30 seconds per move for each player. The Grand Prix Series consists of six tournaments to be held over two years, with 18 top players, each participating in four of the six tournaments. The winner and second placed player overall of the Grand Prix Series will qualify for the Candidates Tournament to be held in March 2014.
Veselin Topalov (second from right above in a post-game chat with GM Robert Fontaine, FIDE CEO Geoffrey Borg, FIDE Continental President for Africa Lakhdar Mazouz and chief arbiter Panagiotis Nikolopoulos) defeated his main rival Fabiano Caruana and is now on a sole lead with seven points, one point ahead of Hikaru Nakamura. The American player beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov to take the second place. Alexander Morozevich managed to outplay Teimur Radjabov, while Gata Kamsky won against Sergey Karjakin. Kasimzdhanov-Ponomariov, Giri-Leko were drawn. Ruslan Ponomariov and Fabiano Caruana share the third place while Kamsky, Morozevich, Karjakin share the fifth place.
Commentary for the spectators provided by Robert Fontaine and Geoffrey Borg
Round 10 – April 29 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
½-½
|
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
1-0
|
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
0-1
|
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
0-1
|
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
0-1
|
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
Anish Giri | 2727 |
½-½
|
Peter Leko | 2744 |
Caruana-Topalov 0-1
Fabiano Caruana (above right) got a pleasant position and managed to
create threats on the kingside. The players showed many possible variations
on the notebbok and agreed that White could have played more precisely, but
at the same time they didn’t find any direct attack. Things went wrong
when White lost a few tempos after the dubious Qf2-Qa7, but Caruana was in time
trouble and it was not easy for him to find the right plan. After the first
time control the Italian player should have kept queens on the board to have
better chances for a draw, because the knight and bishop endgame turned out
to be absolutely winning for Black.
[Event "Renova Group Grand Prix 2013"] [Site "Zug"] [Date "2013.04.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Margvelashvili, Giorgi"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventCountry "SUI"] 1. e4 {Before this game, Topalov was leading the tournament and had half point more than Caruana. So it was one of Caruana's last chances to catch Topalov. No wonder he chose a very aggressive set-up with White.} c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Topalov chooses the Sicilian Najdorf, one of the most active and well analyzed variations.} 6. Be3 (6. h3 {Has been played by White with success lately.}) (6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 {is another main line.}) 6... e5 (6... e6 {leads to a different type of positions.}) 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f3 { Defending the e4 pawn and preparing a g4 push.} Be7 9. Qd2 O-O (9... h5 {This move has been played by Topalov previously. The idea is to prevent g4 and develop an attack on the queenside. On the other hand the h5 pawn almost denies Black an opportunity to castle short.}) 10. O-O-O {Caruana and Topalov have castled on opposite sides. Now the question is whose attack will be faster.} a5 $5 {Topalov tries to push pawn to a4 and then possibly to a3, getting rid of the knight from b3 and weakening Caruana's queensside pawns.} 11. a4 {Preventing the above mentioned plan.} Na6 {We will see on the next move why Topalov developes his knight on a6, and not c6.} 12. Bb5 Nc7 $1 { Strong move. Topalov wants to exchange the b5 bishop that defends Caruana's position on the queensside, and also prepares for a possible d5 push.} (12... Nb4 {is more natural, but in many variations this knight is misplaced on b4.}) 13. Bb6 {Caruana cannot afford to give up his b5 bishop, so he decides to exchange the dark-squared bishop for the c7 knight.} (13. Be2 {this retreat is too slow, since after} d5 $1 {Black developes a big initiative in the center.}) 13... Qc8 14. Bxc7 Qxc7 15. g4 {Caruana proceeds with his own plan. He wants to get rid of the f6 knight and occupy the d5 square.} Rfd8 16. g5 Nh5 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. exd5 g6 19. Kb1 {The opening phase of this game is over and we can draw some conclusions. Both kings are defended very well, and neither side can develop an attack. But whereas Black has a clear plan of pushing f6 and attacking the weak f3 pawn, White's plan is less obvious. Probably the best Caruana can do is to bring the b3 knight to e4. Overall, I think Topalov's position is slightly preferable and easier to play.} Rf8 $1 20. Qe3 Qd8 (20... Nf4 21. h4 f6 {was already possible, with a slight advantage for Black.}) 21. h4 Nf4 22. Qg1 h6 $5 {Topalov deviates from his original plan. He wants to exchange the h6 pawn for the g5 pawn, which would allow him to push f5 and dominate in the center.} 23. Nd2 Kg7 24. gxh6+ Kxh6 {The king looks dangerously placed on h6, but Caruana does not have enough resources to cause any troubles.} 25. Nc4 Qc7 26. Qe3 Kh7 27. h5 $1 {A strong move by Caruana: sacrificing a pawn to open files.} g5 $1 {Topalov is correct to decline the pawn sacrifice.} (27... Nxh5 $4 {would just lose a game.} 28. Rdg1 f5 29. f4 $1 {with the following Qf3 and Black has no defense against Rh5.}) (27... gxh5 { is possible, but risky. For example:} 28. Nb6 Rad8 29. Rd3 $1 {preparing Rc3 followed by Nd7.}) 28. h6 f5 29. Qd2 {Freeing the e3 square for the knight, which can attack the f5 pawn from there. This position is very complicated, which means that plan with f6 was better than Topalov's h6 plan.} Rf6 30. Rdg1 Rg6 31. Ne3 Rf8 32. Nc4 $6 {Not a good move.} (32. Ng2 $1 {is the right move, exchanging the f4 knight.} Nxg2 33. Rxg2 Bd8 34. Bd3 {with a slight advantage for Caruana.}) 32... Bd8 $1 33. Rd1 Rff6 34. Qf2 Rxh6 35. Qa7 $2 {In time trouble Caruana makes several inaccurate moves.} (35. Ne3 {is better.}) 35... Rxh1 36. Rxh1+ Rh6 37. Qg1 $6 (37. Rxh6+ Kxh6 38. Qg1 {was more accurate, since it would not allow Topalov to place his rook on h4.}) 37... Rh4 $1 38. Ne3 Qf7 39. Ng2 $6 Rxh1 40. Qxh1+ Qh5 41. Qxh5+ Nxh5 42. Ne3 Ng3 43. Kc1 Kg6 44. Kd1 g4 $6 (44... e4 $1 45. fxe4 Nxe4 46. Bd7 Ng3 {and White cannot stop the black pawns from advancing.}) 45. fxg4 f4 46. Nc4 $2 {The final mistake by Caruana.} (46. Nf5 $1 {aiming for an opposite color bishop ending that has huge drawing tendencies.} Nxf5 47. Bd3 f3 48. Kd2 Kg5 49. Bxf5 Kf4 50. Kd3 Kg3 51. Be4 Kxg4 52. c3 {and it is not clear to me how Topalov was going to win this position.}) 46... Bc7 {Now it is over.} 47. Bd7 Kg5 48. Ke1 f3 49. Ne3 Bb6 {Topalov's pawns are unstoppable, so Caruana resigned. A very intense game, where Caruana took a lot of risks, but in the end Topalov just played a better game.} 0-1
Despite victory in the game and, as a result, victory in the tournament, Veselin Topalov looked very serious and tired at the press conference. It is obvious that the tournament is not over for the former world champion and he will fight for the sole victory in the tournament at the last round.
Mamedyarov-Nakamura 0-1
The Slav Defence was played in this game, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
(above) got an unpleasant position out of the opening. White could not prove
he has enough compensation for the pawn, and after 21...f5 his position became
really bad. It was still not necessary to resign after 22…Rc4, even the
position was still much better for Black but the Azeri player miscalculated
the variation and thought he would end up in the position with rook against
three pieces. The game could have continued after 23.bxc4 Bxc4 24.Nxb4 Bxe2
25. Nxd5 exd 26.Bxe2 Nxd2 27.Rc7.
According to Hikaru Nakamura (above right in the press conference) his position was still winning. However, White keeps some drawing chances in the endgame.
Morozevich-Radjabov 1-0
Teymur Rajabov (above left) chose to play the Sveshnikov Variation
against Alexander Morozevich. Black was okay until the moment he has to find
a very accurate move, 21…Qb3! The difference to the move in the game was
that Black had 22…Qd5 after 22.Rc8, and after 23. Qa3 there was an important
resource: 23…Ra2. After 21…Qa4 White won an exchange and increased
his advantage.
Alexander Morozevich (above) could have won easier, but Black never got a real chance to fight for a draw. On move 43 Black could have tried to trick White with a stalemate idea by playing 43…Kh6 44. Rxg7?? Qg2!
[Event "Renova Group Grand Prix 2013"] [Site "Zug"] [Date "2013.04.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Margvelashvili, Giorgi"] [PlyCount "44"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventCountry "SUI"] 1. d4 {This is one of those tournaments that Mamedyarov will want to forget. Today was clearly not his day.} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e3 b5 5. a4 b4 6. Nce2 (6. Ne4 {is the most popular move, but Mamedyarov has already played 6. Nce2 once and decisively beat his opponent.}) 6... Nf6 (6... Qd5 7. Ng3 Nf6 8. Be2 e5 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. O-O Bd6 11. Nd2 c3 12. bxc3 bxc3 13. e4 Qe6 14. Nf5 O-O 15. Bc4 Nd5 16. Nf3 N7b6 17. Bb3 Ba6 18. Re1 Bc7 19. dxe5 {1-0 Mamedyarov,S (2733)-Brunello,S (2575)Porto Carras 2011}) 7. Nf3 Ba6 8. Ng3 c5 $1 {A stong improvement by Nakamura. I think this move calls into question Mamedyarov's whole opening plan.} 9. Bd2 (9. Ne5 e6 10. Nh5 $5 {is suggested by chess engines.} Nbd7 11. Bxc4 Bxc4 12. Nxc4 Rc8 {and Black has solved all the opening problems.}) 9... e6 10. Rc1 Qd5 11. Ne5 (11. dxc5 Nbd7 12. Bxb4 Nxc5 13. Bc3 Rb8 {leads to a slightly better endgame for Black.}) 11... cxd4 12. Nxc4 Nbd7 13. Be2 $1 {Good move by Mamedyarov.} Rc8 (13... Qxg2 $4 14. Bf3 {is losing for Black.}) (13... Bxc4 $1 14. Bxc4 (14. Rxc4 {is also possible} d3 15. Qc1 $1 Rd8 (15... dxe2 $2 16. Rc8+ Rxc8 17. Qxc8+ Ke7 18. Bxb4+ $18) 16. Bf3 Qa5 17. Ne4 {with some, but clearly not enough compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) 14... Qxg2 15. Bb5 Rd8 16. Bc6 Qh3 17. exd4 Bd6 18. Qf3 O-O {with advantage for Black.}) 14. Bf3 Qc5 15. b3 Be7 16. Ne2 $6 {This is an inaccuracy.} (16. O-O $1 {would be a lot stronger, since after} O-O 17. exd4 Qxd4 18. Ne2 Qd3 19. Nf4 Qd4 20. Ne2 {White forces a draw.}) 16... d3 $1 17. Nf4 O-O 18. Nxd3 Qf5 $1 {now Mamedyarov is dangerously behind in development.} 19. e4 $2 {A terrible blunder. Such blunders sometimes happen when player is clearly unsatisfied with his previous play and is psychologically stressed. There is no other way to explain this blunder by Mamedyarov, who is one of the strongest players in the world.} (19. Nxb4 Bxc4 20. Rxc4 Rxc4 21. bxc4 Ne5 22. Nc6 $1 Nxc6 23. Bxc6 {would give Mamedyarov excellent drawing chances.}) 19... Nxe4 20. g4 Qd5 {I do not know what Mamedyarov overlooked, but nothing works here for White.} 21. Qe2 f5 {Nakamura has an extra pawn and a winning position. } 22. O-O Rxc4 $6 {Not the best move, but one which surprisingly led to Mamedyarov's resignation.} (22... Bxc4 $1 23. bxc4 Qb7 24. Rfe1 Ndc5 {would give Black a winning position.}) (22... Rxc4 $6 23. bxc4 Bxc4 24. Nxb4 $1 { Probably both players overlooked this resource that saves White from immediate disaster.} Bxe2 (24... Bxb4 25. Rxc4 Bxd2 26. Bxe4 fxe4 27. Rxe4 {is worse for White, but the position is still playable.}) 25. Nxd5 exd5 26. Bxe2 Nxd2 27. Rc7 Nf6 28. Rxe7 Nxf1 29. Kxf1 Rf7 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 31. gxf5 {This endgame looks winning for Black, but White has some drawing chances. Good win for Nakamura and a game to forget for Mamedyarov.}) 0-1
Karjakin-Kamsky 0-1
Sergey Karjakin (above) managed to get a slightly better position after the
opening. Nevertheless Black were looking for counterplay and the position became
very sharp. Black could get a huge advantage after 27…Qxd5, but both opponents
missed this move. After that the game was dynamically equal but with his 41st
move Sergey Karjakin made a big mistake. After 41.Qf3 the game would most probably
finish in a draw.
Gata Kamsky (above) found the force winning line and after 15 moves the game was over.
Uzbek beauty Firzua Kasimdzanova, wife of ...
... this well-known former FIDE world champion
The tie Break criteria for trophies only:
Veselin Topalov won against Hikaru Nakamura at the fifth round, and this means even in the worst-case scenario for him he will take the gold at Grand Prix in Zug.
Select games from the dropdown menu above the board
Information and pictures by WGM Anastasiya Karlovich (above) and GM Robert Fontaine
Round 01 – April 18 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
1-0
|
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
½-½
|
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
1-0
|
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
½-½
|
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
Anish Giri | 2727 |
½-½
|
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
Peter Leko | 2744 |
½-½
|
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
Round 02 – April 19 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
1-0
|
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
1-0
|
Peter Leko | 2744 |
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
½-½
|
Anish Giri | 2727 |
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
½-½
|
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
1-0
|
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
½-½
|
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
Round 03 – April 20 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
½-½
|
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
½-½
|
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
½-½
|
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
Anish Giri | 2727 |
½-½
|
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
Peter Leko | 2744 |
½-½
|
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
½-½
|
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
Round 04 – April 21 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
½-½
|
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
½-½
|
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
½-½
|
Peter Leko | 2744 |
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
½-½
|
Anish Giri | 2727 |
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
½-½
|
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
½-½
|
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
Round 05 – April 23 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
1-0
|
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
1-0
|
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
Anish Giri | 2727 |
0-1
|
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
Peter Leko | 2744 |
½-½
|
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
1-0
|
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
1-0
|
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
Round 06 – April 24 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
0-1
|
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
½-½
|
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
1-0
|
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
½-½
|
Peter Leko | 2744 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
½-½
|
Anish Giri | 2727 |
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
½-½
|
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
Round 07 – April 25 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
½-½
|
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
Anish Giri | 2727 |
½-½
|
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
Peter Leko | 2744 |
½-½
|
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
1-0
|
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
½-½
|
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
½-½
|
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
Round 08 – April 26 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Rustam Kasimdzhanov
|
2709 |
½-½
|
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
Ruslan Ponomariov
|
2733 |
½-½
|
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
Alexander Morozevich
|
2758 |
0-1
|
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
|
2766 |
½-½
|
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
Fabiano Caruana
|
2772 |
½-½
|
Peter Leko | 2744 |
Sergey Karjakin
|
2786 |
½-½
|
Anish Giri | 2727 |
Round 09 – April 28 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Anish Giri | 2727 |
½-½
|
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
Peter Leko | 2744 |
½-½
|
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
0-1
|
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
½-½
|
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
1-0
|
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
1-0
|
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
Round 10 – April 29 2013, 14:00h | ||||
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
½-½
|
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
1-0
|
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
0-1
|
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
0-1
|
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
0-1
|
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
Anish Giri | 2727 |
½-½
|
Peter Leko | 2744 |
Round 11 – April 30 2013, 12:00h | ||||
Peter Leko | 2744 |
-
|
Rustam Kasimdzhanov | 2709 |
Gata Kamsky | 2741 |
-
|
Anish Giri | 2727 |
Veselin Topalov | 2771 |
-
|
Sergey Karjakin | 2786 |
Hikaru Nakamura | 2767 |
-
|
Fabiano Caruana | 2772 |
Teimour Radjabov | 2793 |
-
|
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov | 2766 |
Ruslan Ponomariov | 2733 |
-
|
Alexander Morozevich | 2758 |
The games start at 14:00h European time, 16:00h Moscow, 8 a.m. New York. You can find your regional starting time here. The commentary on Playchess begins one hour after the start of the games and is free for premium members.
LinksThe games will be broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess 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 12 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs. |