tag: Shanghai/Bilbao Masters - Page 1

Bilbao: Kramnik wins Chess Masters and eleven rating points

10/15/2010 – The 14th World Champion is in great form: after a good showing at the Olympiad he has now won the Shanghai-Bilbao Chess Masters, ahead of the 15th and reigning World Champion Viswanathan Anand. World number one Magnus Carlsen was third with a loss of nine rating points. We bring you our final round report with GM commentary by Romain Edouard.

Bilbao: Carlsen comeback – Magnus beats Shirov

10/14/2010 – After a disastrous start – he lost his first two games – and some shaky moments in a subsequent encounter, the world's highest ranked player at last showed his regular form with a fine victory in an Arkhangelsk against Spanish GM Alexei Shirov. Kramnik vs Anand drew an exciting Ragozin in 37 moves. Round five report with GM commentary by Romain Edouard.

Bilbao: Two tough battles, both end in draws

10/13/2010 – All games drawn, again – but what exciting action! Vishy Anand was very close to winning against Alexei Shirov, then got into some trouble himself. Magnus Carlsen played all-out win-or-lose and almost managed to do the latter, holding against Vladimir Kramnik, who still leads the event. For you we have analysis by GM Romain Edouard and a splendid pictorial by Fred Lucas.

Bilbao: Both games drawn, Carlsen battles for 175 moves

10/11/2010 – Anand, who is now number one in the world rankings, played Kramnik in one of the latter's specialities: a Catalan. Both players were well prepared and the result was an inevitable draw. Shirov-Carlsen was a Breyer that resulted in a totally messy position – but what else can you expect in a game between the two? We bring you the games with extensive analysis by GM Romain Edouard.

2010 Bilbao Masters: Kramnik wins second straight.

10/10/2010 – The second round of the Third Masters Final was precipitous, with two decisive games. Kramnik struck again, this time overcoming Shirov after the latter was punished for neglecting his development. Carlsen had an endgame against Anand that was perfectly under control when he went astray and never found his way back. Games, analysis, and an illustrated report on A Day in Bilbao.

2010 Bilbao Masters: Kramnik draws first blood against Carlsen in round one.

10/9/2010 – If Carlsen's many fans had hoped to see a change of fortune after his less than dazzling Olympiad result, today was not that day. Vladimir Kramnik capitalized on the opportunities missed by his opponent to press home his accrued advantage with an attractive win. Shirov and Anand debated a Ruy Lopez Berlin where neither had any compelling new arguments. Round one report.

2010 Bilbao Masters preview

10/8/2010 – Though you may barely have caught your breath after all the chess from the Olympiads, brace yourself as the Third Masters Final starts tomorrow, featuring world number one Carlsen, World Champion Anand, and the qualifiers from Shanghai: Kramnik, and Shirov, in the highest-rated event in history. The opening ceremony took place today with the drawing of lots. Read the preview.

Shanghai Masters: Kramnik, Shirov win with black

9/7/2010 – The fifth round was one of decision and indecision. Shirov managed yet another miracle win against Wang Hao, sealing both their fates, and a ticket to the grand final in October, while Kramnik pulled off a flawless technical win against Aronian, tying him for second/third, leaving the last spot to be decided in the last round. Though the draw favours Kramnik, their fates are in their hands.

Shanghai Masters: Shirov beats Kramnik to take the lead

9/6/2010 – After seven dry years, Shirov beat Kramnik in a serious game, and in style. Their Nimzo-Indian with four deeply advanced pawns was certainly odd. Kramnik took so much time preparing his perfect moment, that it had passed before he or even any chess engine realized. He kept it a fight, but succumbed in the end. Aronian pressed against Hao for 50 moves, but drew. Impressions from Shanghai.

Shanghai Masters: both games drawn, Aronian leads

9/5/2010 – The score after two rounds in the Final Chess Masters 2010 in Shanghai, China, is 4-2-2-1, with Armenian GM Levon Aronian leading at four points and Wang Hao at the bottom with one. That is because of the "Bilbao scoring system" that is being used. Traditionally it would be 1½-1-1-½. We bring you both the fairly interesting round two drawn games with annotations.

Shanghai Masters: Shirov wins, catches Aronian

9/5/2010 – There is nothing quite as bittersweet as a missed opportunity and that was the tale of round three. After a blunder by Shirov, Wang Hao came within a hair's breadth of winning, but then returned the favor and was never himself again. Kramnik played a rare line of the Slav against Aronian, wittingly or unwittingly following original analysis from the Rybka4 opening book. All this in an empty hall?

Shanghai Masters: Aronian wins first game

9/3/2010 – Aronian, Kramnik, Shirov and Wang Hao are playing in this classical double round robin, originally intended as a summit of the winners of selected Grand Slam tournaments. Magnus Carlsen disrupted the system by winning most of them, so other players had to be invited "on the basis of their sports merits". Aronian beat Wang Hao with black in round one. Annotated games, video impressions.
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