So steps into world stage
The Candidates Tournament, which selects the challenger for the world championship, has gotten underway in Berlin, Germany.
Eight of the world’s top 15 players are seeing action in the eagerly-awaited double round, all-play-all event, the winner of which becomes Carlsen’s official challenger.
Following is an analysis of the eight contestants’ pertinent backgrounds prior to their encounters.
1. Shakriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), age 32, ranked second in the world, qualified through the FIDE grand prix.
2. Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), the oldest at 42, world No. 3 and FIDE-nominated wild card.
3. Wesley So (USA), world No. 4, the youngest at 24, qualified through FIDE ratings.
4. Levon Aronian (Armenia), age 35 and ranked fifth in the world, qualified as the world cup champion.
5. Fabiano Caruana (USA), age 25, world No. 8 and qualified through FIDE ratings.
6. Ding Liren (China), age 25, world No. 11 and earned a spot as world cup runner-up.
7. Alexander Grischuk (Russia), age 34, ranked 12th in the world and qualified through the FIDE grand prix.
8. Sergey Kariakin (Russia), 27 years old, world No. 13 and qualified as last world championship official challenger.
Opening round pairings (being played at press time), saw Kramnik vs Grischuk; Kariakin vs Mamedyarov; Aronian vs Liren and Caruana vs So.
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Vishy Anand of India, emerged on top at the 2018 Tal Memorial, one of those major Russian-sponsored tournaments, which have become traditional in the international circuit.
Anand scored six points out of a possible nine, half-a-point clear of runners-up Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan), Nakamura (USA) and Kariakin (Russia).
The former world champion distinguished himself by essaying sacrificial lines, reminiscent of Tal. Here he literally chewed up candidates qualifier Alexander Grischuk in the beautiful game below.
Tal Memorial 2018
W) V. Anand (India)
B) A. Grischuk (Russia)
Sicilian Defense
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 ...
The Rossolimo Variation, a well-known anti-Sicilian line, named after GM Nicolas Rossolimo (1910-1975), many-time French champion, who immigrated to the United States in 1952 and became the 1955 US national champion
3.... g6
The usual move, but there are also good alternatives such as 3...e6, 3...d6 and 3...Qb6.
4. Bxc6 ...
4.... dxc6
In the game Anand-Dubov, same tournament, play went 4...bxc6 5. 0-0 Bg7 6. Re1 Nh6 7. c3 0-0 8. h3 f5 9. e5 Nf7 10. d3 a5 11. Bf4 e6 12. Qd2 h6 13. h4, and White obtains a slight edge, 1-0 (35).
5. d3 Bg7
6. h3 Nf6
7. Nc3 O-O
8. Be3 ...
Typical of Anand, quick Queenside development, castle long and pawn storm on the Kingside. The engine prefers the normal 8. 0-0.
8.... b6
9. Qd2 e5
10. Bh6 Qd6
11. O-O-O a5
12. g4 a4
13. Kb1 Be6
Black adopts a waiting policy, not a good idea against Anand. Better seems the aggressive 13...b5.
14. Ne2 b5
15. Ng3 Rfd8
This cost valuable time. 15...b4 is preferable, according to the engine.
16. Bxg7 Kxg7
17. Qg5 Nd7
18. Nf5ch Bxf5
19. gxf5 a3
20. b3 h6
21. Qg3 Kh7
22. Rhg1 Qf6
23. h4 gxf5
24. Qh3 f4
25. Rg5 Qe6
26. Rf5! ...
The only move to maintain middle game tension. Obviously 26. Qxe6 gives Black a good game.
26.... Rg8?
This move loses right off. Correct is 26...f6 with chances to hold.
27. Ng5ch ...
This second check of the game proves decisive.
27.... hxg5?
Allowing a beautiful finish. But there’s nothing else. 27... Rxg5 28. hxg5 Kg8 29. gxh6 is hopeless for Black.
28. Rxf7ch!! ...
A stunning Rook sacrifice that ends the game. Not 28. hxg5ch? Kg7 and Black escapes.
28... Qxf7
29. hxg5ch Kg7
30. Qh6 mate 1-0
Solution to last week’s puzzle:
White to play and draw.
white=Kh1, Pf4, Ph4
blacK=Kh6, Pf7, Pg5
1. hxg5ch Kh5
2. g6! fxg6
2...Kxg6 3. Kg2 Kf5 4. Kf3 is draw.
3. f5! gxf5
4. Kg1! ...
4. Kg2? Kg4 5. Kf2 Kf4 and Black has the opposition and should win.
4... Kg5
5. Kf1! Kg4
6. Kg2 Kf4
7. Kf2 and draws.
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Black to move and draw
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