Carlsen keeps Gashimov reign
Playing in world championship form, Magnus Carlsen of Norway went undefeated through nine rounds, including impressive victories in the final three, to win handily the sixth Vugar Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir, Azerbaijan.
Securing the title with a round to spare, Carlsen lived up to billing and scored seven points, a whopping two points ahead of Chinese Ding Liren and Russian Sergey Kariakin with five apiece.
It was Carlsen’s second consecutive Gashimov Memorial plum and his fourth overall since its inception in 2014. His classical rating rose to 2861, edging closer to his career best of 2889. And with the elite Grenke (Germany) classic set to start next week, along with major classical events slated this summer, the world champion will be in position to reach or even surpass the 2889 goal.
The rest of the field finished as follows: Anand (IND), Radjabov (AZE) and Grischuk (RUS), 4.5; Topalov (BUL) and Navara (CZE), 4.0; Mamedyarov (AZE), 3.5 and Giri (NED), 3.0.
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In the following game, Carlsen avenged himself of the only player holding a plus score against him.
For many years, Giri boasted of his lifetime plus score against Carlsen. The world champion leveled the score in 2016, and has now established a superiority, having won the latest.
2019 Gashimov Memorial
W) M. Carlsen (NOR)
B) A. Giri (NED)
English Opening
1. c4 e5
2. Nc3 Nf6
3. Nf3 Nc6
4. g3 d5
5. cxd5 Nxd5
6. Bg2 Bc5
7. O-O O-O
Now the opening has transposed into a Sicilian Dragon, colors reversed.
8. d3 ....
An interesting alternative is 8. Nxe5!? Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxe5 10. d4 Bb6 11. dxe5 Qe7, with probably a balanced middle game.
8.... h6
9. Nxd5 Qxd5
10. a3 a5
11. Bd2 Qe6
12. Rc1 Qe7
13. Bc3 Nd4
14. e3 Nxf3ch
15. Qxf3 Bd6
16. Qh5 c6
17. f4 exf4
18. gxf4 Qxe3ch?
This appears to be the fatal error. Black not only opens up the e file for White’s Rooks, but also hands over to White an important tempo, Instead, either 18....Bc5 or 18....Kh7 is preferable.
19. Kh1 Rd8?
And here’s the losing move. 18...f6 is considered best by the engine, with these possibilities, 20. Be4 Qh3 21. Qg6 Bg4 22. Qh7ch Kf7 23. Bg6ch Ke6 24. Rce1ch Kd7 25. Qxg7ch Kc8, and though Black is inferior, the game continues.
20. Rce1 Qc5
21. f5! ....
The star move, confronting Black with these problems: (a) how to develop his Q-side pieces (b) how to keep his Queen and Rook in rapport and (c) how to save his King. ....
21.... Bf8
22. Be4 ....
22. Re5! is stronger according to the engine.
22.... Rd5
23. Rf3 b5
24. Rg1 Ra7
25. Bf6 g6
26. Qh3 ....
26. Rxg6ch! wins right off according to the engine, e.g., 26....fxg6 27. Qxg6ch Rg7 28. Bxg7 Qc1ch 29. Kg2, etc.
26.... Rd6
27. Qh4 Rxf6
28. Qxf6 Be7
29. Qxc6 ....
We draw the line here as White’s material advantage is overwhelming.
29.... Qxc6
30. Bxc6 Kg7
31. fxg6 fxg6
32. d4 a4
33. d5 b4
34. Be8 Bg5
35. h4 Bxh4
36. Rxg6ch Kh7
37. Rc6 Bg4
38. Rf4 Rg7
1-0
The rest of the story would be 39. Bg6ch Rxg6 40. Rxg6 Kxg6 41. Rxg4 ch.
Solution to last week puzzle
White to play and win.
white=Kg1, Qb3, Rd5, Ba1, Ne5, Pb4, Pe2, Pf2, Pg3, Ph2
black=Kg8, Qe6, Rf8, Bg7. Nc6, Pb7, Pf5, Pg6, Ph7
1. Nxc6! bxc6
If 1....Bxa1 2. Nd8! Rxd8 3. Rxd8ch Kf7 4. Rf8ch Ke7 5. Re8ch Kxe8 6. Qxe6ch.
2. Rd7! Qxb3
3. Rxg7ch Kh8
4. Rxg6ch Rf6
5. Bxf6 mate.
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White to move and draw.
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