Zurich Chess Challenge

[Wayne Komer]

Zurich Chess Challenge

Monday, September 16, 2013
(Press Release)

The 3rd edition of Zurich Chess Challenge is scheduled to take place from January 29 to February 4. Vladimir Kramnik is not among the participants, however, the event will be rich with other top players:

Magnus Carlsen 2862 (#1 in FIDE rating-list for September)
Levon Aronian 2813 (2)
Fabiano Caruana 2779 (5)
Viswanathan Anand 2775 (7)
Hikaru Nakamura 2772 (9)
Boris Gelfand 2764 (11)

The organizers note that "with an average of 2794 Elo points (according to the September rating list) this is going to be the strongest tournament in chess history." Also, this will be the first clash between reigning champion Vishy Anand and his challenger Magnus Carlsen after their upcoming world championship match in Chennai. Thus, the event will gather the world champion and at least two challengers (Caruana can become the 3rd).

The regulations of the tournament are the most unusual. The grandmasters will play a round-robin tournament of five rounds with a classical time control, which will be followed by a rapid tournament with colors reversed on the last day of play. A won game in the classical tournament counts 2 points, a draw 1 point. Wins in the rapid tournament count 1 point and draws half a point.
The event promises to be full of surprises. We will inform you as they become available.

The main sponsor is Oleg Skvortsov. He will be organizing the Zurich Chess Challenge for the 3rd time: The first Zurich Chess Challenge in 2012 was a match between Kramnik and Aronian. The second event in 2013 was a double-round robin with Kramnik, Anand, Caruana and Gelfand.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Zurich Chess Challenge

Blitz

January 29, 2014

The blitz tournament has started to decide the colour distribution for the classical tournament. The time control is 4 min + 2 second/move increment. There are five rounds. The commentators are GM Peter Leko and GM Yannick Pelletier.

http://www.zurich-cc.com/games.html

The first three matches are:

Carlsen, M. – Caruana, F.
Gelfand, B. – Nakamura, H.
Aronian, L. – Ananad, V.

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round One
January 29, 2014
Carlsen-Caruana

B42 Sicilian, Kan, Poluagaievsky Variation
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. c3 d6 7. Nd2 Nf6 8. O-O O-O 9. a4 e5 10. N4b3 Ba7 11. Nc4 Be6 12. Qe2 Nc6 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bh4 g5 15. Bg3 Ne7 16. Nbd2 Ng6 17. Rfe1 h5 18. h3 h4 19. Bh2 g4 20. Kh1 gxh3 21. gxh3 Bxh3 22. Rg1 Kg7 23. Ne3 Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Ng4 25. Qf3 Qf6 26. Rxg4 Qxf3+ 27. Nxf3 Bxg4 28. Nxh4 Nxh4 29. Rg1 Nf3 30. Rxg4+ Kf6 31. Rg3 Nxh2 32. Kxh2 Rh8+ 33. Kg2 Rag8 34. Bc4 Rxg3+ 35. fxg3 a5 0-1

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round One
January 29, 2014
Aronian-Anand
A39 Reti English, Symmetrical, Main Line

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 O-O 8. O-O Qa5 9. Nb3 Qh5 10. c5 b6 11. e4 bxc5 12. Bf3 Qh3 13. e5 Nxe5 14. Bg2 Qf5 15. Bxa8 Ba6 16. Bg2 Bxf1 17. Qxf1 d6 18. Bf4 Nd3 19. Bh3 Qh5 20. Qxd3 Qxh3 21. Qe2 Re8 22. Re1 h6 23. Nd2 g5 24. Be3 Ng4 25. Nf1 Ne5 26. f4 gxf4 27. Bxf4 Rb8 28. b3 Qe6 29. Nd2 Nd3 30. Qxd3 Qxe1+ 31. Kg2 Rb4 32. Ne2 Qa1 33. Qc2 a5 34. Nc4 a4 35. Bd2 axb3 36. axb3 Rb8 37. Nf4 Ra8 38. Nh5 Qa2 39. Qe4 Qxb3 40. Qxa8+ 1-0

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round One
January 29, 2014
Gelfand-Nakamura
D20 QGA, Huebner Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Bxc4 Nb6 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be6 8. Nc3 g6 9. Nge2 Nb4 10. Be4 N4d5 11. O-O Bg7 12. Nf4 Nxf4 13. Bxf4 c6 14. Be3 O-O 15. f4 Qd7 16. Qe2 Bc4 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 f6 19. Rad1 Nd5 20. Ne4 b6 21. Bc1 Rad8 22. a3 Bh6 23. Qb3 Kh8 24. Nc3 fxe5 25. dxe5 e6 26. g3 c5 27. Ne4 Qc6 28. Qc2 Bg7 29. h4 Ne7 30. Rxd8 Rxd8 31. Nd6 Kg8 32. Qg2 Qxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Nf5 34. Ne4 h6 35. g4 Nxh4+ 36. Kh3 g5 37. fxg5 Ng6 38. Nf6+ Bxf6 39. Rxf6 Rd3+ 40. Kg2 Nh4+ 41. Kf2 hxg5 42. Bxg5 Rh3 43. Rh6 Rf3+ 44. Ke2 Rb3 45. Bxh4 Rxb2+ 46. Kd3 b5 47. Rxe6 c4+ 48. Kc3 Rb3+ 49. Kc2 Rxa3 50. Re8+ Kf7 51. Re7+ Kg6 52. Bf6 b4 53. Rg7+ Kh6 54. Rc7 Rc3+ 55. Kd2 Kg6 56. g5 a5 57. e6 Rd3+ 58. Ke2 Rd6 59. e7 Re6+ 60. Kd1 1-0
++++++++++++

Round Two

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Two
January 29, 2014
Nakamura-Aronian
D51 Queen’s Gambit Declined

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. e3 Nbd7 4. c4 e6 5. Nc3 h6 6. Bh4 Bb4 7. cxd5 exd5 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 c5 10. Bd3 Qa5 11. Ne2 cxd4 12. O-O dxe3 13. fxe3 O-O 14. Nd4 Ne4 15. Be7 Re8 16. Bb4 Qd8 17. a4 a5 18. Ba3 Ndf6 19. c4 Be6 20. c5 Bd7 21. h3 Qc7 22. Rf3 Nxc5 23. Rc1 b6 24. Bf5 Nfe4 25. Bb2 Rad8 26. Rf4 f6 27. Bg6 Re7 28. Nf5 Bxf5 29. Bxf5 Nd6 30. Qxd5+ Kh8 31. Bb1 Rxe3 32. Rxf6 Nde4 33. Rxh6# 1-0

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Two
January 29, 2014
Caruana-Anand
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Nge7 7. e4 O-O 8. a3 a5 9. b3 h6 10. Bb2 d4 11. Qe2 a4 12. b4 Na7 13. Nc4 Nec6 14. Bc1 Be6 15. Bd2 Nb5 16. h3 Nd6 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. c3 dxc3 19. Bxc3 Na7 20. d4 Qc8 21. Rfc1 Bxh3 22. dxe5 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qe6 24. exd6 Bxc3 25. Rxc3 Qxd6 26. Rd1 Qe7 27. e5 Nc6 28. Re3 Nd8 29. Nd4 Ra6 30. b5 Rb6 31. Qc4 Ne6 32. Nxe6 Rxe6 33. Rd5 Rd8 34. Rxd8+ Qxd8 35. Rd3 Qe7 36. Qc8+ Kh7 37. Rd8 Rxe5 38. Rd7 Qe6 39. Qxb7 Rf5 40. Rd2 Qb3 41. b6 Rf6 42. Qa7 Rxb6 43. Rd4 Rf6 44. Qa8 Qb2 45. Rf4 Rxf4 46. gxf4 Qxa3 47. Qe8 Qb3 0-1

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Two
January 29, 2014
Carlsen-Gelfand
A48 King’s Indian, Torre Attack, Main Line

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. c3 d6 6. e4 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Bc4 Nc6 9. O-O Qc7 10. Qe2 Na5 11. e5 Nxc4 12. Nxc4 Nd5 13. Qe4 Be6 14. Rfe1 Rad8 15. Qh4 Rfe8 16. Rad1 f6 17. Bh6 Bh8 18. h3 b5 19. Ncd2 Bf5 20. Ne4 Qc6 21. Ng3 Bc8 22. Qe4 Bb7 23. h4 Nb6 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. exf6 Bxf6 26. Qe2 Nc4 27. a4 a6 28. axb5 axb5 29. Qc2 Ne5 30. Qe4 Qxe4 31. Nxe4 Bxe4 32. Rxe4 Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Nxf3+ 34. gxf3 Rb1 35. Re2 b4 36. Be3 bxc3 37. bxc3 c4 38. Bc5 Bxc3 39. Rxe7 Bf6 40. Re4 c3 41. Be3 Rb5 42. Kg3 Kf7 43. Rc4 Rb7 44. Rc6 Rd7 45. f4 0.5-0.5
+++++++++++

Round Three

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Three
January 29, 2014
Anand-Nakamura
C03 French, Tarrasch

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 h6 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7. c3 Nc6 8. O-O g5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bb5 a6 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. b4 Nd7 13. Re1 a5 14. bxa5 Qxa5 15. Nb3 Qxc3 16. Nfd4 Qc4 17. a4 Nc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. Be3 Bxd4 20. Qxd4 Qxd4 21. Bxd4 Ba6 22. Reb1 Kd7 23. Rb6 Rhb8 24. a5 Bb5 25. f3 Rxb6 26. Bxb6 Kc8 27. Kf2 Kb7 28. Ke3 h5 29. g3 g4 30. fxg4 hxg4 31. Ra2 Rh8 32. Rf2 Rh7 33. Kd4 Kc8 34. Kc5 Kd7 35. Rf4 Be2 36. Rf2 Bb5 37. Rf4 Rg7 38. Rf6 Rh7 39. Rf4 0.5-0.5

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Three
January 29, 2014
Aronian-Carlsen
A46 Queen’s Pawn Game

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b5 3. e4 Nxe4 4. Bxb5 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 Nf6 7. c4 O-O 8. Nc3 Ba6 9. Bf4 c6 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. Ne5 Qc8 12. Qf3 Nb4 13. Rad1 d6 14. Ng4 Nxg4 15. Qxg4 Kh8 16. Re3 f5 17. Qe2 Rf6 18. Re1 Bf8 19. a3 Na6 20. Rxe6 Rxe6 21. Qxe6 Qxe6 22. Rxe6 Nc7 23. Re2 Kg8 24. f3 Kf7 25. Kf1 g6 26. Bg3 Rd8 27. Ke1 Bg7 28. Rd2 Bh6 29. Rd3 Rd7 30. d5 cxd5 31. Nxd5 Nxd5 32. Rxd5 Bc1 33. Rb5 Rc7 34. Bxd6 Rxc4 35. Be5 Be3 36. Bc3 Bb6 37. Ke2 Ke6 38. Re5+ Kd6 39. Re8 Rc6 40. Bb4+ Kd5 41. Bc3 Kc4 42. a4 Kb3 43. a5 Bc5 44. Rb8+ Kc2 45. Rb7 h5 46. Be1 Re6+ 47. Kf1 Bd4 48. b4 Kd3 49. Bf2 Bxf2 50. Kxf2 h4 51. Rxa7 Re2+ 52. Kf1 Rb2 53. Rd7+ Ke3 54. Re7+ Kd3 55. Re1 h3 56. gxh3 Rxh2 57. Kg1 Ra2 58. h4 Ra4 59. b5 Rxa5 60. Rb1 Ra7 61. b6 Rb7 62. Kf2 f4 63. Rb4 Kc3 64. Rxf4 Rxb6 65. Kg3 Kd3 66. Kg4 Ke3 67. Re4+ Kf2 68. Ra4 Rb1 69. Ra2+ Ke3 70. Ra3+ Kf2 71. Kg5 Rg1+ 72. Kh6 Kg3 73. Kxg6 Kxh4+ 74. Kf5 Rb1 75. Ra5 Kh5 76. f4 Kh6 77. Ra7 Rb5+ 78. Kf6 Rb6+ 79. Kf7 Rb5 80. Ra6+ Kh5 81. Rf6 Ra5 82. Kg7 Ra7+ 83. Kf8 Kg4 0.5-0.5

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Three
January 29, 2014
Gelfand-Caruana
A40 Queen’s Pawn, Franco-Indian (Keres) Defence

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Bb4+ 3. Nd2 d5 4. Qa4+ Nc6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Nf3 O-O 7. a3 Bd6 8. c5 Be7 9. b4 a6 10. Bb2 Ne4 11. Bd3 f5 12. b5 Nb8 13. Ne5 Nd7 14. Ndf3 Bf6 15. c6 Nb6 16. Qc2 axb5 17. Bxb5 Nd6 18. a4 Nxb5 19. axb5 Rxa1+ 20. Bxa1 Qd6 21. O-O bxc6 22. Nxc6 Bd7 23. Nfe5 Bxc6 24. Nxc6 Ra8 25. Bc3 Nc4 26. Bb4 Qd7 27. Qc3 Nd6 28. Bxd6 Qxd6 29. Ra1 Rxa1+ 30. Qxa1 f4 31. Qa8+ Kf7 32. Qa7 fxe3 33. fxe3 Kg6 34. Qc5 Qd7 35. Qc2+ Kh6 36. g3 Qd6 37. Qc5 Qd7 38. Kg2 Qf7 39. Qc1 g5 40. Qf1 Qg6 41. Qf3 Kg7 42. Qe2 Qe4+ 43. Kg1 g4 44. Qf2 Bg5 0-1

(to be concluded in next post)

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Zurich Chess Challenge

Blitz (Conclusion)

January 29, 2014

Round Four

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Four
January 29, 2014
Carlsen-Anand
A06 Reti Opening

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 c5 3. e4 dxe4 4. Ng5 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Ncxe4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 e5 11. f4 exf4 12. Qh5 Nd4 13. Rxf4 g6 14. Qe5 b6 15. Raf1 Bf5 16. g4 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Rxf8+ Bxf8 19. Nf6+ Kh8 20. c3 Nc6 21. Ne8+ 1-0

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Four
January 29, 2014
Caruana-Nakamura
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo)

1. Nf3 d6 2. e4 c5 3. Bb5+ Nc6 4. O-O Bd7 5. Re1 a6 6. Bf1 Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. c3 Rc8 9. g4 Bg6 10. d4 h5 11. d5 Ne5 12. Nh2 hxg4 13. hxg4 e6 14. Bf4 Nf6 15. Bg2 c4 16. dxe6 fxe6 17. Bg3 Nd3 18. Re2 e5 19. Nd2 b5 20. b3 Bf7 21. bxc4 bxc4 22. Ndf1 g6 23. Rb1 Qd7 24. Ne3 Bh6 25. Rb6 Be6 26. a4 Ra8 27. a5 O-O 28. f3 Qc7 29. Bf2 Nd7 30. Rb1 Nxf2 31. Kxf2 Nc5 32. Kg1 Nd3 33. Nhf1 Qxa5 34. Qc2 Rab8 35. Nd1 Qc5+ 36. Nfe3 a5 37. Ra1 Rb3 38. Kh1 Kg7 39. Qa2 Ra8 40. Qa4 Nb2 41. Nxb2 Bxe3 42. Bh3 Rxc3 43. Nd1 Rd3 44. Nxe3 Rxe3 45. Rb2 Rxf3 46. Rb7+ Bf7 47. Kh2 Qf2+ 0-1

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Four
January 29, 2014
Gelfand-Aronian
E01 Catalan

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. g3 c5 5. Bg2 cxd4 6. O-O Bc5 7. Nxd4 dxc4 8. Qa4+ Nbd7 9. Qxc4 O-O 10. Nc3 a6 11. Nb3 Ba7 12. Rd1 h6 13. Bd2 Rb8 14. Rac1 b5 15. Qb4 Bb6 16. Bf4 a5 17. Qd6 Qe8 18. Nxb5 e5 19. Bd2 Bxf2+ 20. Kxf2 Rxb5 21. Nxa5 e4 22. Kg1 Ne5 23. Bb4 Ng6 24. a4 Rh5 25. Nc6 Bb7 26. Ne7+ Nxe7 27. Qxe7 Qxe7 28. Bxe7 Rb8 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. b4 Re5 31. Rc7 Bd5 32. b5 Bb3 33. Rd4 f5 34. Rb4 Be6 35. b6 Ra5 36. e3 Kg7 37. Bf1 Kf6 38. Ra7 Rc5 39. a5 Rc1 40. b7 f4 41. Rxe4 fxe3 42. Rxe3 Bh3 43. Rf3+ Kg7 44. a6 Rd8 45. Rxf7+ Kg6 46. b8=Q Rxb8 47. Rf2 Rb6 48. Ra8 Kg7 49. Ra7+ Kg6 50. Ra8 0-1
+++++++++++

Round Five

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Five
January 29, 2014
Anand-Gelfand
D47 QGD Semi-Slav, Meran, Wade Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O a6 10. e4 c5 11. d5 Qc7 12. Bc2 O-O-O 13. dxe6 Ne5 14. Qe2 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 fxe6 16. Qe2 c4 17. e5 Nd5 18. Bg5 Rd7 19. a4 b4 20. Nxd5 Rxd5 21. Bf4 Bc5 22. Be4 Rd4 23. Bxb7+ Kxb7 24. Be3 Rd3 25. Bxc5 Qxc5 26. Qg4 Re8 27. Rac1 Rd4 28. Qxg7+ Re7 29. Qf6 Re4 30. Rfd1 Rc7 31. Qf3 1-0

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Five
January 29, 2014
Aronian-Caruana
C41 Philidor, Improved Hanham Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a6 8. a4 b6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. Nd5 Bb7 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. c3 Rae8 16. Bd5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 a5 18. Qxe5 Rxe5 19. f3 Rfe8 20. Kf2 g5 21. g4 Kg7 22. c4 h5 23. h3 Rh8 24. Re2 hxg4 25. hxg4 Re6 26. Ke3 Rh3 27. Rd1 Kf6 28. b3 Re5 29. Ree1 Re8 30. Rd5 Rh2 31. Re2 Rh1 32. Rf5+ Kg6 33. Kd4 Rd1+ 34. Kc3 Rh1 35. Kd4 Rd1+ 36. Kc3 Rh1 0.5-0.5

Zurich Chess Challenge
Blitz
Round Five
January 29, 2014
Nakamura-Carlsen
C47 Four Knights, Scotch Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O d5 9. exd5 cxd5 10. Bg5 c6 11. Na4 Bd6 12. c3 Re8 13. Bh4 Bg4 14. f3 Bh5 15. Qc2 Bg6 16. Rae1 Qc7 17. g4 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Nd7 19. Qc2 Nf8 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. Re1 Rb8 22. Kg2 Ne6 23. Bg3 c5 24. b3 c4 25. Rd1 cxb3 26. axb3 d4 27. Bxd6 Qxd6 28. cxd4 Nf4+ 29. Kh1 Qd5 30. Qe4 Qxb3 31. Re1 g5 32. Nc5 Qa2 33. Rg1 Nh3 34. Nd3 Nxg1 35. Qe5 Nxf3 36. Qxb8+ Kg7 37. Ne1 Qa1 38. Kg2 Nxe1+ 39. Kf2 Nd3+ 40. Ke3 Qc3 0-1

Standings (on S-B)

1. Carlsen, Magnus 3
2. Aronian, Levon 3

3. Nakamura, Hikaru 2.5
4. Caruana, Fabiano 2.5
5. Anand, Vishy 2.5

6. Gelfand, Boris 1.5

SCHEDULE

Date Wednsday 29 January - Tuesday 04 February 2014
Venue Hotel Savoy Baur en Ville, Festsaal
Rounds 5 (round robin, classical chess)

Rate of play

– 40 moves in 120 minutes
– 20 moves in 60 minutes
– Rest of game in 15 minutes with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 61
In case of a draw before move 40, an additional Rapid Game will be played (which does not count for the overall result)

Schedule

Wed. January 29:19:00 Opening Ceremony & Blitz

Round One 30 Jan 15:00
Carlsen-Gelfand
Aronian-Anand
Nakamura-Caruana

Round Two 31 Jan 15:00
Gelfand-Caruana
Anand-Nakamura
Carlsen-Aronian

Round Three 1 Feb 15:00
Aronian-Gelfand
Nakamura-Carlsen
Caruana–Anand

Round Four 2 Feb 15:00
Gelfand-Anand
Carlsen-Caruana
Aronian-Nakamura

Round Five 3 Feb 13:00
Nakamura-Gelfand
Caruana-Aronian
Anand-Carlsen

Tue. February 04:13:00 Rapid Tournament
19:00 Closing Ceremony

15:00 Zurich time is 9 a.m. Toronto/Montreal time.
+++++++++

ChessBet is taking bets on the result of the tournament. The prizes are modest 1) New in Chess one year sub, 2) One year membership in playchess.com and 3-5) Books – The Diamond Dutch, Techniques of Positional Play and Tactics Time.

Honestly though, looking at the results of the blitz, I would say that is exactly the order that the main tournament + rapid will end in – Carlsen first, followed by Aronian with Nakamura and Caruana tied for third and Anand and Gelfand bringing up the rear.

[Gordon Ritchie]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Sweet mating combo by Carlsen over Anand in blitz.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

I enjoyed Caruana - Nakamura as well.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Zurich Chess Challenge 2014

Classical

Round One

January 30, 2014

Pairings

Carlsen-Gelfand
Aronian-Anand
Nakamura-Caruana

The commentators are GM Yannick Pelletier (Switzerland ), IM Werner Hug (Switzerland) and guest, GM Peter Leko (Hungary). They converse in English but in deference to being in Zurich, there will be five minutes in German each hour. Werner has dark glasses on – the first time I have ever seen a commentator wearing such.

The tables are set up in the large room with curtained windows &c. at the Hotel Savoy with chairs for an audience and standing room. Old World elegance, but no potted palms as far as I could see.

The tournament has an average rating of 2801 – the highest ever. A double round robin would have been better but that would have taken up too many days hence the single round robin and the rapid day.

When one thinks of Zurich and chess, three dates come to mind. Zurich 1934 was an impressive victory by Alekhine ahead of Euwe, Flohr, Bogoljubov, Lasker and Nimzowitsch. The tournament book by A.A. is very desirable.

Zurich 1953 was the Candidates Tournament and was won by Smyslov ahead of Bronstein, Keres, Reshevsky, Petrosian etc. Bronstein’s tournament book is arguably one of the best ever.

Zurich 1959 was won by Tal ahead of Gligoric, Fischer, Keres and Larsen. The tournament book has beautiful black and white photos of the contestants.
+++++++++++

Boris resigns to Magnus. Carlsen comes in to the press conference. Gelfand defended well. Magnus says it was a fun game, with a quiet opening but then tactics on every move. He made a few natural moves, queens went off and White played 15.g4. White is winning after 25.h3.
He said that he was a bit rusty at the first yesterday but then remembered how to play the game.

Zurich Chess Challenge
Classic
Round One
January 30, 2014
Carlsen-Gelfand
E60 King’s Indian, 3.Nf3

1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. g3 c6 5. Bg2 d5 6. Qa4 O-O 7. O-O Nfd7 8. Qc2 Nf6 9. Bf4 Bf5 10. Qb3 Qb6 11. Nbd2 Ne4 12. e3 Qxb3 13. axb3 Na6 14. cxd5 cxd5 15. g4 Bxg4 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Nd2 f5 18. f3 e5 19. dxe5 exf3 20. Nxf3 Rae8 21. Ra5 Nb4 22. Nd4 b6 23. Rxa7 Bxe5 24. Bh6 Rf6 25. h3 Bh5 26. Nc2 g5 27. Bxg5 Rg6 28. Rxf5 h6 29. Bxh6 Rxh6 30. Nxb4 Bxb2 31. Nd5 Kh8 32. Rb7 Bd1 33. b4 Rg8 34. Ne7 Rd8 35. Be4 Bf6 36. Rxb6 Kg7 37. Rf2 1-0
++++++++

Aronian didn’t much like his position after the time control but still won anyway.

Zurich Chess Challenge
Classic
Round One
January 30, 2014
Aronian-Anand
A13 English, Neo-Catalan

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Qxc4 a6 7. Qb3 Rb8 8. O-O b5 9. a4 Bb7 10. axb5 axb5 11. d3 Be7 12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Bd2 O-O 14. Rc1 c5 15. Ba5 Qe8 16. Nbd2 N5f6 17. Rab1 Bd5 18. Qd1 Ra8 19. b4 Ra6 20. e4 Bc6 21. Nb3 cxb4 22. Qd2 Bxe4 23. dxe4 Nxe4 24. Qc2 Nc3 25. Ra1 Nf6 26. Ne5 Nfd5 27. Nd3 Rc6 28. Bxd5 exd5 29. Re1 Rc4 30. f3 Qd7 31. Qf2 Bd6 32. Bb6 Qf5 33. Qe3 h5 34. Bd4 Rc7 35. Ra7 Rxa7 36. Bxa7 Ra8 37. Bc5 d4 38. Nxd4 Bxc5 39. Nxf5 Bxe3+ 40. Nxe3 b3 41. Nd1 Rc8 42. Nxc3 Rxc3 43. Rd1 b2 44. Nxb2 Rxf3 45. Rd8+ Kh7 46. Rd5 Rb3 47. Nd3 g6 48. Rd7 Kg7 49. Kf2 Ra3 50. Ke3 Ra2 51. h4 Kf6 52. Rb7 Ra5 53. Nc5 Ra3+ 54. Kf4 Ra1 55. Ne4+ Kg7 56. Nd6 Rf1+ 57. Ke3 Kf8 58. Rxb5 Ke7 59. Ne4 Re1+ 60. Kf4 Kf8 61. Rb8+ Kg7 62. Rb7 Rf1+ 63. Ke3 Kf8 64. Nd6 Rf6 65. Rb8+ Ke7 66. Ne4 Rf1 67. Ke2 Rf5 68. Rc8 Re5 69. Kf3 Rf5+ 70. Kg2 Re5 71. Ng5 Re2+ 72. Kh3 Rf2 73. Rc4 1-0
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A more or less equal game. Caruana was a pawn down in the ending but K,N and f pawn vs K, B was drawn.
At the press conference both players felt that they stood well out of the opening. The commentators said after Nakamura left that he was overly optimistic about his positions during the game.

Zurich Chess Challenge
Classic
Round One
January 30, 2014
Nakamura-Caruana
D90 Grunfeld, Flohr Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qb3 dxc4 7. Qxc4 O-O 8. Bf4 c6 9. e4 b5 10. Qd3 c5 11. dxc5 Na6 12. e5 Nxc5 13. Qe3 Nh5 14. Bg5 Ne6 15. Rd1 Qe8 16. Bh6 Bxh6 17. Qxh6 Bc6 18. Qe3 a6 19. Bd3 Nhf4 20. O-O Nxd3 21. Rxd3 Rd8 22. Nd4 Nxd4 23. Rxd4 Rxd4 24. Qxd4 Qa8 25. f3 Rd8 26. Qc5 Qb7 27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Nxd1 Qd7 29. Ne3 Qd2 30. Qc3 Qxc3 31. bxc3 f6 32. exf6 exf6 33. Kf2 Kf7 34. Ke2 Ke6 35. Kd3 h5 36. Kd4 h4 37. Kc5 Ba8 38. f4 g5 39. g3 hxg3 40. hxg3 gxf4 41. gxf4 Be4 42. Kb6 Kd6 43. Kxa6 Kc5 44. a3 Bf3 45. Ka7 Kc6 46. Kb8 Kb6 47. Nf5 Bg4 48. Nd6 Be6 49. Ne4 f5 50. Nd2 Bd5 51. Kc8 Ka5 52. Kc7 Ka4 53. Kb6 Bg2 54. c4 bxc4 55. Nxc4 Bd5 56. Kc5 Bg8 57. Kd4 Kb3 58. Nd6 Kxa3 59. Ke5 Kb4 60. Kf6 Kc5 61. Nxf5 Bh7 62. Ne7 Bb1 63. Ke5 Bh7 64. Nd5 Kc6 65. Nf6 Bb1 66. f5 Bxf5 67. Kxf5 0.5-0.5
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There was a comment about the opening in Carlsen-Anand in yesterday’s Fourth Round blitz game on ChessVibes:

I immediately recognized the opening in Carlsen-Anand. It was the favorite of Claude Bloodgood, who played it a little differently: 1 Nf3 d5 2 b3 c5 3 e4 dxe4 4 Ne5, the point being that black will lose his queen after 4... Qd4 5 Bb2 Qxb2 6 Nc3. Bloodgood wrote a book about it: 'Nimzovich Attack: The Norfolk Gambits'. The blurb on it says (got this from amazon): "Be warned: If you are a `bean counter' obsessed with saving pawns for an extended end-game, do not play these gambits!" How about that? It continues: Bloodgood was a convicted killer, and as such one of the strongest criminal chess players ever.

And a reply to that: The "white budapest" is one of those tricky sidelines studied by IM Bosch for NIC. I doubt Carlsen studied the games of convict Bloodgood but he is certainly familiar with those NIC articles, Carlsen-Dolmatov being the most famous example of him preparing one of those openings.
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Viewers’ Comments on Today’s Games

- Wow, Carlsen's 15.g4 is not a move that I would come up with.

- g4 is a super move ! Gelfand scratched his head for 30 minutes, and you could feel by studying the position that it would be hell on earth to keep up the fight going. Just incredible game !

Aronian put up a great show too, very strong moves

- Can’t wait for Magnus-Lev tomorrow

- Incredible game from Carlsen. g4! and Nc2! were great moves, he really seems on form after warming up with three good games at the end of the blitz event yesterday.

Aronian played very well, can't wait for Carlsen-Aronian tomorrow. It will be the highest rated game in chess history! Aronian on form could be quite a challenge for Carlsen. I would not surprised if the final standings were the same as the blitz.

- Anand put up a very creative defense. He pieces were on the verge of creating counterplay for quite a while, but Aronian was simply too strong. A nice game from Lev, he is beginning to look like the clear favorite in the Candidates.

What to say about Carlsen-Gelfand? Carlsen is simply the strongest player in the world, at the peak of his powers. A beautiful game.

Naka and Caru put in a good game as well. I am pleasantly surprised at the amount fight in the games so far. A feature of shorter round robins? These guys seem eager to play.

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Chessgames.com reports the score dead even between Aronian and Carlsen in 65 career enounters, +14 -14 =37. Magnus does have the edge in classical play, +8 -4 =25, but Aronian has an identical plus score at Rapid, +10 -6 =12.

[Mathieu Cloutier]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

I don't understand why the game between Nakamura and Caruana went on for so long? And I usually enjoy a good grind in the endgame. But this?

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Zurich Chess Challenge 2014

Classical

Round Two

January 31, 2014

Pairings

Gelfand-Caruana
Anand-Nakamura
Carlsen-Aronian

The commentators are GM Yannick Pelletier (Switzerland), IM Werner Hug (Switzerland) and guest, GM Peter Leko (Hungary).

There is a note on the website clarifying the scoring:

Please take note, that, according to the rules of the Zurich Chess Challenge 2014, the winner of a classical game earns 2 points for the Overall Standings, in case of a draw each player earns 1 point and the loser 0 points.

In the rapid games however, the winner earns 1 point, by a draw each player half a point and the loser 0 point.
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Today marked the appearance online advertising New In Chess in both a print and digital edition. I mention it because the 2014/1 issue has Nakamura saying, “I’m the biggest threat to Carlsen”.

The most intriguing article to me is this: In the lair of a compulsive hoarder: the 30,000 chess books of Lothar Schmid – what will happen to his library?
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Having three masters comment endlessly on the games is rather boring in spite of the times Peter Leko uses the word “interesting”. They often talk all at the same time. The interface employs a large “wooden” board with the iconic pieces. This is rather ponderous and not very attractive. The Tata Steel tournament had a more user-friendly interface.

Zurich does give the times spent on each move though..
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At the press conference Hikaru was happy with the game win but said he had problems in the opening. He was surprised with 15.d4. He took a long think and sacrificed his N with 15…Nxh3+. 23.Nf1 marked the turning point in the game. Black played all the best moves from 26 on.

Zurich Chess Challenge
Classic
Round Two
January 31, 2014
Anand, Vishy-Nakamura, Hikaru
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. h3 Be6 7. Nc3 Qd6 8. O-O O-O-O 9. a3 Nh5 10. Na4 Bb6 11. Nxb6+ axb6 12. a4 f6 13. Be3 Nf4 14. a5 b5 15. d4 Nxh3+ 16. gxh3 Bxh3 17. dxe5 Qe6 18. Nd2 Bxf1 19. Qxf1 Qxe5 20. c3 Kb8 21. a6 b6 22. Qg2 Rd6 23. Nf1 f5 24. exf5 Qxf5 25. Ng3 Qd7 26. Qe4 Ka7 27. Kg2 h5 28. Qf5 Qe8 29. Qe4 Qf7 30. Kh1 h4 31. Ne2 Re8 32. Qg4 Rg6 33. Qh3 Qd5+ 34. Kh2 Rxe3 35. fxe3 Qd2 36. Qf1 Rf6 0-1
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At the press conference both Magnus and Levon were happy with their draw.

Zurich Chess Challenge
Classic
Round Two
January 31, 2014
Carlsen, Magnus-Aronian, Levon
A29 English, Bremen

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Be7 8. a3 O-O 9. d3 Re8 10. b4 Bf8 11. Rb1 a5 12. b5 Nd4 13. e3 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 a4 15. Qe2 Ra7 16. Bb2 Be6 17. Rfc1 Qd7 18. Ne4 Ba2 19. Ra1 Bd5 20. Bg4 Qd8 21. Bc3 Nd7 22. Bf3 b6 23. Bb4 Bxb4 24. axb4 Qe7 25. Nc3 Bxf3 26. Qxf3 Nf6 27. Rxa4 Rxa4 28. Nxa4 Qxb4 29. Nc3 Qb2 30. Qd1 Rd8 31. Kg2 h6 32. h3 Rxd3 33. Qxd3 Qxc1 34. Qd8+ Kh7 35. Qxc7 Ne4 36. Qxe5 Nxc3 37. Qf5+ Kg8 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Qf5+ Kh8 40. Qc8+ Kh7 0.5-0.5
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As usual, a Caruana game is the last to end. I admire the fact that Caruana and Nakamura don’t like to finish quickly to conserve energy but say to their opponents, “Show me the draw.” Like two bulldogs..

At move 46 the position has White with 3 pawns and N vs Black’s 2 pawns and N. After five hours the position is a draw but the players play on. A flurry of moves and finally agreed draw. The players talk together, the audience gets up to leave – a few photographers come in to record the ending.

Zurich Chess Challenge
Classic
Round Two
January 31, 2014
Gelfand, Boris-Caruana, Fabiano
A88 Dutch, Leningrad, Main Variation (with c6)

1. d4 d6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. b4 e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. e4 Be6 11. exf5 gxf5 12. Nxe5 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Nfd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Bb2 Nb6 16. Rac1 Bxc4 17. Ba1 Rad8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Bh3 Bd3 20. Nd1 Nc4 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Kxf1 Rd4 24. Ke2 Kf6 25. f3 Na3 26. Rc3 Nb5 27. Rb3 Rc4 28. Kd3 Rc1 29. Nc3 Rf1 30. Ke3 Re1+ 31. Kd3 Rf1 32. Ke3 Re1+ 33. Kd3 a6 34. a4 Nd6 35. Rb1 Rxb1 36. Nxb1 b5 37. axb5 axb5 38. Kd4 Nc4 39. Kc5 Ne5 40. Nd2 h5 41. f4 Nd3+ 42. Kxc6 Nxb4+ 43. Kxb5 Nd3 44. Nf3 Nf2 45. Kc6 Ng4 46. Kd6 h4 47. gxh4 Ne3 48. Ne5 Ng2 49. Nd7+ Kg7 50. Ke5 51. h3 Kf7 52. Nb8 Kg6 53. Nc6 Nf3+ 54. Ke6 Ng1 55. Ne5+ Kh5 56. Kxf5 0.5-0.5
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Comments on Twitter

- Extremely sad moment for Vishy as Nakamura winning after earlier on being close to losing.

- Anand can't buy a win even from a winning position, age catching up definitely, Sad

- Finally a brilliant performance by Nakamura, when he got his chance he was merciless. He wins vs Anand

- Peter Leko, a brilliant chess commentator. I hope to hear more from him.

- That's a first! A dog actually barking in a top chess tournament!

- Nakamura schlägt Anand; Remis im Spitzenduell der 2800er

Standings

Carlsen 3
Aronian 3
Nakamura 3
Caruana 2
Gelfand 1
Anand 0

Nakamura meets Carlsen tomorrow

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

'Twould appear we have a little chess history brewing in Zurich this morning. Nakamura, winless in 22 previous classic encounters with Carlsen (7 losses and 15 draws at chessgames.com), clearly has a winning position through the first 20 moves. Stockfish has Nakamura +2.38 at this point.

[Ken MacDonald]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

'Twould appear we have a little chess history brewing in Zurich this morning. Nakamura, winless in 22 previous classic encounters with Carlsen (7 losses and 15 draws at chessgames.com), clearly has a winning position through the first 20 moves. Stockfish has Nakamura +2.38 at this point.

Naka must have been short of time!

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Naka must have been short of time!

Not that short to go from +8.9 at move 29 to -2.97 at move 40!

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

I am just waiting to post the whole of Round Three but the game Nakamura-Carlsen has had such a dramatic turnaround that it might just go on for another hour or so. This is it after four hours:

Zurich Chess Challenge
Classic
Round Three
February 1, 2014
Nakamura, Hikaru-Carlsen, Magnus
E20 Nimzo-Indian, Kmoch Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 dxe4 7. fxe4 e5 8. d5 Bc5 9. Bg5 O-O 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Nbd7 13. O-O-O Bd4 14. Ne2 c5 15. g4 a5 16. Kb1 Ra6 17. Ng3 g6 18. h4 a4 19. Rh2 Qa5 20. Bd2 Qc7 21. g5 Ne8 22. h5 Rb6 23. Bc1 Rb3 24. Qg4 Nb6 25. Be2 Nd6 26. Rdh1 Bxb2 27. Bxb2 Nbxc4 28. Bxc4 Nxc4 29. hxg6 Qb6 30. g7 Rd8 31. Qh4 Rxb2+ 32. Ka1 Rxh2 33. Rxh2 Qg6 34. Nf5 Re8 35. Qg4 Qb6 36. Qh3 Qg6 37. d6 Nxd6 38. Nxd6 Rd8 39. Nc4 Qxe4 40. Qh5 Rd3 41. Rh4



Stockfish identifies these as bad moves for White:

37. d6, 39. Nc4 and 40. Qh5

[37. Qf1 b5 38. Ka2 h5 39. gxh6 Kh7 40. Rg2 Qh5 41. Ne7 Ne3 42. g8=Q+ Rxg8 43. Nxg8 Nxf1 44. Nf6+ Kxh6 45. Nxh5 Ne3 46. Rg3 Nf1 47. Rg1 Nd2 48. Ng3 Nf3 49. Rf1 Nd2 50. Rxf7 Kg5 51. d6 Kg4] wins

[39. Nc8 Kxg7 40. Ne7 Rd1+ 41. Ka2 Qe6+ 42. Qxe6 fxe6 43. Rh6 Rd7 44. Nc8 Rd8 45. Nb6 Rd4 46. Rxe6 Rxe4 47. Nd7 Re2+ 48. Kb1 Re1+ 49. Kc2 Re2+ 50. Kd1 Rg2 51. Re7+ Kg6 52. Nxe5+ Kf5 53. Nc4 Rxg5 54. Rxb7 h5 55. Ke2 Kf4 56. Rf7+ Ke4 57. Nd2+ Kd5 58. Rh7 c4 59. Nf3 Rg2+ 60. Kd1] equalizes

[40. Ne3 Qd3 41. Nf5 Qd1+ 42. Kb2 Rd2+ 43. Rxd2 Qxd2+ 44. Kb1 Qd1+ 45. Kb2 Qd2+] equalizes

[Hans Jung]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

Not short of time - looks like bad case of nerves (and couldnt find Rxh7!) ouch

[Hans Jung]

Re: Zurich Chess Challenge

To clarify what I saw was 37.Qf1 b5 38.Rxh7! (if Kxh7 Qh3+) (if Qxh7 Nh6+ etc)