World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid Championship Dubai 2014

Round Eleven
June 18, 2014

Results

Aronian (7.5)-Carlsen (8) 0.5-0.5
Caruana (7)-Svidler (7) 1-0
Grischuk (7)-Yangyi (7) 0-1
Anand (7)-Nepomniachtchi (7) 1-0
Tomashevsky (7)-Nguyen Son (6.5) 1-0
Nakamura (6.5)-Radjabov (6.5) 0-1
Movsesian (6.5)-Karjakin (6.5) 0.5-0.5
Jobova (6.5)-Morozevich (6.5) 0-1
Hansen (5)-Najer (5) 0-1

World Rapid Championship 2014
Round Eleven
June 18, 2014
Nakamura, Hikaru-Radjabov, Teimour
E24 NimzoIndian, Samisch, Botvinnik Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 d5 5. a3 Bxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. e3 O-O 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 b6 10. e4 Ne7 11. Be3 Qc7 12. Bd3 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14. Ne2 Rfd8 15. O-O Rac8 16. Rc1 Qb7 17. Qe1 Nb8 18. h4 h6 19. Ng3 Nbc6 20. Rd1 cxd4 21. cxd4 Qa6 22. Nh5 Qxa3 23. f4 Qa5 24. Qe2 f5 25. Rf3 fxe4 26. Rg3 Nf5 27. Qg4 Rc7 28. d5 Nxg3 29. Qxe6 Kh8 30. Nxg3 Qa3 31. Nf5 Ne7 32. d6 Nxf5 33. dxc7 Qxe3 0-1

World Rapid Championship 2014
Round Eleven
June 18, 2014
Anand, Viswanathan-Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams Attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Be3 Nbd7 9. a4 Nf8 10. Bc4 Be6 11. Qd3 Rc8 12. Nd2 Qc7 13. Bb3 Ng6 14. a5 O-O 15. O-O Nh5 16. Rfd1 Nhf4 17. Qf1 Bg5 18. Ra4 Qe7 19. Nc4 Rcd8 20. Bb6 Rd7 21. Ne3 Bh6 22. Nf5 Qg5 23. g3 d5 24. Nxd5 Nxd5 25. Bxd5 Bxf5 1-0

Round Twelve Results

Carlsen (8.5)-Anand (8) 0-1
Caruana (8)-Tomashevsky (8) 1-0
Yangyi (8)-Aronian (8) 0.5-0.5
Radjabov (7.5)-Morozevich (7.5) 1-0
Vallejo Pons (7)-Grischuk (7) 0-1
Moiseenko (7)-Svidler (7) 0.5-0.5
Kryvoruchko (7)-Karjakin (7) 0-1
Nepomniachtchi (7)-Movsesian (7) 0-1
Le Quang (7)-Bacrot (7) 0-1
Naiditsch (7)-Dreev (7) 1-0
Efimenko (7)-Nakamura (6.5) 0.5-0.5
Aleksandrov (5)-Hansen (5) 0.5-0.5

World Rapid Championship
Round Twelve
June 18, 2014
Carlsen, Magnus-Anand, Vishy
D10 QGD Slav Defence, Exchange Variation

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Rc1 Rc8 8. Nf3 e6 9. Qb3 Bb4 10. Bb5 Bxc3 11. bxc3 O-O 12. Bxc6 Rxc6 13. Qxb7 Qc8 14. Qxc8 Rfxc8 15. Ne5 Rxc3 16. Rxc3 Rxc3 17. O-O h6 18. h4 Ne4 19. g4 Bh7 20. Rb1 g5 21. hxg5 hxg5 22. Bh2 Nd2 23. Rb8 Kg7 24. Rb7 Be4 25. Rxf7 Kg8 26. f3 Nxf3 27. Rxf3 Bxf3 28. Nxf3 Rc1 29. Kf2 Rc2 30. Ke1 Rxa2 31. Bd6 a5 32. Nxg5 a4 33. Kd1 Rb2 34. Nxe6 Rb6 35. Nf4 Rxd6 36. Kc2 Rb6 37. Nxd5 Rb7 38. Nc3 a3 39. e4 Kf7 40. e5 Ke6 41. Kc1 Rc7 42. Kd2 Ra7 43. Na2 Rb7 44. Kc3 Rb8 45. g5 Kf5 46. d5 Kxe5 47. g6 Kxd5 48. g7 Ke6 49. g8=Q Rxg8 50. Kb3 Rg3 51. Kb4 Ke5 52. Nc3 Re3 53. Kc4 Kf5 54. Kb4 Kg4 55. Na2 Kf3 56. Nc3 Kg2 57. Nd5 Rf3 58. Nc3 Kf1 59. Kc4 Ke1 60. Kb4 Rh3 0-1

Standing and Matchups for Round Thirteen

Anand (9)-Caruana (9)
Yangyi (8.5)-Carlsen (8.5)
Aronian (8.5)-Radjabov (8.5)
Grischuk (8)-Naiditsch (8)
Karjakin (8)-Tomashevsky (8)
Movsesian (8)-Bacrot (8)
Svidler (7.5)-Efimenko (7.5)
Morozevich (7.5)-Moiseenko (7.5)
Hao Wang (7.5)-Fressinet (7.5)
Mamedov (7.5)-Nguyen Son (7.5)
Nakamura (7)-Kryvoruchko (7)
Jobava (7)-Nepomniachtchi (7)
Hansen (5.5)-Maletin (5.5)

[Jack Maguire]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

Two rounds to go and it's Anand, Carlsen, and Caruana with 9.5 while Aronian, Bacrot, Grischuk, Karjakin, and Radjabob all sit a 1/2 point back with 9.0

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid Championship 2014

Round Thirteen
June 18, 2014

Anand (9)-Caruana (9) 0.5-0.5
Yangyi (8.5)-Carlsen (8.5) 0-1
Aronian (8.5)-Radjabov (8.5) 0.5-0.5
Grischuk (8)-Naiditsch (8) 1-0
Karjakin (8)-Tomashevsky (8) 1-0
Movsesian (8)-Bacrot (8) 0-1
Svidler (7.5)-Efimenko (7.5) 1-0
Morozevich (7.5)-Moiseenko (7.5) 1-0
Hao Wang (7.5)-Fressinet (7.5) 1-0
Mamedov (7.5)-Nguyen Son (7.5) 0.5-0.5
Nakamura (7)-Kryvoruchko (7) 1-0
Jobava (7)-Nepomniachtchi (7) 1-0
Hansen (5.5)-Maletin (5.5) 0-1

World Rapid Championship
Round Thirteen
June 18, 2014
Yangyi,Yu-Carlsen, Magnus
C45 Scotch Game

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Qf6 5. Nb3 Qg6 6. f3 Bd6 7. Nc3 Nge7 8. Be3 Bxh2 9. Qd2 Bg3 10. Bf2 b6 11. O-O-O Bxf2 12. Qxf2 Bb7 13. Bd3 O-O-O 14. e5 Qe6 15. f4 f6 16. f5 Qf7 17. exf6 Qxf6 18. Ne4 Qf8 19. Rhf1 Ne5 20. Qg3 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Nc6 22. Kb1 Qe7 23. Rfe1 Rhe8 24. Qg3 Qf7 25. Qf4 h6 26. g4 Kb8 27. Nc3 Rxe1 28. Rxe1 Re8 29. Rd1 d6 30. Nd4 Nxd4 31. Qxd4 Re5 32. b3 Bc6 33. Kb2 Kb7 34. Rd2 Qf6 35. Rd3 Qg5 36. Rd1 Qh4 37. Qf4 h5 38. Rg1 a5 39. Qg3 Qxg3 40. Rxg3 hxg4 41. Rxg4 Re7 42. Rg6 Rf7 43. Ne2 Bd7 44. Ng3 Kc6 45. Rg5 d5 46. Rg6 Kc5 47. c3 b5 48. a3 b4 49. axb4 axb4 50. Rg4 bxc3 51. Kxc3 Kd6 52. Rg5 c6 53. b4 Ke5 54. Rg6 Re7 55. Kd3 Kf4 56. Kd4 Be8 57. Nh5 Kxf5 58. Rxg7 Re4 59. Kc5 Rc4 0-1

World Rapid Championship
Round Thirteen
June 18, 2014
Nakamura, Hikaru-Kryvoruchko, Yuriy
A02 Bird’s Opening

1. f4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. d3 Bg7 5. Nf3 e6 6. O-O Nge7 7. e4 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. e5 d4 10. c4 f6 11. exf6 Bxf6 12. Nbd2 b6 13. Ne4 Bg7 14. Qe2 Nf5 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. fxe5 Rb8 17. Bg5 Qc7 18. Nf6 Kh8 19. Rae1 Bb7 20. g4 Ne7 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Rf3 Ng8 23. Ref1 h6 24. Rh3 Rf7 25. Qd2 Nxf6 26. exf6 Kg8 27. Bf4 e5 28. Bxe5 Re8 29. Qf4 Qd7 30. Qe4 Qe6 31. Re1 Bxf6 32. Rxh6 Bg7 33. Rxg6 Qd7 34. Rg5 Rfe7 35. Qg6 Rf7 36. Re4 Re6 37. Qxg7 Rxg7 38. Rxg7 Qxg7 39. Bxg7 1-0

World Rapid Championship
Round Thirteen
June 18, 2014
Jobava, Baadur-Nepomniachtchi, Ian
A45 Queen’s Pawn Game

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 Bf5 4. f3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. e3 a6 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. cxd3 Bd6 11. Nge2 Nc6 12. Qd2 Qe7 13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Kb1 Kb8 15. Rc1 Bxf4 16. exf4 Nd7 17. Qe3 Nb6 18. Ka1 Rhe8 19. Nb1 f6 20. Nd2 Qd6 21. Nb3 e5 22. dxe5 fxe5 23. f5 Nd7 24. Qd2 Qb4 25. Qc2 Qb6 26. a3 Qe3 27. Rhf1 e4 28. dxe4 dxe4 29. fxe4 Rxe4 30. Rfe1 Nde5 31. Ned4 Qxe1 32. Nxc6 Nxc6 33. Rxe1 Rxe1 34. Ka2 Re5 35. f6 gxf6 36. Qg6 Rg5 37. Qxh6 Rxg4 38. Qxf6 Rd6 39. Qf8 Rd8 40. Qf3 Rh4 41. Nc5 Rh8 42. Qb3 b6 43. Nxa6 Kb7 44. Nxc7 R8xh5 45. Nd5 Rxd5 46. Qxd5 Rd4 47. Qf7 Kc8 48. b4 Rd7 49. Qf5 Kc7 50. Kb2 Re7 51. Qg5 Re5 52. Qg7 Re7 53. Qg3 Kb7 54. Qd3 Kc7 55. Kc3 Rd7 56. Qg3 Kb7 57. Qf3 Kc7 58. Qf5 Re7 59. Kc4 Re5 60. Qf7 Kd6 61. Qg6 Kc7 62. Qh7 Kd6 63. a4 Re7 64. Qh2 Re5 65. a5 bxa5 66. b5 Ne7 67. b6 Nc6 68. Qd2 Ke6 69. b7 a4 70. Qh6 Kd7 71. Qxc6 Kxc6 72. b8=Q Rc5 73. Kb4 Rd5 74. Kxa4 Rd4 75. Kb3 Rd5 76. Qc8 Kd6 77. Kc4 Re5 78. Qb8 Ke6 79. Kd4 Rd5 80. Ke4 Rd7 81. Qe5 Kf7 82. Kf5 Re7 83. Qh8 Rd7 84. Qh7 Ke8 85. Qg8 Ke7 86. Ke5 Rc7 87. Qg7 Kd8 88. Qf8 Kd7 89. Kd5 Rc1 90. Qf5 Ke8 91. Qg4 Re1 92. Kd6 Kf7 93. Qf3 Ke8 94. Qg3 Rd1 95. Ke6 1-0

Standings after Round Thirteen

Caruana 9.5
Carlsen 9.5
Anand 9.5
Aronian 9
Grischuk 9
Radjabov 9
Bacrot 9
Karjakin 9

Great in classical, great in rapid!

[Jack Maguire]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

One more round to go and there are four in joint 1st with 10/14. They would be Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, and Karjakin. Caruana, Grischuk, Morozevich (who continues to milk his 1.e4 c5 2.b3!: with great success!), and Radjabov are all 1/2 point back at 9.5/14.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid Championship 2014

Round Fourteen
June 18, 2014

Standings and Results

Caruana (9.5)-Aronian (9) 0-1
Carlsen (9.5)-Grischuk (9) 1-0
Radjabov (9)-Anand (9.5) 0.5-0.5
Bacrot (9)-Karjakin (9) 0-1
Svidler (8.5)-Hao Wang (8.5) 0.5-0.5
Morozevich (8.5)-Yangyi (8.5) 1-0
Tomashevsky (8)-Nakamura (8) 1-0
Le Quang (8)-Jobava(8) 1-0
Al-Sayed (5.5)-Hansen (5.5) 0-1

World Rapid Championship
Round Fourteen
June 18, 2014
Al-Sayed, Mohammed-Hansen, Eric
D90 Grunfeld, Three Knights Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. h4 dxc4 6. e4 O-O 7. e5 Nh5 8. Bxc4 c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1 10. Kxd1 Nc6 11. e6 Bxe6 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Ke2 e5 14. Ne4 Rad8 15. Re1 h6 16. Be3 Nd4 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Ned2 Rf5 19. Kf1 Rxc5 20. Rxe7 Rb5 21. b3 Bf8 22. Re6 Kf7 23. Re4 d3 24. Rc1 Rc5 25. Rxc5 Bxc5 26. Ne5 Kg7 27. Rg4 Rd6 28. Rc4 Bb6 29. b4 Rd5 30. Nef3 Nf6 31. a4 a6 32. a5 Bd8 33. Ke1 Be7 34. Kd1 Rb5 35. Rc7 Nd5 36. Rd7 Kf6 37. Nd4 Nc3 38. Ke1 Rxb4 39. g4 g5 40. hxg5 hxg5 41. f4 Bc5 42. fxg5 Ke5 43. g6 Bxd4 44. g7 Bf2 45. Kxf2 Rxg4 46. Rxd3 Nd1 47. Ke2 Nb2 48. Rb3 Na4 49. Rb4 Nc3 50. Kd3 Rg3 51. Kc2 Nb5 52. Nc4 Ke6 53. Ne3 Rxg7 54. Re4 Kd7 55. Kb3 Rg5 56. Rh4 Rg3 57. Re4 Nd6 58. Re5 Nf7 59. Rd5 Kc6 60. Rd3 Ne5 61. Rc3 Kb5 62. Ka2 Rg7 63. Rc2 Nc6 64. Rb2 Ka4 65. Nc4 Nb4 66. Ka1 Rg1 67. Rb1 Nc2 68. Kb2 Rxb1 69. Kxb1 Na3 0-1

World Rapid Championship
Round Fourteen
June 18, 2014
Carlsen, Magnus-Grischuk, Alexander
E81 King’s Indian, Samisch (5..0-0)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Be3 a6 7. Nge2 c6 8. c5 b5 9. cxd6 exd6 10. Nf4 Re8 11. Be2 b4 12. Na4 Nd5 13. Bc1 Nb6 14. Nxb6 Qxb6 15. Be3 d5 16. Qd3 dxe4 17. fxe4 a5 18. Rd1 Ba6 19. Qc2 Bxe2 20. Nxe2 Nd7 21. O-O Nf6 22. Ng3 Ng4 23. Bf2 Rad8 24. e5 c5 25. dxc5 Qc7 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27. Ne4 Bxe5 28. g3 Nxf2 29. Kxf2 Qc6 30. Re1 Bd4 31. Kf1 f5 32. Nf2 Bxc5 33. Re5 Qa6 34. Kg2 Qb7 35. Kh3 Bd4 36. Rxa5 Qb6 37. Qc4 Kh8 38. Rb5 Qf6 39. Nd3 g5 40. Rd5 Rxd5 41. Qxd5 Kg7 42. Nxb4 Bxb2 43. a4 f4 44. Kg2 Bc3 45. Nd3 fxg3 46. hxg3 Qe7 47. Nf2 Qe5 48. Qf3 Bd4 49. Qb7 Kg6 50. Qc6 Kg7 51. Ne4 h5 52. a5 h4 53. g4 Be3 54. Qd7 Kg6 55. Qd6 Qxd6 56. Nxd6 Kf6 57. a6 Ke6 58. Nb5 Ke5 59. Kf3 Bb6 60. a7 Bxa7 61. Nxa7 1-0

World Rapid Championship
Round Fourteen
June 18, 2014
Caruana, Fabiano-Aronian, Levon
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. Nb3 Bd6 8. Na5 Rb8 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Bd2 c5 11. Nc4 Bxc4 12. dxc4 Nd7 13. h4 a6 14. h5 b5 15. Nh4 Qe8 16. Nf5 Kh8 17. Ba5 Nb6 18. Bxb6 Rxb6 19. O-O-O Qe6 20. Rh3 bxc4 21. Ne3 c3 22. b3 Rbb8 23. Nc4 f5 24. Rxc3 fxe4 25. Re3 Rf5 26. Rxe4 Rbf8 27. f3 Rxh5 28. Ne3 Qc8 29. Kb1 Rg5 30. Rh1 Rf4 31. Qd3 h6 32. Rd1 Qb7 33. Rd2 Rxe4 34. fxe4 Rg3 35. Re2 Kh7 36. Qd2 Qb4 37. Qd1 Rg6 38. Nc4 Qb8 39. Rf2 Qe8 40. Qe2 Qe6 41. Ne3 Be7 42. Nd5 Bg5 43. Nxc7 Qc6 44. Nd5 c4 45. Qxc4 Qxc4 46. bxc4 Rc6 47. Rf5 Rxc4 48. Rxe5 Rd4 49. Re6 Rd2 50. g4 Rg2 51. Rxa6 Rxg4 52. e5 h5 53. e6 h4 54. e7 Re4 55. Kb2 Bxe7 56. Rc6 Bb4 57. c3 Be7 58. Kc2 h3 59. Rb6 Re1 0-1

Last round coming up!

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid Championship 2014

Final Results

Radjabov (9.5)-Carlsen (10.5) 0.5-0.5
Anand (10)-Aronian (10) 0.5-0.5
Karjakin (10)-Morozevich (9.5) 0-1
Le Quang (9)-Caruana (9.5) 0-1
Grischuk (9)-Eijanov (9) 1-0
Movsesian (9)-Svidler (9) 0-1
Hao Wang (9)- Tomashevsky (9) 0-1
Vallejo Pons (8.5)-Bacrot (9) 0-1
Mamedov (8.5)-Yudin (8.5) 1-0
Yangyi (8.5)-Meier (8.5) 1-0
Nguyen Son (8.5)-Guseinov (8.5) 0.5-0.5
Nakamura (8)-Fedoseev (8) unavailable
Fressinet (8)-Nepomniachtchi (8) 0.5-0.5
Jobava (8)-Van Wely (8) 1-0
Hansen (6.5)-Glek (6.5) 1-0

World Rapid Championship 2014
Round Fifteen
June 18, 2014
Hansen, Eric-Glek, Igor
C12 French, MacCutcheon, Dr. Olland Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bc1 Ne4 7. Qg4 g6 8. Ne2 c5 9. a3 Ba5 10. dxc5 Nc6 11. b4 Nxe5 12. Qh3 Bc7 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Nc3 f5 15. Bb2 a6 16. Rd1 Qf6 17. Be2 Nf7 18. Nd5 Qxb2 19. Nxc7 Ke7 20. Nxa8 Qxc2 21. Nb6 f4 22. Bc4 Ng5 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. Bxb3 f3 25. g3 Nh3 26. Rd6 Kf6 27. Nxc8 Rxc8 28. Bxe6 1-0
_________

Watching the Anand-Aronian game on chessbomb, there are comments right and left about Komarov. Some of these:

- ‘Repetition is the mother of knowledge’ quoted by the commentator

- fantastic Komarov

- Who is Komarov?

- Russian GM and commentator

- I love Komarov

- greatest commentator ever

- Komarov is very easy to listen to while analyzing the games oneself

- He sounds like Yoda - "maybe draw Anand can make"

- all Russians sound like Yoda

- notice that in Ukrainian pronunciation "Komarov" is pronounced "Kamarov" with the "Ka" sound, like Capablanca!

- Komarov = Ivanchuk plus Borat :-)
___________


World Rapid Championship 2014
Round Fifteen
June 18, 2014
Karjakin, Sergey-Morozevich, Alexander
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Qb6 9. Qd2 Qxb2 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. Bb5 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 a6 13. Bxd7 Bxd7 14. Rb3 Qe7 15. Rxb7 Rc8 16. O-O Qa3 17. Rb3 Qa5 18. Qe3 Bc5 19. Ne2 O-O 20. Bxc5 Rxc5 21. Nd4 Rc4 22. Rb7 Bc8 23. Rb2 Qc5 24. Rd1 Bd7 25. h3 h6 26. Kh2 Bb5 27. Rd2 Rc3 28. Qf2 Ba4 29. f5 exf5 30. Qxf5 Qc7 31. Rb4 Re8 32. Re2 Bd7 33. Qf4 f6 34. Nf3 Bb5 35. Re1 Rxc2 36. Qg3 fxe5 37. Nxe5 Rc3 38. Qf4 Rc4 39. Rxc4 dxc4 40. Qd4 Rd8 41. Qc3 Rd3 42. Qc2 Rd5 43. Qc3 Rd3 44. Qc2 Qd6 45. Kh1 Rd2 46. Qf5 Qf6 47. Qg4 Rxa2 48. Qd4 Rf2 49. Qd5 Kh7 50. Kg1 c3 51. Nf3 Rb2 52. Rc1 Qg6 53. Ne5 Qb6 54. Kh2 Qe3 55. h4 Qf4 56. Kh3 Re2 57. Ng4 Qxc1 58. Nf6 Kg6 59. Ng4 Qh1 60. Kg3 Qxg2 0-1
______________
The following interview right after the last game showed a very happy and youthful Carlsen, just glowing with contentment.

Carlsen Interview After Rapids Final

(with Anastasiya Karlovich)

It was very tough. I felt good the first day with 4 points. Then, the second day started kind of bad but I won the final three games and I was leading. The last day was extremely tough. Levon played a good interesting game against me. I had to use everything I had to stay alive in a difficult position. He could have won at one point but it was very difficult to see. In general it was a tough game but I had positive emotions from it. The next game with Anand, I mixed up something in the opening. Then I got two pieces for a rook and there is no way I can lose that except by a blunder. I blundered a piece.

Then I thought back to the World Championship in 2012 when I led for two days and collapsed on the last day.

Anand converted his advantage nicely after that; it wasn’t easy.

Against Yangyi, I won a decent game. Against Grischuk I went wrong in the opening and realized that my position was completely ruined and sat there with 20 seconds left on the clock with nothing there. He didn’t find the most precise moves and suddenly it was anybody’s game. When I had the chance, I felt it was time to play for a win. I had been so short of time before I felt there was no need to fear that any more.

For the last game, we concluded that with a draw I would win, regardless of what happened in the other games, so I just played solidly and got the draw. I was very happy to see that no one else had won so there would be no confusion with tie-breaks.

Sitting down with Grischuk for the fourteenth round brought back all sorts of negative emotions of my defeat by Alexander at the Astana World Blitz Championship in 2012.

At the end of the day, I lost only one game against Anand and I really shouldn’t have lost that. Considering the difficult positions I had in other games, it is not unfair that I lost one.

This is the one rapid tournament that counts in the year. I also hope to get the number one rating. I was number four before the tournament.

(The live chess ratings for today for Rapid Chess give Caruana 2857.6 and Carlsen 2855.4. Grischuk is third with 2827.6 then follow Aronian, Anand, Karjakin and Nakamura.)

The victory means a great deal. I have fond memories of playing in Dubai ten years ago and there was extra motivation with the strong playing field. This is the strongest Swiss tournament ever. The last time I played in a Swiss tournament was in Brazil this year.

I’ve been tired today with the stress here. I have no idea how I’ll be ready for the blitz tournament tomorrow.

The Winning Run

Round 1 Carlsen-Georgiev 1-0
Round 2 Guseinov-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Round 3 Carlsen-Potkin 1-0
Round 4 Tomashevsky-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Round 5 Carlsen-Inarkiev 1-0
Round 6 Karjakin-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Round 7 Carlsen-Fressinet 0.5-0.5
Round 8 Kryvoruchko-Carlsen 0-1
Round 9 Carlsen-Movsesian 1-0
Round 10 Carlsen-Caruana 1-0
Round 11 Aronian-Carlsen 0.5-05
Round 12 Carlsen-Anand 0-1
Round 13 Yangyi-Carlsen 0-1
Round 14 Carlsen-Grischuk 1-0
Round 15 Radjabov-Carlsen 0.5-0.5

Final Standings

Carlsen, Magnus 11.0/15
Caruana, Fabiano 10.5/15
Anand, Vishy 10.5/15
Aronian, Levon 10.5/15
Morozevich, Alexander 10.5/15
Tomashesky, Evgeny 10.0/15
Karjakin, Sergey 10.0/15
Grischuk, Alexander 10.0/15
Radjabov, Teimour 10.0/15
Svidler, Peter 10.0/15
Bacrot, Etienne 10.0/15

The World Blitz starts tomorrow with eleven rounds and concludes with ten rounds on Friday.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

Blitz Games

Day One
June 19, 2014

The redoubtable Dmitri Komarov is commentating on the games as he observes them from camera shots of the players at the boards.

Round One

Nakamura (0)-Goloshchapov (0) 1-0
Ipatov (0)-Karjakin (0) 0-1
Aronian (0)-Potkin (0) 0.5-0.5
Fedoseev (0)-Carlsen (0) 0-1
V-Lagrave (0)-Jobava (0) 1-0
Kryvoruchko (0)-Anand (0) 1-0
Caruana (0)-Salem (0) 1-0
Iturrizaga (0)-Hansen (0) 1-0

Round Two

Hao Wang (1)–Nakamura (1) 0-1
Karjakin (1)-Meier (1) 0-1
Carlsen (1)-Guseinov (1) 1-0
Mchedlishvili (1)-V-Lagrave (1) 0-1
Safarli (1)-Mamedyarov (1) 0-1
Le Quang (1)-Kasimdzhanov (1) 1-0
Ragger (1)-Caruana (1) 1-0
Hansen (0)-Alahakoon (0) 1-0

Round Three

Nakamura (2)-Savchenko (2) 1-0
Fressinet (2)-Carlsen (2) 0-1
V-Lagrave (2)-Polgar, J. (2) 1-0
Mamedyarov (2)-Zhigalko (2) 1-0
Dreev (2)-Le Quang (2) 0.5-0.5
Nepomniachtchi (2)-Laznicka (2) 1-0
Caruana (1)-Michalik (1) 1-0
Bassem (1)-Hansen (1) 0.5-0.5

Round Four

Wojtaszek (3)-Nakamura (3) 0.5-0.5
Carlsen (3)-Iturrizaga (3) 1-0
Harikrishna (3)-V-Lagrave (3) 1-0
Shanglei Lu (3)-Mamedyarov (3) 1-0
Onischuk (3)-Nepomniachtchi (3) 0.5-0.5
Volokitin (2)-Caruana (2) 1-0
Hansen (1.5)-Guseinov (1.5) 0-1
Anand (1)-Salem (1) 1-0

Round Five

Carlsen (4)-Harikrishna (4) 1-0
Nakamura (3.5)-Shanglei (4) 1-0
Onischuk (3.5)-Le Quang (3.5) 0-1
Nepomniachtchi (3.5)-Svidler (3.5) 1-0
V-Lagrave (3)-Wojtaszek (3.5) 1-0
Mamedyarov (3)-Sargissian (3) 0-1
Korobov (3)-Vitiugov (3) 0-1
Meier (3)-Bacrot (3) 1-0
Morozevich (3)-Polgar, J. (3) 0.5-0.5
Matiakov (1.5)-Hansen (1.5) 0-1

I give only the top boards plus Hansen’s results. Some very good classical players have dropped below the horizon.

After five rounds, the standings

Carlsen 5.0/5
Nepomniachtchi 4.5/5
Nakamura 4.5/5
Le Quang 4.5/5
V-Lagrave 4.0/5
Vitiugov 4.0/5
Fressinet 4.0/5
Harikrishna 4.0/5
Dreev 4.0/5
Shanglei Lu 4.0/5
Maier 4.0/5
Sargissian 4.0/5
Aronian 3.0/5
Anand 3.0/5
Caruana 3.0/5
Hansen 2.5/5

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid and Blitz Chess Dubai 2014

Blitz Games

Day One
June 19, 2013

Round Six

Nepomniachtchi (4.5)-Carlsen (5.0) 0.5-0.5
Le Quang (4.5)-Nakamura (4.5) 1-0
Vitiugov (4)-V-Lagrave (4) 0.5-0.5
Harikrishna (4)-Fressinet (4) 0.5-0.5
Shanglei Lu (4)-Dreev (4) 1-0
Sargissian (4)-Meier (4) 0.5-0.5
Mamedov (3.5)-Guseinov (3.5) 0.5-0.5
Svidler (3.5)-Fedoseev (3.5) 1-0
Hansen (3.5)-Laznicka (2.5) 0-1

Round Seven

Carlsen (5.5)-Le Quang (5.5) 1-0
Radjabov (4.5)-Nepomniachtchi (5) 0-1
Svidler (4.5)-Shanglei Lu (5) 0-1
Nakamura (4.5)-Polgar, J. (4.5) 1-0
V-Lagrave (4.5)-Van Wely (4.5) 0.5-0.5
Fressinet (4.5)-Cheparinov (4.5) 1-0
Sargissian (4.5)-Harikrishna (4.5) 1-0
Meier (4.5)-Vitiugov (4.5) 1-0
Dreev (4)-Aronian (4) 1-0
Caruana (4)-Anand (4) 0.5-0.5
Riazantsev (2.5)-Hansen (2.5) 1-0

I believe Le Quang Liem lost on time to Carlsen.

Standings after Round Seven

Carlsen 6.5/7
Shanglei Lu 6.0/7
Nepomniachtchi 6.0/7
Nakamura 5.5/7
Le Quang 5.5/7
Sargissian 5.5/7
Meier 5.5/7
Fressinet 5.5/7
Dubov 5.0/7
V-Lagrave 5.0/7
Hansen 2.5/7

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

Blitz Games
Day One
June 19, 2014

Round Eight

Shanglei (6)-Carlsen (6.5) 1-0
Nepomniachtchi (6)-Nakamura (5.5) 0-1
Le Quang (5.5) Sargissian (5.5) 1-0
Meier (5.5)-Fressinet (5.5) 1-0
Dubov (5)-V-Lagrave (5) 0.5-0.5
Van Wely (5)-Mamedyarov (5) 0.5-0.5
Bacrot (5)-Dreev (5) 0.5-0.5
Anand (4.5)-Ragger (5) 0-1
Milov (3.5)-Hansen (2.5) 0-1

Magnus Carlsen goes down to Shanglei Lu, a virtual unknown from China. Wikipedia says: Lu Shanglei (born July 10, 1995) is a Chinese chess grandmaster, who in 2011 was the highest-rated under-16 chess player in Asia and the fifth highest-rated chess player in that age group in the world.

World Blitz Dubai
Round Eight
June 19, 2014
Lu, Shanglei-Carlsen, Magnus
C25 Vienna, Paulsen Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 d6 5. Na4 Be6 6. Ne2 Qd7 7. h3 Nge7 8. d3 O-O-O 9. Nxc5 dxc5 10. Be3 b6 11. f4 f5 12. Qd2 fxe4 13. dxe4 Qe8 14. Qc3 Nd4 15. Bxd4 cxd4 16. Qa3 Bc4 17. Bf3 Nc6 18. O-O-O exf4 19. gxf4 Bxe2 20. Bxe2 Qxe4 21. Bf3 Qxf4 22. Kb1 Ne5 23. Qa6 Kd7 24. Bg2 Rhe8 25. Rhe1 Ke6 26. Qxa7 Re7 27. Re4 Qf2 28. Rde1 Kf7 29. Rf1 Qf6 30. Rxf6 gxf6 31. Re1 d3 32. cxd3 Rxd3 33. Qa4 Red7 34. a3 Rd2 35. Bc6 R7d4 36. Qb3 Ke7 37. Qg3 Kd6 38. Be4 b5 39. Bxh7 b4 40. axb4 Rxb4 41. Qc3 Rbd4 42. Bc2 c5 43. Rc1 Nc4 44. Qg3 Kc6 45. Ba4 Kd5 46. Bb3 Rxb2 47. Ka1 Rbd2 48. Rxc4 Rxc4 49. Qf3 Ke5 50. Bxc4 Rd4 51. Qe3 Re4 52. Qxc5 Kf4 53. Bd3 Re5 54. Qf2 1-0

Standings after Round Eight

Shanglei Lu 7.0/8
Le Quang Liem 6.5/8
Meier 6.5/8
Nakamura 6.5/8
Carlsen 6.5/8
Ragger 6.0/8
Nepomniachtchi 6.0/8
V-Lagrave 5.5/8
Polgar 5.5/8
Mamedyarov 5.5/8

Round Nine

Le Quang (6.5)-Shanglei (7) 0.5-0.5
Nakamura (6.5)-Meier (6.5) 0.5-0.5
Ragger (6)-Carlsen (6.5) 0-1
V-Lagrave (5.5)-Nepomniachtchi (6) 0-1
Mamedyarov (5.5)-Polgar (5.5) 1-0
Hao Wang (5.5)-Bacrot (5.5) 1-0
Van Wely (5.5)-Dubov (5.5) 0.5-0.5
Fressinet (5.5)-Michalik (5.5) 0.5-0.5
Dreev (5.5)-Cheparinov (5.5) 0.5-0.5
Sargissian (5.5)-Bayarsalkhan (5.5) 1-0
Aronian (5) – Vallejo Pons (5) 1-0
Hansen (3.5) – Michedilshvili (3.5) 0-1

Carlsen against Nakamura in Round Ten

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

Blitz Games
Day One
June 19, 2014

Round Ten

Carlsen (7.5)-Nakamura (7) 0.5-0.5
Shanglei Lu (7.5)-Meier (7) 0.5-0.5
Nepomniachtchi (7)-Le Quang (7) 1-0
Mamedyarov (6.5)-Hao Wang (6.5) 1-0
Aronian (6)-Sargissian (6.5) 0.5-0.5
Dubov (6)-Fressinet (6) 0.5-0.5
Tomashevsky (6)-Ragger (6) 1-0
Iturrizaga (6)-Moradiabadi (6) 0.5-0.5
Michalik (6)-Dreev (6) 0-1
Najer (5.5)-Karjakin (5.5) 0-1
Vitiugov (5.5)-Anand (5.5) 0-1
Grischuk (5.5)-Caruana (5.5) 0-1
Hansen (3.5)-Glek (3.5) 0-1

The Round Ten games are not available at this time

Round Eleven

Carlsen (8)-Mamedyarov (7.5) 1-0
Meier (7.5)-Nepomniachtchi (8) 1-0
Sargissian (7)-Shanglei Lu (8) 1-0
Nakamura (7.5)-Tomashevsky (7) 1-0
Le Quang (7)-Cheparinov (7) 1-0
Anand (6.5)-Dreev (7) 1-0
Karjakin (6.5)-Polgar, J. (6.5) 0-1
Harikrishna (6.5)-Aronian (6.5) 1-0
Caruana (6.5)-Bacrot (6.5) 1-0
Maletin (3.5)-Hansen (3.5) 1-0

Standings and Pairings for Round Eleven

Meier (8.5)-Carlsen (9)
Nakamura (8.5)-Sargissian (8)
Shanglei Lu (8)-Nepomniachtchi (8)
Fressinet (7.5)-Le Quang (8)
Anand (7.5)-Harikrishna (7.5)
Mamedyarov (7.5)-Laznicka (7.5)
Polgar, J. (7.5)-Caruana (7.5)
Hansen (3.5)-Moussa (3.5)
________

Carlsen is top of the leader board with ten rounds to go. He has lost one game, to Shanglei in Round Eight.

Olimpiu Urcan tweets: Unsurprisingly, Lu Shanglei’s Wikipedia entry just registered thousands of hits after his victory over Carlsen.

Still, it may be that at the end of the last round tomorrow, Carlsen will have won the World Blitz title, adding it to his WCC and W Rapid Champion – a rare moment in the history of chess. Be sure to tune in.

Georg Meier is a German grandmaster born in 1987. GM Georg Meier learned the rules of chess from his mother at the age of 3 or 4. In 2003 he won the German U16 Youth Championship and he won at Pamplona in 2009. He was awarded the GM title in July 2007. He named Vasily Smyslov as one of his idols.

Gabriel Sargissian was born in 1983 in Armenia and has been a grandmaster since 2002.

Lê Quang Liêm was born in 1991 in Vietnam and is the current World Blitz Chess Champion.
________

Colin Crouch wrote today in his blog: “(After beating Carlsen in the Eighth), in the next round, Lu Shanglei drew against Le Quang Liem from Vietnam. With Wesley So running high in his recent tournaments, east Asia looks to be starting an upsurge in chess. Carlsen won though, and is back to equal first.”

He adds: “In the meantime, what does one make of Carlsen being first, in the standard World Championships, the rapid play, and, so far, the blitz. Is it quite simply that Carlsen is the most knowledgeable in chess in the world?

Probably it is more complicated than that. Carlsen, as well as his chess knowledge, is a superb athlete in chess. It is not just the question of his physical strength and stamina. Somehow, inside his brain, things are running more smoothly than anyone else.

There are plenty of glimpses of other players, predominantly younger players, catching up with Carlsen in various aspects of his chess. But how many of them, if any, would be fully capable of catching up with him? An open question.”

See the whole blog at

http://crouchnotes.blogspot.co.uk/20...mpressive.html

[Jack Maguire]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

Nepo is a perfect 5/5 today and is the new leader after 16 rounds with 13.0. Carlsen has given up 3 draws, to Anand, Aronian, and Grischuk, and sits a 1/2 point back at 12.5. Nakamura lost to Sergei Yudin in R16 and likely needs to run the table now in the final 5 rounds to have any kind of chance for 1st.

[Jack Maguire]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

Make that a perfect 6/6 for Nepo after dispatching the Naka slayer, Sergei Yudin, in R17. Carlsen also won (vs Dreev) and remains a 1/2 point off Nepo's torid pace. Carlsen and Nepo have already been paired, a R6 draw, so Carlsen is going to need a little help in the final 4 rounds in order to complete his triple crown.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2014

World Blitz

Round Twelve
June 20, 2014

Meier (8.5)-Carlsen (9) 0-1
Nakamura (8.5)-Sargissian (8) 0.5-0.5
Shanglei Lu (8)-Nepomniachtchi (8) 0-1
Fressinet (7.5)-Le Quang (8) 0-1
Anand (7.5)-Harikrishna (7.5) 1-0
Mamedyarov (7.5)-Laznicka (7.5) 1-0
Polgar, J. (7.5)-Caruana (7.5) 1-0
Hansen (3.5)-Moussa (3.5) 1-0

Judith Polgar is having a good tournament. She beat Yu Yangyi in 28 moves but then lost to Mamedyarov in eleven moves in Round Nine. Karjakin who was tweeting between rounds tweeted: “Mamedyarov-Polgar was nice” with a smiley face and two rounds later, as White, Judit took him to the cleaners and then she tweeted: “After 10 rounds of fighting, it was a very “tasty” finish off the day with a win against Karjakin with the black pieces” and then Karjakin tweeted to his followers: “Absolutely deserved to finish so badly!”

Round Thirteen
June 20, 2014

Carlsen (10)-Anand (8.5) 0.5-0.5
Le Quang (9)-Mamedyarov (8.5) 0-1
Nepomniachtchi (9)-Sargissian (8.5) 1-0
Riazantsev (8)-Nakamura (9) 0-1
Polgar, J. (8.5)-Meier (8.5) 0.5-0.5
Hao Wang (8)-Dreev (8) 1-0
Yudin (8)-Shanglei Lu (8) 1-0
Aronian (7.5)-Wojtaszek (8) 1-0
Grischuk (7.5)-Fressinet (7.5) 1-0
Bassem (7.5)-Bacrot (7.5) 0.5-0.5
Caruana (7.5)-Movsesian (7.5) 1-0
Nezad Azia (5)-Hansen (4.5) 0-1

Now Yudin is in the ascendant. He is from Russia, born in 1986.

Alexei Dreev is 45 years old, Russian, with a book of best games (2007) and books on the Moscow and Anti-Moscow Variations and on the Meran and Anti-Meran, from which we may conclude that he always looks at both sides of any opening!

Leaders After Thirteen Rounds

Carlsen 10.5/13
Nakamura 10/13
Nepomniachtchi 10/13
Mamedyarov 9.5/13
Polgar 9/13
Hao Wang 9/13
Anand 9/13
Meier 9/13
Yudin 9/13
Le Quang 9/13

[Jack Maguire]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

Moro is also perfect today (6/6) and is paired with Carlsen in R18. Moro, like Aronian, has the empirical edge against Carlsen in Rapid/Blitz play, 8 -5 =6 at chessgames.com.
Nepo is paired with Mamedov so would seem to have the easier route to make it a perfect 7/7 (:

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship Dubai 2014

World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championship 2014

World Blitz

Round Fourteen
June 20, 2014

Mamedyarov (9.5)-Nakamura (10) 0.5-0.5
Carlsen (10.5)-Polgar, J. (9) 1-0
Nepomniachtchi (10)-Hao Wang (9) 1-0
Anand (9)-Meier (9) 1-0
Yudin (9)-Le Quang (9) 0.5-0.5
Aronian (8.5)-Laznicka (8.5) 1-0
Sargissian (8.5)-Grischuk (8.5) 0.5-0.5
Harikrishna (8.5)-Caruana (8.5) 1-0
Bacrot (8)-Shanglei Lu (8) 1-0
Debashis Das (5.5)-Hansen (5.5) 0-1

Round Fifteen
June 20, 2014

Anand (10)-Nepomniachtchi (11) 0-1
Grischuk (9)-Carlsen (11.5) 0.5-0.5
Nakamura (10.5)-Harikrishna (9.5) 0.5-0.5
Le Quang (9.5)-Aronian (9.5) 0-1
Bacrot (9)-Mamedyarov (10) 0-1
Wojtaszek (9)-Yudin (9.5) 0-1
Polgar, J. (9)-Tomashevsky (9) 1-0
Meier (9)-Dreev (9) 0-1
Hao Wang (9)-Sargissian (9) 0.5-0.5
Hansen (6.5)-Potkin (6.5) 0.5-0.5

Leaders Carlsen 12/15; Nepomniachtchi 12/15; Mamedyarov 11/15; Nakamura 11/15; Aronian 10.5/15 and Yudin 10.5/15