Gashimov Memorial 2015

[John Coleman]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Carlsen blows Mamedyarov off the board in 29 moves!

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Gashimov Memorial 2015

Round Two
April 18, 2015

Carlsen destroys Mamedyarov in 29 moves. He is the only competitor to win a game in this round.

Round 2, April 18, 2015
Carlsen, Magnus – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
D11 QGD Slav, 4.e3

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O b6 8.a4 a5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b3 Ne4 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Nd2 Bb7 13.Ba3 f5 14.Rc1 Kh8 15.Nc4 Nd7 16.d5 Rc8 17.d6 e6 18.b4 axb4 19.Bxb4 Bd5 20.a5 bxa5 21.Bxa5 Qe8 22.Qa4 Bc6 23.Qb4 Rb8 24.Nb6 Ne5 25.Qc5 Ba8 26.Bc3 Nd7 27.Bxg7+ Kxg7 28.Nxd7 Qxd7 29.Qe5+ 1-0

Round 2, April 18, 2015
Vachier Lagrave, Maxime – Anand, Vishy
D38 QGD, Ragozin Variation

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bf5 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 c6 11.O-O O-O 12.a3 Be7 13.b4 a6 14.Rfb1 b5 15.a4 Re8 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.a5 Be7 18.Qc2 Bd6 19.Ne2 Rc8 20.Nc1 Nf6 21.Nd3 Ne4 22.Rb2 Bf8 23.Nc5 Nxc5 24.bxc5 Qc7 25.Ne1 Re6 26.Nd3 Rce8 27.Nb4 Qc8 28.Qd3 g6 29.Re2 Be7 30.f3 Bf6 31.Nc2 Qd8 32.Nb4 R8e7 33.g3 Ra7 34.Kg2 Kg7 35.Raa2 h5 36.h4 Ra8 37.e4 dxe4 38.Rxe4 Rxe4 39.Qxe4 Qxd4 40.Qxd4 Bxd4 41.Rc2 Bf6 42.Nxc6 Rc8 43.Nb4 Bd8 44.c6 Bxa5 45.Nxa6 b4 46.c7 b3 47.Rb2 1/2-1/2

Round 2, April 18, 2015
Kramnik, Vladimir – So, Wesley
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.Nbd2 Ne4 7.Nxe4 dxe4 8.Ng5 Qxd4 9.Qxd4 Bxd4 10.Rd1 Nc6 11.Bxe4 Bg7 12.c3 Ne5 13.f4 Nc4 14.Bd5 Nd6 15.Be3 h6 16.Nf3 e6 17.Bb3 b6 18.a4 Bb7 19.Ne5 Rfd8 20.a5 h5 21.Bc2 Bf6 22.b3 c5 23.axb6 axb6 24.Rxa8 Bxa8 25.b4 Nb5 26.Nd7 Bxc3 27.Nxb6 Bd4 28.Bxd4 cxd4 29.Nxa8 Rxa8 30.Bd3 Nc3 31.Rd2 Kf8 32.b5 Ke7 33.Rb2 Kd7 34.b6 Rb8 35.Rb4 Nd5 36.Rxd4 Ke7 37.Be4 Nxb6 38.Rb4 Nd7 39.Rxb8 Nxb8 40.Kf2 Nd7 1/2-1/2

Round 2, April 18, 2015
Adams, Michael – Caruana, Fabiano
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.h3 Nd7 8.Be3 Bd6 9.Qd2 c5 10.O-O Nb8 11.Nh2 Nc6 12.Ne2 Nd4 13.Rae1 Be6 14.b3 a5 15.f4 exf4 16.Bxf4 Bxf4 17.Rxf4 a4 18.Rf2 Nxe2+ 19.Qxe2 Qd4 20.Qe3 Qxe3 21.Rxe3 axb3 22.axb3 Ra1+ 23.Rf1 Ra2 24.Rf2 Ra1+ 25.Rf1 Ra2 26.Rf2 1/2-1/2

Round 2, April 18, 2015
Giri, Anish – Mamedov, Rau
D23 QGA, 4.Qc2 (Neo-Mannheim)

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bg4 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.g3 e6 8.Bg2 Be7 9.Qb3 Qb6 10.O-O O-O 11.Nc4 Qa6 12.Bd2 Nb6 13.Rfc1 Ne4 14.Be1 Nxc4 15.Qxc4 Qxc4 16.Rxc4 Nd6 17.Rcc1 Rac8 18.e3 f6 19.a4 Bf5 20.Nh4 Be4 21.f3 Bd3 22.Rc3 Be2 23.f4 g5 24.Nf3 gxf4 25.exf4 Bc4 26.Bh3 Bd5 27.Re3 Kf7 28.Bb4 Nc4 29.Bxe7 Nxe3 30.Bxf8 Rxf8 31.Kf2 Nc4 32.b3 Nd6 33.Nd2 a5 34.Rc1 Rd8 35.Nc4 Ke7 36.Nxa5 Ra8 37.b4 Kd7 38.Bg2 h5 39.Ra1 b6 40.Bxd5 bxa5 41.Bb3 Nf5 42.bxa5 Nxd4 43.Bd1 Rxa5 44.Ke3 Nf5+ 45.Kd3 h4 46.g4 Ne7 47.Bb3 Kd6 48.Ke4 f5+ 49.gxf5 exf5+ 50.Kf3 Rc5 51.Kf2 Rc3 52.Bd1 Kc7 53.a5 Kb7 54.Be2 Nd5 55.a6+ Ka7 56.Rb1 1/2-1/2

Alexander Beliavsky is interviewed. He is the second of Vachier Lagrave. – a 61-year-old second.

He is a pupil of Botvinnik. He is described as the Soviet, Ukrainian, Slovenian grandmaster. I think because he was born in Lviv and currently lives in Slovenia.

The interviewer talks about the three seasoned veterans in the tourney – Anand, Adams and Kramnik and he has to laugh because when he very active, these were all the young newcomers.

He is asked about how chess has changed with the advent of computers.

In the 1990s when chess programs became commonplace, chess changed a great deal. Before, you had to spend two weeks to a month to prepare a variation, now it can be done in a few days. You can change a person’s repertoire from tournament to tournament. This was absolutely impossible in the time of Botvinnik. However, the level is not necessarily higher now. It still takes a great deal of personal work to understand chess. With the computer, the player has an excellent assistant but a very bad trainer!

_______

The headset-microphones used by the interviewers are black, very sporty-looking and attractive. I found myself wanting to buy a set. If they were to be offered online, they would sell like hotcakes.
_______

Standing After Round Two

So, Wesley 1.5
Kramnik 1.5
Carlsen 1.5
MVL 1
Anand 1
Mamedov 1
Caruana 1
Giri 0.5
Mamedyarov 0.5
Adams 0.5

Round Three Matchups

So-Adams
Mamedov-Kramnik
Anand-Giri
Mamedyarov-MVL
Caruana-Carlsen

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Gashimov Memorial 2015

Round 3, April 19

So-Adams
Mamedov-Kramnik
Anand-Giri
Mamedyarov-MVL
Caruana-Carlsen

Tweet from Tarjel Svensen:

Carlsen has lost last four R3 games:

Naiditsch in Grenke
Wojtaszek in Tata Steel
Anand in WC Match:
Caruana in Sinquefield Cup

[Eric Hansen]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

after predictions went well in round two we got our round three up https://youtu.be/xNmG7Xg4AHk

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Gashimov Memorial 2015

Round Three
April 19, 2015

So and Carlsen are really socking it to the opposition in this tournament!

So, Wesley – Adams, Michael
D35 QGD, Exchange, Positional Line (5…c6)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 Be7 8.Bd3 Nbd7 9.f3 O-O 10.Qc2 b5 11.Nge2 Nb6 12.a3 a5 13.O-O Bd7 14.Nc1 Nc4 15.Re1 Be6 16.Nb3 Nd7 17.Bf2 Rc8 18.Rad1 Qc7 19.h3 Rfd8 20.f4 a4 21.f5 axb3 22.Qxb3 Bxf5 23.Bxf5 Rb8 24.Qc2 b4 25.axb4 Bxb4 26.Re2 Qa5 27.Bh4 f6 28.Na4 Nf8 29.Bd3 Nb6 30.Nc3 c5 31.dxc5 Bxc5 32.Kh1 Rbc8 33.Bf5 Rc6 34.e4 Bb4 35.e5 Be7 36.Qb3 Qc5 37.exf6 Bxf6 38.Ne4 Qc4 39.Nxf6+ gxf6 40.Qg3+ Kf7 41.Rde1 Qb4 42.Re7+ Qxe7 43.Rxe7+ Kxe7 44.Qg7+ Ke8 45.Bg4 1-0

Round 3, April 19, 2015
Mamedov, Rau – Kramnik, Vladimir
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, Open Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nf5 8.c3 Nxe5 9.Rxe5 d6 10.Re1 O-O 11.d4 d5 12.Nd2 Bd6 13.Nf3 c6 14.Bd3 Nh4 15.g3 Nxf3+ 16.Qxf3 Bd7 17.Bd2 Qb6 18.Rab1 Rae8 19.b4 Qd8 20.Qh5 g6 21.Qf3 h5 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Re1 Rxe1+ 24.Bxe1 a5 25.a3 axb4 26.axb4 Bg4 27.Qe3 Qa8 28.Kg2 Qc8 29.Kg1 Bh3 30.Bd2 Qa8 31.f3 b6 32.Kf2 Bf8 33.Qg5 Qe8 34.Bf4 Qe7 35.Qxe7 Bxe7 36.b5 Bd7 37.bxc6 Bxc6 38.Bc7 b5 39.Ba5 h4 40.f4 Bd7 41.Kf3 hxg3 42.hxg3 Bd6 43.g4 f5 44.gxf5 gxf5 45.Bb4 1/2-1/2

Round 3, April 19, 2015
Caruana, Fabiano – Carlsen, Magnus
A90 Dutch, Stonewall (Bd6)

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.c4 c6 5.Nf3 d5 6.O-O Bd6 7.b3 Qe7 8.Bb2 b6 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Nd2 O-O 11.Rc1 a5 12.e3 Na6 13.Nb1 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Qe2 a4 16.Nc3 axb3 17.axb3 Qb4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Qc2 Nc5 20.Bc3 Qxb3 21.Qxb3 Nxb3 22.Rb1 Nc5 23.Rxb6 Na4 24.Rxb7 Nxc3 25.Re7 Rfe8 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Ra1 Rd8 28.Bf1 c5 29.Ra3 Nb1 30.Ra1 Nd2 31.Be2 Nf3+ 32.Bxf3 exf3 33.h3 h5 34.g4 fxg4 35.hxg4 h4 36.Kh2 Rd2 37.Kh3 g5 38.e4 Rd4 39.Ra8+ Kf7 40.Ra3 Rxc4 41.Rxf3+ Ke7 42.Re3 Rd4 43.f3 c4 44.Ra3 Rd3 45.Ra7+ Kd8 46.Kg2 c3 47.Ra4 c2 48.Rc4 Rd2+ 49.Kh3 Kd7 50.Rc5 Rf2 51.f4 Rf3+ 52.Kh2 Rxf4 0-1

Tweets

- Carlsen plays the Stonewall Dutch very well, can’t remember the last time he was in trouble with it.

- That game was not a Stonewall Dutch, it was a Leningrad

- Caruana in serious time trouble with no increment

- Caruana has gotten himself into a worse rook ending against Carlsen with 78 seconds for six moves. Trouble!

(Carslen) It was all heading pretty much for a draw – he could just repeat with Rc7-Re7. I was very surprised by the way things happened.

(Caruana) I was thinking it was a draw pretty much whatever I did and I just drifted.

Round 3, April 19, 2015
Anand, Vishy – Giri, Anish
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance Variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.Nbd2 h6 7.O-O Nd7 8.Nb3 g5 9.Ne1 Qc7 10.Bh5 c5 11.c3 Bg7 12.f4 c4 13.Nd2 gxf4 14.Ndf3 Ng6 15.Bxg6 fxg6 16.Nh4 O-O 17.Rxf4 g5 18.Nxf5 gxf4 19.Nxg7 Kxg7 20.Qg4+ Kh7 21.Qxe6 Nb6 22.Qh3 Qf7 23.g3 Qg6 24.Ng2 fxg3 25.hxg3 Rf3 26.Bf4 Rf8 27.Qh4 Nc8 28.Re1 Qe6 29.Qh5 Rd3 30.Be3 Ne7 31.Nf4 Qg8 32.Nxd3 Qxg3+ 33.Kh1 Nf5 34.Bf4 Qxd3 35.e6 Ng7 36.Qxh6+ Kg8 37.Kg2 Qc2+ 38.Kg1 Qf5 39.e7 Qg4+ 40.Kh1 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2

(Giri) – In this tournament everyone’s either an ex-World Champion, a current World Champion or a future World Champion.

Round 3, April 19, 2015
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Vachier Lagrave, Maxime
E60, King’s Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.Bxf6 Bxf6 6.cxd5 c5 7.Nf3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6 9.Nb3 O-O 10.e3 Rd8 11.Rc1 e6 12.Be2 Nc6 13.O-O Bxc3 14.Rxc3 exd5 15.Rc5 a6 16.Qc1 Be6 17.Nd4 Nxd4 18.exd4 Rac8 19.Rd1 Qb4 20.a3 Qa4 21.h3 Re8 22.Rd2 b6 23.Rc3 Rxc3 24.Qxc3 Rc8 25.Qg3 Qc6 26.Kh2 Qc1 27.Qe3 a5 28.Bg4 Rc6 29.Bf3 Rc2 30.Rxc2 Qxc2 31.b3 b5 32.Qe5 Qxf2 33.Qb8+ Kg7 34.Qe5+ Kg8 35.Qb8+ Kg7 36.Qe5+ Kg8 1/2-1/2

Standing After Round Three

Carlsen 2.5
So 2.5
Kramnik 2
MVL 1.5
Anand 1.5
Mamedov 1.5
Caruana 1
Giri 1
Mamedyarov 1
Adams 0.5

Round 4 Pairings

Adams-Carlsen, MVL-Caruana, Giri-Mamedyarov, Kramnik-Anand, So-Mamedov

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

So is playing very well. It looks to me like he has a realistic chance to win the event. I'm not predicting the winner but a very strong contender to win.

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Caruana drops to number 4 in live chess ratings with his loss today and Carlsen has the 2800 club exclusively to himself.

http://www.2700chess.com/

[Tom O'Donnell]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

I can't recall now. Your bet with Mr. Dobrich, did you take the under for six(?) 2800s? Did you ever formalize your wager?

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

I can't recall now. Your bet with Mr. Dobrich, did you take the under for six(?) 2800s? Did you ever formalize your wager?

Quote Originally Posted by Vlad Dobrich View Post
Having said 'safe prediction', I can hardly refuse your offer of an even money wager.
So, all I need is for Anand to make a close match vs Carlsen this month and for Topolov to sit on his 2800 rating - and then I will root for Aronian to reclaim his former status.
OK, for $20 bet, you're on! Any monthly FIDE list showing six names at 2800 or better I win - otherwise I pay you the $20. Please confirm.
I like my bet!
Anyone else?
Vlad D
Game on, Vlad! If any of the 12 monthly 2015 (i.e. Janurary through December inclusive) FIDE ratings show 6 or more players with a Standard rating of 2800 or better, I immediately owe you $20. Should such eventually not come to pass, I get to collect $20 from you next December, 2015. I guess I'm now hoping Topalov will prove to be your Achilles heel (:

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Given the better than 80% empirical draw rate between Anand and Kramnik, there's no betting line on their game tomorrow. The 77/50 odds on Carlsen to beat Adams seem generous enough since Carlsen is a resounding plus 8, minus 1. equal 4 against Adams, including 5 consecutive wins their last 5 encounters.

https://www.marathonbet.com/en/betting/Chess/

[Eric Hansen]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Round four predictions up! https://youtu.be/3rW6D_J8wNQ

[Hans Jung]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

I think you were perfect with your predictions last round Eric! Congratulations. I have a suggestion to add some interest to your videos. How about choosing what you consider the best position of each round and having a little discussion. Just one position - a little taste of chess.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Gashimov Memorial 2015

Round Four
April 20, 2015

Wesley So seems to be like Bobby Fischer in his ability to play better when there has been controversy. He now leads the tournament, which contains three world champions. He has regained all the elo points he lost in the U.S. Championship and is now world #7, knocking Kramnik into 8th place.

Round 4, April 20, 2015
So, Wesley – Mamedov, Rauf
B36 Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, Maroczy Bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.f3 Bg7 8.Be3 O-O 9.Be2 Nh5 10.g3 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Be6 12.f4 Nf6 13.O-O Rc8 14.b3 Qa5 15.f5 Bd7 16.a3 e6 17.b4 Qd8 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.e5 dxe5 20.Bxe5 Bc6 21.b5 Ne4 22.Qxd8 Rcxd8 23.Rxf8+ Rxf8 24.Bxg7 Kxg7 25.Rc1 Nxc3 26.Rxc3 Bd7 27.c5 Rc8 28.a4 Kf6 29.Kf2 Ke5 30.Ke3 Be8 31.Bf3 Rc7 32.Kd3 g5 33.Kc4 h5 34.a5 g4 35.b6 axb6 36.axb6 Rd7 37.Re3+ Kf6 38.c6 bxc6 39.Bxc6 Rd8 40.Bxe8 Rxe8 41.b7 1-0

Round 4, April 20, 2015
Giri, Anish – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
D10 QGD, Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 Bf5 5.Nf3 a6 6.Be2 h6 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.Qxd3 e6 9.O-O Bb4 10.Bd2 O-O 11.a3 Bxc3 12.Bxc3 dxc4 13.Qxc4 Qd5 14.Qb4 b5 15.Qa5 Rc8 16.a4 Ne4 17.Nd2 Nd6 18.Rfe1 f5 19.f3 c5 20.e4 fxe4 21.fxe4 Qb7 22.axb5 Nxb5 23.d5 exd5 24.exd5 Qxd5 25.Re5 Qd7 26.Qa2+ Qf7 27.Qxf7+ Kxf7 28.Nc4 Ra7 29.Rae1 Kf8 30.Ba5 Nd7 31.Nb6 Nxb6 32.Bxb6 Rd7 33.Bxc5+ Kg8 34.b4 Kh7 35.Re7 Rxe7 36.Rxe7 a5 37.Rb7 Nc3 38.Ra7 axb4 39.Bxb4 Nd5 40.Bd6 Nf6 41.Ra1 1/2-1/2

Round 4, April 20, 2015
Kramnik, Vladimir – Anand, Viswanathan
D43 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.g3 dxc4 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.O-O b5 8.e4 Bb7 9.e5 Nd5 10.Ng5 h6 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Qh5+ Ke7 13.Ne4 Qe8 14.Bg5+ N5f6 15.exf6+ gxf6 16.Bxf6+ Nxf6 17.Nxf6 Qxh5 18.Nxh5 Kf7 19.a4 a6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Rxa8 Bxa8 22.Ra1 Be7 23.Nf4 Bb7 24.Ra7 Rb8 25.Be4 Kf6 26.Ng6 c5 27.Rxb7 Rxb7 28.Bxb7 Kxg6 29.dxc5 Bxc5 30.Ba6 Bd4 31.Bxb5 Bxb2 32.Bxc4 e5 33.f3 Kf6 34.Kg2 Bc1 35.Bd3 Bb2 36.Bc4 Bc1 37.Bd3 Bb2 38.Bc4 1/2-1/2

Round 4, April 20, 2015
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime – Caruana, Fabiano
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Na4 e5 6.dxe5 Nc6 7.a3 Nxe5 8.e4 Nb6 9.Qxd8+ Kxd8 10.Bg5+ Be7 11.O-O-O+ Ke8 12.Bxe7 Kxe7 13.Nc5 Nbd7 14.Nxd7 Nxd7 15.Bd3 Ne5 16.Ne2 Ng4 17.Rdf1 Rd8 18.Nf4 c6 19.Be2 Rd4 20.Bxg4 Bxg4 21.f3 Be6 22.Rd1 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Bc4 24.Kc2 Rd8 25.Rxd8 Kxd8 26.Nd3 Ke7 27.b3 Bxd3+ 28.Kxd3 Kd6 29.f4 h5 30.g3 b5 31.Kd4 c5+ 32.Kc3 f5 33.e5+ Kd5 34.b4 c4 35.h4 a6 36.Kc2 Ke6 37.Kc3 Kd5 38.Kc2 Ke6 39.Kc3 Kd5 1/2-1/2

Round 4, April 20, 2015
Adams, Michael – Carlsen, Magnus
C76 Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defence, Fianchetto Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 a6 5.Ba4 d6 6.d4 Bd7 7.O-O Bg7 8.d5 Nce7 9.Bxd7+ Qxd7 10.c4 h6 11.Nc3 f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.Nh4 Nf6 14.f4 e4 15.Be3 O-O 16.Ne2 c6 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.Bd4 c5 19.Bc3 Qe6 20.Rc1 Rf7 21.Ng3 Kh7 22.Qe2 Rg8 23.Rfd1 Ne8 24.Nh5 Bxc3 25.bxc3 Rg4 26.g3 Rxh4 27.gxh4 Ng6 28.Kh1 Nxh4 29.Rg1 Nf3 30.Rg3 Re7 31.Rd1 Qf7 32.Rh3 Re6 33.Rb1 Rg6 34.Rg3 Re6 35.Rh3 Re7 36.Rd1 Re6 37.Rb1 Re7 38.Rd1 Re6 1/2-1/2

Alexander Delchev commentating on the game for chessbomb.com says that after 7…Bg7, we have the main position of Smyslov’s system. Closing the centre is the most principled approach.

On Carlsen’s move 34: Carlsen has only 5 minutes left. He has better chances but I can’t see anything concrete. So his decision to repeat moves is a good practical solution.

And summing up the game: Tough game and very important for the theory of Smyslov g6 line in Spanish. When the opening was over, it was Adams who was pressuring. But only in a couple of moves it became clear that the position was more double-edged than it was on the fist glance. Soon Carlsen took the control and obliged Adams to defend with care. The exchange sacrifice was correct but in time troubles Adams found the clever defence with transferring his rook to h3 and managing to defend his hanging knight on h5. White pieces were badly coordinated and I as expecting more action here. Soon it appeared that chances are level and in the time trouble all finished with repetition.

__________

Standing After Round Four

So 3.5
Carlsen 3
Kramnik 2.5
MVL 2
Anand 2
Mamedov 1.5
Caruana 1.5
Giri 1.5
Mamedyarov 1.5
Adams 1

Matchups for Round Five

Mamedov-Adams, Anand-So, Mamedyarov-Kramnik, Caruana-Giri and Carlsen-MVL.
______

(ChessVibes) - Here's what Wesley So said about being the sole leader: “Every player is tough in this tournament. I mean, you cannot underestimate anybody and that's why I was extra careful today because you never know when you're gonna lose.

“Tomorrow I will play Vishy Anand. It will be my first tournament game with him and I really look forward to that. I'm very excited and I expect a tough game tomorrow.

“Of course leading after four rounds in a tournament like this with three world champions, Magnus, Vladimir and Vishy, is just unbelievable. I have to work hard every single round. I mean, I wish the tournament is over but fortunately it's not!”

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

Grischuk's loss makes Wesley number 6 in live ratings.

http://www.2700chess.com/

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Gashimov Memorial 2015

I consider So to be the player to watch in this event.

Too bad he plays under the US flag.