Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

[Wayne Komer]

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 14, 2016

The Grand Chess Tour now moves to Leuven, Belgium from June 17 to 20.

Leuven is located about 25 kilometres east of Brussels. It is home to the Catholic University of Leuven, the oldest Catholic university still in existence, UZ Leuven, one of the largest hospitals of Europe and, the headquarters of Anheuser-Busch, the world’s largest brewery.

It is still hard to read about the destruction of the university library in 1914 by petrol bombs with a loss of 230,000 volumes in the destruction, including Gothic and Renaissance manuscripts, a collection of 750 medieval manuscripts, and more than 1,000 incunabula (books printed before 1501).

One dislikes using a chessbomb kibitzer as a reference but beerpatzer says: for those who care, Leuwen is related to the German Loweven, which in turn is related to the Polish Lwow, which is related to the Ukrainian Lviv, which simply means "lions".
________

The players: Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik, Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Hikaru Nakamura, Levon Aronian, Wesley So, Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov.

_______

The Schedule:

Friday, 17 June Rapids

Rounds 1 through 5 beginning at 14:00 hr with a rate of 25 mins + 10 secs.

Saturday, 18 June Rapids

Rounds 6 through 9 beginning at 14:00 hr with a rate of 25 mins + 10 secs.

Sunday, 19 June Blitz

Rounds 1 through 9 beginning at 14:00 hr with a rate of 5 mins + 2 secs

Monday, 20 June Blitz

Rounds 10 through 18, beginning at 12:00 hr with a rate of 5 mins + 2 secs

14:00 Belgian time is 8:00 a.m. Toronto/Montreal time.

http://grandchesstour.org/2016-yournextmove-gct

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 17, 2016

The Pairings in the Rapids

Friday, June 17, 2016

Round 1

Kramnik-Nakamura
Caruana-Topalov
Aronian-Giri
MVL-Anand
So-Carlsen

Round 2

Nakamura-Carlsen
Anand-So
Giri-MVL
Topalov-Aronian
Kramnik-Caruana

Round 3

Caruana-Nakamura
Aronian-Kramnik
MVL-Topalov
So-Giri
Carlsen-Anand

Round 4

Nakamura-Anand
Giri-Carlsen
Topalov-So
Kramnik-MVL
Caruana-Aronian

Round 5

Aronian-Nakamura
MVL-Caruana
So-Kramnik
Carlsen-Topalov
Anand-Giri

Saturday, June 18

Round 6

Nakamura-Giri
Topalov-Anand
Kramnik-Carlsen
Caruana-So
Aronian-MVL

Round 7

MVL-Nakamura
So-Aronian
Carlsen-Caruana
Anand-Kramnik
Giri-Topalov

Round 8

Nakamura-Topalov
Kramnik-Giri
Caruana-Anand
Aronian-Carlsen
MVL-So

Round 9

So-Nakamura
Carlsen-MVL
Anand-Aronian
Giri-Caruana
Topalov-Kramnik

From chess.com

The Leuven Grand Chess Tour is identical to the Paris one won by Hikaru Nakamura last Sunday: five rounds of rapid (25 minutes + 10 seconds increment) on Friday, four on Saturday, nine rounds of blitz (5+3) on Sunday and nine rounds of blitz on Monday.

Like in Paris, the total prize fund is U.S. $150,000 dollars (€133,636). The Tour also includes the Sinquefield Cup in August and the London Chess Classic in December, both with a $300,000 dollar (€267,373) prize fund.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 17, 2016

Rapids

Round One

Be advised that this leg of the tournament is also called YourNextMove GCT if you are looking for it on chessbomb.com.

Also

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-to...our-2016/1/1/1

The players certainly have come to play with four games with decisive results in Round One.

The commentators are Jan Gustafsson and Anna Rudolf or Yasser Seirawan, Jennifer Shahade, Maurice Ashley, Alejandro Ramirez and Eric Hansen.

Anna Rudolf (b. 1987) is a Hungarian Woman Grandmaster.

One online comment:

Anna takes no Marklar from Jan ...no way she’ll allow him to trample her words ...modern woman

Jan says there is a slight time delay in the transmission of moves in case there is a wardrobe malfunction – the players taking off their shirts for instance!

GCT Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Rapids Round 1, June 17, 2016
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne-Almasi Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.Qd2 b5 10.O-O-O h5 11.Nd5 Rc8 12.g3 Bxd5 13.exd5 Nb6 14.Bh3 Nc4 15.Qe2 Rc7 16.Bg5 Be7 17.f4 Ng4 18.Bxg4 hxg4 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Rhe1 Kf8 21.fxe5 Qxe5 22.Nd4 Qxe2 23.Rxe2 g6 24.Nc6 Kg7 25.Rd4 f5 26.a4 Ne5 27.axb5 axb5 28.Nxe5 dxe5 29.Rxe5 Rxh2 30.c3 Ra7 31.Kb1 Rh3 32.d6 Rd7 33.Re3 Kf6 34.Kc2 g5 35.Red3 Ke6 36.Re3+ Kf6 37.Red3 Ke6 38.Re3+ 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 1, June 17, 2016
Kramnik, Vladimir – Nakamura, Hikaru
A14 English, Neo-Catalan Declined

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.c4 O-O 6.b3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bb2 Nc6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Bd7 11.Na3 Bf6 12.Nc4 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 Bb5 14.Rc1 Rc8 15.a4 Ba6 16.e3 b6 17.Bxd5 Qxd5 18.Bxf6 Qxd1 19.Rfxd1 gxf6 20.Rd7 Bxc4 21.bxc4 a6 22.Ra7 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.c5 Ra8 25.Rb7 Rfb8 26.c6 b4 27.Rc4 b3 28.Kg2 Kg7 29.Rg4+ Kf8 30.Ra4 Kg7 31.Rxa8 Rxa8 32.Rxb3 Rc8 33.Rc3 f5 34.c7 Kf6 35.Kh3 Kg5 36.Rc5 Kg6 37.g4 e5 38.f4 f6 39.Rc6 exf4 40.exf4 fxg4+ 41.Kxg4 h5+ 42.Kf3 Kf5 43.h4 1-0

Rapids Round 1, June 17, 2016
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime – Anand, Vishy
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Re1 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qb3 d5 13.e5 Nd7 14.Qd1 Re8 15.g4 Bg6 16.Nf1 c6 17.Bd3 f6 18.exf6 Nxf6 19.Ng3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Ng6 21.Rxe8+ Qxe8 22.Bg5 Qf7 23.Re1 Rf8 24.Nf5 Ne4 25.Bh6 Qc7 26.Nxg7 Nxf2 27.Kxf2 Qh2+ 28.Ke3 Qg2 29.Qe2 Rxf3+ 30.Qxf3 Bxd4+ 31.Kxd4 Qxf3 32.Nf5 Qf2+ 33.Re3 Qxb2+ 34.Kc5 Qb6+ 35.Kd6 Qd8+ 36.Kc5 d4 0-1

Rapids Round 1, June 17, 2016
Caruana, Fabiano – Topalov, Veselin
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.Bd2 O-O 10.Qe2 Re8 11.h3 Nd7 12.Ng5 Nf8 13.Nxe6 Nxe6 14.Qg4 Bc5 15.O-O Qe7 16.Nc4 f6 17.Kh1 Rbd8 18.Ne3 Bxe3 19.fxe3 c5 20.Bc3 Ng5 21.b3 Qe6 22.Qh5 b5 23.Qe2 Rd7 24.Ba5 Red8 25.Rfd1 Qa6 26.Be1 c4 27.Bh4 Nf7 28.Rd2 cxd3 29.cxd3 b4 30.Rad1 Nd6 31.Qg4 Nb5 32.Rf2 Rd6 33.Rdf1 Qc8 34.Rf5 c5 35.Qg3 Kh8 36.Rxf6 gxf6 37.Rxf6 R8d7 38.Qxe5 Kg8 39.Re6 Rxe6 40.Qxe6+ Kf8 41.Bg5 Qc7 42.Bh6+ Rg7 43.e5 Nc3 44.d4 cxd4 45.exd4 Qf7 46.Qc8+ Ke7 47.Qb7+ Ke6 48.Qc6+ Ke7 49.Bxg7 Qxg7 50.Qb7+ Kf8 51.Qxb4+ 1-0

Rapids Round 1, June 17, 2016
Aronian, Levon – Giri, Anish
A16 English

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Ba3 O-O 8.d4 b6 9.Bc4 Nc6 10.O-O Na5 11.Bd3 c5 12.dxc5 Qc7 13.Qe2 bxc5 14.Qe3 Bg4 15.Rfc1 Rfd8 16.Bf1 Rab8 17.Qxc5 Rdc8 18.Qxe7 Qxe7 19.Bxe7 Bxc3 20.Rab1 Rxb1 21.Rxb1 Re8 22.Bb4 Bxb4 23.Rxb4 Nc6 24.Rc4 Bd7 25.h4 h6 26.Nd2 Rb8 27.Nb3 Kf8 28.Rc5 Ke7 29.Bb5 Rb6 30.f3 a6 31.Bxc6 Bxc6 32.h5 Bd7 33.hxg6 fxg6 34.Kh2 Be6 35.Rc7+ Kd6 36.Rh7 h5 37.Kg3 Bxb3 38.axb3 Kc5 39.Kf4 Kb4 40.Kg5 Kxb3 41.f4 a5 42.f5 gxf5 43.exf5 a4 44.Ra7 Rb5 45.Kg6 a3 46.f6 Rb6 47.Ra5 a2 48.Kg5 h4 49.f7 Rb8 50.Kf6 Kb2 51.Kg7 a1=Q 52.Rxa1 Kxa1 53.f8=Q Rxf8 54.Kxf8 Kb2 55.Kg7 Kc3 56.Kf6 Kd4 57.Kg5 1-0

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 17, 2016

Rapids

Round Two

Topalov beats Nakamura!

- Unstopalov

- surprised Naka lost that one. Just reviewed the game, he was winning for the first 30 moves or so

Hikaru has lost two games in a row.

Rapids Round 2, June 17, 2016
Topalov, Vladimir – Nakamura, Hikaru
C54 Giuoco Piano, d3 Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O a6 7.a4 O-O 8.Re1 Ba7 9.Nbd2 Ng4 10.Re2 Kh8 11.h3 f5 12.exf5 Nxf2 13.Rxf2 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 d5 15.Bb3 Bxf5 16.Kg1 Bxd3 17.Ne1 Bg6 18.Ndf3 e4 19.Nh2 Ne7 20.Be3 Qd6 21.Nc2 Rad8 22.Qd2 c5 23.Rd1 h6 24.Ng4 Bh5 25.Ba2 a5 26.Qe1 Be8 27.b3 b6 28.Bf2 Bh5 29.Bh4 Rd7 30.b4 axb4 31.cxb4 d4 32.Nce3 Bxg4 33.hxg4 Ng6 34.Bg3 Qf6 35.Nf5 e3 36.bxc5 bxc5 37.Qe2 Ne5 38.Bb1 Rfd8 39.Bxe5 Qxe5 40.Nh4 Qg5 41.Ng6+ Kg8 42.Qc4+ Rd5 43.Be4 Qxg4 44.Bxd5+ Kh7 45.Qd3 1-0

- Giri was on the verge of winning but he mastered his way to a draw

- it takes great skill to turn a winning game to a drawn game

- Giri pulled a draw from the jaws of victory!

Rapids Round 2, June 17, 2016
Giri, Anish – Caruana, Fabiano
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Nbd2 O-O 9.h3 Re8 10.Re1 Be6 11.Bxe6 Rxe6 12.b4 d5 13.Qc2 h6 14.Nf1 d4 15.b5 Ne7 16.cxd4 Bxd4 17.Nxd4 Qxd4 18.Be3 Qd7 19.Ng3 Rd8 20.Red1 axb5 21.axb5 Ne8 22.Rab1 b6 23.d4 exd4 24.Rxd4 Qc8 25.Ne2 Rxd4 26.Nxd4 Re5 27.f4 Rc5 28.Nc6 Rxc6 29.bxc6 Qe6 30.Rc1 Nf6 31.e5 Nfd5 32.Bd2 h5 33.Kh2 g6 34.Qc4 Qf5 35.Qd4 Qe6 36.Qc4 Qf5 37.Rd1 b5 38.Qxb5 Qc2 39.Qb1 Qxc6 40.Qe4 Qe6 41.Bb4 Kh7 42.Bxe7 Nxe7 43.Rc1 c6 44.Qc4 Nd5 45.g3 Qe7 46.Qxc6 Qa3 47.Rg1 Ne3 48.e6 Qb2+ 49.Kh1 fxe6 50.g4 hxg4 51.Qd7+ Kh8 52.Qe8+ Kg7 53.Qe7+ Kh8 54.Qf8+ Kh7 55.Qf7+ Kh8 56.Qe8+ Kg7 57.Qe7+ Kh8 58.Qxe6 Qf2 59.Qe8+ Kg7 60.Qe7+ Kh6 61.Qf8+ Kh7 62.Qe7+ Kh6 63.Qg5+ Kh7 64.Qe7+ Kh6 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 2, June 17, 2016
Anand, Vishy – Aronian, Levon
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 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 O-O 9.Nc3 Ne8 10.Nd5 Bd6 11.Re1 c6 12.Ne3 Be7 13.c4 Nc7 14.d4 d5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 cxd5 17.Bf4 Be6 18.Qb3 Bf6 19.Be5 Bxe5 20.Rxe5 Qb6 21.Qxb6 axb6 22.Re3 Rfc8 23.Rb3 Rc6 24.Bb5 Rc7 25.Rb4 Kf8 26.Bd3 Rc6 27.Kf1 Ke7 28.Ke1 Bd7 29.Kd2 Rf6 30.f3 Kd8 31.a3 Re6 32.h4 h6 33.Rc1 Rc8 34.Rxc8+ Kxc8 35.Rb3 Kc7 36.Rc3+ Rc6 37.Rxc6+ bxc6 38.Kc3 c5 39.b3 g5 40.g3 Kd6 41.f4 f6 42.a4 c4 43.Bc2 cxb3 44.Kxb3 gxf4 45.gxf4 Bc8 46.Bd3 Bd7 47.Bc2 Bc8 48.Bd3 Bd7 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 2, June 17, 2016
So, Wesley – Kramnik, Vladimir
D61 QGD, Orthodox Defence, Rubinstein Variation

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.Qc2 c5 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Be2 Nf6 13.O-O cxd4 14.Rxd4 Nc6 15.Rd2 Bd7 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Qb3 Rab8 18.a3 a6 19.Bd3 Be8 20.Bb1 Rxd2 21.Nxd2 Ne5 22.Nc4 Nxc4 23.Qxc4 Bc6 24.Qd4 Rc8 25.h3 Qh5 26.Rd2 Qg5 27.f3 e5 28.Qd3 e4 29.fxe4 Re8 30.Qd4 Nd7 31.Rf2 Ne5 32.Ba2 Rd8 33.Nd5 Bxd5 34.exd5 Rd6 35.Bb1 g6 36.Be4 Qe7 37.Bf3 Rd8 38.Bg4 Qc7 39.Rf1 h5 40.Be2 Qd6 41.e4 Rc8 42.Bd3 Kg7 43.Qe3 b5 44.Kh1 Rc7 45.Qf4 f6 46.Qd2 Qc5 47.Bb1 g5 48.Qe2 h4 49.Bd3 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 2, June 17, 2016
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
A22 English, Bremen, Reverse Dragon

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.d3 Be7 7.Nh3 Nc6 8.f4 h5 9.Be3 h4 10.Rc1 Bf5 11.Ng5 Qd7 12.Qb3 O-O 13.gxh4 Nd4 14.Qd1 Bc5 15.Qd2 exf4 16.Bxf4 Rfe8 17.Nce4 Bxe4 18.Bxe4 Qe7 19.Kf1 Rad8 20.e3 Ne6 21.Nxe6 Qxe6 22.Qg2 Bf8 23.Rg1 Nd5 24.Qg5 c6 25.Rg2 Nxf4 26.Qxf4 f5 27.Bxf5 Qxe3 28.Qxe3 Rxe3 29.Re2 Rf3+ 30.Rf2 Rxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Be7 32.Kg3 Kf7 33.h5 Rd5 34.Rf1 Bf6 35.b3 Ke7 36.Kg4 a5 37.Rf2 Re5 38.Rg2 Rd5 39.h4 Rc5 40.Re2+ Re5 41.Be4 Kd6 42.Rf2 Ke7 43.Rf1 Rc5 44.a4 b5 45.Rf5 Rxf5 46.Kxf5 bxa4 47.bxa4 Bxh4 48.Kg6 Bf6 49.Bxc6 Bd4 1/2-1/2

Standings after Round Two

1. Kramnik 3/4
2. Caruana 3/4
3. Aronian 3/4
4. Anand 3/4
5. Topalov 2/4
6. Carlsen 2/4
7. So 2/4
8. MVL 1/4
9. Giri 1/4
10. Nakamura 0/4
________

In news outside of chess, Euro 2016 soccer is on in France from June 10 to July 10 and as I write the leaders of the various sections are France, England, Germany, Spain, Italy and Hungary. Just mentioning this to show that not everyone in the world is watching this tournament.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 17, 2016

Rapids

Round Three

The big news of Round Three was that Vishy Anand blundered on move 8 and Caruana was a piece up.

Jan said that Anand had done this before – in 1988 against Alonso Zapata at Biel. You probably know the game:

Biel 1988
Round 9
C42 Petrov, Nimzowitsch Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Bf5 6.Qe2

For an early blunder by a former World Champion the game Christiansen-Karpov, Wijk aan Zee, 1993 was mentioned, where Karpov was lost after 12 moves.

In any case, even though he is down in material, Anand plays on and on and it is a draw.

Caruana seemed somewhat amused by this at the press conference later and said that he won a piece but that was not enough to win the game.

It is rather interesting to put your engine on automatic and play the game through and watch what the march of the black rook which goes from d8 on move 17 to g2 on move 27

Rapids Round 3, June 17, 2016
Caruana, Fabiano – Anand, Vishy
A09 Reti, Advance Variation

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 6.Qa4+ Bd7 7.b5 Bxc5 8.Bc4 Bg4 9.Bxg8 Nd7 10.Qb3 Qe7 11.Bc4 a4 12.Qc2 O-O-O 13.O-O Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nb6 15.d3 f5 16.e4 f4 17.Kh1 Rd6 18.Rg1 Rh6 19.Nd2 Rf8 20.Nf1 Kb8 21.Bd2 Rh3 22.Be6 Rxf3 23.Kg2 Re3 24.Bg4 f3+ 25.Kh1 Re2 26.Rg3 Rxf2 27.Kg1 Rg2+ 28.Rxg2 fxg2 29.Ng3 g6 30.Kxg2 h5 31.Be2 Bb4 32.Rf1 Bxd2 33.Qxd2 Rxf1 34.Nxf1 Qc5 35.Qb2 a3 36.Qb3 Qc1 37.Bd1 Nc8 38.Qc2 Qa1 39.Qd2 Nd6 40.b6 cxb6 41.Bb3 Qb2 42.Kh3 Nb5 43.Kh4 Nc3 44.Kg5 Qb1 45.Ng3 Qg1 46.Kxg6 h4 47.Qg5 hxg3 48.hxg3 Qe3 49.Qxe5+ Ka7 50.Bc4 b5 51.Qc5+ Ka6 52.Qxa3+ Kb6 53.Qd6+ Ka7 54.Qc5+ Ka6 55.Qd6+ Ka7 56.Qc5+ Ka6 57.Qd6+ 1/2-1/2

At Paris we saw meltdowns by both Topalov and Kramnik and it looks like Nakamura is having the same, with his third loss in a row.

Rapids Round 3, June 17, 2016
Nakamura, Hikaru – Giri, Anish
D04 Queen’s Pawn Game

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.d4 c5 4.c4 cxd4 5.exd4 g6 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.Qb3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 O-O 10.h4 Nc6 11.Ba3 Be6 12.Qxb7 Bd5 13.Qa6 Qc7 14.Bc5 e5 15.Bc4 Bxf3 16.gxf3 exd4 17.Bxf8 Rxf8 18.Kf1 dxc3 19.Re1 Ne5 20.Bd5 c2 21.Kg2 Bh6 22.Qe2 c1=Q 23.Rxc1 Bxc1 24.Rxc1 Qxc1 25.Qxe5 Qc8 26.Bb3 Qf5 27.Qc7 a5 28.Qe7 Kg7 29.a4 Rc8 30.Qb7 Rc5 31.Qa7 Re5 32.Qd4 Qf6 33.Qg4 Rf5 34.Kg3 Qd6+ 0-1

Kramnik blunders to Topalov with 58.f6

Rapids Round 3, June 17, 2016
Kramnik, Vladimir – Topalov, Veselin
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nh6 5.O-O Nf5 6.c3 Nd7 7.Nbd2 Nd6 8.Re1 Nf6 9.Ne5 O-O 10.f3 Nd7 11.Nxd7 Bxd7 12.e4 dxe4 13.Nxe4 b6 14.Nf2 c5 15.Bg5 Re8 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Qxd6 Bf8 19.Qd2 Be6 20.Qf4 Qb6 21.Re2 Bf5 22.Rxe7 Bxe7 23.Re1 Bd6 24.Qc4 Qxb2 25.f4 Rf8 26.Bd5 Kg7 27.a4 h5 28.Be4 Be6 29.Qd3 Rd8 30.Bxg6 c4 31.Qc2 Ba3 32.Re2 Qxc2 33.Bxc2 Bb2 34.Bf5 Bxf5 35.Rxb2 Re8 36.Rb4 Re1+ 37.Kg2 Be6 38.Rb5 Kg6 39.Rg5+ Kh6 40.Rc5 Ra1 41.a5 Kg6 42.h3 Ra3 43.Ne4 f6 44.Kf2 Bxh3 45.Rc6 Rxa5 46.Rxf6+ Kg7 47.Rc6 Ra2+ 48.Ke3 Rg2 49.Rc7+ Kg6 50.Rxa7 Bf5 51.Ra6+ Kg7 52.Nd6 Bd3 53.f5 Rxg3+ 54.Kf4 Rg1 55.Ra7+ Kh6 56.Nf7+ Kg7 57.Ng5+ Kg8 58.f6 Rg4+ 59.Ke5 Rxg5+ 60.Ke6 Be4 61.Rc7 Bd5+ 62.Ke7 Rf5 63.Rd7 Kh7 64.Rd6 h4 65.Kf8 h3 66.Rd7+ Kg6 67.Rg7+ Kxf6 68.Rf7+ 0-1

- Poor Kramnik. Age is taking its toll

- Kram is pissed for sure

- Well, on to football, I guess

Rapids Round 3, June 17, 2016
MVL – So, Wesley
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.h3 Ne7 8.d4 Bb6 9.Bd3 Ng6 10.Re1 Re8 11.Qc2 c6 12.a4 Bc7 13.Be3 d5 14.Nbd2 exd4 15.Bxd4 Be6 16.Ng5 dxe4 17.Ndxe4 Nxe4 18.Nxe6 Rxe6 19.Rxe4 Rxe4 20.Bxe4 Bb6 21.Rd1 Qc7 22.Bxb6 axb6 23.b4 Nf8 24.Bd3 Re8 25.g3 g6 26.Bc4 Nd7 27.Bb3 Nf6 28.Rd3 Kg7 29.Qd1 h5 30.h4 Re5 31.Rf3 Qe7 32.Kg2 c5 33.bxc5 bxc5 34.Qd3 Qc7 35.a5 Re7 36.Qb5 Ne8 37.Bd5 Nd6 38.Qb2 c4 39.Qd2 Qxa5 40.Qd4+ Kh7 41.Bxc4 Nxc4 42.Qxc4 1/2-1/2

Aronian with a better game, blunders in time trouble and plays 40.f4 and Carlsen goes on to pick up the point.

Rapids Round 3, June 17, 2016
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
A85 Dutch

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 f5 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qb3 Qe7 6.Bd2 b6 7.g3 Bb7 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.O-O Na5 10.Qc2 Nxc4 11.Nb5 Nxd2 12.Nxc7+ Kf8 13.Nxd2 Bxg2 14.Kxg2 Rc8 15.Nf3 Qd8 16.Rac1 Ke7 17.Qa4 Rxc7 18.Qxb4+ d6 19.Qd2 h6 20.Kg1 Qd7 21.Rxc7 Qxc7 22.d5 Nxd5 23.Nh4 Rc8 24.Nxf5+ exf5 25.Qxd5 Qc5 26.Qd3 Qe5 27.Rd1 Rc6 28.Rd2 Qe4 29.Qxe4+ fxe4 30.f3 exf3 31.exf3 d5 32.Rxd5 Rc1+ 33.Kg2 Rc2+ 34.Kh3 Rxb2 35.a4 a5 36.Re5+ Kd6 37.Rf5 Rb4 38.Rf7 Rxa4 39.Rxg7 Rc4 40.f4 Rc7 41.Rg8 Ra7 42.f5 a4 43.f6 a3 44.Rg7 Ra8 45.f7 a2 0-1

- No one could predict that after three rounds, Topalov would be in joint lead and Nakamura at 0

- Incredibly, black still has all 8 pawns despite 30 moves into a crazy middlegame in Caruana-Anand

- Wow! What a game! Anand drew!

(Chess24) - Happy 40th Birthday to Peter Svidler. We've replaced him with a younger model for the commentary today :)
[Anna Rudolf]

Standings after Round Three

1. Topalov 4/6
2. Carlsen 4/6
3. Caruana 4/6
4. Anand 4/6
5. Kramnik 3/6
6. Aronian 3/6
7. Giri 3/6
8. So 3/6
9. MVL 2/6
10. Nakamura 0/6

And a rather nice thing happened. At noon Toronto time, in the background at the tournament, one could hear church bells ringing. A reminder of peace and traditional values in troubled times.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 17, 2016

Rapids

Round Four

Kramnik’s 31.bd5 loses to 32.f4

Rapids Round 4, June 17, 2016
MVL – Kramnik, Vladimir
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Re1 Bg4 11.Qb3 Bh5 12.a4 Ba5 13.Bf1 Rb8 14.e5 Nfd5 15.Rd1 dxe5 16.dxe5 c6 17.Nc4 Bc7 18.h3 b5 19.axb5 Rxb5 20.Qa3 a5 21.g4 Bg6 22.Nd4 Rb8 23.Bg5 Qd7 24.Bxe7 Nxe7 25.Nxc6 Qxc6 26.Qxe7 Rfe8 27.Qd7 Be4 28.Rac1 Qxd7 29.Rxd7 Bxe5 30.Nxe5 Rxe5 31.Rcc7 Bd5 32.f4 1-0

Rapids Round 4, June 17, 2016
Giri, Anish – Topalov, Veselin
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 h6 7.Nbd2 O-O 8.Re1 Re8 9.Nf1 Bb6 10.Ng3 Na5 11.Bb5 Bd7 12.Bxd7 Qxd7 13.d4 Nc6 14.h3 Rad8 15.d5 Ne7 16.Nh4 c6 17.c4 cxd5 18.cxd5 Rc8 19.Qd3 Kh7 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.Qxe3 a6 22.Rac1 Red8 23.b3 Ng6 24.Nxg6 fxg6 25.f3 Rxc1 26.Rxc1 Rc8 27.Rc3 Qd8 28.Ne2 Rxc3 29.Qxc3 Qb6+ 30.Kf1 Nh5 31.b4 Qb5 32.Ke1 g5 33.a3 Nf4 34.Nxf4 gxf4 35.Qc8 Qd3 36.Qf5+ Kg8 37.Qe6+ Kh7 38.Qf5+ Kg8 39.Qe6+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 4, June 17, 2016
Anand, Vishy – Nakamura, Hikaru
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O Re8 7.Nbd2 a6 8.Ba4 d5 9.Qe2 b5 10.Bb3 d4 11.Bc2 Bb6 12.cxd4 Nxd4 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Nb3 Bb6 15.Be3 Qd6 16.Bxb6 Qxb6 17.Qe3 Be6 18.h3 Nd7 19.Rfc1 c5 20.Bd1 Rec8 21.Bg4 Bxg4 22.hxg4 c4 23.Qxb6 Nxb6 24.dxc4 Rxc4 25.Nd2 Rd4 26.Rc2 f6 27.Kf1 Rad8 28.Ke2 Nc4 29.Nxc4 bxc4 30.f3 Kf7 31.Rac1 Kg6 32.Ke1 Rb8 33.Kf2 h5 34.gxh5+ Kxh5 35.Kg3 a5 36.Re2 Kg6 37.Rc3 Kf7 38.b3 cxb3 39.axb3 Rdb4 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 4, June 17, 2016
So, Wesley – Aronian, Levon
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.Nf3 d5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.a3 Bxc3+ 9.Qxc3 dxc4 10.Qxc4 Bd7 11.e3 Rc8 12.Qb4 Bc6 13.Be2 Bd5 14.Rc1 Nd7 15.O-O a5 16.Qa4 c6 17.Nd2 Qg5 18.Bf3 Bxf3 19.Nxf3 Qb5 20.Qxb5 cxb5 21.Rfd1 b4 22.axb4 axb4 23.Kf1 Rxc1 24.Rxc1 Ra2 25.Rb1 Nb6 26.Ne5 b3 27.Ke1 f6 28.Nd3 Nc4 29.Nc1 Rxb2 30.Rxb2 Nxb2 31.Nxb3 b6 32.Kd2 Kf7 33.Kc2 Nc4 34.Kd3 Nd6 35.e4 Ke7 36.e5 fxe5 37.dxe5 Nf5 38.g4 Nh4 39.Ke4 g5 40.f4 gxf4 41.Kxf4 1/2-1/2

Magnus with a good position makes a series of bad moves, the worst being 45.Rf3 and loses to Fabiano.

Rapids Round 4, June 17, 2016
Carlsen, Magnus – Caruana, Fabiano
C77 Ruy Lopez, Anderssen Variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.h3 Nd7 8.Be3 Bd6 9.Nc3 c5 10.Nd2 Nb8 11.a4 Nc6 12.a5 Be6 13.O-O O-O 14.Nc4 Be7 15.b3 b5 16.axb6 cxb6 17.Bd2 b5 18.Ne3 Nb4 19.Ne2 Bg5 20.f4 exf4 21.Nxf4 a5 22.Bc3 Nc6 23.Ned5 Nd4 24.Qh5 Bxf4 25.Nxf4 Qd6 26.Rxa5 Rxa5 27.Bxa5 b4 28.Nxe6 Nxe6 29.Qd5 Qa6 30.Ra1 Rb8 31.Ra4 Qb5 32.d4 Qe2 33.Qe5 Re8 34.dxc5 f6 35.Qd6 Qe3+ 36.Kh2 Nf4 37.Bc7 Ne2 38.Ra1 Qxe4 39.Re1 Re5 40.Qd2 Re6 41.Qd7 h5 42.Bb8 Re8 43.Bd6 Re5 44.Rf1 Rg5 45.Rf3 Rxg2+ 46.Kxg2 Nd4 47.Kg1 Nxf3+ 48.Kf2 Nd4 49.Qc8+ Kh7 50.Qa6 Qf3+ 51.Ke1 Nxc2+ 52.Kd2 Qc3+ 53.Kd1 Qxb3 54.Kc1 Nd4 55.Kd2 0-1

Round Five

Right out of the starting gate, Carlsen blunders to Nakamura!

Rapids Round 5, June 17, 2016
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
D38 QGD, Ragozin Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Qc2 Re8 8.Bd2 e5 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.cxd5 Nxf3+ 11.gxf3 Nxd5 12.Nxd5 Qxd5 13.Bxb4 Qxf3 14.Rg1 Bf5 15.Qe2 Qe4 16.Bc3 Bg6 17.Qc4 1-0

- 11…..Nxd5????

- What the hell is Nxd5?

- sensation

- anyone knows when Magnus lost in 17 moves last time?

- this is shocking I never would have imagined this play by magnus. This is worse than amateur

- It was Minimus Carlsen, Magnus's evil twin

Rapids Round 5, June 17, 2016
Caruana, Fabiano – So, Wesley
A09 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Qb3 Nf6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.O-O O-O 7.d3 Re8 8.Bf4 d4 9.Nbd2 Nbd7 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.c5 Nd5 13.Qa4 Nc7 14.Nb3 e5 15.Nfd2 Bd7 16.Na5 Rb8 17.Rac1 Ne6 18.b4 Nc7 19.Ne4 Bf8 20.Qc2 Nd5 21.Qd2 Bf5 22.e3 Bxe4 23.dxe4 Nc3 24.Nb3 Bg7 25.exd4 exd4 26.Rfe1 Qe7 27.f4 Rbd8 28.e5 f6 29.Na5 fxe5 30.fxe5 Kh7 31.h4 Bxe5 32.Nc4 Qg7 33.Nxe5 Rxe5 34.Rxe5 Qxe5 35.Re1 Qf6 36.Qd3 Kg7 37.Kh2 Nxa2 38.Ra1 Nxb4 39.Qb3 a5 40.Rxa5 d3 41.Ra7 d2 42.Rxb7+ Kf8 43.Qe3 d1=Q 44.Qxh6+ Ke8 45.Rxb4 Qd2 46.Re4+ Kf7 47.Qh7+ Kf8 48.Qc7 Qxg2+ 49.Kxg2 Rd2+ 50.Kh3 Qf1+ 0-1

Evidently Caruana could have had a perpetual on move 45 with Qe3+ but gave it up to take the knight and play on.

Rapids Round 5, June 17, 2016
Topalov, Veselin – Anand, Vishy
A20 English Opening

1.c4 e5 2.d3 Bb4+ 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3 Bxd2+ 6.Bxd2 d5 7.cxd5 Qxd5 8.e4 Qd6 9.h3 O-O 10.Rc1 a5 11.Be2 Be6 12.Be3 Rfd8 13.O-O a4 14.Qc2 Bb3 15.Qc3 Ne8 16.Nd2 Be6 17.Rfd1 Ra6 18.Bc5 Nd4 19.Bxd4 exd4 20.Qc5 Rb6 21.Qc2 Ra8 22.Rf1 Rb5 23.Nc4 Qc5 24.Qd1 Nd6 25.Nd2 Qb6 26.Bg4 Ba2 27.Re1 Rxb2 28.e5 Nb5 29.Nc4 Bxc4 30.Rxc4 Nc3 31.Qf3 Re8 32.Qf4 c5 33.e6 fxe6 34.Kh2 Qc6 35.Bf3 Qc8 36.Qd6 b6 37.Bg4 Qb8 38.Bxe6+ Kh8 39.Qxb8 Rxb8 40.f4 Re8 41.Re5 g6 42.Bd7 Rxe5 43.fxe5 Kg7 0-1

Rapids Round 5, June 17, 2016
Aronian, Levon – MVL
D14 QGD Slav, Exchange Variation

1.Nf3 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bf4 Bf5 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 e6 10.e3 Rc8 11.Bd3 Be7 12.h3 O-O 13.O-O h6 14.Ne5 Nc6 15.a3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Rfd1 Qc7 19.Qxe4 Bc6 20.Qc2 Rfd8 21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Nb5 Qa5 23.Nd6 Bxd6 24.exd6 e5 25.Qf5 Qd5 26.e4 Qxd6 27.Bxe5 Qe7 28.Re1 Qg5 29.Qxg5 hxg5 30.f3 f6 31.Bc3 Kf7 32.Kf2 a6 33.Kg3 Kg6 34.h4 gxh4+ 35.Kxh4 Kf7 36.Kg3 Rd3 37.Kf2 Rd8 38.Kg3 Rd3 39.Kf4 Rd8 40.Rh1 Kg6 41.Ba5 Rd3 42.Bb4 Rd8 43.Bc3 Kf7 44.Rh5 g5+ 45.Ke3 Kg6 46.Rh1 Bb5 47.Kf2 Bc6 48.Re1 Rd7 49.Rh1 Rd8 50.Ba5 Rd7 51.Rh8 g4 52.fxg4 Re7 53.Bc3 Rxe4 54.Rf8 Re6 55.Kg3 Kg7 56.Rd8 Kg6 57.Rd2 Kg5 58.Rf2 Re3+ 59.Kh2 Re6 60.Kh3 Re3+ 61.g3 Rf3 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 5, June 17, 2016
Kramnik, Vladimir – Giri, Anish
D77 Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d4 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.c4 dxc4 7.Na3 c5 8.dxc5 c3 9.Nd4 Nfd7 10.bxc3 Nxc5 11.Bg5 Nba6 12.Rb1 Re8 13.Nc4 h6 14.Be3 Bg4 15.Qc1 e5 16.h3 exd4 17.cxd4 Bxe2 18.dxc5 Bxf1 19.Qxf1 Rxe3 20.Nxe3 Nxc5 21.Bxb7 Nxb7 22.Rxb7 Rc8 23.Qb5 Rc1+ 24.Kg2 Rc7 25.Qa5 Rc8 26.Rxa7 Bd4 27.Qxd8+ Rxd8 28.Ra3 Bc5 29.Rc3 Bxe3 30.Rxe3 Rd2 31.a3 h5 32.h4 Kg7 33.Kf3 Ra2 34.Rd3 f6 35.Rd7+ Kh6 36.Ra7 g5 37.Ra6 gxh4 38.gxh4 Kg6 39.Ra8 Rc2 40.Ra4 Kf5 41.Rf4+ Ke5 42.Re4+ Kf5 43.a4 Ra2 44.Rf4+ Ke5 45.Kg3 Ra3+ 46.f3 Ra1 47.Rb4 Rg1+ 48.Kf2 Ra1 49.Rb5+ Kf4 50.Rb4+ Ke5 51.Kg2 f5 52.Kf2 f4 53.Re4+ Kf5 54.Rc4 Ra2+ 55.Kg1 Ra1+ 56.Kf2 Ra2+ 57.Ke1 Ke5 58.Kd1 Ra3 59.Ke2 Re3+ 60.Kf2 Ra3 61.Re4+ Kf5 62.Rb4 Ke5 63.Kg2 Ra2+ 64.Kh3 Ra1 65.Rb5+ Kd4 66.Rxh5 Ke3 67.Kg4 Rg1+ 68.Kf5 Ra1 69.Rh8 Kxf3 70.Rb8 Rxa4 71.Rb3+ Kg2 72.h5 f3 73.h6 1/2-1/2

Standings After Day One, Round Five

1. Anand 7/10
2. Caruana 6/10
3. So 6/10
4. Topalov 5/10
5. Aronian 5/10
6. MVL 5/10
7. Giri 5/10
8. Carlsen 4/10
9. Kramnik 4/10
10. Nakamura 3/10

- now I expect blunder every few minutes...in each game

- everybody is out of form, call an 1800 to win the tournament

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 18, 2016

Rapids

Round Six

The second day of rapids. So far, Giri has not been playing well with two losses in two rounds and Carlsen is playing well, with two wins.

GCT Leuven
Leuven, Belgium
Rapids Round 6, June 18, 2016
Anand, Vishy – Giri, Anish
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.c3 d6 7.Nbd2 a5 8.a4 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.Nc4 Qe8 11.Be3 Bxe3 12.Nxe3 b6 13.Re1 Rd8 14.Qe2 Qf7 15.Nd2 d5 16.Nc2 Rd7 17.Nf3 Re8 18.b4 Qh5 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.b5 Nd8 21.Qxe5 Qg6 22.c4 Nf6 23.Qb2 Nf7 24.d4 e5 25.dxe5 Nh5 26.e6 1-0

Rapids Round 6, June 18, 2016
So, Wesley – Nakamura, Hikaru
D37 QGD, Hastings Variation

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.a3 c5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.Be5 Bf5 12.Be2 Bf6 13.O-O Be4 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.Nd4 Ne6 16.Rc1 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Qxd4 18.exd4 Rfc8 19.Rc5 Rxc5 20.dxc5 d4 21.Rd1 Rd8 22.Bc4 Kf8 23.f3 Bf5 24.Kf2 a5 25.g4 Be6 26.Bd3 Bb3 27.Rd2 Rc8 28.Be4 Rxc5 29.Rxd4 h5 30.h3 hxg4 31.hxg4 Ke7 32.Ke3 b6 33.Kd2 Be6 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 6, June 18, 2016
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime – Caruana, Fabiano
A78 Benoni, Classical

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nc3 exd5 6.cxd5 g6 7.Nd2 Bg7 8.e4 O-O 9.Be2 Re8 10.O-O Na6 11.Re1 Nc7 12.a4 Rb8 13.Bf1 a6 14.a5 Bd7 15.Nc4 Bb5 16.Bf4 Bxc4 17.Bxc4 Nh5 18.Bd2 b5 19.axb6 Rxb6 20.Ra2 Qd7 21.Be2 Nf6 22.f3 Nh5 23.Na4 Rbb8 24.Bc3 Bh6 25.Bc4 Nb5 26.e5 Qf5 27.e6 Bf4 28.b3 Nxc3 29.Nxc3 Be5 30.Ne4 Nf6 31.Rxa6 Nxe4 32.Rxe4 Ra8 33.Ra4 Qf6 34.f4 Bd4+ 35.Kh1 Rad8 36.Qf3 Re7 37.g3 Qf5 38.Ra2 fxe6 39.g4 Qf8 40.Rxe6 Rf7 41.Re4 Ra8 42.Rxa8 Qxa8 43.Kg2 Qa2+ 44.Qe2 Qb1 45.Kh3 Qc1 46.Qf3 Kg7 47.Qf1 Qc2 48.Qe2 Qc1 49.Qf1 Qc2 50.Qe2 Qc1 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 6, June 18, 2016
Carlsen, Magnus – Topalov, Veselin
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Qc2 Bb7 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Qxc3 O-O 8.Bg5 d6 9.Nd2 Nbd7 10.e3 c5 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.b4 Ncd7 13.f3 Rc8 14.Be2 Ne5 15.Qb2 Ng6 16.Rc1 h6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Kf2 Rfd8 20.Rhd1 Bc6 21.Nb1 Kf8 22.Nc3 f5 23.Rd4 Ke7 24.Rcd1 Rd7 25.g3 Rcd8 26.h3 Kf6 27.f4 Ne7 28.g4 Kg7 29.Bf3 Rc8 30.Be2 Rcd8 31.b5 Bb7 32.a4 a5 33.bxa6 Bxa6 34.Bf3 fxg4 35.hxg4 f5 36.Rb1 Rc8 37.Rxb6 Bxc4 38.Rdxd6 Rxd6 39.Rxd6 Bb3 40.Ne2 Rc2 41.Ke1 fxg4 42.Bxg4 h5 43.Bxe6 Bxe6 44.Rxe6 Nf5 45.Re5 Nd6 46.Rxh5 Ra2 47.Nc3 1-0

Rapids Round 6, June 18, 2016
Aronian, Levon – Kramnik, Vladimir
E05 Catalan, Open, Classical Line

1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 a5 12.Rfd1 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Ne5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Qd5+ 16.f3 c5 17.e4 Qxd4 18.Qxd4 cxd4 19.Nb3 Rfd8 20.Rxd4 Rxd4 21.Nxd4 Rd8 22.Nb3 g5 23.Kf1 h5 24.h3 g4 25.hxg4 hxg4 26.Nxg4 Nxg4 27.fxg4 b6 28.Ke2 Bf6 29.Rb1 Kg7 30.Nd2 Rd4 31.b3 Be7 32.Rf1 Bb4 33.Nc4 Rxe4+ 34.Kd3 Re1 35.Rxe1 Bxe1 36.Nxb6 1/2-1/2

Football is being played somewhere in Euro 2016 and fans are watching on television in Leuven. There is a large cheer and Anna Rudolf says, “Who scored?”

Basketball being Jan’s game, he goes on analyzing aloud as if nothing has happened.

(To be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 18, 2016

Rapids

Round Seven

GCT Leuven
Rapids Round 7, June 18, 2016
Kramnik, Vladimir – Anand, Vishy
A14 English, Neo-Catalan

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.c4 O-O 6.b3 c5 7.Bb2 Nc6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nc3 Nxc3 10.Bxc3 Bd7 11.Qb1 Rc8 12.Rd1 Bf6 13.d4 Qe7 14.Qb2 cxd4 15.Nxd4 b6 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Qxf6 gxf6 19.Rac1 Bxg2 20.Kxg2 Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Rd8 22.Rc7 Rd2 23.Rxa7 Rxe2 24.Kf3 Rb2 25.g4 Kg7 26.h4 e5 27.Ra6 Kg6 28.Rxb6 Rxa2 29.g5 Kh5 30.Rxf6 Kxh4 31.Rxf7 Kxg5 32.Rxh7 Rb2 33.Rb7 Kf5 34.Ke3 Rc2 35.Kd3 Ra2 36.Rc7 Rb2 37.Kc3 Ra2 38.Rd7 Kf4 39.Rd2 Ra8 40.b4 Rc8+ 41.Kb3 Rb8 42.Rd6 Ke4 43.Rd2 Kf3 44.Rb2 e4 45.Ra2 Rh8 46.b5 Rh2 47.b6 Rh6 48.Ra6 Rh1 49.Kc2 Rh6 50.Ra3+ Kxf2 51.b7 1-0

Rapids Round 7, June 18, 2016
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.Qe2 Bd6 8.Ng5 Bg4 9.f3 Bh5 10.Nc4 Nd7 11.h4 h6 12.Nh3 Qe7 13.g4 Bg6 14.h5 Bh7 15.Bd2 f6 16.Ne3 Qf7 17.f4 O-O-O 18.Nf5 Nc5 19.Be3 Ne6 20.Nxd6+ cxd6 21.f5 Nc5 22.a4 Qc7 23.O-O a5 24.Rfb1 Na6 25.c3 Bg8 26.b4 c5 27.bxa5 Qxa5 28.Qc2 d5 29.Nf2 Bf7 30.Rb5 Qc7 31.Rab1 d4 32.Bd2 Be8 33.R5b2 dxc3 34.Rxb7 Qxb7 35.Rxb7 Kxb7 36.Bxc3 Ka7 37.Bd2 Bf7 38.Nd1 Rd7 39.Nc3 Rc8 40.Qb1 Bc4 41.dxc4 Rxd2 42.Qb5 Rd6 43.Kf2 Rb8 44.Ke2 Ka8 45.Qa5 Rb2+ 46.Ke1 Kb7 47.Nd5 Ka7 48.Kd1 Rb4 49.Ke2 Rb2+ 50.Kd1 Rb4 51.Kc2 Rxc4+ 52.Nc3 Rb6 53.Kd3 Rd4+ 54.Kc2 Rc4 55.Kd3 Rcb4 56.Nd5 Rd4+ 57.Kc2 Rc4+ 58.Kd3 Rd4+ 59.Kc3 Rb7 60.Qd8 Nc7 61.Qd6 Na6 62.a5 c4 63.Qc6 Rb3+ 64.Kc2 Rxd5 65.Qxc4 Rdb5 66.g5 Rc5 67.Kxb3 Rxc4 68.Kxc4 hxg5 0-1

Rapids Round 7, June 18, 2016
Topalov, Veselin – So, Wesley
A10 English, Adorjan Defence

1.c4 g6 2.e4 e5 3.d4 Nf6 4.dxe5 Nxe4 5.Qd4 Nc5 6.Nc3 Ne6 7.Qe4 Bg7 8.Be3 Nc6 9.f4 O-O 10.O-O-O d6 11.c5 Ne7 12.cxd6 cxd6 13.Rxd6 Qc7 14.g4 Nc5 15.Qc4 b6 16.Bxc5 bxc5 17.h3 Rb8 18.Qe2 Rb4 19.Qd2 Rd4 20.Rxd4 cxd4 21.Qxd4 Rd8 22.Qf2 Nd5 23.Ne2 Nb4 24.Kb1 Nd3 25.Qh4 Bb7 26.Rh2 Rb8 27.b3 Nxf4 28.Nxf4 Qxc3 0-1

Rapids Round 7, June 18, 2016
Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance Variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Bb4+ 6.c3 Ba5 7.O-O Nd7 8.a4 Bc7 9.Nbd2 f6 10.Re1 Nh6 11.Nf1 fxe5 12.dxe5 O-O 13.Bxh6 gxh6 14.Qd4 Be4 15.Ng3 c5 16.Qe3 Bxf3 17.Bxf3 Qg5 18.Qxg5+ hxg5 19.Bg4 Rae8 20.Re2 Nxe5 21.Bh5 Rd8 22.Rd1 c4 23.Nf1 Nd3 0-1

Rapids Round 7, June 18, 2016
Nakamura, Hikaru – MVL
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nb3 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.Be3 O-O 9.g4 b5 10.g5 Nfd7 11.h4 Bb7 12.Bd4 Nc6 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Qd2 b4 15.Nd5 a5 16.h5 a4 17.Nc1 a3 18.b3 e6 19.Nxb4 Nxb4 20.Qxb4 Nc5 21.f3 Qxg5 22.Nd3 Nxd3+ 23.cxd3 Rac8 24.Kf2 Rc2 25.Qd4+ e5 26.Qxd6 Rfc8 27.Rae1 Rxa2 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.Qd7 Rh8 30.Rxh8 Kxh8 31.Qxf7 Qh4+ 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Kf2 Qh4+ 34.Kf1 Qh1+ 35.Kf2 1/2-1/2

Round Eight

Rapids Round 8, June 18, 2016
Carlsen, Magnus – Anand, Vishy
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Na3 Ne7 9.Nc2 O-O 10.Be3 Bxe3 11.Nxe3 Ng6 12.a5 Ng4 13.h3 Nxe3 14.fxe3 Qe7 15.Qb3 c6 16.d4 Be6 17.Bxe6 fxe6 18.Rad1 Rae8 19.Qb4 exd4 20.cxd4 e5 21.dxe5 dxe5 22.Qxe7 Rxe7 23.Rd6 Nh8 24.Nd2 Nf7 25.Rd3 Ng5 26.Rf5 h6 27.h4 Nh7 28.Nb3 Nf6 29.Nc5 Rff7 30.h5 Kh7 31.Rd8 g6 32.hxg6+ Kxg6 33.Rd6 Kg7 34.Ne6+ Kg6 35.Nd8 Rf8 36.g4 c5 37.b3 Ree8 38.Nxb7 1-0

Rapids Round 8, June 18, 2016
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 b5 10.Bd3 Bb7 11.a3 Rc8 12.b4 a5 13.Rb1 c5 14.bxc5 Bxf3 15.gxf3 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Rxc5 17.Rxb5 Nd5 18.Rxc5 Qg5+ 19.Kh1 Qh5 20.f4 Qf3+ 21.Kg1 Qg4+ 22.Kh1 Qf3+ 23.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 8, June 18, 2016
Aronian, Levon – Nakamura, Hikaru
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Bg5 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.e3 c5 8.dxc5 Nbd7 9.Rc1 Qa5 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Rxc3 Ne4 12.b4 Nxc3 13.Qa1 Qa4 14.Qxc3 a5 15.b5 Nxc5 16.Qxc5 Bf5 17.Qc3 Rfc8 18.Qa1 Qc2 19.Nd4 Qc1+ 20.Qxc1 Rxc1+ 21.Kd2 Rac8 22.Nxf5 R8c2+ 23.Kd3 Rxf2 24.Ne7+ Kh8 25.g3 Ra1 26.Kd4 Rc1 27.Bg2 Rd2+ 28.Ke5 f6+ 29.Kd6 Rc3 30.Rf1 h6 31.Rxf6 hxg5 32.Rf8+ Kh7 33.Bh3 g4 34.Bxg4 Rxe3 35.Bf5+ g6 36.Bxg6+ Kg7 37.Rg8+ 1-0

Rapids Round 8, June 18, 2016
Caruana, Fabiano – Kramnik, Vladimir
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Nbd2 Ne7 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 Bb6 10.Re1 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.a4 a6 13.Bf1 Nc6 14.a5 Ba7 15.Ra4 h6 16.Qc2 Re8 17.Bd3 Bg6 18.b3 Qd7 19.Bb2 Nh5 20.d5 Ne5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Nf3 Nf4 23.Nxe5 Qd6 24.Ng4 Nxd5 25.Rd1 Nf4 26.Qc3 Ne6 27.Bc2 Qc5 28.Rc4 Qg5 29.Rd5 Qh4 30.Kh2 c6 31.g3 Qe7 32.Nxh6+ Kh7 33.Nf5 cxd5 34.exd5 Qf6 35.Rh4+ Kg8 36.Nh6+ Kf8 37.Ba3+ Nc5 38.Bxc5+ Bxc5 39.Qxc5+ Qe7 40.Nf5 1-0

Rapids Round 8 June 18, 2016
MVL – Topalov, Veselin
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.Re1 e6 7.c3 b5 8.Bc2 c4 9.a4 Bb7 10.axb5 axb5 11.Rxa8 Qxa8 12.Na3 Be7 13.Nxb5 O-O 14.Qe2 Rc8 15.Na3 Ba6 16.d4 cxd3 17.Bxd3 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 Nc5 19.Qe2 Ncxe4 20.Ng5 d5 21.Nc2 Nc5 22.Be3 Qa6 23.Qxa6 Nxa6 24.Ra1 Nc7 25.Nd4 Bd6 26.Ngf3 Ne4 27.Nd2 Nxd2 28.Bxd2 Kf8 29.Kf1 Ke8 30.Ke2 Kd7 31.Kd3 g6 32.b4 e5 33.Nb3 e4+ 34.Kc2 Ra8 35.Rxa8 Nxa8 36.Be3 Nc7 37.Nd4 Be5 38.c4 dxc4 39.Kc3 Nd5+ 40.Kxc4 Nxe3+ 41.fxe3 Bxh2 42.Kd5 f5 43.b5 Bg1 44.Nc2 Kc7 45.Ke5 Kb6 46.Nd4 Kc5 47.Kf4 Bh2+ 48.g3 h5 49.Kg5 Bxg3 50.Kxg6 f4 51.Kf5 f3 52.Kxe4 f2 53.Nb3+ Kxb5 54.Nd2 Kc6 55.Kf3 h4 56.Nf1 Kd5 57.Nd2 Kc6 58.Nf1 Kc5 59.Nd2 Kd5 60.Kg2 Ke6 61.Ne4 Ke5 62.Nxf2 Bxf2 63.Kxf2 Ke4 64.Kg2 Kxe3 65.Kh3 Kf3 66.Kxh4 1/2-1/2

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 18, 2016

Rapids

Round Nine

GCT Leuven
Rapids Round 9, June 18, 2016
Kramnik, Vladimir – Carlsen, Magnus
A04 Reti

1.Nf3 e6 2.g3 b5 3.e4 Bb7 4.Qe2 c5 5.Bg2 a6 6.O-O Nf6 7.e5 Nd5 8.b3 Nc6 9.Bb2 Be7 10.Nc3 Nxc3 11.dxc3 O-O 12.Rad1 Qc7 13.c4 Rad8 14.h4 f6 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.cxb5 axb5 18.Qxb5 Nb4 19.Qe2 Nxa2 20.Qc4 Kh8 21.Ra1 Ra8 22.Rfe1 d5 23.Qg4 e5 24.h5 Bc8 25.Qh4 Bb7 26.Nh2 Nb4 27.Rxa8 Bxa8 28.c4 Nc2 29.Rd1 Nd4 30.cxd5 Qf7 31.Qe4 Rd8 32.h6 Bxd5 33.Qg4 Bxb3 34.Ra1 Be6 35.Qe4 Qg6 36.Ra8 Rg8 37.Rxg8+ Bxg8 38.Qxg6 hxg6 39.Ng4 c4 40.Nxf6 c3 41.Be4 c2 42.Bxc2 Nxc2 43.Nd7 e4 44.Nf6 e3 45.fxe3 Nxe3 46.g4 Nd5 47.Nxd5 Bxd5 48.g5 Kg8 49.Kf2 Kf8 50.Ke3 Bg8 51.Kd4 Ke8 52.Ke4 Kd7 53.Kd3 Ke6 54.Ke4 Bh7 0-1

Rapids Round 9, June 18, 2016
Topalov, Veselin – Aronian, Levon
A28 English, Four Knights, Marini Variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.a3 g6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O d6 8.d3 h6 9.Nd2 Ne7 10.b4 c6 11.e4 Be6 12.Bb2 Rc8 13.Ne2 Qd7 14.d4 Rfd8 15.Qc2 Bh3 16.Rad1 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 exd4 18.Bxd4 c5 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.b5 a6 21.a4 axb5 22.axb5 Ra8 23.Nf3 Bg7 24.Nf4 Ra3 25.Rd3 Rxd3 26.Qxd3 Nc8 27.Rd1 Re8 28.Nd5 Qg4 29.Re1 Kh8 30.h3 Qd7 31.Rd1 Qd8 32.Rd2 Nb6 33.Ra2 Nxd5 34.Qxd5 Qd7 35.Ra7 Re7 36.h4 Bf6 37.h5 g5 38.Nh2 Kg7 39.f3 Bd4 40.Ng4 Qe6 41.Qxe6 fxe6 42.Ra8 Rd7 43.Rc8 Bc3 44.Kf1 Ba5 45.Ke2 Rd8 46.Rxd8 Bxd8 47.f4 Bf6 48.Kf3 Bd4 49.f5 d5 50.cxd5 exd5 51.exd5 c4 52.Ke4 Bc5 53.f6+ Kf7 54.Ne5+ Kxf6 55.Nd7+ 1-0

Rapids Round 9, June 18, 2016
Anand, Vishy – so, Wesley
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.Nc4 Re8 8.Qe2 b5 9.Ne3 a5 10.O-O Nh5 11.g3 Bh3 12.Rd1 Qf6 13.Nh4 Nf4 14.Qf3 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Bg2 16.Qg4 Bh3 17.Qf3 Bg2 1/2-1/2

Rapids Round 9, June 18, 2016
Nakamura, Hikaru – Caruana, Fabiano
A05 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.c4 O-O 5.Be2 c5 6.d5 e6 7.Nc3 d6 8.O-O Re8 9.Nd2 Na6 10.e4 Nc7 11.Re1 b6 12.dxe6 Nxe6 13.Nf1 Nd4 14.f3 Nh5 15.Bd3 Be5 16.Be3 Nf4 17.Qd2 Qf6 18.Nd5 Nxd5 19.cxd5 Qd8 20.Rac1 a5 21.Bg5 Bf6 22.Bxf6 Qxf6 23.Qf2 b5 24.Ne3 Bd7 25.f4 a4 26.Bb1 a3 27.b3 Rac8 28.Rcd1 Re7 29.h3 h5 30.Rf1 Rce8 31.Rde1 Rxe4 32.Bxe4 Rxe4 33.Ng4 hxg4 34.Rxe4 gxh3 35.gxh3 Bxh3 36.Rfe1 Bg4 37.R4e3 Qf5 38.Rg3 Kg7 39.Qg2 Bh5 40.Qe4 Nf3+ 41.Kf2 Qxe4 42.Rxe4 Nd2 43.Re7 Kf6 44.Rge3 Bg4 45.Ra7 b4 46.Ra6 Kf5 47.Rd3 Ne4+ 48.Ke3 Bh3 49.Rd1 f6 50.Rg1 g5 51.fxg5 fxg5 52.Re1 Ke5 53.Ra8 Nc3 54.Rg8 Kxd5 55.Rxg5+ Kc6 56.Ra1 Kb5 57.Rg8 Bf5 58.Kd2 Bb1 59.Kc1 Be4 60.Rb8+ Kc6 61.Rh8 d5 62.Rh6+ Kb5 63.Rh5 c4 64.bxc4+ Kxc4 65.Rh8 d4 66.Kd2 Bc6 67.Rc8 Ne4+ 68.Ke1 Kc5 69.Ke2 Kd5 70.Rb8 Nc3+ 71.Kd2 Bb5 72.Rh1 Ne4+ 73.Ke1 Nc3 74.Rh5+ Kc4 75.Kd2 Bd7 76.Rb7 Ne4+ 77.Kc1 Bg4 78.Rhb5 Nc3 79.Rxb4+ Kc5 80.Rb3 Nxa2+ 81.Kd2 Nc3 82.Rxa3 Bf3 83.Rb8 Be4 84.Ra5+ Kc4 85.Rc8+ Kb4 86.Ra7 Nb1+ 87.Kc1 Nc3 88.Rd7 Nb5 89.Re7 Bf5 90.Rc6 Bd3 91.Kd2 Bc4 92.Rd7 Bf1 93.Rc1 Bc4 94.Rd8 Be6 95.Re8 Bd7 96.Re5 Nc3 97.Rh1 Kc4 98.Rh7 Bb5 99.Rc7+ Kb4 100.Rc8 Nb1+ 101.Kc1 Nc3 102.Kc2 Ba6 103.Rb8+ Kc4 104.Re7 Nd5 105.Ra7 Bb5 106.Kb2 Kc5 107.Ra5 Nc3 108.Kb3 Kc6 109.Rc8+ Kb6 110.Raa8 Bd7 111.Rab8+ Ka7 112.Rd8 Ne4 113.Kc4 Ng5 114.Rb2 Bc6 115.Rxd4 Nf7 116.Rd1 Bb7 117.Rxb7+ 1-0

Rapids Round 9, June 18, 2016
Giri, Anish – MVL
A30 English, Symmetrical

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.e3 Nf6 5.Be2 d5 6.d4 cxd4 7.exd4 e4 8.Ne5 dxc4 9.Qa4 Be7 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.d5 O-O 12.dxc6 Be6 13.Bxc4 Bxc4 14.Qxc4 Qc7 15.O-O Rfc8 16.Nxe4 Qxc6 17.Qxc6 Rxc6 18.Nxf6+ Bxf6 19.Rd1 Rc2 20.Rb1 h6 21.a4 Rb8 22.g3 Bg5 23.Bxg5 hxg5 24.b3 Ra2 25.Kg2 Rb6 26.Rd5 Rf6 27.Rf1 Rb6 28.Rxg5 g6 29.Rg4 Rxb3 30.Rc1 a5 31.Rcc4 Rbb2 32.Rgf4 Rc2 33.Rce4 Re2 34.Rxe2 Rxe2 35.Kf3 Ra2 36.h4 Kg7 37.Ke3 Ra3+ 38.Kd2 f5 39.Kc2 Kf6 40.Kd2 Ra2+ 41.Ke3 Ra3+ 42.Ke2 Ke6 43.Kf1 Ra1+ 44.Kg2 Rb1 45.g4 fxg4 46.Rxg4 Kf6 47.f3 Ra1 48.Rc4 Rb1 49.Kf2 Rb3 50.Kg3 Rb4 51.Rg4 Kf7 52.Kf2 Rb2+ 53.Ke3 Rb3+ 54.Ke2 Rb2+ 55.Kd3 Rb3+ 56.Ke2 Rb2+ 57.Ke3 Rb3+ 58.Kf2 Rb2+ 59.Kg3 Rb4 60.Re4 Kg7 61.Kf4 Rb3 62.Rc4 Kh6 63.Kg4 Rb4 64.Re4 Rb1 65.Kf4 Rb3 66.Kg3 Rb4 67.Kg4 Rb1 68.Re6 Rb4+ 69.f4 Rb1 70.Re5 Rg1+ 71.Kh3 Rh1+ 72.Kg3 Rg1+ 73.Kf3 Rf1+ 74.Kg3 Rg1+ 75.Kf2 Rg4 76.Kf3 Rxh4 77.Rxa5 Rh3+ 78.Ke4 Ra3 79.Ke5 Ra1 80.Ra8 Kh5 81.a5 Kg4 82.a6 Ra5+ 83.Kf6 Kxf4 84.Kxg6 Ke5 85.a7 Ra6+ 86.Kg5 Ra5 87.Kg4 Ra4+ 88.Kg3 1-0

Final Standings

1. Carlsen 12/18
2. So 11/18
3. Aronian 10/18
4. Anand 10/18
5. Caruana 9/18
6. Topalov 8/18
7. Giri 8/18
8. MVL 8/18
9. Kramnik 7/18
10. Nakamura 7/18
________

Magnus Carlsen won all his games today – against Giri, Topalov, Anand and Kramnik and was the winner of the rapids portion of the tournament.

Wesley So was the only unbeaten player. He is playing quiet drawish games

- Wesley So is slowly adjusting to his elite status, after the family trouble and Sinquefield debacle last year. I believe this year is a better year for him. I reckon he'll be a force in major tournaments next year when he's fully adjusted to his Top 10 stature.

Three players are within two points of Magnus [So, Aronian and Anand], while even Kramnik and Nakamura, at the bottom of the totals, are still within striking distance if they can go on a winning streak – something that you certainly wouldn’t rule out Hikaru doing after his performance in Paris.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 19, 2016

Blitz Pairings

Sunday, June 19

Round 1

Topalov-Anand
Carlsen-Aronian
MVL-Nakamura
Kramnik-So
Caruana-Giri

Round 2

Anand-Giri
So-Caruana
Nakamura-Kramnik
Aronian-MVL
Topalov-Carlsen

Round 3

Carlsen-Anand
MVL-Topalov
Kramnik-Aronian
Caruana-Nakamura
Giri-Carlsen

Round 4

Anand-So
Nakamura-Giri
Aronian-Caruana
Topalov-Kramnik
Carlsen-MVL

Round 5

MVL-Anand
Kramnik-Carlsen
Caruana-Topalov
Giri-Aronian
So-Nakamura

Round 6

Anand-Nakamura
Aronian-So
Topalov-Giri
Carlsen-Caruana
MVL-Kramnik

Round 7

Kramnik-Anand
Caruana-MVL
Giri-Carlsen
So-Topalov
Nakamura-Aronian

Round 8

Anand-Aronian
Topalov-Nakamura
Carlsen-So
MVL-Giri
Kramnik-Caruana

Round 9

Caruana-Anand
Giri-Kramnik
So-MVL
Nakamura-Carlsen
Aronian-Topalov

Monday June 20

Round 10

Anand-Topalov
Aronian-Carlsen
Nakamura-MVL
So-Kramnik
Giri-Caruana

Round 11

Giri-Anand
Caruana-So
Kramnik-Nakamura
MVL-Aronian
Carlsen-Topalov

Round 12

Anand-Carlsen
Topalov-MVL
Aronian-Kramnik
Nakamura-Caruana
So-Giri

Round 13

So-Anand
Giri-Nakamura
Caruana-Aronian
Kramnik-Topalov
MVL-Carlsen

Round 14

Anand-MVL
Carlsen-Kramnik
Topalov-Caruana
Aronian-Giri
Nakamura-So

Round 15

Nakamura-Anand
So-Aronian
Giri-Topalov
Caruana-Carlsen
Kramnik-MVL

Round 16

Anand-Kramnik
MVL-Caruana
Carlsen-Giori
Topalov-So
Aronian-Nakamura

Round 17

Aronian-Anand
Nakamura-Topalov
So-Carlsen
Giri-MVL
Caruana-Kramnik

Round 18

Anand-Caruana
Kramnik-Giri
MVL-So
Carlsen-Nakamura
Topalov-Aronian

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

June 19, 2016

Blitz Rounds 1 to 9

The Standings After Blitz Round 5 are:

1. Carlsen 15/23
2. So 14/23
3. Anand 13/23
4. Aronian 12.5/23
5. Caruana 10.5/23
6. Topalov 10/5/23
7. Kramnik 10/23
8. Nakamura 10/23
9. MVL 10/23
10. Giri 9.5/23

Wesley So is trailing right behind Magnus Carlsen

GCT Leuven

Blitz Round 1, June 19, 2016

Topalov-Anand 1/2-1/2
Carlsen-Aronian 1/2-1/2
MVL-Nakamura 0-1
Kramnik-So 1-0
Caruana-Giri 1-0

Blitz Round 2, June 19, 2016

Anand-Giri 1/2-1/2
So-Caruana 1-0
Nakamura-Kramnik 1/2-1/2
Aronian-MVL 1/2-1/2
Topalov-Carlsen 0-1

Blitz Round 3, June 19, 2016

Carlsen-Anand 1/2-1/2
MVL-Topalov 1/2-1/2
Kramnik-Aronian 1-0
Caruana-Nakamura 1/2-1/2
Giri-So 1/2-1/2

Blitz Round 4, June 19, 2016

Anand-So 1/2-1/2
Nakamura-Giri 1-0
Aronian-Caruana 1-0
Topalov-Kramnik 1/2-1/2
Carlsen-MVL 0-1

Blitz Round 5, June19, 2016

MVL-Anand 0-1
Kramnik-Carsen 0-1
Caruana-Topalov 0-1
Giri-Aronian 1/2-1/2
So-Nakamura 1-0

________

GCT Leuven
Blitz Round 1, June 19, 2016
MVL-Nakamura, Hikaru
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O Re8 7.Nbd2 a6 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Nc4 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Bg5 b5 12.Na5 Qd7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.g4 Bg6 15.Qe2 Bb6 16.Nb3 Rad8 17.Rad1 Re6 18.Rd2 Rd6 19.Rfd1 c5 20.Kg2 a5 21.Na1 h5 22.Kg3 Qc6 23.Nh4 c4 24.Nxg6 fxg6 25.Nc2 hxg4 26.hxg4 cxd3 27.Rxd3 Qc4 28.Ne1 f5 29.gxf5 gxf5 30.exf5 R8d7 31.f6 Rxf6 32.Qh5 Rg7+ 33.Kh3 Qe6+ 34.Kh2 Rh6 0-1

Blitz Round 1, June 19, 2016
Kramnik, Vladimir – So, Wesley
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Nf6 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Bxf3 Nbd7 7.d3 Bc5 8.Nd2 O-O 9.Bg2 a5 10.c4 c6 11.e3 a4 12.d4 Bd6 13.Qc2 Re8 14.Rd1 Qc7 15.Rb1 b5 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.Qxc7 Bxc7 18.e4 dxe4 19.Nxe4 Rab8 20.Nc3 Rec8 21.Bf1 b4 22.Nxa4 Nd5 23.Bd2 Ra8 24.Nc5 Nxc5 25.dxc5 Be5 26.Bg2 Rcb8 27.Bf4 Bxf4 28.gxf4 Rd8 29.Bxd5 exd5 30.Rd4 Kf8 31.Rxb4 Rxa2 32.Rd4 Rb8 33.b4 Re8 34.c6 Ree2 35.Rxd5 Rec2 36.Rc5 Rxc5 37.bxc5 Ke7 38.Rb8 1-0

Blitz Round 2, June 19, 2016
So, Wesley – Caruana, Fabiano
D40 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch, Symmetrical Variation

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.e3 e6 5.d4 d5 6.a3 a6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.b4 Ba7 9.Bb2 O-O 10.Qc2 Bd7 11.Rd1 Rc8 12.cxd5 exd5 13.Be2 d4 14.exd4 Bg4 15.d5 Ne7 16.Qb1 Bf5 17.Bd3 Bg4 18.Be2 Bf5 19.Qa1 Ng6 20.Nd4 Bg4 21.O-O Nf4 22.Bxg4 Nxg4 23.Nf3 Qd6 24.Rd2 Rfe8 25.Kh1 Bb8 26.g3 Qh6 27.Qb1 Qh3 28.Rg1 Re5 29.Qf1 Qh6 30.gxf4 Nxh2 31.Nxh2 Rh5 32.Qg2 Bxf4 33.Qxg7+ Qxg7 34.Rxg7+ Kxg7 35.Ne2+ Be5 36.Ng3 Rg5 37.Nf3 Bxb2 38.Nxg5 Bxa3 39.Rd4 Kf6 40.Nf3 Rd8 41.Kg2 b6 42.Ne4+ Kf5 43.Ned2 a5 44.bxa5 bxa5 45.Nc4 Bc5 46.Ne3+ Kf6 47.Rf4+ Ke7 48.Nf5+ Kf8 49.Nh6 Kg7 50.Nf5+ Kf8 51.Nh6 Kg7 52.Nxf7 Rxd5 53.N7e5 Bd6 54.Rg4+ Kf6 55.Nc6 h5 56.Ra4 Bc7 57.Ncd4 Bb6 58.Kf1 Ke7 59.Ke2 Kd6 60.Kd3 Ke7 61.Ke4 Rc5 62.Ne5 h4 63.Ng6+ Kf6 64.Nxh4 Re5+ 65.Kd3 Re1 66.Nhf3 Rd1+ 67.Ke2 Rb1 68.Rc4 Rb2+ 69.Ke3 Ke7 70.Ne5 Kd6 71.Ke4 a4 72.Rxa4 Rxf2 73.Nc4+ Kc5 74.Ne5 1-0

Blitz Round 2, June 19, 2016
Topalov, Veselin – Carlsen, Magnus
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f3 Nbd7 9.g4 Nb6 10.g5 Nh5 11.Qd2 Be7 12.O-O-O O-O 13.Kb1 Rc8 14.Rg1 g6 15.h4 Qc7 16.Qf2 Nc4 17.Bxc4 Qxc4 18.Nc1 b5 19.Nb3 b4 20.Na4 Rc7 21.Nb6 Qb5 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.Rxd5 Qd7 24.Qe2 Rfc8 25.Rc1 Qh3 26.Qf2 f5 27.gxf6 Nxf6 28.Ra5 Nh5 29.Bg5 Rf8 30.Qd2 Qxf3 31.Bxe7 Rxe7 32.Qxd6 Qf6 33.Qxb4 Qxh4 34.Rxa6 Nf4 35.a4 Ref7 36.Qc4 Kg7 37.a5 h5 38.Rb6 Qf2 39.Nc5 h4 40.Qc3 Re7 41.a6 Ne2 42.Qb4 Nxc1 43.Rb7 Rff7 44.Rxe7 Rxe7 45.Nd3 Qf6 46.Nxc1 h3 47.Qc3 h2 48.Qh3 Qf2 0-1

Aronian beat Caruana using a spectacular queen sortie that could well end up as the Move of the Week (17. Qg5!!)

Blitz Round 4, June 19, 2016
Aronian, Levon - Caruana, Fabiano
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 c5 7.Rc1 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nc6 9.e3 b6 10.Nb5 a6 11.Nd6 Qe7 12.Ne4 g5 13.Nxf6+ Qxf6 14.Bg3 d5 15.h4 g4 16.Qxg4+ Kh8 17.Qg5 Bxc3+ 18.bxc3 Qxf2+ 19.Kxf2 hxg5 20.hxg5+ Kg7 21.cxd5 exd5 22.c4 Be6 23.cxd5 Bxd5 24.Bd3 Rh8 25.Rxh8 Kxh8 26.e4 Nb4 27.Rh1+ Kg8 28.exd5 Nxd3+ 29.Ke3 Nb4 30.Be5 f6 31.Bxf6 Nxd5+ 32.Ke4 Nxf6+ 33.gxf6 Rc8 34.Kf5 Rc5+ 1-0

[Hans Jung]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Eric Hansen - your looking good as youngest commentator on the worlds best commentating team. Taking on Maurice Ashley's job - those are big shoes to fill! Really enjoying the commentary - however it would be nice to see more concrete variations (although I understand there seem to be alot of technical difficulties).
Keep up the good work!

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Had Magnus not beat Wesley in R8, Ding Liren would be the new #1 blitz player in the world.

http://www.2700chess.com/blitz

[Hans Jung]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Despite his sensational blunder Magnus Carlsen is still the Triple Crown Champion! but congratulations to Ding none the less.
On a lesser note in the top 100 regular live both Nigel Short and Hou Yifan have disappeared which just shows how competitive the top 100 is. (I thought for one, that Nigel Short would have remained on that list much longer)

[Jack Maguire]

Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven, 2016

Despite his sensational blunder Magnus Carlsen is still the Triple Crown Champion! but congratulations to Ding none the less.
On a lesser note in the top 100 regular live both Nigel Short and Hou Yifan have disappeared which just shows how competitive the top 100 is. (I thought for one, that Nigel Short would have remained on that list much longer)

I'm a bit surprised that Nigel's peak rating was 'only' 2712, Hans, the same as David Howell and a point below Luke McShane. and 49 points below that of the 2761 registered by Adams.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...ak_FIDE_rating

This rather makes the world's top junior, Richard Rapport, and his current surge through 2750 all the more impressive. (: