Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

[Hans Jung]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Im really enjoying this tournament. Thanks to the players for the show.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Candidates Tournament Berlin 2018

March 15, 2018

Round Five

The players have come to play. Don't let the number of draws in this round fool you into believing otherwise.

The premier game was Aronian-Grischuk. Aronian's chances would cycle up and then go down, then up and down. At the end, when the players agreed to a draw, chessbomb was reporting a piece blunder by Black when there wasn't one.

On chess24, Peter and Ian went through topic after topic, being fed by the chat room guys: Peter, which non-current player would you most liked to have played a game against? (Ans. Tal), Peter and Jan, what new TV series would you recommend? Peter and Jan, how long have you known each other? Is there an equivalent in chess to Brad Gilbert's "winning ugly"? Who is your current favorite player in cricket, Peter? Should Alphazero play the candidates? Do you agree with Ben Finegold that Morphy would have been 2700+ nowadays? Peter can you tell me some stuff about hearthstone so I can post on reddit to get some karma? Peter, who do you think is the most promising junior player in the world today? Peter, who are your favourite poets? Peter, can you cure my depression?

Impossible to keep track of all the comments. If anything above interests you, review the recording!

The Round Five Games

Round 5, Mar. 15
Aronian, Levon - Grischuk, Alexander
A65 Benoni, Samisch formation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.e4 e6 6.Nc3 exd5 7.cxd5 Bg7 8.Nge2 Nbd7 9.Ng3 h5 10.Be2 Nh7 11.Bf4 Qe7 12.Qd2 h4 13.Nf1 g5 14.Be3 Ne5 15.g3 Bd7 16.gxh4 gxh4 17.Rg1 f5 18.f4 Ng4 19.e5 dxe5 20.d6 Qe6 21.Nb5 Rc8 22.Nc7+ Rxc7 23.dxc7 exf4 24.Rd1 Ng5 25.c8=Q+ Bxc8 26.Qd8+ Kf7 27.Qc7+ Kg8 28.Rd6 Qf7 29.Qd8+ Qf8 30.Bxf4 Ne6 31.Bc4 Qxd8 32.Rxd8+ Kh7 33.Rxh8+ Bxh8 34.Bd6 Ng5 35.Rg2 Ne4 36.Bb8 Bd4 37.h3 Ne5 38.Bd5 Nd3+ 39.Ke2 Nc1+ 40.Kd1 Nd3 41.Nd2 Nf6 42.Bf3 1/2-1/2

Nigel Short (tweet) - I must admit that the difference between 24.Rd1 (=) and 24.0-0-0 (completely winning) is not obvious at first glance - even with an engine! I guess I will now have to look at it properly!

Position in Aronian-Grischuk after Black's Qf7. What should White play here?



Round 5, Mar. 15
Caruana, Fabiano - Karjakin, Sergey
E01 Catalan, Closed

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Qb3 c6 7.O-O dxc4 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Nbd2 c5 11.dxc5 Na6 12.Nb3 Be4 13.Qc3 Rc8 14.Be3 Nd5 15.Qd2 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Nxc5 18.Nxc5 Bxc5 19.Qb3 Qb6 20.e3 Be7 21.Rfd1 Rc7 22.Rac1 Rfc8 23.Rxc7 Rxc7 24.Kg2 g6 25.Rd2 Kg7 26.Rc2 Rxc2 27.Qxc2 Qc5 28.Qxc5 Bxc5 29.b3 f5 30.a4 bxa4 31.bxa4 1/2-1/2

Round 5, Mar. 15
Ding Liren - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.Nc3 h6 13.Bc1 a5 14.b3 Qe7 15.Bb2 Rfd8 16.Rac1 Ba3 17.Bxa3 Qxa3 18.Nb5 Qe7 19.Qc2 Bxf3 20.Bxf3 c6 21.Nc3 Nb6 22.e3 e5 23.dxe5 Qxe5 24.Rfd1 g6 25.Rd2 Rd7 26.Rxd7 Nbxd7 27.Rd1 h5 28.Rd4 Nc5 29.h4 Kg7 30.Kg2 Ne6 31.Rd1 1/2-1/2

Round 5, Mar. 15
So, Wesley - Kramnik, Vladimir
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Bb4+ 9.Bd2 Bxd2+ 10.Qxd2 O-O 11.Bc4 Nd7 12.O-O b6 13.Rad1 Bb7 14.Rfe1 Rc8 15.Bb3 Re8 16.h3 Nf6 17.Qf4 Nh5 18.Qe5 Nf6 19.Qf4 Nh5 20.Qh2 h6 21.d5 exd5 22.exd5 Rxe1+ 23.Nxe1 Qf6 24.Nd3 Ba6 25.Qe5 Bxd3 26.Qxh5 Bc2 27.Rc1 Bf5 28.Rxc8+ Bxc8 29.d6 g5 30.Qd1 Bd7 31.Qd5 Kg7 32.Qb7 Qa1+ 33.Kh2 Qe5+ 34.Kg1 Qxd6 35.Qxa7 h5 36.Qb7 h4 37.Qf3 Qe7 38.Qc3+ f6 39.Qc4 Qe8 40.Qb4 b5 41.a3 Qe5 42.Bd1 Bc6 43.Bf3 Be8 44.Kf1 Bf7 45.Be2 Be8 46.Bf3 f5 47.Kg1 Bf7 48.Qd2 Kg6 49.Qc1 Be6 50.Qc6 Kf6 51.Qe8 Qa1+ 52.Kh2 Qxa3 53.Qd8+ Qe7 54.Qh8+ Qg7 55.Qd8+ Kg6 56.Qe8+ Qf7 57.Qxb5 Qc7+ 1/2-1/2

Final position in So vs Kramnik



Standing after Round Five

Caruana 3.5
Mamedyarov 3.0
Kramnik 3.0
Ding Liren 2.5
Aronian 2.5
Grischuk 2.5
Karjakin 1.5
So 1.5

[Hans Jung]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

The Shak wins to tie for the lead with Fab Fabi. We have to hope that Vlad Kramnik doesnt collapse with his second loss.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Wesley So gets his first win and is out of the cellar and back in the tournament recovering from his tough start.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

We are hoping Levon Aronian recovers from this tough loss.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Candidates Tournament Berlin 2018

March 16, 2018

Round Six

From Peter Doggers at chess.com

https://www.chess.com/news/view/fide...-beats-aronian

By beating Vladimir Kramnik today, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov caught Fabiano Caruana in first place at the 2018 FIDE Candidates' Tournament. Wesley So scored his first win in this sixth round, at the expense of Levon Aronian.

If stamina will be playing an important role in this Candidates'- and why wouldn't it, in a tournament that lasts 14 rounds - things are looking grim for the two oldest participants, Levon Aronian (35) and Vladimir Kramnik (42). Both lost their second game today, and we're not even halfway yet.

Levon Aronian recovered well from that horrible loss against Kramnik which was, apart from brilliant play by his opponent, also not a very good game by himself. But after his win against Karjakin, yesterday's multiple missed wins must have hit him hard.

Today Aronian was unlucky enough that Wesley So played his best game so far; a "masterpiece" according to eight-time Russian champion Peter Svidler.

Even though it was only the sixth round, Vladimir Kramnik hinted that his big mistake in his game with Shakhriyar Mamedyarov was the result of tiredness - he mentioned the "long games" he had played before.

The other two games ended of draws, with one hardly deserving a mention, and the other being quite interesting. Guess in which of the two Alexander Grischuk was involved?

The Russian GM, who played Fabiano Caruana, took the "initiative" in yet another fun press conference, by stating: "It was a bit strange to fight against what I consider to be one of my best opening inventions." He was referring to the calm e2-e3 against the King's Indian/Grunfeld, with one of the ideas being that White is happy to play a Benoni a tempo down.

"Benoni means 'son of sorrow', that is well known. I like everything that is connected with sorrow. I cannot say I played that greatly but I enjoyed somehow. Even yesterday, I could resign immediately but I still was enjoying the game very much."

Asked about "the perfect game," Grischuk replied:

"Today's is the closest one, definitely I don't see mistakes even after the game for neither of players."

"So the perfect game is the one without mistakes?"

"Or mistakes only by your opponent, it's even better!"
__________

Round 6, Mar. 16
Ding Liren - Karjakin, Sergey
D73 Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.c4 dxc4 6.O-O O-O 7.Na3 c5 8.dxc5 c3 9.Nb5 Na6 10.Nxc3 Nxc5 11.Nd4 Qb6 12.Be3 Qxb2 13.Ncb5 Ne6 14.Rb1 Qxa2 15.Ra1 Qb2 16.Rb1 Qa2 17.Ra1 Qb2 18.Rb1 1/2-1/2

Round 6, Mar. 16
Caruana, Fabiano - Grischuk, Alexander
E60 King's Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 c5 6.d5 e6 7.Nc3 exd5 8.cxd5 d6 9.Nd2 Na6 10.O-O Nc7 11.e4 Re8 12.a4 Rb8 13.f3 a6 14.a5 Bd7 15.Nc4 Bb5 16.Bg5 Bxc4 17.Bxc4 b5 18.axb6 Rxb6 19.Na4 Rb4 20.b3 Qc8 21.Bf4 Qd7 22.Ra2 Nh5 23.Be3 Rbb8 24.Qd2 Nb5 25.g4 Nf6 26.Nb2 Qc8 27.Bf4 Nd7 28.Bxb5 axb5 29.Bxd6 Rb6 30.Bg3 c4 31.bxc4 bxc4 32.Qe2 Rb4 33.Bd6 Rb6 34.Bg3 Rb4 35.Bd6 Rb6 36.Bg3 1/2-1/2

Position in Caruana-Grischuk after Black's 35..Rb6



Round 6, Mar. 16
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Kramnik, Vladimir
D35 QGD, Exchange variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 c5 7.Rb1 Be7 8.Bb5+ Bd7 9.Bd3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nc6 11.Be2 Rc8 12.Nf3 Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Bb4 14.Rb2 Bxd2+ 15.Qxd2 Qxd2+ 16.Kxd2 Na5 17.Rbb1 Ke7 18.Rhc1 f6 19.h4 Rhd8 20.Bd3 a6 21.Ke3 b5 22.g4 Be8 23.Ng1 Nc6 24.Ne2 Rd6 25.Rd1 Rcd8 26.Bc2 Na5 27.Bd3 Nc6 28.Bc2 h5 29.g5 fxg5 30.e5 R6d7 31.hxg5 h4 32.g6 Na5 33.Rbc1 Rc7 34.Bd3 Rdc8 35.Rxc7+ Rxc7 36.Rh1 Nc4+ 37.Kf4 Nb2 38.Be4 b4 39.Rxh4 Nd1 40.f3 Nc3 41.Nxc3 bxc3 42.Rh2 Rc8 43.Ke3 Bb5 44.f4 Bc4 45.Rh7 Rg8 46.a3 a5 47.Bc2 Kd7 48.d5 Bxd5 49.Kd4 Ba2 50.Kxc3 Kc6 51.Rh2 Kc5 52.Rd2 Rh8 53.Rd7 Rh3+ 54.Kb2 Bd5 55.Rxg7 Kd4 56.Rh7 Rg3 57.Rh5 Rg2 58.Rg5 Rf2 59.g7 Be4 60.g8=Q Rxc2+ 61.Kb3 Rc3+ 62.Ka4 Rc5 63.Rg2 Bf3 64.Qd8+ 1-0

Position after Black's 34..Rdc8



Round 6, Mar. 16
So, Wesley - Aronian, Levon
C88 Ruy Lopez, Closed, anti-Marshall

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4 b4 9.a5 d6 10.d3 Be6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nbd2 Rb8 13.Nb3 Qc8 14.h3 Nd8 15.Be3 c5 16.Nbd2 Nc6 17.c3 Rb5 18.d4 exd4 19.cxd4 Nxa5 20.dxc5 dxc5 21.Ra2 Qb7 22.b3 Kh8 23.Qc2 Nd7 24.Rea1 Bd8 25.Nc4 Nxc4 26.Qxc4 Bf6 27.Rd1 Qc6 28.Rad2 Nb6 29.Qc2 Qc7 30.e5 Be7 31.Nd4 Rc8 32.Nxe6 Qxe5 33.Nf4 Rf8 34.Re2 Qc3 35.Qb1 Qf6 36.Bc1 c4 37.bxc4 Nxc4 38.Re6 Qg5 39.Ng6+ Qxg6 40.Rxg6 hxg6 41.Qe4 Bf6 42.Qxc4 b3 43.Ba3 Rfb8 44.Rb1 b2 45.h4 Ra5 46.Qd3 Rd8 47.Qb3 Rc8 48.Qb7 Rd8 49.Qb3 Rc8 50.Qb4 Rb5 51.Qg4 Rc3 52.Bxb2 Rxb2 53.Rxb2 Rc1+ 54.Kh2 Bxb2 55.Qxg6 Ra1 56.g4 a5 57.Qh5+ Kg8 58.Qb5 Ba3 59.Qe5 Rd1 60.Qe6+ Kh7 61.Qe4+ Kh8 62.Qa8+ Kh7 63.Qxa5 Bd6+ 64.Kg2 Rd4 65.Qf5+ Kh8 66.Qh5+ Kg8 67.g5 Kf8 68.Qg6 Be7 69.Qf5+ Ke8 70.Kh3 Rd6 71.Qh7 Kf7 72.f4 Rd4 73.Qf5+ Ke8 74.Qe5 Rb4 75.Kg4 Kf8 76.Qf5+ Ke8 77.Qe6 Rd4 78.Qe5 1-0

Position after White's 18.d4



On-line Comments

Hikaru Nakamura - Such a huge fan of watching Lev play when he's on, but it's incredibly frustrating to see him always melt down in this one single event.

- This last game by Wesley was simply brilliant strategically. Simply amazing. Reminded me of the genius of Fischer

- So's game reminds this oldtimer of Fischer-Spassky, game 10. In a Ruy, Fischer sacrificed a queenside pawn, even though his pieces were "hiding on the first 3 ranks. But they suddenly, magically sprang to life with a kingside attack. This is what So did. Wondering if he thought of that game while playing this one.

Wouldn't surprise me if, believe it or not, So makes a run at it. Already fatigue is an issue (see Kramnik), and So is the youngest player. And he had 4 of 6 with the black pieces, he will have 5 whites remaining.

Youth will be served. Fabiano, Ding, and Mamedyarov are in form. (So, no so much.)
-- Like Keres, Aronian may never become world champion.
-- Like Walter Browne, Grischuk is torn between 2 loves: chess and gambling.
-- Like Anand, Kramnik is a champion, but his time has passed.
_________

Standing after Round Six

Caruana 4
Mamedyarov 4
Kramnik 3
Ding Liren 3
Grischuk 3
Aronian 2.5
So 2.5
Karjakin 2.0

Next Round, Sunday with

Grischuk-Mamedyarov
Kramnik-Ding Liren
Karjakin-So
Aronian-Caruana

[Brian Clarke]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Eric: " What do you do with passed pawns?"
Yaz: "Push 'em baby! Push 'em baby!"

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Eric: " What do you do with passed pawns?"
Yaz: "Push 'em baby! Push 'em baby!"

Aronian down two pawns, he pushed em baby but didn't capture on g6. His opening prep didn't go that deep?

Talking about Kramnik's g5-g4 against Aronian's h3, which was prepared two years ago, brought Story time with Yasser talking about innos. Half the time he never got to play them, or came out by somebody else. Larsen and Fischer and other Westerners developed ideas, but Russians always renamed them. Many "Moscow" variations, but no New York [But there is for Benoni and Reti?]. And Yasser mentioned the Wilkes-Barre.

Modern players are better defenders. For rook endgames Yasser recommended playing the games of Akiba Rubinstein.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Candidates Tournament Berlin 2018

March 18, 2018

Round Seven

During the early commentary, Peter told Jan that when he went back to his hotel from Jan's place, he found that a light fixture had fallen from the ceiling onto his suitcase. Fortunately, he was not there when it fell. Jan said that a light fixture had fallen in the studio, perhaps because of a heavy storm last night.

CT readers might remember a whole quote on falling objects in chess. See:

Great Chess Quotes

http://forum.chesstalk.com/showthrea...-quotes/page15

See Quote #298, August 16, 2016

_________

It looked like Grischuk had possibilities but Mamedyarov went for a position where a draw gave both players a second rest day! A year ago, the old impetuous Shakh would have rushed into a speculative attack.

Round 7, Mar. 18
Grischuk, Alexander - Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 g5 7.Bg3 Ne4 8.Qc2 h5 9.h3 Nc6 10.e3 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Nxg3 12.fxg3 Qd6 13.Qf2 Qa3 14.Qc2 Qd6 15.Qf2 Qa3 16.Qc2 1/2-1/2

Karjakin-So seemed drawish. Evidently, So lost on time. 35..Ke8 did not help.

Round 7, Mar. 18
Karjakin, Sergey - So, Wesley
E51 Nimzo-Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 d5 6.Bd2 c5 7.a3 cxd4 8.axb4 dxc3 9.Bxc3 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Qxd1+ 11.Kxd1 Bd7 12.Ke2 Rc8 13.Bd3 Nd5 14.Ne5 Be8 15.Bd2 f6 16.Nc4 Rd8 17.Rhc1 Nc6 18.Be4 Ndxb4 19.Bxb4 Nxb4 20.Bxb7 Rab8 21.Rxa7 Rd7 22.Na5 Nd3 23.Rd1 Nxb2 24.Rxd7 Bxd7 25.Bc6 Bxc6 26.Nxc6 Re8 27.e4 Nc4 28.Kd3 Nd6 29.f4 Kf8 30.e5 fxe5 31.fxe5 Nf5 32.g4 Nh4 33.Kc4 Nf3 34.Ra2 Rc8 35.Kb5 Ke8 36.Kb6 g5 37.h3 Nxe5 38.Nxe5 Rc3 39.Rh2 Ke7 40.Kb5 Re3 1-0

Position after White's 35.Kb5



When Aronian played 16.g4, it was questioned by Peter and Jan. And also by Nigel Short

Nigel Short - Did Lev Aronian really play 16.g4? That has to be a mouseslip. I would not have predicted that if you would have given me 10 guesses

Round 7, Mar. 18
Aronian, Levon - Caruana, Fabiano
D24 QGA

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Bxc4 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.e5 Qd8 11.Ne4 O-O 12.Qe2 Be7 13.Rad1 Qc7 14.Bd3 Nd7 15.Rc1 Qa5 16.g4 Nxe5 17.Nxe5 Qxe5 18.f4 Qa5 19.g5 Qd8 20.h4 Bd7 21.gxh6 g6 22.h5 Kh8 23.Kh2 Bc6 24.Rf3 Bd6 25.Qf2 Bc7 26.Kh3 Qe7 27.Ng5 e5 28.Rxc6 bxc6 29.Nxf7+ Rxf7 30.hxg6 Rf6 31.g7+ Kg8 32.Bc4+ Kh7 33.Qh4 e4 34.Rg3 Bxf4 35.g8=Q+ Rxg8 36.Bxg8+ Kh8 37.Rg7 Qf8 0-1

Position in Aronian-Caruana after 16.g4



Don't forget that this is a double round-robin, so Caruana meets Levon again in Round 13.


Kramnik-Ding Liren still in progress.

To be concluded

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Candidates Tournament Berlin 2018

March 18, 2018

Round Seven continued

The chat room is now talking about Caruana as the winner of the Candidates.

Shakh is only half a point behind him at the moment. He is World No. 2 with a rating of 2816.5; Caruana is No.3 at 2799.1

After this game Kramnik said, "White is better but in time trouble I could not find a win"

Perhaps one should give Ding Liren some credit and say that both Black and White stood slightly better during the game.

Chessbomb kibitzers

- Definitely an amazing display by kramnik, even if he tried to press too hard
- The endgame alone deserved a study
- White was winning all the time, I just needed one more tempo (Kramnik)
- I think you can tell that Ding is feeling annoyed by Kramnik in the press conference. K. making him play for six hours and then claiming that White was "much better" at a bunch of points
- Almost winning and winning are two different stories. Especially if the position is probably not even winning
- If anyone was almost winning in this game, it was Black

The almost winning game

Round 7, Mar. 18
Kramnik, Vladimir - Ding Liren
A26 English, Closed System, Modern line

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d3 g6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O d6 8.b3 Nd4 9.Nd2 c6 10.e3 Ne6 11.Bb2 Nc5 12.Qc2 a5 13.Rae1 Re8 14.h3 Bf5 15.e4 Bd7 16.Ne2 b5 17.d4 exd4 18.Nxd4 Rc8 19.N4f3 d5 20.exd5 Rxe1 21.Rxe1 cxd5 22.cxb5 Bf5 23.Qd1 Nd3 24.Bd4 Rc1 25.Qxc1 Nxc1 26.Rxc1 Ne4 27.Nf1 Bxd4 28.Nxd4 Qb6 29.Bxe4 dxe4 30.Nxf5 gxf5 31.a4 Qe6 32.Ne3 Qxb3 33.Rc4 h5 34.h4 Kh7 35.Kg2 f6 36.Rd4 Kg6 37.Rc4 Kf7 38.Kh2 Kg6 39.Kg1 Qb1+ 40.Kg2 Qb3 41.Rd4 Kf7 42.Rd5 Qxa4 43.Rxf5 Kg6 44.b6 Qb3 45.Rxa5 Qxb6 46.Rd5 Qb2 47.Rf5 Qa2 48.Rc5 Qe2 49.Rc4 Qa2 50.Rb4 Qa5 51.Rb8 Qa2 52.Rd8 Qa5 53.Rd5 Qa2 54.Rf5 Qe6 55.Rd5 Qa6 56.g4 hxg4 57.h5+ Kf7 58.Rd7+ Ke6 59.Rg7 Qe2 60.h6 Qf3+ 61.Kg1 g3 62.Rxg3 Qh5 63.Rg7 f5 64.h7 f4 65.Ng4 Qh3 66.Rg6+ Kf5 67.Rg7 Ke6 68.Rg6+ Kf5 69.Nh6+ Kxg6 70.h8=Q Qxh6 71.Qe8+ Kf5 72.Qb5+ Kg4 73.Qe2+ Kf5 74.Qb5+ 1/2-1/2

Kramnik-Ding after Black's 27..Bxd4



Kramnik-Ding after White's 65.Ng4




Standing after Round Seven

Caruana 5
Mamedyarov 4.5
Grischuk 3.5
Kramnik 3.5
Ding Liren 3.5
Karjakin 3
Aronian 2.5
So 2.5

Round Eight Pairings

Grischuk-Kramnik
Mamedyarov-Karjakin
Ding Liren-Aronian
So-Caruana

[Hal Bond]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Wesley did indeed flag on move 40. I was covering his game. Kramnik -Liren had reached move 40 already and Klaus was looking after Aronian-Caruana. Wesley was obviously displeased with himself after dropping his Knight and he appeared entranced as his clock ticked down. He snapped out of it and played 40...Re3 but he was about half a second too late.

Kramnik's Rook and Knight were a fascinating match for Ding Liren's Queen. I thought Vlad was in trouble after the Queenside pawns were gone, and again after 63...Qh5 but 64. Rg7 sets up a tactic to preserve his h pawn. Kramnik offered a draw on move 68 but Liren wanted more proof. Kramnik obliged and it was drawn 6 moves later.

Mamedyarov claimed the threefold by recording (but not playing!) 16...Qd6. Draws by agreement are not allowed until Black has completed move 30.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Fabulous Fabiano leas at the half with +3. More importantly he hasnt lost. If he can stay solid he will probably win the candidates. Although probably it is too early to predict. Seven rounds of fighting chess left to play.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

It started with a healthy discussion of the So - Caruana positions between Uncle Yaz and Eric (Yasser taking White and Eric Black) Next I heard Eric say: Im going to cure you of the pawn hunting. At least thats what I think I heard. Uncle Yaz is still laughing.

[Hans Jung]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Im loving the So - Caruana game. What is going on?? Thanks for the entertainment guys.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: Candidates Tournament 2018 Berlin

Candidates Tournament Berlin 2018

March 19, 2018

Round Eight

Peter gives this anecdote of his early chess life:

"My first ever serious chess book was "How to Beat Bobby Fischer" by Edmar Mednis. I tore it apart and had reread it fifteen times by the time I was nine. It was kinda embarrassing because the book was loaned to my father by his work colleague and we were supposed to return it and by the time I was done with it, it was unreturnable. It was a translation, not the original but quite well produced and rare for the Soviet Union.

It created some difficulties for my dad because it had to be compensated for in some way. I loved that book."

The games

Round 8, Mar. 19
So, Wesley - Caruana, Fabiano
C42 Petrov, Cozio (Lasker) Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Qe2 Qe7 6.d3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.Bxe2 g6 9.Bg5 Bg7 10.O-O-O O-O 11.Rhe1 h6 12.Bh4 Nc6 13.d4 a6 14.a3 Bd7 15.d5 Na7 16.Nd4 Nc8 17.Nb3 g5 18.Bg3 Re8 19.Na5 b5 20.f3 Nh5 21.Bf2 Nf4 22.Bf1 Nb6 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Bxb6 cxb6 25.Nb7 Be5 26.Ne4 Rb8 27.Nexd6 Ng6 28.g3 Ne7 29.a4 Nf5 30.Nxf5 Bxf5 31.Re1 f6 32.Rxe5 fxe5 33.Nd6 Bd7 34.axb5 axb5 35.Bxb5 Bxb5 36.Nxb5 Rf8 37.Kd2 Rxf3 38.Ke2 g4 39.Nd6 h5 40.Nc4 b5 41.Nxe5 Rf5 42.Ng6 Kf7 43.Nf4 h4 44.Ng2 hxg3 45.hxg3 Rf3 46.Ne3 Rxg3 47.c4 bxc4 48.d6 Ke6 49.Nxc4 Rf3 50.d7 Rf8 51.Ne3 g3 52.d8=Q Rxd8 53.Kf3 Rd3 54.Kf4 Rb3 55.Ng2 Kd5 56.Nh4 Kc4 57.Kg4 Rd3 58.b4 Rb3 59.b5 Kd5 60.b6 Ke4 61.b7 Rxb7 62.Kxg3 Rg7+ 63.Kf2 Rg4 64.Ng2 Rxg2+ 65.Kxg2 1/2-1/2

Round 8, Mar. 19
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Karjakin, Sergey
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 c6 8.a4 b6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Nxc4 c5 11.Rd1 Nbd7 12.b3 Rc8 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Nfe5 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Qc7 16.Nxd7 Nxd7 17.Qe4 Nf6 18.Qf3 Qc6 19.Qxc6 Rxc6 20.f3 Rfc8 21.e4 Kf8 22.Bf4 Be7 23.Rd3 Rd8 24.Rxd8+ Bxd8 25.Rd1 Be7 26.Ne5 Rc2+ 27.Rd2 Rc3 28.Rd3 Rc2+ 29.Rd2 Rc3 30.Rd3 Rc2+ 1/2-1/2

Round 8, Mar. 19
Ding Liren - Aronian, Levon
A15 English, Neo-Catalan

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxc4 c5 7.d4 Bc6 8.dxc5 Nbd7 9.Be3 Bd5 10.Qc2 Be4 11.Qc1 Ng4 12.b4 a5 13.Bg5 f6 14.Bd2 axb4 15.Bxb4 Nxc5 16.Bxc5 Rc8 17.Qc4 Bxc5 18.Qxe6+ Kf8 19.Qxg4 Bb4+ 20.Nbd2 Bxd2+ 21.Nxd2 Bxg2 22.Rg1 Bd5 23.Rd1 Qc7 24.Ne4 Rd8 25.f3 Qe5 26.Qf4 Qxf4 27.gxf4 Kf7 28.Nc3 Bc4 29.a4 Rxd1+ 30.Kxd1 Rd8+ 31.Kc2 Rc8 32.Kd2 Ba6 33.Ne4 Kf8 34.f5 Rd8+ 35.Ke3 Rd5 36.Rc1 Rxf5 37.Rc8+ Ke7 38.Rc7+ Kf8 39.Rc8+ Ke7 40.Rc7+ Kf8 41.Rc8+ 1/2-1/2

On Kramnik in this tournament:

Peter: All this conversation on whether Kramnik will keep playing on we have had before.

Jan: And also, we like food and Kramnik is keeping us from ever eating it.

A seven-hour game, where Kramnik could have had draw two different times.


Round 8, Mar. 19
Grischuk, Alexander - Kramnik, Vladimir
D40 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch Defence

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nf3 c5 5.e3 dxc4 6.Bxc4 a6 7.Bb3 b5 8.e4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bb7 10.e5 Ne4 11.O-O Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.a4 Bc5 14.axb5 axb5 15.Rxa8 Bxa8 16.Nxb5 O-O 17.Qxd8 Rxd8 18.Bf4 h6 19.h4 Ne7 20.Rd1 Rb8 21.Bc4 Bc6 22.Nd4 Be4 23.h5 Nd5 24.Bxd5 Bxd5 25.Be3 Rc8 26.Re1 Bc4 27.Nf3 Ba3 28.Bd4 Bd3 29.Nd2 Bb2 30.Nf1 Rc4 31.Re3 Bf5 32.Ng3 Bh7 33.Kh2 Bc1 34.Re2 Bf4 35.Kh3 Ra4 36.Kg4 Bc1 37.Kf3 Bd3 38.Re1 Bb2 39.Ke3 Bc2 40.Kd2 Bb3 41.Rb1 Ra2 42.Kd3 Ba4 43.Ne4 Ba3 44.Ke3 Bc2 45.Re1 Bb3 46.g4 Bd5 47.Kd3 Be7 48.Rb1 Ra8 49.f4 Bh4 50.Rh1 Bd8 51.Rb1 Bc7 52.Ke3 Kh7 53.Nd6 Kg8 54.Rb5 Bc6 55.Rb4 Bd8 56.Bb6 Bh4 57.Bd4 Bg2 58.Rb2 Bc6 59.Rb6 Bg2 60.Rb2 Bc6 61.Rb3 Bg3 62.c4 Bh2 63.f5 exf5 64.Nxf5 Kh7 65.Bb2 Re8 66.Nd6 Re7 67.Rb8 f6 68.Rc8 Bh1 69.Nf5 Rb7 70.exf6 Rb3+ 71.Bc3 gxf6 72.Kd2 Bf4+ 73.Kc2 Rb8 74.Rxb8 Bxb8 75.Ne7 Be4+ 76.Kd2 Bf4+ 77.Ke2 Kg7 78.Nf5+ Kf7 79.Bd2 Be5 80.Bxh6 Ke6 81.Be3 Bxf5 82.gxf5+ Kxf5 83.h6 Kg6 84.c5 f5 85.Kf3 Kf7 86.Bf4 Bd4 87.c6 Ke7 88.c7 Kd7 89.h7 Kc8 90.Ke2 Kd7 91.Kd3 1-0

Position after White's 69.Nf5



Chessbomb kibitzers

- For Kramnik, it was win or lose - a draw was to accept that the tournament was over - better to risk and lose, than to meekly accept that fate
- But Bd2 was brutal
- Kudos for Grischuk for this one!
- 79.Bd2!! What a killer

The official coverage had beautiful shots of the endgame and resignation