2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

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  • 2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

    2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

    May 14, 2019

    The 2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour tournament will be the first of two classical events and the second stop on the 2019 Grand Chess Tour. The tournament is hosted in partnership between the Grand Chess Tour and Chess Club e4 from Zagreb and will see all 12 full tour participants compete over 11 rounds of classical chess for a prize fund of $325, 000.

    DATES
    June 26 – July 8, 2019

    VENUES
    Mimara Museum (Opening Ceremony) & Novinarski Dom (Tournament Games)

    FORMAT
    12 Player Round Robin

    PRIZE FUND
    $325,000

    Participants

    1 Vishy Anand
    2 Levon Aronian
    3 Fabiano Caruana
    4 Magnus Carlsen
    5 Ding Liren
    6 Anish Giri
    7 Sergey Karjakin
    8 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov
    9 Hikaru Nakamura
    10 Ian Nepomniachtchi
    11 Wesley So
    12 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

    Schedule

    Round 1 June 26
    Round 2 June 27
    Round 3 June 28
    Round 4 June 29
    Round 5 June 30
    Round 6 July 1

    Rest Day

    Round 7 July 3
    Round 8 July 4
    Round 9 July 5
    Round 10 July 6
    Round 11 July 7

    Playoff (if required) July 8

    Starting time 16:30 (GMT+1) – 10:30AM Toronto/Montreal

    https://grandchesstour.org/2019-gran...and-chess-tour

  • #2
    I'll be in Paris on vacation with my family. My kids would be very happy to see some of their chess heroes. Does anyone know where the tournament is going to take place?

    https://grandchesstour.org/2019-gran...CT-Rapid-Blitz

    Comment


    • #3
      Canal+ studios at Boulogne-Billancourt

      https://www.chess.com/article/view/c...ments-calendar

      Comment


      • #4
        Thank you Randy.

        Comment


        • #5
          2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

          June 16, 2019

          The English language commentary team for the tournament will be:

          Jovanka Houska
          Yasser Seirawan
          Alejandro Ramirez

          In St. Louis and live from the site

          Maurice Ashley

          https://www.facebook.com/GrandChessTour

          Remember the other dates on the Grand Chess Tour 2019:

          Paris Rapid & Blitz July 26-August 2
          Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz August 8-15
          The Sinquefield Cup August 15-30
          Superbest Rapid & Blitz Bucharest November 4-11
          Tata Steel India Rapid & Blitz November 20-27
          The Final Four Face Off in London November 30-December 10

          Comment


          • #6
            2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

            June 24, 2019

            Maurice Ashley promotional video for the Croatia Grand Chess Tour


            Maurice: Hello everyone and welcome to Belgrade, Serbia. We are standing in front of the historic Sava Centar. It is an absolutely historic place in the history of chess because, in first place, Garry Kasparov became the first player to ever break the 2800 barrier, right here in this building in 1990 and, two years later, Boris Spassky played against Bobby Fischer in a return match, which saw Fischer return to playing chess twenty years after winning in 1972.

            A great place in the history of chess. I’m excited to be here. I couldn’t imagine when growing up watching these historic events unfold that I would one day be standing on this historic spot.

            https://twitter.com/MauriceAshley?re...ess-news.ru%2F

            You can also see his breakfast at the Berry Bar on Skadarlija Street in the Bohemian Quarter of Belgrade.

            ____________

            In November 19-27, 1989, Garry Kasparov played in Belgrade garnering first prize with 9.5 out of 12 ahead of Ehlvest, Timman, Yusupov, Ljubojevic, Hjartarson, Agdestein etc. Garry’s result of three points ahead of the field, put his ELO rating over 2800 and that was awarded in January of 1990.

            ____________

            I certainly don’t want to argue politics but this stop in the Grand Chess Tour says “Croatia” and the tournament takes place in Serbia. One assumes some form of cooperation between the two.

            Comment


            • #7
              No competition. Tournament takes place in Zagreb, capital of Croatia.
              Maurice probably visited Belgrade, capital of Serbia, while he was there as Zagreb & Belgrade are only about 400km apart.
              He also visited Kalemegdan park where people play chess outdoor. It looks like he missed big traditional simultaneous chess game in Belgrade.

              https://www.blic.rs/slobodno-vreme/v...-od-11/9ypmm6t

              Comment


              • #8
                2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

                June 26, 2019

                Pairings

                Round 1, June 26

                Giri-Carlsen
                Caruana-Nakamura
                So-Ding Liren
                MVL-Aronian
                Anand-Nepo
                Mamedyarov-Karjakin

                Round 2, June 27

                Carlsen-Anand
                Nepo-Caruana
                Ding Liren-Karjakin
                Aronian-Giri
                Nakamura-Mamedyarov
                So-MVL

                Round 3, June 28

                Caruana-Carlsen
                MVL-Ding Liren
                Giri-So
                Anand-Aronian
                Mamedyarov-Nepo
                Karjakin-Nakamura

                Round 4, June 29

                Carlsen-Mamedyarov
                Aronian-Caruana
                Ding Liren-Nakamura
                MVl-Giri
                Nepo-Karjakin
                So-Anand

                Round 5, June 30

                Karjakin-Carlsen
                Caruana-So
                Giri-Ding Liren
                Anand-MVL
                Mamedyarov-Aronian
                Nakamura-Nepo

                Round 6, July 1

                Carlsen-Nakamura
                Ding Liren-Nepo
                MVL-Caruana
                Giri-Anand
                Aronian-Karjakin
                So-Mamedyarov

                Rest Day, July 2

                Round 7, July 3

                Nepo-Carlsen
                Caruana-Giri
                Anand-Ding Liren
                Mamedyarov-MVL
                Karjakin-So
                Nakamura-Aronian

                Round 8, July 4

                Ding Liren-Carlsen
                Anand-Caruana
                Giri-Mamedyarov
                Aronian-Nepo
                So-Nakamura
                MVL-Karjakin

                Round 9, July 5

                Carlsen-Aronian
                Caruana-Ding Liren
                Karjakin-Giri
                Mamedyarov-Anand
                Nakamura-MVL
                Nepo-So

                Round 10, July 6

                So-Carlsen
                Caruana-Mamedyarov
                Ding Liren-Aronian
                Giri-Nakamura
                MVL-Nepo
                Anand-Karjakin

                Round 11, July 7

                Carlsen-MVL
                Karjakin-Caruana
                Nepo-Giri
                Mamedyarov-Ding Liren
                Nakamura-Anand
                Aronian-So

                Houska, Seirawan and Ramirez and commentating in English
                Miroshnichenko and Khachiyan in Russian
                Rabiega and Berger in German
                Cuenca and Anton in Spanish

                16:30 Zagreb time is 10:30 AM Toronto/Montreal (starting time)
                Last edited by Wayne Komer; Wednesday, 26th June, 2019, 10:58 AM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

                  June 26, 2019

                  Round 1

                  An unusually decisive first round

                  Round 1, June 26
                  Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
                  B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

                  1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.Bxc6 bxc6 5.d3 Ne7 6.h4 h5 7.e5 d6 8.exd6 Ng6 9.Nfd2 Bxd6 10.Nc4 Be7 11.Nc3 Ba6 12.Qf3 Bxc4 13.Qxc6+ Kf8 14.dxc4 Nxh4 15.O-O Nf5 16.Ne2 Rc8 17.Qa4 Rc7 18.Bf4 Rd7 19.c3 g5 20.Rad1 Rxd1 21.Rxd1 Qa8 22.Bc7 h4 23.f3 h3 0-1

                  Position after 17.Qa4

                  

                  Maurice Ashley: Giri plays 17.Qa4 and immediately bells go off – The Queen’s away and the mice will play – because you don’t put the queen so far from your King – it will cause problems in the long run.

                  Round 1, June 26
                  Caruana, Fabiano – Nakamura, Hikaru
                  D37 QGD, Hastings variation

                  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.a3 Nc6 9.Qc2 Qa5 10.Rd1 Re8 11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Qb1 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Ne4 16.Nxd5 Nxg5 17.b4 Qd8 18.bxc5 Nde6 19.Qf5 Nxc5 20.h4 Nge6 21.Nf3 Qa5+ 22.Ke2 f6 23.h5 e4 24.Nd2 Qxa3 25.Rh4 Rad8 26.Nxe4 Qa2+ 27.Ke1 Qa5+ 28.Kf1 Nxe4 29.Rxe4 Qa4 30.Rb1 Ng5 31.Rd4 Nf7 32.Rxb7 Qa6 33.Qb1 Rf8 34.Kg1 Kh8 35.c5 Rc8 36.Nf4 Ne5 37.h6 g6 38.Rd6 Qc4 39.Re6 Rxc5 40.Ree7 1-0

                  Position after 24…Qxa3

                  

                  - Naka was too greedy!

                  Round 1, June 26
                  So, Wesley – Ding, Liren
                  A20 English, Kingside Fianchetto

                  1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 O-O 6.Nge2 d5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd5 cxd5 10.exd4 Bb6 11.Nc3 Nc6 12.Be3 Be6 13.O-O Qd7 14.Na4 Rfd8 15.Nxb6 axb6 16.Qb3 Ra6 17.Rfc1 Bh3 18.Bf3 Bg4 19.Bg2 Bh3 20.Bf3 Bg4 21.Bh1 h5 22.h4 Be2 23.Kh2 Qf5 24.Bg2 Na5 25.Qc3 Nc6 26.b3 b5 27.Qd2 Bf3 28.Bf1 Rb6 29.Bf4 Rc8 30.Rc3 Bg4 31.f3 b4 32.Rd3 Bxf3 33.Rxf3 Ne5 34.dxe5 Rc2 35.Rf2 Rxd2 36.Rxd2 Rc6 37.Bh3 Qg6 38.Rad1 Ra6 39.Bg2 d4 40.Bxb7 Ra5 41.Rxd4 Rxa2+ 42.R1d2 Qb6 43.Rxa2 Qxd4 44.Rd2 Qc3 45.Bd5 Kf8 46.Bc4 Ke7 47.Bg5+ f6 48.exf6+ gxf6 49.Re2+ Kd7 50.Bd2 1-0

                  Round 1, June 26
                  MVL – Aronian, Levon
                  C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

                  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Ne7 10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.Nc3 Ng6 12.b3 Be7 13.Ne4 h5 14.Re1 Kf8 15.Bb2 c5 16.Rad1 Bf5 17.c4 Nf4 18.Bc1 Ne6 19.Neg5 Rh6 20.Ne4 Rh8 21.Neg5 Rh6 22.Nxe6+ Rxe6 23.Bg5 Re8 24.Rd5 b6 25.Kh2 a5 26.Kg3 a4 27.Kf4 Bc2 28.Bxe7+ Kxe7 29.Re3 axb3 30.axb3 f6 31.h4 Ra8 32.b4 Ra4 33.Rc3 c6 34.Rd2 Bg6 35.bxc5 bxc5 36.Rb2 Kf8 37.Rb8+ Re8 38.Rb6 Re6 39.Kg3 Bf7 40.exf6 gxf6 41.Nd2 Re2 42.Rb8+ Kg7 43.Rd8 Ra2 44.Rcd3 Be6 45.Re3 Rexd2 46.Rxd2 Rxd2 47.Rxe6 Rd4 48.Rxc6 Rxc4 49.Kf3 Rxh4 50.Rxc5 1/2-1/2

                  Round 1, June 26
                  Anand, Vishy – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
                  C55 Two Knights Defence

                  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 h6 5.c3 d6 6.Nbd2 g5 7.h3 Bg7 8.Bb3 O-O 9.Nf1 Ne7 10.h4 g4 11.N3h2 d5 12.f3 Ng6 13.fxg4 Nxh4 14.g3 Ng6 15.Qe2 a5 16.Bc2 d4 17.g5 hxg5 18.Bxg5 a4 19.c4 Qd6 20.Nd2 Ra6 21.Rb1 Nh7 22.Qh5 Nxg5 23.Qxg5 Qe7 24.Qxe7 Nxe7 25.Nhf3 f5 26.Bd1 Bd7 27.Nh4 Bh6 28.exf5 Nxf5 29.Ne4 Be3 30.Be2 Rh6 31.Rh2 Bc6 32.Rg2 Nd6 0-1

                  Round 1, June 26
                  Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Karjakin, Sergey
                  E20 Nimzo-Indian, Kmoch variation

                  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 O-O 6.e4 b5 7.e5 exd5 8.exf6 d4 9.a3 Ba5 10.b4 dxc3 11.bxa5 Qxf6 12.Qd5 Re8+ 13.Kf2 c2 14.Ra2 Bb7 15.Qd2 bxc4 16.Rxc2 d5 17.Bb2 Qh4+ 18.g3 Qe7 19.Ne2 Nc6 20.a6 Bxa6 21.Qxd5 Bb7 22.Qe4 Nb4 23.Qxe7 Nd3+ 24.Kg2 Ne1+ 25.Kf2 Nd3+ 26.Kg2 Ne1+ 27.Kf2 1/2-1/2

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

                    June 27, 2019

                    Round 2

                    Yasser Seirawan – A horrifying turn-around in Nepo-Caruana. And further, numbers 1, 2 and 3 have erred egregiously in their games.

                    Round 2, June 27
                    Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Caruana, Fabiano
                    B33 Sicilian, Pelikan variation
                    
                    1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.a4 Be7 10.Bd2 O-O 11.a5 a6 12.Na3 Nd7 13.Nc4 f5 14.Bb4 Rf6 15.Qd2 Rg6 16.g3 e4 17.h4 b5 18.axb6 Nxb6 19.Na5 Bd7 20.O-O-O Bf6 21.Nc6 Qe8 22.Kb1 Kh8 23.h5 Rh6 24.Qe3 Na4 25.c3 Rxh5 26.Rxh5 Qxh5 27.Be2 Qe8 28.Kc2 h6 29.Qf4 a5 30.Nxa5 Nxc3 31.bxc3 Ba4+ 32.Kb1 Bxd1 33.Bxd1 Qb5 34.Nb3 Bg5 35.Qxf5 Qf1 36.Qg4 Rf8 37.Kb2 Rxf2+ 38.Bc2 Qc4 39.Qe6 Bf6 40.Qxd6 Rxc2+ 41.Kxc2 Qd3+ 42.Kb2 e3 43.Qe6 e2 44.Ka3 Bg5 45.d6 Qa6+ 46.Kb2 Qd3 47.d7 Kh7 48.c4 Bf6+ 49.Ka3 Qc2 50.Qxf6 1-0

                    Position after 34.Nb3

                    

                    - Caruana made so many bad decisions in this game

                    - This game is wild. I thought Fabi was winning earlier

                    - Not a perfectly played game but a very entertaining one

                    Round 2, June 27
                    Aronian, Levon – Giri, Anish
                    E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

                    1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.d4 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.Nbd2 h6 13.Bxf6 Nxf6 14.Rfd1 Qe7 15.Ne1 Bd5 16.Qc2 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 c5 18.dxc5 Bxc5 19.Rac1 Bb4 20.Qc7 Qe8 21.Qxb7 Bxd2 22.Rxd2 Qxa4 23.Nd3 Nd5 24.Qc6 Qa5 25.Rdd1 Rfb8 26.Qc4 Ra7 27.Qc5 Qxc5 28.Rxc5 g5 29.Rdc1 Kg7 30.R1c4 Rab7 31.h4 Rb3 32.hxg5 hxg5 33.Ra5 Nb4 34.Ne5 Rb7 35.Nf3 f6 36.Nd4 Rxb2 37.Nxe6+ Kg6 38.Nd4 Rd2 39.Rac5 a5 40.Rxa5 Rxd4 41.Rxd4 Nc6 42.Raa4 Nxd4 43.Rxd4 Rb2 44.Kf3 Kf7 45.e4 Ke6 46.Ke3 f5 47.Rd5 Rb3+ 48.Rd3 Rb2 49.f3 Rg2 50.exf5+ Kxf5 51.g4+ Kg6 52.Rd6+ Kg7 53.Ke4 Rf2 54.Kf5 Rxf3+ 55.Kxg5 Ra3 1/2-1/2

                    Round 2, June 27
                    So, Wesley – MVL
                    A30 English, symmetrical

                    1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.b3 Bg7 5.Bb2 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.O-O O-O 8.Nc3 d5 9.Nxd5 Nxd5 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.cxd5 Qxd5 12.d4 cxd4 13.Qxd4+ Qxd4 14.Nxd4 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 a5 16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Rac1 Na6 18.Nb5 a4 19.bxa4 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Nc5 21.Nc3 Nxa4 22.Nxa4 Rxa4 23.Rc2 Kf6 24.Rc6+ Kg7 25.Rxb6 Rxa2 26.Kf1 Ra1+ 27.Kg2 Ra2 28.Kf1 Ra1+ 29.Kg2 1/2-1/2

                    Round 2, June 27
                    Nakamura, Hikaru – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
                    D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

                    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bb5+ c6 8.Ba4 O-O 9.Nf3 c5 10.O-O cxd4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.Rb1 Nc6 13.d5 Na5 14.h3 Bxf3 15.Qxf3 a6 16.Bf4 b5 17.Bc2 Rc8 18.Qe2 Nc4 19.Rbd1 Qb6 20.h4 Rfd8 21.h5 Be5 22.Bc1 Bb2 23.Bf4 Be5 24.Bc1 Bb2 25.Bf4 Be5 1/2-1/2

                    Round 2, June 27
                    Carlsen, Magnus – Anand, Vishy
                    D24 QGA

                    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bb5+ Bd7 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bxd7+ Nxd7 13.O-O Qxc3 14.Qa4 O-O 15.Nxe6 Nb6 16.Qd4 Rfc8 17.Qxc3 Rxc3 18.Nf4 Rc5 19.Rfd1 f5 20.exf5 Rac8 21.f6 Rf5 22.g3 Rxf6 23.Rd3 Rfc6 24.Ra3 Rc1+ 25.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 26.Kg2 Nc8 27.Rd3 Rc7 28.Rd8+ Kg7 29.h4 Ne7 30.Nh5+ Kh6 31.Nf6 Kg6 32.Ne8 Rc6 33.Rd7 Re6 34.h5+ Kh6 35.Nd6 f5 36.Nxb7 Ng8 37.Nd6 Nf6 38.Nxf5+ Kg5 39.Nd4 Nxd7 40.Nxe6+ Kxh5 41.Kf3 Kg6 42.Kf4 Kf6 43.Ng5 h6 44.Ne4+ Ke6 45.Kg4 Ke5 46.f3 Kd4 47.Kf5 Ke3 48.f4 h5 49.Ng5 Nc5 50.Kg6 Kf2 51.f5 Kxg3 52.Ne6 Nd7 53.Kxh5 Kf3 54.Kg5 Ke4 55.Nc7 a5 56.Nb5 Kd3 57.Kg6 a4 58.Kf7 Ne5+ 59.Kf6 Nf3 60.Ke7 Kc2 61.f6 Ng5 62.Nd4+ Kb2 63.Ne6 Nh7 64.f7 Kxa2 65.Ng5 a3 66.Nxh7 Kb1 67.f8=Q a2 68.Qf5+ Kb2 69.Qe5+ Kb1 70.Qe4+ Kb2 71.Qe2+ Kb1 72.Nf6 a1=Q 73.Nd5 Qg7+ 74.Kd6 Qf8+ 75.Ke5 Qe8+ 76.Kd4 Qxe2 77.Nc3+ Ka1 78.Nxe2 1/2-1/2

                    Position after 72….a1=Q

                    

                    At the post-game interview with Maurice - Vishy Anand - "At one point I thought it was over. He's won harder endgames than this, and I've lost easier ones."

                    Round 2, June 27
                    Ding, Liren – Karjakin, Sergey
                    E00 Queen’s Pawn game

                    1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Qc2 c6 9.Rc1 Re8 10.a3 a5 11.Bf4 Ne4 12.Nc3 g5 13.Be3 Nd6 14.b3 Nf5 15.Qd3 g4 16.Nd2 Nxe3 17.Qxe3 Bg5 18.Qd3 dxc4 19.Nxc4 Bxc1 20.Rxc1 Nb6 21.Ne5 f5 22.e4 Qg5 23.Ne2 Nd7 24.Nf4 Nxe5 25.dxe5 Rd8 26.Qe3 Bd7 27.h4 gxh3 28.Bxh3 Be8 29.Qc5 Bh5 30.exf5 exf5 31.e6 Rd1+ 32.Rxd1 Bxd1 33.Bxf5 Qf6 34.Bd3 Bf3 35.Qe3 Bd5 36.Nh5 Qe7 37.Qe5 Rf8 38.g4 h6 39.f4 b5 40.b4 axb4 41.axb4 Bxe6 42.f5 Qa7+ 43.Kf1 Qf7 44.Kf2 Qa7+ 45.Kf1 Qf7 46.Kf2 Qa7+ 47.Kg2 Bd5+ 48.Kh3 Qf7 49.Kh4 Qa7 50.Kh3 Qf7 51.Kh4 Qa7 1/2-1/2

                    A draw agreed when Sergey had only 36 seconds left for the entire game. Ding Liren had 1 minute 15 seconds.

                    Standings after Round Two


                    1 Nepomniachtchi 2
                    2-3 Carlsen, So 1.5
                    4-8 Caruana, MVL, Mamedyarov, Aronian, Karjakin 1.0
                    9-12 Ding Liren, Nakamura, Giri, Anand 0.5
                    Last edited by Wayne Komer; Thursday, 27th June, 2019, 04:17 PM.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Of all the superstars Nepo is the only one in first with a perfect score! Many more fighting games to come Im sure.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

                        June 28, 2019

                        Round 3

                        Nepo makes it three straight and leads the tournament

                        Round 3, June 28
                        Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
                        E61 King’s Indian

                        1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.O-O e5 8.b3 Re8 9.h3 e4 10.Nd2 h5 11.b4 Nf8 12.Re1 Bf5 13.Bb2 Qd7 14.Nd5 Nxd5 15.cxd5 Qe7 16.Rc1 Nh7 17.Qc2 Qg5 18.Qxc7 Bxh3 19.Bf1 Bf8 20.Qxb7 Nf6 21.Qa6 Bc8 22.Qa4 Bd7 23.Qd1 Bg4 24.f3 exf3 25.Nxf3 Qh6 26.Qb3 h4 27.Ne5 h3 28.Nxg4 Nxg4 29.gxh3 Nxe3 30.Rc3 Nf5 31.Rd1 Qh5 32.Rf3 Bh6 0-1

                        Position after 26.Qb3?

                        


                        Chessbomb kibitzers

                        - Looks like Nepo will be on 3 of 3
                        - Ian is playing crazy chess eery day
                        - Nepo doesn’t even bother to spend time on thinking
                        - Mame didn’t make any serious blunder and his position is lost
                        - Nepo close to getting into the 2800 club
                        -Nepo has finally broken through. This might be his time to contend for the Candidates
                        - I would love to see a Nepo-Carlsen WCC match

                        Round 3, June 28
                        MVL – Ding, Liren
                        C50 Giuoco Piano

                        1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 O-O 7.Re1 a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh7 11.d4 Bb6 12.dxe5 h5 13.h4 Bg4 14.hxg5 Nxg5 15.exd6 h4 16.Bh2 Qf6 17.Nbd2 cxd6 18.Be2 Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Ne5 20.Rf1 h3 21.Bg4 d5 22.Bxh3 Rae8 23.Kh1 dxe4 24.Bxe5 Rxe5 25.Qg4 Bxf2 26.Nc4 e3 27.Nxe3 Rxe3 28.Rxf2 Qxf2 29.Qxg5+ Kh8 30.Qh6+ Kg8 31.Qg5+ Kh8 32.Qh6+ Kg8 33.Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

                        Round 3, June 28
                        Anand, Vishy – Aronian, Levon
                        C53 Giuoco Piano

                        1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6.O-O d6 7.Re1 O-O 8.Nbd2 Ba7 9.Nf1 Na5 10.Bb3 Nxb3 11.axb3 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Qe8 14.b4 Qe6 15.Be3 Bxe3 16.Nxe3 c6 17.Qf5 Qxf5 18.Nxf5 Rad8 19.Rad1 Rfe8 20.Ne3 Kf8 21.f3 d5 22.Kf2 Rd7 23.Ng4 Nxg4+ 24.hxg4 Red8 25.exd5 Rxd5 26.Ke2 Rb5 27.Rd2 a5 28.bxa5 Rxa5 29.Red1 Ke7 30.g5 e4 31.f4 exd3+ 32.Rxd3 Rxd3 33.Rxd3 Ra2 34.Rd2 f6 35.gxf6+ Kxf6 36.g4 h6 37.Kf3 Ke6 38.Ke4 Ra4+ 39.Kf3 Ra2 40.Ke4 Ra4+ 41.Kf3 1/2-1/2

                        Round 3, June 28
                        Giri, Anish – So, Wesley
                        C50 Giuoco Piano

                        1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.h3 d6 7.c3 a6 8.Re1 h6 9.Nbd2 Ba7 10.a4 Re8 11.b4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Rxe6 13.Bb2 b5 14.d4 Re8 15.axb5 axb5 16.Qe2 exd4 17.Qxb5 dxc3 18.Bxc3 Ne5 19.Qb7 Bb6 20.Bxe5 dxe5 21.Rxa8 Qxa8 22.Qxa8 Rxa8 23.Nxe5 Bd4 24.Nc6 Bc3 25.Rd1 Bxd2 26.Rxd2 Nxe4 27.Re2 Nd6 28.Rc2 Ra1+ 29.Kh2 Kf8 30.Ne5 Ra7 31.Nc6 Ra1 32.Ne5 Ra7 33.Nc6 Ra1 1/2-1/2

                        Today is Anish’s 25thbirthday today

                        Round 3, June 28
                        Karjakin, Sergey – Nakamura, Hikaru
                        D37 QGD, Hastings variation, main line

                        1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.Rd1 Qa5 10.a3 Re8 11.Nd2 e5 12.Bg5 Nd4 13.Qb1 Bf5 14.Bd3 Bxd3 15.Qxd3 Ne4 16.Ndxe4 dxe4 17.Qd2 Ne6 18.Nxe4 Qxd2+ 19.Rxd2 f5 20.Nxc5 Nxc5 21.f3 Rac8 22.O-O e4 23.Rd5 Ne6 24.Rxf5 exf3 25.R1xf3 Nxg5 26.Rxg5 Rxc4 27.h3 Rc1+ 28.Kh2 Rc2 29.Rb5 b6 30.a4 h6 31.a5 bxa5 32.Rb7 Rf8 33.Kg3 a6 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.Rb6 Kf7 36.Rxa6 Rxb2 37.Rxa5 g5 38.Kf3 Kg6 39.Ra6+ Kg7 40.h4 gxh4 41.Ra4 h3 42.gxh3 Kf6 43.Rf4+ Ke7 44.Rh4 Rb6 45.e4 Kf7 46.Kf4 Rf6+ 47.Ke5 Ra6 48.Rf4+ Ke7 49.Rf5 Ra3 50.h4 Ra1 51.Kf4 Rf1+ 52.Ke3 Re1+ 53.Kd3 Rd1+ 54.Ke2 Ra1 55.Rh5 Kf6 56.Kd3 Rd1+ 57.Ke3 Re1+ 58.Kd4 Rd1+ 59.Kc5 Ke6 60.Kc4 Kf6 61.Rd5 Rh1 62.h5 Ke6 63.Rb5 Rd1 64.Ra5 Rc1+ 65.Kd4 Rd1+ 66.Ke3 Re1+ 67.Kf3 Rf1+ 68.Ke2 Rb1 69.Ra6+ Ke5 70.Rxh6 Kxe4 71.Rh8 Kf5 72.h6 Kg6 73.Kf3 Rb3+ 74.Ke2 Rb2+ 75.Kd3 Rb7 76.h7 Rxh7 77.Rxh7 Kxh7 1/2-1/2

                        Round 3, June 28
                        Caruana, Fabiano – Carlsen, Magnus
                        C80 Ruy Lopez, open

                        1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 Be7 7.Re1 b5 8.Rxe4 d5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.Rxe5 bxa4 11.Nc3 O-O 12.Re1 Bd6 13.Qh5 a3 14.Nxd5 axb2 15.Bxb2 Rb8 16.Rab1 Re8 17.Ne3 Bf4 18.d5 Rb4 19.c4 Bxe3 20.Rxe3 Rxe3 21.fxe3 Rxc4 22.Bd4 c5 23.Ba1 f6 24.h3 Qe7 25.Qf3 h6 26.Re1 Re4 27.Kf2 Bd7 28.Rd1 Kh7 29.Rd2 Qe8 30.Bb2 Ra4 31.a3 Rc4 32.Re2 Qg6 33.e4 Ba4 34.d6 Bc6 35.Qg3 Qxg3+ 36.Kxg3 Kg6 37.e5 fxe5 38.Bxe5 h5 39.Bb2 h4+ 40.Kh2 Kf5 41.Bxg7 Re4 42.Rxe4 Kxe4 43.Bf6 c4 44.Bxh4 c3 45.Bf6 c2 46.Bb2 Kd5 47.g4 Kxd6 48.Kg3 Bb5 49.Kf3 Ke7 50.h4 Kf8 51.h5 Be8 52.Kg3 Kg8 53.Kh4 Kh7 54.Kg5 Bd7 55.Kf4 a5 56.Kg5 a4 57.Kf4 Be6 58.g5 Bf7 59.g6+ Bxg6 60.hxg6+ Kxg6 61.Ke5 Kf7 62.Kd6 Ke8 63.Bc1 Kd8 64.Kc6 Kc8 65.Bf4 c1=Q+ 66.Bxc1 Kb8 67.Kb6 Ka8 68.Bf4 1/2-1/2

                        Around about Black’s 53rdmove, Kh7, this position arose and the following dialogue appeared in chessbomb:

                        

                        - I’m new to chess; can’t white just exchange bishops and win with his pawn majority?

                        - How are you going to exchange bishops?


                        Standings after Round Three

                        1 Nepomniachtchi 3
                        2-3 Carlsen, So 2
                        4-7 Caruana, MVL, Aronian,Karjakin 1.5
                        8-12 Ding LIren, Giri, Mamedyarov, Anand, Nakamura 1

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          2019 Croatia Grand Chess Tour

                          June 29, 2019

                          Round 4

                          Six draws but a most entertaining round with lots of good defense

                          MVL misses a walk-off home run by not playing 34.Rxf4

                          Round 4, June 29
                          MVL – Giri, Anish
                          C83 Ruy Lopez, open, Classical Defence

                          1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Be7 10.Bc2 Bg4 11.Qe1 Nc5 12.Nd4 Nxd4 13.cxd4 Ne6 14.Qd2 O-O 15.Nc3 f5 16.Qd3 Kh8 17.Bb3 c6 18.h3 Bh5 19.f4 g5 20.Kh2 gxf4 21.Bd1 Bxd1 22.Qxd1 Bg5 23.Ne2 Ra7 24.Bxf4 Rg7 25.Qd2 Rfg8 26.Bxg5 Rxg5 27.Rf2 c5 28.b4 cxb4 29.Qxb4 R5g6 30.Qc3 Qh4 31.Raf1 f4 32.Qf3 Rg3 33.Qxd5 Ng5 34.Nxf4 Nxh3 35.Qxg8+ Rxg8 36.Nxh3 Qxd4 37.e6 Qd6+ 38.Nf4 Rf8 39.g3 Rxf4 40.gxf4 Qxe6 41.f5 Qh6+ 42.Kg3 Qg5+ 43.Kh3 Qh5+ 44.Kg3 Qg5+ 45.Kh3 Qh5+ 46.Kg3 1/2-1/2

                          Position after Black’s 33…..Ng5

                          

                          Round 4, June 29
                          Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Karjakin, Sergey
                          C54 Giuoco Piano

                          1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O a6 7.Bb3 Ba7 8.h3 h6 9.Re1 g5 10.Nh2 Rg8 11.Be3 g4 12.hxg4 Nxg4 13.Qf3 Rg7 14.Bxa7 Nxh2 15.Kxh2 Qh4+ 16.Kg1 Bg4 17.Qe3 Nxa7 18.Nd2 Nc6 19.g3 Qh3 20.Bd1 Bxd1 21.Raxd1 O-O-O 22.Qf3 Rh8 23.Nf1 h5 24.Ne3 h4 25.Qf5+ Qxf5 26.Nxf5 Rg5 27.Re3 Kd7 28.Kg2 hxg3 29.Rxg3 Rxg3+ 30.Kxg3 Ne7 31.Nxe7 Kxe7 32.Kf3 Rh3+ 33.Kg2 Rh8 34.Kf3 Rh3+ 35.Kg2 Rh8 1/2-1/2

                          Round 4, June 29
                          So, Wesley – Anand, Vishy
                          A20 English (reversed Sicilian)

                          1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 c6 4.d4 e4 5.Bg5 d5 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.e3 O-O 9.Ne2 Be6 10.O-O Qe7 11.Nf4 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nd7 13.Qb3 Nb6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Rfb1 g5 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.a4 Rab8 18.Ra2 Qc7 19.Bf1 Rfc8 20.Qb4 Nc4 21.Bxc4 Qxc4 22.Qe7 Qxa2 23.Qxe6+ Kg7 24.Qe7+ Kg6 25.Qe6+ Kg7 26.Qe7+ Kg6 27.Qe6+ 1/2-1/2

                          Round 4, June 29
                          Ding, Liren – Nakamura, Hikaru
                          D27 QGA, Classical

                          1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 a6 6.O-O c5 7.b3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Be7 9.Bb2 O-O 10.Nd2 b5 11.Be2 Bb7 12.Bf3 Ra7 13.Rc1 Qd7 14.Qe2 Bxf3 15.N2xf3 Rc8 16.Ne5 Qe8 17.Rxc8 Qxc8 18.Rc1 Rc7 19.Rxc7 Qxc7 20.Nd3 Qa5 21.Ba1 Qc7 22.Qc2 Qxc2 23.Nxc2 Nfd7 24.Kf1 Nc6 25.Nd4 Nxd4 26.Bxd4 f5 27.Ke2 Bd6 28.f4 Kf7 29.h3 g6 30.Kd2 Ke7 31.Kc3 Kd8 32.Be5 Be7 33.Kd4 Kc8 34.e4 fxe4 35.Kxe4 Nc5+ 36.Nxc5 Bxc5 37.g4 Kd7 38.f5 gxf5+ 39.gxf5 Ke7 40.a4 bxa4 41.bxa4 Ba3 42.Bd4 Bb4 43.Be5 Ba3 44.Bd4 Bb4 45.Be5 1/2-1/2

                          Round 4, June 29
                          Aronian, Levon – Caruana, Fabiano
                          D04 Queen’s Pawn game

                          1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 c5 4.Nbd2 cxd4 5.exd4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Ndf3 e6 8.c3 Be7 9.Bf4 O-O 10.Qb3 Nxe5 11.Bxe5 Ne4 12.Be2 f6 13.Bf4 g5 14.Be3 b5 15.a4 bxa4 16.Qxa4 Bd6 17.Ra2 a5 18.O-O Qb8 19.Kh1 h5 20.c4 h4 21.h3 Bb4 22.Raa1 Ra7 23.Rac1 Rg7 24.cxd5 exd5 25.Qb5 Qd6 26.Qa6 Qe7 27.Bd3 Kh8 28.Ng1 Bh7 29.Bxe4 Qxe4 30.Rc8 Rxc8 31.Qxc8+ Rg8 32.Qa6 Be7 33.Re1 Bd8 34.Qd6 Be7 35.Qa6 Bd8 36.Qd6 Be7 37.Qa6 1/2-1/2

                          Magnus works hard every game. Again, it is his game that is the last to finish.

                          Round 4, June 29
                          Carlsen, Magnus – Mamedarov, Shakhriyar
                          A16 English

                          1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.h4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.h5 c5 8.Rb1 b6 9.e4 O-O 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.d4 Bb7 12.Ng5 cxd4 13.Qg4 Nd7 14.Qh3 Nf6 15.e5 Nh5 16.e6 Qd5 17.exf7+ Rxf7 18.Bd3 Qe5+ 19.Kd1 dxc3 20.Nxf7 Kxf7 21.Re1 c2+ 22.Bxc2 Rd8+ 23.Bd2 Qd6 24.Qe3 Nf4 25.Kc1 Bh6 26.Kb2 Rc8 27.Rbc1 e6 28.Kb1 Bxg2 29.Bb3 Rxc1+ 30.Bxc1 Bh3 31.Bb2 Bf5+ 32.Ka1 Bg7 33.Bxg7 Kxg7 34.Rd1 Nd3 35.Bc4 Qe5+ 36.Qxe5+ Nxe5 37.Be2 g5 38.Rc1 Kf6 39.Rc7 Bd3 40.Bxd3 Nxd3 41.Rxa7 Nxf2 42.Rb7 g4 43.Rxb6 g3 44.a4 Ne4 45.Rb1 Nc5 46.a5 Ke5 47.Kb2 Kf4 48.Kc3 g2 49.Kc4 Na6 50.Kb5 Nb8 51.Kc4 Na6 52.Kb5 Nb8 53.Kc4 Na6 54.Rg1 Kg3 55.Kd4 Kf2 56.Rxg2+ Kxg2 57.Ke5 Nc5 58.a6 Nxa6 59.Kxe6 1/2-1/2

                          Position after 12….cxd4. There was a discussion here than 13.Bc4 would have won the game for Magnus!

                          


                          A great endgame with Magnus playing bullet and Shakh playing blitz! It got one Chat room kibitzer so nervous he wrote:

                          - Leave the damn cap off your pen Carlsen. It costs you a second to take it off every damn move…

                          Game ends with WK vs BK + N.

                          Standings after Round Four

                          1 Nepo 3.5
                          2-3 Carlsen, So 2.5
                          4-7 Caruana, MVL, Aronian, Karjakin 2
                          8-12 Ding, Giri, Mamedyarov, Anand, Nakamura 1.5

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Amazing game Magnus vs Shak! Prime entertainment.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Hans Jung View Post
                              Amazing game Magnus vs Shak! Prime entertainment.
                              You mean spending half an hour answering questions from callers and ignoring the actual games? That's what's happening on the live broadcasts right now. Three callers in a row asking questions I don't care about and the actual games completely ignored for close to half an hour. This is "entertainment"?

                              I appreciate the grandmaster's opinions about the games, I really enjoy that. On other things they are just as stupid as me!

                              Comment

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