Tata Steel India 2019

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 22nd November, 2019, 01:14 AM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 21, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Rapid

Pairings for Rounds 1 – 9

Round One, Nov. 22

Harikrishna-Vidit
Ding Liren-Anand
So-Carlsen
Nepo-Giri
Aronian-Nakamura

Round Two, Nov. 22

Vidit-Nakamura
Giri-Aronian
Carlsen-Nepo
Anand-So
Harikrishna-Ding Liren

Round Three, Nov. 22

Ding Liren-Vidit
So-Harikrishna
Nepo-Anand
Aronian-Carlsen
Nakamura-Giri

Round Four, Nov. 23

Vidit-Giri
Carlsen-Nakamura
Anand-Aronian
Harikrishna-Nepo
Ding Liren-So

Round 5, Nov. 23

So-Vidit
Nepo-Ding Liren
Aronian-Harikrishna
Nakamura-Anand
Giri-Carlsen

Round 6, Nov. 23

Vidit-Carlsen
Anand-Giri
Harikrishna-Nakamura
Ding Liren-Aronian
So-Nepo

Round 7, Nov. 24

Nepo-Vidit
Aronian-So
Nakamura-Ding Liren
Giri-Harikrishna
Carlsen-Anand

Round 8, Nov. 24

Vidit-Anand
Harikrishna-Carlsen
Ding Liren-Giri
So-Nakamura
Nepo-Aronian

Round 9, Nov. 24

Aronian-Vidit
Nakamura-Nepo
Giri-So
Carlsen-Ding Liren
Anand-Harikrishna

Official Site

https://tatasteelchess.in/home

Broadcast

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-to...dia-2019/1/1/1

The commentators are Shahade, Svidler, Ashley and Sachdev

The fly in the ointment is that the games start at 3:30 AM in Toronto/Montreal. Hopefully, there will be a playback feature.

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 22nd November, 2019, 10:50 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 22, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Rapid

Rounds One to Three

From the FIDE site:

https://www.fide.com/news/218

Round 1

Anish Giri grabbed the lead right from the start repeating the scenario of the Grand Chess Tour event in Bucharest. In the first game, he defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi with Black. Russian GM was slightly better in the Catalan, but made a terrible mistake with 28.Qxa1?? completely forgetting about a dangerous black e-pawn. After 28...Qe6 White had to give up a knight to stop the pawn and was completely lost after that.

All other Round 1 games were drawn. There were two more Catalan Openings - Harikrishna never got anything substantial against his compatriot Vidit, whereas Ding Liren had some pressure versus Anand, but seemingly wasn't in a mood for a big fight.

Aronian tried to surprise Nakamura with quite a rare line in Italian Game, but the American GM was clearly unimpressed and equalized with ease.

All eyes in Round 1 were on the rematch of the Fischer Random Championship final between Wesley So and Magnus Carlsen. In one of the sharpest lines of Najdorf (6.h3), Carlsen had some counterplay on the queenside but apparently blundered a pawn with 22...Bb6. Despite being a pawn up though, So never had a real chance to score a full point. With all the pawns on the same side of the board, Carlsen held him for a draw.

Round 2

Carlsen played with his "classical games' Nemesis" Nepomniachtchi and proved that in rapid he was a better player today. World Champion avoided major theory lines in the Sicilian but grabbed an opening advantage with the maneuver Nf3-d2-b3-a5 anyway. He denied his opponent of any counterplay and created an extremely strong passed pawn on the Queen's side. Nepomniachtchi tried to escape but to no avail.

Anand also scored a victory in Round 2 and joined the leaders. In classical Ruy Lopez Anand used the a-file to penetrate into Wesley So's camp, but Fischer Random Champion was OK until he missed a nice geometrical knight maneuver. Anand won a pawn, but not a game as Black still had good chances for a draw. At some moment So had an easy escape but missed that he could go for a pawn ending. Now he needed to find some precise moves to hold the game but with time ticking down he didn't manage to do it. Anand won a second pawn and the game.

Giri didn't have a real chance to retain a sole lead - his game with Aronian was an uneventful draw. Harikrishna had White second time in a row and this time he was close to his first victory. After he won a central pawn, Ding Liren's position looked just lost, but somehow the Chinese GM activated his queen to regain a pawn and then this very queen ran all the way back to d8 to stop White's passer. Probably the Indian wild-card missed some opportunities, but Ding's creative defense is highly commendable anyway.

The most double-edged game was the encounter Vidit - Nakamura. Once again, Catalan Opening was played where Vidit had some chances to grab the initiative. He missed several active moves though and at the very end, Nakamura even had a chance to play for a win with a computer move 40...Qd2!, but opted for an immediate draw.

Round 3

After two losses, Nepo got into the beast mode, and Anand became a victim. In the English opening, Nepomniachtchi planted his knight on f5 and then went for a breakthrough in the center. After a careless 17...Rfe8? Ian found a simple combination that forced Anand to resign on move 22.

In the central game of the round, Aronian and Carlsen fought in the Najdorf Sicilian with the opposite-side castling. Around move 25 Grand Chess Tour Bucharest winner missed a strong continuation, and it was all Carlsen after that. First, Black's queen found a way into White's fortifications and then a timely piece sacrifice left Aronian in dire straits. Levon defended stubbornly to bring the game to the ending with two light pieces against a rook, but Black’s extra pawns turned to be a decisive factor. In a completely winning position, Carlsen misplaced his rook on g7, thus allowing Aronian to save a half-point with an easy 49.Nf4+! but Levon also missed this move and soon resigned.

Even more improbable miss decided the result of the encounter Ding Liren - Vidit. The world #3 from China was pressing the whole game and came very close to converting his advantage in the middle game. Vidit was defending really well and finally reached a drawish rook ending. He was the first to make a mistake there allowing the white king to invade the queenside where his Majesty took Black’s last pawn. With mere seconds on his clock, Vidit continued what looked like hopeless resistance and somehow saved a draw after Ding made an unbelievable blunder in a well-known position with 79.a7+?? As a result, the game ended with a stalemate.

Playing versus Giri, Nakamura sacrificed a pawn to ruin Black's pawn structure on the Queen's side in the endgame. Giri's position was unpleasant but not hopeless by any means, but he clearly underestimated the danger and soon found himself in big trouble. Nakamura was ruthless demonstrating an excellent endgame technique. So was pushing for a win against Harikrishna but Indian GM managed to defend all his weak pawns with two bishops and the game ended peacefully.

Round 1, Nov. 22
25+10
Aronian, Levon – Nakamura, Hikaru
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.Be3 O-O 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Nxc3 13.bxc3 f6 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Be2 Bg6 16.Bd3 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 Rae8 18.O-O Qf5 19.Qe2 Qh5 20.Rae1 Na5 21.Qc2 Nc4 22.Nd2 Qf5 23.Qxf5 Rxf5 24.g4 Nxd2 25.Bxd2 Rxe1 26.Rxe1 Rf3 27.Re3 Rxe3 28.Bxe3 Ba5 29.Bd2 Kf7 30.Kf1 c6 31.Ke2 Bc7 32.Kd3 1/2-1/2

Round 1, Nov. 22
25+10
So, Wesley – Carlsen, Magnus
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.g4 h6 9.Be3 b5 10.a4 bxa4 11.Rxa4 Bd7 12.Ra1 Nc6 13.Nd5 O-O 14.Nb6 Rb8 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.Bg2 a5 17.O-O Bd8 18.Qf3 Nb4 19.Qe2 a4 20.Nc1 Qc6 21.c3 Na6 22.Nd3 Bb6 23.Nxe5 dxe5 24.Qxa6 Rfc8 25.Bxb6 Rxb6 26.Qxa4 Rxb2 27.Qxc6 Rxc6 28.Ra5 Nd7 29.Rd5 Rb7 30.Rfd1 Nf8 31.Rxe5 Ne6 32.Rc1 Rbc7 33.h4 g5 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.Rf5 Rxc3 36.Rxc3 Rxc3 37.e5 Rc4 38.Bd5 Rxg4+ 39.Kh2 Rd4 40.Bxe6 fxe6 41.Rf6 Rd5 42.Rg6+ Kf7 43.Rxg5 Rd1 44.f4 Rd3 45.Kg2 Ra3 46.Rg3 Ra4 47.Kf3 Ra1 48.Kg4 Kg6 49.Kf3+ Kf7 50.Rg2 Ra3+ 51.Kg4 Ra1 52.Rb2 Rg1+ 53.Kf3 Rf1+ 54.Ke3 Re1+ 55.Kf2 Ra1 56.Rb8 Ra3 57.Rb6 1/2-1/2

Round 1, Nov. 22
25+10
Ding, Liren – Anand, Vishy
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.Bf4 b6 10.Nbd2 Nh5 11.e3 Bb7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.Bc7 Qe8 14.Rfc1 Nhf6 15.Bf1 Nb8 16.Ne5 Na6 17.Qb3 Nxc7 18.Rxc7 Rb8 19.Rac1 Bd6 20.R7c2 Qe7 21.Qa4 Ra8 22.Ba6 Bxa6 23.Qxa6 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Nd7 25.Nf3 Qb4 1/2-1/2

Round 1, Nov. 22
25+10
Harikrishna, Pentala – Vidit, Gujrathi
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 Bd5 11.Qd3 c5 12.dxc5 Nbd7 13.Nc3 Nxc5 14.Qe3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qa5 16.Qf4 Ncd7 17.Rad1 Rad8 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Bxb7 Qb6 21.Bf3 Qxb2 22.Qc7 Rd7 23.Qc6 Rd6 24.Qc4 Qb8 25.Kg2 g6 26.Rb1 Rb6 27.Rd1 Rd6 28.Rxd6 Qxd6 29.Bb7 a5 30.Nb5 Qc5 31.Qf4 Kg7 32.Qd2 Qb4 33.Qxb4 Bxb4 34.Nd4 Nd7 35.Bc6 Ne5 36.Bb5 Bc3 37.Nc2 g5 38.f4 gxf4 39.gxf4 Ng6 40.e3 e5 41.Kf3 f5 42.Na3 Kf6 43.Nc4 exf4 44.exf4 Ne7 45.Ne3 Bb4 46.Bc4 Bd6 47.h3 h6 48.Nd5+ 1/2-1/2

Round 1, Nov. 22
25+10
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Giri, Anish
A13 English, Neo-Catalan

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Qc2 c5 7.dxc5 Qa5+ 8.Nbd2 Qxc5 9.a3 b5 10.b4 Qc7 11.c5 a5 12.Bb2 Nc6 13.Nd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 e5 15.Bb2 axb4 16.axb4 Rxa1+ 17.Bxa1 d4 18.O-O Be6 19.Qd3 Nd5 20.Bxd5 Bxd5 21.e3 Qc6 22.exd4 e4 23.Qe3 f5 24.f4 Ra8 25.Bc3 Ra2 26.Ra1 Qa6 27.Qe1 Rxa1 28.Qxa1 Qe6 29.Qf1 e3 30.Qxb5 Kf7 31.Qd3 exd2 32.Bxd2 Bf6 33.Bc3 Be4 34.Qd2 Qc4 35.Kf2 Bc6 36.Ke1 Bb5 37.Kd1 Ba4+ 38.Ke1 Qe6+ 39.Kf2 Bc6 40.b5 Bxb5 41.d5 Qe4 42.Bxf6 gxf6 43.c6 Qc4 44.Qd1 Qc5+ 45.Kg2 Bc4 46.Kh3 Qxd5 47.Qh5+ Kg7 48.Qe8 Qf3 49.Qd7+ Kg6 50.Qe8+ Bf7 51.Qd7 Qf1+ 52.Kh4 Qg2 0-1

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 22nd November, 2019, 10:52 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 22, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Rapid

Rounds One to Three (continued)

Round 2, Nov. 22
25+10
Harikrishna, Pentala – Ding Liren
D86 Grunfeld, Exchange, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 O-O 10.O-O b6 11.Rc1 Bb7 12.Qd2 e6 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Rc8 15.Bb5 Qd6 16.Bf4 e5 17.d5 Na5 18.Be3 Rxc1 19.Rxc1 Rc8 20.h3 Bf8 21.Rxc8 Bxc8 22.Qc3 Bd7 23.Bxd7 Qxd7 24.Qxe5 Nc4 25.Qd4 Nxe3 26.Qxe3 Qa4 27.Nc3 Qc2 28.e5 Bc5 29.Qf3 Bxf2+ 30.Qxf2 Qxc3 31.d6 Qxe5 32.Qd2 Qc5+ 33.Kh1 Qc8 34.d7 Qd8 35.Qd6 f5 36.Kg1 Kf7 37.Kf1 b5 38.Kf2 a5 39.Qd5+ Ke7 40.Qxb5 Qxd7 41.Qxa5 Qd4+ 1/2-1/2

Round 2, Nov. 22
25+10
Anand, Vishy – So, Wesley
C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a3 O-O 9.Nc3 Na5 10.Ba2 Be6 11.b4 Bxa2 12.Rxa2 Nc6 13.Bg5 Ng4 14.Bd2 Nf6 15.Re1 Qd7 16.Nd5 Nxd5 17.exd5 Nd8 18.a4 Rb8 19.axb5 axb5 20.Ra7 f5 21.Qa1 Nf7 22.c4 g5 23.Bc3 g4 24.Nd2 h5 25.Qa6 h4 26.Qc6 Qxc6 27.dxc6 Rfc8 28.Rea1 bxc4 29.Nxc4 d5 30.Ne3 d4 31.Nxf5 Bg5 32.Be1 Kh7 33.f3 gxf3 34.gxf3 Kg6 35.Nxh4+ Bxh4 36.Bxh4 Rxb4 37.Rb7 Rxb7 38.cxb7 Rb8 39.Rb1 Nd6 40.Bd8 Rxb7 41.Rxb7 Nxb7 42.Bxc7 Kf5 43.Bb6 Nd6 44.Kf2 Ne8 45.Ba5 Ng7 46.Bd2 Ne6 47.Ke2 Nc5 48.Be1 Ne6 49.Bg3 Nc5 50.Kd2 Na6 51.h4 Nb4 52.h5 Nc6 53.Bh4 Nb4 54.h6 Kg6 55.Be7 Nc6 56.Bf8 Nd8 57.Bg7 Ne6 58.Bxe5 Kxh6 59.Kc2 Kg6 60.Kb3 Kf5 61.Bd6 Ng5 62.f4 Nf3 63.Kc4 Ke6 64.Bb8 Kf6 65.Kd5 Kf5 66.Be5 Ne1 67.Kxd4 Ng2 68.Kc5 Ne3 69.Bb2 Nd1 70.Be5 Ne3 71.Bb8 Nd1 72.d4 1-0

Round 2, Nov. 22
25+10
Carlsen, Magnus – Nepo, Ian
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 a6 6.Be2 Ngf6 7.O-O e5 8.Qe3 Nc5 9.Nfd2 b5 10.c4 bxc4 11.Nc3 Bb7 12.Bxc4 Be7 13.b4 Ne6 14.Nb3 Rc8 15.Na5 Qd7 16.Qd3 O-O 17.Be3 Bd8 18.Nxb7 Qxb7 19.Nd5 Nc7 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Rab1 Rfd8 22.Rfd1 h6 23.f3 Qc6 24.Qb3 Qe8 25.a4 Rb8 26.b5 axb5 27.axb5 Ne6 28.b6 Bg5 29.Bf2 Nd4 30.Bxd4 exd4 31.Rxd4 Rdc8 32.b7 Rc5 33.Bd5 Qe7 34.Rc4 Qc7 35.Rxc5 dxc5 36.g3 Bf6 37.Kg2 Qe7 38.Qb6 Be5 39.Qc6 Kh7 40.f4 Bd4 41.Qc8 Qd6 42.Qf5+ Kh8 43.Kh3 Qa6 44.e5 1-0

Round 2, Nov. 22
25+10
Vidit, Gujrathi – Nakamura, Hikaru
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nbd2 b5 8.b3 Rb8 9.Bb2 cxb3 10.Nxb3 Be7 11.Rc1 Bb7 12.Ne1 Na7 13.Bxb7 Rxb7 14.Nd3 O-O 15.Qc2 Qa8 16.Na5 Rb6 17.Qxc7 Nd5 18.Qc2 Bg5 19.Rcd1 Rc8 20.Nc5 Nc6 21.Nab3 a5 22.e4 Ndb4 23.Qb1 a4 24.Nc1 Na6 25.Nxa6 Rxa6 26.d5 Na5 27.Ba1 Nc4 28.dxe6 Rxe6 29.Rd5 Be7 30.Ne2 Rd6 31.Nf4 Rxd5 32.Nxd5 Bf8 33.Qxb5 Nd2 34.Rd1 Nxe4 35.Qe2 Nc5 36.Qg4 Rd8 37.Nf6+ Kh8 38.Rxd8 Qxd8 39.Nh5 Ne6 40.Qxa4 Qd5 41.Qg4 Qxa2 1/2-1/2

Round 2, Nov. 22
25+10
Giri, Anish – 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 Bc7 13.Nf5 d5 14.Ne7+ Kh8 15.Nxc8 Rxc8 16.d3 f5 17.Qf3 Nf6 18.g3 Ng4 19.d4 Qf6 20.h3 Nh6 21.Bxh6 Qxh6 22.c3 Qf6 23.Bd3 g6 24.Re2 Rce8 25.Rae1 Rxe2 26.Rxe2 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Nov. 22
25+10
Nakamura, Hikaru – Giri, Anish
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O e6 6.Re1 a6 7.c3 b5 8.Bc2 c4 9.a4 Bb7 10.d4 cxd3 11.Qxd3 Nc5 12.Qe2 bxa4 13.Be3 Bxe4 14.Bxc5 Bxc2 15.Qxc2 dxc5 16.Qxa4+ Qd7 17.Ne5 Qxa4 18.Rxa4 Bd6 19.Nc4 Bc7 20.Nbd2 Ke7 21.Rea1 a5 22.Nb3 Nd7 23.Nbxa5 Bxa5 24.Rxa5 Rxa5 25.Rxa5 e5 26.Kf1 h5 27.h4 Rb8 28.Ke2 Rb7 29.Kd3 f6 30.Ke4 Rc7 31.Kd5 f5 32.Ra6 e4 33.Ne3 Nf6+ 34.Ke5 Rd7 35.Nxf5+ Kf7 36.Nd6+ Ke7 37.Nxe4 Nxe4 38.Kxe4 Rd2 39.Ke3 Rxb2 40.Rg6 Kf7 41.Rg5 c4 42.Rc5 1-0

Round 3, Nov. 22
25+10
So, Wesley – Harikrishna, Pentala
A14 English, Neo-Catalan declined

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 d4 7.Bb2 c5 8.b4 Nc6 9.b5 Na5 10.d3 Bd6 11.Nbd2 h6 12.e3 e5 13.Re1 Qc7 14.Qc2 Bd7 15.exd4 exd4 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Rxe4 Bf5 18.Re2 Rae8 19.Rae1 Qd7 20.Bc1 b6 21.Bd2 Rxe2 22.Rxe2 Re8 23.Bxa5 bxa5 24.Nh4 Rxe2 25.Qxe2 Bg4 26.Bf3 Be6 27.Bc6 Qe7 28.Qe4 Bh3 29.Qxe7 Bxe7 30.Nf3 Bd6 31.Nd2 Bc7 32.Ne4 Bb6 33.f4 Kf8 34.Nf2 Bc8 35.Kg2 f5 36.h4 Ke7 37.Bf3 a4 38.a3 Ba5 39.Nd1 Bb4 40.Nb2 Bxa3 41.Nxa4 Kd6 42.b6 axb6 43.Nxb6 Kc7 44.Nxc8 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Nov. 22
25+10
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Be3 Nbd7 9.g4 Be7 10.Qd2 O-O 11.O-O-O b5 12.g5 Nh5 13.Kb1 Nb6 14.Na5 Rc8 15.a3 g6 16.h4 Ng3 17.Rg1 Nxf1 18.Rgxf1 Na4 19.Nxa4 bxa4 20.h5 Qd7 21.Rh1 Rfe8 22.Qh2 Bf8 23.Bd2 Rc7 24.Bb4 Rb8 25.Rd3 Qb5 26.Rc3 Rbc8 27.Rxc7 Rxc7 28.Rd1 Rd7 29.Rd3 Be7 30.hxg6 fxg6 31.Qd2 Qb6 32.Qc1 Bd8 33.c4 Qf2 34.Nc6 Bxg5 35.Qxg5 Qf1+ 36.Kc2 Bxc4 37.Qe3 Bxd3+ 38.Qxd3 Qxd3+ 39.Kxd3 h5 40.Ke3 Kf7 41.Bc3 Ke6 42.Nb4 g5 43.Kf2 Rf7 44.Kg2 g4 45.fxg4 Rg7 46.Nd5 Rxg4+ 47.Kf3 Rg1 48.Kf2 Rg7 49.Kf3 h4 50.Be1 h3 51.Bg3 Rb7 52.Nb4 a5 53.Nd3 Rb3 54.Ke2 Kf6 55.Bh2 Kg5 56.Bg3 Kg4 57.Bh2 Rxd3 58.Kxd3 Kf3 59.Kd2 Kxe4 60.Ke2 d5 61.Bg3 d4 62.Bh2 Kd5 63.Kd2 e4 64.Ke2 Kc4 65.Be5 Kb3 66.Kd2 d3 67.Kd1 e3 68.Kc1 Kc4 0-1

Position after Black’s 25….Qb5

26.c4! was the move for White, since 26…Bxc4? 27.Nxc4 Rxc4 is losing to 28.hxg6!, with no piece on the 7th rank to defend h7. Magnus commented:
I saw c4 and I was going to go 26…Qb6. I don’t doubt that it’s great for White, but I couldn’t see what to do.
Instead, though, Levon chose 26.Rc3!? 26.Rbc8 27.Rxc7, with Magnus pointing that out as the moment the game swung in his favour

(Colin McGourty in chess24.com)

Round 3, Nov. 22
25+10
Nepo, Ian – Anand, Vishy
A20 English, Kingside Fianchetto

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Nf3 e4 6.Nh4 d5 7.d4 Be7 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.O-O O-O 10.f3 exf3 11.Rxf3 Nc6 12.Nf5 Ne4 13.Rf1 Bf6 14.e3 Nxc3 15.bxc3 Be6 16.Rb1 Qd7 17.e4 Rfe8 18.Nh6+ Kh8 19.Rxf6 gxf6 20.Qf3 Kg7 21.exd5 Bxd5 22.Nf5+ 1-0

- Furious Nepo with a great attack!

Round 3, Nov. 22
25+10
Ding, Liren – Vidit, Gujrathi
A36 English, ultra-symmetrical variation

1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.d3 d6 6.Qd2 Nf6 7.b3 O-O 8.Bb2 Rb8 9.e3 Bf5 10.h3 Nb4 11.e4 Bd7 12.Nge2 a6 13.O-O b5 14.Nd5 Nc6 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxf6 exf6 17.cxb5 axb5 18.d4 cxd4 19.Nxd4 Nxd4 20.Qxd4 Be6 21.Rfd1 Rb6 22.Rd2 b4 23.Rc1 Kg7 24.f4 h5 25.f5 gxf5 26.Rf1 Re8 27.exf5 Bd7 28.Qh4 Rh8 29.Bd5 Rb5 30.Kh2 Qe7 31.Rff2 Qe3 32.Qf4 Qxf4 33.Rxf4 Rc8 34.g4 hxg4 35.hxg4 Bc6 36.Bxc6 Rxc6 37.Rfd4 Rbb6 38.Kg3 Kf8 39.Kf4 Kg7 40.Ke4 Kf8 41.Kf4 Kg7 42.g5 fxg5+ 43.Kxg5 f6+ 44.Kf4 Kf7 45.Rh2 Rc1 46.Rh7+ Kg8 47.Ra7 Rf1+ 48.Kg4 Rg1+ 49.Kh5 Rg5+ 50.Kh6 Rxf5 51.Kg6 Rfb5 52.Rxd6 Rg5+ 53.Kxf6 Rxd6+ 54.Kxg5 Kf8 55.Kf5 Ke8 56.Ke5 Rd2 57.Ke4 Kd8 58.Ke3 Rh2 59.Kd4 Kc8 60.Kc5 Kb8 61.Ra4 Kc7 62.Ra7+ Kb8 63.Ra4 Kc7 64.Kxb4 Kb6 65.Ra8 Kb7 66.Ra5 Kb6 67.Rb5+ Ka6 68.a4 Rh4+ 69.Ka3 Rh3 70.Rg5 Kb6 71.a5+ Ka6 72.Ka4 Rh1 73.Rg6+ Kb7 74.a6+ Ka7 75.b4 Rh5 76.b5 Rf5 77.Ka5 Rf8 78.Rg7+ Kb8 79.a7+ Ka8 80.b6 Rf5+ 81.Ka6 Ra5+ 82.Kxa5 1/2-1/2

Final Position

___________

With the games starting at 3:30 AM, one can’t follow the games live. In the middle of the night, I switched on my smartphone and followed Svidler’s commentary in bed and slowly wafted off to sleep.

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 23rd November, 2019, 05:52 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 23, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Rapids

Rounds Four to Six

From the official FIDE site:

Round 4

After several lackluster performances (by the World Champion’s standards) Magnus Carlsen seems to be back to his winning ways in Kolkata. In Round 4, he played with his closest pursuer Hikaru Nakamura and won this key game. Nakamura probably mixed something up in the opening as Carlsen got an extremely strong pawn center and a clear advantage. Hikaru defended resourcefully giving up a pawn to stop White’s onslaught but made a crucial misstep with 35…Rb8. After an easy 36.Rc1 White was not only a pawn up, but also much more active. Carlsen converted his advantage comfortably and broke away from the field.

Anand came back after the disaster against Nepo from yesterday. In a very complex Giuoco Piano middle game, Aronian played really well against him, but not quickly enough. Running out of time, the Armenian GM stumbled and gave up a piece. That’s not the kind of advantage you can hand to one of the game’s greatest. After this victory, Anand was on 5 points.

A few days ago Nepo convincingly won an online match against Ding, but it looks like both players are far from their best in Kolkata. After an unbelievable mistake in the handbook rook endgame yesterday, Ding Liren lost with white pieces against So. Ding was much better after the opening and was looking for winning chances, but somehow missed an easy pin with an ill-advised Rc8-e8 maneuver. The Chinese GM lost a knight and resigned immediately. The game Harikrishna – Nepomniachtchi saw a remake of Nepo’s yesterday triumph against Anand, but this time Ian was playing a victim. After Harikrishna obtained a dominating position with a strong knight on f5, Russian GM tried to escape in a tactical skirmish. It did not work as the local wild card found an elegant 28.Rc2 and secured his first victory in the event. Giri was trying to play for a win against Vidit with Black, but after a series of exchanges had to agree to a draw.

Round 5

The World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen scored another victory, this time with Black against Anish Girl. With a strong pawn on e6 and the bishop aiming for a cool c5 square, Giri’s position after the opening looked very attractive. Strangely enough, a natural 18.Bc5 was the turning point of the game – Black’s bishops became very active, White had to retreat his pieces, whereas the e6-pawn gradually turned into a weakness. After transposing into a better endgame, Carlsen once again demonstrated his impeccable technique.

Anand recently lost a few games in which his opponents launched a direct attack on his king, and it looks like it was Nakamura’s plan for their Round 5 encounter. This time though Anand wasn’t going down without a fight. His queen returned to the king’s rescue just in time and the game ended with a perpetual.

It is quite a challenge to play Marshall Attack against Levon Aronian, who is indisputably the best expert in this always-popular line. Harikrishna wasn’t up to this challenge today. He had two bishops being a pawn down in the endgame, but Aronian eventually ground him down and finally got his first win in Tata Steel Rapid & Blitz.

Both Nepo and Ding have been underperforming in Kolkata so far, and the fifth round Ian’s troubles continued. The Chinese GM was slowly outmaneuvering him in a typical Rui Lopez middle game, but the outcome was still unclear until Nepo just left his rook hanging.

Another Ruy Lopez brought So and Vidit to a queen endgame where the former was looking for the opportunities to play for a win, and the latter was defending. Eventually, Vidit lost the track of the game and threw in the towel.

Round 6

In Round 6, Carlsen faced off against Indian wildcard Vidit Gujrathi. Vidit surprised chess fans by winning a pawn early on and then spent most of the game pressing for a win. However, Carlsen defended his position precisely and held on for a draw. With four victories and two draws so far, the World Champion sits comfortably on top of the leaderboard with 10 points.

The American grandmasters Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura are tied for second place with 7 points each. After a slow start on the first day, So turned in a fine performance today by defeating Ding and Vidit and drawing with Nepomniachtchi. Nakamura managed to rebound from his Round 4 loss by drawing with Anand in Round 5 and defeating Harikrishna in round 6. With one more day of rapid chess and two days of blitz to go, the tournament is still very much up for grabs.

https://www.fide.com/news/219

Round 4, Nov. 23
25+10
Vidit, Gujrathi – Giri, Anish
E61 King’s Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 O-O 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Bf4 d6 7.Nf3 Bf5 8.d5 Na5 9.Nd2 c5 10.e4 Bg4 11.Qc2 a6 12.h3 Bd7 13.Rb1 b5 14.b3 e5 15.dxe6 Bxe6 16.cxb5 axb5 17.Nxb5 Nc6 18.O-O Nb4 19.Qd1 Rxa2 20.Bxd6 Qd7 21.e5 Ne8 22.Nc3 Nxd6 23.Nxa2 Nxa2 24.exd6 Nc3 25.Qc2 Nxb1 26.Rxb1 Qxd6 27.Ne4 Bf5 28.Nxd6 Bxc2 29.Rc1 Bxb3 30.Rxc5 Rd8 1/2-1/2

Round 4, Nov. 23
25+10
Anand, Vishy – Aronian, Levon
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O O-O 6.c3 d6 7.Re1 Bb6 8.h3 Kh8 9.a4 Ng8 10.b4 a6 11.a5 Ba7 12.d4 f5 13.exf5 Bxf5 14.Be3 exd4 15.Nxd4 Bxd4 16.Bxd4 Qg5 17.Re3 Nf6 18.Rg3 Qh4 19.Bxf6 Qxf6 20.Nd2 Ne5 21.Bf1 Rae8 22.Re3 Bd7 23.Ne4 Qf4 24.Ra2 Ng6 25.Qd4 Bc6 26.Rae2 Re5 27.g3 Qf5 28.c4 d5 29.Nc5 Rxe3 30.Qxe3 dxc4 31.f4 h5 32.Qd4 h4 33.Ne6 Qf6 34.f5 hxg3 35.Qxf6 Rxf6 36.fxg6 Rxg6 37.Re3 b5 38.axb6 cxb6 39.Bxc4 a5 40.b5 Bd7 41.Nf8 Rd6 42.Nxd7 Rxd7 43.Re6 Rd4 44.Bf1 Rd2 45.Rxb6 a4 46.Ra6 Ra2 47.Bd3 g5 48.b6 Rb2 49.Be4 a3 50.b7 1-0

Round 4, Nov. 23
25+10
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
A29 English, Four Knights, Capablanca variation

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nf4 7.Bxf4 exf4 8.d4 Bd6 9.h3 O-O 10.a3 a6 11.Bc4 Kh8 12.e5 Be7 13.d5 Na5 14.Ba2 b5 15.O-O f6 16.b4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 bxc4 18.e6 Bb7 19.Qd4 c6 20.Qxc4 cxd5 21.Qxf4 Rc8 22.Ne2 Bd6 23.Qe3 a5 24.Ned4 Re8 25.Nf5 Bb8 26.Rac1 Rc4 27.N5d4 axb4 28.axb4 Ba7 29.b5 Bc5 30.Qd3 Qb6 31.Rxc4 dxc4 32.Qxc4 Bxf3 33.Nxf3 Rxe6 34.g3 Re8 35.Kg2 Rb8 36.Rc1 Bf8 37.Nd4 h5 38.Ne6 Ba3 39.Rc3 Bb4 40.Qxb4 Qxe6 41.Rc5 Qf7 42.Qf4 Rd8 43.Qf3 g6 44.b6 Rd7 45.Rc8+ Kg7 46.Qc6 Kh6 47.h4 f5 48.Rc7 Qd5+ 49.Qxd5 Rxd5 50.b7 Rb5 51.f4 1-0

Position after Black’s 35…Rb8

Round 4, Nov. 23
25+10
Harikrishna, Pentala – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O a6 5.Bd3 Ngf6 6.c3 b5 7.a4 b4 8.Bc2 Bb7 9.Re1 Qc7 10.d3 e6 11.a5 Be7 12.h3 O-O 13.Bf4 Rfd8 14.Nbd2 bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne5 16.d4 cxd4 17.cxd4 Rac8 18.Ra2 Nc6 19.Qb1 Rb8 20.Bd3 e5 21.Be3 exd4 22.Nxd4 Ne5 23.Nf5 Rdc8 24.Bb6 Qd7 25.Nxe7+ Qxe7 26.Bf1 Nfd7 27.Ba7 Bd5 28.Rc2 Rxb1 29.Rxc8+ Nf8 30.Rxb1 Bb7 31.Rb8 Bxe4 32.Rxf8+ 1-0

Round 4, Nov. 23
25+10
Ding, Liren – So, Wesley
D37 QGD

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e3 c5 8.Bxc4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7 10.O-O Nc6 11.Nf3 O-O 12.Rc1 Rc8 13.a3 Qb6 14.Na4 Qc7 15.b4 a6 16.Bd3 e5 17.Nc5 Rfd8 18.Qb3 Bg4 19.Bxf6 Bxf6 20.Be4 Rd6 21.h3 Bd7 22.Rc2 Be8 23.Rfc1 Rcd8 24.g4 h5 25.Kg2 hxg4 26.hxg4 b6 27.Nd3 Qd7 28.Kg3 Rxd3 29.Qxd3 Qxd3 30.Bxd3 Rxd3 31.g5 Be7 32.Rxc6 Bxc6 33.Rxc6 e4 34.Ne5 Bd6 35.Kf4 Rd5 36.Rc8+ Kh7 37.Re8 Rxe5 38.Rxe5 f6 39.gxf6 gxf6 40.Kxe4 Bxe5 41.Kd5 Bb2 0-1

Round 5, Nov. 23
25+10
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Ding, Liren
C91 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Bogolyubov variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.d4 Bg4 10.Be3 exd4 11.cxd4 Na5 12.Bc2 Nc4 13.Bc1 c5 14.b3 Nb6 15.Nbd2 Rc8 16.h3 Bh5 17.a4 cxd4 18.axb5 axb5 19.Bb2 Nbd7 20.Bxd4 Ne5 21.Bb1 Nfd7 22.Qe2 Bf6 23.g4 Bg6 24.Qxb5 h5 25.Ra7 hxg4 26.hxg4 Nc6 27.Ra4 Nxd4 28.Nxd4 Nc5 29.Rc4 Rb8 30.Qc6 Re8 31.e5 Bxb1 32.Rxb1 Bxe5 33.N4f3 Nd3 34.g5 d5 35.Rh4 g6 36.Qa6 Nc5 37.Qf1 Bg7 38.Qh3 Ne4 39.Kg2 Nxg5 40.Qh2 Nxf3 41.Nxf3 Re4 42.Rd1 Rxh4 43.Qxh4 Bf6 44.Qa4 Qd6 45.Rc1 d4 46.Qc6 Qf4 47.Qd7 Qxc1 0-1

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 23rd November, 2019, 05:55 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 23, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Rapids

Rounds Four to Six (continued)

Round 5, Nov. 23
25+10
So, Wesley – Vidit, Gujrathi
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O Nd4 6.Nxd4 Bxd4 7.c3 Bb6 8.Ba4 O-O 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 d6 12.Nd2 Bg4 13.Qe1 Be6 14.Kh1 Nh5 15.Bb3 Qd7 16.Qe2 Bg4 17.f3 Be6 18.Nc4 Kg7 19.Nxb6 axb6 20.d4 Bxb3 21.axb3 f6 22.Bf2 Nf4 23.Qc2 h5 24.Be3 h4 25.Bxf4 exf4 26.h3 Rfe8 27.Kh2 Rxa1 28.Rxa1 d5 29.Re1 b5 30.Re2 c6 31.Qd3 Re6 32.c4 dxe4 33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34.Qxe4 bxc4 35.bxc4 Qd6 36.c5 Qd7 37.b4 Qf7 38.Qf5 Qe7 39.Qe4 Qf7 40.Qe2 Qd7 41.Qd3 Kf8 42.Qe4 Kg7 43.b5 cxb5 44.d5 b4 45.d6 b3 46.Qb4 Qf7 47.Qd4 Qd7 48.Qd5 Qf7 49.Qd4 Qe8 50.Qb4 Qf7 51.Qd2 Qd7 52.Qd3 b2 53.Qb3 Qc6 54.Qxb2 Kf7 55.Qb3+ Kg6 56.Qd3+ 1-0

Round 5, Nov. 23
25+10
Nakamura, Hikaru – Anand, Vishy
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O Nd4 6.Be3 Nxf3+ 7.Qxf3 Qe7 8.c3 Bxe3 9.Qxe3 c6 10.Ba4 O-O 11.Nd2 d5 12.Rfe1 d4 13.cxd4 Qb4 14.Bb3 exd4 15.Qe2 Nd7 16.f4 Nc5 17.f5 Nxb3 18.axb3 c5 19.Rf1 f6 20.g4 Bd7 21.Qg2 a5 22.g5 Kh8 23.Rf3 fxg5 24.Qxg5 Qb6 25.Kh1 Qf6 26.Qg2 g6 27.fxg6 Qxg6 28.Rg3 Qe6 29.Nf3 Rg8 30.Rg1 Rxg3 31.Qxg3 Rg8 32.Ng5 Qe7 33.Qe5+ Rg7 34.Ne6 Bxe6 35.Rxg7 Qxg7 36.Qxe6 Qg5 37.Qc8+ Kg7 38.Qxb7+ Kg6 39.Qc6+ Kh5 40.Qe8+ Kh4 41.Qf7 Qc1+ 42.Kg2 Qg5+ 43.Kh1 Qc1+ 44.Kg2 Qg5+ 1/2-1/2

Round 5, Nov. 23
25+10
Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
B31 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.Bxc6 bxc6 6.Re1 Qc7 7.h3 d6 8.c3 Nf6 9.d4 cxd4 10.cxd4 O-O 11.Nc3 Bb7 12.e5 dxe5 13.dxe5 Rfd8 14.Qc2 Nd5 15.Nxd5 Rxd5 16.e6 f6 17.Be3 a5 18.Bc5 Ba6 19.Rac1 Bh6 20.Be3 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 c5 22.Rd1 Rad8 23.Rxd5 Rxd5 24.Qa4 Qd8 25.Re1 Kg7 26.Qc6 Bd3 27.Nd2 g5 28.Nb3 c4 29.Nc5 Qd6 30.Qxd6 Rxd6 31.Rd1 f5 32.f3 Rd5 33.Nxd3 cxd3 34.Kf2 f4 35.Ke1 Re5+ 36.Kf1 Re3 37.Re1 Kf6 38.Kf2 Rxe6 39.Rxe6+ Kxe6 40.Ke1 Kd5 41.b3 Kd4 42.Kd2 e5 43.a3 h6 44.b4 a4 45.Kd1 Kc4 46.Kd2 h5 47.Kd1 Kd4 48.Kd2 h4 49.b5 Kc5 50.Kxd3 Kxb5 51.Ke4 Kc4 52.Kxe5 Kb3 53.Kd4 Kxa3 54.Kc3 Ka2 55.Kc2 a3 0-1

Final Position

Round 5, Nov. 23
25+10
Aronian, Levon – Harikrishna, Pentala
C89 Ruy Lopez, Marshall Counter-Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.Re1 Bd6 13.d3 Bf5 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Bxd5 cxd5 17.Qxd5 Rad8 18.Qg2 Qxg2+ 19.Kxg2 Bxd3 20.Be3 Rfe8 21.Nd2 b4 22.Bb6 Rc8 23.Ba5 bxc3 24.Bxc3 f6 25.Rad1 Bf8 26.f3 Kf7 27.Ne4 Red8 28.g4 Bc4 29.a3 Bb3 30.Rc1 Rb8 31.h4 Be7 32.h5 Rb5 33.Bb4 Bxb4 34.Rc7+ Kf8 35.axb4 Re5 36.h6 gxh6 37.Rh1 f5 38.gxf5 Rxf5 39.Rxh6 Rf7 40.Rc3 Bd5 41.Nc5 Rb8 42.Rd6 Ba2 43.Rxa6 Bb1 44.b5 Bf5 45.b6 Rf6 46.Rb3 Rg6+ 47.Kf2 Bc8 48.b7 Rxb7 49.Rxb7 Rxa6 50.Rxh7 Rc6 51.b4 Bf5 52.Rh4 Ke7 53.Ke3 Rb6 54.Rd4 Bh3 55.Nd3 Bf5 56.Nf4 Rb8 57.Kd2 Kf6 58.Kc3 Ra8 59.Nd5+ Kg7 60.Rf4 Be6 61.Ne7 Ra3+ 62.Kd4 Bh3 63.Nc6 Rb3 64.Kc5 Bf1 65.Ne5 Rc3+ 66.Kd6 Rb3 67.Ke7 Bh3 68.Rd4 Re3 69.f4 Bf1 70.Rd1 Bh3 71.Rg1+ Kh7 72.Rg5 Bf1 73.Kf6 Re4 74.Rh5+ 1-0

Round 6, Nov. 23
25+10
So, Wesley – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 Be6 9.f4 exf4 10.Bxf4 Nc6 11.Qe2 Ne5 12.O-O-O Nfd7 13.Kb1 O-O 14.Qe3 Rc8 15.Be2 Qc7 16.Rhf1 Nb6 17.Qg3 Na4 18.Bd2 b5 19.Nd4 Qc5 20.Nxa4 bxa4 21.Qc3 Qa7 22.Qe3 Bc4 23.Nf5 Qb7 24.Bb4 Bxe2 25.Qxe2 Nc4 26.Nxe7+ Qxe7 27.Rd4 Qe6 28.b3 axb3 29.cxb3 a5 1/2-1/2

Round 6, Nov. 23
25+10
Anand, Vishy – Giri, Anish
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.O-O d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Re1 O-O 9.h3 h6 10.Nbd2 Re8 11.b4 Be6 12.Bxe6 Rxe6 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.Nf1 d5 15.Ng3 Rd8 16.Bb2 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rad1 dxe4 19.dxe4 Rd6 20.Rxd6 cxd6 21.Bc1 Ne7 22.Be3 Bxe3 23.Rxe3 Qc6 24.Rd3 Ra8 25.Qd1 Ra6 26.Re3 g6 27.Nd2 Kg7 28.Nb3 Qc7 29.Nf1 Ra3 30.Nfd2 Nh5 31.Qf1 Qd7 32.Re1 Nf4 33.Kh2 Qc6 34.c4 bxc4 35.Na5 Qc7 36.Qxc4 Qb6 37.Rf1 Ra4 38.Qc3 Rxb4 39.Nac4 Qc5 40.g3 Ne6 41.f4 Nd4 42.Qd3 exf4 43.gxf4 d5 44.Ne3 dxe4 45.Nxe4 Qc6 46.Ng3 Kh7 47.Qe4 Rb2+ 48.Ng2 Qxe4 49.Nxe4 Nef5 50.Nf6+ Kg7 51.Nd5 Nh4 52.Ne3 Nxg2 0-1

Round 6, Nov. 23
25+10
Vidit, Gujrathi – Carlsen, Magnus
D32 QGD, Tarrasch Defence

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2 h6 10.Bh4 Nc6 11.O-O Rc8 12.Rc1 Be7 13.Nd4 a6 14.Nxc6 Rxc6 15.Bf3 Rc4 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nxd5 Rxc1 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.Qxc1 Bxa2 20.Bxb7 Rb8 21.Qc7 Qd8 22.Rc1 Bc4 23.Qxc4 Rxb7 24.b4 Qf8 25.Qxa6 Rxb4 26.h3 Rb8 27.Qc4 Qd6 28.Qg4 g6 29.Rc8+ Rxc8 30.Qxc8+ Kg7 31.Qc3+ Kg8 32.Qd4 Qe6 33.g4 Qc6 34.Qf4 Kg7 35.Kh2 Qb5 36.Qd4+ Kg8 37.Qe4 h5 38.Kg2 hxg4 39.hxg4 Kg7 40.Qd4+ Kg8 41.Kg3 Qb8+ 42.f4 g5 43.Qe5 gxf4+ 44.exf4 Qb6 45.Kh4 Qh6+ 46.Kg3 Qb6 47.g5 Qg1+ 48.Kf3 Qf1+ 49.Ke3 Qe1+ 50.Kd4 Qb4+ 51.Kd3 Qb1+ 52.Kc4 Qd1 53.Kc5 Qd8 54.Qd6 Qc8+ 55.Kd4 Qc1 56.Ke5 Qc3+ 57.Kf5 Qc8+ 58.Kf6 Qc3+ 59.Ke7 Qe3+ 60.Kd8 Qe4 61.Qb8 f6 62.gxf6 Kf7 63.Qe5 Qa8+ 64.Kc7 Qa7+ 65.Kd6 Qb6+ 66.Kd5 Qxf6 67.Qh5+ Kg7 68.Qg4+ Kf8 69.Qc8+ Kg7 70.Qd7+ Qf7+ 71.Qxf7+ Kxf7 72.Ke5 Ke7 73.f5 Kf7 74.f6 Kf8 1/2-1/2

Round 6, Nov. 23
25+10
Harikrishna, Pentala – Nakamura, Hikaru
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 dxc4 5.Nf3 a6 6.Ne5 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nd5 8.O-O O-O 9.Ne4 b5 10.b3 cxb3 11.axb3 Bb7 12.Nd3 Be7 13.Nec5 Bc6 14.Bb2 Nf6 15.e4 Bxc5 16.Nxc5 Nbd7 17.Nxd7 Nxd7 18.Bc3 Bb7 19.Ba5 Qe7 20.Rc1 Rfc8 21.Qd2 c5 22.Rfd1 cxd4 23.Qxd4 Nf8 24.h4 e5 25.Qb6 Ne6 26.Rxc8+ Rxc8 27.Rd6 h6 28.Bb4 Qc7 29.Kh2 Nd4 30.f4 f6 31.fxe5 fxe5 32.Rg6 Qf7 33.h5 Rc2 34.Qd8+ Kh7 35.Bf8 Rxg2+ 36.Kh3 Rh2+ 37.Kxh2 Qf2+ 38.Kh3 Qf1+ 0-1

Round 6, Nov. 23
25+10
Ding, Liren – Aronian, Levon
E01 Catalan, Closed

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bxd2+ 6.Nxd2 O-O 7.Ngf3 c6 8.O-O b6 9.Qc2 Ba6 10.Rfd1 Nbd7 11.Rac1 Rc8 12.e3 h6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qa4 Be2 15.Re1 Rxc1 16.Rxc1 Qb8 17.Qc6 Ba6 18.Qc7 Rc8 19.Qxb8 Nxb8 20.Rxc8+ Bxc8 21.Ne5 1/2-1/2

Standings After Round Six

1 Carlsen 10
2-3 So, Nakamura 7
4-6 Ding, Giri, Anand 6
7-9 Aronian, Harikrishna, Vidit 5
10 Nepo 3

________

The postings on this tournament on the English Chess Forum are mixed with comments on cricket, viz:

The GCT players are staying in the same hotel as the Indian cricket time, who also started play today. In their case it is in a Test Match against Bangladesh at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.

Representatives of the Board of Control for Cricket in India attended the Opening Ceremony for the Tata Steel Chess India event and Tania Sachdev introduced the chess commentary from Eden Gardens.

The chess will last the full five days whatever happens, but the cricket may not. In that eventuality it will be interesting to see whether any of the Indian cricketers stay on to watch the chess.

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 24th November, 2019, 03:15 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 24, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Rapids

Rounds Seven to Nine

Two of the best grandmasters at remembering games of the past are Vassily Ivanchuk and Magnus Carlsen.

After the opening ceremonies in Kolkata, IM Sagar Shah held a small quiz he had set with the World Champion Magnus Carlsen, Anish Giri, Vidit Gujrathi and Erwin l'Ami. The quiz dealt with the best games of Anand's chess career (because the players were in India and Vishy will turn 50 in a few days!) and the players had to guess Anand's best move and also the opponent in the game. Magnus Carlsen impressed one and all with his memory!

Magnus and Vidit were the best performers scoring 8.0/9. But the ninth position was the one that no one could solve! Magnus was very impressive because he could remember not only the move (that he could even work out by looking at the position), but he also knew the name of the tournament and the year in which it was held! Now this is simply tremendous!

You can try the positions yourself at:

https://en.chessbase.com/post/magnus...t-games-quiz-2

Round 7, Nov. 24
25+10
Aronian, Levon – So, Wesley
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.Nc3 Bd7 10.b3 Kc8 11.Bb2 h6 12.h3 b6 13.Rad1 Ne7 14.Ne2 Ng6 15.Ne1 h5 16.Nd3 a5 17.a4 Be7 18.Rfe1 Nf8 19.Ndf4 Bg5 20.e6 Nxe6 21.Nxe6 Bxe6 22.Bxg7 Rg8 23.Be5 c5 24.Bf4 Bf6 25.Ng3 h4 26.Ne4 Be7 27.Nc3 c6 28.Kh2 Ra7 29.Ne4 Rd7 30.Rxd7 Kxd7 31.Rd1+ Kc8 32.c4 Rd8 33.Rxd8+ Kxd8 34.g4 hxg3+ 35.Kxg3 Kd7 36.Bd2 f5 37.Nc3 Bf6 38.Kf3 Bf7 39.Ke2 Bh5+ 40.f3 Bg6 41.Kd3 Bh5 42.Ke2 Bg6 43.Kd3 Bh5 1/2-1/2

Round 7, Nov. 24
25+10
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Vidit, Gujrathi
C45 Scotch, Mieses variation, main line

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nxc6 bxc6 6.e5 Qe7 7.Qe2 Nd5 8.h4 Qe6 9.Nd2 a5 10.Nf3 Ba6 11.c4 Bb4+ 12.Bd2 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 Nb6 14.b3 c5 15.O-O-O Bb7 16.Bd3 h6 17.Qe3 Qe7 18.a4 d5 19.cxd5 Nxd5 20.Qe4 O-O-O 21.Bc4 Nc3 22.Qf5+ Kb8 23.Rxd8+ Rxd8 24.Re1 Nd5 25.Rd1 g6 26.Qd3 Rd7 27.Bb5 c6 28.Bc4 Nb6 29.Qc3 Rxd1+ 30.Kxd1 Nxc4 31.Qxc4 Bc8 32.Qc3 Be6 33.Kc1 Kb7 34.g3 c4 35.bxc4 Qc5 36.Nd2 Qxf2 37.Nb3 Kc8 38.Nxa5 Qc5 39.Kb2 Kc7 40.Nb3 Qxc4 41.Qxc4 Bxc4 42.Kc3 Bd5 43.Nc5 Kb6 44.Kb4 h5 45.a5+ Ka7 46.Kc3 Ba2 47.Kd4 Bd5 48.Ke3 Ba2 49.Kf4 Bd5 50.Kg5 Ba2 51.Kf6 Bd5 52.Ke7 Ba2 53.Kd6 Bd5 54.Nd3 Be4 55.Nb4 Kb7 56.Kc5 Bg2 57.a6+ Ka7 58.Nxc6+ Kxa6 59.Nd8 Bh3 60.Kd6 1-0

Round 7, Nov. 24
25+10
Carlsen, Magnus – Anand, Vishy
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.e3 Bf5 9.Nd2 g5 10.Bg3 c5 11.a3 Bxc3 12.bxc3 c4 13.h4 g4 14.h5 Nbd7 15.Bf4 Qa5 16.Qc1 Nb6 17.Bxh6 Na4 18.Bxf8 Rxf8 19.f3 Re8 20.Kf2 b5 21.e4 dxe4 22.Nxc4 bxc4 23.Qg5+ Kh7 24.Qxf6 e3+ 25.Kg1 Be6 26.d5 Qxd5 27.Re1 Qd2 28.Re2 Qc1 29.Qd4 gxf3 30.Qxe3 Qxc3 31.gxf3 Rg8+ 32.Kf2 Qg7 33.Qe4+ Kh6 34.Qf4+ Kh7 35.Qe5 Qh6 36.Rg1 Rc8 37.Qe4+ Kh8 38.Qd4+ Kh7 39.Rxe6 1-0

Round 7, Nov. 24
25+10
Giri, Anish – Harikrishna, Pentala
C05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Bd6 11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Nbd2 Rc8 14.Nb3 Be4 15.Qc3 Qe7 16.Nc5 Nd5 17.Qa3 Bxc5 18.dxc5 a5 19.Qxa5 Qxc5 20.Rfc1 Qd6 21.Qxb5 Rb8 22.Qa4 Bxf3 23.Bxf3 Rxb2 24.Qa5 h6 25.a4 c6 26.Qc5 Qxc5 27.Rxc5 Nb4 28.a5 Ra8 29.Rc4 Ra6 30.Be4 f5 31.Rb1 Rxb1+ 32.Bxb1 Nd5 33.Rc5 Nc7 34.Bd3 Nb5 35.Bc4 Kf8 36.Bxe6 Ke7 37.Bxf5 Kd6 38.Rc1 Rxa5 39.f4 c5 40.Rd1+ Ke7 41.Rd7+ Kf6 42.Bd3 Nd4 43.Kf2 g5 44.Rd6+ Ke7 45.Rxh6 gxf4 46.gxf4 Ra4 47.Ke3 Ra3 48.Ke4 Ra2 49.Kd5 Rd2 50.Ke4 Rb2 51.e3 Ne6 52.Bc4 Nf8 53.h4 Rc2 54.Kd3 Rh2 55.Ke4 Rc2 56.Kd3 Rh2 57.Bd5 Nd7 58.Rh7+ Kd6 59.Bf3 Nf6 60.Rf7 c4+ 61.Kxc4 Ke6 62.Rg7 Rh3 63.Bb7 Rxe3 64.Kd4 Ra3 65.Bc8+ Kd6 66.Bb7 Ra4+ 67.Ke3 Rxf4 68.Kxf4 Nh5+ 69.Kg5 Nxg7 70.Kg6 Ne6 71.Kf6 Nf4 72.Bf3 Kd7 73.Kf7 Kd6 74.Bg4 Ke5 75.Kg7 Kd5 76.Kf6 Kd6 77.Bd1 Nd5+ 78.Kf7 Nf4 79.Ba4 Ke5 80.Bd7 Kd6 81.Bg4 Ke5 82.Bc8 Kd6 83.Kf6 Nd5+ 84.Kf7 Nf4 85.Bf5 Ke5 86.Bg4 Kd6 87.Bf3 Ke5 88.Bb7 Kd6 89.Kf6 Nh5+ 90.Kf7 Nf4 91.Be4 Ke5 92.Bf3 Kd6 93.Kf6 Kd7 94.Be4 Ke8 95.Kg7 Ke7 96.Bf3 Ne6+ 97.Kg8 Kf6 98.h5 Kg5 99.Kh7 Nf8+ 100.Kg7 Ne6+ 1/2-1/2

Position after White’s 65.Bc8+

Round 7, Nov. 24
25+10
Nakamura, Hikaru – Ding, Liren
C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.d3 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7 9.c3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 exd4 13.Nxd4 O-O 14.Nc3 b4 15.Nce2 Re8 16.Ng3 g6 17.Re1 Bf8 18.Nf3 Bg7 19.Be3 Bg4 20.h3 Bxf3 21.Qxf3 Nd7 22.Rab1 Rc8 23.Qd1 Nc4 24.Bb3 Nxe3 25.Rxe3 Nc5 26.Bd5 Qb6 27.b3 Ne6 28.Ne2 Nc7 29.Rf3 Nxd5 30.Qxd5 Rc7 31.Nf4 Qc6 32.Re1 Bc3 33.Rc1 Rxe4 34.Qxc6 Rxc6 35.Nd5 Kg7 36.Nxc3 bxc3 37.Rfxc3 Rxc3 38.Rxc3 Rb4 39.Kf1 d5 40.Rc6 Rxb3 41.Rxa6 Rb2 42.Rd6 Ra2 43.Rxd5 Rxa4 44.g3 1/2-1/2

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 24th November, 2019, 03:17 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 24, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Rapids

Rounds Seven to Nine (continued)

Round 8, Nov. 24
25+10
Ding, Liren – Giri, Anish
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 O-O 8.Qb3 c5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Bxc3+ 11.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 12.bxc3 Nd7 13.Rd1 Nf6 14.Nd4 Bd7 15.f3 Rfc8 16.Nb3 Kf8 17.Bd3 b6 18.cxb6 axb6 19.Ra1 Rxc3 20.Kd2 Rc7 21.Rhb1 Ba4 22.Nd4 Nd7 23.Rb4 h5 24.h4 Rc5 25.Rab1 g6 26.R1b2 Ke7 27.Ne2 Bc6 28.Nd4 Ba4 29.Ne2 Bc6 30.Nc3 Ra3 31.R2b3 Rxb3 32.Rxb3 Ra5 33.Rb4 Kd6 34.Rb2 Kc7 35.Nb5+ 1/2-1/2

Round 8, Nov. 24
25+10
Vidit, Gujrathi – Anand, Vishy
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 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.O-O e5 10.h3 Bd7 11.Bd2 exd4 12.exd4 Qc8 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 Ne7 15.Bc4 Bf5 16.Qb3 c6 17.Bb4 Bxb4 18.Qxb4 Ng6 19.Rfe1 Qd7 20.Re3 b5 21.Bf1 a5 22.Qc5 Be6 23.a4 bxa4 24.Rxa4 Bd5 25.Ne5 Nxe5 26.dxe5 Qb7 27.b4 axb4 28.Rxb4 1/2-1/2

Round 8, Nov. 24
25+10
Harikrishna, Pentala – Carlsen, Magnus
A50 Queen’s Pawn, Slav

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.Bf4 Nc6 6.e3 Bf5 7.Qb3 Na5 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 e6 10.Bd3 Nc6 11.Qe2 Bb4 12.Nf3 Nh5 13.Bg5 Qa5 14.O-O h6 15.Bh4 g5 16.Bg3 Nxg3 17.fxg3 g4 18.Nh4 Rg8 19.Rac1 f5 20.a3 Bxc3 21.Rxc3 Ne7 22.Rfc1 Rc8 23.Qf2 Rxc3 24.Rxc3 Qb6 25.h3 h5 26.Kh2 Qd6 27.Qf4 Qxf4 28.gxf4 Nc8 29.g3 Nd6 30.Ng2 Kd8 31.Ne1 Rg7 32.Kg2 Bb5 33.Bxb5 Nxb5 34.Rc2 Nd6 35.Nd3 Nc4 36.Re2 Rc7 37.hxg4 hxg4 38.Kf1 Ke7 39.Ke1 Nd6 40.Kd1 Ne4 41.Rg2 Kd6 42.Nf2 Rh7 43.Ke2 Kc6 44.Kd3 Kb5 45.b3 a5 46.Nxe4 dxe4+ 47.Kc3 Kc6 48.a4 Rh1 49.b4 Re1 50.Rc2 Kd6 51.Kd2 Rg1 52.bxa5 Rg2+ 53.Kd1 Rxg3 54.Rc3 Rf3 55.Ke2 g3 56.Rc8 Rf2+ 57.Ke1 Ra2 58.Kf1 Ra3 59.Rb8 Rxe3 60.Rxb7 Ra3 61.Rb4 e3 62.Rb2 Kd5 63.Kg2 Rxa4 64.Kxg3 Ke4 65.Rb6 Ra1 66.Rxe6+ Kd3 67.a6 e2 68.a7 Rxa7 69.Kf2 Rh7 70.Re3+ Kxd4 71.Rxe2 Rh2+ 72.Ke1 Rxe2+ 73.Kxe2 Ke4 74.Kf1 Kxf4 75.Kf2 1/2-1/2

Position after 63.Kg2. Could Magnus win with 63….Ke4?

Round 8, Nov. 24
25+10
So, Wesley – Nakamura, Hikaru
D02 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 cxd4 5.O-O Bd7 6.Nxd4 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.Bg5 Nbd7 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Qd3 O-O 11.Rad1 d4 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Ne4 Qc7 14.Nxf6+ Bxf6 15.c3 dxc3 16.Qxc3 Qxc3 17.bxc3 Rac8 18.Bxb7 Rxc3 19.Bd5 Bh3 20.Bg2 Be6 21.Bd5 Bg4 22.Rc1 Rfc8 23.Rxc3 Rxc3 24.Rc1 Rxc1+ 25.Nxc1 Be7 26.Nd3 Bd6 27.f3 Bd7 28.Kf2 Kf8 29.f4 exf4 30.gxf4 f6 31.e4 Bb5 32.Ke3 Bc7 33.h4 Bb6+ 34.Kd2 g6 35.e5 Ba5+ 36.Ke3 Bb6+ 37.Kd2 fxe5 38.Nxe5 Bf2 39.Bc6 Bf1 40.Be4 Kg7 41.Nf3 Bc4 42.a4 Kf6 43.Ne5 Be6 44.h5 gxh5 45.Bxh7 Bd5 46.Kd3 Be1 47.Be4 Bb3 48.Nd7+ Ke7 49.Ne5 Kf6 50.Nd7+ Kg7 51.f5 Bb4 52.Bc6 h4 53.Ke4 h3 54.Kf3 Bd6 55.a5 Bc4 56.Kf2 Kf7 57.Kf3 Ke7 58.f6+ Ke6 59.Kf2 Ba6 60.Ke3 Bc8 61.Nb6 0-1

Round 8, Nov. 24
25+10
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Aronian, Levon
A13 English, Neo-Catalan

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.b3 dxc4 8.bxc4 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.Nxd4 Ne5 11.Rb1 Nxc4 12.Bxb7 Bxb7 13.Rxb7 1/2-1/2

Round 9, Nov. 24
25+10
Nakamura, Hikaru – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O e6 6.Re1 a6 7.c3 b5 8.Bc2 c4 9.a4 Bb7 10.d4 cxd3 11.Qxd3 Nc5 12.Qe2 bxa4 13.Be3 Nfd7 14.Bd4 e5 15.Bxc5 Nxc5 16.Rxa4 Be7 17.Ra2 O-O 18.Nbd2 a5 19.Nb3 Ba6 20.Qd1 Bc4 21.Nfd2 Be6 22.Ra1 Nd7 23.Nc1 Qb6 24.Bb3 Nc5 25.Bxe6 fxe6 26.Nc4 Qb5 27.Qe2 a4 28.Na2 Rfc8 29.Na3 1/2-1/2

Round 9, Nov. 24
25+10
Aronian, Levon – Vidit, Gujrathi
C58 Two Knights Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5 d5 5.exd5 Na5 6.Bb5+ c6 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Nd5 9.Nf3 Bd6 10.O-O O-O 11.Re1 f5 12.Nxe5 Qf6 13.Nf3 g5 14.c4 Nf4 15.Bf1 g4 16.d4 gxf3 17.Qxf3 Ne6 18.c5 Bc7 19.b4 Qxd4 20.Qc3 Qxc3 21.Nxc3 Nb7 22.Bc4 Re8 23.Bb2 a5 24.b5 Nxc5 25.Ba3 Ne4 26.Nxe4 fxe4 27.b6 Bxb6 28.Rxe4 Kf7 29.Rae1 Ra7 30.Kh1 a4 31.f4 Ra5 32.g4 Bc5 33.Bxc5 Rxc5 34.f5 h5 35.Bxe6+ Bxe6 36.fxe6+ Ke7 37.Rxa4 h4 38.Rf4 Rc2 39.Rf7+ Kd6 40.Rd7+ Kc5 41.Rh7 Kd6 42.e7 Rd2 43.Rxh4 Rxe7 44.Rh6+ Kd7 45.Rxe7+ Kxe7 46.Rxc6 Rxa2 47.Rc3 Kf6 48.h4 Ke5 49.Rf3 Ra4 50.Rg3 Kf4 51.Rg2 Kf3 52.h5 Kf4 53.g5 Kf5 54.g6 1-0

Round 9, Nov. 24
25+10
Anand, Vishy – Harikrishna, Pentala
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qc7 9.f4 Qb6 10.a3 f5 11.exf6 Nxf6 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Bd3 Bb7 14.Qh5+ Kd8 15.Bd2 c5 16.O-O-O Kc7 17.Bc3 Be7 18.f5 Rae8 19.fxe6 d5 20.Rhe1 Kb8 21.Qh4 d4 22.Bd2 Bd5 23.Qf4+ Ka8 24.Be4 Qb7 25.Qf3 Rd8 26.Bf4 Bxe4 27.Rxe4 Rd5 28.Qd3 Rc8 29.Qc4 Rdd8 30.Re2 Qd5 31.b3 Qf5 32.g3 Qd5 33.Qxd5+ Rxd5 34.c4 Rdd8 35.Kc2 Rc6 36.Rd3 h5 37.Rf3 Kb7 38.Bd2 Rdd6 39.Kd3 Ra6 40.a4 Rdb6 41.Kc2 Rxe6 42.Rxe6 Rxe6 43.Rf5 Re2 44.Rxh5 Bd6 45.Kd3 Rf2 46.Rh7+ Kc6 47.Rxa7 Rxh2 48.a5 Rh3 49.Ke4 Bxg3 50.Ra6+ Kb7 51.Rxf6 Bh2 52.Rh6 Rxh6 53.Bxh6 Ka6 54.Bf8 d3 55.Kxd3 Bg1 56.b4 cxb4 57.Bxb4 Kb7 58.Bc3 Bc5 59.Ke4 Ka6 60.Kd5 Ba3 61.Be5 Kxa5 62.Bd6 Bb2 63.Kc6 Ka6 64.Bc5 Bc3 65.Ba3 Bd4 66.Bb4 Be3 67.Bc5 Bd2 1/2-1/2

Round 9, Nov. 24
25+10
Carlsen, Magnus – Ding, Liren
C89 Ruy Lopez, Marshall Counter-Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd5 Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d3 Bd6 13.Re1 Bf5 14.Qf3 Qh4 15.g3 Qh3 16.Be3 Bxd3 17.Bxd5 cxd5 18.Qxd5 Rad8 19.Qg2 Qc8 20.Nd2 Bf5 21.Bd4 Rfe8 22.f3 Bf8 23.a3 Re6 24.Rxe6 Qxe6 25.Qf2 Re8 26.Nf1 h5 27.Ne3 Bh3 28.Re1 Qc6 29.Ng2 Rxe1+ 30.Nxe1 Qg6 31.Qc2 Bf5 32.Qd2 Be6 33.Qd3 Bf5 34.Qe3 Be6 35.Bc5 Bxc5 36.Qxc5 Qb1 37.Qf2 Bd5 38.Kg2 a5 39.Qe2 Qf5 40.Kf2 Be6 41.Nc2 Qh3 42.Kg1 Bc4 43.Qe8+ Kh7 44.Ne3 Qe6 45.Qxe6 Bxe6 46.b4 axb4 47.axb4 g5 48.h4 gxh4 49.gxh4 Kg6 50.Kf2 Kf6 51.Nf1 Ke5 52.Ng3 f5 53.Nxh5 f4 54.Ng7 Bf7 55.h5 Kf6 56.h6 Kg6 57.Nh5 Kxh6 58.Nxf4 Kg5 59.Ne2 Kf5 1-0

Round 9, Nov. 24
25+10
Giri, Anish – So, Wesley
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nd5 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.O-O Rb8 10.Na3 O-O 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qe8 14.Rfc1 Nd5 15.e4 Na5 16.Nxc7 Bxc4 17.Nxe8 Rfxe8 18.exd5 Bxd5 19.Rc7 Rb7 20.Rac1 Rxc7 21.Rxc7 Nc6 22.Ne5 Nxe5 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.dxe5 g5 25.Rxa7 Rxe5 26.Kf1 g4 27.Ra4 h5 28.Rb4 Re6 29.Rb5 Rd6 30.Ke2 Kg7 31.Kd3 Rf6 32.Ke2 Re6+ 33.Kd2 Rf6 34.Ke2 Re6+ 1/2-1/2

Standings after Rapid Rounds

1 Carlsen 15
2 Nakamura 11
3-5 Giri, Aronian, So 9
6-8 Ding, Anand, Harikrishna 8
9 Nepo 7
10 Vidit 6

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 25th November, 2019, 02:00 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 25, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Blitz

Rounds One to Nine

Round 1

Aronian-Harikrishna 0-1
Anand-Nepomniachtchi 0-1
So-Ding 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Carlsen 0-1
Giri-Nakamura 0.5-0.5

Round 2

Harikrishna-Nakamura 0-1
Carlsen-Giri 0.5-0.5
Ding-Vidit 0-1
Nepomniachtchi-So 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Anand 0-1

Round 3

Anand-Harikrishna 0.5-0.5
So-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Nepomniachtchi 0-1
Giri-Ding 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Carlsen 0.5-0.5

Round 4

Harikrishna-Carlsen 0-1
Ding-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Nepomniachtchi-Giri 1-0
Aronian-Vidit 0.5-0.5
Anand-So 1-0

Round 5

So-Harikrishna 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Anand 0.5-0.5
Giri-Aronian 1-0
Nakamura-Nepomniachtchi 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Ding 0-1

Round 6

Harikrishna-Ding 0-1
Nepomniachtchi-Carlsen 0-1
Aronian-Nakamura 0-1
Anand-Giri 0.5-0.5
So-Vidit 0.5-0.5

Round 7

Vidit-Harikrishna 0.5-0.5
Giri-So 0-1
Nakamura-Anand 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Aronian 1-0
Ding-Nepomniachtchi 0.5-0.5

Round 8

Harikrishna-Nepomniachtchi 1-0
Aronian-Ding 1-0
Anand-Carlsen 0-1
So-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Giri 0.5-0.5

Round 9

Giri-Harikrishna 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Vidit 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-So 0.5-0.5
Ding-Anand 0.5-0.5
Nepomniachtchi-Aronian 1-0

-	-		-		-		-
		Current Standings
-
Pos.		Player		Rapid		Blitz		Total
				Score		Score
-
1		Carlsen		15		6		21
2		Nakamura		11		5		16
3		So		9		4		13
4		Giri		9		3.5		12.5
T5		Anand		8		4		12
T5		Ding		8		4		12
T7		Nepo		7		4.5		11.5
T7		Harikrishna		8		3.5		11.5
9		Aronian		9		2		11
10		Vidit		6		3.5		9.5
-
								-

**John Coleman** · Monday, 25th November, 2019, 02:45 PM

I make Carlsen with 6.5 in the blitz (loss to Ding, draws with Giri, Naka, and So). In fact, I think the standings you give do not include B9.

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 25th November, 2019, 03:44 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 25, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Blitz

Rounds One to Nine

Golly, you’re right John. I took the results off the screen from the end of the replay tape but obviously got it as far as Blitz Round 8. Thanks for the correction.

Carlsen’s Rapid Performance

Magnus Carlsen performed at an astronomical Elo of 3027 at the Tata Steel Chess India 2019 Rapid. He scored 15.0/18, with six wins and three draws. According to Magnus, this was his best performance ever in rapid format. He gained 36.8 Elo points, taking his rapid rating to 2885. He also overtook MVL and thus became World no.1 in rapid. Hikaru Nakamura took the second spot with 11.0/18 and Wesley So was third. The tournament has not yet ended of course — we've moved to the blitz section with 18 more rounds to be played.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/carlse...dia-rapid-2019

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 25th November, 2019, 04:46 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 25, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Blitz

Rounds One to Nine

Selection of Games

Carlsen starts the blitz section off with a win:

Round 1, Nov. 25
5+3
Vidit, Gujrathi – Carlsen, Magnus
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nbd7 6.O-O Rb8 7.a4 b6 8.Nbd2 Ba6 9.Qc2 c3 10.bxc3 Bxe2 11.Re1 Ba6 12.c4 Be7 13.d5 Nc5 14.Ne5 Bb7 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.Nc6 Bxc6 17.Bxc6+ Nfd7 18.Bb2 O-O 19.Rad1 Bd6 20.Ne4 Qe7 21.Kg2 Rbd8 22.Nxc5 Nxc5 23.f4 Qf7 24.Re2 Be7 25.Ba3 Rxd1 26.Qxd1 Rd8 27.Rd2 Rxd2+ 28.Qxd2 Qf5 29.Qe2 Kf7 30.Bxc5 Qxc5 31.Bf3 Bf6 32.Be4 h6 33.h4 Ke7 34.h5 Qd4 35.Bd5 e5 36.Qg4 Kd6 37.Qe6+ Kc5 38.fxe5 Qxe5 39.Qd7 Qe2+ 40.Kg1 Bd4+ 41.Kh1 Qf1+ 0-1

Round 2, Nov. 25
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Giri, Anish
B52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Bd7 4.Bxd7+ Nxd7 5.O-O Ngf6 6.Qe2 e6 7.b3 Be7 8.c4 O-O 9.Bb2 Rc8 10.d4 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e5 Ne4 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Bxc3 Qb6 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Bd4 Qg6 17.Bxc5 Bxc5 18.Rad1 Rfd8 19.Rd3 Qe4 20.Qd1 d4 21.Re1 Qd5 22.h4 Rc6 23.Qe2 h6 24.h5 Re6 25.Qd2 a6 26.Qf4 Bb6 27.Red1 Rde8 28.Qg4 Qa5 29.a4 Qd5 30.Rc1 Rc6 31.Rcd1 Rce6 32.Qf4 Rc6 33.Nxd4 Bxd4 34.Qxd4 Qxd4 35.Rxd4 Rxe5 36.Rd8+ Kh7 37.R8d7 b5 38.Rxf7 bxa4 39.bxa4 Rxh5 40.Rf4 1/2-1/2

Giri: "Making a draw with Magnus nowadays is such an honour that you get invited to the studio" :)

Round 3, Nov. 25
5+3
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
D30 QGD Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nbd2 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.O-O Nbd7 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Bd6 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 O-O 14.Rad1 Rfe8 15.Bg3 Bxg3 16.fxg3 Rad8 17.c5 bxc5 18.g4 cxd4 19.g5 c5 20.gxh6 gxh6 21.Nd2 f5 22.Qh5 Nf8 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Rf3 Kh7 25.Ne4 Re7 26.Ng5+ Kg7 27.Rg3 hxg5 28.Qxg5+ Kf7 29.Qh5+ Kf6 30.Qh8+ Kf7 31.Qh5+ Kf6 32.Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

(Olimpiu Urcan) – This terrific blitz game between Hikaru Nakamura and Magnus Carlsen felt like 50%chess and 50% choker.

Round 4, Nov. 25
5+3
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 Be6 7.O-O Bd6 8.d4 Nd7 9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5 11.f4 Bd4+ 12.Kh1 f5 13.Qh5+ g6 14.Qe2 O-O 15.Nf3 Bf6 16.e5 Be7 17.Rd1 Qe8 18.Nd4 Qf7 19.Nxe6 Qxe6 20.Be3 Rad8 21.c4 a6 22.b3 Kf7 23.h3 h5 24.Bf2 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rd8 26.Rxd8 Bxd8 27.Qe1 Qe7 28.Kh2 Ke6 29.Qd2 Qd7 30.Qb4 Kf7 31.Qxb7 Qd2 32.e6+ Kg7 33.Bg1 Qxf4+ 34.Kh1 Qd6 35.Qxa6 Qxe6 36.Qa7 g5 37.a4 g4 38.Qe3 Qc8 39.Qe8 gxh3 40.Bd4+ Kh6 41.Bf6 hxg2+ 42.Kxg2 f4 43.Qg8 Qd7 44.Qg5+ Kh7 45.Qxh5+ Kg8 46.Qh8+ Kf7 47.Qg7+ Ke6 48.Qxd7+ Kxd7 49.Bxd8 Kxd8 50.Kf3 1-0

Peter Svidler on @vishy64theking's victory over Wesley So: "This is just a game of chess you should be extremely proud of”

A rare Carlsen loss:

Round 5, Nov. 25
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Ding, Liren
C85 Ruy Lopez, Exchange variation doubly deferred

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Nd7 8.Nbd2 O-O 9.a4 a5 10.b3 f6 11.Nh4 Nc5 12.Nf5 Ne6 13.Nc4 b6 14.Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.Ne3 g6 16.Bb2 c5 17.Qd2 Bb7 18.Rae1 Rad8 19.f3 Kf7 20.Qf2 Ke8 21.Qh4 Kd7 22.f4 Nxf4 23.Rxf4 exf4 24.Ng4 g5 25.Qh6 Qe6 26.Nxf6+ Kc8 27.Qxg5 f3 28.Rf1 Rg8 29.Nxg8 Rxg8 30.Qe5 Rxg2+ 31.Kh1 Qg6 32.h4 Bc6 33.Qf4 Rxc2 34.Rg1 Rg2 35.Qe3 Qg3 0-1

Final Position

Chessbomb kibitzers:

- Magnus burning time. This is alarming
- 22.f4 is too risky
- Magnus is an exchange down
- Wow, Magnus left with 1 minute in complicated middle game and he starts sacrificing material
- Ding is close to handing Magnus his first loss of the tourney
- 28…Rg8!!
- Wow, Magnus’s first loss
- 27.Qxg5 lost, so what, this is speedy Gonzales chess, not to be taken seriously

Round 5, Nov. 25
5+3
Giri, Anish – Aronian, Levon
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.Qxc4 b5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.Bd2 Be4 11.Qc1 Nc6 12.Be3 b4 13.Nbd2 Bd5 14.Bg5 Nxd4 15.Nxd4 Bxg2 16.Nxe6 fxe6 17.Kxg2 Qd5+ 18.Nf3 c5 19.Qc2 c4 20.Rad1 Qb5 21.Rd4 Rac8 22.Rh4 c3 23.Bxf6 Bxf6 24.Qxh7+ Kf7 25.Rh5 Qxe2 26.Re1 Qxe1 27.Nxe1 cxb2 28.Nd3 Rh8 29.Qe4 Rxh5 30.Qb7+ Be7 31.Nxb2 Rc2 32.Nd3 Rxa2 33.g4 Rd5 34.Nxb4 Rb5 35.Qf3+ Kg8 36.Nxa2 1-0

Round 6, Nov. 25
5+3
Aronian, Levon - Nakamura, Hikaru
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 h6 8.Nbd2 a5 9.Nf1 Ne7 10.Ng3 Ng6 11.Bb3 c6 12.d4 Bb6 13.h3 Re8 14.Be3 exd4 15.Bxd4 Bc7 16.Qd2 a4 17.Bc2 Ne5 18.Nh2 c5 19.Bxe5 dxe5 20.Qe2 Be6 21.Bd3 a3 22.b3 Ba5 23.Rac1 g6 24.Bc4 Kg7 25.Nf3 Bd7 26.Bb5 Qc7 27.Nf1 Bc6 28.N1d2 Qd7 29.Bxc6 Qxc6 30.b4 Bc7 31.b5 Qe6 32.Qc4 Qxc4 33.Nxc4 Ra4 34.Nfd2 Nd7 35.Kf1 Nb6 36.Ne3 Bd8 37.c4 Bg5 38.Ke2 Bxe3 39.fxe3 Rb4 40.Rc2 Rd8 41.Rec1 Rb2 42.g4 Na4 43.Nb1 Ra8 44.Kd3 Rb4 45.Ke2 Nb6 46.Nd2 Rb2 47.Kd3 Rd8+ 48.Ke2 Kf6 49.Rxb2 axb2 50.Rb1 Na4 51.Rf1+ Ke6 52.Nb1 Nb6 53.Nd2 Ra8 54.Rb1 Rxa2 55.Kd3 Ra3+ 56.Kc2 Rxe3 57.Rxb2 Rxh3 58.Rb1 Nc8 59.Nb3 b6 60.Ra1 Rh4 61.Ra6 Kd7 62.Kd3 Rxg4 63.Ra1 Rg3+ 64.Kc2 h5 65.Rf1 Ke6 0-1

- Sad game for Aronian
- Yeah, all the pawns slowly being eaten

Round 7, Nov. 25
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
A28 English, Four Knights, Capablanca variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 Nb6 7.Be2 Be7 8.Be3 O-O 9.O-O Be6 10.a4 a6 11.a5 Nd7 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Nc5 15.Be3 Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 Rfd8 17.Nd5 Bxd5 18.exd5 Nd7 19.Bf4 Bd6 20.Bxd6 cxd6 21.Rac1 Nf6 22.Rc7 Rab8 23.Bf3 b6 24.b4 bxa5 25.bxa5 Rb5 26.Ra1 Nxd5 27.Bxd5 Rxd5 28.Ra7 g6 29.h3 Rb8 30.Rxa6 Kg7 31.Rc6 Rb2 32.a6 Rdd2 33.a7 Rxf2 34.Rc2 Rbxc2 35.a8=Q h5 36.Qe4 Rce2 37.Qd4+ Rf6 38.Rf1 Re5 39.Rxf6 Kxf6 40.Qxd6+ Re6 41.Qf8 Re5 42.Kf2 Rf5+ 43.Ke3 Re5+ 44.Kd4 Re2 45.g4 hxg4 46.hxg4 Rg2 47.Qh8+ Ke7 48.Qh3 Rd2+ 49.Ke5 Re2+ 50.Kf4 Re6 51.Kg5 Re5+ 52.Kh6 g5 53.Kg7 Re6 54.Qa3+ Ke8 55.Qa8+ Ke7 56.Qb7+ 1-0

Position after 34.Rc2

34.Rc2!! was a beautiful touch by Magnus! https://chess24.com

(34...Rbxc2 35.a8=Q Rce2 36.Qd5 Rd2 37.Qe4)
(34...Rfxc2 35.a8=Q Rf2 36.Qe4 Rbd2 37.Rf1 Rxf1+)

Round 8, Nov. 25
5+3
Anand, Vishy – Carlsen, Magnus
B01 Scandinavian, Pytel-Wade variation

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.d4 c6 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.Ne4 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nd7 9.c3 Nf6 10.Bc2 Qd5 11.h3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qxf3 13.gxf3 e6 14.Bg5 Nd5 15.Be4 Bd6 16.Ke2 Kd7 17.Be3 g6 18.Rad1 b5 19.Rc1 a5 20.c4 bxc4 21.Rxc4 Rhb8 22.Rb1 Rb4 23.Rxb4 axb4 24.Ra1 Nxe3 25.fxe3 Ra5 26.f4 c5 27.dxc5 Bxc5 28.a3 bxa3 29.bxa3 Bxa3 30.Kf3 Ke7 31.Bd3 Kf6 32.Ra2 e5 33.Bc4 exf4 34.exf4 Rc5 35.Rc2 Rc7 36.Bb3 Rd7 37.Rc3 Bb4 38.Rc6+ Kg7 39.Bc4 f5 40.Be2 Ra7 41.Ba6 Kh6 42.Rb6 Bc5 43.Rc6 Bg1 44.Kg2 Bd4 45.Kg3 Re7 46.Rc4 Re3+ 47.Kg2 Bf6 48.Bb7 Bh4 49.Bf3 Rb3 50.Bd1 Rg3+ 51.Kh2 Rd3 52.Ba4 Rd2+ 53.Kg1 Bg3 54.Bc6 Kh5 55.Bg2 Kh4 56.Ra4 Bf2+ 57.Kh2 Be3 0-1

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 26th November, 2019, 03:04 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 26, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Blitz

Rounds Ten to Eighteen

Round 10

Harikrishna-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Nepomniachtchi-Anand 1-0
Ding-So 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Vidit 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Giri 0.5-0.5

Round 11

Nakamura-Harikrishna 1-0
Giri-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Ding 0.5-0.5
So-Nepomniachtchi 0.5-0.5
Anand-Aronian 0.5-0.5

Round 12

Harikrishna-Anand 0-1
Aronian-So 0-1
Nepomniachtchi-Vidit 0.5-0.5
Ding-Giri 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Nakamura 0.5-0.5

Round 13

Carlsen-Harikrishna 1-0
Nakamura-Ding 0.5-0.5
Giri-Nepomniachtchi 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Aronian 1-0
So-Anand 0-1

Round 14

Harikrishna-So 0-1
Anand-Vidit 0-1
Aronian-Giri 0.5-0.5
Nepomniachtchi-Nakamura 0-1
Ding-Carlsen 1-0

Round 15

Ding-Harikrishna 0-1
Carlsen-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Aronian 1-0
Giri-Anand 1-0
Vidit-So 0.5-0.5

Round 16

Harikrishna-Vidit 0.5-0.5
So-Giri 0.5-0.5
Anand-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Carlsen 0-1
Nepo-Ding 0-1

Round 17

Nepo-Harikrishna 1-0
Ding-Aronian 1-0
Carlsen-Anand 1-0
Nakamura-So 0.5-0.5
Giri-Vidit 1-0

Round 18

Harikrishna-Giri 0.5-0.5
Vidit-Nakamura 0-1
So-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Anand-Ding 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Nepo 0.5-0.5

Final Blitz Ranking

1-2 Nakamura, Carlsen 12
3-4 Ding, Nepo 10
5-6 So, Giri 9.5
7 Vidit 8.5
8 Anand 8
9 Harikrishna 6.5
10 Aronian 4

Final Standings

1 Carlsen 27
2 Nakamura 23
3-4 Giri, So 18.5
5 Ding 18
6 Nepo 17
7 Anand 16
8-9 Harikrishna, Vidit 14.5
10 Aronian 13

Magnus Carlsen is the winner of the tournament. He receives his prize of a custom 6 kg bronze trophy and a $37,500 cheque.

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 26th November, 2019, 03:06 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 26, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

Blitz

Rounds Ten to Eighteen (continued)

Selected Games

Round 10, Nov. 26
5+3
Nepo – Anand, Vishy
A20 English, Kingside Fianchetto

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e4 d6 6.Nge2 Ng4 7.O-O h5 8.Na4 h4 9.Nxc5 hxg3 10.hxg3 dxc5 11.f3 Nf6 12.d3 Nbd7 13.Be3 Qe7 14.Qd2 Nf8 15.a3 Bh3 16.Bxh3 Rxh3 17.Kg2 Rh8 18.b4 Ne6 19.bxc5 O-O-O 20.Rab1 Nd7 21.Qa5 Kb8 22.d4 exd4 23.Nxd4 Nxd4 24.Bxd4 Ne5 25.Qc3 f6 26.Rh1 Qe6 27.Bxe5+ fxe5 28.Rbd1 Qe7 29.Qe3 Rxh1 30.Rxh1 a6 31.Rh5 Rd4 32.Qg5 Qxc5 33.Qxe5+ Qxe5 34.Rxe5 Rxc4 35.Re8+ Ka7 36.e5 Rc2+ 37.Kh3 Rc3 38.f4 Rxa3 39.f5 a5 40.Kg4 a4 41.f6 gxf6 42.exf6 Ra1 43.Re4 Rf1 44.Rxa4+ 1-0

Reportedly, Magnus was not feeling well today

Round 10, Nov. 26
5+3
Carlsen, Magnus – Vidit, Gujrathi
C44 Scotch Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4 exd4 5.Ng5 1/2-1/2

Round 11, Nov. 26
5+3
Nakamura, Hikaru – Harikrishna, Pentala
C26 Vienna, Paulsen-Mieses variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 Nxd5 5.Bg2 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bd6 7.Nf3 O-O 8.O-O Nc6 9.Rb1 Rb8 10.d4 exd4 11.cxd4 Bg4 12.h3 Bh5 13.Rb5 Bg6 14.Nh4 Qd7 15.Nxg6 hxg6 16.c4 b6 17.Be3 Rfe8 18.Qd3 Rbd8 19.Rd1 Ne7 20.g4 c6 21.Rb3 Qc7 22.Qd2 c5 23.Rd3 cxd4 24.Rxd4 Bh2+ 25.Kh1 Rxd4 26.Qxd4 Be5 27.Qd7 Qxd7 28.Rxd7 Nc8 29.Bd5 Ne7 30.Rxa7 Nxd5 31.cxd5 Rd8 32.Bxb6 Rxd5 33.a4 Bd4 34.Ra8+ Kh7 35.Rd8 Rxd8 36.Bxd8 1-0

Round 12, Nov. 26
5+3
Harikrishna, Pentala – Anand, Vishy
D30 Queen’s Gambit declined

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 dxc4 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O b5 8.a4 c6 9.Ne5 Nd5 10.Ne4 f6 11.Nf3 a5 12.b3 cxb3 13.Qxb3 Ba6 14.Qc2 bxa4 15.Rxa4 Nd7 16.Ra1 Rc8 17.Nc5 Nxc5 18.dxc5 e5 19.Ba3 Bb5 20.Rfd1 Qe7 21.Nh4 Nc3 22.Rd6 Nxe2+ 23.Kh1 Nd4 24.Qe4 Rcd8 25.Bxb4 axb4 26.Qg4 f5 27.Qh5 Rxd6 28.cxd6 Qxd6 29.Ra7 b3 30.Bh3 b2 31.Qd1 Qb4 32.Qb1 Bd3 33.Qa2+ Qb3 0-1

Round 13, Nov. 26
5+3
Nakamura, Hikaru – Ding, Liren
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.e3 b6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qc2 Bb7 10.e4 Nf6 11.e5 Nd5 12.Nf3 c5 13.Bd3 h6 14.O-O cxd4 15.Qe2 Ne7 16.Rd1 Qd5 17.Bc4 Qe4 18.Qxe4 Bxe4 19.Nxd4 Nbc6 20.Re1 Nxd4 21.Rxe4 Rfd8 22.Bf4 Rac8 23.Bf1 Nb3 24.Rae1 Nd2 25.R4e2 Nxf1 26.Kxf1 Nf5 27.Rd2 g5 28.Rxd8+ Rxd8 29.Bc1 Kg7 30.h3 Kg6 31.f3 h5 32.g4 Nh4 33.Kf2 Rd3 34.Be3 Rd5 35.Bc1 Rc5 36.Be3 Rxe5 37.Rc1 Rb5 38.b4 a5 39.Rc4 hxg4 40.hxg4 axb4 41.axb4 f5 42.Rc6 f4 43.Bd2 Kf7 44.Bc3 Rd5 45.Ke2 b5 46.Rc7+ Kg6 47.Rg7+ Kh6 48.Re7 Rd6 49.Bg7+ Kg6 50.Be5 Ra6 51.Rg7+ Kh6 52.Re7 Ra2+ 53.Kd3 Ra3+ 54.Kc2 Nxf3 55.Rxe6+ Kh7 56.Bf6 Ra2+ 57.Kd3 Rd2+ 58.Kc3 Rd5 59.Re2 Kg6 60.Be7 Ne5 61.Rg2 Rd3+ 62.Kc2 Rg3 63.Rd2 Nxg4 64.Bc5 Ne3+ 65.Kb1 Nc4 66.Rd8 g4 67.Rg8+ Kf5 68.Rb8 Rb3+ 69.Kc2 Rb2+ 70.Kc3 Re2 71.Rxb5 Ne5 72.Rb8 g3 73.Rg8 g2 74.b5 f3 75.b6 f2 76.Bxf2 Rxf2 77.b7 Nd7 78.Rg7 Rf1 79.Rxg2 Rb1 80.Rb2 Rxb2 81.Kxb2 Ke5 1/2-1/2

Position after 78….Rf1?

Magnus lost twice in the blitz to Ding.

Round 14, Nov. 26
5+3
Ding, Liren – Carlsen, Magnus
A90 Dutch Defence

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 d5 5.Nf3 Bd6 6.Bf4 Bxf4 7.gxf4 O-O 8.Nc3 c6 9.e3 b6 10.Ne5 Bb7 11.Rc1 Nbd7 12.Qa4 Nxe5 13.fxe5 Ne4 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Ne2 Rc8 16.Rxc8 Qxc8 17.f3 Bc6 18.Qb4 Ng5 19.Kd2 Qd7 20.Rc1 Rc8 21.Nf4 Nf7 22.Bf1 Nd8 23.Ba6 Bb7 24.Bb5 Bc6 25.Ba6 Bb7 26.Rxc8 Bxc8 27.Bxc8 Qxc8 28.Qe7 h6 29.Qe8+ Kh7 30.Ng6 Qc4 31.Nf8+ Kg8 32.Nxe6+ Kh7 33.Nf8+ Kg8 34.Ng6+ Kh7 35.Ne7 Qb4+ 36.Ke2 Qxb2+ 37.Kf1 Qc1+ 38.Kg2 Qd2+ 39.Kh3 1-0

Final Position

It’s mate in 2

Round 14, Nov. 26
5+3
Nepo – Nakamura, Hikaru
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.c3 d6 7.h3 h6 8.Re1 a5 9.Nbd2 Ne7 10.Nf1 Ng6 11.Ng3 c6 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 Bb4 14.Bd2 d5 15.Bxb4 axb4 16.Bb3 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Rxe4 Bf5 19.Re3 Qd6 20.Qe1 Nf4 21.Ne5 Be6 22.Nc4 Qxd4 23.Rd1 Qf6 24.Nb6 Rae8 25.Bxe6 Rxe6 26.Qxb4 Qg5 27.g4 Rxe3 28.fxe3 Nxh3+ 29.Kh2 Nf2 30.Rd4 c5 0-1

Round 16, Nov. 26
5+3
Nepo – Ding, Liren
A28 English, Four Knights, Nimzowitsch variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e4 Bb4 5.d3 d6 6.a3 Bc5 7.b4 Bb6 8.Na4 Bd4 9.Rb1 a6 10.Be2 b5 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.Nc3 O-O 13.O-O c6 14.Be3 Be6 15.Re1 Nxe2+ 16.Qxe2 Nd7 17.a4 Qb8 18.h3 h6 19.Rec1 Qb7 20.Qd2 Rfc8 21.Ne2 d5 22.Ng3 Kh7 23.f3 d4 24.Bf2 bxc4 25.dxc4 a5 26.bxa5 Qc7 27.Be1 Nc5 28.Qd1 Nb7 29.Nf1 Nxa5 30.Bxa5 Qxa5 31.Ra1 Rcb8 32.f4 Rb4 33.f5 Bxc4 34.Nd2 Bd3 35.Ra3 Qa6 36.Qh5 Rb2 37.Nf3 f6 38.Nxe5 fxe5 39.Qg6+ Kh8 40.Rxc6 Rxg2+ 41.Qxg2 Qxc6 42.Rxd3 Rxa4 43.Kh2 Qa6 44.Rd2 Kh7 45.Rc2 Qf6 46.Qg3 Ra1 47.Rg2 Rc1 48.Qb3 Qh4 49.Qf3 Rc3 50.Qg4 Qxg4 51.Rxg4 Re3 52.Kg2 d3 53.Kf2 d2 0-1

Round 17, Nov. 26
5+3
Giri, Anish – Vidit, Gujrathi
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.Bg5 Bd5 11.Qc2 Be4 12.Qc1 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.Rd1 a5 15.Nbd2 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 c6 17.e3 Na6 18.h4 g6 19.h5 g5 20.Qc4 Qe7 21.Qe2 Nb4 22.Nc4 Rfd8 23.Rd2 Bg7 24.Rad1 Qc7 25.e4 Rac8 26.e5 Nd5 27.Be4 b5 28.axb5 cxb5 29.Nd6 Rxd6 30.exd6 Qxd6 31.Qxb5 Nb6 32.Qxa5 Rc4 33.Kg2 Bxd4 34.b3 Rb4 35.Qa3 e5 36.Rc2 Kg7 37.Rc6 Qe7 38.Rdc1 Qf8 39.Rc7 Bxf2 40.Bg6 Be3 41.Rxf7+ 1-0

Round 18, Nov. 26
5+3
Vidit, Gujrathi – Nakamura, Hikaru
E10 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 a6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 Be7 7.e3 h6 8.Bh4 c6 9.Qc2 Nbd7 10.Bd3 Nh5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.O-O Nhf6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 O-O 15.Rfe1 Qd8 16.Nc5 Nd5 17.a3 a5 18.Nxd7 Bxd7 19.Ne5 Be6 20.Rad1 Qf6 21.Bh7+ Kh8 22.Be4 Rfd8 23.Qc5 Kg8 24.g3 a4 25.Bg2 Bf5 26.Rd2 Qd6 27.Nc4 Qc7 28.Ne3 Nxe3 29.Rxe3 Be6 30.Qc3 Ra5 31.h4 Rb5 32.Qc2 Qb6 33.Bf1 Rb3 34.Rxb3 Qxb3 35.Qc3 Bd5 36.Be2 Re8 37.Qxb3 Bxb3 38.f3 Kf8 39.Kf2 Ke7 40.Rd3 Kf6 41.Rc3 Ke7 42.Bc4 Bxc4 43.Rxc4 Ra8 44.Rb4 Ra7 45.Ke3 Kd6 46.Rc4 Ra5 47.Kd3 Rb5 48.Kc2 Rb3 49.Rc3 Rb5 50.Rc4 g5 51.Rxa4 Rf5 52.hxg5 hxg5 53.f4 gxf4 54.gxf4 Rxf4 55.Rb4 Kc7 56.Kd3 f5 57.Rc4 Rf2 58.Kc3 Kd6 59.Rc5 Ke6 60.b4 Rf3+ 61.Kb2 Re3 62.b5 cxb5 63.Rxb5 f4 64.Kc2 f3 65.Kd2 f2 66.Rb1 Rb3 67.Rf1 Kd5 68.Rxf2 Rb2+ 69.Ke3 Rxf2 70.Kxf2 Kxd4 71.Kf3 b5 72.Ke2 Kc3 73.Kd1 Kb2 74.Kd2 Kxa3 75.Kc1 Ka2 0-1

Position after Black’s 67….Kd5

White played Rxf2? instead of Ke2

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 26th November, 2019, 04:54 PM

Tata Steel India 2019

November 26, 2019

2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid & Blitz

From the official FIDE site:

Tata Steel Rapid & Blitz: Carlsen rules supreme

At the end of another exciting day of chess, Magnus Carlsen was crowned as the winner of the 2019 Tata Steel Chess India Rapid and Blitz. Despite starting the day under the weather, he scored 5.5 points in the final 9 blitz games, netting an impressive 27 total points. The World Champion surpassed his 26.5 point record from the Cote D’Ivoire Rapid & Blitz earlier this year.

“It’s a big deal for me to have a good performance here. I haven’t played so well in rapid and blitz lately, and I think with this result, I showed I’m still the man to beat,” said Carlsen. Across the entire event, Magnus lost just two games; both in the blitz portion to Ding Liren.

The World Blitz #1 Hikaru Nakamura maintained his ranking on top of the rating list with a solid performance today. He scored 5.5/9 points and finished in clear second place with 23 total points. Nakamura did not lose a single game in the 18 rounds of blitz. His only loss was to Carlsen in round 4 of the rapid portion. Hikaru proved why he’s still the top-rated blitz player in the world and took home $25,000 for his efforts.

After another roller-coaster day for Vishy Anand, his hopes of qualifying for the GCT Finals came to an end. He fell just short of earning the 5 GCT points needed to pass Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the GCT Standings. Despite winning some games early in the day, Anand suffered a few heartbreaking losses. In Round 15 of blitz, he ran out of time with a winning position against Anish Giri; in the penultimate round, he lost to Magnus Carlsen in a chaotic game that could have gone either way.

Levon Aronian had a very disappointing performance as he was struggling to find his form throughout the event and finished in the last place. GM Peter Svidler commented on the abysmal performance: “I don’t think I’ve seen him play this poorly in a blitz tournament in my life.” However, Aronian did perform well enough in previous GCT events this year to qualify for the finals. He will have just a few days to recover and find a better form.

The four GCT finalists will be Magnus Carlsen (Norway), Ding Liren (China), Levon Aronian (Armenia), and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France). The GCT Finals will commence in just 6 days in London. The action can be followed with live commentary from GMs Peter Svidler, Alejandro Ramirez, Maurice Ashley, and WGM Jennifer Shahade from Monday, December 2 through Sunday, December 8.

https://www.fide.com/news/226

Tata Steel India 2019

Tata Steel India 2019

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