Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

[Hans Jung]

Tomorrow (Saturday) Giri - Firouzja, Esipenko - Van Foreest, Caruana - Anton

[Hans Jung]

In Esipenko-Van Foreest the computer gives a long variant forced win in a king and pawn endgame for Van Foreest. Will he see it?

[Wayne Komer]

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

January 30, 2021

Round Twelve

Judit Polgar is a guest analyst for the first two hours.

"I'm so happy that the players are still in fighting mood in Round 12 in Wijk aan Zee, with the storms and cold and now not even people around!"

Judit talks about her initially underwhelming experience of Wijk aan Zee when she first went as a kid#c24live #TataSteelChess

The quiz question concerns her.

Round Twelve Quiz Question – How many games has Judit Polgar won in the top group of Wijk aan Zee in her career? What was her best placement and when?

Answer – (Lawrence forgot to come back to this. My unofficial count is in Hoogoven 1998, Corus 2000, 2003, 2005 and 2008, Judit scored +12 -12 and =41). Her best placement was in Corus 2003 with 2^nd, just behind Vishy Anand.

A supplementary question (my own) – Yesterday, it was mentioned that Yasser Seirawan is a former World Junior Chess Champion. What year did he win the title?

The answer is that he won it at Skien (Norway) in 1979.

Lawrence Trent is one of the commentators in this tournament. He has shaved his head and now looks completely bald. How one does this without getting nicks and scratches is beyond me!

Peter says that Anish tied Magnus for first at Wijk in 2018, but he lost in the playoff and so Magnus was declared the winner.

Round 12, Jan. 30
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw – Carlsen, Magnus
D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 Qe7 10.a3 a6 11.h3 b5 12.Be2 Re8 13.Ng5 c5 14.dxc5 Nxc5 15.b4 Ncd7 16.Nce4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Be5 18.Bb2 Bxb2 19.Qxb2 Bb7 20.Bd3 Rac8 21.Rfc1 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Nb6 23.Bd3 g6 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Rc1 Rc7 26.g3 Rxc1+ 27.Qxc1 Qd6 28.Be2 Nc4 29.Bxc4 Qc6 30.Qc3 bxc4 31.Kf1 Qh1+ 32.Ke2 Qb1 33.Qxc4 Qb2+ 34.Kf3 Qxa3 35.b5 1/2-1/2

Magnus Carlsen has lost 19.2 rating points in Wijk aan Zee with a +1 score after drawing against Radek Wojtaszek today!

Tarjei J. Svensen: This year's #TataSteelChess is Carlsen's worst classical performance since Norway Chess 2015.

Round 12, Jan. 30
Grandelius, Nils – Tari, Aryan
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 O-O 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Ba5 13.O-O Bxf3 14.gxf3 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Qg5+ 16.Kh1 Bxc3 17.Bxc3 Qf5 18.Rfc1 Qxh3+ 19.Kg1 Ng5 20.Be2 Qh4 21.Bd2 Nh3+ 22.Kg2 Qxf2+ 23.Kxh3 Qxe2 24.Kg3 Qxe5+ 25.Bf4 Qf6 26.Qxc7 Rae8 27.Qxb7 Qg6+ 28.Kf2 Qf6 29.Kg3 Qg6+ 30.Kf2 Qf6 1/2-1/2

Round 12, Jan. 30
Caruana, Fabiano – Anton Guijarro, David
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.Qc1 Qc7 13.Nf6+ Kh8 14.Rd1 Nd7 15.Rxd4 Be7 16.Qf4 Bc5 17.Qe4 Nxf6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Rdd1 f5 20.Qe2 Be7 21.Rac1 Bf6 22.Qd2 Kg7 23.Bxe6 Qb6 24.Bb3 Be6 25.Bxe6 Qxe6 26.Nd4 Qe4 27.Nb5 Rad8 28.Nd6 Qe6 29.Qb4 Rd7 30.Nc4 Bd4 31.Re1 Qf6 32.Qb3 Rc8 33.a4 Rc5 34.Rc2 Qh4 35.g3 Qf6 36.Rce2 f4 37.Nd2 Rf5 38.Ne4 Qg6 39.Qf3 fxg3 40.Qxg3 Bb6 41.Kf1 Kh7 42.Rc1 Rd4 43.Qxg6+ Kxg6 44.b3 Rf3 45.Rc8 Kg7 46.Ng3 Rd8 47.Rxd8 Bxd8 48.b4 Ra3 49.a5 Ra4 50.Re4 b6 1/2-1/2

Caruana 1/2-1/2 Anton - despite some very deep prep at the start Fabi ended up defending. He'll go into the final round with at least a chance of retaining the title he won last year!

Round 12, Jan. 30
Esipenko, Andrey – Van Foreest, Jorden
D00 Queen’s Pawn, Chigorin

1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 Bg4 6.f3 Bd7 7.Nb5 Bxb5 8.Bxb5+ Nc6 9.c3 e6 10.Be3 Bd6 11.f4 Qc7 12.g3 O-O 13.Nf3 Na5 14.Bd3 Nc4 15.Bc1 b5 16.O-O Ne4 17.Qe2 f5 18.b3 Nb6 19.Bd2 a6 20.Rac1 Rac8 21.Ne5 Qe7 22.g4 Nxd2 23.Qxd2 fxg4 24.Nxg4 Qh4 25.Ne5 Rc7 26.Qe3 Bxe5 27.dxe5 d4 28.Qxd4 Rd7 29.Qxb6 Qg4+ 30.Kh1 Rxd3 31.Qf2 Rfd8 32.Qg2 Qf5 33.Rc2 Rd1 34.Rf2 h5 35.Kg1 h4 36.Qg5 Qh3 37.Qg6 Rxf1+ 38.Rxf1 Rd2 39.Qe8+ Kh7 40.Qh5+ Kg8 41.Qe8+ 1/2-1/2

Round 12, Jan. 30
MVL – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
C42 Petrov, Classical Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 d5 6.Bd3 Bf5 7.O-O Be7 8.Re1 O-O 9.c4 Nc6 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Rae8 13.Bf4 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Bd6 15.Ng5 g6 16.Ne4 Re6 17.Nxd6 cxd6 18.Rxe6 fxe6 19.Be3 Ne5 20.Qe2 Qc4 21.Qd1 Nd7 22.Qb3 Qxb3 23.axb3 a6 24.c4 Rc8 25.Ra5 Kf7 26.h4 d5 27.cxd5 Rc3 28.b4 Rb3 29.dxe6+ Kxe6 30.d5+ Kf7 31.g3 Rxb4 32.d6 Nb8 33.h5 Rb5 34.hxg6+ hxg6 35.Rxb5 axb5 36.Kf1 Ke6 37.Ke2 Nd7 38.f4 Kxd6 39.g4 Kd5 40.f5 gxf5 41.gxf5 Ke4 42.Kd2 Kxf5 43.Kc3 Ke4 44.Bg1 Kd5 45.Kb4 Kc6 46.Bf2 Ne5 47.Bg1 Nd3+ 48.Kc3 Nf4 49.Kb4 Nd5+ 50.Kb3 Nc7 51.Kb4 Na6+ 52.Kb3 Kd6 53.Kc3 Kc6 54.Kb3 Nc5+ 55.Kb4 Nd7 56.Bf2 Nb6 57.Bg1 Nd5+ 58.Kb3 b6 59.Bf2 Kb7 60.Be1 Ka6 61.Bd2 Ne7 62.Bb4 Nc6 63.Bd2 Ne5 64.Kb4 Nd3+ 65.Kc3 Ne5 66.Kb4 Nc6+ 67.Kb3 b4 68.Bxb4 Nxb4 69.Kxb4 b5 70.Kb3 Ka5 71.Ka3 b4+ 72.Kb2 Ka4 73.Ka2 b3+ 74.Kb1 Ka3 75.Ka1 b2+ 76.Kb1 Kb3 1/2-1/2

Grischuk: "I think this situation with the Candidates is the main reason why MVL is struggling so much lately. It's very difficult for him, of course. He's co-leader in the tournament but it's unclear if it will ever be finished"

For the second day in a row MVL escaped what seems to have been a lost position against a Polish player - yesterday Wojtaszek & today Duda!

Round 12, Jan. 30
Harikrishna, Pentala – Donchenko, Alexander
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 c5 5.g3 Ne4 6.Qd3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Nc5 9.Qf3 d6 10.Bg2 Nbd7 11.O-O O-O 12.Nb3 Qc7 13.Rd1 Nb6 14.Nxc5 Qxc5 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Bxb6 axb6 17.Qd3 Rd8 18.a4 Ra5 19.Rdb1 Bd7 20.Rb4 Bc6 21.Qd4 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Rc5 23.Rab1 h6 24.Qd3 Rc6 25.a5 bxa5 26.Rxb7 Qc8 27.Qf3 Rf8 28.Rb8 Qd7 29.R1b7 Rc7 30.Rxf8+ Kxf8 31.Rb8+ Ke7 32.Rg8 Qc6 33.e4 g6 34.Qe3 g5 35.h4 Qc5 36.Qf3 Qe5 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.Ra8 Qc5 39.Qh5 Ra7 40.Rg8 Qe5 41.Qg4 a4 42.Rxg5 Qf6 43.c5 dxc5 44.Rxc5 a3 45.e5 Qh8 46.Qb4 Qa8+ 47.Kh2 Ke8 48.Rb5 Qc6 49.Rb8+ Kd7 50.Qd4+ 1-0

Harikrishna moves back to 50% with a win over the luckless Donchenko, whose position collapsed after a single blunder on move 42

Round 12, Jan. 30
Giri, Anish – Firouzja, Alireza
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.a3 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bc5 10.Qd2 O-O 11.Be2 Qc7 12.O-O b6 13.Nxc6 Qxc6 14.b4 Bxe3+ 15.Qxe3 Bb7 16.Bd3 d4 17.Qe4 Qxe4 18.Nxe4 Bd5 19.Ng5 g6 20.Nf3 Bxf3 21.Rxf3 b5 22.Be4 Rad8 23.Rd3 Nb6 24.Bb7 Na4 25.Bxa6 Nc3 26.Bb7 Ne2+ 27.Kf2 Nxf4 28.Rd2 d3 29.c3 Ne2 30.Ke3 Nxc3 31.Rxd3 Rxd3+ 32.Kxd3 Na4 33.Rc1 Rd8+ 34.Ke2 Kg7 35.Bc6 Rb8 36.Rc2 Kf8 37.Kd2 Ke7 38.Kc1 f6 39.exf6+ Kxf6 40.Kb1 Ke5 41.Ka2 Kd4 42.Kb3 Kd3 43.Rf2 e5 44.Rf7 Nb6 45.Bxb5+ Kd4 46.a4 Nd5 47.Rxh7 e4 48.Rf7 e3 49.Rf1 Nc3 50.Rf4+ Ke5 51.Rf3 Nxb5 52.Rxe3+ Kd4 53.Rg3 Nd6 54.Rxg6 Ne4 55.a5 Kd5 56.a6 Nc5+ 57.Ka3 Nd3 58.a7 Ra8 59.Rg7 Kc6 60.h4 Nf4 61.g4 Ne6 62.Rf7 Nc7 63.g5 Rxa7+ 64.Kb2 Ra8 65.g6 Ne6 66.h5 Rh8 67.Rh7 Rg8 1/2-1/2

Jonathan Rowson: And to think,
Firouzja’s knight on f4 was once on f6.
He took the scenic route: d7-b6-a4-c3-e2.

Giri is on the verge of beating Firouzja and likely going into the final round of #TataSteelChess needing just a draw to guarantee himself the title!

Giri would be the first Dutchman to win the tournament at Wijk aan Zee since Jan Timman in 1985...

A truly amazing save by Alireza Firouzja!

Standings after Round Twelve

1 Giri 8
2-4 Van Foreest, Firouzja, Caruana 7.5
5 Esipenko 7
6 Carlsen 6.5
7-8 Harikrishna Grandelius 6
9 Tari 5.5
10-11 Duda, MVL 5
12-13 Anton, Wojtaszek 4.5
14 Donchenko 3.5

Tomorrow’s action starts two hours earlier!

[Hans Jung]

I would consider Firouzja very lucky. I still cant believe he saved that. I'm still shaking my head. To Anish Giri: Thats not how you win chess tournaments especially Tata Steel.

[Hans Jung]

It does however make the last round on Sunday more interesting. The last round pairings are Firouzja - Wojtascek, Anton - Giri, Tari - Caruana, Van Foreest - Grandelius.

[Hans Jung]

A double Dutch finish!! Anish Giri and Jorden Van Foreest!! The Dutch will be celebrating! Is this the first ever? (I mean two Dutchmen?)

[Hans Jung]

I also notice as the Firouzja - Wojo game goes on and on that the playoffs are started. Will it go on past midnight? Now that would be an event. (starting in January and finishing in February)

[Wayne Komer]

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

January 31, 2021

Round Thirteen

Round Thirteen Quiz – What was the last time Anish Giri finished ahead of Magnus Carlsen in an official classical round-robin event? Name the event and their final places.

Answer – Norway Chess 2017 (Giri 6^th, Carlsen 9^th)

Round 13, Jan. 31
Donchenko, Alexander – Esipenko, Andrey
A13 English, Neo-Catalan open

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6 7.Qc2 c5 8.Nc3 Qc7 9.O-O b6 10.d4 Bb7 11.Bf4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.Rfd1 O-O 14.e4 Qc7 15.Rac1 cxd4 16.Nxd4 Rad8 17.Qe2 Qb8 18.Rc2 b5 19.Nb3 Ne5 20.Nc5 Bc8 21.Rcd2 Qc7 22.Nd3 Nxd3 23.Rxd3 b4 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.Nd1 Bb7 27.e5 Bxg2 28.Kxg2 Qd5+ 29.Kg1 Nd7 30.Ne3 Qxa2 31.Qd1 Nf8 32.Qd4 a5 33.Nc4 h5 34.Nd6 Ng6 35.Qa7 Qb1+ 36.Kg2 Nxe5 37.Qxa5 Qxb2 38.Qa8+ Kh7 39.Qe4+ f5 40.Qh4 Qe2 41.Qxb4 Nd3 42.Qb6 h4 0-1

Esipenko looks to be doing the business against Donchenko and will be 2700 or thereabouts, but if Jorden wins Andrey's slim chances of reaching a #TataSteelChess playoff are gone

18-year-old Andrey Esipenko ends the event in the 2700 club after a brilliant tournament with just one slip-up stopping him challenging for the title!

Round 13, Jan. 31
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Qd7 8.Qa3 b6 9.Nf3 c5 10.Be3 O-O 11.Rd1 cxd4 12.cxd4 Qd6 13.Qxd6 exd6 14.Rc1 Bb7 15.Bd3 Nc6 16.Kd2 Rac8 17.h4 Nb4 18.Bb1 Rce8 19.a3 Nc6 20.Ba2 Rxe4 21.Bd5 Na5 22.Bxe4 Bxe4 23.Rc7 a6 24.h5 b5 25.h6 Bf6 26.Bg5 Bh8 27.Rh4 Bd5 28.Kc3 Nc4 29.Nd2 Nxa3 30.Kb4 Nc4 31.Nxc4 Bxc4 32.Be7 Re8 33.Rf4 f5 34.g4 Kf7 35.Bxd6+ Ke6 36.Bc5 Bf6 37.gxf5+ gxf5 38.Rc6+ Kf7 39.Rxf5 Re6 40.d5 1-0

Magnus Carlsen ends with a classic win for a +2 final score in Wijk, though he's still likely to finish in his worst place since he played the event as a 16-year-old in 2007! MVL has lost over 26 rating points to drop to world no. 15

Tarjei J. Svensen - Carlsen telling #2sjakk "I would've wished to play a lot better here. My performance here is borderline shameful. Very, very bad. But I don't think it will affect my chances in the future and in a WC match."

Round 13, Jan. 31
Tari, Aryan – Caruana, Fabiano
C01 French, Exchange variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bd3 Bg4 6.c3 Bd6 7.O-O Nge7 8.Nbd2 Qd7 9.b4 O-O 10.Re1 Rae8 11.Nf1 Ng6 12.Ne3 f5 13.Nxg4 fxg4 14.Bxg6 hxg6 15.Rxe8 Rxe8 16.Ne1 Nd8 17.g3 Nf7 18.Ng2 c6 19.Bd2 Bc7 20.Qc2 Qf5 21.Ne3 Qh5 22.Ng2 Qf5 23.Ne3 Qh5 24.Ng2 Bd8 25.Rf1 Nd6 26.Bf4 Ne4 27.c4 Bf6 28.cxd5 Qxd5 29.Ne3 Qe6 30.Be5 Bxe5 31.Qxe4 Bd6 32.Qb1 Qe4 33.Qb3+ Kh7 34.b5 c5 35.dxc5 Bxc5 36.Rc1 Bxe3 37.Qxe3 Qxe3 38.fxe3 Rxe3 39.Rc7 Ra3 40.Rxb7 Rxa2 41.b6 axb6 42.Rxb6 Kh6 1/2-1/2

Tari 1/2-1/2 Caruana means Fabi will not be able to defend his #TataSteelChess title

Only Giri & Firouzja can still stop Jorden becoming Champion

Round 13, Jan. 31
Van Foreest, Jorden – Grandelius, Nils
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Qd3 Nbd7 7.Be2 b5 8.a4 Nc5 9.Qe3 b4 10.Nd5 Ncxe4 11.a5 Nxd5 12.Qxe4 e6 13.O-O Bd7 14.Bd2 Be7 15.Bf3 O-O 16.Qd3 Qb8 17.c4 bxc3 18.bxc3 Ra7 19.Rfb1 Qc8 20.c4 Nf6 21.Nb5 axb5 22.cxb5 Bxb5 23.Qxb5 Nd7 24.Bb7 Qd8 25.a6 Bf6 26.Ba5 Qe8 27.Bc7 Bxa1 28.Rxa1 d5 29.Bd6 Qd8 30.Rc1 g6 31.h3 Re8 32.Rc7 Nf6 33.Be5 Ne4 34.Qc6 Rf8 35.Bd4 Qb8 36.f3 Rxa6 37.Bxa6 Qb4 38.Be5 Qe1+ 39.Kh2 Nf2 40.Qc3 Qh1+ 41.Kg3 Qg1 42.Rc8 Nh1+ 43.Kh4 Qf2+ 44.g3 g5+ 45.Kxg5 f6+ 46.Kh6 fxe5 47.Qxe5 1-0

Final Position



Assuming Jorden converts this win, tiebreaks are simpler now at #TataSteelChess

If Giri holds a draw he and Jorden are in the playoff no matter what.

If Giri loses, Caruana wins it's Jorden vs. Fabi in the playoff.

Giri loss and Caruana draw means at most a two-way tie (Firo)

A stunning win & tournament for @jordenvforeest, who is the #TataSteelChess clubhouse leader with an unbeaten +4 (8.5/13) and has entered the 2700 club! If Giri draws we'll get an all-Dutch playoff, but that's a big "if"

Adhiban Baskaran - What a way to finish the event #TataSteelChess!Congrats @jordenvforeest!! Epic king walk like in the classic Short-Timman ! @nigelshortchess do you approve?

Nigel Short - No need to take a paternity test - Jorden's my boy!

Round 13, Jan. 31
Anton Guijarro, David – Giri, Anish
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 e5 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Nd5 Nd7 11.Bc4 Rc8 12.Qe2 Nb6 13.Nxb6 Qxb6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.c3 O-O 16.O-O Qc6 17.Qd1 Be7 18.Re1 Rf6 19.a5 Rcf8 20.Qa4 Qc8 21.Re3 Bd8 22.c4 Rf4 23.Qb3 Kh8 24.h3 R4f6 25.Qd3 Qc5 26.Qc3 Bc7 27.b4 Qc6 28.b5 Qc5 29.b6 Bb8 30.Qb3 h6 31.Ra2 Rc8 32.Ra4 Rf7 33.Re1 Rd8 34.Qb4 Qc6 35.Raa1 Rf4 36.Qa4 Rc8 37.Qxc6 Rxc6 38.Nd2 R8 39.Red1 Kg8 40.f3 Kf7 41.Kf1 Ke7 42.Ke2 Rc5 43.h4 Rd8 44.Ra2 d5 45.cxd5 exd5 46.exd5 Rdxd5 47.Rda1 Bd6 48.Ne4 Rc4 49.Rd2 Rxd2+ 50.Nxd2 Rc5 51.h5 e4 52.Nxe4 Rxh5 53.Kd3 Kd7 54.Kc4 1/2-1/2

Giri is back on track to get the draw he needs to force a playoff against Jorden! If he somehow wins the game he'll win #TataSteelChess without the need for a playoff

Draw agreed, and in half an hour Anish Giri will play Jorden van Foreest in an all-Dutch playoff for the #TataSteelMasters title!

Round 13, Jan. 31
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Harikrishna, Pentala
D45 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.e4 exd4 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 h6 13.Nxd4 Qh4 14.Nf3 Qh5 15.Bh7+ Kh8 16.Qf5 Qxf5 17.Bxf5 Nf6 18.Bxc8 Rfxc8 19.Rd1 Rd8 20.Be3 Be7 21.d6 Rxd6 22.Rxd6 Bxd6 23.Rd1 Be7 24.Kf1 a6 25.h3 Kg8 26.Ke2 Re8 27.Ne5 Rc8 28.g4 Rc2+ 29.Rd2 Rxd2+ 30.Bxd2 Kf8 31.Nc4 Nd5 32.Na5 b6 33.Nc6 Bg5 34.Bxg5 hxg5 35.Kf3 a5 36.Ke4 Nf4 37.Ne5 Nxh3 38.Ke3 Ke7 39.Nc4 b5 40.Nxa5 Kd6 41.Nb3 Kd5 42.Nc1 Nf4 43.Ne2 Ne6 44.Nc3+ Kc4 45.Ne4 Kd5 46.Nc3+ Kc4 47.f3 g6 48.Ne4 Kd5 49.Nc3+ Kc4 50.Ne4 Kd5 51.Kd3 f5 52.Nc3+ Kc5 53.Ne2 b4 54.a3 bxa3 55.bxa3 Nc7 56.Ng3 Nb5 57.a4 Nd4 58.a5 1/2-1/2

Round 13, Jan. 31
Firouzja, Alireza – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nd7 3.d4 Nb6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.a4 a5 6.Bg2 h6 7.O-O Bf5 8.Nh4 Bh7 9.f4 e6 10.f5 Be7 11.Bh3 Qd7 12.Qd3 Qc6 13.Nb5 Nc4 14.Bf4 Nd6 15.Qe3 Nc4 16.Qd3 Bd6 17.Nxd6+ Nxd6 18.Be5 Nde4 19.Qa3 Qd7 20.c4 c6 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.cxd5 Nxd5 23.Bg2 Nd2 24.Rfc1 Rf8 25.Nf3 Nxf3+ 26.Bxf3 Kf7 27.e4 Nb4 28.Qe3 Kg8 29.Rc3 Rad8 30.h4 b6 31.Be2 Qe7 32.Bg4 Qf7 33.h5 Qe7 34.Rac1 Qe8 35.Bc7 Rd7 36.Bxb6 Na2 37.Rxc6 Nxc1 38.Rxc1 Rb7 39.Bc5 Rff7 40.b3 Rfc7 41.Re1 Rc6 42.Be2 Qb8 43.Bb5 Rc8 44.Bc4 Kh8 45.Rf1 Bg8 46.Kg2 Rd7 47.Rf2 Qb7 48.Re2 Qc7 49.Ba3 Qb6 50.Bb2 Bh7 51.Qf4 Bg8 52.Qg4 Rcd8 53.Bc3 Qc6 54.Bxa5 Rb8 55.Qf4 Rdb7 56.Qe3 Qe8 57.g4 Qd7 58.Qg3 Qxd4 59.Bc3 Qd1 60.Rd2 Qb1 61.Qf4 e5 62.Bxe5 Bxc4 63.bxc4 1/2-1/2

Final Standings

1-2 Van Foreest, Giri 8.5
3-5 Esipenko, Caruana, Firouzja 8
6 Carlsen 7.5
7 Harikrishna 6.5
8-9 Tari, Grandelius 6
10 Duda 5.5
11-13 Anton, Wojtaszek, MVL 5
14 Donchenko 3.5

Van Foreest and Giri to the playoffs

(to be continued)

[Hans Jung]

What a finish! Firouzja drew so its Firoujza, Caruana and Esipenko tied for third. Magnus is 6th. WoW!

[Wayne Komer]

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

January 31, 2021

Round Thirteen (continued)

Tie Break Games

The format is two blitz games and if they are tied, then Armageddon.

Tata Steel 2021 Playoff
5+3
Game 1, Jan. 31
Van Foreest, Jorden – Giri, Anish
C24 Bishop’s Opening, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 a5 6.Nc3 Bb4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 a4 9.Ba2 dxe4 10.Nxe5 O-O 11.O-O Qe7 12.d4 Nbd7 13.Bf4 Nd5 14.Qd2 Nxf4 15.Qxf4 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Ra5 17.Qxe4 Qxe5 18.Qb4 Rb5 19.Qxa4 Qxc3 20.Bb3 Rg5 21.Rfe1 Bh3 22.Qf4 Rxg2+ 23.Kh1 g5 24.Qe3 Qxe3 25.Rxe3 g4 26.f3 h5 27.fxg4 hxg4 28.Rg1 Rxg1+ 29.Kxg1 Rd8 30.Re7 Rd1+ 31.Kf2 Rf1+ 32.Kg3 b5 33.Rc7 Rf6 34.a4 bxa4 35.Bxa4 Rf3+ 36.Kh4 Rf2 37.Bb3 Kf8 38.Rxc6 Rxh2 39.Rf6 Ke8 40.Rxf7 Rxc2 41.Bxc2 Kxf7 42.Bf5 Kf6 43.Bxg4 Bxg4 44.Kxg4 1/2-1/2

Game 2, Jan. 31
5+3
Giri, Anish – Van Foreest, Jorden
C70 Ruy Lopez, Classical Defence deferred

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Bc5 5.c3 Nge7 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 Bb4+ 8.Bd2 Bxd2+ 9.Qxd2 d5 10.exd5 Nxd5 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.O-O O-O 13.Nc3 Nxc3 14.Qxc3 Be6 15.Ne5 Bd5 16.b3 a5 17.Nxc6 Bxc6 18.Qxc6 Qxd4 19.Qxc7 a4 20.Rfd1 Qb2 21.Rdb1 Qd4 22.Qc4 Rfd8 23.Qxd4 Rxd4 24.b4 Rb8 25.a3 g6 26.g3 Rd3 27.Rb2 Kg7 28.Kg2 h5 29.h4 Rb6 30.Rc2 Rf6 31.Raa2 Rff3 32.b5 Rxa3 33.Rab2 Rab3 34.b6 Rf6 35.Ra2 a3 36.b7 Rfb6 37.Rc7 Rxb7 1/2-1/2

And so, to the Armageddon game with colours decided by tossing a coin

Game 3, Jan. 31
Armageddon
Giri, Anish – Van Foreest, Jorden
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 e6 6.c3 Bd6 7.Bg3 h6 8.Bb5 Be7 9.Ne5 Qb6 10.a4 O-O 11.O-O a6 12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.b4 Be7 15.a5 Qb7 16.Nd3 Nd7 17.Nb3 Qb5 18.Nd4 Qb7 19.Rb1 Nf6 20.Nc5 Bxc5 21.bxc5 Qd7 22.Rb6 Ne4 23.Rxc6 Nxc3 24.Qc2 Nb5 25.Rb6 Na3 26.c6 Nxc2 27.cxd7 Nxd4 28.exd4 Bxd7 29.Rc1 Bb5 30.Bd6 Rfc8 31.Bc5 Rc7 32.Re1 Rac8 33.f4 h5 34.Kf2 Kh7 35.h3 Kg6 36.g4 hxg4 37.hxg4 Rc6 38.Rb7 R8c7 39.Rb8 Rc8 40.Rb7 R8c7 41.Rxc7 Rxc7 42.Re5 Bd7 43.Rg5+ Kh7 44.Bf8 g6 45.Re5 f6 46.Re3 Kg8 47.Bc5 Rb7 48.Bb6 Bb5 49.Rxe6 Kf7 50.Re1 Re7 51.Rc1 Re4 52.Kf3 Be2+ 53.Kg3 Re3+ 54.Kf2 Re4 55.Rc7+ Ke8 56.g5 Rxf4+ 57.Kxe2 fxg5 58.Ra7 0-1

White lost on time!

It is heartbreaking what happened to Anish. He spent 30 seconds figuring out where to move his Queen (move 26). At move 60, the increment would start but Anish couldn’t make it.

Jorden is the new champion of Tata Steel, winning the most improbable ending.
___________

Magnus Carlsen: As my father likes to say, 58 is not quite 60 yet

Peter Leko: "In my heart they both won the event"

Lawrence Trent: I've quite simply never seen anything as dramatic as that. @jordenvforeest you deserved it buddy. Congrats to the entire @tatasteelchess for making this tournament happen in such difficult circumstances. Classical chess is alive and kicking. Oh and viva #cemento!

Jorden van Foreest: playing as a kid in amateur sections I always dreamed of playing with the world’s best at @tatasteelchess. Not in my wildest dreams would I have expected to ever win it one day!

[Hans Jung]

An incredible victory! Congratulations Jorden Van Foreest on first and your tweet said it all. I really enjoyed the tournament.

[Hans Jung]

Fantastic commentary - especially Peter Leko, Judit Polgar as well and Sasha Grischuk.
And of course our own Wayne Komer - a big thanks.

[Wayne Komer]

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

February 1, 2021

From the FIDE Newsletter #24, Feb. 1, 2021

“Double Dutch” at Tata Steel Chess

The traditional Wijk aan Zee tournament hasn’t had a Dutch winner in 36 years (since Jan Timman’s victory in 1985), but now, all of the sudden, two local players took the first two places. 21-year-old Jorden Van Foreest emerged as the final winner of the event, after defeating Anish Giri in an all-Dutch playoff. They drew the two blitz games, so the tournament was decided in a dramatic Armageddon where, first, Jorden blundered a bishop in a dead-drawn position, and then, Anish let a black pawn advance all the way to g2. As Nimzowitsch said, “a passed pawn is a criminal which should be kept under lock and key. Mild measures, such as police surveillance, are not sufficient.”

Jorden started the tournament as the third lowest-ranked player, but he showed great chess, ambition, and good preparation. He finishes the tournament undefeated (+4 = 9), breaks 2700, and climbs from 66th to 37th position in the world ranking. This was Van Foreest’s sixth participation at Tata Steel Chess, having played in the Challengers tournament in 2016, 2017, and 2018, and in the Masters' group since then. “Playing as a kid in amateur sections I always dreamed of playing with the world’s best at Tata Steel Chess. Not in my wildest dreams would I have expected to ever win it one day!”

Despite being labeled as an underdog in the tournament, Van Foreest actually has a great pedigree. His great-grandfather, Arnold Engelinus van Foreest won the Dutch Championship in 1889, 1893, and 1902. Arnold’s brother, Dirk van Foreest, also won three titles, consecutively in 1885, 1886, and 1887.

They played against Alekhine and, of course, Euwe, and one of the two brothers (it is not clear which one) defeated Steinitz in a simul exhibition with a little combination that you have probably seen in more than one tactics manual:



Steinitz – Van Foreest (Haarlem, 1896), Black to play and win



1...Qxf1+ { #-6/22 } 2.Kh2 Bf4+ 3.g3 Qxf2+ 4.Qg2 Bxg3+ 5.Kh1 Re1+ 6.Qf1 Qxf1#

[Wayne Komer]

Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021

February 3, 2021

An Apology to Firouzja

From chess.24:

An incident involving 17-year-old Alireza Firouzja partly overshadowed the historic triumph of 21-year-old Jorden van Foreest in the Tata Steel Chess Masters, provoking angry reactions in comments on chess24 and social media. Last night the organisers felt compelled to make a public apology after Firouzja got visibly upset when the arbiters, preparing for a playoff, suggested moving Alireza's game to another board while he was pressing for a win against Radoslaw Wojtaszek.

When Anish Giri secured a draw against David Anton after Jorden van Foreest had beaten Nils Grandelius, it became clear there would be a playoff between the two Dutch stars, only the second in Wijk aan Zee's 83-year history after Carlsen beat Giri in a playoff in 2018.

That was bitter news for Alireza Firouzja, who was still playing his game against Radek Wojtaszek and could tie for first on 8.5/13 with a win, but would miss out on the chance to play for the title due to a worse Sonneborn-Berger tiebreak. Still, there was plenty to play for.

With a win he would:

- tie for 1st place, matching Magnus Carlsen's achievement in Wijk as a 17-year-old (there were no playoffs then and Magnus was declared co-champion with Levon Aronian)

- take clear 3rd place and more prize money, though Tata Steel Chess is unusual among top events in giving most of the money to players simply for taking part rather than where they finish, and

- catapult Alireza up to world no. 11, less than a point outside the Top 10

The regulations stated that the playoff would take place at 18:00 and, at least in a previous version on the website, mentioned that other games would be moved to another part of the venue. The arbiters followed that plan and suggested Alireza Firouzja and Radek Wojtaszek move, which enraged the Iranian youngster and many watching fans.

Last night the organisers of Tata Steel Chess themselves apologised to both players, saying they “deeply regret the unrest around the situation”. In a statement they explained they will try to learn from the episode in order to avoid something similar happening in future:

“The organisation of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament always treats the grandmasters with the utmost respect. Therefore, we deeply regret the unrest around the situation preceding the tiebreak.

The players had been briefed about the rules and starting time of a possible tiebreak. Out of respect for Firouzja and Wojtaszek the arbiter did not approach them until after the 60th move to ask them if they preferred to continue their game at a table further down the row. The decision was completely up to the players. This situation unintentionally disturbed Firouzja and we deeply regret this.

In a personal conversation with both players the Tournament Director has clarified matters and has offered his apologies. We will take the implementation of a tiebreak into careful consideration to prevent a situation like this from reoccurring in the future.”

https://chess24.com/en/read/news/tat...er-controversy