Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 12, 2021

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims is a single round robin tournament held on 13th to 15th March 2021.

Magnus Carlsen takes on Tata Steel Masters winner Jorden van Foreest, rapid no. 2 Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Iranian prodigy Alireza Firouzja and his arch-rival Anish Giri one after the other as the Magnus Carlsen Invitational starts Saturday at 17:00 CET. The full pairings are now out and include a first-round clash between Levon Aronian, not yet officially representing the USA, and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who is making his Meltwater Champions Chess Tour debut.

https://chess24.com/en/read/news/mag...s-invitational

The Meltwater Champions Chess Tour is the successor to the Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour. It consists of 10 events taking place over 10 months, with the prize fund rising from $1 million to $1.5 million. Six Regular tournaments, three Majors and the Finals are taking place from November 2020 until September 2021.

Originally, each Major was supposed to include a 12-player lineup in contrast to the 16-player field seen in the regular tournaments. However, the fourth event of the tour, a Major, will have 16 players fighting in the preliminaries, since the organizers consider that the larger lineup makes for a more entertaining preliminary round robin — 8 out of the 16 participants move on to the knockout stage.

The preliminary stage is an all-play-all tournament, with five rounds played per day on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

In the knockout stage, each encounter will be decided over two days. On day 1, there will be four rapid games, and if the match ends 2:2 it will simply be a draw (there doesn’t have to be a winner). On day 2, another 4-game match will be held. If both matches are drawn, or the players have traded wins, then shortly after the second match there will be a playoff: two blitz games followed, if needed, by Armageddon.

Tournament Schedule

March 13 Prelims, Day 1
March 14 Prelims, Day 2
March 15 Prelims, Day 3
March 16, Quarterfinals, Day 1
March 17, Quarterfinals, Day 2
March 18, Semis, Day 1
March 19, Semis, Day 2
March 20, Finals, Day 1
March 21, Finals, Day 2

All rounds begin at 11:00 EST

https://en.chessbase.com/post/magnus...l-2021-preview

Daily Schedule for the Prelims

Day 1, Saturday March 13

Round 1

Radjabov-Giri
Pichot-Karjakin
So-Nepomniachtchi
Aronian-Mamedyarov
Dubov-Grandelius
Nakamura-Anton
Van Foreest-Carlsen
MVL-Firouzja

Round 2

Giri-Firouzja
Carlsen-MVL
Anton-Van Foreest
Grandelius-Nakamura
Mamedyarov-Dubov
Nepo-Aronian
Karjakin-So
Radjabov-Pichot

Round 3

Pichot-Giri
So-Radjabov
Aronian-Karjakin
Dubov-Nepo
Nakamura-Mamedyarov
Van Foreest-Grandelius
MVL-Anton
Firouzja-Carlsen

Round 4

Giri-Carlsen
Anton-Firouzja
Grandelius-MVL
Mamedyarov-Van Foreest
Nepo-Nakamura
Karjakin-Dubov
Radjabov-Aronian
Pichot-So

Round 5

So-Giri
Aronian-Pichot
Dubov-Radjabov
Nakamura-Karjakin
Van Foreest-Nepo
MVL-Mamedyarov
Firouzja-Grandelius
Carlsen-Anton

Day 2, Sunday March 14

Round 6

Giri-Anton
Grandelius-Carlsen
Mamedyarov-Firouzja
Nepo-MVL
Karjakin-Van Foreest
Radjabov-Nakamura
Pichot-Dubov
So-Aronian

Round 7

Aronian-Giri
Dubov-So
Nakamura-Pichot
Van Foreest-Radjabov
MVL-Karjakin
Firouzja-Nepo
Carlsen-Mamedyarov
Anton-Grandelius

Round 8

Giri-Grandelius
Mamedyarov-Anton
Nepo-Carlsen
Karjakin-Firouzja
Radjabov-MVL
Pichot-Van Foreest
So-Nakamura
Aronian-Dubov

Round 9

Dubov-Giri
Nakamura-Aronian
Van Foreest-So
MVL-Pichot
Firouzja-Radjabov
Carlsen-Karjakin
Anton-Nepo
Grandelius-Mamedyarov

Round 10

Giri-Mamedyarov
Nepo-Grandelius
Karjakin-Anton
Radjabov-Carlsen
Pichot-Firouzja
So-MVL
Aronian-Van Foreest
Dubov-Nakamura

Day 3, Monday March 15

Round 11

Nakamura-Giri
Van Foreest-Dubov
MVL-Aronian
Firouzja-So
Carlsen-Pichot
Anton-Radjabov
Grandelius-Karjakin
Mamedyarov-Nepo

Round 12 **Round 13

Giri-Nepo **Van Foreest-Giri
Karjakin-Mamedyarov **MVL-Nakamura
Radjabov-Grandelius **Firouzja-Dubov
Pichot-Anton **Carlsen-Aronian
So-Carlsen **Anton-So
Aronian-Firouzja **Grandelius-Pichot
Dubov-MVL **Mamedyarov-Radjabov
Nakamura-Van Foreest **Nepo-Karjakin

Round 14 **Round 15

Giri-Karjakin **MVL-Giri
Radjabov-Nepo **Firouzja-Van Foreest
Pichot-Mamedyarov **Carlsen-Nakamura
So-Grandelius **Anton-Dubov
Aronian-Anton **Grandelius-Aronian
Dubov-Carlsen **Mamedyarov-So
Nakamura-Firouzja **Nepo-Pichot
Van Foreest-MVL **Karjakin-Radjabov

[Hans Jung]

Im curious to see how Grandelius and Van Foreest perform. I like their styles.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 1 Dubov - Grandelius nice positional game.
Aronian - Shak - after Shak plays one of my favorite openings super tactics and attack on both kings happen and the ending is bloody.

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 13, 2021

Day 1

Rounds 1 to 3

Round 1

Radjabov-Giri 0.5-0.5
Pichot-Karjakin 0.5-0.5
So-Nepomniachtchi 0-1
Aronian-Mamedyarov 0-1
Dubov-Grandelius 1-0
Nakamura-Anton 0.5-0.5
Van Foreest-Carlsen 0-1
MVL-Firouzja 0.5-0.5

Round 2

Giri-Firouzja 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-MVL 1-0
Anton-Van Foreest 0-1
Grandelius-Nakamura 0-1
Mamedyarov-Dubov0.5-0.5
Nepo-Aronian 0-1
Karjakin-So 0-1
Radjabov-Pichot 0.5-0.5

Round 3

Pichot-Giri 0-1
So-Radjabov 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Karjakin 1-0
Dubov-Nepo 1-0
Nakamura-Mamedyarov 0.5-0.5
Van Foreest-Grandelius 0-1
MVL-Anton 0-1
Firouzja-Carlsen 0.5-0.5

Standings after Round Three

1 Carlsen, Dubov 2.5
3-6 Mamedyarov, Nakamura, Aronian, Giri 2
7-10 MVL, So, Firouzja, Radjabov 1.5
11-14 Grandelius, Nepo, Van Foreest, Pichot 1
15-16 Anton, Karjakin 0.5

Games

15+10

Round 1, March 13
So, Wesley – Nepo, Ian
B06 Pirc-Robatsch

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.Qd2 b5 6.O-O-O Nd7 7.h4 h6 8.f3 Nb6 9.Bd3 Bb7 10.Nh3 e6 11.g4 Ne7 12.Kb1 Nc6 13.Ne2 Qe7 14.Nf2 O-O-O 15.b3 Kb8 16.f4 f5 17.h5 fxe4 18.Bxe4 gxh5 19.Rxh5 Rhf8 20.Nd3 Qe8 21.Re1 Ne7 22.Bxb7 Kxb7 23.Nc3 Ned5 24.Nxd5 Nxd5 25.f5 exf5 26.Bxh6 Bxh6 27.Rxh6 Qf7 28.Qg2 fxg4 29.Nb4 c6 30.Nxd5 Qxd5 31.Qxg4 Rf7 32.Qh4 Rfd7 33.Re7 Kc7 34.Rhh7 c5 35.Qe1 b4 36.a3 Qxd4 37.axb4 Qxb4 38.Qe6 Qb5 39.Kb2 Qc6 40.c4 Rxe7 41.Rxe7+ Rd7 42.Re8 Kb7 43.Qg8 Ka7 44.Qh8 Qb7 45.Re2 Rf7 46.Qd8 Rd7 47.Qh8 a5 48.Qe8 a4 49.Re3 d5 50.Qf8 Qb4 51.Re7 Qxb3+ 52.Ka1 Qc3+ 53.Kb1 Qd3+ 54.Ka1 Qd1+ 55.Kb2 a3+ 56.Kxa3 Qc1+ 57.Ka2 Qxc4+ 58.Ka1 Qa6+ 0-1

Round 1, March 13
Aronian, Levon – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C41 Philidor, Exchange variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.h3 Nc6 9.Qe3 Re8 10.O-O-O Be6 11.g4 a6 12.Rg1 b5 13.g5 Nh7 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Rxd5 Nb4 16.gxh6 Bxh4 17.Rxg7+ Kh8 18.Rf5 Bf6 19.Rxf7 Rf8 20.Rxf8+ Qxf8 21.e5 dxe5 22.Nxe5 Qg8 23.Qf3 Re8 24.Ng4 Qxa2 25.Kd2 Qa1 26.Ne3 Bxb2 27.Bd3 Bc3+ 0-1

Round 1, March 13
Dubov, Daniil – Grandelius, Nils
A37 English, symmetrical, Botvinnik System reversed

1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 c5 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.Nf3 e5 6.d3 Nge7 7.O-O O-O 8.Nd2 d6 9.a3 a6 10.Nd5 Rb8 11.Ne4 h6 12.b4 cxb4 13.Nxe7+ Nxe7 14.axb4 d5 15.cxd5 Nxd5 16.Qb3 Nc7 17.Qb1 Nb5 18.Bb2 Be6 19.Rc1 Bd5 20.Rc5 Kh8 21.Qf1 Re8 22.Rac1 Bc6 23.Nd2 Bxg2 24.Qxg2 Nd4 25.Bxd4 exd4 26.Qf3 Re7 27.h4 Qe8 28.h5 g5 29.Ne4 Qd7 30.Kg2 Rf8 31.g4 Qa4 32.Rc8 Qd7 33.Qf5 Qe6 34.Nf6 Qxf5 35.gxf5 Rxe2 36.Nd7 Rxc8 37.Rxc8+ Kh7 38.f6 Rb2 39.fxg7 Kxg7 40.Rc4 1-0

Round 1, March 13
Van Foreest, Jorden – Carlsen, Magnus
B27 Sicilian, Hungarian variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bc4 Bg7 4.c3 d6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 Nf6 7.Nc3 O-O 8.Bb3 Nc6 9.h3 b5 10.O-O b4 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 Bb7 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Qa4 e6 15.Bb3 Na5 16.Nd2 d5 17.Rfc1 Nxb3 18.axb3 Rxc1+ 19.Rxc1 dxe4 20.Qxa7 Bd5 21.Rc7 Qa8 22.Nc4 Qxa7 23.Rxa7 f5 24.Ne5 f4 25.Bd2 Bxe5 26.dxe5 g5 27.Bxb4 Rc8 28.Bc3 Bxb3 29.Ra3 Bc4 30.Ba5 Bd5 31.Rc3 Rb8 32.b4 Kf7 33.Rc7+ Kg6 34.Rd7 e3 35.fxe3 fxe3 36.Rd8 Rb7 37.Rf8 Bc4 38.Rf6+ Kg7 39.Rf3 e2 40.Kf2 Bb5 41.Re3 Rf7+ 42.Rf3 Rd7 43.Re3 Rd2 44.Bb6 Rb2 45.Bd4 Rb1 46.Bc3 Rf1+ 47.Kg3 h5 48.h4 g4 49.Re4 Rc1 50.Bd2 Rd1 0-1

Round 1, March 13
MVL – Firouzja, Alireza
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.d3 O-O 6.Nbd2 a5 7.a4 b6 8.b3 Bb7 9.Bb2 Nbd7 10.Re1 Qc8 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Nc5 13.e5 Nd5 14.Qe2 Nb4 15.Nc4 Be4 16.Nd4 Bxg2 17.Kxg2 Rd8 18.Nb5 Qb7+ 19.f3 h5 20.h4 Rd7 21.Rad1 Rad8 22.Bc1 Nd5 23.Bg5 Bxg5 24.hxg5 g6 25.Rd2 Kg7 26.Rh1 Qa8 27.Kg1 Rh8 28.Rh2 Qd8 29.f4 h4 30.gxh4 Nxf4 31.Qg4 Rxd2 32.Rxd2 Nd5 33.Nd4 Qa8 34.Ne2 Ne7 35.Ng3 Nf5 36.h5 Rd8 37.h6+ Kh7 38.Qf4 Rxd2 39.Nxd2 Qd5 40.Kf2 Qd4+ 41.Qxd4 Nxd4 42.Nge4 Nxe4+ 43.Nxe4 Nxc2 44.Nd2 Nb4 45.Ke3 Kh8 46.Kd4 Nc6+ 47.Ke4 Kh7 48.Nf3 Nb8 49.Ne1 Nd7 50.Nd3 Kg8 51.Kd4 c6 52.Kc4 Kh7 53.b4 axb4 54.Kxb4 Kg8 55.Kc4 Kh8 56.Kd4 Kg8 57.Nc1 Kh7 58.Nd3 Kg8 59.Nc1 Kh7 60.Nd3 Kg8 1/2-1/2

Are the knights all conspiring?

Position after White’s 18.Nb5



Round 2, March 13
Carlsen, Magnus – MVL
A00 Saragossa Opening

1.c3 b6 2.e4 Bb7 3.d3 e6 4.Nd2 d5 5.Ngf3 Nf6 6.e5 Nfd7 7.d4 c5 8.h4 Nc6 9.Bd3 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nb4 11.Be2 Qc8 12.O-O Ba6 13.Bxa6 Qxa6 14.Ne1 Rc8 15.h5 Be7 16.a3 Nc6 17.Qg4 g5 18.Ndf3 h6 19.Be3 Qe2 20.b4 Nd8 21.Qh3 f5 22.exf6 Nxf6 23.Ne5 Qxh5 24.Qxh5+ Nxh5 25.N1d3 Bd6 26.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 27.Rxc1 Rh7 28.Rc8 Rc7 29.Ra8 Nf6 30.b5 Ke7 31.Ng6+ Kd7 32.Nde5+ Bxe5 33.Nxe5+ Ke7 34.Bd2 1-0

Round 2, March 13
Anton, David – Van Foreest, Jorden
D32 QGD, Tarrasch, von Hennig-Schara Gambit

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.cxd5 cxd4 5.Qa4+ Bd7 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Qxd5 Nf6 8.Qd1 Bc5 9.e3 O-O 10.Nf3 Qe7 11.Be2 Rd8 12.Qc2 Nc6 13.a3 Rac8 14.O-O Bd6 15.Bd2 Ne5 16.Rad1 Bc7 17.Bc1 h5 18.Nd4 Nc6 19.h3 Nxd4 20.Rxd4 Qe5 21.f4 Qe7 22.Bf3 Bb6 23.Rb4 Bc6 24.Bxc6 Rxc6 25.Kh1 Ba5 26.Ra4 Bxc3 27.bxc3 b5 28.Rb4 Qc5 29.a4 Qxb4 0-1

Round 2, March 13
Grandelius, Nils – Nakamura, Hikaru
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.d4 Ne8 10.d5 Bc5 11.Re1 h6 12.Nc3 Nf6 13.h3 Re8 14.Rxe8+ Nxe8 15.Ne4 Bf8 16.Qf3 d6 17.Bd2 g6 18.Re1 Bg7 19.c4 Bf5 20.b3 a5 21.Ng3 Bd7 22.Bd3 b6 23.Qd1 Nf6 24.Qc1 Qf8 25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Bxe4 Re8 27.Bd3 h5 28.Rxe8 Qxe8 29.Qe1 Qd8 30.Be3 Qf6 31.Qc1 Qe7 32.Bg5 Bf6 33.Bf4 Bd4 34.Qd2 Qf6 35.Kf1 Bc5 36.Kg1 Bf5 37.Bxf5 Qxf5 38.h4 a4 39.bxa4 Qe4 40.Qc1 Qe2 41.Bg3 Qxa2 42.Qc3 Qxa4 43.Kh2 b5 44.cxb5 Qxb5 45.Qf3 Qb2 46.Kh3 Qd4 47.Kh2 Kg7 48.Qb3 Qd2 49.Qf3 Bb6 50.Kh3 Bd4 51.Kh2 Qe1 52.Qf4 Be5 53.Qf3 Qd2 54.Bxe5+ dxe5 55.g3 e4 56.Qxe4 Qxf2+ 57.Kh1 Qxg3 58.Qd4+ Kg8 0-1

Round 2, March 13
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Dubov, Daniil
B22 Sicilian, Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Nc6 6.Nf3 e5 7.Nc3 Bb4 8.Bd2 Bxc3 9.Bxc3 e4 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Ne7 12.Qa4+ Bd7 13.Qa3 Qe6 14.Rd1 O-O 15.Be2 Nf5 16.O-O Bc6 17.Bg4 Qg6 18.Bxf5 Qxf5 19.Qc5 Rfd8 20.Qxa7 h5 21.Qe3 Rd3 22.Rxd3 exd3 23.f3 Rxa2 24.Rd1 Bb5 25.e6 fxe6 26.Qd4 Qg6 27.Re1 Ra4 28.Qd8+ Kh7 29.Re5 Ra1+ 30.Kf2 d2 31.Qxd2 Rf1+ 32.Ke3 Qh6+ 33.Kd4 Qxd2+ 34.Bxd2 Be8 35.Rxe6 Bf7 36.Re7 Kg6 37.Ke3 Rh1 38.h3 b5 39.Rb7 Rg1 40.g4 Rg3 41.gxh5+ Kf6 42.Bc3+ Ke6 43.Kf4 Rxh3 44.Kg4 Rh1 45.Rxb5 Rg1+ 46.Kf4 Rh1 47.Kg4 Rg1+ 48.Kf4 Rh1 49.Bxg7 Bxh5 50.Bc3 Kd6 51.Kg3 Bf7 52.f4 Be8 53.Ra5 Bd7 54.f5 Rf1 55.Kg4 Ke7 56.Bd4 Kf7 57.Kg5 Rd1 58.Rd5 Bc8 59.Rd8 Ba6 60.Rd7+ Ke8 61.Rd6 Bc4 62.Kf6 Bb3 63.Rb6 Bc2 64.Re6+ Kd7 65.Re7+ Kc6 66.Be5 Rf1 67.Rc7+ Kd5 68.Rxc2 Rxf5+ 69.Kxf5 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 65…Kc6



Daniil Dubov springs an incredible stalemate trap, so that Magnus Carlsen is actually the sole leader after just 2 rounds! He plays Firouzja next...


(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 13, 2021

Day 1 (continued)

Rounds 2 and 3

Round 2, March 13
Nepo, Ian – Aronian, Levon
C33 King’s Gambit Accepted, Bishop’s Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.f4 exf4 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 c6 5.d4 d5 6.exd5 cxd5 7.Bb3 Bd6 8.Nge2 Bg4 9.Qd3 O-O 10.O-O f3 11.gxf3 Bh3 12.Rf2 Nbd7 13.Bg5 Qb6 14.f4 Bg4 15.Rg2 Rfe8 16.Rf1 Bf8 17.h3 Bxe2 18.Nxe2 a5 19.a4 Re4 20.Kh1 Rae8 21.Ng3 Rxd4 22.Qf3 Rb4 23.Nf5 g6 24.Bxd5 Nxd5 25.Qxd5 Nf6 26.Bxf6 Qxf6 27.b3 Kh8 28.Ng3 Rxf4 29.Rxf4 Qxf4 30.Qxa5 Bd6 31.Qc3+ f6 32.Kg1 Bb4 33.Ne2 Qh4 34.Qg3 Bc5+ 35.Kf1 Qe4 36.Qf4 Qxc2 37.Qc1 Qf5+ 38.Qf4 Qd3 39.Qg3 Qb1+ 40.Qe1 Qf5+ 0-1

Round 2, March 13
Karjakin, Sergey – So, Wesley
C50 Giuoco Pianissimo

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.Nbd2 a5 8.Re1 Be6 9.Bb5 Qb8 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Nf1 h6 12.Ng3 Re8 13.h3 a4 14.Nh4 Kh7 15.Nhf5 Ng8 16.Qd2 Qd8 17.Kh2 h5 18.d4 Bb6 19.Nxh5 g6 20.Nh6 gxh5 21.Nxg8 Kxg8 22.Qh6 Bd7 23.Bg5 Re6 24.Qxh5 Qf8 25.dxe5 dxe5 26.Rad1 Be8 27.Qh4 Rg6 28.Be3 Bxe3 29.Rxe3 Qh6 30.Qe7 Qg5 31.Qxg5 Rxg5 32.g4 Rb8 33.Rd2 Rg6 34.Red3 Rd6 35.Rxd6 cxd6 36.Kg3 Kf8 37.g5 Ke7 38.h4 Bd7 39.f4 Be6 40.a3 exf4+ 41.Kxf4 Rh8 42.Kg3 c5 43.Rd1 Bc4 44.Rh1 Be2 45.Kf4 Ke6 46.Rh2 Bh5 47.Rd2 Bg6 48.Rh2 f6 49.gxf6 Kxf6 50.Rh3 Rh5 51.c4 Ke6 52.Rh2 Kf6 53.Rh3 Bf7 54.Rc3 Rxh4+ 0-1

Round 3, March 13
Pichot, Alan – Giri, Anish
B96 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Nbd7 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.O-O-O b5 10.a3 Be7 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g4 Nd7 13.g5 Rb8 14.h4 b4 15.axb4 Rxb4 16.f5 Nc5 17.Bh3 Qb6 18.fxe6 fxe6 19.Rhf1 Rxb2 20.Qf3 Rb4 21.Qf7+ Kd8 22.Qxg7 Re8 23.Rf7 Bd7 24.Rxe7 Rxe7 25.Qf6 Qa5 26.Qf8+ Kc7 27.Qxe7 Qa3+ 28.Kd2 Rxd4+ 29.Ke2 Qxc3 30.Rxd4 Qxd4 31.Qxh7 Nxe4 0-1

Round 3, March 13
Aronian, Levon – Karjakin, Sergey
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Qb3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Na5 7.Qa4+ c6 8.cxd5 b5 9.Qd1 exd5 10.g3 Nc4 11.b3 Nxd2 12.Bxd2 Be4 13.Bh3 Ba3 14.O-O O-O 15.Ne5 Bb2 16.Nxc6 Qb6 17.Rc1 Bxc1 18.Qxc1 Rfe8 19.Ba5 Qb7 20.f3 Bg6 21.Ne5 b4 22.Qd2 Rab8 23.Rc1 h6 24.Nc6 Ra8 25.Bxb4 Nd7 26.Na5 Qa6 27.Bxd7 Rxe2 28.Rc6 Rxd2 29.Rxa6 Rxa2 30.Rd6 Kh7 31.Rxd5 Rb8 32.Rb5 Ra1+ 33.Kf2 Ra2+ 34.Ke3 1-0

Round 3, March 13
Dubov, Daniil – Nepo, Ian
B09 Pirc, Austrian Attack

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 d6 4.f4 Nf6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Qxf3 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.f5 Nc6 11.Be3 Nd4 12.Qf2 b5 13.O-O b4 14.Ne2 c5 15.Ng3 Qc7 16.Bc4 Qc6 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.Bg5 Nh7 19.Be7 Bh6 20.Rad1 Bf4 21.Bxf8 Rxf8 22.Ne2 Nxe2+ 23.Qxe2 Ng5 24.Bd5 Qc8 25.h4 Ne6 26.c3 Kg7 27.Qf3 bxc3 28.bxc3 f5 29.Bc4 Rf6 30.g3 Bh6 31.exf5 gxf5 32.Rd6 e4 33.Qd1 Be3+ 34.Kh2 Nd4 35.Rxf6 Kxf6 36.cxd4 cxd4 37.Qh5 Qxc4 38.Rxf5+ Ke7 39.Qh7+ Kd6 40.Qg6+ Ke7 41.Re5+ Kd7 42.Qg7+ Kd8 43.Qe7+ 1-0

Round 3, March 13
Van Foreest, Jorden – Grandelius, Nils
B50 Sicilian

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.d4 cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nc6 7.Qd3 a6 8.Bf4 b5 9.Bb3 Ra7 10.O-O-O Rd7 11.Ng5 e5 12.Be3 h6 13.Nf3 Na5 14.Bd5 Be7 15.a3 O-O 16.Ba2 Bb7 17.Nh4 Nc4 18.Nf5 Nxe3 19.Qxe3 Kh7 20.Kb1 a5 21.Nd5 Bxd5 22.Bxd5 Qc7 23.Qb3 g6 24.Ne3 Kg7 25.Qxb5 Rb8 26.Qa4 Qa7 27.Bb3 Bd8 28.Nc4 Nxe4 29.Qc6 Nxf2 30.Nxd6 Nxd1 31.Rxd1 Rbb7 32.Rf1 Qb6 33.Qd5 a4 34.Qxe5+ f6 35.Ne8+ Kh7 36.Nxf6+ Bxf6 37.Rxf6 Qg1+ 38.Ka2 axb3+ 39.cxb3 Rd1 40.b4 Ra1+ 41.Kb3 Qd1+ 0-1

Round 3, March 13
MVL – Anton, David
A15 English, Neo-Catalan

1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 e6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 d4 5.e3 c5 6.exd4 cxd4 7.O-O Nc6 8.d3 h6 9.Na3 Bxa3 10.bxa3 O-O 11.Bf4 Ng4 12.Bd2 e5 13.Bb4 Re8 14.Nd2 Nf6 15.Ne4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Bh3 17.Re1 Qd7 18.Rb1 Kh8 19.Bd2 Rab8 20.Rb3 Bg4 21.Qc1 f5 22.Bd5 f4 23.gxf4 Be6 24.Bf3 Rf8 25.Rb5 Rf6 26.Qd1 a6 27.Rc5 exf4 28.Kh1 Re8 29.Rg1 Bf7 30.Be4 Ne5 31.Qc1 g5 32.Qb2 b6 33.Rd5 Bxd5 34.cxd5 Kg8 35.Qxd4 Qh3 36.d6 f3 37.Bc3 Kg7 38.Bc6 Ree6 39.Bd5 Re8 40.Qe4 Qf5 41.d7 Nxd3 42.Bxf6+ Kxf6 43.dxe8=N+ Kg6 44.Bf7+ 1-0

Position after White’s 43.dxe8=N+



Round 3, March 13
Firouzja, Alireza – Carlsen, Magnus
D05 Queen’s Pawn game, Rubinstein variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.Bd3 d5 5.b3 Nc6 6.Bb2 b6 7.Nbd2 Bb7 8.a3 cxd4 9.exd4 g6 10.Qe2 Bg7 11.Ne5 Qc7 12.h4 h5 13.O-O-O O-O-O 14.Kb1 Kb8 15.Rh3 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Ne4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nc4 Ba6 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Qxe4 Bxc4 21.bxc4 Bf8 22.Rf3 Bc5 23.Qe2 Rc8 24.Ka2 Rd8 25.Kb3 Rd7 26.Rd3 Qc6 27.g3 Kb7 28.Bc3 Rxd3 29.cxd3 b5 30.d4 bxc4+ 31.Qxc4 Bb6 32.a4 a6 33.Qb4 Qd5+ 34.Kb2 Kc6 35.Qf8 Qd7 36.Kb3 Qd5+ 37.Kb2 Qd7 38.Kb3 Kb7 39.Qb4 Kc6 40.Qf8 1/2-1/2

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 13, 2021

Day 1 (continued)

Rounds 4 and 5

Round 4

Giri-Carlsen 1-0
Anton-Firouzja 1-0
Grandelius-MVL 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Van Foreest 1-0
Nepo-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Karjakin-Dubov 0.5-0.5
Radjabov-Aronian 0.5-0.5
Pichot-So 0-1

Round 5

So-Giri 0-1
Aronian-Pichot 1-0
Dubov-Radjabov 0-1
Nakamura-Karjakin 0.5-0.5
Van Foreest-Nepo 1-0
MVL-Mamedyarov 1-0
Firouzja-Grandelius 1-0
Carlsen-Anton 1-0

Standings after Round 5

1 Giri 4
2-3 Carlsen, Aronian 3.5
4-8 Mamedyarov, MVL, Radjabov, Dubov, Nakamura 3
9-10 So, Firouzja 2.5
11 Van Foreest 2
12-15 Nepo, Anton, Grandelius, Karjakin 1.5
16 Pichot 1

Games

Round 4, March 13
Giri, Anish – Carlsen, Magnus
B36 Sicilian, Accelerated Fianchetto, Maroczy bind

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Be2 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Bg7 9.O-O O-O 10.Qd3 a5 11.Be3 Bd7 12.Bd4 Bc6 13.b3 Nd7 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qd4+ Kg8 16.Rfd1 Qb6 17.Qxb6 Nxb6 18.f4 f5 19.exf5 Rxf5 20.g3 g5 21.Bd3 Rc5 22.Re1 Re8 23.Ne4 Bxe4 24.Rxe4 gxf4 25.Rxf4 Nd7 26.Re1 Ne5 27.Be4 b5 28.cxb5 Rxb5 29.Rh4 Rb4 30.Bxh7+ Kg7 31.Be4 a4 32.bxa4 Rxa4 33.Re2 Rh8 34.Rxh8 Kxh8 35.Bd5 Ra5 36.Bb3 Nc6 37.Rd2 Kg7 38.Kg2 Ne5 39.h3 Nd7 40.Re2 Kf8 41.Rf2+ Nf6 42.g4 Kg7 43.Rf4 d5 44.g5 Ne4 45.Bxd5 Nxg5 46.Bb3 e5 47.Ra4 Rc5 48.Rc4 Ra5 49.h4 Ne6 50.Ra4 Nf4+ 51.Kf3 Rc5 52.Rc4 Ra5 53.Rc7+ Kh6 54.Bc2 Ra3+ 55.Kg4 Nd3 56.Kf5 Nb4 57.Be4 Rxa2 58.Kg4 1-0

Position after White’s 57.Be4



Anish Giri catches Magnus Carlsen in a cunning trap to finish off a fine technical game in style!

Round 4, March 13
Anton, David – Firouzja, Alireza
E61 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.d5 Nb4 8.O-O e6 9.dxe6 Bxe6 10.Nd4 Nc6 11.Nxe6 fxe6 12.Rb1 Nd7 13.Qd2 Qf6 14.Nd1 Nc5 15.Nc3 a5 16.Qd1 Rad8 17.Bd2 Qf7 18.a3 d5 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Nb5 d4 21.exd4 Bxd4 22.Qc2 Qf5 23.Bc4+ Kg7 24.Qxf5 Rxf5 25.Nxd4 Nxd4 26.Rfd1 Na4 27.b3 Nb6 28.Bc3 c5 29.Bxa5 Rd6 30.Bf1 Nd5 31.Be1 Nf4 32.Bc3 Kf8 33.Bxd4 cxd4 34.g3 Nh5 35.Rd2 Rc5 36.a4 Rc3 37.Bc4 Ng7 38.Rbd1 Nf5 39.Kg2 b6 40.Rd3 Rc2 41.Rf3 Rf6 42.Rxd4 g5 43.Bd3 Rd2 44.Rd5 Ne3+ 45.Rxe3 Rfxf2+ 46.Kg1 Rg2+ 47.Kf1 Rxh2 48.Ke1 Ra2 49.Rf5+ Kg8 50.Re8+ Kg7 51.Re7+ Kg6 52.Rf4+ 1-0

Round 4, March 13
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Van Foreest, Jorden
C26 Vienna, Falkbeer variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd3 Bc5 6.Bf4 O-O 7.f3 d5 8.Nxd5 Nxd5 9.Qxd5 Qxd5 10.exd5 Re8+ 11.Ne2 Nb4 12.O-O-O Bf5 13.Ng3 Bxc2 14.a3 Bxd1 15.axb4 Bxb4 16.Kxd1 Re1+ 17.Kc2 Rd8 18.Bc4 Rxh1 19.Nxh1 Bd6 20.Bxd6 Rxd6 21.Nf2 Kf8 22.Kc3 Ke7 23.b4 Rh6 24.Ng4 Rh5 25.h3 c6 26.Kd4 f6 27.f4 cxd5 28.Be2 Rh4 29.Bf1 Ke6 30.g3 Rh5 31.Ne3 b6 32.g4 Rh6 33.Nf5 Rg6 34.b5 h5 35.Be2 hxg4 36.hxg4 1-0

Round 4, March 13
Pichot, Alan – So, Wesley
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 Ng5 15.Kg2 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Ne6 17.f4 f5 18.Qa4 Qh4 19.Bxc6 bxc6 20.Qxc6 Rae8 21.Qxd5 g5 22.f3 Kh8 23.Kh2 Rb8 24.Qxe6 Rb2+ 25.Rf2 Rxf2+ 26.Bxf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 Qxf3+ 28.Kh2 Qxf4+ 29.Kh1 Qf3+ 30.Kh2 g4 31.hxg4 fxg4 32.Qh6 g3+ 33.Kh3 Rf5 34.Kh4 Rf4+ 35.Kh3 Qg4+ 36.Kg2 Qe2+ 37.Kxg3 Rf3+ 0-1

Round 5, March 13
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 a6 8.h3 Ba7 9.a4 h6 10.Nbd2 Re8 11.Qc2 Be6 12.Bxe6 Rxe6 13.b4 Qd7 14.Rb1 Rd8 15.b5 Ne7 16.d4 Ng6 17.Nf1 axb5 18.Rxb5 c6 19.Rb3 d5 20.exd5 cxd5 21.dxe5 Ne4 22.Be3 Qxa4 23.Qb2 Bxe3 24.Nxe3 Nc5 25.Rb4 Qe8 26.Rd1 Nxe5 27.Nxe5 Rxe5 28.c4 d4 29.Rxd4 Rxe3 0-1

Round 5, March 13
Aronian, Levon – Pichot, Alan
A18 English, Mikenas-Carls variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 Ne4 6.Nf3 Bf5 7.Be2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.d4 c5 10.Be3 Nc6 11.dxc5 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be4 13.Qb3 Qc7 14.Rfd1 Rab8 15.Nd4 Qxe5 16.Qa4 Qf6 17.f3 Bg6 18.Nxc6 bxc6 19.Bd4 Qe6 20.Bf1 Qd7 21.c4 Rfd8 22.cxd5 Qxd5 23.Bf2 Qe6 24.Re1 Qf6 25.Rad1 Bf8 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Qxa7 Rd2 28.Re8 Rd8 29.Rxd8 Qxd8 30.Qa4 Qd5 31.Qb3 Qd2 32.a3 h5 33.Qe3 Qd1 34.h4 Kh7 35.Qd4 Qb1 36.Qd8 Qc1 37.Qxf8 Bd3 38.Bd4 Qxf1+ 39.Kh2 f6 40.Bxf6 gxf6 41.Qf7+ Kh6 42.Qxf6+ Bg6 43.Qh8+ Bh7 44.Qf8+ Kg6 45.Qe8+ Kg7 46.Qe5+ Kf7 47.Qxh5+ Bg6 48.Qe5 Qf2 49.Kh3 Qc2 50.h5 Bf5+ 51.Kg3 Be6 52.Qf4+ Ke7 53.Qg5+ Kf7 54.h6 Qc3 55.h7 Qh8 56.Qh5+ Ke7 57.a4 Kd7 58.Qh6 Bd5 59.Qd6+ Kc8 60.Qe7 Kb8 61.Kf4 Qd4+ 62.Kf5 Qh8 63.Qe5+ 1-0

Round 5, March 13
Dubov, Daniil – Radjabov, Teimour
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.Bg5 Nbd7 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.Nbd2 Rc8 13.Nb3 c5 14.Nxc5 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Qxd4 16.Nb3 Qxf2+ 17.Kxf2 Rxc2 18.Rab1 e5 19.Rfc1 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 e4 21.Bg2 Ng4+ 22.Kg1 Bg5 23.Rc6 Be3+ 24.Kf1 Nxh2+ 25.Ke1 f5 26.Bh3 Ng4 27.Kf1 Rd8 28.Bxg4 fxg4 29.Re6 Rf8+ 30.Kg2 Rf2+ 31.Kh1 Rxe2 32.Rxe4 Re1+ 33.Kg2 h5 34.Na5 Re2+ 35.Kh1 Kf7 36.Nb7 Kf6 37.Nd6 Re1+ 38.Kg2 Rg1+ 39.Kh2 Re1 40.Kg2 Bd2 41.a4 Rb1 42.axb5 axb5 43.Re2 Bc1 44.Ne4+ Kf5 45.Nd6+ Kf6 46.Ne4+ Kg6 47.Nc3 Rxb2 48.Rxb2 Bxb2 49.Nxb5 Be5 50.Na3 Kf5 51.Nc4 Bc7 52.Ne3+ Ke4 53.Nf1 Kd3 54.Nh2 Ke3 55.Nf1+ Ke2 56.Nh2 g5 57.Nf1 Kd3 58.Nh2 Ke4 59.Kf2 Kf5 60.Nf1 Be5 61.Kg2 Bb8 62.Kh1 Ke4 63.Kg2 h4 64.Nd2+ Kd3 65.gxh4 gxh4 66.Nf3 h3+ 67.Kf2 Bf4 68.Nh4 Ke4 69.Kf1 Bg5 70.Ng6 g3 0-1

Round 5, March 13
Van Foreest, Jorden – Nepo, Ian
B06 Robatsch Defence

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nf3 d6 4.Be3 a6 5.c4 Nc6 6.h3 e5 7.d5 Nce7 8.Nc3 f5 9.g4 Nf6 10.gxf5 gxf5 11.Rg1 O-O 12.Bd3 Kh8 13.Qc2 f4 14.Bd2 c6 15.O-O-O b5 16.c5 b4 17.Na4 cxd5 18.exd5 Nexd5 19.Ng5 Bd7 20.Bc4 Rc8 21.Bxd5 Bxa4 22.Qxa4 Nxd5 23.Kb1 Qf6 24.Qc2 Qh6 25.c6 Ne7 26.Bxb4 Rxc6 27.Rxd6 Rxc2 28.Rxh6 Bxh6 29.Kxc2 Rc8+ 30.Kd3 Rd8+ 31.Ke2 Bxg5 32.Rxg5 Ng6 33.Bc3 Kg8 34.h4 Kf7 35.Rh5 Ke6 36.Rxh7 e4 37.Rh6 Kf5 38.Rh5+ Ke6 39.Rh6 Kf5 40.Rh5+ Ke6 41.Rg5 Nxh4 42.Re5+ Kf7 43.Rxe4 Ng6 44.Kf3 Rd6 45.Rc4 Ke6 46.Ke4 Rb6 47.Bd4 Rd6 48.Rc7 Nh4 49.b4 Nf5 50.Bc5 Rd2 51.Rc6+ Kd7 52.Rxa6 Nh4 53.Kxf4 Ng2+ 54.Ke4 Ne1 55.b5 Rb2 56.Ra7+ Kc8 57.a4 1-0

A beautiful move by Jorden van Foreest! (27. Rxd6)

Round 5, March 13
MVL – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C41 Philidor, Exchange variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Qd2 O-O 8.O-O-O Re8 9.f3 d5 10.Nb3 c6 11.Bh6 a5 12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.a4 Be6 14.g4 Qb6 15.g5 Nh5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.Nxd5 Bxd5 18.Qc3+ Kg8 19.Rxd5 Nc6 20.Rb5 Qf2 21.Bc4 Rac8 22.Qd2 Qxd2+ 23.Nxd2 Re7 24.c3 Nf4 25.Kc2 Kg7 26.Rg1 Rd8 27.Rg4 Nh3 28.Re4 Red7 29.Nb3 Ng1 30.Re3 Ne7 31.Nd4 Rc7 32.Kb3 b6 33.Rxb6 Rxc4 34.Rxe7 1-0

Round 5, March 13
Firouzja, Alireza – Grandelius, Nils
A48 King’s Indian, East Indian Defence

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.b3 Bg7 4.Bb2 O-O 5.e3 b6 6.Be2 Bb7 7.O-O c5 8.a4 cxd4 9.exd4 a6 10.c4 d5 11.a5 dxc4 12.bxc4 b5 13.Nbd2 Ne4 14.Nb3 bxc4 15.Bxc4 Nd6 16.Bd3 Bd5 17.Ne5 Nc6 18.Bc3 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Ne4 20.Bxe4 Bxe4 21.Nc5 Bc6 22.Qxd8 Rfxd8 23.Rfd1 Bb5 24.f4 Rxd1+ 25.Rxd1 Rc8 26.Bb4 Bf8 27.e6 Bg7 28.Kf2 fxe6 29.Nxe6 Bf6 30.Nc5 Kf7 31.Ke3 h5 32.g3 Ke8 33.Rc1 Kf7 34.Rc2 Rc6 35.h3 Rc8 36.Rd2 Ke8 37.g4 hxg4 38.hxg4 Rd8 39.Rxd8+ Kxd8 40.Ne6+ Ke8 41.Nc7+ Kd7 42.Nxb5 axb5 43.g5 Bg7 44.Bxe7 Kc6 45.Bb4 Kd5 46.a6 Kc6 47.Bc5 Bb2 48.Ke4 Bc1 49.Be3 Bb2 50.Bc5 Bc1 51.Ke5 Bd2 52.f5 gxf5 53.g6 Bh6 54.Kxf5 Bg7 55.Ke6 Bc3 56.Kf7 Kc7 57.Be7 Kb6 58.Bf6 b4 59.g7 1-0

Round 5, March 13
Carlsen, Magnus – Anton, David
C77 Ruy Lopez, Anderssen variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 Bc5 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Nc3 Qe7 8.h3 Nd7 9.Be3 Bxe3 10.fxe3 Nb6 11.a4 a5 12.Qd2 Bd7 13.b3 Nc8 14.g4 h5 15.O-O-O Nd6 16.Ne2 b6 17.Qc3 f6 18.Ng3 hxg4 19.hxg4 O-O-O 20.Nf5 Bxf5 21.gxf5 Kb7 22.Kb2 Qf7 23.Nd2 g6 24.fxg6 Qxg6 25.Nc4 Nxc4+ 26.Qxc4 Qg5 27.Rhf1 Rd6 28.Rf3 Qg7 29.Rdf1 Rh2 30.Qc3 Re2 31.R1f2 Rxf2 32.Rxf2 Qg3 33.Qd2 Qg5 34.Rg2 Qh6 35.Rh2 Qg5 36.Qf2 Qg6 37.Rh8 Qg5 38.Qf3 Qg7 39.Qh3 Rd7 40.Re8 Qh7 41.Qf5 Qxf5 42.exf5 b5 43.Kc3 Kb6 44.Rf8 Rd6 45.Rf7 Kb7 46.Kb2 Kb6 47.Ka3 Kb7 48.b4 axb4+ 49.Kxb4 bxa4 50.Kxa4 Kb6 51.Kb4 Kb7 52.Kc4 Kb6 53.c3 c5 54.e4 Kc6 55.Rf8 Kb6 56.Ra8 Rd7 57.Re8 Rd6 58.Re7 Kc6 59.Rf7 Kb6 60.Kb3 Kc6 61.Kc2 Kb6 62.c4 Kb7 63.Kd2 Kc8 64.Ke2 Kd8 65.Ke3 Kc8 66.Rf8+ Kd7 67.Rh8 Ke7 68.Ra8 Kd7 69.Ra5 Kc6 70.Ra3 Kd7 71.Kf3 Ke7 72.Kg4 Kf7 73.Kh5 Rd8 74.Ra7 Rh8+ 75.Kg4 Rc8 76.Ra5 Ke7 77.Rxc5 c6 78.Kf3 Kd6 79.Ra5 Rh8 80.c5+ Kc7 81.Ra7+ Kb8 82.Rf7 Rh6 83.Ke3 Kc8 84.Kd2 Kd8 85.Kc3 1-0
_______

I rather enjoy Peter Leko and Tania Sachdev commenting on the games. They get along well with each other. There are thirteen simultaneous broadcasts of this tourney on chess24.

[Hans Jung]

Rd4 Shak played a wonderful game against Van Foreest with zugzwang at the end. Giri showed fine skill with subtle moves with the bishop over knight in the endgame against Magnus.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 5 MVL caught Shak and Giri is on a hot pace after taking off Wesley So. What a swindle by Firoujza or did Grandelius swindle himself? Im enjoying the games.

[Hans Jung]

I just went back and caught up with Rd 3 action and good thing I did. Aronian played a beautiful game against Karjakhin sacrificing the exchange for positional pressure.

[Larry Castle]

Rd4 Shak played a wonderful game against Van Foreest with zugzwang at the end. Giri showed fine skill with subtle moves with the bishop over knight in the endgame against Magnus.

Hey Hans, in round 2 Shak was winning against Dubov and after move 67. Rc7 + appeard to be winning a bishop. However, just like at the chesspark there was a nasty but funny suprise.

[Hans Jung]

Wasnt that the nice stalemate trap?

[Hans Jung]

Rd6 Wesley So plays like Tal vs Aronian! Im so impressed! Ne4 (which the computer labels as red) how could you not play that move? - and then the witty exchange after Re6. Prime entertainment!

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 14, 2021

Day 2

Rounds 6 and 7

Round 6

Giri-Anton 1-0
Grandelius-Carlsen 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Firouzja 0-1
Nepo-MVL 1-0
Karjakin-Van Foreest 1-0
Radjabov-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Pichot-Dubov 0.5-0.5
So-Aronian 1-0

Round 7

Aronian-Giri 0-1
Dubov-So 0-1
Nakamura-Pichot 1-0
Van Foreest-Radjabov 0.5-0.5
MVL-Karjakin 0.5-0.5
Firouzja-Nepo 0.5-0.5
Carlsen-Mamedyarov 1-0
Anton-Grandelius 0-1

Games

Round 6, March 14
Giri, Anish – Anton, David
C83 Ruy Lopez, open, Classical

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.Nbd2 O-O 11.Bc2 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.Re1 Bg4 14.h3 Bh5 15.Nf1 Bc5 16.Ng3 Bxf3 17.gxf3 Qd6 18.Kg2 Rae8 19.Rxe8 Rxe8 20.Bg5 Ne5 21.Bxf6 gxf6 22.f4 Ng6 23.Bxg6 hxg6 24.f5 d4 25.Qf3 Re5 26.fxg6 Qd5 27.h4 Kg7 28.h5 dxc3 29.bxc3 Bd6 30.Rh1 Kh6 31.Rh4 Qxf3+ 32.Kxf3 Rc5 33.Rg4 Bf8 34.Rf4 Rxc3+ 35.Kg4 Kg7 36.Nf5+ Kg8 37.Re4 1-0

Leader Giri marches on with a 4th win in a row!

Round 6, March 14
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Firouzja, Alireza
B22 Sicilian, Alapin

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Na3 a6 7.Nc4 Nbd7 8.Be2 b5 9.Ne3 Qc6 10.O-O Bb7 11.a4 Be7 12.dxc5 Qxc5 13.Qb3 b4 14.Bd2 Ne4 15.Be1 a5 16.cxb4 axb4 17.Bb5 Ba6 18.Bxa6 Rxa6 19.Rd1 Qc6 20.Bxb4 Qb7 21.Rxd7 Kxd7 22.Qd3+ Ke8 23.Bxe7 Kxe7 24.Qa3+ Nd6 25.Nd4 Rd8 26.Nb3 Rb6 27.Nc5 Qb8 28.b4 Rxb4 29.Na6 Rb3 30.Nxb8 Rxa3 31.Nc6+ Kd7 32.Nxd8 Kxd8 33.Rd1 Ke7 34.Rxd6 Rxe3 35.fxe3 Kxd6 36.Kf2 Kc5 37.Kf3 Kb4 38.Ke4 f6 39.Kd4 Kxa4 40.Kc5 Kb3 41.Kd6 e5 42.g4 Kc4 43.Ke6 Kd3 44.Kf7 Kxe3 45.Kxg7 Kf4 46.Kxf6 e4 0-1

Firouzja is back on track for qualification after a rollercoaster win over Mamedyarov!

Round 6, March 14
Nepo, Ian – MVL
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen

1.b3 a5 2.e4 a4 3.Bb2 e6 4.bxa4 Nf6 5.e5 Nd5 6.Nf3 Nb6 7.Nc3 d5 8.exd6 Bxd6 9.Bd3 O-O 10.O-O N8d7 11.Re1 Nc5 12.Bf1 Bd7 13.Nb5 Ncxa4 14.Bd4 Bc6 15.Nxd6 cxd6 16.Rb1 e5 17.Ba1 Re8 18.c4 f6 19.d4 Nc8 20.c5 e4 21.d5 exf3 22.dxc6 Rxe1 23.Qd5+ Kh8 24.Rxe1 Ne7 25.Qf7 Nxc6 26.Bxf6 Qf8 27.Qxb7 gxf6 28.Qxc6 Nxc5 29.Qxf3 Nd7 30.Qd5 Ne5 31.f4 Ng6 32.g3 Ra7 33.Re6 Kg7 34.Rxd6 Ne7 35.Qe6 Qf7 1-0

Round 6, March 14
Karjakin, Sergey – Van Foreest, Jorden
C11 French Defence

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 h6 5.Bxf6 Qxf6 6.exd5 Bb4 7.dxe6 Bxe6 8.a3 Ba5 9.Nf3 Nc6 10.Bb5 O-O-O 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.O-O Bg4 13.Ne4 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 Qxf3 15.gxf3 Rxd4 16.Rfd1 Bb6 17.c3 Rxd1+ 18.Rxd1 Re8 19.Kf1 Re5 20.Ng3 g6 21.c4 Bc5 22.b4 Bf8 23.f4 Re8 24.f5 h5 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.Rd3 c5 27.b5 Bd6 28.f3 h4 29.Ne4 Bxh2 30.Kg2 Bf4 31.Kh3 g5 32.a4 c6 33.bxc6 Kc7 34.Rd7+ Kxc6 35.Rxa7 Rb8 36.Ra6+ Rb6 37.Ra5 Be3 38.Rb5 Rb7 39.Nf6 Rf7 40.a5 Rb7 41.a6 Ra7 42.Nd5 Rxa6 43.Nxe3 Ra3 44.Nd5 Rxf3+ 45.Kg4 Rg3+ 46.Kf5 Rg1 47.Rb6+ Kd7 48.Rh6 Rg2 49.Nf6+ Kc7 50.Ke5 Rd2 51.Nd5+ Kb7 52.Rh7+ Kb8 53.Kd6 Rd3 54.Kc6 Rf3 55.Kb6 Kc8 56.Kxc5 h3 57.Kc6 Kb8 58.Nb6 Rf6+ 59.Kb5 Rf3 60.c5 h2 61.Rxh2 1-0

Round 6, March 14
Pichot, Alan – Dubov, Daniil
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 f5 13.Nxd5 Ba5+ 14.Ke2 Nxd4+ 15.Bxd4 Nd2 16.Qc5 Ne4 17.Qc4 Bf7 18.Nf6+ Nxf6 19.e6 Qe7 20.Bc5 Qxe6+ 21.Qxe6 Bxe6 22.Bxf8 Kxf8 23.Rhc1 Bb6 24.Bc4 Bd7 25.Kf1 Ne4 26.Rc2 Re8 27.Rd1 Bc8 28.h4 h6 29.h5 Ke7 30.Ne5 c6 31.Bf7 Rf8 32.Bb3 Re8 33.Re2 Bc7 34.Ng6+ Kf6 35.Kg1 Bb6 36.g3 Kg5 37.Kg2 Rd8 38.Rxd8 Bxd8 39.f3 Nd6 40.Be6 Bf6 41.Nf4 Bxe6 42.Rxe6 Nb5 43.b3 a5 44.Re8 Nc3 45.Ra8 Nxa2 46.Rxa5 Nb4 47.Ra7 b5 48.Kh3 Nc2 49.Ne6+ Kxh5 50.Nxg7+ Kg6 51.Ne6 Bc3 52.Rc7 Nb4 53.Nd8 Be5 54.Rc8 Bf6 55.Nxc6 Nd3 56.Rb8 f4 57.Rxb5 fxg3 58.Kxg3 h5 59.Rd5 h4+ 60.Kh2 Nf4 61.Rd2 Bc3 62.Rc2 Be1 63.b4 Bg3+ 64.Kh1 h3 65.Nd4 Nd3 66.b5 Nf2+ 67.Rxf2 Bxf2 68.Ne2 Kg5 69.Kh2 Kh4 70.Nc3 Bd4 71.Nd5 Be5+ 72.Kh1 Bd6 73.Nf6 Be5 74.Ne4 Bc7 75.Nc3 Kg3 76.f4 Kg4 77.Nd5 Bb8 78.Kh2 Kf5 79.b6 Ke4 80.Nc7 Kxf4 81.Kxh3 Ke5 82.Kg4 Kd6 83.Na6 Kc6 84.Nxb8+ Kxb6 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 64….h3

What is White’s move to win here?



Round 6, March 14
So, Wesley – Aronian, Levon
E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.Nf3 d5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 dxc4 8.e4 g5 9.Bg3 b5 10.e5 Nh5 11.Qe4 Qd5 12.Qg4 Ng7 13.Be2 f5 14.Qh3 g4 15.Qxh6 gxf3 16.Bxf3 Qxd4 17.O-O c6 18.Rad1 Qb6 19.Ne4 fxe4 20.Bxe4 Rf5 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.e6 Bf8 23.Be5 c5 24.Bxg7 Bxg7 25.e7 Bd7 26.Qh5 Qc6 27.Rfe1 Be8 28.Rd8 Na6 29.Re6 Qd7 30.Rxa8 Nc7 31.Rd8 Nxe6 32.Rxe8+ Nf8 33.Rxf8+ 1-0

Brilliant from Wesley, who went for the critical line with 4 seconds on his clock!

"Wonderful win by Wesley - amazing!" (Leko)

Round 7

Round 7, March 14
Aronian, Levon – Giri, Anish
D97 Grunfeld, Russian, Byrne variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxc4 O-O 7.e4 Nc6 8.h3 e5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.e6 fxe6 11.Be3 Nde5 12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.Qa4 Bd7 14.Qc2 Qe7 15.Rd1 c5 16.f4 Qh4+ 17.Qf2 Qxf2+ 18.Kxf2 g5 19.g3 gxf4 20.gxf4 Bc6 21.Kg3 Bh6 22.Rd6 Ng6 23.Rxe6 Bxf4+ 24.Bxf4 Nxf4 25.Re5 b6 26.Bc4+ Kh8 27.h4 Ng6 28.Rg5 Rae8 29.Rd1 Ne5 30.Be2 Re6 31.h5 Nf7 32.Rg4 Nd6 33.Bd3 b5 34.Bc2 Rfe8 35.e5 Nf7 36.Bf5 Rxe5 37.Bd7 Re3+ 38.Kh2 Bxd7 39.Rxd7 Ne5 0-1

Round 7, March 14
Dubov, Daniil – So, Wesley
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.Na3 Bxa3 8.bxa3 Bd7 9.Ne5 Bc6 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bb2 Nd5 12.Rc1 Nb6 13.e3 Qe7 14.Qc2 Rfe8 15.Rfd1 Rad8 16.h4 h6 17.Rd2 Rd7 18.Qc3 Red8 19.Rcd1 f5 20.Ba1 a5 21.e4 fxe4 22.Bxe4 Qf6 23.Kg2 a4 24.Re1 Nxd4 25.Bxb7 c6 26.Red1 e5 27.Ba6 Kh8 28.Bxc4 Nxc4 29.Qxc4 Qf3+ 30.Kh3 Qf5+ 31.Kg2 Qf3+ 32.Kh3 Ne2 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Rxd7 Nf4+ 35.Qxf4 exf4 36.Bxg7+ Kh7 37.Bd4+ Kg8 38.Kh2 fxg3+ 39.fxg3 Qe2+ 40.Kg1 Qd1+ 41.Kh2 c5 42.Rg7+ Kf8 43.Bf6 Qe2+ 44.Kg1 Qe1+ 45.Kg2 Qe4+ 46.Kh2 Qf5 47.Ba1 Qf2+ 48.Kh3 Qf1+ 0-1

Round 7, March 14
Nakamura, Hikaru – Pichot, Alan
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qf3 Ne5 8.Qg3 b5 9.O-O-O Nf6 10.f4 Neg4 11.Bg1 h5 12.e5 b4 13.Na4 Nd5 14.h3 Nh6 15.f5 Bb7 16.Bd3 Be7 17.Kb1 h4 18.Qe1 Nf4 19.Bh2 Nxd3 20.Rxd3 Qa5 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.b3 O-O 23.Rg1 Rac8 24.g3 Qc7 25.gxh4 Nf5 26.Qe2 Rf7 27.Bg3 a5 28.Nxf5 Rxf5 29.Rd4 Rcf8 30.h5 Bc6 31.h6 Qa7 32.Bf2 Rxf2 33.Rxg7+ Kh8 34.Qd3 R8f5 35.Rxe7 R2f3 36.Qc4 Rf1+ 37.Kb2 Qb8 38.Nc5 Qxe5 39.Nxe6 dxe6 40.Rxe6 Qc7 41.Qxc6 Qxc6 42.Rxc6 Rh1 43.Rd8+ Kh7 44.Rd7+ 1-0

Round 7, March 14
Carlsen, Magnus – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
B40 Sicilian, Anderssen variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.a3 Be7 7.f4 O-O 8.e5 Nd5 9.Nxd5 exd5 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bd3 Bc5 12.Qf3 d6 13.Be3 Rb8 14.b4 Bxe3 15.Qxe3 a5 16.O-O axb4 17.axb4 dxe5 18.fxe5 Rxb4 19.Ra8 g6 20.e6 fxe6 21.Rxf8+ Qxf8 22.g3 Rb1+ 23.Kg2 e5 24.g4 e4 25.Ba6 Bxa6 26.Rxf8+ Kxf8 27.Qa3+ 1-0

Round 7, March 14
Anton, David – Grandelius, Nils
E61 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.Nc3 Bf5 7.O-O Ne4 8.Nxe4 Bxe4 9.Nd2 Bf5 10.b4 e5 11.Nb3 exd4 12.exd4 c5 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.Ba3 Na6 15.Bf3 Qc7 16.Nxc5 Nxc5 17.Bxc5 Rfd8 18.Bd5 Be6 19.Bxe6 fxe6 20.Qe2 e5 21.Ba3 exd4 22.Qd3 Rac8 23.Rac1 Qf7 24.g3 Rd7 25.Rc2 Rdc7 26.Rfc1 Bh6 27.f4 Bg7 28.Bd6 Rd7 29.c5 Qd5 30.Re1 b6 31.Qa6 Rdd8 32.Qc4 Rxd6 0-1

Standings after Round 7

1 Giri 6
2 Carlsen 5
3-4 So, Nakamura 4.5
5-6 Firouzja, Radjabov 4
7-9 Aronian, Dubo, MVL 3.5
10-13 Nepo, Mamedyarov, Grandelius, Karjakin 3
14 Van Foreest 2.5
15-16 Anton, Pichot 1.5

(to be continued)

[Hans Jung]

Giri is on fire!

[Wayne Komer]

Magnus Carlsen Invitational Prelims 2021

March 14, 2021

Day 2 (continued)

Rounds 8 and 9

Round 8

Giri-Grandelius 0.5-0.5
Mamedyarov-Anton 0-1
Nepo-Carlsen 0-1
Karjakin-Firouzja 1-0
Radjabov-MVL 0-1
Pichot-Van Foreest 0.5-0.5
So-Nakamura 0.5-0.5
Aronian-Dubov 0.5-0.5

Round 9

Dubov-Giri 0.5-0.5
Nakamura-Aronian 1-0
Van Foreest-So 0-1
MVL-Pichot 1-0
Firouzja-Radjabov 1-0
Carlsen-Karjakin 1-0
Anton-Nepo 0-1
Grandelius-Mamedyarov 0-1

Games

Round 8, March 14
Giri, Anish – Grandelius, Nils
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.Nf3 c5 2.e4 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.a4 g6 7.Be2 Bg7 8.O-O O-O 9.Be3 Nc6 10.Qd2 Rb8 11.Rfb1 Ng4 12.Bxg4 Bxg4 13.Nd5 Bd7 14.a5 Ne5 15.Bg5 Re8 16.b3 Ng4 17.Re1 h6 18.Bh4 Bc6 19.h3 Nf6 20.c4 Nh5 21.f3 g5 22.Bf2 e6 23.Nb6 Be5 24.Rad1 Qe7 25.Ne2 Red8 26.Bd4 Nf4 27.b4 Kh7 28.Qb2 Qf6 29.Nxf4 gxf4 30.Bxe5 dxe5 31.b5 Be8 32.bxa6 bxa6 33.c5 Bb5 34.Qc2 Rxd1 35.Rxd1 Rd8 36.Rd6 Qh4 37.Qf2 Qf6 38.Qd2 Rg8 39.c6 Qe7 40.Nd7 Qg5 41.Qb2 Qh4 42.Qf2 Qe7 43.Qd2 Qg5 44.Qb2 Qh4 45.Qf2 Qe7 46.Qd2 1/2-1/2

Giri in draw shocker!

Round 8, March 14
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Anton, David
B22 Sicilian, Alapin’s variation

1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Bc4 Nb6 5.Bb3 Nc6 6.d4 cxd4 7.cxd4 d5 8.Nc3 Bf5 9.h4 h5 10.Bg5 f6 11.exf6 gxf6 12.Be3 e6 13.Nge2 Bd6 14.Nf4 Kf7 15.Nxh5 Qg8 16.Qf3 Qg4 17.Qxg4 Bxg4 18.Ng3 Rag8 19.Rc1 a6 20.Kf1 Bxg3 21.fxg3 Bf5 22.Ne2 Bd3 23.Rd1 Bxe2+ 24.Kxe2 Rxg3 25.Kf2 Rhg8 26.Rh2 R3g4 27.h5 Na5 28.Bc2 Nbc4 29.Bg6+ Ke7 30.Bc1 Nc6 31.b3 Nd6 32.Be3 f5 33.Rh3 Ne4+ 34.Kg1 Kf6 35.Rf1 Rh8 36.Kh2 Rc8 37.Rc1 Rg8 38.Rf1 Nd6 39.Bf4 Nb5 40.Bc1 Ne7 41.a4 Nxd4 42.Bb2 Nxg6 43.hxg6 R8xg6 44.g3 Re4 0-1

Round 8, March 14
Nepo, Ian – Carlsen, Magnus
B33 Sicilian, Pelikan, Chelyabinsk variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5 9.Nd5 Be7 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.c3 Ne7 12.Nxf6+ gxf6 13.Nc2 Bb7 14.Bd3 d5 15.Qe2 f5 16.O-O-O fxe4 17.Bxe4 Qc7 18.Bf3 O-O-O 19.g3 Kb8 20.Kb1 Nc8 21.Rhe1 Rhe8 22.Ne3 Nb6 23.Qc2 f6 24.Bg2 Rd6 25.Rd2 Red8 26.Red1 a5 27.a3 Nc4 28.Nxc4 bxc4 29.Qf5 Ka7 30.Ka1 Qd7 31.Qh5 Qc7 32.f4 e4 33.Rd4 Bc6 34.R1d2 Be8 35.Qe2 Bc6 36.Qe3 Qb6 37.f5 R6d7 38.Qh6 Ba4 39.g4 Ka6 40.Bf1 Ka7 41.h4 Rb7 42.Qe3 Rdb8 43.g5 Bd7 44.gxf6 Bxf5 45.Qg5 Be6 46.Bxc4 Rg8 47.Qe5 Rg1+ 48.Ka2 dxc4 49.b4 cxb3+ 50.Kb2 e3 51.Qxe3 Ra1 52.Qe5 Ra2+ 53.Kb1 Rxd2 54.Rxd2 b2 0-1

Magnus Carlsen wins a thriller against Nepo and is now just half a point behind Giri

Round 8, March 14
Karjakin, Sergey – Firouzja, Alireza
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Ne7 6.c3 h6 7.O-O Nd7 8.Nbd2 a5 9.a4 Bh7 10.Nb3 Qb6 11.Ne1 Nf5 12.Nd3 Be7 13.Re1 g5 14.Bh5 Ng7 15.Be2 h5 16.Ndc5 g4 17.Nxd7 Kxd7 18.Nc5+ Bxc5 19.dxc5 Qxc5 20.Qb3 Rhb8 21.Be3 Qe7 22.Rad1 b6 23.f3 gxf3 24.Bxf3 Kc7 25.Bf2 Bg6 26.c4 Qb4 27.Qa2 Qxc4 28.Qxc4 dxc4 29.Rd6 c5 30.Rc6+ Kd7 31.Rd6+ Kc7 32.Red1 Bd3 33.b3 Rd8 34.Bxa8 Rxa8 35.bxc4 Bxc4 36.Rd7+ Kc8 37.Rd8+ Kb7 38.R1d7+ Kc6 39.Rd6+ Kb7 40.Rxa8 Kxa8 41.Rxb6 Nf5 42.Bxc5 Nh4 43.Bd4 Bd3 44.Rb3 Be4 45.Rh3 Nxg2 46.Rxh5 Kb7 47.Kf2 Kc6 48.Bc3 Kd5 49.Bd2 Kd4 50.h4 Kd3 51.Bg5 Kd4 52.Rh8 Kxe5 53.h5 Kf5 54.Rg8 f6 55.h6 Ke5 56.Bc1 Nh4 57.h7 1-0

Round 8, March 14
Radjabov, Teimour – MVL
A04 Reti, Dutch

1.Nf3 f5 2.c4 Nf6 3.b3 g6 4.Bb2 Bg7 5.g3 b6 6.Bg2 Bb7 7.O-O O-O 8.d4 a5 9.Nbd2 e6 10.Rc1 Na6 11.a3 Qe7 12.e3 d6 13.Qe2 c5 14.Rfd1 Rad8 15.Nb1 Ne4 16.Nc3 Nxc3 17.Bxc3 e5 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.Rxd8 Rxd8 20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 e4 22.Bxg7 exf3 23.Bxf3 Kxg7 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.Qd6 Qc7 26.Qd2 Nb8 27.b4 axb4 28.axb4 Nd7 29.b5 Nf6 0-1

Round 9, March 14
Dubov, Daniil – Giri, Anish
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.e4 dxe4 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Ng5 Be6 10.Nxe6+ fxe6 11.Bg5 Nc6 12.O-O-O+ Ke8 13.Bb5 Rc8 14.Kb1 Bb4 15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Nxe4 f5 17.Ng5 Ke7 18.a3 Ba5 19.Bc4 Nd8 20.Bb5 Nc6 21.b4 Bb6 22.Rhe1 Nd4 23.Rxd4 Bxd4 24.Rxe6+ Kf8 25.Rd6 h6 26.Nf3 Bxf2 27.Ne5 Rg8 28.Ng6+ Kf7 29.Bc4+ Rxc4 30.Ne5+ Ke7 31.Nxc4 b5 32.Rd2 Rxg2 33.Nd6 f4 34.Nxb5 Rxh2 35.Kc2 Bg1 36.Rxh2 Bxh2 37.Kd3 h5 38.Ke4 a6 39.Nd4 Bg3 40.Ne2 Kd6 41.Nxf4 Bxf4 42.Kxf4 Kd5 43.a4 Kc4 44.b5 axb5 45.axb5 Kxb5 46.Kg5 h4 47.Kxh4 1/2-1/2

Round 9, March 14
Nakamura, Hikaru – Aronian, Levon
D78 Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.O-O Bg7 5.d4 O-O 6.c4 c6 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.Nc3 Rd8 9.h3 Bf5 10.Bf4 dxc4 11.Qxc4 Nd5 12.Ng5 Qxd4 13.Qb3 Qb6 14.Nxd5 Qxb3 15.Nxe7+ Kf8 16.axb3 Kxe7 17.e4 Be6 18.Nxe6 Kxe6 19.Rfd1 Nd7 20.h4 Nc5 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Bh3+ Ke7 23.Rxa7 Bxb2 24.b4 Nxe4 25.Rxb7+ Kf8 26.Bf1 Rd1 27.Kg2 Nf6 28.b5 Rxf1 29.bxc6 Re1 30.c7 1-0

Round 9, March 14
Van Foreest, Jorden – So, Wesley
C45 Scotch, Schmidt variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Bb5 Bc5 6.Nb3 Bb6 7.Nc3 d6 8.O-O Bg4 9.Qd3 O-O 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.a4 a5 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bh4 g5 14.Bg3 Nh5 15.Nd4 Bd7 16.Rad1 Qf6 17.e5 dxe5 18.Ne4 Qg7 19.Nf3 Be6 20.Bxe5 f6 21.Ng3 fxe5 22.Nxh5 Qf7 23.Ng3 Bc4 24.Qe4 Bxf1 25.Rxf1 Rae8 26.h4 gxh4 27.Nxh4 Bxf2+ 28.Kh1 Re6 29.Qg4+ Kh7 30.Nh5 Rg8 31.Qe2 Rf8 32.Qg4 Qg8 33.Qe4+ Kh8 34.g3 Qg5 35.Qe2 Rd6 36.Kg2 Rdf6 37.Kh3 Bxg3 38.Nxg3 Rxf1 39.Nxf1 Rf4 40.Nf3 Qg4+ 41.Kh2 Qxf3 42.Qxe5+ Kh7 43.Ng3 Rh4+ 44.Kg1 Rg4 45.Kh2 Rg7 46.b4 axb4 47.a5 c5 48.a6 c4 49.a7 b3 50.cxb3 cxb3 51.Qe1 b2 52.Qb1+ Rg6 53.Qe1 b1=Q 54.a8=Q Qc2+ 55.Kh3 Qcg2+ 0-1

Round 9, March 1
MVL-Pichot, Alan
A45 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Qb6 5.Qb3 c4 6.Qc2 g6 7.Nd2 Bg7 8.e4 e6 9.e5 Nfd7 10.b3 cxb3 11.axb3 O-O 12.Ngf3 f6 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Bd3 Nc6 15.O-O Nh5 16.Be3 Nf4 17.b4 Bd7 18.Nb3 Nxd3 19.Qxd3 Ne7 20.Rfe1 Rxf3 21.gxf3 Rf8 22.Bg5 Nf5 23.Nc5 Bc8 24.Re2 h6 25.Bd2 a6 26.Rae1 Rf6 27.Kh1 Qd6 28.f4 Kh7 29.Qh3 b6 30.Nd3 a5 31.bxa5 bxa5 32.Nc5 Qb6 33.Qd3 Bf8 34.Rb1 Qc7 35.Qb5 Bd6 36.Nd3 Rf7 37.Ne5 Rg7 38.Be1 g5 39.fxg5 Rxg5 40.f4 Rg8 41.Rbb2 Bxe5 42.fxe5 Rg5 43.Rg2 Qf7 44.Rxg5 hxg5 45.Rg2 Qg6 46.Qe2 a4 47.h4 a3 48.Rxg5 Qh6 49.Rh5 1-0

Round 9, March 14
Firouzja, Alireza – Radjabov, Teimour
E99 King’s Indian, Orthodox, Aronin-Taimanov, main line

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 O-O 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.Nd3 f5 11.f3 f4 12.b4 g5 13.c5 Rf6 14.a4 Rg6 15.Kh1 a6 16.Rg1 Nf6 17.Nf2 Nh5 18.g3 Rh6 19.Kg2 Nf6 20.a5 Qe8 21.Rh1 Qg6 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.Na4 fxg3 24.hxg3 Rxh1 25.Qxh1 g4 26.Nb6 Rb8 27.Ra3 h5 28.Qh4 gxf3+ 29.Bxf3 Bh6 30.Bxh5 Nxh5 31.Bxh6 Qf7 32.Rf3 1-0

Round 9, March 14
Carsen, Magnus – Karjakin, Sergey
D61 QGD, Orthodox Defence, Rubinstein variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Qc2 h6 8.Bh4 c5 9.cxd5 Nxd5 10.Bxe7 Qxe7 11.Nxd5 exd5 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Be2 Bg4 14.O-O Rac8 15.Rad1 Rfd8 16.h3 Ne6 17.Qa4 Bxf3 18.Bxf3 Qc5 19.b4 Qc4 20.Qxa7 d4 21.exd4 Nxd4 22.Bxb7 Rc7 23.Qa5 Rcd7 24.Ba6 Qe6 25.Kh1 Rd6 26.b5 g6 27.a4 Qf5 28.Qb4 Qe5 29.Qc3 Qf4 30.Bb7 Nxb5 31.Rxd6 Nxc3 32.Rxd8+ Kg7 33.a5 Qc7 34.a6 Nb5 35.Rfd1 h5 36.Kg1 h4 37.R8d7 Qc2 38.Ra1 Qc3 39.Rdd1 g5 40.a7 1-0

Round 9, March 14
Anton, David – Nepo, Ian
E61 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.e3 d6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Be2 Re8 7.O-O Nc6 8.d5 Nb4 9.a3 Na6 10.Nd4 Bd7 11.e4 c5 12.Nc2 e6 13.dxe6 Bxe6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bf4 Qb6 16.Rb1 Rad8 17.Qd2 Kh7 18.Rfd1 Nb8 19.b4 cxb4 20.axb4 Qc6 21.b5 Qc8 22.Ne3 Nbd7 23.Bxd6 Nc5 24.Qc2 Nfd7 25.f3 Ne5 26.f4 Ned3 27.e5 Nxf4 28.Bf3 Nfd3 29.Ne4 Nxe4 30.Bxe4 Nxe5 31.c5 f5 32.Bd5 Bxd5 33.Rxd5 Nf7 34.Nc4 Re4 35.Qd3 Rxc4 36.Qxc4 Nxd6 37.Qd3 Ne4 38.Rc1 Rxd5 39.Qxd5 Nc3 40.Qc4 Qe8 41.Kf1 Nxb5 42.Qd5 Qc6 0-1

Round 9, March 14
Grandelius, Nils – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
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 Rb8 10.Bd3 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.c4 f5 13.exf6 Nxf6 14.Qc2 h6 15.c5 Nd5 16.Qf2 Nb4 17.Bb1 Ba6 18.Rd1 Nd5 19.g3 Qa5 20.a3 Qa4 21.Bc2 Qc4 22.b3 Qe2 23.Qxe2 Bxe2 24.Re1 Bg4 25.Bd2 Bf5 26.b4 a5 27.Rab1 axb4 28.axb4 Rb7 29.Bd3 Rfb8 30.Ba6 Bxe4 31.Rxe4 Bxc5+ 32.Kg2 Rb6 33.Bc4 Bxb4 34.Bxd5 Bxd2 35.Rxb6 Rxb6 36.Ba2 Rb2 0-1

Standings after Round Nine

1-2 Giri, Carlsen 7
3-4 So, Nakamura 6
5 MVL 5.5
6 Firouzja 5
7 Dubov 4.5
8-12 Aronian, Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Nepo, Karjakin 4
13 Grandelius 3.5
14 Van Foreest 3
15 Anton 2.5
16 Pichot 2

(to be continued)