New in Chess Classic

[Wayne Komer]

New in Chess Classic

April 28, 2021

Quarterfinals

Day Two (continued)

Round 5, April 28
Le, Quang Liem – Nakamura, Hikaru
D55 QGD, Neo-orthodox

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 O-O 8.Rc1 c6 9.h4 g6 10.h5 g5 11.Bd3 Nd7 12.Bb1 Bg7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Qd3 Re8 15.Nb5 Re7 16.Nxg5 hxg5 17.h6 Bf6 18.Qh7+ Kf8 19.Rh5 Qa5+ 20.Rc3 Qxb5 21.Rxg5 Re8 22.Bg6 Ke7 23.Qxf7+ Kd6 24.e4 Bxd4 25.e5+ Bxe5 26.Rxe5 Qxb2 27.Ree3 Re7 28.h7 Qa1+ 29.Ke2 Qb2+ 30.Kf1 Qa1+ 31.Re1 Qxc3 32.Qf4+ e5 33.Qh6 Rxh7 34.Bxh7+ Ke7 35.Qg7+ Kd8 36.Qg5+ Ke8 37.Rc1 Qb4 38.Bg6+ Kf8 39.Qd8+ Kg7 40.Bf5 Qf8 41.Qg5+ Kf7 42.Rc3 e4 43.Qg6+ Ke7 44.Qe6+ Kd8 45.Qxd5 Qg7 46.Qc4 Nb6 47.Qc5 Bxf5 48.Qd6+ Nd7 49.Rg3 Qa1+ 50.Ke2 Qxa2+ 51.Ke3 Rc8 0-1

Hikaru Nakamura finally wins an absolutely stunning game featuring a brilliant attack by Liem Quang Le and amazing complications

Jonathan Tisdall - That Le-Naka game, just ... Wow. A week's entertainment there.

Round 6, April 28
Nakamura, Hikaru – Le, Quang Liem
E34 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5 6.e3 c5 7.Bd2 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 cxd4 9.Bxd4 Nc6 10.Bc3 O-O 11.Nf3 Rd8 12.Be2 Qe4 13.Rc1 Qxc2 14.Rxc2 Ne4 15.Ne5 Bd7 16.Nxc6 Bxc6 17.Bb4 f5 18.f3 Nf6 19.Kf2 Kf7 20.Rhc1 g5 21.Bc5 g4 22.Bd4 gxf3 23.Bxf3 Ne4+ 24.Bxe4 fxe4 25.Kg1 Rd5 26.Rf2+ Rf5 27.Rcf1 Kg6 28.Rf4 h5 29.g4 Rxf4 30.Rxf4 Bd5 31.a3 a6 32.h3 hxg4 33.hxg4 Re8 34.Be5 Re7 35.Rf8 Rf7 36.Rg8+ Kh7 37.Rh8+ Kg6 38.Bf4 Rh7 39.Rf8 Rh4 40.Rg8+ Kf7 41.Rg5 Rh8 42.Rh5 Rxh5 43.gxh5 a5 44.h6 Kg6 45.b4 axb4 46.axb4 b5 47.Kf2 e5 48.Bxe5 Kxh6 49.Bd6 Kg5 50.Bc5 Kf5 51.Ke2 Bc4+ 52.Kd2 Bd3 53.Bd4 Bc4 54.Ke1 Bd3 55.Kf2 Bc4 56.Bc5 Bd3 57.Bd4 Bc4 58.Bc5 Bd3 59.Bd4 1/2-1/2

Round 7, April 28
Le, Quang Liem – Nakamura, Hikaru
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.Bg5 dxc4 8.Qxc4 h6 9.Bh4 b6 10.Rd1 Ba6 11.Qa4 Qd7 12.Qc2 Qc6 13.Qxc6 Nxc6 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Nf3 Rfd8 16.e3 Bb7 17.Bd3 Ne7 18.Ke2 c5 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Rd2 Rab8 21.Rc1 Rdc8 22.Rdc2 Bc6 23.Nd2 Kf8 24.b3 Bd5 25.Rc3 f5 26.f3 Ng6 27.b4 a5 28.bxa5 Ne5 29.Rxc5 Rd8 30.Bb5 Nd7 31.Bxd7 Rxd7 32.Nc4 Bxc4+ 33.R1xc4 Rb2+ 34.Rc2 Rb3 35.Ra2 Ra7 36.a4 Rb1 37.Rb5 Rh1 38.h3 Rg1 39.Kf2 Rc1 40.g4 fxg4 41.hxg4 Rh1 42.Kg3 Kg7 43.Rc2 Ra1 44.Rc4 Ra3 45.Kf4 Kf6 46.Ke4 Ra1 47.f4 Rd1 48.Rh5 Kg7 49.Rd4 Rg1 50.Kf3 Rf1+ 51.Kg2 Ra1 52.Rc4 Re1 53.Kf2 Ra1 54.f5 Ra6 55.Re4 exf5 56.Rxf5 Rc6 57.Ref4 Rc7 58.a6 Ra7 59.Rf6 Ra3 60.Rb6 Ra8 61.Re4 Ra7 62.Kf3 Ra8 63.Kf4 Ra1 64.Rd4 Ra3 65.e4 Ra1 66.Ke5 Rc1 67.Kd5 Rd8+ 68.Rd6 Rdc8 69.e5 R8c5+ 70.Ke4 Re1+ 71.Kf4 Rcxe5 72.R6d5 R1e4+ 73.Rxe4 Rxd5 74.Rb4 Ra5 75.Ke4 Rxa6 76.Kd5 Kg6 77.Kc5 f5 78.Kb5 Ra8 79.a5 fxg4 80.Rxg4+ Kf5 81.Rg7 h5 82.a6 h4 83.a7 h3 84.Kb6 Kf4 85.Kb7 Rxa7+ 86.Kxa7 h2 87.Rh7 Kg3 88.Kb6 Kg2 89.Kc5 h1=R 90.Rxh1 Kxh1 1/2-1/2

Match Result Day Two

Le-Nakamura 1-2

Nakamura is through to the semifinal in #NewInChess Classic: "Overall I am pretty happy, I think it's the first time I've won a quarterfinal in like four months or something, so it's been a while."

Nakamura on facing Mamedyarov in the semifinal of #NewInChess Classic: "It's going to be very exciting. Shakhriyar is very, very sharp tactically. He was a very deserved winner in his match."

Mamedyarov knocks out teenage superstar Firouzja, and is through to the semifinal of #NewInChess Classic: "It was not an easy match for him. We played a good match with interesting games. From the opening, he got bad positions."

Levon Aronian: "I really want to get to the final because I want to go to San Francisco - I've watched many movies!"
Levon says he plans to move to the US in any case this August.

Semifinal Pairings

Carlsen-Aronian
Mamedyarov-Nakamura

[Hans Jung]

Enjoying the sparring between Magnus and Levon - there is a large psychological element as well.

With Shak - Nakamura Im enjoying the way Shak goes for the initiative - and in the Caro Kann no less! After b5 in the opening in the first game Shak bounces back in the second with 17.f4?!! and 27. Ne6 (actually easy to find but still picturesque)
and then - he repeats his line in the Caro in rd 3!! (chuckle, chuckle, - just loving it)

[Hans Jung]

Rd 3

Levon finally got tricked in the endgame simplification - that made my day!

Shak blunders ouch! (no pain - no gain) but blunders are so hard to take. (I still admire your play Shak)

Rd 4 just rev up the complications! Shak plays 20. fxg5!?! and Rf6!? - love it
Hikaru's long tank produced 25...Qe3 hard to argue

Will Levon continue his massage? - classic two bishops
Levon - Magnus - what a game - Levon trying to checkmate Magnus!

[Wayne Komer]

New in Chess Classic

April 29, 2021

Semifinals

Day One

Peter Leko is back with Tania Sachdev after seconding for Nepo in the Candidates.

Round 9, April 29
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.O-O Qf6 6.c3 Nge7 7.b4 Bb6 8.a4 a6 9.Be3 Bxe3 10.fxe3 Qh6 11.Qe2 O-O 12.d4 g5 13.Nbd2 g4 14.Ne1 Kg7 15.Nd3 f5 16.exf5 Bxf5 17.d5 Bxd3 18.Qxd3 e4 19.Qxe4 Ne5 20.Be2 Nxd5 21.Qxd5 Qxe3+ 22.Kh1 Qxe2 23.Rfe1 Qf2 24.Ne4 Qf7 25.Qd4 Rae8 26.Ng3 Qg6 27.b5 h5 28.b6 cxb6 29.Ne4 Re6 30.Nxd6 Rxd6 31.Qxe5+ Kh7 32.Rad1 Rxd1 33.Rxd1 Rf7 34.Kg1 h4 35.Rf1 Rxf1+ 36.Kxf1 Qb1+ 37.Ke2 Qc2+ 38.Ke3 Qxg2 39.Qe7+ Kg6 40.Qe6+ Kg7 41.Qe7+ Kg6 42.Qe6+ Kg7 43.Qe7+ Kg6 1/2-1/2

Round 10, April 29
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
D02 Queen’s Pawn, London System

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 Be7 6.h3 c5 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 O-O 9.O-O d6 10.Re1 Nbd7 11.Bh2 Re8 12.a4 a6 13.Na3 Bf8 14.Nd2 e5 15.Bf1 exd4 16.Rxe8 Qxe8 17.cxd4 d5 18.Nc2 Rc8 19.Ne3 Qe6 20.Qb3 Bd6 21.Bxd6 Qxd6 22.g3 Nf8 23.h4 g6 24.Bh3 Rc7 25.Qa3 Qxa3 26.Rxa3 Bc8 27.Bxc8 Rxc8 28.a5 Rc6 29.g4 bxa5 30.g5 Nh5 31.Nxd5 Rc1+ 32.Kg2 Ne6 33.Rxa5 Rd1 34.Ne4 Rxd4 35.Ndf6+ Nxf6 36.Nxf6+ Kg7 37.Kg3 h6 38.Ne8+ Kh7 39.Nf6+ Kg7 40.Ne8+ Kh7 41.Nf6+ Kg7 1/2-1/2

Round 11, April 29
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
D?35 QGD, Harrwitz Attack

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Bf4 d5 4.Nc3 c5 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Nbd7 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.e3 a6 9.a4 Nd5 10.Bxc4 Nxf4 11.exf4 Qc7 12.Qd4 Be7 13.O-O Bf6 14.Qe4 O-O 15.Rac1 Qb6 16.b3 Qb4 17.Qe3 Rb8 18.Ne4 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.Bd3 Bb7 21.Rc7 Bxe4 22.Bxe4 Rfd8 23.g3 Rbc8 24.Bxh7+ Kxh7 25.Rxc8 Rxc8 26.Qd3+ Kg8 27.Qxd7 Rd8 28.Qc7 Qxb3 29.Ne5 Rf8 30.Nd7 Ra8 31.Qb7 Rd8 32.Nxf6+ gxf6 33.Qe7 Rd1 34.Qxf6 Rxf1+ 35.Kxf1 Qd3+ 36.Ke1 Qe4+ 37.Kd2 Qd5+ 38.Kc3 Qc4+ 39.Kb2 Qb4+ 40.Kc2 Qc5+ 41.Qc3 Qxf2+ 42.Qd2 Qxd2+ 43.Kxd2 f6 44.Kc3 e5 45.fxe5 fxe5 46.Kb4 1-0

Position after Black’s 43….f6 (the losing move)



Peter Leko says it's time for "damage control" for Magnus after he managed to get a worse position with White in 7 moves in Game 3 (Rd 11)

Levon Aronian trades queens, falling into what Peter Leko calls a "devilish trap", and instead of a dead draw Magnus Carlsen takes the lead with one game to go today!

Round 12, April 29
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
D02 Queen’s Pawn, London System

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 Be7 6.h3 c5 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 O-O 9.O-O d6 10.Re1 Nbd7 11.a4 a6 12.Bg3 Re8 13.Na3 Bf8 14.Nc4 Qc7 15.Nfd2 b5 16.Na3 bxa4 17.Qxa4 Bc6 18.Qc2 Qb7 19.Nac4 Qc7 20.Na5 Ra7 21.Nxc6 Qxc6 22.b4 Rc8 23.c4 e5 24.dxe5 Nxe5 25.Bf1 Rb7 26.Qb3 Rcb8 27.b5 axb5 28.cxb5 Qb6 29.Nc4 Nxc4 30.Bxc4 Rc8 31.Ra6 Qc5 32.Bd3 d5 33.Bf4 Ne4 34.Be3 d4 35.Bf4 Nc3 36.Re5 Qb4 37.Qxb4 Bxb4 38.g4 g6 39.Kg2 Rcb8 40.Re1 Rd8 41.Bg5 Rdb8 42.Bf4 Rd8 43.Re5 Rdb8 44.Rc6 Nxb5 45.Rd5 Na7 46.Rc1 Re8 47.Rb1 Rb6 48.Bc7 Rc6 49.Rd7 Re7 50.Rd8+ Kg7 51.Bf4 Ba5 52.Ra8 Rc8 53.Rbb8 Rxb8 54.Bxb8 Bb6 55.Bd6 Rd7 56.Bf8+ Kf6 57.Rb8 Ba5 58.Re8 Bc7 59.h4 g5 60.Bf5 Rd5 61.Be7+ Ke5 62.Bc5+ Kf6 63.hxg5+ Kxg5 64.Bxa7 d3 65.Be3+ Kf6 66.Bd2 h5 67.Be4 Rb5 68.g5+ 1-0

Position after White’s 57.Rb8



Aronian ahead in the endgame but with very little time left. Carlsen fights for equality but then plays 57…Ba5 and Aronian outplays him to win the game. What an endgame!

Levon Aronian: "I blundered in the 3rd game and Magnus blundered back in the 4th!"
_________

Round 9, April 29
Nakamura, Hikaru – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
B11 Caro-Kann, Two Knights

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Bb4 8.O-O Nbd7 9.exd5 cxd5 10.Nd1 O-O 11.d4 Bd6 12.Qd3 Qc7 13.Ne3 Rfc8 14.b3 b5 15.Qxb5 Qc3 16.Rb1 Qxd4 17.c4 Rab8 18.Qa6 Qb6 19.Qxb6 Nxb6 20.cxd5 Nfxd5 21.Nxd5 exd5 22.Be3 Bc5 23.Bf4 Ra8 24.Rfd1 Rd8 25.Rbc1 Bd6 26.Be3 Rab8 27.Rc6 Be5 28.Rc5 Rd7 29.Rb5 Rbd8 30.a4 d4 31.Rxe5 dxe3 32.Rxd7 exf2+ 33.Kxf2 Nxd7 34.Ra5 g6 35.b4 Nb6 36.Rxa7 Rd2+ 37.Kg1 Rd1+ 38.Kh2 Rd2 39.Kg1 Rd1+ 40.Bf1 Nd5 41.Rd7 Kf8 42.Kf2 Rd2+ 43.Ke1 Rd4 44.Kf2 Rxb4 45.Rxd5 Rxa4 46.Rd7 Kg7 47.Rc7 Ra5 48.Bc4 Rf5+ 49.Ke3 Re5+ 50.Kd4 Rf5 51.g4 Rf6 52.Bd5 h6 53.Ke5 Rf1 54.Rd7 Re1+ 55.Kd6 Rf1 56.Ke7 Rd1 57.Ke8 Kf6 58.Rxf7+ Kg5 59.Bg2 Kh4 60.Rg7 Rd6 61.Kf7 Kg5 62.Be4 Rd7+ 63.Kg8 Rxg7+ 64.Kxg7 h5 65.Bf3 Kh4 66.Kxg6 hxg4 67.Bxg4 1-0

Position after Black’s 56…Rd1



Amazingly the current position in Nakamura-Mamedyarov is almost exactly the one Mamedyarov won against Nakamura in the 2014 Tromso Olympiad!

Peter Leko remembered Shakh was involved there, but not that he was playing Hikaru!

This time White won again, which means Hikaru!

Round 10, April 29
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nakamura, Hikaru
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Bg5 c5 6.Rc1 cxd4 7.Nxd4 h6 8.Bh4 d5 9.cxd5 g5 10.Bg3 Qxd5 11.e3 Qxa2 12.Bd3 Qxb2 13.O-O Bxc3 14.Rc2 Qb4 15.Nb5 e5 16.Rxc3 Nc6 17.f4 Bg4 18.Qc2 Qe7 19.fxe5 Nh5 20.Be1 a6 21.Nd4 Nxe5 22.Rc7 Qd6 23.Bh7+ Kh8 24.Bf5 Ng7 25.Bg3 Bh5 26.Qc3 Rae8 27.Ne6 Rxe6 28.Bxe6 f6 29.Bxe5 fxe5 30.Rxf8+ Qxf8 31.Qxe5 Kh7 32.Bf5+ Bg6 33.g4 a5 1-0

On move 17 it's still Topalov-Ding Liren 2018, but Hikaru Nakamura is desperately trying to remember what to do, with an 11-minute deficit on the clock!

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov is the first player to beat Hikaru Nakamura in the #NewInChess Classic as he strikes back in brilliant style!

Round 11, April 29
Nakamura, Hikaru – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
B11 Caro-Kann, Two Knights

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Bb4 8.O-O O-O 9.exd5 cxd5 10.Nd1 Re8 11.d4 Nc6 12.c3 Bf8 13.Qd3 Rc8 14.Ne3 h5 15.Bd2 g6 16.Rad1 Qa5 17.Qb1 Qc7 18.Rfe1 b5 19.Qd3 a6 20.b4 Qb6 21.Nc2 Nd8 22.a4 Nb7 23.axb5 axb5 24.Na1 Nd6 25.Nb3 Nfe4 26.Nc5 Nxd2 27.Qxd2 Ra8 28.Ra1 Nf5 29.Nd7 Qc6 30.Nf6+ Kg7 31.Nxe8+ Rxe8 32.Ra7 Rc8 33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4 Ne7 35.Re3 Qb6 36.Qa2 Nc6 37.Qa6 Qd8 38.Rb7 Kg8 39.Qxb5 Qh4 40.Qd3 Bd6 41.Rxe6 Bh2+ 42.Kf1 Qxg4 43.Re1 Bc7 1-0

Round 12, April 29
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nakamura, Hikaru
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Bg5 c5 6.Rc1 h6 7.Bh4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 d5 9.cxd5 g5 10.Bg3 Qxd5 11.e3 Qxa2 12.Bd3 Qxb2 13.O-O Bxc3 14.Rc2 Qb4 15.Nb5 e5 16.Rxc3 Nc6 17.f4 Bg4 18.Qc2 exf4 19.exf4 Nd5 20.fxg5 Nxc3 21.Nxc3 Rad8 22.Kh1 Qd4 23.Bh7+ Kh8 24.h3 Bh5 25.Rf6 Qe3 26.Bf2 Qxg5 27.Ne4 Qg7 28.Bf5 Nd4 29.Bxd4 Rxd4 30.Qf2 Rdd8 31.Qh4 Bg6 32.Nf2 Rd5 33.Ng4 Rxf5 0-1

Results of Day One Matches

Carlsen-Aronian 2-2
Nakamura-Mamedyarov 3-1

[Hans Jung]

I really enjoyed todays games.

[Wayne Komer]

New in Chess Classic

April 30, 2021

Semifinals

Day Two

Round 13, April 30
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Qb3 dxc4 6.Qxb7 Be4 7.Qxc7 Bb4+ 8.Nbd2 Qxc7 9.Bxc7 Ke7 10.e3 Rc8 11.Bg3 Bd5 12.Rc1 Nbd7 13.Ke2 c3 14.bxc3 Bxc3 15.Kd1 a5 16.Bd3 Bxa2 17.Rc2 Bd5 18.e4 Bb7 19.Ke2 Bb4 20.Rhc1 Rxc2 21.Rxc2 Rc8 22.Rxc8 Bxc8 23.Bb5 Bb7 24.Kd3 Kd8 25.Ng5 Bxd2 26.Nxf7+ Ke7 27.Nd6 Bxe4+ 28.Nxe4 Nxe4 29.Kxe4 Bb4 30.Bh4+ Nf6+ 31.Kd3 Bd6 32.h3 h6 33.Bxf6+ Kxf6 34.Ke4 g5 35.g4 Bc7 36.f3 Bb6 37.Ba4 Ke7 38.Bb3 Kd6 39.Ba4 Bd8 1/2-1/2

"It's a mouse-slip or the move of a genius!" (on Ke2-d1)

Round 14, April 30
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
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 a5 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh7 11.d4 Ba7 12.h3 h5 13.Nbd2 h4 14.Bh2 exd4 15.Nxd4 Nxd4 16.cxd4 Bxd4 17.Nf3 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Bg7 19.e5 d5 20.Bxd5 c6 21.Bxf7+ Kxf7 22.e6+ Bxe6 23.Qc2 Kg8 24.Rxe6 Qd5 25.Rd6 Qf5 26.Qxf5 Rxf5 27.Rxb7 Rb5 28.Rxg7+ Kxg7 29.Be5+ Kf8 30.Rd7 Re8 31.Bd4 Re7 32.Rd6 Rc7 33.Be5 Re7 34.Bd4 Rc7 35.Be5 Re7 36.Bd4 1/2-1/2

"Now I think Magnus is very happy and very proud!" (Leko) 23.Qc2! was the sting in the tail

25.Re5!! would have been an amazing winning move for Magnus:

Round 15, April 30
Aronian, Levon – Carlsen, Magnus
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Nbd2 b6 6.Bg3 O-O 7.Bd3 Ba6 8.Rc1 Bxd3 9.cxd3 c5 10.Qa4 Be7 11.O-O Qd7 12.Qxd7 Nbxd7 13.Rc2 a5 14.a4 Nb8 15.Ra1 Nc6 16.Kf1 Rfc8 17.Ke2 Nd7 18.Nb3 h5 19.h4 f6 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.d4 Nb4 22.Rc3 Kf7 23.dxc5 e5 24.Nfd2 Ke6 25.f4 Nc6 26.fxe5 fxe5 27.Nf3 Rcb8 28.Rb1 Rb4 29.Nbd2 Rxa4 30.e4 d4 31.Rc4 Ra2 32.b3 Rb8 33.Kd1 Rb5 34.Rbc1 Rxc5 35.R1c2 Ra1+ 36.Rc1 Ra2 37.R1c2 Ra3 38.Ng5+ Kf6 39.Ngf3 Rxc4 40.Rxc4 Nc5 41.Kc2 Ra1 42.Kb2 Rh1 43.b4 Nd3+ 44.Kb3 Ndxb4 45.Ka4 Ke6 46.Kb5 a4 47.Rxc6+ Nxc6 48.Kxc6 Rc1+ 49.Kb5 a3 50.Bxe5 Rc5+ 51.Ka4 Rxe5 52.Nxe5 a2 0-1

Round 16, April 30
Carlsen, Magnus – Aronian, Levon
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nc6 4.O-O Bd7 5.Re1 e5 6.c3 g5 7.d4 g4 8.Nfd2 exd4 9.Na3 Qf6 10.cxd4 cxd4 11.e5 dxe5 12.Nac4 O-O-O 13.Bxc6 Bxc6 14.Nxe5 Bd5 15.Qxg4+ Qe6 16.Qxe6+ Bxe6 17.Ndf3 Bb4 18.Rd1 Rd5 19.Bf4 Bc5 20.Rac1 Kd8 21.Nxf7+ Bxf7 22.Be5 Ne7 23.Bxh8 Nc6 24.Rxc5 Rxc5 25.Nxd4 Kc7 26.Nxc6 Kxc6 27.a3 Rd5 28.Rxd5 Kxd5 29.f3 Kc4 30.Kf2 Kd3 31.Bc3 b5 32.g4 a6 33.Kg3 Ke3 34.f4 Ke4 35.f5 h5 36.h3 hxg4 37.hxg4 1-0

Result of Day 2 Match

Carlsen-Aronian 3-1
_______

Round 13, April 30
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nakamura, Hikaru
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 O-O 5.Bg5 c5 6.Rc1 h6 7.Bh4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 d5 9.cxd5 g5 10.Bg3 Qxd5 11.e3 Qxa2 12.Bd3 Qxb2 13.O-O Bxc3 14.Rc2 Qb4 15.Nb5 e5 16.Nxc3 Nc6 17.Qc1 Rd8 18.Rb2 Qc5 19.Bb1 Be6 20.Rb5 Qc4 21.Ba2 Qd3 22.Bxe6 fxe6 23.Rxb7 Rac8 24.Qa1 Rd7 25.Rbb1 Qg6 26.Rfc1 Qe8 27.h3 Rdd8 28.Qa4 Qg6 29.Nb5 Ne4 30.Nxa7 Nxa7 31.Qxa7 Nc3 32.Rb7 Ne2+ 33.Kh2 Nxg3 34.Rxc8 Nf1+ 35.Kg1 Rxc8 36.Rb8 Qe8 37.Rxc8 Qxc8 38.Kxf1 Qc1+ 39.Ke2 Qc6 40.Qb8+ Kf7 41.Qh8 e4 42.Qh7+ Ke8 43.Qg8+ Ke7 44.Qg7+ Ke8 45.Qb2 Qa6+ 46.Ke1 Kf7 47.g4 Qd3 48.Qd2 Qb5 49.Qc2 Qe5 50.Kf1 Qd5 51.Kg2 Qa8 52.Qc7+ Kg6 53.Qd7 Qd5 54.Qe8+ Kg7 55.Qe7+ Kg6 56.Qf8 Qb7 57.Qg8+ Kf6 58.Qe8 Qf7 59.Qa8 Qg6 60.Qf8+ Ke5 61.Qd8 1-0

Wow! Just when Nakamura seemed to be home and dry he ends up about to get mated in a queen & pawn endgame

Round 14, April 30
Nakamura, Hikaru – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C80 Ruy Lopez, open

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Be6 10.Be3 Be7 11.c3 O-O 12.f3 Nc5 13.Bc2 Nd7 14.f4 f5 15.Nd2 c5 16.Nf3 Nb6 17.Qe2 Qc7 18.Bf2 Rac8 19.Rac1 Rfd8 20.Rfd1 g6 21.Qe1 h6 22.Bh4 Kf7 23.Bxe7 Qxe7 24.h4 d4 25.h5 Nd5 26.hxg6+ Kg7 27.cxd4 Nxf4 28.Qe3 Nd5 29.Qf2 c4 30.Nh4 Rf8 31.Rd2 c3 32.bxc3 Rxc3 33.Re1 Qg5 34.Bd1 Nf4 35.Nf3 Nh3+ 36.Kh2 Rxf3 37.Qxf3 Qxd2 38.Qb7+ Kxg6 39.Rf1 Ng5 40.Qb6 f4 41.Bf3 Kg7 42.Qd6 0-1

Round 15, April 30
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nakamura, Hikaru
B06 Robatsch Defence

1.d4 g6 2.e4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 d6 5.Nf3 a6 6.a4 Bg4 7.Be2 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Nd7 9.O-O Ngf6 10.Re1 O-O 11.h3 Ne8 12.a5 Nc7 13.Be2 Rb8 14.Bd2 Qc8 15.Na4 Nb5 16.c3 Qd8 17.Bf1 Re8 18.Rb1 e6 19.c4 Nd4 20.b4 Qc7 21.Bc3 exd5 22.cxd5 Rbd8 23.Rc1 Rc8 24.Ba1 Qd8 25.bxc5 dxc5 26.Nxc5 Rxc5 27.Rxc5 Nxc5 28.Bxd4 Bxd4 29.Qxd4 Qxa5 30.Re3 Nd7 31.e5 Qc5 32.Qxc5 Nxc5 33.f4 a5 34.Bb5 Ra8 35.e6 1-0

Result of Day 2 Match

Mamedyarov-Nakamura 3-0

Blitz Playoff

5+3
Round 17, April 30
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nakamura, Hikaru
C67 Ruy Lopez, open Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Ba4 e4 7.Ne5 Be7 8.Nc3 O-O 9.Re1 Nf5 10.Rxe4 Nfxd4 11.Nxc6 Nxc6 12.Nd5 Bf6 13.Bd2 d6 14.Nxf6+ Qxf6 15.Bc3 Ne5 16.Qe2 Qg6 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.Rxe5 Be6 19.c3 Rad8 20.Bc2 Qf6 21.Re1 g6 22.h3 Rd6 23.Bb3 Bxb3 24.axb3 Rfd8 25.Re8+ Rxe8 26.Qxe8+ Kg7 27.Qe2 a5 28.Rd1 Qe6 29.Qc2 Qf5 30.Qe2 Qe6 31.Qc2 b5 32.Rxd6 Qxd6 33.c4 b4 34.Qe2 Qd4 35.g3 c5 36.h4 h5 37.Kg2 Qf6 38.Kg1 Qd6 39.Qe3 Kg8 40.Kg2 Kg7 41.Kg1 Kg8 42.Kg2 Kg7 43.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Round 18, April 30
Nakamura, Hikaru – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C80 Ruy Lopez, open

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.Nxe5 Nxe5 9.dxe5 c6 10.Nd2 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 Be7 12.Qf4 O-O 13.a4 Be6 14.c3 f6 15.Be3 Qc7 16.exf6 Qxf4 17.Bxf4 Bxf6 18.Be3 Kf7 19.Bc2 g6 20.axb5 axb5 21.f3 Rfe8 22.Kf2 Red8 23.Rfd1 b4 24.Bd4 bxc3 25.bxc3 Bxd4+ 26.cxd4 Ke7 27.Ke3 Kd6 28.h4 Rdb8 29.g4 c5 30.Rdb1 cxd4+ 31.Kxd4 Rxb1 32.Rxb1 Bd7 33.h5 gxh5 34.gxh5 Rf8 35.Bxh7 Rxf3 36.Rh1 Rh3 37.Rxh3 Bxh3 38.h6 Ke6 39.Be4 Kf6 40.Bxd5 Kg6 41.h7 Kxh7 1/2-1/2

Armageddon, April 30
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Nakamura, Hikaru
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 Nc6 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 e5 9.c3 Be6 10.Qe2 a5 11.Rd1 Qc8 12.Nc4 Bg4 13.Ne3 Bc5 14.Nd5 Ne8 15.Be3 Bd6 16.Qc4 Kh8 17.Rd2 f6 18.Nh4 Ne7 19.Nxe7 Bxe7 20.Qf1 Nd6 21.h3 Be6 22.b3 a4 23.Rb1 axb3 24.axb3 g5 25.Nf3 Nxe4 26.Rc2 Nd6 27.Rcc1 Nf5 28.Bd2 Rd8 29.Re1 Bc5 30.Kh2 Ra2 31.Re2 Ra6 32.Nxg5 fxg5 33.Bxg5 Be7 34.Bxe7 Nxe7 35.Rxe5 Ng6 36.Rb5 Rb6 37.Rh5 Bg8 38.c4 Qe6 39.Re1 Qf6 40.Re3 Rbd6 41.Be4 Re6 42.Qe2 Red6 43.Rf5 Qg7 44.Qf3 c6 45.h4 Ne5 46.Rxe5 Qxe5 47.Bxh7 Qf6 48.Bf5 Bf7 49.Re4 Rd4 50.Re3 Rf8 51.h5 Bxc4 52.g4 Be6 53.Qg3 Bxf5 54.gxf5 Qh4+ 0-1

Blitz Playoff Result

Nakamura-Mamedyarov 2-1

For the first time since the epic Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour final it's going to be a Carlsen-Nakamura final after Hikaru beat Mamedyarov in Armageddon!

Finals Pairing

Carlsen-Nakamura

Third Place

Aronian-Mamedyarov

Anish Giri - With all the Candidates missing, this was a soft super tournament, but still congrats to Magnus and Hikaru for making it to the finals!

It was a relatively smooth day at the office for Magnus Carlsen, while Hikaru Nakamura had to come back from losing the rapid mini-match 3:0 to win in Armageddon!

Hikaru Nakamura on how both he and Magnus haven't performed as well as last season: "We both have a chance to redeem ourselves!"

[Hans Jung]

I feel for Shak. He beats Nakamura 3-0!! (beats the **** out of him) and then has to play playoffs? Shouldnt there be a special dispensation for a perfect score?

[Wayne Komer]

New in Chess Classic

May 1, 2021

Final

Day One

The commentators are Peter Svidler, Peter Leko and Tania Sachdev. Svidler has a goatee flecked with grey.

Round 20, May 1
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
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.Bg5 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Rd1 Ba6 10.Qa4 h6 11.Bh4 Qe7 12.Nf3 Rd8 13.e3 Bxf1 14.Rxf1 c5 15.dxc5 Rxd1+ 16.Kxd1 g5 17.Bg3 Qxc5 18.Kd2 Nbd7 19.Rc1 Qd5+ 20.Ke2 Nc5 21.Qc4 Rd8 22.Qxd5 Nxd5 23.Nd4 a5 24.Rc4 Rd7 25.f3 a4 26.Nb5 f6 27.e4 Ne7 28.Bc7 Ng6 29.g3 Ne5 30.Bxe5 fxe5 31.Nc3 Nb3 32.Nxa4 b5 33.Rc8+ Kf7 34.Nc5 Rd2+ 35.Ke3 Rxb2 36.Rc7+ Ke8 37.Nxe6 Rxh2 38.Rb7 Nc1 39.f4 gxf4+ 40.gxf4 Rh3+ 41.Kd2 Nb3+ 42.Kc2 Na5 43.Rxb5 Nc4 44.Rb4 Ne3+ 45.Kd2 exf4 46.a4 Ng2 47.e5 f3 48.Ng7+ Kf8 49.Nf5 f2 50.e6 Rd3+ 51.Ke2 f1=Q+ 52.Kxf1 Rf3+ 53.Kxg2 Rxf5 54.Rb5 Rf4 55.Ra5 Ke7 56.Ra6 h5 57.a5 Ra4 58.Kh3 h4 59.Ra8 Kxe6 60.a6 Kd7 61.a7 Kc7 62.Rh8 Rxa7 63.Rh7+ Kb8 64.Rxa7 Kxa7 65.Kxh4 1/2-1/2

"How brave do you feel? Do you feel lucky, punk? as the quote goes" Peter Svidler thinks it's tough for Hikaru Nakamura to be sure he's safe in an ending after Magnus' 16.Kxd1 new move

Impressive play by both players as Game 1 of the Carlsen-Nakamura final ends in a draw!

Round 21, May 1
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.h3 a6 8.Bxc6 bxc6 9.Nbd2 Re8 10.Re1 Bb6 11.Nf1 Nd7 12.Ng3 Nf8 13.d4 Ng6 14.Be3 a5 15.Qc2 a4 16.Rad1 Be6 17.c4 f6 18.b4 axb3 19.axb3 Ba5 20.Rf1 Bb4 21.Ra1 Qd7 22.Rfd1 Rxa1 23.Rxa1 d5 24.cxd5 cxd5 25.dxe5 Nxe5 26.Nxe5 fxe5 27.exd5 Bxd5 28.Ra7 Rc8 29.Bb6 cxb6 30.Rxd7 Rxc2 31.Rxd5 Bc5 32.Ne4 Bd4 33.Kf1 Rb2 34.f4 Rb1+ 35.Ke2 Rb2+ 36.Kf1 Rb1+ 37.Ke2 Rb2+ 38.Kf1 Rb1+ 1/2-1/2

Peter trusts Peter but for now Peter has to leave, but at least Peter is still with us!

Round 22, May 1
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.a4 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.a5 Nf6 11.b4 Bd6 12.Nbd2 a6 13.Ne4 Nxe4 14.dxe4 Kh8 15.Qd3 Qe7 16.Re1 Nd8 17.g3 Ne6 18.Nh4 Rad8 19.Nf5 Qf6 20.g4 Bg6 21.Qf3 h6 22.Kg2 Nf4+ 23.Bxf4 exf4 24.Nxd6 cxd6 25.Bd5 Rd7 26.Rad1 Re8 27.Bxb7 Rxb7 28.e5 Qe7 29.exd6 Qd7 30.Rxe8+ Qxe8 31.Rd4 Rd7 32.Qxf4 Qb8 33.Kg3 f6 34.h4 Kg8 35.Kg2 Bf7 36.Kg3 Be6 37.g5 hxg5 38.hxg5 fxg5 39.Qe5 Bf7 40.f3 Kf8 41.Kf2 Kg8 42.Kg3 Kf8 43.Qxg5 Rxd6 44.Qc5 Ke7 45.Qe5+ Kd7 46.Kf2 Qf8 47.Qf5+ Kc6 48.Qc5+ Kd7 49.Qf5+ Kc6 50.Rxd6+ Qxd6 51.Qxf7 Qd2+ 52.Kg3 Qxc3 53.Qe8+ Kc7 54.Qe4 Kd6 55.Kg4 Qa1 56.Qd3+ Ke7 57.Qe3+ Kf7 58.Qc5 Kg8 59.Kf4 Qd1 60.Ke5 Kh7 61.Qd5 Qa4 62.Qe4+ Kh8 63.Kd6 Qb5 64.Kc7 Kg8 65.Qe6+ Kh7 66.Qd6 Qe2 67.f4 Qb5 68.Qc5 Qf1 69.Qh5+ Kg8 70.Qd5+ Kh7 71.Qe4+ Kh8 72.Kb6 Qb5+ 73.Ka7 Qf1 74.Qe8+ Kh7 75.Qh5+ Kg8 76.Qd5+ Kh7 77.f5 Qb1 78.Qd6 Qxf5 79.Kxa6 g5 80.b5 Qf1 81.Kb6 Qf2+ 82.Qc5 Qf6+ 83.Ka7 Qf7+ 84.Ka6 g4 85.b6 g3 86.b7 Qf1+ 87.Ka7 Qf2 88.Qb6 Qf7 89.Qb1+ Kh6 90.Qe4 Qg7 1-0

Final Position



Magnus Carlsen gambles and wins an epic 90-move game where he sacrificed a piece to take the lead against Hikaru Nakamura with one game to go today. Very enjoyable to watch with everyone except avid chessplayers enjoying a sunny warm day outside.

Round 23, May 1
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
D11 QGD Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.O-O Bd6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Rd1 Re8 11.Qe2 Qe7 12.Bd2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 e5 14.dxe5 Qxe5 15.g3 b5 16.Bb3 a5 17.Bc2 Qe6 18.Kg2 a4 19.a3 Ne5 20.Bb1 Qe7 21.Be1 Rad8 22.Ba2 Ned7 23.Qc2 Be5 24.Rac1 Nc5 25.Ne2 Rxd1 26.Rxd1 Qa7 27.Rc1 Ne6 28.f3 Nd5 29.Qxc6 Nxe3+ 30.Kh1 Qb8 31.Bf2 Bxb2 32.Bxe3 Bxc1 33.Bxc1 Rc8 34.Qe4 Qd6 35.Be3 Qd1+ 36.Ng1 Qc2 37.Qd5 Rd8 0-1

Hikaru Nakamura came very close to winning on demand, but Magnus Carlsen wins with a counterattack to clinch today's mini-match! Hikaru must now win on demand tomorrow to force a playoff

Result of Day One Match

Carlsen-Nakamura 3-1
_________

Round 20, May 1
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Aronian, Levon
D39 QGD, Ragozin, Vienna variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 9.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxc3+ 11.Kf1 gxf6 12.Rc1 Qa5 13.Qf3 Ke7 14.a4 Qxa4 15.e5 fxe5 16.Qh5 Nc6 17.Qg5+ Kf8 18.Nf5 Rg8 19.Qh6+ Ke8 20.Qf6 Qb4 21.h4 Rg6 22.Qh8+ Qf8 23.Qxh7 exf5 24.h5 Rh6 0-1

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov caught Levon Aronian in some opening prep, but it's Levon who went on to win the game!

Round 21, May 1
Aronian, Levon – 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.a3 Qb6 11.Qf3 Be7 12.c4 f5 13.Nd2 Ne3 14.Bd3 g5 15.g3 gxf4 16.gxf4 Rg8 17.Nf1 Ng2+ 18.Ke2 Qd4 19.Ng3 Rxb2+ 20.Bxb2 Qxb2+ 21.Kf1 Nh4 0-1

Final Position



Mamedyarov hits back with a crushing 21-move win with the black pieces!

Round 22, May 1
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Aronian, Levon
A07 Reti, KIA, Neo-Grunfeld

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.c4 dxc4 5.Qa4+ Nfd7 6.Qxc4 Bg7 7.O-O Nc6 8.d4 Nb6 9.Qc2 O-O 10.Rd1 Bf5 11.Qd2 Qc8 12.Nc3 Rd8 13.Qf4 h6 14.h4 a5 15.a3 Bc2 16.Rd2 Bb3 17.Rd3 Bc4 18.Rd1 Nxd4 19.Rxd4 Rxd4 20.Nxd4 e5 21.Nf5 Qxf5 22.Qxf5 gxf5 23.Bxb7 Rd8 24.Be3 e4 25.Rc1 Bxc3 26.Rxc3 Bxe2 27.Rxc7 Rd1+ 28.Kh2 Nc4 29.g4 Nxe3 30.fxe3 Bxg4 31.b4 axb4 32.axb4 f4 0-1

Round 23, May 1
Aronian, Levon – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
A49 King’s Indian, Fianchetto

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.O-O d6 6.a4 Nbd7 7.a5 c5 8.c4 b6 9.axb6 Qxb6 10.Nc3 Rb8 11.Ra3 a6 12.d5 Ng4 13.Qc2 Nde5 14.Nd2 f5 15.e3 Qd8 16.Ne2 g5 17.f4 Nf7 18.Nf3 h6 19.b3 e5 20.dxe6 Bxe6 21.h3 Nf6 22.Rxa6 Ne4 23.Nd2 Nf6 24.Bb2 Re8 25.e4 Bc8 26.Raa1 fxe4 27.fxg5 Nxg5 28.h4 Nh3+ 29.Kh1 Qe7 30.Rae1 Ng4 31.Nf4 Ngf2+ 32.Kh2 Ng4+ 33.Kh1 Nhf2+ 34.Kg1 Bb7 35.Re2 e3 36.Nd5 Qf7 37.Ne4 Bxd5 38.Nxd6 Bxg2 39.Kxg2 Qe6 40.Rfxf2 Nxf2 41.Rxe3 Qxd6 0-1

Result of Day One Match

Aronian-Mamedyarov 2-2

4 games, all 4 decisive, all wins for Black! Aronian-Mamedyarov is tied going into Day 2 after Shakh hit back to win the final game on demand

[Wayne Komer]

New in Chess Classic

May 2, 2021

Final

Day Two

The commentators are Peter Svidler, Peter Leko and Tania Sachdev as yesterday.

Svidler quotes a game from the Russian Team Championships that started yesterday. The play of Matlakov for Bronze Horseman (Медный всадник) vs Truskavetsky.

Round 1, May 1, 2021
Matlakov, Maxim – Truskavetsky, Alexandr
B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 e6 4.O-O Nge7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 Qb6 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 Ng6 9.c4 Be7 10.Nc3 O-O 11.Na4 Qc7 12.c5 e5 13.Be3 Nf4 14.Bc4 Rd8 15.Qf3 Ne6 16.Rfd1 Rb8 17.b3 Bf6 18.Qg3 Nf4 19.Rd6 Be7 20.Rad1 Bxd6 21.cxd6 Qb7 22.Qg5 Re8 23.Qe7 Rf8 24.Qxe5 Ne6 25.f4 Kh8 26.f5 f6 27.fxe6 fxe5 28.e7 Re8 29.Rf1 1-0

Day 2

Round 24, May 2
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
E35 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.dxc5 Be6 9.e3 O-O 10.Nf3 Nbd7 11.Nd4 Bxc5 12.Bd3 Bxd4 13.exd4 Qb6 14.Qd2 Ne4 15.Bxe4 dxe4 16.d5 Bf5 17.O-O Qg6 18.d6 Ne5 19.Bg3 Rfe8 20.Nb5 Rad8 21.Qc3 Nc6 22.Nc7 Rf8 23.Rad1 h5 24.Qc5 Rd7 25.b4 a6 26.a4 e3 27.fxe3 Be4 28.Rd2 Kh7 29.b5 axb5 30.axb5 Nd8 31.Nd5 Ne6 32.Qc4 h4 33.Ne7 Qg4 34.Be5 Ng5 35.Bf4 Nh3+ 36.Kh1 f5 37.Qe6 Nxf4 38.Rxf4 Ra8 39.Kg1 Ra1+ 40.Rf1 Rxf1+ 41.Kxf1 Rd8 42.h3 Qg5 43.d7 Qxe3 44.Qg6+ Kh8 45.Qh5+ Qh6 46.Qe8+ Kh7 47.Qxd8 Bxg2+ 48.Ke2 Bf1+ 49.Kd1 1-0

Position after White’s 35.Bf4



Hikaru is applying maximum pressure, with an 8-minute lead on the clock!

The Peterometer is going crazy as Peter Svidler joins to commentate on a very difficult position for Magnus!

"That's so difficult to find!" (Svidler) - but suddenly 35...Rxd6!! would have been completely winning for Magnus! In any case Black is suddenly right back in the game

Hikaru Nakamura gets off to a perfect start after dominating almost from start to finish - though there was one moment when Magnus could have completely turned it around!

Now it's Magnus who needs to hit back in the next 3 games to avoid a playoff today!

Round 25, May 2
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.h3 Bh5 10.b4 Be7 11.b5 Na5 12.Rxe5 Nf6 13.Nbd2 Bd6 14.Re1 Re8 15.Bb3 Qd7 16.Rxe8+ Rxe8 17.Bc2 Nd5 18.Ne4 Nxc3 19.Nxc3 Bxf3 20.Qd2 Qe6 21.Qe3 Qd7 22.Qd2 Qe6 23.Qe3 Qd7 24.Qd2 1/2-1/2

Hikaru is on top again in Game 2!

Leko: "He panicked!"
Svidler: "I'm surprised Magnus didn't trust himself to calculate his way out of this" (20.gxf3 seems ok for White)

While watching Nakamura take a draw in a promising position, Peter Svidler shares his life hack for persuading yourself that it's ok to take a draw!

Round 26, May 2
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
D31 QGD, Janowski variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 a6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bf4 Nf6 6.e3 Bd6 7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.Bd3 Bg4 9.Qb3 Nc6 10.h3 Bh5 11.Nge2 Bxe2 12.Nxe2 O-O 13.Rc1 Nd8 14.Qa3 Qd7 15.O-O g6 16.Nf4 Re8 17.Bc2 c6 18.Nd3 Ne6 19.f4 Ng7 20.f5 g5 21.Ne5 Qc7 22.h4 g4 23.Qc3 Ngh5 24.Qe1 Rxe5 25.dxe5 Qxe5 26.Qc3 Qg3 27.Qe1 Qd6 28.Qf2 Re8 29.Rcd1 Qe5 30.Rd4 c5 31.Rd2 Ng3 32.Rfd1 Kf8 33.Rd3 Nfe4 34.Qe1 Qf6 35.Rxd5 Qxh4 36.Bxe4 Qh1+ 37.Kf2 Nxe4+ 38.Ke2 Qxg2+ 39.Kd3 0-1

Magnus Carlsen wins a brilliant game with the black pieces to level the scores today. He now needs only a draw with the white pieces in the final game to clinch victory in the #NewInChess Classic!

Round 27, May 2
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
B22 Sicilian, Alapin’s variation

1.e4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.e5 Bg7 6.Nf3 Nh6 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.O-O O-O 9.h3 f6 10.exf6 exf6 11.Nc3 g5 12.Re1 Qd6 13.Ba4 Kh8 14.Bb3 Ne7 15.Qe2 Nhg8 16.Qb5 Rd8 17.Bd2 b6 18.Ne2 a5 19.Bc2 Ba6 20.Qb3 Rdc8 21.Rac1 Rc6 22.Bb1 Rac8 23.Rxc6 Rxc6 24.Nc3 Bc8 25.Bd3 Qd8 26.Qc2 h6 27.Qd1 Be6 28.Qe2 Bf7 29.Nb5 Ng6 30.Qd1 N8e7 31.Qb1 Qd7 32.b4 axb4 33.Bxb4 h5 34.Nc3 Rc7 35.Ne2 h4 36.Bxe7 Nxe7 37.Qxb6 Bh5 38.Nh2 f5 39.Bb5 Qc8 40.Qd6 Ng8 41.Nf3 Bxf3 42.gxf3 Nf6 43.a4 Ra7 1/2-1/2

_________

Round 24, May 2
Aronian, Levon – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C77 Ruy Lopez, Anderssen variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.a4 Rb8 10.O-O d6 11.Nbd2 O-O 12.c3 Na5 13.Ba2 c5 14.Re1 Qc7 15.b4 cxb4 16.cxb4 Nc6 17.Rc1 Qd7 18.Rb1 Nh5 19.Bxe7 Qxe7 20.Nf1 Nf4 21.Ne3 Qf6 22.h4 bxa4 23.g3 Be6 24.Bxe6 fxe6 25.gxf4 Qxf4 26.Nh2 Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 Rxb4 28.Neg4 Qxh4 29.Rg1 Rxb1 30.Qxb1 Nd4 31.Qb7 Ne2 32.Ra1 h5 33.Qd7 hxg4 34.Qxe6+ Kh8 35.Qxg4 Qxg4 36.Nxg4 Rf1+ 37.Rxf1 Ng3+ 38.Kg2 Nxf1 39.Kxf1 a3 40.Ne3 a2 41.Nc2 Kg8 42.Ke2 Kf7 43.Kd2 Kf6 44.Kc3 Kg5 45.Kb2 Kf4 46.Kxa2 g5 47.Kb3 g4 48.Kc4 g3 49.Ne1 Ke3 50.Ng2+ Kf2 51.Nh4 g2 52.Nxg2 Kxg2 53.Kd5 a5 54.Kxd6 a4 0-1

Round 25, May 2
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Aronian, Levon
D39 QGD, Ragozin, Vienna variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 dxc4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qa5 9.Bxf6 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Qxc3+ 11.Kf1 gxf6 12.Rc1 Qa5 13.Bb5+ Ke7 14.e5 fxe5 15.Qh5 Nd7 16.Qg5+ Kf8 17.Rxc8+ Rxc8 18.Bxd7 Qd8 19.Nxe6+ fxe6 20.Qh6+ Ke7 21.Qxe6+ Kf8 22.Qh6+ Ke7 23.Qe6+ Kf8 24.Qh6+ Ke7 25.Qe6+ 1/2-1/2

After 5 wins in a row for Black, Mamedyarov forces a draw with the white pieces to cement his lead today!

Round 26, May 2
Aronian, Levon – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C77 Ruy Lopez, Anderssen variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Be7 9.a4 Rb8 10.O-O d6 11.Nbd2 O-O 12.Re1 Na5 13.Ba2 bxa4 14.c3 Bd7 15.Qc2 Nh5 16.Bg3 Rb6 17.Nf1 Nb3 18.Rad1 Be6 19.Ne3 Nd4 20.cxd4 Bxa2 21.Rc1 Nxg3 22.hxg3 exd4 23.Nxd4 c5 24.Ndf5 Bb3 25.Nxe7+ Qxe7 26.Qc3 Be6 27.d4 Rb3 28.Qd2 Rfb8 29.Rc2 cxd4 30.Qxd4 R8b4 31.Qd2 Rxe4 32.Rd1 Reb4 33.Qc1 Rb8 34.Rd4 a3 35.Nd5 Bxd5 0-1

Shakh wins the game, gets third prize of $8500.

Carlsen draws the last game with Nakamura and is the winner of the $30,000 first prize. Hikaru gets second and $15,000.

An enjoyable day of chess today. It was good to have Peter Svidler back on the advanced commentary.

[Hans Jung]

In Rd 24 what a dream endgame position - trade all of the pieces off knowing at the end the lone knight can just make it over to stop the A pawn allowing the black king a king walk to trap the knight on the other side of the board! - and how many times can you repeat a variation and still come up with improvements!? Very rich !! I think Shak was having fun today.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 24 the diagram after 35.Bf4 is fascinating! Imo you can never do enough tactical training. Those kinds of ideas are several levels deep. For example in that position the Rd2 cant take on d6 because of checkmate but the bishop obviously guards. However if the bishop captures on d6 that opens the line between queens so that Nh3+,Kh1 and then Bxg2+ wins the queen!

[Hans Jung]

Thank you Peter! I love Peter's commentary (Svidler but actually both) but Peter Svidler's additional little anecdotes like the Matlakov game quoted above are what make him so interesting! In that game ( what an exceptional gem! - really) you see a classic Botvinnik positional exchange sacrifice on d6 and then the bold queen sacrifice (twice!) in the style of Larsen. Truly amazing!! For the love of chess shared by Peter.

[Wayne Komer]

New in Chess Classic

May 2, 2021

Final

Congratulations, Hans on reaching the 5000 comments level.

ChessTalk is richer for your constant participation and enthusiasm.

WK

[Hans Jung]

Thanks Wayne! Some days I still have enthusiasm.