London Chess Classic 2014

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  • London Chess Classic 2014

    London Chess Classic 2014

    To the five grandmasters previously reported to be participating – Fabiano Caruana, Viswanathan Anand, Hikaru Nakamura, Vladimir Kramnik and Michael Adams - has been added Anish Giri. The main event will take place from December 10 to 14.

  • #2
    Re: London Chess Classic 2014

    Giri will be the 3rd seed in this group. All six are amongst the top dozen in the world.

    http://www.top40chess.com/

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: London Chess Classic 2014

      London Chess Classic 2014

      Chessdom.com reports the format:

      The main event is the Super Rapidplay Open on 6-7th December with the prize fund of £25,000. Top Grandmasters Fabiano Caruana, Viswanathan Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Hikaru Nakamura, Michael Adams and Anish Giri have confirmed participation.

      The Super Rapidplay is a 10-round FIDE rated open tournament with no grading sections; instead all players play in the same section and generous grading prizes have been added. This event will feature all of the players who are taking part in the main event of the London Chess Classic along with many GMs and IMs.

      Pairings: In the first round, the six super Grandmasters from the London Chess Classic will be paired against junior players who have been selected from a qualifying junior tournament. Pairings for all other rounds will be made according to FIDE Swiss pairing rules, using the Swiss Master computer program.

      Time Control: All moves in 25 minutes plus a 10 second increment per move from move 1.

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: London Chess Classic 2014

        London Chess Classic 2014

        Before the Elite-Six cross swords with one another (10-14 December) they are going to take part in a ten-round super rapid play this weekend of 6-7 December, which is open to all.

        25 minutes for all the moves with 10-second increments. The first prize is £8000.

        The Elite will play against junior players in the first round. This is the draw made yesterday in the usual way.

        Round 1 (noon start)

        Hikaru Nakamura (White) vs Theodore Slade
        Fabiano Caurana (Black) vs Richard Zhu
        Vishy Anand (White) vs Rishul Karia
        Mickey Adams (Black) vs William Golding
        Vladimir Kramnik (White) vs Naomi Wei
        Anish Giri (Black) vs Alexander Jamieson

        Imagined conversation between Naomi and Richard (above):

        Richard – Who are you playing tomorrow?

        Naomi – Kramnik. He has an Elo 800 points higher than mine and he also has the white pieces.

        Richard – Bummer. At least I’ve got white against Caruana. I was hoping to pull a caruana in the tourney
        but that’s rather difficult when you start against Caruana himself!
        _______

        It seems quite the chess festival with a conference on Chess and Mathematics, a chess set auction, a Pro-Biz Cup and Kasparov in to sign copies of his new book (i.e. Part III of Garry Kasparov on Garry Kasparov 1993-2005)


        http://www.londonchessclassic.com
        Last edited by Wayne Komer; Friday, 5th December, 2014, 06:10 PM.

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: London Chess Classic 2014

          The R5 game between Hikaru Nakamura and Jonathan Hawkins (whom I believe is now a GM, not an IM) amused me. Naka used all of 4 seconds on his clock (plus of course 15 x 10 seconds increments) to trap Hawkins Queen in a Trompowsky Attack and force resignation in just 15 moves. Hawkins used 17:03 (again plus increments) on his clock in a vain endeavour to save his Queen.

          http://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2014-...wkins_Jonathan

          Comment


          • #6
            Re: London Chess Classic 2014

            Eric, beat them all!!!
            4.5/5 after the first day.

            http://chess-results.com/tnr154459.a...S&css=1&snr=15

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: London Chess Classic 2014

              London Chess Classic Super Rapidplay

              Ranking after Round 5
              December 6, 2014

              Nakamura 5
              Caruana 5
              Kramnik 5
              Sadler 5
              Howell 5
              Giri 5
              Anand 4.5
              Adams 4.5
              Mcshane 4.5
              Hansen 4.5
              Pert 4.5
              Speelman 4.5
              Williams 4.5
              Short 4

              Tweets

              (Nakamura) – Some really hilarious stuff today. Both myself and Caruana won lost positions. Looks like Giri also refuted Basman’s beloved Grob, etc.

              (Giri) – Finally got to the live board in the 5th game only to get Basman go Grob attack on me (1.g4)! tomorrow expecting solid guys.

              (Pein) – Rd 4 Nakamura blunders piece against IM Adair, who now has a clearly winning position

              (Svensen) – Looks like Caruana is in trouble vs IM Mortazavi in a very complicated game

              London Chess Classic Rapid
              Round 5, Dec. 6, 2014
              Basman, Michael – Giri, Anish
              A00 Grob’s Attack

              1. g4 d5 2. h3 e5 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 e4 5. c4 Be6 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. f3 Ng6 8. fxe4 dxe4 9. Bxe4 Bxc4 10. Nf3 Bb4 11. Qc2 Nd7 12. h4 Nf6 13. h5 Ne7 14. h6 gxh6 15. Bxh6 Nxg4 16. Bg5 Qa5 17. Rh4 h5 18. a3 Bxc3+ 19. Qxc3 Qxc3+ 20. bxc3 f6 21. Bd2 Kf7 22. Bc2 Rae8 23. e3 Ng6 24. Bxg6+ Kxg6 25. O-O-O 0-1

              London Chess Classic Rapid
              Round 4, Dec. 6, 2014
              Adair, James – Nakamura, Hikaru
              B01 Scandinavian (Centre Counter) Defence

              1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 c6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. g4 Bg6 8. h4 Nd7 9. Nc4 Qc7 10. h5 Bxc2 11. Qxc2 Ngf6 12. g5 Nd5 13. Bd2 Be7 14. Qe4 O-O-O 15. f4 Rhe8 16. O-O-O h6 17. gxh6 gxh6 18. Ne5 f5 19. Nxd5 cxd5+ 20. Qc2 Nf6 21. Ba5 Qxc2+ 22. Kxc2 b6 23. Be1 Kb7 24. Ng6 Bd6 25. Kd3 Rc8 26. Be2 Ne4 27. Bf3 Rc7 28. Rh2 Rec8 29. Bxe4 dxe4+ 30. Ke3 Rc1 31. Rxc1 Rxc1 32. Bh4 Rf1 33. Be7 Rf3+ 34. Ke2 Kc7 35. Bg5 hxg5 36. h6 gxf4 37. h7 Rd3 38. Nxf4 Bxf4 39. Rh4 Rd2+ 40. Ke1 e3 41. Rh3 Bg3+ 42. Rxg3 Rh2 43. d5 f4 0-1

              London Chess Classic Rapid
              Round 3, Dec. 6, 2014
              Mortazavi, Ali – Caruana, Fabiano
              A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack (Barcza System)

              1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O e6 5. d3 Bd6 6. c4 Nf6 7. b3 dxc4 8. d4 cxb3 9. Qxb3 Qb6 10. Qa4 Qa6 11. Qb3 Nbd7 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Rb1 b5 14. Bf4 Bxf4 15. gxf4 Rab8 16. Ne5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nd5 18. e3 Nxc3 19. Qxc3 Be2 20. Rfc1 Bc4 21. e4 Rbd8 22. Qg3 Qxa2 23. f5 Qd2 24. f4 Kh8 25. Kh1 exf5 26. exf5 Bd3 27. f6 gxf6 28. Qh4 fxe5 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30. Rg1 Bg6 31. f5 Qd6 32. Qg5 Kg7 33. Rbf1 c5 34. Rf3 Qd2 35. Qh4 Rd4 36. Qe7 e4 37. Rg3 Qf4 38. Rf1 Qd6 39. Qh4 e3 40. Qh5 Qxg3 41. f6+ Kh8 42. Qh6 Qxg2+ 43. Kxg2 Rg8 44. Kf3 Re4 45. Rd1 Ree8 46. Re1 Re6 47. Rxe3 Rxf6+ 48. Ke2 Bd3+ 0-1

              from Crouchnotes:

              http://crouchnotes.blogspot.ca/2014/...rills-and.html

              In round 3, Mortazavi and Caruana found themselves in complicated play, but with insufficient time to think things through properly. Mortazavi had the balance of play in favour of him, implying that there were errors on both sides, but Caruana making slightly more errors. He was attacking against Caruana's open kingside, while Caruana had three dangerous passed pawns on the queenside. After move 37, Mortazavi had a great opportunity to open up Black's king with 38.f5xBe6 h7xg6 39.Rh3xg6+! Kg7xg6 40.Qe7xRf8, or even a bishop move on g2, with a discovered check, with a rook on g1, and the king on g6 has to run. Black's pawn on f7 could not have taken on g6 earlier, because the pawn was pinned by the queen on e7.


              It is difficult to say what went wrong here, except that possibly there is a natural instinct that a player of Caruana’s strength could not possibly have allowed such a simple tactic.

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: London Chess Classic 2014

                London Chess Classic Rapidplay

                Round Nine
                December 7, 2014

                Standings after Round Nine

                Nakamura 8.5
                Anand 8
                Caruana 7.5
                Giri 7.5
                Sadler 7.5
                Kramnik 7.5
                Naroditsky 7.5
                Lenderman 7.5
                Howell 7.9
                Hawkins 7
                Hebden 7
                Short 7
                McShane 7
                Hansen 7

                London Chess Classic Rapid 2014
                Round 9
                December 7, 2014
                Caruana, Fabiano – Nakamura, Hikaru
                B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack (3..e6)

                1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ng6 7. Be2 Bc5 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. c4 d6 10. Nc3 a6 11. Kh1 e5 12. Nd5 Ba7 13. Bg4 O-O 14. Bxc8 Rxc8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Nge7 17. Rc1 a5 18. c5 dxc5 19. Nxc5 Nd4 20. Qd3 Qd6 21. Nb3 a4 22. Nxd4 Qxd4 23. Qb1 Qd2 24. Rcd1 Qb4 25. Rd7 Nc6 26. a3 Qb3 27. Rd3 Qb6 28. Nd5 Qb5 29. Rc1 Rcd8 30. b4 Nd4 31. Rc5 Qe8 32. Qd1 f5 33. exf5 Rxf5 34. f3 Rf8 35. Nc3 b6 36. Rc7 b5 37. Rc5 Rc8 38. Ne4 Rxc5 39. Nxc5 Qf7 40. h3 Qf5 41. Re3 h6 42. Qd2 Rd8 43. Re4 Kh7 44. Qf2 Rd5 45. Kh2 Nb3 46. Nxb3 axb3 47. Qe3 b2 48. Qe1 Rd4 0-1

                It looked to me like a more or less equal game until White played 46. Nxb3 and 47. Qe3.

                London Chess Classic Rapid 2014
                Round 9
                Dec. 7, 2014
                Hansen, Eric – Bates, Richard
                B52 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky Attack

                1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. f3 O-O 10. Be3 Rc8 11. b3 Qd8 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Kh1 a6 14. a4 e6 15. Nde2 Qf8 16. Ra2 Rc6 17. Rd2 Rac8 18. h3 Qe7 19. f4 b5 20. axb5 axb5 21. Nd4 b4 22. Nxc6 Rxc6 23. Ne2 Nxe4 24. Ra2 Rc8 25. Ra7 Qd8 26. Kh2 Ra8 27. Rb7 Ra1 28. Qxa1 Bxa1 29. Rxa1 Nec5 30. Rxb4 Qf6 31. Rd1 Qf5 32. Ng3 Qc2 33. Rxd6 h5 34. Rd2 Qb1 35. Rb5 h4 36. Ne2 Qe1 37. b4 Ne4 38. Rxd7 Ng3 39. Rb8+ 1-0

                Tenth and Final Round Pairings

                Bluebaum, Matthias – Hansen, Eric
                Lenderman, Aleksandr – Caruana, Fabiano
                Nakamura, Hikaru – Anand, Viswanathan
                Naroditsky, Danial – Kramnik, Vladimir
                Sadler, Matthew – Giri, Anish

                Will Nakamura beat Anand? Stay tuned.

                (The first few moves - 1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 d5 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 dxc4 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bxc4 Bd7 11. Ke2 Be7 12. Nbd2 Bc6 13. Rhc1 Nbd7 14. Kf1 Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bd4 * - a Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack)
                Last edited by Wayne Komer; Sunday, 7th December, 2014, 02:53 PM.

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: London Chess Classic 2014

                  Originally posted by Wayne Komer View Post
                  London Chess Classic Rapidplay
                  London Chess Classic Rapid 2014
                  Round 9
                  December 7, 2014
                  Caruana, Fabiano – Nakamura, Hikaru
                  B30 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack (3..e6)

                  1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Ng6 7. Be2 Bc5 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. c4 d6 10. Nc3 a6 11. Kh1 e5 12. Nd5 Ba7 13. Bg4 O-O 14. Bxc8 Rxc8 15. Be3 Bxe3 16. Nxe3 Nge7 17. Rc1 a5 18. c5 dxc5 19. Nxc5 Nd4 20. Qd3 Qd6 21. Nb3 a4 22. Nxd4 Qxd4 23. Qb1 Qd2 24. Rcd1 Qb4 25. Rd7 Nc6 26. a3 Qb3 27. Rd3 Qb6 28. Nd5 Qb5 29. Rc1 Rcd8 30. b4 Nd4 31. Rc5 Qe8 32. Qd1 f5 33. exf5 Rxf5 34. f3 Rf8 35. Nc3 b6 36. Rc7 b5 37. Rc5 Rc8 38. Ne4 Rxc5 39. Nxc5 Qf7 40. h3 Qf5 41. Re3 h6 42. Qd2 Rd8 43. Re4 Kh7 44. Qf2 Rd5 45. Kh2 Nb3 46. Nxb3 axb3 47. Qe3 b2 48. Qe1 Rd4 0-1
                  I was watching the game live on line. White got behind on time and was left with under a minute when Nakamura played 45. ... Nb3 and Caruna took the knight pretty well instantly. This was a losing blunder but the fault likely lies with Caruna getting into such time pressure.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: London Chess Classic 2014

                    Originally posted by Wayne Komer View Post
                    London Chess Classic Rapidplay


                    Will Nakamura beat Anand? Stay tuned.

                    (The first few moves - 1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 d5 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 dxc4 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bxc4 Bd7 11. Ke2 Be7 12. Nbd2 Bc6 13. Rhc1 Nbd7 14. Kf1 Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bd4 * - a Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack)
                    Nakamura won in 48 moves. He had an extra bishop for a pawn when Anand resigned.

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re : Re: London Chess Classic 2014

                      Almost-Canadian Hikaru Nakamura won the London Rapid and 8,000 quid in fine style - his last three rounds were wins against Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana and Vishy Anand giving him 9 1/2 - 1/2.
                      Eric Hansen finished with 8 points - a ten-way tie for third half a point behind Anish Giri.
                      The only other Canadian in the field of 405 was Daniel Abrahams who finished in 150th place with 5 points from 10 rounds.
                      Last edited by Vlad Dobrich; Sunday, 7th December, 2014, 04:29 PM.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        2016 WCC Challenger?

                        Originally posted by Vlad Dobrich View Post
                        Almost-Canadian Hikaru Nakamura won the London Rapid and 8,000 quid in fine style - his last three rounds were wins against Anish Giri, Fabiano Caruana and Vishy Anand giving him 9 1/2 - 1/2.
                        Eric Hansen finished with 8 points - half a point behind a handful of Super GM's.
                        The only other Canadian in the field of 405 was Daniel Abrahams who finished in 150th place with 5 points from 10 rounds.
                        Hi Vlad:

                        Makes me feel pretty good. Here are my three choices, in order, to be the 2016 WCC Challenger:

                        1. Fabiano Caruana;
                        2. Anish Giri;
                        3. Hikaru Nakamura.

                        Who are your three picks at the present time, Vald? Anyone else want to jump in?

                        Bob A

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: london chess classic 2014

                          London Chess Classic Rapidplay 2014

                          Round Ten
                          December 7, 2014

                          Eric Hansen is the second to win among the leaders with an impressive 8/10.

                          London Classic Rapids 2014
                          Round 10
                          Dec. 7, 2014
                          Bluebaum, Mattias – Hansen, Eric
                          D86 Grunfeld, Exchange, Classical Variation

                          1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 Nc6 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Bd7 12. Rb1 Rc8 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. Qd2 Rfd8 15. f4 Bg4 16. d5 c4 17. Bc2 e6 18. Rfd1 exd5 19. exd5 Qe7 20. h3 Rxd5 21. Qxd5 Qxe3+ 22. Kh1 Bxe2 23. Rxb7 Qxf4 24. Re1 Be5 25. Kg1 Qe3+ 26. Kh1 Qf2 27. Reb1 Qf4 28. Kg1 Re8 29. Be4 Bxc3 30. Qxc6 Qxe4 31. Qd7 Rf8 0-1

                          And Nakamura wins the game against Anand and the tournament. He had nine wins and one draw.

                          London Classic Rapids 2014
                          Round 10
                          Dec. 7, 2014
                          Nakamura, Hikaru – Anand, Vishy
                          A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Indian Variation

                          1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 d5 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. d4 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3 dxc4 9. Qxd8 Rxd8 10. Bxc4 Bd7 11. Ke2 Be7 12. Nbd2 Bc6 13. Rhc1 Nbd7 14. Kf1 Ne4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Bd4 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Bf6 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Ke2 Kf8 20. Bd3 Rac8 21. Be4 b6 22. Bb7 Rb8 23. Bc6 Rd6 24. b4 Rbd8 25. Rc2 Ng8 26. Rac1 Ne7 27. Bb5 Rd5 28. a4 Rh5 29. Rc7 Rxh2 30. Rxa7 Nd5 31. a5 bxa5 32. bxa5 Rh5 33. Rb7 Nb4 34. a6 Nxa6 35. Bxa6 Rf5 36. Bd3 Rf6 37. Rh1 h6 38. f4 Ra8 39. Bb1 Rc8 40. Rh5 Ra8 41. Kf1 Rc8 42. Ke2 Rd8 43. Rhb5 Ra8 44. Rb8+ Rxb8 45. Rxb8+ Ke7 46. Rg8 g6 47. Rh8 h5 48. Ra8 1-0

                          Evidently the three American flags on the leaders’ tables are something to see. Who is Aleksandr Lenderman?

                          London Classic Rapids 2014
                          Round 10
                          Dec. 7, 2014
                          Sadler, Matthew – Giri, Anish
                          B47 Sicilian, Taimanov (Bastrikov) Variation

                          1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. g3 a6 7. Bg2 h5 8. O-O Nf6 9. h3 Bc5 10. Nb3 Ba7 11. Bf4 Ne5 12. Nd2 d6 13. Nf3 b5 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Bg5 b4 16. Nb1 Bb7 17. Nd2 Nh7 18. Qxh5 O-O 19. Rac1 Nxg5 20. Qxg5 Rad8 21. Nf3 Bxe4 22. Qxe5 Qb7 23. Nh4 Bxg2 24. Nxg2 Bd4 25. Qe2 Bxb2 26. Rcd1 Qc6 27. Ne3 Bd4 28. Rd3 f5 29. Rfd1 e5 30. a3 a5 31. axb4 axb4 32. Ng2 Qc4 33. Qd2 Rc8 34. Ne3 Qc5 35. Rb3 f4 36. gxf4 Rxf4 37. Qe2 Rcf8 38. Rf1 Rf3 39. Ng4 Rxb3 40. cxb3 Qc3 41. Kg2 Qxb3 42. Qe4 Qe6 43. Re1 Qd6 44. Re2 b3 45. Nxe5 Qxe5 46. Qxe5 Bxe5 47. Rxe5 Rb8 48. Re1 Kf7 49. Rb1 b2 50. Kf3 Kf6 51. h4 Kf5 52. Kg3 Ke4 53. Kg4 Kd3 54. Kg5 Rb6 0-1

                          Sadler almost got the draw at the end.

                          Final Standings

                          Nakamura 9.5/10
                          Giri 8.5/10
                          Caruana 8/10
                          Hansen 8/10
                          Kramnik 8/10
                          Greenfeld 8/10
                          Pert 8/10
                          Williams 8/10
                          Anand 8/10
                          Lenderman 8/10
                          Short 8/10
                          Naroditsky 8/10
                          Sadler 7.5/10
                          Adams 7.5/10
                          Chirila 7.5

                          Online Comments

                          (Giri) – Finished second in the London rapid, beat some juicy opponents, lost to the winner Hikaru and won a bunch of rating

                          (Nakamura) – I offered draws to my opponents in the tourney but they would have none of it

                          (Rowson) – Hard to say what happened to Vishy here. He was absolutely fine, until he wasn’t

                          (Short) - Equal 3rd (sixth on tie-break) with 8/10 behind Nakamura, Giri, Caruana, Anand and Kramnik. Not bad for an old man
                          Last edited by Wayne Komer; Sunday, 7th December, 2014, 07:29 PM. Reason: updated standings

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: 2016 WCC Challenger?

                            Originally posted by Bob Armstrong View Post

                            Makes me feel pretty good. Here are my three choices, in order, to be the 2016 WCC Challenger:

                            1. Fabiano Caruana;
                            2. Anish Giri;
                            3. Hikaru Nakamura.

                            Who are your three picks at the present time, Vald? Anyone else want to jump in?
                            I'd say:

                            -Caruana
                            -Aronian
                            -Grischuk

                            I'd flip a coin between the first two. Caruana is on a good streak recently and he's younger. But Aronian has much more experience in these candiates tournaments. Grischuk is a long shot, but he's been slowly and consistently improving in the last few years.

                            I just don't see Nakamura making it out of a candidates tournament. He hasn't been consistently winning tournaments at the very top. However, a match between him and Carlsen would certainly be... interesting!

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: 2016 WCC Challenger?

                              I doubt Caruana will make it to the big match in 2016.
                              Gary Ruben
                              CC - IA and SIM

                              Comment

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