Games
[Event "Shamkir2019"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.03.31"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2739"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:50:10"] [BlackClock "0:59:32"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 {A rare move. Anand knows that Navara is a Dragon aficionado and prepared a nasty little line.} g6 7. f3 {"I got surprised by this move." (Navara)} Bg7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Qd2 Nxd4 ({ Instead Black might castle as early as possible:} 9... O-O 10. O-O-O Ne5 11. Be2 b5 12. Bh6 Qa5 {as in Paravyan,D (2630)-Sjugirov,S (2677) St Petersburg 2018}) 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. g4 b5 12. h4 {"I got outplayed." (Navara) Indeed, the white army is much better prepared for the opposite-castling attacks.} Qa5 13. a3 h6 14. O-O-O $146 {A strong novelty. White plays for the maximum.} ({ White was also better in the predecessor after:} 14. b4 Qc7 15. Ne2 Rc8 16. a4 {Dorst, K-Schassan,H Dresden 2006}) 14... Rb8 {Getting ready to open a file, but White is faster.} ({Black's problem however is that he can no longer castle as White's attack unwraps naturally:} 14... O-O 15. g5 hxg5 16. hxg5 Nh5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. f4) 15. g5 Nh5 {The only move.} (15... hxg5 {loses a lot after:} 16. hxg5 Rxh1 (16... Nh5 17. Bxg7) 17. Rxh1 Nh5 18. Bxg7 Nxg7 19. Rh8+) 16. Bxg7 Nxg7 17. gxh6 Nh5 18. Qg5 {A perfect position for the queen. From here it both attacks and prevents the move b5-b4.} f6 $1 {Practically forced. Black needs to get at least a bit of counterplay.} ({Slow play like:} 18... Qc7 19. f4 b4 20. axb4 Rxb4 21. f5 {will leave Black pawnless and under attack.}) 19. Qxg6+ Bf7 20. Qg1 b4 21. axb4 ({Worse was:} 21. Nb1 bxa3 22. Nxa3 Qb4 { when Black starts to threaten things seriously.}) ({However also strong was:} 21. Qa7 O-O 22. axb4 Qxb4 23. Kd2 {as suggested by (Navara)}) 21... Qxb4 22. Kd2 {Not the most accurate. Sooner or later the king will have to flee.} ({ However, it made sense to delay this for a moment and play} 22. Qe3 $1 { first, thus depriving Black of the active knight thrusts. Then} Qxb2+ 23. Kd2 { is good for White, as he might be the one to attack on the queenside after:} Qb7 24. Rb1 Qc7 25. Rxb8+ Qxb8 26. Rb1 ({Or} 26. Bxa6)) 22... Nf4 $1 {At least Black gets some activity for the pawns. Insufficient, but the play goes on.} ({ Not} 22... Qxb2 $2 23. Rb1) 23. Qe3 Nxd3 24. Qxd3 (24. Kxd3 $5 {(Navara)}) 24... Rxh6 25. Qxa6 Kf8 ({The Czech GM considered the endgame after:} 25... Qd4+ 26. Qd3 Qxd3+ (26... Qf2+ 27. Kc1) 27. Kxd3 Rxb2 {to be objectively his best choice (Navara)}) 26. Ra1 (26. Qd3 Rh5 $1) 26... d5 {Black was counting on this move to bother the enemy king in the center.} ({The other ideas also deserved attention:} 26... Rg6 $5 {to which White can defend and keep the material after:} 27. Qe2 Qd4+ 28. Kc1) ({Or} 26... Rh5 {when White can keep the extras with:} 27. Ra4 Qc5 28. Qa7) 27. Ra4 Qc5 28. exd5 ({Anand correctly rejects the endgame after} 28. Qa7 Qxa7 29. Rxa7 dxe4 30. fxe4 Rxb2 {the reduced material might not be sufficient for the full point.}) 28... Rxb2 { Once again Navara prefers to keep the tension.} ({Although he has some chances to defend the possible endgames after:} 28... Bxd5 29. Nxd5 Qxd5+ 30. Kc1 ({Or } 30. Qd3 Qxd3+ 31. Kxd3 Rxb2) 30... Qxf3 31. Re1 Qb7) 29. Qa7 {White consolidates.} Qd6 30. Qe3 Rg6 31. Ra8+ (31. Kc1 $5 Rb8 32. Ra7) 31... Kg7 32. Kc1 Qb4 33. Ra4 {"I thought this is clever, but maybe something else" (Anand)} ({Indeed, stronger was} 33. Rh2 $1 {which keeps the second rank secure. Then:} Bxd5 34. h5 {Looks winning for White. For example:} (34. Ra7 $5 {(Anand)}) (34. Ra4 $5 {(Anand)}) 34... Rg5 35. h6+ Kh7 36. Qd3+ f5 37. Qxd5 Rg1+ 38. Kd2 Qf4+ 39. Kd3 {and White wins as} Qxh2 40. Qf7+ Kxh6 41. Rh8+ {is over.}) (33. Qd2 $5 Rg3 34. h5 {also seemed close to winning.}) ({"If you play"} 33. Ra2 Rxa2 34. Nxa2 Qa5 {"with some counterplay" (Navara)}) 33... Rb1+ $1 {One more trick to keep the game going. Navara heroically squeezes chances.} (33... Qb7 34. Ra7 { wins for White.}) ({So does} 33... Qb8 34. h5) 34. Nxb1 Qxa4 35. Qxe7 Rg2 ({ Navara did not trust his chances after:} 35... Qf4+ $1 {But this was objectively best. For instance:} 36. Nd2 Rg2 37. Rd1 Qd4 {And the centralized black queen always creates chances for Black:} 38. Qb7 Rg1 $1 39. Rxg1+ ({Or} 39. d6 Qa1+ 40. Nb1 Qd4 $1 41. Rxg1+ Qxg1+ 42. Kb2 Qd4+) 39... Qxg1+ 40. Kb2 Qd4+ 41. Kc1 Qg1+ {with perpetual.}) 36. Qe4 Qa7 {"I missed this move" (Anand)} 37. Re1 ({Here} 37. h5 {does not win due to} Rg1+ 38. Rxg1+ Qxg1+ 39. Kb2 Qb6+ {with perpetual.}) 37... Rg1 38. Nc3 Qa1+ ({Objectively best was:} 38... Rxe1+ 39. Qxe1 Bxd5 40. Nxd5 Qa1+ 41. Kd2 Qd4+ 42. Ke2 Qxd5) 39. Kd2 Rg2+ 40. Re2 Rg1 41. Qe7 {Allows a miraculous escape.} ({Anand still had decent winning chances after:} 41. Qc4 Qc1+ 42. Kd3 Rg3 43. Rf2 Bg6+ 44. Ne4 ({But not} 44. Kd4 Qf4+ 45. Kc5 Qc7+ {with perpetual.}) 44... Qd1+ 45. Ke3 Qc1+ 46. Nd2 Qe1+ 47. Qe2) ( {Or after} 41. h5 $1 Bxh5 42. Qe7+ Bf7 43. Qc5 {although a lot of inaccuracy is still required.} (43. d6 Rd1+ $1)) 41... Rd1+ $1 {A nice shot.} (41... Rd1+ {It leads to a cute study-like perpetual after:} 42. Nxd1 Qd4+ 43. Kc1 Qa1+ 44. Kd2 Qd4+ 45. Ke1 Qg1+ 46. Kd2 Qd4+) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.03.31"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2845"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:22:57"] [BlackClock "1:11:54"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. h3 d6 7. a4 a5 (7... Be6 8. Re1 Qd7 9. Nc3 h6 10. Be3 a6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Nh5 {Miton,K (2584)-Wang,H (2709) Riadh 2017}) 8. Nbd2 $146 (8. Nc3 Be6 9. Re1 Qc8 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Nd7 14. f4 d5 15. Kh1 Bc5 16. Qd3 {1/2 Shanava,K (2535)-Panchanathan,M (2556) Pardubice 2011}) 8... Nd7 9. Re1 Nb6 10. Bb3 Kh8 11. c3 f5 12. exf5 Bxf5 13. Nf1 Bg6 14. Ng3 Bf6 15. Ne4 d5 $6 {"Overpushing" according to Radjabov. "Too ambitious," said Carlsen.} (15... Bh5 $5) (15... Qd7) 16. Nxf6 Qxf6 17. Bg5 Qf5 18. Qd2 Rae8 19. Be3 Bh5 20. Bd1 Qd7 21. Bxb6 cxb6 22. Qg5 Qf7 23. Qh4 Bg6 24. Bb3 $1 {Radjabov like this move.} Qd7 (24... Bxd3 25. Rad1 Bc4 26. Bxc4 dxc4 {and now e.g.} 27. Ng5 Qf5 28. Ne4 {with a clear advantage.}) 25. Qg3 d4 26. Nxe5 $2 {Trading e5 for d3 is not the most critical here and allows Black to escape with a draw.} ({ With} 26. Bc4 $1 {White keeps the advantage.}) 26... Nxe5 27. Rxe5 dxc3 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. bxc3 Qxd3 30. Qxd3 Bxd3 31. Rd1 Be4 32. Rd6 Bc6 33. Bd5 Bxd5 34. Rxd5 Re1+ 35. Kh2 h6 36. Rd7 Rc1 37. Rxb7 Rxc3 38. Rxb6 Rc4 39. Ra6 Rxa4 40. f4 Rxf4 41. Rxa5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.03.31"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2812"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:37:56"] [BlackClock "1:43:52"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 a5 (7... h6 8. Nbd2 Be6 9. b4 Bb6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nc4 Ne7 12. h3 c6 13. a4 Bc7 14. Ne3 Ng6 {So,W (2780)-Nakamura,H (2777) chess.com INT 2018}) 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nh7 11. d4 Bb6 12. dxe5 h5 13. h4 Bg4 14. Nbd2 Nxe5 15. Be2 Nxf3+ 16. Nxf3 Re8 $146 {Karjakin did look at this move, albeit briefly, saying: "I didn't make a big preparation."} (16... Bxf3 17. Bxf3 gxh4 18. Bh2 h3 19. e5 Qh4 20. Qd2 dxe5 21. Rxe5 Rad8 22. Qe2 Ng5 {Van Foreest,J (2612)-Ding,L (2813) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 17. Qd2 Bxf3 18. Bxf3 gxh4 19. Bf4 Qf6 20. Bxh5 {Here Karjakin decided that his opening advantage is gone.} Qg7 $1 21. Bh6 Qf6 22. Bf4 Qg7 23. Bh6 Qf6 24. Bf4 Qg7 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.03.31"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2797"] [BlackElo "2740"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:22:43"] [BlackClock "0:25:44"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O (6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O Bd6 8. b3 O-O 9. Nc4 Nd7 10. a4 Bxc4 11. bxc4 a5 12. Bg5 Be7 {Caruana,F (2828)-Nakamura,H (2749) chess.com INT 2019}) 6... Qe7 7. Nbd2 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. a3 Nd7 10. b4 Bd6 11. Nc4 f6 $146 (11... O-O 12. Bd2 Rfe8 13. Ne3 Nf8 14. Nf5 Qd8 15. Ng3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 g6 17. Rfb1 Ne6 {Tieken,F (2128)-Packroff,H (2200) ICCF email 2015}) 12. Ne3 Nf8 13. Nf5 Qd7 14. Be3 Ne6 15. c3 O-O-O 16. Ng3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Kb8 18. Rfd1 g6 19. d4 exd4 20. cxd4 Rhf8 21. Bh6 Rf7 22. d5 cxd5 23. Rxd5 Qe8 24. Rad1 Rc8 25. Qg4 Bf8 26. Bxf8 Nxf8 27. Ne2 h5 28. Qf3 Nd7 29. Nc3 Ne5 30. Qe2 Re7 31. f4 Nf7 32. R5d4 Nd6 33. Qd3 Re6 34. b5 b6 35. a4 g5 36. f5 Re5 37. Rf1 Rd8 38. Rd1 Rc8 39. Ra1 g4 40. hxg4 $6 (40. h4 {is safer but it does allow an instant draw with} Nxf5 $1 41. exf5 Re1+ 42. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 43. Kh2 Qxh4+ 44. Kg1 Qe1+) 40... hxg4 41. Rd1 Kb7 42. Rd5 Rxd5 (42... Qe7 $5) 43. Qxd5+ Kb8 44. Qd4 Qh5 45. Nd5 g3 {White seems to be in big trouble but he still has a move:} 46. Nxf6 $1 Qh2+ 47. Kf1 Qh1+ 48. Qg1 Qh4 49. Qd4 Qh1+ 50. Qg1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.03.31"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2739"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {I was eagerly looking forward to seeing Anand on the board after a while. If there is one thing I know for sure about the Madras Tiger, its that he rarely disappoints! On the other side of the board is perinneal top 50 and 2700+ GM David Navara, a versatile player capable of beating the best on his day. This promised to be an interesting encounter.} 1. e4 c5 {No surpises there. Navara has always been a true blue Sicilian expert, and he doesn't back down from a fight.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 {Good, so no 3.Bb5 today!} cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 $5 {Very interesting. Anand chooses what looks like a beginners move- placing the bishop on the blocked diagonal b1-h7, instead of the far more active Bc4, or the classical Be2. As it turns out, this move isn't so stupid, if White can somehow throw in f4 and e5, Black can quickly land in trouble, especially after castling short. Expect this to be a trend setter in the recent future.} g6 {Now, we are almost in uncharted territory! This was Naka's choice to beat rising Indian Star Murali Karthikeyan, and David decides that it's a good enough move to be played again. Play now resembles a Dragdorf, or a combination of the dragon and the najdorf.} (6... e5 {is far more natural, and the most commonly played. Play can contine} 7. Nde2 Be6 8. O-O Be7 9. f4 Qc7 $13 {reaching a complex Sicilian middlegame soon, with chances for both sides.}) (6... e6 $5 {makes a little less sense, but is perfectly playable. Play can go} 7. Be3 Be7 8. f4 O-O 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. h3 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. O-O-O Bb7 $13 {with a typicalish sharp Sicilian attack on opposite sides in the making. The better player will win here.}) 7. f3 Bg7 8. Be3 Nc6 9. Qd2 { Anand develops in typical dragon fashion.} Nxd4 $5 {Lu Shanglei's attempt, played in October last year against Karthikeyan. Apparently David feels this is fine for Black. I feel though that Black, already behind in development, shouldn't voluntarily exchange developed pieces.} (9... Ne5 $1 {makes a lot more sense to my eyes. Black prepares quick counterplay with Bd7 and b5. Play can go} 10. O-O-O Bd7 11. Kb1 b5 12. Bh6 O-O 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 $14 {and White has slightly better chances, though the position is complicated.}) 10. Bxd4 Be6 11. g4 $1 {Vishy starts ruffling some feathers here. It is clear that the kingside isn't so safe for Black.} b5 12. h4 $1 Qa5 13. a3 h6 $6 {Don't make pawn moves on the side you are weaker in is an axiom beginners are taught. Super GMs often find exceptions to the rules. Sadly for Navara, this one is not. A critical tempo loss in a sharp Sicilian can almost certainly entail a loss.} (13... Rb8 $1 14. O-O-O b4 $1 {is more critical, ending up in dynamic equilibrium after} 15. Nb1 O-O 16. axb4 Qxb4 17. Qxb4 Rxb4 18. Bc3 Rb6 $132) 14. O-O-O $1 {Castling into the storm. It is clear that Anand is excellently prepared for this game. David has played natural moves, but it is clear that White is the one having all the chances here.} Rb8 $6 { One move too late! Urgent measures were now required of Black, and he fails in finding the best move.} (14... O-O $1 {Needed guts to make, but Black sharpens play to his advantage here (practical, not positional). The best way to continue leads after} 15. g5 $1 Nh5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. gxh6+ Kh7 $1 18. e5 $1 dxe5 19. Qg5 Rad8 $3 20. Qxh5 b4 $1 $16 {to an almost completely irrational position, where White is a piece up, and has the better chances, but Black has sharply activated his own, and for now is threatening to win back material. A streetfight would have been on the cards.}) 15. g5 $1 {Anand is on the roll here! After this David is lost, but he continues looking for micro chances to put up resistance.} Nh5 16. Bxg7 Nxg7 17. gxh6 Nh5 18. Qg5 $1 f6 19. Qxg6+ Bf7 20. Qg1 b4 21. axb4 {The first signs of going out of preparation is a move that is good, but not the best. Here Anand commits his first innacuracy.} (21. Qa7 $1 {was much better, forcing a queen exchange, after which the endgame is pure torture for Black. After} Qb6 (21... O-O $2 22. Rhg1+ Kh8 23. axb4 Qxb4 24. Qxe7 Qxb2+ 25. Kd2 $18 {and Black gets slaughtered in the middle game.}) 22. Qxb6 Rxb6 23. axb4 Rxb4 24. b3 Rxh6 25. Bxa6 Nf4 26. Kb2 $18 {White is clearly winning here, with the two extra pawns. At Anand's level, this conversion is almost child's play.}) 21... Qxb4 22. Kd2 $6 {this is already a major slip up, costing White most of his advantage. The catch of playing the Open Sicilian is that one slip is enough for major losses, be it an advantage or material, or the game itself!} (22. Qe3 $1 {was essential, preventing Nf4, and after} Qxb2+ 23. Kd2 Qa3 24. Rb1 Rc8 25. Ne2 $18 {White has a winning advantage according to stockfish, though the position remains double edged in my opinion. I would say that this offers Anand far better chances that the game continuation.}) 22... Nf4 $1 $132 {David has got counter chances now, and the game in my opinion is one of dynamic balance.} 23. Qe3 Nxd3 24. Qxd3 (24. Kxd3 $1 {is slightly better, according to the engines, but Anand's game move is far more human and natural.}) 24... Rxh6 25. Qxa6 Kf8 26. Ra1 {Navara has done well till now, but from what I make of it he would have been in serious time trouble around now. This explains the flow of his mistakes from now on.} d5 $2 {A serious mistake. A misdirection in plans can often result in problems for chess players. Here David had to play on two fronts!} (26... Rg6 $1 { Hitting the king from the other side, was essential. After the forced} 27. Qe2 Qc5 28. Kc1 Rg3 29. Ra3 $14 {White has a material advantage, but Black has the initiative, and that should give him atleast equal chances.}) 27. Ra4 $1 { Anand latches on here, and in the next few moves the Madras Tiger nearly pins his opponent onto the mat.} Qc5 28. exd5 Rxb2 $6 {This only makes matters worse.} (28... Bxd5 $1 29. Nxd5 Qxd5+ 30. Qd3 $1 Qxd3+ 31. Kxd3 Rxb2 $16 { Takes black into a holdable double rook endgame, but here too White has atleast equal chances to win as black has to draw.}) 29. Qa7 $1 Qd6 30. Qe3 $1 Rg6 31. Ra8+ $1 Kg7 32. Kc1 $1 {very forceful play from Anand. He has played most precisely for the past few moves.} Qb4 33. Ra4 $2 {But this is just sad. Anand loses his nerves of steel at a very important time. This tempo move is a serious mistake.} (33. Rh2 $3 {Needs guts to make, but after protecting the second rank, White is winning. A sample line can go} Qb6 34. Qxb6 Rxb6 35. Ra7 Rg3 36. Re2 Rxf3 37. Na4 $1 Rf1+ 38. Kd2 Rd6 39. Rexe7 Rxd5+ 40. Ke2 $1 $18 { and White wins a piece, and eventually the game.}) 33... Rb1+ 34. Nxb1 Qxa4 35. Qxe7 Rg2 36. Qe4 Qa7 37. Re1 Rg1 38. Nc3 Qa1+ $2 {A time trouble howler from Navara.} (38... Bxd5 $3 {is a difficult move to find with seconds on the clock. But after} 39. Nxd5 Qa1+ 40. Kd2 Rxe1 41. Qxe1 Qd4+ 42. Ke2 Qc4+ 43. Ke3 Qxd5 44. Qg3+ Kf7 45. Qc7+ Kg6 46. c4 $1 {White still has a hard road ahead to the win, though the advantage is nearly decisive. But this was Navara's best chance.}) 39. Kd2 Rg2+ 40. Re2 Rg1 41. Qe7 $4 {This throws everything away!! A really sad end to Anand's winning attempts, but I must say that the drawing combination isn't obvious.} (41. f4 $1 Qc1+ 42. Kd3 Rg4 43. Re1 Rg3+ 44. Re3 Rg4 45. h5 $1 $18 {wins easily.}) 41... Rd1+ $3 {and in view of the perpetual check from d4 and a1 after the forced Nxd1, the players agreed to a draw. A disappointing end to the game for Vishy, who played some scintillating chess but couldn't win a won game, albeit a very hard won game. As for Navara, an encouraging draw, but he really needs to up his opening preparation. The 6.Bd3 line will really receive a boost after this game.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.01"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A50"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2771"] [PlyCount "153"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:09:30"] [BlackClock "0:10:28"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 Bg7 8. Nge2 Nbd7 (8... a6 9. a4 O-O 10. Ng3 Nbd7 11. Be2 Ne8 12. Bf4 Rb8 13. O-O c4 14. Bxc4 Qb6+ 15. Rf2 Bd4 16. Qd2 Ne5 {Carlsen,M (2835)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2763) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 9. Ng3 h5 10. Be2 Nh7 11. Nf1 $146 (11. Bf4 Qe7 12. Qd2 h4 13. Nf1 g5 14. Be3 Ne5 15. g3 Bd7 16. gxh4 gxh4 17. Rg1 f5 {Aronian,L (2794) -Grischuk,A (2767) Berlin 2018}) 11... Qh4+ 12. g3 Qe7 13. Ne3 O-O 14. a4 Ne5 15. O-O Bh3 16. Re1 Rae8 17. Bd2 a6 18. Ra3 ({Both players missed that after} 18. f4 Nd7 {White can win a pawn with} 19. Bxh5 $1 {because after} gxh5 20. Qxh5 {he wins back the bishop.}) 18... Qc7 19. f4 Nd7 $2 {Grischuk still missed the idea, but Ding had noticed it by now!} (19... Ng4 20. Bxg4 hxg4 21. Nxg4 Bd4+ 22. Nf2 Bxf2+ 23. Kxf2 Nf6 {with counterplay.}) 20. Bxh5 $1 c4 (20... b5 {doesn't work:} 21. axb5 axb5 22. Nxb5 Qb6 23. Be2 Rxe4 24. Ba5) 21. Bf3 Nc5 22. Qc2 Nb3 ({Both players thought} 22... Nd3 23. Re2 {followed by 24.Nd1 was also good for White but the engine likes Black's counterplay with} f5) 23. Rxb3 $1 {Not a difficult decision.} cxb3 24. Qxb3 Kh8 25. Ncd1 f5 26. Nf2 fxe4 27. Bxe4 Bf5 28. Rc1 Qd7 29. Bf3 Nf6 30. Rc4 Qe7 31. Nxf5 gxf5 32. Kg2 Rc8 33. Rb4 Rc7 34. a5 Nd7 35. Bd1 Qf7 36. Rxb7 $2 {This allows counterplay.} (36. Nh3 $1 { Grischuk} Nc5 37. Qf3 Ne4 38. Ng5) 36... Rxb7 37. Qxb7 Rb8 38. Qc6 Rxb2 39. Bc2 Bd4 $2 ({Black was OK with} 39... Rb5 $1 40. Qc8+ Kh7) 40. Nd3 Qe7 41. Kf1 Rb8 42. Ne1 Nc5 43. Nf3 Bf6 44. Bxf5 Rb3 45. Qc8+ Kg7 46. Ng5 Bxg5 (46... Rb2 47. Bh7 $1) 47. fxg5 Rf3+ 48. Kg2 Qe2+ 49. Kh3 {Grischuk noted that here he would have a perpetual if his rook could be taken away from the board. :-) "There is no way to give the rook!"} Rxf5 50. Qxf5 Qxd2 51. Qf6+ Kg8 52. Qg6+ Kh8 53. Qxd6 Nd3 54. Qh6+ Kg8 55. Qe6+ Kg7 56. Qe7+ Kg8 57. d6 Nf2+ 58. Kh4 Qd4+ 59. Kh5 Qd1+ 60. g4 $1 {The only winning move.} Nxg4 (60... Qxg4+ 61. Kg6) 61. Qe8+ Kg7 62. Qd7+ Kh8 63. Qxg4 Qxd6 64. Qc8+ Kg7 65. Qc3+ Kh7 66. Qc2+ Kg7 67. h4 Qe6 68. Qc7+ Kh8 69. Qd8+ Kh7 70. Qc7+ Kh8 71. Qb6 Qc4 72. Qd8+ Kg7 73. Qe7+ Kg8 74. Kh6 Qc6+ 75. g6 Qc1+ 76. Qg5 Qd1 77. Qf4 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.01"] [Round "2.5"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2739"] [PlyCount "109"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:25:38"] [BlackClock "0:31:34"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. a3 (5. Nf3 Bxc5 6. a3 Ne7 7. Bd3 Ng6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nbd2 Nc6 10. b4 Bb6 11. Bxg6 fxg6 12. Nb3 Bd7 13. Re1 a5 { Anand, V (2773)-Mamedyarov,S (2817) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 5... Bxc5 6. Qg4 { "I forgot to prepare for this. I was out of book on move six again." (Navara)} Ne7 7. Nf3 Qb6 $146 (7... Nf5 8. Bd3 h5 9. Qf4 Nc6 10. Bxf5 exf5 11. Qg3 g6 { Bartel,M (2604)-Vaibhav,S (2556) Biel 2018}) 8. Bd3 Nbc6 ({Topalov said Black should have played} 8... Bxf2+ {but since 8.Bd3 was played quickly Navara wanted to avoid his opponent's preparation.}) 9. O-O Ng6 10. Nc3 Qc7 11. Re1 O-O 12. Qh5 Bd7 (12... a6 $5 {Navara}) 13. b4 Be7 14. Bd2 (14. b5 $5 {Topalov}) (14. Bg5 $5 {Topalov}) (14. Ne2 $5 {Topalov}) 14... f5 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Rac1 ( 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Qxg6 {doesn't work, e.g.} Ne7 18. Qh5 Bxc3 $1 19. Ng5 Rf5) 16... Nd4 17. Nxd4 (17. Ng5 {is not better:} Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Nf4 19. Qg3 Rac8) 17... Bxd4 18. Nd1 $1 {"I missed [this] completely, which also contributed to my timetrouble." (Navara)} Qb6 19. Be3 {Changing Black's best piece.} ({After} 19. Ne3 {Topalov thought} Bb5 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21. Qxg6 e5 {was Black's best chance.}) 19... e5 20. c3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 Rae8 22. Bb1 (22. c4 e4 23. Qxd5+ Be6 24. Qxe4 Rf4 25. c5 Qd8 26. Qxb7 Qxd3 {is good for Black.}) 22... d4 23. cxd4 exd4 24. Nc4 $6 (24. Nd5) 24... Qf6 $6 ({Navara saw} 24... Qc6 $1 {which threatens Qxg2+but didn't like it because of} 25. Ba2 {but here} Kh8 $1 { just renews the threat.}) 25. f3 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Bf5 27. Bxf5 Qxf5 28. Qxf5 Rxf5 29. Re8+ Rf8 30. Rxf8+ (30. Re4 $5) 30... Kxf8 31. Nd6 Nf4 32. Kf2 d3 33. Ke3 Nxg2+ 34. Kxd3 Ne1+ 35. Ke4 Nc2 36. Nxb7 Nxa3 37. Nd8 Nc2 38. Nc6 a6 39. Kd3 Ne1+ 40. Ke2 Nc2 41. Kd2 Na3 42. Kd3 Nb5 43. Nb8 Nc7 44. Ke4 Ke7 45. Ke5 Kd8 46. h4 g6 47. f4 Ke7 48. Nc6+ Kd7 49. Nd4 Ke7 50. Nc2 Ne8 51. Ne3 Nf6 52. f5 Kf7 53. Nc4 gxf5 54. Kxf5 Nd5 55. b5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.01"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2845"] [BlackElo "2779"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:35:39"] [BlackClock "1:09:25"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. Rd1 Rd8 11. Be2 (11. Nd2 d4 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Na4 Bb4+ 14. axb4 Qxb4+ 15. Nd2 Qa5 16. Qb3 e5 17. Bg5 Nb4 {Aronian,L (2765)-Caruana,F (2832) London 2018}) 11... Ne4 12. cxd5 $146 (12. O-O Nxc3 13. bxc3 h6 14. a4 Ne7 15. Ne5 Bd6 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Bf3 Nxf4 18. exf4 Bxe5 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. fxe5 Qc7 { Carlsen,M (2835)-Caruana,F (2832) London 2018}) 12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 exd5 14. O-O h6 15. a4 Bd6 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 17. c4 Be6 18. c5 Rdd8 19. Rb1 Qc7 20. Qb2 Rab8 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. Qxd4 b6 23. cxb6 Rxb6 24. h3 Rc8 25. Rfd1 ({Earlier, Carlsen intended} 25. Rbc1 Qxc1 26. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 27. Kh2 {but here he didn't like} Rc2 28. a5 Rbb2 29. Bf3 Rxf2 30. Kg3 a6) 25... Qc3 $6 ({Anand called this "the first blunder" and suggested} 25... Qc5 {as a fairly easy draw.}) 26. Qxc3 Rxc3 27. a5 Rxb1 28. Rxb1 Rc5 $6 (28... Ra3 $1 29. a6 g6 30. Rb7 Ra1+ 31. Kh2 Ra2 32. Bf1 Ra1 33. Bb5 Ra5 {with a draw (Anand).}) 29. a6 $6 {Giving Black a chance to correct the mistake...} ({In fact} 29. Rb8+ {was more accurate:} Kh7 (29... Bc8 $2 30. Bg4) (29... Rc8 30. Rb7) 30. a6) 29... g6 $6 {...but Anand doesn't see it either.} ({Very accurate was} 29... Bc8 $1 {("maybe my last chance" - Anand) and Black can still hold the balance:} 30. Rb8 (30. Rb7 $2 Bxb7 31. axb7 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Rb1) (30. Kh2 Rc6) 30... g6 ({not} 30... Kh7 $2 31. Rb7 Rc1+ 32. Kh2 Bxb7 33. axb7 Rb1 34. Bd3+ {which Anand saw}) 31. Bg4 (31. Ra8 Rc7) 31... f5 {holds (Anand).}) 30. Rb7 Rc1+ 31. Kh2 Rc2 32. Bb5 Rb2 ({In his earlier calculations Anand had missed that after} 32... Rxf2 33. Rxa7 {he doesn't have} d4 {which is also true for Carlsen's line} 34. Ra8+ ({Anand didn't like} 34. e4 $5 {which dominates his bishop}) 34... Kg7 35. Rd8) 33. Kg3 {Now, with f2 protected, White threatens 34.Bd7 and there's no good defense.} Bc8 34. Rb8 Kg7 35. Rxc8 Rxb5 {"I kind of knew that it's lost, with this pawn on d5." - Anand} 36. Rc7 Ra5 37. Rxa7 Kf6 38. Ra8 Ra3 39. Kh2 h5 40. a7 Ra2 ( 40... h4 41. g4 $1 hxg3+ 42. fxg3 {and here Carlsen showed the winning plan which could have happened in the game as well:} Ra2+ 43. Kg1 Ra3 44. Kf2 Kg7 45. Ke2 Ra2+ 46. Kd3 Ra4 47. Kc3 Kf6 48. Kb3 Ra1 49. Kb4 Kg7 50. Kc5 Kf6 (50... Ra5+ 51. Kb6) 51. Kxd5 Kg7 52. h4 Ra3 53. e4 Ra1 54. e5 Ra3 55. g4 Ra1 56. h5 gxh5 57. gxh5 Ra3 58. h6+ Kh7 59. Ke4 Ra1 60. Kf5 Ra6 61. Kg5 Rg6+ 62. Kf4 Ra6 63. Kf5 {and Black has to allow the white king to f6.}) 41. h4 Kf5 42. f3 Ra1 43. g3 {Anand's resignation wasn't premature. See the note to the 40th move for White's winning plan. Also here, g3-g4 will force Black to take on g4 when White's h-pawn will march to h6 and then his king will reach f6.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.01"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2797"] [BlackElo "2753"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:13:00"] [BlackClock "0:10:03"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 ({Both player recently discussed another version of the line:} 9. Nbd2 a5 10. Nf1 Be6 11. Bb5 Na7 12. d4 Nxb5 13. axb5 Bb6 14. dxe5 Ng4 15. Be3 Nxe3 16. Nxe3 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Qg5 18. N5c4 Bxe3 19. Nxe3 Qxb5 {and eventually the game was drawn, Giri,A (2783)-Karjakin,S (2753) St Petersburg 2018}) 9... a5 10. d4 {Karjakin said he had a huge amount of analysis here but he did not consider this obvious move, "probably because the computer doesn't show it."} (10. Bb5 Na7 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 Bb4 13. Bd2 Nxb5 14. axb5 Bd7 15. Qb3 Bxb5 16. Bxb4 axb4 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Qxb4 Qa4 {Grandelius,N (2694)-Karjakin,S (2753) Astana 2019}) ({Black also seemed fine in the line:} 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. b3 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ne4 Bb6 14. Ra2 f5 15. Ng3 Qf6 {Ding,L (2813)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 10... Ba7 $146 {A novelty.} ({Previosly:} 10... exd4 11. cxd4 Bb4 { was tried. Then:} 12. Bd2 Bxd2 13. Qxd2 Nxe4 14. Rxe4 d5 15. Bxd5 Qxd5 { led to a poisition when White still could have some pull.} 16. Re1 ({With the obvious} 16. Nc3) 16... h5 17. Nc3 Qb3 18. Ra3 {Faiyaz,M-Rushil,R Dhaka 2018}) (10... Bb6 11. Qd3 Bd7 12. Nbd2 Re8 13. Nf1 Nh5 14. Be3 Nf6 15. Rad1 Ba7 16. Ng3 Qe7 {Sandor,P (2062)-Visnyei,I (2086) Hungary 2010}) 11. Bb3 Re8 12. Bc2 { White protects the center. Next he simply finishes the development.} Bd7 13. Na3 Qc8 ({Black should have looked for a way to create his own counterplay before his opponent finishes the development.} 13... exd4 {seemed like a good try, for example:} 14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Bb1 Bc6 {and since White lacks coordination,} 16. d5 {is forced and Black can put pressure on the center with: } Bd7 17. Nb5 Bc5 {followed by c7-c6.}) 14. Nb5 Bb6 15. Bb1 exd4 $6 {Giri said Black should have done this earlier.} (15... Qd8 $5 {Giri: "It's still not so easy for me to break through." Although White can continue normally with} 16. Bd2 {followed by Bb1-d3, Qd1-c2, a with space advantage and a comfortable position.}) 16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Ra3 $1 {Kajakin was not happy at all with his opening play. "I felt like I want to resign." This rook left reminded me of Kasparov's rook lifts against Karpov in the Zaitsev variation of the Ruy Lopez. They often led to favorable change of the attacking balances.} Re7 $1 {In order to bring the queen to the kingside for the defense whenever needed.} 18. e5 $1 {Going for decisive actions.} ({One idea behind the move Re8-e7 is revealed after} 18. Nh4 Qe8) 18... dxe5 19. dxe5 Nfd5 20. Nh4 $2 {Missing a win.} ({I have no doubts Kasparov would have continued with:} 20. Bxh6 $3 { The lines cannot be calculated, but the step-by-step attack decides. The difference is that White has more room to operate and can easily transfer attackers against the weakened king. For example:} gxh6 21. Nh4 Qe8 ({If} 21... Qf8 22. Rg3+ Kh8 23. Nc3 $3 {is the key, to remove the knights from their defensive positions, especially the b1-h7 diagonal. Say:} Nxc3 ({If} 23... c6 24. Nxd5 cxd5 25. Qf3 {reaching the f6 square.}) 24. bxc3 {and the white queen lands on c2 or d3 with decisive effect.}) 22. Rg3+ Kh8 {Now both} (22... Kf8 23. Bh7 $1 {is game over.}) 23. Qh5 ({And the immediate} 23. Qf3) 23... Qf8 24. Nc3 $1 {The key move in most of the lines. It tips the scales in favor of the attack. Without the black knight the attack runs by itself.} c6 25. Nxd5 Nxd5 ( 25... cxd5 26. Qf3) 26. Qf3 $1 {and wins like above.}) 20... Qe8 21. Qe2 { White lost the momentum of the attack.} ({Here} 21. Qh5 {is well met with} Nf6 $1 {when} 22. exf6 $2 {loses after} (22. Qe2 Rd8) 22... Rxe1+ 23. Kh2 Rh1+ $1 24. Kxh1 Qe1+ 25. Kh2 Bxf2) 21... Nc6 22. Nf3 ({Once more Black is safe after} 22. Qe4 Nf6 $1) 22... Rd8 23. Kh2 {A clear sign that something went wrong. Giri finds it hard to regroup his troops. The centralized black army saveguards the king.} (23. Qe4 {is again met with the same old} Nf6 $1) ({ Whereas} 23. Qc2 {is answered with} f5 $1) 23... f5 {This secures the king for good.} 24. g4 {A desperate try which backfires.} fxg4 $1 25. Qd3 g6 {Good enough to calm the attacking attempts.} (25... g5 $1 {was even better according to the players.}) 26. Qxd5+ Be6 27. Qe4 gxf3 $1 {Well calculated by Karjakin.} ({Instead} 27... Bxf2 28. Rf1 Bf5 29. Ba2+ Kh7 30. Qf4 g3+ 31. Kg2 Qf8 32. Qh4 {was unclear at best.}) 28. Rg1 (28. Rxf3 {loses to} Bd5) ({ Also bad was} 28. Qxf3 Rf7) ({White's last chance was:} 28. Qh4 $1 {although} Bd5 29. Bxg6 Qxg6 30. Rg1 Rg7 31. Rxg6 Rxg6 32. Bxh6 Rg2+ 33. Kh1 Bxf2 { should be favorable for Black.}) 28... Bf7 29. Ba2 $2 {Loses by force.} (29. Qh4 {should have still be played.}) 29... Bxa2 30. Rxg6+ Qxg6 $1 {The fastest road to the point.} ({Although after} 30... Rg7 31. Rxg7+ Kxg7 32. Rxa2 Qxe5+ 33. Qxe5+ Nxe5 {Black should be still winning.}) 31. Qxg6+ Rg7 32. Qxg7+ { The only move, but insufficient.} ({Otherwise} 32. Qe4 Rg2+ 33. Kh1 Rd1+ { leads to mate.}) 32... Kxg7 33. Rxa2 Rd1 34. Ra1 Kf7 {Avoiding the last little trick. White is helpless.} 0-1 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B34"] [WhiteElo "2739"] [BlackElo "2845"] [PlyCount "116"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:00:03"] [BlackClock "0:32:30"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Nd7 12. Kh1 (12. b4 a6 13. Na3 a5 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. Nc4 Ra8 16. Be3 f5 17. a5 f4 18. Bb6 Qe8 19. Ra3 Qg6 {Caruana,F (2832)-Carlsen,M (2835) London 2018}) 12... a6 13. Na3 a5 $146 (13... f5 14. f4 Qc7 15. Nc4 b6 16. Ra3 Bf6 17. Be3 e4 18. a5 b5 19. Nb6 Rb8 {Maerten,T (2502) -Gleichmann,M (2550) GER email 2015}) 14. f4 f5 15. Nc4 b6 16. Ra3 exf4 (16... g6 17. Rh3 Ba6 18. b3 {Carlsen/Navara}) 17. Bxf4 Nc5 18. Re3 $2 {"A blunder."} (18. Rh3 Nxa4 19. Re3 {Carlsen/Navara}) 18... g5 $1 19. Rxe7 gxf4 {Navara had forgotten that the rook has no way back in this position.} 20. Re6 (20. Nxb6 Qxe7 21. Nxa8 Qa7 22. Qd4 Qxa8 23. Qxf4 Ne4 {Carlsen/Navara}) 20... Nxe6 21. dxe6 Bxe6 22. Rxf4 Bxc4 23. Bxc4+ Kh8 24. g4 (24. Qd4+ Qf6 25. Qxb6 Qe5 (25... Rab8 26. Qxa5 Rxb2 27. Qd2 Rb1+ 28. Rf1 Qa1 29. Kg1) 26. Qd4 Rae8 27. Bf1 (27. h3 Qxd4 28. Rxd4 Re4) 27... Qxd4 28. Rxd4 Re4 29. Rxd6 Rc8 30. Rd7 {Carlsen/ Navara}) 24... Qf6 25. c3 Qe5 26. Qf1 Rae8 27. gxf5 Rf6 28. Qf2 Qc5 29. Kg2 Qc6+ 30. Kh3 (30. Kg3 d5 31. Bb5 Rg8+ 32. Kf3 Qd6 (32... Qc5) 33. Qd4 Rg7 { Carlsen/Navara}) 30... Qc5 (30... Re4 31. Be6 Qxa4 32. Qxb6 Rfxe6 33. fxe6 Rxf4 34. Qd8+ Kg7 35. Qg5+ {Carlsen/Navara}) 31. Kg2 (31. Qxc5 bxc5 32. Kg4 Re3 ( 32... Re5 {Carlsen/Navara})) 31... Qxf2+ 32. Rxf2 Re4 (32... Re5 33. Be6 Kg7 34. Rd2 d5 35. Kg3 Kf8 {Carlsen/Navara}) 33. Be6 Rxa4 34. Kf3 Kg7 ({Carlsen was very sceptical about his winning chances after something like} 34... Rf8 35. Rd2 Rd8 36. f6 Rh4 37. f7 Rh6 38. Bd5 Kg7 39. Re2 Rf6+ 40. Ke4) 35. Rd2 Kh6 36. Rxd6 Kg5 37. Rd8 (37. Rd7 {Navara}) 37... Rh6 38. Rg8+ Kf6 39. Rb8 Rxh2 ( 39... Rh3+ 40. Kg2 Rah4 41. Rxb6 Rxh2+ 42. Kg3 R2h3+ 43. Kg2 Re3 44. Kf2 Re5 { Carlsen/Navara}) 40. Rxb6 Kg5 41. f6 {This doesn't work, but what else?} Rf4+ 42. Kg3 Rhf2 43. Rb5+ Kxf6 44. Bg4 (44. Bd5 h5 {Carlsen/Navara}) 44... a4 45. c4 Kg6 46. c5 a3 $1 {Navara had missed this move.} ({The players thought that} 46... h5 {was a draw due to the following, amazing line they had both seen:} 47. Bxh5+ Kxh5 48. c6+ Kg6 49. c7 R4f3+ 50. Kg4 Rf8 51. Rb8 (51. Rb6+ $2 Kg7 52. Rb8 Rc2) 51... R2f4+ 52. Kg3 Rf3+ 53. Kg2 Rf2+ 54. Kg1 $1 ({and not} 54. Kg3 $2 Kg5 $1 {and Black wins:} 55. Rb5+ R2f5 56. Rb8 Rf3+ 57. Kg2 Rf2+ 58. Kg1 Kh4 59. c8=Q Rf1+ 60. Kg2 R8f2#)) ({However, they had missed a crucial detail: } 46... h5 47. Bxh5+ Kxh5 48. c6+ {and now the counterintuitive} Kh6 $1 { does win actually:} 49. c7 R4f3+ 50. Kg4 Rf8 51. Rb8 (51. Rb6+ Kh7 52. Rb8 Rg2+ {is the same}) 51... Rg2+ $1 52. Kh4 ({or} 52. Kh3) 52... Rgg8 $1 {and here's the difference: the king had to make way for this rook!}) 47. bxa3 (47. c6 Rxb2 48. c7 Rc4 {Carlsen/Navara}) 47... h5 48. Rb4 (48. Bxh5+ Kxh5 49. c6+ Kg6 50. c7 R4f3+ 51. Kg4 {can simply be answered by} Rc3 {Carlsen/Navara}) 48... Rf8 ( 48... Rxb4 49. axb4 Rb2 50. Be6 Kf6 51. Bd7 (51. Bg8 Rxb4) (51. Bd5 Rxb4 52. c6 Rb5 53. c7 Rc5 54. Kh4 Rxc7 55. Bf3 Kf5) 51... Rxb4 52. c6 Rc4 53. Kh3 Kg5 54. Kg3 Rc3+ 55. Kh2 Kf4 56. Kg2 h4 {and Black mates in 30 according to the tablebase.}) 49. Bd1 Rd2 50. Bf3 Rd3 51. Rf4 h4+ 52. Kg4 Rxf4+ 53. Kxf4 Rxa3 54. c6 Rc3 55. Bd5 h3 56. Ke5 Rc5 57. Kd6 Rxd5+ 58. Kxd5 h2 (58... h2 {In the pawn vs queen ending the white king is on the wrong side:} 59. c7 h1=Q+ 60. Kd6 Qb7 61. Kd7 Kf5 62. Kd8 Kf6 63. Kd7 Ke5 64. Kd8 Kd6 65. c8=Q Qe7#) 0-1 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2790"] [PlyCount "125"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:39:04"] [BlackClock "0:42:51"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 Ba7 ({ Mamedyarov preferred not to follow Karjakin's footsteps from yesterday:} 7... h6 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 a5 10. d4 Ba7 11. Bb3 Re8 12. Bc2 Bd7 13. Na3 {Giri,A (2797) -Karjakin,S (2753) Shamkir, Azerbaijan 2019}) 8. Na3 {More and more people like to develop the queenside knight to a3 nowadays. It can still reach the d5 and f5 squares, but does not obstruct the c1-bishop on its journey.} Ne7 9. Nc2 Ng6 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 O-O 12. Qc2 c6 13. a5 $146 {A novelty. However, later Anand might have regretted that this pawn stepped here. White often fixes the queenside like this and secures a square on b6 for his knight. But can he effectively use it?} ({A predecessor saw:} 13. b4 d5 14. Bb3 Ng4 15. Rae1 dxe4 16. dxe4 Qf6 {Vergara Jofre,F (2234)-Arvola,B (2469) Barcelona 2017}) 13... d5 14. Bb3 Be6 15. exd5 ({If} 15. Ng5 {Black can even drop the bishop back} Bc8) 15... cxd5 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 {Both sides play simple and logical moves, fighting for the juicy central squares.} Qd6 ({Black definitely must avoid:} 17... Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ng4 19. Nxg4 Bxg4 20. Ra4 $5 {when the pawn on d5 will turn into weakness.}) 18. f4 exf3 19. Nxf3 Rae8 20. Rfe1 Bd7 {"I felt my position should be good, but I could not see a plan" (Anand) Indeed, Wihte has a queenside majority but cannot make use of it. He does not want to push the c3 pawn as his central pawn will become isolated and weak. A normal plan will be to trade the rooks along the e-file and this might lead to a draw. But, there is one little problem about that idea: without the rooks, the a5 pawn will drop.} 21. g3 h6 22. Qg2 Re7 {At the same time Black's play is very obvious: double the rooks along the open file, then attack on the kingside.} 23. Nc2 ({On} 23. Re2 Rfe8 24. Rae1 Bb5 $1 {is unpleasant for White after:} 25. Nf5 Rxe2 26. Rxe2 Qc7) 23... Rfe8 24. Nb4 ({A typical line where the a5 pawn suffers is:} 24. Rxe7 Rxe7 25. Re1 Qc7) 24... Bb5 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Bd1 { White defends the e2 square but this makes things worse.} ({Perhaps Anand should have tried:} 26. Re1 {with the idea to meet:} Qd8 {With:} ({However Black preserves advantage with:} 26... Rxe1+ $1 27. Nxe1 Ne7 {followed by the attack against the a5 pawn.}) 27. Qf2 Rxe1+ (27... Qxa5 28. Nxd5) 28. Qxe1 Qxa5 29. Nxd5 {and White is fine.}) 26... h5 $1 {Black's attack unravels by itself. Two white pieces remain mere spectators on the queenside.} 27. Qh3 Bd7 28. Qg2 Bb5 29. Qh3 h4 {"I am just lost." (Anand)} 30. Bc2 hxg3 {The most precise solution. Mamedyarov's only concern (but a serious one) was that he was very low on time. Do not forget that in Shamkir players do not have increment and the last moves before the time control became a problem for the Azeri GM.} ({ The former world champion also felt he should lose after:} 30... Bd7 31. Qg2 h3 ) 31. Qxg3 Nf4 32. Kh1 Re3 33. Rg1 g6 34. Qf2 Re2 35. Qh4 {So far everything went smoothly for Black and he only needed precision. Anand was hoping for his only trick in the position to work and it actually did!} Ne4 $6 {A big step in the wrong direction.} ({Strong was:} 35... N6h5 $1 {Black's position was so strong that he could even meet:} 36. Ne5 {with:} Rxe5 $1 37. dxe5 Qxe5 { when White would not defend.}) 36. Bxe4 dxe4 37. Ne5 Nd3 {Not a bad move, but the next one was a shocker for Mamedyarov.} 38. Qh8+ $1 {White wins a pawn, but this is not everything yet.} Kxh8 39. Nxf7+ Kh7 $2 {Low on time, confused Black commits the real mistake.} ({Correct was:} 39... Kg7 $1 40. Nxd6 Bd7 { "Even here I am lost" (Anand) The thing is that the tactical resource that White used after:} 41. Nxe4 {does not work here due to:} ({Therefore White should defend with:} 41. Rg2 Re1+ 42. Rg1 e3 43. Rxe1 Nxe1 44. Kg1 {Black will win a piece, but not necessarily the game after:} Bh3 45. Nxb7 Nf3+ 46. Kh1 e2 47. Nd3 Bf5 48. Nbc5 {In any case Mamedyarov would not have lost the game.}) 41... Nxb4 {There is no check on f6 and White loses a piece and the game after: } 42. cxb4 Bc6) 40. Nxd6 Bd7 $2 {The last move in the time time-scramble completely turns tables in White's favor.} ({Black would be still fine after the correct:} 40... Ne1 $1 {Threatening Ne1-f3 with mating attack.} 41. Nf7 { (To trade the black knight)} Nf3 (41... Kg7 42. Ne5) 42. Ng5+ Kg7 43. Nxf3 exf3 {Black's strong pieces more than compensate him for the pawn.}) 41. Nxe4 $1 { The second little trick.} Bf5 ({Here} 41... Nxb4 {loses due to the fork:} 42. Nf6+ Kg7 43. Nxd7) 42. Ng5+ Kh6 43. Nxd3 Bxd3 44. Rg3 Re1+ {Mamedyarov forces the gain of the b2 pawn.} ({But perhaps he should have brought the bishop on the long diagonal.} 44... Bc4 $5) 45. Kg2 Re2+ 46. Kg1 Re1+ 47. Kf2 Re2+ 48. Kf3 $1 {In return for the pawn Anand activates the king.} Rxb2 49. Kf4 Bf5 50. Ke5 $1 {Maximum activity.} Rxh2 ({After:} 50... Rb5+ {White has a pleasant choice to play for mate with:} 51. Kf6 ({Or to advance his passers with:} 51. d5 Rxa5 52. Nf7+ Kg7 53. Nd6) 51... Rxa5 52. Nf7+ Kh7 ({If} 52... Kh5 $2 53. Rg5+ Kh4 54. Ne5 $1 {Wins material thanks to the threat Ne5-f3+ followed by Rg5-g3 mate.} Be4 55. Nxg6+ Bxg6 56. Rxa5) 53. Re3 {True, Black can still defend with:} Bg4 54. Re5 (54. Nd6) 54... Rxe5 55. dxe5 a5 56. Nd6 a4 57. Nc4) 51. Nf7+ Kg7 52. Nd6 Re2+ 53. Kd5 Kf6 54. c4 {White's co-ordination is the key to his win.} Re7 55. Rf3 $1 {Prepares c7-c5 followed by Kd5-c4 and d4-d5.} (55. c5 Be6+ {would not be that exact.}) 55... Rd7 ({Trickier would have been:} 55... Kg5 $5 {As} 56. c5 $4 {would be awkward after:} ({However} 56. Kc5 $1 { should have still given White wonderful winning chances.}) 56... Be6+ 57. Ke5 Bc4#) 56. c5 Re7 57. Rf2 Rh7 58. Nxf5 gxf5 59. Kd6 {The pawns are unstoppable.} Rh8 60. Rd2 f4 61. Kc7 Rh7+ 62. Kc8 f3 63. d5 (63. d5 {Black resigned due to:} Ke5 64. d6 Ke4 65. d7) 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C89"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2812"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "2:05:50"] [BlackClock "2:18:54"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. d3 Bd6 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4 15. g3 Qh3 16. Nd2 (16. Be3 Bxd3 17. Nd2 Qf5 18. Bd4 Rfd8 19. Qxf5 Bxf5 20. Ne4 Bf8 21. f3 h6 22. Rad1 a5 {Saric,I (2690)-Navara,D (2738) Gibraltar 2019}) 16... Rae8 17. Ne4 Bg4 18. Qg2 Qxg2+ 19. Kxg2 f5 20. h3 Bh5 21. Bf4 Bxf4 22. gxf4 fxe4 23. dxe4 Bf3+ 24. Kxf3 Rxf4+ 25. Kg3 Rfxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. f3 Re2 ( 27... Re5 28. c4 bxc4 29. Bxc4 a5 30. Rc1 Rg5+ 31. Kf2 Kf8 32. Bd3 (32. Bf1 Ne7 33. Rc4 Rd5 34. Ra4 Ke8 35. Bc4 Rd2+ 36. Ke3 Rxb2 37. Rxa5 Kd7 {Polgar,J (2707) -Aronian,L (2739) Wijk aan Zee 2008}) 32... Nb4 33. Bxh7 g6 34. Rd1 Nxa2 35. Ra1 Nb4 36. h4 Rh5 37. Bxg6 Rxh4 {Radjabov,T (2734)-Aronian,L (2797) Wijk aan Zee 2015}) 28. c4 bxc4 29. Bxc4 Rxb2 30. Bxa6 g5 31. Bc4 ({Ding spent a lot of time on} 31. a4 Kg7 32. a5 h5 ({easier is} 32... Nf4 33. Bf1 Kg6 34. h4 Kf5 35. a6 {and a draw was agreed in Nakamura,H (2613)-Aronian,L (2684) Gibraltar 2005} ) 33. h4 Kf6 34. Bf1 (34. Bd3 $5) 34... gxh4+ 35. Kxh4 Ne3 36. Bh3 Nf5+ 37. Bxf5 (37. Kxh5 Rb8 38. Kg4 Rh8) 37... Kxf5 38. a6 Rb8) 31... Kg7 32. Bxd5 cxd5 33. a4 h5 $146 (33... Rb6 34. a5 Ra6 35. f4 gxf4+ 36. Kxf4 Kf6 37. Ke3 Ke5 { 1/2 (39) Kasperek,R (2275)-De Melo,G (2083) LSS email 2010}) 34. h4 Kg6 35. a5 Rb7 36. a6 Ra7 37. hxg5 Kxg5 38. Ra5 h4+ 39. Kh3 Kf4 40. Rxd5 Rxa6 41. Kxh4 Rh6+ 42. Rh5 Rxh5+ 43. Kxh5 Kxf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2797"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:47:09"] [BlackClock "1:15:48"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 c5 10. g4 $146 (10. Be2 dxc4 11. O-O Qe7 12. Bxc4 Nc6 13. Re1 Rd8 14. Qd3 b6 15. Rad1 Bb7 {Beliavsky,A (2623)-Mchedlishvili,M (2586) Jerusalem 2015}) 10... cxd4 (10... Nc6 11. h4 {Grischuk}) 11. cxd4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 (12. g5 $6 hxg5 13. Rg1 Nc6 14. Nxg5 e5) (12. h4 $5 b6 (12... Qd8 {Giri} 13. Bxc4 Qa5+ 14. Qd2 {Grischuk}) 13. g5 Qf5 14. gxh6 (14. Bxc4 Bb7 15. Be2 h5) 14... Bb7 15. hxg7 $2 Bxf3 $1 16. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8) 12... b6 13. g5 hxg5 14. Rg1 Ba6 15. Bxa6 ( 15. Bb3 $5 Nd7 16. Nxg5 Rac8) 15... Nxa6 16. Nxg5 (16. Rxg5 {allows} Nc5 $1 17. dxc5 Rad8 {Grischuk}) 16... Qf5 17. e4 (17. Rg3 f6 18. Nf3 Rf7) 17... Qa5+ 18. Kf1 (18. Qd2 Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Rac8 {and Black is not worse.}) 18... Qb5+ 19. Ke1 Qa5+ (19... Qb2 $2 20. Qh5 $1 Qxa1+ 21. Ke2 Qb2+ 22. Kf3 Qc3+ 23. Kg4 { actually wins for White.}) 20. Kf1 Qb5+ 21. Ke1 Qa5+ 22. Kf1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "3.2"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2740"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:15:02"] [BlackClock "0:11:05"] 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 Ba5 $5 {Karjakin was surprised by this move. It had been played before by Nihal Sarin in a blitz game.} (10... Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qc2 Bg6 13. Qb3 Ne7 14. O-O c6 15. Bd3 Nd2 16. Nxd2 Bxd3 17. Rfd1 Bg6 {Aronian, L (2767)-Nakamura,H (2777) chess.com INT 2018}) 11. Qb3 (11. Rc1 Ne7 12. O-O c6 13. Bd3 Bf5 14. Nh4 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Qd7 {Jones,G (2682)-Nihal,S (2576) St Petersburg RUS 2018}) 11... Bxc3+ $146 (11... f6 12. O-O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Na5 14. Qc2 Qe7 15. Kb1 Bf5 {Mircov,N (1797)-Valladolid Martin,F (1878) Gibraltar 2019}) ({Topalov mentioned} 11... Nxd4 $5 12. Nxd4 c5 13. Nf3 (13. Nde2 $5) 13... d4 14. O-O-O (14. Rd1) 14... Bxc3 15. bxc3 Be6 16. Qc2 {which seemed good for White except that there's} Qa5 $1 17. Qxe4 dxe3) (11... Bg4 $5) 12. bxc3 Na5 13. Qb4 (13. Qc2 Bf5 14. Bd3 Bg6 {and now possibly} 15. h4 { although Karjakin said it's not really his plan.} (15. O-O)) 13... b6 14. O-O Bf5 15. Rfc1 Rc8 (15... c6 16. Bd3 Rb8) 16. Ba6 Rb8 (16... c5 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Qa3 Rc6 (18... Nc4 $5) 19. Bb5 Rc8 {Topalov} (19... Rg6)) 17. Bd3 Re8 (17... c6 ) 18. h3 (18. Ne1 c5) 18... c6 19. Bf4 Rb7 20. Qb2 b5 21. Qe2 Nc4 (21... Bg6 $5 22. Bxe4 Bxe4 23. Nd2 Bg6 24. Nb3 Nxb3 25. axb3 a5 {Karjakin}) 22. Ng5 Nxg5 23. Bxf5 Ne6 {"Somehow I thought my knights are very good." (Topalov)} 24. Bg3 b4 $5 {Forcing matters.} (24... g6 $5 25. Bd3 c5 26. dxc5 Nxc5 27. Rd1 Qb6) 25. Qg4 Qb8 26. h4 (26. Bh4 {doesn't really threaten much, e.g.} a5) 26... a5 27. h5 Qa7 $1 {Underestimated by Karjakin.} 28. Rab1 (28. h6 g6 29. Bh4 bxc3 30. Bxe6 fxe6 31. Rxc3 c5 {is very double-edged.}) 28... Nd2 ({Too risky is} 28... bxc3 29. Rxb7 Qxb7 30. Rxc3 Qb2 {because of} 31. Rb3 Qc1+ (31... Qxa2 $2 32. Rb7 {just loses}) 32. Kh2 {and White is very active.}) 29. Rb2 Nc4 30. Rb3 Nd2 31. Rb2 Nc4 32. Rb3 Nd2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.01"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2845"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {The focus of this round was definitely this game, between Vishy Anand and Magnus Carlsen. I have huge respect for both players in general, and Magnus in particular for his squeezing abilities. This game showed just how dangerous it is to miss a couple of easy draws against the World Champion- he doesn't let you go once he's got something to pull at!} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 { Both players are versatile 2800+ strength, so it is no surprise for either side that the above topical line is reached. Anand has made it a habit of defending successfully from Black's side in the QGD. This game too was similar. } 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 $1 {Each time I see Vishy play this, I assume that a draw will be the final outcome after some more moves. Anand has made this a solid drawing weapon in his repertoire, and his loss in this game has nothing to do with the opening.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 $5 {Some fight shown by Magnus here.} (8. cxd5 $5 exd5 {was extensively tested in the Sinquefield Cup 2018, with Anand defending the Black side against Naka, Levon and Fabi. I have extensively analysed the resulting positions in my previous annotations, and I feel that Black equalises after everything White throws at him here. So it is no surprise Magnus goes for a different path. For more information on this line, please refer my annotations in Nakamura-Anand, Caruana-Anand and Aronian-Anand from last year.}) 8... Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. Rd1 {A natural move from Magnus.} (10. O-O-O $5 {is definitely more interesting, but nowadays not played due to} Be7 11. Kb1 a6 12. g4 dxc4 $1 13. Bxc4 b5 14. Bd3 b4 $1 $132 { with atleast equal chances for Black.}) 10... Rd8 11. Be2 $5 {Interesting decision from Magnus, following his World Championship game here.} (11. Nd2 dxc4 12. Nxc4 {is far more common, and after} Rxd1+ 13. Qxd1 Qd8 14. Qxd8+ Nxd8 15. Be2 Bd7 16. b4 Be7 $14 {White has a slightly better endgame to play with. Knowing Magnus, I expected him to play this, till atleast move 80!}) 11... Ne4 12. cxd5 $5 $146 {Magnus deviates from the aforementioned game against Fabi, with another natural try here- White plays against an IQP. But unlike the previous version that Vishy could have gotten on move 8, its far more complex here, so White definitely has better chances for an advantage.} Nxc3 13. bxc3 exd5 (13... Rxd5 $5 14. O-O $1 (14. Rxd5 exd5 $11) 14... Rxd1 15. Rxd1 Be7 $14 {is already a little uncomfortable for Black, due to his under developed pieces. I understand Vishy's decison to keep the rooks on here. Frankly, I feel very jittery when analysing for Black here - he could get into trouble quickly.}) 14. O-O h6 15. a4 Bd6 $1 {Anand knows what he is doing. Slowly he exchanges White's active pieces and activates his own.} 16. Bxd6 Rxd6 17. c4 Be6 18. c5 $1 {The only way to really claim an advantage.} Rdd8 19. Rb1 Qc7 20. Qb2 $5 {I don't like this move too much- it gives Black a clear equalising option.} (20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. exd4 Bd7 22. a5 $1 $14 {keeps some more tension in the position, and more imbalances. I prefer White here- d5 is weaker than d4, and he possesses more space and pressure on the b-file.}) 20... Rab8 $1 21. Nd4 Nxd4 22. Qxd4 (22. exd4 {isn't as good here as it was previously as after} b6 $1 $132 {The black rook and white queen are on the same file. Black can alreadly feel much more confident here.}) 22... b6 23. cxb6 Rxb6 24. h3 Rc8 25. Rfd1 {Around here, one would expect the game to end up in a draw in a few more moves. But Magnus being Magnus, waits for Anand to start commiting mistakes, and unfortunately for Indian fans, Vishy obliges.} Qc3 $6 {Having played so well till now, neutralising White's opening advantage and getting an equal position, Anand starts to lose patience, and fails to accurately evaluate the position.} (25... Qc5 $1 {holds without much effort, as a5 is prevented, and the b6 pawn will be as weak as the a4 pawn. The best white can do is to play against hanging pawns after} 26. Rxb6 axb6 27. Qxc5 bxc5 28. f4 c4 $1 $132 { but Black has enough counterplay with the c-pawn to draw.}) 26. Qxc3 Rxc3 27. a5 Rxb1 28. Rxb1 Rc5 $6 {The second imprecision by Vishy. Now it's getting rather difficult for Black.} (28... Ra3 $1 {In the press conference, he suggested this move as an alternative. Indeed, after} 29. Rb8+ Kh7 30. a6 Ra1+ 31. Kh2 Ra2 32. Bd3+ g6 33. Rb7 Ra3 34. Bf1 Ra1 $11 {The perpetual attack on the bishop ensures the draw, as} 35. Kg1 $2 d4 $1 36. exd4 Bc4 37. Kh2 Rxf1 38. Rxa7 Rxf2 $19 {wins for Black.}) 29. a6 $1 $16 {White now has some serious reasons to play for the win.} g6 $2 {The final nail in the coffin.} (29... Bc8 $1 {was a must here, as Anand himself mentioned. After} 30. Rb8 g6 31. Bg4 f5 32. Bf3 Kg7 $11 {Black just about holds on. But a draw is a draw, and Anand misses his last chance to get one.}) 30. Rb7 $1 $18 Rc1+ 31. Kh2 Rc2 32. Bb5 Rb2 33. Kg3 $1 {Here, it is clear that the perpetual attack on the bishop doesn't work due to the rook being protected, and that White is winning.} Bc8 34. Rb8 Kg7 35. Rxc8 Rxb5 36. Rc7 Ra5 37. Rxa7 $18 {even though the comps show +1.5 something, the position is a technical win from here. Black gets diverted by the a-pawn and White meanwhile gobbles up the kingside and wins easily.} Kf6 38. Ra8 Ra3 39. Kh2 h5 40. a7 Ra2 41. h4 Kf5 42. f3 Ra1 43. g3 {and Anand decided that enough is enough. A sad end to the game for the legend, having played such a good opening and middlegame. Having said that, due credit should be given to Magnus as well, for his enterprising opening idea and patient endgame play. He didn't achieve much, but as they say, you can either win a chess game or watch your opponent lose it, and the latter is precisely what Magnus did today. I look forward to Anand coming back from this loss, and to Magnus continuing his endgame lessons for all of us.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.01"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2797"] [BlackElo "2753"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 h6 8. Re1 O-O 9. h3 a5 $5 (9... Ba7 10. b4 Re8 11. Nbd2 Be6 12. Bxe6 Rxe6 13. Qc2 Qd7 14. Nf1 d5 $132 {looks to me the most natural continuation for Black here.}) 10. d4 Ba7 11. Bb3 Re8 12. Bc2 Bd7 13. Na3 Qc8 14. Nb5 Bb6 15. Bb1 exd4 16. cxd4 Nb4 17. Ra3 Re7 $2 (17... Qd8 $1 18. Nc3 Nh7 19. Be3 Rc8 20. e5 $1 Nf8 $1 $16 {was a better defence.}) 18. e5 $1 dxe5 19. dxe5 Nfd5 20. Nh4 (20. Bxh6 $3 {Kills it immediately. An intuitive Bishop sacrifice, it isn't necessary to calculate here- Black is finished! After} gxh6 21. Nh4 Re6 22. Rg3+ Kh8 23. Nc3 $1 Ne7 24. Ne4 Nbd5 25. Ng5 $3 Qf8 (25... hxg5 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. Rxg5+ Rg6 28. Bxg6 fxg6 29. Nxg6 $18 {is mate in 10 according to stockfish.}) 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qc2 $18 {Black is toast.}) 20... Qe8 21. Qe2 Nc6 22. Nf3 Rd8 23. Kh2 f5 24. g4 $4 {Miscalculation.} (24. Rd3 $1 Be6 25. Nbd4 Nxd4 26. Nxd4 $13) 24... fxg4 25. Qd3 g6 $2 (25... g5 $3 26. Qxd5+ Be6 27. Qe4 gxf3 28. Be3 Bxe3 29. Raxe3 Rd2 $1 $19 {immediately forces resignation or resignation after giving material (a lot of it!)}) 26. Qxd5+ Be6 27. Qe4 gxf3 28. Rg1 (28. Qh4 $1 $132 {maintains the tension and mutual chances.}) 28... Bf7 29. Ba2 $4 Bxa2 $1 30. Rxg6+ Qxg6 $1 31. Qxg6+ Rg7 32. Qxg7+ Kxg7 33. Rxa2 Rd1 34. Ra1 Kf7 0-1 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.01"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A50"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "153"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 Bg7 8. Nge2 Nbd7 9. Ng3 h5 $5 (9... O-O 10. Be2 Ne8 $1 11. Be3 Nc7 12. Qd2 a6 13. a4 Rb8 14. O-O b5 $1 $132 {is a more clear cut way to equalise chances in my opinion. Black doesn't weaken his king here.}) 10. Be2 Nh7 11. Nf1 Qh4+ 12. g3 Qe7 13. Ne3 O-O 14. a4 Ne5 15. O-O Bh3 16. Re1 Rae8 17. Bd2 a6 18. Ra3 $5 (18. f4 $1 { is very hard to meet here. White is already pressing a little bit here.}) 18... Qc7 19. f4 Nd7 (19... Ng4 $5) 20. Bxh5 c4 21. Bf3 Nc5 22. Qc2 Nb3 (22... Nd3 $1 $132 {gives Black a lot of counterplay here. A line can go} 23. Re2 f5 24. Kh1 Ng5 $3 25. fxg5 f4 26. gxf4 Rxf4 27. Bg2 Bxg2+ 28. Rxg2 (28. Kxg2 $4 Qf7 $1 29. Ncd1 Rf8 $19 {and Black suddenly wins!}) 28... Qf7 29. Ne2 Nf2+ $1 $11 { and Black has enough play here to draw.}) 23. Rxb3 cxb3 24. Qxb3 Kh8 25. Ncd1 f5 26. Nf2 fxe4 27. Bxe4 Bf5 28. Rc1 Qd7 29. Bf3 Nf6 30. Rc4 Qe7 31. Nxf5 gxf5 32. Kg2 Rc8 33. Rb4 Rc7 34. a5 Nd7 35. Bd1 Qf7 36. Rxb7 Rxb7 37. Qxb7 Rb8 38. Qc6 Rxb2 39. Bc2 Bd4 (39... Nf6 $1 40. Bc1 Ra2 $1 $13 {and all 3 results are still possible!}) 40. Nd3 Qe7 41. Kf1 Rb8 42. Ne1 Nc5 43. Nf3 Bf6 44. Bxf5 Rb3 45. Qc8+ Kg7 46. Ng5 Bxg5 47. fxg5 Rf3+ $2 (47... Qe5 $1 48. Qc7+ Kf8 49. Qc8+ Kg7 50. Bf4 Qxd5 51. Qc7+ Qf7 52. Qxf7+ Kxf7 53. h4 Ne6 54. g6+ Kf6 55. Bxe6 Kxe6 56. h5 Kf6 $132 {should be holdable for Black.} 57. Bxd6 $2 Rb5 $1 $17) 48. Kg2 $1 $16 Qe2+ 49. Kh3 Rxf5 50. Qxf5 Qxd2 51. Qf6+ Kg8 52. Qg6+ Kh8 53. Qxd6 Nd3 54. Qh6+ Kg8 55. Qe6+ Kg7 56. Qe7+ Kg8 57. d6 Nf2+ 58. Kh4 Qd4+ 59. Kh5 Qd1+ 60. g4 Nxg4 61. Qe8+ Kg7 62. Qd7+ Kh8 63. Qxg4 Qxd6 64. Qc8+ Kg7 65. Qc3+ Kh7 66. Qc2+ Kg7 67. h4 Qe6 68. Qc7+ Kh8 69. Qd8+ Kh7 70. Qc7+ Kh8 71. Qb6 Qc4 72. Qd8+ Kg7 73. Qe7+ Kg8 74. Kh6 Qc6+ 75. g6 Qc1+ 76. Qg5 Qd1 77. Qf4 { The beauty of the Modern Benoni lies in dogfights like these, where White can't get his promised advantage because of the wildly complex positions that Black forces him into.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B34"] [WhiteElo "2739"] [BlackElo "2845"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "140"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Nd7 12. Kh1 a6 13. Na3 a5 $1 {A very strong novelty from Magnus. The idea is to inhibit White's play on the queenside with b4.} 14. f4 f5 15. Nc4 b6 16. Ra3 $5 (16. fxe5 Nxe5 17. Be3 $1 ( 17. Nxe5 $2 dxe5 $17) 17... Nxc4 18. Bxc4 Bf6 19. c3 Be5 20. g3 Bd7 21. Bd3 $14 {is quite a pleasant position for White, even if the engine shows 0.00. It's not clear how I can improve white's position from here though. This probably explains Navara's move.}) 16... exf4 17. Bxf4 Nc5 18. Re3 $6 (18. Rg3 $1 Nxa4 19. Nxd6 $3 Bxd6 20. Qd4 $1 Ra7 21. Qxa4 Re7 22. Bd3 Bb7 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Qd4 $13 {results in a complicated middlegame with mutual chances. I prefer white here, but that is a matter of taste.}) 18... g5 19. Rxe7 $6 (19. Rg3 $3 { surprisingly maintains dynamic equilibrium. After} Ne4 20. Be3 f4 $5 (20... g4 21. Bd3 Nxg3+ 22. hxg3 Bg5 23. Qd2 $44) 21. Bxb6 $1 Nxg3+ 22. hxg3 Qe8 23. gxf4 Qg6 24. fxg5 $44) 19... gxf4 20. Re6 Nxe6 21. dxe6 Bxe6 22. Rxf4 Bxc4 23. Bxc4+ Kh8 24. g4 $6 (24. b3 $17 {was the only way to prolong the resistance.}) 24... Qf6 25. c3 Qe5 26. Qf1 Rae8 27. gxf5 Rf6 28. Qf2 Qc5 29. Kg2 Qc6+ 30. Kh3 Qc5 $1 31. Kg2 Qxf2+ 32. Rxf2 Re4 $19 {After the queens are exchanged it's one way traffic.} 33. Be6 Rxa4 34. Kf3 Kg7 35. Rd2 Kh6 36. Rxd6 Kg5 37. Rd8 Rh6 38. Rg8+ Kf6 39. Rb8 Rxh2 40. Rxb6 Kg5 41. f6 Rf4+ 42. Kg3 Rhf2 43. Rb5+ Kxf6 44. Bg4 a4 45. c4 Kg6 46. c5 a3 47. bxa3 h5 48. Rb4 Rf8 49. Bd1 Rd2 50. Bf3 Rd3 51. Rf4 h4+ 52. Kg4 Rxf4+ 53. Kxf4 Rxa3 54. c6 Rc3 55. Bd5 h3 56. Ke5 Rc5 57. Kd6 Rxd5+ $1 58. Kxd5 h2 {and Navara resigned, as white gets mated after} 59. c7 h1=Q+ 60. Kd6 Qb7 61. Kd7 Kf7 62. Kd6 (62. Kd8 Qd5+ 63. Kc8 Qb5 64. Kd8 Qe8#) 62... Kf6 63. Kc5 Qxc7+ 64. Kd4 Kf5 65. Kd3 Qc5 66. Ke2 Qc3 67. Kf2 Kf4 68. Kg2 Qc2+ 69. Kg1 Kf3 70. Kf1 Qd1# 0-1 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2790"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "125"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {I was eagerly looking forward to this game. As a diehard Anand fan, I was hoping for a crushing Vishy Victory and a return to 50%. I knew the game would not be an easy one, but I couldn't even fathom the complexity of this encounter. A fascinating duel!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O {These lines have replaced the aggressive plans with keeping the king on e1 and launching a kingside offensive.} Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. c3 a6 7. a4 {The most critical try for an opening advantage. White prevents b5 and prepares b4-b5 or b4-a5-b5.} Ba7 8. Na3 Ne7 9. Nc2 Ng6 {Due to the closed center, both sides complete knight maneuvers. Anand now exchanges Black's only active piece- the dark square bisop.} 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. Nxe3 $1 {The best way to fight for an advantage. Anand has been known throughout his career for his principled opening choices.} (11. fxe3 O-O 12. a5 Bd7 13. Nb4 c6 14. Nd2 Ng4 15. Qf3 Kh8 $13 {Results in a murky middlegame where Black is definitely not worse. I don't see a clear plan for white here, while Black can always play for d5.}) 11... O-O 12. Qc2 c6 13. a5 $5 {I am not too sure about this move. Sure, it looks interesting, but with best play Black should equalise. It is an interesting way to fight for the advantage though.} d5 $1 {Black is fine after this timely break.} 14. Bb3 Be6 15. exd5 cxd5 16. d4 e4 17. Ne5 Qd6 18. f4 { Too commital in my opinion. White's position isn't ready for such measures.} ( 18. Nxg6 hxg6 19. Ra4 Rfc8 20. Qd2 Rab8 21. Rc1 $13 {looks to be the most logical plan to me, preparing c4 and keeping the queenside in check. If White can get in c4 under favourable circumstances, he should be better.}) 18... exf3 $1 19. Nxf3 Rae8 {Mamedyarov has wisely opened the position, seeing that his better development should count for something here.} 20. Rfe1 {Stockfish calls this an innacuracy, but I don't understand why. What I do understand is Vishy was still keeping the option of playing the queenside rook to b4 to target the weakness on b7. The machine can't see such long term ideas, but it too can't be completely wrong. What I can derieve from all this is that while Anand's plan is fascinating, it is too slow in this position, as the open file guarantees Black counterplay against White's king.} Bd7 21. g3 $6 {The start of a questionable plan.} (21. Rad1 $1 Bc6 22. Qf5 $1 $11 {was a more accurate way of targetting the d5 pawn and maintaing dynamic balance.}) 21... h6 $1 { Shak is cautious for the moment.} (21... h5 {is one move too soon, after} 22. Ng5 $1 Re7 23. Qf2 Rfe8 24. Ng2 $11 {White simplifies.}) (21... Re7 $5 { looked more precise, trying to cause white some problems on the e-file. But after} 22. c4 $1 Bc6 23. cxd5 Nxd5 24. Nf5 $1 Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Qb4 $1 $132 { Black has enough play to maintain the balance, but nothing much more than that. }) 22. Qg2 Re7 23. Nc2 $6 {A serious imprecision.} (23. Bc2 $1 Rfe8 24. Qf2 Bh3 25. Nf5 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 27. Qxe1 $132 {maintains status quo.}) 23... Rfe8 $1 24. Nb4 Bb5 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Bd1 $2 {I don't understand this move. Was Vishy playing to win here? At any rate the locking away of the rook lands him in huge trouble.} (26. Re1 $1 Rxe1+ 27. Nxe1 Ne7 28. Qf3 Qd8 $17 {was the lesser evil.}) 26... h5 $1 {Black gets a winning attack now, and Shak plays the next few moves very precisely.} 27. Qh3 Bd7 28. Qg2 Bb5 29. Qh3 h4 30. Bc2 hxg3 31. Qxg3 Nf4 32. Kh1 Re3 33. Rg1 g6 34. Qf2 Re2 35. Qh4 Ne4 $2 {After getting such a great attacking position, Shak shows uncertainity for the first time in the game.} (35... N6h5 $1 {Kills the game off completely. After} 36. Bf5 Rxb2 37. Ne5 Qf6 $19 {White can either exchange queens and lose later, or resign now.}) 36. Bxe4 $1 {The wounded tiger suddenly gets its second wind. Anand pounces on the error, and calculates accurately a precise sequence of exchanges to move 40.} dxe4 37. Ne5 Nd3 38. Qh8+ $1 Kxh8 39. Nxf7+ Kh7 40. Nxd6 Bd7 $2 {Mistakes come in pairs.} ({After squandering nearly all of his advantage, I symphatise with Shak here. He would have surely been disheartened at this stage of the game. I am not sure whether he saw the paradoxial} 40... Ne1 $3 {aiming to weave a mating net, and preventing Nxe4, on account of Rxe4 and the knight is protected. After} 41. Rg3 Nf3 $1 42. Rh3+ Kg7 43. Nxe4 Nxd4 44. Ng5 $15 {Anand retains real saving chances here, but this was Shak's last chance to get something from this game.}) 41. Nxe4 $1 {No more! says Anand. The wounded tiger has been resurrected in all its previous glory, and White reclaims the edge in this fight. Shak's shoulders must have drooped by now, and his micro innacuracies till the end take nothing away from Anand's terrific technique.} Bf5 42. Ng5+ $1 Kh6 43. Nxd3 Bxd3 44. Rg3 Re1+ (44... Bc4 $1 {was Mamedyarov's last chance, trying to blockade the pawns on the light squares. White would then have to slowly unravel after} 45. b4 Bd5+ 46. Kg1 Rc2 47. Nh3 $18 {Nf4, and d5, thus gaining the winning advantage.}) 45. Kg2 Re2+ 46. Kg1 Re1+ 47. Kf2 Re2+ 48. Kf3 $1 {Watch and learn how Anand prioritises activity even in the endgame. The initiative and piece play are the soul of winning chess, and Anand epitomises them in his upcoming moves.} Rxb2 {Black regains a pawn, and even wins h2. But at what price?} 49. Kf4 $1 Bf5 50. Ke5 $1 {White's pieces have achieved beautiful co-ordination here. Anand is playing the game literally a piece up here, as Black's king is a spectator. Shak grabs another pawn to try and repair the damage, but it is too late.} Rxh2 51. Nf7+ { Vishy commits a micro innacuracy here, allowing the king back into play.} (51. Kf6 $1 {Wins far more easily, trapping Black's king to the corner of the board. After} Kh5 52. Nf3 $1 Rf2 53. Kg7 Bg4 54. Ne5 Be6 55. Rxg6 $18 {It is only a matter of time before the Black king loses his head.}) 51... Kg7 52. Nd6 Re2+ 53. Kd5 Kf6 54. c4 Re7 55. Rf3 Rd7 56. c5 {This diagram is worth memorising. Anand would have surely reached here in his calculations and assessed this as a win for White. Just look at the domination!} Re7 57. Rf2 Rh7 58. Nxf5 gxf5 59. Kd6 {Now, the battle is decided by the effectiveness of each side's king and their co-operation with their passed pawns. White is clearly winning.} Rh8 60. Rd2 f4 61. Kc7 Rh7+ 62. Kc8 f3 63. d5 {and Shak had enough. A fairytale comeback for Anand, who at the ripe old age of 49 continues to give us all lessons in never giving up and endgame mastery. As for Shak, a disappointing end to a very good middlegame that he player, but he has enough time to recover from the loss and post a good result in this tournament.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2771"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:27:09"] [BlackClock "1:22:07"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. d4 Nf6 5. c4 c6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Ne5 Ne4 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qa4 Qb6 13. e4 (13. Ba3 Qa6 14. Qxa6 Bxa6 15. Rfb1 Bxe2 16. Bxe7 Rfb8 17. Bd6 Rd8 18. Bc7 Rdc8 19. Bd6 Rd8 20. Bc7 Rdc8 21. Bd6 {1/2 (21) Dubov,D (2691)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2768) Satka 2018}) 13... Qa6 14. Qb4 {This move was only played once before, by Fabiano Caruana eight years ago.} dxe4 15. Bxe4 e5 (15... Be6 16. Bf4 Rfe8 17. Rfe1 Rac8 18. Bg2 Qc4 19. Qa3 c5 20. Bf1 Qd5 21. Bg2 Qc4 22. Bf1 Qd5 23. Bg2 {1/2 (23) Caruana,F (2711)-Svidler,P (2739) Khanty Mansiysk 2011}) 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Be3 $146 (17. Qc5 Bh3 18. Bh6 Bf6 19. Rfd1 Rfd8 20. Qxc6 Qxc6 21. Bxc6 Rac8 22. Bg2 Be6 {1/2 (22) Berecz, G (2302)-De Blois Figueredo,A (2399) ICCF email 2012}) 17... Be6 18. Qc5 Bg7 19. Rfd1 Rad8 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. h4 (21. a4 Bh3 $5 { with the idea} 22. Bg2 $2 Qxa4 $1 {Grischuk}) 21... Qc4 22. Qxc4 Bxc4 23. Bxa7 Bxc3 (23... Ra8 24. Bd4 Bxd4 25. cxd4 Rxa2 26. Rxa2 ({or} 26. Rc1 Bd5 27. Bxd5 cxd5 28. Rc5 {Grischuk}) 26... Bxa2 27. Bxc6 {should still be a draw but it's less fun for Black.}) 24. Rc1 Bd4 25. Bxd4 (25. Rxc4 Bxa7 26. Rc2 c5 {Grischuk} ) 25... Rxd4 26. Bxc6 Bxa2 27. Kg2 Bd5+ 28. Bxd5 Rxd5 29. Rh1 h5 30. Rg1 Kg7 31. Rh1 Kg8 32. Rg1 Kg7 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E21"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2845"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:19:58"] [BlackClock "1:17:16"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. e3 Bf5 9. Ne5 $5 (9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Ne5 Be7 13. f4 Nb6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rf3 Qe7 {Edouard,R (2643)-So,W (2765) chess.com INT 2019}) 9... c5 10. Bd3 cxd4 11. exd4 Bxd3 12. Qxd3 Qd6 $146 (12... Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Qd6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. O-O Qd6 16. Ng4 Nd7 {1/2 (16) Williams,S (2437)-Stefansson,H (2514) Reykjavik 2017}) 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. O-O Bxc3 15. Qxc3 Re8 {"An important move after which it was a dead draw." - Carlsen} 16. Rac1 Nc6 17. Nxc6 Qxc6 18. Qxc6 bxc6 19. Rxc6 Re2 20. Ra6 Rxb2 21. g3 Re8 22. Rxa7 Ree2 23. Ra5 Rxa2 24. Rxd5 Red2 25. h4 Ra4 26. Kg2 Raxd4 27. Rxd4 Rxd4 28. Kf3 h5 29. Kg2 g6 30. Kf3 Kg7 31. Kg2 Rd5 32. Kf3 Rf5+ 33. Kg2 Rd5 34. Kf3 Rf5+ 35. Kg2 Rd5 36. Kf3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2779"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:29:00"] [BlackClock "0:53:09"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Qc2 (6. h3 O-O 7. Bf4 c5 8. dxc5 Bxc5 9. e3 Nc6 10. Be2 d4 11. exd4 Bxd4 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 h6 { Nakamura,H (2769)-Anand,V (2760) Stavanger 2018}) 6... c6 7. e3 {This move surprised Anand a bit.} Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O {By now, Anand had seen White's next move coming.} 9. g4 $5 {First played in Letelier Martner,R (2215)-Rojas,L (2310) Santiago de Chile 1993. "It resembles some Merans that I used to play." - Anand} Bb4 10. Bd2 (10. g5 Ne4 11. Bxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Re8 { with good compensation - Anand.}) 10... Qe7 $146 (10... Re8 11. g5 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Ne4 13. h4 b6 14. O-O-O Bb7 15. h5 c5 16. g6 fxg6 17. hxg6 h6 {Moiseenko, A (2405)-Goloshchapov,A (2445) Kharkov 1998}) 11. Rg1 ({After} 11. g5 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Ne4 13. h4 f5 14. O-O-O {Anand was planning} b6 15. Kb1 Bb7 {and ...c5.}) 11... Bxc3 ({Anand didn't want to wait any longer:} 11... a5 12. g5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. c4) 12. Bxc3 Ne4 13. g5 a5 $1 14. a4 (14. Ne5 $5 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Bf5 16. f3 Nxc3 17. Bxf5 Qxe5 18. bxc3 Qxe3+ 19. Kf1 Qxf3+ 20. Qf2 Qxc3 {Ding}) 14... Re8 (14... b6 $5 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nxc3 17. Qxc3 c5 {Anand}) 15. h4 b6 16. h5 Ba6 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nh4 Qe6 19. Rg3 (19. Qd1 Rad8 20. Qg4 Nf8 {Ding } (20... Bc4 {Anand})) 19... Bd3 ({It's curious that Anand didn't even mention the option} 19... Qc4 {at the press conference.}) 20. Qd1 b5 21. axb5 cxb5 ( 21... Nb6 22. g6 fxg6 23. hxg6 h6 24. bxc6 Nd5 {"I think here his counterplay is more limited." (Anand)}) 22. Ng2 b4 23. Nf4 Qf5 ({Anand even considered} 23... bxc3 24. Nxe6 cxb2 {but there's} 25. Nc7 {although here the engine likes Black after} Bc2 $1 26. Nxe8 Bxd1 27. Rxd1 Rxe8 28. Kd2 a4 29. Kc2 a3 30. Rgg1 Ra8 31. Kb3 Kf8) 24. Bd2 Nb6 25. g6 fxg6 26. hxg6 h6 27. Qg4 ({Ding didn't go} 27. Rh3 {because of} Nd5 28. Qb3 (28. Rh5 $2 Nxf4 $1 29. Rxf5 Ng2#) (28. Qh5 { is playable though}) 28... Red8 29. Rh5 Qg4 30. Rh1 a4) 27... Qxg4 28. Rxg4 Nc4 (28... Bc2 29. Rh4 Nc4 30. Rh5 {and "I don't see my advantage anymore." (Anand) }) ({Ding thought} 28... Rec8 {was the critical move} 29. Nxd3 exd3 30. Re4 b3 (30... Nd7 $5) 31. d5 $1) 29. Nxd3 exd3 30. d5 Ne5 31. Rg3 Nc4 32. Rg4 Ne5 33. Rg3 Nc4 34. Rg4 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "4.5"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2797"] [BlackElo "2756"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:15:06"] [BlackClock "1:13:18"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 Nh5 8. Bd3 Nxf4 9. exf4 b6 10. b4 a5 11. a3 c6 12. O-O Qc7 13. g3 Ba6 14. Kg2 Bxd3 15. Qxd3 Ra7 16. Rfc1 (16. h4 Rfa8 17. Rab1 axb4 18. axb4 h5 19. Rfe1 Bf6 20. f5 exf5 21. Qxf5 g6 22. cxb6 Qd6 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2789)-Karjakin,S (2782) Paris 2018}) 16... Rfa8 17. Qd1 $146 (17. Rab1 axb4 18. axb4 Ra3 19. Qc2 Bf6 20. Nd1 b5 21. Ne3 g6 22. Qd1 R8a4 23. Nc2 Ra2 24. Ne5 Bg7 25. Ra1 f6 26. Nxd7 Qxd7 27. Rxa2 Rxa2 28. Ra1 Qa7 29. Qe1 Kf7 30. Qc3 Rxa1 31. Nxa1 Qa2 {1/2 Jakovenko,D (2747)-Andreikin,D (2722) Tashkent 2014}) 17... b5 18. Rab1 axb4 19. axb4 Ra3 20. Rb3 R3a7 21. Qe2 Bf6 22. h4 h5 23. Rc2 (23. Ne5 g6 24. g4 { is a typical break that can backfire. Here Black goes} hxg4 25. Qxg4 (25. h5 gxh5 26. Rh1 Bxe5 27. fxe5 f5 {Radjabov}) 25... Bg7) 23... g6 24. Ra2 ({ The players were not sure about the idea} 24. Nxb5 cxb5 25. Qxb5) 24... Rxa2 25. Nxa2 Qa7 26. Rb2 Qa3 27. Qd2 (27. Nc1 Qc3 $5) 27... Qa6 28. Nc1 Qb7 29. Nd3 Ra7 30. Nde5 Qa8 31. Qe3 Kg7 32. Rb3 Kg8 33. Ng5 Nxe5 34. fxe5 Bxg5 35. Qxg5 Ra3 36. Rxa3 Qxa3 37. Qd8+ Kg7 38. Qf6+ Kg8 39. Qd8+ Kg7 40. Qf6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] {This was the duel of the round for me. Ding Liren has captivated me with his almost universal style, playing sharp yet well rounded chess along with a strictly restricted, but deep repertoire of 1.d4 and 1.c4. I have personally learnt a lot from his play the past year, and my own repertoire will soon be broadened, largely due to Ding's use of these openings in his rise to 2800+. But sitting across the board is the king of universality, the Tiger of Madras himself. This promised an intriguing encounter.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 {No surprise here. Anand has switched to classical openings since 2015, a sign of solidity .} 5. cxd5 $5 {A move that isn't played as much as it should be. As Lars Schandorf has mentioned in his book on the Queen's Gambit, it is normally not the best option to exchange on d5 when Black has already played Be7. Ding's plan in this game is something to take note of. He delays developing the c1 bishop to start an attack on the kingside.} exd5 6. Qc2 c6 7. e3 $5 {Personally, I don't like entering the Carlsbad with the Bishop still on c1. The move hasn't scored too well. But if followed up like Ding does in this game, it can be an interesting option.} (7. Bf4 {is far more natural, and after } O-O {Ding can try to improve his plan here with} 8. e3 Nbd7 9. Bd3 Re8 10. g4 $5 {leading to a complex position with chances for both sides.}) 7... Nbd7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. g4 $5 {Not too surprising, as far as I am concerned. Alpha Zero won game after game in the Carlsbad with this thrust, with Stockfish grabbing the pawn each time and suffering in defence for a long time. Objectively speaking, I feel White's position isn't ready for such measures, as Anand shows in the course of the game.} (9. a3 $5 Re8 10. g4 {is what I propose as an improvement to the plan Ding played in the game - Black is prevented from playing Bb4 and Bxc3. The downside though, is that Black has used one tempo for development, and White hasn't. Practical games can confirm the viability of this idea. A sample line can go} g6 11. h3 Bd6 12. b4 Nb6 13. Ne5 a5 $1 14. bxa5 Rxa5 15. f4 c5 $1 $132 {with a complex position.}) 9... Bb4 $1 {Anand quickly finds the correct response - decline the pawn and blockade the b1-h7 diagonal with the knight on e4.} 10. Bd2 Qe7 11. Rg1 Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Ne4 $11 {Black has already equalised chances in this complex encounter. In the next few moves Anand proceeds to outplay his much younger opponent.} 13. g5 a5 14. a4 $5 {I wonder if this move is really necessary.} (14. O-O-O b5 15. Be1 Bb7 16. Nd2 Rfe8 ( 16... c5 $5 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxb5 cxd4 19. Rxd4 Ne5 $13 {leads to a very unclear position, with Black having definite compensation for the pawn. I quite like White's chances for consolidating though. This could have been tried.}) 17. f3 c5 $1 18. fxe4 cxd4 19. Bxb5 Rac8 20. Nc4 dxc4 $13 {Leads to a irrational position with chances for Both sides. White's bishop pair has much more scope here than in the game.}) 14... Re8 15. h4 b6 16. h5 Ba6 $1 {with accurate play Anand has managed to turn the tide. Ding hasn't made a single mistake, but he is put under the pump here, due to his extravagent kingside expansion.} 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Nh4 (18. Nd2 Bd3 19. Qb3 Qd6 20. h6 g6 21. Rg4 $15 {might have been a little better, but the move played by Ding certainly doesn't spoil his position.}) 18... Qe6 19. Rg3 Bd3 $5 {The most natural move, hitting the queen with tempo. However, as previously mentioned, there was a better alternative.} (19... Rad8 $1 20. Rc1 (20. b3 c5 21. Rd1 cxd4 22. Bxd4 Ne5) 20... c5 $1 {is the thunderbolt that would have given Black a large advantage. Why is this move so surprising? I wouldn't expect Black to help White activate his dark square bishop on the wonderful long diagonal. However, Black has a concrete reason for doing so. After} 21. g6 (21. b3 cxd4 22. exd4 ( 22. Bxd4 Rc8 23. Qb2 Ne5 $1 {is the point, Blocking the long diagonal and threatening to put the knight on d3. Black is winning after} 24. Bxe5 Rxc1+ 25. Qxc1 Qxe5 $19) 22... Bd3 $1 23. Qb2 e3 $1 24. fxe3 Qe4 $17 {with a raging attack in an opposite coloured bishop middlegame.}) 21... fxg6 22. hxg6 h6 $19 {Black has repulsed the attack and is almost winning.}) 20. Qd1 $1 b5 (20... c5 $1 {can be considererd even here. After} 21. g6 fxg6 22. hxg6 h6 23. Ng2 Rf8 24. Nf4 Rxf4 $1 25. exf4 Qd5 26. dxc5 Nxc5 $44 {Black has enough compensation for the exchange.}) 21. axb5 cxb5 22. Ng2 b4 23. Nf4 $1 {Now Ding starts causing enough problems for Anand to consider taking a draw soon.} Qf5 24. Bd2 Nb6 25. g6 fxg6 26. hxg6 h6 27. Qg4 {After this White solves most of his problems.} Qxg4 28. Rxg4 Nc4 29. Nxd3 exd3 30. d5 Ne5 31. Rg3 Nc4 (31... h5 $1 32. e4 h4 {can be considered if Black is seriously trying to win here, and indeed after} 33. Rh3 Ra6 $1 34. Rc1 (34. Bxb4 $6 Rxg6) 34... Rxg6 35. f4 Rg1+ 36. Kf2 Rxc1 37. Bxc1 Ng4+ 38. Kf3 Nf6 39. e5 Nxd5 40. Rxh4 Nb6 $17 {White has to defend resourcefully to get a draw.}) 32. Rg4 Ne5 33. Rg3 Nc4 34. Rg4 { and the threefold repetition is completed. An entertaining draw, and a definite positive for Anand, who managed to put a well prepared and aggressive minded Ding on the defensive with some great ideas. If he had played the antipositional c5! after Rad8, maybe the game could have turned out differently. As for Ding, he should seriously consider my improvement at move 9, and continue the aggression in these lines!} 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.5"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D49"] [WhiteElo "2739"] [BlackElo "2812"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 ({Navara was mostly expecting:} 8... Bb7 {which Ding has played every once in a while. For example:} 9. a3 b4 10. Na4 bxa3 11. O-O axb2 12. Bxb2 {as in Wang,H (2709)-Ding,L (2777) Huaian 2017}) 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qe2 {"The line was popular in the 1990s as well as in the match Anand-Kramnik, but of course I did not remember anything..." (Navara)} b4 15. Bf4 {The bishop often needs to get to g3 in order to defend the kingside. But it might well be sacrificed in case Black pushes the e5 pawn prematurely.} ({Another participant in the Shamkir tournament won a game after: } 15. Rd1 Bc5 16. Bxh7 Rxh7 17. Qe4 Bb7 18. Qxh7 Bxf3 19. gxf3 Ke7 20. Bf4 { Mamedyarov,S (2747)-Ponomariov,R (2712) Huaian 2016}) 15... h5 {A surprise for White. The pawn intends to harrass the bishop.} ({The bishop sacrifice works for example after:} 15... e5 $2 16. Nxe5 fxe5 17. Bxe5 Rg8 18. Bxd4+ Qe6 19. Qf3 {and White is close to winning.}) 16. Rfc1 ({White disliked:} 16. Rac1 Bc5 17. Nd2 e5) 16... Bc5 17. a4 {Looking for a way to reach the black king.} bxa3 18. bxa3 ({Navara also considered} 18. b4 Bxb4 19. Bc7 Qa7 20. Be4 {"but this is too much after:"} Bc3 $5) 18... Ba6 19. Rab1 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Rxa3 $146 { A novelty. I am not sure how much Ding knew about the line, as he never said a word at the press conference, but the move is logical and good.} ({An email game saw a very sharp play after:} 20... Qc6 21. Rb5 O-O 22. Nd2 Rfc8 23. Nb3 Qd5 24. Bh6 h4 25. Nxc5 Rxc5 26. Rbxc5 Nxc5 27. Rxc5 Qxc5 28. Qe4 Qf5 29. Qxa8+ Kh7 30. g4 Qxg4+ {½-½ (30) Rodriguez Rey,J (2321)-Pluemmer,R (2244) ICCF email 2010}) 21. Qxa3 $1 {The best move. White came to this conclusion after disliking all the remaining ideas:} (21. Qc4 Rc3 {This might lead to a draw after:} 22. Rxb6 Rxc4 23. Rxc4 Bxb6 24. Rc8+ Bd8 25. Bc7 Ke7 26. Nxd4 Ne5 27. Ra8 Kd7 28. Ba5 Re8 29. Ra7+ Kd6 30. Ra8 Kd7) (21. Qe4 f5) (21. Qd1 {when "Black does not need to play"} Qd8 {When White is better after:} ({But rather chose:} 21... Qa6 22. Nxd4 Rd3) ({Or} 21... Qa7) 22. Nxd4 $1 ({Then} 22. Rxc5 $2 {is refuted after:} Nxc5 $1 23. Rb8 Qxb8 24. Bxb8 Nb3 25. Ne1 Ra1 26. Qe2 d3 27. Qe4 O-O {and Black wins due to the pin. (Navara)})) 21... Bxa3 {Now both players follow forcing line.} 22. Rxb6 Bxc1 23. Rc6 Bxf4 24. Rc8+ Ke7 25. Rxh8 d3 ({"I expected something like:"} 25... e5 {"and believed the position to be equal." (Navara)}) 26. Kf1 {Black has two pawns for the exchange and the d3 passer will soon net him a knight.} Nc5 27. Rxh5 Ne4 ({After} 27... e5 { White planned:} 28. g3 Bc1 29. Rh8 {"At least I am not losing and it is probably a draw." (Navara)}) 28. Rh4 e5 {The most precise. Ding is extremely good in forcing play.} (28... d2 {gives White additional choice. Then:} 29. Nxd2 Nxd2+ 30. Ke2 Bg5 31. Rb4 e5 {allows the forcing:} 32. f4 $5 {which however leads to a draw after:} (32. g3 {might transpose into the game.}) 32... exf4 ({Or even} 32... Bxf4 33. Rxf4 exf4 34. Kxd2 Ke6 35. Ke2 Kf5 36. Kf3 Kg5 37. h3 f5 {"Sorry for shoing irrelevant lines" (Navara)}) 33. Kxd2 f3+ 34. Ke1 fxg2 {Then the king goes to g7 with a fortress. (Navara)}) 29. g3 d2 30. Nxd2 Nxd2+ 31. Ke2 Bg5 {Black won a piece and technically speaking is ahead in material. However, the misplaced position of his knight and the bad pawn structure requires accuracy from him.} 32. Rb4 e4 ({Navar suggested another defense:} 32... Bh6 33. f4 exf4 34. gxf4 Nb3 35. Rxb3 Bxf4 {Then if the king makes it to g7 it should be a fortress.}) 33. Rd4 Nb3 (33... e3 34. f4 Bh6 35. Kxe3 Nf1+ 36. Ke2 (36. Kf2 {is even more precise.}) 36... Nxh2 37. f5 Bg5 38. Kf2) 34. Rxe4+ Kd6 ({Both players agreed that} 34... Kf8 $1 {was better when the knight cannot be caught. For example:} 35. f4 Bh6 36. Rc4 Kg8 {followed by Bh6-f8 and Nb3-c5 with a draw.}) 35. h4 Bh6 36. h5 $1 {White spotted a nice idea which made Ding regret his king is too far away from the h-file.} Kd7 ({If } 36... Nc5 {to run as fast as he can with the knight, then:} 37. Re8 Ne6 ({ However, Black can probably defend with:} 37... f5 38. Rh8 Bg7 39. Rh7 Bd4 40. Rxf7 Ke6) 38. Rh8 Bg7 39. Rh7 $3 {Self-trapping, but winning the battle as the rook does not intend to stay there!} Ke7 40. Rxg7 $1 Nxg7 41. h6 Kf8 42. h7 { and the pawn makes it to the queen. (Navara)}) 37. Rb4 Nc1+ {Now the knight really gets in trouble.} ({Ding could have reverted from the line from above with:} 37... Nc5 38. Rb8 f5 39. Rh8 Bg7 40. Rh7 Bd4) 38. Kf3 $1 ({Black is saving himself after:} 38. Kf1 Ke6 39. Rb8 Kf5 40. Rh8 Kg5 41. g4 Nd3 42. Ke2 Nf4+ 43. Kf3 f5 {(Navara)}) 38... Ke6 $2 {The last straw.} ({It looks as Ding could have still defended with:} 38... Ke7 39. Ke4 Kf8 40. Rc4 (40. Rb1 Kg7) 40... Nb3 41. Rc8+ Kg7 42. Rc3 Na5 {Then Black is always looking for a way to support the knight with Kg7-g8 followed by Bh6-f8.}) (38... Nd3 39. Rd4+) 39. Rb6+ Kf5 40. Rb5+ Ke6 41. Ke4 Ne2 42. Rb6+ ({Also good was:} 42. Rb2 f5+ 43. Kd3 Nc1+ 44. Kc4 {(Navara)}) 42... Ke7 43. Kd3 Nc1+ {Now it is fast over.} ({ The last chance was:} 43... Ng1 44. f4 Nf3 45. Rb2 {(Navara) although then White should slowly trap the knight with Rb2-f2 and then bring the king closer. }) 44. Kc4 Ne2 45. Rb1 {The knight is a goner, so Ding resigned.} (45. Rb1 Kf8 46. Re1 Nc1 47. f4 Na2 48. Ra1) 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2797"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:06:26"] [BlackClock "0:16:50"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. Nbd2 (6. O-O d6 7. h3 Ne7 8. d4 Bb6 9. Re1 c6 10. Bd3 Ng6 11. Be3 Nh5 12. Nbd2 Nhf4 13. Bf1 exd4 14. Nxd4 d5 {Grandelius,N (2682)-Le,Q (2714) Gibraltar 2019}) 6... Re8 7. O-O a6 8. Bxc6 dxc6 9. Nc4 Nd7 10. Re1 Bf8 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 Nb6 $146 (12... c5 13. d5 b5 14. Na5 Qf6 15. Nc6 Nb8 16. e5 Qg6 17. Na5 Bg4 18. Bf4 Qf5 {Andriasian,Z (2585) -Pashikian,A (2578) Yerevan 2018}) 13. Nxb6 cxb6 14. h3 b5 15. Bf4 Be6 16. Re3 (16. Ng5 h6 (16... Bc4 17. b3 f6 18. Nxh7 Bb4 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Be5 Rxe5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 22. bxc4 Bxe1 23. Qxe1 bxc4 {Giri}) 17. Nxe6 Rxe6 18. d5 cxd5 19. Qxd5 {Giri} Qf6 {Anand}) 16... f6 17. b3 Qd7 18. Qc2 Rad8 19. Rd1 { "Objectively it's probably equal because White's center pawn is compensated for by the bishops. But in practical play it felt much easier to be Black because with White you have to watch out on many sides." (Anand)} Qf7 20. Bg3 ( {If} 20. d5 cxd5 21. e5 fxe5 (21... f5 22. Nd4) 22. Bxe5 Bf5 23. Qb2 Be4 24. Bd4 Qg6 {is good for Black.}) 20... Qh5 $6 {"Awful on so many levels." (Giri)} (20... g6 $5 21. e5 Bd5) (20... a5 $5) 21. Bc7 $1 {Giri said he "blundered" this move but it might not be as bad as the players thought. The Dutchman asked his opponent why he thought so long on this move (11.5 minutes). Anand: "If I was thinking it was because I was groggy more than anything else."} Rd7 $6 {This looks somewhat clumsy though.} (21... Rc8 {looks OK for Black:} 22. Bb6 Bd6 23. e5 fxe5 (23... Bb8 $5) 24. Nxe5 Bd5 (24... Qf5)) 22. Bb6 Bb4 $6 { Giri also blundered White's next.} (22... Qf7 23. Bc5) 23. Ne1 $1 {Coming to d3 with tempo. "Now it's really huge for White." - Giri} Bf7 24. Nd3 Bd6 25. Rde1 {The plan is f4, f5 and then e5 so Black has to act.} Bb8 26. f4 f5 27. Ne5 Bxe5 28. dxe5 fxe4 29. Qxe4 {This is still very for White. "Here I'm already busted." (Giri) "I was also surprised how good my position got so suddenly." (Anand)} Rd2 30. R3e2 Bd5 31. Qe3 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 Qf5 33. g4 Qb1+ 34. Kf2 h5 (34... g6 35. f5 gxf5 36. Qg5+ Kh8 37. Qf6+ Kg8 38. e6) 35. f5 Qh1 36. Kg3 Re7 37. Bc5 Re8 38. e6 Kh7 39. Qg5 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2740"] [PlyCount "137"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:59:16"] [BlackClock "1:00:52"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8. O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 b6 (10... Qxd1 11. Rfxd1 b6 12. Bd6 Bxd6 13. Rxd6 Bb7 14. Ne5 Rfd8 {Gajewski,G (2595)-Fridman,D (2633) Germany 2018}) 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12. Rad1 Qc8 13. Ne5 Nh5 14. Bg3 Nxg3 15. fxg3 Bf6 {Gasparac,K (1576)-Cotic,B (1605) Kastel Stafilic 2014}) 12... Qc8 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nd6 Bxd6 15. Bxd6 Rd8 16. Rac1 Nce4 17. Bb4 Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Qe8 19. Be2 ( 19. Qd4) 19... Rd8 20. Qb3 Bd5 21. Qa3 a5 22. Be1 h6 23. Ne5 Rc8 24. b3 Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Qb8 26. Qb2 Nc5 27. f3 Nfd7 28. Bg3 Qc8 29. Nc4 Bxc4 30. Bxc4 Qc6 31. Qe2 f6 32. Bb5 Qd5 33. Bc4 Qc6 34. Qb2 Kf7 35. h3 Nb7 36. Qd4 Ke7 37. Qg4 Kf7 38. Kh2 Ndc5 39. a3 g6 40. b4 axb4 41. axb4 h5 42. Qf4 Nd7 43. Ba6 Nd8 44. Qh6 Nf8 45. Bd3 f5 46. e4 Qd7 {"I think almost nobody will beat the computer in this position. Maybe Magnus at his best, Kasparov when he was young... and Botvinnik, because he will adjourn the game!" (Grischuk)} 47. Qe3 Qc6 48. Qd4 Qd7 49. Qc3 g5 50. exf5 exf5 51. Bc4+ Nde6 52. Qh8 Kg6 53. Be5 Qe7 54. Qg8+ ({ The arbiter had mentioned} 54. g4 {but Grischuk wasn't sure:} hxg4 55. hxg4 fxg4 56. Bd3+ (56. fxg4) 56... Kf7 57. Qh5+ Kg8) 54... Ng7 55. Qd5 Qd7 56. Bd6 Nfe6 57. Qe5 (57. Bb5 Nc7) 57... h4 58. Bb5 Qc8 59. Qd5 Qc3 $6 ({After} 59... Nf4 {or}) (59... Qd8 {it's not clear if White is winning.}) 60. Be8+ {Missed by Topalov.} Kh7 61. Bd7 Qe1 62. Be5 f4 63. Qd3+ Kh6 64. Bc3 Qe3 65. Qc4 Kg6 66. Bc6 Kf7 67. Bd5 Ne8 (67... Nf5 68. Qc7+ Kf8 69. Qd7 $1) 68. Bd4 b5 69. Qc6 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D32"] [WhiteElo "2845"] [BlackElo "2790"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:18:08"] [BlackClock "0:14:00"] 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. g3 (7. Be2 Nc6 8. O-O Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. b3 Bd6 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. Bb2 O-O 13. Nh4 Bxe2 14. Nxe2 Re8 {Sargissian,G (2689)-Yilmaz,M (2636) St Petersburg 2018}) 7... Nc6 8. Bg2 c4 (8... Bd6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O O-O 11. Nd4 Nxd4 12. exd4 Ba7 13. Bg5 Be6 14. Rc1 Rc8 {Aronian,L (2792)-Caruana,F (2807) Saint Louis USA 2016}) 9. Ne5 Bb4 10. Bd2 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. b3 a5 14. Qc2 cxb3 $146 (14... Ba6 15. Rfd1 Rb8 16. bxc4 Bxc4 17. Na4 Ne4 18. Bxe4 Rxe4 19. Bxb4 axb4 20. Nb2 Bb5 {Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2652)-Perunovic,M (2604) Lisbon 2017}) 15. axb3 g6 16. Rfc1 {Carlsen wasn't happy with this move, as it loses time.} (16. Nb1 $5 { Mamedyarov} Bf5 17. Qxc6 Bxb1 18. Bxb4 Bd3 19. Rfd1 Be2 20. Re1) 16... Bf5 ( 16... Bd7) 17. Qd1 (17. Qb2 Qd6 18. Na4 Nd7) 17... Qd6 18. Ra2 (18. Na4 Ba3) 18... h5 19. Na4 h4 ({Afterward Mamedyarov preferred} 19... Kg7 20. Nc5 Nd7) 20. Nc5 Kg7 21. Bxb4 ({Mamedyarov thought} 21. Rca1 Rab8 22. Bxb4 axb4 23. Ra7 {was better for White but Carlsen didn't see how to continue.}) 21... axb4 22. Rxa8 Rxa8 23. Ra1 Rh8 24. Qe1 hxg3 25. hxg3 Ne4 $1 26. Nxe4 ({Mamedyarov had calculated correctly that} 26. Qxb4 {is too dangerous:} Nxg3 $1 27. fxg3 Qxg3 28. Qe1 (28. Ra2 $5) 28... Qh2+ 29. Kf2 Rh3 30. Qg1 Qg3+ 31. Kf1 Rh2 32. Qf2 Rxg2 33. Qxg3 Rxg3 34. Kf2 Rh3) 26... Bxe4 27. Bxe4 dxe4 28. Ra5 Rh5 (28... Qf6 29. Qd1) (28... Qe6 29. Qa1 Qh3 $2 30. d5+ f6 31. Ra7+) 29. Rxh5 (29. Qa1 Rd5) 29... gxh5 30. Kg2 c5 31. dxc5 Qxc5 32. Qd1 Qc3 33. Qd5 Kf6 34. Qd6+ Kg7 35. Qd5 Kf6 36. Qd6+ Kg7 37. Qd5 Kf6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2753"] [PlyCount "81"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:07:55"] [BlackClock "1:39:20"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. d4 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 c6 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Ne5 $146 (11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nbd2 c5 13. dxc5 Rc8 14. Nb3 Bd5 15. Rfd1 a5 16. e4 Bxb3 17. Qxb3 Rxc5 {Maghsoodloo,P (2688) -Ganguly,S (2621) Makati 2018}) 11... Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. f4 f6 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Nd2 e5 17. e3 exf4 18. exf4 Rae8 19. Rac1 Qe3+ 20. Kh1 Qb6 21. b4 Nd5 22. Nf3 Nxb4 23. Qb3+ Nd5 24. Ne5 Rd8 25. a4 bxa4 (25... a5 $5) 26. Qxa4 c5 27. Rb1 (27. Qa2 $5) 27... Qa6 28. Qxa6 Bxa6 29. Rfc1 Ne3 30. Ra1 (30. Bf3 $5) 30... Nxg2 31. Rxa6 Rd2 32. Nc4 Re2 33. Kg1 Ne3 34. Re6 Rg2+ 35. Kh1 Rc2 36. Rxc2 Nxc2 37. Ra6 Ra8 38. Kg2 Nd4 39. Ra5 Re8 40. Rxa7 Re2+ 41. Kh3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2797"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {After coming close to a big advantage the previous round against Ding Liren, Anand showed us all that he has shrugged off all the rustiness and is well and truly in form right now. His high confidence and excellent mood were on display in this round against an out of sorts Anish Giri, who desperately needed a win to stay in contention for the top prize.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 {Anish surprised me here by choosing the Berlin. I expected a more combative opening like the Najdorf from an tournament winner hopeful.} 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O {Anand has tested this against numerous players. Honestly speaking, I feel this is the best way to fight for an advantage against the Berlin - play slow and steady chess, avoid unnecessary exchanges and maintain the tension.} 6. Nbd2 Re8 (6... d6 7. O-O a6 8. Ba4 b5 9. Bc2 Bb6 $14 { transposes to a variant of the Moller which is rather solid but not venomless. I have had a lot of success using this system from the White side, and feel that he maintains the better chances irrespective of Black's choice.}) 7. O-O a6 8. Bxc6 $5 {A very commital decision by Vishy, who is aiming for a specific structure. Judging by how the game went, I would call this exchange inspired.} (8. Ba4 b5 9. Bc2 d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 $13 {resembles a Quiet Italian where White has already put his Bishop on c2. I am not sure how to assess this position. The better player can win from here is the best I can come up with.}) 8... dxc6 9. Nc4 {Caruana and MVL have championed this line from the white side. Despite White scoring poorly in the databases, I am inclined to think that this system is actually rather dangerous for Black, even after the best response.} Nd7 { A playable more, but definitely not the best.} (9... Bg4 {Has scored overwhelmingly, and it is understandable if the further course of the game is understood correctly. Black immediately fights for the central square d4, not allowing white to expand freely. While it might relinquish the bishop pair, a restrained center of e4 and d3 is probably easier to attack and reel in. After} 10. h3 Bh5 11. b4 Ba7 12. Na5 Qc8 13. Bg5 Nd7 14. Nc4 f6 15. Be3 c5 $132 { Black more or less equalises.}) 10. Re1 Bf8 $5 {A rather strange looking retreat from Giri.} (10... b5 11. Ncxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Rxe5 14. Bf4 Re8 15. Qf3 $14 {is probably best for Black, with White's big center partially compromised by his king's weakened defences.}) 11. d4 exd4 12. cxd4 Nb6 $146 {Deviating from known theory. I am not too sure about the preceding moves for Black. What does he hope to achieve in this position?} (12... c5 $1 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bf4 b5 {Looks to me as an improvement to the game. Here Black isn't suffocated by the pawn mass in the center, and he achieves enough counterplay to hang on. After} 15. Na5 Nb6 16. d5 Bg4 17. Nc6 Qd7 18. Bg3 Bd6 19. Qd3 Qf7 $14 {White doesn't get as much as he got in the game. Sure his position is easier to play, but that is as a result of the extra tempo he gets. Black isn't without his chances here.}) 13. Nxb6 cxb6 14. h3 $1 {An important move, preventing Bg4, a move that could put immediate pressure on d4.} b5 15. Bf4 Be6 (15... Bd6 {looks logical to me. It should have probably been done earlier, but even now the move makes sense - exchange pieces when low on space. After} 16. Bxd6 Qxd6 17. Qd3 Be6 18. b3 Rad8 19. Re3 $14 {White does have enough to press for a long time, but Black has placed his pieces accurately, and a long fight is on the cards.}) 16. Re3 f6 17. b3 $1 {Restriction is the way to play here. Anand showcases virtuoso handling of a space advantage.} Qd7 18. Qc2 Rad8 19. Rd1 Qf7 20. Bg3 {Although the position looks pleasant for White, Black's bishop pair compensate for the strong centre. The position is dynamically balanced, but Giri's next move is just a big mistake.} Qh5 $2 { The first signs of impatience from Giri. It is not easy sitting tight in these positions. Black should have played for counterplay, but on the other wing!} ( 20... a5 $1 {was clearly one of the best options, pursuing active defense. After} 21. d5 $5 cxd5 22. e5 $1 $13 {The position becomes double edged, and results in chances for both sides.}) 21. Bc7 $1 {Anand makes this powerful move that reroutes the bishop from c7 to b6. The bishop then not only defends the d4 pawn but also prevents a rook from coming to d8.} Rd7 22. Bb6 $1 { The first clear achievement for Anand - the d-line can't be occupied by both rooks.} Bb4 {Anish missed Anand's next move.} (22... Qg6 $1 23. Ne1 Bd6 24. Nd3 f5 $1 $132 {gives enough counterplay for Black to hold the balance here.}) 23. Ne1 $1 $16 {After this maneuver by Anand, Anish has landed in deep trouble. There is absoulutely no way to prevent White from expanding freely on the kingside. White has a large advantage here.} Bf7 (23... Bxe1 24. Rdxe1 $16 { is just a very unpleasant position for Black who has nothing to show for White's central pawn majority.}) 24. Nd3 Bd6 25. Rde1 Bb8 26. f4 $1 {While Black has gone into full retreat, Anand has used those moves to fully improve the position of his pieces.With decisive breakthroughs looming, Anish decides to lash out.} f5 {If Anish didn't make this move, Anand would have played it himself and then followed it up with e5.} 27. Ne5 $1 {Anand spies a defect in Black's structure, and quickly latches in.} Bxe5 28. dxe5 fxe4 29. Qxe4 Rd2 30. R3e2 Bd5 31. Qe3 Rxe2 32. Rxe2 $1 {After the forced sequence of moves, White has amassed an almost decisive advantage. Let me state why: 1. He already has a passed pawn, and a 4 vs 2 majority ready to roll with tempo on the kingside. 2. He has the superior bishop, that prevents Black's majority from moving forward. 3. He prevents Black from taking any active measures on the d-file. 4. Most importantly, he has a clear plan, while black has none.} Qf5 $1 {Credit to Anish here, who tries to drum up play against Vishy's king. But, it's too late.} 33. g4 Qb1+ 34. Kf2 h5 $5 {Desperation, but I can't suggest anything else at this point.} 35. f5 $1 Qh1 36. Kg3 $1 {After this consolidating move by Anand, it's all over. White will slowly pin Black to the mat on the kingside itself.} Re7 37. Bc5 Re8 38. e6 Kh7 $2 {The last mistake.} 39. Qg5 $1 {Anish decides not to prolong the agony. A great game by Anand, showing that class is permanent, and repeatedly proving his naysayers wrong. Today was a middlegame lesson based on imbalances, something that Anand with his vast experience handled much better than Anish.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir AZE"] [Site "Shamkir AZE"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2740"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "137"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Be2 dxc4 8. O-O c5 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxc4 b6 11. Qc2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 Qc8 13. Nb5 a6 14. Nd6 Bxd6 15. Bxd6 Rd8 16. Rac1 Nce4 17. Bb4 Rxd1+ 18. Qxd1 Qe8 19. Be2 Rd8 20. Qb3 Bd5 21. Qa3 a5 22. Be1 h6 23. Ne5 $1 $16 {Suddenly White is much better. Black is pinned to the last few ranks, and it is difficult to break free here.} Rc8 24. b3 $1 {Correctly agreeing to the exchange of rooks, and restricting the d5 bishop even more.} Rxc1 25. Qxc1 Qb8 26. Qb2 $1 {Beginning a deep plan to win the light squared bishop.} Nc5 27. f3 $1 {Not only taking the e4 square under control, but also aiming to activate the bishop via g3.} Nfd7 28. Bg3 Qc8 29. Nc4 $1 {This forces the exchange of bishop for knight, thus cementing White's advantage.} Bxc4 30. Bxc4 Qc6 31. Qe2 f6 {Topalov tries to take some central squares under control.} 32. Bb5 Qd5 33. Bc4 Qc6 34. Qb2 Kf7 35. h3 {This is an exercise in patience for both players. Sasha creates a luft for his king before embarking on any invasion plans. White can take as much time as he pleases here, as Black is devoid of counterplay. Sasha therefore aims to reach the time control first by slowly improving the position.} Nb7 36. Qd4 $1 { The queen is centralised, and the knight is rendered passive on b7.} Ke7 37. Qg4 $1 {Now the queen switches targets-it attacks the black kingside which is full of holes.} Kf7 (37... g5 $6 {is an anti positional computer response, which no human will ever consider. The point is that the h6 pawn is irreparably weakened, and after} 38. a4 Ndc5 39. Qh5 Nd6 40. Bxd6+ Qxd6 41. Qxh6 Qe5 42. Qg7+ Kd8 43. Qf8+ Kc7 44. Qe7+ Kc8 45. Kf2 $1 $16 {White wins a pawn for free, and retains excellent winning chances.}) 38. Kh2 {Vacating the king before starting actual play against Black's weakensses. Grischuk's play is so methodical! He has strengthened his position to the max here.} Ndc5 39. a3 $1 {Another strong move, threatening b4 in favourable circumstances, and another fine improving move} g6 $6 {Too passive from Topalov. He had to try and defend as actively as possible here} (39... b5 $1 {should have been tried here,} 40. Be2 Nd6 (40... Nxb3 $6 41. Qh5+ $5 Kf8 42. Bxb5 $16 {with a much bigger advantage, now that the game has opened up for the bishops.}) 41. b4 axb4 42. Qxb4 e5 $1 $16 {with serious chances to draw.}) 40. b4 $1 {This stroke is now almost decisive. Notice how Sasha didn't do anything spectacular? He allowed Topalov to destroy his own position. This is the quality of a skilled player - the ability to 'be' in a position rather than 'do'.} axb4 41. axb4 h5 42. Qf4 Nd7 43. Ba6 Nd8 44. Qh6 Nf8 45. Bd3 {All of Sasha's preceding moves are the most precise! Looks like he has calculated the end here for Black. While material is equal and Black's position looks reasonable, it is anything but so. Look at his knights, cutting a sorry figure on the back rank. He will soon suffer heavy material losses in the airy kingside.} f5 46. e4 $1 {The decisive breakthrough.} Qd7 47. Qe3 Qc6 48. Qd4 Qd7 49. Qc3 $1 {Look how easily Sasha switched over his pieces. This only happened because of Black's chronic dark square weaknesses.} g5 50. exf5 exf5 51. Bc4+ Nde6 52. Qh8 {White now invades with decisive effect.} Kg6 53. Be5 Qe7 54. Qg8+ Ng7 55. Qd5 {White's remaining play isn't the most precise, but it gets the job done.} Qd7 56. Bd6 $6 (56. Qa8 $1 Qe8 57. Qxe8+ Nxe8 58. Bd4 Nd6 59. Bd3 Ne6 60. Bxb6 $18 {wins fairly quickly.}) 56... Nfe6 57. Qe5 h4 58. Bb5 Qc8 59. Qd5 Qc3 (59... Nf4 $1 60. Bxf4 gxf4 61. Qd6+ Qe6 62. Qxf4 $16 {retains some drawing chances for Black.}) 60. Be8+ Kh7 61. Bd7 Qe1 62. Be5 f4 63. Qd3+ Kh6 64. Bc3 $1 {White now invades on the light squares. The power of the two bishops is exploited to perfection.} Qe3 65. Qc4 Kg6 66. Bc6 Kf7 67. Bd5 Ne8 68. Bd4 b5 69. Qc6 {And Veselin resigned, as White forces mate. A superb display of endgame play by Sasha Grischuk, teaching us the basic endgame principles in the best possible manner.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir AZE"] [Site "Shamkir AZE"] [Date "2019.04.04"] [Round "5.5"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D49"] [WhiteElo "2739"] [BlackElo "2812"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 c5 10. e5 cxd4 11. Nxb5 axb5 12. exf6 gxf6 13. O-O Qb6 14. Qe2 b4 15. Bf4 h5 16. Rfc1 Bc5 17. a4 bxa3 18. bxa3 Ba6 19. Rab1 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Rxa3 { We join the game here, having analysed the preceding play. Here David Navara forces play into a very unique endgame with a sham queen sacrifice.} 21. Qxa3 Bxa3 22. Rxb6 Bxc1 23. Rc6 Bxf4 24. Rc8+ Ke7 25. Rxh8 $44 {How to assess this endgame? Black definitely has compensation for the exchange- his two central pawns and the passed d4 pawn, coupled with a strong Bf4. While all this maintains dynamic equilibrium for the moment, I feel that the future is with White here. The h5 pawn will fall soon, and if the knight sacrifices itself for the d pawn the resulting endgame between rook and two pieces will favour the rook here, as the passed h-pawn will affect Black's co-ordination. Ding can hold this with perfect play, but as it will soon be seen, David Navara's deep concept and intuition prevail- Black finds correct play too tough to handle after a while.} d3 26. Kf1 Nc5 27. Rxh5 Ne4 28. Rh4 e5 $6 {Ding commits the first innacuracy in this endgame. It was essential to immediately push the pawn.} 29. g3 $1 {Correctly sacrificing the knight here. I'm sure a player of Navara's calibre has also investigated the endgame deeply, and he has understood correctly that White has more than just practical chances here.} d2 30. Nxd2 Nxd2+ 31. Ke2 $16 {It's only around here that the computers begin to understand how hard it is for Black to defend this position. He isn't lost, but for now is in a world of trouble.} Bg5 32. Rb4 $6 {With time trouble close by, Navara stumbles.} ({The paradoxial} 32. Rh8 $1 {retains winning chances after} Nb3 33. h4 Nd4+ 34. Kd1 {but black can definitely confuse matters with} Ke6 $1 35. hxg5 fxg5 36. Kd2 $16 {with a position that is hard to breakthrough for White.}) 32... e4 $6 {In time trouble even the great defender Ding Liren makes innacuracies. This move only makes it difficult for him.} (32... Kd6 $1 { Had to be played, activating the king.} 33. f3 (33. h4 Bh6 34. f3 $14 {leads to a position where White can try for hours together, but Black must hold the balance with correct play.}) 33... Bh6 34. Rh4 Bg5 35. Rb4 Bh6 $11 {With an easy draw.}) 33. Rd4 $1 Nb3 34. Rxe4+ {White has now gotten some serious play, but the game is still within the margins of a draw. Black has to defend accurately, something that Ding fails to do in time trouble.} Kd6 $6 {An important subtlety in the endgame is the placement of the king. Ding chooses the most active square for the king, but as further analysis shows, this is the defining moment of the game. Black is close to lost now.} (34... Kf8 $1 { was much safer, getting close to the h4 pawn. After} 35. f4 Bh6 36. Rb4 Nc5 37. Rc4 Nb7 38. Rc7 Nd6 39. Rd7 Nf5 40. Kd3 Kg7 41. Ke4 Kg6 $14 {the position is most certainly close to a draw.}) 35. h4 $1 Bh6 36. h5 $6 {Imprecision yet again. This endgame is surprising hard to play with very little time on the clock. This almost throws away all the advantage.} (36. Re8 $1 {was the correct move, getting behind the bishop. After} Nd4+ 37. Kd3 Ne6 38. Rh8 Bg7 39. Rh5 Bf8 $16 {White still retains chances of confusing the opponent, though a draw is the most likely result.}) 36... Kd7 $6 {The penultimate innacuracy. Ding has chosen a faulty method of defense, and pays dearly for it.} (36... Nc5 $1 {Was the drawing idea, bringing the knight to d7 and the bishop to f6. This idea is extremely weird, so very difficult to see during the game. But the fortress holds after} 37. Re8 f5 $1 38. Rh8 Bg7 39. Rh7 Bf6 40. Rxf7 Nd7 41. h6 Ke6 42. Rh7 Bd4 $1 $11 {and White can't win.}) 37. Rb4 $1 Nc1+ $6 {The last innacuracy, now leading to a loss. Ding chases his knight further away from the king.} (37... Nc5 $1 {Still had to be tried, and after} 38. Rb8 f5 39. Rh8 Bg7 40. Rh7 Bd4 41. Rxf7+ $1 Ke6 42. Rf8 $16 {Black's defense is arduous and maybe he might even lose in the long run. However, this gives White maximum chances to go wrong. This defense is one move slower than the previous line, but is the best in the given position.}) 38. Kf3 Ke6 39. Rb6+ Kf5 40. Rb5+ Ke6 41. Ke4 $1 {Navara centralises his king, and now the end is near.} Ne2 42. Rb6+ Ke7 43. Kd3 Nc1+ 44. Kc4 Ne2 45. Rb1 $1 {and the knight is trapped. A beautiful piece of endgame domination by David Navara, who gets his mojo and confidence back after this crucial win. Both players can feel proud of this effort, which was very complex and demanded too much from either side. Ding maintained approximate equilibrium for a long time, but finally faltered just before the time control. A rivetting encounter.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.06"] [Round "6.4"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2779"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:54:53"] [BlackClock "0:34:03"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. Rd1 Qa5 10. a3 Rd8 (10... Re8 11. Nd2 e5 12. Bg5 Nd4 {is another very theoretical line.}) 11. Nd2 (11. Be2 Ne4 12. O-O Nxc3 13. bxc3 h6 14. a4 Ne7 15. Ne5 Bd6 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Bf3 Nxf4 18. exf4 Bxe5 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. fxe5 Qc7 {Carlsen,M (2835)-Caruana,F (2832) London ENG 2018}) 11... d4 12. Nb3 Qb6 13. Na4 Bb4+ 14. axb4 Qxb4+ 15. Nd2 e5 16. Bg5 Qa5 17. Qb3 Nb4 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Be2 Bd7 20. Ra1 dxe3 21. fxe3 b5 22. O-O bxa4 23. Qc3 f5 24. Nf3 f6 25. Nh4 Nc6 26. Qa3 e4 27. Bd1 Ne5 28. Bxa4 Qxa4 29. Qxa4 Bxa4 30. Rxa4 f4 31. c5 $146 (31. Rxf4 Rd1+ 32. Rf1 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Rb8 34. b4 Nxc4 35. Nf5 Rb5 36. g4 h5 37. h3 hxg4 38. hxg4 Ne5 39. Rxa7 Rxb4 40. Kg2 Rb1 41. Re7 Rb2+ 42. Kh3 Rf2 43. Re8+ Kh7 44. Re7+ Kg8 45. Re8+ Kh7 46. Re7+ Kg8 {1/2 (46) Aronian,L (2765) -Caruana,F (2832) London 2018}) 31... fxe3 32. Rxe4 Rab8 33. Rxe3 Rxb2 34. h3 { "Probably in this position Vishy underestimated that the game is not over. White can play a little bit."} Rc2 35. Rxf6 Rxc5 36. Ra6 Nc6 $6 {Not precise, according to Karjakin.} (36... Rd7) 37. Nf3 Rc8 $6 (37... Rb8 {would be more active (Karjakin).}) 38. Re6 Rc7 (38... Kf7 $2 39. Rexc6 R8xc6 40. Rxc6 Rxc6 41. Ne5+) 39. Kh2 Kg7 40. Ra4 h5 ({Karjakin preferred} 40... Ne7 {but he might have underestimated} 41. Rg4+ $1) 41. Ra6 Ne7 (41... Nb4 42. Rg6+ {Karjakin}) 42. Nd4 Nf5 43. Ne2 (43. Rg6+ Kh7 44. Nf3 Rg7 {Karjakin}) 43... Rc4 ({A mating attack with} 43... h4 44. Nf4 Ng3 45. Rh6 Rc1 {comes too late:} 46. Rag6+ Kf8 47. Rh8+ Ke7 48. Rh7+ Kf8 49. Ne6+ Ke8 50. Rg8#) 44. Rg6+ Kf8 45. Rg5 Ng7 46. Rf6+ Rf7 ({After} 46... Kg8 {White has several moves but} 47. Ng3 {is probably the strongest.}) 47. Rh6 Ke7 $2 {The last mistake after which White wins even easier.} (47... Rfc7 $5) 48. Ra5 Ke8 49. Rh8+ Rf8 50. Rh7 $1 Rf7 51. Re5+ Kd8 52. Rexh5 {A wonderful game by Karjakin.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.06"] [Round "6.5"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C92"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2790"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:15:11"] [BlackClock "0:39:33"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a3 g6 15. Ba2 Bg7 16. b4 exd4 17. cxd4 a5 18. Rb1 $146 {An over-the-board novelty. Topalov's manager Silvio Danailov revealed that they did not expect this line at all.} ({ Black was doing OK in a predecessor after:} 18. Qb3 Qd7 19. Bb2 axb4 20. axb4 Ra4 21. Bc3 Nh5 22. Bb1 Rxa1 23. Bxa1 Nf4 {Inarkiev,E (2723)-Oparin,G (2625) Moscow 2017}) (18. bxa5 Nxa5 {when now:} 19. Rb1 {leads to sharp and interesting play after:} (19. Qc2 {Topalov}) 19... Bxe4 20. Nxe4 Nxe4 21. Rxe4 Rxe4 22. Bxf7+ Kxf7 23. Ng5+ Kg8 24. Nxe4 Qe7 {when Black stands well.}) 18... axb4 {Now a forcing sequence leads to an equality.} 19. d5 Ne5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 ( 20... Rxe5 21. Rxb4 Qe8 22. Bb2 Re7 {is better for White but not because of Topalov's} 23. Qa1 {because then Black has the surprising tactics:} ({White should rather play:} 23. Nf3 {Not fearing the loss of the pawn after:} Nxe4 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 {As} 25. Qe2 {forces the weakening of the e6 square:} f5 26. Nd4 { and White will soon launch dangerous attack once that the knight lands on e6.}) 23... Bxd5 $1 (23... Nh5 {"is just worse for Black" (Topalov)}) 24. Bxf6 ({ There is not enough for the material in the line:} 24. Bxd5 Nxd5 25. Bxg7 Nxb4 26. Bh6 f6) 24... Bxf6 25. Qxf6 Bxa2 {and White's advantage is gone.}) 21. Rxb4 c6 22. dxc6 Bxc6 23. Qf3 Bf8 {"I think Black is good." (Topalov)} 24. Rb1 Ra4 $5 {Apparently, Mamedyarov became ambitious.} ({Instead Topalov expected a forcing draw after:} 24... Bxa3 25. Bxa3 Qxd2 26. Qxf6 ({Or} 26. Re2 Qf4 $1) 26... Qxa2 27. Qxc6 (27. Be7 {is a winning attempt, but Black always has a defence after:} Bxe4 (27... Ra6 $5) 28. Rxb5 Qe6 ({Or Black might try for even more with:} 28... Ra6)) 27... Qxa3 28. Qxb5 {and a draw.}) 25. Nf1 Rxe4 (25... Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. Bg5 Rf4 28. Bxf4 exf4 29. Rxb5 {True, White might be better if he manages to keep the a-pawn alive (Topalov), however an accurate move like:} Kg7 {should keep the equilibrum.} ({Less accurate is:} 29... Qa8 30. Qb3 Re7 31. a4 {with chances for White.})) (25... Kg7 {(Mamedyarov) was also about equal.}) 26. Rd1 $1 {Anything else does not make sense. White needs every tempo to make something out of the pins.} ({White also considered:} 26. Qc3 {but this is utterly wrong due to:} Rxe1 ({But not:} 26... Ba8 27. Rxb5 Ra4 $2 28. Bxf7+ $1) 27. Qxe1 Nd5) 26... Qe7 ({It took Topalov some time to realize that in the line:} 26... Re1 27. Rxd8 Bxf3 28. Rxe8 Nxe8 29. gxf3 { and White has one more piece. :-)}) 27. Bg5 Bg7 ({After:} 27... Kg7 {White regains the pawn with:} 28. Rdc1 (28. Ne3 {is also possible and about equal after:} h6 29. Bxf6+ Qxf6 30. Rdc1 Ba8 31. Qxf6+ Kxf6 32. Rxb5) 28... Ba8 ( 28... Bd7 $2 {leaves the black rook hanging after} 29. Bxf6+) 29. Rxb5) 28. Ne3 {With some nasty threats based on the pins. The obvious ones being Ne3-g4 and Ba2-d5!} Qxa3 ({The other option was:} 28... Rc4 {Then White had a choice between:} 29. Nd5 ({The other direction that the Bulgarian GM mentioned is not that clear:} 29. Qg3 Rc3 {When} (29... Rd4 $5 {might be even stronger.}) 30. Nf5 $2 {is bad due to} ({Therefore White intended:} 30. Qh4 Qxa3 ({But he was not sure about the lines arising after:} 30... Rxa3 31. Bd5 (31. Ng4 Rxa2) 31... Bd7) 31. Ra1 (31. Bxf6 Qxa2 32. Ng4 Qe6 {is not as convincing.})) 30... Qxa3 {Indeed, it looks very dangerous for Black, but the second player is two pawns ahead!}) 29... Bxd5 30. Rxd5 Ra4 31. Rdxb5 Rxa3 32. Bb3 Ra7 33. Rb6 e4 { and Topalov thought Black might hold like this. Although White is definitely calling the shots after:} 34. Qe3 Rc7 35. Rd1 {as the pin is still there.}) 29. Ra1 $1 {A nice ambush.} Qc5 $2 {This just loses material straight away.} ({ Correct was:} 29... Qe7 {which would have most likely ended a draw after:} 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Bd5 Rf4 32. Bxf7+ Qxf7 33. Qxc6 {since Black cannot keep the extra pawn:} b4 $2 34. Rd7) ({Whereas Topalov's suggestion:} 29... Rxe3 { leads to White's advantage with the sharp:} 30. Qxc6 ({Or the simple:} 30. Qxe3 ) 30... Rc3 31. Bc4 Rxc4 32. Qxe8+ Nxe8 33. Rxa3) 30. Rdc1 $1 ({Black only saw: } 30. Rac1 {to which he planned:} Rc4 31. Bxc4 bxc4 ({Or even the simple:} 31... Bxf3 32. Bxf7+ Kxf7 33. Rxc5 Bxd1 {this is why the other rook needs to step on c1.}) 32. Qe2 c3 {altough White can fight for the win after:} 33. Bxf6 Bxf6 34. Qd3) 30... Rc4 ({The problem is that} 30... Qb6 31. Rxc6 Qxc6 32. Bxf6 Bxf6 33. Nd5 $1 {wins. (Doggers)} ({not} 33. Bd5 $2 Qc3)) ({Another tactical idea was} 30... Ra4 31. Qd1 $1 Qb6 32. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 33. Qb3+ {(Doggers)}) 31. Qd1 $1 {"I just missed this" (Mamedyarov)} Ne4 ({Objectively best was:} 31... Qd4 32. Bxc4 bxc4 33. Rxc4 Qxd1+ 34. Rxd1 Bb5 {although White should slowly win.}) ({The main point was} 31... Rxc1 32. Rxc1 Qb6 33. Bxf6 Bxf6 34. Qd6 { (Doggers)}) 32. Bxc4 bxc4 33. Rxc4 (33. Rxc4 {Black resigned due to:} Qb5 34. Rb1 Qa6 35. Qc2) 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.06"] [Round "6.3"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D71"] [WhiteElo "2812"] [BlackElo "2845"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:41:03"] [BlackClock "0:20:39"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Ne5 O-O (7... Ne4 8. Nc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. O-O Nc6 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Qa4 Qb6 {Karjakin,S (2753)-Grischuk,A (2771) Shamkir, Azerbaijan 2019}) 8. Nc3 Bf5 9. O-O Ne4 10. Bf4 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nc6 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Qa4 e6 (13... Qd7 14. Rac1 Rac8 15. Rfd1 Rfd8 16. c4 Be4 17. f3 Bf5 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Qxd7 Bxd7 20. Bc7 Re8 21. e3 Bb5 22. Bf1 a6 {1/2 (22) Leko,P (2679)-Mamedyarov, S (2817) Germany 2019}) 14. Qxc6 Rc8 15. Qa4 Rxc3 16. Rfc1 Rxc1+ $146 (16... Rc4 17. Rxc4 dxc4 18. Rc1 Bxd4 19. Qxc4 g5 20. Bc7 Qd7 21. Qc6 Qxc6 {1/2 (21) Garau,B (2201)-Fister,B (2293) ICCF email 2013}) 17. Rxc1 Qb6 18. e3 Qb2 19. Qd1 h5 20. a4 {After this Carlsen didn't see any other way of playing than the "concrete solution" to the problems, as in the game:} Bg4 21. Qe1 Be2 22. Bf1 Bxf1 23. Kxf1 (23. Qxf1 e5 24. dxe5 Bxe5 25. Rb1 Qc3) 23... Re8 $5 {Carlsen was happy to find this move.} ({Here} 23... e5 {is tricky because of} 24. dxe5 Bxe5 25. Rb1 Qc3 26. Qxc3 Bxc3 27. Rb7) ({Initially Carlsen planned} 23... Qb7 {but} 24. Qa5 a6 25. Qc7 {is annoying.}) 24. Qc3 Qxc3 25. Rxc3 e5 26. dxe5 Bxe5 27. Rd3 ({The engine prefers} 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Rc5 Re4 29. Ra5 d4 30. exd4 Rxd4 31. Rxa7 { but after} Rd2 {the players considered it a draw. This rook endgame was analysed to a draw back in 1958 by Nikolay Kopaev. With the white rook behind the a-pawn it's winning, known since Alekhine-Capablanca, 1927.}) ({Carlsen also checked} 27. Bxe5 Rxe5 28. Rc7 a6 29. Rc6 {and here} Re6 {might be possible, e.g.} 30. Rxe6 fxe6 31. Ke2 Kf7 (31... e5 32. f4 Kf7) 32. e4 dxe4 33. Ke3 e5 34. Kxe4 Ke6 35. a5 g5) 27... Bxf4 28. gxf4 Rd8 29. a5 Kf8 30. Ke2 Ke7 31. Rb3 Kd6 32. Kd3 Rd7 33. h4 Rc7 34. Rb8 Rc5 35. Rb7 Rxa5 36. Rxf7 Ra3+ 37. Kd4 Ra4+ 38. Kd3 Ra3+ 39. Kd4 Ra4+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.06"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D38"] [WhiteElo "2797"] [BlackElo "2739"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:03:07"] [BlackClock "1:13:54"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. e3 Bf5 9. Be2 (9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. O-O Nbd7 12. Ne5 Be7 13. f4 Nb6 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Rf3 Qe7 {Edouard,R (2643)-So,W (2765) chess.com INT 2019}) 9... Nbd7 10. Qb3 Ba5 (10... c5 11. dxc5 Qa5 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Nd4 {Navara}) 11. O-O $146 (11. Bg3 c5 12. O-O Bxc3 13. bxc3 Ne4 14. Qxd5 Nxc3 15. Qxf5 Nxe2+ 16. Kh1 Nxg3+ 17. hxg3 Rc8 {Bortnik,E (2243)-Voveris,G (2185) ICCF email 2008}) 11... c6 12. Ne5 (12. Qxb7 Rb8 13. Qxc6 g5 (13... Rxb2 14. Nxd5 Rxe2 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Qb5) 14. Bg3 Rb6 15. Qa4 Rxb2 {Giri}) 12... Qb6 13. Nxd7 Nxd7 14. Rfc1 { It's equal or Black is slightly better here.} ({Earlier Giri had planned} 14. Be7 Rfe8 15. Qa3 {but just in time he noticed} Rxe7 16. Qxe7 Qxb2) 14... Qxb3 15. axb3 Bb4 16. Na2 Bd6 17. Bg3 Be7 18. Bc7 a5 19. Nc3 Rfe8 20. Na4 Bb4 21. Nb6 Nxb6 22. Bxb6 Bd2 23. Rd1 Bb4 24. Rdc1 Bd2 25. Rd1 Bb4 26. Rdc1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.06"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D20"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2756"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "1:02:37"] [BlackClock "0:03:01"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Bxc4 Nc6 6. O-O Be6 7. Nbd2 (7. Bb5 Bc5 8. Qc2 Bb6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. Qxc6+ Bd7 11. Qc2 Ne7 12. Na3 c5 {Granda Zuniga,J (2650)-Bachmann,A (2621) Buenos Aires 2018}) 7... Qf6 8. a3 $146 (8. Bd3 Nge7 9. Qa4 Bd7 10. Qb3 O-O-O 11. Nc4 h6 12. e5 Qe6 13. Be4 Nf5 14. Bd5 Qe7 {Wojtaszek,R (2711)-Stevic,H (2611) Aix les Bains 2011}) 8... Nge7 9. b4 Ng6 10. Bb5 Be7 11. Nc4 Bxc4 12. Bxc4 O-O 13. Bd5 Rad8 14. Bd2 Rd7 15. Qa4 Nf4 16. Bxf4 Qxf4 17. Bxc6 bxc6 18. Qxc6 Rfd8 19. Rfd1 d3 20. Rac1 h5 21. Rc4 g5 22. h3 (22. Nd2 Qg4) 22... g4 23. e5 Qf5 24. hxg4 hxg4 25. Nd2 (25. Nh2 Rd4 26. Rxd4 Rxd4 27. Qxc7 (27. Qe8+ Bf8) 27... Bg5) 25... Rd5 26. Nf1 Rxe5 (26... Bh4 27. Ng3 Bxg3 28. fxg3 d2 29. Qxc7) 27. Ne3 Qh5 28. Rxg4+ Kf8 29. Qf3 Bg5 30. Rd4 ( 30. Nc4 Re2 31. Ne3 Rxe3 32. fxe3 Bxe3+ 33. Qxe3 Qxg4 34. Rxd3) 30... Qxf3 31. Rxd8+ Bxd8 32. gxf3 a5 33. Rxd3 (33. Nc4 Rg5+) 33... Be7 34. bxa5 Rxa5 35. Nc4 Ra4 36. Rc3 Bf6 37. Rc2 Be7 38. Rc3 Bf6 39. Rc2 Be7 40. Rc3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.06"] [Round "6.4"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "105"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {This game had a lot of significance as far as the tournament was concerned. Sergey Karjakin was having one of his best tournaments in recent times, trailing the leader Carlsen by just half a point, along with Anand. With just three rounds to go after this, it was imperative that Anand should remain unbeaten to have a chance to catch Carlsen. For Sergey, it was crucial to make good use of his penultimate White in order to move up the leaderboard. So the clash was a very important one for both players.} 1. d4 {Sergey has recently become more universal in his opening choices. 1.d4 in a crucial game is not so surprising anymore. White retains more tension in the position and gives Black more chances to go wrong.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 {Anand uses the tried and tested variation in this important game.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. Qc2 Nc6 9. Rd1 Qa5 10. a3 Rd8 $5 {This move was made popular after Caruana held the Black side against Magnus Carlsen in their World Championship match last year. As Sergey mentioned after the game, more players are looking deeply into this move.} (10... Be7 {used to be the absolute main line some time ago, and is still most certainly a playable move. After} 11. Be2 Ne4 12. cxd5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 exd5 {This position looks cut and dry, but it is not so easy for Black to equalise.} 14. O-O Be6 15. a4 Bf6 16. Rb1 Rfc8 17. Rxb7 Qxc3 18. Qxc3 Bxc3 19. Rc1 Bf6 20. h3 $14 {White has the more pleasant endgame. I have a feeling that this rather forced continuation has put the move 10...Be7 out of practice. Here, I don't see a clear way out for Black. White has the better major pieces and pawn structure. There is no obvious way to release the pressure mounting on Black's position.}) 11. Nd2 d4 $1 {Clearly the most critical test of White's slow opening play.} (11... dxc4 $5 12. Nxc4 Rxd1+ 13. Qxd1 Qd8 14. Qxd8+ Nxd8 15. Kd2 Nd5 16. Bd6 $1 $14 {is an important nuance, keeping some pressure for White. Usually, endgames are gardens of peace for the defending side, but some of them, like this, are not without poison. Here, Black's position doesn't look too healthy to me. He still has to be very precise to equalise the game fully.}) 12. Nb3 Qb6 {Both players are following the stem game Aronian-Caruana.} 13. Na4 Bb4+ $1 {to my eyes a spectacular move, but all these moves are first choices of the strongest engines, and the resulting play is more or less of a forced nature. The preparation by both players is so deep that the first new move is played when the position has reached a rather simplified endgame.} 14. axb4 Qxb4+ 15. Nd2 e5 $1 {Anand doesn't go for the stranded knight on a4 immediately, and that is something to take note of.} 16. Bg5 Qa5 17. Qb3 Nb4 18. Bxf6 $146 (18. Be2 {was played in Aronian Caruana 2018.}) 18... gxf6 19. Be2 Bd7 20. Ra1 dxe3 21. fxe3 b5 $1 22. O-O (22. cxb5 Be6 $1 23. Qd1 Rxd2 $3 24. Qxd2 Nc2+ 25. Kd1 Nb4 $11 {is a surprising drawing resource for Black in this position.}) 22... bxa4 {So we reach the critical position for the assesment of the entire line. White definitely has the better chances, but because the position has already simplified a bit, it is not so clear to me how he should create play here. He does have the better pawn structure, and a passer on the c-file already, but Black's defensive resources mustn't be underestimated.} 23. Qc3 f5 24. Nf3 f6 25. Nh4 Nc6 26. Qa3 e4 (26... Rab8 $5 {is a possible alternative to the game continuation. White retains pressure on Black's position after the correct} 27. Nxf5 $1 (27. Qd6 $5 Rxb2 $1 28. Qxf6 Rxe2 29. Nxf5 Bxf5 30. Qxf5 Qd2 31. Qe6+ Kh8 32. Qf6+ Kg8 33. Qxc6 (33. Rf5 $4 Rxg2+ 34. Kh1 Rxh2+ 35. Kg1 Qg2#) 33... Qxe3+ 34. Kh1 Qg5 35. Qf3 Red2 $11 {is not so clear. Black should have atleast equal chances.}) 27... Qb4 28. Ng3 Qxa3 29. bxa3 Kf7 30. Ne4 f5 31. Nd6+ Kf6 32. g4 $1 $36) 27. Bd1 Ne5 28. Bxa4 Qxa4 29. Qxa4 Bxa4 30. Rxa4 f4 31. c5 $1 $146 (31. Rxf4 Rd1+ 32. Rf1 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Rb8 $1 {An important move, activating the rook at the cost of the a7 pawn, but generating serious counterplay.} 34. b4 (34. Rxa7 Rxb2 35. Nf5 Nxc4 36. Rc7 Nd2+ 37. Kf2 h5 $132 { and with such activity for Black, it is hard to talk about a White advantage here.}) 34... Nxc4 35. Nf5 Rb5 36. g4 h5 37. h3 hxg4 38. hxg4 Ne5 39. Rxa7 Rxb4 40. Kg2 Rb1 41. Re7 Rb2+ 42. Kh3 Rf2 43. Re8+ Kh7 44. Re7+ Kg8 45. Re8+ Kh7 46. Re7+ Kg8 {1/2-1/2 (46) Aronian,L (2765)-Caruana,F (2832) London 2018}) 31... fxe3 32. Rxe4 Rab8 33. Rxe3 Rxb2 34. h3 Rc2 35. Rxf6 Rxc5 36. Ra6 $14 {I am sure that both players were out of book by now. How to assess this endgame? Black has an outside passer, but with such limited material and an effective blockade on its movements, it is more a weakness than a strength. White has the better pawn structure, and more targets to try and attack. With a few more pawns/pieces on the board the writing would be on the wall for Black, but here he has very good chances to hold the draw. But, for the second time in this tournament, Anand doesn't defend very accurately.} Nc6 $6 {The first signs of trouble is when you choose the most passive form of defence available. Here Sergey mentioned in the press conference that he was starting to get a little optimistic around here, as his knight is now rerouted to the center for free.} (36... Rd7 $1 {Holds the draw without any issues. I can't exactly say what Anand was worried about here. The position after} 37. Nf5 $1 Ng6 38. Ng3 Rc2 $1 $132 {does look slightly suspect for Black, but here Black should be fine even after losing a7- the 2 vs 1 on the kingside is an easy draw at the top level. Also, Black's pieces possess a lot more activity here, so it is difficult for White to do something worthwhile.}) 37. Nf3 $1 {Now white has something concrete to play with.} Rc8 $6 {Now, this is already a serious error, not mentioned by the computers. Black is choosing the most passive form of defense, rather computer like I must say, but unfortunately doesn't possess infinite stamina. Sooner or later Vishy will blunder something like in the game because the defense now becomes a bit awkward.} (37... Rb8 $1 {is mentioned by Sergey in the press conference as the easiest way to retain a perfectly playable position. After} 38. Re6 Rb6 $1 39. Ra3 (39. Ra4 Rb4 $1) 39... a5 $1 40. Kh2 Rb8 $132 {Black has enough counterplay to hold the balance. It is easier to defend positions like these, where all you have to do is mix aggression with caution, and counterattack with defense.}) 38. Re6 $1 $16 {I really don't care for the +0.4 that Stockfish shows at depth 35. White has condemned Black to a long passive struggle for equality, and in a practical game Anand's position is almost impossible to defend correctly. What computers don't understand (AI do actually, Alpha Zero might show something around +1 here) is that human tendency is to advance, to sacrifice a pawn for counterplay. Anand's play is reminiscent of Stockfish's astounding defense against Alpha Zero in their match, but the aging Tiger doesn't have enough stamina to conduct a protracted defense like this.} Rc7 39. Kh2 $1 {A nice improving move.} Kg7 40. Ra4 $1 { At a critical juncture, Sergey continues to impress with the right move. This is most unpleasant to deal with, as here he prevents the Black plan with Nb4 and a5, and threatens Rg4+, to which Anand overreacts.} h5 $2 {A serious weakening, that eventually costs Vishy the game. He had to give up the other pawn (if necessary). I show a clear indifference to Stockfish's evaluation of this move as the best move, and agree with Karjakin here. Black's position gets very unpleasant after this.} (40... Ne7 $6 {immediately is not so much better as after} 41. Rg4+ $1 Kf8 (41... Ng6 $6 42. Ne5 $1 a5 43. Nxg6 hxg6 44. Rgxg6+ $18 {White wins comfortably, as shown by Carlsen-Caruana, 1st Rapid Tiebreaker, London 2018, where Magnus won in a similar structure in quite instructive fashion. The presence of both rooks only aids White here, as Black's king can actually get checkmated.}) 42. Nd4 Rd5 43. Rh6 $1 $18 { and White forces resignation in a few moves.}) (40... Kf7 $1 {Had to be played, for better or for worse, and after} 41. Rh6 $1 (41. Rd6 $5 Re7 $1 42. Rf4+ Ke8 43. Rh6 Ne5 44. Nd4 (44. Nh4 Rc6 $1 45. Rh5 Ng6 $1 46. Nxg6 hxg6 $11 {Black should hold the draw.}) 44... Rc4 $1 45. Rd6 Rf7 46. Rf5 (46. Rh4 Rd7 47. Rxd7 Nxd7 $1 $11) 46... Ke7 $1 47. Re6+ Kf8 $1 $11 {Black holds rather easily.}) 41... Kg7 $1 42. Rd6 a5 $1 $132 {should give Black enough counterplay. After} 43. Rg4+ Kh8 44. Ng5 Rg7 45. h4 Rg6 $1 {it is clear that White needs a miracle to win.}) 41. Ra6 $1 {An important return to the 6th rank. It transpires that after the weakening of the g6 square, Anand no longer has the plan with Nb4 and a5 as a viable defense. The position is still defensible, but very hard in practical human play.} Ne7 42. Nd4 Nf5 43. Ne2 $1 {The key to retaining White's advantage is to avoid the exchange of knights.} Rc4 44. Rg6+ $1 Kf8 45. Rg5 $1 Ng7 46. Rf6+ $1 {This precise sequence shows the drawback of h5- the pawn is literally indefensible. Anand resists for a few more moves, but now even the computer agrees with me about White having a near decisive advantage.} Rf7 47. Rh6 $1 Ke7 $2 {The last mistake by Anand. Clearly his stamina is close to rock bottom now, and the position turns from very unpleasant to lost.} ( 47... Rfc7 $1 {was the only move here, but after} 48. Rh7 Kg8 49. Rhxh5 $1 $18 {White should convert this.}) 48. Ra5 $1 {Sergey remains precise to the end. It is astonishing how these players maintain their level after 5 hours of intense mental activity.} Ke8 49. Rh8+ Rf8 50. Rh7 $1 Rf7 51. Re5+ $1 Kd8 52. Rexh5 Re7 53. Ra5 {and Anand resigned. I initially thought that the resignation was premature, but on closer inspection it became clear to me that Black is dead lost here- he has no active plan, and White will sooner or later win the weak a7 pawn, and slowly advance his kingside passers. A dissapointing loss for Anand, who now returns to an even score and has to win two of the last three rounds to stand a chance of finishing first. He played at a high level for most part of the game, but as his game against Magnus showed he is beginning to feel rather uncomfortable in the endgame, a fact that Segey exploited to perfection. As for Sergey, a very nice win sees him lead the tournament with Magnus, and I feel that he is well and truly back to his best, after the confidence sapping Candidates 2018.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.06"] [Round "6.5"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C92"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2790"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 {The Zaitsev variation makes a comeback to top level chess.} 10. d4 Re8 11. Ng5 Rf8 12. Nf3 Re8 13. Nbd2 Bf8 14. a3 $1 {The most critical test of the variation.} (14. a4 h6 15. d5 Nb8 16. c4 c6 17. axb5 axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. cxb5 cxd5 20. exd5 Bxd5 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. Nc4 $14 {is an example of a line that also give White a little something. But the game continuation is far more testing.}) 14... g6 15. Ba2 Bg7 16. b4 exd4 17. cxd4 a5 18. Rb1 $146 {A novelty as far as my databases are concerned.} axb4 19. d5 $5 {A nice intermediate move, to gain space and nullify the effect of the b7 bishop on the e4 pawn.} Ne5 20. Nxe5 dxe5 $5 (20... Rxe5 {looks far more complex. After} 21. Rxb4 c5 $1 {this is an important computer improvement.} (21... Qe8 $5 { was mentioned by Veselin as the best move for Black, but after} 22. Bb2 Re7 23. Qa1 $1 $16 {White has clearly the better chances here, as Topalov states in the press conference.}) 22. dxc6 Bxc6 23. Bb2 Rc5 24. Nb3 Rh5 $14 {A very interesting middlegame is reached, with White having slightly better chances.}) 21. Rxb4 c6 22. dxc6 Bxc6 23. Qf3 Bf8 24. Rb1 Ra4 (24... Bxa3 $1 {is the best way to equalise. As both players analysed after the game} 25. Bxa3 Qxd2 26. Qxf6 Qxa2 27. Be7 Bxe4 28. Rxb5 {is probably White's best try, but after} Ra6 29. Qg5 Re6 30. Bf6 Qa6 31. Rxe5 Rxe5 32. Bxe5 Bxg2 33. Kxg2 f6 34. Qf4 fxe5 35. Rxe5 Rxe5 36. Qxe5 $11 {it is just equal.}) 25. Nf1 $1 {Inspired pawn sacrifice from Veselin.} Rxe4 26. Rd1 Qe7 27. Bg5 Bg7 28. Ne3 Qxa3 $6 {First step in the wrong direction. Shak underestimates White's activity.} 29. Ra1 Qc5 $6 (29... Qe7 $1 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Bd5 Rf4 32. Bxf7+ Qxf7 33. Qxc6 Rd4 { maintains a defensive position for Black.}) 30. Rdc1 $1 Rc4 31. Qd1 $1 { This retreat is forced, but is very pretty.} Ne4 $2 (31... Rxc1 $5 32. Rxc1 Qa7 33. Bxf6 Bxg2 34. Bxg7 Kxg7 35. Bxf7 Qxf7 36. Nxg2 Qe7 $18 {was essential, forcing White to try and win a technical endgame, which isn't so simple due to the b5 passer.}) (31... e4 $5 32. Bxc4 bxc4 33. Rxc4 Qxg5 34. Rxc6 Rf8 35. Ra7 $18 {is also curtains, but Black atleast has a pawn for the exchange here.}) 32. Bxc4 bxc4 33. Rxc4 $18 {A sudden collapse by Shak, but a very nice game by both players.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.07"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "2845"] [BlackElo "2797"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 h6 {Giri deviates from the sub-line which was discussed at the WCC in London.} ({One of the games there went:} 8... Re8 9. Bd2 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Nd4 11. b4 Bd6 12. Rb1 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 a6 14. a4 c6 {Carlsen,M (2835)-Caruana,F (2832) FIDE World Chess Championship 2018. Apparently, Giri did not mind playing a similar, knightless position.}) 9. Nxd5 (9. Bd2 Be6 10. Na4 Bb6 11. a3 f5 12. Qc2 Qd6 13. Rac1 Rad8 14. Nxb6 axb6 {Zupe,M (2260)-Fenil,S (2346) Skopje 2018}) 9... Qxd5 10. a3 a5 $146 ({Black had normal position after:} 10... Bg4 11. b4 Be7 12. Be3 Qe6 13. Qc2 a6 14. Rfd1 Rad8 {Bordes Guasch,J (1774)-Mari Copa,A (2016) Eivissa 2015}) 11. Bd2 Qe6 12. Rc1 Qe7 13. Bc3 Nd4 {Carlsen: Usually when there are no knights on the board it's very dry and it's nothing for White..." Giri: "That's what I also thought." Carlsen: ..."but in this case I feel like I'm getting some quick play and at least practically it feel easier to play."} ({Although Black did not need to force this. A normal move was:} 13... Rd8 {with the threat e5-e4, postponing the knight jump for a better moment.}) 14. e3 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Bd6 $6 {Right after the game Giri explained that he was worried about the d3-d4 push and started preparing for it. Unfortunately for the Dutch GM, he forgot about the other dangerous push.} ({ Instead the accurate move order:} 15... c6 16. Qh5 Re8 {was leading to a position which Black saw in his calculations and was not worry about-} 17. d4 Bd6) 16. Qh5 c6 {It might well be that this is the actuall inaccuracy.} ({ Carlsen's suggestion looks better instead:} 16... f5 {(Black cannot make it without this move.)} 17. f4 exf4 18. exf4 c6 19. Rfe1 (19. Qg6 Rd8 {followed by Qe7-f7 is not that scary for Black.}) 19... Qf7 20. Qe2 Bd7 21. Qf2 { "I am slightly uncoordinated here" (Giri) There is a problem with the black queenside although the feeling is that Black should hold with something like:} Rfd8 22. Qb6 a4 {as} 23. Qxb7 $4 {loses to} Rdb8) 17. f4 exf4 $6 {Now all files and diagonals are opened in White's favor.} (17... f5 {was mandatory.} 18. Kh1 ({Black is OK after:} 18. fxe5 Bxe5 19. d4 Bf6 20. Rce1 Be6 {(Giri)} ({ Or} 20... Qd6 {(Carlsen)})) 18... Bd7 19. Rce1 a4 ({However, Black's position is defendable with:} 19... exf4 $1 20. exf4 Qf7) 20. e4 {looks unpleasant for Black. "Bc3 is very strong" (Giri, Carlsen)}) 18. gxf4 $1 Qxe3+ {Giri accepts the challenge, but this was rather desperate decision.} ({Alas,} 18... f5 { can no longer stop White's kingside attack after} 19. Rf3) ({However, the computer finds the inhuman defence:} 18... Kh7 $3 {Which somehow works tactically. E.g.:} 19. f5 (19. Rf3 $4 g6 {traps the queen.}) ({Still a move like:} 19. e4 {should provide White the advantage.}) 19... Qxe3+ ({Or even} 19... g6 20. fxg6+ fxg6 21. Qe2 Be6 {with OK position for the second player.}) 20. Kh1 Qg5 {with a much better version that the situation in the game for Black.}) 19. Kh1 Rd8 ({There is not time to finish the development with:} 19... Be6 20. f5 Bd5 {When Carlsen suggested:} 21. Rg1 {Which seems wrong due to:} ({ Although easier and neater is the line:} 21. Bxd5 $1 cxd5 22. Rce1 Qxd3 23. Rf3 Qc4 24. Rg1 {With inevitable mate after:} f6 25. Rxg7+ Kxg7 26. Qg6+ Kh8 27. Qxh6+ Kg8 28. Qg6+ Kh8 29. Rh3+ Qh4 30. Rxh4#) 21... Bxg2+ 22. Rxg2 Qxc1+ 23. Rg1 Qxg1+ 24. Kxg1 f6) 20. Rce1 {Sacrificing another pawn but bringing all his pieces into the attack.} Qc5 ({Black cannot hold after:} 20... Qxd3 21. f5 Qc4 22. Bxg7 $1 Kxg7 23. f6+) 21. f5 Bf8 ({There is no:} 21... f6 22. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 23. Qg6+ ({Or even the immediate:} 23. Rg1) 23... Kf8 24. Qxh6+ Kg8 25. Qg6+ Kf8 26. Qxf6+ Kg8 27. Rg1 {with inevitable mate.}) 22. Be4 Rd5 {The only relistic try.} ({Normal play like:} 22... Bd7 {will be met with:} 23. Rg1 Kh7 24. Bxg7 $1 Bxg7 25. f6+ Kh8 26. Qxf7 {and mate.}) 23. Rf3 ({The world champion is not interested in the material gains:} 23. Bxd5 Qxd5+ 24. Qf3 Qxf3+ 25. Rxf3 Bd7) 23... b5 ({Both players saw the beautiful line:} 23... g6 24. fxg6 $1 Qxc3 $1 {Seems like a refutation.} ({The obvious point is:} 24... Rxh5 25. gxf7#) 25. gxf7+ $1 ({Moves can be transposed.} 25. Rg1 $1) 25... Kh8 26. Rg1 {with mate.}) 24. Rg1 Ra7 25. Bf6 $1 {Prepares the capture on g7.} ({ Avoids the simple trick.} 25. Qxh6 $4 Qxg1+ $1) ({The immediate:} 25. Rxg7+ Bxg7 26. Qg4 {obviously does not work after} f6) 25... g6 26. Qh3 ({Possible was} 26. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 27. Qxg6+ Rg7 (27... Bg7 28. Bc3 {followed by 29.f6.}) 28. Bxg7 Bxg7 29. Rg3 Qf8 30. Bxd5+ cxd5 31. f6) 26... Rd6 ({In case of a semi-waiting move like:} 26... b4 {Carlsen planned:} 27. Qf1 $1 {(Moves away from the pin.)} g5 28. Qh3 $1 {and the capture on g5 cannot not be avoided:} bxa3 29. Rxg5+ Kh7 30. Rfg3) 27. Qh4 {Prosaic and good. The queen steps out of the pin.} ({White spent a lot of time calculating the consequences of:} 27. d4 Rxd4 28. fxg6 Rxe4 29. Qxc8 fxg6 {There is a win, but it is anything but trivial:} 30. Bc3 g5 31. Rgf1 Rf4 32. Qe6+ Kh7 33. Rxf4 gxf4 34. Qe4+ Kg8 35. Rg1+ Bg7 36. Bd4 $1 {at the end White wins the rook on the opposite wing he was attacking!}) 27... Rxf6 {There is nothing else.} 28. Qxf6 Be7 ({Or} 28... Bg7 29. Qd8+ Qf8 30. Qb6) 29. Qxc6 Qxc6 30. Bxc6 {Carlsen won the exchange and quickly finishes the game.} Kg7 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. d4 a4 33. d5 b4 34. Be8 Bg5 35. h4 Bxh4 36. Rxg6+ Kh7 37. Rc6 Bg4 38. Rf4 Rg7 (38... Rg7 {White had a pleasant choice between:} 39. Rcc4 ({And the simple:} 39. axb4) 39... bxa3 40. bxa3 h5 41. Bxh5) 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.07"] [Round "7.4"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C45"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2740"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:31:32"] [BlackClock "0:14:12"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 a5 10. Bd2 g6 (10... Ba6 11. b3 Qe6 12. Qe4 O-O-O 13. Be2 Re8 14. O-O Qxe5 15. Qc2 Bd6 16. g3 Bb7 {Van Foreest,J (2609)-Almasi,Z (2707) Heraklio 2017}) 11. Ne4 Bg7 12. Nf6+ Kd8 13. O-O-O Ba6 14. Qg4 Kc8 15. Bxa5 h5 $146 ( 15... Qxe5 16. Bc3 Qe6 17. Qxe6 fxe6 18. Nxd7 {1/2 (18) Wiersma,E (2414)-Ernst, S (2512) Hilversum 2006}) 16. Qg3 h4 17. Qg4 Qxe5 18. Bc3 Qf5 19. Qxf5 gxf5 20. Nxd7 (20. b3 d5) 20... Bxc3 21. Nxb6+ cxb6 22. bxc3 Kc7 23. Be2 Rag8 24. Rhg1 c5 25. g3 hxg3 26. hxg3 Rh2 27. Rgf1 f4 28. Rd2 Bc8 29. Bf3 fxg3 30. fxg3 Rxd2 31. Kxd2 Rxg3 32. Bd5 Be6 33. Bxe6 fxe6 34. Rf7+ Kd6 35. Rb7 Kc6 36. Re7 Kd6 37. Rb7 Kc6 38. Re7 Kd6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.07"] [Round "7.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Giri, Anish"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "2845"] [BlackElo "2797"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bg2 Bc5 (6... Nb6 { is far more popular, but Anish decides to follow Fabi's way.}) 7. O-O O-O 8. d3 h6 $1 {Correctly deviating from Carlsen-Caruana.} 9. Nxd5 Qxd5 10. a3 a5 $13 { Black has equalised for all practical purposes, but the game isn't dead yet. Carlsen starts turning the screws.} 11. Bd2 Qe6 (11... Qd6 $5 {looks more logical, keeping an eye on d4. After} 12. Bc3 (12. b4 $5 axb4 $1 13. axb4 Rxa1 14. Qxa1 Bxb4 15. Bxb4 Qxb4 $1 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qxe5 c6 $1 $11 {should be easily holdable for Anish.}) 12... Rd8 13. Nd2 Be6 14. Ne4 Qe7 15. Nxc5 Qxc5 16. Rc1 Qb5 $1 $11 {Black keeps a stranglehold in the center and it is difficult for White to achieve too much here.}) 12. Rc1 Qe7 13. Bc3 Nd4 14. e3 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 $14 {Usually in such positions when both the pairs of knights are exchanged the position is close to even. But here White has a couple of ideas up his sleeve - the d4 break and the f4 break and hence can hope for an opening advantage.} Bd6 16. Qh5 $1 {Carlsen feints, to keep his opponent guessing.} c6 17. f4 $1 {This combined with the next move shows what a powerful idea the World Champion has come up with.} exf4 (17... f5 {also should be considered.} 18. Rce1 exf4 19. gxf4 Qf7 $11) 18. gxf4 $3 {The concept is just amazing. If Black doesn't take on e3 then White has the central pawn majority and if Black does take on e3, which he did in the game, then the white pieces get open lines for his more active pieces.} (18. exf4 f5 {seemes like a playable position for Black.} 19. Qg6 Rd8 20. d4 {White should have a small edge here.} Qf7 21. Qxf7+ Kxf7 22. d5 $1 $14) 18... Qxe3+ { Seems like the most natural thing to do.} (18... Kh7 $1 {In the post game conference you could sense the surprise of Magnus when Giri told him that Kh7 was equalizing in this position. It just doesn't seem possible. Well, the key idea is that Rf3, which is the most natural move in this position, doesn't work because g6 traps the queen.} 19. e4 (19. Qe2 f5 $1 20. Rf3 Rg8 21. Re1 Qf7 22. Be5 Be7 $1 23. Qf2 Be6 $11 {is around even.}) (19. Rf3 $2 g6 $19) 19... f5 $1 20. Rf3 Qf7 $1 21. Rg3 $1 Qxh5 $1 22. Rxg7+ Kh8 23. Rg5+ Kh7 24. Rxh5 Bxf4 $11 {White shouldn't have much in this position.}) 19. Kh1 {This is the critical position where Black has to put in some thought if he can come up with a good defence. In the game Giri wasn't able to.} Rd8 (19... f6 {This looks natural, but after} 20. Be4 {Followed by Qg6, you can see how the two white bishops are just so strong in the position.}) 20. Rce1 $1 Qc5 21. f5 $1 Bf8 22. Be4 Rd5 $2 (22... b6 23. Rg1 Rd6 24. Rc1 Bxf5 25. Qxf5 Qxf5 26. Bxf5 Re8 $18 {struggles for longer.}) 23. Rf3 $1 b5 24. Rg1 Ra7 25. Bf6 $1 {The previous moves require little comment. Giri hasn't defended so accurately, so Magnus is clearly winning here. But, how do you finish as White here.} g6 26. Qh3 {Magnus had a faster way to win here.} (26. Rxg6+ $3 fxg6 (26... Bg7 27. Rxg7+ Kf8 28. Qxh6 Ke8 29. Qh8+ Qf8 30. Qxf8+ $1 Kxf8 31. Rg8+ $3 Kxg8 32. Rh3 $1 {and there is no defense to Rh8#.}) 27. Qxg6+ Rg7 (27... Bg7 28. Bc3 $1 $18 {The idea is to play f6 here.}) 28. Bxg7 Qc1+ 29. Kg2 Qg5+ 30. Qxg5 hxg5 31. Bxd5+ cxd5 32. Be5 $18 {is absolutely crushing for White.}) 26... Rd6 27. Qh4 $5 (27. d4 $1 Rxd4 28. fxg6 $3 {A brilliant move, but the consequences of which are easy to see.} Bxh3 (28... Rxe4 29. Qxc8 fxg6 30. Bc3 g5 31. Rgf1 $18 {kills the contest.}) 29. gxf7+ Kxf7 30. Bxd4+ Ke8 31. Bxc5 Bxc5 32. Rg8+ Ke7 33. Rg7+ $18 {and White wins the endgame rather easily.}) 27... Rxf6 28. Qxf6 Be7 29. Qxc6 Qxc6 30. Bxc6 $18 {The rest is a display of Magnus' legendary technique.} Kg7 31. fxg6 fxg6 32. d4 a4 33. d5 b4 34. Be8 Bg5 35. h4 Bxh4 36. Rxg6+ Kh7 37. Rc6 Bg4 38. Rf4 Rg7 {And Giri's flag fell in this dead lost position.} (38... Rg7 39. Bg6+ {is the fastest way to win.} Rxg6 40. Rxg6 Kxg6 41. Rxg4+ Kh5 42. Rxh4+ Kxh4 43. d6 $18) 1-0 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.07"] [Round "7.5"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {This game was a crucial one for Anand. I expected him to go for the win, and try and catch up to the leaders. Turns out the Tiger was in a peaceful mood today.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {(?!). Of course, there is nothing wrong with the move played by Vishy, one of the absolute main lines in 1.e4 e5. This choice against this opponent however, is a little more suspect. Grischuk has the Berlin in his repertoire, and against such players it is better to go for the Quiet Italian or the Scotch.} Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 $5 {An almost unheard of move as far as I am concerned, but a very logical one, majorly pioneered by Levon Aronian. I found around 130 games in the database, which is surprising given the excellent results Black has got. Sasha seizes the chance to grab space, seeing that White has set up a restrained pawn formation of e4-d3-c3. This equalises rather quicky in the game as well. Are we seeing another opening revolution?} 6. Nbd2 {Relatively best.} (6. Nxe5 $5 {looked to my eyes as the critical test of 5...d5. But unfortunately for White, he can't grab the pawn. After} O-O 7. Bxc6 $1 (7. Nxc6 $5 {The most risky line. Black now sacrifices a piece after} bxc6 8. Bxc6 Bxf2+ $1 9. Kxf2 Ng4+ 10. Kg1 Qf6 11. Qe2 $1 {White has to return the piece in the best possible way, and now} Qxc6 12. h3 Nf6 13. Nd2 Ba6 14. exd5 Qc5+ 15. Qf2 Qxd5 $13 {reaches a position where a human would definitely take Black. So Anand's game move is logical-complete development, and then look to punish Black, if his center opening strategy isn't followed up in sound fashion.}) 7... bxc6 8. d4 $1 (8. Nxc6 $2 Qe8 9. Nb4 dxe4 $17 {is really horrible for White. Black has the bishop pair in an open position, and miracles for White are already not such a bad idea!}) 8... Bb6 9. O-O Nxe4 10. Nd2 c5 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. Bf4 Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Bd6 $13 {Another unclear endgame is reached, where I actually like White's position due to the compact pawn mass, but Black should equalise easily due to the two bishops and powerful central control.}) 6... dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8. O-O {This position is reminiscent of the King's Indian Attack positions, the only difference being that White's bishop is already very close to its best diagonal. The computers don't like White's play at all, calling the position equal at best, but I disagree. White has the easier play here, partly due to Black needing more time to complete development. If given time, White expands on the queenside with b4, a4, a5, b5, reroutes the d2 knight to f5 and wins the bishop pair. This might not be enough for a big advantage, but the defense is rather boring and sad for Black. This explains Sasha's next move.} a5 $5 {Sasha agrees with my evaluation here, and seeks to radically prevent White's b4 expansion. The downside is that Black's queenside is now porous.} 9. Bxc6 $1 {A very good decision in my opinion. Anand sees the future liquidation that can occur, and rightly judges it in White's favour.} (9. Qe2 $5 {is another way to play, keeping the tension for as long as possible. After} Qe7 10. a4 Na7 11. Bc4 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. Rd1 Nc8 14. Nb3 Bb6 15. Bg5 Nd6 16. Bd3 $1 {it is important to conserve the bishop pair} h6 17. Bh4 Qe6 $13 {We reach a rather complex middlegame, with White's position being a tad better, due to his better co-ordination after} 18. Nbd2 $1 {(=/+=)}) 9... bxc6 10. Nxe5 Re8 11. Nb3 $1 {Forcing the exchange of queens} Qxd1 12. Rxd1 Bb6 13. Nc4 Nxe4 14. Nxb6 cxb6 {This endgame is a very subtle one. On one hand, White has control of the only open file, the better Bishop (it targets the soft Black pawn structure rather easily) and the chance to bring his king into the game quicker than Black. Despite all this, the position is very close to equal due to the opposite coloured bishops and limited material.} 15. f3 $1 $146 { A logical novelty, and the best move in the position.} Nc5 $5 {This I didn't understand initially. Why spoil your structure voluntarily? Then it struck me that Grischuk wants to simplify as soon as possible into a rook and opposite coloured bishop endgame.} 16. Nxc5 bxc5 17. Rd6 Bf5 18. Bf4 (18. Kf2 $5 { prevents Re2, but allows} c4 $1 19. g4 Bd3 $1 {after which the position equalises with} 20. Be3 Rad8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. b3 f6 23. Bb6 Rd5 $11) 18... Re6 19. g4 {Anand decides to simplify further.} (19. Rad1 h5 20. c4 $1 f6 21. Kf2 Rxd6 22. Rxd6 a4 {equalises anyway, but it was definitely the more critical test. Top GMs have in their hurry to equalise gone wrong with the move order sometimes. Also, after} 23. Rxc6 a3 24. bxa3 Rxa3 25. Rxc5 Rxa2+ 26. Kg3 { Black has to find the precise sequence} h4+ $1 27. Kxh4 Bd3 28. Rc8+ Kh7 29. Rd8 g5+ $1 30. Kh3 Bxc4 31. Bd2 Kg6 32. Kg3 Ra3 $1 $11 {which will be child's play for GMs most of the time, but still worth giving a shot at.}) 19... Rxd6 20. Bxd6 Be6 21. Bxc5 a4 22. Kf2 h5 23. h3 hxg4 24. hxg4 Rb8 25. b3 $11 { Anand decides to call it a day soon.} (25. Ba3 Rd8 26. Ke3 Bc4 27. f4 f6 28. f5 Rd3+ 29. Kf4 Rh3 $11 {holds as well.}) 25... axb3 26. axb3 Rxb3 27. Bd4 c5 28. Bxc5 Rxc3 29. Be3 Rc2+ 30. Kg3 Rc3 31. Kf2 Rc2+ 32. Kg3 Rc3 {and the players agreed to a draw. A rather tepid opening by Anand today, clearly showing his inclinations for a draw. As for Sasha, another solid round with Black, and very interesting direct play with Black today. I believe that this move 5...d5 practically refutes White's claim for an advantage here.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.07"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D30"] [WhiteElo "2790"] [BlackElo "2812"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "108"] [EventDate "2019.03.31"] [EventType "tourn"] [EventCountry "AZE"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg5 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. e4 Be7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bxc4 Nb6 9. Qb3 Nxc4 10. Qxc4 a6 11. O-O b5 12. Qe2 Bb7 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Rfd1 Qe8 15. Qe3 e5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. f3 Rad8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rxd1+ 21. Nxd1 h6 22. Qc3 Qxc3 23. Nxc3 c5 24. a3 Kf8 25. b4 {questionable from a human point of view. Why weaken the queenside?} (25. Kf2 Ke7 26. Ke3 Kd6 27. b3 $1 $11 {is a dead drawn endgame.}) 25... Ke7 26. Kf2 Kd6 27. Ke3 Bc8 28. f4 Be6 29. e5+ Kc6 30. h3 h5 $1 {The first signs of ambition from Ding Liren.} 31. Ne4 cxb4 32. axb4 Kd5 $5 {Right move, wrong timing!} (32... h4 $1 33. Kd4 g6 $15 {is a little more unpleasant for White}) 33. Nd6 $2 {In time trouble Shak falters} (33. Ng5 {should hold the balance after} h4 34. Kd3 Bf5+ 35. Kc3 f6 36. exf6 gxf6 37. Nf3 $1 Ke4 38. Nxh4 $1 {should not be afraid of ghosts!} Be6 39. f5 $1 Bc4 40. Nf3 Kxf5 41. Kd4 $1 $11 {is a draw, proven by the computer in a long line!} Kf4 42. Nd2 Kg3 43. Nxc4 $1 bxc4 44. Kxc4 Kxg2 45. Kd5 Kxh3 46. Ke6 Kg4 47. Kxf6 Kf4 48. Ke6 Ke4 49. Kd6 Kd4 50. Kc6 Kc4 51. Kb6 Kxb4 52. Kxa6) 33... h4 $5 {Again, I applaud Ding for his ambition, but he had a far better move available.} (33... g6 $1 {puts a lot more pressure on White. After} 34. g4 $5 (34. h4 f6 $1 $19 {is a real killer, seen by the engines only after h4! White will lose this.}) 34... hxg4 35. hxg4 Bxg4 $19 {Black should win this endgame.}) 34. Ne8 $1 g6 35. Nc7+ Kc4 36. Nxe6 $1 {Superb defense from Shak here. This is the ONLY Move to hold the balance.} fxe6 37. g4 $1 (37. g3 Kxb4 38. f5 gxf5 39. gxh4 a5 40. h5 a4 41. h6 (41. Kd2 a3 42. Kc1 f4 43. h6 a2 44. Kb2 f3 45. h7 f2 46. h8=Q a1=Q+ 47. Kxa1 f1=Q+ $19) 41... a3 42. h7 a2 43. h8=Q a1=Q $19) 37... hxg3 38. h4 $3 {Brilliant calculations from Shak, with just over a minute left on his clock. I though he might lose on time, but Shak stayed firm here.} ({The commentators tried to make} 38. f5 $4 {work, but failed after} gxf5 $1 39. h4 f4+ $1 40. Ke2 Kd5 41. h5 Kxe5 $1 $19) 38... Kd5 $1 (38... Kxb4 39. h5 $1 gxh5 40. f5 exf5 41. e6 {It's White who wins the game. }) 39. Kf3 Kc6 $1 {Not so obvious intitially, but the only move- black has to create a passer urgently.} 40. Kxg3 a5 $1 {This endgame is a fabulous display of pawn breakthroughs.} 41. bxa5 b4 42. h5 $1 gxh5 43. f5 $1 b3 (43... exf5 44. e6 b3 45. e7 Kd7 46. a6 Kxe7 47. a7 b2 48. a8=Q b1=Q 49. Qd5 $11 {The pawns will fall.}) 44. f6 b2 45. f7 b1=Q 46. f8=Q Qg1+ 47. Kh3 Qg4+ 48. Kh2 Qe2+ 49. Kh3 Qxe5 {Ding Liren wins a pawn, but he can't win the game against perfect play.} 50. Qb4 Qb5 51. Qe4+ Qd5 52. Qb4 Qb5 53. Qe4+ Qd5 54. Qb4 Qb5 {and the players called it a day. Superb defense from Shak Mamedyarov.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.08"] [Round "8.3"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B34"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2845"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7 {A small surprise for Karjakin.} ({A few days ago Carlsen won against Navara in the line:} 8... Nb8 9. a4 Be7 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O Nd7 12. Kh1 a6 13. Na3 a5 14. f4 f5 {Navara,D (2739)-Carlsen,M (2845) Shamkir, 2019}) 9. c4 Ng6 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb4 Bf5 {This was probably the real surprise. Carlsen switches back to the line which was discussed in the classical part of the world championship match in London.} ({Instead, the world champion was successful with} 11... Qb8 12. h4 h5 {in two games recently. The more important one for our readers is the one in Wijk an Zee, which was annotated here. It went:} 13. Be3 a6 14. Nc3 f5 ({Black won a crucial rapid game with:} 14... a5 15. Qb3 a4 16. Qd1 Be7 17. g3 Qc8 18. Be2 Bg4 19. Rc1 Bxe2 20. Qxe2 Qf5 {Caruana,F (2832) -Carlsen,M (2835) London 2018}) 15. O-O-O Be7 16. g3 O-O 17. Be2 e4 {Van Foreest,J (2612)-Carlsen,M (2835) Wijk aan Zee 2019. As you can see Black is ready to sacrifice the h-pawn.}) 12. Qa4 Bd7 13. Qb4 Bf5 {With the tournament situation in his favor Black did not mind the repetition.} 14. h4 h5 15. Bg5 $146 {Karjakin improves on the previous game.} ({Needless to say the predecessor is also one of the London games:} 15. Be3 a6 16. Nc3 Qc7 17. g3 Be7 18. f3 Nf8 19. Ne4 Nd7 {Caruana,F (2832)-Carlsen,M (2835) London 2018}) 15... Qb8 16. Be2 {[Surprisingly, Karjakin spent 20 minutes on this move. - PD]} a6 17. Nc3 Qc7 18. g3 Be7 19. Be3 e4 {Carlsen did not dwell into the opening too much, but he mentioned that the computer likes White almost always. Apparently, the analysis of the world champion went quite in depth and included the sacrifice of the h5 pawn.} 20. O-O O-O 21. Bxh5 Ne5 22. Be2 Qd7 {"I quite like this as I am setting up some Bf5-g4 ideas." (Carlsen) Black's compensation is based on the weakness of the light squares around the enemy king. Furthermore, the pawn on e4 is a pivotal point around what the second players does. It provides wonderful outposts for the black knight, one of which is way too deep in White's position.} 23. Qa4 Qc8 24. c5 {Very reasonable according to the Norwegian. The e4 pawn would be traded.} dxc5 ({Less good was:} 24... Nf3+ 25. Bxf3 exf3 26. Qf4 Bh3 27. cxd6 Bxd6 28. Qxf3 Bxf1 29. Rxf1 {"White would get reasonable compensation for the exchange" (Carlsen)}) 25. Nxe4 c4 $1 ({Black rejected} 25... b5 26. Qc2 {as the queen actually needs to stand on c2.}) 26. Nc3 $2 {"A mistake. He just underestimated my plan." (Carlsen)} ({"He should have definitely gone for:"} 26. Qc2 {It looks strange that White wants to self-pin, but it is his best chance. To this Black planned:} Re8 {"followed by Be7-f8 or Be7-c5. I thought I have definite compensation." (Carlsen)}) 26... b5 ({"As far as I can judge by his body language he had resigned to a draw and expected:"} 26... Bd3 27. Bxd3 Nf3+ (27... Nxd3 $5 {with compensation is not bad neither.}) 28. Kg2 Nxh4+ 29. gxh4 (29. Kh2 Nf3+ {does not change anything.} ) 29... Qg4+ {with perpetual. (Carlsen)}) 27. Qd1 b4 {"I thought this idea is so attractive I should play on. " (Carlsen)} 28. Na4 {"(This move) is very, very ugly." (Carlsen)} ({Instead he expected:} 28. d6 Rd8 29. Nd5 (29. dxe7 Rxd1 30. Raxd1 {"is insufficient compensation" (Carlsen)}) 29... Bxd6 30. Nb6 Qc6 31. Nxa8 Bh3 32. f3 Ng4 {Black liked his positon a lot and planned to meet: } 33. Bf2 {with} Qxa8 {(Carlsen)} (33... Bxf1 34. Qxf1 Nxf2 35. Kxf2 c3 { leads also to serious advantage for Black.})) 28... Be4 {It is getting windier around the white king.} 29. Qd4 ({Black's attack is very strong after:} 29. Kh2 Qf5 30. Nb6 Rad8) 29... Qf5 30. f4 ({Carlsen pointed out that the white knight is badly misplaced in the line:} 30. Bf4 Nf3+ 31. Bxf3 Bxf3 32. Qe3 Qg4) ({ Whereas in case of:} 30. f3 Bxf3 31. Nb6 {He was debating between:} Bf6 ({And} 31... Qh5 $5 {in both cases with strong initiative for the pawn.})) 30... Qg6 31. Bf2 Nd3 32. h5 ({Perhaps White should have defended with:} 32. Bxd3 Bxd3 ({ Although} 32... cxd3 {should be clearly better for Black.}) 33. Rfe1 Bf6 34. Re5 $5) 32... Qf5 ({Black was not sure if:} 32... Nxf4 {works. Most likely it does not after:} 33. Rae1 $1 Qf5 34. Bg4 $1) 33. Bg4 $2 ({"Now he absolutely had to take on d3:"} 33. Bxd3 cxd3 ({Or} 33... Bxd3 34. Qe5 Qxe5 35. fxe5 Bxf1 36. Kxf1 {hoping to create counterplay with his central pawns (Carlsen)}) 34. Qe5 Bf6 35. Qxf5 Bxf5 {"he can still fight." (Carlsen)}) 33... Qxg4 34. Qxe4 Bd6 {Simply threatening to capture the f4 pawn.} 35. Qg2 (35. Kh2 {would be anyway met with:} Nxf4 36. gxf4 Bxf4+ 37. Kh1 Qh3+) 35... Rae8 {White is completely tied up and has not reasonable moves left.} 36. Bd4 (36. Nb6 Nxf2 37. Qxf2 Bc5 $1 {would be a nice finish.}) 36... Qxh5 37. Qf3 Qg6 38. Kh1 Re4 39. Bf2 Rfe8 {Karjakin had had enough.} (39... Rfe8 {A possible finish would have been:} 40. Rad1 Nxf2+ 41. Rxf2 ({Or} 41. Qxf2 Re2 42. Qf3 Qh6+ {with mate. }) 41... Re3) 0-1 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.08"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Black "Navara, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2771"] [BlackElo "2739"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:01:52"] [BlackClock "0:00:41"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. dxc5 e6 5. a3 (5. Nf3 Bxc5 6. a3 Ne7 7. Bd3 Ng6 8. O-O O-O 9. Nbd2 Nc6 10. b4 Bb6 11. Bxg6 fxg6 12. Nb3 Bd7 {Anand,V (2773) -Mamedyarov,S (2817) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 5... Nc6 6. Nf3 Bxc5 7. b4 Bb6 8. b5 Nb8 9. Bb2 $146 (9. Bd3 Nd7 10. O-O Ne7 11. a4 Ng6 12. Qe2 a6 13. c4 dxc4 14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. Nc3 O-O {1/2 Holroyd,K (2481)-Ruefenacht,M (2473) ICCF email 2014 }) 9... a6 10. a4 Nh6 $6 ({Grischuk suggested} 10... axb5 11. axb5 (11. Bxb5+ Bd7 12. Bd3 (12. Nc3 Ne7) 12... Na6 13. O-O Nc5) 11... Rxa1 12. Bxa1 Nd7 13. Be2 Ne7 14. O-O O-O 15. c4 Nc5 {with approximate equality.}) 11. Be2 axb5 12. axb5 Rxa1 13. Bxa1 Nd7 14. O-O O-O 15. c4 f6 {"A very ambitious move, but I don't think it works." (Grischuk) "I am getting tired towards the end of the tournament and I started miscalculating here." (Navara)} (15... Nc5) 16. Nbd2 Ng4 $6 {"I don't believe in combinations when you have a bishop on c8." (Grischuk)} ({Better was} 16... fxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5 Qg5 19. Bg3 (19. Bd6 Rd8) (19. Bb2 $2 Rxf2 $1 20. Rxf2 Qe3 21. Qe1 Ng4) 19... Nf5 20. Nf3 { but it is also better for White.}) 17. exf6 Ndxf6 18. h3 Nxf2 19. Rxf2 Ne4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. Ng5 Rd2 23. c5 $1 {Navara had missed this refutation.} Bxc5 24. Nxe4 {The tempo means everything.} Bxf2+ 25. Kxf2 Rc2 26. Ke3 Bd7 27. Nd6 Rc5 28. Nxb7 Rg5 29. b6 Rxg2 30. Na5 Bc8 31. Be5 Rg1 32. b7 Bxb7 33. Nxb7 Rh1 34. Bg4 Kf7 35. Nd6+ Ke7 36. Ne4 h5 37. Ng3 Re1+ 38. Be2 g6 39. h4 Ra1 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.08"] [Round "8.5"] [White "Giri, Anish"] [Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "2797"] [BlackElo "2790"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:48:31"] [BlackClock "1:12:52"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. O-O a6 7. a4 Ba7 ({ Relevant:} 7... O-O 8. Re1 h6 9. h3 a5 10. Nbd2 Be6 11. b3 d5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Ne4 Bb6 {Ding,L (2813)-Anand,V (2773) Wijk aan Zee 2019}) 8. Re1 Ng4 9. Rf1 Nf6 10. Nbd2 Ne7 11. Re1 Ng6 12. Nf1 O-O 13. Ng3 c6 14. Bb3 Re8 15. h3 d5 $6 16. Bg5 $146 (16. d4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Rxe4 Bf5 19. Ng5 Nh8 20. Rxe5 Rxe5 21. dxe5 Qxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Rd8 {Ortiz Suarez,I (2581)-Bok,B (2592) Baku 2016}) 16... Be6 17. d4 exd4 18. exd5 ({Also strong was} 18. e5 h6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. cxd4 fxe5 21. dxe5 {and Black's king is gonna suffer at some point.}) 18... cxd5 19. Nxd4 $6 {Played after just 10 seconds.} ({Mamedyarov immediately suggested} 19. Nh5 {at the press conference, and the engine likes it too, e.g.} dxc3 20. bxc3 Rc8 {and now even the simple} (20... Kh8 21. Nd4 {threatening 22.Qf3}) 21. Bxf6 (21. Rb1 $5) 21... gxf6 22. Bxd5 {is hard to meet.}) 19... h6 20. Be3 Bd7 21. Ndf5 Bxe3 22. Nxe3 Be6 23. a5 Qc7 24. Qd4 Ne7 25. Ba4 Bd7 26. Bc2 Rad8 27. Qh4 Be6 28. Bf5 Qd7 29. Bxe6 fxe6 30. Ng4 Nxg4 31. Qxg4 Nc6 32. Nh5 Kh7 33. Nf4 e5 34. Qxd7 Rxd7 35. Rad1 d4 36. cxd4 Nxd4 37. Kf1 Rdd8 38. Nd3 Nb3 39. f3 Rd5 40. Nf2 Rxa5 41. Rd7 Nc5 42. Rd5 Nb3 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.08"] [Round "8.4"] [White "Topalov, Veselin"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E21"] [WhiteElo "2740"] [BlackElo "2812"] [PlyCount "211"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:49:03"] [BlackClock "0:15:24"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Qc2 d5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. Qxc3 dxc4 (9... c6 10. h4 dxc4 11. g4 Qe7 12. g5 h5 13. Qxc4 Nd7 14. e3 c5 15. Be2 b6 {Mamedyarov,S (2808)-Aronian,L (2764) Paris 2018}) 10. Qxc4 Nc6 11. Qc3 Re8 12. Ne5 $146 ({Predecessor (6):} 12. Rd1 e5 13. d5 Nb8 14. e4 c6 15. Bc4 Bg4 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 Qxf3 18. gxf3 cxd5 19. Bxd5 Nc6 {Ivanchuk, V (2732)-Wei,Y (2740) Hoogeveen 2017}) 12... Rb8 13. g3 Rd8 14. e3 Nxe5 15. dxe5 Qf3 16. Rg1 Qc6 17. Qxc6 bxc6 18. Rb1 c5 19. Be2 Kf8 20. f3 Ke7 21. Bc4 Rb6 22. Ke2 Bd7 23. b3 Rdb8 24. Rbc1 Bb5 25. Rgd1 Ra6 26. Bxb5 Rxb5 27. Rd3 Rxa3 28. Rcd1 Ra2+ 29. Ke1 Rb8 30. Rd7+ Kf8 31. Rxc7 Kg8 32. Rd2 Rxd2 33. Kxd2 Rxb3 34. Rxc5 Rb2+ 35. Kd3 Rxh2 36. g4 Ra2 37. Rc8+ Kh7 38. Rc7 Kg6 39. f4 Rg2 40. Ke4 Rxg4 41. Kf3 Rg1 42. Rxa7 h5 43. Ra8 Kh7 44. Rf8 Kg6 45. Rh8 Ra1 46. Kg2 Ra5 47. Kf3 Rb5 48. Re8 Rb7 49. Rh8 Ra7 50. Kg2 f6 51. exf6 gxf6 52. Re8 Kf7 53. Rh8 Ra5 54. Kf3 Kg7 55. Re8 e5 56. Ke4 h4 57. fxe5 fxe5 58. Kf5 h3 59. Re7+ Kh6 60. Re8 Ra7 61. Rb8 h2 62. Rb6+ Kh5 63. Rb1 Kh4 64. e4 Re7 65. Ra1 Re8 66. Rb1 Rh8 67. Kxe5 Kg3 68. Rh1 Kg2 69. Rxh2+ Rxh2 70. Kf6 Kf3 71. e5 Kf4 72. e6 Rh6+ 73. Kf7 Kf5 74. e7 Rh7+ 75. Kf8 Kf6 76. e8=N+ Kg6 77. Nd6 Rd7 78. Ne8 Rf7+ 79. Kg8 Ra7 80. Kf8 Rd7 81. Kg8 Rf7 82. Nd6 Rd7 83. Ne8 Kf5 84. Kf8 Kg5 85. Kg8 Kg6 86. Kf8 Rf7+ 87. Kg8 Rf1 88. Ng7 Kf6 89. Nh5+ Kg5 90. Ng7 Kg6 91. Ne8 Rf3 92. Ng7 $2 ({Here the only move was} 92. Nc7) 92... Kf6 93. Nh5+ (93. Ne8+ Ke7 94. Ng7 Rh3 95. Nf5+ Kf6 96. Nd6 Rd3 97. Ne8+ Ke7 98. Ng7 Rd5 99. Kh8 Kf7) 93... Ke6 $2 {Throwing away the win.} (93... Kf5 94. Ng7+ Ke5 95. Ne8 Ke6 96. Ng7+ Ke7 97. Kh7 Kf6 98. Nh5+ Kg5 99. Ng7 Rc3 100. Kg8 Kf6 101. Nh5+ Kg6) 94. Kh7 $2 (94. Kg7 $1 {draws here.}) 94... Kf5 $1 {The only winning move.} 95. Ng7+ Kf6 96. Nh5+ Kg5 97. Ng7 Rh3+ 98. Kg8 Kf6 $1 {Again the only winning move. } 99. Ne8+ Ke6 100. Ng7+ Ke7 101. Nf5+ Kf6 102. Nd6 Rh5 103. Nf7 Rd5 104. Nh6 Rd8+ 105. Kh7 Rd7+ 106. Kg8 (106. Kg8 {and resigned because} Kg6 {loses the knight.}) 0-1 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.08"] [Round "8.2"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2779"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:48:49"] [BlackClock "0:56:21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Bb4+ 11. Nd2 d4 {Radjabov didn't expect this move.} (11... Nc6 12. O-O Be7 13. a3 g6 14. Rc1 Bf6 15. b4 Qe7 16. Nf3 Rd8 17. h3 Ne5 {Caruana,F (2822)-Anand,V (2768) Saint Louis 2018}) 12. Qc2 {"White is kind of pressing without allowing any counterplay but certainly it's not much. " (Radjabov)} h6 $146 (12... Nc6 13. O-O g6 14. Be4 dxe3 15. Bxe3 Nd4 16. Qc4 Bxd2 17. Bxd4 Re8 18. Rad1 Bf4 {Grischuk,A (2766)-Nakamura,H (2777) Saint Louis 2018}) 13. O-O Nc6 14. a3 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. e4 Ne5 17. Nc4 Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Be6 19. Qb4 Qxb4 20. axb4 Rfc8 21. Rfc1 g5 22. Kf1 Rxc1+ (22... Rc6 23. b5 {Anand}) 23. Rxc1 a5 24. b5 (24. Ra1 a4 25. Ke2 b5 26. Bxb5 Rb8 27. Bxa4 Rxb4 28. b3 Bxb3 {Anand}) 24... a4 25. Ke2 a3 26. bxa3 Rxa3 27. Rc7 Ra2+ 28. Ke1 b6 29. Rc6 Ra1+ 30. Kd2 Ra2+ 31. Ke1 Ra1+ 32. Kd2 Ra2+ 33. Ke1 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.08"] [Round "8.3"] [White "Karjakin, Sergey"] [Black "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B33"] [WhiteElo "2753"] [BlackElo "2845"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] {My focus was fully on this game. Karjakin is a very ambitious man these days, and I knew that he would fight to the death against Magnus today. What I didn't expect however, was Magnus being so co-operative and allowing a full blooded fight!} 1. e4 c5 $1 {Smart move. The World Champion adheres to his favourite Sveshnikov, even in a game that the opponent needs to win. This shows that in principle, one should stick to his preparation for every game, and aim to win, irrespective of the requirement.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Nd5 {Karjakin goes for Caruana's main line against Carlsen in their match last year. This is a very interesting try for White, and play now takes on a very definite character-White tries to breakthrough on the queenside, and Black tries to thwart that and checkmate the White king.} Nxd5 8. exd5 Ne7 9. c4 Ng6 10. Qa4 Bd7 11. Qb4 Bf5 12. Qa4 Bd7 13. Qb4 Bf5 14. h4 $1 {Sergey needs to win, and he shows the first important ingredient of a winner- the motivation to fight. This is the best move, as already played by Fabi last year, avoiding the same repetition Magnus proposed.} h5 $1 {This is an important move, weakening g5, but taking g4 under firm control.} 15. Bg5 Qb8 16. Be2 a6 17. Nc3 Qc7 18. g3 Be7 19. Be3 e4 20. O-O (20. Bb6 $5 Qd7 21. Bd4 $5 {is an interesting maneuver, but it forces the queen to go where it wants to go. So, Sergey's decision in the game is correct.}) (20. Bd4 $5 {immediately is also interesting.} Ne5 21. Qa4+ Bd7 (21... Kf8 $5 {is also interesting- White is forced to play} 22. Bxe5 dxe5 23. Qc2 Rh6 $1 24. Rc1 b5 $1 $132 { with counterplay for Black.}) 22. Qb4 f5 $1 23. O-O Rc8 24. Rac1 Bf6 $13 { with an unclear position, where White's chances are slightly better.}) 20... O-O $1 {Superb pawn sacrifice from Magnus. It is only after this point that Stockfish and other engines show white an advantage of one tempo only. This proves that the flow of the game has now started to go in Black's favour.} 21. Bxh5 {There is nothing else. White has to take it and prove material is more important.} Ne5 22. Be2 Qd7 23. Qa4 Qc8 {Sergey must have felt a little desperate by now. Magnus has equalised, and the tide has slowly turned in the latter's favour. The game might be equal, but the momentum is on Black's side, and that is most important.} 24. c5 $5 {An interesting attempt to mix things up.} (24. Qd1 $5 {is a radical attempt by White to accelerate his queenside play.} Re8 $1 {is far better, continuing the kingside policy. After} ({If Black bites with} 24... Nxc4 {then} 25. Bd4 $1 Nxb2 26. Qd2 Nd3 27. Nxe4 $1 Nc5 28. Nxc5 dxc5 29. Be5 $13 {leads to a very complex middlegame, where I feel White's chances are slightly better.}) 25. Bd4 Bf6 $1 (25... Nxc4 $5 26. Na4 $1 Bh3 27. Re1 Bd8 28. Rc1 {White should be atleast slightly better here, having reduced the pressure on his kingside somewhat.}) 26. Re1 Bg6 27. Rc1 Rb8 28. b4 $1 {looks as if it puts White in the driver's seat, but Black has the amazing} Bxh4 $3 29. gxh4 Qh3 $44 {with atleast perpetual check.}) 24... dxc5 $1 { Magnus plays most aggressively.} 25. Nxe4 c4 $1 {It was around here that Carlsen mentions in the press conference that he was very happy with his position and wanted to play on. I surely agree. Black is risking nothing here-most of his pieces are optimally placed. Sergey now commits the first mistake.} 26. Nc3 $2 {Unnecessarily gifting Black some play on the queenside.} (26. Qc2 $1 {according to Magnus was essential, and after} Re8 27. Rad1 Bf8 28. Kh2 b5 $132 {we reach a position with mutual chances.}) 26... b5 $1 27. Qd1 b4 $1 28. Na4 $17 {The knight now sits like a lone ranger, unable to create enough play on its own.} Be4 $1 {Sergey probably underestimated this resource. Black now quickly gets his queen to the kingside.} 29. Qd4 Qf5 {Magnus has a very comfortable edge here.} 30. f4 $2 {The last straw.} (30. f3 $1 {was a must, sacrificing a pawn, but opening up the rook and creating some counterchances. After} Nxf3+ $1 31. Bxf3 Bxf3 32. Nb6 Rad8 33. Qd1 $1 Bxd1 34. Rxf5 Bc2 35. Rf2 b3 $17 {Black's advantage is big, but not decisive.}) 30... Qg6 $1 {After this it is more or less over- White's kingside is too weak.} 31. Bf2 Nd3 32. h5 Qf5 33. Bg4 $2 {Another mistake.} (33. Bxd3 cxd3 34. Qe5 Qxe5 35. fxe5 Bxd5 $19 {is also hopeless, but more defensible for White.}) 33... Qxg4 $1 34. Qxe4 Bd6 $1 {Magnus now finishes in style.} 35. Qg2 Rae8 36. Bd4 Qxh5 37. Qf3 Qg6 38. Kh1 Re4 39. Bf2 Rfe8 {and Karjakin resigned. A great counterpunching game by the World Champion, who is back to his dominant best in Classical Chess.} 0-1 [Event "Shamkir"] [Site "Shamkir"] [Date "2019.04.08"] [Round "8.2"] [White "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Black "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2756"] [BlackElo "2779"] [Annotator "Tanmay Srinath"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] {With both players out of reckoning for the top places, a draw was an expected and natural outcome, but only after a fighting game.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 {Anand repeats his trusted drawing weapon even after losing twice in the same opening- that shows his confidence in his preparation.} 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. cxd5 {Teimour decides to test Anand in a different line today.} (8. Qc2 Nc6 9. a3 Qa5 10. Rd1 Rd8 {was the line Carlsen and Karjakin used to beat Vishy in Shamkir this time.}) 8... Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Bd3 Bb4+ $1 11. Nd2 d4 $1 {An important improvement by Anand, last played by Nakamura in 2017.} ({Anand had ventured} 11... Nc6 {and gained draws against Grischuk and Caruana last year, though White had a slight edge in both games. This time he effectively neutralises the Queens Gambit for good.}) 12. Qc2 h6 $146 {A logical novelty.} 13. O-O Nc6 14. a3 Bd6 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. e4 $5 {Practically the only try for White- he has to prove that d4 is more a weakness than a strength.} Ne5 $1 {Anand finds the right move order to equalise.} 17. Nc4 $1 {is shown by the engines as the best way to fight for an advantage, but as Anand shows in the game, the advantage is so small it's as if it doesn't exist.} (17. f4 $5 {is my suggestion for White here, creating an interesting imbalance. After} Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Bd7 19. Rf2 Rad8 20. Re1 Rfe8 21. e5 Qd5 22. h3 Bc6 23. Ne4 $13 {White still has chances to claim an advantage, but Black has managed to make the game extremely unclear.}) 17... Nxc4 18. Qxc4 Be6 19. Qb4 Qxb4 20. axb4 Rfc8 $1 21. Rfc1 g5 $1 {a very important move, preventing f4, after which White's advantage vapourises.} 22. Kf1 Rxc1+ 23. Rxc1 a5 $1 {Creating counterplay on the a-file} 24. b5 a4 25. Ke2 a3 26. bxa3 Rxa3 27. Rc7 Ra2+ 28. Ke1 b6 $1 {This is an important resource according to Anand, slightly misplacing the White rook and threatening perpetual check, which Radjabov allows.} 29. Rc6 Ra1+ 30. Kd2 Ra2+ 31. Ke1 (31. Bc2 $1 {forces black to find} Rb2 $1 32. Rxb6 Bb3 33. Rb8+ Kg7 34. Rc8 Bxc2 35. Rxc2 Rxb5 36. Kd3 g4 37. Kxd4 Rh5 $1 {and the game is a dead draw.}) 31... Ra1+ 32. Kd2 Ra2+ 33. Ke1 {As Radjabov remarked in the press conference, the QGD is a very tough nut to crack, and White often has to satisfy himself with a symbolic advantage, as he did in the game today. A good draw for Anand today, easily neutralising White's slight pressure.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.04.09"] [Round "9.3"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Grischuk, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "2845"] [BlackElo "2771"] [Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2014.12.06"] {[%evp 0,77,19,31,34,42,8,17,36,14,23,-12,-2,1,-11,-13,35,-15,-12,-11,3,-15,-1, -57,-5,-55,-40,-38,-47,-15,-10,-3,-5,0,-16,-25,-19,-12,0,6,17,32,39,19,6,18,20, 20,54,45,65,75,59,55,74,23,41,42,51,3,35,13,33,0,-11,0,64,71,70,87,114,260,258, 305,281,302,302,283,365,365]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Ba4 Ne7 ({Carlsen also faced:} 7... Bb6 8. Nbd2 Ne7 9. Nc4 Ng6 10. h3 h6 11. Bc2 Be6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. d4 {as in Carlsen,M (2835)-Andreikin,D (2719) St Petersburg 2018}) 8. Bc2 $146 {White prepares d3-d4 but does not yet show where will his queenside knight go.} ({It is curious that the world champion tries to improve on another game played in Russia:} 8. Nbd2 Ng6 9. d4 Bb6 10. Bc2 Re8 11. Re1 c6 12. h3 h6 13. a4 Be6 14. Nf1 {1-0 (22) Karjakin,S (2753)-Jakovenko,D (2735) St Petersburg 2018}) 8... Ng6 9. d4 Bb6 10. a4 c6 11. dxe5 ({White can always try to switch to the above-mentioned game with} 11. Nbd2 {but apparently he was not happy with the arising positions.}) 11... Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. a5 Bc5 15. Nd2 ({"When I went for this position I intended to go:"} 15. b4 {"but it is not very good." (Carlsen)} Be7 16. f3 Be6 17. Na3 (17. Be3 c5 $1 {(Grischuk)}) 17... b5 $1 {with good game for Black.}) 15... Be6 {The opening went fine for Grischuk and he enjoys comfortable equality. Black's problem was purely psychological. As Grischuk put it he clearly understood that this same position can be achieved with reversed colors. Obviously he became extra confident and committed a serious inaccuracy.} 16. Re1 b5 {"Very big mistake." (Grischuk)} 17. Nb3 Bxb3 {The Russian GM did not like neither of the alternatives, but it seems as this is the real mistake.} ({If} 17... Bd6 18. Bg5 {"and I achieve nothing" (Grischuk) was however his best option. After:} h6 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Rad1 Be7 {Black should not experience problems.}) ({If} 17... Be7 18. a6 {"then Nb3-a5 was very strong" (Grischuk) Even that should not be as horrible after:} Rd7 19. Na5 Bc5 20. h3 ({Or} 20. Nxc6 Ng4 21. Rf1 Bc4) 20... Rc8 {with normal play for Black.}) 18. Bxb3 Ng4 19. Re2 {Now White is clearly better thanks to his bishop pair. Carlsen quickly builds upon his advantage.} Rd6 20. Bg5 $1 { Wins an important tempo to bring the queenside rook out.} Kf8 (20... h6 21. Be7 {loses on the spot.}) 21. Rf1 Nf6 22. g3 {In order to prepare f2-f4 which will open both files and diagonals for his pieces. Notice that Black holds the d-file but it is completely useless for his as the bishops control all the squares. In the meanwhile Carlsen wants to open a file for his own rooks.} a6 23. Kg2 Nd7 24. Bc1 Ba7 25. f4 f6 ({Anytime the f-file is open:} 25... exf4 { it is soon over:} 26. Bxf4 Rf6 ({Or} 26... Rg6 27. Rd2) 27. e5 Rg6 28. e6) 26. h4 Re8 ({Carlsen thought} 26... h5 {might be a defense, although then White can switch to play on the d-file with:} 27. Ree1 Ke7 28. Rd1 Rxd1 29. Rxd1) 27. h5 h6 {Forced.} ({Or else White will make it to the f6 pawn after say:} 27... Re7 28. h6 g6 29. fxe5 Nxe5 30. Bg5 Nd7 31. e5) 28. Ba2 $1 {One of those little moves that make a big difference at the end. The bishop steps away from the possible tempos after Nd7-c5 and eventually d3.} c5 {"Ugly as it blocks the bishop" (Carlsen)} ({The knight cannot move:} 28... Nc5 29. fxe5 Rxe5 30. Bf4) ({But perhaps Black should have tried:} 28... exf4 29. gxf4 Nc5 {with the idea:} 30. e5 Nd3 $1) 29. Be3 $1 {Grischuk praised Carlsen's play after the game and especially this decision. It was not very obvious what the pins and the counterpins will lead to, plus White sacrifices a pawn. But the world champion had it all right.} exf4 30. gxf4 (30. Bxf4 Ne5 {was definitely not the idea.}) 30... Rxe4 31. Bb1 Re7 ({If the rook retreats on another square like:} 31... Re8 {then White seizes the e-file with decisive effect:} 32. Rfe1 Rc8 33. Bf2 {followed by Bb1-g6 and mate is coming.}) 32. Rfe1 f5 {Missing his chance.} ({Black cold have held the line with the unusual:} 32... Nb8 $1 33. Bf2 Nc6 {intending:} 34. Bg6 ({Or} 34. Kf3 Rdd7 {In this line White is still much better after:} 35. Bf5 Rxe2 36. Rxe2 Re7 37. Rd2 $1 {but Black can still fight on.}) 34... Rxe2 35. Rxe2 Ne7) 33. Bxf5 Nf6 {The knight covers the e8 spot, however Black's ship is already leaking from far too many holes.} 34. Kf3 Nd5 35. Rd2 {"This was a surprise for me" (Grischuk)} ({Instead he expected:} 35. Bd2 Rxe2 36. Rxe2 Ne7 {"and it is nothing special" (Grischuk)}) 35... Rd8 ( 35... Rxe3+ {loses material after:} 36. Rxe3 Nxe3 37. Rxd6 Nxf5 38. Rxa6 Bb8 39. Ra8) ({Black is also lost after:} 35... Nxe3 36. Rxd6 Nxf5 37. Rxe7 Kxe7 ({ Or} 37... Nxe7 38. Rxa6 Bb8 39. Ra8 Nc6 40. a6 {with the inevitable Ra8xb8.}) 38. Rxa6 Bb8 39. Rb6) 36. Be4 {The pins worked in White's favor.} Red7 37. Red1 Nf6 38. Rxd7 Nxd7 39. Rd6 {Black's position collapses, Grischuk saluted the deserved winner of the Shamkir 2019 Gashimov Memorial.} 1-0 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.09"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Navara, David"] [Black "Radjabov, Teimour"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "2739"] [BlackElo "2756"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:52:47"] [BlackClock "0:08:49"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Nxd4 Ne7 8. O-O ({Radjabov said he had an idea in the line starting with} 8. Nd2) 8... Nbc6 9. Bb5 a6 10. Bxc6+ Nxc6 ({Navara himself held two strong grandmasters to a draw three years ago with} 10... bxc6 11. c4 Qd7 12. cxd5 (12. Nc3 dxc4 13. Na4 Nd5 {Caruana,F (2808)-Navara,D (2742) Baku AZE 2016}) 12... Nxd5 13. Nxf5 exf5 14. Bd4 Nc7 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2813)-Navara,D (2742) Baku AZE 2016}) 11. Nxf5 exf5 12. c3 Be7 13. Nd2 Qd7 $146 (13... Nxe5 14. Bd4 f6 15. Qb3 Qd7 16. Rfd1 Nc6 17. Nf1 Na5 18. Qc2 O-O 19. Rd3 f4 20. Rad1 Qf5 {1/2 (20) Karjakin,S (2753)-Dreev, A (2670) St Petersburg 2018}) 14. Nf3 Qe6 15. Qb3 O-O 16. Bb6 Bd8 17. Bc5 Na5 18. Qc2 Re8 19. Rfe1 Rc8 20. Nd4 Qd7 {Radjabov was not happy with his opening choice and thought White was clearly better here.} 21. Bb4 g6 22. Bxa5 Bxa5 23. Qb3 (23. Rad1 $5) 23... Rcd8 (23... Rc4 $5 24. Rad1 b5 25. Qa3 Ra4 26. Qd6 Qxd6 27. exd6 Rd8 (27... Rxe1+ $2 28. Rxe1 Rxd4 29. Re8+)) 24. Re2 Qc7 25. e6 f6 26. Rd1 Rd6 27. Nf3 ({Radjabov was worried about} 27. Nc2 $5 {e.g.} Rb6 (27... Qc6) 28. Qa4 Rbxe6 (28... Rexe6 29. Rde1 {wins}) 29. Qxe8+ Rxe8 30. Rxe8+ Kf7 31. Re2 {is clearly better for White (Navara, Radjabov).}) 27... Qc6 28. Red2 Bb6 { Now the worst is over for Black.} 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Qxd5 Qxd5 31. Rxd5 Rxe6 32. Kf1 Re7 33. c4 Kf7 34. b4 Bc7 35. h3 Ke8 36. a4 b6 37. b5 axb5 38. axb5 Re4 39. c5 bxc5 40. Rxc5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Site "Shamkir, Azerbaijan"] [Date "2019.04.09"] [Round "9.5"] [White "Anand, Viswanathan"] [Black "Topalov, Veselin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2779"] [BlackElo "2740"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [WhiteClock "0:25:57"] [BlackClock "0:42:18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. c3 a6 7. b4 Ba7 8. a4 O-O 9. Nbd2 Ne7 10. h3 c6 11. Re1 Ng6 12. d4 Re8 (12... exd4 13. cxd4 d5 14. Bd3 dxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Be6 {Malakhov,V (2666)-Tomashevsky,E (2702) Biograd 2018}) 13. Bd3 {Topalov wasn't sure about this move.} Qc7 $146 (13... h6 14. b5 axb5 15. axb5 Be6 16. Nf1 Bb6 17. Be3 Rxa1 18. Qxa1 c5 19. d5 Bxd5 20. exd5 e4 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 {Williamson,H (2524)-Olofsson,D (2555) GER email 2015 }) 14. a5 Bd7 15. Nf1 (15. Qc2 d5 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. dxe5 Bf5 { Topalov}) (15. Bb2 $5) 15... d5 {"Either it works or it doesn't. In the game it looked like I could equalize." (Topalov)} 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 (16... Nxe4 17. Nxd7 Qxd7 18. Qc2 f5 19. f3 Nd6) 17. Bf4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 dxe4 19. Rxe4 f6 20. dxe5 ({ The players looked at} 20. Ng3 Rf8 (20... Be6 21. dxe5 f5 22. Re2) (20... g5 21. Nh5 gxf4 22. Nxf6+) 21. Qd2 (21. dxe5 Bxf2+) (21. Qe2 g5 (21... Be6) 22. Bxe5 fxe5) 21... g5 (21... Rf7 22. dxe5 fxe5 23. Be3) 22. Bxe5 fxe5 23. Qxg5+ Kh8 24. Rxe5) 20... fxe5 21. Bg3 Bf5 22. Re2 Qf7 23. Ne3 Rad8 {Black has enough play for the pawn weakness.} 24. Rd2 Rxd2 25. Qxd2 Be6 26. Re1 e4 27. Qe2 Qf6 28. Qc2 Qg6 29. Qd2 Qf6 30. Qc2 Qg6 31. Qd2 Qf6 1/2-1/2