Tata Steel Chess Second Place Good Result: Levon Aronian

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

 

Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian believes his second place at a prestigious international tournament in the Netherlands that ended on Sunday is a ‘good result’ despite several missed opportunities.

Tata Steel’s Group A tournament in Wijk aan Zee, bringing together 14 grandmasters, ended in the victory by FIDE’s number one player Magnus Carlsen from Norway. Finishing second, Aronian, currently the world’s number three player, outdid reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand from India.

“Remembering the positions I would have [during some of the games] at the tournament, I can’t say that I’m much satisfied with my performance. Though I really missed several important moments, second place is quite good result,” concluded the Armenian chess ace after the completion of the tournament in the Dutch town. The Olympiad champion was speaking to Armenia press after returning from the tournament.

Meanwhile, in Tata Steel’s Tournaments B and C, Sergei Movsesian representing Armenia and Krikor Sevag Mekhitarian, an ethnic Armenian player from Brazil, finished fourth in their respective sections, in each of which 14 players were competing.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013: Royal decoration for Dolf Vos who Retires as Chess Committee Chairman

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

 

After 15 years of service as chairman of the Chess Committee, Dolf Vos has retired. Related to this Dolf has been awarded a Royal Decoration, through which the Tata Steel Chess Tournament has been honoured. Tonight, the decoration was handed over by Han van Leeuwen, mayor of Beverwijk.

 

More photographs from the closing ceremony of the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2013 is available at the official website.

 

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's

www.chessblog.com

Also see her personal blog at

www.chessqueen.com

Don't miss Chess Queen™  

YouTube Channel

 

75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 R13: Carlsen Wins, Equals Kasparov's 1999 Record

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Magnus Carlsen has won the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament with a score of 10 out of 13, equaling Garry Kasparov's 1999 record win in Wijk aan Zee. In the final round of the tournament the world number one was a bit lucky his opponent Anish Giri allowed a drawing combination after reaching a nearly winning position! Giri's draw was enough to tie for first in the battle for best Dutchman as Loek van Wely had already gone down in flames against Sergey Karjakin. The Russian Grandmaster was well prepared for Van Wely's second Sicilian Dragon of the tournament, and when the latter embarked on a faulty plan. White soon won.

Battling for second place, last year's winner Levon Aronian was all set to make matters even worse for Fabiano Caruana, who had lost his last three games. Nevertheless, in the end Caruana rose to the occasion and managed to draw after 104 moves. Although his score of 8,5 out of 13 would ordinarily suffice for first place, Aronian had to settle for the runner-up position. He did not, however, have to share second place with Viswanathan Anand. The World Champion suffered a painful defeat at the hands of Wang Hao.

Round 13 - Sunday the 27th
Karjakin, S. - van Wely, L. 1-0
Hou, Y. - Leko, P. ½-½
L'Ami, E. - Sokolov, I. ½-½
Wang, H. - Anand, V. 1-0
Nakamura, H. - Harikrishna, P. ½-½
Giri, A. - Carlsen, M. ½-½
Caruana, F. - Aronian, L. ½-½

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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 R12: Magnus Carlsen Wins Title with Round to Spare

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Magnus Carlsen, the world number one from Norway, has won the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament with one round to spare. He took care of Hikaru Nakamura in spectacular fashion, and in short order. Nakamura resigned when he was unable to defend against the destructive 32.f7. As Levon Aronian was easily held to a draw by Anish Giri, Carlsen increased his lead to a point-and-a-half and will face Giri on Sunday in an effort to break Garry Kasparov's record of 10/13, set in 1999.

Round 12 - Saturday the 26th
van Wely, L. - Caruana, F. 1-0
Aronian, L. - Giri, A. ½-½
Carlsen, M. - Nakamura, H. 1-0
Harikrishna, P. - Wang, H. ½-½
Anand, V. - L'Ami, E. 1-0
Sokolov, I. - Hou, Y. 0-1
Leko, P. - Karjakin, S. ½-½

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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 R11: Magnus Carlsen Leads Despite Draw with Wang Hao; Levon Aronian a Point Behind

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

In an exciting 11th round at the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament Magnus Carlsen was put to the test by Wang Hao (see picture) who managed to reach a better endgame in a Sicilian Rossolimo. Just when the squeeze seemed to be on, the Chinese Grandmaster traded his active knight for the passive black bishop, missing a clever defense that allowed Carlsen to completely equalize in the ensuing rook endgame. In the meantime it had become apparent that both Levon Aronian and Viswanathan Anand were en route to victories. As it turned out, only Aronian made good on the promise of his position and, albeit with a slight hiccup along the way, outplayed Hikaru Nakamura with the black pieces.

World Champion Anand dropped the ball against former Women's World Champion Hou Yifan. What seemed destined to become a model endgame victory turned tragic for the Indian Grandmaster when he decided to transpose a winning knight endgame into a drawn pawn endgame.

Click on game links to view game in the super Chss King applet.

1 Leko, Peter (5½) 2735 - Van Wely, L. (5) 2679 1-0
2 Karjakin, S. (5½) 2780 -  Sokolov, I. (2½) 2663 1-0
3 Hou, Yifan (3½) 2603 - Anand, V. (6½) 2772 ½-½
4 Wang, Hao (4) 2752 - Carlsen, M. (8) 2861 ½-½
5 Nakamura, H. (6½) 2769 - Aronian, L. (6½) 2802 0-1
6 Giri, Anish (4) 2720 - Caruana, F. (4½) 2781 1-0
7 L'Ami, E. (3) 2627 - Harikrishna (5) 2698 ½-½ 

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75th Tata Steel Chess R10: Anand, Aronian, Nakamura 1.5 Points Away

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

The 7th edition of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament is nearing its end. Ten rounds have been played and three more are to go. Thursday being a rest day, here's the official report and updates on the events of Round 10. In round 10 of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament Magnus Carlsen increased his lead to 1,5 points by defeating Erwin l'Ami in a hard-fought Caro Kann. l'Ami threw up a barricade early on and toughly defended for many hours, only to falter in the final hour of play, as has happened to so many others facing the world number one. 

Meanwhile, after drawing several promising positions in the first couple of rounds, and suffering a devastating blow against Anand in round 4, Armenia's Levon Aronian has quietly been working on his comeback. Today he achieved his fourth victory, this time courtesy of Wang Hao, who played so passively that he was virtually lost the moment White crossed the middle of the board for the first time! Now sharing second place, Viswanathan Anand had Sergey Karjakin in a stranglehold early on, but whereas many would have succumbed, the Russian Grandmaster withstood the pressure. Once the Indian Tiger had circled his prey a few times to no avail, Karjakin collected half a point. Hikaru Nakamura joined Anand and Aronian in second place by beating Fabiano Caruana after a long struggle. Playing Black the American of Japanese descent rapidly achieved a comfortable position out of an irregular King's Indian, an opening the Italian of American descent has little experience with, being mainly an e4-player. Utilizing his bishop pair, Nakamura kept leaning on White's position until finally Caruana slipped up, allowing a venomous tactic!

Group A: Round 10 - Wednesday January 23

Loek van Wely - Anish Giri ½-½

Fabiano Caruana - Hikaru Nakamura 0-1

Levon Aronian - Wang Hao 1-0

Magnus Carlsen - Erwin L'Ami 1-0

Pentala Harikrishna - Hou Yifan 0-1

Vishy Anand - Sergey Karjakin ½-½

Ivan Sokolov - Peter Leko 0-1

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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 R9: Carlsen in Sole Lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

 

In round 9 of the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament the world number one Magnus Carlsen increased his lead to a full point. Although the top seed quickly gained the upper hand with black against the bottom seed, Hou Yifan, the former Women's World Champion put up a fierce fight and only threw in the towel deep in a queen endgame. Viswanathan Anand, in second place at 6 out of 9, surprised Peter Leko with a Najdorf Sicilian, and a novelty. It did not give him more than equality and the game was drawn in 25 moves.

 

Round 9 - Tuesday the 22nd
Sokolov, I. - van Wely, L. 0-1
Leko, P. - Anand, V. ½-½
Karjakin, S. - Harikrishna, P. ½-½
Hou, Y. - Carlsen, M. 0-1
L'Ami, E. - Aronian, L. ½-½
Wang, H. - Caruana, F. ½-½
Nakamura, H. - Giri, A. ½-½

On paper, Hikaru Nakamura seemed to have good chances to join Anand in 2nd place, playing White against Anish Giri  2012 Tata, the American had played the Dutchman six (!) times, winning two games and losing none. 

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75th Tata Steel Round 2013 R7: Anand, Carlsen Lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

In round 7 of the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament World Champion Viswanathan Anand caught up with leader Magnus Carlsen by defeating Loek van Wely. Although the Dutchman achieved an adequate position on the black side of a Scandinavian Defence, his attempt to break free was ill-timed costing him first a pawn and then the game! Carlsen was nowhere near a win with Black against Peter Leko, but despite trying for 83 moves, neither was the Hungarian Grandmaster. Click on links to watch games with Chess King.

Group A: Round 7 - Saturday January 19
Vishy Anand - Loek van Wely 1-0
Ivan Sokolov - Pentala Harikrishna ½-½
Peter Leko - Magnus Carlsen ½-½
Sergey Karjakin - Levon Aronian ½-½
Hou Yifan - Fabiano Caruana ½-½
Erwin L'Ami - Anish Giri ½-½
Wang Hao - Hikaru Nakamura 0-1

After winning his second game, Hikaru Nakamura is only half a point behind the leaders. The 2010 Tata winner had a difficult pairing on paper, facing his nemesis Wang Hao with Black. Wang Hao was on plus 4 after just 7 games with Nakamura. However, the past was soon forgotten when the Chinese Grandmaster made a few errors in the opening, allowing the American Grandmaster to seize the initiative. Nakamura won an exchange and had no difficulties with the technical phase. 

The number three in the world, Levon Aronian was poised to win his third game in a row, this time at the cost of Sergey Karjakin. The Russian Grandmaster was completely outplayed in an Anti-Marshall of the Ruy Lopez, but just before the first time control Aronian missed a golden opportunity. In the game Karjakin's king escaped and Aronian even had to sacrifice an exchange to avoid trouble, with a draw as a result. 

The remaining three games, Hou Yifan-Caruana, l'Ami-Giri and Sokolov-Harikrishna, quickly transposed into equal endgames, resulting in three logical draws.

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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 R6: Magnus Carlsen Takes Sole Lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

In round 6 of the 75th Tata Steel Chess Tournament the highest rated player in the world, Magnus Carlsen, took the sole lead for the first time. The Grandmaster from Norway achieved little with White in a Ruy Lopez against Ivan Sokolov. However, the Dutchman failed to exploit a small edge and drifted into a queen-and-minor-pieces endgame that was slightly worse for him, after which Carlsen won in his habitual style. 

For a while it seemed like co-leader Viswanathan Anand was also going to win, but his opponent, countryman Pentala Harikrishna, managed to hold a worse endgame. The third co-leader, Sergey Karjakin, had a comfortable draw with Black versus Fabiano Caruana in a Berlin Defence.


Standings of grandmaster group A

1 Carlsen, M. 4.5
2 Anand, V. 4.0
3 Karjakin, S. 4.0
4 Harikrishna, P. 3.5
5 Aronian, L. 3.5
6 Nakamura, H. 3.5

7 van Wely, L. 3.0
8 Leko, P. 3.0
9 Wang, H. 3.0
10 Caruana, F. 2.5
11 Giri, A. 2.0
12 L'Ami, E. 2.0
13 Hou, Y. 2.0
14 Sokolov, I. 1.5

Round 6 - Friday the 18th
van Wely, L. - Wang, H. 1-0
Nakamura, H. - L'Ami, E. ½-½
Giri, A. - Hou, Y. 0-1
Caruana, F. - Karjakin, S. ½-½
Aronian, L. - Leko, P. 1-0
Carlsen, M. - Sokolov, I. 1-0
Harikrishna, P. - Anand, V. ½-½

(Click on links to view games and post-game video comments with Chess King.)

Holland's Anish Giri and China's Hou Yifan produced the hardest fight of the day. The latter had had a rough time thus far in Grandmaster Group A, but today things went her way. She quickly achieved an advantage with Black in a Sicilian Dragon, the same opening she lost to yesterday, and although Hou Yifan needed 85 moves to bring home her advantage, the full point was never really in doubt.

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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 Round 5: Anand, Carlsen Draw

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Exciting things were happening all around in Round 5 at the 75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 even though World No. 1 and World Chess Champion decided to draw early in a Petroff.

Although the eagerly awaited match-up between World Champion Viswanathan Anand and World Number One Magnus Carlsen petered out soon after the opening resulting in a quick draw Tournament, the audience in Wijk aan Zee was not let down. It was a day full of stunning chess and decisive results: only 4 out of 21 games ended peacefully. Coincidentally, Sergey Karjakin was among those drawing his hard-fought game against Anish Giri, and the Russian Grandmaster still shares the lead with Anand and Carlsen.

Among those catching up with the leaders is Hikaru Nakamura of the USA. Using a tricky mover order in a Sicilian Dragon against Hou Yifan, he obtained a pleasant position and went on to outplay the 18-year-old from China moving quickly and with a steady hand. Still, the Chinese fans had some reason to cheer, as Wang Hao soon had the upper hand on the black side of a Bogo Indian against Erwin l'Ami. In the end, two connected passed pawns delivered the final blow.

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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 R4: Carlsen, Anand, Karjakin in Joint Lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

The 75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 witnessed five decisive games in Round 4 on Tuesday evening ahead of the first rest day in the tournament. You can click on the links to replay the game with Chess King. Wednesday is a rest day.

Round 4 - Tuesday the 15th
van Wely, L. - L'Ami, E. 1-0
Wang, H. - Hou, Y. 1-0
Nakamura, H. - Karjakin, S. ½-½
Giri, A. - Leko, P. ½-½
Caruana, F. - Sokolov, I. 1-0
Aronian, L. - Anand, V. 0-1
Carlsen, M. - Harikrishna, P. 1-0

Standings after Round 4

1 Carlsen, M. 3.0 2861
2 Anand, V. 3.0 2772 

3 Karjakin, S. 3.0 2780
4 Nakamura, H. 2.0 2769 

5 Caruana, F. 2.0 2781
6 Leko, P. 2.0 2735 

7 Harikrishna, P. 2.0 2698
8 van Wely, L. 2.0 2679
9 Wang, H. 2.0 2752
10 Aronian, L. 1.5 2802
11 Giri, A. 1.5 4 2726
12 L'Ami, E. 1.5 4 2627
13 Sokolov, I. 1.5 2667

It was a day full of wins and losses, twists and turns, but still one game stood out head and shoulders above the rest. World Champion Viswanathan Anand used the black pieces versus 2nd seed Levon Aronian to create an evergreen that left all present in awe, not in the least Magnus Carlsen who called it “mind blowing”. As the Indian Grandmaster explained afterwards, he used the preparation for his World Championship's match against Boris Gelfand from last year. A novelty on move 12 was the prelude to a series of sacrifices starting with 15...Bc5! Aronian plunged into deep thought, but was unable to solve his problems. at 3 out of 4 is the world's highest rated player ever, Magnus Carlsen, who slowly but surely increased the pressure on Pentala Harikrishna's position until it finally gave away. Harikrishna resigned before Carlsen could deliver the knock-out punch with his Knight. Also at three points is Sergey Karjakin who was lucky to escape after misplaying the opening against Hikaru Nakamura. The American Grandmaster was carefully nurturing his extra pawn into a winning queen endgame, until one slip let the Russian off the hook.

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75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 Round 3: Carlsen, Anand, Karjakin Score

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2012

Hi everyone,

Finally, the third round of the 75th Tata Steel Chess 2013 saw some major fireworks. Three games were decisive with wins by Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand and Sergey Karjakin. Here is the official report. In sole lead is Russia's Sergey Karjakin after beating Wang Hao of China. The Chinese grandmaster equalized comfortably on the Black side of a Petroff Defence, and could even claim a small advantage after some 20 moves. However, Wang Hao soon lost the thread of the game in a rook endgame allowing Karjakin to collect the full point and take the lead in the tournament with 2,5 out of 3. You can view the game and a post-game video with Chess King.

The first player to finish his game was top favorite Magnus Carlsen. His clock barely showed less time than he started with, indicating an effortless victory. It was indeed more his opponent Loek van Wely's doing, who mixed up two variations in an old line of the Averbakh King's Indian early on, ending up in an endgame that offered little chances of survival. The Dutchman resigned when the loss of a pawn signaled the collapse of his position. You can see the game and post-game comment by Magnus Carlsen with Chess King.

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