8th Tal Chess Memorial Round 5: Carlsen Beats Anand; Nakamura, Gelfand Lead

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

The focus of the fifth round at the 8th Tal Chess Memorial in Moscow, on Tuesday, was the game between Challenger Magnus Carlsen and World Chess Champion Viswanathan Anand. Carlsen picked up a rare variation in the Nimzo-Indian and got away by surprising the World Champion who chose to stay passive in the battle. Carlsen's central pawn break broke Black's defenses easily.


Speaking about the psychological advantage of the game, Magnus Carlsen said:

I think it's good before the World Championship match to remind him that I can outplay him once in a while. [Smiles.] Since obviously between us there have been a lot of draws, recently at least. But I'm not going to go around and think that he's going to have such a bad day every day at the World Championship. I'll have to prepare for the worst, definitely. And to clarify, I don't mean to prepare for the worst, that I'm going to lose necessarily, but that he's going to be at his best and not give away anything [for] free like today.

You can replay the Magnus Carlsen - Viswanathan Anand game with Chess King.

In other games of the day, tournament leader so far Hikaru Nakamura was held to a well-earned by Dmitry Andreikin. Boris Gelfand and Alexander Morozevich played the Benoni. Black's inaccuracies left Gelfand in control and earned him the full point. The victory allowed the former World Championship challenger to join Hikaru Nakamura in the lead.

Vladimir Kramnik and Sergey Karjakin settled for a draw after a long positional struggle. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Fabiano Caruna also drew despite an exciting struggle.

The standings after the 5th round:

1-2. H. Nakamura, B. Gelfand - 3.5, 3-4. S. Mamedyarov, M. Carlsen - 3, 5-6. F. Caruana, D. Andrejkin - 2.5, 7-8. V. Anand, S. Karjakin - 2, 9-10. Alexander Morozevich, Vladimir Kramnik - by 1.5.

Pairings 6th round:

Alexander Morozevich - S. Karjakin
F. Caruana - V. Kramnik
D. Andrejkin - S. Mamedyarov
V. Anand - H. Nakamura
B Gelfand - M. Carlsen

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Watch Live Tal Chess Memorial 2013

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

 

GM Hikaru Nakamura (second from right) during the pairings blitz which he won on Wednesday. 

The very exciting Eighth Tal Chess Memorial 2013 has begun in Moscow with the first round pairings being:

Dmitry Andreikin - Alexander Morozevich
Viswanathan Anand - Fabiano Caruana
Boris Gelfand - Sergey Karjakin
Magnus. Carlsen - Vladimir Kramnik
Hikaru Nakamura - Shakhriyar Mamedyarov

The traditional round-robin Grandmaster Super Chess Tournament 'Tal Memorial' will run in Moscow from June 12 to 24. Match days: 13-15, 17-19 and 21-23 June. Games and video broadcasts start at 15.00. Beginning of the last round will be 13.00. International Arbiter Andrzej Filipowicz (Andrzej Filipowicz, Poland) is taking care of the proceedings.

Time control: 1 hour 40 minutes for 40 moves + 50 minutes for 20 moves + 15 minutes to the end of the game with 30 seconds to each the move from the first. Participants are not allowed to enter the tournament in talks to draw up the 40th move, inclusive. All participants are required to comment on their roles in the press center after each round. The prize fund is 1,00,000 euros.

 

Here are some important links for you:

 

Official website http://russiachess.org/
Videos http://video.russiachess.org/
Games online http://online.russiachess.org/

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
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8th Tal Chess Memorial 2013 Begins; Hikaru Nakamura Wins Pairings Blitz

Chess blog for latest chess news and chess trivia (c) Alexandra Kosteniuk, 2013

Hi everyone, 

Remembering the legend: Mikhail Tal

The eighth edition of the Tal Chess Memorial is taking place from June 12-24 in Moscow. Hikaru Nakamura won the pairings blitz on Monday comfortably. The players include Magnus Carlsen, Vladimir Kramnik, Sergey Karjakin, Viswanathan Anand, Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Alexander Morozevich, Boris Gelfand and Dmitry Andreikin
The blitz chess tournament pairings system was introduced at the event last year. Instead of the traditional drawing of lots, a short tournament is held to decide the pairings. Hikaru Nakamura took clear first place with 7/9. World Champion Viswanathan Anand was second with 6.5/9. The players were allowed to choose their draw number. Nakamura chose 5 getting white in the first and last rounds. Vladimir Kramnik gets the most blacks. The commentary team for the English video includes Peter Svidler and Alexander Grischuk.

Final Round 9 Standings: Nakamura 7, Anand 6.5, Kramnik 5.5, Gelfand 4.5, Carlsen 4.5, Andreikin 4, Mamedyarov 4, Karjakin 3.5, Morozevich 3, Caruana 2.5.

From Alexandra Kosteniuk's
www.chessblog.com
Also see her personal blog at
www.chessqueen.com
Don't miss Chess Queen™
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