Tata Steel 03: Two draws for Indians, brilliances by Wei Yi and Rapport
It was a day of two draws for the Indian players, but not uneventful ones. Adhiban's London System was quite hard for Levon Aronian to crack, while Harikrishna gave Eljanov some anxious moments before the game ended in a draw. Two youngsters Wei Yi and Richard Rapport played some excellent chess but had contrasting results. Wei Yi was rewarded with a full point, while Richard lost a better position to Wesley So. The report is full of interesting stuff, just like our thumbnail image of Loek with his son Nicholas!
Pictures by Alina L'Ami
It would have been a few years ago that Adhiban was studying the games of Levon Aronian and learning from them. Knowing Adhiban's ambitious nature and self-confidence, I am sure he would have wanted to play these top guys some point in his chess career. But he wouldn't have been expecting sitting opposite Magnus Carlsen, Levon Aronian, Sergey Karjakin and these top players, as early as 2017.
After losing to Harikrishna in the second round Adhiban wrote on his Facebook page:
As a first step in this direction the 24-year-old from Chennai chose the London System against his Armenian opponent Levon Aronian in the third round. The game didn't really change its evaluation drastically at any point of time. Aronian tried his best to trick Adhiban, but the Indian was upto the task and the game ended in a draw.
Aronian tried to push, but without any luck!
[Event "79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. d4 {0} Nf6 {8} 2. Nf3 {0} d5 {7} 3. Bf4 {16 The London virus is spreading
quick! Even Adhiban is now hit by it!} c5 {21} 4. e3 {9} Nc6 {7} 5. c3 {358} e6
{9} 6. Nbd2 {8} Be7 {8} (6... Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bb5 {is the main line these
days and was used by Carlsen to beat Anand in the World Rapid.}) 7. Ne5 {
82 Adhiban made this move quickly which meant that he was prepared.} Nd7 {211}
8. Bd3 {68} O-O {495} (8... Ndxe5 9. dxe5 g5 10. Bg3 h5 $5 {reminds of
Spassky-Petrosian.}) 9. Qh5 {404} f5 {45} 10. Ndf3 {309} Ndxe5 {1075} 11. Nxe5
{6} Nxe5 {42} 12. Bxe5 {5} Bd6 {24} 13. f4 {636} Bxe5 {122} 14. fxe5 {4} Bd7 {
44} 15. O-O {430} Qb6 {54} 16. Rf2 {304} Bb5 {33} 17. Bxb5 {607} Qxb5 {12 The
position is around equal. Nothing much going on.} 18. Raf1 {68} Qd3 {708} 19.
Rf3 {41} Rf7 {227} 20. g4 $5 {116 it's not easy to keep Adhiban quiet for too
long.} Raf8 {243} 21. gxf5 {70} g6 $1 {17 The evaluation of the position
remains the same, but Aronian tries to trick his opponent.} 22. Qg5 {1359} (22.
fxg6 hxg6 23. Qh3 (23. Qg4 Qxf1+ 24. Kxf1 Rxf3+ 25. Kg2 Rf2+ 26. Kg3 Kg7 $11)
23... Rxf3 24. Rxf3 Rxf3 25. Qxf3 Qb1+ 26. Qf1 Qxb2 $11) 22... Rxf5 {237} 23.
Rxf5 {10} exf5 {88 Aronian tries to fight in this even position, hoping for
the young Indian to go wrong.} 24. Qf4 {278} Qc4 {1283} 25. a3 {306} Qe2 {81}
26. Rf2 {168} Qd1+ {31} 27. Kg2 {74} cxd4 {263} 28. cxd4 {20} (28. exd4 $5)
28... Rc8 {320} 29. Qf3 {49} Qb3 {10} 30. h4 {61} Rc1 {328} 31. h5 {36} Re1 {54
} 32. hxg6 {83} hxg6 {15} 33. Re2 {163} Rc1 {240} 34. Qg3 {36} Kg7 {10} 35. Qg5
{196} Qd1 {14} 36. Qe7+ {15} Kh6 {26} 37. Qh4+ {29} Kg7 {5} 38. Qe7+ {Nothing
much happened in this game. Theoretically Aronian can be happy, and
practically Adhiban can be peased with the result.} 1/2-1/2
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Adhiban, Baskaran"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D02"]
[WhiteElo "2653"]
[BlackElo "2780"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. d4 {0} Nf6 {8} 2. Nf3 {0} d5 {7} 3. Bf4 {16 The London virus is spreading
quick! Even Adhiban is now hit by it!} c5 {21} 4. e3 {9} Nc6 {7} 5. c3 {358} e6
{9} 6. Nbd2 {8} Be7 {8} (6... Bd6 7. Bg3 O-O 8. Bb5 {is the main line these
days and was used by Carlsen to beat Anand in the World Rapid.}) 7. Ne5 {
82 Adhiban made this move quickly which meant that he was prepared.} Nd7 {211}
8. Bd3 {68} O-O {495} (8... Ndxe5 9. dxe5 g5 10. Bg3 h5 $5 {reminds of
Spassky-Petrosian.}) 9. Qh5 {404} f5 {45} 10. Ndf3 {309} Ndxe5 {1075} 11. Nxe5
{6} Nxe5 {42} 12. Bxe5 {5} Bd6 {24} 13. f4 {636} Bxe5 {122} 14. fxe5 {4} Bd7 {
44} 15. O-O {430} Qb6 {54} 16. Rf2 {304} Bb5 {33} 17. Bxb5 {607} Qxb5 {12 The
position is around equal. Nothing much going on.} 18. Raf1 {68} Qd3 {708} 19.
Rf3 {41} Rf7 {227} 20. g4 $5 {116 it's not easy to keep Adhiban quiet for too
long.} Raf8 {243} 21. gxf5 {70} g6 $1 {17 The evaluation of the position
remains the same, but Aronian tries to trick his opponent.} 22. Qg5 {1359} (22.
fxg6 hxg6 23. Qh3 (23. Qg4 Qxf1+ 24. Kxf1 Rxf3+ 25. Kg2 Rf2+ 26. Kg3 Kg7 $11)
23... Rxf3 24. Rxf3 Rxf3 25. Qxf3 Qb1+ 26. Qf1 Qxb2 $11) 22... Rxf5 {237} 23.
Rxf5 {10} exf5 {88 Aronian tries to fight in this even position, hoping for
the young Indian to go wrong.} 24. Qf4 {278} Qc4 {1283} 25. a3 {306} Qe2 {81}
26. Rf2 {168} Qd1+ {31} 27. Kg2 {74} cxd4 {263} 28. cxd4 {20} (28. exd4 $5)
28... Rc8 {320} 29. Qf3 {49} Qb3 {10} 30. h4 {61} Rc1 {328} 31. h5 {36} Re1 {54
} 32. hxg6 {83} hxg6 {15} 33. Re2 {163} Rc1 {240} 34. Qg3 {36} Kg7 {10} 35. Qg5
{196} Qd1 {14} 36. Qe7+ {15} Kh6 {26} 37. Qh4+ {29} Kg7 {5} 38. Qe7+ {Nothing
much happened in this game. Theoretically Aronian can be happy, and
practically Adhiban can be peased with the result.} 1/2-1/2
Adhiban is on 1.0/3 and will take on Pavel Eljanov with the white pieces in round three. This is his third white in four games and he must make good use of it.
The Dutch players have a hard time to understand Adhiban's play
The game between Pavel Eljanov and Harikrishna Pentala ended in a draw
When you look at Harikrishna's games, it gives you the feeling of seeing someone who understands chess deeply. None of his moves are difficult to execute individually. But collectively they become impossible for a normal chess player. He makes simple moves, but more often than not they turn out to be the best. This is the secret of his success. A modern day Jose Raul Capablanca.
[Event "79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. Nf3 {0} Nf6 {23} 2. c4 {55} c5 {17} 3. Nc3 {25} d5 {19 Harikrishna likes to
play the Semi-Tarrasch. Soon we reach something similar.} 4. cxd5 {45} Nxd5 {9}
5. e3 {202} e6 {123} 6. Bc4 {252} (6. d4 {would be the e3 variation of the
Semi Tarrasch.}) 6... Nc6 {144} 7. O-O {48} Be7 {381} 8. Qe2 {509} O-O {
344 What Hari does is nice to learn from. He just develops his pieces and gets
his king to safety.} 9. Rd1 {39} Nb6 {257} 10. Bb5 {966} Bd7 {304 Once again
simple development. No flashy business.} 11. d4 {402} cxd4 {109} 12. exd4 $1 {
7 Accepting the Isolani is the correct way to play.} (12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4
Bxb5 14. Qxb5 Qc7 {And Black has absolutely no problems.}) 12... Nb4 {29} 13.
Bxd7 {6} Qxd7 {9} 14. Ne5 {7} Qe8 $1 {423 A very nice idea. Hari realizes that
sooner or later he will play f7-f5 and hence the queen is well placed on e8.}
15. a3 {150} N4d5 {130} 16. Rd3 {22} f5 {742 After this move the e5 square and
e6 pawn become weak, but White has no real kingside attack.} 17. Bd2 {1320} Bf6
{144} 18. Re1 {101} Rc8 {357} 19. Rg3 {201} Qe7 {602} 20. Bh6 {1112} Kh8 {297}
21. Bc1 {11} Kg8 {218 Hari has a comfortable position, but with the leader and
the black pieces, he is fine with a draw.} 22. Bh6 {53} Kh8 {147} 23. Bc1 {5}
Kg8 {66} 24. Rh3 {55 Eljanov shows great fighting spirit, although objectively
this decision is incorrect because only Black can have chances to fight for
advantage.} Bxe5 {408} 25. Qxe5 {9} Rc6 {19} 26. Qe2 {318} (26. Nxd5 Nxd5 27.
Qxd5 $4 exd5 28. Rxe7 Rxc1+ $19) 26... Rfc8 {228 Black's harmony keeps
improving.} 27. Bd2 {4} Nxc3 {118} 28. bxc3 {69} (28. Bxc3 Nd5 $17 {is clearly
better for Black.}) 28... Nd5 {25} 29. a4 {609} Qf7 {339} 30. Rg3 {152} Nxc3 {
288} 31. Rxc3 {4} Rxc3 {8} 32. Bxc3 {7} Rxc3 {8} 33. h3 {3} Rc6 {91 Black has
pinched a pawn and White has to play carefully, in order to not let Black
consolidate.} 34. Qe5 $1 {23} Qd7 {202} (34... h6 {looked more human.} 35. Qb8+
Kh7 36. Qxa7 Ra6 37. Qc5 Rxa4 38. Qe5 Ra6 39. Rc1 {White has compensation and
the game should most probably end in a draw.}) 35. Qb8+ {85} Kf7 {56} 36. Qxa7
{27} Ra6 {15} 37. Qb8 {49} Rxa4 {143} 38. Rb1 {40} b5 {18} 39. Rxb5 {54} Ra8 {
229} 40. Qe5 {0} Rd8 {102} 41. Rb6 {180} Qd5 {304} 42. Qxd5 {115} (42. Qxd5
Rxd5 43. Rb4 {Theoretically Black is better but there is no way to win the d4
pawn and White will hold with ease.}) 1/2-1/2
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Eljanov, Pavel"]
[Black "Harikrishna, Pentala"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A17"]
[WhiteElo "2755"]
[BlackElo "2766"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. Nf3 {0} Nf6 {23} 2. c4 {55} c5 {17} 3. Nc3 {25} d5 {19 Harikrishna likes to
play the Semi-Tarrasch. Soon we reach something similar.} 4. cxd5 {45} Nxd5 {9}
5. e3 {202} e6 {123} 6. Bc4 {252} (6. d4 {would be the e3 variation of the
Semi Tarrasch.}) 6... Nc6 {144} 7. O-O {48} Be7 {381} 8. Qe2 {509} O-O {
344 What Hari does is nice to learn from. He just develops his pieces and gets
his king to safety.} 9. Rd1 {39} Nb6 {257} 10. Bb5 {966} Bd7 {304 Once again
simple development. No flashy business.} 11. d4 {402} cxd4 {109} 12. exd4 $1 {
7 Accepting the Isolani is the correct way to play.} (12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Rxd4
Bxb5 14. Qxb5 Qc7 {And Black has absolutely no problems.}) 12... Nb4 {29} 13.
Bxd7 {6} Qxd7 {9} 14. Ne5 {7} Qe8 $1 {423 A very nice idea. Hari realizes that
sooner or later he will play f7-f5 and hence the queen is well placed on e8.}
15. a3 {150} N4d5 {130} 16. Rd3 {22} f5 {742 After this move the e5 square and
e6 pawn become weak, but White has no real kingside attack.} 17. Bd2 {1320} Bf6
{144} 18. Re1 {101} Rc8 {357} 19. Rg3 {201} Qe7 {602} 20. Bh6 {1112} Kh8 {297}
21. Bc1 {11} Kg8 {218 Hari has a comfortable position, but with the leader and
the black pieces, he is fine with a draw.} 22. Bh6 {53} Kh8 {147} 23. Bc1 {5}
Kg8 {66} 24. Rh3 {55 Eljanov shows great fighting spirit, although objectively
this decision is incorrect because only Black can have chances to fight for
advantage.} Bxe5 {408} 25. Qxe5 {9} Rc6 {19} 26. Qe2 {318} (26. Nxd5 Nxd5 27.
Qxd5 $4 exd5 28. Rxe7 Rxc1+ $19) 26... Rfc8 {228 Black's harmony keeps
improving.} 27. Bd2 {4} Nxc3 {118} 28. bxc3 {69} (28. Bxc3 Nd5 $17 {is clearly
better for Black.}) 28... Nd5 {25} 29. a4 {609} Qf7 {339} 30. Rg3 {152} Nxc3 {
288} 31. Rxc3 {4} Rxc3 {8} 32. Bxc3 {7} Rxc3 {8} 33. h3 {3} Rc6 {91 Black has
pinched a pawn and White has to play carefully, in order to not let Black
consolidate.} 34. Qe5 $1 {23} Qd7 {202} (34... h6 {looked more human.} 35. Qb8+
Kh7 36. Qxa7 Ra6 37. Qc5 Rxa4 38. Qe5 Ra6 39. Rc1 {White has compensation and
the game should most probably end in a draw.}) 35. Qb8+ {85} Kf7 {56} 36. Qxa7
{27} Ra6 {15} 37. Qb8 {49} Rxa4 {143} 38. Rb1 {40} b5 {18} 39. Rxb5 {54} Ra8 {
229} 40. Qe5 {0} Rd8 {102} 41. Rb6 {180} Qd5 {304} 42. Qxd5 {115} (42. Qxd5
Rxd5 43. Rb4 {Theoretically Black is better but there is no way to win the d4
pawn and White will hold with ease.}) 1/2-1/2
Pavel Eljanov still leads the tournament with 2.5/3
Magnus Carlsen had a slightly better position in the end, but agreed to draw against Dmitry Andreikin. Very unlike Magnus!
Andreikin is surprised that Magnus agreed to a draw
Sopiko lost her game and Anish drew his. The joy of being with each other after the game and discussing what happened, far exceeds the sorrow of not such great results.
Wei Yi was the hero of the day as he beat Ian Nepomniachtchi. One move found by Wei Yi was particularly splendid...
Wei Yi (white) to play and put pressure on Black
[Event "79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. e4 {0} c5 {6} 2. Nf3 {0} d6 {4} 3. d4 {0} cxd4 {4} 4. Nxd4 {0} Nf6 {4} 5.
Nc3 {0} a6 {4} 6. Bg5 {8} e6 {8} 7. f4 {6} h6 {4} 8. Bh4 {7} Qb6 {6} 9. a3 {64}
Nbd7 {15} 10. Be2 {138} e5 {141} 11. Nf5 {2125} g6 {444} 12. Bf2 {470} Nc5 {912
} 13. b4 {224} gxf5 {10} 14. O-O {905} Nfxe4 {325} 15. Nxe4 {14} fxe4 {5} 16.
bxc5 {136} dxc5 {45} 17. fxe5 {296} Be6 {148} 18. Rb1 {733} Qc6 {600} 19. Bg4 {
171} b5 {345} 20. Bh4 {25} Rg8 {174} 21. Bxe6 {75} Qxe6 {6} 22. Rf6 {24} Qg4 {
59} 23. Qd2 {13} Be7 {302} 24. Rf4 {434} Qd7 {245} 25. Qxd7+ {8} Kxd7 {4} 26.
e6+ $3 {9 Quite a deep move and very easily found by Wei Yi.} (26. Rxf7 Rae8
$11) 26... fxe6 {128} (26... Kxe6 27. Rxe4+ $18) 27. Rf7 {4} Rg5 {45} (27...
Rae8 28. Rd1+ $18 {Now there is no Ke6.}) 28. Rd1+ {113} Ke8 {55} 29. Rh7 {4}
b4 {63} 30. a4 {688} c4 {61} 31. Bxg5 {125} hxg5 {19} 32. Rh8+ {108} Bf8 {7}
33. Rf1 {21} Ke7 {5} 34. Rh7+ {2} Kd6 {6} 35. Rh8 {5} Ke7 {5} 36. Rh7+ {43} Kd6
{6} 37. Rhf7 {6} Bh6 {33} 38. Rd1+ {97} Ke5 {269} 39. Rc7 {28} c3 {45} 40. Kf2
{0} g4 {206} 41. Rc5+ {622} Kf6 {153} 42. Ke2 {10} Rb8 {465} 43. Rb1 {91} Rd8 {
418} 44. Rf1+ {44} Ke7 {76} 45. Rc7+ {63} Kd6 {10} 46. Rc4 {617} Ke7 {144} 47.
Rd1 {70} Rb8 {12} 48. Rdd4 {300} b3 {49} 49. cxb3 {11} Rxb3 {56} 50. Rc7+ {433}
Kf6 {25} 51. Rxe4 {5} Rb2+ {423} 52. Kd3 {6} Rd2+ {50} 53. Kxc3 {6} Kf5 {25}
54. Re1 {139} Rxg2 {6} 55. Rc5+ {3} Kf6 {89} 56. Re4 {4} Rxh2 {60} 57. Rxg4 {6}
a5 {194} 58. Kd3 {265} Rd2+ {169} 59. Ke4 {8} Re2+ {39} 60. Kf3 {0} Re3+ {48}
61. Kf2 {27} Re5 {124} 62. Rg6+ {574} Kxg6 {9} 63. Rxe5 {5} Bd2 {6} 64. Rxe6+ {
54} Kf7 {24} 65. Re4 {13} Kf6 {150} 66. Ke2 {5} Bc3 {77} 67. Rc4 {14} Be5 {900}
68. Rc5 {6} Ke6 {4} 69. Rxa5 {6} Bc7 {53} 70. Rb5 {6} Kd6 {5} 71. Kd3 {11} Kc6
{16} 72. Kc4 {4} Bb6 {50} 73. a5 {5} Ba7 {19} 74. a6 {6} Bb6 {3} 75. Rb3 {8}
1-0
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Wei, Yi"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B96"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. e4 {0} c5 {6} 2. Nf3 {0} d6 {4} 3. d4 {0} cxd4 {4} 4. Nxd4 {0} Nf6 {4} 5.
Nc3 {0} a6 {4} 6. Bg5 {8} e6 {8} 7. f4 {6} h6 {4} 8. Bh4 {7} Qb6 {6} 9. a3 {64}
Nbd7 {15} 10. Be2 {138} e5 {141} 11. Nf5 {2125} g6 {444} 12. Bf2 {470} Nc5 {912
} 13. b4 {224} gxf5 {10} 14. O-O {905} Nfxe4 {325} 15. Nxe4 {14} fxe4 {5} 16.
bxc5 {136} dxc5 {45} 17. fxe5 {296} Be6 {148} 18. Rb1 {733} Qc6 {600} 19. Bg4 {
171} b5 {345} 20. Bh4 {25} Rg8 {174} 21. Bxe6 {75} Qxe6 {6} 22. Rf6 {24} Qg4 {
59} 23. Qd2 {13} Be7 {302} 24. Rf4 {434} Qd7 {245} 25. Qxd7+ {8} Kxd7 {4} 26.
e6+ $3 {9 Quite a deep move and very easily found by Wei Yi.} (26. Rxf7 Rae8
$11) 26... fxe6 {128} (26... Kxe6 27. Rxe4+ $18) 27. Rf7 {4} Rg5 {45} (27...
Rae8 28. Rd1+ $18 {Now there is no Ke6.}) 28. Rd1+ {113} Ke8 {55} 29. Rh7 {4}
b4 {63} 30. a4 {688} c4 {61} 31. Bxg5 {125} hxg5 {19} 32. Rh8+ {108} Bf8 {7}
33. Rf1 {21} Ke7 {5} 34. Rh7+ {2} Kd6 {6} 35. Rh8 {5} Ke7 {5} 36. Rh7+ {43} Kd6
{6} 37. Rhf7 {6} Bh6 {33} 38. Rd1+ {97} Ke5 {269} 39. Rc7 {28} c3 {45} 40. Kf2
{0} g4 {206} 41. Rc5+ {622} Kf6 {153} 42. Ke2 {10} Rb8 {465} 43. Rb1 {91} Rd8 {
418} 44. Rf1+ {44} Ke7 {76} 45. Rc7+ {63} Kd6 {10} 46. Rc4 {617} Ke7 {144} 47.
Rd1 {70} Rb8 {12} 48. Rdd4 {300} b3 {49} 49. cxb3 {11} Rxb3 {56} 50. Rc7+ {433}
Kf6 {25} 51. Rxe4 {5} Rb2+ {423} 52. Kd3 {6} Rd2+ {50} 53. Kxc3 {6} Kf5 {25}
54. Re1 {139} Rxg2 {6} 55. Rc5+ {3} Kf6 {89} 56. Re4 {4} Rxh2 {60} 57. Rxg4 {6}
a5 {194} 58. Kd3 {265} Rd2+ {169} 59. Ke4 {8} Re2+ {39} 60. Kf3 {0} Re3+ {48}
61. Kf2 {27} Re5 {124} 62. Rg6+ {574} Kxg6 {9} 63. Rxe5 {5} Bd2 {6} 64. Rxe6+ {
54} Kf7 {24} 65. Re4 {13} Kf6 {150} 66. Ke2 {5} Bc3 {77} 67. Rc4 {14} Be5 {900}
68. Rc5 {6} Ke6 {4} 69. Rxa5 {6} Bc7 {53} 70. Rb5 {6} Kd6 {5} 71. Kd3 {11} Kc6
{16} 72. Kc4 {4} Bb6 {50} 73. a5 {5} Ba7 {19} 74. a6 {6} Bb6 {3} 75. Rb3 {8}
1-0
Wesley So was completely on the ropes against Richard Rapport, but managed to win. It was a sad result for Richard, who played really well.
Rapport (Black) to play and find a stunning move!
Although this move might not be very spectacular, I liked it very much. Black to play.
[Event "79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. Nf3 {0} Nf6 {40} 2. g3 {0} b6 {50} 3. d4 {90} Bb7 {21} 4. c4 {69} e6 {14} 5.
Bg2 {5} Be7 {33} 6. O-O {63} O-O {6} 7. Nc3 {16} Ne4 {13} 8. Bd2 {4} Bf6 {13}
9. Rc1 {95} Nxd2 {16} 10. Qxd2 {7} d6 {4} 11. d5 {165} e5 {20} 12. e4 {178} Nd7
{24} 13. h4 {216} a5 {17} 14. Bh3 {110} Nc5 {125} 15. Kg2 {198} Bc8 {68} 16.
Rh1 {71} Bxh3+ {162} 17. Rxh3 {8} Qd7 {60} 18. Nh2 {1011} h5 {135} 19. f3 {1317
} g6 {889} 20. g4 {8} Kh7 {281} 21. Rh1 {428} Rg8 {866} 22. Qd1 {650} Bg7 {405}
23. Nf1 {46} Bh6 {49} 24. Kf2 {65} Bc1 $3 {80} 25. Ng3 $2 {288} (25. b3 Bb2 26.
Nb5 f5 {White is under pressure, but why to give up the b2 pawn?}) 25... Bxb2 {
297} 26. Nb5 {4} Bc1 $1 {107 The bishop must return!} 27. gxh5 {107} Bf4 {206}
28. Nc3 {48} f5 {868} 29. hxg6+ {143} Rxg6 {14} 30. Nxf5 {149} Rag8 {35} 31.
Kf1 {25} b5 $1 {642} (31... Rg2 32. Ne2 $11) 32. cxb5 {196} (32. Nxb5 $2 Rg2 {
There is no Re2 now.} 33. Nc3 Rd2 $19) 32... Rg2 {31} 33. Qb1 {1} (33. Ne2 Qxb5
$19) 33... Qf7 $6 {134} (33... Rd2 $1 34. Rg1 Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 Qe8 $19) 34. Ne2 {
41} Qg6 $4 {99 Rapport misses a simple knight fork.} 35. Ne7 $1 {286} Rf2+ {485
} 36. Kxf2 {6} Qg2+ {3} 37. Ke1 {3} Rg3 {8} 38. Rxg3 {551} Qxh1+ {73} 39. Rg1 {
3} Qxf3 {43} 40. Nxf4 {0} Qe3+ {729} 41. Ne2 {157} Nd3+ {12} 42. Qxd3 {490}
Qxd3 {3} 43. Ng8 {7} Qf3 {57} 44. h5 {118} Kh8 {2} 45. Rg6 {66} Qh1+ {101} 46.
Kd2 {14} Qxe4 {44} 47. Nf6 {41} Qb4+ {8} 48. Ke3 {26} 1-0
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Rapport, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]
[WhiteElo "2808"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. Nf3 {0} Nf6 {40} 2. g3 {0} b6 {50} 3. d4 {90} Bb7 {21} 4. c4 {69} e6 {14} 5.
Bg2 {5} Be7 {33} 6. O-O {63} O-O {6} 7. Nc3 {16} Ne4 {13} 8. Bd2 {4} Bf6 {13}
9. Rc1 {95} Nxd2 {16} 10. Qxd2 {7} d6 {4} 11. d5 {165} e5 {20} 12. e4 {178} Nd7
{24} 13. h4 {216} a5 {17} 14. Bh3 {110} Nc5 {125} 15. Kg2 {198} Bc8 {68} 16.
Rh1 {71} Bxh3+ {162} 17. Rxh3 {8} Qd7 {60} 18. Nh2 {1011} h5 {135} 19. f3 {1317
} g6 {889} 20. g4 {8} Kh7 {281} 21. Rh1 {428} Rg8 {866} 22. Qd1 {650} Bg7 {405}
23. Nf1 {46} Bh6 {49} 24. Kf2 {65} Bc1 $3 {80} 25. Ng3 $2 {288} (25. b3 Bb2 26.
Nb5 f5 {White is under pressure, but why to give up the b2 pawn?}) 25... Bxb2 {
297} 26. Nb5 {4} Bc1 $1 {107 The bishop must return!} 27. gxh5 {107} Bf4 {206}
28. Nc3 {48} f5 {868} 29. hxg6+ {143} Rxg6 {14} 30. Nxf5 {149} Rag8 {35} 31.
Kf1 {25} b5 $1 {642} (31... Rg2 32. Ne2 $11) 32. cxb5 {196} (32. Nxb5 $2 Rg2 {
There is no Re2 now.} 33. Nc3 Rd2 $19) 32... Rg2 {31} 33. Qb1 {1} (33. Ne2 Qxb5
$19) 33... Qf7 $6 {134} (33... Rd2 $1 34. Rg1 Rxg1+ 35. Kxg1 Qe8 $19) 34. Ne2 {
41} Qg6 $4 {99 Rapport misses a simple knight fork.} 35. Ne7 $1 {286} Rf2+ {485
} 36. Kxf2 {6} Qg2+ {3} 37. Ke1 {3} Rg3 {8} 38. Rxg3 {551} Qxh1+ {73} 39. Rg1 {
3} Qxf3 {43} 40. Nxf4 {0} Qe3+ {729} 41. Ne2 {157} Nd3+ {12} 42. Qxd3 {490}
Qxd3 {3} 43. Ng8 {7} Qf3 {57} 44. h5 {118} Kh8 {2} 45. Rg6 {66} Qh1+ {101} 46.
Kd2 {14} Qxe4 {44} 47. Nf6 {41} Qb4+ {8} 48. Ke3 {26} 1-0
Wesley So on his win over Richard Rapport
[Event "79th Tata Steel Chess 2017-Masters"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. e4 {0} d6 {8} 2. d4 {0} Nf6 {5} 3. Nc3 {0} g6 {4} 4. f4 {3} Bg7 {6} 5. Bd3 {
6} O-O {36} 6. Nf3 {7} Nc6 {39} 7. e5 {114} dxe5 {66} 8. fxe5 {11} Nd5 {897} 9.
Nxd5 {68} Qxd5 {54} 10. c3 {10} Bg4 {700} 11. Qe2 {827} Rad8 {558} 12. Be4 {158
} Qd7 {52} 13. Be3 {202} f6 {324} 14. O-O-O {48} fxe5 {687} 15. Qc4+ {728} Kh8
{403} 16. dxe5 {28} Nxe5 {367} 17. Nxe5 {58} Qxd1+ {10} 18. Rxd1 {3} Rxd1+ {8}
19. Kc2 {3} Bxe5 {9} 20. Bxg6 {594} Rd6 {434} 21. Qxg4 {59} Rxg6 {18} 22. Qe4 {
17} Bxh2 {103} 23. Qxb7 {56} a6 {216} 24. a4 {662} Bf4 {501} 25. Bd4+ {138} e5
{68} 26. Bc5 {7} Re8 {269} 27. Qxc7 {342} Rxg2+ {145} 28. Kb1 {1} Rg6 {154} 29.
Qf7 {152} Ra8 {429} 30. b4 {329} Bh6 {61} 31. b5 {81} axb5 {2} 32. axb5 {4} Rc8
{104} 33. Qd5 {78} Bf8 {160} 34. Bxf8 {29} Rxf8 {4} 35. Qxe5+ {6} Kg8 {20} 36.
Kc2 {15} h6 {78} 37. c4 {75} Rg5 {39} 38. Qe6+ {71} Kg7 {14} 39. Kc3 {67} Rf7 {
73} 40. b6 {0} h5 {48} 41. Kb4 {326} h4 {59} 42. c5 {21} Rf1 {450} 43. Qe4 {256
} Rgf5 {474} 44. Qxh4 {486} R5f4+ {33} 45. Qxf4 {10} Rxf4+ {3} 46. Kb5 {7} Rf1
{446} 47. b7 {49} Kf6 {519} 48. c6 {14} Rb1+ {71} 49. Ka6 {19} Rc1 {52} 50. Kb6
{7} 1-0
[Site "Wijk aan Zee"]
[Date "2017.01.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Van Wely, Loek"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2785"]
[BlackElo "2695"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventCountry "NED"]
[SourceTitle "playchess.com"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[TimeControl "40/6000+30:20/3000+30:900+30"]
1. e4 {0} d6 {8} 2. d4 {0} Nf6 {5} 3. Nc3 {0} g6 {4} 4. f4 {3} Bg7 {6} 5. Bd3 {
6} O-O {36} 6. Nf3 {7} Nc6 {39} 7. e5 {114} dxe5 {66} 8. fxe5 {11} Nd5 {897} 9.
Nxd5 {68} Qxd5 {54} 10. c3 {10} Bg4 {700} 11. Qe2 {827} Rad8 {558} 12. Be4 {158
} Qd7 {52} 13. Be3 {202} f6 {324} 14. O-O-O {48} fxe5 {687} 15. Qc4+ {728} Kh8
{403} 16. dxe5 {28} Nxe5 {367} 17. Nxe5 {58} Qxd1+ {10} 18. Rxd1 {3} Rxd1+ {8}
19. Kc2 {3} Bxe5 {9} 20. Bxg6 {594} Rd6 {434} 21. Qxg4 {59} Rxg6 {18} 22. Qe4 {
17} Bxh2 {103} 23. Qxb7 {56} a6 {216} 24. a4 {662} Bf4 {501} 25. Bd4+ {138} e5
{68} 26. Bc5 {7} Re8 {269} 27. Qxc7 {342} Rxg2+ {145} 28. Kb1 {1} Rg6 {154} 29.
Qf7 {152} Ra8 {429} 30. b4 {329} Bh6 {61} 31. b5 {81} axb5 {2} 32. axb5 {4} Rc8
{104} 33. Qd5 {78} Bf8 {160} 34. Bxf8 {29} Rxf8 {4} 35. Qxe5+ {6} Kg8 {20} 36.
Kc2 {15} h6 {78} 37. c4 {75} Rg5 {39} 38. Qe6+ {71} Kg7 {14} 39. Kc3 {67} Rf7 {
73} 40. b6 {0} h5 {48} 41. Kb4 {326} h4 {59} 42. c5 {21} Rf1 {450} 43. Qe4 {256
} Rgf5 {474} 44. Qxh4 {486} R5f4+ {33} 45. Qxf4 {10} Rxf4+ {3} 46. Kb5 {7} Rf1
{446} 47. b7 {49} Kf6 {519} 48. c6 {14} Rb1+ {71} 49. Ka6 {19} Rc1 {52} 50. Kb6
{7} 1-0
Karjakin after his victory over Loek van Wely
Such a brilliant click by Alina L'Ami. Just look at Loek's expression! Nicholas sure is liking the chess pieces!
There is no end to creativity in life!
Masters tournament
| Round 3 - Monday, January 16 | ||
| Adhiban, B. | ½-½ | Aronian, L. |
| Eljanov, P. | ½-½ | Harikrishna, P. |
| Karjakin, S. | 1-0 | Van Wely, L. |
| So, W. | 1-0 | Rapport, R. |
| Wojtaszek, R. | ½-½ | Giri, A.. |
| Andreikin, D. | ½-½ | Carlsen, M. |
| Wei, Y. | 1-0 | Nepomniachtchi, I. |
Markus Ragger leads in the Challengers section with a perfect 3.0/3
Ilya Smirin is right on the leader's toes with 2.5/3
Alina sure loves her work! Tata Steel was always a great event, but with her pictures it got all the more better!
This one according to Alina was her favourite picture of the day
The high quality third round video!