Candidates 2018 Round 1: Some amazing bit of chess!

by Sagar Shah - 11/03/2018

The first round of the Candidates 2018 was an extremely exciting affair with three of the four games ending in decisive results. Even the drawn game between Aronian and Ding Liren was filled with great fireworks. ChessBase India will try to bring you in-depth coverage of the games with video analysis by IM Sagar Shah and also some test questions. This is the best way to know about the games and also improve your understanding of the game.

Sagar Shah's video coverage:

From a tournament like the Candidates where eight of the best players in the world play each other with excellent preparation, a lot can be learned. IM Sagar Shah analyzes these games in great detail and brings out the subtle points which will help you understand the deep ideas behind the players' moves.

Don't miss this video coverage by IM Sagar Shah where he discusses three of the four games in great depth

Kramnik vs Grischuk:

Kramnik's play was just too high class for Grischuk to handle | Photo: Frederic Friedel

What should White do here?

White to play. Find a good plan for White.

Can you play like Kramnik? White to play.

Caruana vs Wesley So:

Wesley So's treatment of the Catalan was not the best and he slumped to a very quick loss against Fabiano Caruana

How to launch a deadly attack on Black's king?

Aronian vs Ding Liren:

Aronian vs Ding Liren lasted for only a few moves but was filled with a lot of fireworks

Ding Liren has just played his rook to d6. How can Aronian try for an advantage here?

Wasn't that an amazing game!

Sergey Karjakin vs Mamedyarov:

Mamedyarov showed just brilliant endgame technique to win the queen endgame with equal pawns | Photo: Frederic Friedel