Who will win in Leuven - Magnus or Wesley?
Wesley So won the rapid section of the second leg of the Grand Chess Tour in Leuven with a score of 14 points, two more than MVL. After the rapids, it was time for 18 rounds of blitz spread over two days. On the first day Magnus Carlsen showcased some brilliant bit of chess and scored 7.5/9 tying for the top spot on combined rankings with Wesley So on 18.5 points. Vishy Anand recovered will in blitz after two losses to score 5.0/7 in the remaining rounds. It is going to be a race to the finish line between two of the best players of our generation. Who will win - Magnus or Wesley?
Photos by Lennart Ootes and Grand Chess Tour
The line up of players for the Your Next Move Leg of the Grand Chess Tour in Leuven
The format of play. 9 rounds of rapid chess followed by 18 rounds of blitz chess over five days
The playing hall
Final day of the rapid section - Rounds 6 to 9
Final standings after round nine
Wesley So played some fine chess to win the rapid section two points ahead of MVL and three points ahead of Magnus Carlsen
Vishy Anand managed to draw his game against Magnus Carlsen, lost to MVL and beat Baadur Jobava. After the last game, he was thoroughly dejected and said, he should not be playing chess, if he played like this.
To put what Vishy said into perspective, we should have a look at the game between Anand and MVL. The Frenchman played a poor opening and was lost right after the first few moves. In fact Anand kept the advantage for the major part of the game. However, he played so poorly that he lost the game. This was really something that made Anand thoroughly depressed with his performance. It is commendable that after such a game he managed to draw against Magnus Carlsen and beat Baadur Jobava.
[Event "Your Next Move GCT 2017-Rapid"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "rapid"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 {
B90: Sicilian Najdorf: Unusual White 6th moves, 6 Be3 Ng4 and 6 Be3 e5} 8. Bg5
(8. g3 Be6 9. Bg2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. c3 bxc3 14. Nxc3
Be7 15. O-O {1/2-1/2 (30) Xiong,J (2674)-Robson,R (2668) Saint Louis 2017})
8... Be6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Qd3 Nd7 {LiveBook: 21 Games} 12. O-O-O g6
13. Kb1 Rc8 14. Nec3 Bh6 15. h4 Nc5 $146 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. f3 Ne6 18. Qf2 Rc5 19.
g4 hxg4 20. fxg4 Bg5 $2 {[#]} (20... Bg7 $16) 21. Bb5 $1 $18 Bf4 (21... axb5
22. hxg5) 22. Bxd7+ Kxd7 23. Na4 Rc6 (23... Rxd5 {was called for.} 24. Nb6+ Kc7
25. Nxd5+ Kb8) 24. Qa7 Ke8 25. Qxb7 Rc4 26. Nab6 Rd4 27. h5 gxh5 28. gxh5 Rxh5
(28... Rxd1+ $142 29. Rxd1 Kf8 30. Qxa6 Nc5) 29. c3 $2 (29. Rdf1 Rxh1 30. Rxh1)
29... Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Kf8 31. Rg1 $2 (31. Nd7+ Kg7 $16) (31. Qxa6 $18 {has
better winning chances. Threatens to win with Nd7+!} Nc5 32. Qc4) 31... Nc5 $16
32. Qc6 {Hoping for Nf6!} Rg5 33. Rh1 $40 {White has strong attack.} Kg7 {
And now ...Qh8! would win.} 34. Nc4 $4 {[#]} (34. a4 $18) 34... Nxe4 $4 (34...
Qh8 $1 $19 {and life is good for Black.} 35. Re1 (35. Rxh8 $2 Rg1+ 36. Kc2 Rc1#
) 35... Qh4) 35. Nxf4 $18 ({Weaker is} 35. Qxa6 Ng3 $16) 35... Ng3 36. Ne6+ ({
Stronger than} 36. Nxd6 Nxh1 37. Nd5 Rg6 $15) 36... fxe6 37. Qb7+ Kf6 38. Rh7
$1 Qf8 39. Nxd6 $1 {White threatens Rf7+ and mate.} Kg6 40. a3 Nf5 41. Nc4 Ng3
$2 (41... Ng7 {keeps fighting.} 42. Rh1 Qf5+ 43. Ka1 Qd3) 42. Ka2 e4 43. Rh3
Kf5 $2 (43... Nh5 {might work better.} 44. Rh2 (44. Qxe4+ Qf5 $18) 44... Qf4)
44. Qh7+ Kf4 45. Qc7+ e5 $2 (45... Kf3 46. Nd2+ Kg2) 46. Rh7 Rf5 47. Qb6 $2 (
47. Qa7 $18 {Black must now prevent Qf2+.} Kg4 48. Ne3+ Kf3 49. Nxf5 Nxf5 50.
Qd7) 47... Qg8 $14 48. Qf2+ $2 (48. Qe3+ $14 Kg4 49. Rc7) 48... Kg4 $17 49.
Rg7+ Qxg7 50. Ne3+ Kh5 51. Qh2+ Kg6 52. Qxg3+ $19 {Endgame KQR-KQN} Rg5 53. Qh4
$2 (53. Qe1 $17) 53... Qf7+ $1 54. c4 Qf4 55. Qh3 Qf3 $1 56. Qe6+ Kh5 57. Qe8+
$2 (57. Nc2) 57... Kh4 58. Qh8+ Kg3 59. Nd5 Qd3 60. Qf6 Qxc4+ 61. Ka1 Qc1+ 62.
Ka2 Qc4+ $2 (62... Kh2 63. Qh6+ Kg2) 63. Ka1 $1 Qxd5 (63... Qc1+ $2 64. Ka2 $19
) 64. Qxg5+ {KQ-KQ} Kf3 65. Qh5+ Ke3 66. Qh3+ Kd2 67. Qg2+ Kd3 68. Qf1+ {[#]}
Kc2 $1 69. Qf2+ {[#]} Qd2 $1 70. Qc5+ Kd1 {( -> ...Qc1+)} 71. Qxe5 e3 72. Qh5+
$2 (72. Qe4 $19) 72... e2 {Black mates.} 73. Ka2 Qd4 74. Qf3 a5 75. Kb1 a4 76.
Ka1 Kd2 77. Qg2 Qe5 78. Ka2 Ke3 79. Qg1+ Kf3 80. Qe1 Qd5+ {Precision: White =
42%, Black = 57%.} 0-1
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.06.30"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2795"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "160"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "rapid"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 {
B90: Sicilian Najdorf: Unusual White 6th moves, 6 Be3 Ng4 and 6 Be3 e5} 8. Bg5
(8. g3 Be6 9. Bg2 b5 10. a4 b4 11. Nd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Bf5 13. c3 bxc3 14. Nxc3
Be7 15. O-O {1/2-1/2 (30) Xiong,J (2674)-Robson,R (2668) Saint Louis 2017})
8... Be6 9. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. Nd5 Qd8 11. Qd3 Nd7 {LiveBook: 21 Games} 12. O-O-O g6
13. Kb1 Rc8 14. Nec3 Bh6 15. h4 Nc5 $146 16. Qe2 Bd7 17. f3 Ne6 18. Qf2 Rc5 19.
g4 hxg4 20. fxg4 Bg5 $2 {[#]} (20... Bg7 $16) 21. Bb5 $1 $18 Bf4 (21... axb5
22. hxg5) 22. Bxd7+ Kxd7 23. Na4 Rc6 (23... Rxd5 {was called for.} 24. Nb6+ Kc7
25. Nxd5+ Kb8) 24. Qa7 Ke8 25. Qxb7 Rc4 26. Nab6 Rd4 27. h5 gxh5 28. gxh5 Rxh5
(28... Rxd1+ $142 29. Rxd1 Kf8 30. Qxa6 Nc5) 29. c3 $2 (29. Rdf1 Rxh1 30. Rxh1)
29... Rxd1+ 30. Rxd1 Kf8 31. Rg1 $2 (31. Nd7+ Kg7 $16) (31. Qxa6 $18 {has
better winning chances. Threatens to win with Nd7+!} Nc5 32. Qc4) 31... Nc5 $16
32. Qc6 {Hoping for Nf6!} Rg5 33. Rh1 $40 {White has strong attack.} Kg7 {
And now ...Qh8! would win.} 34. Nc4 $4 {[#]} (34. a4 $18) 34... Nxe4 $4 (34...
Qh8 $1 $19 {and life is good for Black.} 35. Re1 (35. Rxh8 $2 Rg1+ 36. Kc2 Rc1#
) 35... Qh4) 35. Nxf4 $18 ({Weaker is} 35. Qxa6 Ng3 $16) 35... Ng3 36. Ne6+ ({
Stronger than} 36. Nxd6 Nxh1 37. Nd5 Rg6 $15) 36... fxe6 37. Qb7+ Kf6 38. Rh7
$1 Qf8 39. Nxd6 $1 {White threatens Rf7+ and mate.} Kg6 40. a3 Nf5 41. Nc4 Ng3
$2 (41... Ng7 {keeps fighting.} 42. Rh1 Qf5+ 43. Ka1 Qd3) 42. Ka2 e4 43. Rh3
Kf5 $2 (43... Nh5 {might work better.} 44. Rh2 (44. Qxe4+ Qf5 $18) 44... Qf4)
44. Qh7+ Kf4 45. Qc7+ e5 $2 (45... Kf3 46. Nd2+ Kg2) 46. Rh7 Rf5 47. Qb6 $2 (
47. Qa7 $18 {Black must now prevent Qf2+.} Kg4 48. Ne3+ Kf3 49. Nxf5 Nxf5 50.
Qd7) 47... Qg8 $14 48. Qf2+ $2 (48. Qe3+ $14 Kg4 49. Rc7) 48... Kg4 $17 49.
Rg7+ Qxg7 50. Ne3+ Kh5 51. Qh2+ Kg6 52. Qxg3+ $19 {Endgame KQR-KQN} Rg5 53. Qh4
$2 (53. Qe1 $17) 53... Qf7+ $1 54. c4 Qf4 55. Qh3 Qf3 $1 56. Qe6+ Kh5 57. Qe8+
$2 (57. Nc2) 57... Kh4 58. Qh8+ Kg3 59. Nd5 Qd3 60. Qf6 Qxc4+ 61. Ka1 Qc1+ 62.
Ka2 Qc4+ $2 (62... Kh2 63. Qh6+ Kg2) 63. Ka1 $1 Qxd5 (63... Qc1+ $2 64. Ka2 $19
) 64. Qxg5+ {KQ-KQ} Kf3 65. Qh5+ Ke3 66. Qh3+ Kd2 67. Qg2+ Kd3 68. Qf1+ {[#]}
Kc2 $1 69. Qf2+ {[#]} Qd2 $1 70. Qc5+ Kd1 {( -> ...Qc1+)} 71. Qxe5 e3 72. Qh5+
$2 (72. Qe4 $19) 72... e2 {Black mates.} 73. Ka2 Qd4 74. Qf3 a5 75. Kb1 a4 76.
Ka1 Kd2 77. Qg2 Qe5 78. Ka2 Ke3 79. Qg1+ Kf3 80. Qe1 Qd5+ {Precision: White =
42%, Black = 57%.} 0-1
A thoroughly depressing result for Vishy, yet he maintains a slight smile and his composure!
Blitz :
Nine rounds of blitz were played on the 1st of July. Magnus Carlsen showed his class and racked up 7.5/9 points!
Carlsen was sublime, Kramnik and Giri did well. In the fourth place was Vishy Anand
After losing first two rounds to Carlsen and So, Anand did well to score 5.0/7 in the remaining rounds
Anand lost a close encounter against Magnus Carlsen in round one
[Event "Your Next Move GCT 2017-Blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Qe7 7. Nbd2 Bg4 8.
Nc4 Nd7 9. a3 a5 10. Be3 f6 11. Bxc5 Nxc5 12. Ne3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 O-O 14. h4 Ne6
15. h5 a4 16. g3 Qd7 17. Qg4 Rad8 18. Rad1 c5 19. f4 exf4 20. gxf4 {[#]} f5 $5
{An interesting decision.} ({Apparently Carlsen wasn't happy with allowing
Vishy's build-up after} 20... Kh8 21. Rd2 b5 22. Rg2 {although Black's
position remains solid.}) 21. Nxf5 Nd4 22. Nh6+ Kh8 23. Qxd7 Rxd7 24. Ng4 Nxc2
25. Rc1 Nd4 26. Rxc5 {[#]} Kg8 $2 {Strange hesitation.} ({I'm sure Magnus'
original intention was to get back his pawn,} 26... Ne2+ 27. Kh2 Nxf4 {What
did he see for White here?}) 27. Ne5 $2 {This only hangs White's pieces.} ({
Instead, the natural} 27. f5 {would secure the decisive material and
positional advantage.}) 27... Re7 28. Kg2 ({Too late for} 28. f5 {because of}
Nb3 29. Rb5 c6) 28... Ne6 $1 29. Ra5 Nxf4+ 30. Kh2 Nxh5 $17 {Black has
received a nice return on his investment.} 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. d4 (32. Nf3 Nf4
33. Ne1 Rd7 34. Rf5+ Rf7 35. Ra5 Ne6 36. Kg2 g5 37. Rxa4 h5 38. Nf3 Kg7 {
The connected passed pawns look menacing.}) 32... Nf6 33. Rxa4 Nxe4 34. Kg2 Nd6
35. Rb4 g5 36. a4 Kg7 37. a5 Kf6 38. Nd3 g4 39. Nc5 c6 40. Rb6 Re2+ 41. Kf1 Rc2
42. Nxb7 Nc4 43. Rxc6+ Kg5 44. Rc5+ Kf4 45. Nd6 Ne3+ 46. Ke1 Rxb2 47. Nc4 {
[#] Vishy did everything he could, yet his position is lost.} Ra2 $2 {Carlsen
played this by the book - rook behind the pawn.} ({However, in this sharp
endgame time is the decisive factor, and therefore} 47... Nxc4 $1 48. Rxc4 g3
49. Kf1 h5 {was the right choice. Of course, in time trouble it was next to
impossible to calculate} 50. d5+ Kf3 51. Rc3+ Kg4 52. d6 h4 53. d7 Rd2 54. a6
Rxd7 55. Ra3 Rd1+ $1 56. Ke2 g2 {and Black wins.}) 48. Nxe3 Kxe3 49. Re5+ $2 (
49. Kf1 {saves the day for White, as after} Kf3 50. Rf5+ Kg3 51. Rh5 {he gets
the h-pawn.}) 49... Kf4 50. Rh5 Kf3 $2 (50... g3 $1 51. Kf1 (51. Rxh7 Ra1+ 52.
Ke2 g2) 51... Kf3 52. Rf5+ Kg4 53. Rf7 h5 54. d5 h4 55. Rg7+ Kf4 56. Rf7+ Ke4
57. Re7+ Kxd5 58. Rh7 Ke4 59. Rxh4+ Kf3) 51. Rxh7 g3 52. Rf7+ Kg2 53. d5 Rxa5 {
[#]} 54. d6 $4 {In blitz it's always about the last mistake.} ({A draw was
still there:} 54. Rd7 Kg1 55. Ke2 $1 {King to the rescue.} (55. d6 $2 g2 56.
Re7 Rh5 57. d7 Kh1 58. d8=Q g1=Q+) 55... g2 56. Ke3 Kf1 57. Rf7+ Ke1 58. Rg7
$11) 54... Re5+ {White now loses his pawn, leaving Black with a routine win.}
0-1
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2786"]
[BlackElo "2832"]
[Annotator "Alex Yermolinsky"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O Qe7 7. Nbd2 Bg4 8.
Nc4 Nd7 9. a3 a5 10. Be3 f6 11. Bxc5 Nxc5 12. Ne3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 O-O 14. h4 Ne6
15. h5 a4 16. g3 Qd7 17. Qg4 Rad8 18. Rad1 c5 19. f4 exf4 20. gxf4 {[#]} f5 $5
{An interesting decision.} ({Apparently Carlsen wasn't happy with allowing
Vishy's build-up after} 20... Kh8 21. Rd2 b5 22. Rg2 {although Black's
position remains solid.}) 21. Nxf5 Nd4 22. Nh6+ Kh8 23. Qxd7 Rxd7 24. Ng4 Nxc2
25. Rc1 Nd4 26. Rxc5 {[#]} Kg8 $2 {Strange hesitation.} ({I'm sure Magnus'
original intention was to get back his pawn,} 26... Ne2+ 27. Kh2 Nxf4 {What
did he see for White here?}) 27. Ne5 $2 {This only hangs White's pieces.} ({
Instead, the natural} 27. f5 {would secure the decisive material and
positional advantage.}) 27... Re7 28. Kg2 ({Too late for} 28. f5 {because of}
Nb3 29. Rb5 c6) 28... Ne6 $1 29. Ra5 Nxf4+ 30. Kh2 Nxh5 $17 {Black has
received a nice return on his investment.} 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. d4 (32. Nf3 Nf4
33. Ne1 Rd7 34. Rf5+ Rf7 35. Ra5 Ne6 36. Kg2 g5 37. Rxa4 h5 38. Nf3 Kg7 {
The connected passed pawns look menacing.}) 32... Nf6 33. Rxa4 Nxe4 34. Kg2 Nd6
35. Rb4 g5 36. a4 Kg7 37. a5 Kf6 38. Nd3 g4 39. Nc5 c6 40. Rb6 Re2+ 41. Kf1 Rc2
42. Nxb7 Nc4 43. Rxc6+ Kg5 44. Rc5+ Kf4 45. Nd6 Ne3+ 46. Ke1 Rxb2 47. Nc4 {
[#] Vishy did everything he could, yet his position is lost.} Ra2 $2 {Carlsen
played this by the book - rook behind the pawn.} ({However, in this sharp
endgame time is the decisive factor, and therefore} 47... Nxc4 $1 48. Rxc4 g3
49. Kf1 h5 {was the right choice. Of course, in time trouble it was next to
impossible to calculate} 50. d5+ Kf3 51. Rc3+ Kg4 52. d6 h4 53. d7 Rd2 54. a6
Rxd7 55. Ra3 Rd1+ $1 56. Ke2 g2 {and Black wins.}) 48. Nxe3 Kxe3 49. Re5+ $2 (
49. Kf1 {saves the day for White, as after} Kf3 50. Rf5+ Kg3 51. Rh5 {he gets
the h-pawn.}) 49... Kf4 50. Rh5 Kf3 $2 (50... g3 $1 51. Kf1 (51. Rxh7 Ra1+ 52.
Ke2 g2) 51... Kf3 52. Rf5+ Kg4 53. Rf7 h5 54. d5 h4 55. Rg7+ Kf4 56. Rf7+ Ke4
57. Re7+ Kxd5 58. Rh7 Ke4 59. Rxh4+ Kf3) 51. Rxh7 g3 52. Rf7+ Kg2 53. d5 Rxa5 {
[#]} 54. d6 $4 {In blitz it's always about the last mistake.} ({A draw was
still there:} 54. Rd7 Kg1 55. Ke2 $1 {King to the rescue.} (55. d6 $2 g2 56.
Re7 Rh5 57. d7 Kh1 58. d8=Q g1=Q+) 55... g2 56. Ke3 Kf1 57. Rf7+ Ke1 58. Rg7
$11) 54... Re5+ {White now loses his pawn, leaving Black with a routine win.}
0-1
The battle between two ex- World Champions ended in a draw
Baadur Jobava seeks some last minute help from Kramnik! But it wasn't helpful as he anyway lost.
[Event "Your Next Move GCT 2017-Blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Bg6 7. a4 {B12:
Caro-Kann: Advance Variation} a5 8. Nbd2 Nh6 9. Nb3 Nf5 {LiveBook: 4 Games} 10.
g4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 10. Bd2 Be7 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. f4 Be4 14. Be3
h6 {1-0 (40) Van der Hoeven,D (2639)-Rattinger,F (2644) ICCF email 2010}) 10...
Ne7 11. Ne1 h5 12. gxh5 Bh7 13. Ng2 Nf5 14. Bg4 c5 15. c3 Qb6 16. Kh1 Rc8 17.
Ne3 (17. Be2 $14) 17... Nh6 (17... Nxe3 $1 $15 18. fxe3 Be7) 18. Be2 $36 {
White fights for an advantage.} f6 (18... c4 $14) 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Bb5 c4 21.
Nd2 Rc6 22. Re1 Kd8 23. Ndf1 Qc7 24. Ng3 Bd3 25. Ng2 e5 26. Ne3 ({Don't do} 26.
Bxc6 Qxc6 27. Qf3 Kc7 $18) 26... Nb6 (26... Rd6 {was called for.} 27. b3 Nb6
28. dxe5 fxe5) 27. Bxc6 bxc6 28. Ng4 Nxg4 29. Qxg4 {aiming for dxe5.} Qd7 $2 {
[#]} (29... Nd7 30. f4 e4) 30. Qh4 $18 Be7 31. dxe5 fxe5 32. Bg5 e4 33. Bxe7+
Qxe7 34. Qxe7+ Kxe7 35. f3 e3 (35... Rb8 {is a better defense.} 36. fxe4 Kd6
37. exd5 cxd5) 36. Rxe3+ Kd6 37. f4 Nd7 38. f5 Nc5 39. Kg1 Ne4 40. Rae1 Ke5 (
40... Nxg3 $142 41. Rxg3 Bxf5) 41. b3 {White is clearly winning.} Rg8 42. bxc4
dxc4 43. Rxe4+ {Precision: White = 65%, Black = 31%.} 1-0
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 Nd7 6. O-O Bg6 7. a4 {B12:
Caro-Kann: Advance Variation} a5 8. Nbd2 Nh6 9. Nb3 Nf5 {LiveBook: 4 Games} 10.
g4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 10. Bd2 Be7 11. g4 Nh4 12. Nxh4 Bxh4 13. f4 Be4 14. Be3
h6 {1-0 (40) Van der Hoeven,D (2639)-Rattinger,F (2644) ICCF email 2010}) 10...
Ne7 11. Ne1 h5 12. gxh5 Bh7 13. Ng2 Nf5 14. Bg4 c5 15. c3 Qb6 16. Kh1 Rc8 17.
Ne3 (17. Be2 $14) 17... Nh6 (17... Nxe3 $1 $15 18. fxe3 Be7) 18. Be2 $36 {
White fights for an advantage.} f6 (18... c4 $14) 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Bb5 c4 21.
Nd2 Rc6 22. Re1 Kd8 23. Ndf1 Qc7 24. Ng3 Bd3 25. Ng2 e5 26. Ne3 ({Don't do} 26.
Bxc6 Qxc6 27. Qf3 Kc7 $18) 26... Nb6 (26... Rd6 {was called for.} 27. b3 Nb6
28. dxe5 fxe5) 27. Bxc6 bxc6 28. Ng4 Nxg4 29. Qxg4 {aiming for dxe5.} Qd7 $2 {
[#]} (29... Nd7 30. f4 e4) 30. Qh4 $18 Be7 31. dxe5 fxe5 32. Bg5 e4 33. Bxe7+
Qxe7 34. Qxe7+ Kxe7 35. f3 e3 (35... Rb8 {is a better defense.} 36. fxe4 Kd6
37. exd5 cxd5) 36. Rxe3+ Kd6 37. f4 Nd7 38. f5 Nc5 39. Kg1 Ne4 40. Rae1 Ke5 (
40... Nxg3 $142 41. Rxg3 Bxf5) 41. b3 {White is clearly winning.} Rg8 42. bxc4
dxc4 43. Rxe4+ {Precision: White = 65%, Black = 31%.} 1-0
Anand was able to beat Levon Aronian!
[Event "Your Next Move GCT 2017-Blitz"]
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
b5 9. Bc2 d5 10. Nbd2 {C84: Closed Ruy Lopez: Unusual White 6th moves} d4 11.
Nb3 Bg4 (11... a5 12. a4 bxa4 13. Rxa4 dxc3 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. Be3 Nb6 16. Ra1
Bd6 17. Nbd2 f5 18. Bxb6 cxb6 {1-0 (29) Carlsen,M (2838)-Ghosh,D (2581) chess.
com INT 2017}) 12. h3 {The position is equal.} Bh5 13. cxd4 {And now d5 would
win.} exd4 14. Bf4 {[#]} Bb4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 14... a5 15. a4 bxa4 16. Rxa4
Bb4 17. Rf1 Re8 {0-1 (65) Mehar,C (2373)-Vishnu, P (2512) Noida 2016}) 15. Nbd2
Qd7 16. a3 $36 {Black is under pressure.} Be7 ({Black should play} 16... Bd6
$14 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bxf6 gxf6) 17. g4 $16 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Qxg4+ 19. Bg3 f5 (19...
Nd8 {was necessary.} 20. Qe2 (20. Nxd4 Qh3 $16) 20... Ne6) 20. Bb3+ $18 Kh8 {
...f4 is the strong threat.} 21. Be6 Bd6 22. Kg2 ({Weaker is} 22. Bxf5 Rxf5 23.
exf5 Bxg3 $11) ({Stronger than} 22. exf5 Bxg3 23. fxg3 Qxg3+ 24. Kf1 Ne7 $17)
22... Ne7 23. Rh1 {Hoping for e5.} ({Much less strong is} 23. Nxd4 $6 Qg6 $14)
23... Rf6 $2 {[#]} (23... Qg6) 24. Ng5 $1 Qxg5 25. Rxh5 Qg6 26. exf5 Nxf5 27.
Bxf5 Rxf5 28. Rxf5 Qxf5 29. Qf3 Qc8 30. Bxd6 {White is clearly winning.} cxd6 {
[#]} 31. Rc1 $1 Qe8 (31... Qxc1 32. Qxa8+) 32. Ne4 d5 33. Ng3 Qe6 34. Qf5 Qg8
35. Rc7 Re8 (35... Rf8 $142) 36. Nh5 Re6 37. Nxg7 Rg6+ 38. Kf1 {Precision:
White = 84%, Black = 23%.} 1-0
[Site "Leuven"]
[Date "2017.07.01"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Anand, Viswanathan"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2771"]
[BlackElo "2787"]
[Annotator "TA"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[EventType "blitz"]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 d6 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1
b5 9. Bc2 d5 10. Nbd2 {C84: Closed Ruy Lopez: Unusual White 6th moves} d4 11.
Nb3 Bg4 (11... a5 12. a4 bxa4 13. Rxa4 dxc3 14. bxc3 Nd7 15. Be3 Nb6 16. Ra1
Bd6 17. Nbd2 f5 18. Bxb6 cxb6 {1-0 (29) Carlsen,M (2838)-Ghosh,D (2581) chess.
com INT 2017}) 12. h3 {The position is equal.} Bh5 13. cxd4 {And now d5 would
win.} exd4 14. Bf4 {[#]} Bb4 $146 ({Predecessor:} 14... a5 15. a4 bxa4 16. Rxa4
Bb4 17. Rf1 Re8 {0-1 (65) Mehar,C (2373)-Vishnu, P (2512) Noida 2016}) 15. Nbd2
Qd7 16. a3 $36 {Black is under pressure.} Be7 ({Black should play} 16... Bd6
$14 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bxf6 gxf6) 17. g4 $16 Nxg4 18. hxg4 Qxg4+ 19. Bg3 f5 (19...
Nd8 {was necessary.} 20. Qe2 (20. Nxd4 Qh3 $16) 20... Ne6) 20. Bb3+ $18 Kh8 {
...f4 is the strong threat.} 21. Be6 Bd6 22. Kg2 ({Weaker is} 22. Bxf5 Rxf5 23.
exf5 Bxg3 $11) ({Stronger than} 22. exf5 Bxg3 23. fxg3 Qxg3+ 24. Kf1 Ne7 $17)
22... Ne7 23. Rh1 {Hoping for e5.} ({Much less strong is} 23. Nxd4 $6 Qg6 $14)
23... Rf6 $2 {[#]} (23... Qg6) 24. Ng5 $1 Qxg5 25. Rxh5 Qg6 26. exf5 Nxf5 27.
Bxf5 Rxf5 28. Rxf5 Qxf5 29. Qf3 Qc8 30. Bxd6 {White is clearly winning.} cxd6 {
[#]} 31. Rc1 $1 Qe8 (31... Qxc1 32. Qxa8+) 32. Ne4 d5 33. Ng3 Qe6 34. Qf5 Qg8
35. Rc7 Re8 (35... Rf8 $142) 36. Nh5 Re6 37. Nxg7 Rg6+ 38. Kf1 {Precision:
White = 84%, Black = 23%.} 1-0
Garry Kasparov was present at the venue
He not only gave commentary with Nigel Short...
...but also gave a lecture
King Magnus won in Paris, and, now he is well and truly on his way to become the champion in Leuven
Last nine rounds of the blitz will be played on 2nd of July. Two of the best players as on date Magnus Carlsen and Wesley So are locked in an intense race. It will be interesting to see who wins the event!