Carlsen Carnage Continues: Wins 4th Kings Tournament 2010

In all three games of the final round Black was victorious: Radjabov beat Gelfand, Ponomariov beat Nisipeanu and Carlsen beat Wang Yue. This left the youngest player with the highest rating two full points clear of the field, with an incredible 2918 performance. That translates to a FIDE rating of 2826, the second highest in chess history. Final report with commentary by Dorian Rogozenco.

ROMGAZ and the Chess Club Society "Elisabeta Polihroniade” of Bucharest are staging a double round robin tournament with six top GMs: the world's highest ranked player, Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who at the age of 19 has an Elo rating of 2813. Ukrainian GM Ruslan Ponomariov is a former FIDE knockout world champion; Boris Gelfand of Israel, winner of the FIDE World Cup in 2009; the top Chinese player Wang Yue; Teimour Radjabov, the second highest ranked player of Azerbaijan, and Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu, the best Romanian player. The competition is taking place from June 14th to 25th 2010 in Medias, Romania.

Round ten summary

By GM Dorian Rogozenco

Who could have guessed such results today? All three games of the last round in King’s Tournament finished with victories for Black! And how! White players didn’t have a chance! 

Nispeanu lost in 23 moves against Ponomariov in a game that looks as an opening catastrophe. However, this won’t be very precise. Black got a pleasant position in the Four Knights Variation indeed, but the reason of White’s loss was a tactical mistake on move 17, after which White’s position collapsed surprisingly quickly.

Gelfand-Radjabov saw the King’s Indian, where it appeared first that White achieved an edge thanks to the centralised pieces. But starting with move 18 ... well, Gelfand said it himself: ”Everything went wrong. I played horrible today”. That was a very painful defeat for Boris, who otherwise played a very good tournament. By losing this last game versus Radjabov the Israeli also missed his chance to qualify in the Grand Slam Final tournament (most likely Radjabov will play there).

Finally, Wang Yue-Carlsen that lasted longer than other games didn’t differ much: here too White’s play was depressing. Carlsen equalized easily in the Gruenfeld Defence and then slowly, but firmly increased his slight advantage in endgame to take a full point and finish the tournament in great style: 5 wins and 5 draws. Actually this also reflects the draw ratio of the tournament: exactly half of the games were decisive, which is a good achievement at such level.

Results of round ten (Friday, June 25, 2010)
Gelfand, Boris	0-1	Radjabov, Teimour
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter	0-1	Ponomariov, Ruslan
Wang Yue	0-1	Carlsen, Magnus

Wang,Yue - Carlsen,Magnus [D85]

Kings' Tournament Medias Bazna/Romania (10), 25.06.2010 [Rogozenco]

Tourney/rogozenko10.pgn

Gelfand,Boris - Radjabov,Teimour [E94]

Kings' Tournament Medias Bazna/Romania (10), 25.06.2010 [Rogozenco]

Tourney/rogozenko10(2).pgn

Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter - Ponomariov,Ruslan [C49]

Kings' Tournament Medias Bazna/Romania (10), 25.06.2010 [Rogozenco]

Tourney/rogozenko10(3).pgn

Final standings

Statistics A highly unusual pie chart and unusual statistics: of the 30 games in this event: 50% (15 games) ended in draws White won 7 games = 23% Black won 8 games = 27%

Source: Chessbase

Official Site

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Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 12 Analysis & Report

...a Lasker Defence to be specific

Viswanathan Anand retained his world title today in Sofia, Bulgaria by beating his opponent Veselin Topalov in the 12th and last match game with the black pieces. The Indian won the world title in a tournament in 2007, and now successfully defended it twice in a match.

Today already fourty minutes before the game, while the players were just about to leave their hotels, already a big amount of TV camera, single-lens reflex cameras, and other digital cameras, and dozens of media people operating them, were waiting in the theater room of the Central Military Club. A game that could be all-decisive, is on the program.

For the 6th time Topalov opened with 1.d4, and Anand went back to 1…d5. But no Slav this time. No, the World Champion chose the opening that has been played the most in World Championship matches: the Queen’s Gambit Declined. The variation with an early …Ne4, named after the second World Champion Emanuel Lasker, is known as passive but solid. A bit like the Slav ending Anand used three times, but with the queens still on the board.

Anand will certainly be satisfied with a draw. Topalov on the other hand will certainly be pressing today, but it remains to be seen how much risk he’s prepared to take. Many locals in Bulgaria will regard another draw as a loss for their hero, since Anand’s legendary record in rapid chess is known here too…

After a quiet middlegame Anand went both …e5 and f5. Topalov then seemed to crack under the pressure. He took two pawns very quickly, which simply led to a devastating attack for Black. Anand didn’t chose the quickest win, allowing Topalov to reach a RN vs Q ending, but the result was never in doubt. And so Anand decided the match in his favour with the first win for the black pieces in the very last game.

For now here is the full analysis of the game. More reports & videos plus press conference videos to follow shortly.

WCC_2010/wch game 12.pgn

Links

• Download All WCC 2010 games in PGN

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Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 11 Analysis & Report

It started out as a "boring" draw, but turned into YADEG – yet another dramatically exciting game. In his last white game in regular time controls Anand searched for a decisive advantage, and then on move 49 took a very brave decision – one that could have easily backfired.

In today's game Anand went for the English Opening (1.c4) and managed to get a slight advantage. But then due to some very slight and unabvious inaccuracies he was left without any constructive plan. After that Topalov not only equalized, but also took over the initiative in the endgame. It seemed that Anand would hold easily, and he indeed did. But then all of a sudden the World Champion decided to try his luck and gave away a pawn for some activity. Objectively Anand was in a great danger, but in order to get some real winning chances Topalov had to find a sequence of abstract computer moves. Not suprisingly he didn't and the game ended in a draw.

Here is the full analysis of the game.

WCC_2010/wch game 11.pgn

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Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 10 Analysis & Report

The Grünfeld was finally back after the disaster in game one – if anything to show Anand's house was in order. The opening went well and he equalized easily, but a very sharp Topalov found a way to lead him astray. A classic endgame with a bishop pair advantage followed. The Bulgarian made inroads and pushed, but a finesse by the Indian put a halt to them and secured the draw.

 

World Chess Championship – Game ten

Sofia, 7th May

The tenth game of the World Chess Championship between Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria also ended after a bitter battle lasting 60 moves, when all possibilities of a decisive result were wiped out. The score now stands equal at 5-5 and the remaining two games promise to be exciting in this twelve-game match series to decide the World Championship.

NIIT MindChampion Anand defended an inferior position stubbornly for a long time, and this draw with black should put him in a better frame of mind going into the rest day tomorrow. Anand will wield white in the 11th game on Sunday. Later commenting on the game Anand said “ I think I got a decent position but a careless 24th move allowed Topalov to get some play”

Tired after defending passive positions in the Slav Defence, which are not exactly his style, Viswanathan Anand once again adopted the Grünfeld Defence, with which he suffered a shocking loss in the first round. Anand then had probably mixed up some order, and his team would have plugged in the obvious loopholes for the Indian to play it once again.

However the exchange of pieces had Topalov once again in a better position, with an advanced isolated pawn in the centre and his bishop pair controlling vital diagonals. Very soon it was apparent that Anand was in trouble and would once again need all his defensive skills to salvage a draw, while Topalov was in a no-risk position and could press for victory. Topalov’s king marched to the centre of the board very quickly, while Anand’s king was tied down in his territory. Anand had a knight and bishop while Topalov had the bishop pair in the ending. It was easier for Topalov to force play on both sides of the board as his bishops could gun long range while for Anand, it was once again defending an inferior passive position.

A 44th inaccurate move by Topalov’s light squared bishop suddenly allowed Anand’s knight to be active. Around this time Topalov started consuming time, and Anand was back to his speedy ways. Suddenly Anand’s knight, which so far had been restricted to his territory, was on the loose and started troubling the enemy. The exchange of the dark square bishop took the fizz out of the position and the draw was agreed.

Here is the full analysis of Game 10.

WCC_2010/wch game 10.pgn

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Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 9 Analysis & Report

The longest game of the match. Anand switched to a Nimzo-Indian, forsaking the Catalan that had served him so well. His choice seemed to be vindicated as Topalov found himself in trouble in an ultra-complicated endgame with an imbalanced position. Anand made it to the winning line more than once, but faltered at the last moment. The Bulgarian's resilience paid off with a draw.

World Chess Championship – Game nine

Sofia, 6th May

Viswananthan Anand had many promising continuations which would have led him on the path to victory. However the Indian maestero was far from his best in a choppy game against Veselin Topalov in the ninth game of the World Chess Championship Match at Sofia, Bulgaria and missed many winning opportunities. Finally after a marathon battle lasting 83 moves, a draw was agreed. The twelve- game match is tantalizingly poised with a 4.5-4.5 score and just three more games to be played.

As expected, it was not the Catalan opening which has been tried and tested four times already, whenever Anand has played white. The Indian indicated that it was a time for change. Topalov went for the Nimzo Indian Defence. Both players targeted each other’s kingside, Anand trying to get closer to the king with his pieces, while Topalov gunned long range from the queen side with his bishop and queen.

NIIT MindChampion Anand gave the impression that the game was very much along his prepared lines and on the 21st move Topalov made things more interesting by grabbing Anand’s queen for two of his rooks. After his 40th move Anand was visibly upset as he realized that he had made an incorrect move and he went into a long think, probably to shrug off the disappointment of missing what probably could have been a quicker route to victory.

After that it was almost as if Anand needed to start afresh with the king hunt. Incidentally this is the first game in this Championship which went beyond the sixty move mark, which incidentally is also the move for the second time control. Victory for the second time in the game once again eluded Anand as he made a few inaccurate moves. Topalov sacrificed his knight and tried to push his pawns on the queen-side. Anand too had to give up his knight for Topalov’s pawn. In the end the Bulgarian started checking Anand’s king, leading to a draw.

Tomororow in the tenth game Topalov will play with the white pieces.

Here is the full analysis of Game 9 .

WCC_2010/wch game 9.pgn

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Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 8 Analysis & Report

The World Champion had appeared to have recovered from his shock defeat in game one, and seemed to have it all under control. An oversight got him into trouble, and Topalov went hard to work trying to milk the position for all he could. Still, just as it seemed as if Anand had made it safely back to shore, a final blunder sealed his fate. The match is now drawn 4-4, with four games left.

World Chess Championship – Game eight

NIIT Press Release

Sofia, May 5th 2010

A one point a pretty lead had Viswanathan Anand sitting comfortably while Veselin Topalov has been striving and stretching for one more victory to equalize the score. The Bulgarian Challenger was once again impressive in showing some serious home preparation, and also his aggressive instincts, in the eighth game of the World Chess Championship at Sofia, Bulgaria and defeated Anand after 56 moves.

The scores are now evened out at 4-4, making the last four games important in this twelve-game Match series. Throughout the eighth game, Anand was defending a miserable looking position, and eventually blundered on the 54th turn, when most analyzing grandmasters started hinting at a draw. For a long time in the ending, the players had opposite coloured bishops on board with Topalov enjoying an extra pawn.

Anand however later pointed out that he was not sure whether he could have held a draw, even without the blunder, and was not happy with the way he played today. Topalov too was unsure whether a victory was possible, but thought that his position was always better.

Here is the full analysis of the game 8.

WCC_2010/wch game 8.pgn

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ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 6 Video Analysis by GM Alex Yermolinsli

Presenting ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov WCh Game 6 Video Analysis by GM Alex Yermolinsli.

Links

• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 1 Video Analysis by GM Peter Svidler
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 2 Video Analysis by GM Alex Yermolinski
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 3 Video Analysis by GM Joel Benjamin
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 4 Video Analysis by GM Miguel Illescas
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 5 Video Analysis by GM Jon Speelman
• ICC Chess.FM Live Coverage -WCC 2010 Game 2 - Anand vs. Topalov
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 7 Analysis 
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 6 Analysis 
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 5 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 4 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 3 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 2 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 1 Analysis
•  Video Analysis of Game 5
•  Video Analysis of Game 4
•  Video Analysis of Game 3
• Video Analysis of Game 2
• Video Analysis of Game 1
• Game 1 Video Report & Press Conference
• Game 2 Video Report
• Game 3 Video Report 
• Game 4 Video Report 
• Game 5 Video Report
• Game 6 Video Report
• Game 2 Press Conference Video
• Game 3 Press Conference Video
• Game 4 Press Conference Video 
• Game 5 Press Conference Video
• Game 6 Press Conference Video 

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Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 7 Analysis & Report

:

The seventh game of the World Championship match in Sofia, Bulgaria also ended in a draw. Challenger Veselin Topalov showed impressive opening preparation and put the World Champion under considerable pressure. However, Anand defended accurately and perhaps even missed a win after the time control.

NIIT Press Release on round seven

Sofia, 28 April

The 58 move draw in the seventh round of the World Chess Championship at Sofia was one of the exciting ones so far, and saw the defending champion try long and hard in the dying stages of the game for a victory. The NIIT MindChampion, Viswanathan Anand is leading the 12 game match with a 4-3 score over his Bulgarian rival Veselin Topalov. Tomorrow Topalov will be playing with the White pieces in the eighth game.

The theoretical discussion in the Catalan continued for the fourth consecutive time that Anand wielded white pieces. Anand had notched victories in the second and fourth game with the Catalan Opening while the sixth game was drawn. “I had to play precisely and was calculating for most part in the Opening but in the ending though I was pressing but was not sure if there is a win," said Anand.

However for the first time Veselin Topalov scored in the home preparation by starting the game on a volatile note, deviating very early and livening up the proceedings with some very sharp play, sacrificing his rook for a bishop – and all this while using just two minutes on his clock to make the first 14 moves. Topalov said that he had prepared this particular line with his second Ivan Cheparinov.

Topalov tried to intensify the pressure further by sacrificing a knight and bishop for Anand’s rook and gained two pawns in the bargain while leaving Anand with an extra piece. Thereafter the Indian had to use his defensive skills and survival instincts to ward off Topalov’s attack. The Bulgarian had two dangerously advanced pawns and at one time he invaded Anand’s seventh rank with his queen and rook. Around this time, Topalov gave indication that he was ready to settle for a draw by repetition of moves, but Anand decided that it was time for him now to press for victory.

The ending was a queen and pawn one where Anand had the extra knight, but Topalov’s advanced pawns more than compensated for it. Anand probed and pressed for a long time, but his exposed king and his opponent’s pawn on the seventh rank did not allow him to make any progress.

Here is the full analysis of the game . Press conference video, video report & video analysis to follow soon. Stay Tuned.

WCC_2010/sofia07.pgn

 

Links

• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 1 Video Analysis by GM Peter Svidler
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 2 Video Analysis by GM Alex Yermolinski
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 3 Video Analysis by GM Joel Benjamin
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 4 Video Analysis by GM Miguel Illescas
• ICC Chess.FM Live Coverage -WCC 2010 Game 2 - Anand vs. Topalov
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 6 Analysis 
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 5 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 4 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 3 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 2 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 1 Analysis
•  Video Analysis of Game 5
•  Video Analysis of Game 4
•  Video Analysis of Game 3
• Video Analysis of Game 2
• Video Analysis of Game 1
• Game 1 Video Report & Press Conference
• Game 2 Video Report
• Game 3 Video Report 
• Game 4 Video Report 
• Game 5 Video Report
• Game 6 Video Report
• Game 2 Press Conference Video
• Game 3 Press Conference Video
• Game 4 Press Conference Video 
• Game 5 Press Conference Video
• Game 6 Press Conference Video 

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ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov WCh Game 5 Video Analysis by GM Jon Speelman

Presenting ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov WCh Game 5 Video Analysis by GM Jon Speelman.

Links

• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 1 Video Analysis by GM Peter Svidler
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 2 Video Analysis by GM Alex Yermolinski
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 3 Video Analysis by GM Joel Benjamin
• ICC Chess.FM - Anand vs. Topalov Game 4 Video Analysis by GM Miguel Illescas
• ICC Chess.FM Live Coverage -WCC 2010 Game 2 - Anand vs. Topalov
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 7 Analysis 
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 6 Analysis 
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 5 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 4 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 3 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 2 Analysis
• Anand - Topalov WCC 2010 - Game 1 Analysis
•  Video Analysis of Game 5
•  Video Analysis of Game 4
•  Video Analysis of Game 3
• Video Analysis of Game 2
• Video Analysis of Game 1
• Game 1 Video Report & Press Conference
• Game 2 Video Report
• Game 3 Video Report 
• Game 4 Video Report 
• Game 5 Video Report
• Game 6 Video Report
• Game 2 Press Conference Video
• Game 3 Press Conference Video
• Game 4 Press Conference Video 
• Game 5 Press Conference Video
• Game 6 Press Conference Video 

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