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To see London and....
Candidates Tournament.
 
Visiting London is
always an event for an avid traveler and chess enthusiast. London is
a city of monuments, kings, queens, knights and towers. The city
offers the pleasure of visiting the famous Simpsons Club, a venue
that attracted local nobility that wished to play chess for more than
a century and hosted last year’s Fide Grand Prix. A must treat
for the founder of 4 Springare club.
 
After short promenade –
Savoy Place, where the Titans will take fights. Round 11, World no1
Magnus Carlsen in the lead, followed by Levon Aronjan . Can
ex-World champion Vladimir Kramnik catch up or calm Norwegian will
strike few more. Intrigue is not over. Thanks to special password
from Jacob Aagaard, accreditation to press center was very easy, as
well as Robert Fontaine ( strong IGM and Agon personal chief) good
memories from Rilton Cup. I was recognised and got access to press
center and the playing area. Thank you Dr. Rilton for fantastic
tournament, that gives the opportunities to invite strong GMs to
Stockholm.
Pairs of the day:
Grischuk –Carlsen,
Kramnik – Radjabov, Ivanchuk-Gelfand and Svidler –
Aronian
Can Grischuk give a
fight to Carlsen and help Vladimir Kramnik? (Yesterday Alexander
miscalculated to the way into the pawn endgame against Vladimir
Kramnik and lost)
Can Peter the Great
stop Levon and old friends meeting Ivanchuk vs Gelfand show their
best skills.
The answers will be
given soon. 10 minutes before start. Lets go and take some pictures.
Enjoy quick snaps.
 
 
Svidler-Aronian –
sharp Nimtzovich defense , variation with 4.a3, that have the
reputation as the sharpest and aggressive lines for white, expecting
big bloody battle.
Ivanchuk-Gelfand
–Grunfeld defense , not main line. The little accident just
before the game happened to Vasily. He nearly fell down from the
stairs on his way to the table and his first request to the judge
after arbiter starts his clocks was to bring the ice to calm the
small injury.
Kramnik- Radjabov
–Kings Indian defense with 3.g3.
Grischuk –Carlsen
– Alexander chosen very aggressive 5.h4 in Grunfeld with c6
against Magnus, thats really shows that the questions about the
winner are not closed. Magnus is thinking for long on his answer,
almost 30 minutes, that s not common for Norwegian genius. It s look
like such an aggression was a big surprise for him. 6... o-o,
invitation is taken. Brave castling. Now is Alexanders turn to think.
After 7.e3- no danger for black, 7.Rc1-just to do useful move and
wait for black reply? 7. Bxf6!? With next h5 and attack on the King.
Done....8...Bf5 very typical Magnus play solid move, just developing
sleeping pieces. Probably 9.Qd2, continue to invite capture on c4 and
keep an eye on h6 square. Just got myself on the thought, that
position transformed to one of the famous “tabias” in
Declined Queens Gambit. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 h6 5.Bxf6
Qxf6 6.Nf3 g6 7.e3 Bg7. The small difference Bishop on f5 instead on
c8. OK, after white exchange on g6and opened h-file, Russian finished
his pieces development and his position is slightly better. 12...e5?!
on flank attack, reply with counterattack in centre (Great Aron
Nimtzovich, “My system”)
After all exchanges
pawn on d5 is week, but direct capture will lead to simple draw after
13. Bxg6 hxg6 14. Dxe5 Nxe5 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Rd1 Qa5 17.Rxd5 Nxf3+
18.Kf1! Nd2+!! 19. Kg1 (after 19.Qxd2 Rad8 =) 19....Qb4 20.Qxd2 Rc8
21.g3 Bxc3 22.bxc3 Qxc3 23.Qxc3 Rxc3 with very draws Rook endgame.
Alexander played 17.Kf1
to escape from pin for just in case and after 17...Rad8 18. Nd4 Qc5
19.Nb3 Qc6 20.Na5 Qc7 21.Nb3 Qc6 22.Na5 Qc7 23.Nb3 Qc6 both agreed
for a draw by repetition. I asked Grischuk on press conference why
not 18.b4! Qxb4 19.Nxd5 and white have ,probably little better.
Alexander answered that this option was the best, but he was worried
about his bad time,thats why took no risk decision. So Magnus became
closer to the victory in the tournament.
Svidler beat Aronian,
Kramnik defeated Radjabov. Must draw your attention to nice variation
,that Vladimir gave to the press. If after 30. Rb2 Qa3 instead
30...Qa4 that was in the game he saw very beautiful 31.Rb8!! 1-0.
 
All the notes were
written live and without computer help, that makes the annotation
more human.
Tomorrow , 28th
of March- Round 12.
MVH
IM&FT Vladimir
Poley
London, Savoy Place.
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