4/1/2013 – Magnus Carlsen overpressed a messy position against Peter Svidler and was swiftly punished. However Kramnik gambled all of his chips, and Ivanchuk simply took them all! Carlsen’s luck has not abandoned him and he is now the official challenger against Anand for the World Chess Championship, edging out the Russian’s great performance by virtue of his better tiebreak. Full report with GM analysis.
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From March 14 to April 1, 2013, FIDE and AGON – the World Chess Federation’s
commercial partner – are staging the 2013 Candidates Tournament for the
World Chess Championship 2013. It will be the strongest tournament of its kind
in history. The venue is The IET,
2 Savoy Place, London. The Prize Fund to be shared by the players totals €510,000.
The winner of the Candidates will become the Challenger to Viswanathan Anand
who has reigned as World Champion since 2007. The main sponsor for the Candidates
is State Oil Company of the Azerbaijan Republic SOCAR,
which has sponsored elite events chess in the past.
Round fourteen report
By GM Alejandro Ramirez
The most spectacular tournament of recent years has come to an end. The drama
of the last few rounds has been unprecedented in recent memory. The excitement
brought spectators flocking to every chess site, even to the point of overloading
some of them! The fans were eager to know who would challenge Anand, and here
is how it all unfolded.
Round 14 April 1 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
0-1
Peter Svidler
Vassily Ivanchuk
1-0
Vladimir Kramnik
Boris Gelfand
½-½
Alexander Grischuk
Levon Aronian
1-0
Teimour Radjabov
Playchess commentary: GM Maurice Ashley
Gelfand-Grischuk ½-½
Grischuk’s Gruenfeld was more than sufficient to neutralize any attempts
for a lastround victory by the Israeli, and the game ended in a draw after White’s
king was too exposed and had to allow a perpetual.
Aronian-Radjabov 1-0
Aronian, who after the first half seemed to be the only one with chances to
stop Carlsen from playing Anand, suffered some serious setbacks in the second
half and tried to have a strong finish. Radjabov, who probably wants to forget
this tournament as soon as possible and losing over thirty (!?) rating points
in the process, was looking to at least not lose the last round. Unfortunately
the Armenian’s will was stronger and a complicated game led to an interesting
endgame in which White had two rooks for Black’s queen. Although theoretically
equal, the endgame was more pleasant to play with White, and after Radjabov
made just one slip Aronian’s brutal attack on the king was enough to win
the game.
Carlsen-Svidler 0-1
Everyone knew the tournament situation. Carlsen would look for a win, and try
to clinch first place regardless of Kramnik’s result. A typical Spanish
gave White a very minimal edge, and both sides tried to attack the enemy king
using their knights and long range bishops. On move 31, disaster strikes. Svidler’s
simple mate threat on g2 can be parried in two ways: one is a simple tactic
that uses Black’s king on f8 to not only trade off the dangerous light
squared bishop, but it also won a pawn. The other simply gave Black a strong
attack. Carlsen, maybe exhausted from his efforts, chose the latter and almost
paid dearly. The advantage was too strong; the pair of bishops and extra pawn
were too much even for the Norwegian magician. Svidler defeated Carlsen.
[Event "FIDE Candidates 2013"] [Site "London"] [Date "2013.04.01"] [Round
"14"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Svidler, Peter"] [Result "*"] [ECO
"C77"] [WhiteElo "2872"] [BlackElo "2747"] [Annotator "Ramirez,Alejandro"]
[PlyCount "96"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventCountry "ENG"] 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {The increasingly popular quick
d3 system, yet again seen in London. Carlsen crushed Svidler with the black
side of this system, surely he can also outplay him with white.} b5 7. Bb3
d6 8. a3 O-O 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. Bd2 Qd7 11. a4 Nd8 $5 {Very solid play, though
there were viable alternatives for sure. The idea of moving the knight from
c6 is nothing new in the Spanish. It is now being rerouted to f4.} 12. axb5
axb5 13. Rxa8 Bxa8 14. Ne2 Ne6 15. Ng3 c5 16. Nf5 Bd8 17. c4 bxc4 18. Bxc4
{White has a maybe microscopically more pleasant position. His bishop on c4
is well placed, the knight on f4 is relatively uncomfortable, but Black still
has many resources.} Bc7 19. Re1 Re8 20. Qc1 Nh5 (20... Nd4 {already blunders
the game.} 21. N3xd4 cxd4 22. Nxg7 $18) 21. g3 (21. b4 $1 cxb4 22. Bxb4 {Would've
given him a pleasant edge, but the symmetrical position gives Black good chances
for a draw.}) 21... g6 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. Ng5 Nxg5 24. Bxg5 d5 25. exd5 Bxd5
26. Ng4 Bf3 {Svidler thought this idea was very strong, and that Carlsen underestimated
it. However, it is possible both missed White's resource on move 31.} 27.
Bf6+ Kg8 28. Nh6+ Kf8 29. Qe3 (29. Nxf7 Nxf6 30. Qh6+ Ke7 $2 { Suggested by
Svidler.} (30... Kg8 $3 {is just a draw, according to the engines, as there
are no good discoveries. Notice how in no variation can White take on e5 as
the opening of the e-file will be lethal to him because of his weakened back
rank.} 31. Nxe5+ $2 Bd5 32. Nxd7 Rxe1#) 31. Ng5 $1 {Was missed by both players.})
29... Bb7 30. Bh4 Qh3 31. f3 $2 {The start of Carlsen's demise.} ( 31. Bd5
$1 {This strong resource would've simply left White a pawn ahead. White's
knight on h6 can be left en prise!} Bxd5 32. Qxc5+ Kg7 33. Qxd5 Kxh6 34. Qxf7
Ba5 (34... Rc8 $2 {Svidler admitted he had no idea what was going on, and
this was his suggestion. However this loses to the very strong...} 35. Qe7
$1 {and Black is closed to getting mated.}) 35. Qxe8 Bxe1 36. Qxe5 {White's
three pawns are stronger than the piece, and it is in Black's best interest
to give it back immediately.} Bxf2+ 37. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 38. Ke1 {With only chances
for White.}) 31... Nf4 32. gxf4 Qxh4 33. Nxf7 Bxf3 34. Qf2 Qg4+ 35. Qg3 exf4
{Now Black's advantage is clear and decisive. The pair of bishops is too strong.}
36. Rxe8+ Kxe8 37. Qxg4 Bxg4 38. Ng5 h6 39. Nf7 h5 40. Nh6 Bd1 41. Kf2 f3
42. h3 Bf4 43. Nf7 g5 44. Ke1 g4 {Simple calculation, White cannot stop the
pawns.} 45. hxg4 hxg4 46. Kxd1 g3 47. Ke1 g2 48. Kf2 Bh2 {Carlsen loses, but
his lucky stars had not yet abandoned him.} *
Ivanchuk-Kramnik 1-0
“If someone had told Volodia (Kramnik) that Carlsen would lose today,
I’m afraid he wouldn’t have gone with the Pirc…” is
the translation of Vallejo Pons earlier Facebook status. Truer words could not
have been spoken! Knowing that the odds of Carlsen losing with White twice in
one tournament were astronomical, Kramnik went for the all-out kill against
Ivanchuk. However the Ukrainian is not someone to be trifled with.. He punished
Kramnik’s excessive opening aggression, and quickly took over the initiative.
A strong positional sacrifice left him with the pair of bishops and pressure
all over the board, especially against the queenside pawns. Black’s position
became increasingly worse with every move, until White’s passed b-pawn
was too strong. It was all over. Ivanchuk equally slayed Kramnik and Carlsen,
and the Norwegian edges out on tiebreak.
[Event "FIDE Candidates 2013"] [Site "London"] [Date "2013.04.01"] [Round
"14"] [White "Ivanchuk, Vassily"] [Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"] [Result "*"]
[ECO "B08"] [WhiteElo "2757"] [BlackElo "2810"] [Annotator "Ramirez,Alejandro"]
[PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [EventCountry "ENG"] 1. d4 d6 2.
e4 {The Pirc. An obscure opening in the realm of elite players. Kramnik wasn't
satisfied with neutralizing Ivanchuk, he was risking everything for the win.}
Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O a6 7. h3 {A classical and sedate
approach. Strong both because of its positional value, but also because it
steers the game away from the sharp complications Kramnik is so desperately
looking for.} Nc6 8. Bg5 b5 9. a3 h6 10. Be3 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qc1 Kh7
$2 {Already a mistake, however the 'correct' move was far from human.} (12...
Nd4 13. Bxh6 Bb7 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Rd1 c5 16. Qe3 Qe7 {And Black has some
compensation, but no more.}) 13. Bc5 Re8 14. Rd1 Bd7 15. b4 Qc8 16. Qe3 {
White has more space, better coordinated pieces and actual prospects of invading
d5, unlike Black who cannot move to d4. Also White is the one that can break
the queenside. A very uncomfortable situation for Black.} Nd8 17. a4 bxa4
18. Nxa4 Ne6 19. Bc4 Nh5 20. Nc3 Nhf4 21. Nd5 Bb5 22. Bb3 Bc6 23. Ra5 Qb7
24. g3 $1 {A valiant sacrifice. With the h-pawn gone, White can occupy the
h-file, putting pressure on every side of the board. Further, Black is left
without a plan and without the strong knight on f4.} Nxh3+ 25. Kg2 Nhg5 26.
Rh1 Kg8 27. Nxg5 Nxg5 28. f3 Bxd5 29. Bxd5 c6 30. Bc4 Qc8 31. Qb3 h5 32. Be3
Ne6 33. Rha1 h4 {Giving back the pawn does not alleviate Black's problems
- he doesn't even get access to the f4 square. However it was hard to suggest
much of anything, let alone a way to win this game.} 34. gxh4 Qd8 35. Rxa6
Rc8 36. Rh1 Rc7 37. Bxe6 Rxe6 38. b5 $1 {White's now up a pawn, and Black
has the horrible choice between exposing his king to a strong attack or allowing
a strong passed pawn on b6.} Rb7 (38... cxb5 39. Rxe6 fxe6 40. Qxe6+ Rf7 41.
Qxg6 $18) 39. b6 c5 40. Rb1 Bf8 41. Qd5 Qb8 42. Rba1 Rd6 43. Ra8 Rxd5 44.
Rxb8 Rxb8 45. exd5 Bd6 {The b-pawn is too strong, White has only to march
his king forward.} 46. Ra6 Rb7 47. Kf1 {The King goes to a6, the game is over,
Kramnik resigns and Magnus wins the tournament!} *
GM Daniel King shows the highlights of the last round
Current standings
The table displays Kramnik ahead on traditional tiebreak points, but the Candidates
Tournament rules counts the number of wins – Carlsen five, Kramnik four
– to break the tie, after the first tiebreaker, score against each other,
was even.
Replay all games of the round
Select games from the dropdown menu above the board
Schedule and results
Round 1 March 15 at 14:00
Levon Aronian
½-½
Magnus Carlsen
Boris Gelfand
½-½
Teimour Radjabov
Vassily Ivanchuk
½-½
Alexander Grischuk
Peter Svidler
½-½
Vladimir Kramnik
Playchess commentary: GM Daniel
King
Round 2 March 16 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Vladimir Kramnik
Alexander Grischuk
½-½
Peter Svidler
Teimour Radjabov
1-0
Vassily Ivanchuk
Levon Aronian
1-0
Boris Gelfand
Playchess commentary: GM Chris
Ward
Round 3 March 17 at 14:00
Boris Gelfand
0-1
Magnus Carlsen
Vassily Ivanchuk
0-1
Levon Aronian
Peter Svidler
1-0
Teimour Radjabov
Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Alexander Grischuk
Playchess commentary: GM Yasser
Seirawan
Round 4 March 19 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
1-0
Alexander Grischuk
Teimour Radjabov
½-½
Vladimir Kramnik
Levon Aronian
½-½
Peter Svidler
Boris Gelfand
½-½
Vassily Ivanchuk
Playchess commentary: GM Daniel
King
Round 5 March 20 at 14:00
Vassily Ivanchuk
½-½
Magnus Carlsen
Peter Svidler
½-½
Boris Gelfand
Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Levon Aronian
Alexander Grischuk
½-½
Teimour Radjabov
Playchess commentary: GM Yasser
Seirawan
Round 6 March 21 at 14:00
Peter Svidler
0-1
Magnus Carlsen
Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Vassily Ivanchuk
Alexander Grischuk
½-½
Boris Gelfand
Teimour Radjabov
0-1
Levon Aronian
Playchess commentary: GM Chris
Ward
Round 7 March 23 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Teimour Radjabov
Levon Aronian
½-½
Alexander Grischuk
Boris Gelfand
½-½
Vladimir Kramnik
Vassily Ivanchuk
½-½
Peter Svidler
Playchess commentary: GM Alejandro
Ramirez
Round 8 March 24 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
½-½
Levon Aronian
Teimour Radjabov
0-1
Boris Gelfand
Alexander Grischuk
1-0
Vassily Ivanchuk
Vladimir Kramnik
1-0
Peter Svidler
Playchess commentary: GM Alejandro
Ramirez
Round 9 March 25 at 14:00
Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Magnus Carlsen
Peter Svidler
½-½
Alexander Grischuk
Vassily Ivanchuk
1-0
Teimour Radjabov
Boris Gelfand
1-0
Levon Aronian
Playchess commentary: GM Maurice
Ashley
Round 10 March 27 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
1-0
Boris Gelfand
Levon Aronian
1-0
Vassily Ivanchuk
Teimour Radjabov
½-½
Peter Svidler
Alexander Grischuk
0-1
Vladimir Kramnik
Playchess commentary: GM Yasser
Seirawan
Round 11 March 28 at 14:00
Alexander Grischuk
½-½
Magnus Carlsen
Vladimir Kramnik
1-0
Teimour Radjabov
Peter Svidler
1-0
Levon Aronian
Vassily Ivanchuk
½-½
Boris Gelfand
Playchess commentary: GM Chris
Ward
Round 12 March 29 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
0-1
Vassily Ivanchuk
Boris Gelfand
½-½
Peter Svidler
Levon Aronian
0-1
Vladimir Kramnik
Teimour Radjabov
½-½
Alexander Grischuk
Playchess commentary: GM Daniel
King
Round 13 March 31 at 14:00
Teimour Radjabov
0-1
Magnus Carlsen
Alexander Grischuk
½-½
Levon Aronian
Vladimir Kramnik
½-½
Boris Gelfand
Peter Svidler
1-0
Vassily Ivanchuk
Playchess commentary: GM Daniel
King
Round 14 April 1 at 14:00
Magnus Carlsen
0-1
Peter Svidler
Vassily Ivanchuk
1-0
Vladimir Kramnik
Boris Gelfand
½-½
Alexander Grischuk
Levon Aronian
1-0
Teimour Radjabov
Playchess commentary: GM Maurice
Ashley
The games start at 14:00h = 2 p.m. London time = 15:00h European time,
17:00h Moscow, 8 a.m. New York. You can find your regional starting time here.
Note that Britain and Europe switch
to Summer time on March 31, so that the last two rounds will start an hour
earlier for places that do not swich or have already done so (e.g. USA). The
commentary on Playchess begins one hour after the start of the games
and is free for premium members.
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