Hot Off The Chess Blog

Tal Memorial Round 7: Full House of Draws Sees No Change In Standings

October 9, 2016 John Lee Shaw

Round 7 of the Tal Memorial was played on Tuesday 4thOctober. The day before had been a rest day for the players and the final one before the closing three rounds of the tournament. It seemed that the players were still in laid back mood as the round was rather […check it out!]

Tal Memorial Round 6: Giri Rocked by Aronian

October 9, 2016 John Lee Shaw

The sixth round of the Tal Memorial would be the round before the second and final rest day. The tournament was approaching its closing stages and one would assume that the players would be wanting to make this round count so that they could enjoy their day off and prepare […check it out!]

Tal Memorial Round 5: Gelfand Loses Fourth Consecutive Game

October 7, 2016 John Lee Shaw

Round-5 of the Tal Memorial 2016, was played on Saturday 1st October. It saw only one decisive game, at the expense of poor Boris Gelfand, who dropped his fourth point in as many games. His beneficiary in this round was Viswanathan Anand, who was lagging behind a point and a […check it out!]

Tal Memorial Round 4: Giri Takes Lead

October 6, 2016 John Lee Shaw

Round-4 of the Tal memorial was played on Friday 30th September. It saw another round of largely decisive games. One of these was Vladimir Kramnik, who dominated his Guioco Piano against Viswanathan Anand. With excellent piece play, White penetrated the Black position along the a-file and just couldn’t be shaken. […check it out!]

Tal Memorial Round 3: Giri and Nepomniachtchi Lead

October 4, 2016 John Lee Shaw

The third round of the Tal Memorial was played on Thursday 29th September. It saw a bloody round of chess, after which a couple of players would leave with their tails up and at least one would feel a bit battered. The win of the round (or maybe the collapse […check it out!]

Tal Memorial Round 2: Giri Slays Gelfand With Black, Anand Bests Mamedyarov

September 29, 2016 John Lee Shaw

Round-2 of the Tal Memorial, currently underway in Moscow, Russia, saw Viswanathan Anand and Anish Giri join Ian Nepomniachtchi in the lead. Both took nice wins, against Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Boris Gelfand, respectively, to earn their places at the top of the standings at the first rest day. Mamedyarov was […check it out!]

Tal Memorial Sees Sombre Start

September 27, 2016 John Lee Shaw

Round one of the Tal Memorial began with a minute’s silence in honour of Mark Dvoretsky, whose death was announced earlier in the day. Dvoretsky was widely respected as a chess player and trainer and personally known by many involved in the tournament. Peter Svidler was one player to tweet […check it out!]

Mark Izrailovich Dvoretsky 1947-2016

September 26, 2016 John Lee Shaw

It was announced today, that International Master Mark Izrailovich Dvoretsky, has died. Born December 9th in Moscow, Dvoretsky is perhaps best known to modern chess players as an esteemed and trusted chess writer. Often in collaboration with his pupil, Artur Yusupov, his Dvoretsky School series are pride of place on […check it out!]

Tal Memorial 2016 Opens in Moscow

September 26, 2016 John Lee Shaw

The Tal Memorial is getting underway, today in Moscow. The event, which runs from September 26th to October 6th, is held in honour of Russia’s former World Chess Champion, Mikhail Tal (1936-1992), who held the title from 1960 to 1961 and is still regarded as one of the most attacking […check it out!]

Women’s Olympiad 2016: China Win Gold

September 15, 2016 John Lee Shaw

After playing five-rounds, the competitors of the 42nd Olympiad, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, had a rest day on Wednesday 7th September. The question was, could Russia and the Ukraine continue to dominate the standings when play resumed, on Thursday 8th September. As was the case in my half way round-up, […check it out!]

Tal Memorial Round 7: Full House of Draws Sees No Change In Standings

Tal Memorial Round 6: Giri Rocked by Aronian

Tal Memorial Round 5: Gelfand Loses Fourth Consecutive Game

Tal Memorial Round 4: Giri Takes Lead

Tal Memorial Round 3: Giri and Nepomniachtchi Lead

Tal Memorial Round 2: Giri Slays Gelfand With Black, Anand Bests Mamedyarov

Tal Memorial Sees Sombre Start

Mark Izrailovich Dvoretsky 1947-2016

Tal Memorial 2016 Opens in Moscow

Women’s Olympiad 2016: China Win Gold

Radoslaw Wojtaszek Wins Biel 2020

Tata Steel 2020, Rd 10: Carlsen Wins Again. Caruana Retains Lead After Beating Firouzja

The World Champion stamps some authority in this game, against the player many are tipping to be a future challenger and successor. The other games are drawn, Caruana leads. The Challengers group sees a 3-way tie at the top.

Fabiano outplays Vishy in the endgame to take the point, he leads with Alireza Firouzja on 5.5/8. Artemiev collapses against Carlsen, who notches up a rather comfortable point. Duda and Kovalev also win. Eljanov remains in the lead of the Challengers, which sees 4 games decided.

Tussle of the 'born in the 2000s' goes the way of the Iranian as his American opponent falters. Points also go to Caruana and van Foreest. Vishy Anand survives against Magnus Carlsen. Things largely unchanged in the Challengers as Sarin beats Saduakassova, Eljanov still at the top of the standings.

2018's World Championship rivals, are again not to be separated. Anish Giri recovers his point from round 5, at the cost of Vladislav Kovalev, while Daniil Dubov sees Vladislav Artemiev strategically wanting. The Challengers group sees 3 decided games, Eljanov leads.

Round 5 takes place away from Wijk aan Zee, at the stadium of football team, PSV Einhoven. It sees Firouzja take his 3rd win in 5 games, notching up a performance rating of 2854 so far. Xiong suffers at the hands of Anand. The Challengers group sees 6 of the 7 games decided.

Alexander Grischuk and Fabiano Caruana debate the Benoni Defence in Stavanger, Norway.

edges out defending Champion on tiebreaks

Ju Wenjun, Anna Muzychuk, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Harika Dronavalli lead the way in Tehran.

So, Aronian, Nakamura, Vachier-Lagrave, Caruana, Anand, Topalov, Giri, Kramnik, Adams compete to decide Grand Chess Tour

Weak colour complexes and poor development, see Black in a positional strangle-hold ... and a victorious King march by White.