The penultimate (8th) round of the London Chess Classic 2016, took place on December 17th 2016. It saw Veselin Topalov have yet another bad day at the office.
Topalov played White against Viswanathan Anand, who achieved equality rather comfortably in the Queen’s Gambit Declined. The Bulgarian’s 24.Be2 was rather too quiet, and this allowed his opponent a good presence in the position and at 25…Rc2, White had nothing. It was, however, 33.Qc3(?) that was the cause of his trouble, completely taking his eye off of his King, which for any chess player is an unforgivable crime. Anand demonstrated the error with 33…Qb5(!) which threatened …Qa4 mate. There was no way out of this without pain, Topalov chose 34.Qc6 which gave 34…Rxf3+ and White was getting mated. Topalov resigned — unbelievably, he is only on one point from the eight rounds so far and those were draws.
Black continues 33…Qb5! winning.
Elsewhere, Vladimir Kramnik and Anish Giri debated a Najdorf Sicilian, which saw Black varying with 12…Nf8. White seized hold of the d5-square, establishing a good knight and good control along the d-file. Kramnik should probably have tried 19.Nxe7 followed by 20.Nd5+ if he wanted to play for anything, but his 19.Na2 was a tad too slow. From here, Black achieved comfortable equality and White found himself with very little potential. In the end, Black had the better of things, but White had enough in hand to hold and the game was drawn in 46.
There was a similar situation in Vachier-Lagrave-Adams, which saw Black get the better of things in a Berlin Defence. White seemed to be unsure of how to go about things in the game and took to a lot of shuffling around, which gave his opponent a lot of time to set out his stall. 24.Be7(!?) did not work out well for the Frenchman, with d4 or Rfd1 seeming more constructive. As it was, play saw Black seizing the initiative and a pawn to boot. Vachier-Lagrave set about defending the situation and perhaps Adams did not make what he could have out of the situation, 48…Rb6 instead of Adams’ …Rb2 may have allowed Black the chances of more. As things turned out, White was allowed a nuisance rook, which prevented Black from making progress. Game drawn in 53.
Fabiano Caruana and Wesley So got into a rather unusual Berlin and followed a line that had been played by Alexander Grischuk and Pavel Eljanov just a few weeks previous. Caruana deviated with 10.a4 (Grischuk had opted for Qe2) and this led to pieces leaving the board rather quickly in what was a rather uneventful game. Hikaru Nakamura and Levon Aronian didn’t really get in to it, either. Their game saw a Queen’s Gambit Declined, and very steady exchanges, the result of which was a rather lifeless draw by repetition.
This means that Wesley So keep his lead going into the final round of play — but only by a half point, so the last round may be exciting!
- So — 5.5
- Caruana — 5.0
- Kramnik, Anand, Nakamura — 4.5
- Aronian, Giri — 4
- Vachier-Lagrave, Adams — 3.5
- Topalov — 1.0
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2016.12.17”]
[Round “8.4”]
[White “Topalov, Veselin”]
[Black “Anand, Viswanathan”]
[Result “0-1”]
[ECO “D37”]
[WhiteElo “2760”]
[BlackElo “2779”]
[Annotator “Shaw,John Lee”]
[PlyCount “68”]
[EventDate “2016.12.09”]{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. }
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c5 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. a3
Nc6 9. Qc2 Re8 {…Qa5 is very usual, here, with the unprotected rook on a1
making the b4-square rather undermined.} 10. O-O-O e5 11. Bg5 d4 {this is
quite obligatory, by contrast e5-e4 is misguided and after cxd5, Black would
be up against it.} 12. Nd5 b5 {A new move by Anand, more usual is …Be7,
breaking the pin, though …Be6 has also been tried.} 13. Bxf6 {This is one
way to go, taking the opportunity to open Black’s Kingside. Developing with
Bd3 was a good alternative. Most testing was perhaps cxb5, when things get
sharp and Black has to be accurate.} (13. cxb5 Qxd5 14. bxc6 {Bc4 is also a
very good alternative.} Ne4 (14… Qxc6 15. exd4 exd4 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxc5 {
is excellent for White.}) 15. Bd3 Nxf2 16. Bc4 d3 {with White being able to
choose between Bxd5 and Bxd3 to maintain something of an edge.}) 13… gxf6 14.
cxb5 Na5 15. exd4 exd4 16. Nb4 Bxb4 (16… Qb6 17. Bd3 Be6 18. Kb1 Kg7 {
With a slight edge to White, but a very unclear position.}) 17. axb4 Be6 {
Preparing …Rc8, taking advantage of the position of the White Queen and King.
} 18. Nxd4 Rc8 19. Nc6 Nxc6 20. bxc6 Qb6 {Things have turned out not so bad
for Black, here.} 21. Qa4 Rxc6+ {This is fine, but due to the vulnerability of
White’s back rank, …Bg4 was also an interesting possibility.} (21… Bg4 22.
b5 (22. f3 Bf5 {with the threat of …Qe3+ to follow. Coupled with the threat
to c6 also, this is quite serious.}) (22. Rd2 {is suicide} Re1+ 23. Kc2 Rxc6+ {
is winning by a mile for Black.}) 22… Bxd1 23. Qxd1 a6 {with the better of
the position.}) 22. Kb1 Rd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Be2 {This move is a little too
quiet, Bb5 was a better way to develop, taking advantage of Black’s rook being
threatened on c6.} Bf5+ 25. Ka2 Rc2 {A good, confident move, this, but …Qd6
was also an option, when White may have realised that he had very little. The
chess engines give this a much better score than Anand’s, but I prefer the
human move I have to say.} 26. Rd1 Qb6 27. Bg4 Qe6+ 28. Ka3 Qe5 29. Qb3 Bg6 30.
Bf3 Rxf2 31. h4 {This is out of context, White is in no position to be playing
moves like this. The best way towards equality was Rd5, when Black has nothing
better than …Rf1 to threaten a1 (…Qxh2, Qe3 and White is fine). Then,
after Rd1 we may get repetition.} Bc2 {Seizing the initiative.} 32. Rd8+ Kg7
33. Qc3 {This is a very big blunder by Veselin Topalov, completely taking his
eye off the ball — or his King, in chess terms.} Qb5 {! Anand punishes, the
threat is of course, …Qa4 mate and White has no respectable way of
preventing this.} 34. Qc6 {This is inadequate, but then again, so was
everything else. b3 would have been nicely met by …Qa6+, Kb2 Bxb3+.} Rxf3+ {
! to the point by Anand, with mate in 6 or thereabouts — Topalov resigned.}
0-1[Event “London Chess Classic 2016”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2016.12.17”]
[Round “8.1”]
[White “Caruana, Fabiano”]
[Black “So, Wesley”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C65”]
[WhiteElo “2823”]
[BlackElo “2794”]
[PlyCount “74”]
[EventDate “2016.12.09”]{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. }
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d5 7. exd5 Qxd5 8.
Bc4 Qd8 9. Nbd2 a5 10. a4 {This is a new move, the game had been following
Grischuk-Eljanov, 2016, which continued Qe2 for a draw. This move does not
really result in more excitement and the game is rather uneventful.} h6 11. Re1
Bf5 12. Nf1 e4 13. Ng3 Bh7 14. dxe4 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Bxe4 16. Bf4 Bb6 17. Nxe4
Nxe4 18. Bg3 Rae8 19. Rd7 Nxg3 20. hxg3 Ne5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. Rad1 Rf5 23. R1d2
Re8 24. Kf1 Kf8 25. f3 Re7 26. Rd8+ Re8 27. R8d7 {It is very easy to imagine
the players repeating, here. The game is very even and neither has much to go
at, even with the opposite coloured bishops.} Re7 28. Rd8+ Re8 29. R2d7 Rxd8
30. Rxd8+ Ke7 31. Rg8 Rg5 32. g4 Bc5 33. Bd3 Bd6 34. Kf2 Kf6 35. Re8 Rd5 36.
Ke2 Re5+ 37. Rxe5 Kxe5 {And the players did indeed agree a draw, here.} 1/2-1/2[Event “London Chess Classic 2016”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2016.12.17”]
[Round “8.2”]
[White “Nakamura, Hikaru”]
[Black “Aronian, Levon”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “D38”]
[WhiteElo “2779”]
[BlackElo “2785”]
[PlyCount “53”]
[EventDate “2016.12.09”]{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. }
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qb3 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. Bg5 dxc4 8.
Qxc4 Qa5 9. Rc1 Qxc5 10. Qxc5 Bxc5 11. e3 Bb4 {This is a new move, …a6 and ..
.Be7 had been seen previously. From here, the game sees steady exchanges, for
a rather uneventful draw.} 12. a3 Bxc3+ 13. Rxc3 Ne4 14. Rc1 Nxg5 15. Nxg5 Ke7
16. Ne4 Bd7 17. Nc5 Rhc8 18. Nxd7 Kxd7 19. Bb5 a6 20. Bxc6+ Rxc6 21. Rxc6 Kxc6
22. Ke2 Rd8 23. Rc1+ Kd7 24. Rd1+ Ke7 25. Rc1 Kd7 26. Rd1+ Ke7 27. Rc1 {
draw by repetition.} 1/2-1/2[Event “London Chess Classic 2016”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2016.12.17”]
[Round “8.3”]
[White “Kramnik, Vladimir”]
[Black “Giri, Anish”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “B91”]
[WhiteElo “2809”]
[BlackElo “2771”]
[PlyCount “92”]
[EventDate “2016.12.09”]{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. }
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g3 e5 7. Nde2 Be6 8. Bg2
h5 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. Qd2 Be7 11. a4 Rc8 12. O-O Nf8 {A new move, …b5 and …
Ng4 had been seen before.} 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Rfd1 Be7 15. Nd5 h4 16. Nec3 Nh7
17. Ra3 Rc6 18. Rb3 Qb8 {This is questionable by Giri and is inferior to such
moves as the prophylactic …Qc8. Personally, I have misgivings about
inflicting any kind of pin on myself and placing my Queen on the same line as
a rook in this way. It is true to say that this can not be taken advantage of
right now, but things can change very quickly and Black will always have to be
mindful of it.} 19. Na2 (19. Nxe7 Kxe7 20. Nd5+ {and, rather than allowing the
tempo on the King, Black probably has nothing better than exchanging — Rd3 or
Qb4 are possible for White, next, with pressure mounting towards d6.} Bxd5 21.
exd5 Rc4 22. f4 {With the initiative to White.}) 19… Bxd5 20. Qxd5 Qc8 {
A little bit of an acknowledgement that his Queen is misplaced on b8.} 21. Nb4
Nf6 22. Qd2 Rc5 {Black has managed to equalise rather well, I think Giri would
be quite satisfied, here.} 23. Rc1 hxg3 24. hxg3 g6 25. Rd3 Kf8 26. c3 Kg7 27.
Rd1 {With the e7-bishop on the board, the threat to d6 is not as potent as it
could be. Of course, Black is totally unable to play d6-d5 and this explains
Giri deciding to look towards the Kingside.} Qd7 28. b3 Qg4 29. c4 (29. Nd5
Nxd5 {(…Bf8 is also a valid move here)} 30. Rxd5 Qe6 {is equal.}) 29… Nxe4
30. f3 Nxd2 {This is rather obligatory after playing …Nxe4.} 31. fxg4 Nxc4
32. bxc4 Rxc4 {Black has a fine result from the last few moves, with adequate
compensation for his knight. The position is about equal.} 33. Nd5 Bd8 34. Ra1
{Rb1 was perhaps slightly more to the point, but with …Rxg4 looming, and
Black switching to the Kingside, White intends a4-a5 and then Rb3.} Rxg4 35. a5
e4 36. Rb3 Rh5 37. Ne3 Rgg5 38. Kf2 {This is a little slow and gives Black a
bit more than he should have had. White is really committed to Bxe4 or Rd1 here.
} Rxa5 39. Rxa5 Rxa5 40. Bxe4 b5 {With the better stance.} 41. Rd3 Be7 (41…
f5 42. Bf3 Ra2+ 43. Be2 {=}) 42. Kf3 Ra1 43. Nd5 Bd8 44. Nf4 Be7 45. Rc3 d5 46.
Bxd5 Ra3 {And the players agreed a draw here, White has enough in hand to hold
this position.} 1/2-1/2[Event “London Chess Classic 2016”]
[Site “London ENG”]
[Date “2016.12.17”]
[Round “8.5”]
[White “Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime”]
[Black “Adams, Michael”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[ECO “C65”]
[WhiteElo “2804”]
[BlackElo “2748”]
[Annotator “Shaw,John Lee”]
[PlyCount “106”]
[EventDate “2016.12.09”]
{ Annotations by John Lee Shaw for www.hotoffthechess.com. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4
a6 9. Bc4 d6 10. a4 Ba7 {The game had followed Navara-Eljanov, Baku 2016, up
to here (which continued 10…g5 and was a win for Black) but now Adams goes
his own way.} 11. Na3 Be6 12. b4 Nb8 13. Bxe6 Rxe6 14. Nc4 Nbd7 15. Ne3 c6 {
a good alternative was …Bxe3 and then …a5, when White could have reason to
be quite dissatisfied, but as it turns out, Black gets another shot at it.} (
15… Bxe3 16. fxe3 a5 {when Black is equal at worst.}) 16. Nd2 {It seems that
White has not really made his mind up as to what he wants to do, here, this
shuffling is costing him some time.} (16. Nf5 d5 17. Re1 {sees White with a
small edge.}) 16… a5 {rushing slightly — again, …Bxe3 first was a little
more productive.} 17. bxa5 Qxa5 {Black would be feeling quite happy at this
stage.} 18. Ndc4 Qa6 {after …Qxc3, Qb1 (or Bxf6 first) would be good enough
for equality.} 19. Nf5 d5 {very good, confrontational play by Adams.} 20. Nce3
(20. exd5 cxd5 21. Na3 {and Black has a few options, here, …Rc8 and …e4
being the main candidates.}) 20… Kh7 {…dxe4 or …Bxe3 were also good
choices, here, both leading to the same situation.} (20… Bxe3 21. Nxe3 dxe4
22. dxe4 Nc5 {with an advantage.}) 21. exd5 Nxd5 22. Qh5 Rf8 23. Nxd5 cxd5 24.
Be7 {This sees the bishop transferred to b4, with Black collecting some
initiative. Instead, it was better for White to fight in the centre with d3-d4
or Rfd1.} Nf6 25. Qh3 (25. Bxf6 Rxf6 26. Ne3 {with …Qe6, …Bxe3, …Qd6 all
being good for Black.}) 25… Re8 26. Bb4 {The bishop looks awful here,
exchanging on f6 was a much wiser choice.} h5 27. d4 exd4 28. Nxd4 Bxd4 29.
cxd4 Qc4 {Putting the pressure on, strong stuff from Adams.} 30. Rab1 b6 31. a5
bxa5 32. Bxa5 Qxd4 {Picking up a pawn, but can Black make this count?} 33. Bc3
Qg4 34. Qxg4 hxg4 35. Bxf6 Rxf6 36. Rb4 Re4 37. Rxe4 dxe4 38. Re1 Re6 {
Needless to say, Black is very much ahead in this position, but it is by no
means a straight-forward point.} 39. g3 f5 40. Kg2 g5 41. h3 gxh3+ 42. Kxh3 Kg6
43. Kg2 Re5 44. Ra1 f4 45. Ra6+ Kf5 46. gxf4 gxf4 47. Ra8 Rb5 48. Rh8 Rb2 {
This is a bit of a slip, …Rb6 would have led to better chances, not least
Black would be able to meet Rf8+ with …Rf6, while threatening to play f4-f3.
White would have to fight hard.} 49. Rf8+ Ke5 50. Re8+ Kd4 51. Rf8 Ke5 52. Re8+
{White’s rook has been allowed to gain a position of annoyance and this is
preventing Black from making progress.} Kd5 53. Rd8+ Ke5 {And the players
agreed a draw, here.} 1/2-1/2
[/pgn]
