15 December 2013, Kuala Lumpur – The latest results from London Chess Classic 2013 indicate that both Michael Adams of England and Boris Gelfand, Israel have both won their respective tie-break games of the quarter-finals with 2-0 scores. As a result Adams and Gelfand will join Kramnik and Nakamura in the semi-finals of the London Chess Classic 2013.
Showing posts with label London Chess Classic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label London Chess Classic. Show all posts
Saturday, December 14, 2013
Round 6 Playing Hall - Super Sixteen Rapids
14th December 2013, Kuala Lumpur – 5th London Chess Classic 2013 live stream
Friday, December 13, 2013
Svidler’s Fourth Round Win London Classic 2013
13 December 2013, Kuala Lumpur – The London Chess Classic 2013 is currently being played with 16 players this year. This year, the sixteen players are grouped into four groups namely, A, B, C and D. Fabiano Caruana of Italy (Group D) and Vishy Anand (Group A) of India are jointly leading with 10 points.
Here is a round 4 game between Peter Svidler and Vladimir Kramnik, LCC 2013. Svidler won this game in Group B. Both players are lying in 6-7th position currently among the 16 players.
Standings After Roun 4:
Round 3 and Round 4 Results:
Monday, December 10, 2012
London Classic goes to the wire in round 9
10 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – London Chess Classic 2012 goes into the final round 9 with a possibility that there might be a tie for the top spot should circumstances present itself.
The Week In Chess reported that Vladimir Kramnik beat Gawain Jones to keep alive his chances of retaining his London Chess Classic title. Kramnik will need to beat Michael Adams with black and hope that Carlsen can do no better than draw with Anand as white in the final round. If they tie then there will be a single game Armageddon blitz playoff.
If Magnus Carlsen draws in the round 9 and Kramnik wins, then there will be a tie in total points scored. If that happens, then please visit the tournament rules to see what will happen next, click here.
Round 9 pairings:
Links:
All games | PGN |
PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
(Photo by Ray Morris-Hill)
Sunday, December 9, 2012
Carlsen Way Ahead, London Chess Classic 2012
9 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – The seventh round of the London Chess Classic 2012 resulted in all drawn games with Kramnik given a rest. Rankings after round 7 show Carlsen leading with 17 points with 5+ points ahead of Kramnik at 12 points.
The Week In Chess reported that current leader Magnus Carlsen drew a Sicilian (a surprise) with black against Hikaru Nakamura (3.c3 a surprise prepared for Topalov in London earlier in the year). Carlsen sacrificed a piece for two pawns which may have given Carlsen the better chances but quite quickly he was playing just to draw. Carlsen now definitely will exceed Kasparov's 2851 rating record. Kasparov tweeted his congratulations to Carlsen on overtaking his 13 year record.
Pairings of Rounds 8-9:
Links:
All games | PGN |
PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Friday, December 7, 2012
Carlsen, Kramnik, Anand, Nakamura won 5th round, LCC2012
7 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – In London, the London Chess Classic 2012 has entered its 6th round tonight. Last night, 6th December 2012, the fifth round was played and four decisive games emerged. Carlsen, Kramnik, Anand and Nakamura all won their respective games.
Watch Nakamura’s 5th round game against Judit Polgar. Nakamura had Judit in a mating net by move 47.
(show chess board)
(hide chess board)
Black played 47…Bf1 and white resigned. White is in black’s mating net in four or five moves.
Links:
Official website: http://www.londonchessclassic.com
PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Magnus Clear Leader, LCC 2012
6 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – The Week In Chess reported that Magnus Carlsen opened a clear lead after four rounds of the 4th London Chess Class as it goes into the rest day. Carlsen defeated Gawain Jones in a 4.Qxd4 Sicilian where Jones played a creative queen sacrifice for two pieces. The sacrifice might have been sufficient to draw but Jones gradually went wrong and lost.
Michael Adams faced a very unusual sideline of the Queen's Gambit from Hikaru Nakamura. Adams did have slightly the worse of it for a while but held the draw reasonably comfortably. Viswanathan Anand took on Vladimir Kramnik's Berlin Defence and was in danger of being worse at one stage but the blocked nature of the position allowed a draw. Luke McShane was again the last to finish and he ended up losing to Levon Aronian in a grim struggle. McShane blundered and had to give up his queen for what eventually turned out to be Rook, Knight and 3 pawns.
The 5 December 2012 was a rest day at the London Chess Classic. Round 6 is being played tonight as blog post gets published.
Here is a round 4 game between Magnus Carlsen and Gawain GB during the 4th London Chess Classic 2012. Magnus Carlsen won this game with white.
(show chess board)(hide chess board)Links:
Official website: http://www.londonchessclassic.com
PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
(Picture by Ray Morris-Hill)
Monday, December 3, 2012
Kramnik, Carlsen won in round 2, LCC 2012
3 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – Last night two decisive games with Kramnik and Carlsen winning their respective games of round 2 London Chess Classic 2012. Vishy Anand, the reigning World Champion, drew against McShane and Judit Polgar drew with Gawain Jones.
Here is the round 2 game between Magnus Carlsen of Norway and Levon Aronian in a Ruy Lopez opening. Carlsen won with the white pieces.
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White played 59. Rf8+, black resigned.
Official website:http://www.londonchessclassic.com/
Classic Links:
PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
(All pictures by Ray-Morris Hill)
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Magnus Wins 1st Round, London Chess Classic 2012
Pix 1. Luke McShane vs Magnus Carlsen, Round 1, London Chess Classic 2012 (Photo by Ray Morris-Hill)
2 Dec 2012, Kuala Lumpur – The London Chess Classic 2012 got underway last night, 1 Dec 2012 in London. Eight players are playing in the Classic section.
Here is the round 1 win for Magnus Carlsen playing black against the British player, Luke McShane.
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Black played 62…g2, white resigned.
Overall Table Standings (after round 1):
Official website:http://www.londonchessclassic.com/
Classic Links:
PGN: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Replay: Round 1 Round 2 Round 3 Round 4 Round 5 Round 6 Round 7 Round 8 Round 9
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Nakamura’s Game vs Adams, London Chess Classic
18 Dec 2011, Kuala Lumpur – Eventhough Vladimir Kramnik won this year’s London Chess Classic 2011, the game of the day belonged to Hikaru Nakamura of the USA vs Michael Adams of the UK. In the last round of the recent London Chess Classic 2011, Nakamura chose the King’s Gambit Opening against Michael Adams.
[Event "3rd London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "2011.12.12"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Nakamura, Hi"]
[Black "Adams, Mi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C36"]
[WhiteElo "2758"]
[BlackElo "2734"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2011.12.03"]
1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 d5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. Bc4 Nxd5 6. O-O Be6 7. Bb3 c5 8.
Kh1 Nc6 9. d4 c4 10. Ba4 Bd6 11. b3 c3 12. Qd3 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Nxc3 Re8
15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. c4 Be4 17. Qc3 a5 18. a3 f6 19. Bb2 Ra7 20. Rad1 Rae7 21. b4
axb4 22. axb4 Kh8 23. Qb3 Rb7 24. Bc3 Qb8 25. b5 cxb5 26. c5 b4 27. Bd2 Bf8 28.
Rde1 g5 29. Qc4 g4 30. Nh4 f3 31. d5 fxg2+ 32. Nxg2 Bf3 33. Kg1 Rc8 34. c6 Rb5
35. Nf4 Bc5+ 36. Be3 Bxe3+ 37. Rxe3 Qb6 38. Rfe1 b3 39. Qc3 Rf8 40. Ne6 b2 41.
c7 1-0
John Saunders at the London Chess Classic 2011 reported that the game of the day was Hikaru Nakamura versus Mickey Adams and was earmarked as such from the moment that Hikaru played the King’s Gambit. As with the previous outing in the tournament for this museum piece of an opening (when Nigel Short played it against Luke McShane), initial exuberance soon gave way to caution and tentativeness as Hikaru tucked his king away on h1 and allowed a c4 counter-thrust. A pleasantly piratical game ensued, with White launching a pawn assault on the queenside as Mickey Adams pointed his bishops at the white kingside.
Julian and Stuart enjoying their exchanges with the audience.
Watching in the VIP room was a fascinating experience as the super-GMs who had finished their games were joined by Garry Kasparov and other former greats of the game. GMs Julian Hodgson and Stuart Conquest were the commentators there but for once they were heavily outgunned by the audience. Black seemed to hold sway for much of the game but eventually the great pendulum swung in White’s direction. Garry Kasparov it was who first spotted the change in wind direction: “38 Rfe1 and now it looks better for White.” A blunder followed and White duly triumphed, taking Hikaru Nakamura to clear second in the table and condemning poor Mickey Adams to last place. Credit to both players, though, for providing the last round audience with a feast of chess entertainment.
Round 9
H.Nakamura - M.Adams
King’s Gambit
1 e4 e5 2 f4
A surprise, although Hikaru has been known to play it in rapid play and minor US domestic events. “I felt inspired by Nigel... and felt like taking a chance.” (Nakamura) At which point GM Chris Ward interjected: “Can we just clarify: you’re not so happy with one or two of the openings your other coaches having been giving you and you’re following Nigel’s openings from now on?” The rather arch emphasis which Chris placed on the words “other coaches” and “Nigel” indicated a wicked, joking reference to Hikaru being trained by Garry Kasparov. A knowledgeable audience spotted the reference and laughed, as did Hikaru, ruefully. “I followed Magnus yesterday and Nigel today!”
2...exf4 3 Nf3 d5 4 exd5 Nf6 5 Bc4
The speciality of GM Joe Gallagher (a true Brit, though now qualified for Switzerland).
5...Nxd5 6 0–0 Be6 7 Bb3 c5
“The best move and makes 7 Bb3 a bad try” (Nakamura)
8 Kh1
“8 Kh1 has to be wrong but I was trying to come up with complications. After 8 d4 cxd4 9 Qxd4 Nc6 10 Ba4 Rc8, I wasn’t sure what I was doing here.” (HN)
8...Nc6 9 d4 c4 10 Ba4
10 Bxc4 would involve an exchange for a pawn sacrifice after 10...Ne3 11 Bxe3 Bxc4 12 Bxf4 Bxf1 13 Qxf1 Bd6, etc.
10...Bd6 11 b3 c3
11...cxb3 12 axb3 is not so good as White can soon play c4 and undermine the f4 pawn’s main defender. Hanging onto the f4 pawn is a key factor in Black’s plan at this stage.
12 Qd3 0–0 13 Bxc6 bxc6 14 Nxc3 Re8 15 Nxd5 Bxd5 16 c4 Be4 17 Qc3 a5
Hikaru felt Black was a fair bit better here but that Mickey had been unable to maintain the pressure.
18 a3 f6 19 Bb2 Ra7 20 Rad1 Rae7
Hikaru didn’t like this though the computer disagrees. If 20...Rb7, the b-pawn is restrained but then 21 Rfe1 applies a little pressure to the e-file.
21 b4 axb4 22 axb4 Kh8 23 Qb3 Rb7
Hikaru overlooked that the rook can double back in this way.
24 Bc3 Qb8 25 b5 cxb5 26 c5 b4 27 Bd2 Bf8
Black now has an extra pawn but his structure is far from ideal and it is not so easy to exploit.
28 Rde1 g5 29 Qc4!
This move takes courage. White is worried that Black will organise a support for Black to play Bd5 “and it will be pretty much game over”. But the advance of the b-pawn looks equally scary.
29...g4
It is easy to say with hindsight but the more obvious 29...b3 looks more promising, when White has to stay active with 30 c6 Ra7 31 Bc3 b2 32 Nd2. The computer comes up the lively 32...Bxc6!? 33 Qxc6 Rc8 34 Qxf6+ Bg7 35 Qxg5 Rxc3 but that would take some calculating for a human. However, the problem with the text move is that it leaves Black’s kingside pawn structure very shaky.
30 Nh4
Hikaru thought perhaps he should have preferred 30 Ne5!? Bxg2+ 31 Kxg2 fxe5 32 dxe5 f3+ which may come down to a draw.
30...f3
30...b3 is still a strong candidate here. Rybka considers it to be winning after 31 c6 Ra7 32 Bc3 Qd6 33 Qxb3 Qxc6, etc.
31 d5
Hikaru characterised this as a ‘blunder’ but that may be overstating it.
Video link of the game:
31...fxg2+ 32 Nxg2 Bf3
This is what Hikaru had not seen and caused him to berate himself. “I should just be losing here now.”
33 Kg1 Rc8 34 c6 Rb5
34...Bd6 was a move looked at by the commentators, but 35 Bf4!? is a possible antidote.
35 Nf4
Hikaru felt that, after 35 Rxf3 gxf3 36 Nf4, Black can play 36...Bd6 and he is just losing.
35...Bc5+ 36 Be3 Bxe3+?
Black starts to go wrong. Both players thought 36...Qb6 would just win for Black here, e.g. 37 Bxc5 Rxc5 38 Qd4 and now 38...R5xc6! is the key move that Mickey failed to find, when he would have a fairly simple win.
37 Rxe3 Qb6 38 Rfe1
Suddenly White’s position has become more solid and he can think about offensive action. He is probably better now.
38...b3??
A blunder which falls victim to a four-move combination. 38...Rc5?? is equally terrible after 39 Re8+ Rxe8 40 Rxe8+ Kg7 41 Ne6+ Kf7 42 Nxc5 Kxe8 and now 43 d6! and White has some crushing threats. The best the computer can find is 38...Ra5 but Black is not on the defensive.
39 Qc3!
Suddenly Black has a problem defending the f6 pawn.
39...Rf8 40 Ne6! b2 41 c7! 1–0
If 41...b1Q 42 Qxf6+! Rxf6 43 c8Q+ and mate in a couple.
(source: London Chess Classic 2011, photo by John Saunders)
Monday, December 12, 2011
Kramnik Grabs Lead At London Chess Classic 2011
12 December 2011, Kuala Lumpur – Vladimir Kramnik grabs the lead at the London Chess Classic with a Ruy Lopez Berlin Defence against Luke McShane. Kramnik has 15 points after round 8.
Chess.com reported that the dramatic showdown between Luke McShane and Vladimir Kramnik was the key game of round eight at the London Chess Classic.
Hoping to secure the outright lead, McShane took the game to Kramnik with an exchange sacrifice to create a powerful bishop with threats to Kramnik's king.
However, any advantage that McShane had achieved evaporated during time-trouble and Kramnik took the initiative, but despite being a full rook ahead the result was still far from clear.
However, eventually the tactical tricks ran out and Kramnik earned a crucial win to take the sole lead with just one round remaining.
Nigel Short managed to completely block the position against Hikaru Nakamura, and remarkably there were no captures at all until move 30! Yet "thanks" in part to the anti-draw rules, the players continued shuffling their pieces around until move 90 before a draw was mercifully agreed!
Magnus Carlsen drew his game with black against Vishy Anand, and David Howell ended his event on a positive note by holding Lev Aronian to a draw.
Pix 1. Game of the round between McShane and Kramnik. (Photo courtesy of Ray Morris-Hill at the official website)
ICC also did an analysis of the McShane-Kramnik game of the 8th Round, London Chess Classic 2011. Analysis was done by GM Suat Atalik.
The "Sofia" anti-draw rules are in operation, and the 3-1-0 scoring system adopted for London Chess Classic 2011.
To read more, please visit chess.com or click here. Or visit the official website – www.londonchessclassic.com
Friday, December 9, 2011
London Chess Classic – Nakamura In The Lead
Chess.com reported that Hikaru Nakamura celebrated his 24th birthday today, but he was unable to mark the occasion with a win. In a critical battle with Luke McShane a draw was the final result.
As fate would have it, all of the other games also ended inconclusively so Hikaru Nakamura still leads with three rounds remaining. Nakamura has 11 points so far, two points ahead of Carlsen who has played one game less than Nakamura.
It is Hikaru Nakamura's turn next to take his bye, so the other players will be hoping to make ground as the tournament heads towards its finale.
Luke McShane shaking hands with Hikaru Nakamura at the start of round 6 (Photo courtesy of Ray-Morris Hill at the official website.)
Here is the round 6 game between McShane and Nakamura which ended in a draw.
To read more please visit chess.com or the official website – www.londonchessclassic.com.
(News from Chess.com and www.londonchessclassic.com)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Carlsen Wins Against Nakamura
7 Dec 2011, Kuala Lumpur - At the London Chess Classic, Magnus Carlsen wins against Hikaru Nakamura of the USA during the third round of play.
The Week In Chess reported that Magnus Carlsen beat Hikaru Nakamura to move into a clear lead with 7/9 after 3 rounds of the London Chess Classic. Carlsen said his position was easier to play and eventually Nakamura went wrong and his position collapsed. Viswanathan Anand was briefly in trouble against David Howell but he missed his way and the game was drawn.
Levon Aronian looked to have a smooth win against Nigel Short but he revealed afterwards it was not at all that easy and I guess a disappointed Short will at least be feeling better about his play than after round 2. Luke McShane beat an off-form Michael Adams after the latter turned down a piece sacrifice which he might just as well have accepted and taken his chances. Round 4 runs Tues 6th December 16:00-23:00 GMT to allow people to visit after work. Carlsen-Kramnik, Adams-Short, Anand-Nakamura, Howell-McShane, Aronian commentator.
[Event "3rd London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "2011.12.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2826"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[ECO "C50"]
1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. Bf1-c4 Ng8-f6 4. d2-d3 Bf8-c5 5. c2-c3 d7-d6 6. Bc4-b3 a7-a6 7. Nb1-d2 Bc5-a7 8. Nd2-f1 h7-h6 9. Nf1-g3 O-O 10. O-O Bc8-e6 11. h2-h3 Qd8-d7 12. Bc1-e3 Nc6-e7 13. Nf3-h4 Ne7-g6 14. Nh4-f5 Ng6-e7 15.Nf5xe7 Qd7xe7 16. Be3xa7 Ra8xa7 17. f2-f4 c7-c5 18. Bb3-c2 b7-b5 19. Qd1-d2 Ra7-b7 20. a2-a3 a6-a5 21. Rf1-f2 b5-b4 22. a3xb4 a5xb4 23. Ra1-f1 b4xc3 24. b2xc3 e5xf4 25. Rf2xf4 Nf6-h7 26. d3-d4 c5xd4 27. c3xd4 Qe7-g5 28. Kg1-h2 Nh7-f6 29. Bc2-d1 Rf8-b8 30. h3-h4 Qg5-g6 31. Rf4xf6 g7xf6 32. Qd2-f4 Rb7-b2 33. Bd1-h5 Qg6-g7 34. Bh5-f3 Rb8-a8 35. d4-d5 Be6-c8 36. Ng3-h5 Qg7-f8 37. Nh5xf6 Kg8-h8 38. Rf1-c1 Kh8-g7 39. e4-e5 d6xe5 40. Nf6-h5 Kg7-h7 41. Bf3-e4 1-0
Pix 1. GM Magnus Carlsen, Norway – leading at London Chess Classic.
Pix 2. Position after move 41.Be4+, with possible mate in two if 41… Bf5, 42.Qxf5+ Kg8, 43.Qh7 #.
Rankings After 3rd Round:-
Official website: http://www.londonchessclassic.com
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
All Round 6 Games Drawn, London Chess Classic
15 December 2010, Kuala Lumpur – The trio of GMs, Carlsen, Anand and McShane continue to jointly lead at London Chess Classic 2010 after all round 6 games ended in draws.
(photo by Ray Morris-Hill)
Here is the game viewer of the drawn game between Carlsen and Kramnik in the 6th round of the London Chess Classic 2010 played yesterday (14 December 2010). Chessbase reported that Carlsen did a Houdini act.
* Official website - click here.
* Susan Polgar's Daily News - click here.
* fireyrook's blog - click here.
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