The World Chess Candidates Tournament – London 2013 13th round

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Svidler, Carlsen
(Photo was taken from the official website of the event)

GM Radjabov Teimour 2793 0-1 GM Carlsen Magnus 2872
GM Grischuk Alexander 2764 1/2 GM Aronian Levon 2809
GM Kramnik Vladimir 2810 1/2 GM Gelfand Boris 2740
GM Svidler Peter 2747 1-0 GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2757

Carlsen again played a very long game, this time trying to outplay Radjabov from an equal position. True, white had an isolated pawn in the endgame but it was very difficult to get to it. The endgame proved to be very complicated as white had made some mistakes after precise play. Possible improvements are 78.Bc4, 80.Kd4 and 83.Kc3 but in this case Black retains a much better position.
Aronian equalized against Grischuk and should have played 14…Ng4 to exchange the knights actively. Instead, 14…Nd7 allowed white to preserve the knights and get a good game in the center. White was slightly better due to bishops pair and active pieces but it was difficult to get more than that.
Kramnik played a very rare line of the Fianchetto Gruenfeld but Black got a comfortable position and later created some pressure on the kingside. The 21st move of Black – Nf3 was perhaps a sacrifice but it wasn’t good as Black didn’t get much for the pawn and white became quite better. Around the 30th move various improvements can be found but overall it wasn’t easy for white to realize the advantage as Black pieces were active.
Ivanchuk played a rare line of the Advanced French against Svidler and didn’t manage to equalize. White, in attempt to complicate the position and perhaps get an attack on the king in the middle, sacrificed a pawn. White missed or perhaps didn’t like the incredible 18.Re1 move pointed out by the engine which threatens Bh5 and Qxd5 but in any case, b3 instead was also very strong. After that Black got under attack & into time pressure and lost on time…

Carlsen and Kramnik lead the tournament with 8.5 points, Svidler and Aronian have 7.

Pairings of the last round (the games start at the usual time!)

GM Carlsen Magnus 2872 – GM Svidler Peter 2747
GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2757 – GM Kramnik Vladimir 2810
2GM Gelfand Boris 2740 – GM Grischuk Alexander 2764
GM Aronian Levon 2809 – GM Radjabov Teimour 2793

Official Site.

The World Chess Candidates Tournament – London 2013 12th round

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Aronian-Kramnik
(Photo taken from the official site of the tournament)

GM Carlsen Magnus 2872 0-1 GM Ivanchuk Vassily 2757
GM Gelfand Boris 2740 1/2 GM Svidler Peter 2747
GM Aronian Levon 2809 0-1 GM Kramnik Vladimir 2810
GM Radjabov Teimour 2793 1/2 GM Grischuk Alexander 2764

What a day! Full of incredible mistakes and very interesting sacrifices and ideas! 🙂
Gelfand-Svidler was a fairly quiet Gruenfeld game where Black equalized comfortably. Perhaps white should have fought for advantage with 13.e4 getting space in the center.
Aronian-Kramnik was an amazing game with many sacrifices and lots of mistakes :). Black got a very good position out of the opening and then even got a nice play in the center. Perhaps White should have gone for complication after 18.Bxf4 instead of sacrificing a piece. In the endgame draw for white was very near but all was spoiled with g5-g6 push…
Grischuk equalized with Black against Radjabov and went into an even two rooks + knight vs two rooks + bishop endgame. Black should have continued to wait, but an inacurate pawn move – h5 gave white a nice chance to win material had white played 43.Rxf5!.
And finally, Carlsen-Ivanchuk. White didn’t get anything out of the Taimanov and had to settle for a passive equal position and bad pawn structure. Still, there were no real problems but with the help of Rhf1, preventing g5, Black would be able to create the play he did in the game. And even later, 45.Rc8! looked like a good way to get counterplay.

So, after 12 rounds (2 more to go!), Kramnik is leading the event for the first time with 8 points, Carlsen is 2nd with 7.5 and Aronian has 6.5.

Today is a rest day!

Official Site.