ChessVault » Navara

Corus 2007, Round 13 – Tense final round as Aronian, Radjabov and Topalov tie for first

admin — Mon, 05 Feb 2007 20:55:29 +0000

Radjabov and Topalov finish with a short, but exciting draw. Kramnik’s Pillsbury attack pays off handsomely as van Wely crumbles. Aronian’s deft touches registers a superb win over Tiviakov. Svidler’s suicidal play leads to a swift win for Karjakin. Carlsen and Shirov survive a see-saw encounter. Ponomariov survives a tense game against Motylev. Navara quickly equalises against Anand.

Kramnik – van Wely

Kramnik adopts a Pillsbury attack against van Wely’s solid Queen’s Gambit set-up, as both White knights harry the Black pieces. Kramnik pries open the f-file for his rook and van Wely fails to find the most active response. This leaves Kramnik building up threat after threat against the now stranded Black king. Kramnik sacrifices the exchange to open up the Black pawn structure. Once the kingside is demolished and Black’s counter-threats neutralised, the remaining White knight gallops in to secure the result.

Radjabov – Topalov

Topalov repeats the Catalan line that effectively lost him his FIDE title. He uncorks an improvement on move 19 that looks to free his d-pawn. After White’s best response, Topalov unleashes a startling queen sacrifice – looking to unbalance the position. Radjabov declines the sacrifice and in turn sacrifices a piece himself which propels the game to a repetition of position, and a draw.

Aronian – Tiviakov

Aronian plays into a Catalan against Tiviakov’s Queen’s Indian and sacrifices a pawn for better development. Tiviakov seems bewitched by Aronian’s carefree manoeuvres and sacrifices a rook to unleash a torrent of an attack against Aronian’s king. Aronian calmly centralises his king, and Black can do nothing to threaten it. Aronian’s extra piece pushes the game to its inevitable conclusion.

Svidler – Karjakin

Svidler temporarily sacrifices a pawn to open up Black’s queenside in a Sicilian Najdorf, allowing Karjakin to pull his major pieces to work on the open files against the White king. Svidler blunders horribly, allowing Black a prosaic deflection sacrifice that Svidler cannot afford to accept. Karjakin’s attack grows in ferocity, and Svidler is helpless to stem the tide. A confidence boosting win for Karjakin.

Carlsen – Shirov

Carlsen’s anaemic Anti-Marshall system leads to a balanced position. Through some elegant piece-play Shirov gains a significant advantage, but loses time pursuing a bad plan, and the advantage swings over to Carlsen, who fails to find a better continuation in his kingside attack. The advantage swings back to Shirov again, but he gets over-enthusiastic with a piece sacrifice, and has to defend an endgame of his two knights against Carlsen’s two bishops.

Ponomariov – Motylev

Motylev’s early knight exchange in the Semi Slav leaves Ponomariov with a strong bishop aimed at Black’s weak …c6 pawn, but Ponomariov continues developing slowly, allowing Black the freeing …c5 pawn thrust which still retains him a slight edge. Ponomariov’s advantage fizzles, and Motylev directs things towards an endgame by some tactical play. Ponomariov’s two pieces for the rook is offset by the fact that Black has powerful kingside pawns, including an outside passed pawn. Ponomariov manages to peg Black back, and earns a draw.

Anand – Navara

In a tepid Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez, Navara’s energetic central pawn sacrifice forces rapid simplification, although Black has an initiative, the advantage is with White. But Black’s position is sound enough for the points to be split.

Corus 2007, Round 12 – Radjabov notches up another win in a Kings Indian

admin — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 18:46:45 +0000

Radjabov catches up with Topalov in first place with another King’s Indian Defence. Van Wely notches up a tidy win against Svidler. Navara outplays Ponomariov. Kramnik holds Topalov in another tenaciously solid display of defence. Shirov holds off Aronian for a well-deserved draw.

Motylev – Radjabov

Motylev gains a rapid advantage from a Gligoric King’s Indian, and castles queenside. Radjabov plays across the board gaining space on both flanks. Radjabov eventually gains access to the White position via the f-file, and wins a rook in a neat combination. Radjabov notches up another win with his King’s Indian Defence.

Van Wely – Svidler

Svidler gets caught out in his Exchange Grunfeld after trying to equalise too quickly. The swop-off of the dark squared bishops brings van Wely’s Queen uncomfortably close to the Black king. Svidler outfoxes himself in a tactical plan, and finds himself losing a piece and no way to stave off the inevitable kingside attack. He resigns. An elegant win from van Wely.

Navara – Ponomariov

Ponomariov adopts the Open Tarrasch variation of the French Defence. Navara chooses an unusual kingside fianchetto and gains a tiny edge after the exchange of queens. Navara nurses this edge and penetrates the Black position by taking control of the d-file. In the ensuing rook and minor piece endgame, White’s queenside passed pawns prove to be too strong for Black. Ponomariov is forced to sacrifice his bishop to rid the White queenside passers, and Navara keeps control of the position to register a nice win.

Karjakin – Carlsen

After following a long line of Open Ruy Lopez theory the end result is a balanced position, and after a short kingside pawn storm a three-fold repetition delivers a draw.

Topalov – Kramnik

In a Bf4 Queen’s Gambit, Kramik emerges from the opening with a slight disadvantage. In the queenless middlegame Topalov increases his advantage with typical direct play. Kramnik’s tenacious defence leads to a potential repetition of position, which Topalov draws back from, allowing Kramnik to equalise the position with a prepared 36… g5. More tenacious defence from Kramnik resolves the position into a draw.

Tiviakov – Anand

Tiviakov emerges from a Classical Caro-Kann with a slight edge. He builds up pressure on the kingside, but Anand looks to have things firmly under control and a draw is agreed in 27 moves.

Shirov – Aronian

Aronian’s solid play in an Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez neutralises any White opening advantage. Aronian’s knight makes a surprising sortie giving Black a big e-pawn and a sizable advantage. Shirov puts up a stubborn and active defence, and succeeds in reducing Aronian’s advantage. Creating a passed a-pawn convinces Aronian to settle for a draw.

Corus 2007, Round 11 – Topalov blunders away a winning position

admin — Sun, 28 Jan 2007 17:24:15 +0000

Topalov blunders away a winning position against Svidler. Carlsen wiggles out of van Wely’s grasp and earns a draw. Aronian’s piece play overcomes Karjakin’s resistance. Motylev fails to capitalise after Navara’s weak response to his piece sacrifice.

Svidler – Topalov

Svidler gets into a bad position from a Sicilian Najdorf (apparently forgetting that Topalov plays …h5 variations, even at a late stage of the opening). He finds himself in the unenviable position of allowing Black to open the b-file after exchanging minor pieces on c4. Svidler battles valiantly against his disadvantage, but Topalov builds his attack confidently. Topalov crashes through the queenside at the White king, but with Svidler on the verge of resigning he stumbles into a series of bad moves, and suddenly Svidler has a winning rook endgame.

Carlsen – van Wely

Both players emerge from the Sicilian Najdorf opening with a solid position. White’s initial attack is rebuffed, and van Wely’s attack down the c-file forces an entry into White’s position. But Carlsen has the position under control to stems the attack. Van Wely takes a big edge into the endgame, and Carlsen defends doggedly, giving up a knight to remove a dangerous passed pawn. The long bishop and rook versus a rook endgame finally ends up in Carlsen sacrificing a rook to force a stalemate.

Aronian – Karjakin

Aronian follows Kramnik-Anand in an Open Catalan, until Karjakin deviates with 15… Bd6. He allows the …c5 break which allows him to gain control of the c-file and the c6 square. In a typical fluid piece-play position, Aronian turns the screws on Karjakin’s position, and from an equal position Aronian grinds out an advantage. Building up pressure, Aronian binds up Karjakin’s king until the threat to decoy the Black queen forces Karjakin to resign.

Kramnik – Radjabov

Radjabov’s King’s Indian Defence is solid enough against Kramnik’s Gligoric system. Radjabov sacrifices a pawn to open the kingside lines, Kramnik’s counterplay on the queenside is sufficient to hold the balance, and he returns the pawn to equalise the position where a draw is agreed.

Anand – Shirov

Shirov deviates from a 1994 Anand-Ivanchuk Petroff opening with 16… Rfd8 giving Anand an edge from the opening. Shirov manages to equalise the position after sacrificing a pawn to start some threats against the White king. White’s smashed pawn structure not helping him in the endgame so Anand satisfies himself with a draw.

Navara – Motylev

Motylev equalises out of a classical Queen’s Gambit Slav. In a balanced position Motylev sacrifices a piece to dismantle White’s centre, and emerges with active play against the now-exposed White pieces. In the complications Motylev holds the advantage, but doesn’t find enough to convert it into a win, and settles down for a draw instead.

Ponomariov – Tiviakov

Ponomariov faces Tiviakov’s Accelerated Dragon, but its Black that gains an edge, which is enough for Ponomariov to accede to a draw.

Corus 2007, Round 10 – Anand defuses Karjakin’s queen sacrifice. Topalov wins

admin — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 21:20:39 +0000

Karjakin repeats a Leko novelty, but Anand steers a course to a win. Topalov refutes a Carlsen piece sacrifice to win. Shirov makes no headway against Ponomariov. Aronian survives a lost position against van Wely.

Karjakin – Anand

In an English Attack against Anand’s Najdorf, Karjakin employs an idea Leko experimented with against him in last year’s tournament. Karjakin sacrifices his queen for a rook and knight, an initiative and the advantage of landing the Black king in a difficult position. Anand defends solidly, and in the endgame his queen proves superior to the White rook and knight. Its the White king that finds itself in a dangerous position. Anand forces White into a passive defence, and powers his way to a win in the endgame.

Topalov – Carlsen

Carlsen’s Ragozin Defence nets him an exchange against Topalov’s Queen’s Gambit. Carlsen offers a piece sacrifice that Topalov refutes by a surprising queen retreat. Topalov emerges from the opening skirmish with a clear advantage, and the result is not in doubt.

Van Wely – Aronian

Van Wely quickly gains an advantage against Aronian’s Ragozin Defence, but his slow kingside play allows Aronian to activate his pieces restoring the equilibrium of the position. Aronian overplay his position, and van Wely gains a substantial advantage. But van Wely allows Aronian a nice combination to resolve the position into a drawn endgame.

Tiviakov – Navara

A short draw in a Steinitz Ruy Lopez when the pieces get swept off the board. The position resembles a Classical Kings Indian Defence.

Shirov – Ponomariov

Ponomariov’s Najdorf takes on some of the positional aspects of a Sveshnikov Sicilian. Black’s rampant e-pawn counterbalances White’s pressure on the queenside. Shirov plays for an endgame, but when it eventually arrives he finds Ponomariov’s defence good enough to settle into a draw once an opposite coloured bishops endgame arrives.

Radjabov – Svidler

Svidler opts for the Sicilian’s Kan System rather than a Najdorf against Radjabov. Svidler crunches through the Maroczy bind with a tactical manoeuvre. The pieces disappear quickly, and both players satisfy themselves with a draw.

Motylev – Kramnik

Motylev’s uninspired 5. Nc3 against Kramnik’s Petroff leads to a quiet short draw.

Corus 2007, Round 9 – Ponomariov blugeons Karjakin. Anand and Shirov win.

admin — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:55:34 +0000

Anand plays Motylev’s three pawn sacrifice in the Poisoned Pawn Sicilian, and wins against van Wely. Ponomariov wastes no time bludgeoning through to Karjakin’s king. Shirov’s tactical power clocks up his first win in this tournament against Navara. Aronian comfortably holds Topalov to a draw.

Anand – van Wely

Van Wely follows Anand’s game against Motylev from earlier in the tournament, and Anand repeats Motylev’s three pawn sacrifice. Van Wely follows Anand’s recommendation of giving up the exchange to defuse the immediate threats. But van Wely fails to play accurately, and Anand gains the advantage which grows to very promising proportions. Van Wely blunders a piece under the pressure, and resigns.

Ponomariov – Karjakin

Ponomariov’s aggressive play against Karjakin’s Najdorf gives him a thematic edge, and he uses the advantage to speed up his kingside pawn storm. Karjakin retreats into his shell giving Ponomariov a free hand to stir up threats against the Black king. An exchange sacrifices blows open Black’s defence, and the black king is dragged to his demise.

Carlsen – Radjabov

Radjabov’s aggressiveness in the Kalashnikov Sicilian prevents Carlsen from gaining any edge, and a quick draw ensues.

Svidler – Kramnik

In a main line Petroff Svidler’s edge is neutralised by Kramnik, and a short draw is agreed.

Aronian – Topalov

The game is balanced from an English Four Knights, and both sides create threats. But the game remains balanced right up to where the players split the points.

Navara – Shirov

Navara emerges with a King’s Indian Attack position against Shirov’s Slav set-up. Karjakin stumbles into a tactical pin and loses a pawn, and Navara’s desperado allows Shirov to call on his phenomenal tactical abilities. Shirov’s pieces dominate, pushing White into retreating back behind his pawns, and White resigns when is queen is decoyed from protecting the kingside.

Tiviakov – Motylev

Tiviakov’s King’s Indian Attack makes no impression on Motylev’s Caro Kann. Neither player emerges with the advantage as the game slowly edges through the hours. The players agree to a draw once time control is reached.

Corus 2007, Round 8 – Topalov crunches Anand, Shirov and Navara lose from strong positions

admin — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 20:13:06 +0000

Topalov drives Anand’s novelty and position into the ground. Aronian’s unorthodox play and superb endgame skills depose Radjabov. Shirov disappoints against Tiviakov, extracting a draw from a winning position. Motylev throws caution to the wind, and Svidler wins the battle of aggression. Navara fails at the point of victory, allowing Karjakin to extricate himself into a win. Van Wely’s unambitious approach allows Ponomariov to turn the tables and gain a draw.

Topalov – Anand

The game follows Topalov’s game against Aronian from last year’s Wijk aan Zee, where Topalov unleashed a massive novelty to win. Anand deviates with 16… dxe4, and follows up with an enterprising sacrifice to disrupt White’s initiative. Topalov emerges with two pieces against a rook, and plays the middlegame with high precision (19. b4!), thwarting Anand’s constricting play. Topalov exposes Anand’s weak central position with 21. f3. Anand resigns in a miserable position devoid of any activity.

Radjabov – Aronian

Radjabov stumbles against Aronian’s Ragozin defence against his Queen’s Gambit, allowing Aronian’s enterprising follow-up to take the initiative. A desperado gives Aronian a strong edge. Radjabov fights a long defence, but Aronian keeps the upper-hand right into the knight endgame. Aronian’s deft play in the endgame secures victory.

Shirov – Tiviakov

Shirov opts for the Maroczy bind against Tiviakov’s Accelerated Dragon, and Tiviakov’s strategy of exchanges allows Shirov to lock the Black king in the centre, giving him a large advantage. Shirov sacrifices a piece to disrupt Black’s pieces and win an exchange. Tiviakov uses his a-pawn to gain compensation, and Shirov gives back the exchange, losing his strong advantage, pushing the game back into balance.

Motylev – Svidler

Motylev’s unusual 3. f3 doesn’t deter Svidler’s Grunfeld, but his queenside castling throws caution to the wind, exploding the game into life. Svidler neuters White’s centre, and sacrifices a piece to open queenside files against the White king. Motylev returns an exchange but Svidler’s activity down the a-file keeps the initiative as he emerges a pawn up. Motylev can’t reduce Black’s activity, and resigns.

Karjakin – Navara

Navara’s has no problems against Karjakin’s Anti-Marshall, and emerges from the Giucco Pianissmo like position with an edge. Navara improves his position to dominating proportions. But in a spectacular reversal of fortune, Navara blunders into a lost position which Karjakin converts into a winning endgame thanks to some useful backrank mating threats.

van Wely – Ponomariov

Ponomariov chooses a rare sequence of opening moves (3… Nc6) against van Wely’s Queen’s Gambit. The position resembles the Queen’s Indian, and van Wely emerges with an edge. Van Wely annexes a pawn, but plays unambitiously, allowing Ponomariov to grab the initiative. Ponomariov’s minority attack on the kingside compels van Wely return his pawn and ditch another to clarify the position. Ponomariov is content to take the draw even though he has the upper hand.

Kramnik – Carlsen

Into Kramnik’s Catalan and Carlsen fights hard to keep his extra pawn on c4. Kramnik’s active response reclaims a pawn with a strong position, but his unambitious play allows Carlsen to rebalance the position.

Corus 2007, Round 7 – Topalov ties up Ponomariov, Anand fails to convert against Radjabov

admin — Sat, 27 Jan 2007 18:52:01 +0000

Topalov forces the collapse of Ponomariov’s position. Anand fails to capitalise on his advantages against Radjabov. Svidler’s clever knight sacrifice ruins Carlsen’s hopes of a draw. Navara’s insipid play provokes van Wely into compromising his position, and Navara cleans up efficiently. Shirov pushes hard but has to be satisfied with a draw against Motylev. Aronian, Kramin, Tiviakov and Karjakin conclude peaceful draws.

Ponomariov – Topalov

Following in the path of Radjabov, Topalov utilises a King’s Indian. But met with Ponomariov’s esoteric 5. h3, Topalov transposes into a Modern Benoni. Topalov exchanges off White’s tempremental light-squared bishop and starts playing on the dark-squares with his potent dark-squared bishop. Wiht 16… h5 Topalov starts an aggressive passage of play, trying to exploit the weak kingside squares around the White king. Ponomariov is up for a fight, aiming for the kingside by 17. f5!. Both sides are committed. Ponomariov gains control of the f-file, and manages to exchange off Topalov’s dark-squared bishop, but falters in temporarily blocking the f-file with 28. Bf4, Topalov pounces on the blunder, and succeeds in binding White’s pieces with pins and threats. All of Black’s pieces swarm around the White king, and a surprising rook sacrifice produces a winning endgame that Topalov has no problems converting.

Anand – Radjubov

Anand gains a tidy edge against Radjubov’s Sveshnikov Sicilian. Radjabov’s kingside activity is neutered, leaving Anand with the initiative. Anand finds a plan to exploit his advantage – although its an ardous one. His main advantage lies in Black’s weak dark-squared bishop, and he plays to enhance that weakness. Sparks fire on the queenside before Anand has it firmly back in control, but Radjabov defends doggedly. Anand’s control of the d-file, his attack on the d6-square and his pressure on the a5 pawn are enough to give Anand the upperhand. Black can undertake nothing constructive. Anand converts this advantage to pressure against Black’s king, but Anand avoids winning the e5-pawn under the impression it would give Black too much play. Radjabov plays an accurate defence, and Anand’s initiative runs out of steam, leaving a balanced endgame.

Carlsen – Svidler

Svidler manages to transpose from an Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez into an Archangel set-up. Carlsen fails to prove that the extra tempo he gains could profitably be invested. In a balanced position, Carlsen embarks on a plan to control the d5-square, as Svidler builds up play on the kingside which effectively hinders Carlsen’s natural plan. Carlsen ditches a pawn trying to gain active counterplay, but Svidler shocks Carlsen with a knight sacrifice, he gains compensation by a neatly timed advance of his e-pawn that disrupts White’s position. Svidler heads into an advantageous queen and pawns endgame, and expertly concludes q win with accurate endgame technique.

Navara – van Wely

Van Wely opts for a Dragon system against Navara’s innocuous looking 6. h3, but Navara builds a solid advantage out of the opening. Navara plays a neat combination of attack and defence, thwarting Black’s threats down the c-file as well as opening central files against the Black king. Van Wely is forced into fatally weakening his centre, giving White a large advantage in the endgame. Navara uses his edge to clarify the queenside leaving him with two passed pawns, and with some accurate play, his pawns prove far superior than Black’s passed kingside pawn.

Shirov – Motylev

Shirov plays the fashionable ultra-solid 5. Nc3 against Motylev’s Petroff, and gains a small edge once most of the pieces are exchanged off. Shirov presses further but is unable to increase his advantage. He eventually conceeds a draw at move 41.

Aronian – Kramnik

Aronian has a go at Kramnik’s ultra-solid Slav, and although Kramnik labours under a slight disadvantage, he avoids weakening his position further. A draw is agreed on move 28.

Tiviakov – Karjakin

Tiviakov’s c3 Sicilian is comfortably met by Karjakin. After a quick series of exchanges, a draw is agreed.

Corus 2007, Round 6 – Kramnik’s majestic positional win over Anand

admin — Tue, 23 Jan 2007 20:44:47 +0000

Kramnik produces a majestic positional performance against Anand – and duly converts a superior endgame. Shirov suffers another loss, this time at the hands of Karjakin. Motylev and Carlsen go all-in for a no-holds barred slugfest – with sacrificial play by both sides. Aronian’s pawn-sacrifice backfires, but Svidler gets his rook trapped to end things all square. Radjabov’s flurry of opening activity gives him an easy half-point against Ponomariov. Navara, a pawn down, defends solidly against Topalov. Van Wely and Tiviakov draw quickly.

Kramnik – Anand

Anand ventures into Kramnik’s speciality Catalan, adopting the same unorthodox queenside development as he did against Ponomariov in the first round. Kramnik deviates with 16. a3, a semi-waiting move improvement that demonstrates Black has no constructive moves in the position. With 18. Qf1 White consolidates his position, and starts to capitalise on his initiative. Kramnik prevents Anand from playing …c5, and so Anand is prevented from developing his major pieces. After attempting to equalise with 19… e5 Anand finds Kramnik seizing the centre with his own central pawn advance. Anand concedes the d-file (thanks to the strong white bishop on a5), and once Kramnik’s queen enters Black’s position on the eighth rank, the result is almost a forgone conclusion. Kramnik converts the position into a superior endgame with his two bishops, and teaches Anand (and the watching crowd) some perfect endgame play.

Karjakin – Shirov

Out of a Sicilian Sveshnikov Shirov finds himself in a spot of trouble after being too lax on the queenside, allowing Karjakin a dangerous outside passed pawn. Shirov throws his pieces into a desperate kingside attack, and Karjakin defends solidly after Shirov offers a dubious piece sacrifice. Karjakin’s confident play consolidates the full point.

Motylev – Carlsen

Motylev and Carlsen play a Four Knights Defence, pretty rare at modern super GM level. with Carlsen sacrificing a pawn. Carlsen offers a piece on his eighth move (8… c6) but Motylev declines, preferring to castle his king into safety than be trapped in the centre. The opening sees Carlsen have sufficient compensation for the pawn, and gains an edge with a strongly centralised queen, hampering White’s development. That advantage evaporates when Carlsen tries to open the f-file with 13. f6, giving White a dangerous passed pawn. Motylev claws his way back into the game, sacrificing the exchange (by starting off with a pseudo-sacrifice of his queen with 30. cxd5). Another startling piece sacrifice secures Motylev a half-point as the game wends its way into a balanced endgame.

Svidler – Aronian

Svidler sidesteps a potential Marshall Gambit, and Aronian equalises rather quickly after rapid queenside expansion. Aronian sacrifices a pawn for more active play, but decides for the exchange of queens. Svidler grabs the offered pawn and builds on his advantage. Aronian locks out one the White rooks deep in his own position, gaining compensation for the two-pawn deficit, as Svidler is forced to sacrifice the exchange. Svidler has a slight advantage in the endgame, but calls it a day by sharing the spoils with Aronian.

Radjabov – Ponomariov

Ponomariov plays a sideline in a Queen’s Indian, and Radjabov sacrifices a pawn to grab the initiative. He regains the pawn rather quickly, and his super-active knights give him a strong edge. After playing a second-best continuation, Radjabov is satisfied to split the point with Ponomariov after 17 moves.

Topalov – Navara

Topalov allows a Nimzo-Indian (by transposition from an English Opening) and is saddled with doubled isolated pawns. But Topalov quickly repairs the damaged pawn-structure, and gains the two bishops. Navara’s pressure compels Topalov to exchange off the minor pieces and head into a major pieces endgame, but Navara confidently holds the endgame with the pawn deficit.

van Wely – Tiviakov

Neither player makes an impression in a reversed Sicilian Dragon.

Corus 2007, Round 5 – Radjabov outplays Navara, van Wely and Anand win

admin — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:37:44 +0000

Radjabov stems a rampant Navara and wins after a tense struggle. Shirov plays unsoundly and is swept aside by van Wely. Anand is gifted a point through a Svidler blunder. All other games drawn.

Navara – Radjabov

Navara’s Smyslov variation forces Radjabov to take some risks in his Kings Indian Defence, including a Benko-like pawn sacrifice. Navara emerges with a slender advantage, but Radjabov fights his way back into the game. Navara gives up a piece for three pawns in his attempt to smash his way through to Black’s king, but Radjabov’s counterattack swings the game right into Black’s favour. Navara resigns unable to deflect the mating attack.

Shirov – van Wely

Shirov launches into an English Attack against van Wely’s Najdorf, and its a race of pawn-storms. Shirov launches into a dubious sacrifice that van Wely immediately accepts and stems Shirov’s attack, and grabs the full point.

Karjakin – Motylev

Motylev’s Caro-Kann thwarts Karjakin’s hopes for a White win. With a balanced position a draw is agreed.

Tiviakov – Topalov

Tiviakov’s quiet treatment of Topalov’s Berlin leaves a solid position. Topalov forces an awkward queenside deployment of the White rooks. But Tiviakov has no problems holding the rook endgame

Ponomariov – Kramnik

Ponomariov obtains nothing out of the opening against Kramnik’s Semi Slav. And Black’s activity and kingside threats are enough to convince Ponomariov to split the point.

Anand – Svidler

Svidler has a solid position from Anand’s Anti Marshall Ruy Lopez, but he blunders a piece gifting Anand an easy win.

Aronian – Carlsen

Aronian sacrifices a pawn out of the Queen’s Indian Defence. He uses the compensatory initiative to grab back the pawn, which restabilises the position. The two agree to a draw some moves later.

Corus 2007, Round 4 – Another Radjabov win. Topalov novelty busts Shirov

admin — Sun, 21 Jan 2007 12:56:42 +0000

Radjabov’s coordinated attacks across the board prove too much for Tiviakov. Topalov blasts Shirov in home preparation in the Grunfeld. Navara battles hard to save the game against Kramnik. Svidler struggles against Ponomariov but splits the point. Karjakin’s enterprising play is enough to secure a draw against van Wely. Anand, Carlsen, Motylev and Aronian are happy to quietly share the points.

Radjabov – Tiviakov

Tiviakov’s Accelerated Dragon is not enough to escape from Radjabov’s opening mastery, and Radjabov holds a decent advantage in the middlegame. After a prolonged manoeuvring sequence Radjabov initiates a kingside attack. Tiviakov’s queenside is a little tied up, but conjures up enough play to defuse the kingside threats. Radjabov alternates play between the semi-open d-file and the kingside, and after exchanging Black’s active pieces, Radjabov has a strong position. Tiviakov offers a stout resistance, and Radjabov struggles to make progress. A combined series of threats against Black’s weak pawns on d6 and f6 followed by a pawn sacrifice engineers an entry of the White pieces into Tiviakov’s position. Radjabov alternates play across the board stretching the defensive capabilities of the Black pieces, and finally concludes matters with a decisive attack on the Black king.

Topalov – Shirov

Topalov declines to enter the myriad complexities of the Seville variation of the Exchange Grunfeld, and withdraws his light-squared bishop. Topalov plays a thematic exchange sacrifice, ridding Black’s potent dark-squared bishop for the a1-rook, following the game Najer – Krasenkow, but improves with 25. Qd4. Topalov builds up strong pressure on the kingside with a redeployment of his knight, and the combined threats against the Black king and White’s passed d-pawn is enough to compel Shirov to resign.

Kramnik – Navara

The queens come off the board quickly in a Symmetrical English. Kramnik emerges with a slight edge thanks to Black’s weak c-pawn. After a tactical sequence Kramnik forces entry in to the Black position, but Navara’s active play ensures his position doesn’t complete fall apart. Kramnik enters the endgame with a healthy advantage, but Navara’s stubborn defence splits the points.

Svidler – Ponomariov

Ponomariov has a comfortable Sicilian Najdorf position against Svidler. Through the tense middlegame Ponomariov increases his advantage, but misses an opportunity to have a go at the White king (21… Na3+). Svidler does enough to convince Ponomariov to share the point.

van Wely – Karjakin

Karjakin’s enterprising play makes no impact against van Wely’s Nimzo Indian fianchetto. Karjakin switches to the kingside – offering up a pawn sacrifice on the queenside to stir up trouble against the White king. Another rook sacrifice by Karjakin secures a perpetual check.

Carlsen – Anand

Anand plays a solid Sicilian Najdorf and a draw is agreed when Anand’s queenside produces some activity to balance the position.

Motylev – Aronian

Aronian employs a Steintz variation against Motylev’s Ruy Lopez, and Motylev gains nothing from the opening. A repetition of position concludes matters.