Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 12: Morozevich and Svidler win in polished style

Posted on March 13, 2007 by Isofarro

Morozevich’s determined play overcomes Ivanchuk. Svidler registers his first win of the tournament with an elegant win over Leko.

Ivanchuk – Morozevich

Ivanchuk reprises the Scotch Game, the opening that almost secured him a win against Leko in the first round. Morozevich is the master of old openings, and its no surprise he emerges from the opening with an edge. Morozevich uses his edge to open queenside lines against the castled White king. Ivanchuk scrambles to secure the queenside. With a delicate knight manoeuvre, Morozevich aims his major pieces at the White king as the minor pieces disappear off the board. The pressure down the a-file gets transformed into a position where Black has strong passed pawns on the kingside. A small combination sees Black give up the two rooks for a queen, and Ivanchuk throws in the towel.

Leko – Svidler

In a standard Najdorf position Leko employs the unusual move 11. Qe1 vacating a square that can be used by a harassed White knight. Svidler has a tiny nagging edge thanks to the tangled position of White’s pieces. Leko’s manoeuvre to win a pawn opens his own position to great danger, and Svidler with the initiative builds strong pressure in the centre with his two bishops. Svidler’s combination of passed pawn and queenside pressure forces major weaknesses in Leko’s position, which collapses shortly thereafter.

Topalov – Carlsen

Topalov employs a symmetrical English – an interesting choice against the youngster. Carlsen gets an open and free position, and his minor pieces entice Topalov to retreat his queen far out on the kingside. The queen emerges deep in the heart of Black’s queenside, but Carlsen calmly forces a repetition of position and a draw.

Anand – Aronian

Anand prefers to avoid Aronian’s Marshall as the game heads into a typical anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez. Aronian’s queenside expansion ratchets open the a-file, and one set of rooks disappear. Aronian consolidates and the position is equal. A draw agreed.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 11: Carlsen’s grip crushes Ivanchuk. Exciting struggles all round

Posted on March 8, 2007 by Isofarro

Carlsen’s grip crushes Ivanchuk. Aronian and Leko engage in an exciting struggle, so to do Svidler and Topalov.

Carlsen – Ivanchuk

Carlsen employs the Classical Exchange against Ivanchuk’s Grunfeld. Carlsen emerges with a clear advantage, even when both pairs of rooks are swapped off. He locks down on the dark-squares around Ivanchuk’s king. Ivanchuk’s queen is too far away from the kingside, and he can only meekly fend off White’s threats only to walk into a nasty pin on the queenside. Carlsen exploits the pin by a central advance, and wins material, which he easily converts into a win.

Morozevich – Anand

Morozevich unveils an unusual twist in a Queen’s Indian, and its enough to emerge from the opening with a tiny edge in the resulting Catalan-like structure. After Anand defuses an emerging initiative from Morozevich the game settles down into a solid middlegame where neither side can make much progress, so by repetition of position both players are satisfied with a draw.

Aronian – Leko

Leko offers a Modern Benoni, but Aronian opts for a Symmetrical English set-up. The position slides into a Maroczy bind territory, with Aronian striking first with a 16. c5 thrust to seize an advantage. Leko defends and takes over the initiative on the queenside, forcing a series of retreats from Aronian. Leko builds up a dominating position with a clear advantage. Aronian’s tenacious defence reduces Leko’s edge and winning chances. The double rook endgame brings a draw.

Svidler – Topalov

Svidler avoids the miscue that landed him in trouble against the same opponent in Corus 2007. Topalov builds up an initiative on the queenside against Svidler’s king. Svidler defends cautiously and regains the initiative, forcing Topalov into a series of exchanges that hasten the endgame. Svidler sacrifices a knight to open up Topalov’s king and forces a perpetual to settle the draw.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 10: Anand beats Carlsen in a majestic strategic game

Posted on March 6, 2007 by Isofarro

Anand wins a masterful strategic game against Carlsen. Ivanchuk sacrifices a piece which is good enough to force a draw. Leko and Topalov emerge equal in a hard-fought draw.

Anand – Carlsen

Carlsen adopts the Chigorin Closed Ruy Lopez, and Anand plays the position perfectly. Carlsen runs into a little trouble on the c-file, forcing his knight into an awkward retreat to the corner. Just when Carlsen has the queenside under control, Anand switches to a kingside attack, throwing Carlsen off balance. With a weakened kingside, Carlsen can’t prevent Anand installing a knight on e6, dominating Black’s position. Anand builds his kingside attack by feinting a threat to occupy the c-file, and Carlsen is forced to concede a protected passed pawn in the centre, and after a few more deft moves by Anand, Carlsen surrenders.

Aronian – Morozevich

Aronian employs the aggressive 7… g4 against Morozevich’s Semi-Slav and creates a complicated position. After a flurry of tactics and exchanges, the position simplifies into a four piece ending, which neither side has a strong enough advantage to achieve more than a draw.

Ivanchuk – Svidler

Ivanchuk gives the 8. h3 anti-Marshall a spin and builds a solid quiet position. This gives Svidler time to recombine his pieces and gains some play sacrificing a pawn with a thematic … d5 thrust. Ivanchuk surprises his opponent by sacrificing a piece for an attack. The piece is good enough for a draw, but Ivanchuk presses on since he has potential winning chances. After a clever manoeuvre, Ivanchuk forces the win of a piece, and this allows Svidler a perpetual check.

Leko – Topalov

Leko’s pet 7. Nf3 system is again tested against Topalov’s Najdorf. Topalov plays a strange 11… Rc8?!, but gains some initiative on the kingside. Leko engineers a queenside pawn advance, which threatens to break through. Topalov gains an edge in the race of wing attacks, but Leko neutralises the advantage in a double rook and minor piece endgame, producing a hard-fought draw.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 9: Topalov survives a scare against Ivanchuk. Morozevich smashes Leko

Posted on March 4, 2007 by Isofarro

Topalov survives a scare against Ivanchuk. Morozevich smashes Leko with a brutal attack. A day off for Carlsen and Aronian. Anand has to fight for a draw.

Topalov – Ivanchuk

Topalov plays a little passively in a Sicilian Paulsen/Kan, but gradually builds up a kingside attack. Ivanchuk calmly neutralises the attack before it gains any momentum and comes away with a strong grip on the centre. That grip slowly weakens Topalov’s position, and his king is exposed. Topalov gets into an awkward pin with his knight which allows Ivanchuk to grab the initiative in the complicated endgame. Ivanchuk forces the win of a pawn, and Topalov is in desperate trouble. Topalov puts up a stubborn defence and eventually claws himself into a position where Ivanchuk has nothing better than a draw by repetition.

Morozevich – Leko

Morozevich unleashes a side-line of the Queen’s Indian Defence compelling Leko to head into a Benoni-like position. Leko tries to unbundle his cramped position, but incautiously allows and then accepts a typical h-file exchange sacrifice. The sacrifice smashes Leko’s kingside pawn structure, and Morozevich goes on the offensive. He calmly brings all his pieces into the attack, and gets his knight into e6 with a clever manoeuvre. Suddenly Leko’s position is demolishes with a series of blows. Leko lashes out hoping for a perpetual, but Morozevich clinically wipes away all resistance.

Carlsen – Aronian

Both players follow Topalov-Leko from round 3, and Carlsen deviates with 27. Bf1 which concludes a draw by repetition of position.

Svidler – Anand

Anand equalises out of a Petroff, and accepts a smashed queenside for the two bishops. Anand sacrifices a pawn to activate his pieces, and Svidler doesn’t seize the moment to increase his advantage. Anand comfortably holds the endgame.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 8: Morozevich holds Carlsen in a tense struggle. All games drawn.

Posted on March 3, 2007 by Isofarro

Morozevich has a tough struggle to secure a draw against Carlsen. Leko and Ivanchuk show some fighting spirit. The rest of the field take the day off.

Morozevich – Carlsen

Morozevich adopts an ancient variation out of an Open Ruy Lopez, allowing Carlsen to remove White’s potent light-squared bishop for the cost of a pawn. Morozevich returns the pawn, and Carlsen gradually takes over the initiative. Carlsen makes a slip in a complicated position, and both sides settle for the draw.

Leko – Ivanchuk

Ivanchuk adopts a Rubinstein French which gives Leko a slight edge. Ivanchuk sacrifices a pawn to free his position and hasten the endgame. Ivanchuk regains his pawn and simplifies into a drawn pawn endgame.

Anand – Topalov

In a Najdorf Sicilian Topalov avoids the … Be6 that got him into deep trouble against Ivanchuk earlier in the tournament. Topalov equalises comfortably, and a draw is agreed.

Aronian – Svidler

Aronian plays an eclectic variation of the Grunfeld that prevents Svidler from pursuing the typical strategic objectives of the opening. And a draw is declared very early on.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 7: Anand joins Carlsen in the lead with a good comeback against Leko.

Posted on March 3, 2007 by Isofarro

Anand fends off a Leko initiative, and sacrifices an exchange to liquidate into a very promising endgame. Ivanchuk grounds down Aronian in a positional contest. Topalov has a slice of luck against Morozevich. Svidler’s little flurry of activity registers a draw.

Leko – Anand

Anand’s rapid queenside expansion against Leko’s Catalan looks risky as Leko builds up a comfortable advantage. Anand defends tenaciously, and gradually takes over the initiative with a strong centralisation of his pieces. In the double rooks and bishops middle game, Anand is on top. Anand sacrifices an exchange to hasten the endgame where his queenside pawns are very strong. Leko resigns knowing Anand’s queenside pawns are virtually unstoppable.

Ivanchuk – Aronian

Aronian gets a solid Queen’s Gambit position from his Ragozin defence. Ivanchuk lands Aronian with an isolated pawn and proceeds to build up pressure. Aronian jettisons the weak pawn in an attempt to gain compensation, but Ivanchuk remorselessly increases his advantage, and grounds Aronian’s position right down.

Topalov – Morozevich

Topalov is a little unsure on the white side of a Classical French. Morozevich plays a thematic pawn sacrifice with 9… g5?! to break up White’s kingside. Black’s initiative is bolstered with a typical (but risky) French knight-sacrifice to remove White’s pawn centre. Morozevich regains his sacrificed material with a forced knight manoeuvre, leaving him a pawn up, but allowing Topalov to take over the initiative late in the middle game. With Morozevich’s king stuck in the centre and his queenside undeveloped, Topalov has ample compensation for his pawn. Morozevich blunders just before time control.

Svidler – Carlsen

Carlsen adopts an Accelerated Dragon against Svidler’s unusual move-order. Carlsen accepts an isolated d-pawn and the two bishops. Svidler builds up an advantage on the queenside, but heads straight for a draw.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 6: No decisive games – Ivanchuk comes close against Anand.

Posted on February 25, 2007 by Isofarro

All draws today. Anand and Ivanchuk put in a proper days work while the rest of the players take a day off.

Anand – Ivanchuk

Anand plays a quiet 10. h3 against Ivanchuk’s Sicilian Najdorf leading to equality. Ivanchuk gets a slight advantage thanks to his e-pawn backed by a rook, and he builds that into a sizeable advantage. Ivanchuk rejects an opportunity to win a pawn, which allows Anand to consolidate his position and neutralise Ivanchuk’s advantage

Aronian – Topalov

Topalov quickly takes advantage of Aronian’s reticence in the centre to grab an advantage. After some tactical trickery both sides agree a draw.

Carlsen – Leko

Leko’s Semi-Slav follows Carlsen’s game against Topalov from the previous round, and Leko deviates with 10… Qe7, and both sides seem content to play out a draw by repetition right out of the opening.

Morozevich – Svidler

Both players call it evens still inside an English Four Knights opening.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 5: Aronian deposes Anand. Topalov gifts Carlsen a win

Posted on February 25, 2007 by Isofarro

Carlsen gains a point over Topalov after Topalov resigns in a drawn position – Carlsen had missed a winning line, but nevertheless played extremely well. Aronian’s piece play and sacrifices bewitches Anand. Svidler bails out to a draw in Leko’s Marshall. Ivanchuk’s Berlin stands up to Morozevich’s scrutiny.

Carlsen – Topalov

Carlsen nurses a slight advantage from a Semi-Slav. On the first time control Carlsen has a good handle of the position, Topalov missing a few equalising opportunities. Carlsen embarks on a kingside attack by opening the g-file and creating a battering ram with his h-pawn. This forces Topalov backwards and Carlsen sacrifices the d5-pawn gaining time for his attack. He misses a winning line, and Topalov resigns missing a drawing resource.

Aronian – Anand

Aronian takes a slight edge from a Queen’s Gambit Accepted / Catalan opening. Anand misses his chance at equality, and Aronian seizes the opportunity to create a threatening pawn centre, backed by both of his bishops. Anand looks close to equalising, but as the pieces come off, Aronian’s passed d-pawn becomes a monster, and the a-pawn is threatening. Aronian sacrifices a piece, followed by a rook to ensure both pawns can be shepherded through. Anand sacrifices back material leaving Aronian in a winning endgame with an extra exchange.

Svidler – Leko

Svidler allows a Marshall attack, and Leko opts for 17… f5 avoiding any prepared improvements over Svidler’s earlier game with Aronian. All of Leko’s pieces build up against the White king, and Svidler plays it carefully, and both sides take a draw by repetition.

Morozevich – Ivanchuk

Ivanchuk adopts the Berlin Defence against Morozevich’s Ruy Lopez and locks down White on both wings. Although Morozevich gets a knight posted on d5, Ivanchuk’s hold of the position is enough for equality. Morozevich can’t make any progress, and a repetition of position concludes the draw.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 4: Anand and Carlsen win against the run of play

Posted on February 25, 2007 by Isofarro

Morozevich outplays Anand, but stumbles on the final straight, allowing Anand to take the whole point. Ivanchuk’s original hard work is undone by two blunders, giving Carlsen the whole point. Svidler’s active play subdues Topalov into a draw. Aronian withstands Leko’s charge.

Anand – Morozevich

Morozevich adopts a Breyer against the seemingly rare Closed Ruy Lopez. Morozevich is the first to deviate with a virtually unplayed 14… c6. Anand decides to fix the central pawn structure, allowing Black his thematic queenside play. Anand’s kingside pressure gains him an advantage, forcing Morozevich to defend carefully. Anand’s pressure fizzles and gradually Morozevich gains the upper hand. But Morozevich stumbles on the way to time control, and Anand seizes the point in the semi-endgame.

Ivanchuk – Carlsen

The opening leaves known theory on move 7 with Ivanchuk forging a new path. Ivanchuk gradually nurtures an advantage before seizing control of the centre with a strong position. But Ivanchuk goes astray in his customary time trouble, missing a tactic that swings the game into Carlsen’s favour. A second blunder by Ivanchuk seals his fate.

Topalov – Svidler

Topalov avoids Svidler’s Grunfeld by holding back with an English set-up. Svidler temporary sacrifices a pawn to free his position, and activates his pieces. Svidler breaks up Topalov’s play for an advantage with another pawn sacrifice, and his active pieces secure a draw.

Leko – Aronian

The Bogo-Indian is a rare guest at SuperGM level, but Aronian handles it with aplomb. The middle game resembles a fashionable line of the Queen’s Indian. Leko’s Stonewall set-up succeeds in forcing a rook into the heart of Black’s queenside. Leko sacrifices an exchange to open up Black’s king to a heavy piece attack, and regains material by eliminating Black’s centre pawns. After a brief flurry of activity from Aronian, Leko holds the endgame with the exchange down.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Ivanchuk, Leko, Morelia/Linares, Morozevich, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment

Morelia/Linares 2007, Round 3: Anand powers past Carlsen

Posted on February 20, 2007 by Isofarro

Anand powerful play disposes of Carlsen in a neat win. Leko holds Topalov in a topical Queen’s Indian. Svidler’s pressure is neutralised by Ivanchuk. Morozevich’s wild attack forces Aronian to settle for a draw.

Carlsen – Anand

Anand equalised comfortably in the Semi-Slav, and encircles the king in a semi-endgame. He forces a decisive entry of his Rook into White’s position. His bishop and rook dominates Carlsen’s position and forces its collapse.

Topalov – Leko

Topalov emerges from a Queen’s Indian defence with a strong passed pawn on c6. But Leko liquidates the position into an opposite coloured bishops endgame that he holds.

Svidler – Ivanchuk

Ivanchuk sparks off a tactical sequence in the Petroff that forces a drastic simplification into a semi-endgame. Svidler has some pressure and forces Ivanchuk into an awkward defensive posture. Ivanchuk’s active knight gains some stability on the kingside. Both sides battle hard as the position drifts towards a balanced rook endgame.

Morozevich – Aronian

Morozevich sacrifices a pawn against Aronian’s Ragozin defence is rebuffed by Aronian. Morozevich launches into a wild attack that connects through to Black’s king. Aronian’s counter attack forces Morozevich to yield to a draw.

Posted in Anand, Aronian, Carlsen, Chess, Leko, Svidler, Topalov | Leave a comment