The Chess Mind

Making predictions is easy, but getting them right is another matter. A few posts ago, I wrote this about the tournament line-up: "Carlsen is still an outsider at this point (to judge from his rating and his performance at Wijk aan Zee), but it looks to be a marvelous tournament". Needless to say, after all of one round, Carlsen stands in clear first place! (I don't expect him to be anywhere near first by the time it's all over, but within a year or two his "underdog" status will be a thing of the past.)

His victory over Morozevich was by far the most interesting game of the round. Carlsen devised an interesting piece sacrifice, and Morozevich couldn't find anything better than returning the material - with interest. Carlsen had the pawn, Morozevich the initiative, but the initiative didn't last. Still, the game was not easily won, and even though Carlsen won a second pawn Black managed to reach an opposite-colored bishop ending. Maybe he could have drawn it, but he didn't, and Carlsen became the sole leader.

Topalov-Anand reprised their game from last month's Wijk aan Zee tournament, but although Topalov won that contest he varied first with 14.Nxe4. Anand replied with 14...b5, and now Topalov deviated from another successful White game, producing the novelty 15.Qe2. Although Topalov has terrified Queen's Indian players the past couple of years, Anand's preparation seemed perfect and he drew with ease.

Svidler-Aronian reprised another of Anand's games from Wijk aan Zee, this time Anand-Aronian. Our game, a Marshall Gambit (zzzzzzz) followed its predecessor through White's 23rd move. Against Anand, Aronian played 23...Bb1 and drew with a neat perpetual check; this time Aronian played 23...Bd3. It allowed White's Ra1 to come into play more quickly, but he still managed to keep White locked up, and this game was also quickly drawn.

Finally, Ivanchuk-Leko was also quickly drawn. Ivanchuk, who is capable of playing practically any opening at any time, essayed a relatively rare line of the Scotch. Leko was well-prepared (as always), and within three moves of Black's novelty White sacrificed a piece for perpetual check.

Pairings for Round 2:

Leko - Morozevich
Aronian - Carlsen
Anand - Svidler
Ivanchuk - Topalov

Games, with my brief comments, here.