Morelia/Linares: Round 13
Three games were drawn - and it could have been four - but every game had its dramatic moments.
Anand-Leko featured two players with a propensity for quick draws playing an opening - the Anti-Marshall - that almost guarantees a quick draw, but even it bears some examination. Leko's 17...Kh7 & 18...Rg8 was a nice defensive maneuver Ruy Lopez players should have in their toolkit, and there are entertaining complications around 21...Bxe4. (Maybe White should have "blundered" with 22.fxe4!) So although it was a speedy draw, it wasn't without interest.
Carlsen-Svidler threatened to be exciting once or twice, and Carlsen did what he could to put a dynamic twist into the game. Black's position was very solid, though, and in the end it was the youngster who steered the game to its peaceful conclusion.
Aronian-Ivanchuk reversed the pattern by starting wild and then calming down. Against the semi-antique 4...Bb7 + 5...Be7 Queen's Indian, Aronian employed Polugaevsky's wonderful 7.d5 pawn sac. Ivanchuk countered with the very unusual 12...d4, returning the pawn (the range of Ivanchuk's knowledge and preparation is staggering), and although it slowed White's kingside play, it didn't stop it. Aronian's 17.e5 set the board ablaze, but Ivanchuk's good defense (and perhaps a slight missed chance on move 19) resulted in mass exchanges and a drawn ending.
Morozevich-Topalov was hands-down the game of the day, going just about the full seven hours. After 31 moves the players reached an equal knight ending that could have been agreed drawn, but Topalov dared his opponent to create an imbalance. Morozevich "bit", and almost 50 moves later, after many errors by both sides, he won. Admirable fighting spirit from both players. For Morozevich, it's his third win of the second cycle, bringing him back to 50%, while Topalov falls to -2, just half a point out of last place.
Heading into tomorrow's final round, here are the standings:
Standings after Round 13:
1. Anand 8
2. Carlsen 7.5
3. Svidler 7
4-5. Aronian, Morozevich 6.5
6. Ivanchuk 6
7. Topalov 5.5
8. Leko 5
Pairings for Round 14:
Ivanchuk - Anand
Leko - Carlsen
Svidler - Morozevich
Topalov - Aronian
In theory at least, this could be an exciting and dramatic last round, with three players having a shot at first place. In reality, Anand and Carlsen will probably draw their games quickly and finish 1-2...but remember, if I predict it, it's probably wrong. (But now I've made a meta-prediction. Does that count?)
Games, with fairly thorough comments, here.
Anand-Leko featured two players with a propensity for quick draws playing an opening - the Anti-Marshall - that almost guarantees a quick draw, but even it bears some examination. Leko's 17...Kh7 & 18...Rg8 was a nice defensive maneuver Ruy Lopez players should have in their toolkit, and there are entertaining complications around 21...Bxe4. (Maybe White should have "blundered" with 22.fxe4!) So although it was a speedy draw, it wasn't without interest.
Carlsen-Svidler threatened to be exciting once or twice, and Carlsen did what he could to put a dynamic twist into the game. Black's position was very solid, though, and in the end it was the youngster who steered the game to its peaceful conclusion.
Aronian-Ivanchuk reversed the pattern by starting wild and then calming down. Against the semi-antique 4...Bb7 + 5...Be7 Queen's Indian, Aronian employed Polugaevsky's wonderful 7.d5 pawn sac. Ivanchuk countered with the very unusual 12...d4, returning the pawn (the range of Ivanchuk's knowledge and preparation is staggering), and although it slowed White's kingside play, it didn't stop it. Aronian's 17.e5 set the board ablaze, but Ivanchuk's good defense (and perhaps a slight missed chance on move 19) resulted in mass exchanges and a drawn ending.
Morozevich-Topalov was hands-down the game of the day, going just about the full seven hours. After 31 moves the players reached an equal knight ending that could have been agreed drawn, but Topalov dared his opponent to create an imbalance. Morozevich "bit", and almost 50 moves later, after many errors by both sides, he won. Admirable fighting spirit from both players. For Morozevich, it's his third win of the second cycle, bringing him back to 50%, while Topalov falls to -2, just half a point out of last place.
Heading into tomorrow's final round, here are the standings:
Standings after Round 13:
1. Anand 8
2. Carlsen 7.5
3. Svidler 7
4-5. Aronian, Morozevich 6.5
6. Ivanchuk 6
7. Topalov 5.5
8. Leko 5
Pairings for Round 14:
Ivanchuk - Anand
Leko - Carlsen
Svidler - Morozevich
Topalov - Aronian
In theory at least, this could be an exciting and dramatic last round, with three players having a shot at first place. In reality, Anand and Carlsen will probably draw their games quickly and finish 1-2...but remember, if I predict it, it's probably wrong. (But now I've made a meta-prediction. Does that count?)
Games, with fairly thorough comments, here.
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Posted by Dennis Monokroussos on
Friday March 9, 2007 at 6:33pm
in Anand-Leko you suggested (as I understood) 22.fxe4 Nxe4 23.Qg4, why not 23...Qxg4 24.Nxg4 (24.hxg4 Nxd2) 24...Nxd2 25.Nxe5 f5 or 25.Rxe5 Rge8 there?
in Aronian-Ivanchuk after 19.Bxc7!?, 19...Qxf6 is more critical.
About Anand-Leko: you're right. I initially analyzed 22.fxe4 on my own, but then switched on the engine. Since it was at first exceptionally enthusiastic about 23...Nxd2, I didn't get back to the obvious 23...Qxg4.
As for 19...Qxf6 in Aronian-Ivanchuk, it's giving me a headache! My computer seems to think (or rather, "think") White may be able to eke out an edge, but it's hideously complicated and all sorts of bad things can happen to White. So practically speaking, Aronian probably did the right thing.
Thanks for your comments!