Tag: Tata Steel 2019

Magnus Carlsen ground out a 71-move, 6.5-hour win over Jan-Krzysztof Duda to take a half-point lead into the last round showdown with Anish Giri. It could have been a full point, but just when Giri was wondering what to say about defeat in the post-game interview Teimour Radjabov offered a draw. Elsewhere Sam Shankland bounced back to beat Ian Nepomniachtchi and Vladimir Kramnik picked up a second win in a row against Vladimir Fedoseev. In the Challengers Vladislav Kovalev remains the heavy favourite after beating Elisabeth Paehtz to take the lead.

The final round of Tata Steel Chess begins 1.5 hours earlier than usual at noon, and needless to say you don’t want to miss Giri-Carlsen. If Anish can win the game he’d not only win the tournament but start February as an official member of the 2800 club.

See also:

• Official website
• All the games with computer analysis on chess24: Masters | Challengers
• Tata Steel Chess 2019 Preview
• Tata Steel 2019, 1: Nepo and Anand snatch early lead
• Tata Steel 2019, 2: The Dutch strike back
• Tata Steel 2019, 3: Nepo beats Kramnik to lead
• Tata Steel 2019, 4: Giri and Vidit win
• Tata Steel 2019, 5: Magnus breaks the streak
• Tata Steel 2019, 6: Carlsen and Giri hit the front
• Tata Steel 2019, 7: Insane chess
• Tata Steel 2019, 8: Carlsen and Anand take the lead
• Tata Steel 2019, 9: Nepo catches Magnus and Vishy
• Tata Steel 2019, 10: Vintage Carlsen beats Anand
• Tata Steel 2019, 11: Shankland commits hara-Giri

Carlsen-Kramnik was the big clash of the day in the Tata Steel Masters, and although it ended in a draw it didn’t disappoint. Vlad said afterwards, “I’m an old man – I just want to enjoy chess!” and for once he could, as he showed some real touches of class to hold Magnus to what was his 21st draw in a row.

Elsewhere Anish Giri moved to +1 after beating Richard Rapport, while Vidit defeated Jorden van Foreest after the Dutch youngster blitzed out one move too many when he had a draw in his grasp. It was a bad day for the Foreest family, as Lucas also lost the only decisive game of the Challengers, to Vladislav Kovalev.

Round 5 is the last before the long-awaited first rest day, and Van Foreest-Carlsen looks like the ideal game for Magnus finally to draw blood again. If he didn’t have enough motivation already there’s the fact that a draw will cost him around 2 rating points and leave his world no. 1 spot hanging by a thread. Of course going all-out for a win with Black against a dangerous youngster isn’t without risks, which is good news for us fans! Among the other games, Kramnik-Mamedyarov is one where action is almost guaranteed.

See also:

• Official website
• All the games with computer analysis on chess24: Masters | Challengers
• Tata Steel Chess 2019 Preview
• Tata Steel 2019, 1: Nepo and Anand snatch early lead
• Tata Steel 2019, 2: The Dutch strike back
• Tata Steel 2019, 3: Nepo beats Kramnik to lead