Greetings Chess Players. My name is Chris Torres and this is my daily chess musing for January 16, 2021.
Today was a great day for chess! For the first time, in a very long time, we are finally able to treated to classical chess of the highest level. And round 1 of the 2021 Tata Steel Chess Tournament didn’t disappoint. There were three decisive games out of the seven total and when the smoke cleared, Carlsen, Giri and Grandelius emerged as the early leaders. Let’s take a quick look at some key moments from the today’s action.
Despite playing well, Alexander Donchenko lost in his Wijk Ann Zee debut against Nils Grandelius. Let’s examine the critical point in their battle.
Now let’s turn our attention to the game between Anish Giri and Aryan Tari. Aryan Tari created a lot of pressure with his kingside pawn march but Giri remained calm and prevailed with superior logic. The final blow from Anish Giri was quite attractive so let’s take a moment to appreciate it.
Finally, let’s check in on Magnus Carlsen’s victory over the talented young Iranian, Alireza Firouzja. Magnus, who during the post game interview expressed that he wasn’t “especially happy” with his play during the first round capitalized nicely on his opponents blunder late in the game. Let’s take a look.
So after the opening round, move to the top of the standings. Here are the pairings for round 2.
As always, I recommend visiting the official tournament website, TataSteelChess.com.
[Event “Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands”]
[Date “2021.01.16”]
[Round “1.1”]
[White “Carlsen, Magnus”]
[Black “Firouzja, Alireza”]
[Result “1-0”]
[BlackElo “2749”]
[ECO “E10”]
[TimeControl “01:40:30”]
[WhiteElo “2862”]
1.d4 { [%clk 01:40:57] } 1…Nf6 { [%clk 01:40:52] } 2.c4 { [%clk 01:41:21] }
2…e6 { [%clk 01:41:16] } 3.Nf3 { [%clk 01:41:46] } 3…d5
{ [%clk 01:41:35] } 4.Nc3 { [%clk 01:42:10] } 4…Nbd7 { [%clk 01:41:35] }
5.Bg5 { [%clk 01:38:26] } 5…h6 { [%clk 01:40:59] } 6.Bh4
{ [%clk 01:35:46] } 6…Be7 { [%clk 01:41:20] } 7.cxd5 { [%clk 01:29:03] }
7…Nxd5 { [%clk 01:29:28] } 8.Bxe7 { [%clk 01:29:10] } 8…Qxe7
{ [%emt 00:16:30] } 9.e4 { [%emt 00:05:38] } 9…Nxc3
{ [%clk 01:21:29] [%emt 00:00:04] } 10.bxc3 { [%emt 00:08:11] } 10…O-O
{ [%emt 00:01:10] } 11.Bd3 { [%emt 00:13:09] } 11…c5 { [%emt 00:00:24] }
12.O-O { [%emt 00:15:35] } 12…cxd4 { [%clk 00:46:01] [%emt 00:00:06] }
13.cxd4 { [%emt 00:00:39] } 13…b6 { [%emt 00:06:24] } 14.a4
{ [%emt 00:04:09] } 14…Bb7 { [%emt 00:03:08] } 15.a5 { [%emt 00:01:37] }
15…bxa5 { [%emt 00:00:19] } 16.Rxa5 { [%emt 00:02:30] } 16…Nf6
{ [%emt 00:02:31] } 17.Re1 { [%emt 00:10:17] } 17…Rfd8 { [%emt 00:01:31] }
18.Qa1 { [%emt 00:04:01] } 18…Qc7 { [%emt 00:05:12] } 19.h3
{ [%emt 00:01:41] } 19…a6 { [%emt 00:05:17] } 20.Rc5 { [%emt 00:04:13] }
20…Qf4 { [%emt 00:19:22] } 21.Re5 { [%emt 00:02:33] } 21…Nd7
{ [%emt 00:00:15] } 22.Ra5 { [%emt 00:01:54] } 22…Nf6 { [%emt 00:07:03] }
23.d5 { [%emt 00:00:59] } 23…exd5 { [%emt 00:00:15] } 24.e5
{ [%emt 00:00:19] } 24…Ne4 { [%emt 00:01:20] } 25.Qd4 { [%emt 00:03:17] }
25…Rdc8 { [%emt 00:01:11] } 26.Raa1 { [%emt 00:02:21] } 26…a5
{ [%emt 00:04:55] } 27.Rab1 { [%emt 00:01:10] } 27…Bc6 { [%emt 00:07:41] }
28.e6 { [%emt 00:03:03] } 28…fxe6 { [%emt 00:00:10] } 29.Ne5
{ [%emt 00:02:34] } 29…Qf6 { [%emt 00:00:48] } 30.f3 { [%emt 00:01:25] }
30…Ng5 { [%emt 00:04:55] } 31.Rb6 { [%emt 00:01:17] } 31…Be8
{ [%emt 00:01:08] } 32.Qe3 { [%emt 00:03:59] } 32…a4 { [%emt 00:00:46] }
33.Ng4 { [%emt 00:01:32] } 33…Qd8 { [%emt 00:00:18] } 34.Rxe6
{ [%emt 00:01:15] } 34…Nxe6 { [%clk 00:00:36] [%emt 00:00:03] } 35.Qxe6+
{ [%emt 00:00:24] Firouzja has two choices, to move the king or block the check.One door leads toward a draw and the other loses. }
35…Bf7 $2
{ [%emt 00:00:20] and he chose poorly. The better choice was kh8. What is white’s best move? I will give you 30 seconds. }
( 35…Kh8 36.Qf5 { white thretens mate. } 36…Qb6+
{ but black has a check to save the day. } 37.Kh1 Bg6 38.Qxg6 Qxg6 39.Bxg6
{ and Firouzja would have been fine and even slightly better because of his
dangerous passed pawns. } ) 36.Nxh6+ { [%clk 00:01:32] [%emt 00:00:01] Bam! }
36…gxh6 { [%emt 00:00:11] } 37.Qxh6 { [%clk 00:01:44] [%emt 00:00:40] }
37…Qc7
{ and now it’s, white to move and mate in 6. I will give you 3 minutes. If
you see the whole line sooner, go ahead and fast forward past where the
clock is on screen. } 38.Qh7+ { [%emt 00:00:43] } 38…Kf8
{ [%emt 00:00:03] } 39.Qh8+ { [%emt 00:00:14] } 39…Bg8 { [%emt 00:00:06] }
40.Qh6+
{ Alireza Firouzja resigns here but the final three moves of the mate in 6 were: [%emt 00:00:07] }
40…Kf7 41.Bg6+ Kf6 42.Bh5+ ( 42.Be8+ Kf5 43.g4# ) 42…Kf5 43.Bg4# 1-0
[Event “Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands”]
[Date “2021.01.16”]
[Round “1.2”]
[White “Wojtaszek, Radoslaw”]
[Black “Anton Guijarro, David”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[TimeControl “01:40:30”]
1.d4 { [%clk 01:40:57] } 1…Nf6 { [%clk 01:40:48] } 2.c4 { [%clk 01:41:23] } 2…e6 { [%clk 01:41:05] } 3.Nf3 { [%clk 01:41:48] } 3…d5 { [%clk 01:41:19] } 4.g3 { [%clk 01:42:11] } 4…Bb4+ { [%clk 01:40:50] } 5.Bd2 { [%clk 01:42:34] } 5…Be7 { [%clk 01:41:08] } 6.Bg2 { [%clk 01:42:55] } 6…Nbd7 { [%clk 01:40:48] } 7.Qc2 { [%clk 01:42:38] } 7…c6 { [%clk 01:39:56] } 8.O-O { [%clk 01:42:57] } 8…b6 { [%clk 01:39:17] } 9.Rd1 { [%clk 01:41:32] } 9…Ba6 { [%clk 01:38:30] } 10.b3 { [%clk 01:41:43] } 10…O-O { [%clk 01:37:45] } 11.a4 { [%clk 01:42:07] } 11…h6 { [%clk 01:37:19] } 12.a5 { [%clk 01:32:25] } 12…Qc8 { [%clk 01:30:11] } 13.Na3 { [%emt 00:15:48] } 13…c5 { [%emt 00:05:17] } 14.Qb2 { [%emt 00:12:34] } 14…bxa5 { [%emt 00:06:03] } 15.Bxa5 { [%emt 00:01:12] } 15…Rb8 { [%emt 00:01:34] } 16.Qa2 { [%emt 00:04:53] } 16…dxc4 { [%emt 00:13:55] } 17.Nxc4 { [%emt 00:02:10] } 17…Bb7 { [%emt 00:09:57] } 18.Rdc1 { [%emt 00:04:11] } 18…Bd5 { [%emt 00:00:13] } 19.Bd2 { [%emt 00:20:36] } 19…Ne4 { [%emt 00:02:01] } 20.Bf4 { [%emt 00:01:54] } 20…Rb7 { [%emt 00:07:27] } 21.Nfd2 { [%emt 00:02:54] } 21…Nxd2 { [%emt 00:01:51] } 22.Bxd5 { [%clk 00:43:23] [%emt 00:00:03] } 22…exd5 { [%clk 00:23:29] [%emt 00:00:06] } 23.Nxd2 { [%emt 00:01:04] } 23…Qd8 { [%emt 00:03:57] } 24.Qa6 { [%emt 00:02:28] } 24…Qb6 { [%emt 00:00:12] } 25.Be3 { [%emt 00:04:07] } 25…Rfb8 { [%emt 00:12:18] } 26.Qd3 { [%emt 00:05:57] } 26…cxd4 { [%emt 00:00:04] } 27.Bxd4 { [%emt 00:00:51] } 27…Bc5 { [%emt 00:17:25] } 28.Bxc5 { [%emt 00:00:04] } 28…Nxc5 { [%emt 00:00:27] } 29.Qxd5 { [%emt 00:06:51] } 29…Nxb3 { [%emt 00:00:12] } 30.Nxb3 { [%emt 00:00:05] } 30…Qxb3 { [%clk 00:05:58] [%emt 00:00:03] } 31.Qxb3 { [%emt 00:00:07] } 31…Rxb3 { [%clk 00:06:22] [%emt 00:00:02] } 32.Rxa7 { [%emt 00:00:10] } 32…Rb1 { [%emt 00:00:03] } 33.Rxb1 { [%clk 00:14:04] [%emt 00:00:02] } 33…Rxb1+ { [%clk 00:07:11] [%emt 00:00:03] } 34.Kg2 { [%clk 00:14:30] [%emt 00:00:04] } 34…h5 { [%emt 00:00:48] } 35.Kf3 { [%emt 00:00:21] } 35…g6 { [%emt 00:00:17] } 36.h4 { [%clk 00:14:27] [%emt 00:00:02] } 36…Kg7 { [%emt 00:00:09] } 37.e4 { [%emt 00:00:35] } 37…Rb3+ { [%clk 00:08:02] [%emt 00:00:06] } 38.Kf4 { [%emt 00:00:05] } 38…Rb2 { [%clk 00:08:25] [%emt 00:00:07] } 39.f3 { [%emt 00:00:53] } 39…Rb4 { [%emt 00:02:09] } 40.Ra5 { [%emt 00:01:30] } 40…Kf6 { [%emt 00:00:16] } 41.g4 { [%clk 01:04:02] [%emt 00:00:03] } 41…hxg4 { [%emt 00:00:11] } 42.Kxg4 { [%emt 00:00:33] } 42…Rb1 { [%emt 00:00:29] } 43.h5 { [%emt 00:00:33] } 43…Rg1+ { [%clk 00:57:31] [%emt 00:00:03] } 44.Kf4 { [%emt 00:00:52] } 44…gxh5 { [%emt 00:00:42] } 45.Rxh5 { [%emt 00:00:43] } 45…Ra1 { [%clk 00:56:31] [%emt 00:00:43] } 46.Rh6+ { [%emt 00:01:53] } 46…Kg7 { [%emt 00:00:06] } 47.Rd6 { [%emt 00:00:15] } 47…Ra3 { [%emt 00:00:22] } 48.e5 { [%emt 00:02:55] } 48…Ra4+ { [%emt 00:00:20] } 49.Kf5 { [%emt 00:03:06] } 49…Ra3 { [%emt 00:00:22] } 50.f4 { [%emt 00:00:54] } 50…Ra5 { [%emt 00:00:14] } 51.Kg5 { [%emt 00:01:02] } 51…Rb5 { [%emt 00:00:45] } 52.Rd7 { [%emt 00:00:20] } 52…Ra5 { [%emt 00:00:14] } 53.Kg4 { [%emt 00:00:44] } 53…Kf8 { [%clk 00:49:32] [%emt 00:00:17] } 54.Kf5 { [%clk 01:06:02] [%emt 00:00:07] } 54…Kg7 { [%clk 00:49:55] [%emt 00:00:08] } 55.Ke4 { [%emt 00:07:01] } 55…Kf8 { [%emt 00:00:58] } 56.f5 { [%emt 00:00:45] } 56…Ke8 { [%emt 00:07:25] } 57.Rc7 { [%emt 00:01:42] } 57…Ra1 { [%emt 00:00:43] } 58.Kf4 { [%emt 00:01:06] } 58…Rg1 { [%emt 00:00:55] } 59.Rb7 { [%emt 00:17:50] } 59…f6 { [%emt 00:08:55] } 60.Rb8+ { [%emt 00:00:05] } 60…Ke7 { [%emt 00:00:36] } 61.Rb7+ { [%clk 01:05:47] } 61…Ke8 { [%emt 00:05:41] } 62.e6 { [%clk 01:00:32] [%emt 00:00:09] } 62…Rf1+ { [%emt 00:00:11] } 63.Ke4 { [%emt 00:00:04] } 63…Re1+ { [%clk 00:39:47] [%emt 00:00:05] } 64.Kd5 { [%clk 01:01:24] [%emt 00:00:04] } 64…Rd1+ { [%clk 00:40:07] [%emt 00:00:10] } 65.Kc4 { [%emt 00:00:14] } 65…Rc1+ { [%clk 00:40:29] } 66.Kd3 { [%clk 01:02:14] [%emt 00:00:03] } 66…Rd1+ { [%emt 00:00:51] } 67.Kc4 { [%clk 01:02:08] [%emt 00:00:02] } 67…Rc1+ { [%emt 00:00:06] } 1/2-1/2
[Event “Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands”]
[Date “2021.01.16”]
[Round “1.3”]
[White “Harikrishna, Pentala”]
[Black “Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[TimeControl “01:40:30”]
1.e4 { [%clk 01:40:56] } 1…c5 { [%clk 01:40:54] } 2.Nf3 { [%clk 01:41:20] } 2…d6 { [%clk 01:41:19] } 3.d4 cxd4 { [%clk 01:41:44] } 4.Nxd4 { [%clk 01:42:04] } 4…Nf6 { [%clk 01:42:08] } 5.Nc3 { [%clk 01:42:26] } 5…a6 { [%clk 01:42:33] } 6.Be3 { [%clk 01:42:49] } 6…e5 { [%clk 01:40:31] } 7.Nf3 { [%clk 01:43:10] } 7…Be7 { [%clk 01:39:51] } 8.Bc4 { [%clk 01:43:01] } 8…O-O { [%clk 01:40:10] } 9.O-O { [%clk 01:41:01] } 9…Be6 { [%clk 01:40:09] } 10.Bb3 { [%clk 01:34:26] } 10…b5 { [%clk 01:39:30] } 11.Re1 { [%clk 01:28:45] } 11…Qc7 { [%clk 01:34:41] } 12.Nh4 { [%clk 01:14:50] [%emt 00:00:48] } 12…Nbd7 13.Nf5 { [%clk 01:15:07] [%emt 00:14:34] } 13…Bxf5 14.exf5 { [%emt 00:06:01] } 14…b4 { [%emt 00:01:38] } 15.Nd5 { [%clk 01:13:56] [%emt 00:00:18] } 15…Nxd5 16.Bxd5 { [%emt 00:01:06] } 16…Rab8 { [%emt 00:03:26] } 17.Bb3 { [%clk 01:08:18] [%emt 00:07:26] } 17…a5 18.Qf3 { [%emt 00:11:11] } 18…Nb6 { [%emt 00:17:00] } 19.Rad1 { [%emt 00:01:51] } 19…Bf6 { [%emt 00:13:03] } 20.Bxb6 { [%emt 00:00:35] } 20…Rxb6 { [%emt 00:00:48] } 21.Rd5 { [%emt 00:08:44] } 21…Rc6 { [%emt 00:06:24] } 22.Red1 { [%emt 00:06:07] } 22…h6 { [%emt 00:05:19] } 23.Ba4 { [%emt 00:04:03] } 23…Rc4 { [%emt 00:01:42] } 24.Rxd6 { [%emt 00:01:38] } 24…Rf4 { [%emt 00:07:07] } 25.Qe2 { [%clk 00:19:22] [%emt 00:04:39] } 25…Rxf5 26.g3 { [%emt 00:01:59] } 26…e4 { [%emt 00:00:40] } 27.Qxe4 { [%clk 00:15:53] [%emt 00:00:07] } 27…Qc5 28.Qe2 { [%clk 00:12:05] [%emt 00:06:38] } 28…Bxb2 29.Bb3 { [%emt 00:07:28] } 29…Bc3 { [%clk 00:33:54] [%emt 00:01:50] } 30.R1d5 Rxd5 { [%emt 00:00:41] } 31.Rxd5 { [%clk 00:08:02] [%emt 00:03:10] } 31…Qa7 32.Qd3 { [%emt 00:12:12] } 32…Be1 { [%emt 00:03:38] } 33.Qe2 { [%clk 00:03:49] [%emt 00:00:20] } 33…Bc3 34.Qd3 { [%clk 00:02:51] [%emt 00:03:28] } 34…Be1 35.Qe3 { [%emt 00:02:39] } 35…Qxe3 { [%emt 00:00:03] } 36.fxe3 { [%clk 00:03:25] [%emt 00:02:18] } 36…Re8 37.Rxa5 { [%clk 00:01:07] [%emt 00:01:23] } 37…Kf8 38.Rf5 { [%clk 00:01:33] [%emt 00:04:55] } 38…f6 39.Rf3 { [%clk 00:50:55] [%emt 00:03:06] } 39…Bc3 40.h3 { [%clk 00:50:26] [%emt 00:05:12] } 40…Be5 41.Kg2 { [%clk 00:50:22] [%emt 00:04:13] } 41…Rd8 42.Rf2 { [%clk 00:48:17] [%emt 00:00:48] } 42…Ke7 43.g4 { [%clk 00:43:10] [%emt 00:08:57] } 43…Rd1 { [%clk 00:53:19] } 44.c3 { [%clk 00:43:24] [%emt 00:05:46] } 44…Rd3 { [%clk 00:53:45] } 45.cxb4 { [%clk 00:41:11] } 45…Rxe3 46.Rf3 { [%clk 00:41:35] [%emt 00:00:16] } 46…Rxf3 { [%clk 00:54:24] } 47.Kxf3 { [%emt 00:00:26] } 47…Bc3 { [%emt 00:01:51] } 48.a3 { [%emt 00:00:17] } 48…Bb2 { [%emt 00:00:10] } 49.a4 { [%clk 00:40:15] [%emt 00:00:05] } 49…Bc3 { [%emt 00:00:29] } 50.b5 { [%emt 00:00:07] } 50…Kd6 { [%emt 00:01:33] } 51.Ke4 { [%emt 00:02:03] } 51…Kc5 { [%emt 00:00:20] } 52.Kf5 { [%emt 00:00:09] } 52…g5 { [%emt 00:00:14] } 53.Kg6 { [%emt 00:00:06] } 53…Kb6 { [%emt 00:00:04] } 54.Kxh6 { [%clk 00:40:01] [%emt 00:00:04] } 54…Bb2 { [%emt 00:00:20] } 55.Kg6 { [%emt 00:00:19] } 55…Bc3 { [%clk 00:55:19] [%emt 00:00:12] } 56.Kf5 Bd4 { [%emt 00:00:31] } 57.Bc2 { [%emt 00:00:35] } 57…Bb2 { [%clk 00:55:09] [%emt 00:00:07] } 58.Ke6 { [%clk 00:41:32] [%emt 00:00:29] } 58…Bc3 59.Kd5 { [%clk 00:56:31] [%emt 00:00:48] } 59…Bd2 60.Bd3 { [%emt 00:00:51] } 60…Bc3 { [%emt 00:00:10] } 61.Ke6 { [%clk 00:56:42] [%emt 00:00:15] } 61…Bb2 62.Kd5 { [%emt 00:00:40] } 62…Bc3 { [%clk 01:11:12] [%emt 00:00:05] } 63.Be2 { [%emt 00:00:09] } 63…Bd2 { [%clk 01:11:34] [%emt 00:00:02] } 64.Ke4 { [%emt 00:00:16] } 1/2-1/2
[Event “Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands”]
[Date “2021.01.16”]
[Round “1.4”]
[White “Esipenko, Andrey”]
[Black “Duda, Jan-Krzysztof”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[BlackElo “2743”]
[ECO “C42”]
[TimeControl “01:40:30”]
[WhiteElo “2677”]
[ePGN “0.1;DGT LiveChess/2.2.5”]
1.e4 { [%clk 01:40:54] } 1…e5 { [%clk 01:40:39] } 2.Nf3 { [%clk 01:41:08] } 2…Nf6 { [%clk 01:41:03] } 3.Nxe5 { [%clk 01:41:06] } 3…d6 { [%clk 01:41:27] } 4.Nf3 { [%clk 01:41:25] } 4…Nxe4 { [%clk 01:41:50] } 5.d4 { [%clk 01:41:39] } 5…d5 { [%clk 01:42:07] } 6.Bd3 { [%clk 01:41:55] } 6…Bf5 { [%clk 01:42:29] } 7.O-O { [%clk 01:41:01] } 7…Be7 { [%clk 01:42:54] } 8.Re1 { [%clk 01:41:02] } 8…O-O { [%clk 01:43:15] } 9.Nbd2 { [%clk 01:40:01] } 9…Nd6 { [%clk 01:43:19] } 10.Nf1 { [%clk 01:40:07] } 10…c6 { [%clk 01:41:15] } 11.Bf4 { [%clk 01:39:34] } 11…Bxd3 { [%clk 01:41:13] } 12.Qxd3 { [%clk 01:39:58] } 12…Nd7 { [%clk 01:36:34] } 13.Qb3 { [%clk 01:36:40] } 13…Nb6 { [%clk 01:29:59] } 14.a4 { [%clk 01:31:34] } 14…Nbc4 { [%clk 01:28:35] } 15.Ne5 { [%emt 00:03:25] } 15…Nxe5 { [%emt 00:15:02] } 16.dxe5 { [%clk 01:08:06] [%emt 00:00:39] } 16…Ne4 { [%clk 01:20:06] } 17.Ng3 Nxg3 { [%clk 01:20:15] [%emt 00:09:42] } 18.Qxg3 Re8 { [%clk 01:18:10] [%emt 00:06:54] } 19.Rad1 { [%clk 00:56:02] } 19…Qd7 20.c4 { [%clk 00:44:01] [%emt 00:23:02] } 20…Bb4 { [%clk 01:04:17] } 21.Bh6 Bf8 { [%emt 00:15:17] } 22.Be3 { [%emt 00:05:45] } 22…Qf5 { [%clk 00:58:33] [%emt 00:04:31] } 23.cxd5 Rxe5 { [%emt 00:04:56] } 24.dxc6 { [%clk 00:33:31] [%emt 00:00:10] } 24…bxc6 25.Rc1 { [%emt 00:14:53] } 25…Rae8 { [%emt 00:08:38] } 26.Red1 { [%clk 00:20:43] [%emt 00:05:18] } 26…Qe4 27.Qf4 { [%clk 00:21:09] [%emt 00:06:15] } 27…Qxf4 28.Bxf4 { [%emt 00:00:20] } 28…Re4 { [%emt 00:05:05] } 29.Be3 { [%emt 00:00:25] } 29…Rxa4 { [%clk 00:40:50] [%emt 00:00:08] } 30.Rxc6 Rb4 { [%emt 00:01:54] } 1/2-1/2
[Event “Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands”]
[Date “2021.01.16”]
[Round “1.5”]
[White “Grandelius, Nils”]
[Black “Donchenko, Alexander”]
[Result “1-0”]
[BlackElo “2668”]
[ECO “C50”]
[TimeControl “01:40:30”]
[WhiteElo “2663”]
[ePGN “0.1;DGT LiveChess/2.2.5”]
1.e4 { [%clk 01:40:50] } 1…e5 { [%clk 01:40:30] } 2.Nf3 { [%clk 01:40:38] } 2…Nc6 { [%clk 01:40:20] } 3.Bc4 { [%clk 01:39:52] } 3…Nf6 { [%clk 01:40:13] } 4.d3 { [%clk 01:39:28] } 4…Bc5 { [%clk 01:40:10] } 5.O-O { [%clk 01:37:45] } 5…d6 { [%clk 01:40:00] } 6.c3 { [%clk 01:37:52] } 6…a6 { [%clk 01:39:50] } 7.Re1 { [%clk 01:37:36] } 7…Ba7 { [%clk 01:38:21] } 8.Nbd2 { [%clk 01:36:47] } 8…O-O { [%clk 01:34:48] } 9.Nf1 { [%clk 01:34:54] } 9…Na5 { [%clk 01:30:59] } 10.Bb3 { [%clk 01:34:53] } 10…Nxb3 { [%clk 01:31:05] } 11.axb3 { [%clk 01:35:12] } 11…c6 { [%emt 00:04:26] } 12.Ng3 { [%emt 00:03:21] } 12…h6 { [%emt 00:03:49] } 13.h3 { [%emt 00:06:35] } 13…Be6 { [%emt 00:13:17] } 14.d4 { [%emt 00:16:32] } 14…Re8 { [%emt 00:15:02] } 15.Be3 { [%emt 00:10:49] } 15…d5 { [%emt 00:12:05] } 16.exd5 { [%emt 00:01:19] } 16…exd4 { [%emt 00:00:31] } 17.Bxd4 { [%emt 00:05:58] } 17…Qxd5 { [%emt 00:03:53] } 18.Bxf6 { [%emt 00:05:31] } 18…Qxd1 { [%emt 00:11:24] } 19.Raxd1 { [%emt 00:01:26] } 19…gxf6 { [%emt 00:09:34] } 20.b4 { [%emt 00:06:42] } 20…Red8 { [%emt 00:05:11] } 21.Ne4 { [%emt 00:03:04] } 21…Kg7 { [%emt 00:02:05] } 22.Nc5 { [%emt 00:02:59] } 22…Bxc5 { [%clk 00:19:36] [%emt 00:00:01] } 23.bxc5 { [%emt 00:00:49] } 23…f5 { [%emt 00:04:09] } 24.Nd4 { [%emt 00:00:35] } 24…Kf6 { [%emt 00:02:41] } 25.Ra1 { [%emt 00:04:03] } 25…a5 { [%emt 00:01:41] } 26.Ra4 { [%emt 00:01:03] } 26…Rd5 { [%emt 00:01:03] } 27.b4 { [%emt 00:00:33] } 27…Ra6 { [%emt 00:04:20] } 28.Nxe6 { [%emt 00:00:06] } 28…fxe6 { [%emt 00:00:07] } 29.Rea1 { [%emt 00:07:25] } 29…Ke5 { [%emt 00:00:22] } 30.Re1+ { [%clk 00:05:54] [%emt 00:00:15] } 30…Kf6 { [%clk 00:08:43] [%emt 00:00:03] } 31.Rea1 { [%clk 00:06:19] [%emt 00:00:05] } 31…Ke5 { [%emt 00:01:43] } 32.Rxa5 { [%emt 00:00:21] } 32…Rxa5 { [%clk 00:09:19] } 33.Rxa5 { [%emt 00:01:55] } 33…Ke4 { [%emt 00:01:17] } 34.Ra7 { [%emt 00:02:18] } 34…Rd1+ { [%clk 00:06:09] [%emt 00:00:11] } 35.Kh2 { [%emt 00:00:08] } 35…Rd7 { [%emt 00:01:59] } 36.Ra1 { [%emt 00:03:17] Black may be down a pawn but has reasonable compensation in the form of an actively placed king. } 36…Rd2 { [%emt 00:02:34] And this seemingly innocent move is Donchenko’s undoing. Black needed to play f4 here to keep white’s king from becoming mobile. } 37.Re1+ { [%emt 00:01:54] Now after this check, another check and then f4, white’s king will emerge to wreak havoc. } 37…Kd3 { [%emt 00:00:55] } 38.Re3+ { [%clk 00:01:22] [%emt 00:00:02] and donchenko’s king must leave the area. } 38…Kc4 { [%emt 00:01:02] } 39.f4 { [%emt 00:02:08] Now white plays f4 which spells serious trouble for black. } 39…h5 { [%emt 00:00:42] } 40.Kg3 { [%csl Ge6,Gh5]with white’s king now active, black has no compensation for being down the pawn and worse, no good way of defending the weak pawns on e6 and h5. [%emt 00:00:47] } 40…Rd3 { [%emt 00:07:56] } 41.Rxd3 { [%clk 00:43:18] } 41…Kxd3 { [%emt 00:01:29] } 42.Kh4 { [%emt 00:06:46] } 42…Ke3 { [%emt 00:13:59] } 43.g3 { [%emt 00:03:18] } 43…Kf2 { [%emt 00:02:07] } 44.g4 { [%emt 00:00:48] } 44…hxg4 { [%clk 00:41:57] [%emt 00:00:09] } 45.hxg4 { [%emt 00:00:35] } 45…fxg4 { [%emt 00:00:05] } 46.Kxg4 { [%emt 00:00:11] } 46…Ke3 { [%emt 00:00:40] } 47.Kg5 { [%emt 00:00:46] black resigns here because: } 47…Ke4 48.Kf6 Kxf4 49.Kxe6 Ke4 50.Kd6 Kd3 51.Kc7 Kxc3 52.Kxb7 Kxb4 53.Kxc6 1-0
[Event “Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands”]
[Date “2021.01.16”]
[Round “1.6”]
[White “Caruana, Fabiano”]
[Black “Van Foreest, Jorden”]
[Result “1/2-1/2”]
[BlackElo “2671”]
[ECO “D32”]
[TimeControl “01:40:30”]
[WhiteElo “2823”]
[ePGN “0.1;DGT LiveChess/2.2.5”]
1.c4 { [%clk 01:40:21] [%emt 03:08:58] } 1…e6 { [%clk 01:40:48] } 2.Nc3 { [%clk 01:40:40] } 2…d5 { [%clk 01:41:04] } 3.d4 { [%clk 01:40:52] } 3…c5 { [%clk 01:41:07] } 4.e3 { [%clk 01:37:54] } 4…Nf6 { [%clk 01:41:02] } 5.Nf3 { [%clk 01:37:52] } 5…a6 { [%clk 01:40:56] } 6.cxd5 { [%clk 01:34:03] } 6…exd5 { [%clk 01:41:15] } 7.g3 { [%clk 01:32:58] } 7…c4 { [%clk 01:37:31] } 8.Bg2 { [%clk 01:29:46] } 8…Bb4 { [%clk 01:36:46] } 9.Bd2 { [%clk 01:25:03] } 9…O-O { [%clk 01:33:20] } 10.b3 { [%clk 01:19:22] } 10…Bf5 { [%clk 01:26:32] [%emt 00:03:35] } 11.O-O { [%clk 01:09:17] [%emt 00:10:35] } 11…Bd3 { [%clk 01:11:17] [%emt 00:15:45] } 12.Re1 { [%clk 01:09:05] [%emt 00:00:42] } 12…Nc6 { [%emt 00:04:13] } 13.Ne5 { [%clk 00:39:46] [%emt 00:29:03] } 13…Nxe5 { [%clk 00:53:50] [%emt 00:15:00] } 14.dxe5 { [%clk 00:40:12] [%emt 00:00:04] } 14…Bxc3 { [%clk 00:53:39] [%emt 00:00:41] } 15.Bxc3 { [%clk 00:40:36] [%emt 00:00:06] } 15…Ne4 { [%clk 00:53:59] [%emt 00:00:10] } 16.Bb4 { [%clk 00:38:20] [%emt 00:02:47] } 16…Re8 { [%clk 00:53:47] [%emt 00:00:41] } 17.f3 { [%clk 00:38:08] [%emt 00:00:42] } 17…a5 { [%clk 00:40:45] [%emt 00:13:33] } 18.Ba3 { [%clk 00:37:48] [%emt 00:00:49] } 18…Nc3 { [%clk 00:40:06] [%emt 00:01:09] } 19.Qd2 { [%clk 00:38:10] [%emt 00:00:08] } 19…Nb5 { [%clk 00:39:51] [%emt 00:00:46] } 20.Bb2 { [%clk 00:38:13] [%emt 00:00:27] } 20…a4 { [%clk 00:37:13] [%emt 00:03:08] } 21.f4 { [%clk 00:30:05] [%emt 00:08:38] } 21…a3 { [%clk 00:37:38] [%emt 00:00:05] } 22.Bc3 { [%clk 00:30:30] [%emt 00:00:05] } 22…Qb6 { [%clk 00:32:48] [%emt 00:05:20] } 23.Bb4 { [%clk 00:24:41] [%emt 00:06:19] } 23…Red8 { [%clk 00:32:09] [%emt 00:01:09] } 24.Rac1 { [%clk 00:24:26] [%emt 00:00:45] } 24…Be4 { [%clk 00:27:18] [%emt 00:05:21] } 25.Be7 { [%clk 00:09:04] [%emt 00:15:51] } 25…Re8 { [%clk 00:25:43] [%emt 00:02:05] } 26.Bxe4 { [%clk 00:07:53] [%emt 00:01:41] } 26…dxe4 { [%clk 00:24:44] [%emt 00:01:28] } 27.bxc4 { [%clk 00:07:29] [%emt 00:00:54] } 27…Rxe7 { [%clk 00:25:09] [%emt 00:00:05] } 28.Qb4 { [%clk 00:04:34] [%emt 00:03:26] } 28…Rc7 { [%clk 00:22:47] [%emt 00:02:52] } 29.Qxb5 { [%clk 00:04:52] [%emt 00:00:12] } 29…Qxb5 { [%clk 00:23:04] [%emt 00:00:13] } 30.cxb5 { [%clk 00:05:17] [%emt 00:00:05] } 30…Rac8 { [%clk 00:23:28] [%emt 00:00:06] } 31.Rxc7 { [%clk 00:04:22] [%emt 00:01:25] } 31…Rxc7 { [%clk 00:23:51] [%emt 00:00:06] } 32.Rd1 { [%clk 00:04:03] [%emt 00:00:49] } 32…g5 { [%clk 00:19:00] [%emt 00:05:20] } 33.b6 { [%clk 00:02:13] [%emt 00:02:21] } 33…Rc6 { [%clk 00:17:37] [%emt 00:01:53] } 34.Rd8+ { [%clk 00:00:52] [%emt 00:01:51] } 34…Kg7 { [%clk 00:18:00] [%emt 00:00:06] } 35.Ra8 { [%clk 00:01:00] [%emt 00:00:22] } 35…Rc1+ { [%clk 00:14:34] [%emt 00:03:56] } 36.Kg2 { [%clk 00:01:27] [%emt 00:00:04] } 36…Rc2+ { [%clk 00:12:46] [%emt 00:02:18] } 37.Kh3 { [%clk 00:01:52] [%emt 00:00:04] } 37…gxf4 { [%clk 00:12:11] [%emt 00:01:06] } 38.gxf4 { [%clk 00:01:58] [%emt 00:00:24] } 38…Rxa2 { [%clk 00:10:13] [%emt 00:02:29] } 39.Kg4 { [%clk 00:01:07] [%emt 00:01:21] } 39…Rxh2 { [%clk 00:08:54] [%emt 00:01:48] } 40.Rxa3 { [%clk 00:51:23] [%emt 00:00:14] } 40…Rb2 { [%clk 00:59:17] [%emt 00:00:06] } 41.f5 { [%emt 00:20:11] } 41…Rg2+ { [%clk 00:32:47] [%emt 00:19:26] } 42.Kf4 { [%clk 00:39:13] [%emt 00:00:33] } 42…h5 { [%clk 00:33:12] [%emt 00:00:05] } 43.Kxe4 { [%clk 00:36:16] [%emt 00:03:28] } 43…h4 { [%clk 00:32:20] [%emt 00:01:21] } 44.Ra1 { [%clk 00:16:46] [%emt 00:20:00] } 44…h3 { [%clk 00:29:26] [%emt 00:03:23] } 45.Kf3 { [%clk 00:13:58] [%emt 00:03:19] } 45…Rb2 { [%clk 00:28:54] [%emt 00:01:02] } 46.Rh1 { [%clk 00:10:44] [%emt 00:03:44] } 46…h2 { [%clk 00:29:03] [%emt 00:00:21] } 47.Kg3 { [%clk 00:11:05] [%emt 00:00:09] } 47…Rb5 { [%clk 00:25:46] [%emt 00:03:47] } 48.Kf4 { [%clk 00:10:18] [%emt 00:01:17] } 48…Rb2 { [%clk 00:26:03] [%emt 00:00:13] } 49.Kf3 { [%clk 00:10:08] [%emt 00:00:41] } 49…Kh6 { [%clk 00:24:55] [%emt 00:01:38] } 50.Kf4 { [%clk 00:10:15] [%emt 00:00:23] } 50…Rf2+ { [%clk 00:22:43] [%emt 00:02:42] } 51.Kg4 { [%clk 00:09:44] [%emt 00:01:01] } 51…Re2 { [%clk 00:23:08] [%emt 00:00:05] } 52.Kf3 { [%clk 00:08:15] [%emt 00:02:00] } 52…Rb2 { [%clk 00:23:31] [%emt 00:00:06] } 53.Kg3 { [%clk 00:06:54] [%emt 00:01:50] } 53…Kg5 { [%clk 00:22:59] [%emt 00:01:01] } 54.e6 { [%clk 00:06:34] [%emt 00:00:51] } 54…fxe6 { [%clk 00:23:23] [%emt 00:00:07] } 55.fxe6 { [%clk 00:07:01] [%emt 00:00:03] } 55…Rxb6 { [%clk 00:23:46] [%emt 00:00:06] } 56.Rxh2 { [%clk 00:07:27] [%emt 00:00:04] } 56…Rxe6 { [%clk 00:24:10] [%emt 00:00:06] } 1/2-1/2
[Event “Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2021”]
[Site “Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands”]
[Date “2021.01.16”]
[Round “1.7”]
[White “Giri, Anish”]
[Black “Tari, Aryan”]
[Result “1-0”]
[BlackElo “2625”]
[ECO “C65”]
[TimeControl “01:40:30”]
[WhiteElo “2764”]
[ePGN “0.1;DGT LiveChess/2.2.5”]
1.e4 { [%clk 01:40:56] [%emt 03:08:58] } 1…e5 { [%clk 01:40:39] } 2.Nf3 { [%clk 01:41:19] } 2…Nc6 { [%clk 01:41:03] } 3.Bb5 { [%clk 01:41:44] } 3…Nf6 { [%clk 01:41:24] } 4.d3 { [%clk 01:39:58] } 4…Bc5 { [%clk 01:41:31] } 5.Bxc6 { [%clk 01:37:01] } 5…dxc6 { [%clk 01:41:52] } 6.O-O { [%clk 01:37:02] } 6…Bg4 { [%clk 01:41:21] } 7.h3 { [%clk 01:26:04] } 7…Bh5 { [%clk 01:41:43] } 8.g4 { [%clk 01:26:23] } 8…Nxg4 { [%clk 01:41:56] } 9.hxg4 { [%clk 01:26:49] } 9…Bxg4 { [%clk 01:42:20] } 10.Be3 { [%clk 01:27:00] } 10…Be7 { [%clk 01:41:12] } 11.Kg2 { [%clk 01:26:25] } 11…f5 { [%clk 01:37:42] } 12.Qe1 { [%clk 01:26:08] } 12…Bxf3+ { [%clk 01:36:03] } 13.Kxf3 { [%clk 01:25:16] } 13…f4 { [%clk 01:35:04] } 14.Bd2 { [%clk 01:25:40] } 14…g5 { [%clk 01:32:51] } 15.Bc3 { [%emt 00:06:15] } 15…Bf6 { [%emt 00:11:24] } 16.Nd2 { [%emt 00:09:49] } 16…Qe7 { [%clk 01:16:17] [%emt 00:02:27] } 17.Rh1 { [%clk 01:07:03] [%emt 00:02:44] } 17…h5 { [%clk 01:15:44] [%emt 00:01:03] } 18.Ke2 { [%emt 00:05:00] } 18…g4 { [%clk 01:09:18] [%emt 00:02:14] } 19.f3 { [%emt 00:07:57] } 19…g3 { [%emt 00:18:47] } 20.Kf1 { [%emt 00:08:51] } 20…h4 { [%emt 00:00:41] } 21.Rh3 { [%emt 00:12:42] } 21…a5 { [%emt 00:07:30] } 22.a4 { [%emt 00:03:13] } 22…b6 { [%emt 00:02:20] } 23.Kg2 { [%emt 00:02:38] } 23…c5 { [%clk 00:33:59] [%emt 00:04:28] } 24.Qb1 { [%clk 00:35:14] [%emt 00:03:41] } 24…Kf7 { [%emt 00:10:45] } 25.b3 { [%clk 00:30:05] [%emt 00:00:28] } 25…Rad8 { [%clk 00:25:06] [%emt 00:04:20] } 26.Nc4 { [%clk 00:29:22] [%emt 00:01:13] } 26…Kg6 { [%clk 00:23:58] [%emt 00:01:39] } 27.Qb2 { [%emt 00:02:07] } 27…Rh5 { [%clk 00:21:57] [%emt 00:01:09] } 28.Rah1 { [%clk 00:29:12] [%emt 00:00:25] } 28…Rdh8 { [%clk 00:21:38] [%emt 00:00:49] } 29.Qa1 { [%emt 00:03:07] } 29…Kg7 { [%emt 00:02:51] } 30.Bb2 { [%emt 00:02:13] } 30…Kg6 { [%emt 00:04:28] } 31.Qb1 { [%clk 00:14:19] [%emt 00:08:12] } 31…Rd8 { [%clk 00:16:37] [%emt 00:02:03] } 32.Qe1 { [%emt 00:03:37] } 32…Kg7 { [%emt 00:04:16] } 33.Qa1 { [%clk 00:10:15] [%emt 00:01:27] } 33…Rdh8 { [%clk 00:12:10] [%emt 00:01:12] } 34.Na3 { [%emt 00:01:35] } 34…Kg6 { [%clk 00:11:12] } 35.Nb5 { [%clk 00:10:32] [%emt 00:00:36] } 35…Bg7 { [%clk 00:09:23] [%emt 00:02:19] } 36.Nc3 { [%clk 00:10:42] [%emt 00:00:20] } 36…Qd8 { [%emt 00:03:51] } 37.Ne2 { [%emt 00:00:44] } 37…R8h7 { [%clk 00:07:35] [%emt 00:00:45] } 38.Qe1 { [%emt 00:04:40] } 38…Qd6 { [%clk 00:02:14] [%emt 00:01:29] } 39.Qc3 { [%emt 00:01:11] } 39…c6 { [%emt 00:02:06] } 40.Qc4 { [%clk 00:58:31] [%emt 00:00:02] } 40…Rh8 { [%emt 00:07:59] } 41.Ba3 { [%emt 00:08:48] } 41…Qf6 { [%emt 00:14:20] } 42.Qa6 { [%emt 00:03:27] } 42…Rb8 { [%emt 00:06:24] } 43.Bc1 { [%clk 00:29:11] [%emt 00:00:55] } 43…Bh6 { [%clk 00:38:15] [%emt 00:03:28] } 44.Qa7 { [%clk 00:27:25] [%emt 00:02:17] } 44…Qd8 { [%emt 00:01:37] } 45.Bb2 { [%emt 00:17:15] } 45…Qc8 { [%emt 00:06:36] } 46.Qe7 { [%clk 00:21:13] [%emt 00:00:25] } 46…Bf8 { [%emt 00:00:17] What is white’s best move. I’ll give you a hint, it kicksoff a mate in 7! You have 5 minutes. If you think you find the answer before time is up go ahead and fast forward to a moment past where the clock is present on the screen. Good luck. } 47.Nxf4+ { [%clk 00:21:30] [%emt 00:00:09]Is correct and black resigned. I will also give you partial credit if you spotted Rxg3+ and Rxh4 as they are also winning moves. But lets continue down the Anish Giri’s choice which is also the most precise. So play would have continued something like: } 47…exf4 ( 47…Kh6 48.Qf6+ Kh7 49.Bxe5 Qxh3+ 50.Rxh3 Rxe5 51.Rxh4+ Rh5 52.Qf7+ Kh8 53.Ng6# ) 48.Qf6+ Kh7 49.Rxh4 { and black can survive a little longer by: } 49…Qh3+ 50.R1xh3 Rh6 51.Qf7+ Bg7 52.Rxh6# 1-0