Carlsen shows stuff vs Liren
Magnus Carlsen held off a chasing Ding Liren at the fifth Gashimov Memorial with an eighth-round victory, to take a half-point lead into the final round in Shamkir, Azerbaijan.
The 27-yearold Norwegian world champion had 5.5 points after beating the Netherlands’ Anish Giri on the Black side of an English opening. He was undefeated with three wins and five draws in the nine-round category 21 event.
Liren, 25, who is ranked eighth in the world and the first Chinese GM to qualify for the Candidates tournament, was in sole second at 5.0 points. He also won round eight and remained unblemished on two wins and six draws, improving his amazing run to 24 consecutive unbeaten classical games that started at the Candidates last month.
The rest of the standings read Giri, Kariakin (RUS), Topalov (BUL), Wojtazsek (POL), Radjabov and Mamedyarov (AZE), 4.0; Mamedjov (AZE), 3.5 and Navara (CZE) 2.0.
* * * Carlsen played model chess at Shamkir. The following game is a model of his opening preparations. He goes his own way and anticipates surprises by working out a little surprise of his own. Faced with dangerous middle game possibilities, he clears the situation and emerges with a decisive advantage. Shamkir Chess 2018 W) M. Carlsen (Norway) B) R. Wojtaszek (Poland) Sicilian Defense 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd2!? ...
This is Carlsen’s new way of handling the Sicilian. At least we know of no other game this system was essayed before. Standard here is 5. Bb5. 5 .... Nf6 6. b3 e6 7. Bb2 a6 8. O-O-O b5 9. f3 h5
This stops the immediate g2g4, though the normal developing move 9...Be7 or 9...Bb7, is to be preferred, according to the engine. 10. Nh3 Be7 11. Ng5 h4 12. f4 Bb7 13. Kb1 Rc8 14. Be2 Qc7
14...Qa5 is the computer’s choice. 15. Rhe1 Nh7?!
In a cramped position, it is good strategy to trade pieces, as the great Dr. Siegbert Tarrasch used to say. But at this point, providing safety for the King with 16...0-0, is probably a priority. 16. Nxh7 Rxh7 17. g4 ...
The engine considers 17. Nd5! with these possibilities: 17...exd5 18. exd5 Kf8 (18...Nd8 is met by 19. Bd3) 19. dxc6 Bxc6 20. Bg4 Re8 21. Qc3 and White has a clear advantage. 17 .... hxg3 18. hxg3 Bf6 19. Bd3 Rh8 20. g4 ... 20. Rh1! is stronger, according to the computer. 20 .... Nd4 21. Re3 Kf8 Seems best as other moves lead to a big advantage for White. 22. Ne2 Nxe2 23. Rxe2 Bc3 24. Bxc3 Qxc3 25. Qe3 Rc5
25...Qc5 26. Qe3, White retains the initiative. 26. e5! ...
Opening up the center where the Black King lives dangerously. 26 .... dxe5
26...Rd5 should have been tried, with probable chances to hold. 27. fxe5 Rh1?
A fatalistic reply, but even after 27...Rc7 28. g5! g6 29. Qf4 Rd7 30. Rf1, White has tremendous pressure along the half open f file. 28. Rxh1 Bxh1 29. Rh2! ...
This is decisive, as the doublethreat of 30. Rxh1 and 30. Rh8ch, compels Black to lose material. 29 .... Rxe5 30. Rh8ch Ke7
If 31...Kf6, White wins with 32. g5ch Rxg5 33. Rxh1, to be followed by 34. Rf1ch, while 31...Kd6 is refuted by 32. Rd8ch Kc6 33. Rc8ch. * * *
Solution to last week’s puzzle: Black to move and win. White=Kh6, Rf6, Bg7, Pa5, Pb2, Ph5
Black=Kg8, Rc8, Nd8, Pc4, Pd4, Ph7 1... Rc6! 2. Rxc6 ... Or 2. Kg5 Kxg7 and wins. 2... Nf7 mate.