Tal Memorial Starts With A Bang

Submitted by SonofPearl on Mon, 08/18/2008 at 11:02am.

There were three exciting and decisive games in the first round of the Tal Memorial in Moscow. One of the first round matches pitted Vladimir Kramnik (pictured) and Alexei Shirov against one another. This pair have 'history' and their games are always hard fought affairs (Shirov beat Kramnik in a match to play Kasparov for the world title, but the finances fell through, Kramnik stepped in, and the rest is history - much to Shirov's chagrin).

True to form, Shirov played the Meran and a sharp struggle ensued. Shirov sacrificed a bishop for a few pawns and Kramnik's King looked decidedly bare, but Kramnik kept everything under control and struck back to win. Thrilling stuff!

Vassily Ivanchuk made amends for his recent loss to gata Kamsky in the Sochi Grand Prix by destroying the American in their first round game here in Moscow. Gata played his favourite Grunfeld defence, but Ivanchuk unleashed a storm which forced Kamsky's pieces to cower helplessly in the corner. Kamsky couldn't find a way out and overlooked a simple mate in three for Chucky - time trouble may have been a factor.

The enigmatic Alexander Morozevich is known for his unusual openings and he didn't disappoint today, using the Trompovsky to despatch Alekseev. Bravo!

The full results in round 1:

Ivanchuk, Vassily	- Kamsky, Gata	1-0	36	D92	Gruenfeld 5.Bf4
Kramnik, Vladimir	- Shirov, Alexei	1-0	46	D47	Queens Gambit Meran
Morozevich, Alexander	- Alekseev, Evgeny	1-0	40	A45	Trompowsky
Leko, Peter	- Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar	½-½	29	B90	Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Ponomariov, Ruslan	- Gelfand, Boris	½-½	43	C42	Petroff's Defence

» posted in Chess event coverage

1632 reads | 17 comments |

1 vote:

Comments:

by eternaloptimist - 36 hours ago
Orange Beach, AL United States

Member Since: Feb 2008
Member Points: 163

In the Kramnik-Shirov game they played a Semi-Slav (Meran Variation), & it has the same position as the Aronian-Grischuk game played @ the Sochi Grand Prix (by transposition) up to black's 12th move. The Aronian game can be found here: http://www.chess.com/news/lev-aronian-triumphs-in-sochi-grand-prix. Anyway, Aronian played 13.b3 & Kramnik 13.Nd2. Even though Kramnik is one of my favorite players, I like Aronian's idea better - setting up the bishop getting on the a3-f8 diagonal. He eventually got his bishop to c5, got Grischuk to exchange bishops - preventing ...c5 by getting a pawn on c5. Kramnik also made it unfavorable to play ...c5 because of his bishop on the a8-h1 diagonal. Although, Shirov's light-squared bishop was able to do more than Grischuk's. I attitribute this to Aronian having a better plan. Speaking of the ...c5 pawn break, it is interesting that neither Grischuk or Shirov played this, & this is one of the most important goals in the Meran: to open up the a8-h1 diagonal for the bishop on Bb7. If you don't do this, the bishop is going to be "biting on granite" as long as its on b7. Even if you move the Bb7 to another diagonal (the a6-f1 diagonal like Grischuk or play ...Bc8, ...Be6 etc. like Shirov) it normally isn't too effective. It looks like its time for Grischuk & Shirov to go back to the "drawing board" & come up w/ another plan for black. I expect Kramnik to do much better in this trnt. than the last trnt. he played in (the Sparkassen Chess Mtg. in Dortmund, Germany) He had the 2nd worst score there. He won't be rusty in this trnt. & should be a threat to win it.

by Dmytro - 42 hours ago
Kiev Ukraine

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 256

"Kramnik vs. Shirov - that's better than cable TV!"

+1!

Exelent beginning of the tournament!

by Bob1 - 42 hours ago
Lisheen Ireland

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 106

Yes chipsystems that position is fine for both players but Ivanchuk has a more decisive advantage after Nd8.. (Note that after 35...Qb5+ in your diagram, black escapes checkmate and he at least has the chance of a draw)

And carpediem, there is no mate in three for Kamsky.. SonofPearl meant that he missed a mate in three from Ivanchuk with 35.Nxf7+ Kh7 36.Qc2+ (resigns here) Qd3 37.Qxd3#.. I was looking for Kamskys miracle mate aswel when i read this first!

by carpediem - 45 hours ago
Salmiya Kuwait

Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 29

Great job sonofpearl!

So how would've Kamsky mated in three?

by Artemi - 46 hours ago
Imus, Cavite Philippines

Member Since: May 2008
Member Points: 80

Nice games! Only a handful of draws!

by chipsystems - 46 hours ago
United States

Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 15

I'm away from my engine so I can't check this, but this line might be interesting after 33. Rd8 Qxc6. I can't find something wrong with it right away, but that's just because I'm not very good!

by micknek - 2 days ago
Cochabamba-Bolivia Bolivia

Member Since: Oct 2007
Member Points: 74

wow so many super players where is carlsen though?

by ironchess - 2 days ago
Costa Rica

Member Since: Jul 2008
Member Points: 2

About Rd8. I think Ivanchuk didn´t make this move simply because Nd8 is better. Litte (or nothing) is achieved after 33.Rd8 Qxc6. However it would be interesting to know what White had in mind say after 34...Rf8 instead of the blunder 34...h6?? Ok, White takes on f7 with check, the king goes to g8, and then what is the very best course? Black can answer to Nd6 with Qc6 or Qd7 (taking on b2 would allow the strong Rg4). Looks like White still has some work to do...

by Maxie - 2 days ago
Nasr City, Cairo Egypt

Member Since: Jul 2007
Member Points: 29

Yes Right , , i mis-Calculated this

thx alot Bob1 ...

by Bob1 - 2 days ago
Lisheen Ireland

Member Since: Sep 2007
Member Points: 106

Maxie.. in Ivanchuks game 33. Rd8 leads to 33... Qxc6 34.Rxd8 Kxd8 35.Qxb8+ Bf8 which is fine for black as a substantial amount of material has been swept from the board and white is only a pawn up so the match wasnt decided yet.

33.Nd8 double attacks the weak f-pawn and blacks Knight.. threatening to take more material and keeping more pieces on the board in more active positions.