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The Corus Chess Tournament 2009 will be held from 16 January - 1 February 2009 in Wijk aan Zee. The tournament venue is the De Moriaan Community Centre (Dorpsduinen 4, 1949 EG Wijk aan Zee) and the nearby bar de Zon. Commentators on the games in Grandmaster groups A, B and C will be based in the Corus Chess Pavilion, on the Village Green in Wijk aan Zee (one minute walking from De Moriaan, you will pass the Pavilion on your left side when driving into Wijk aan Zee). In the following table you will find the list of participants grandmaster group A
After the traditional Opening Ceremony the first round took place with results indicated below. As usual, in the starting round, the majority of games have been draw... Magnus Carlsen and Teimour Radjabov played a Sicilan [B40] with 3.g3, which was rather complicated in the middle, but led -to a draw. Another Sicilian, between Stellwagen and Movsesian, where White a chance of better result, was equally a draw. The Gruenfeld Exchange variation: van Wely, L vs Dominguez Perez, L was an interesting game equally concluded by a draw. But the surprise came from the unexpected shutouts of Vassily Ivanchuk, with White, against Jan Smeets and Alexander Morozevich, leading Black, against the young Prodigy Sergei Karjakin. We propose you an analysis of this last game presented with the Chess-Theory viewer!
************ For this second round in Wijk aan Zee four games was concluded by a draw, nevertheless not without interest, and three led to a decisive battle. Magnus Carlsen, creating a surprise for his opponent, chose the Berlin Wall, playing ambitiously, but was finally unable to make the difference. Dominguez Peres, Leiner - Kamsky, Gata was a short (draw in 26 moves) Caro Kann, advance variation, with a White innovation. Smeets, Jan - Karjakin, Sergei was an interesting Sicilian Najdorf, Opovcensky variation [B92], with the new idea: 8 Re1 & Nf1-e3 (draw in 36). Radjabov, Teimour - Aronian, L [C45] was a very short draw played in 15 moves! In the Giuco Piano [C50] Movsesian, Segei - Adamd, Michael, White engaged in an original line: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d4!?... and Movsesian won in 38 moves after an interesting battle. White won equally, in a convincing way, in Morozevich, Alexander - van Wely, Loek [D97] Gruenfeld Russian, Alekhine (Hungarian) variation. We propose you an analysis of the game: Yue, Wang - Ivanchuk, Vassily [D30] presented with the Chess-Theory viewer!
************ In this third round we notice first that Vassily Ivanchuk and Alexander Morozevich lost their games against respectively Teimour Radjabov playing Black and Gata Kamsky playing White. All other games have been draw. Curiously, Ivanchuk and Morozevich both had won their games in the second round. Levon, Aronian vs Stellwagen, Daniel [B13] Caro-Kann, Advance variation was a short but curious game that we are tempted to analyze here. Magnus Carlsen, playing White against Movsesian, Sergei, in a QGD Slave [D11], with 4.e3, was unable to make the difference, in spite of his outstanding efforts to unhinge his opponent. The Semi Slav van Wely, Loek - Smeets, Jan [D44] follows a brilliant line well known since 1996 (Kamsky, Gata vs Kramnik, Vladimir [D44] ½-½); then Smeets tried to find a new way with the novelty: 22...Re8!? After that both camps played actively, but the game ended on a perpetual check. In the Sicilian Sergei Karjakin - Yue Wang, Sergei surprised the Chinese GM by the Nimzovich-Rossolimo variation 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5. But Yue Wang played accurately finding some good moves as the profilactic 33...Qe8! reinforcing the protection of the b5-Bishop. The draw was concluded after 75 moves. Now we propose you an analysis of the very short game: Aronian, Levon vs Stellwagen, Daniel [B13], presented with the Chess-Theory viewer!
************ In the fourth round, just before the first rest day, all games ended amicably. You will find below an analysis of the Semi Slav, with 5.e3, Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian [D45], probably the confrontation the most rich in events. Movsesian, Sergei - Dominguez Perez, L was a Sicilian Canal-Sokolsky attack, Sokolsky variation, played in 34 moves. Michael Adams, leading Black, played actively against Alexander Morozevich in a Nimzo-Indian Classical, Noa Variation, main line, 7.Qc2. The Caro-Kann: Classical, Spassky variation (7...Nd7 8.h5) [B19] Smeets, Jan - Kamsky, Gata, was concluded in 22 moves. Wang, Yue - van Wely, Loek Catalan Open with Nf3 [E04] was equally a draw where Black found quickly the way of equalization. Teimour Radjabov played without great ambitious a Semi Slav [D15], with 4.Nc3 a6, against Sergey Karjakin (draw in 21). And in Stellwagen, Daniel - Ivanchuk, Vassily, Black surprised his opponent by playing the French Burn variation: 4.Bg5 dxe4 (draw in 32). Now you will find an analysis of the game: Magnus Carlsen vs Levon Aronian [D45], presented with the Chess-Theory viewer!
************ Vassily Ivanchuk vs Magnus Carlsen [C92] Ruy Lopez Closed, Keres Variation (9.h3 a5) has been a short but active struggle (draw in 24). The encounter Gata Kamsky - Wang Yue [C42] was a Petrov, Classical Attack (equally draw in 24). Michael Adams, playing White and Jan Smeets chose also a Petrov [C42] but with 6.Bd3 (Chigorin variation) and the draw was concluded in 39 moves. In Aronian, Levon - Movsesian, Sergei [D15] QGD Slav 4.Nc3, White found an original and active line with 13.Rd1, 14.Nfd2 (1-0 in 58). The game Karjakin, Sergey vs Stellwagen, Daniel was an interesting Sicilian, Taimanov variation, where Sergey found interesting new ideas with 13.Qf2, 14.Bc5. White won in 52 moves. The Sicilian Najdorf, Byrne (English) Attack [B90] Dominguez Perez, L vs Morozevich Alexander was a brilliant game that the Cuban GM won in 36 moves. Loek van Wely surprised Teimour Radjabov in a King's Indian Orthodox, Aronin-Taimanov variation, bayonet attack [E97] which deserves to be studied closely; you will find here an analysis of this game presented, as usual, with the Chess-Theory viewer!
************ The sixth Round has been a great journey in the Chess World, with many games rich, figurative and of high level. We apologize that we are not able to analyze two games in a Round during the Tournament itself (it is a too big work for an only man :-)). But probably we will come back on this event in next future. Carlsen, Magnus vs Karjakin, Sergey [D11] Slav 3.Nf3 was an incredible battle that we invite you to follow carefully through our analysis (draw in 79). The Sicilian Najdorf Opovcensky variation Smeets, Jan - Dominguez, Perez, Leiner [B92] was the replica of a previous game until 21... exd4 (draw in 23). In a Sicilian Najdorf [B96], Loek van Wely encountered some difficulties and found himself in a bad position against Daniel Stellwagen; but White missed the victory (draw in 43). The encounter Aronian, Levon vs Ivanchuk, Vassily [E16], Queen's Indian, Capablanca variation, was concluded by a draw in 56 moves. Michael Adams got his first victory against the Chinese GM Wang Yue, in a QGD: Tartakover (Makagonov-Bondarevsky) System [D58]. After his spectacular defeat in round 5, Teimour Radjabov come back with a strong win against the American GM Gata Kamsky, in a Caro-Kann, Classical variation with 5.Nc5 [ B18]. Another Caro-Kann, Classical, but this time a Spassky variation (7...Nd7 8.h5), was won by Sergei Movsesian (White) against Alexander Morozevich (Black). And now we invite you to follow our careful study of the memorable Carlsen, Magnus vs Karjakin, Sergey game presented, as usual, with the Chess-Theory viewer!
************ Sergey Karjakin vs Levon Aronian was a short Ruy Lopez Closed with 7...0-0 [C88] with presumably a novelty 11.a4 (draw in 18). The English Opening Loek van Wely - Magnus Carlsen [A17] was dubious struggle, with some inaccurate replies on both sides (draw in 37). Particularly interesting and contested was the Sicilian Scheveningen Gata Kamsky vs Daniel Stellwagen [B85], finally concluded by a draw in 71 moves. Adams, M - Radjabov, T was a short Sicilian Rossolimo [B51] (draw in 15). Leinier Dominguez Perez played against the Chinese GM Wang Yue a Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, Open variation with 5... Nd6 6.Bxc6 [C67] (draw in 35). The encounter Vassily Ivanchuk vs Sergei Movsesian Sicilian Scheveningen variation [B80] allowed the Slovak GM to show his talent; but Ivanchuk offered a doubtful resistance, including some weak moves as 24.Bxe6?! (0-1 in 35). Alexander Morozevich - Jan Smeets was a Slav Defense with 4.e3 Bg4 5.Qb3 Qb6 and a Queen exchange only six moves later: 11... Qxb3 12.axb3. From the 37th move begin a ending with three pawns in each camp and the pair of Bishops for White against Bishop and Knight. Morozevich won this endgame after sacrifying a Bishop.
************ Again a Slav with 4... a6 Carlsen, Magnus - Kamsky, Gata [D15] ½-½ (16 m.). Carlsen sacrificed a pawn for the initiative, but Kamsky declined this offer: 11.Ba3! Ndf6. After that nothing serious happens. Movsesian, Sergei - Smeets, Jan was a Petrov Defense, Kaufmann Attack (5.c4). Hostility began as usual by the jump of the f3-Knight in e5: 16.Ne5. It followed an exchange series, including a Queen exchange. The game ended peacefully in 32 moves. Teimour Radjabov vs Leinier Dominguez Perez was an English Symetrical variation [A33] draw in 14 moves. Daniel Stellwagen (White) and Michael Adams (Black) started with a long theoretical line in the Ruy Lopez Closed, Flohr-Zaitsev System (Lenserheide variation) [C92]. After some complications the draw was concluded at the 29th move. The Slav Defense with 4.e3 a6 [D11] is currently in favor in Corus; this opening is still played by Aronian against van Wely. But the Armenian GM was surprised by the 5th move of his opponent: 3.c5 g6!? (Draw in 50). This time Vassily Ivanchuk was rather well inspired against Sergey Karjakin in a Sicilian Najdorf Opovcensky variation. After a topical long line White chose 17.f3!? instead of the usual 17.Kh1. Ivanchuk judges himself that 22.Qa3 was "an important strategic choice". A decisive Black's misjudgment was 28... Rd7? allowing White to play the strong 29.Rb6! (1-0 in 41). Now we propose you an analysis of the game Wang Yue (2739) - Morozevich,A (2771) [D85] presented with the Chess-Theory viewer:
************ In Adams, Michael - Carlsen, Magnus [B70] Sicilian Dragon variation with 6.Bc4, after 6...Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.Re1 Carlsen chose 8...Bg4!? This move introduced in 2004 is rarely used. White played 11.a4, 13.a5, but the struggle was mostly concentrated on open d & e-files. After some exchanges the ending was recognized as a draw (38 m.). In van Wely, Loek - Ivanchuck, Vassily English: Four Knights, King side Fiancheto [A29] the confrontation was classically engaged on the Queen side by 10.b4 a5 11.b5 ... but the main battle occurs in the center and after many exchanges the game ended peacefully (36 m.). Morozevich, Alexander (White) and Radjabov, Teimour (Black) was engaged in a King's Indian Defense. In the middle game b & c-files was soon open involving some pieces exchanges (draw in 24). In Smeets,J (2601) - Wang Yue (2739) [B33] we recognize the Sicilian Pelikan, Chelyabinsk variation: 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bg5 a6 8.Na3 b5, where both players have followed a long theoretical line (draw in 27). Sergey Karjakin played magnificently against Sergei Movsesian in a Sicilian Scheveningen variation [B80] (1-0 in 58). In Kamsky,G (2725) - Aronian,L (2750) [C67] Berlin Wall, White developped in the middle game an aggressive but too optimistic play with some inaccuracies like for example when he advanced excessively his e-f pawn duo: 24.f5?! and 25.e6?! (0-1 in 80 m.). With the figurative Dominguez Perez,L (2717) - Stellwagen,D (2612) [C19], it is pleasant to see a new illustration of the French Winawer Advance, 6...Ne7, Poisoned pawn, Konstantinoply variation, which seems to go out of fashion at a high level. We invite you now to follow attentively this interesting game presented with the Chess-Theory viewer:
************ Radjabov,T (2761) - Smeets,J (2601) [A07] Reti, King's Indian Attack (Barcza System) was a rich and dramatic encounter. All the beginning until the 11th move was well known; in the middle game Teimour took a significant advantages but missed the win two or three times! (draw in 39 ). In the Gruenfeld with 5.e3 (4.e3, 5.Nf3 is only an inversion of moves) Ivanchuk,V (2779) - Kamsky,G (2725) [D94], White take the advantage after two or three too risky and inaccurate replies played by the American GM. But finally, after an eventful struggle the game was draw in 57 moves. Karjakin,Sergey (2706) - Van Wely,L (2625) [B90] Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne (English) Attack was a nice game with a theoretical discussion around the main line and, in the middle game, after opposite side castling, a battle occured (draw in 42). Movsesian,S (2751) - Wang Yue (2739) [C42] Petrov, Kaufmann Attack was draw in 22 and Stellwagen,D (2612) - Morozevich,A (2771) [C92] Ruy Lopez Closed 9.h3 Re8 draw in 31. Aronian,Levon (2750) - Adams,Michael (2712) [E04] Catalan Open, 5.Nf3, 1-0 was a clear victory for the Armenian Grandmaster. Michael Adam encountered some difficulties in the main line of the Catalan. In particular White introduced the rare move 9.Nc3, provoking the inaccurate 9...a6?! Later 14...Qd6?! was another Adams' inaccuracy (1-0 in 45). Finally Magnus gets his first success in a very fine game that we invite you to follow now with the Chess-Theory viewer:
************ In the Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Noa variation, main line, with 7.Qc2, Morozevich,A (2771) - Carlsen,M (2776) [E37], with 9...exd5 the theme of the isolani d5 appeared; later the Russian GM chose the quiet 13.Nd2 leading to some exchanges. Black played actively maintaining easily a balanced game and finally the Queen Ending was very technical and captivating (draw in 41). Adams,Mi (2712) - Ivanchuk,V (2779) was a Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik, with 5...e6 [B14] (draw in 37). Smeets,J (2601) - Stellwagen,D (2612) was a Sicilian, Taimanov variation, with 6.Be3 [B48] (draw in 35). Wang Yue (2739) - Radjabov,T (2761) King's Indian, Gligoric Taimanov System (7.Be3) [E92] has been a strange game. Radjabov played aggressively, but the American GM reached to eliminate more active Black pieces and after 26.Rxb1 takes place a endgame with a "good" White Knight against a "bad' but active Black Bishop. In true a very instructive ending! (0-1 in 64). Dominguez Perez,L (2717) played brilliantly against Aronian,L (2750) in a Ruy Lopez Closed, 7...0-0 [C88] where one find some classical traps as 31.Rxc3! (1-0 in 36). Van Wely,L (2625) played against Movsesian,S (2751) very actively in an English, three Knights System. [A27], where White succeeded in penetrating in the Black camp by the open a-file. On the other hand Black created a strong pressure on the King Side and after inaccurate moves 22.e3?!, 24.Bf1?! began to dominate (0-1 in 44). In Kamsky,G (2725) - Karjakin,Sergey (2706) Queen's pawn game [D02], with 2...Nf6 3.c3, White played efficiently acquiring a strong position on the Queen side. Finally with two protected passed pawns his advantage was obvious (1-0 in 41).
************ Movsesian,S (2751) adopted against Radjabov,T (2761) the Sicilian, Nimzovich Rossolimo Attack (without ...d6) [B30]. White's control of the long diagonal a1-h8 by 16.Bxc3 was directly stoped by 16...Bb4! The game ended by move repetition (27 m.). In Stellwagen,D (2612) - Wang Yue (2739) Ruy Lopez, Berlin Wall, Open variation [C67], with exchange in c6, after a Queen exchange on the 8th, a cool Rook endgame led to a peaceful conclusion (27 m.). Aronian, L (2750) - Morozevich,A (2771) was a Gruenfeld, Russian, Smyslov variation [D98], with castling on opposite sides (draw in 44). Ivanchuk,V (2779) (White) and Dominguez Perez,L (2717) (Black) [B54] played a Sicilian, Prins (Moscow) variation with an improvment for Black 15... Nd7! (instead of 15...Nc5); draw in 22 moves. Van Wely,L (2625) - Kamsky,G (2725) Slav [D15] was the shortest game of this round (draw in 17). In Karjakin,Sergey (2706) vs Adams,Mi (2712) Ruy Lopez, Closed, Flohr-Zaitsev System (Lenzerheide variation) [C92], Segey chose 14.cxd4 in preference to the most usual 14.d5 and later 18.Nc5! surprising his opponent (1-0 in 35). Magnus Carlsen (2776) in his game against Jan Smeets (2601), Caro-Kann Defense [B10], with pawn exchange in d5, played with certainty and obtained a nice position in the middle game, his Queen and minor pieces being well posted and active. 19.h4!, 20.h5! was a coherent strategy in order to attack the Black castle. The transfert of the White Queen to the King side was a judicious final decision (1-0 in 29 m.).
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CORUS Chess 2009
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«ChessBase News - Corus 2009, Wijk aan Zee - Round N°12» ************
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