Corus Round 3 & 4.
As the 7 draws of the A-group in round 3 as well as 4 draws and wins by Polgar, van Wely and Kramnik in round 4 are old news, I'll just comment briefly on Magnus' games and some of his own considerations.
The game as black against Adams on Monday was a Ruy Lopez. Magnus went for 5... Nxe4 and later 13.... c5 instead of the more usual Nxd2. With opposite bishops he was a little worse due to the white pawn on e5 and passive bishop on e6 but did not really feel uncomfortable as he felt he knew how to defend the position.
Finding the correct moves he countered with 22.Bc5 f4! after which he had sufficient counterplay on the kingside and in the c-file. Commentators was a bit surprised that Magnus exchanged the second rook on f1 to enter a slightly worse bishop + queen ending, but Magnus thought 29.... Rc2 would be met by 30.Bd2 after which black can't defend the f4-pawn any longer.
After exchanging rooks Magnus played Qg5-f5-c1-d1-d4 forcing the exchange of queens and could easily draw the opposite bishop ending. 0,5-0,5.
Taking into account the fact that Adams surely wanted revenge for the World Cup loss and that he is known as a "spider" with white, Magnus was very pleased with his game.
In round 4 Magnus played white against Levon Aronian, Despite a negative score in their many games, Magnus was fairly optimistic taking into account his 3 wins with white against Aronian in the Elista Candidates.
Magnus faced a novelty 11...c5 in the Ruy Lopez but felt that he was slightly better and could make natural moves without taking much time on the clock. However, Bxe6 was based a serious miscalculation and after the exchange sack on f3 black is slightly better.
Aronian could have played 22.... Rc8 and the variation Be3 Nc3 Rc1 leads to a slightly better ending for black but Magnus should be able to draw relatively easy.
However, Aronian probably overestimated his position somewhat and after Qd8-f8-f6 Magnus thought that if anyone was better it was white. The game was balanced until Aronian low on time played 30.... g6 after which white is winning. After 34.... Bh6 Magnus thought everything would be winning. He considered Rxa6 but chose what he thought was a simpler route to victory and played Qg3 to exchange queens. But,.... he had missed 35.....Qe2 after which white does not have more than a draw. After 10 minutes thinking Magnus played Qc7 forcing black to take a perpetual.
All in all, Magnus should be fairly happy to draw the co-leader in a game where he made 2 serious oversights.
It is anyway nice to enjoy the first free day as co-leader of Corus A!
I'm going back to Holland on Friday and will bring a camera this time :-)
Henrik Carlsen,
Lommedalen, January 16th, 2008
The game as black against Adams on Monday was a Ruy Lopez. Magnus went for 5... Nxe4 and later 13.... c5 instead of the more usual Nxd2. With opposite bishops he was a little worse due to the white pawn on e5 and passive bishop on e6 but did not really feel uncomfortable as he felt he knew how to defend the position.
Finding the correct moves he countered with 22.Bc5 f4! after which he had sufficient counterplay on the kingside and in the c-file. Commentators was a bit surprised that Magnus exchanged the second rook on f1 to enter a slightly worse bishop + queen ending, but Magnus thought 29.... Rc2 would be met by 30.Bd2 after which black can't defend the f4-pawn any longer.
After exchanging rooks Magnus played Qg5-f5-c1-d1-d4 forcing the exchange of queens and could easily draw the opposite bishop ending. 0,5-0,5.
Taking into account the fact that Adams surely wanted revenge for the World Cup loss and that he is known as a "spider" with white, Magnus was very pleased with his game.
In round 4 Magnus played white against Levon Aronian, Despite a negative score in their many games, Magnus was fairly optimistic taking into account his 3 wins with white against Aronian in the Elista Candidates.
Magnus faced a novelty 11...c5 in the Ruy Lopez but felt that he was slightly better and could make natural moves without taking much time on the clock. However, Bxe6 was based a serious miscalculation and after the exchange sack on f3 black is slightly better.
Aronian could have played 22.... Rc8 and the variation Be3 Nc3 Rc1 leads to a slightly better ending for black but Magnus should be able to draw relatively easy.
However, Aronian probably overestimated his position somewhat and after Qd8-f8-f6 Magnus thought that if anyone was better it was white. The game was balanced until Aronian low on time played 30.... g6 after which white is winning. After 34.... Bh6 Magnus thought everything would be winning. He considered Rxa6 but chose what he thought was a simpler route to victory and played Qg3 to exchange queens. But,.... he had missed 35.....Qe2 after which white does not have more than a draw. After 10 minutes thinking Magnus played Qc7 forcing black to take a perpetual.
All in all, Magnus should be fairly happy to draw the co-leader in a game where he made 2 serious oversights.
It is anyway nice to enjoy the first free day as co-leader of Corus A!
I'm going back to Holland on Friday and will bring a camera this time :-)
Henrik Carlsen,
Lommedalen, January 16th, 2008
Comments:
Posted by: Dr. Mike
Henrik,
Thanks for your updates. I'm a physician who cares for the elderly here in Arizona and very much enjoy observing Magnus's development and achievements from a afar.
Let Magnus know that he serves as an inspiration to many young people around the world offering hope that dreams are possible.
Magnus's dedication, passion, balance and perseverance are attributes that will serve him well in life regardless of what career path he might ultimately pursue.
If ever my wife and I could assist in any way please don't hesistate to ask even though we are oceans apart.
Best of luck and "Carpe Diem"!
Thanks for your updates. I'm a physician who cares for the elderly here in Arizona and very much enjoy observing Magnus's development and achievements from a afar.
Let Magnus know that he serves as an inspiration to many young people around the world offering hope that dreams are possible.
Magnus's dedication, passion, balance and perseverance are attributes that will serve him well in life regardless of what career path he might ultimately pursue.
If ever my wife and I could assist in any way please don't hesistate to ask even though we are oceans apart.
Best of luck and "Carpe Diem"!
Posted by: Nina
Magnus har all grunn til å være fornøyd med spillet sitt denne turneringa.
Håper han har fått hvila seg og er klar for dyst igjen i morra mot
Ivanchuk.
Lykke til Magnus!!
Håper han har fått hvila seg og er klar for dyst igjen i morra mot
Ivanchuk.
Lykke til Magnus!!
Posted by: Kjell Arne
Hi
It`s very rare to notify that we have a norwegian leader among the 3
highest ranked players in the world!
Hopefully it will be the same standing when its finished!
It`s very rare to notify that we have a norwegian leader among the 3
highest ranked players in the world!
Hopefully it will be the same standing when its finished!
Posted by: Henrik C.
Dr.Mike,
thank you for the nice and eloquent words.
Success, fame and money is OK in one sense, but
as you point to; being an inspiration and source of some joy to other people is definitely more important!
I'll keep you offer in mind.
Nina,
takk for støtten! Ivanchuk-partiet var ikke veldig spennende, men stol på at det krevde endel å utlikne på den måten!
Kjell Arne,
fully agree, although I'm happy about his performance whatever the final outcome might be:-)
thank you for the nice and eloquent words.
Success, fame and money is OK in one sense, but
as you point to; being an inspiration and source of some joy to other people is definitely more important!
I'll keep you offer in mind.
Nina,
takk for støtten! Ivanchuk-partiet var ikke veldig spennende, men stol på at det krevde endel å utlikne på den måten!
Kjell Arne,
fully agree, although I'm happy about his performance whatever the final outcome might be:-)
Posted by: Hauk Hofseth
På en ellers trist dag hvor Bobby Fischer har gått bort, er det en sann glede at Magnus utrolig nok leder hele denne fantastisk sterke turneringen... håper han klarer fokusere på god sjakk og ikke resultater også i tiden som kommer. Pepperkakene i Lommedalen må ha gitt den riktige blandingen av fornybar energi og inspirasjon
Lykke til videre. Seier over Topalov + Danailov&co ville gjort godt langt inne i ryggmargen. Selv en milliard kinesere klarer ikke overta hegemoniet etter østeuropeernes sjakk-dominans. Ikke rart Magnus er populær, og det med god grunn. Det føles som å ha fått en flyvende reinsame fra vidda først i mål på 100-meteren i OL
Lykke til videre. Seier over Topalov + Danailov&co ville gjort godt langt inne i ryggmargen. Selv en milliard kinesere klarer ikke overta hegemoniet etter østeuropeernes sjakk-dominans. Ikke rart Magnus er populær, og det med god grunn. Det føles som å ha fått en flyvende reinsame fra vidda først i mål på 100-meteren i OL
Posted by: Caissa
Here's a video of Magnus's press conference (game analysis) after his convincing victory against Polgar:
www.chessvibes.com/videos/lang_nlpersc...gnus-carlsenlang_en/
www.chessvibes.com/videos/lang_nlpersc...gnus-carlsenlang_en/
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