Amber 2008 Round 4
Magnus played Aronian in round 4. (I'm referring to the two games per day as one round so round 4 featured game 7 and 8 for Magnus in the tournament.)
Unfortunately both games were somewhat special but for different reasons.
Magnus felt he had a comfortable position as black in the blindfold game despite the double b-pawn and when Aronian became too optimistic he snatched the pawn on a3 (24....Bxa3!) after which the position is complex but slightly better for black.
Both players seem to have missed that 26.Nd2 probably was much better for white than Be3.
In the opposite bishop and rook endgame Magnus was up a pawn (3 versus 2).
It is probably a theoretical draw but difficult to defend for white.
Advancing his f and e-pawns Magnus made considerable progress but in the end Aronian managed too defend and draw after 105 (!) moves.
Magnus thought he must have had a won position at some point but he is not sure where he went wrong.
(I think Fritz gave 73.... Rf4!, instead of Bd5 a decisive advantage although I haven't analysed it any further.)
The game lasted about 2 hours and delayed the games for the rest of the day considerably.
In the second game Magnus got a small but comfortable advantage as white and was trying to make progress in the rook and bishop endgame when the unfortunate incident took place.
Magnus moved his rook to a3 and discovered immediately the blunder (due to Rg3+). His mind was so occupied with registering the blunder and instinctively correcting it that he did not really notice whether he had released his rook at a3 or not.
Aronian immediately took exception to the corrected move and the arbiter was involved.
Magnus was somewhat surprised when the arbiter said that the video footage clearly showed that Magnus had released the rook on a3 before moving it to c1. He has not seen the video but of course he accepted the ruling of the arbiter, and duly resigned. 0-1.
After the game Magnus has emphasised that he did not intentionally try to cheat and he has apologised to Aronian for any disagreement he may have felt during the episode.
Sole leader before round 4, Anand, lost against Leko while Aronian, Ivanchuk and Topalov won their mini-matches 1,5-0,5 to take a shared lead with 5/8. (Ivanchuk played a brilliant queen sacrifice againt Karjakin. If you haven't seen it yet, take a look !)
At 50% Magnus is sharing 5.-7. place with Kramnik and Leko going into the first free day.
Tomorrow Magnus has white against Gelfand in the blindfold game.
Henrik Carlsen
Lommedalen, March 19th 2008.
Unfortunately both games were somewhat special but for different reasons.
Magnus felt he had a comfortable position as black in the blindfold game despite the double b-pawn and when Aronian became too optimistic he snatched the pawn on a3 (24....Bxa3!) after which the position is complex but slightly better for black.
Both players seem to have missed that 26.Nd2 probably was much better for white than Be3.
In the opposite bishop and rook endgame Magnus was up a pawn (3 versus 2).
It is probably a theoretical draw but difficult to defend for white.
Advancing his f and e-pawns Magnus made considerable progress but in the end Aronian managed too defend and draw after 105 (!) moves.
Magnus thought he must have had a won position at some point but he is not sure where he went wrong.
(I think Fritz gave 73.... Rf4!, instead of Bd5 a decisive advantage although I haven't analysed it any further.)
The game lasted about 2 hours and delayed the games for the rest of the day considerably.
In the second game Magnus got a small but comfortable advantage as white and was trying to make progress in the rook and bishop endgame when the unfortunate incident took place.
Magnus moved his rook to a3 and discovered immediately the blunder (due to Rg3+). His mind was so occupied with registering the blunder and instinctively correcting it that he did not really notice whether he had released his rook at a3 or not.
Aronian immediately took exception to the corrected move and the arbiter was involved.
Magnus was somewhat surprised when the arbiter said that the video footage clearly showed that Magnus had released the rook on a3 before moving it to c1. He has not seen the video but of course he accepted the ruling of the arbiter, and duly resigned. 0-1.
After the game Magnus has emphasised that he did not intentionally try to cheat and he has apologised to Aronian for any disagreement he may have felt during the episode.
Sole leader before round 4, Anand, lost against Leko while Aronian, Ivanchuk and Topalov won their mini-matches 1,5-0,5 to take a shared lead with 5/8. (Ivanchuk played a brilliant queen sacrifice againt Karjakin. If you haven't seen it yet, take a look !)
At 50% Magnus is sharing 5.-7. place with Kramnik and Leko going into the first free day.
Tomorrow Magnus has white against Gelfand in the blindfold game.
Henrik Carlsen
Lommedalen, March 19th 2008.
Comments:
Posted by: Esalen
Sad about that incident, I couldn't belive what I saw following the game on ICC, and made a move even I and every chessplayer in the world would recognize as a blunder (in contrary to the one against Karjakin, where the position was a mess to me and every poor chessplayer in the world, and I would made a blunder each move from both sides!) I was even more surprised to find on the official site, that there had been a dispute amongst such great sportplayers as Magnus and Levon, and it had to be settled with a videocam! Even Kasparov vs Polgar in 94 didn't do that, at least, the cam didn't count. I was looking forward for your explanation about this incident on your blog, and I 100 % agree to the way you put it. There is no need to noise for a great player like Magnus, he should make his fight at the board, and the way you Carlsen family look at it, it really seams he will!
A true support from a true hobby player! I hope the best for the rest of the tournement, and a happy easter to you all!
A true support from a true hobby player! I hope the best for the rest of the tournement, and a happy easter to you all!
Posted by: Nina
Selvfølgelig tror vi ikke Magnus prøvde å jukse på noen
som helst måte. Han må være litt fortvila nå. Vær så snill å hilse han fra oss alle og ønske han lykke til med resten av turneringa.
Håper denne episoden ikke tar piffen ut av han og at han klarer å spille videre uten å tenke for mye på det.
Lykke til Magnus!
God Påske til dere alle!
som helst måte. Han må være litt fortvila nå. Vær så snill å hilse han fra oss alle og ønske han lykke til med resten av turneringa.
Håper denne episoden ikke tar piffen ut av han og at han klarer å spille videre uten å tenke for mye på det.
Lykke til Magnus!
God Påske til dere alle!
Posted by: manyoso
I doubt there is any serious chess player in the history of the game who hasn't instinctively done the exact same thing.
No worries at all mate!
Just keep having fun playing and remember kid, it is just a game after all!! :)
No worries at all mate!
Just keep having fun playing and remember kid, it is just a game after all!! :)
Posted by: Laszlo
Very impressive results for Magnus so far! He managed to achieve a better position in both games with Aronian, which is more than one could expect. Go, Magnus!
Such an unfortunate incident (Ra3/c1) could happen with any player at a rapid game, where players frequently slide a piece all over the board before releasing it finally.
Thank you again, Henrik, for your excellent blog!
Such an unfortunate incident (Ra3/c1) could happen with any player at a rapid game, where players frequently slide a piece all over the board before releasing it finally.
Thank you again, Henrik, for your excellent blog!
Posted by: USAfan
Chess fans know that Magnus is a good kid and a fine sportsman and that the incident with Aronian was an accident.
Using Fischer's h3 against the Najdorf, Magnus beat Gelfand today in excellent Fischer-style!
Using Fischer's h3 against the Najdorf, Magnus beat Gelfand today in excellent Fischer-style!
Posted by: Chess
Magnus is the most entertaining chess player in the world!
I am certain he will be the greatest chessplayer of all time! He is getting better and better in each tournament he participates! Good luck further in the Amber blindfolded and rapid.
I am certain he will be the greatest chessplayer of all time! He is getting better and better in each tournament he participates! Good luck further in the Amber blindfolded and rapid.
Posted by: USAfan
What a save today against Topalov in the blindfold! Tremendous resourcefulness and fighting spirit, Magnus!
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