Chess (#1049)

The Tal Memorial saw the old warhorse, Boris Gelfand winning convincingly. The Israeli GM scored 6 from 9 games, and was unbeaten. Magnus Carlsen was second, with 5.5 from 9. Third-fifth were shared by Shakhriyar Mamedaryov, Dmitry Andreikin and Fabiano Caruana, with 5 each. Hikaru Nakamura ruined his chances with three late losses to end on 4.5. The bottom half featured Sergey Karjakin, Vishwanathan Anand, Alexander Morozevic and Vladimir Kramnik - names one normally doesn't see with minus scores.

Carlsen announced that his team for the title match has been fixed though he wouldn't release any names. As the match gets closer, champion and challenger are likely to get more secretive. Every member of both teams will be a specialist in certain opening systems.

Anand's form remains a matter of concern, though it seems better than in 2012. However, since the Candidates, a few weaknesses have also surfaced in Carlsen's repertoire. If there's a pattern to the losses he's suffered in the recent past, Anand must find it. As Garry Kasparov pointed out, Carlsen's ability to hold his nerve and play a "game of his life" appears a little suspect - he lost to Peter Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk in the Candidates under those conditions. Nevertheless, Carlsen must be favourite.

The Women's GP at Dilijan, Armenia, is heading into a tight finish. Koneru Humpy leads with 6.5 from 9, ahead of Anna Muzychuk (6). Dzagnidze and Tatiana Kosintseva, with 5 each, have outside chances of catching up. Harika trails with 4. There are three rounds to go in the 12-player event.

The Geneva Masters is another interesting event. Eight players in two groups play rapids mini-matches with four qualifying for a KO. All ties will be broken, even at the group stage. The lineup is Kramnik, Judit Polgar, Nakamura, Mamedaryov, Etienne Bacrot, Alexandra Kosteniuk, Romain Edouard and Yannick Pelletier. This is the premier event at the festival, which also has age-groups and an open event. The commentary has received both praise and brickbats and is obviously targeted at amateurs.

The diagram, BLACK TO PLAY, (Caruana Vs Gelfand, Tal Mem Moscow 2013) is a reminder of how good Gelfand is at sharp tactics. He exploited several geometric themes with 32-- Ne2! Obviously 33. Qxe2 d3+ and 33. Nxe2 Qxf2 and also 33. Bxe2 Qxf2 are winning. Less obviously 33.Be1 d3+ does the trick.

White tried the horrible 33.Nh1 d3+ 34.Kd1 Qf3. Now 35. Ke1 Nxe4 is simple and the game ended with a crush after 35.Bxc5 Qxf1+ 36.Kd2 Nf4 (36.--Nc3! is even better) 37.Ng3 Qg2+ 38.Kc1 Qxg3 39.Kb1 Ne2 40.Qf7 Qe1+ 41.Ka2 Nc3+! (0-1). Opening the second rank for 42. bxc3 Qd2+ 43. Ka1 Qxc3+ etc.

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player