Chess (#1102)

Magnus Carlsen pulled off the treble by winning the world rapids and blitz titles at Dubai. The Norwegian GM is the first triple crown holder. He logged a terrific blitz score of 17/21, ahead of Ian Aleksandrovich Nepomniachtchi and Hikaru Nakamura, who both scored 16. The defending champion, Le Quang Liem, was fourth on 14 and Levon Aronian, Viswanathan Anand, Rauf Mamedov and Shakhriyar Mamedaryov were all on 13.5.

Carlsen (2948) and Nakamura (2906) are in the stratospheric 2900-range for the new live blitz ratings. Fabiano Caruana leads the rapid list with 2857 and Carlsen is behind on 2855. Carlsen, of course, leads the classical list with a current rating of 2876. There are just two players (Carlsen, Aronian) above 2800 in classical chess.

A total of six players (Anand, Vladimir Kramnik, Veselin Topalov and Garry Kasparov) have crossed 2800 in historic terms and there have never been more than three 2800-players in any given classical list. There are six players rated above 2800 in rapid and seven at 2800-plus in blitz.

The blitz and rapids rating lists and indeed, formal world titles at fast controls, have not been in existence for very long. Kasparov would perhaps, be counted as the first formal world rapid champion in 2001 and Anand the second in 2003. The next rapid championship was held in 2009 and Aronian won.

In 2012, Fide decided that world rapids and blitz championships would be held annually. The blitz titles have been won by Alexander Grischuk (2012) and Liem (2013) and the rapids titles by Sergey Karjakin (2102) and Mamedaryov (2013).

Some patterns are becoming evident as more players are rated across different time controls. Strength at faster controls is not completely correlated to classical strength although of course, players who are strong at one control tend to be strong at others.

But Topalov is a very strong classical player who isn't in the top league at faster controls. Caruana is markedly better at classical and rapid than at blitz. Liem provides a counter-example of a tremendous blitz player who is not so good at rapids or classical. One possible explanation for differences between rapid and blitz is that rapid allows for calculation in some depth, while blitz is pure pattern perception and reflexes.

The diagram WHITE TO PLAY (Carlsen Vs Caruana, World Rapids 2014) is a good example of fast calculation. White played 28.Qc6 Rb8 29.Rc1! g6 30.a6! After 30-- Qxb5 31.a7 Qxc6 32. axb8=Q+ Bxb8 33. Rxc6 Kg7 34. Rc8 Be5 35.Rc5 etc. white has a theoretical win. Play continued 31.a7 Rf8 32.g3 d4 33.Qb7 Kg7 34.Rc8 Rxc8 35.Qxc8 Qb1+ 36. Kg2 Qe4+ 37. Kh3 Qd3 38.a8=Q (1-0). The white queens control the key white diagonals.

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player