Chess (#1188)

The Zurich Chess Challenge saw the debut of the "new classical" control of 40 minutes plus 10 seconds increment/move. There weren't too many errors and the overall quality of play was good.

The six players who competed at Zurich (eight if the exhibition match between Boris Gelfand-Alexander Morozevich is counted) are not particularly prone to zeitnot. But they were relying on the increment in most games. So, this control eliminates a certain deeply thought-through tactical operation - players simply don't have the time to calculate in depth. It also makes endgame accuracy hit-or-miss. On the other hand, this makes two rounds a day feasible and it probably enables better play than 25-minute rapid.

Hikaru Nakamura and Viswanathan Anand tied for the title for the second year in succession. Both scored 3.5 in the rapid section and also 3.5 in the blitz section (4 minutes plus 2 seconds/ move increment). Vladimir Kramnik scored 3 in the rapids and 3.5 in the blitz.

Nakamura beat Levon Aronian twice in crunch last-round games to catch up with Anand in each section. Nakamura also held a lost blitz position against Anand. Nakamura and Anand both beat Aronian twice. In the rapids, Anand beat Anish Giri while Nakamura beat Alexei Shirov. In the blitz, Nakamura beat Giri while Anand beat Shirov. Among tailenders, Giri scored 1.5 in the rapids and 2.5 in the blitz. Shirov scored 1.5 in rapids and 0.5 in the blitz. Shirov lost to Giri in the blitz.

Zurich 2015 featured a tiebreak Armageddon game, which Nakamura won. This year, Nakamura won on tiebreak, with the Sonneborn Berger (SB) system. In SB, opponents' scores are summed, with half points awarded for a draw and full points for a win. So, the player who has beaten opponents with higher scores has a better SB. Nakamura's win depended on Giri outscoring Shirov in the blitz. The American GM was willing to play a tiebreaker but the sponsors decided against it.

For what it's worth, Anand played well in Zurich, which could mean that he's recovered from his horrible form in Gibraltar. This may be a good omen for the Candidates. Incidentally, Gelfand beat Morozevich in the exhibition. In other news, the Tehran Women's Grand Prix is at the half-way stage. After Round 6, Nana Dzagnidze and Natalija Pogonina lead with 4.5 each. Koneru Humpy is on 3 while Dronavalli Harika is on 2.5.

The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY ( White: Anand Vs Black: Aronian Zurich 2016) was prelude to a spectacular demolition. White played 15.Nxh6! Kxh6 ?! [15...gxh6 16.Qxf6 Qxf6 17.Rxf6 Kg7 18.Raf1 ] is a lost endgame Now it's white to play and mate with 16.Qh3+ Kg6 17.Rf3 Nh5 18.Rf5 Nf6 19.Qh4 (1-0).

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player