CHESS #555

The difference between the Bilbao Grand Slam scoring system of 3-1-0 (for win-draw-loss) and the traditional system is apparent with two rounds to go. The traditional system would have Topalov leading with 5 points from 8 games (+3,-1,=4) while he is followed by Aronyan (+3,-2,=3) and Ivanchuk (+2,-1,=5) in joint second with Carlsen fourth (+3,-3,=2). Tied for last place are Radjabov and Anand (both -2,=4). Under Bilbao rules, Aronyan is clear second with Ivanchuk and Carlsen tied for third.

The excitement increased as the lead was traded between Carlsen and Topalov, and Aronyan and Ivanchuk both put on a spurt. Any of them could still win. One of the subtexts has been the way in which live ratings have fluctuated. Carlsen was briefly no:1 followed by Ivanchuk taking over as no:1.

Anand lost one game quickly when he failed to handle a Topalov novelty and he has lost another by blundering queen for rook versus Aronyan in a possibly won position. The world champion will probably consider this a good workout because it should help him get match-fit before the title contest. The poor form may have been caused by a combination of lack of motivation and unwillingness to reveal his repertoire.

Another subtext at Bilbao has been the strong rumour that Carlsen is helping Anand with training for the title match. This rumour has been strengthened since both Anand and Carlsen have avoided the question rather than issuing denials. It is in Anand’s (and Kramnik’s) interest to conceal respective teams since a second’s playing style can be decoded for clues as to the direction of preparation. Carlsen would make sense as a second since he is a queens’ pawn player like Kramnik and he has a markedly different repertoire from Anand with black as well.

At Nalchik, the World Women’s championship has reached the semi-finals stage. In one mini-match, Hou Yifan leads Koneru Humpy 1-0 at the time of writing. In the other match, Alexandra Kostenjuk leads 1-0 versus Pia Cramling. Both Kramling and Humpy are now in must-win situations.

THE DIAGRAM, WHITE TO PLAY, (Carlsen vs Ivanchuk, Bilbao 2008) is a key point in a game which saw the lead change hands. One of Carlsen’s stylistic preferences is a fondness for opposite-castled positions. This leads to violent pawn-storms on both sides. At Bilbao, he has suffered key losses to Topalov and Ivanchuk in two such positions.

Here, Carlsen has lost control because black has a stronger attack as well as a sounder defence. Play continued 25.gxf7+ Bxf7 26.Nc4 Qb7 27.Qxa4 bxa3 28.Nxa3 Bxa3 29.Qxa3 Nb4 30.b3 Nd3 31.Bxd3 exd3 32.Rc1 d2 0-1. Quite apart from the queening threats, Bxb3 cannot be stopped.