CHESS #643
The Shanghai Masters consisted of a four player double round-robin with two to qualify and join Carlsen and Anand in a similar DRR, in a “final” to be played in Bilbao. The field was unbalanced with Aronyan, Kramnik, Shirov and Wang Hao. The latter is strong but not quite in the same league as the first three.
Predictions revolved around the ability to generate the maximum points from games with Wang. Shirov managed that by winning twice from completely lost positions. The Spanish-Latvian beat Kramnik as well to ensure that he took first place.
Both legs are scored Bilbao-style (3 for win, 1 for draw). But both Aronyan and Kramnik managed just two decisive games. Aronyan lost to Kramnik and beat Wang, whereas Kramnik drew twice with the local lad. That meant a tiebreaker. Aronyan and Kramnik traded wins in two blitz games before Kramnik prevailed in a final Armageddon.
This means the wild card in the final in October will be very difficult. Shirov is volatile in terms of style and his form is likely to set the tenor. If he’s in form, anything could happen. If he’s not, the other three will focus on drawing each other and trying to beat him.
Meanwhile, Kirsan Ilyumzhinov has resigned as president of Kalmykia, the autonomous region of Russia that he had ruled since 1993. Kremlin politics must be the prime factor behind the move but guessing what is happening is difficult for an outsider. Kirsan will now be completely focussed on re-election to Fide.
The DIAGRAM, black to play (Shirov VS Kramnik, Shanghai 2010) saw the start of tactical fireworks. Both players were already in time pressure because they had been playing an unfamiliar and extremely imbalanced position since at least move 10.
Black found 20...Nxe6! 21.Nxe6 Rxe6! 22.Qf2. The point is that White loses if he takes with 22.fxe6 because of 22...Bc5+! 23.Kh1 Qxf1+ 24.Qxf1 Rxf1#. 22...Qe5? A mistake. Instead the computers suggest the natural 22...Re5 23.Be3 Rxe3! 24.Qxe3 d4 25.Qe6+ Qxe6 26.fxe6 dxc3 27.Rxf8+ Kxf8 28.bxc3 Bxc3 29.Kf2 and Black should hold the draw.
Shirov continued by forcing off queens with 23.g4 Rg6 24.Qg2 Rgf6 25.Bf4 Qd4+ 26.Qf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 d4. This is a very difficult position to assess or understand but white seems better. Both sides have dangerous pawn rollers but White also has piece-threats and the initiative could count.
Anyhow, play continued 28.Ne4 R6f7 29.Rxf7 Rxf7 30.Ra1 h6 31.Be5 d3 32.Bd4 Rb7 33.h4 Bf8 34.Rc1 Nd5 35.Rxc4 Rxb5 36.Rc8 Kf7 37.g5 Ne7?? 38. Nd6+ (1-0). The clock had its say. Black may escape with 37. – d2 38. Nxd2 Ne7. This works because 39. Rc5 Rxc5 40. Bxc5 Nxf5 41. Bxf8 Kxf8 42. gxh6 gxh6 43. h5 Ng7 looks drawn.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally-rated chess and correspondence chess player