Carlsen, Giri, Mamedyarov Lead Tata Steel Chess
Anish Giri's sole lead at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament was short-lived as both Magnus Carlsen and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov rejoined him back in first place the next day. The 10th round of the tournament was held in Groningen.
The venue for today's round was the Academy Building of the University of Groningen, a solid two-hour drive from Wijk aan Zee, which the players had taken the night before. They still had to get up early because the program for these external locations is rather busy. Today, before the round, the 14 grandmasters visited the Groninger Museum, which exhibits mostly modern and contemporary art.
Kramnik, Adhiban, and others observing a giant vase in the Groninger Museum. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
After mayor Peter den Oudsten hit the gong, a very entertaining round took off in Groningen. It's a city Vishy Anand has good memories of, as it was there where he won the 1993 PCA Qualifier Tournament, with Michael Adams. (Two of his good friends, Ian and Cathy Rogers, attended the tournament for the first day and Rogers has even better memories as he won three tournaments in the city!)
Perhaps inspired by the memories from 25 years ago, Anand defeated Gawain Jones with the black pieces. With it, Anand got to a point behind the leaders.
It was Jones who first erred in an Alapin Sicilian, where the new move 16.d4 is not great (16.d3 should be played). A positional exchange sacrifice left Anand with a dominating position.
A smooth victory by Anand vs Jones. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
By then Anish Giri had already drawn with Sergey Karjakin, without much of a fight. He must have hoped for his closest rivals to consolidate as well, but that didn't happen.
The first to catch the Dutchman in first place was Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, who defeated Peter Svidler as Black in a rare Ragozin (with Bf4 instead of Bg5). White's somewhat slow play in the opening was nicely refuted with a double-pawn push and after one or two more errors, it was officially a complete off-day for Svidler.
Svidler puts the kings on dark squares to indicate the electronic board should register a black win. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
It took him a bit lot longer, but at the end of the day, Magnus Carlsen found himself in shared first place as well. He won a long and difficult game against Wesley So where the opening was discussed between the same players in their 2017 Chess.com Speed Chess match.
Carlsen: "I think he played a little too passively. (...) He certainly gave me a pleasant initiative which he didn't think that he needed to do. He should have had comfortable equality there."
Photographers gather around the Carlsen board. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
"I was always kind of pressing but I allowed too much counterplay; I had to give up the bishop. Then he should have had excellent drawing chances I think although I am certainly the one who is pressing there still. But he certainly misplayed it.
"Once I get these four pawns two connected passers on each side then I think it should be comfortably winning. It was certainly a complicated game and I am very happy to beat a very strong player."
In the interview, Carlsen not only speaks about the game but also about two special supporters. Today two famous Norwegian football players visited the tournament in Groningen to watch him play: SC Heerenveen's Morten Thorsby and his teammate, Martin Ødegaard, on loan from Real Madrid.
Martin Ødegaard, Morten Thorsby and Magnus Carlsen meet in Groningen. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
"I'm a big fan of them obviously," said Carlsen. "Ødegaard has been a major star in Norway for many years and he obviously plays for my favorite club. Also, Thorsby has been doing exceptionally well this year so I am very happy that they came today and supported me."
The two football players (and all the other fans) could even enjoy a fourth decisive game, as Vladimir Kramnik scored his fourth victory in the tournament. The 14th world champion is only half a point behind the three leaders. Uncharacteristically, the game saw errors from both sides.
Vladimir Kramnik interviewed by Fiona Steil-Antoni.
2018 Tata Steel Masters | Round 10 Standings
| # | Fed | Name | Rtg | Perf | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Score |
| 1 | Giri | 2752 | 2903 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.0 / 10 | |||||
| 2 | Carlsen | 2834 | 2889 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 7.0 / 10 | |||||
| 3 | Mamedyarov | 2804 | 2895 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7.0 / 10 | |||||
| 4 | Kramnik | 2787 | 2860 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 6.5 / 10 | |||||
| 5 | Anand | 2767 | 2818 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 1 | ½ | 6.0 / 10 | |||||
| 6 | So | 2792 | 2799 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 5.5 / 10 | |||||
| 7 | Karjakin | 2753 | 2772 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 5.5 / 10 | |||||
| 8 | Svidler | 2768 | 2709 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4.5 / 10 | |||||
| 9 | Wei Yi | 2743 | 2695 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4.0 / 10 | |||||
| 10 | Jones | 2640 | 2683 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 4.0 / 10 | |||||
| 11 | Matlakov | 2718 | 2682 | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4.0 / 10 | |||||
| 12 | Caruana | 2811 | 2667 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4.0 / 10 | |||||
| 13 | Adhiban | 2655 | 2608 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 3.0 / 10 | |||||
| 14 | Hou Yifan | 2680 | 2512 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | 2.0 / 10 |
Games via TWIC.
The challengers do not join the top players at the external locations. On a half-empty stage in Wijk aan Zee, no fewer than five games ended in draws. Anton Korobov and Vidit Santosh Gujrathi remained at their 1.5-point distance with four players.
Lucas van Foreest seemed on his way to a grandmaster norm, but things are not going his way in the last few rounds. Today he lost to German GM Matthias Bluebaum, whose tournament went the opposite: a bad start with 0/2, but meanwhile on a plus-one score. He played a pretty cool game today.
Benjamin Bok lost as well, in an even sharper game, to Dmitry Gordievsky:
2018 Tata Steel Challengers | Round 10 Standings
| # | Fed | Name | Rating | TPR | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Score |
| 1 | Vidit | 2718 | 2757 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 7.0 / 10 | |||||
| 2 | Korobov | 2652 | 2758 | 0 | 1 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 1 | 7.0 / 10 | |||||
| 3 | Amin | 2693 | 2636 | 0 | 1 | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | 5.5 / 10 | |||||
| 4 | Bluebaum | 2640 | 2642 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5.5 / 10 | |||||
| 5 | J. van Foreest | 2629 | 2645 | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 5.5 / 10 | |||||
| 6 | Gordievsky | 2622 | 2638 | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 1 | ½ | 1 | 5.5 / 10 | |||||
| 7 | Xiong | 2634 | 2619 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 5.0 / 10 | |||||
| 8 | l'Ami | 2634 | 2586 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4.5 / 10 | |||||
| 9 | Tari | 2599 | 2578 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | 4.5 / 10 | |||||
| 10 | Krasenkow | 2671 | 2574 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 4.5 / 10 | |||||
| 11 | Bok | 2607 | 2560 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | 4.5 / 10 | |||||
| 12 | L. van Foreest | 2481 | 2559 | ½ | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 4.0 / 10 | |||||
| 13 | Harika | 2497 | 2545 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 4.0 / 10 | |||||
| 14 | Girya | 2489 | 2475 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | 0 | 0 | ½ | ½ | 3.0 / 10 |
Games via TWIC.
Live coverage of the 80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament is proudly powered by Chess.com.
The players arriving in Groningen after a long bus ride. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Anish Giri pointing at one of the exhibits, a photo that inspired the tweet below. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
— Dan (@AntonSquaredMe) January 24, 2018
Sergey Karjakin sitting rather comfortably. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Players on the stairs of the University of Groningen, Tata Steel Chess. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
The beautiful playing hall of today's round. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Giri watching Carlsen vs So, Tata Steel Chess. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Anand meeting with old friends Ian and Cathy Rogers. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Tournament director Jeroen van den Berg with Martin Ødegaard and Morten Thorsby. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Anand interviewed in a very special press room. | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Carlsen showing his game to the local and internet audience... | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
...with Ødegaard and Thorsby having fun in the audience! | Photo: Maria Emelianova/Chess.com.
Previous Stories:
- Giri Grabs Sole Lead In Tata Steel Chess Round 9
- Tata Steel: Giri Beats Mamedyarov, Carlsen Blunders But Wins
- Mamedyarov Wins 3rd In A Row In Tata Steel
- Mamedyarov Makes It 2; Korobov Not 'Too Fat' To Lead
- Mamedyarov Surges As Tata Steel Goes Sesame Street
- Anand Wins With Flair, Joins Giri In Lead
- Giri Moves To 2/2 In Wijk aan Zee
- Winning Starts For Anand, Kramnik, Giri In Tata Steel
- 80th Tata Steel Starts Saturday With Chess.com Broadcast
Peter Doggers joined a chess club a month before turning 15 and still plays for it. He used to be an active tournament player and holds two IM norms. Peter has a Master of Arts degree in Dutch Language & Literature. He briefly worked at New in Chess, then as a Dutch teacher and then in a project for improving safety and security in Amsterdam schools. Between 2007 and 2013 Peter was running ChessVibes, a major source for chess news and videos acquired by Chess.com in October 2013. As our Director News & Events, Peter writes many of our news reports. In the summer of 2022, The Guardian’s Leonard Barden described him as “widely regarded as the world’s best chess journalist.”
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