ALTIBOX NORWAY CHESS 2018 ROUND 3

Of the 15 games that constitute the opening three rounds of the Altibox Norway Chess 2018 we have 13 draws and only two decisive games. What makes this even more remarkable both of those games were won by Magnus Carlsen.

This second win also pushed Carlsen’s rating back up to 2851, equal to Kasparov’s highest ever rating.

Carlsen,Magnus (2843) - Aronian,Levon (2764)

6th Altibox Norway Chess 2018 Stavanger (3.3), 30.05.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Nxe5 Be7 7.Bf1 Nxe5 8.Rxe5 0–0 9.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Nf5 C67: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence: 4 0–0 Nxe4 

11.d5 Re8 12.Rxe8+ [12.Bd3 Rxe1+ 13.Qxe1 Qe7 14.Qxe7 Nxe7 15.d6 cxd6 16.Na3 d5 17.Nb5 d6 18.Nxd6 1/2–1/2 (32) Caruana,F (2784)-Aronian,L (2794) Karlsruhe/Baden-Baden 2018] 

12...Qxe8 The position is equal. 

13.Qd3 d6 

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14.Nd2N [14.Nc3 Bd7 15.Bd2 Qe5 16.Rb1 Qd4 17.Ne4 Be7 18.c4 Qxd3 19.Bxd3 1/2–1/2 (52) Nichols,S (2253)-Larwinski,P (2167) LSS email 2013] 

14...Bg5 15.Nf3 Bxc1 16.Rxc1 Bd7 17.Re1 Qd8 18.Qc4 g6 19.h3 Ng7 20.Re3 a5 21.a4 Ne8 22.Qd4 Ng7 

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Strongly threatening ...Nf5. 

23.g4 c6 24.c4 Ne8 25.Qf4ƒ Keeping Black busy. 

25...Kg7 26.Rb3 Rb8 27.Ng5 

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27...Nf6 [27...Qf6± 28.Qd2 h6]
28.Rf3!+- Hoping for Qd4. [28.Qxd6 cxd5 29.Rf3 (29.cxd5 h6=) 29...Bc6±]
28...h6? [28...Qe7 keeps fighting.]
29.Ne4 White is winning.
29...Nxe4 30.Qxf7+ [Not 30.Qxe4 c5²]
30...Kh8 ...Ng5 is the strong threat.
31.Qxg6 1–0

ALTIBOX NORWAY CHESS 2018 ROUND 2

Round 2 was bad news for any fan that decided to tune in after the first three hours of play.

The last of the five draws barely made it to two hours and forty minutes. Carlsen chose the Moller Defense in the Ruy Lopez and took the dull draw as a sort of recovery day after his long win against Caruana in round one.

Caruana in turn made his second blunder in as many days. This time, however, he was lucky to have Mamedyarov as an opponent. During the press briefing Mamedyarov indicated that he believed that he was better: “But then I thought, I have to go to the dentist tomorrow, so a draw is good.” Wednesday will be Mamedyarov’s second dentist visit for a severe toothache. Each day he has needed to wait till after the round to have any pain killers – so it is understandable that he was not keen on trying to grind out his advantage for another six hours or more.

Not much can be said of Ding’s game, but for the fact that his streak of unbeaten games continues.

Caruana,Fabiano (2822) - Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar (2808)

6th Altibox Norway Chess 2018 Stavanger (2.2), 29.05.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 0–0 8.Qd2 C42: Petroff Defence: 3 Nxe5 and unusual White 3rd moves 

8...b6 [8...Nd7 9.0–0–0 c6 10.Kb1 d5 11.c4 Nb6 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Bc4 Bf5 14.Bxd5 cxd5 15.Qxd5 Qc8 0–1 (39) Robson,R (2660)-Caruana,F (2804) Saint Louis 2018] 

9.0–0–0 Bb7 10.h4 Nd7 11.Bd3 Re8 

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12.Kb1N [12.h5 Bf6 13.Nd4 Ne5 14.Bb5 1–0 (14) Tiemann,H (2361)-Torres,C (2388) GER email 2016] 

12...Bf6 13.Rh3 Nc5 14.Bxc5 bxc5 15.g4 c4 16.Bxc4 Re4 17.Qd3 

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Black must now prevent g5. 

17...d5 [17...Rxg4 looks sharper. 18.Ng5 Bxg5 19.hxg5 Be4 20.Qe2 Bf5] 

18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.Qxd5 Bxd5 20.Rxd5 Rxg4 

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21.Ra5 Rg2 22.a4 [22.a3 is more complex. 22...Rxf2 23.Rc5 Rc8 24.h5 Rf1+ 25.Ka2] 

22...Rxf2 The position is equal. 

23.h5 Rf1+ 24.Ka2 Rf2 25.Kb1 Rf1+ 26.Ka2 Rf2  ½–½

ALTIBOX NORWAY CHESS 2018 ROUND 1

Early on in the round it looked almost as if Nakamura would end Ding’s 72 game unbeaten streak, but somehow the Chinese GM held it together for the draw.

On the flip side World Champion Magnus Carlsen has a reputation for starting tournaments slowly. This was the fifth time in the past 18 months that Carlsen and Caruana have faced off in the opening round after St Louis 2017; London 2017; Wijk 2018; and Baden-Baden 2018. The previous four encounters were all draws. Not this time… See below.

Carlsen,Magnus (2843) - Caruana,Fabiano (2822)

6th Altibox Norway Chess 2018 Stavanger (1.4), 28.05.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 a5 Strongly threatening ...a4. C24: Bishop's Opening: 2...Nf6 

8.c3 [8.a3 a4 9.Ba2 Nbd7 10.0–0 0–0 11.Re1 Re8 12.h3 h6 13.Nf1 Qb6 14.Ne3 d4 15.Nf5 0–1 (42) Adhiban,B (2655)-Ding,L (2777) Riadh 2017] 

8...Nbd7 9.exd5 cxd5 The position is equal. 

10.0–0 0–0 11.Re1 Re8 12.Nf1 

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12...b5N [12...Qc7 13.Ne3 Nb6 14.a4 Bg4 15.Nxg4 Nxg4 1/2–1/2 (41) Pirs,M (2552) -Akdag,M (2535) ICCF email 2011] 

13.a4 b4 14.cxb4 axb4 15.Ne3 Bb7 16.d4 e4 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Rxe5 19.Qd4 Re7 20.Rac1 Rd7 21.Red1 h6 22.Rc5 Ra5 23.Rxa5 Qxa5 24.h3 Kh7 25.Rc1 Rc7 [25...Qa6= keeps the balance.] 

26.Rxc7!± Qxc7 27.Qxb4 Qc1+ 28.Bd1 Ba6 29.Qd4 Be2 30.Kh2 [30.b4 seems wilder. 30...Bd3 31.Kh2 Qc7+ 32.g3 Qc1 33.Bg4] 

30...Bxd1 [30...Qc7+± 31.g3 Bxd1 32.Nxd1 Qc2] 

31.Nxd1+- Qc7+ 32.Kg1 Qc1 

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33.b4! e3 34.fxe3 Ne4 35.Qxd5 Nd2 36.Qf5+ Kh8 37.Qg4 f5 38.Qe2 Ne4 

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and the idea ...Nc3 leaves Black hopeful. 

39.Qe1! Qa1 [39...h5 is a better defense. 40.a5 Qc4] 

40.a5 Nd6 41.Qd2 Nc4 42.Qd4 Qc1 intending ...Nd2. 

43.Kf1 Nxe3+ 44.Qxe3 Qxd1+ Endgame KQ-KQ 

45.Kf2 Qc2+ 46.Kg3 g5 [¹46...Kg8 47.Qd4 Qc7+ 48.Qf4 Qc2] 

47.Qe5+ Kh7 48.Kh2 f4 49.Qd5 Qa4 50.Qf7+ Kh8 51.Qg6 Qxb4 52.Qxh6+ Kg8 53.Qxg5+ Kh7 54.Qh5+ Kg7 55.Qg5+ Kh7! 56.h4 Qd6 57.Qh5+ [¹57.h5 f3+ 58.g3 Qd1 59.Qg6+ Kh8 60.h6 Qe2+ 61.Kh3 Qf1+ 62.Kh4] 

57...Kg7 Now ...f3+ and Black clings on. 

58.Qg5+ [58.Kh3+-] 

58...Kh7! 59.h5 f3+ 60.g3 [¹60.Qg3 Qc5 61.a6 fxg2 62.Qd3+ (62.Qxg2 Qd6+ 63.Kh3 Qxa6=; 62.Kxg2 Qc6+ 63.Kf2 Qxa6=) 62...Kh8 63.Kxg2] 

60...f2 

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[60...Qd4+- 61.Qg6+ Kh8] 

61.Qg6+! Kh8 [61...Qxg6 62.hxg6+] 

62.Qxd6 f1Q KQ-KQ 

63.Qh6+ Kg8 64.Qe6+ Kh8 65.Qe3 Qb5 66.Qc3+ Kh7 67.g4 Qd5 68.Qc7+ Kg8 69.Kg3 Qe6 

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70.Qd8+ [¹70.Qc5 Qe1+ 71.Kf4 Qd2+ 72.Ke4 Qe2+ 73.Kf5 Qd3+ 74.Kf6 Qd8+ 75.Kf5 Qd7+ 76.Kf4 Qd2+ 77.Ke4 Qe2+ 78.Kf5 Qd3+ 79.Kf6 Qd8+ 80.Qe7 Qd4+ 81.Qe5 Qf2+ 82.Ke6 Qf7+ 83.Kd6 Qf8+ 84.Kd7] 

70...Kh7 71.Qd3+ White mates. 

71...Kh8 72.a6 Qe5+ 73.Kh3 Qa1 74.Qd8+ Kh7 75.Qe7+ Kh6 76.Qe3+ Kh7 77.a7  1–0

SHANKLAND WINS US CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 ROUND 11

Caruana won the Candidates in Berlin with a +4 score. Likewise, +4 was enough to win the Grenke tournament. In Saint Louis he went one better and scored +5, but that was only good enough for second place. Sam Shankland went +6 to claim the title.

Shankland’s victory in round 11 was significant for more reasons. His rating goes up to 2701 the day before the next FIDE rating list is due to be published. This will move him up to number 45 on the world rankings, gain him a spot on the US Olympiad team and give him the classification of “Super GM”. Being 2700+ will likely secure Sam invitations to some Super tournaments over the coming months too.

Shankland,Samuel (2671) - Liang,Awonder (2552)

US-ch Open 2018 Saint Louis (11), 29.04.2018

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 Bg4 7.Qb3 e5  B13: Caro-Kann: Exchange Variation and Panov-Botvinnik Attack 

8.h3 exf4 9.hxg4 Qe7+ White is slightly better. 

10.Kf1 

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10...0–0–0N [10...Ne4 11.Qc2 0–0–0 12.Nd2 Re8 13.Bxe4 dxe4 14.Re1 f5 15.gxf5 1–0 (25) Demchenko,A (2671)-Yurtseven,M (2415) Lisbon 2018] 

11.Nd2 Black must now prevent Re1. 

11...g6 12.Re1 Qc7 13.g5 Nh5 14.Be2ƒ White has good play. 

14...Ng7 15.Ngf3 Ne6 16.Bb5 Bg7 17.Qa4 Rd6 18.Nb3 b6 [18...a6²] 

19.Nc1 Nb8 20.Nd3 

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20...Kb7 Black wants to play . ..a6. 

21.Nb4! Qd8 22.Ne5 Qc7 23.Qb3 Rhd8 [¹23...Bxe5 24.Rxe5 (24.Nxd5 Qd8+-) 24...Qd8 25.Nxd5 a6] 

24.Rxh7+- a6 25.Bd3 Ka7 26.Qa4 a5 27.Bb5 Kb7 28.Nbd3 Rg8 29.Nf3 Rh8 30.Rxh8 Bxh8 31.a3 Nc6 32.Bxc6+ Rxc6 33.Nde5 Bxe5 34.Nxe5 Rd6 35.Qe8 Rd8 [¹35...Nxg5 36.Nxf7 Qc4+ 37.Kg1 Nxf7] 

36.Qxf7 Nxg5 37.Qxc7+ Kxc7 38.Nxg6 KRN-KRN 

38...f3 39.Nf4 Kc6 40.gxf3 Nxf3 41.Re6+ Kb5 [41...Rd6 was necessary. 42.Rxd6+ Kxd6] 

42.Ke2 Ng1+ 43.Kd3  1–0

Caruana,Fabiano (2804) - Onischuk,Alexander (2672)

US-ch Open 2018 Saint Louis (11), 29.04.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.d3 Be7 8.Re1 0–0 9.a4 Re8 10.Nbd2 Bf8 11.Nf1 C88: Closed Ruy Lopez: Anti-Marshall Systems [11.c3 Na5 12.Bc2 c5 13.d4 exd4 14.cxd4 d5 15.e5 Ne4 16.axb5 axb5 17.Nxe4 dxe4 18.Rxe4 Nb3 19.Rxa8 Bxa8 20.Ng5 Nxc1 21.Qh5 h6 22.Qxf7+ Kh8 23.Rg4 Qa5 24.h4 1–0 (24) Anand,V (2762)-Svidler,P (2757) Moscow 2016] 

11...Na5 12.Ba2 d5 13.axb5 White is slightly better. 

13...axb5 14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Bg5 

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15...Bxa2N [15...Nc6 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Bxd5 Qxd5 18.Qe2 Qe6 1–0 (98) Achermann,J (2203)-Donzellotti,G (2213) ICCF email 2010] 

16.Rxa2 e4 17.Bxf6 Qxf6 18.Rxe4 Rxe4 19.dxe4 Strongly threatening Ne3. 

19...Rd8 20.Qe2 Nc4 21.c3 Bc5 22.Ra1 g6 23.e5ƒ White is in control. 

23...Qc6 24.Ng3 Re8 [Black should play 24...Qd5² ] 

25.b3± Nb6 26.Ra5 Bf8 

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27.Qxb5 White is clearly better. 

27...Qxb5 28.Rxb5 Ra8 [28...Nd7± 29.Rd5 Nb6] 

29.h4  1–0

US WOMEN’S CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 ROUND 10

Heading into the final round we have a sense of déjà vu all over again. Wang leads Paikidze by half a point, identical to the situation at the end of round 6 before the rest day.

Round 10 could have sealed tournament victory for Wang. Instead, however, Paikidze’s win and Wang’s draw closed the gap to a margin that creates the possibility of a play off for the title.

GM Irina Krush also closed the gap to Wang, moving into a clear third place. But her one and a half point deficit leaves the seven time champion out of the running for 2018.

Abrahamyan,Tatev (2366) - Paikidze,Nazi (2352)

US-ch Women 2018 Saint Louis (10), 28.04.2018

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 b5 4.Bd3 [4.a3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Bd3 g6 7.Bg5 Bg7 8.Nf3 0–0 9.Qd2 Bf5 10.Nxf6+ exf6 11.Be3 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 Nd7 13.d5 0–1 (41) Belyakov,B (2487)-Howell,D (2644) Doha 2016] 

4...b4 5.Nce2 dxe4 6.Bxe4 B15: Caro-Kann: 3 Nc3: 3...g6 and 3...dxe4 4 Nxe4 Nf6 5 Nxf6+ exf6 

6...Nf6 7.Bf3 e6 

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8.Nh3 The position is equal. 

8...Bd6N [8...Be7 9.0–0 0–0 10.Nhf4 Bb7 11.Nd3 Nbd7 1/2–1/2 (41) Abrahams,D (2080)-Garcia Albarracin,F (2374) Porto 2015] 

9.Nhf4 Qc7 10.Nd3 Nbd7 11.Bf4 Bxf4 12.Nexf4 Rb8 13.0–0 0–0 14.a3 a5 15.axb4 axb4 16.Qd2 Qd6 17.Qe3ƒ White has some pressure. 

17...Nd5 18.Bxd5! cxd5 19.b3 Ba6 20.Ra4 Rfc8 21.Rc1 Rb6 22.Qd2 Rcb8 23.Rca1 Bxd3 24.Nxd3 h6 25.Ra7 Re8 26.h3 Reb8 27.R1a4 Nf6 28.Nc5 e5 29.dxe5 Qxe5 30.Na6 Ne4 31.Qe3 [31.Qe1² Rf8 32.Nc5! (32.Rxb4 Qf6=; 32.Nxb4 Qc3³) ] 

31...d4!= 32.Qe1 Re8 33.Nxb4 Rg6 

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[33...Nc5= remains equal. 34.Qxe5 Rxe5] 

34.Ra8!± Rxa8 35.Rxa8+ Kh7 36.Ra6 f6 [36...Rxa6± was worth a try. 37.Nxa6 f5] 

37.Nd3 Qf5 Threatens to win with ...Qf3. 

38.Ra5?? [38.Qe2+- and life is good for White.] 

38...Qf3!–+ Black has strong compensation. 

39.Qf1 

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39...Nd2! 40.Ne1? [40.Kh1 Qc6 41.Qg1 (41.Nb4? Qc3–+) 41...Qxc2 42.Nf4] 

40...Qd1  0–1

Goletiani,Rusudan (2306) - Krush,Irina (2422)

US-ch Women 2018 Saint Louis (10), 28.04.2018

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 e6 4.c4 dxc4 5.Qa4+ c6 6.Qxc4 b5 7.Qc2 Bb7 8.0–0 Nbd7 A13: English Opening: 1...e6 

9.b3 [9.d4 c5 10.Nc3 a6 11.Bg5 Rc8 12.Rad1 Qb6 13.Qd2 Be7 14.Ne5 Bxg2 15.Nxd7 Nxd7 16.Kxg2 cxd4 17.Bxe7 Kxe7 18.Qxd4 Qxd4 19.Rxd4 1/2–1/2 (55) Mamedov,R (2688)-Ghaem Maghami,E (2574) Doha 2016] 

9...Be7 10.Bb2 0–0 11.Nc3 

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11...Qb6 12.d3N [12.Ng5 h6 13.Nge4 Nd5 14.d3 Nb4 15.Qd1 c5 16.a3 0–1 (43) Skembris,S (2412)-David,A (2584) Loutraki 2015] 

12...c5 13.e4 Rac8 14.Nd2 Nb8 15.Ne2 Nc6 16.a3 Rfd8 17.Rac1 Rd7 18.Nf3 Rcd8 19.Rfd1 [19.Nf4=] 

19...b4 20.a4 Ba6 [20...h6³] 

21.Nf4= Rc8 22.Rd2 Rdc7 23.h4 Nd4 24.Qd1 Nd7 25.Bh3 [25.e5= remains equal.] 

25...Bf6µ 26.Ne1 Ne5 27.Nfg2 Nec6ƒ White is under strong pressure. 

28.Rb1 Na5 29.Bc1? [29.Bxd4µ Bxd4 30.Qe2] 

29...Naxb3–+ 30.Rxb3 Nxb3 31.Qxb3 c4 32.dxc4 Bxc4 [Resist 32...Rxc4 33.Bb2–+] 

33.Qb1? 

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[33.Qf3] 

33...Ba2! Black is clearly winning. 

34.Qxa2 b3 35.Qa3 Rxc1 36.e5 Bxe5 37.a5 

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37...Qb8! 38.Rd8+ Rxd8 39.Qxc1 b2 40.Qb1 Qc7 Strongly threatening ...Qc1. 

41.Nc2 Qxa5 42.Nge3 Qa1  0–1

US CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 ROUND 10

Back on the rest day after round 6 Shankland held a narrow half point lead over Caruana. If we fas forward to round 10 the gap between the same two players is identical. This is enough to give us a sense of déjà vu heading into the final round.

During the press briefing after round 9 Caruana stated that he felt 1.5/2 would be achievable for the final two rounds and would be enough to force a playoff match against Shankland. That was before both players won their tenth round games with the Black pieces. The net result is that Fabiano will need to go all out for a win against last placed Onischuk and then hope for the best.

Shankland also has a lot to play for in his final round game with White against Liang. Not only will a win seal his Championship title, it will also take him past the 2700 rating level for the first time. Following his round 10 victory, Shankland’s live rating moved up to 2698.

Onischuk,Alexander (2672) - Shankland,Samuel (2671)

US-ch Open 2018 Saint Louis (10), 28.04.2018

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 0–0 D38: Queen's Gambit Declined: Ragozin Defence (4 Nf3 Bb4) 

8.e3 

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8...Bf5 9.a3N [9.Qb3 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 Nbd7 11.Be2 c5 12.dxc5 g5 13.Nd4 Bg6 14.c6 bxc6 15.Nxc6 1/2–1/2 (46) So,W (2792)-Karjakin,S (2753) Wijk aan Zee 2018] 

9...Bxc3+! The position is equal. 

10.bxc3 Nbd7 11.Be2 c5 12.0–0 g5 13.Bg3 Ne4 14.c4 dxc4 15.Bxc4 Rc8 16.Rc1 Qe7 17.Bd3 Rfd8 18.Qe2 Nb6 [18...Ndf6 looks sharper. 19.Rfe1 cxd4 20.Rxc8 Rxc8 21.Nxd4 Bd7] 

19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.Ne5 cxd4 21.Rxc8 Rxc8 22.exd4 Bf5 23.Qh5 Hoping for f4. 

23...f6 24.Ng4! Bxg4! 25.Qxg4 Qd7 26.Qf3 Nd5 27.Qh5 Kg7 28.f4? [28.Re1= and White is okay.] 

28...Qe8? [28...Nxf4–+ has better winning chances. 29.Bxf4 Qxd4+ 30.Rf2 Rc2] 

29.Qf3 Qe3+ 30.Qxe3 Nxe3µ Endgame KRB-KRN 

31.Rf3 Nd5 32.fxg5 hxg5 33.h4 gxh4 34.Bxh4 Kf7 35.Be1 b6 36.Bd2 Rc2 37.Rd3 Ke6 38.g4 Kd6 39.Kf1 Kc6! 40.Ke1 Kb5! 41.g5 fxg5 42.Bxg5 Kc4 43.Rg3 Nc3 Strongly threatening ...Ra2. 

44.d5 Nxd5 45.Kd1? 

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[45.Bd2µ was called for.] 

45...Rc3!–+ 46.Rg4+ 

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46...Kb3! 47.Rd4 [¹47.a4] 

47...Ne3+ 48.Bxe3 Rxe3 49.Kd2 Rh3  0–1

Zherebukh,Yaroslav (2640) - Caruana,Fabiano (2804)

US-ch Open 2018 Saint Louis (10), 28.04.2018

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 a6 4.g3 b5 5.Bg2 Bb7 6.d3 Nc6 7.0–0 B40: Sicilian: 2...e6, Unusual lines 

7...d6 8.Ng5 h6 9.Nh3 Nf6 10.f4 Be7 11.f5 [11.Kh1 Qc7 12.Bd2 0–0–0 1–0 (43) Bacrot,E (2708)-Karjakin,S (2781) Paris 2017] 

11...b4 

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12.Ne2N [12.Nb1 exf5 13.Rxf5 0–0 14.c4 Nd7 15.Rf1 Bf6 16.Nf4 1/2–1/2 (43) Tripoteau,N (2258)-Bricard,E (2456) Plancoet 2003] 

12...exf5 13.Rxf5 0–0 14.c4 bxc3 15.bxc3 Ne5 16.c4 Bc8 17.Rf1 Rb8ƒ Black is more active. 

18.Nhf4 

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[18.Qc2= remains equal.] 

18...g5!µ 19.Nd5 [¹19.Nh3] 

19...Nxd5 20.cxd5 

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20...Bf6! 21.d4 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Bg4 23.Qa4 [¹23.Qe1] 

23...Nd3–+ 24.Qc4 Rb4 25.Qxd3 Bxd4+ 26.Be3 Bxa1 27.Rxa1 [27.a3 is the only way for White. 27...Ra4 28.Rxa1] 

27...Qf6 28.Re1 Rc8 29.h3 Bd7 30.Qxa6? [30.a3 was worth a try. 30...Bb5 31.Qd1] 

30...Rc2 31.Rf1  0–1

CARLSEN WINS SHAMKIR CHESS 2018 ROUND 9

Heading into the final round of the Gashimov Memorial in Shamkir we all knew that the only player standing between Carlsen and a third title was Ding. However, it would be a big challenge to topple the World Champion with the Black pieces.

They played a Rubenstein, Four Knights and after 4…Nd4 5.Nxd4 it was obvious where the game was headed and the handshake came after just 20 minutes.

Karjakin beat Topalov to claim third place after 8 consecutive draws in the earlier rounds. But it was Radjabov who secured the Giri award by securing a draw in all nine of his games.

Carlsen,Magnus (2843) - Ding,Liren (2778)

5th Shamkir Chess 2018 Shamkir (9), 28.04.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5 

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4...Nd4 5.Nxd4 exd4 6.e5 dxc3 7.exf6 Qxf6 8.Qe2+ Qe7 9.dxc3 Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 The position is equal. 

10...Bc5 C48: Four Knights: 4 Bb5, replies other than 4...Bb4 [10...a6 11.Bd3 d6 ½–½ (11) Sedlak,N (2547)-Indjic,A (2574) Mali Losinj 2017] 

11.Be3 [11.Kf3 with more complications. 11...c6 12.Re1+ Be7 13.Bd3 d5 14.a4] 

11...Bxe3 12.Kxe3 c6 13.Bd3 d5 14.Rae1 

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14...Ke7N [14...Be6 15.f4 0–0–0 16.Kd2 Rde8 17.Re5 Kc7 18.Rhe1 ½–½ (27) Cortlever,N-Szabo,L Zaandam 1946] 

15.c4 dxc4 16.Bxc4 Rd8 17.Rd1 Be6 18.Bxe6 Kxe6 19.Rhe1 

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19...Rxd1 20.Rxd1= Endgame KR-KR 

20...Re8 21.f4 f5 22.Kf3 Re7 23.Re1+ Kf6 24.Rd1 Ke6 25.Re1+ Kf6 26.Rd1 Ke6 27.Re1+  ½–½

US CHESS CHAMPIONSHIP 2018 ROUND 9

GM Sam Shankland won the only decisive game of round 9 to retake the lead by a half point over Caruana.

Caruana on the other hand was fortunate to be able to escape with a draw after Nakamura failed to correctly analyse the crushing sacrifice that he had seen on the board. Caruana was “completely shocked” and relieved that Nakamura didn’t go for the killer 46…Qxe4!  Especially when it emerged in the press briefing that Hikaru had analysed all the way to 52.Nd2. Fabio commented: “Even if you’re not sure that it’s winning, you’re two pawns up. Just go for it, and if it’s a draw – it’s bad luck!”

The biggest problem for Caruana’s US Championship ambitions is that Shankland’s final two games are against the players in the bottom two spots on the cross table.

Shankland,Samuel (2671) - Zherebukh,Yaroslav (2640)

US-ch Open 2018 Saint Louis (9), 27.04.2018

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 Nbd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 0–0 8.Rc1 c6 9.a3 a6 10.c5 D63: Queen's Gambit Declined: Classical: 7 Rc1 

10...e5 

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11.Nxe5N [11.Be2 e4 12.Nd2 Nh7 13.Bg3 f5 14.h4 g5 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.f4 exf3 17.Nxf3 Bf6 1–0 (33) Akobian,V (2612)-Shulman,Y (2632) Upper Lake 2009] 

11...Nxe5 12.dxe5 The position is equal. 

12...Nd7 13.Bxe7 Qxe7 14.Qd4 Nxe5 15.Be2 Qg5 16.g3 Qe7 17.0–0 Bh3 18.Rfe1 f5 19.f3 Rae8 20.Nd1! 

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aiming for Nf2. 

20...Qf7 [20...f4!= 21.Nf2 (21.exf4 Nxf3+) 21...fxg3 22.Nxh3 Nxf3+ 23.Bxf3 Rxf3] 

21.Nf2!ƒ White has strong initiative. 

21...Qh5 22.Qh4! Qxf3 23.Qxh3 Qxe3 24.Bh5 Nf3+ 25.Bxf3! Qxf3 26.Qg2 Qb3 27.Nh3 Re4 28.Qd2 b6 [28...Rfe8± 29.Nf2 Re3] 

29.Nf2 Rxe1+ 30.Qxe1 bxc5 31.Rxc5 Qxb2 32.Qc3 [32.Rxc6+- Qd4 33.Qe6+ Kh7 34.Qg6+ Kg8 35.Rc8! (35.Rxa6 f4+-) 35...Qa1+ 36.Kg2 Qxa3 37.Qxf5] 

32...Qb8 [32...Qb1+± was necessary. 33.Kg2 f4 34.gxf4 Qg6+ 35.Qg3 Qe6] 

33.Nd3 [White should play 33.Rxc6+- Rc7 is the strong threat. 33...f4 34.Rc7] 

33...Qb1+ 34.Kg2 f4 35.Nxf4 Qe4+ 36.Kg1 g5 37.Ng2! [Inferior is 37.Rxc6 gxf4 38.Rc7 Qe3+ 39.Kh1 Qxc3µ] 

37...Qf5 38.Qe1 Qf6 39.Rc1 d4 [39...Qd4+± 40.Qe3 Qxe3+ 41.Nxe3 Rf6] 

40.Qe2+- c5 41.Ne1 [Stronger than 41.Rxc5 d3=] 

41...Rc8 42.Nd3 c4 43.Qe4 Qd6 44.Ne5 [¹44.Nb4] 

44...c3 [44...Re8 is a better defense.] 

45.Nd3 Kg7 46.Kg2 Rc7 47.Re1 c2 48.h4 [White should try 48.Kg1± ] 

48...Qc6!² 49.Qxc6! Rxc6 Endgame KRN-KR 

50.Kf3 gxh4 51.gxh4 Rc3 52.Ke4 Threatens to win with Rc1. 

52...Rxa3 53.Rc1 Rc3 54.Kxd4 Rc8 55.Nc5 Kg6 56.Rxc2 Kh5 57.Rh2 Black must now prevent Ne4. 

57...Rg8 58.Ne4 Intending Nf6+ and mate. 

58...Rg1? [58...Rc8± 59.Nf6+ Kg6] 

59.Nf6++- Kg6 60.Ke5 Re1+ 61.Ne4 Kh5 62.Kf4! Rf1+ 

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63.Kg3! Re1 

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64.Nf6+! Kg6 65.Nd5 Rd1? [65...Re5 was called for.] 

66.Nf4+ Kf5 67.Ra2 Rg1+? [67...Rd6 68.Kf3 Ke5] 

68.Ng2 White is clearly winning. 

68...Rb1 69.Rxa6 Rb3+ 70.Kh2 Kg4 71.Rxh6  1–0

Caruana,Fabiano (2804) - Nakamura,Hikaru (2787)

US-ch Open 2018 Saint Louis (9), 27.04.2018

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 0–0 6.0–0 C65: Ruy Lopez: Berlin Defence (3...Nf6), unusual lines and 4 0–0 Bc5 

6...Re8 7.Nbd2 a6 8.Bxc6 dxc6 9.Nc4 

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9...Bd6N [9...Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.g4 Bg6 14.Ncxe5 0–1 (66) Caruana,F (2802)-Nakamura,H (2786) chess.com INT 2017] 

10.Bg5 b5 11.Ne3 Qe7 12.Nh4 Qe6 13.Nhf5 Bf8 14.f4 fxe5 is the strong threat. 

14...Nd7 15.Ng3 [¹15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.a4] 

15...f6= 16.f5 Qf7 17.Bh4 Bb7 18.Qe2 Rad8 19.Nh1 Nc5 20.Rfd1 Rd6 21.Nf2 Red8 22.Rd2 a5 23.g4 g5 24.Bg3 Ba6 25.Rad1 b4 26.c4 b3 27.a3 R6d7 28.Qe1 Nb7 29.Nh1 Nc5 30.Qe2 Rd4 31.Be1 R8d6 32.Nf2 Qd7 33.Kg2 Qd8 34.h3 Rd7 [34...Bh6³] 

35.Nf1 Na4! 36.Nh2 Bc5 37.Nf3 R4d6 38.Rc1 [38.h4= h6 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.Rc1] 

38...Bxf2µ 39.Qxf2 c5 40.Qe2 Rxd3 41.Rxd3 Rxd3 42.Bxa5 Bb7 43.Kf2 [43.Bxc7³ Qd7 44.Rb1] 

43...Qd7 44.Re1 Rd6 45.Rc1? [45.h4!³] 

45...Qc6!–+ 46.Re1 

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46...Rd8 [Black should play 46...Qxe4!–+ 47.Qxe4 Bxe4 48.Bxc7 (48.Rxe4? Nxb2 49.Ke2 Nxc4–+) 48...Rd7 49.Rxe4 Nxb2 50.Nxe5 Rxc7] 

47.h4 

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[47.Kg1³] 

47...h6 [Better is 47...Qxe4!µ 48.Qxe4 Bxe4 49.Rxe4 Nxb2] 

48.hxg5= The position is equal. 

48...hxg5 49.Kg3 Rd7 50.Qh2 Threatens to win with Rh1. 

50...Rh7 51.Qd2 And now Qd8+ would win. 

51...Rd7! 52.Qh2 Strongly threatening Rh1. 

52...Rh7 53.Qd2  ½–½