Hello everyone and welcome to round 2 of the Tata Steel 2013 chess tournament. As the tradition goes, daily on Chessdom we have computer analysis by the strongest engine Houdini 3, as well as Grandmaster commentary provided by GM Christian Bauer, GM Damian Lemos, IM Perunovic, IM Hambleton, and IM Ponomarenko. Today, we add yet another feature to the user experience and this is the multi-live commentary. In minute by minute updates, you will be able to follow key moments of all games from Tata Steel, commented by the chess professionals team.
Games are starting at 13:30 CET, refresh the page for the latest updates.
Live: Tata Steel 2013 live / Tata Steel B / Tata Steel C
All news about Tata Steel Chess 2013 / Tata Steel 2013 Group A /Tata Steel 2013 Group B / Tata Steel 2013 Group C
19:45 CET
With the Nakamura – Sokolov game ending in a draw, here are the standings at the A group of Tata Steel.
1 Karjakin, S. 1.5 / 2
2 Harikrishna, P. 1.5 / 2
3 Caruana, F. 1.0 / 2
4 L’Ami, E. 1.0 / 2
5 Nakamura, H. 1.0 / 2
6 Wang, H. 1.0 / 2
7 Leko, P. 1.0 / 2
8 Sokolov, I. 1.0 / 2
9 Carlsen, M. 1.0 / 2
10 Aronian, L. 1.0 / 2
11 van Wely, L. 1.0 / 2
12 Anand, V. 1.0 / 2
13 Giri, A. 0.5 / 2
14 Hou, Y. 0.5 / 2
18:26 CET
And we are left with just one game going on today, live here on the USA version of Chessdom with commentary by GM Bauer and IM Hambleton.
18:15 CET
Real show in the Van Wely – Yifan Hou game here, now Yifan Hou misses her chance and from -9.00 computer evaluation goes to a drawish eval.
18:00 CET
Group C standings are now available:
1 Brunello, S. 2.0 / 2
2 Peralta, F. 2.0 / 2
3 Mekhitarian, K. 1.5 / 2
4 Gretarsson, H. 1.5 / 2
5 Romanishin, O. 1.0 / 2
6 Bitensky, I. 1.0 / 2
7 Admiraal, M. 1.0 / 2
8 Klein, D. 1.0 / 2
9 van der Werf, M. 1.0 / 1
10 Schut, L. 0.5 / 2
11 Kovchan, A. 0.5 / 2
12 Swinkels, R. 0.5 / 2
13 Goryachkina, A. 0.5 / 1
14 Burg, T. 0.0 / 2
17:45 CET
Van Wely is heading for disaster, after having a very nice position, he ruined the game in two moves and now is in inferior position against Yifan Hou.
17:30 CET
And still IM Hambleton notes: “It looks like Black has some zugzwang ideas after 56. … Rf3 and Kg6-f7-e6. After Re3 to paralyze the Bd6 to the defense of both pawns, if White moves his King to the first rank then Black can continue with Re2+ and try to use the 2nd rank. If White continues with Bc5 after Re3 then Rxe5 Kxh3 Kxf6 Bd4! holds the draw. The endgame is endlessly tricky.”
Watch the game live with commentary here
17:15 CET
IM Hambleton: (after …h4 by Sokolov) A risky decision to ignore the White pawns… Rf3 seemed necessary to stop their advance. Maybe Sokolov is overestimating how quickly he can create some threats against the White King. Nakamura has played as accurately as he could and now the question is how will Sokolov continue to chase the full point?
17:54 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 44.Ra6): After Knight’s exchange the game became simpler. (Giri – Anand, 46.Ke2 ): If Anand exchanges rooks, his extra pawn will not influence the game. Both favorites Karjakin and Anand end their dynamic, but equal games with draw. Thank you for following me! Looking forward to meeting you again tomorrow!
17:47 CET
Aronian – Carlsen is officially draw, replay the game here with commentary
17:45 CET
Group B standings:
1 Tiviakov, S. 2.0 / 2
2 Rapport, R. 1.5 / 2
3 Timman, J. 1.5 / 2
4 Nikolic, P. 1.5 / 2
5 van Kampen, R. 1.0 / 2
6 Grandelius, N. 1.0 / 2
7 Smeets, J. 1.0 / 2
8 Dubov, D. 1.0 / 2
9 Movsesian, S. 1.0 / 2
10 Turov, M. 1.0 / 2
11 Edouard, R. 0.5 / 2
12 Naiditsch, A. 0.5 / 2
13 Ipatov, A. 0.5 / 2
14 Ernst, S. 0.0 / 2
17:37 CET
IM Hambleton on Aronian – Carlsen: Black needs to be equally careful after 45. Rf6+ Kh5 Kf3 when it is White who dreams of checkmating Black! Carlsen must have seen the saving idea Re3+! Kxe3 Nxd5+ followed by Nxf6 and Kg6… This is not such a simple idea, and relies on the fact that the d6 pawn prevents Ke5 to guard the pawn on f6. 45. Rf6+ Kh7 46. Rh6+ Kg8 47. g6 with the idea of g7 and Rh8+ is not pleasant, but 47. … Rf5+ followed by Rf6 and the pin on the g6 pawn should earn a draw.
17:34 CET
Naiditsch, the clear rating favorite in group B, gets outplayed by Tiviakov. First positionally, then commits a clear blunder. This makes two in a row for Tiviakov – the World Junior Champion and the rating favorite, now the Dutch sits on top of the table with perfect score.
17:30 CET
IM Hjorvar Steinn Gretarsson also wins in group C, which turns out to be a day with many decisive games in the group.
17:15 CET
GM Bauer on Nakamura – Sokolov: We are in time trouble and good share of black’s edge has gone. But still not easy to hold this with white, he will put his Bishop at d4, and pawn at e3, I don’t know frankly if this is a win with best play or not.
See all about Nakamura – Sokolov here
17:10 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin 37.Rf5): Karjakin won back a pawn, but position stays the same.
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 34. Qb3): After Giri exchanges the queens and wins back the pawn, the position will be absolutely equal.
17:05 CET
GM Bauer for Aronian – Carlsen, “now 40.Nf4+ Kg7 41.g5 seems to be the only way to create some problems, but after the prophylactic Kg8, followed by a timely …c6 Black should be safe”
16:55 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Peralta – Swinkels): Now Peralta has significant advantage and big chances to win. Again, this game will be covered here at the Spanish version, but a possible continuation is 25. … Qg4 26. f3 Qg5 27. f4 Bxf4 28. f6 Qg6 29. fxg7 Be5 30. Qxg6 fxg6 31. Bxe5 Rxe5 32. Rh8+ Kxg7 with black going down. Second victory for Peralta, and he is on steady pace in group C.
16:55 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Ipatov-Turov): if there is no surprise, this game will ends with logical result – draw. And it just did… Good result for the World Junior Champion, also fine for black, concentrating on the rounds to come.
16:41 CET
FM David Klein completes the first decisive game of the day, defaeting Lisa Schut in 29 moves. replay the game here
16:37 CET
Currently grim prospects for Nakamura in his game as seen by GM Bauer
16:26 CET
Just a minute after, Grandelius and Dubov also shake hands for a draw on move 31 in dynamic, but equal position.
16:25 CET
First game to finish for the day Wang Hao – Leko 1/2-1/2. Despite the long fight predicted, the players decided to save energy, as the Tata Steel tournament is a long one.
16:23 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 28… Bf8): Anand step by step repulses the attack. After the pieces exchange the game became easier and it is difficult for Giri to find resources to continue the attack.
16:17 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin 27. Qb1): If Karjakin goes to endgame, I think equality will come soon. This will also be the logical outcome of a well contested game, with deep theoretical preparation and precise play by both sides.
16:15 CET
Parallel to Tata Steel, the Armenian championship is taking place, GM Avetik Grygorian and GM Tigran Petrosian are firm leaders after two rounds, replay all games here
15:57 CET
Here is the Giri – Anand summary so far:
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 18. a4 ): Now we can see strategic movement of opponents. Giri opens the “a” file by his move 18. a4. Also white has a plan to transfer Ng3 on d5 over f1-e3.
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 19. Nh2 ): Giri made a slight mistake. Anand can take the initiative by move 19… c4.
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 20. Ng4 ): Giri wants to open the h file by exchanging Nf6 and Ng4. For example: 20. Ng4 N:g4 21. hg b4 22. c4 Qd8 23. Nf1 .. 24. g3. 25. Rh1.
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 22. Nf5 ): Such an interesting move. Giri sacrifices a piece for attack.
15:54 CET
GM Bauer on 21.f4 in Aronian – Carlsen, “now, as it is know to most KID players, getting a protected passed-pawn by 21…e4 isn’t so great because it surrenders the d4 square and White can conveniently block it with Nf1-e3 followed, after a more or less long preparation, by the g2-g4 push. On the other hand Black can’t just do nothing because the combination of Qc3, Bh5 and Nf3 will create too much pressure on e5, perhaps taking …exf4 is the lesser evil, Black may be able to bring his Knight to e5 one day, while it would take a couple of tempi for White to eat this f4 pawn. In the remaining position Black would be left with isolated pawns at h7 and f5, but that isn’t such a big handicap”
15:45 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin 19. a6): After Karjakin’s impecise 18. .. c5 L’Ami answered quickly and optimally.
Karjakin is currently leader of the tournament, check out his game from yesterday in a video here.
15:35 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin, 18.a5): After 18. .. Ba6 by black Karjakin in future might equalize the position without problem. For eexample: 18.Ba6 19. B:a6 R:a6 20. ab R:b6 21. Qe3 Qe6 22. h3 Rfb8 23. Rab1 h6 24. Rfc1 R:b1 25. R:b1 R:b1 26. Nb1 Ne4 27. Nbd2.
15:28 CET
Peralta’s game is getting interesting in Group C, later today there will be extra coverage of it in the Spanish version of Chessdom where now is available a report on his game opener against Goryachkina.
15:27 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 22. Nf5 ): Such an interesting move! Anand sacrifices a piece for attack, action is to come.
15:25 CET
Christian Bauer about Aronian’s move, “18.Nb5 wow ! 18.Nf3 was less brave, but not necessarily better. 18.Nb5 is on the other hand certainly more pleasant to watch for us ! Now if 18…f4 there would follow 19.Bxb6 cxb6 20.Nxd6 when Black must move his Re8, and then 21.c4-c5 would follow in the resulting position White would have 2 pawns and some initiative for the piece, with the opponent’s kingside play neutralized for a while. But that is not tragedy either, moreover the Knight-sally to f5 becomes an option”
15:15 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Peralta-Swinkels, 15. Re8): We have established a position with hanging pawns c6 and d5, and with a weak pawn a6. White owns half-open c file. Black has the advantage of the bishop pair. The game may develop in this way, for example: 15…Re8 16. Qd3 Ne4 17. N:e4 R:e4 18. Nd4 Bd7 19. Q:a6 Ra8 20. Qb7 Rb8. In that case it will be a draw.
Engines were not happy about Carlsen’s 15…e5. GM Bauer commented, “Carlsen probably refrained from 15…Nc5 because of 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 Na4 18.Nb5 when Ra1 would be a threat. 15…e5 is aiming at justifying …Kh8. Black wants to continue …Ng8 next …f7-f5”
15:04 CET
Wang Hao and Peter Leko have made the most number of moves, currently at move 23. But with all knights and rooks present on the board, this certainly is going to be long and interesting tactical game
15:01 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 20. Ng4 ): Anand wants to opethe “h” file by exchanging Nf6 and Ng4. For example: 20. Ng4 N:g4 21. hg b4 22. c4 Qd8 23. Nf1 .. 24. g3. 25. Rh1.
14:52 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin 12. ..Qd8): By this move black enables white to secure advantage on queen’s side with 13. a4 .
14:51 CET
GM Bauer (Nakamura – Sokolov): 11…Qa5 is aimed at discouraging W from playing Rb1 or d3 because a2 and c3 would respectively be hanging, but I bet we will see one of those moves played soon anyway
And now 12.Bg2 is preventing …Bh3 ; now 12…Qh5 becomes an option again
Full commentary of this game here
14:49 CET
Here is a little info about the new commentator of Chessdom, IM Ponomarenko. Born April 15, 1993, he is now 3rd year student of Law Academy in Kharkiv, Ukraine. IM Ponomarenko completed his first IM norm at the International Chess Title Tournament “Sevastopol winter 2010”. His second IM norm was for performance at the “Evpatoria spring 2010”, where he was the winner. His final IM norm he got at the tournament “Victory Cup-A”.
14:47 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 19. Nh2 ): Anand made a imprecise move. Giri can take the initiative by playing 19… c4.
14:45 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin, 12.b5 ): After this move white might have passed pawn. For ex.: 12.b5 ab 13.Nb5 Nbd7 14.Bb2 c5 15. dc bc 16. Qc3 h6 17. a4 Bb8 18. a5.
14:38 CET
GM Bauer on Nakamura – Sokolov: …Qxd5 aiming at continuing O-O Qh5 next Bh3. Now 10.Ne3 Qh5 11.h3 is to be considered, reaching a position known from the Rossilimo-Sicilian with reversed colors 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 etc.
14:37 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 18. a4 ): Now we can see strategic movement by both opponents. Anand opens the “a” line by his move 18. a4. Also white has a plan to transfer Ng3 on d5 over f1-e3.
14:35 CET
GM Bauer on Aronian – Carlsen: 13.Rc1 and not so obvious how to continue for both sides. Black could activate his pieces a bit by opening the position via …c7-c6, but that would imply creating weaknesses on b6 and d6
14:21 CET
GM Ipatov informs on his facebook IpaChess, “In the first round of the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2013 I lost to GM Tiviakov with Black. Managed to equalise in the opening but step by step the opponent started outplaying me and everything was finished with a blunder in zeitnot. Against GM Maxim Turov with White pieces in round 2.”
IM Ponomaarenko commented: Yesterday GM Ipatov lost to the experienced GM Tiviakov. It’s always difficult to start a tournament with loss. But as for me, Ipatov was quite good, unfortunately he was out of luck in zeitnot. Anyway I believe that Alex will recover. Today he plays white with GM Turov. The position is rather interesting, there was played Nimzo defence (5. g3) variation.
Currently this games is at move 11 in theory 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 c5 5. g3 Ne4 6. Qc2 Qa5 7. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 8. Bd2 Bxd2+ 9. Nxd2 Nc6 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Bg2 O-O
14:11 CET
The beta version of the playing Chessdom Chess Arena is coming next week – be from the first to join with your ratings, profiles, and more.
14:08 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin, 10. b4 ): By this move white annexes territory on Queen’s side. For ex.: 10. b4 Nbd7 11. Bb2 a5 12. Nb5 Be7 13. Qb3 c6
14:07 CET
GM Bauer: Naka still pondering how to recapture, if he goes dxc3 B will have to choose if he wants to allow Bg5 or not, this wouldn’t be a big headache, since after …h6 White would have to part with his 2 Bishops (in order to be consistent), but then the maneuver Ne3-d5 could gain in strength since the simple …Nxd5 would not be available anymore.
14:05 CET
Nakamura – Sokolov and Klein – Schut (Group C) are currently the two slowest games in development. Both are on move 7 and the opponents are taking their early time in tactical calculations. Nakamura is choosing his plan, Ivan has waited to be begged for swapping on c3. Now dxc3, intending Ne3-d5 at some point seems natural. bxc3, taking “toward the center”, may be more ambitious, but usually black has got a good piece-play with a quick …d7-d5 that compensates the enemy 2 Bishops.
14:03 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin, 7… Bb7): Sides are ending the development and are preparing for further actions. 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. a3 Bxc3 is a standard manner to proceed the game.
13:56 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 12. .. Be6 ): black strikes for exchanging bishops. after that Anand controls Ne6 d4 and f4.
13:51 CET
GM Bauer (Aronian – Carlsen) The position resembles some lines of Tango for example 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.a3 d6 5.Nc3 g6 6.e4 Bg7 etc., but black is quite flexible. Aronian seems to have avoided simplifications based on …exd5 exd5 and then …Ne4. Aronian seems to have avoided simplifications based on …exd5 exd5 and then …Ne4. Now black must decide if he wants to continue attacking the center by …c7-c6 or instead play “useful semi-waiting moves” like …a5, …Bd7. Another issue is : when shall B take on d5 ?
13:45 CET
IM Ponomarenko (L’Ami – Karjakin, 6. Bd3): The game started with the Nimzo-Indian defense Rubinstein variation. Again a theoretical battle, L’Ami has shown many times he is prepared well in the opening phase, while Karjakin has only one goal in mind: to win Tata Steel and cross 2800 at the same time.
13:37 CET
GM Bauer on Aronian – Carlsen: I thought it was the 1st time this opening occurred between these two exceptional players, but they had in fact discussed the 9.Ne1 line once. So after 6.Be2 e5 7.00 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 (9.Ne1) today a quite new position, to me at least has arisen on the board
IM Ponomarenko (Giri – Anand, 5… Be7 ): The game started with the Spanish defence, long and well explored opening theory ahead. Is it the day for the World Champion to show experience, or will youth be the key?
13:33 CET
IM Ponomarenko (Aronian – Carlsen, 1. d4 ): The game started with the Old Indian. GM Bauer: Interesting by Carlsen, maybe Carlsen’s choice was influenced by the 1st round game, where the Armenian wasn’t too convincing
13:31 CET
The games have started! The excitement in Wijk Aan Zee is back on, time for action!
13:29 CET
One minute to the start of the games, commentators are ready including the latest addition to the team, IM Ponomarenko, one of the most talented Ukranian juniors. More about him later in the commentary.
13:25 CET
Two of the games of the round will be heavily commented by GM Bauer. The first one is the 2800 battle Aronian – Carlsen here, the second is the match Nakamura – Sokolov here. Practically all games of the US players from Tata and Gibraltar will have detailed commentary, as special thanks to the 1 million people that visited Chessdom from US territory in 2012
