Kramnik Grabs Lead At London Chess Classic 2011

12 December 2011, Kuala Lumpur – Vladimir Kramnik grabs the lead at the London Chess Classic with a Ruy Lopez Berlin Defence against Luke McShane. Kramnik has 15 points after round 8.

Chess.com reported that the dramatic showdown between Luke McShane and Vladimir Kramnik was the key game of round eight at the London Chess Classic.

Hoping to secure the outright lead, McShane took the game to Kramnik with an exchange sacrifice to create a powerful bishop with threats to Kramnik's king.

However, any advantage that McShane had achieved evaporated during time-trouble and Kramnik took the initiative, but despite being a full rook ahead the result was still far from clear.

However, eventually the tactical tricks ran out and Kramnik earned a crucial win to take the sole lead with just one round remaining.

Nigel Short managed to completely block the position against Hikaru Nakamura, and remarkably there were no captures at all until move 30! Yet "thanks" in part to the anti-draw rules, the players continued shuffling their pieces around until move 90 before a draw was mercifully agreed!

Magnus Carlsen drew his game with black against Vishy Anand, and David Howell ended his event on a positive note by holding Lev Aronian to a draw.

Pix 1. Game of the round between McShane and Kramnik. (Photo courtesy of Ray Morris-Hill at the official website)

 

ICC also did an analysis of the McShane-Kramnik game of the 8th Round, London Chess Classic 2011. Analysis was done by GM Suat Atalik.

The "Sofia" anti-draw rules are in operation, and the 3-1-0 scoring system adopted for London Chess Classic 2011.

To read more, please visit chess.com or click here. Or visit the official website – www.londonchessclassic.com

London Chess Classic – Nakamura In The Lead

10 Dec 2011, Kuala Lumpur – At the 3rd London Chess Classic 2011, Nakamura made waves in round 5 by overcoming David Howell of the U.K. where Nakamura will win a piece in the end game. Another sensational round in the 2011 London Chess Classic saw Hikaru Nakamura seize the lead with a score of 10 points by beating David Howell.

Chess.com reported that Hikaru Nakamura celebrated his 24th birthday today, but he was unable to mark the occasion with a win. In a critical battle with Luke McShane a draw was the final result.

As fate would have it, all of the other games also ended inconclusively so Hikaru Nakamura still leads with three rounds remaining. Nakamura has 11 points so far, two points ahead of Carlsen who has played one game less than Nakamura.

It is Hikaru Nakamura's turn next to take his bye, so the other players will be hoping to make ground as the tournament heads towards its finale.

Luke McShane shaking hands with Hikaru Nakamura at the start of round 6 (Photo courtesy of Ray-Morris Hill at the official website.)

 

Here is the round 6 game between McShane and Nakamura which ended in a draw.

 

 

To read more please visit chess.com or the official website – www.londonchessclassic.com.

(News from Chess.com and www.londonchessclassic.com)

Carlsen Wins Against Nakamura

7 Dec 2011, Kuala Lumpur - At the London Chess Classic, Magnus Carlsen wins against Hikaru Nakamura of the USA during the third round of play.

The Week In Chess reported that Magnus Carlsen beat Hikaru Nakamura to move into a clear lead with 7/9 after 3 rounds of the London Chess Classic. Carlsen said his position was easier to play and eventually Nakamura went wrong and his position collapsed. Viswanathan Anand was briefly in trouble against David Howell but he missed his way and the game was drawn.

Levon Aronian looked to have a smooth win against Nigel Short but he revealed afterwards it was not at all that easy and I guess a disappointed Short will at least be feeling better about his play than after round 2. Luke McShane beat an off-form Michael Adams after the latter turned down a piece sacrifice which he might just as well have accepted and taken his chances. Round 4 runs Tues 6th December 16:00-23:00 GMT to allow people to visit after work. Carlsen-Kramnik, Adams-Short, Anand-Nakamura, Howell-McShane, Aronian commentator.

[Event "3rd London Chess Classic"]
[Site "London ENG"]
[Date "2011.12.05"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Carlsen, Magnus"]
[Black "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2826"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[ECO "C50"]

1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Ng1-f3 Nb8-c6 3. Bf1-c4 Ng8-f6 4. d2-d3 Bf8-c5 5. c2-c3 d7-d6 6. Bc4-b3 a7-a6 7. Nb1-d2 Bc5-a7 8. Nd2-f1 h7-h6 9. Nf1-g3 O-O 10. O-O Bc8-e6 11. h2-h3 Qd8-d7 12. Bc1-e3 Nc6-e7 13. Nf3-h4 Ne7-g6 14. Nh4-f5 Ng6-e7 15.Nf5xe7 Qd7xe7 16. Be3xa7 Ra8xa7 17. f2-f4 c7-c5 18. Bb3-c2 b7-b5 19. Qd1-d2 Ra7-b7 20. a2-a3 a6-a5 21. Rf1-f2 b5-b4 22. a3xb4 a5xb4 23. Ra1-f1 b4xc3 24. b2xc3 e5xf4 25. Rf2xf4 Nf6-h7 26. d3-d4 c5xd4 27. c3xd4 Qe7-g5 28. Kg1-h2 Nh7-f6 29. Bc2-d1 Rf8-b8 30. h3-h4 Qg5-g6 31. Rf4xf6 g7xf6 32. Qd2-f4 Rb7-b2 33. Bd1-h5 Qg6-g7 34. Bh5-f3 Rb8-a8 35. d4-d5 Be6-c8 36. Ng3-h5 Qg7-f8 37. Nh5xf6 Kg8-h8 38. Rf1-c1 Kh8-g7 39. e4-e5 d6xe5 40. Nf6-h5 Kg7-h7 41. Bf3-e4 1-0

Pix 1. GM Magnus Carlsen, Norway – leading at London Chess Classic.

Pix 2. Position after move 41.Be4+, with possible mate in two if 41… Bf5, 42.Qxf5+ Kg8, 43.Qh7 #.