Three rounds from the end, the Tata looks wide open. In the premier, Anand (+4,=6) and Nakamura (+5,-1,=4) share the lead with 7 points each from 10 rounds. Kramnik and Aronyan are tied for 3-4, at 6.5 points each. These four must all fancy their chances. Somewhat behind and out of the running, Carlsen, Nepomniachtchi and Vachier-Lagrave are at 5.5 points each. Anand, Kramnik and Aronyan are unbeaten so far.
In the top league, Aronyan and Anand have looked ost consistent. Neither has ever been in serious trouble and they’ve logged the full points as and when opportunities arose. Carlsen has been hit-and-miss, playing a mixture of superb chess as in his win against Nakamura and howlers against Giri and Nepomniachtchi. Naka seems to have added some solidity to his sharp uncompromising style.
In the midst of the chess, the French Chess Federation (FFE) has done something bizarre, accusing three of its own players of cheating. GM Arnaud Hauchard, GM Sebastien Feller and IM Cyril Marzolo are accused of “organised fraud, serious breach of sport ethics, damage caused to the image of the French Team, during the World Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansyik, from September 21 to October 3 2010”.
Of the three accused, only Feller played for the French team which came tenth there and he won the individual gold for first reserve with a score of +5,-2,=2. and a rating performance of 2708. Feller alleges he is being victimised for not towing the FFE's line and supporting Karpov for Fide President. He has also accused the FFE of having accounting irregularities. Four members of the French team, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Laurent Fressinet, Vladislav Tkachiev and Romain Edouard have all expressed shock at the charges and support for the investigation “without prejudging the outcome of current or forthcoming proceedings”.
The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY, (Carlsen Vs Nakamura, Tata 2011) is the setting for an elegant demolition. 27.Nd5! Bxd5 28.exd5 Qxd5 – pretty much forced or else Ne6 will be a killer. Now 29.Bxh6! gxh6 Instead 29. --Qxd4 30.Be3 threatens Bxd4 and Rh8+, Q-hfile + and Qh7#
30.g7 Be7 The alternative 30...Bxg7 31.Nf5 Re7 32.Nxh6+ Kh8 33.Nf7+ Kg8 34.Rh8# is equally convincing. 31.Rxh6 Nf7 32.Qg6! Nxh6 33.Qxh6 Bf6 34.Qh8+ Kf7 35.g8Q+! Rxg8 36.Qxf6+ Ke8 37.Re1+ (1-0). White wins the house after the forced 37. – Qe5 38. Rxe5+ dxe5 39. Qe6+.
[Devangshu Datta is an internationally-rated chess and correspondence chess player]