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Chess (#1023)

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Devangshu Datta New Delhi
Last Updated : Jan 24 2013 | 2:10 AM IST

Magnus Carlsen produced a standout performance to win the London Classic and push his rating into new territory. The Norwegian GM ended with +5,=3 to win ahead of Kramnik whose +4,=4, result would have taken the event most years. Carlsen ended at 18 soccer points, ahead of Kramnik, 16. Carlsen’s TPR was 2994 and Kramnik’s 2937.

Nakamura and Adams shared 3-4 with identical results of +3,-1,=4, well behind the top duo. Anand scored a mediocre 50 per cent to take fifth place after a horrible blunder against Adams. Aronyan had a poor result with +1,-2,=5 and Polgar, McShane and Jones all had big minus scores.

Carlsen’s result pulls him to 2861 on the live rating list, clear of Kasparov’s record of 2851. Kramnik rises to no.2 at 2809, while Aronyan drops to third with 2802. Kasparov’s record came in 1999. Since then, there’s been some rating inflation. But the current generation’s top 50 is stronger than any previous generation’s top 50 and Carlsen’s win ratio is astounding.

Intuitively, Carlsen does seem to be the strongest ever. He has, at age 22, set new standards for technical endings and he doesn’t really have much in the way of apparent weaknesses. He’s not a flashy combinative player like Kasparov but of course, that is partly stylistic preference. The one thing the Norwegian now needs is the world title.

London turned out to be a terrific event in all respects, except perhaps the incidental music on the video feed. Tailender Jones was the only player to fail to win at least once. There were some amazingly complex tactical productions.

But Carlsen’s simplicity at its best trumps them. The DIAGRAM , WHITE TO PLAY (Carlsen Vs Polgar, Judit London Classic 2012) sees White take control with 23.e5! The e-pawn may fall but this nails down the K-side. Black responded 23.-- Bc6 24.Bd4 Red8 25.Bxc6 Rxc6 26.Nf3 dxe5 27.fxe5 Rdc8 28.Ne4 Qc7. 29.Nfd2! a6.

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The Kt regroup is possible because of 29.-- Nxe5 30. b5 and play continued 30.Nf2! Bg5? Black must play 30.--h5. 31.Rf1 Bxd2 32.Qxd2 Nxe5. If 32.-- Rxc4 33. Rxc4 Qxc4 34. Ng4 and f7 falls.

White polished it off with 33.Bxe5 Qxe5 34.Ng4 Rd6 35.Nh6+ Kg7 36.Rxf7+ Kh8 37.Qf2 Qd4 38.c5 bxc5 39.Qxd4+ Rxd4 40.Rxc5 Rcd8. This looks dangerous but it’s illusory. Polgar doesn’t have a counter-attack as became evident after 41.Rcc7 Rd1+ 42.Kg2 R1d2+ 43.Kh3 R2d5 44.Ng4 Rh5+ 45.Kg2 Rd2+ 46.Kf3 Rf5+ 47.Ke3 Rxf7 48.Rxf7 Rd8 49.Nf6 Rb8. Material is nominally equal but black is tied hand and foot due to the threat of mate. The king can walk in with 50.Kf4 h6 51.Ke5 a5 52.bxa5 Ra8 53.a6 (1–0).

Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player

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First Published: Dec 15 2012 | 12:05 AM IST

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