It’s been coruscating chess at Corus. First, Shirov threatened to run away, with 5 straight wins. Then he faltered, losing to Nakamura and Anand. Meanwhile Carlsen and Kramnik met in a fateful encounter that Kramnik won. Nakamura ,who was challenging for first place, fell back after successive losses to Kramnik and Karjakin.
After round ten, Kramnik is in the lead with 7 points (+4, =6). Big Vlad has played enterprisingly. He’s also been lucky to escape losses against Short, Ivanchuk and Tiviakov. In second place, Shirov and Carlsen are both 6.5. Fourth - eighth is shared by the pack of Anand, Karjakin, Nakamura, Dominguez and Ivanchuk, who are all on 5.5.
Anand’s sole win so far involved a double blunder on move 39. Shirov returned the favour after a big lapse on Anand’s part. That came after a sequence of nine stodgy draws where the champion rarely looked in trouble but also generated little pressure.
There are three rounds left so first place is still very open. If Shirov recovers some of his early form, or Carlsen keeps plugging away, either could overtake Kramnik, who has still to play Shirov, Anand and defending champion, Karjakin.
In Group B, Anish Giri leads with 7 points, despite a loss against Anna Muzychuk. L’Ami, Wesley So and Ni Hua share 2-4 with 6.5 each. Negi is on 5.5 while Harikrishna is on 5. Kramnik incidentally has referenced Giri as a probable rival to Carlsen, while also showering compliments on Nakamura.
In Group C, 15-year-old American GM Ray Robson took an early lead before faltering due to three successive losses. Li Chao comfortably leads with 7.5 while Vocaturo, Von Kampen, Robson and Swinkels share 2-5 with 6 points each. Abhijeet Gupta is on 5.5 while Sowmya is on 3.
The diagram, WHITE TO PLAY, (Carlsen Vs Kramnik, Corus 2010) is from the key encounter, which leaves Kramnik in the driving seat. White played 29.Be4 c4!? 30.Bxc6 Bxc6. White’s material advantage is compensated by the black pawn mass, bishop pair and chance of light-squared attacks. Something like 31. Nc5 Qd5 32. Qf3 Qxf3 would be typical of what black wants. Carlsen was incidentally down to increment (30 secs/ move) so the exchange sacrifice has a strong practical component.
Play continued 31. Qh5 Re5 32.Qh6+ Ke7 33.e4 d3 34.Qe3 Bxe4 35. Nb6?? Instead lines like 35. Qa7+ or 35. Re1 are assessed by the engines to be more or less equal in a very dynamic position. The text just loses a piece. Kramnik, who was not in major time pressure, found the obvious but deadly 35 —Bb7 36. Qf4 Qxb6 37. Qxc4 Re2 38. Rf1 (0-1). Kramnik was about to play 38 — Bd4 when white resigned.
Devangshu Datta is an internationally rated chess and correspondence chess player
Write to us at editorfeatures@bsmail.in
