I spillMagnus Carlsen

London Chess Classics 2011 - Round 1

 Hopefully LCC is becoming a regular top level event. It is great to play in London once again.

Before the round today chief organiser Malcolm Pein introduced the 3rd edition of LCC and former tennis star and now chess enthusiast Boris Becker performed the opening move. I told him I wanted to play 1.e4. He endorsed my choice and left the pawn at the front of the e4 square ready for further advances!

I was playing same aged D.Howell (2633) and got a small edge from the Ruy Lopez opening. Motivated by the incident on move one I played 14.f4 and 16.e5! sacrificing a pawn for the initiative. David grabbed another pawn at b2 with his queen. White is still somewhat better in my opinion due to the monstrous knight on e4 and bishop on c4. Black is very much tied up with difficulty finding meaningful moves. I gradually improved my position and continued to put pressure on him. In ensuing timetrouble he stated to drift with 28....Re7. I got a bit low on time myself and an otherwise good game was a bit marred by the lack of control just before move 40. I was completely winning when both of us missed his only resource 40....Qxf5! after which white would be better but with a long job left to try to win the game. With 2 seconds left on the clock he resigned instead! 1-0.

Aronian seemed to have a highly promising position against Luke McShane, but the latter managed to defend excellently despite his time trouble and found a perpetual and drew around move 40.

Anand had a small edge at one point but not enough to win against Adams while Kramnik-Nakamura was a fairly balanced and well-played draw.

Tomorrow I'm black against Luke McShane who did very well in last year's edition following a year as chess pro. He is now back in a full time job outside chess but was off to a good start today.

Magnus Carlsen, London December 3rd 2011

 

Kings' Tournament 2011 Free day - halfway

The tournament schedule was changed slightly the day before the tournament to facilitate advancing the closing ceremony to the 21st in the evening. Today was the only free day, and as "usual" a football match with the players, seconds and journalists against the local organizers was staged indoor in Medias. Karjakin's second Motylev is not only a strong grandmaster, his football skills contributed to a clear victory for "our" team.

Last year I had 3.5 points halfway through the tournament as well, but there the resemblance stops. I was a bit rusty and needed the margins on my side to get going with the turnaround in round 4 last year. This year I'm in good shape and have not had any problems so far. Let's hope it stays this way!

Friday I'm black against Nakamura in round 6.

Magnus Carlsen, Bazna, June 16th

 

Kings' Tournament 2011 - Round 5

Last year Nisipeanu (2662) surprised me with the Jaenisch gambit and the game ended with draw. I was determined to make better use of the white pieces this year. The opening looks fairly innocuous with the queen swap on move 8 and a nearly symmetrical position. Playing black is not easy though. White has an initiative, and his 11. Bd6 effectively granted me the bishop pair. In the continuation there was not much black could do. I could improve my position gradually advancing on the kingside with h3, g4, h4, g5. After the opening of the h-file and 26.Bd3! (aiming for e4) he was more or less lost. Short on time a few more inaccuracies shortened his suffering. 1-0 and I think a played a very decent game!

Karjakin beat Ivanchuk with the black pieces with the beautiful 16. Bxh3!! He is now in sole 2nd half a point behind me.

It seems as if the tennis the evenings prior to round 4 and 5 worked out well!

Magnus Carlsen, Bazna, June 16th