Chess

[DarthFed]

29. Bd6 and Ra6 immediately Now if Bc7, Ra7, if Bb8, Ra8. The Queen can't protect due to Nxf5, black is in rough shape even if he wasn't down to his final minutes.

 

[DarthFed]

Good defense by Giri, when all the dust has settled he is up 2 pawns with a rook vs. B + N. The king is not safe but he may yet survive this.

 

[Federberg]

yup. I think this will be a draw as well. Those extra pawns should give him counterplay even if they're isolated

 

[DarthFed]

Qg6 leaves a nice shot, Nxf5 open here for White.

 

[DarthFed]

Qf4 seems to win the f5 pawn and is tougher to deal with as nxf5 will threaten Ne7 and nxg7

 

[Federberg]

looks like it's over now. Time pressure and Anish ran into a cheapo! That has to hurt

 

[Federberg]

very impressive that Magnus found Qd2. That was the engine move, but it really didn't look human. But then what do I know!

 

[DarthFed]

I still don't see a knockout blow here and they just hit move 40. Giri will finally have some time to think.

 

[DarthFed]

But I think too many threats here and black has no great counterplay. That's his undoing.

 

[Federberg]

I don't see it either, but you have to think 3 pieces close to an open King is a loser. Engine says Magnus is +3.5

 

[DarthFed]

^ Yep. Only hope I see is black being allowed to get rook to d8 and start pushing that pawn but even that probably won't accomplish much.

 

[Federberg]

Giri resigned

 

[DarthFed]

Nice finish from Carlsen. That about wraps this tourney up. Total disaster for Giri too.

 

[Federberg]

yup. And I must say he's coming across extremely well in the post match conference. That chip on his shoulder has made a lot of people dislike him, I hope they give him a fair shot now. Although he can do without the sarcastic comments sometimes

 

[DarthFed]

Big tournament starts tomorrow, Sinquefield Cup. No Carlsen or Kramnik but it has MVL, Aronian, Naka, Anand, Caruana and many others. Should be a real competitive one up at the top.

 

[Federberg]

Yes indeed. Looking forward to that. I want to see if MVL plays like the best of the rest in a tougher field. Who you got? I still think Aronian, in tournament play, when he's on, is still probably the next best to Magnus so I'll go with him. He seems to have overcome his troubles, but he hasn't played for a while, which could be a good or bad thing

 

[DarthFed]

I think Caruana or MVL. MVL definitely has the hot hand at the moment. I haven't thought too highly of Aronian for awhile now, fun player to watch and a dangerous one for sure but he seems to have taken a step back from where he was a few years ago. Aside from those 3 and Naka the only potential surprise winners I see are So and Anand. So hasn't really had a breakout tournament yet but he has risen the ranks pretty quickly and is #7 at age 22. So and Giri are the youngest in the top 15.

 

[DarthFed]

Pretty nice position for Giri vs. MVL after 23 moves.

 

[Federberg]

lots of counterplay for MVL though. Credit to Giri for challenging him in a Sicilian though. Did Wesley just bluff Hikaru?

 

[DarthFed]

Yeah that So-Naka game is a wild one. Naka up two pawns for the exchange, lots of play left there. 21. Rd1 can force the queen trade it looks like but that will take a lot of calculation to make sure it works.