2 more draws in the third game

Once again, we have two draws. After 3 games (of 4), both matches yielded in all draws. Kramnik and Gelfand will have white in the final game tomorrow. Unless there is a break through, they will head to rapid / blitz playoff.

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More fighting, same results

A big fight with the same score
Friday, 13 May 2011
Semi-finalists proceeded to conclude draws.

Semi-finalists proceeded to conclude draws within the Day 2 of the semi-finals of the Candidates Matches 2011 in Kazan, though the picture of the games turned very different from Round 1, which had deserved much critics and even complaints. This time it was exciting to watch the fight till the very end. Players with white Kramnik and Gelfand dictated tempo, taking initiative in their hands. As a result, they managed to gain a very strong positional advantage. At a certain moment, it was almost clear that blacks, Grischuk and Kamsky, might not survive. In an extremely difficult position, they had had serious problem with time, too. Either technical level had been not good enough or heroic defence had outweighted, - the answer will be given in analyses later, - however both games ended in a draw. So, the fight for final is still completely open.

Playing black with Topalov, Kamsky had chosen Gruenfeld, and he continued with this Opening against Gelfand too. It was unlikely the best idea. Israeli GM got very soon clear better and the blacks was pushed in very hard position, having all the pieces out of the job on the outskirts of the board. But the way to win was not so simple. Gelfand was not in a hurry, but in the decisive moment, he seemed to be too fast. Having less than a minute per move for the last moves before the time control, Kamsky grabbed his chance and after 40 moves, he almost equalised positions.

The game Kramnik – Grischuk turned to be not really a copy, though very much alike. Ex-world champion almost outplayed his opponent but Grischuk once more proved him to be a master of defence. Experts in live commentaries already buried the black, while the black started to breath. As a result, Grischuk solved his skin, too.

After time control, the whites hardly tried to get something, playing two hours, but the chances to win had been lost. Blacks had not an easy work to defend, but they did their job almost perfectly, without a mistake.

After two games in both matches score is 1:1.

Round 3 will be played tomorrow, on 14 May, 2011. The games are scheduled to start at 03.00 p.m. local time.

http://kazan2011.fide.com

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Lack luster semifinal start

Peaceful beginning
Thursday, 12 May 2011
The first semis of the Candidate Matches-2011 in Kazan ended in a draw.

In the first semi-finals of the Candidates Matches-2011 for FIDE World Championship there was not very much fire and both game Grischuk – Kramnik and Kamsky – Gelfand finished in a draw. Russians played opening only, and after 16 moves in Queen Gambit, and in an hour and some minutes agreed to share the point.

In the second game, there was more fight, but not so much critical or very interesting positions. In Sicilian, they played first five moves, the same as in the game Kamsky – Topalov, but after that American GM went back to the most usual way in this variation, keeping slightly positional advantage, but absolutely nothing more. To make the long story short, they made 36 moves, when White offered a draw.

Round 2 of the Candidates Matches will be played with the opposite colours: Kramnik – Grischuk and Gelfand – Kamsky. The games are scheduled to start at 03.00 p.m. local time.

http://kazan2011.fide.com

Commentary, video, and more

Candidate matches semi finals Game 1 LIVE!
Games commentary, video, and more

Click on the links below for live commentary of Game 1 of the semi finals of the Candidates Matches, brought to you by Chess Evolution and Chess Friends.

Gelfand - Kamsky live

Grischuk - Kramnik live

All games with computer analysis / Video

Note: GM Danielsen has produced videos on ALL games from yesterday, review them in the Facebook chess fan page

The way of the players to the semi finals

Kamsky - Topalov Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3 / Game 4

Aronian - Grischuk Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3 / Game 4 / Rapid 1 / Rapid 2 / Rapid 3 / Rapid 4

Kramnik - Radjabov Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3 / Game 4 / Rapid 1 / Rapid 2 / Rapid 3 / Rapid 4 / Blitz 1 / Blitz 2 / Blitz 3 / Blitz 4

Gelfand - Mamedyarov Game 1 / Game 2 / Game 3 / Game 4

Peaceful first day of the CM Semifinal

Grischuk and Kramnik drew in 16 moves in game 1 of their 2011 Candidates' Match while Kamsky and Gelfand shared the same result in 36 moves. Game 2 will take place tomorrow with Gelfand and Kramnik having white.

Candidates Matches Resume

The Candidates' Semifinal Matches will resume today. The matchups are:

Kramnik vs. Grischuk
Gelfand vs. Kamsky

You can follow the LIVE actions with computer analysis right here.

Who will win?
	B. Gelfand
	G. Kamsky

Who will win?
	V. Kramnik
	A. Grischuk

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Theorical battle in just 16 moves

Who will win?

Who will win?
	B. Gelfand
	G. Kamsky

Who will win?
	V. Kramnik
	A. Grischuk

Kramnik saved by the clock!

A Chessbase report of what happened in the Kramnik - Radjabov playoff

While this last game (Aronian vs. Grischuk) was taking place, Kramnik and Radjabov were already into their blitz tiebreaks. The reason is that they started their rapid games one game before Aronian and Grischuk. In other words, Aronian and Grischuk started their first game at the same time Kramnik and Radjabov started their second. Unfortunately, the significant dullness of the first four classic games, continued into the rapids, and a further lot of draws were presented to the spectators. The blitz games were another story though.

The structure of the blitz games was a mini-match of two games played at five minutes with a three second increment per move. Each match is potentially decisive, and up to five such matches could be played to decide a winner. In the first game, Kramnik went down in flames badly, and resigned one move before being mated. This essentially meant that he had an absolute must-win situation if he wanted to stay in the match. Things didn’t seem to be going his way as the position seemed headed for a draw. The pieces went off, no weaknesses appeared, and it went down to a rook and opposite-colored bishop ending where all considered the match a done deal. Kramnik understandably meant to play to the very end, and with fifteen seconds left each (remember they received a three second increment per move though), this is what happened:

It took a good thirteen minutes for the game to resume, during which the players strolled about waiting – with ample time to study the position (one would think). When the game continued, Radjabov quickly collapsed with a series of decisive mistakes and lost. This meant a second blitz mini-match, and this time Kramnik won the first, while in the second Radjabov was caught in a perpetual, which ended the match. The two players shook hands and proceeded to the press conference.

Full article here: http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7206

Clock issue

Both Russian are in semi-final
Monday, 09 May 2011
http://kazan2011.fide.com/

Kramnik and Grischuk eliminated their opponents and will play for the ticket to the final on Thursday.

In the tie-break matches of the Candidates Matches-2011 Round 1 Russian GM Vladimir Kramnik and Alexander Grischuk have eliminated their opponents Timur Radjabov and Levon Aronian and qualified for the semi-final match. One of them will definitely play in the final, the other finalist will be determined in the match Gelfand – Kamsky.

Aronian and Grischuk played just four games in rapid chess, while Kramnik and Radjabov took almost all chances to make their match extremely dramatic. After four draws in rapid, they continued in blitz and decision has been made literary in the last seconds of the fourth game.

Radjabov won the first blitz, outplaying Kramnik in a beautiful style. In the second game, when Kramnik needed to win to proceed fighting, the opponents positions were equal. A few seconds left, and Vladimir was trying his best to find the way out. The draw seemed to be inevitable, when the clock condescended. In accord to the Attachment 1 of the Candidates Matches Regulations (Article 6.10), the Arbiter changed the clock, returned the time, guided by live broadcasting of the game, and the grandmasters resumed playing. In the end, Kramnik won the game.

Aronian played first rapid game as white very badly, he lost without fight. But he recovered in game two, winning it with black pieces in great style. He continued his high performance in the third game and reached completely winning position, having also much better time. But the story of very first game of the match has been repeated. Instead of finishing the job, he started with mistakes, and finally was happy to escape to draw. Obviously, top seeded player was under too big psychological pressure. In the fourth game he was not even a shadow of himself.

Candidates Matches-2011. Round 1. Tie-breaks. Results: Kramnik : Radjabov 4,5:3,5, Grischuk : Aronian 2,5:1,5.

Semi-finals will start on 12 May, 2011. The games are scheduled to start at 03.00 p.m. local time.

...And the broken clock took center stage

Radjabov speaks about the match with Kramnik
Interview about the tiebreak
Provided by Chessdom

Q: The victory was very close. How much were you influenced by the incident with the clock?

A: I try to remain calm. Indeed, I was 5-10 seconds away from the next round, but now what to think about this? In the first blitz game I was successful, it really lifted my spirit, the second game was also developing in my favor. Well, you know what happened next.

Q: This worked in favour of the opponent?

A: With all due respect to Kramnik, this incident was more in his favor than in mine. One can argue on this subject. I think I had done everything that depended on me, I cannot say that I played badly, moreover I felt the victory is close, just no luck. After the incident I immediately remembered the footage of basketball finals at the Seoul Olympics, when USSR beat USA with a direct hit in the last second. In sport, anything can happen.

Q: You have been preparing for the Candidates for the last six months. Do you now feel that the time is wasted?

A: I have no regrets. What could I do? Today, a broken clock, tomorrow a chandelier will drop.

Q: Speaking of the supporting team, who were your assistants?

A: I would prefer not to disclose this and have it remain a mystery. I can only mention GM Igor Nataf with whom I worked for a long time.

Q: What is expected from semi-finals?

A: Now we have a somewhat unusual situation. For example, Kramnik might have expected to meet Aronian, but now he will face his compatriot Grischuk. Gelfand was probably thinking of Topalov, but he will now play against Kamsky. Their teams will probably have to make special preparation.

Interview in Russian in Azerisport

Both Azerbaijani Players Out of World Championship Candidates Matches

Two Azerbaijani chess players lose in FIDE Candidates Matches quarterfinals
Tue 10 May 2011 04:42 GMT | -1:42 Local Time

The tie-breaks in quarterfinals of the FIDE Candidates Matches were held in Tatarstan capital on Monday.

The winners were defined in the confrontation of Teymur Rajabov of Azerbaijan and Vladimir Kramnik of Russia, Levon Aronyan of Armenia and Alexander Grishuk of Russia. Following the four matches with the standard control of time played previously, the matched saw a draw 2-2.

In the confrontation between Rajabov and Kramnik, the four quick matches with 25-minute control ended in a draw. Under regulations, blitz of five mini-matches of two five minute parts was envisioned. Each of these matches might be the last.

In the first match Rajabov won with white pieces but the clock broke when he was playing with black. After the case was clarified, the grandmasters against sat at the board and Kramnik won.

The story with the clock had a negative impact on Rajabov. He started the second minimatch with the loss with black pieces. He had to win with white pieces but failed-Kramnik was stronger again. In the semifinal the Russian chess player will play Grishuk who managed to beat Aronyan in quick chess 2.5-1.5.

Shahriyar Mammadyarov lost to Israel’s Boris Gelfand 1.5-2.5 by results of the main matches.

Elmir Aliyev
News.Az

Aronian stopped at FIDE Candidates’ Matches

Chess | 10.05.11 | 10:43
Chess: Aronian stopped at FIDE Candidates’ Matches

Top Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian has been defeated in the quarterfinal match at the ongoing FIDE Candidates’ Tournament, missing on another chance to challenge the world chess crown’s holder.

At the earliest stage of the knockout tournament in Kazan, Russia, Aronian finished all four games of the main sets in a draw against Russian rival Alexander Grischuk, but lost in a rapid chess tiebreak (1 ½ - 2 ½) to be eliminated.

Grischuk now joins Vladimir Kramnik (Russia), Gata Kamsky (USA) and Boris Gelfand (Israel) in the semifinals scheduled to begin on May 12.

The winner of the tournament will next year get to challenge the reigning world champion Viswanathan Anand (India).

This is the second time Aronian suffers a setback in attempting to win the challenger’s status. His previous attempt was in 2007.

(More information on the ongoing Candidates’ Matches is available at the Tournament’s official website at http://kazan2011.fide.com)

Kramnik - Radjabov intense games

Blitz 1



Blitz 2



Blitz 3



Blitz 4

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs GM Boris Gelfand video

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov vs GM Boris Gelfand

The semifinal is set

Gelfand and Kamsky are in semi-final
http://kazan2011.fide.com
Sunday, 08 May 2011
Other two semi finalist will be known after tie break.

(Update: Kramnik and Grischuk advanced to the semi-final after a grueling playoff)

After regular four games in FIDE Candidates Matches for the world championship Boris Gelfand and Gata Kamsky have qualified for the semi-final, while their opponents GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and ex world champion Veselin Topalov are eliminated.

According to tradition in this event, first or last, Grischuk and Aronian finished their game already after 17 moves and in less than two hours. At first sight, Russian GM seemed to have all possibilities for strong attack, but in reality White position was absolutely not so good. That’s why Grischuk offered a draw, excepted by Aronian without thinking.

Kramnik and Radjabov also ended match with four draws. Impossible to say “no fight”, but for sure “not some risk” too.

A man with metal nerves, I mean Boris Gelfand, did not allow Mamedyarov any chance to play for win. In some other situations, Izraeli GM probably would have played for win, but the ticket for semi-final’s match was too good a reason to offer a draw.

The longest and the most interesting game had been played by Topalov and Kamsky. Ex world champion needed to win to catch tie break for the semi-final. Playing White he managed to build a very nice position and move by move, very precisely started his way out of the tomb. With a pair of bishops against two knights and queens on the board, Bulgarian demonstrated top lesson. White got a pawn and kept positional advantage. No doubt, Wwhite had had everything in his hands, but then Topalov lost (drew) against himself. After a few mistakes, Kamsky took his chance and suddenly win for white become just a matter of the past. Extremely disappointed Topalov was more than correct, saying if he was not able to win such a position, he didn’t deserve to continue this event.

Round 4. Results. Kramnik : Radjabov draw (2:2), Grischuk : Aronian draw (2:2). Gelfand : Mamedyarov draw (2,5: 1,5), Topalov : Kamsky draw (1,5:2,5).

The first pair in semi-final is Gelfand - Kamsky. Tie-breaks will take place tomorrow on 9 May, 2011, to determine the second semi-final’s pair. The games are scheduled to start at 03.00 p.m. local time.

The Candidates Matches Tiebreak Story

Kramnik - Radjabov tiebreak video
All the story of the tiebreak
Kramnik - Radjabov g1