Author: Asim

Top seed and World Chess champion Magnus Carlsen won the Shamkir Chess 2015 (in memory of Vugar Gashimov) with 7 out of 9 points! The world champion defeated Rauf Mamedov in the last round.

India’s Vishy Anand held Fabiano Caruana to a draw and finished clear 2nd with 6/9 points. Anand had a very good tournament and was the only other player to remain undefeated! (apart from Carlsen)

Points after final round 9:

Carlsen 7

Anand 6

Wesley, Caruana 5

Mamedyarov, Kramnik 4

Adams, Mamedov, Giri, Vachier-Lagrave 3.5

Yet another dramatic day in Shamkir Chess saw 3 decisive games with Anand Kramnik Adams winning their respective games.

Anand played another great game and sacrificed an Exchange to beat Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) with the White pieces. Thanks to this win, Anand climbed to #2 spot in the world rankings and crossed the 2800 rating barrier again (2803 in live rating list)

Kramnik and Adams scored a morale boosting victory (after yesterday’s losses) over Vachier-Lagrave and Anish Giri respectively.

After round 7, Carlsen continues to lead with 6 points and Anand follows half a point behind. In the last round tomorrow, Carlsen has the advantage of White pieces against lowest seed Mamedov, while Anand faces Caruana with the Black pieces.

Points after round 7

Carlsen 6

Anand 5.5

So, Caruana 5…

Pairings round 8 (final)

Mamedyarov	2754	–	Adams	2746
Caruana	2802	–	Anand	2791
Carlsen	2863	–	Mamedov	2651
Vachier-Lagrave	2762	–	So	2788
Giri	2790	–	Kramnik	2783

In what turned out to be good day for Chess fans, the Shamkir Chess tourney saw 3 decisive games with Anand Carlsen & Caruana winning their respective games.

Anand beat Adams

Vishy Anand continued his good run and beat Michael Adams of England. Anand opened with a rare 1.c4 and sacrificed an exchange. Anand nicely maneuvered his pieces to bring home the full point

Carlsen beat Kramnik

World champion Magnus Carlsen handed Vladimir Kramnik his 3rd successive loss, a rare for the former world champion. Magnus uncorked an opening surprise and Kramnik was left to do a lot of thinking over the board. Kramnik made a small tactical mistake after which he had to play most part of the game with his Rook and Bishop against Magnus’ Queen. It wasn’t too difficult for Magnus to win the game thereafter.

Fabiano beat Wesley

Fabiano Caruana beat Wesley So with the Black pieces. Other two games i.e. Mamedyarov vs Mamedov and MVL vs Giri were drawn.

Points after round 7

Magnus 5.5

Anand 4.5

Wesley, Caruana 4

Mamedyarov 3.5…

Round 8 pairings

Adams	2746	–	Giri	2790
Kramnik	2783	–	Vachier-Lagrave	2762
Wesley	2788	–	Carlsen	2863
Mamedov	2651	–	Caruana	2802
Anand	2791	–	Mamedyarov	2754

In a rather dull day in Shamkir Chess 2015, only Caruana managed to win. He beat former WC Vladimir Kramnik with the Black pieces.

Kramnik 0-1 Caruana

Mamedov 1/2 Anand

Adams 1/2 Vachier-Lagrave

Wesley 1/2 Mamedyarov

Giri 1/2 Carlsen

Round 7 pairings

Anand Viswanathan	2791	–	Adams Michael	2746
Mamedyarov Shakhriyar	2754	–	Mamedov Rauf	2651
Caruana Fabiano	2802	–	So Wesley	2788
Carlsen Magnus	2863	–	Kramnik Vladimir	2783
Vachier-Lagrave Maxime	2762	–	Giri Anish	2790

Round 5 of Shamkir Chess (held in memory of Vugar Gashimov) had 3 decisive games.

Anand beat Wesley

Anand who looked well prepared for his game, got the better of the leader Wesley So with the White pieces. Early in the opening, Anand sacrificed his Knight for a good attack. After all the pieces were exchanged, Anand had a winning advantage in a Queen endgame (with as many as 14 pawns still on board!). The Indian champ easily converted his advantage.

In other decisive games, world champion beat Vachier-Lagrave, while Shakriyar Mamedyarov beat former world champion Vladimir Kramnik.

Results

Anand 1-0 Wesley

Memdov 1/2 Adams

Carlsen 1-0 Vachier-Lagrave

Mamedyarov 1-0 Kramnik

Caruana 1/2 Giri

Pairings round 06 (Thursday)

Adams	2746	–	Vachier-Lagrave	2762
Giri	2790	–	Carlsen	2863
Kramnik	2783	–	Caruana	2802
So	2788	–	Mamedyarov	2754
Mamedov	2651	–	Anand	2791

Wednesday is a rest day.