World Candidates 2014-6: The Plot Thickens!

2014 World Championship Candidates
March 11th-April 1st, 2014 (Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia)
Round #6
#
Name
Flag
Rating
Result
Name
Flag
Rating
6.1 Topalov
2785
1-0
Kramnik
2810
6.2 Anand
2773
½-½
Karjakin
2766
6.3 Mamedyarov
2757
1-0
Svidler
2758
6.4 Aronian
2830
½-½
Andreikin
2709
Games

The tournament has turned into a dog-eat-dog world. Veselin Topalov crushed Vladimir Kramnik’s poor handling of the opening. White developed a huge space advantage and broke through on the queenside. The loss is not as disturbing as the way Kramnik has been losing. Generally the Russian is very well-prepared in the opening, but somehow fell behind within the first 15 moves.

Aronian missed a chance to draw even with Anand. Photo by FIDE.com.

In the other decisive game, Shahkriyar Mamedyarov beat Peter Svidler in a topsy-turvy Dutch. Svidler got more out of the opening than one would usually get from such an opening. However, the Russian lost his way, but capitalized off of a flash tactic 28.Bf7+! but ended with an improbable 31.Rg5! White gets three passed pawns in a bishop ending. Nice comeback for the Azeri player who seems to be rounding into form.

Levon Aronian missed a wonderful opportunity after building up a decisive advantage against Dmitri Andreikin. He then made a misjudgement and allowed liquidation into a drawn ending. A golden opportunity missed for Aronian. Because of this, Viswanathan Anand was able to maintain his half-point lead after drawing with Sergey Karjakin.

Official Site: https://candidates2014.fide.com/
Drum Coverage: https://www.thechessdrum.net/blog/2014/03/13/2014-world-chess-candidates-khanty-mansiysk-rus/

Video Commentary by GM Daniel King

Standings

Viswanathan Anand, 4/6 (+2 -0 =4), Levon Aronian, 3.5/6 (+2 -1 =3), Vladimir Kramnik, 3/6 (+1 -1 =4), Peter Svidler, 3/6 (+2 -2 =2), Shakriyar Mamedyarov, 3/6 (+2 -2 =2), Veselin Topalov, 3/6 (+1 -1 =4), Sergey Karjakin, 2.5/6 (+0 -1 =5), Dmitri Andreikin 2/6 (+0 -2 =4),

4 Comments

  1. Daaim, I believe you made a mistake with the score for the kramnik and Topalov game. It was definitely a grudge match and stimulating.

  2. Anand is putting on the breaks too soon. He should have taken a page from his match with Magnus and utilize the tiniest advantage to the very end until it is absolutely clear that further fighting will end in a truce. It is this way of thinking that sets Magnus apart from the them.

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