2021 Tata Steel Chess (Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands)
Dec 29th, 2020 by Daaim Shabazz
? | Less than a month to go until the start of the #TataSteelChess Tournament 2021! The world greatest’s masterminds return to Wijk aan Zee. Follow our 83rd edition of the tournament online only! pic.twitter.com/uUa9rsyOUC
— Tata Steel Chess (@tatasteelchess) December 17, 2020
top-level OTB chess resumes
The year 2020 was a very challenging one for everyone including those of us in the chess world. On the bright side, chess received a boon as a result of a surge in online activity and the popularization of live streaming on various platforms. Live streamers have led the charge in this “movement” and has been helping with the chess outreach along with the sensation of the series, “Queen’s Gambit.”
Considering all of the issues surrounding COVID-19, tournament organizers have placed a hold on many over-the-board (OTB) tournaments. In fact, the World Candidates tournament was stopped at the midway point and is expected to resume in the spring of 2021.
However, Wijk ann Zee health officials had made an announcement to allow the 14-player event. Most COVID regulations will be in effect, but face masks will be optional. The tournament begins January 15th and will last until January 31st.
? | We are delighted to announce that the #TataSteelChess Tournament 2021 is on! All precautions to comply with the COVID-19 measures will have been in place to ensure a COVID-safe environment for all: grand masters, staff and community. Read more ?https://t.co/Shr0714hFx
— Tata Steel Chess (@tatasteelchess) December 7, 2020
The field will be strong with four of the top five players in the world including world champion Magnus Carlsen and world number two, Fabiano Caruana, last year’s winner. There is also a lot of young talent with Alireza Firoujza returning in a diverse field. Many in the top half of the field are veterans of the tournament, while the lower half is comprised of rising talents. Below Anish Giri gives an assessment of each player. There will be no Challengers section this year. The organizers released a statement in which contained the excerpt:
Unfortunately, the current conditions to organise an approved sports event, do not allow for either the Tata Steel Challengers nor the amateur players to take part in the event. Equally attendance by public will be regulated by the reigning COVID-19 regulations at the time of the tournament and will need to be confirmed at a later stage. (link)
January 15th-31st, 2021 (Wijk aan Zee, Netherlands) |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#
|
Name
|
Title
|
Federation
|
Flag
|
Rating
|
| 1 | Carlsen, Magnus | GM | Norway |
 |
2862 |
| 2 | Caruana, Fabiano | GM | USA |
 |
2823 |
| 3 | Nepomniachtchi, Ian | GM | Russia |
 |
2784 |
| 4 | Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime | GM | France |
 |
2784 |
| 5 | Giri, Anish | GM | Netherlands |
 |
2764 |
| 6 | Firouzja, Alireza | GM | FIDE |
 |
2749 |
| 7 | Duda, Jan-Krzysztof | GM | Poland |
 |
2749 |
| 8 | Harikrishna, Pentala | GM | India |
 |
2732 |
| 9 | Dubov, Danil | GM | Russia |
|
2702 |
| 10 | Esipenko, Andrey | GM | Russia |
|
2686 |
| 11 | Guijarro, David Anton | GM | Spain |
 |
2675 |
| 12 | Van Foreest, Jorden | GM | Netherlands |
|
2671 |
| 13 | Abdusattorov, Nodirbek | GM | Kazakhstan |
 |
2627 |
| 14 | Tari, Aryan | GM | Norway |
|
2618 |
Official Site: https://www.tatasteelchess.com/
Schedule: Masters
Videos: (YouTube)
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MASTERS
Carlsen, Magnus 1-0 Firouzja, Alireza QGD 5.Bf4
Giri, Anish 1-0 Tari, Aryan Ruy Lopez Berlin
Grandelius, Nils 1-0 Donchenko, Alexander Giuoco Piano
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Van Foreest, Jorden Tarrasch Defence
Harikrishna, Pentala ½-½ Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw ½-½ Anton Guijarro, David Queen’s Gambit Ragozin
Esipenko, Andrey ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Petroff’s Defence
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus Sicilian Defence
Harikrishna, Pentala ½-½ Esipenko, Andrey Caro Kann Advanced
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ Firouzja, Alireza Caro Kann Advanced
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof 0-1 Grandelius, Nils English Symmetrical
Tari, Aryan ½-½ Wojtaszek, Radoslaw Sicilian Rossolimo
Donchenko, Alexander 0-1 Caruana, Fabiano Slav Defence
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ Tari, Aryan Semi-Tarrasch Defence
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Petroff’s Defence
Giri, Anish ½-½ Donchenko, Alexander Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Grandelius, Nils 0-1 Harikrishna, Pentala French Advance
Esipenko, Andrey ½-½ Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Sicilian 4.Qxd4
Firouzja, Alireza 1-0 Anton Guijarro, David London System
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw ½-½ Van Foreest, Jorden Semi-Tarrasch Defence
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Harikrishna, Pentala ½-½ Caruana, Fabiano Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Van Foreest, Jorden ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus Ruy Lopez Moeller Defence
Esipenko, Andrey ½-½ Grandelius, Nils Sicilian Najdorf with 6.Be2
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ Anton Guijarro, David Ruy Lopez Marshall
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof ½-½ Giri, Anish Gruenfeld Botvinnik
Tari, Aryan ½-½ Firouzja, Alireza Caro Kann Advanced
Donchenko, Alexander ½-½ Wojtaszek, Radoslaw Sicilian Najdorf Variation
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24