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) |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#
|
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
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw ½-½ Anton Guijarro, David Queen’s Gambit Ragozin
Esipenko, Andrey ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Petroff’s Defense
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus Sicilian Accelerated Dragon
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 Defense
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ Tari, Aryan Semi-Tarrasch Defense
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Petroff Defense
Giri, Anish ½-½ Donchenko, Alexander Nimzo Indian
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 Defense
Van Foreest, Jorden ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus Ruy Lopez Moeller Defense
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
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Grandelius, Nils 1-0 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Sicilian Najdorf
Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ Donchenko, Alexander Sicilian Najdorf
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Esipenko, Andrey English Four Knights
Giri, Anish ½-½ Harikrishna, Pentala QGA
Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ Van Foreest, Jorden Queen’s Pawn Game
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Semi-Tarrasch Defense
Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ Tari, Aryan Ruy Lopez Berlin
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Grandelius, Nils ½-½ Caruana, Fabiano Sicilian Rossolimo
Harikrishna, Pentala ½-½ Wojtaszek, Radoslaw QGD Ragozin
Van Foreest, Jorden 1-0 Anton Guijarro, David Ruy Lopez
Esipenko, Andrey ½-½ Giri, Anish Anti-Meran
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus Giuoco Piano
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ Tari, Aryan Gruenfeld Defense
Donchenko, Alexander 0-1 Firouzja, Alireza Semi-Slav Defense
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
MASTERS
Giri, Anish 1-0 Grandelius, Nils Sicilian Najdorf
Caruana, Fabiano 1-0 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Sicilian Najdorf
Firouzja, Alireza 1-0 Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Queen’s Pawn Game
Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ Harikrishna, Pentala Sicilian Taimanov
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw 0-1 Esipenko, Andrey Nimzo Indian
Tari, Aryan 0-1 Van Foreest, Jorden Ruy Lopez
Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ Donchenko, Alexander Sicilian Closed
Video by chess24
Standings: Van Forrest, Giri, Caurana, Firouzja, 4½; Harikrishna, Esipenko, Carlsen, Grandelius, 4; Wojtaszek, 3; Duda, Vachier-Lagrave, Tari, Guijarro, 2½; Donchenko, 2
MASTERS
Esipenko, Andrey 1-0 Carlsen, Magnus Sicilian Scheveningen
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Giri, Anish Trompowsky Attack
Grandelius, Nils ½-½ Wojtaszek, Radoslaw Caro Kann
Harikrishna, Pentala 0-1 Firouzja, Alireza Slav Defence
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ Van Foreest, Jorden Ruy Lopez
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof ½-½ Anton Guijarro, David Giuoco Piano
Donchenko, Alexander ½-½ Tari, Aryan Catalan
Video by chess24
Standings: Firouzja, 5½; Giri, Esipenko, Van Forrest, Caruana, 5; Grandelius, 4½; Harikrishna, Carlsen, 4; Wojtaszek, 3½; Vachier-Lagrave, Duda, Tari, Guijarro, 3; Donchenko, 2½
MASTERS
Giri, Anish 1-0 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Sicilian Najdorf
Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ Esipenko, Andrey Queen’s Pawn Game
Van Foreest, Jorden ½-½ Donchenko, Alexander Ruy Lopez
Carlsen, Magnus 1-0 Grandelius, Nils Sicilian Najdorf
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw 0-1 Caruana, Fabiano King’s Indian
Tari, Aryan ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Sicilian Rossolimo
Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ Harikrishna, Pentala Sicilian Defence
Video by chess24
Standings: Giri, Caruana, Firouzja, 6; Esipenko, Van Forrest, 5½; Carlsen, 5; Harikrishna, Grandelius, 4½; Duda, Wojtaszek, Tari, Guijarro, 3½; Vachier-Lagrave, Donchenko, 3
MASTERS
Giri, Anish 1-0 Wojtaszek, Radoslaw Trompowsky Attack
Esipenko, Andrey 1-0 Anton Guijarro, David Ruy Lopez
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus Catalan
Harikrishna, Pentala ½-½ Tari, Aryan Ruy Lopez
Grandelius, Nils ½-½ Firouzja, Alireza Sicilian Richter-Rauzer
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof ½-½ Van Foreest, Jorden King’s Indian
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 1-0 Donchenko, Alexander Caro Kann
Video by chess24
Standings: Giri, 7; Esipenko, Caruana, Firouzja, 6½; Van Forrest, 6; Carlsen, 5½; Harikrishna, Grandelius, 5; Duda, Vachier-Lagrave, Tari, 4; Wojtaszek, Guijarro, 3½; Donchenko, 3
MASTERS
Van Foreest, Jorden 1-0 Harikrishna, Pentala Giuoco Piano
Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ Caruana, Fabiano Giuoco Piano
Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ Giri, Anish Giuoco Piano
Tari, Aryan 1-0 Esipenko, Andrey Ruy Lopez
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw ½-½ Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Gruenfeld Defense
Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ Grandelius, Nils Gruenfeld Defense
Donchenko, Alexander ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof QGD Exchange
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
Standings: Giri, 7½; Caruana, Van Forrest, Firouzja, 7; Esipenko, 6½; Carlsen, 6; Grandelius, 5½; Harikrishna, Tari, 5; Duda, Vachier-Lagrave, 4½; Wojtaszek, Guijarro, 4; Donchenko, 3½
MASTERS
Giri, Anish ½-½ Firouzja, Alireza French Defence
Caruana, Fabiano ½-½ Anton Guijarro, David Queen’s Gambit
Esipenko, Andrey ½-½ Van Foreest, Jorden Queen’s Pawn Game
Harikrishna, Pentala 1-0 Donchenko, Alexander Nimzo Indian Defense
Grandelius, Nils ½-½ Tari, Aryan Giuoco Piano
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½ Duda, Jan-Krzysztof Petroff’s Defense
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw ½-½ Carlsen, Magnus Queen’s Gambit Anti-Meran
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
Standings: Giri, 8; Van Forrest, Caruana, Firouzja, 7½; Esipenko, 7; Carlsen, 6½; Harikrishna, Grandelius, 6; Tari, 5½; Duda, Vachier-Lagrave, 5; Wojtaszek, Guijarro, 4½; Donchenko, 3½
MASTERS
Carlsen, Magnus 1-0 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime Grunfeld Defense
Firouzja, Alireza ½-½ Wojtaszek, Radoslaw Queen’s Pawn Opening
Anton Guijarro, David ½-½ Giri, Anish Sicilian Najdorf
Tari, Aryan ½-½ Caruana, Fabiano French Defense
Van Foreest, Jorden 1-0 Grandelius, Nils Sicilian Najdorf
Donchenko, Alexander 0-1 Esipenko, Andrey Catalan
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof ½-½ Harikrishna, Pentala QGD Slav
Video by GM Daniel King
Video by chess24
Standings: Van Forrest, Giri, 8½; Esipenko, Caruana, Firouzja, 8; Carlsen, 7½; Harikrishna, 6½; Grandelius, Tari, 6; Duda, 5½; Guijarro, Wojtaszek, Vachier-Lagrave, 5; Donchenko, 3½
ARE theses gms stronger over the board? BUBBA FISHA.