The Week in Chess

The second day of the Chess24 Legends of Chess saw wins for Magnus Carlsen against Viswanathan Anand, Boris Gelfand against Vasyl Ivanchuk and Peter Svidler against Peter Leko. All these matches were tied going into the fourth and final rapid game. In addition Ian Nepomniachtchi (on two points after an Armageddon win yesterday, demolished Ding Liren 2.5-0.5) and Anish Giri got on the scoreboard beating Vladimir Kramnik.

The Carlsen-Anand match was a very tight affair with the game going down to a final game where Carlsen took advantage of a small tactical chance to win a pawn. This didn't settle the game and Anand was level at various points before 36.Re1? (36.Qg1+ is equal according to the computer) when Carlsen had a winning attack.

Boris Gelfand beat Vasyl Ivanchuk in the final game after drawing the other three in a very tight struggle. Gelfand played a line that had also been played by Dubov - who he works with - and got a very dangerous initiative but it was only very late on with 36...Bf4? (36.Qe5=) that Ivanchuk allowed a decisive attack.

Svidler was obviously happy to be in a share for the lead but he was very unhappy with his play. He was in desperate trouble in the first game and was demolished in the second by Leko. Svidler didn't get anything out of the opening in the third game but was allowed to whip up a very dangerous attack which he prosecuted nicely. Much the same happened in the final game and Leko looked completely sick after missing the killer 33...Ng4+ sacrifice that forced a win.

Earlier Ian Nepomniachtchi completely dominated his match against Ding Liren winning 2.5-0.5 but in fact he was winning the final game but a draw was as good as a win. Anish Giri beat Vladimir Kramnik 2.5-0.5 in their match winning game two where Kramnik rather surprisingly chose the wrong plan according to Giri with 18...Rfc8 (the rook is needed to support f5) and 19...Rc5?! Giri later won a pawn and the game. Kramnik needed a win in the final game to equalise the match and got a winning advantage (31...Nxd6 was one way) but only with 38...Bg7? (38...Nf6!) did black lose his advantage and Giri later forced the draw he needed in a winning position.

Round 2 Standings: 1st= Carlsen, Gelfand, Svidler 6pts, 4th Nepomniachtchi 5pts, 5th Giri, Anish 3pts, 6th Leko, Peter 2pts, 7th= Kramnik, Ivanchuk 1pt, 9th= Anand, Ding Liren 0pts.

Round 3 pairings: Giri-Nepomniachtchi, Anand-Kramnik, Leko-Carlsen, Gelfand-Svidler, Ding Liren-Ivanchuk.