2nd Vugar Gashimov Memorial 16-26 April 2015

[Mick Norris]

Today's pairings
Anand (3.5) - Adams (2)
Mamedyarov (3) - Mamedov (2.5)
Caruana (3) - So (4)
Carlsen (4.5) - Kramnik (2.5)
Vachier-Lagrave (2.5) - Giri (2.5)

[Mick Norris]

Mamedyarov - Mamedov drew in 33 moves

Kramnik losing again

[Christopher Kreuzer]

And Kramnik has now lost. Carlsen up to 2875 in the live ratings, only 7 points off his peak rating of 2882 from May last year.

Adams looks in trouble against Anand, and So appears lost against Caruana.

[Mick Norris]

Round 7 (April 24, 2015)
Carlsen, Magnus - Kramnik, Vladimir 1-0 49 C65 Ruy Lopez Berlin
Anand, Viswanathan - Adams, Michael 1-0 51 A20 English Opening
Caruana, Fabiano - So, Wesley 1-0 51 E21 Nimzo Indian 4.Nf3
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar - Mamedov, Rauf ½-½ 33 D43 Anti-Meran Gambit
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Giri, Anish ½-½ 46 D38 QGD Ragozin

[Mick Norris]

Live ratings:
Carlsen 2874.6
Caruana 2805.0
Nakamura 2799.3
Anand 2799.0

[Christopher Kreuzer]

On this showing, Anand still seems one of those most likely to challenge Carlsen in 2016. Will be interesting to see what So comes up with against Carlsen in the next round. Adams, Vachier-Lagrave, Mamedov and Giri have no wins yet.

[Mick Norris]

On this showing, Anand still seems one of those most likely to challenge Carlsen in 2016

Quite, he won the last Candidates, and he is the only 1 already through to next March's Candidates - he seems to have retained motivation too

[Mick Norris]

Round 8
Adams - Giri
Kramnik - MVL
So - Carlsen
Mamedov - Caruana
Anand - Mamedyarov

[Leonard Barden]

For perhaps the first time in his career, Magnus in this tournament is really trying to match Alekhine at San Remo and Bled, and Fischer in 1970-71, and be a maximalist in every game. Today he has just a tiny edge as Black against So, though he is more significantly ahead on the clock, and is squeezing it for all it is worth. Fascinating to watch on chess24 or chessbomb.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Instead we look like witnessing three wins from the three players over 40! (Very pleased for Adams, btw).

[Chris Rice]

Round 8
Adams, Michael Giri, Anish 1-0
Anand, Viswanathan Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 1-0
Kramnik, Vladimir Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 1-0
Mamedov, Rauf Caruana, Fabiano ½-½
So, Wesley Carlsen, Magnus ½-½

Great win by Adams and Anand playing better than ever?

[David Robertson]

Anand through 2800 again. For a fully paid-up geriatric, that's remarkable

[Matt Mackenzie]

Instead we look like witnessing three wins from the three players over 40! (Very pleased for Adams, btw).

I think Vladimir K doesn't reach that landmark for a couple of months yet?

[Chris Rice]

Standings after round 8:

1 Carlsen 6
2 Anand 5.5
3= Caruana, So 4.5
5= Mamedyarov, Mamedov, Kramnik 3.5
8= Giri, Vachier-Lagrave, Adams 3

Round 9 (final round):

Mamedyarov - Adams
Caruana - Anand
Carlsen - Mamedov
Vachier-Lagrave - So
Giri - Kramnik

[Jonathan Rogers]

Carlsen gets his 100% with White, then. 7/9 is an excellent result and I suggest it would have been 7.5/9 if he had been given five Whites for the event.