Norway 16-29 April 2016

[Tim Harding]

Topalov and Giri draw. Aronian beating Eljanov, other games undecided as yet.

[LawrenceCooper]

This looks (move 17) like the sort of position where Magnus could grind out a win.

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Nf3 Nd7 11. Nh4 Be7 12. Ne2 Nb6 13. Ng3 Bb4+ 14. Kd1 Na4 15. Ngf5 Kd7 16. Rb1 Ke6 17. Bd3 Rhc8 18. Ke2 *

It's a line of the Exchange Variation that Nigel Short and doubtless Kramnik think is OK for Black, arguing that the Bishop pair compensates for the dodgy pawns.

I think chessbomb's Stockfish doesn't really know what should be played. The four displayed choices (move 18) give a white advantage ranging from 0.60 to 0.67, all about the same effectively.

Suggested improvements after the game were 12... f5 and then take on h4, 13...Nc8-d6 is possible but as white has control of f5 it won't be much fun for black. After 14...Na4 black is in trouble as he can't take on b2 and will inevitably lose time and the c5 break speeded up things for white. Magnus commented that after 16 moves the position play itself and its hard to screw up. The Ne2 plan was the idea of Jon-Ludvig Hammer.

[Mick Norris]

chess.com report has some analysis of the Magnus - Vlad game

[Jonathan Rogers]

Nothing against Carlsen; but I am delighted for Aronian! I imagine that many of us feel like that.

[MJMcCready]

Yes. so Bxe5 was a mistake? I thought it looked okay at the time but didn't analyze it.

[LawrenceCooper]

Nothing against Carlsen; but I am delighted for Aronian! I imagine that many of us feel like that.

Seconded, he's had many a good position against Carlsen without converting so it's nice to see him finally manage it.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Prior to today, Aronian's most recent win over Carlsen in classical chess was at Linares 2009.

[MJMcCready]

Good for him, they need to reign Carlsen in a bit I think.

[AustinElliott]

Prior to today, Aronian's most recent win over Carlsen in classical chess was at Linares 2009.

Does the nice game Aronian won in the European Team Championship last year not count?

[Steven DuCharme]

Tal's unbeaten streak record survives another day

[Christopher Kreuzer]

How long a streak had Carlsen been on?

(EDIT: found it: "Few things in chess could upstage the current World Champion losing his first classical game in 43". Also: here: "MVL is on an unbeaten streak too. Before yesterday he and Carlsen both had unbeaten streaks of 42 games. Carlsen lost yesterday, but MVL did not, so he has 43 now.")

Interesting piece here (from a year ago) on Carlsen's supertournament record:

https://chess24.com/en/read/news/carlse ... ent-record

[Mick Norris]

chess.com report with some analysis of Carlsen-Aronian

TWIC
from which:

Round 8 Standings: Aronian, Carlsen 5pts, Vachier-Lagrave, Topalov, Kramnik 4.5pts, Li Chao, Harikrishna 4pts, Giri 3.5pts, Eljanov 3pts, Grandelius 2pts.

Round 9 pairings 29th April 2016 3pm I will be hosting commentary with Alex Yermolinsky on ICC: Grandelius-Vachier-Lagrave, Carlsen-Eljanov, Topalov-Kramnik, Harikrishna-Aronian, Li Chao-Giri.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Prior to today, Aronian's most recent win over Carlsen in classical chess was at Linares 2009.

Does the nice game Aronian won in the European Team Championship last year not count?

Ah yes, good point. Not sure how I forgot that one, tbh

[Matt Mackenzie]

Carlsen beats Eljanov in the final round, all other games drawn. Which means he finally ends his "home" hoodoo

Even more remarkable, though - it appears Kramnik and Topalov actually talked to each other after their game