Tata Steel 10th-28th Jan 2020

[Jonathan Rogers]

The same Aronian who has repeatedly flopped at Candidate level, and Karjakin whose style is hardly thrills and spills?

(I am slightly devils advocating, but only slightly)

Mamedyarov, perhaps......

Aronian on style, though you could argue he has had enough chances in the past and would likely not get close now; but Karjakin - come on! What a competitor! Won in 2016, came from nowhere in the first half in both 2014 and in 2018 to be challenging for the top towards the end. He will be missed, even though we probably wouldn't want him actually to succeed.

[JustinHorton]

There's got to be something to be said for that, albeit I am not sure Karjakin is quite the player he was even two years ago. On the other hand, if we ask "is anybody missing who would have a chance in a match against Carlsen?" then I'm reasonably sure the answer is "no". (The answer might even be the same if you deleted "missing" and inserted "present".)

[JustinHorton]

Talking of having a chance against Carlsen, I'm wondering, just on general principle, how much chance Artemiev has of saving this ending (next move White's 29th, as I write) although I assume it is in fact drawn.

[JustinHorton]

David Antón, meanwhile, is a point clear in the Challengers

He has white today against Warmerdam, who is in last, so may seal a place in the A group for next year

This game hasn't at all gone as expected and it's Antón trying to cling on, very short of time, after Black's exchange sacrifice.

[JustinHorton]

Talking of having a chance against Carlsen, I'm wondering, just on general principle, how much chance Artemiev has of saving this ending (next move White's 29th, as I write) although I assume it is in fact drawn.

Never in the slightest trouble, as it turned out.

[Matt Mackenzie]

There's got to be something to be said for that, albeit I am not sure Karjakin is quite the player he was even two years ago. On the other hand, if we ask "is anybody missing who would have a chance in a match against Carlsen?" then I'm reasonably sure the answer is "no". (The answer might even be the same if you deleted "missing" and inserted "present".)

Ding?

[JustinHorton]

Caruana wins the Masters with a round to spare, having won five out of his last six games

[Mick Norris]

Very impressive

[Matt Mackenzie]

He played people the round after they had faced Carlsen, that must surely have helped.

[JustinHorton]

Tiebreak rules, which I'm posting for people following the Challengers. (Not that I've worked out all the possible consequences, mind, or indeed any of them, save that the only decisive result between the top four has been Antón beating Eljanov.)

The winner of the Tata Steel Challengers will receive an invitation for the Tata Steel Masters of next
year. In case of an equal score, the winner will be determined according to the following rules
respectively:

a. The mutual result

b. The Sonneborn-Berger score

c. The Player with more number of games with black

d. Drawing of lots

Games of the contenders, final round:

Van Foreest v Antón
Abdusattorov v Saduakassova
Eljanov v L'Ami

[Mick Norris]

I'm assuming that as Anton currently has clearly the best SB score, he only needs a draw today to win on tiebreak?

[JustinHorton]

You'd think so, but couldn't results elsewhere upset the applecart?

Anyway Eljanov is currently pasting L'Ami which I think is good news for Antón provided he gets his draw. Presently he's half an hour down on the clock and I imagine his nerves are jangling all over the shop.

[JustinHorton]

But he has his draw, so let's see if that's enough.

[Mick Norris]

Anton has the draw, so an Eljanov win, or draw, would be good news for him

[JustinHorton]

Warmerdam (who beat Antón but lost to Abdusattorov) beats Smeets (who beat Abdusattorov but lost to Antón).

Abdusattorov is cruising to victory against Saduakassova and L'Ami has completely turned it around against Eljanov, so I'm not 100% sure it's done and dusted yet.