Wijk aan Zee Tata Steel 13 to 29 January 2023

[Mick Norris]

Round 1 reports from TWIC and Chess Mind

If you’re looking for something spectacular, you’ll want to have a look at the game Max Warmerdam vs. Jergus Pechac from the Challengers event

[Geoff Chandler]

The Round 2 game Giri - Gukesh is very entertaining and worth going through.


1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bf6 Qf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Rc1 dc4 9. Bc4 c5 10. O-O cd4 11. Ne4 Qe7 12. a3 Ba5 13. ed4 Rd8 14. Rc2 Bd7 15. Re2 Bc6 16. Qc2 Bb6 17. Rfe1 Kh8 18. Neg5 hg5 19. Re6 fe6 20. Re6 Qe6 21. Be6 Bf3 22. Qf5 Be4 23. Qe4 Rd4 24. Qf3 g4 25. Qf8 Kh7 26. Bf5 Kh6 27. Bc2

[Mick Norris]

Round 2 reports from TWIC and Chess Mind

[Kevin Thurlow]

In Challengers, Eline Roebers is playing some interesting games.

[Mick Norris]

There's 1 analysed in the Chess Mind bit

[LawrenceCooper]

https://twitter.com/chess24com/status/1 ... 8188479510

[Matt Mackenzie]

What has Magnus done with his hair?

[Paul Habershon]

What has Magnus done with his hair?

Homage to Niemann?

[Geoff Chandler]

Giri has beaten Carlsen for the 2nd time in classical chess. The first time was in the same event on the same day 17th January 2011 (that one was in round 3.)


A. Giri - M. Carlsen, Tata Steel Masters (2023)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 exd5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Qf5 Nf6 12. e4 d6 13. e5 Qd7 14. Qxd7+ Nxd7 15. exd6 Bf6 16. Re1+ Kf8 17. Nc3 Nb4 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Bxb7 Rd8 20. Rd1 Nc4 21. d7 Nc2 22. Rb1 Nd4 23. b4 Rxd7 24. Bd5 Nd6 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Ba3 Ke7 27. Bxc5 Ne6 28. Bb4 a5 29. Bxa5 Rc8 30. Na4 Nc4 31. Rbc1 Be5 32. Bb4+ Kf6 33. Nc5 Nxc5 34. Rxc4 Rdc7 35. Ba5 *

[Matt Mackenzie]

Ouch, isn't often that the maestro is outplayed like that.

[Paul Cooksey]

Interesting context to Giri-Carlsen is that Jan Gustafsson is Giri's second in Wijk. He confirmed this week on the CCC podcast. Probably relevant to the opening choice given how long Jan had been working for Magnus.

Carlsen's reasoning in giving up the world championship seemed in part that he would rather play chess than spend months in match preparation. But I am a bit doubtful he will maintain his classical level without that match preparation.

[NickFaulks]

But now his endgame technique is being tested.

[LawrenceCooper]

Ouch, isn't often that the maestro is outplayed like that.

It's happened again today against Nodirbek.

[Nick Ivell]

I don't think extensive opening prep has ever been Magnus's thing. Unfortunately, it's not looking like you can reach 2900 without it.

[NickFaulks]

It's happened again today against Nodirbek.

What was 60.Kg3 about? Anyone can see that loses immediately. No doubt Carlsen knew ( as I didn't ) that the normal 60.Kh1 is also a tablebase loss, but it's complicated and I expected to see him check Abdusattorov's technique.