2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

[Richard Bates]

Bit of a commentary failure on chess24 that they haven't got around to noticing what's happening yet.

[Richard Bates]

To be fair Magnus gave up a queen against Mickey at London, so doesn't seem to have much respect for English players with extra pieces

[Bryn Hill]

On course for the history books, to become the first English winner against a reigning world champion since Michael Adams at the Tromso Olympiad.....

Khanthy Mansiysk ?

[Jonathan Rogers]

On course for the history books, to become the first English winner against a reigning world champion since Michael Adams at the Tromso Olympiad.....

Surely since the time Adams beat Kramnik in 2002 or so? Adams beat Carlsen in the 2010 olympiad, long before the latter became world champion.

Still a test of nerve for Gawain, at the least.

Anyway, that seems to settle the verdict on the wisdom of Carlsen's opening choice!

[Leonard Barden]

On course for the history books, to become the first English winner against a reigning world champion since Michael Adams at the Tromso Olympiad.....

Surely since the time Adams beat Kramnik in 2002 or so? Adams beat Carlsen in the 2010 olympiad, long before the latter became world champion.

Still a test of nerve for Gawain, at the least.

Anyway, that seems to settle the verdict on the wisdom of Carlsen's opening choice!

Apologies, my octogenarian memory creaked. Seems the correct latest precedent is Adams v Kramnik at the M-Tel Masters, Sofia, in May 2005. And meanwhile Gawain, failing to play g6-g5, is feeling the pressure.

[NickFaulks]

I don't mind if Gawain draws this but really hope he doesn't lose.

[Tim Harding]

Agreed. Engines think Gawain has let a lot of his advantage slip with 22...Qb6?! (instead of 22...g5 or 22...Bf8) because now 23 g5! gives compensation. Commentators compare this with AlphaZero's positional piece sacs.

[Nick Ivell]

Let's not get too excited. It was never trivial. I'm sure it was a blunder but in return for his piece Magnus gets a pawn, safe king and no weaknesses. Compensation not to be sneezed at in the hands of a world champion.

[NickFaulks]

If I had this position as White in a rapid game I'm sure I would think I was winning. I would be very nervous indeed as Black.

update : he really did have to force the queens off, toast now.

[Jonathan Rogers]

That's premature, though I share your concern ...

[MJMcCready]

Agreed. Engines think Gawain has let a lot of his advantage slip with 22...Qb6?! (instead of 22...g5 or 22...Bf8) because now 23 g5! gives compensation. Commentators compare this with AlphaZero's positional piece sacs.

3 moves later he moves the queen back to d8. His position looks precarious now.

[Nick Ivell]

It's starting to look as though Magnus can play almost anything against the best English players and get away with it. A sobering thought.

[LawrenceCooper]

Meanwhile Giri has become joint leader after outplaying Mamedyarov surprisingly comfortably.

[David Robertson]

Very sobering

[MJMcCready]

So he taken Kramink's crown away from him then.