Grand Chess Tour Leuven

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David Sedgwick
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by David Sedgwick » Wed Jun 13, 2018 10:42 pm

Chris Rice wrote:
Tue Jun 12, 2018 10:57 am
Photo op with the players in front of the superb venue.
AustinElliott wrote:
Tue Jun 12, 2018 2:29 pm
Hmm. That looks like the town hall. Once went to a reception in there when I was at a scientific conference in Leuven a decade or so back. We got plied with an extensive and excellent selection of, er, local liquid produce. If the same hospitality is extended to the chess players then it may make for some unusual games...
The venue is indeed Leuven Old Town Hall, a historic building which was also the venue of the 2016 and 2017 Your Next Move Leuven GCT events.

When I first tried to find the building for a meeting the day before the start of the 2016 tournament, I learnt the hard way that it is not to be confused with Leuven City Hall, a modern building which now houses the city administration.

However, neither in 2016 nor in 2017 can I recall much alcohol being served during the YNM Leuven tournaments. Clearly that only happens at certain types of function.

Chris Rice
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by Chris Rice » Thu Jun 14, 2018 10:33 pm

After 9 rounds of rapid (2 points for a win, 1 for a draw):
1 So 14
2= Aronian, Vachier-Lagrave 11
4= Nakamura, Karjakin 10
6 Mamedyarov 9
7 Grischuk 8
8 Caruana 7
9= Giri, Anand 5

Here's an article from Peter Doggers on the rapid part. The first game is pretty incredible in the sense that its hard to believe that a top 10 player could be lost, White side of a London System, in just 7 moves!
The first round of the blitz starts at 1pm Friday.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Fri Jun 15, 2018 5:34 pm

After the first day of blitz:

1 So, Wesley 18/27 2783
2= Karjakin, Sergey 16½/27 2785
2= Aronian, Levon 16½/27 2789
4 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 15½/27 2794
5 Nakamura, Hikaru 15/27 2803
6 Grischuk, Alexander 13/27 2789
7 Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 12/27 2788
8 Anand, Viswanathan 10/27 2775
9 Caruana, Fabiano 9½/27 2790
10 Giri, Anish 9/27 2775

Chris Rice
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by Chris Rice » Fri Jun 15, 2018 9:39 pm

Crazy finish in the Anand-Grischuk game.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jun 16, 2018 11:20 am

Karjakin's win over So in the first round of the day sees the lead cut to half a point.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jun 16, 2018 1:07 pm

With five rounds to go:

1= Karjakin, Sergey19½/31 2785
1= So, Wesley19½/31 2783
3 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 19/31 2794
4 Aronian, Levon 18/31 2789
5 Nakamura, Hikaru 17½/31 2803

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jun 16, 2018 1:18 pm

LawrenceCooper wrote:
Sat Jun 16, 2018 1:07 pm
With five rounds to go:

1= Karjakin, Sergey19½/31 2785
1= So, Wesley19½/31 2783
3 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 19/31 2794
4 Aronian, Levon 18/31 2789
5 Nakamura, Hikaru 17½/31 2803
Followed by a great round for So who gets his first win in nine rounds (since he last played Giri!) whilst Karjakin, MVL & Nakamura all lose.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jun 16, 2018 1:48 pm

1 So, Wesley21/33 2783
2 Karjakin, Sergey20½/33 2785
3= Aronian, Levon19½/33 2789
3= Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime19½/33 2794
5 Nakamura, Hikaru18½/33 2803

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jun 16, 2018 2:17 pm

A blunder by Caruana against So combined with a Karjakin loss to MVL looks to have virtually decided first place. With two rounds to go:

1 So, Wesley 22/34 2783
2= Karjakin, Sergey 20½/34 2785
2= Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 20½/34 2794
2= Aronian, Levon 20½/34 2789
5 Nakamura, Hikaru 19½/34 2803

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jun 16, 2018 2:45 pm

They thought is was all over.......

1 So, Wesley22/35 2783
2= Karjakin, Sergey21½/35 2785
2= Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime21½/35 2794
4 Aronian, Levon20½/35 2789
5 Nakamura, Hikaru20/35 2803

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Sat Jun 16, 2018 3:25 pm

Did the top three all lose in the last round? Looks like it!

David Sedgwick
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by David Sedgwick » Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:02 pm

Christopher Kreuzer wrote:
Sat Jun 16, 2018 3:25 pm
Did the top three all lose in the last round? Looks like it!
Yes, they did.

From my perspective, it was an "At least there won't be a playoff moment".

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:54 pm

David Sedgwick wrote:
Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:02 pm
Christopher Kreuzer wrote:
Sat Jun 16, 2018 3:25 pm
Did the top three all lose in the last round? Looks like it!
Yes, they did.
The top four going into the round all lost allowing Nakamura to overtake Aronian.

Steven DuCharme
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by Steven DuCharme » Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:19 am

I think Naka could've drawn Fabi after 48.Kxg3
I float like a pawn island and sting like an ignored knight :mrgreen:

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Grand Chess Tour Leuven

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sun Jun 17, 2018 9:13 am

Steven DuCharme wrote:
Sun Jun 17, 2018 2:19 am
I think Naka could've drawn Fabi after 48.Kxg3
In round 14?

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