Results from round 8:
Loek van Wely, Netherlands (2667) – Fabiano Caruana, Italy (2820) 0-1
Hou Yifan, China (2673) – Levon Aronian, Armenia (2797) draw
Baadur Jobava, Georgia (2727) – Magnus Carlsen, Norway (2862) 0-1
Tejmour Radjabov, Azerbaijan (2734) – Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Poland (2744) 1-0
Vassily Ivanchuk, Ukraina (2715) – Wesley So, U.S. (2762) 0-1
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, France (2757) – Anish Giri, Netherlands (2784) 1-0
Ding Liren, China (2732) Ivan Saric, Croatia (2666) 1-0
The main questions were if Carlsen were to win his fifth consecutive game and how Giri respectively Ivanchuk would deal with round 8 considering the exhausting queen ending between them from round 7. As you can see from the above results Ivanchuk and Giri both lost proving once again how important it is to preserve energy during a strong tournament. Carlsen managed to beat Jobava who surprisingly beat Wojtaszek in round 7. The highly original opening which arose in the game is worth to have a closer look at.
Jobava,Baadur (2727) – Carlsen,Magnus (2862) [A01]
Tata Steel Chess Tournament (8), 18.01.2015
1.b3 This move is gaining more and more in popularity. It is baptized the Nimzowitsch/Larsen Attack and can lead to very interesting and completely unexplored positions. In Sweden GM Lars Karlsson is famous for adopting this move successfully on a relatively consistent basis. 1…g6 It is very logical to oppose the super strong bishop on the long diagonal immediately and in that way neutralize and avoid the attack on the long diagonal. 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.Nc3!?
A very original position has arisen after three moves!
3…Bg7 3…d5 must be considered more critical killing the knight a little bit. 4.d4!? 4.Nd5 seems more consistent with White’s last move but Jobava doesn’t play normal moves. 4…c5 This is usually a good move when 5.d5 is not available. 5.e3 Of course not 5.d5?? Qa5! 6.Qd2 Nxd5 7.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 8.Kxd2 Bxb2 9.Rb1 Be5 and Black is winning. 5…cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.Qd2 Nc6 If Black can place all his minor pieces on natural and sound squares he has succeded very well with the black pieces. 8.f3!? h5!
Carlsen does not allow White to play g2-g4.
Carlsen can be happy to enjoy the slightly better position already after eight moves. 0-1 after move 50. The world champion Magnus Carlsen is for the first time in the tournament the sole leader with 6/8.
Standings and pairings for round 9 which will be played 20th of January.
Ivan Saric, Croatia (2666) 2.5 – Loek van Wely, Netherlands (2667) 2
Anish Giri, Netherlands (2784) 4 – Ding Liren, China (2732) 5.5
Wesley So, U.S. (2762) 5.5 – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, France (2757) 5.5
Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Poland (2744) 4 – Vassily Ivanchuk, Ukraina (2715) 5
Magnus Carlsen, Norway (2862) 6 – Tejmour Radjabov, Azerbaijan (2734) 4.5
Fabiano Caruana, Italy (2820) 4.5 – Hou Yifan, China (2673) 2.5
Levon Aronian, Armenia (2797) 3 – Baadur Jobava, Georgia (2727) 1.5