Tata Steel Chess Tournament 14th - 30th January 2011

[LozCooper]

Participants of grandmaster group B

Name Country Rating Position

GM Radek Wojtaszek POL 2726 20
GM David Navara CZE 2708 34
GM Laurant Fressinet FRA 2707 35
GM Zahar Efimenko UKR 2701 38
GM Wesley So PHL 2673 64
GM Gabriel Sargissian ARM 2667 75
GM Le Quang Liem VNM 2664 78
GM Luke McShane ENG 2664 78
GM Surya Ganguly IND 2651 98
GM Li Chao CHN 2649 100
GM Jon Ludvig Hammer NOR 2647 103
GM Vlad Tkachiev FRA 2636 120
GM Friso Nijboer NLD 2584 269
GM Wouter Spoelman NLD 2547 436

Schedule of grandmaster group B

Round 1 - Saturday the 15th
V. Tkachiev - L. Fressinet 0.5-0.5
F. Nijboer - L. Chao 0.5-0.5
L. McShane - W. Spoelman 1-0
R. Wojtaszek - D. Navara 0-1
L. Liem - W. So 0.5-0.5
G. Sargissian - S. Ganguly 1-0
J. Hammer - Z. Efimenko 0-1

Round 2 - Sunday the 16th

D. Navara (1)- L. Liem (0.5) 0.5-0.5
L. Fressinet (0.5) - Z. Efimenko (1) 0.5-0.5
W. So (0.5)- G. Sargissian (1) 0.5-0.5
L. Chao (0.5) - L. McShane (1) 0-1
V. Tkachiev (0.5)- F. Nijboer (0.5) 0.5-0.5
S. Ganguly (0) - J. Hammer (0) 1-0
W. Spoelman (0)- R. Wojtaszek (0) 0.5-0.5

Round 3 - Monday the 17th

L. McShane (2) - V. Tkachiev (1)
G. Sargissian (1.5)- D. Navara (1.5)
Z. Efimenko (1.5) - S. Ganguly (1)
F. Nijboer (1) - L. Fressinet (1)
L. Liem (1) - W. Spoelman (0.5)
J. Hammer (0) - W. So (1)
R. Wojtaszek (0.5) - L. Chao (0.5)

Round 4 - Tuesday the 18th
L. Fressinet - S. Ganguly
W. So - Z. Efimenko
D. Navara - J. Hammer
W. Spoelman - G. Sargissian
L. Chao - L. Liem
V. Tkachiev - R. Wojtaszek
F. Nijboer - L. McShane

Round 5 - Thursday the 20th
L. McShane - L. Fressinet
R. Wojtaszek - F. Nijboer
L. Liem - V. Tkachiev
G. Sargissian - L. Chao
J. Hammer - W. Spoelman
Z. Efimenko - D. Navara
S. Ganguly - W. So

Round 6 - Friday the 21st
L. Fressinet - W. So
D. Navara - S. Ganguly
W. Spoelman - Z. Efimenko
L. Chao - J. Hammer
V. Tkachiev - G. Sargissian
F. Nijboer - L. Liem
L. McShane - R. Wojtaszek

Round 7 - Saturday the 22nd
R. Wojtaszek - L. Fressinet
L. Liem - L. McShane
G. Sargissian - F. Nijboer
J. Hammer - V. Tkachiev
Z. Efimenko - L. Chao
S. Ganguly - W. Spoelman
W. So - D. Navara

Round 8 - Sunday the 23rd
L. Fressinet - D. Navara
W. Spoelman - W. So
L. Chao - S. Ganguly
V. Tkachiev - Z. Efimenko
F. Nijboer - J. Hammer
L. McShane - G. Sargissian
R. Wojtaszek - L. Liem

Round 9 - Tuesday the 25th
L. Liem - L. Fressinet
G. Sargissian - R. Wojtaszek
J. Hammer - L. McShane
Z. Efimenko - F. Nijboer
S. Ganguly - V. Tkachiev
W. So - L. Chao
D. Navara - W. Spoelman

Round 10 - Wednesday the 26th
L. Fressinet - W. Spoelman
L. Chao - D. Navara
V. Tkachiev - W. So
F. Nijboer - S. Ganguly
L. McShane - Z. Efimenko
R. Wojtaszek - J. Hammer
L. Liem - G. Sargissian

Round 11 - Friday the 28th
G. Sargissian - L. Fressinet
J. Hammer - L. Liem
Z. Efimenko - R. Wojtaszek
S. Ganguly - L. McShane
W. So - F. Nijboer
D. Navara - V. Tkachiev
W. Spoelman - L. Chao

Round 12 - Saturday the 29th
L. Fressinet - L. Chao
V. Tkachiev - W. Spoelman
F. Nijboer - D. Navara
L. McShane - W. So
R. Wojtaszek - S. Ganguly
L. Liem - Z. Efimenko
G. Sargissian - J. Hammer

Round 13 - Sunday the 30th
J. Hammer - L. Fressinet
Z. Efimenko - G. Sargissian
S. Ganguly - L. Liem
W. So - R. Wojtaszek
D. Navara - L. McShane
W. Spoelman - F. Nijboer
L. Chao - V. Tkachiev

[LozCooper]

Results so far:

Group A:

Round 1 (January 15, 2011)

Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Kramnik, Vladimir ½-½
Nakamura, Hikaru - Grischuk, Alexander 1-0
L'Ami, Erwin - Giri, Anish ½-½
Ponomariov, Ruslan - Anand, Viswanathan 0-1
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Wang, Hao ½-½
Smeets, Jan - Shirov, Alexei 1-0
Carlsen, Magnus - Aronian, Levon ½-½

Round 2 (January 16, 2011)

Anand, Viswanathan - Kramnik, Vladimir ½-½
Giri, Anish - Smeets, Jan ½-½
Ponomariov, Ruslan - L'Ami, Erwin ½-½
Aronian, Levon - Nakamura, Hikaru ½-½
Grischuk, Alexander - Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime ½-½
Wang, Hao - Nepomniachtchi, Ian 0-1
Shirov, Alexei - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½

Round 3 (January 17, 2011)

Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Grischuk, Alexander ½-½
Nakamura, Hikaru - Shirov, Alexei 1-0
L'Ami, Erwin - Anand, Viswanathan ½-½
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime - Aronian, Levon ½-½
Smeets, Jan - Ponomariov, Ruslan 0-1
Kramnik, Vladimir - Wang, Hao 0.5-0.5
Carlsen, Magnus - Giri, Anish 0-1

Group B:

Round 1 - Saturday the 15th

V. Tkachiev - L. Fressinet 0.5-0.5
F. Nijboer - L. Chao 0.5-0.5
L. McShane - W. Spoelman 1-0
R. Wojtaszek - D. Navara 0-1
L. Liem - W. So 0.5-0.5
G. Sargissian - S. Ganguly 1-0
J. Hammer - Z. Efimenko 0-1

Round 2 - Sunday the 16th

D. Navara (1)- L. Liem (0.5) 0.5-0.5
L. Fressinet (0.5) - Z. Efimenko (1) 0.5-0.5
W. So (0.5)- G. Sargissian (1) 0.5-0.5
L. Chao (0.5) - L. McShane (1) 0-1
V. Tkachiev (0.5)- F. Nijboer (0.5) 0.5-0.5
S. Ganguly (0) - J. Hammer (0) 1-0
W. Spoelman (0)- R. Wojtaszek (0) 0.5-0.5

Round 3 - Monday the 17th

L. McShane (2) - V. Tkachiev (1) 1-0
G. Sargissian (1.5)- D. Navara (1.5) 0.5-0.5
Z. Efimenko (1.5) - S. Ganguly (1) 0.5-0.5
F. Nijboer (1) - L. Fressinet (1) 0.5-0.5
L. Liem (1) - W. Spoelman (0.5) 0-1
J. Hammer (0) - W. So (1) 0.5-0.5
R. Wojtaszek (0.5) - L. Chao (0.5) 1-0

Group C:

Round 1 - Saturday the 15th
M. van der Werf - B. Bok ½-½
S. Siebrecht - R. Pruijssers ½-½
I. Ivanisevic - T. Sachdev 0-1
K. Lahno - M. Bluvshtein ½-½
D. Swiercz - J.W. de Jong 1-0
I. Nyzhnyk - M. Kazhgaleyev 1-0
R. van Kampen - D. Vocaturo 0-1

Round 2 - Sunday the 16th
B. Bok - D. Vocaturo ½-½
M. Kazhgaleyev - R. van Kampen 1-0
J.W. de Jong - I. Nyzhnyk ½-½
M. Bluvshtein - D. Swiercz 1-0
T. Sachdev - K. Lahno 0-1
R. Pruijssers - I. Ivanisevic ½-½
M. van der Werf - S. Siebrecht 0-1

Round 3 - Monday the 17th
S. Siebrecht - B. Bok 0.5-0.5
I. Ivanisevic - M. van der Werf 0.5-0.5
K. Lahno - R. Pruijssers 1-0
D. Swiercz - T. Sachdev 0-1
I. Nyzhnyk - M. Bluvshtein ½-½
R. van Kampen - J.W. de Jong 1-0
D. Vocaturo - M. Kazhgaleyev 1-0

Website: http://www.tatasteelchess.com/
Live games: http://www.tatasteelchess.com/tournament/livegames
Schedule: http://www.tatasteelchess.com/tournamen ... le/group/1

[PeterTurland]

It looks very much like McShane is getting his third win in a row, I'm pleased.

[PeterTurland]

McShane has dipped his bread, third win in a row, how good is this lad going to get, now he has come back to chess?

[LozCooper]

Round 4 - Tuesday the 18th

Group A:

V. Anand (2)- W. Hao (1) 1-0
A. Grischuk (1)- V. Kramnik (1.5) 0.5-0.5
L. Aronian (1.5) - I. Nepomniachtchi (2) 1-0
A. Shirov (0.5)- M. Vachier-Lagrave (1.5) 0-1
A. Giri (2) - H. Nakamura (2.5) 0.5-0.5
R. Ponomariov (1.5) - M. Carlsen (1) 0.5-0.5
E. l'Ami (1.5) - J. Smeets (1.5) 0.5-0.5

Group B:

Round 4 - Tuesday the 18th
L. Fressinet (1.5) - S. Ganguly (1.5)
W. So (1.5) - Z. Efimenko (2) 0.5-0.5
D. Navara (2) - J. Hammer (0.5) 0.5-0.5
W. Spoelman (1.5) - G. Sargissian (2) 0.5-0.5
L. Chao (0.5) - L. Liem (1) 1-0
V. Tkachiev (1) - R. Wojtaszek (1.5) 0.5-0.5
F. Nijboer (1.5)- L. McShane (3) 0.5-0.5

Group C:

Round 4 - Tuesday the 18th
B. Bok (1.5) - M. Kazhgaleyev (1) 1-0
J.W. de Jong (0.5) - D. Vocaturo (2.5) 0-1
M. Bluvshtein (2) - R. van Kampen (1) 1-0
T. Sachdev (2) - I. Nyzhnyk (2) 0-1
R. Pruijssers (1)- D. Swiercz (1) 0-1
M. van der Werf (1)- K. Lahno (2.5) 1-0
S. Siebrecht (2) - I. Ivanisevic (1) 0.5-0.5

[Carl Hibbard]

McShane has dipped his bread, third win in a row, how good is this lad going to get, now he has come back to chess?

It is a very long tournament and it must be hard to keep that sort of level up but we shall see...

[Matthew Turner]

Congratulations to Luke on his marvellous start.
An amazing result for Anish Giri too, defeating Carlsen in 22 moves as Black. Two very interesting comments on Giri's wikipedia entry

"He does not have intensive chess training facilities, mostly working by himself using chess programs and books at his leisure. Recently, the Dutch Chess Federation has started to provide him with some training sessions"

"Giri is currently studying at the Grotius College in Delft. Unlike most other prodigies, he is a regular college student following classes every day, save for some limited absences allowed by the school during major tournaments and events. Thus, playing chess is still a part-time activity for him. His favorite subjects include physics, mathematics, geography and history."

[LozCooper]

Congratulations to Luke on his marvellous start.
An amazing result for Anish Giri too, defeating Carlsen in 22 moves as Black. Two very interesting comments on Giri's wikipedia entry

"He does not have intensive chess training facilities, mostly working by himself using chess programs and books at his leisure. Recently, the Dutch Chess Federation has started to provide him with some training sessions"

"Giri is currently studying at the Grotius College in Delft. Unlike most other prodigies, he is a regular college student following classes every day, save for some limited absences allowed by the school during major tournaments and events. Thus, playing chess is still a part-time activity for him. His favorite subjects include physics, mathematics, geography and history."

At the Olympiad I noticed he had a habit of looking rather quizzically at his teammates when they moved. He'd look at the board, then glance up as if to say "Are you sure you wanted to play that?" before re-focusing on his own game

[PeterTurland]

Well Luke drew, I've just played the position out with an engine and it had his opponent with a win, so likely a good result.

[LozCooper]

.

[LozCooper]

Round 5 - Thursday the 20th

Group A:

J. Smeets - V. Anand 0-1
M. Carlsen - E. l'Ami 1-0
H. Nakamura - R. Ponomariov ½-½
M. Vachier-Lagrave - A. Giri ½-½
I. Nepomniachtchi - A. Shirov ½-½
V. Kramnik - L. Aronian ½-½
W. Hao - A. Grischuk 1-0

Group B:

Round 5 - Thursday the 20th
L. McShane - L. Fressinet ½-½
R. Wojtaszek - F. Nijboer 1-0
L. Liem - V. Tkachiev ½-½
G. Sargissian - L. Chao ½-½
J. Hammer - W. Spoelman 1-0
Z. Efimenko - D. Navara 1-0
S. Ganguly - W. So 0-1

Group C:

Round 5 - Thursday the 20th
I. Ivanisevic - B. Bok 1-0
K. Lahno - S. Siebrecht 1-0
D. Swiercz - M. van der Werf 0-1
I. Nyzhnyk - R. Pruijssers 1-0
R. van Kampen - T. Sachdev ½-½
D. Vocaturo - M. Bluvshtein 1-0
M. Kazhgaleyev - J.W. de Jong 1-0

[Richard Bates]

Impressive seeing Carlsen's opponent defend R+N vs R so competently.

[LozCooper]

Round 6 - Friday the 21st

V. Anand (4) - A. Grischuk (1.5) 0.5-0.5
E. l'Ami (2) - H. Nakamura (3.5) 0-1
R. Ponomariov (2.5) - M. Vachier-Lagrave (3) 0.5-0.5
A. Giri (3) - I. Nepomniachtchi (2.5) 0-1
L. Aronian (3) - W. Hao (2) 0.5-0.5
J. Smeets (2) - M. Carlsen (2.5) 0-1
A. Shirov (1) - V. Kramnik (2.5) 0-1

Round 6 - Friday the 21st

L. McShane (4) - R. Wojtaszek (3) 1-0
W. Spoelman (2) - Z. Efimenko (3.5) 0-1
L. Fressinet (3) - W. So (3) 0-1
V. Tkachiev (2) - G. Sargissian (3) 0.5-0.5
D. Navara (2.5) - S. Ganguly (1.5) 1-0
L. Chao (2) - J. Hammer (2) 1-0
F. Nijboer (2) - L. Liem (1.5) 0-1

Round 6 - Friday the 21st

T. Sachdev (2.5) - D. Vocaturo (4.5)
M. van der Werf (3) - I. Nyzhnyk (4) 0.5-0.5
I. Ivanisevic (2.5) - K. Lahno (3.5) 0.5-0.5
M. Bluvshtein (3) - M. Kazhgaleyev (2) 0-1
S. Siebrecht (2.5) - D. Swiercz (2) 0-1
B. Bok (2.5)- J.W. de Jong (0.5) 0-1
R. Pruijssers (1) - R. van Kampen (1.5) 0.5-0.5

[PeterTurland]

Yeah it was more than a bit ridiculous, Carlsen threw the win away and then L'ami threw the draw away. I like watching Carlsen because he is unpredictable, but today took the biscuit - and I suspect black magic especially after his insane draw against Kramnic.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Yeah it was more than a bit ridiculous, Carlsen threw the win away and then L'ami threw the draw away. I like watching Carlsen because he is unpredictable, but today took the biscuit - and I suspect black magic especially after his insane draw against Kramnic.

I was reading today about how Lasker seemed to adapt his play to his opponents, and get lots of wins that way. I suppose all the grandmasters today do that to some extent, but are there any that are known for adapting their play to counter their opponent's style?