Tata Steel Chess Tournament 14th - 30th January 2011

[LozCooper]

Final Standings:

Group A:

1. H. Nakamura 9
2. V. Anand 8½
3. L. Aronian & M. Carlsen 8
5. V. Kramnik & M. Vachier-Lagrave 7½
7. A. Giri & R. Ponomariov 6½
9. I. Nepomniachtchi & Wang Hao 6
11. A. Grischuk, E. l'Ami & J. Smeets 4½
14. A. Shirov 4

Group B:

1. L. McShane & D. Navara 8½
3. Z. Efimenko 8
4. L. Liem, G. Sargissian & W. So 7½
7. V. Tkachiev 7
8. R. Wojtaszek 6½
9. L. Fressinet & Li Chao 6
11. S. Ganguly 5½
12. W. Spoelman 5
13. J. Hammer 4
14. F. Nijboer 3½

Group C:

1. D. Vocaturo 9
2. I. Nyzhnyk 8½
3. K. Lahno 8
4. M. Bluvshtein, I. Ivanisevic & D. Swiercz 7½
7. M. Kazhgaleyev 7
8. B. Bok & T. Sachdev 6½
10. S. Siebrecht 5½
11. M. van der Werf 5
12. R. van Kampen 4½
13. J.W. de Jong & R. Pruijssers 4

[Eoin Devane]

McShane was declared Group-B winner on Sonneborn-Berger but the tournament organizers decided both players would receive an invitation to compete in Group A next year.

Interesting decision. You'd have to say that both of them deserve the reward, though.

[LozCooper]

McShane was declared Group-B winner on Sonneborn-Berger but the tournament organizers decided both players would receive an invitation to compete in Group A next year.

Interesting decision. You'd have to say that both of them deserve the reward, though.

Agreed, both are very worthy of a place in the A group. It should also bring down the percentage of short draws in the 2012 A group

[Jonathan Rogers]

A few years ago Iain Nepo---- (you know, the Russian champion who just played in the A group) was leading the C -group but lost the last round and was overtaken by Krasenkov - and the organisers announced that both players (who scored very higly) would play in the B group the following year. Admittedly many (including Krasenkov) wondered what would have happened had Nepo won the group ... still, it seems fair enough. You guarantee that the winner goes up a section next year, but wait to see how the tournament unfolds before deciding whether the second placed player gets an invite too. Where the tournament has been very hard fought, where the top players made excellent elo performances and where any of them could very easily have won it (needless to say, that is always satisfied when a tie is split by S-B!) then there is a case for extending the invitation.

What is particularly impressive is that this time, as a few years ago, the organisers were sufficiently organised to announce this as soon a sthe tournament ends, and not some weeks later after lengthy thought and exchange of emails. That makes the conclusion of the event much more satisfactory for spectators, as well as for the player who benefits.

[Gavin Strachan]

I am surprised Hammer did so badly considering he seemed on fire last year. Well done to the Mc.

[LozCooper]

I am surprised Hammer did so badly considering he seemed on fire last year. Well done to the Mc.

These events are so strong that some very good players end up suffering. As you say, Hammer has become very strong very quickly but the average rating was about 2660 and so inevitably some players will suffer, Fressinet for example. Thirteen rounds is a very long time if you start badly or are out of form and it becomes a test of character and endurance as much as anything. Fortunately, Luke has all these traits in abundance as well as being a very strong player.