Tata Steel Wijk aan Zee 15-31 January 2016

[Roger de Coverly]

Yes, black can cover the e5 and b6 entry points by allowing bxa5. Only just, but that is enough!

That's what the chessbomb stockfish indicated as the continuation. There's a premise, if an engine tells you that a position is lost in a King and pawn ending, it's almost certainly right. If it tells you that there are drawing chances, perhaps it hasn't analysed far enough.

The chessbomb engine rates the queen trade as the fourth choice, with keeping the queens on by Qf8 or Qe7 or d4 the higher choices.

[Mick Norris]

Magnus drew fairly quickly with black today, Fabiano may well win but then would have to beat Tomashevsky with black while relying on Ding with black to at least hold Magnus in the final round

[Barry Sandercock]

Caruana won.

[Mick Norris]

As did Ding to make it a 3 horse race in theory

Carlsen (8.5) - Ding Liren (7.5)
Tomashevsky - Caruana (8)

A win would take Caruana above 2800 into second on the rating list

[Carl Hibbard]

As did Ding to make it a 3 horse race in theory

Carlsen (8.5) - Ding Liren (7.5)
Tomashevsky - Caruana (8)

A win would take Caruana above 2800 into second on the rating list

Should be a nice conclusion as a bit duller today.

[Carl Hibbard]

The chess24 unofficial coverage of the event well with Svidler which was excellent only seems to have lasted a couple of rounds which was a shame.

[Mick Norris]

I caught a bit today of Svidler; always entertaining

[Richard Bates]

Well today is one way to put complaints about Berlin Defences to bed...

[Barry Sandercock]

Carlsen's game and Adam's game, positions identical at move 20.

[Carl Hibbard]

Carlsen's game and Adam's game, positions identical at move 20.

Started early whoops missed that thanks.

[Mick Norris]

Carlsen's game and Adam's game, positions identical at move 20.

Started early whoops missed that thanks.

Me too - Svidler on chess24 again too

I can't see anything other than an outright Magnus victory from here, as expected given there is no tiebreak for him to win

[Roger de Coverly]

Carlsen's game and Adam's game, positions identical at move 20.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3 Be7 11. Bc2 d4 12. Nb3 d3 13. Nxc5 dxc2 14. Qxd8+ Rxd8 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. Be3 Rd5 17. Rfc1 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Bd4 Rg5 20. Rxc2 Kf7

Engines don't seem bothered and GMs know better, but wouldn't many players just assess the ending as "dodgy" because of the weak e6 pawn?

[FEN "7r/2p1bkpp/p3p3/1p4r1/3B4/2P5/PPR2PPP/R5K1 w - - 1 21"]

[Matt Mackenzie]

Caruana and Karjakin both seem to be in some bother......

EDIT: the latter managed to draw not long after - Fab still struggling, though.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Carlsen has the Arkell ending...

[Roger de Coverly]

Carlsen has the Arkell ending...

Move 62, Black to move, it's still at the stage where everything draws apart from putting the Rook en prise or falling into a discovery

[FEN "8/2R5/8/2B5/2k1K3/8/2r5/8 b - - 10 62"]

Edit, it looks as if the defender is intending to use the stalemate rook sacrifice defence.

[FEN "8/8/8/8/5B2/R2K4/6r1/3k4 b - - 10 62"]

Rd2 draws

Edit, and this is how it finished

[FEN "8/8/8/8/8/4BKR1/5r2/5k2 b - - 10 62"]

Carlsen took the Rook rather than play out the ten or so remaining moves to the 50 move draw.