NAKAMURA AND ANAND DRAW IN ROUND 9 TATA 2011

25 Jan 2011

Tata round 9

Nakamura and Anand draw in a mixed Queens Indian - Nimzo

KRAMNIK JOINS THE TOP TWO.

It looked like Anand had winning chances, but then it petered out into a draw.
Play-through game with a few of my thoughts as they went along.

23 Jan 2011

Tata Round 8

Finally a proper game in the A group.

CARLSEN BEATS NAKAMURA in a fascinating Najdorf.

How satisfying.
By the end of the day, Nakamura and Anand will still be in the lead on 5.5, and the other top contenders now share on 5 points.

Thank you Magnus, you have restored my faith in top chess.

IN HONOUR OF MIKHAIL TAL

"There are two kinds of sacrifices: sound ones, and mine."
"To play for a draw, at any rate with White, is to some degree a crime against chess."
"If Black is going for victory, he is practically forced to allow his opponent to get some kind of well-known positional advantage."
"It is also important to remember that Bobby Fischer was a real chess gentleman during games. He was always very fair and very correct."
"I drink, I smoke, I gamble, I chase girls – but postal chess is one vice I don't have."
"They compare me to Lasker, which is an exaggerated honor. He made mistakes in every game and I only in every second one!"
Nevertheless, when asked about his opinion on who was the greatest player of all time, he answered: "Lasker, for he made miracles on the chessboard."
Referring to his piece sacrifices: "They can only take them one at a time!"
"If playing chess were made illegal by law, I would become an outlaw."
"You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one."