London Chess Classic Diary: Day Eleven
Carslen crowned king
By Malcolm Pein
3:53PM GMT 11 Dec 2012
Magnus Carlsen completed his third victory at the London Chess Classic, as last year’s winner Vladimir Kramnik was unable to create any winning chances in the final round. Carlsen pressed the world champion Vishy Anand in the endgame, as a wonderful tournament climaxed with a nail-biting battle between the world number one and the world champion.
Anand needed all his defensive skill to save the game after he lost a pawn in a deceptively difficult position. Anand’s Berlin Defence to the Ruy Lopez secured him a slight edge, but the lynchpin of his position was a knight, which had advanced into the heart of enemy territory. The knight began to look vulnerable and the rescue operation cost a pawn, although, computer analysis showed it was quite safe.
Michael Adams finished third, equal with Hikaru Nakamura and had he not spoiled a good position against Carlsen and taken a couple of other chances, he might have challenged the Norwegian for first. In the last round Adams took no chances against Kramnik’s Berlin Defence. Kramnik considered playing a more risky opening, like the Pirc Defence, which he occasionally ventures, but when he saw Adams’s record against it he decided to stick to his favourite opening.
Nakamura will crush Carlsen in a match.
You kidding?
You kidding?
you mean in a sumo match? Naka has a big EGO not ELO