The reigning World champion Magnus Carlsen is the winner of 2015 Grenke Chess Classic!
However, the trophy didn’t come easily. Carlsen tied for the first place with the top German player Arkadij Naiditsch, although the latter defeated him in the third round of the event.
According to the tournament regulations, the winner should have been decided after an additional match.
Carlsen started with a victory in the first rapid game, but Naiditsch bounced back winning the exciting second game.
The players drew the next two blitz games and the Armageddon game (6′ + 2″ vs. 5′ + 2″) was decisive. The drawing of lots destined white pieces for Carlsen and one more minute at the start of the game, but he needed a win to claim the title.
Arkadij Naiditsch chose Sicilian Defence as an answer of Carlsen’s first move 1.e4 and the game became very sharp. Carlsen sacrificed an exchange in order to use the light squares in the opponent’s camp. Soon the mating threats in front of Naiditsch were inevitable and he was forced to resign.
You can replay the games and the thrilling playoff match below!
Official website/ LIVE games with computer analysis GRENKE Chess Classic 2014/ GRENKE Chess Classic 2013
Online chess magazines: Chess Insider pdf and pgn (games from 2014, total 1000 pages) / Chess Times pdf and pgn (games from Jan 2015, total 300 pages)
Final standings:
1 GM Carlsen Magnus 2865 NOR 4½
2 GM Naiditsch Arkadij 2706 GER 4½
3 GM Adams Michael 2738 ENG 4
4 GM Caruana Fabiano 2811 ITA 4
5 GM Aronian Levon 2777 ARM 3½
6 GM Bacrot Etienne 2711 FRA 3½
7 GM Anand Viswanathan 2797 IND 2½
8 GM Baramidze David 2594 GER 1½