Tal Memorial - Round 2

Submitted by SonofPearl on Fri, 11/06/2009 at 12:04pm.

There were more fascinating clashes in round two at the Tal Memorial in Moscow, but still no decisive games.  It can only be a matter of time before the equilibrium is disturbed, and someone breaks from the pack.

With a field this strong, it's not easy to decide on the headline game from each round, but today's clash between Kramnik and Anand was probably the main attraction.

In the event, the re-match between last years' world title combatants was the first game to end, with Anand's Grunfeld opening preparation easing him to a comfortable draw using minimal time on the clock.

Most of the other games had promising moments, but the players remain all-square going into the third round tomorrow.   The tension is palpable from thousands of miles away!

Ponomariov pushed hard against Aronian in another exciting Grunfeld, but the Armenian held firm.  Carlsen also tested Morozevich in an unbalanced position, but to no avail.

Games start at 3pm local time again tomorrow.  Live coverage is at the official site here.

 

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Comments:

by Rozier - 10 days ago
Tuaran Malaysia
Member Since: Jul 2009
Member Points: 1

This is the first time I saw aronian play grunfeld defense...nice defence aronian...

by Don3 - 12 days ago
Rourkela India
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 131

bugswatter-Don't post comments like that.

by bugswattr - 13 days ago
Aurora United States
Member Since: Sep 2009
Member Points: 192

I dont' want anand to win, he's a boring player

by tadartabo - 13 days ago
arunachal pradesh,itanagar India
Member Since: Mar 2009
Member Points: 28

still no decisive result............
guys !!! what i think 4 this tourny is that carlsen may win...........
the way he plays is really amazing!!!!!!!

by kunduk - 13 days ago
kolkata India
Member Since: Feb 2009
Member Points: 845

great going, ANAND...

by lastwarrior2010 - 13 days ago
Seattle, Washington United States
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 840

You could have a picture of Tal...

Also these are the pairing for the next round:

Boris Gelfand - Magnus Carlsen

Vishy Anand - Peter Svidler

Alexander Morozevich - Vladimir Kramnik

Levon Aronian - Peter Leko

Vassily Ivanchuk - Ruslan Ponomariov

by amitprabhale - 13 days ago
Mumbai India
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 235

Cuz anand seems to win this tourney.

by SonofPearl - 13 days ago
Wales
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 6065

@redsoxfan33 - there are 10 players, and they play each other once, so there are nine rounds.

by redsoxfan33 - 13 days ago
United States
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 909

How many rounds are there?

by Caliphigia - 13 days ago
Belgrade Yugoslavia
Member Since: Jun 2009
Member Points: 56

I don't understand the whinning of some people here. They are looking only at the results of the games, not at the content. Or maybe they just don't understand it.

The games are interesting even if they are all draws. Some complain that there were no sacrifices, but didn't Kramnik sacrifice his queen to Anand? IOW, if this was say Petrosian's memorial would sacrifices be forbidden? IMHO a draw is an organic part of a chess game, and nothing to be despised or feared of. It is most likely to occur when players are of equal strenght.

by chesscrazee - 13 days ago
MUMBAI India
Member Since: Sep 2009
Member Points: 14

anand will win 

by Don3 - 13 days ago
Rourkela India
Member Since: Dec 2008
Member Points: 131

I want to see what anand plays when he will get the white pieces.He normally plays e4 but he played d4 against Karpov in their rapid match.

by SerbianChessStar - 13 days ago
Belgrade Serbia
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 2216

When i was watching Carlsen (The last 2 games of his)

He was playing to win 100%, it was so obvious, he wouldn't give in.. but unfortunately his opponents play solid defense (and he did too! vs Kramnik).

Im sure some people play to win, they just cannot due to strong defense.

by ruby7 - 13 days ago
Canada
Member Since: May 2009
Member Points: 60

Somebody play King's Gambit please. :P

by Alekhine_II - 13 days ago
Moscow Russia
Member Since: Oct 2009
Member Points: 55

according to my friend Eygen Ignashevski, he said that sometime GMs agrees on short draws calls 'GM-draws' when the condition are not bad for both parties, only a slip up or a sighting of a nice tactical by either side would be decisive, this is not an amatuer tournament, this is a super GMs tournament, one slip up and you might never be able to catch up ever again ! that's why nobody wants to take risk.

by dextorous_demon - 13 days ago
New Paltz, New York United States
Member Since: Dec 2007
Member Points: 100

I don't understand... In the Tal memorial I would enjoy seeing people emulating Tal's forceful and romantic style, rather than the same style they would be using otherwise. Tal is very disappointed.

by geer_matt - 14 days ago
antioch United States
Member Since: Aug 2009
Member Points: 15

I know I will never be at the level of these folks but I must say I am very disappointed. I think they are being safe and lazy and no one seems to be playing for the win...no one has any guts who here in this tournament is out for blood....? These guys need to crank it up a notch they are suppose to be the best in the world not the "safest players in the world". Very lazy...!

by tsyim21 - 14 days ago
Hawaii United States
Member Since: Jun 2008
Member Points: 45

Just curious, what's the cash prize for this tourney?

by SonofPearl - 14 days ago
Wales
Member Since: May 2007
Member Points: 6065

The picture is usually someone who won their game...but since no one did, I just use a picture that I like and have to hand...Laughing

by NrthrnKnght - 14 days ago
Lewiston Idaho United States
Member Since: Jun 2009
Member Points: 97

1st game that is a win will cause the other players to take risks to "catch up".Then the tourney really begins.Right now it is like a pack of runners in a marathon who will be the first to break away.

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