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Fabiano Caruana was the runaway winner of the 2020 Tata Steel Masters, scoring an outstanding 10/13 (+7) to finish a full two points ahead of Magnus Carlsen at 8 (+3) points. Wesley So ended his tournament in clear third place at 7.5 points.

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This was Caruana’s first tournament victory at Wijk aan Zee, and he was on top of his game, playing some exemplary technical chess. International Master Kostya Kavutskiy annotates two of Caruana’s best games exclusively for CLO.

TATA STEEL MASTERS11.4

January 24, 2020
 Kovalev, Vladislav2660
 Caruana, Fabiano2822
Annotated by Kostya
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-Ob56.Bb3Bc57.c3d68.a4Rb89.d4Bb610.axb5axb511.Na3O-O12.Nxb5Bg413.Re1Bxf314.gxf3Nh515.f4Nxf416.Bxf4exf417.Kh1Ne7White’s trump in this kind of position is the potentially restricted bishop on b6. But after Black’s last move, intending c6 & c5, Black’s dark-squared bishop not only opens up, but creates immediate positional problems for White on the dark-squares. As Caruana explained after the game, Kovalev may have mixed up his opening work, which can be lethal when facing one of the best prepared players in the world.18.Bc2Ng619.b4c620.Na3c521.bxc5 ?This turns out to be a serious mistake, as it opens up Black’s queen.21.Nb5would keep White’s position relatively stable:21…Qd722.Bd3cxd423.cxd4Nh4 ⩱with a small edge for Black.21…dxc522.Nc422.d5Ne5 −+would leave Black with a strategically winning position.22.Nb5cxd423.cxd4Ba5 ! −+22…cxd423.Nxb623.cxd4Bxd4 −+23…Rxb624.cxd4Rd625.Ra4Ne5 !With idea Nc6, forcing White to compromise his structure.26.f3Nc627.e5Giving up a pawn to avoid a hopelessly passive position.27.d5Ne5 ∓with very clear play for Black on the kingside – Qh4/f6, g5, and so on, targeting White’s weaknesses.27…Rxd428.Rxd4Nxd429.Be4Qh4Black now has an extra pawn and a decisive advantage here, with White’s king still being quite weak. Fabiano doesn’t let his opponent off the hook.30.Rg1Rd831.Qf1g632.Rg4Qe733.Rxf4Qxe534.Rh4Ne635.Rh3Nf436.Rg3Rd2Without any defense to either Qd4 or Qb2, White resigned.0–1

TATA STEEL MASTERS10.5

January 22, 2020
 Caruana, Fabiano2822
 Firouzja, Alireza2723
Annotated by Kostya
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1.d4Nf62.c4g63.Nc3Bg74.e4d65.h3O-O6.Be3Nc6 !?A rare and adventurous way of meeting the h3/Be3 setup, which is currently one of the most dangerous tries at White’s disposal against the King’s Indian, and one that Caruana has used multiple times.7.d5Ne58.f4Ned79.g4 !?One of the points of White’s system is to take space and keep control over it. In this case, g4 is ambitious, but principled.9…c610.Nf3cxd511.cxd5b6 $146A new move by Firouzja11…Nc512.Bxc5dxc513.e5 ±already looked very good for White in Jones,G (2662)-Pavlidis,A (2546) Heraklio 2017.12.Nd4Nc513.Qf3 ?!Not the engine’s first choice, but a logical move, defending e4 with the queen and preparing to castle queenside, while keeping the bishop controlling the vulnerable f1-a6 diagonal.13.Nc6Qe814.Bg2was probably critical, and could be tested in future games. My guess is that Firouzja had some deeper preparation here, and was willing to go for risky complications against Caruana.13…Bb7Here Firouzja spent some time for the first time in the game, indicating that he hadn’t checked White’s move in his preparation. He may have thought there was a way to punish White’s play (as Qf3 is not suggested by the engine), and with Bb7 he is basically committed to go for a very sharp piece sacrifice.Instead13…e6 !would have likely caused White more problems:14.g5Nh5with a total mess after15.O-O-O15.dxe6 ?fxe616.O-O-ONxf4 !17.Bxf4Bxd418.Rxd4e5 ∓15…exd516.Nc6Qe817.Nxd5Bb718.Nce7+Kh819.f5 ∞14.g5Nfxe4 !?Nh5 was still playable, but this was likely Black’s intention with Bb7.15.Nxe4Bxd516.Nf6+exf617.Qxd5Re818.Nc2 !I think this was the most practical way of dealing with Black’s initiative.18…fxg519.O-O-Ogxf420.Bd4 !Black will be left with four pawns for the sacrificed piece, but Caruana exchanges off Black’s most important piece, the dark-squared bishop.20.Bxf4Qf6 −+20…Bxd421.Qxd4 ⩲Ne622.Qd2Qf623.Kb1Rac824.Bb5Red825.Nb4d526.Rhf1Rc527.a4d428.Nd3Rf529.Rf3Stockfish doesn’t seem to give White that large of an advantage here, but with a total blockade of Black’s pawns, White’s position is much easier to play. Firouzja quickly gets in trouble from here:29…g530.Rg1Kf8 ?30…h5was better but after31.Bc6 ⩲and Be4 White will be very close to breaking through.31.h4 !h631…gxh432.Qb4+Nc533.Rgf1 +−is a disaster for Black, as White will soon start collecting all the pawns.32.hxg5hxg533.Rh3f334.Bc4Ke735.Bxe6Kxe635…fxe636.Rh7+Kd636…Kf837.Qh2e538.Rh6 +−37.Qb4+ +−36.Qh2 !White’s knight on d3 is simply a positional stalwart, completely blocking Black’s play, allowing White’s heavy pieces to roam freely and hunt down Black’s king. The advantage is fairly decisive now and Caruana converts smoothly:36…f237.Rf1Kd738.Rh6Qe739.Rxf2Rxf240.Qxf2Kc841.a5bxa542.Qc2+Kb843.Nc5Rd644.Rh8+Rd845.Qb3+Kc746.Qb7+Kd647.Rh6+f648.Ne4+1–0

Caruana showed the spirit of a champion with his final round victory over Vladislav Artemiev, choosing to grind the win out when a draw would have been more than acceptable.

TATA STEEL MASTERS13.4

January 26, 2020
 Artemiev, Vladislav2731
 Caruana, Fabiano2822
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1.Nf3d52.g3Nd73.c4dxc44.Qa4a65.Qxc4b56.Qc2Bb77.Bg2Ngf68.O-Oe69.d3Be710.a4c511.Nc3Qb612.axb5axb513.Rxa8+Bxa814.Bg5O-O15.Ra1h616.Bxf6Bxf617.Nd2Bxg218.Kxg2Rc819.Qb3Rb820.Nce4Be721.Kg1f522.Nc3Ne523.h3h524.Nf3Nxf3+25.exf3Bf626.Re1Kf727.Ne2g528.g4hxg429.hxg4fxg430.fxg4Qd631.Ng3Qd532.Qc2Bd433.Qe2Rh834.Ne4Qe535.Qf3+Kg736.b3Rf837.Qe2Qd538.Rf1Kg639.Qd1c440.bxc4bxc441.Kg2Ba742.f3cxd343.Qa1Be344.Rd1Qc445.Qc3Qa2+46.Nd2Qc247.Qe5Bxd248.Qxe6+Kg749.Qe7+Rf750.Qe5+Kf851.Qb8+Ke752.Qe5+Kd853.Qb8+Kd754.Qb7+Kd655.Qb6+Ke556.Qb5+Kd457.Qb6+Kc458.Qe6+Kc359.Qe5+Kb360.Qd5+Kb261.Qb5+Bb4+62.Kg3Qxd163.Qxb4+Qb364.Qd2+Kb165.Qe1+Kc266.Qf2+d20–1

Wesley So finished at +2, with his two wins coming early in the event against Anand and Firouzja. Kavutskiy analyzes both.

TATA STEEL MASTERS2.7

January 12, 2020
 So, Wesley2765
 Anand, Viswanathan2758
Annotated by Kostya
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bc4Bc54.c3Nf65.d3d66.Nbd2O-O7.h3a68.Bb3Be69.Bc2d510.Ng5dxe411.Nxe6fxe612.dxe4Bxf2+13.Kxf2Ng4+14.Kg1Ne315.Qe2Nxc216.Rb1N6d417.cxd4Based on Wesley’s short usage of time up until this point, he had likely seen some of these complications in his preparation before. However it’s quite unclear just how deeply either player had looked into this line, and what they remembered at the board.17…Qxd4+18.Kh2Rf219.Qg4Ne320.Qxe6+Kh821.Rg1Qd322.Qxe5Raf8 ?A natural move, but one that lets White consolidate.22…Nxg2 !would force a draw.23.Rxg2Rxg2+24.Kxg2Qe2+25.Kg3Rf8 ! =and Black will give a perpetual with Qe1+ next23.Qg3Qe2Optically White’s position looks precarious, as Black is threatening to take twice on g2 and play Rf2, as well as the slow but deadly maneuver of R8f6-g6. With one very unexpected move, Wesley finds a way to deal with all of his problems:24.b4 !!A brilliant defensive resource. Giving the rook access to b3, where it will bother Black’s knight. Vishy is not in time to generate enough threats.According to Stockfish White is close to winning after24.Kh1but has to find a very narrow sequence of moves to demonstrate that:24…R8f625.Nb3Nf126.Qh4Qd327.Bg5Qxb128.Bxf6Rxf629.e5 ! ±and the e-pawn becomes very strong.White’s second point can be seen in the line after24.a3Nxg225.Kh1R8f7 !26.Rxg2Rxg227.Qxg2Rf228.Qg1Qe3 !in the game, White would have Rb3 here, winning, but without it is forced to take a draw after29.Qg4Qe1+30.Qg1Qe3 =24…Rxg2+Vishy thought for a little while here but likely couldn’t find anything playable.24…R8f625.Rb3 !Rg626.Rxe3Rxg327.Rxe2 +−24…Nxg225.Kh1R8f726.Rxg2Rxg227.Qxg2Rf228.Qg1Qe329.Rb3 ! +−25.Rxg2Nxg2Hoping for Qxg2 Rf2 but White can counter the discovered check:26.Qg4With no more possible tricks, Black resigned.1–0

TATA STEEL MASTERS4.4

January 14, 2020
 So, Wesley2765
 Firouzja, Alireza2723
Annotated by Kostya
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1.d4d52.c4dxc43.Nf3Nf64.e3e65.Bxc4c56.O-Oa67.b3cxd48.Nxd4Be79.Bb2O-O10.Be2Bd711.Nd2Nc612.Rc1Rc813.N4f3b514.a3Qb615.Rc2e516.Bd3Rfd817.Qe2Bg418.Rfc1Na719.Rxc8Rxc820.Rxc8+Nxc821.h3Bxf322.Qxf3Qd823.Qe2Qd524.Bc2Nd625.Qd3Qxd326.Bxd3Nd727.g4g628.Ne4It seems like Wesley’s main strategy here, starting from 21.h3, was to exchange all of the pieces except for his two bishops against Black’s bishop and knight. A classical long-term advantage, with the two bishops and a fluid stucture White will be able to play for two results while putting pressure on both sides of the board. A deadly strategy in the hands of a superb technician like Wesley So.28…Nxe429.Bxe4Nc530.Bc2e4 ?!After this move Black’s task becomes quite difficult, though Wesley doesn’t find the most accurate way to prosecute the advantage.After30…f6Black would face a long and unpleasant defense:31.Kg2Kf832.f4exf433.exf4Kf734.Kf3 ±Although White is not winning, he can continue to pose problems for a long time, with a risk-free advantage.31.b4Nd332.Bc3Kf833.Kf1f534.Ke2 ?!34.gxf5gxf535.Bb3 !Bh436.Be6Bxf237.Bxf5Bxe338.Bxh7 +−was best, where White will soon be left with an extra passed pawn and fantastic winning chances.34…Bd835.Bxd3exd3+36.Kxd3Kf737.e4Firouzja might have felt this position was drawn, and I think he would be right, but ends up choosing wrong in the game.37…fxg4After37…f4 !38.f3Ke639.Bd4g5 ±Stockfish gives a large advantage for White, but I’m unable to find a plan to break through.38.hxg4g5The losing mistake.38…h5 !?39.gxh5gxh5also deserves deeper analysis, but I was unable to find a winning line for White – Black’s h-pawn generates just enough counterplay to hold.39.Kd4 !Grabbing the last chance White will have to activate his king.39…Bb6+40.Kd5Bxf241.Kc6Ke642.Kb7Kd743.Kxa6Kc644.e5 !The ‘principle of two weaknesses’ decides the game.44…Be345.e6Bc146.a4bxa447.Be51–0

Nine consecutive draws in the final rounds, including two before move twenty, hurt So’s chances for a higher ranking. Still, third place and an estimated five rating points are estimable consolation prizes!

Jeffery Xiong continued to amass top-flight experience in Wijk, ending his event in the middle of the pack at 6/13 (-1). Xiong got his first draw with Magnus Carlsen in Round 3, although he will probably be kicking himself for not taking the full point, as Kavutskiy shows.

TATA STEEL MASTERS3.1

January 13, 2020
 Carlsen, Magnus2872
 Xiong, Jeffery2712
Annotated by Kostya
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1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nf3d54.Nc3c55.cxd5Nxd56.e4Nxc37.bxc3cxd48.cxd4Bb4+9.Bd2Bxd2+10.Qxd2O-O11.Bd3Nc612.Bc2Qe713.O-ORd814.Qe3b615.Rfd1Bb716.Rac1Rac817.h4Na518.Bd3h619.g4Nc620.Bb1Qd721.Kh2Qd6+22.Kg1Na523.Bd3 ?A surprising slip from Carlsen, who had been shuffling for a few moves now.23.Rxc8Rxc824.Bd3 =would keep things equal.23…Rxc1 !Spotting the error.24.Rxc1Nc6All of a sudden White can’t defend the d4-pawn. Carlsen hunkers down and prepares for a difficult endgame.25.Bb525.Rc4b5 −+25…Nxd426.Qxd4Qxd427.Nxd4Rxd428.f3a629.Bf1Rd7 !Accurate, stopping counterplay with Rc7.30.a4Kf830…g5 !was the key move Black needed to play here, as well as the next move. The point is to stop White from being able to push e5 and f4.31.Kf231.Rb1 !was good right away:31…Rd632.e5Rc633.f4 ! $44and White gets enough counterplay.31…Ke7Again31…g5was probably best:32.hxg5hxg533.Rb1Rd634.e5Rc635.Bd3Rc3 !36.Be2Bc637.Rxb6a5 ! ∓31…f6 !?would also keep some winning chances, stopping White from playing Rb1 and e5, as in the game.32.Rb1From here Carlsen defends perfectly, and finds every move to survive.32…Rd633.e5Rc634.Bd3g535.h5Bc835…Rc3would not quite work, based on an incredibly small nuance:36.Be2Bc637.Rxb6a538.Bd1Rc139.Bb3Be840.Rb7+This check makes all the difference. In the previous line, Black’s king would be on f8.40…Kf841.Ra7Rc342.Bd1Rc543.Bb3Rxe544.Rc7 !An amazing mutual zugzwang. With White to play, he would be worse, with Black to play, there’s no way to make progress.36.Ke3Rc537.f4Ra538.Rxb6gxf4+39.Kxf4Rxa4+40.Kf3Ra341.Ke4f642.Rb8Bd743.Rb7fxe544.g5hxg545.h6Kd646.Rb6+Bc6+47.Rxc6+Kxc648.h7Ra4+49.Kxe5Rh450.Kf6g451.Kg5Rh252.Kxg4Kd553.Bg6Rh654.Kg5Rxh7Otherwise Bh5 would win.55.Bxh7e556.Kg4Kd4½–½

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David Anton Guijarro is the winner of the B Group at 8.5/13, punching his ticket for entry into the 2021 Tata Steel Masters.

The final round matchup between Pavel Eljanov and Erwin L’ami, who finished tied for second place with Nodirbek Abdusattorov at 8/13, has to be seen to be believed.

82ND TATA STEEL GPB13.4

January 26, 2020Wijk aan Zee NED
 Eljanov, Pavel2650
 L'Ami, Erwin2606
Annotated by Hartmann,John
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5a64.Ba4Nf65.O-OBe76.Re1b57.Bb3d68.a4Bb79.d3O-O10.Bd2Nd411.Nxd4exd412.c3dxc313.Nxc3b414.Ne2d5 $14615.e5Nd716.Nf4c617.d417.e6is too early:17…Nc518.Bc2b319.exf7+Rxf720.Bxb3Bd6with some attacking play for the pawn17…Re818.a5Clamping down on the mobility of the d7-knight, and isolating the b4-pawn from its brethren.18…Rb818…Nf819.Ba4with the idea of Qb3, Rac1, etc.19.Nh519.e6 !Nf620.exf7+Kxf721.Ne619…g6[#]20.f4 !?20.Nf4Nf821.Ba420…f520…gxh5 ?is unplayable due to the attack following21.Qxh5f522.Bc2Nf823.Bxf5Kh824.Re3 !21.g4 !?But this looks to be too much.21.exf6Nxf622.Ng321…gxh522.gxf5Nf6 ?!The cold-blooded22…Kh8seems to hold after23.Qxh5Rg8+24.Kf224.Kh1c5 !24…Bh4+25.Kf3Bxe126.Rxe1Bc8 !27.Bc2 $141c528.f6Nxf6 !29.exf6Bg4+23.exf6Bxf624.Re5 !?No one values material anymore!24.Qxh5Bxd4+25.Kf1c526.Bc2 ∞24…Kh824…Bxe5 ?25.dxe5 $40gives White a mobile pawn wedge and a clear reroute for the b3-bishop to the b1-h7 diagonal.25.Qxh5Rg8+26.Kf2Qf827.Rc1 ?!Perhaps prophylaxis against the …c6-c5 break. But White doesn’t seem to have time for such niceties!27.Rae1 $142Qg727…Bxe5 ?28.fxe5 ! +−28.Qh3c528…Bxe5 ?29.fxe529.dxc5Bc6 ∞27…Qg728.Qh3Bc828…c5 !29.Ke3!?!?!?!29.Bc2 !?29…c5 !?Probably based on the tactical continuation in the game.29…Bxe530.dxe5Bd7is probably playable now, although White has some compensation.29…Bd7connects the rooks and tries to consolidate with the White rook effectively self-trapped.30.Bxd5cxd4+30…Rf8is a vital alternative. If31.Ke2(freeing the d2 bishop and giving a lifeline to the trapped rook)31…Bxe532.dxe5Bxf533.Qg3Bg4+34.Ke1is hard to evaluate. Do the bishops and the pawn duo balance the material?31.Kf2Bb732.Bxb7 ?Natural but flawed.32.Bxg8 !Rxg833.Re6 $8Bg234.Qg3Qb735.Qd3Qg7(threatening …Bh4+)36.Ke136.Qg3Qb7 =36…Bd537.Rxf6Qxf638.Kd1Qg738…Re839.Rc7Be440.Qc439.Kc2Rc8+40.Kb1and we head into a complicated ending with chances for both sides.32…Rxb733.Re6d3 !Freeing the dormant bishop!34.Kf3Rb5 ?!34…Bxb235.Rg6Qd736.Rxg8+Kxg837.Rg1+Kh838.Rg5Bf6 ! −+35.Rcc6Qg1with the devastating threat of …Qd1+35…Bxb2 !36.Re136.Rc7 !(hitting h7)36…Qh1+36…Qd1+37.Ke4Qh1+38.Qf3 ! +−37.Ke3Qg1+38.Ke4Qd4+39.Kf3Qd5+40.Re4Qxf541.Qxf5Rxf542.Rxb4 +−36…Qg737.Ree6Qg138.Re1Qg739.Rce639.Ree6 =39…Rb739…Rc5 !and …Rc2 would be very difficult to meet.40.Rxa6Bxb240…Rc7 !41.Rg6 !After a back and forth battle Eljanov moves the game towards a draw.41…Qf742.Rxg8+Qxg843.Qh643.f6Qd5+44.Kg3Qg8+45.Qg4Bxf646.Qxg8+Kxg8 =43…Qd5+44.Re4Rb845.Qe6Qxa546.Bxb446.Rxb4Rxb447.Qe8+Kg748.Qe7+Kg849.Qe8+ =46…d247.Qd7Qxf548.Re8+Rxe849.Qxe8+Kg750.Qe7+Kg651.Qe8+Kg752.Bxd2Qd5+53.Ke2Bf654.Qe3Qg2+55.Qf2½–½