Candidates Matches - Round 1 results

First round games from the candidates matches in Elista have finished and two decisive results occurred.  Number one seed Lev Aronian from Armenia (pictured) convincingly brushed aside the young Norwegian prodigy Magnus Carlsen in their game from the Black side of a Ruy Lopez.

 

Carlsen steered clear of the most popular lines with the relatively unusual 6.d3, but if he had anything special prepared for his illustrious opponent, it didn't seem to work.  Carlsen's break in the centre with 17.d4 only succeded in handing Aronian a menacing 2 v 1 pawn majority on the Queenside.  But it was on the Kingside with the picturesque 26...Rf3! that the game swung decisively in Black's favour.

 

The other decisive game of the day came in the only all-Russian pairing as Alexander Grischuk overcame Vladimir Malakhov.  After an ill-advised exchange of an important bishop with 20...Bxg3 Malakhov's uncastled King position proved to be too much of a weakness and as he tried in vain to defend, the pawns fell like ripe apples!

 

Of the other participants, Kasimjanov, Shirov and Polgar were all fortunate to escape with draws on an exciting first day.