Kramnik consolidates, Radjabov wins 2-0

With two draws against Svidler, Kramnik consolidated his lead today. Theoretically speaking Ivanchuk and Anand, who also drew twice against respectively Gelfand and Leko, can still finish shared first with him, but in any case Kramnik's tournament victory is certain. The most notable player of the day was Radjabov, who beat Aronian twice.

The Marshall is fully in fashion. Anand-Leko (blindfold) was another one, where 17.Be3 was a new move, deviating from Rodriguez Cespedes-Peng Xiaomin, Luzern 1993. There 17.Bf4 was played, a move I like. Perhaps Anand now likes it too, because soon in the game he didn't see reason to play on and offered a draw on move 23. Also in Ivanchuk-Gelfand Black had no opening problems so we quickly move on to Radjabov-Aronian. A very topical line of the Queen's Indian which led to a quick draw twice in Morelia/Linares, but here for a long time K.Georgiev-Komarov, Niksic 1997 was followed. 28...a5 was the first new move! Perhaps the rook ending was a draw but it's a fact that Radjabov played with power. Gladly, he can still do it! Kramnik-Svidler wasn't much; Morozevich was succesful again with his pet line 6.Db3 in the Queen's Indian after Carlsen seemed to get in trouble quickly. Magnus defended well for a while but the Russian was merciless. Van Wely seemed focused and beat Vallejo nicely, although Loek himself was less satisfied afterwards.

To the rapid games then. With reversed colours Leko and Anand did another little Marshall and with the nice defending trick 22...Bf3+ Black could hold everything together. But... everything was played before, in J.Polgar-Svidler, San Luis 2005, except for the last move! What could be the reason for that?? Ivanchuk played a nice positional queen sac against Gelfand, who then found himself in trouble but by playing for activity as much as possible he could escape with a draw. Aronian made a terrible beginner's mistake by just dropping a bishop on g5 after 6.c4? and 7.Bxc4??, the more surprising since it was the rapid game! Aronian said afterwards: "My brain is melting down after so many tournaments." Svidler-Kramnik (another Marshall, it's getting boring, we beg for some Petroff Defences) followed Leko-Kramnik (blindfold) from round 7 and Svidler had thought up 24.Bc2. This indeed looks better but Black still held the draw easily. Van Wely could probably held the opposite coloured bishops ending but it was difficult and he didn't succeed. What happened in Carlsen-Morozevich is beyond my comprehension. If somebody wants to expain, feel free. ;-)

The blindfold games:



The rapid games:



Results round 10:

Blindfold:

Anand      ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Leko       ?Ǭ??¢‚Ǩ‚Äú?Ǭ?
Ivanchuk   ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Gelfand    ?Ǭ??¢‚Ǩ‚Äú?Ǭ?
Radjabov   ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Aronian    1-0
Kramnik    ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Svidler    ?Ǭ??¢‚Ǩ‚Äú?Ǭ?
Van Wely   ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Vallejo    1-0
Morozevich ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Carlsen    1-0

Rapid:

Leko       ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Anand      ?Ǭ??¢‚Ǩ‚Äú?Ǭ?
Gelfand    - Ivanchuk   ?Ǭ??¢‚Ǩ‚Äú?Ǭ?
Aronian    - Radjabov   0-1
Svidler    ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Kramnik    ?Ǭ??¢‚Ǩ‚Äú?Ǭ?
Vallejo    ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Van Wely   1-0
Carlsen    ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Morozevich 1-0

Standings blindfold:

    1. Kramnik              8?Ǭ?
  2-4. Svidler, Ivanchuk,
       Gelfand              6?Ǭ?
    5. Morozevich            6
    6. Aronian               5
 7-8.  Radjabov, Anand      4?Ǭ?
 9-10. Carlsen, Leko        3?Ǭ?
   11. Van Wely              3
   12. Vallejo               2

Kramnik has won the blindfold tournament.

Standings rapid:

    1. Anand                 8
  2-3. Ivanchuk, Kramnik     6
  4-6. Aronian, Leko        
       Carlsen              5?Ǭ?
  7-8. Morozevich, Svidler  4?Ǭ?
 9-10. Gelfand, Radjabov     4
   11. Vallejo              3?Ǭ?
   12. Van Wely              3

Anand has won the rapid tournament.

Combined standings:

    1. Kramnik             14?Ǭ?
  2-3. Ivanchuk, Anand     12?Ǭ?
    4. Svidler              11
  5-7. Morozevich, Gelfand,
       Aronian             10?Ǭ?
  8-9. Carlsen, Leko         9
   10. Radjabov             8?Ǭ?
   11. Van Wely              6
   12. Vallejo              5?Ǭ?

Tomorrow is the last round, no. 11. Play begins at 12.30 CET.

Blind:

Vallejo    - Kramnik
Carlsen    - Van Wely
Svidler    - Morozevich
Gelfand    - Anand  
Aronian    - Ivanchuk
Leko       - Radjabov

Rapid:

Kramnik    - Vallejo
Van Wely   - Carlsen 
Morozevich ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Svidler 
Anand      - Gelfand
Ivanchuk   - Aronian 
Radjabov   - Leko