Strong start Aronian and Kramnik

After the second round of the Melody Amber Tournament in Monaco it's Vladimir Kramnik and Levon Aronian who are leading the group. As always, Van Wely has a hard time in Monaco; unfortunately he's still on zero points. So far Radjabov disappoints a bit with only a half out of four.

Of the blindfold games, especially Ivanchuk-Morozevich was impressive. A long, interesting ending! Kramnik's knight sac on f7 was not altogether convincing but he played the ending better than his opponent. Van Wely's Zwischenzug 26...Qc6 was probably not good. Carlsen wanted to win too much and blundered with 41...Kf7.

Of the rapid games, Van-Wely-Kramnik can be recommended for replay. Loek was playing very well but Kramnik defended very accurately. White had several chances to draw with a perpetual but instead he blundered on move 42. Against Anand, Radjabov missed a draw with 46.dxe7 Nxf1 47.Qe5+ and White keeps on giving checks. Leko-Aronian was a nice win by Black.

Results 2nd round:

Blind:

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

Rapid:

Radjabov     - Anand          0-1
Morozevich   - Ivanchuk       ?Ǭ?-?Ǭ?
Van Wely     - Kramnik        0-1
Carlsen      - Vallejo Pons   ?Ǭ?-?Ǭ?
Gelfand      - Svidler        ?Ǭ?-?Ǭ?
Leko         - Aronian        0-1

Standings blind:

    1. Kramnik                  2 
  2-5. Morozevich, Aronian,
       Svidler, Ivanchuk       1?Ǭ?
  6-8. Gelfand, Vallejo Pons,
       Anand                    1
 9-10. Leko, Carlsen            ?Ǭ?
11-12. Radjabov, Van Wely       0

Standings rapid:

    1. Aronian                  2
  2-3. Anand, Ivanchuk, 
    4. Kramnik                 1?Ǭ?
  5-8. Morozevich, Carlsen, 
       Gelfand, Leko            1 
 9-11. Radjabov, Svidler,
       Vallejo Pons             ?Ǭ?
   12. Van Wely                 0

Combined standings:

  1-2. Aronian, Kramnik        3?Ǭ?
    3. Ivanchuk                 3
  4-5. Morozevich, Anand       2?Ǭ?
  6-7. Gelfand, Svidler         2
 8-10. Leko, Carlsen,
       Vallejo Pons            1?Ǭ?
   11. Radjabov                 ?Ǭ?
   12. Van Wely                 0

Blindfold games round 2:



Rapid games round 2:



Tomorrow is round 3:

Blind:

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

Rapid:

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