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Tata R11: Aronian loses to Navara, still leads by half a point

PeterDoggers
| 0 | Chess Event Coverage

Tail-ender David Navara surprised everyone today by beating tournament leader Levon Aronian with the black pieces in Wijk aan Zee, The Netherlands. In a very exciting game not without mistakes, Magnus Carlsen defeated Veselin Topalov to keep his chances for tournament victory alive. With two rounds to go at the 74th Tata Steel tournament the Norwegian shares second place with Teimour Radjabov, who won against his compatriot Vugar Gashimov.

EventTata Steel Chess Tournament | PGN Group A, Group B, Group C via TWIC
DatesJanuary 13th-29th, 2012
LocationWijk aan Zee, The Netherlands
System3 GM groups with 14 players-player double round robin
Players
A group
Carlsen, Aronian, Radjabov, Topalov, Karjakin, Ivanchuk, Gashimov, Nakamura, Gelfand, Caruana, Kamsky, Giri, Navara, Van Wely
Players
B group
Bruzon, Potkin, Motylev, Tiviakov, Harikrishna, Ernst, L'Ami, Reinderman, Timman, Nyzhnik, Lahno, Vocaturo, Harika, Cmilyte
Players
C group
Sadler, Turov, Adhiban, Tikkanen, Grover, Brandenburg, Danielian, Paehtz, Sachdev, Hopman, Ootes, Haast, Schut, Goudriaan
Rate of play100 minutes for 40 moves, followed by 50 minutes for 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the remaining moves with 30 seconds cumulative increment for each move starting from the first move.

The 74th Tata Steel tournament saw a fantastic round on Friday full of surprises and great games everywhere. The tournament leader went down, the world's number one was probably lost somewhere but emerged as the winner, and in total just one game ended in a draw in the A group. Furthermore, the leader in the B group lost a spectacular game while in the C group things are exciting as well with two co-leaders and two rounds to go. A better starting point for a thrilling final weekend of chess in Wijk aan Zee can hardly be imagined!

We start with the biggest upset of the tournament: tail-ender David Navara beating tournament leader Levon Aronian, with the black pieces. It was the first win for Navara, who got the 500-euro ‘Piet Zwart Prize’ for it. It started with excellent preparation by him and his second Vlastimil Jansa, involving the move 11...Na6. Black was better in the ending that resulted, and so Navara declined an early draw offer by Aronian.

I was looking at the best position I had in the whole course of the tournament!

Navara said during the press conference, which you can watch here. Besides Navara's own explanation we highly recommend checking the live commentary by GM Ian Rogers, who will be providing this during the final three rounds.

[Event "74th Tata Steel GMA"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2012.01.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Aronian, L."]
[Black "Navara, D."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A15"]
[WhiteElo "2805"]
[BlackElo "2712"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "rn1q1rk1/pp2ppbp/1np3p1/6N1/3PP3/1Q6/PP2NPPP/R1B1K2R b KQ - 0 11"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]

11... Na6 $1 {A strong novelty.} 12. Be3 Qd6 13. O-O Qb4 14. Qxb4 Nxb4 15. Rfc1
e5 16. Nf3 exd4 17. Bxd4 Rfe8 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Ng3 Rad8 {
Black is already slightly better.} 0-1

However, we're not even sure if we should call this fight the game of the day, because Magnus Carlsen and Veselin Topalov fought out a fierce battle as well. The world's number one won it, but wasn't happy about his play. Right after the opening he blundered a pawn, but in return he got a dangerous attack. According to the Houdini evaluations Topalov was winning at some point, and former winner GM John Nunn, who is in Wijk aan Zee to participate in two solving competitions, didn't see how White would mate his opponent either.

John Nunn of England

However, over the board it was extremely difficult of course. Topalov kept good drawing chances for a long time, but eventually Carlsen won, and kept his chances alive to win the 74th edition.

[Event "74th Tata Steel GMA"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2012.01.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Carlsen, M."]
[Black "Topalov, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[WhiteElo "2835"]
[BlackElo "2770"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2r1rbk1/1bq2pp1/p4n1p/1p2p3/2n1P2N/1BN3BP/PP2QPP1/3R1RK1 w - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]

20. Nf5 $6 {Carlsen admitted that he just blundered the pawn.} Nxb2 $1 21. Bh4
$5 {Going "all in". John Nunn, who is visiting the tournament to compete in
solving competitions on Saturday and Sunday, at first didn't believe in
White's chances but after calculating a bit further in the press room he
couldn't find an immediate refutation.} Nxd1 22. Bxf6 (22. Nxh6+ Kh7 $1) 22...
Nxc3 23. Qg4 Bxe4 $5 ({Houdini liked} 23... Re6 24. Nxh6+ (24. Bxe6 fxe6 25.
Ne7+ Kh8 26. Qg6 Bxe4 27. Qxh6+ Bh7 28. Nxc8 Qxc8 29. Bxe5 b4 {or}) (24. Nxg7
Rxf6 25. Ne8+ Kh8 26. Nxf6 Bg7 27. Qf5 Bxf6 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Qg6+ Kf8 30.
Qxh6+ Ke8) 24... Kh7 25. Nxf7 Qxf7 26. Bxe6 Qxf6 27. Qh5+ Qh6 28. Qf7 Bc5 29.
Bf5+ Kh8 30. Bxc8 Bxc8 31. Qe8+ Kh7 32. Qxc8 Bd4 {
and Black has the better chances.}) 24. Nxh6+ (24. Nxg7 $5 Kh7 25. Nxe8 Rxe8
26. Rd1 $1 {was very interesting as well.}) 24... Kh7 25. Bxf7 Qxf7 $2 {
Not necessary.} ({The amazing} 25... Bd3 $5 {
is given by the engines and Black is apparently winning here!}) 26. Nxf7 gxf6
27. f4 $1 {The attack continues.} Bg6 28. Qh4+ Kg7 29. fxe5 Ne4 30. Rxf6 $1
Bc5+ 31. Kh2 Nxf6 32. Qxf6+ Kh7 33. Ng5+ Kh6 34. Ne6 Rxe6 35. Qxe6 {
Black should probably be able to hold this, but it's extremely difficult.} Re8
36. Qf6 Be7 37. Qxa6 b4 38. Qc4 Bf8 39. g4 Kh7 40. e6 Bd6+ 41. Kg2 Be7 42. Qc7
Kg8 43. Kg3 Kf8 44. Qf4+ Kg7 45. Qd4+ Kg8 46. h4 Rd8 47. Qc4 Bd3 48. Qc6 Bb1
49. h5 Bxa2 50. Qe4 Kh8 51. h6 Bf6 52. e7 Re8 53. Qf4 Bg7 54. hxg7+ Kxg7 55. g5
Kg8 56. Qf6 1-0

Press conference Magnus Carlsen

Carlsen-Topalov was followed closely by Vladimir Kramnik, who suddenly entered the press room in Wijk aan Zee during the round! As it turned out, the ex-World Champion was to sign a contract later that evening together with Levon Aronian and a sponsor, for a 6-game match (classical games!) in the last week of April. More details will be announced soon.

Vladimir Kramnik, a welcome guest in the press room during the 11th round

Anish Giri is having a tough time, with a series of losses. On Friday he lost to Fabiano Caruana, who got three passed pawns in return for a piece.

[Event "74th Tata Steel GMA"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2012.01.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Caruana, F."]
[Black "Giri, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2736"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r3k2r/2qnp1b1/2p2pp1/ppP1Nb2/3PpP1p/4P2P/PP1BB1P1/R3QRK1 w kq - 0 17"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]

17. Bxa5 $1 Rxa5 18. Nxc6 Ra8 19. Bxb5 Be6 20. a4 f5 21. Qd2 Bf6 22. d5 Bf7 23.
Rac1 Kf8 24. b4 {and White won.} 1-0

Gata Kamsky and Hikaru Nakamura played the only draw of the round, in a 9.0-0-0 Dragon. Loek van Wely ended his drawing streak with a loss against Sergey Karjakin, who still only drew one game! In the derby between the two grandmasters from Azerbaijan, Teimour Radjabov defeated Vugar Gashimov with Black. It was an important win because now Radjabov is still sharing second place with Carlsen. This cannot be said about Vassily Ivanchuk, who lost thread in a completely equal position.

[Event "74th Tata Steel GMA"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2012.01.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ivanchuk, V."]
[Black "Gelfand, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E10"]
[WhiteElo "2766"]
[BlackElo "2739"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5qk1/1b1n1pp1/pp2pn1p/3p4/3P4/1QN1PNP1/PP3P1P/5BK1 w - - 0 21"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]

21. Ne1 $6 Qc8 22. Nc2 {Gelfand didn't like this manoeuvre.} Ne4 $1 23. Nxe4
dxe4 {This is already unpleasant for White according to Gelfand.} 24. Qc3 Qxc3
25. bxc3 b5 26. a4 bxa4 27. Be2 Kf8 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. Ke1 f5 30. Kd2 g5 31. c4 e5
32. Kc3 f4 33. h3 exd4+ 34. Nxd4 f3 35. Bf1 Nc5 36. Kb4 Nd3+ 37. Bxd3 exd3 38.
Kc3 Be4 39. c5 Kd7 40. g4 Kc7 41. Kd2 a3 42. Nb3 Bd5 0-1

The tournament leader in the B group, Pentala Harikrishna, suffered his first loss, against Sipke Ernst. It was a spectacular game in which Ernst used Aronian's idea of h4&g4 in the Lasker QGD.

[Event "74th Tata Steel GMB"]
[Site "Wijk aan Zee NED"]
[Date "2012.01.27"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ernst, S."]
[Black "Harikrishna, P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D56"]
[WhiteElo "2606"]
[BlackElo "2665"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2012.01.14"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. e3 Ne4 8. Bxe7
Qxe7 9. Rc1 c6 10. h4 Rd8 ({Deviating from} 10... Nd7 11. g4 e5 12. cxd5 Nxc3
13. Rxc3 cxd5 14. g5 h5 15. Bb5 exd4 16. Qxd4 Qe4 17. Qxe4 dxe4 18. Nd2 {
and White won in Aronian,L (2805)-Harikrishna,P (2669)/Ningbo CHN 2011}) 11. g4
c5 12. g5 Nc6 13. gxh6 Qf6 14. hxg7 cxd4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Nxd4 Qh6 17. Rg1
Nxd4 18. exd4 e3 19. Bd3 f5 20. d5 exd5 21. Qf3 Be6 ({
Black should probably have tried} 21... exf2+) 22. Qxe3 f4 23. Qe5 Re8 24. Kd2
Bf7 25. Qg5 Qb6 26. Qf5 Qxb2+ 27. Kd1 Re4 28. cxd5 Rae8 29. Bxe4 Qd4+ 30. Bd3
Bh5+ 31. Kc2 Qa4+ 32. Kb2 Qb4+ 33. Kc2 Qa4+ 34. Kd2 Qa5+ 35. Rc3 Qxa2+ 36. Rc2
Qa5+ 37. Rc3 Qa2+ 38. Bc2 Re2+ 39. Kd3 Qa6+ 40. Rc4 Qa3+ 41. Rc3 Qa6+ 42. Kd4
Rd2+ 43. Ke5 Qe2+ 44. Kf6 1-0

This gave Erwin l'Ami and Alexander Motylev the chance to catch Harikrishna in first place, but they drew their mutual game and so they're both still half a point behind.

In the C group, Hans Tikkanen again caught Maxim Turov in first place. The Swedish grandmaster beat Sahaj Grover while Turov drew with Brandenburg.

Daily video by the organizers

Games group A, round 11

 
 

Tata Steel 2012 | Grandmaster Group A | Pairings

Round 114.01.1213.30 CET Round 215.01.1213.30 CET
Navara½-½Topalov Topalov½-½Van Wely
Gelfand0-1Giri Gashimov½-½Kamsky
Radjabov½-½Caruana Ivanchuk½-½Carlsen
Karjakin0-1Aronian Aronian1-0Nakamura
Nakamura½-½Ivanchuk Caruana1-0Karjakin
Carlsen1-0Gashimov Giri½-½Radjabov
Kamsky½-½Van Wely Navara½-½Gelfand
Round 316.01.1213.30 CET Round 417.01.1213.30 CET
Gelfand½-½Topalov Topalov½-½Gashimov
Radjabov1-0Navara Ivanchuk½-½Van Wely
Karjakin1-0Giri Aronian1-0Kamsky
Nakamura½-½Caruana Caruana½-½Carlsen
Carlsen1-0Aronian Giri½-½Nakamura
Kamsky½-½Ivanchuk Navara0-1Karjakin
Van Wely½-½Gashimov Gelfand½-½Radjabov
Round 519.01.1213.30 CET Round 620.01.1213.30 CET
Radjabov½-½Topalov Topalov½-½Ivanchuk
Karjakin0-1Gelfand Aronian1-0Gashimov
Nakamura1-0Navara Caruana½-½Van Wely
Carlsen½-½Giri Giri1-0Kamsky
Kamsky½-½Caruana Navara½-½Carlsen
Van Wely½-½Aronian Gelfand0-1Nakamura
Gashimov0-1Ivanchuk Radjabov1-0Karjakin
Round 721.01.1213.30 CET Round 822.01.1213.30 CET
Karjakin1-0Topalov Topalov½-½Aronian
Nakamura½-½Radjabov Caruana½-½Ivanchuk
Carlsen1-0Gelfand Giri0-1Gashimov
Kamsky1-0Navara Navara½-½Van Wely
Van Wely½-½Giri Gelfand½-½Kamsky
Gashimov½-½Caruana Radjabov½-½Carlsen
Ivanchuk½-½Aronian Karjakin½-½Nakamura
Round 924.01.1213.30 CET Round 1025.01.1213.30 CET
Nakamura½-½Topalov Topalov0-1Caruana
Carlsen0-1Karjakin Giri0-1Aronian
Kamsky½-½Radjabov Navara0-1Ivanchuk
Van Wely½-½Gelfand Gelfand½-½Gashimov
Gashimov½-½Navara Radjabov½-½Van Wely
Ivanchuk1-0Giri Karjakin0-1Kamsky
Aronian1-0Caruana Nakamura½-½Carlsen
Round 1127.01.1213.30 CET Round 1228.01.1213.30 CET
Carlsen1-0Topalov Topalov-Giri
Kamsky½-½Nakamura Navara-Caruana
Van Wely0-1Karjakin Gelfand-Aronian
Gashimov0-1Radjabov Radjabov-Ivanchuk
Ivanchuk0-1Gelfand Karjakin-Gashimov
Aronian0-1Navara Nakamura-Van Wely
Caruana1-0Giri Carlsen-Kamsky
Round 1329.01.1212.00 CET    
Kamsky-Topalov    
Van Wely-Carlsen    
Gashimov-Nakamura    
Ivanchuk-Karjakin    
Aronian-Radjabov    
Caruana-Gelfand    
Giri-Navara    

Tata Steel 2012 | Grandmaster Group A | Round 11 standings

 

Games group B, round 11

 
 

Tata Steel 2012 | Grandmaster Group B | Pairings

Round 114.01.1213.30 CET Round 215.01.1213.30 CET
Reinderman½-½Motylev Motylev½-½Potkin
Bruzon0-1Harikrishna Tiviakov1-0Timman
Lahno1-0Ernst Nyzhnyk½-½l'Ami
Harika½-½Vocaturo Vocaturo1-0Cmilyte
Cmilyte0-1Nyzhnyk Ernst½-½Harika
l'Ami1-0Tiviakov Harikrishna1-0Lahno
Timman½-½Potkin Reinderman½-½Bruzon
Round 316.01.1213.30 CET Round 417.01.1213.30 CET
Bruzon½-½Motylev Motylev1-0Tiviakov
Lahno½-½Reinderman Nyzhnyk½-½Potkin
Harika0-1Harikrishna Vocaturo½-½Timman
Cmilyte1-0Ernst Ernst1-0l'Ami
l'Ami1-0Vocaturo Harikrishna½-½Cmilyte
Timman1-0Nyzhnyk Reinderman½-½Harika
Potkin0-1Tiviakov Bruzon½-½Lahno
Round 519.01.1213.30 CET Round 620.01.1213.30 CET
Lahno0-1Motylev Motylev½-½Nyzhnyk
Harika0-1Bruzon Vocaturo½-½Tiviakov
Cmilyte½-½Reinderman Ernst1-0Potkin
l'Ami½-½Harikrishna Harikrishna1-0Timman
Timman1-0Ernst Reinderman½-½l'Ami
Potkin½-½Vocaturo Bruzon1-0Cmilyte
Tiviakov½-½Nyzhnyk Lahno½-½Harika
Round 721.01.1213.30 CET Round 822.01.1213.30 CET
Harika½-½Motylev Motylev1-0Vocaturo
Cmilyte½-½Lahno Ernst½-½Nyzhnyk
l'Ami½-½Bruzon Harikrishna½-½Tiviakov
Timman0-1Reinderman Reinderman0-1Potkin
Potkin½-½Harikrishna Bruzon1-0Timman
Tiviakov0-1Ernst Lahno0-1l'Ami
Nyzhnyk1-0Vocaturo Harika½-½Cmilyte
Round 924.01.1213.30 CET Round 1025.01.1213.30 CET
Cmilyte½-½Motylev Motylev1-0Ernst
l'Ami1-0Harika Harikrishna1-0Vocaturo
Timman½-½Lahno Reinderman1-0Nyzhnyk
Potkin0-1Bruzon Bruzon½-½Tiviakov
Tiviakov1-0Reinderman Lahno½-½Potkin
Nyzhnyk0-1Harikrishna Harika½-½Timman
Vocaturo1-0Ernst Cmilyte0-1l'Ami
Round 1127.01.1213.30 CET Round 1228.01.1213.30 CET
l'Ami½-½Motylev Motylev-Harikrishna
Timman1-0Cmilyte Reinderman-Ernst
Potkin1-0Harika Bruzon-Vocaturo
Tiviakov1-0Lahno Lahno-Nyzhnyk
Nyzhnyk1-0Bruzon Harika-Tiviakov
Vocaturo0-1Reinderman Cmilyte-Potkin
Ernst1-0Harikrishna l'Ami-Timman
Round 1329.01.1212.00 CET    
Timman-Motylev    
Potkin-l'Ami    
Tiviakov-Cmilyte    
Nyzhnyk-Harika    
Vocaturo-Lahno    
Ernst-Bruzon    
Harikrishna-Reinderman    

Tata Steel 2012 | Grandmaster Group B | Round 11 standings

 

Games group C, round 11

 
 

Tata Steel 2012 | Grandmaster Group C | Pairings

Round 114.01.1213.30 CET Round 215.01.1213.30 CET
Sadler1-0Hopman Hopman0-1Turov
Tania½-½Grover Schut½-½Danielian
Paehtz0-1Tikkanen Haast½-½Goudriaan
Brandenburg½-½Ootes Ootes½-½Adhiban
Adhiban1-0Haast Tikkanen½-½Brandenburg
Goudriaan1-0Schut Grover1-0Paehtz
Danielian0-1Turov Sadler½-½Tania
Round 316.01.1213.30 CET Round 417.01.1213.30 CET
Tania½-½Hopman Hopman0-1Schut
Paehtz½-½Sadler Haast0-1Turov
Brandenburg½-½Grover Ootes1-0Danielian
Adhiban½-½Tikkanen Tikkanen1-0Goudriaan
Goudriaan1-0Ootes Grover0-1Adhiban
Danielian½-½Haast Sadler½-½Brandenburg
Turov1-0Schut Tania0-1Paehtz
Round 519.01.1213.30 CET Round 620.01.1213.30 CET
Paehtz½-½Hopman Hopman1-0Haast
Brandenburg½-½Tania Ootes0-1Schut
Adhiban½-½Sadler Tikkanen½-½Turov
Goudriaan0-1Grover Grover½-½Danielian
Danielian0-1Tikkanen Sadler½-½Goudriaan
Turov1-0Ootes Tania½-½Adhiban
Schut1-0Haast Paehtz½-½Brandenburg
Round 721.01.1213.30 CET Round 822.01.1213.30 CET
Brandenburg1-0Hopman Hopman0-1Ootes
Adhiban1-0Paehtz Tikkanen1-0Haast
Goudriaan½-½Tania Grover1-0Schut
Danielian½-½Sadler Sadler½-½Turov
Turov½-½Grover Tania½-½Danielian
Schut0-1Tikkanen Paehtz1-0Goudriaan
Haast1-0Ootes Brandenburg½-½Adhiban
Round 924.01.1213.30 CET Round 1025.01.1213.30 CET
Adhiban1-0Hopman Hopman1-0Tikkanen
Goudriaan½-½Brandenburg Grover1-0Ootes
Danielian½-½Paehtz Sadler1-0Haast
Turov1-0Tania Tania1-0Schut
Schut½-½Sadler Paehtz½-½Turov
Haast1-0Grover Brandenburg1-0Danielian
Ootes0-1Tikkanen Adhiban½-½Goudriaan
Round 1127.01.1213.30 CET Round 1228.01.1213.30 CET
Goudriaan½-½Hopman Hopman-Grover
Danielian½-½Adhiban Sadler-Tikkanen
Turov½-½Brandenburg Tania-Ootes
Schut0-1Paehtz Paehtz-Haast
Haast0-1Tania Brandenburg-Schut
Ootes½-½Sadler Adhiban-Turov
Tikkanen1-0Grover Goudriaan-Danielian
Round 1329.01.1212.00 CET    
Danielian-Hopman    
Turov-Goudriaan    
Schut-Adhiban    
Haast-Brandenburg    
Ootes-Paehtz    
Tikkanen-Tania    
Grover-Sadler    

Tata Steel 2012 | Grandmaster Group C | Round 11 standings

 

 

PeterDoggers
Peter Doggers

Peter Doggers joined a chess club a month before turning 15 and still plays for it. He used to be an active tournament player and holds two IM norms.

Peter has a Master of Arts degree in Dutch Language & Literature. He briefly worked at New in Chess, then as a Dutch teacher and then in a project for improving safety and security in Amsterdam schools.

Between 2007 and 2013 Peter was running ChessVibes, a major source for chess news and videos acquired by Chess.com in October 2013.

As our Director News & Events, Peter writes many of our news reports. In the summer of 2022, The Guardian’s Leonard Barden described him as “widely regarded as the world’s best chess journalist.”

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