Andreikin inflicted Carlsen's first defeat in Moscow
Magnus Carlsen took the lead at the World Blitz Championship in Moscow after the first game day. In 12 games with a time control of 3 minutes + 2 seconds per turn, the Norwegian grandmaster scored 10 points. There is nothing surprising in this result. Carlsen is considered the strongest blitz specialist in modern chess. He has already four times become world champion in this discipline.
Unlike fast chess, in a lightning fast game, the Norwegian suffered his first defeat as part of the competition in Luzhniki. Opponents needed a total of 22 games to “ban” the permanent leader of the rating of the International Chess Federation (FIDE). The hero of the day was the Russian Dmitry Andreikin. He is also very good at blitz and can boast of a victory at the European Championship in 2016. Moreover, once Carlsen called Andreikin his most dangerous opponent in the future.
Their party lasted until the 54th move. Moreover, after the 40th, the Norwegian was left with one rook against the rook and three white pawns. Carlsen tried to push, but not particularly succeeded. He managed to win back one pawn. At the same time, the other received a passage to the queens. Realizing the futility of further resistance, the favorite threw a white flag.
However, in the tournament plan Andreikin did not help much. In the next game, he lost to the Indian Santos Widit, and then lost to his compatriot Vladislav Artemyev. So far, Dmitry has eight credits and 16th place in the table. By the end of Sunday, quite unexpectedly, the Russian Maxim Matlakov moved into second place. This grandmaster is 28 years old, and his highest achievement in his career is the gold of the European Chess Championship in 2017.
Matlakov was the only one in the group of leaders without losing. He is half a point behind Carlsen. It is with the Norwegian that Matlakov will hold his first game on Monday with white pieces. And on the first day he did not get the most top opponents. Of these, only Andreikin (draw with black) and Sees (victory with white) had a rating above 2700.
The first defeat after the resumption of a career Kramnik suffered from Karjakin
Below Matlakov, American Hikaru Nakamura and two Russians, Daniil Dubov and Yan Nepomnyashchy, are located. They have nine points. In the final game of Sunday, the first two could be pulled even higher. But under time pressure they preferred to conclude a peace treaty. Both of them almost expired by move 32. And the position on the board seemed far from the denouement. Both kings were securely hidden behind layered defense.
In turn, Nepomnyashchy did not start very well at the tournament. After eight rounds, he had two misfires. However, the following four games the Russian won as an order. Especially valuable is the success in the battle with the 2019 Moscow Rapid Vice-Champion Alireza Firuja, who competes under the FIDE flag. The final day, Nepomniachtchi and Oaks will be opened in person.
One of the intrigues of the tournament was the return of 44-year-old Vladimir Kramnik. The 14th World Chess Classic Champion specially resumed his career for the sake of the Luzhniki tournament. Particularly interesting was the game of Kramnik with ex-contender for the world chess crown Sergei Karjakin. The black veteran tried to act in an attacking manner. His queen, and then two rooks, stayed for a long time in the possessions of the white king, forcing him to run to the middle of the board.
However, carried away by the attack, Kramnik, who lost his playing tone, failed in defense. On move 57, Karjakin checked him with two rooks and a horse. In 12 rounds Kramnik earned eight points and is in 22nd position. The world champion in blitz Karjakin has only 6.5 points and 64th place. He lost four games, including three in white.
Women on Sunday played nine rounds. So far, everything is going very well for the representatives of Russia. Ekaterina Lagno leads with 8 points. The second, fourth and fifth lines are occupied by Alexandra Kosteniuk, Daria Charochkina and Alina Kashlinskaya, who each have 7 points. Between them, the newly-born world rapid speed champion Indian Hampi Koneru wedged in. In the final installment of the day, she capitulated to Lagno. However, Koneru will still get a chance for a productive double. Russian chess players are waiting for difficult meetings with each other. So, Lagno will start the Sunday program with the party against Kosteniuk Black.
Of the leaders, only Lagno can boast of the absence of defeats. She has seven wins and two draws.
The first day of the King Salman Women's World Blitz Championship is over. Russians dominate the top standings after 9 rounds:
1. Lagno (🇷🇺 2606) - 8 points
2-5. Kosteniuk (🇷🇺 2521), Koneru (🇮🇳 2489), Charochkina (🇷🇺 2212), Kashlinskaya (🇷🇺 22820 - all 7 points. # Rapidblitzpic.twitter.com / 6F7mGtZNTv
“I'm a little tired, like everyone here. In the last game I was lucky - I lost, but managed to find counterplay. Good luck was on my side that day. Every game here is a serious test. I love blitz and enjoy it. I hope tomorrow will be my day, ”TASS quoted him as saying.