By Chess Coach William Stewart.
Original article on the Chess Festival in Biel available on William's website.
The 44th Biel International Chess Festival is taking July 18-29 in Biel, Switzerland. This 10 round, Double Round Robin super-tournament features many of the world's best players - boasting an average FIDE Rating of 2708. The highest rated player in world - Magnus Carlsen - is dominating with 2/2, while the experienced Morozevich chases with 1.5/2. The organizers have chosen to use a different scoring system to entice more combative chess, so a Win = 3 Points, a Draw = 1 Point, a Loss = 0.
Carlsen Lives Up To The Hype... Again
Magnus Carlsen began with a quality 88 move grind over local Swiss favorite Yannick Pelletier. Pelletier allowed Carlsen to snatch a pawn with 11. ...Bxc3!? - with the intention of gaining time and development to attack black in the center. Carlsen's thorough preparation allowed him to play the opening rapidly and emerge into a Q+R endgame with an extra pawn by move 30. Carlsen patiently nursed this pawn to victory over the next 58 moves and won his first round game in convincing fashion.
Pelletier Vs Carlsen - Final Position After 88. Qd2
- Round 2: Carlsen + Time-Trouble Take Out Shirov
Carlsen played d4 and Shirov's response came as no surprise as he played the active Meran Defense. Carlsen's early 13. Nd4!? provoked a slower response from Shirov, beginning his time-trouble issues with 16 minutes spent on 13. ...e5. Carlsen's strange and rapid play began to immediately affect Shirov, as he spent a costly 43 minutes on 16. ...Bc5. Carlsen played extremely quickly and strove to create maximum tension and complications to take advantage of Shirov's lack of time. By move 27, the dust was settling: white had an extra protected past pawn and definite attacking possibilities against black's king that was stuck in the center. Shirov attempted to defend, however his lack of time combined with Carlsen's rapid and resourceful attack led to black's resignation after a tactical oversight.
Carlsen Vs Shirov - Final Position After 33. Rxd8+!
- Morozevich With Good Defensive Win
At 34 years old Alexander Morozevich has been one of the best chess players in the world for over a decade. His results have seen him in a slump as he dropped under 2700 recently, however his calm defensive win against Vachier-Lagrave today proved that he can certainly still play with the best in the world. I found it very interesting that the Russian chose to play the Grunfeld, as Lagrave has scored a number of impressive wins lately with that opening as black. Morozevich was unafraid of the young frenchman's preparation, and chose a topical line involving a potential pawn sac on c5 to gain the initiative with activity for the black pieces. Lagrave did not take the pawn, but chose instead to attack the black king. Morozevich played too indecisively with 15. Qd7 and 16. Qe6?! - allowing Lagrave to attack with tempo on 17. f5! and 19. d5. Morozevich stayed calm as Lagrave desperately sacrificed a knight with 28. Ng5+, white's attack fizzled out and Lagrave was forced to resign after 41 moves.
- Lagrave Desperately Sacrifices With 28. Ng5+
