Although world champion Magnus Carlsen clearly secured first place in the Gashimov Memorial tournament, he did not have things all his own way. Indeed, just before the halfway point he lost two consecutive games and appeared to be in a state of collapse. However, in the style of his hero Emanuel Lasker, Carlsen struck back to score a magnificent 4 out of 5 points in the second half. This included his razor-edge win against his chief rival Fabiano Caruana.
This week, a selection of critical positions from this important event.
Caruana-Carlsen: Gashimov Memorial 2014
The first impediment to Carlsen’s victory parade came in the following position when Caruana uncorked a devastating pseudo-sacrifice. 25 Nxc7 Rd8 After 25 … Kxc7 26 e6+ Kc6 27 Rxd7 threatens mate and Black is destroyed. 26 Nd5 Re8 27 Be1 Bd8 28 Bc3 g6 29 Kg3 b5 30 cxb5 Bxb5 31 Ne3 Re6 32 f4 Ra6 33 Rd2 h5 34 gxh5 gxh5 35 Nf5 Rg6+ 36 Kh2 Bc6 37 Nd6+ Kb8 38 f5 White’s pawn roller on the kingside guarantees victory. 38 … Rg8 39 f6 Bb6 40 Nc4 Re8 41 Nd6 Rg8 41 … Rf8 would be met by 42 Nxf7 Rxf7 43 e6 and the pawns triumph. 42 Nxf7 c4 43 h4 Rg4 44 e6 Be3 45 Be5+ Ka8 46 Rd8+ Kb7 47 Bg3 c3 48 Rb8+ Ka6 49 Rc8 Bd5 50 Rxc3 Bd4 51 Rd3 Re4 52 Rd2 Rxe6 53 Ng5 Black resigns
Carlsen-Radjabov: Gashimov Memorial 2014
Here Carlsen is a knight up but the black pawns are rampant. 42 Nd6 Rf6 43 Nxb5 f3 44 Nd4 Kxh6 45 Kc2 Kg5 46 Kd2 f2 The black avalanche cannot be contained. 47 Ne2 Rf3 48 Kc2 Kh4 49 Rh1+ Rh3 50 Rf1 g3 51 Kd2 Kg4 White resigns
Caruana-Radjabov: Gashimov Memorial 2014
Caruana scored a fine result, finishing clear second.
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