Magnus force

Magnus Carlsen has qualified from the London Candidates tournament to earn a title match against the incumbent world champion Vishy Anand of India. Final scores were as follows: Carlsen and Kramnik 8½; Svidler and Aronian 8; Grischuk and Gelfand 6½; Ivanchuk 6 and Radjabov 4. Kramnik tied for first and in my opinion played better chess but all the tie-breaks were in Carlsen’s favour. I would like to have seen a play-off between Kramnik and Carlsen. However, the 600 million worldwide who follow chess (the figure from the latest YouGov poll), will doubtless enjoy 22-year-old Magnus challenging Anand, who is twice his age. Here is one of Kramnik’s best wins from London followed by a Carlsen puzzle.
 
Kramnik-Radjabov: Fidé Candidates London 2013; English Opening by transposition
 
1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 g3 c5 4 Nf3 Bg7 5 Bg2 cxd4 6 Nxd4 0-0 7 Nc3 Qc7 The threat to White’s c-pawn obliges him to weaken his queenside somewhat. 8 b3 d5 9 Ndb5 Qa5 10 Bd2 dxc4 11 bxc4 Qd8 12 0-0 a6 13 Na3 Bf5 Setting the trap 14 Bxb7? Ra7 followed by    Rd7, but the former world champion is not tempted by such dangerous adventures. 14 Nc2 Nc6 15 Ne3 (see diagram 1) 15 … Qd7 A novelty, but doubtless one due to ignorance rather than erudition. 15 … Qd4 has been tried in past games here and is equal. 16 Nxf5 Qxf5 17 Rb1 Rad8 18 Qc1 If 18 Rxb7 Na5 19 Rb4 (not 19 Rxe7? Nxc4 20 Nb1 Nxd2 21 Nxd2 Qa5) 19 … Qe6 20 Qc2 Nxc4 with a level position. 18 … Qe6 19 Re1 Qxc4 20 Rxb7 Ne5 Here 20 … Na5 21 Rb1 Qe6 22 Rd1 Rc8 23 Be1 Nc4 24 Rb3 Rfe8 is still balanced, but Radjabov was becoming short of time. 21 Bf4 21 Rxe7 is possible but Kramnik has seen a way to maintain an advantage while counting on Black’s increasing time shortage. 21… Qe6 22 h3 Nc4 23 e4  Ne5 24 Bxe5 Qxe5 25 Nd5 Rfe8 26 Nb4 Rd7 27 Nc6 Qe6 28 Rb6 Qxa2? The sole defence is 28 … Rc7 29 Rxa6 Nd7 30 e5 Nxe5 31 Qd1 Rec8 29 e5 Nd5 Or 29 … Nh5 30 g4 winning the knight. 30 Rb2 Qa4 31 Bxd5 Rxd5 32 Rb4 Qa2 Now comes the coup de grace 33 Nxe7+ (see diagram 2) 33 … Kh8 For if 33 … Rxe7 34 Rb8+ Bf8 35 Qh6. 34 Nxd5 Qxd5 35 Qc4 Qxc4 36 Rxc4 Bxe5 37 Kf1 Black resigns The advantage of rook versus bishop is too much.
 
The next big attraction is the Alekhine Memorial Tournament, to be held in the Louvre and the Mikhailovsky Palace in St Petersburg. This will be in the same league as the Candidates, with Kramnik, Aronian, Svidler and Gelfand, without Carlsen, but with the addition of world champion Anand. The UK will be represented by Michael Adams.