Carlsen beats Erigaisi, leads @ Norway Chess
World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen (8.0) was back to implementing his “Carlsenque style” against Erigaisi Arjun where a minor error in the fourth hour of play proved costly for the Indian Grandmaster in the 4th round of the Altibox Norway Chess at Stavanger. Staying close by were Fabiano Caruana (7.0) & Hikaru Nakamura (5.5) who both went down in Armageddon games to Gukesh Dommaraju (4.5) and Wei Yi (4.0). In the Norway Chess Women GMs Koneru Humpy and Anna Muzychuk maintained the lead with 7.0 points despite Armageddon losses to GMs Ju Wenjun & Vaishali Rameshbabu.
Magnus will go into the rest day a happy man getting back to his winning ways. In the only game that produced a result it was the Norwegian who remained on top right through showing the grinding technique he’s known for.
The English Opening Symmetrical Variation fetched nothing much for the former world champion who expressed it in the confessional box. But Magnus is known for squeezing water out of rock and today was no different. Approaching the first time control Erigaisi slipped a bit with 30…Re6 and paid for it. The edgy queen and rook ending position demanded 30…h5 from the Indian which might have kept him in the game. The extra passed pawn for Magnus is always going to be difficult and Erigaisi’s defence fell short. A fine victory for the tournament leader who’s now back on track for his next title.
World Champion Gukesh Dommaraju left the playing hall a satisfied man having fended off overnight tournament leader Fabiano Caruana. Into his 19th birthday Gukesh put behind the nightmare of early losses with good bit of resilience over the board. The Semi-Slav Defense middle game held huge promise for the American Grandmaster who missed multiple chances to deliver the final blow. In the fifth hour of play Caruana got his chance as Gukesh played 43. f3?! compromising on defence when 43. Qa4 was needed. That slip by the birthday boy allowed a rook foray into white’s territory with more issues to solve. But, Caruana returned the favor six moves later with 49…Nb4? (where 49…Nd7 50. Rxc2 bxc2 51. Ne2 Nc5 52. Kf2 g5 53. Bd2 Nb3 and black keeps improving) after which Gukesh steadied the boat and reached the shore comfortably. The game ended in a draw after 75 moves with a lone knight and king remaining. The day further ended sourly for Caruana who went down in the Armageddon game.
It helps to know the unique, rather soccer style points system at Norway Chess to read the leader board right. Players receive the following points per round: (a) Win in the classical game: 3 points, (b) Loss in the classical game: 0 points, (c) Draw in the classical game & win Armageddon: 1.5 points, (d) Draw in the classical game & loss Armageddon: 1 point.
After a day of rest, round 5 starts by Saturday 31st May at 11AM ET / 5PM CET / 8.30PM IST.
Carlsen Magnus (2837) – Erigaisi Arjun (2782) 1. c4 c5 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Rb1 Nf6 6. a3 a5 7. d3 e6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be3 Qe7 10. Na4 d6 11. O-O Rb8 12. d4 cxd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 b5 15. cxb5 Rxb5 16. Nc3 Rb8 17. Qa4 Bb7 18. Bxb7 Qxb7 19. Qxa5 e5 20. Be3 d5 21. Bg5 d4 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Nd5 Bg5 24. Nb4 Bd2 25. Qxe5 Bxb4 26. axb4 Qxb4 27. Rfd1 Rfe8 28. Qf4 Rxe2 29. Rxd4 Qb7 30. Qf6
30…Re6?! (30…h5 was better. Carlsen grab’s his first chance & nail’s it) 31. Rd8+ Rxd8 32. Qxd8+ Kg7 33. Qd4+ Kg8 34. b4 h5 35. b5 Rb6 36. Re1 Qb8 37. Re8+ Qxe8 38. Qxb6 Qe1+ 39. Kg2 Qe4+ 40. Kf1 Qd3+ 41. Ke1 Qc3+ 42. Ke2 Qc2+ 43. Ke3 Qc3+ 44. Ke4 Qc4+ 45. Ke5 Kg7 46. h4 Qd3 47. Qc5 Qf5+ 48. Kd6 1-0
Norway Chess (Round 4 Results): Carlsen Magnus (8.0) beat Erigaisi Arjun (4.5), Gukesh Dommaraju (4.5) drew with Caruana Fabiano (7.0), Nakamura Hikaru (5.5) drew with Wei Yi (4.0).
Norway Chess Women (Round 4 Results): Lei Tingjie (4.0) lost to Khademalsharieh Sarasadat (5.0), Ju Wenjun (5.5) drew with Koneru Humpy (7.0), Vaishali Rameshbabu (3.5) drew with Muzychuk Anna (7.0).
Photo Courtesy : Norway Chess / Roza Czarnota / Michal Walusza.
Official Site: https://norwaychess.no/en/
