Tata Steel Masters (Wijk aan Zee) 2021

[Metro]

The 2021 Tata Steel Masters is a 14-player single round-robin taking place from 16-31 January. Magnus Carlsen again heads the field, which includes Caruana and MVL.
The time control is 100 minutes for 40 moves followed by 50 minutes for 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move from move 1. If there is a tie for first place the top two after tiebreaks then play a 2-game blitz (5+3) playoff and, if still tied, an Armageddon game.

1 Carlsen, Magnus 2862
2 Caruana, Fabiano 2823
3 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 2784
4 Giri, Anish 2764
5 Firouzja, Alireza 2749
6 Duda, Jan-Krzysztof 2743
7 Harikrishna, Pentala 2732
8 Wojtaszek, Radoslaw 2705
9 Dubov, Daniil 2702
10 Esipenko, Andrey 2686
11 Anton Guijarro, David 2675
12 Van Foreest, Jorden 2671
13 Grandelius, Nils 2663
14 Tari, Aryan 2618

www.tatasteelchess.com
https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-to...ers-2021/1/1/1

[MichaelBaron]

The 2021 Tata Steel Masters is a 14-player single round-robin taking place from 16-31 January. Magnus Carlsen again heads the field, which includes Caruana and MVL.
The time control is 100 minutes for 40 moves followed by 50 minutes for 20 moves, then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move from move 1. If there is a tie for first place the top two after tiebreaks then play a 2-game blitz (5+3) playoff and, if still tied, an Armageddon game.

1 Carlsen, Magnus 2862
2 Caruana, Fabiano 2823
3 Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 2784
4 Giri, Anish 2764
5 Firouzja, Alireza 2749
6 Duda, Jan-Krzysztof 2743
7 Harikrishna, Pentala 2732
8 Wojtaszek, Radoslaw 2705
9 Dubov, Daniil 2702
10 Esipenko, Andrey 2686
11 Anton Guijarro, David 2675
12 Van Foreest, Jorden 2671
13 Grandelius, Nils 2663
14 Tari, Aryan 2618

www.tatasteelchess.com
https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-to...ers-2021/1/1/1

quite a mixed field this year with only 3 of the participants belonging to top 10.

[Desmond]

Must be one of the (relatively) weakest fields for quite a while.

[MichaelBaron]

Must be one of the (relatively) weakest fields for quite a while.

Yep, and one of the reasons is, several players (Nepo, Raja etc.) initially accepted but then cancelled their participation.

[Metro]

Yep, and one of the reasons is, several players (Nepo, Raja etc.) initially accepted but then cancelled their participation.

Radja said Wijk aan Zee is his favourite tournament but I don't see a reason for not playing.He talks about a FOMO (fear of missing out).I think he will be acting as Giri's second.

https://twitter.com/rajachess

[MichaelBaron]

Radja said Wijk aan Zee is his favourite tournament but I don't see a reason for not playing.He talks about a FOMO (fear of missing out).I think he will be acting as Giri's second.

https://twitter.com/rajachess

Well most refuse due to Covid. for someone like Abdusattorov (who withdrew) - it would be a golden opportunity otherwise!

[Desmond]

Radja also withdrew from the Cadidates 2020 due to covid concerns of course, which arguably was vindicated when the tournament was not completed.

[MichaelBaron]

And Dubov is out as well!

[Scott Colliver]

And Dubov is replaced by Alexander Donchenko.

When Bobby Cheng won the under 12 world championship in 2009 Donchenko finished 30th but was the only player to beat Cheng.

[MichaelBaron]

And Dubov is replaced by Alexander Donchenko.

When Bobby Cheng won the under 12 world championship in 2009 Donchenko finished 30th but was the only player to beat Cheng.

Donchenko happens to be the son of Anatoly Donchenko - well known Russian chess master/trainer.

[MichaelBaron]

I can certainly see the PROs of having such a mixed field.

Some very exciting games played last night. Magnus was in trouble but turned things around in a fascinating game.

[Metro]

Carlsen-Firouzja

PGN Viewer

 

[Desmond]

I can certainly see the PROs of having such a mixed field.

Some very exciting games played last night. Magnus was in trouble but turned things around in a fascinating game.

Of course it is very unfortunate to have Magnus-Alireza happen to occur in round 1, when this matchup could lead to more intrigue later in the event.

It's great to see the top tier players smashing tier 2 or 3, but hopefully not at the expense of fighting games with each other.

[MichaelBaron]

Carlsen-Firouzja

PGN Viewer

 

Black rushed with 32...a4

[Desmond]

Black rushed with 32...a4

32...a4 perhaps a dubious move, but black could hang on if 35... Kh8 instead of the game continuation.