Tata Steel Masters (Wijk aan Zee) 2021

[MichaelBaron]

Magnus' struggles continue. However, he is only half point off the lead.

[MichaelBaron]

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2021...Carlsen_Magnus
shocking play by magnus

[Metro]

Esipenko defeats Carlsen.Carlsen out-of-form.It may be that he needs a break.



Young guns Firouzja (17) play Esipenko (18) next round.

[MichaelBaron]

Esipenko defeats Carlsen.Carlsen out-of-form.It may be that he needs a break.



Young guns Firouzja (17) play Esipenko (18) next round.

Magnus gone off his rails with Qh4

[Desmond]

Very impressive by Alireza, sole leader after round 8 despite losing in Rd1 to Magnus.

[ER]

aepi.jpg

Times they are a-changin'

[MichaelBaron]

aepi.jpg

Times they are a-changin'

Times are not changing - Carlsen is not well. Esipenko is still far from being anywhere near the world championship contencion.

[ER]

Times are not changing - Carlsen is not well. Esipenko is still far from being anywhere near the world championship contencion.

Correct, I kept the original heading referring to the result of one game not wanting to apply censorship.
On the other hand, "Times they are a-Changing" as in Bob Dylan's prophetic masterpiece, can be applied to other concepts
i.e. age and in this case mainly Episkenko's physical appearance! Magnus hasn't changed much apart from that on and off beard growing.

Also, I had to be very careful and include chess and chess players to stick to my signature's statement.

[machomortensen]

And a local touch ...

https://en.chessbase.com/post/wijk-a...s-3-ian-rogers

[ER]

And a local touch ...

https://en.chessbase.com/post/wijk-a...s-3-ian-rogers

Marvelous stuff Henrik, thanks! I have a feeling Michael Baron would be tempted to tear this game apart! BTW I am borrowing this post and thanks in advance!

[MichaelBaron]

Marvelous stuff Henrik, thanks! I have a feeling Michael Baron would be tempted to tear this game apart! BTW I am borrowing this post and thanks in advance!

Its not a bad game ...but certainly not the best game ever. I can recall many other amazing struggles by top notch players that have been played in WJK

[Frank]

And a local touch ...

https://en.chessbase.com/post/wijk-a...s-3-ian-rogers

Thanks, machomortensen!

A marvellous podcast interview by Eric van Reem of ChessBase at Wijk aan Zee with GM Ian Rogers, who is presently confined to Sydney away from the harsh North Sea winter by the Covid-19 ban on travelling), reminiscing on his first (in 1977 at the age of 16) of numerous visits, nominating as spectacular the game of Bellon versus Jamieson in the B Group tournament, and replete with telling anecdotes about masters like Kasparov and Korchnoi. Wishing that there be a journalist who would harvest these stories in writing as James Boswell did for Samuel Johnson.

[Scott Colliver]

Carleen defeats Grandelius to bounce back from his loss but probably needs to win every match now to have any chance of winning the tournament.

Caruana and Giro also win to join Firouzja in the lead

[MichaelBaron]

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2021...randelius_Nils
A Fresh idea (at least at this level) 6.Qd3!?

[MichaelBaron]

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2021...aruana_Fabiano
Typical Caruana!
13...Bxc3 looks like a positional mistake ...but is first like Stockfish!