Viswanathan Anand faces top seed Aronian in the opener in Candidates

-
Khanty Masiysk (Russia): Five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand will start his campaign against top seed Levon Aronian of Armenia in the first round of Candidates chess tournament.

After a first round with white against Aronian, the Indian will have two black games to negotiate against Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan.

The eight-player super tournament will decide the next challenger for world champion Magnus Carlsen later in the year. The event will be played under Classical time control with 120 minutes for the first 40 moves and 60 minutes for the next 20.

If the game still continues the sudden death time control will come in to effect giving both players 15 minutes each with a 30 second increment from move 61.

For Anand, Aronian has posed some real challenges in the past and the five times world champion is expected to be cautious against the rating favourite. Post that two black games means Anand will get a good chance to get in to the groove before he takes on Russian opponents in the last four rounds of the first half.

This will be a test of time for Anand who has not been at his best since losing the world title to Magnus Carlsen in November last. In the London Classic rapid thereafter Anand was ousted in the quarterfinals while in the Zurich Chess Challenge recently the Indian could score just one win ? against Boris Gelfand of Israel ? out of five games that he played.

The worrying factor in Zurich was the fact that Anand was losing too many games. In Classical Chess, Anand started with two losses while in rapid he lost first three rounds.

According to the rules, the four Russian players in the eight-player tournament are supposed to finish matches among them first and the pairings have been decided in accordance with that.

As a result four Russians, Vladimir Kramnik, Dmitry Andreikin, Sergey Karjakin and Peter Svidler will play among themselves in the first three rounds of the first half as well as first three rounds of the second half of the 14-rounds tournament.

The other first round pairings are quite interesting. Andreikin will meet Kramnik and would like to avenge his defeat at the World Chess Cup finals. However, Kramnik has been out of Chess for almost three months mostly paying very deep attention to all his opponents here and it will be a worth watching contest.

Sergey Karjakin is pitted against seven-time Russian champion Svidler. The 37-year old Svidler looks in pink condition for this event and he is likely to give his best shot while in Khanty Mansiysk. For Karjakin, a first round victory could be vital for a start in such an event.

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov meets Topalov in the other match of the first round and given the intensity of chess these two play, its likely to be a nail-biter contest.

Pairings round 1: Dmitry Andreikin (Rus) v/s Vladimir Kramnik (Rus); Sergey Karjakin (Rus) v/s Peter Svidler (Rus); Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Aze) v/s Veselin Topalov (Bul); Viswanathan Anand (Ind) v/s Levon Aronian (Arm).
Credits -http://zeenews.india.com/sports/others/viswanathan-anand-faces-top-seed-aronian-in-the-opener-in-candidates_782189.html

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for your valuable views

Popular posts from this blog

Chess and Education: Developing Cognitive, Social, and Emotional Skills Across Ages

-
Image
The game of chess is more than a mere pastime; it's a powerful educational tool that can foster significant growth in a range of skills for both children and adults. The intricate strategy and foresight required to play chess can positively influence mental development and encourage the growth of invaluable life skills. Let’s explore how chess contributes to cognitive, social, and emotional development in learners of all ages. Cognitive Benefits Chess stimulates the brain , and there's a wealth of evidence to back this up. From a cognitive standpoint, chess encourages players to engage in critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making processes. Enhanced Memory : Learning the rules, remembering the moves of the opponent, and recalling the patterns on the board all contribute to an improved memory. Regular players often find that these memory improvements transfer to other aspects of their lives. Improved Concentration : A single game of chess requires a player’s undivi
Read more

Chess Training Techniques: Structuring Your Practice for Optimal Results

-
Image
  Mastering the game of chess requires not only strategy and skill but also effective training techniques. To achieve optimal results, chess players need to structure their practice sessions wisely. The Importance of Structured Chess Practice A haphazard approach to chess training can lead to inconsistent progress and limited improvement. By implementing a structured practice routine, you can maximize your learning potential and accelerate your growth as a chess player. One key aspect of structured practice is setting specific goals. Whether it's improving your tactical awareness or mastering a particular opening, clearly defined objectives provide direction and focus. Write down your goals and break them down into smaller, achievable milestones to track your progress effectively. Another vital element of structured practice is analyzing your games. Reviewing your own games allows you to identify weaknesses and areas for improvement. Take note of critical moments, mistakes, and mis
Read more

Common Mistakes and Strategies to Avoid Them

-
Image
  Chess is a complex game with many different aspects to it. As a result, there are many common mistakes that players make. Here are some of the most common mistakes that players make, and how to avoid them: Not developing your pieces quickly enough . One of the most important things in chess is to develop your pieces quickly. This means moving them out of their starting positions and into active squares where they can control the board and attack your opponent's pieces. If you don't develop your pieces quickly, you'll be at a significant disadvantage. Moving your pieces too many times.  Another common mistake is moving your pieces too many times. Each time you move a piece, you're giving up control of the square it was on. If you move your pieces too many times, you'll end up with a lot of open squares on the board, which will make it easy for your opponent to attack you. Not protecting your pieces.  It's important to protect your pieces at all times. If you le
Read more