Britain’s leading grandmaster, Michael Adams, started well in the London Classic, with a beautiful win against the rising star Fabiano Caruana. After that, Adams ran out of steam, finishing in next to last place. Fortunately he made up for this with an excellent performance in the Blitz section, where he tied for first place and won the trophy on tie-break. Scores out of ten were: Adams, Nakamura and Kramnik 6; Giri 5; Anand 3½; Caruana 3.
 
Adams-Nakamura: London Classic Blitz 2014
(see diagram 1)
 
As the great teacher and world champion Wilhelm Steinitz taught in the 19th century, it often pays to delay castling. If you know where your opponent’s king will be domiciled, it is possible to select castling on the opposite wing and then launch a regicidal blitzkrieg. Less common is for both sides to castle on the queenside and witness one player launch a devastating attack against his opposite number on the same flank. This scenario unfolded in Nakamura’s win against Adams, aided by Black’s possession of the bishop pair. 29 … Kb8 30 Rg3 Ka8 31 Rh1 Bd5 32 Rhh3 Qe7 33 Qf3 Bc3 34 Ka2 Rb8 35 Qe2 Rb4 36 Nxc3 dxc3 37 Qe1 Rxa4+ 38 bxa4 Qb4 39 Qc1 Rb8 White resigns
 
Kramnik-Caruana: London Classic Blitz 2014
(see diagram 2)
 
I conclude my coverage of the London Blitz with a convincing sacrificial attack by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik against Fabiano Caruana, whose experiences in the Blitz section were just as unfortunate as his reverses in the main group. 13 Nxf7 Rxf7 14 Bxe6 Nf8 15 Bxf7+ Kxf7 16 Ne4 g5 17 Bg3 Bg4 18 Nd6+ Kg8 19 Qxb7 N8d7 20 Qb3+ Kh7 21 Qd3+ Kg8 22 Qxd4 Bh5 23 Nf5 Bf8 24 Bd6 Bg6 25 Ne7+ Kh7 26 Nxg6 Kxg6 27 Re6 Bxd6 28 Rxd6 Qe7 29 h3 White’s position is overwhelming and he won in 47 moves.
 
Over the three sections — Classic, Rapidplay and Blitz — it could be said that Vladimir Kramnik achieved the most convincing average performance, tying first in two events and coming third in one. The big loser was Fabiano Caruana who twice finished in last place. No coverage of the London Classic and its subsidiary groups would be complete without mention of the indefatigable Malcolm Pein, whose organisational skills have firmly put this event on the global chess map.
 
I have just returned from the elite Tata Steel tournament in Wijk aan Zee Holland. After a dismal start and early gains by Caruana and Ivanchuk, Carlsen revved into gear and had won five games in a row as I was heading for home. Along with the win by Anand v Adams from the London Classic, Carlsen’s wins against Caruana and Aronian will feature in forthcoming columns.