The first two legs of this year’s Grand Chess Tour have now been staged in Paris and Leuven. There will be follow-ups later this year in St Louis and London. The format of Paris and Leuven consisted of a rapidplay and blitz tournament at each venue. After the conclusion of these events the leading overall standings in the Tour are Carlsen 23, Nakamura and So 17.

Carlsen-Anand: GCT Rapid Leuven 2016 (see diagram 1)

Carlsen now shows excellent judgment by heading for an endgame which, at first sight, appears to give Black no problems. 21 dxe5 dxe5 22 Qxe7 Rxe7 One would expect that the extra queenside pawn would be more relevant than White’s doubled e-pawns. However, more important is that the white forces are very active and the e-pawns control important squares. 23 Rd6 Nh8 24 Nd2 Nf7 25 Rd3 Ng5 26 Rf5 h6 27 h4 Nh7 28 Nb3 Nf6 29 Nc5 Rff7 30 h5 Carlsen excels in these positions. He has manoeuvred his forces skilfully and now Black must be very careful not to allow an invasion. 30 … Kh7 This allows White’s pieces in. 30 … Re8 was essential. 31 Rd8 g6 32 hxg6+ Kxg6 33 Rd6 Kg7 34 Ne6+ Kg6 35 Nd8 Rf8 36 g4 A lovely finish. Black is in complete zugzwang. 36 … c5 37 b3 Ree8 38 Nxb7 Black resigns

Carlsen-Caruana: GCT Rapid Leuven 2016 (see diagram 2)

43 … Re5 44 Rf1 Not 44 Bxe5 Qxe5+ 45 Kh1 Ng3+ winning. 44 … Rg5 45 Rf3 Caruana’s determination is rewarded. Carlsen had to play 45 Rf2 when 45 … Qe3 46 Rf1 Qe4 repeats the position and leads to a draw. Now Caruana has a winning combination. 45 … Rxg2+ 46 Kxg2 Nd4 47 Kg1 Nxf3+ 48 Kf2 Nd4 49 Qc8+ Kh7 50 Qa6 Qf3+ 51 Ke1 Nxc2+ 52 Kd2 Qc3+ 53 Kd1 Qxb3 54 Kc1 Nd4 White resigns

Topalov-Kramnik: Paris Rapidplay 2016 (see diagram 3)

Kramnik struggled in the Paris and Leuven events but did play a fine attacking game against his old rival Veselin Topalov. 27 … Nxg2 28 Kxg2 Qxg4+ 29 Kf2 Qh4+ 30 Kg2 Rxc1 31 Rxc1 Qg5+ White resigns

The post Grand tour appeared first on The Spectator.