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Levon Aronian on Chess Training
As a rule, a strong chess player never trains with a strong chess player. You discover new steps and develop new strategies during the game, and it’s not desirable that another strong chess player knows about them. That’s why there are special assistants, who, although being good players, are not the strongest.
A great insight into the work put by a grandmaster into his chess. Read more about how he dealt with his defeat in the recent Candidates’ tournament and other issues in this Aronian interview.
Photo courtesy of Champord.
May 2016 FIDE Ratings List
The updated ratings for May 2016 are out. Here’s the the top 20:
See how 80% of the Top 10 are 90’s babies, i.e., they were born in the 1990’s. It speaks volumes about the quality of computer support these kids got especially when they were starting out.
Anyway, Wesley So retains his hold onto the 10th place, ahead of two former world champions Viswanathan Anand and Veselin Topalov.
The World Championship we are about to witness in November is between the No. 1 player Magnus Carlsen and No. 8 Sergey Karjakin. Looks like a heavily lopsided match to me, I dare say.
Check out the top 100 players here.
Carlsen wins Norway Chess 2016
After seven rounds Magnus Carlsen looked almost certain to win the Altibox Norway Chess tournament. But then he lost against Levon Aronian in round eight, endangering his tournament win. But things went his way in round nine. Aronian drew against Pentala Harikrishna while Carlsen defeated Pavel Eljanov to win Norway Chess for the first time.
A true champion knows how to pick himself up after a fall–even from the penultimate round.
Aronian Beats Carlsen and Catches Up with the Lead in Norway Chess 2016
Levon Aronian beats Magnus Carlsen in the eighth round of Altibox Norway Chess 2016 to catch up with the latter and actually take the lead after tie break.
Standings after Round 8 follows:
Standings after Round 8 Altibox Norway Chess 2016
Replay the game: Levon Aronian vs. Magnus Carlsen Round 8 Norway Chess 2016.
Read the detailed report: Norway Chess, Rd. 8: Aronian beats Carlsen.
Carlsen ahead by a full point with 2 rounds to go at Norway Chess 2016
Chessbase reports on Norway Chess: Carlsen and Aronian win:
In round seven Magnus Carlsen played against Vladimir Kramnik, one of his predecessors as World Champion. Carlsen seemed well prepared and won a fine strategic game in which he exploited Black’s weak square f5 in textbook fashion. Levon Aronian used his space advantage to harass Black’s king and to win with a mating attack. The three other games were drawn.
With the way Carlsen is playing outstanding chess in recent months, I wonder if he gets to break the 2900 ELO rating barrier anytime soon?
Check out Carlsen’s win against Kramnik in Round 7 of Altibox Norway Chess 2016.
Carlsen is still the man to beat in Norway Chess 2016 after 5 Rounds
Magnus Carlsen draws with Anish Giri in the 5th round but still retain the lead thereafter. Crosstable after 5 rounds follow:
4th Norway Chess 2016 after Round 5
You may replay the game: Magnus Carlsen vs. Anish Giri, Round 5 – Norway Chess 2016.
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