Medias Kings Rd6: Karjakin wins to share lead with Carlsen

by ChessBase
6/17/2011 – With Magnus Carlsen making moves to run away with the tournament, one question was whether anyone would (or could) challenge him for it. Round six saw fellow boy wonder Sergey Karjakin outlast Romanian Nisipeanu in an epic endgame battle and draw level with Magnus. We bring you an express report with sensational pictures of the strongest football player rated over 2558.

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ROMGAZ and the Chess Club Society "Elisabeta Polihroniade” of Bucharest are staging a double round robin tournament with six top GMs: the world's second highest ranked player, Magnus Carlsen of Norway; Ukrainian GM Vassily Ivanchuk, currently the world's number five; Sergey Karjakin, former child prodigy and youngest GM of all time; top US grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, clear winner of this year's Wijk aan Zee tournament; Teimour Radjabov, one of Azerbaijan's top GMs, and Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu, the best Romanian player. The competition is taking place from June 11th to 22nd 2011 in Medias, Romania.

Round six results

Round 6: Friday, June 17, 15:30h
Teimour Radjabov 
½-½
 Vassily Ivanchuk
Hikaru Nakamura 
½-½
 Magnus Carlsen
Sergey Karjakin 
1-0
 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu

With Carlsen making moves to run away with the tournament, one question was whether anyone would (or could) challenge him for it. Round six helped settle that question, with fellow boy wonder, Sergey Karjakin, outlasting Romanian Nisipeanu in an epic endgame battle. With his victory, and draws by the others, he moved up to shared first with Magnus, and both enjoying 2850+ performances.

Once again, Liviu played his pet Schliemann, and Sergey came well-prepared for the opening battle. After 32 moves, the position had simplified into a double-rook endgame in which the ex-Ukrainian had an extra pawn, but the two rooks and vulnerable king meant conversion would be very difficult. Karjakin’s technique proved sufficient, and after 66 moves, Nisipeanu finally surrendered.

Carlsen chose to play the Ruy Lopez Breyer against Nakamura as Black, and in reply, the American opted for a very rare 11.c4, which rarely sees the light of day in top GM play, though some of the illustrious players to have essayed it include Fischer in his 1992 match against Spassky. After probing and minor maneuvering, Carlsen emerged with a slight space advantage, including a swap of his bad bishop, but neither player could see a way out of the locked position, and shook hands.

Radjabov and Ivanchuk played the Tarrasch variation of the QGD, and though both were clearly in the mood for a good fight, neither was able to achieve anything worthwhile and they drew after 45 moves.

Standings after six rounds


Free day football in Medias


The teams: locals in red, visitors in blue (click to enlarge)


Magnus Carlsen leads the attack, Dorian Rogozenco (right) races to the defence


Magnus and Motylev (Alexander, second of Karjakin) in blue, Dorian in red


Our own Pascal Simon, ChessBase media expert, in action


The home team on the attack – recognize who is keeping the goal?


Right, it is Vassily Ivanchuk, the world's number five player (in chess, of course)


The man in blue, in full action, is Faik Gasanov (actually Hasanov), chief arbiter of
the Medias Kings' Tournament. Faik, we ask you to note, turned 70 in April.


Vasl Ivanchuk in action


... preparing to fend off an attack


... and poster boy relaxed in the goal


Magnus Carlsen, the best 2800+ soccer player we know


Make that the best soccer player rated above 2700


Okay, final estimation: best soccer player rated above 2558

All photos by Ionut Anisca

Schedule and results

Round 1: Saturday, June 11, 15:30h
Vassily Ivanchuk 
1-0
 Teimour Radjabov
Magnus Carlsen 
1-0
 Hikaru Nakamura
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 
½-½
 Sergey Karjakin
Round 2: Sunday, June 12, 15:30h
Teimour Radjabov 
½-½
 Sergey Karjakin
Hikaru Nakamura 
1-0
 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Vassily Ivanchuk 
½-½
 Magnus Carlsen
Round 3: Monday, June 13, 15:30h
Magnus Carlsen 
½-½
 Teimour Radjabov
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 
1-0
 Vassily Ivanchuk
Sergey Karjakin 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura
Round 4: Tuesday, June 14, 15:30h
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 
½-½
 Teimour Radjabov
Sergey Karjakin 
½-½
 Magnus Carlsen
Hikaru Nakamura 
½-½
 Vassily Ivanchuk
Round 5: Wednesday, June 15, 15:30h
Teimour Radjabov 
½-½
 Hikaru Nakamura
Vassily Ivanchuk 
0-1
 Sergey Karjakin
Magnus Carlsen 
1-0
 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Round 6: Friday, June 17, 15:30h
Teimour Radjabov 
½-½
 Vassily Ivanchuk
Hikaru Nakamura 
½-½
 Magnus Carlsen
Sergey Karjakin 
1-0
 Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Round 7: Saturday, June 18, 15:30h
Sergey Karjakin 
   Teimour Radjabov
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 
   Hikaru Nakamura 
Magnus Carlsen 
   Vassily Ivanchuk
GamesReport
Round 8: Sunday, June 19, 15:30h
Teimour Radjabov 
   Magnus Carlsen
Vassily Ivanchuk 
   Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Sergey Karjakin
GamesReport
Round 9: Monday, June 20, 15:30h
Hikaru Nakamura 
   Teimour Radjabov
Sergey Karjakin 
   Vassily Ivanchuk
Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu 
   Magnus Carlsen
GamesReport
Round 10: Tuesday, June 21, 13:30h
Teimour Radjabov 
   Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu
Magnus Carlsen 
   Sergey Karjakin
Vassily Ivanchuk 
   Hikaru Nakamura 
GamesReport

Links

The games are being broadcast live on the official web site and on the chess server Playchess.com. If you are not a member you can download a free Playchess client there and get immediate access. You can also use ChessBase 11 or any of our Fritz compatible chess programs.

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