Hikaru Nakamura Wins Round 7 - Candidate Tournament 2016

The World Chess Candidate Tournament 2016 enter its 7th round. This is the last pairing for the first half of 14 round-robin tournament. Hikaru Nakamura vs Veselin Topalov was the only game that ended with decisive result. In this game Hikaru Nakamura able to forget his unfortunate game the day before, a lost vs Levon Aronian. The opponent however, Veselin Topalov continue his unfortunate pattern to play one single blunder move that cost the game. After the a Semi Slav defence, both entered complicated middle game. Topalov was slightly worse overall but the blunder was in 32..Kh7? The combination after that is losing for black, but tricky because white need to find all the correct move afterward.

Memasuki babak ke-7 turnament kandidate penantang catur 2016, ke delapan pecatur tidak banyak mengubah posisi urutan klasemen sementara dari babak sebelumnya. Satu-satunya partai catur yang menang adalah di papan Hikaru Nakamura vs Veselin Topalov. Ketiga papan lainnya  berakhir remis.

photo from official website 

Hikaru Nakamura dihadapkan pada pecatur Bulgaria, mantan juara dunia, Veselin Topalov. Pecatur Amerika Serikat yang blak-blakan ini dihadapkan pada pembelaan Semi-Slav dan permainan langsung cepat menjadi kompleks dan tajam. Kedua pecatur memang terkenal dengan gaya permainan yang lebih taktikal. Dengan kondisi partai tengah yang cukup kompleks, buah pion hitam yang jauh mengancam di f3 dan menteri hitam yang siap men-skak mat raja putih di g2, Veselin Topalov justru membuat langkah lemah dan blunder di 32...Kh7? Nakamura menemukan semua jawaban quiz ini dan memenangkan posisi. Di posisi akhir Topalov kalah perwira tanpa ada kompensasi berarti.

Partai Catur Hikaru Nakamura vs Veselin Topalov 1-0, Moscow Candidate 2016:


The other three games was drawn. Sergey Karjakin vs Levon Aronian was clash between two leader. Out of King's Indian attack/opening, Aronian got the upper hand but failed to get more of it. The video press conference clearly show that Aronian himself understood he missed the best continuation. The game is draw after 31 moves. An interesting game where black pushed his a pawn very early.

photo from official website 

Ini adalah pertemuan kedua pimpinan klasemen. Pecatur flamboyan dari Armenia Levon Aronian memegang buah hitam sedangkan pecatur Rusia kelahiran Ukraina Sergey Karjakin buah putih. Karjakin tidak terlalu bagus memainkan opening mengakibatkan Levon Aronian bisa mendesak putih, tapi keduanya tidak berhasil sampai bisa memenangkan partai ini. Partai yang cukup unik karena di line King's Indian Attack ini, Aronian bermain kreatif dengan langkah 6..a5 lalu 7..a4

Partai Catur Sergey Karjakin vs Levon Aronian 1/2-1/2, Moscow Candidate 2016:

photo from official website 

Peter Svidler vs Fabiano Caruana also drawn but this one quite hard fought. Out of English opening, Peter Svidler got serious chance when his rook controlled the 7th rank. The game eventually went into rook+bishop+3 pawns vs rook+knight+3 pawns. With resilient resistance Caruana able to hold a draw, although at some point later both made inaccuracy that ended the game in draw.

Papan Peter Svidler vs Fabiano Caruana adalah yang terakhir selesai. Di pertempuran ini, Peter Svidler menguasai permainan. Caruana terdesak karena penetrasi benteng putih yang sangat aktif di teritori hitam. Keduanya memainkan pembukaan "tepi" dengan fianchetto gajah di sayap raja. Semacam pembukaan English gabung  dengan Catalan dan Grunfeld. Namun pembukaan ini cukup diketahui oleh kedua pecatur, seperti dilaporkan IM Danny Rench di chess.com, beberapa partai catur pernah dimainkan di line ini. 

Partai Catur Peter Svidler vs Fabiano Caruana 1/2-1/2, Moscow Candidate 2016:

photo from official website 

Anish Giri vs Viswanathan Anand was not very much a story. They played the Queen's Gambit Declined line that put both army in quite symmetrical position. After rushing exchange in 12.Bxf6, as many commentator mentioned and confirmed by Anish Giri, the move is not very ambitious. The game balance throughly ever since and handshake for peace in 31 moves.

Partai Anish Giri melawan mantan juara dunia catur Vishy Anand adalah yang paling kalem dan tidak terlalu menarik perhatian pemirsa. Keduanya essay pembukaan Gambit Menteri Ditolak / Queen's Gambit Declined tapi dengan langkah 5.Qc2, putih mengundang hitam masuk ke bangunan mirip Nimzo Indian variasi Classical. Putih mengambil jalan pintas dengan tukaran 12.Bxf6?! Selanjutnya kedua sisi cukup simetris dan tidak banyak yang bisa diperbuat. Remis dalam 31 langkah.

Partai Catur Anish Giri vs Viswanathan Anand 1/2-1/2, Moscow Candidate 2016:


2016 Chess Candidate Tournament Moscow, standings after round 7:

1  Karjakin,Sergey  4.5/7
2  Aronian,Levon  4.5/7
3  Anand,Viswanathan  4/7
4  Caruana,Fabiano  3.5/7
5  Giri,Anish  3.5/6
6  Svidler,Peter  3/7
7  Nakamura,Hikaru  3/7
8  Topalov,Veselin  2.5/7


LINK FOR OFFICIAL LIVE BROADCAST :
http://worldchess.com/broadcasts/europe/2016/03/10/fide-candidates-tournament/round-7/
(just replace the "round-3" with round-x ....) 

LINK FOR LIVESTREAM 2016 CANDIDATE TOURNAMENT
http://livestream.com/accounts/7928738/events/4950193/
(this happened to be blocked in some country...just try it)

LIHAT ROUND 1
LIHAT ROUND 3
Lihat Round 6
Lihat Round 7
Lihat Round 10
Lihat Round 12