Caruana outwits Anand to keep lead in London

Anand and Sergey Karjakin on two points each as both players lost to leader Caruana. The London Chess Classic might become the first tournament win for Caruana with Carlsen in it since his legendary victory at the 2014 Sinquefield Cup. 

Against Viswanathan Anand’s Berlin, the American GM chose a line where white castles queenside and tries to get an attack going, but initially he wasn’t confident. “I felt like I would lose at some point,” Caruana said. “At least I had a plan. That’s all I needed for some confidence in the position.”

He was surprised that Anand resigned in the final position where he expected his opponent to try a bishop move. “I thought at least I have to calculate something.” 

Anand: “Obviously I completely lost the plot because from move 29 to something every move is a blunder, if not actually a blunder then by intent. It just happens.”

Magnus Carlsen got some winning chances against Wesley So, who defended like a lion. “I thought it was pretty much equal until he allowed a pawn push, and then I got a huge initiative,” said Carlsen. Right before the time control I thought I was close to winning; then after the time control I realised it wasn’t so at all. So I had to start anew. When I got this pawn h6 I was reasonably optimistic but I didn’t see a way so probably he defended very well.”

The most promising game, from looking at the opening position, was the one that ended in a draw the quickest. LevonAronian of Armenia and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave played theGruenfeld, where the Armenian wasn’t very well prepared. 

“I know there are better options than I have chosen in the game,” Aronian said.