Anand, Karjakin Win Tal Memorial Rapid and Blitz Events
If Magnus Carlsen isn't going to play in the Tal Memorial, then who better to win than his previous opponents in the 2013, 2014, and 2016 World Championship matches? Viswanathan Anand won the rapid event, losing only one game, to world #2 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov while defeating Daniil Dubov, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Hikaru Nakamura, and Alexander Grischuk to win the event by a full point with 6/9 and an impressive 2884 TPR. Mamedyarov, Sergei Karjakin, and Nakamura finished with five points apiece. Recall that Anand won the World Rapid Championship this past December, so even though he won't be in the Candidates he's still a force to be reckoned with, even at the age of 48.
In the blitz it was Karjakin's turn to shine. The field was a bit bigger, with four additional players brought in, and Karjakin won with a very impressive score of 10/13. Vladimir Kramnik (who tied for 4th-6th) beat him in round 2, but otherwise it was Karjakin doing the damage. He defeated Nakamura (who took second), Nepomniachtchi (3rd), Vladislav Artemiev (=4th), Alexander Grischuk (=4th), Dubov (=7th), Peter Svidler (=9th), Alexander Morozevich (=11th), and Boris Gelfand (14th). Karjakin was the World Blitz Champion in 2016 and the runner-up last year, so his 2950 TPR confirmed his place at the top.
It was interesting to see four players participating here with the Candidates just a few days away, but perhaps Karjakin, Kramnik, Grischuk, and Mamedyarov felt they needed the warmup. It will be interesting to follow their progress early on in Berlin, to see if they seem either better warmed up than their rivals or perhaps a bit tired instead.
More here.
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