The fourth London Classic at Olympia, organised by the indefatigable Malcolm Pein, was the strongest of the series including, as it did, the reigning world champion, a former world champion and the current world ranked no. 1. In addition, the contest was graced by the strongest ever female player, Judith Polgar. Final scores, based on three points for a win, one for a draw and nothing for a loss, were as follows: Carlsen 18, Kramnik 16, Nakamura and Adams 13, Anand 9, Aronian 8, Polgar 6, McShane 5 and Jones 3.
Carlsen’s success was rewarded by his breaking of Kasparov’s all-time rating record of 2851. The new top ten in the 2013 world rankings are now as follows: Carlsen 2861, Kramnik 2810, Aronian 2802, Radjabov 2793, Caruana 2781, Karjakin 2780, Anand 2772, Topalov 2771, Nakamura 2769, Mamedyarov 2766.
The extracts and puzzle this week feature the top two players from the London Classic.
Carlsen-Aronian: London Chess Classic 2012
Here Carlsen slowly began to squeeze the unfortunate Aronian and quickly locked his bishop out of the game. 43 h4 Rb4 44 g4 Rb1 45 h5 Bh7 46 f4 f5 47 g5 Rh1 48 Ng3 Rh3 49 Kf3 hxg5 50 fxg5 g6 51 Re2 Kd8 52 hxg6 Bxg6 53 Re6 Bf7 54 g6 Bg8 If 54 … Bxe6 55 dxe6 and the white kingside pawns are decisive. 55 g7 f4 56 Kxf4 Rh2 57 Nf5 Rxa2 58 Rf6 Re2
59 Rf8+ Black resigns After 59 … Re8 White has the lovely finish 60 Nxd6! cxd6 61 c7+ Kxc7 62 Rxe8 a2 63 Ra8.
Carlsen-Polgar; London Chess Classic 2012
After White’s next move his rooks and knight completely strangle the black king and knight. 41 Rcc7 Rd1+ 42 Kg2 R1d2+ 43 Kh3 R2d5 44 Ng4 Rh5+ 45 Kg2 Rd2+ 46 Kf3 Rf5+ 47 Ke3 Rxf7 48 Rxf7 Rd8 49 Nf6 Rb8 Black is completely paralysed and White can win easily by waltzing in with his king. 50 Kf4 h6 51 Ke5 a5 52 bxa5 Ra8 53 a6 Black resigns
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