[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 {The first move came a surprise to So as "Fabiano played only 1.e4 at
the previous Candidates."} Nf6 ({The two relevant game to the game opening are
Caruana-Short (played five years ago) and Ding-So (from 2011) with the
following move order:} 1... e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 Bb4+ {They both saw} 4. Nbd2 {
Caruana,F (2782)-Short,N (2683) London 2013: Ding,L (2654)-So,W (2658)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2011}) 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ {A surprise for the surprise. So
usually chooses the QGD with 3...d5 or the Queen's Indian with 3...b6.} 4. Bd2
{This is a completely new position for both players, at least according to the
Megabase.} Be7 5. Bg2 {Back into the Catalan type of positions.} d5 6. Nf3 O-O
7. O-O c6 8. Qb3 Nbd7 9. Bf4 a5 10. Rd1 ({Another option was} 10. Rc1 Ne4 11.
Nc3 g5 12. Be3 Nd6 13. c5 Nc4 {as in Matsenko,S (2546)-Swiercz,D (2649)
Columbus 2017}) 10... Nh5 $146 {A novelty in comparison to:} (10... b5 11. c5
Ba6 12. Qc2 b4 13. Bf1 Ne4 14. Nbd2 f5 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 Bg5
{which Black held comfortably in Mamedyarov,S (2775) -Kovalenko,I (2644) Riga
2013}) 11. Bc1 Nhf6 {The idea itself is very standard. Black kicks the bishop
away from the active position under the threat of a threefold repetition.} 12.
Nbd2 ({The more natural} 12. Nc3 {would be strongly met with} a4 13. Qc2 (13.
Nxa4 dxc4 14. Qc2 b5 {leads to the same.}) 13... dxc4 14. Nxa4 b5 {with
comfortable position for Black. leads to the same.}) {However now there is:}
12... b5 {When Black gets some space to operate on the queenside.} 13. c5 ({
The pawn is not worth it:} 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. Qxb5 Ba6 {as the central one on
e2 will suffer in return.}) 13... b4 {Frees the bishop.} 14. Qc2 {Caruana was
not happy with his play at this stage of the game.} ({He suggested instead} 14.
a3 {and this may lead to wild complications after} Ba6 15. e3 e5 $5 16. axb4 ({
Or} 16. dxe5 Nxc5 17. exf6 Nxb3 18. fxe7 Qxe7 19. Nxb3) 16... axb4 17. Qxb4 e4
{with compensation for a pawn.}) (14. e4 $5 {might have been an option too. Say
} dxe4 15. Ne5 (15. Ng5 e3 $1 16. fxe3 Nd5) 15... a4 16. Qc2 Qc7 17. Nxe4 {
and White seems better.}) 14... a4 {So is consistently looking for queenside
action.} 15. Re1 {Preparing e2-e4.} ({Both} 15. b3 $5) ({And} 15. e3 $5 {
were interesting alternatives according to Caruana.}) 15... e5 $1 {"Maybe this
is not the best" So. Black went wrong later.The move in the game frees his
pieces and even fights for the initiative.} ({A slow move like} 15... Qc7 {
would have allowed} 16. e4 {with all the conveniences after} dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4
18. Qxe4 Nf6 19. Bf4 {with advantage for White.}) 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 Nd7
18. Nf3 Bxc5 19. Ng5 {Played after ong thought. The position requires rapid
action.} ({Slow moves like} 19. Bf4 Qb6) ({or} 19. e4 Qb6 {are good for Black.}
) 19... g6 20. Bf4 Qb6 21. e4 {The most energetic move.} ({Both players
considered} 21. e3 {Now} h6 {is wrong to} ({Where Caruana was afraid of} 21...
b3 $1 22. axb3 ({Or} 22. Qb1 Bb4 23. Rf1 Nc5 {"followed by Bc8-f5 and can get
quickly into strategically lost position" (Caruana)}) 22... axb3 23. Qe2 Ra2 {
Let's continue the line a bit with} 24. Bh3 h6 25. Nxf7 Rxf7 26. e6 Rxf4 27.
exd7 Bxd7 28. exf4 Bxh3 29. Qe8+ Kg7 30. Re7+ Bxe7 31. Qxe7+ Kg8 32. Qe8+ {
and it all ends with perpetual check.}) 22. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 (22... Rxf7 23. e6)
23. e6+ Kxe6 24. Qxg6+ Ke7 25. Qxh6 {with crushing attack.}) 21... b3 {So is
also in a hurry to open up the queenside and deflect the opponent's pieces fom
his king.} 22. axb3 axb3 23. Qe2 {The critical moment of the game.} Ba6 $2 {
After this White's attack continues unhindered.} ({Correct was:} 23... Ra2 $1 {
(Caruana) when White intended} 24. Rab1 ({Or} 24. exd5 Ba6 25. Qf3 Rxb2 26. Ne4
cxd5 27. Nxc5 Nxc5 28. Be3 Bc4 29. Bd4 {"with a mess. The b-pawn might be very,
very dangerous" (Caruana)}) 24... Ba6 25. Qf3 {At the very last moment Caruana
saw the resource} Bd3 $5 26. Qxd3 Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 Bxe1 28. Rxe1 Rxb2 {and did
not like it too much for White. Then indeed} 29. exd5 Qf2 30. Qf1 Nc5 $5 {
should be OK for Black.} (30... Qxf1+ 31. Rxf1 Ra2 32. dxc6 b2 33. Be4 Ra1) (
30... cxd5)) 24. Qf3 Bc4 25. Rxa8 Rxa8 {Black managed to trade a pair of rooks,
but had to abandon the kingside. The punishment is swift:} 26. e6 $1 dxe4 ({
Since} 26... fxe6 27. Bc7 $1 {loses on the spot.}) 27. exf7+ Bxf7 28. Nxe4 Bd4
{Makes things even worse, although Black's position is obviously suspicious,
to say the least.} (28... Re8 {"was still putting up a good fight"(Caruana).
The thing is that the light-squared bishop does enormous defensive work after}
29. Rd1 Bd5 30. Qg4 Be6 31. Qe2 Bd5) 29. Nd6 Bd5 30. Qe2 {Without the
light-squared bishop Black cannot hold the kingside.} Nf8 ({Or mate after} 
30... Bxg2 31. Qe6+ Kh8 32. Nf7+ Kg8 33. Nd8+ Kg7 34. Qxd7+) 31. Bxd5+ cxd5 32.
Qf3 Qa5 {There is no defense against the mating attack. For example} 33. Re7
Qc5 34. Bh6 Qxd6 35. Qf7+ Kh8 36. Bg7+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A18"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. e4 d5 4. e5 d4 5. exf6 dxc3 6. bxc3 Qxf6 7. d4 b6 8. h4
(8. Be2 Bb7 9. Bf3 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 Bd6 11. Qa4+ c6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rb1 Bc7 14.
Re1 Rc8 15. Kh1 Qf5 {Svidler,P (2763)-Ding,L (2774) Palma de Mallorca 2017})
8... Bb7 9. Bg5 Qf5 10. Bd3 $146 (10. Rh3 h6 11. Bd3 Qa5 12. Bd2 Nd7 13. Nf3
O-O-O 14. Kf1 Be7 15. h5 Nc5 16. Ne5 Nxd3 17. Rxd3 Rhf8 {Budczies,J-Vogt,L 
(2500) Bochum 1990}) 10... Qa5 11. Kf1 Nc6 12. Rb1 f6 13. Bd2 O-O-O 14. a4 e5
15. c5 ({Aronian also looked at} 15. Rh3 {but wasn't sure about} exd4 16. cxd4
Bb4) 15... Bxc5 16. Rb5 Qa6 17. Rh3 (17. Bf5+ Kb8 18. dxc5 Ne7 19. Bc2 c6 20.
c4 cxb5 21. cxb5 Qa5 22. Bxa5 Rxd1+ 23. Bxd1 bxa5 {with a decent position for
Black (Aronian).}) 17... Bxd4 $1 {"Somehow I felt this shouldn't be a good
move. I don't know why." (Aronian)} (17... exd4 18. Rxc5 bxc5 19. Qg4+ Rd7 20.
Bxa6 Bxa6+ 21. Ke1 Re8+ 22. Kd1 Ne5 {looked unclear to Aronian. "I would say I
was a bit worried about this."}) 18. Be2 Rd6 $1 (18... Kb8 19. Rg3 $5 {Aronian}
) 19. Rb1 (19. Rb2 Qa5 20. cxd4 Qd5 21. dxe5 Nxe5 {Aronian wasn't sure about
this. "Then I felt, short of time, if something goes wrong it goes really
wrong."} 22. Nf3 $5 Rhd8 {looked dangerous to him, but engines like it for
White.}) 19... Qa5 20. Rb5 (20. cxd4 Qd5 21. Nf3 (21. Rb5 Qa2) 21... Nxd4)
20... Qa6 (20... Bxc3 21. Rd3 Rxd3 22. Bxd3 Ba6 23. Bxc3 Qxc3 24. Ne2 Qa3 25.
Rb3 Qxa4 26. Bf5+ Kb8 27. Rxb6+ cxb6 28. Qxa4 Bxe2+ 29. Kxe2 Nd4+ 30. Kd3 Nxf5
31. Qd7) 21. Rb1 Qa5 22. Rb5 (22. c4 $2 Bc5 {is asking for trouble.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A48"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. b3 $5 {A rare move that has been played by the likes of
Smyslov, Kortchnoi and Portisch. "Just another way to reach the normal setup."
(Kramnik)} c5 $5 {Played after six moves.} (3... Bg7) 4. dxc5 Qa5+ 5. Nbd2 Qxc5
6. Bb2 Bg7 7. e3 O-O 8. c4 b6 $146 (8... d6 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O b6 11. Rc1 Bb7
12. Nb1 Ne4 13. Bd4 Qf5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. Nbd2 Ndf6 {Grachev,B (2655)
-Chatalbashev,B (2552) Astana 2017}) 9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Qc7 11. Rc1 d6 12. Nb1
Nbd7 13. Nc3 Rac8 14. Rc2 Qb8 15. Qa1 a6 16. Rd2 Rfe8 17. Rfd1 Ba8 (17... Nc5)
18. Ng5 $5 (18. h3) 18... Rc5 (18... b5 19. cxb5 Rc5 20. Nf3 (20. Nxf7 Kxf7 21.
bxa6 {Grischuk}) 20... axb5 21. b4 Rh5 22. h3 {Kramnik}) 19. Nh3 (19. Nd5 b5)
19... b5 20. Nf4 (20. cxb5 axb5 21. b4 Rf5) 20... bxc4 21. Bxc4 (21. bxc4)
21... Rg5 (21... Ne5 22. Be2 (22. Bxa6 $2 Bxg2 $1 23. Kxg2 Qa8+)) 22. Ncd5 Ne5
23. Be2 Ne4 $6 {Kramnik didn't like this move.} (23... e6 24. Nxf6+ Bxf6 25. h4
Rf5 (25... Rxg2+ 26. Nxg2 Qb7 27. f3) 26. Rxd6) (23... Ned7) 24. Rd4 ({
Grischuk had seen} 24. Rc2 e6 25. Nc7 Rc8 26. Nxa6 Rxc2 27. Nxb8 Rxe2 28. Nxe2
Nf3+ 29. Kf1 Nxh2+ 30. Ke1 Rxg2) 24... Nc5 25. h4 Rf5 26. e4 ({Kramnik also
considered} 26. g4 {which might be better.}) 26... Rxf4 27. Nxf4 Nxe4 28. Nd5
Nc5 29. Rb4 Qa7 30. Ne3 {Setting a trap in his opponent's time trouble...} a5 {
...which Grischuk falls for.} 31. Rb5 Ne6 ({The point was} 31... Bc6 32. Rxc5
Qxc5 33. Bd4 Qb4 34. f4 {Kramnik}) 32. Rxe5 dxe5 33. Bxe5 Qc5 34. Bxg7 Nxg7 35.
Qd4 Qxd4 36. Rxd4 Bc6 37. Rd2 Rb8 $6 ({After} 37... Ne6 {White's advantage is
not so big.}) 38. Rc2 Be8 39. Rc7 Kf8 40. Ra7 a4 41. bxa4 Rb1+ 42. Kh2 Rb4 ({
Kramnik suggested} 42... Rb2 43. Bc4 Rxf2 44. a5 Rf4 {but it's still pretty
bad for Black after} 45. Rc7 $1 Rxh4+ 46. Kg1) 43. a5 Rxh4+ 44. Kg1 $1 {
Grischuk had missed this.} Ra4 45. Bc4 Bc6 46. Rc7 Be8 47. a6 Nh5 48. Nd5 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C60"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "142"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 a6 (4... d6 5. d4 Bd7 6. O-O Bg7 7. Be3 Nf6
8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Re1 Re8 11. h3 h6 {Tari,A (2597)-Kamsky,G (2677)
Moscow 2018}) 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 Bg4 8. Qb3 Bxf3 9. gxf3 Bg7 10.
Be3 $146 (10. Nc3 Ne7 11. Ne2 O-O 12. h4 c5 13. dxc5 a5 14. a4 Nc6 15. Bg5 Bf6
16. Rd1 Qe7 {Tobler,P (2154)-Egner,M (2188) corr. 2016}) 10... Ne7 11. Nc3 Bxd4
12. Bxd4 (12. O-O-O $5 c5 13. Ne2 Nc6 14. Qxb7 Na5 15. Qd5 Qxd5 16. exd5 Bxe3+
17. fxe3 O-O-O) 12... Qxd4 13. Qxb7 O-O 14. Qxc7 Rab8 {[Here] "I can play for
some advantage." *Mamedyarov} ({Interesting was} 14... Nd5 15. Nxd5 (15. exd5
Qd3 16. Nd1 Rfe8+) 15... cxd5 16. Qc3 {Mamedyarov}) 15. O-O Rxb2 16. Qxe7 Qxc3
17. Kg2 Rc2 18. Rad1 Rxa2 19. Rc1 Rc2 20. Rxc2 Qxc2 21. Ra1 Qc4 22. Qb7 Qb5 23.
Qxa6 Qg5+ 24. Kf1 Qf6 25. Kg2 Rb8 26. Ra5 $6 {An unfortunate square.} (26. Qa3
Rb5 27. Rd1) 26... Rb3 27. Qc8+ $6 {Also not the best.} (27. Qe2) 27... Kg7 28.
Qg4 Rb5 $1 {Now White has to take and Black gets a passer.} 29. Rxb5 cxb5 30.
Qd7 Qg5+ 31. Kf1 Qe5 32. h4 b4 33. Qb7 Qc3 34. e5 b3 35. Kg2 Qc4 36. Qb6 h6 37.
Kg3 Qd5 38. f4 Kh7 39. Qb8 Qc4 40. f3 Qc3 41. Qf8 Qc4 42. Qb8 Kg7 43. Qb6 Qd5
44. Qb8 Qd1 45. Qb7 Qg1+ 46. Kh3 Qe3 47. Kg2 Qe2+ 48. Kg3 Qe1+ 49. Kg2 Qe3 50.
Qb4 g5 51. hxg5 hxg5 52. fxg5 Qe2+ 53. Kg3 Qxe5+ $2 ({Winning was} 53... b2 54.
e6 Qe5+ 55. Kg2 fxe6) 54. Kf2 Qh2+ 55. Ke3 Qg1+ 56. Kf4 Qc1+ 57. Kg4 Qe3 58.
Kg3 $2 {Karjakin saw ghosts here.} (58. f4 Qg1+ 59. Kh4 Qf2+ 60. Kg4 Qe2+ 61.
Kg3 b2 62. Qc3+ Kh7 63. Qb3 $1 {is a draw.}) 58... Qxg5+ 59. Kf2 Qd5 60. Ke3
Kg6 61. Ke2 Kf6 62. Ke3 Ke6 63. Qb6+ Kd7 64. Qa7+ Kc6 65. Qa6+ Kc5 66. Qa4 Qc4
67. Qa5+ Kc6 68. Qa1 Kb5 69. Qb2 Kb4 70. Kd2 Qf4+ 71. Ke1 Qh4+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {More and more
people are choosing this modest move in order to avoid, above all, the
Marshall Attack.} b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 ({The other way to play it is:} 
9. Re1 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. Nf1 Nc6 13. Ne3 Bf8 14. a4 b4 15. Nd5 h6
{Here Carlsen went for an interesting pawn sacrifice} 16. a5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Nxa5
18. Ba4 {Carlsen,M (2837)-Ding,L (2774) Saint Louis 2017}) 9... Bb7 10. Nbd2
Re8 11. Ng5 {Often this is preparation for the f2-f4 advance, but in this case
it is Grischuk getting closer to move forty.} Rf8 12. Re1 (12. f4 {is not good
due to} h6 13. Ngf3 exf4) 12... d5 $146 {Most likely, an over-the-board
novelty. "This looks strange as he is losing lots of tempos." (Grischuk)} ({
There is nothing wrong with chasing the knight back at once:} 12... h6 13. Ngf3
Re8 {as in the predecessor, which saw further} 14. Nf1 Bf8 15. Ng3 g6 16. Nh4
d5 {Vu,P (2090)-Nguyen,V (2195) Hue 2012}) 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Ndf3 {Grischuk
criticized this move as he felt he did not get much out of the situation.
"Tactics did not work after this."} Qd7 {For the time being So ignores the
annoying knight.} (14... h6 15. Ne4 {would have transposed to the line from
above.} Qd7 16. a4 {although Black seems quite solid after say} Rfe8) 15. d4 {
White needs to hurry before his opponent consolidates.} ({The pawn is poisoned
} 15. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 16. Rxe5 f6) 15... exd4 (15... h6 $2 {fails to} 16. dxe5 $1)
16. cxd4 (16. Nxd4 {avoids the isolani, but yields White nothing after} Nxd4
17. Qxd4 h6) 16... h6 17. Ne4 {So far everything was more or less normal and
both sides have something to play for. White is hoping that his extra space
and more active pieces will help him launch a successful kingside attack.
Black, on his turn, hopes to trade as many pieces as possible and get to the
isolated d-pawn in the endgame.} Rfe8 $2 {If there is a move to critice So for,
this is the one. The rook occupies the open file, but weakens the f7 spot, on
a moment at which the Spanish bishop is viciously looking at it.} ({Good was} 
17... Rad8 $5 18. Bd2 Nf6 {with decent play for Black.}) ({But if he wanted to
occupy the open file no matter what, So should have used the other rook:} 17...
Rae8 $5) 18. Bd2 Nf6 ({Now} 18... Rad8 {comes a bit late and White seizes the
initiative with} 19. Rc1 Bf8 20. Nc5 Bxc5 21. Rxc5 Rxe1+ 22. Qxe1 Nf6 23. d5)
19. Rc1 (19. d5 {"was tempting, but after"} Nxd5 20. Bxh6 gxh6 21. Bxd5 Rad8 {
"Black trades the queens and has nothing to worry about." (Grischuk)}) 19...
Nxe4 ({The central pawn is poisoned:} 19... Nxd4 20. Bxf7+ (20. Ne5 {at once
would also do}) 20... Kxf7 21. Ne5+ {(Grischuk)}) 20. Rxe4 Bf6 21. Rg4 $1 {
Apparently, So underestimated the rook lift. Black's position becomes critical
at once.} Kh8 ({After} 21... h5 {White planned} 22. Rf4 Rad8 23. Ng5 {
(Grischuk)}) ({The obvious capture} 21... Nxd4 {is bad due to} 22. Nxd4 Bxd4
23. Bc3 c5 24. Bxd4 cxd4 25. Rxd4 Qe7 (25... Re1+ 26. Qxe1 Qxd4 27. Rc7 {
is large advantage for White as well. The f7 pawn is too vulnerable.}) 26. Rd7
Rad8 27. Rcc7 {(Grischuk)} ({In the post mortem both GMs missed the immediate
finish with} 27. Bxf7+ $1)) 22. Rc5 {"Here I did't really calculate anything.
I said to myself, OK, I have all pieces in attack, and Black defends with one
bishop. If there is no mate, I just quit chess."} Rad8 23. Qc1 {Just bringing
more and more pieces into the attack. Bd2xh6 cannot be stopped.} ({White also
considered the direct} 23. Bxh6 gxh6 24. Rh5 Bg7 25. Qc1 {but decided it does
not work after (or more likely decided it is not worth the risk)} Qd6 {As a
matter of fact White's attack is crushing after} 26. Ng5 Rd7 27. Nxf7+ Rxf7 28.
Bxf7 Rf8 29. Rg6 {and the queen should be sacrificed in order to avoid mate:}
Qxd4 30. Qxh6+ Bxh6 31. Rhxh6#) 23... Nxd4 ({Or} 23... Kh7 24. Bxh6 gxh6 25.
Bc2+) 24. Nxd4 Re4 {The last desperate try.} ({In case of} 24... Bxd4 {
Grischuk planned the following} 25. Bxh6 Re2 (25... Bxc5 26. Bxg7+ Kg8 27. Qh6
{is also inevitable mate.}) 26. Bxg7+ Bxg7 27. Rh5+ Kg8 28. Rxg7+ Kxg7 29. Qh6+
Kg8 30. Qh8#) 25. Rxc7 Qxd4 26. Be3 (26. Bc3 {would also do. For example} Rxg4
27. hxg4 Qe4 28. f3 Bd4+ 29. Kh1 {(Grischuk, So)}) 26... Rxg4 27. hxg4 Qe4 28.
f3 {The long diagonal is too short for the black pieces.} Qb4 29. Rxb7 {
The rest would most likely not have been played if Grischuk had some extra
time on the clock. But as usual, he was playing on increment and So tried some
swindles.} Bxb2 30. Qf1 (30. Qxb2 $2 Qe1+ 31. Kh2 Qh4+ {is perpetual instead.})
30... f6 31. Qf2 Be5 32. f4 Bd6 33. g5 Qe4 34. Qf3 {Safe play in the time
trouble.} (34. gxf6 Qxb7 35. fxg7+ Kxg7 36. Qg3+ {would have been mate.}) 34...
Qb1+ 35. Qf1 Qe4 36. Qf3 Qb1+ 37. Kf2 Bb4 {White missed this, but likely for
him it was not important.} 38. Qe2 Qe4 39. Qf3 Qb1 40. Kg3 fxg5 41. Kh2 ({
Avoiding any king weakening} 41. fxg5) 41... Qf5 ({"The last beautiful line
was"} 41... Bd6 42. Rd7 Rxd7 43. Qa8+ Kh7 44. Bg8+ Kg6 45. Qe8+ Kf5 46. Qe6# {
(Grischuk)}) 42. Rf7 Qg6 43. fxg5 Bd6+ {Black resigned because of} 44. Kh3 hxg5
45. Bxg5 Qxg5 46. Rf5 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b6 ({
Normal is} 7... a6 {e.g.} 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12.
Nc3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qxd4 14. Qxc7 Nc6 15. Qxb7 Na5 16. Qc7 Qd8 17. Qf4 Rb8 {
Mamedyarov,S (2804)-Wei,Y (2743) Wijk aan Zee 2018}) 8. Ne5 Qxd4 9. Bxa8 Qxe5
10. Bf3 Nd5 11. Qxc4 Ba6 12. Qb3 $146 ({The normal move is} 12. Qa4 {e.g.} c5
13. Re1 b5 14. Qe4 Nc6 15. Nc3 Rd8 16. Rd1 Qxe4 17. Bxe4 Nd4 {Aronian,L (2799)
-Hou,Y (2652) Tbilisi 2017}) 12... Nc6 {Caruana remembered this was the move
to play, but said he "didn't remember the details."} 13. Qa4 Bb7 14. Nc3 Nd4
15. Bxd5 exd5 16. Bf4 (16. Qxa7 Ba8 17. Bf4 Qh5 18. Qxc7 Nf3+ 19. exf3 d4 {
"and it becomes a mess." (Caruana)}) 16... Qf6 17. Rad1 (17. Qxa7 Qc6 $1 {
Caruana}) 17... c5 18. Be3 Nf3+ (18... Nxe2+ 19. Nxe2 d4 20. Bf4 (20. Nf4 dxe3
(20... g5 21. Qd7 Bc8 22. Qxa7 gxf4 23. Bxf4 Bh3 24. Rfe1 Qc6 25. f3 Qxf3 26.
Rd2 {Ding}) 21. Nd5 {Ding}) 20... g5 21. f3 gxf4 22. Nxf4 Bd6 23. Qxa7 {Caruana
}) 19. exf3 d4 20. f4 ({Caruana expected} 20. Bf4 dxc3 21. Rfe1 cxb2 22. Qd7
Bxf3 23. Rb1 g5 24. Qxe7 Qxe7 25. Rxe7 gxf4 26. Rxb2 Rd8 27. Rb1) 20... dxc3 (
20... Bf3 21. Bxd4 Qf5 {doesn't work because of} 22. Nd5 $1 Qxd5 23. Bc3 Bxd1
24. Rxd1 {Caruana}) 21. bxc3 Bf3 ({Ding was afraid of} 21... Qe6 22. Bc1 {
but now Caruana's} c4 (22... Qe2 $6) {can be replied by} 23. Rde1 $1 Qd5 24. f3
{and White is better.}) 22. Rd3 Bc6 23. Qb3 Qf5 24. c4 Be4 25. Rd2 Qh5 (25...
Qg4 26. Bd4 $1 cxd4 27. f3 {Caruana}) 26. f3 Bxf3 27. f5 $6 {"This gives me a
chance to consolidate." (Caruana)} (27. Bd4 $5) 27... Bc6 28. Qd1 Qh3 29. Rff2
h6 30. Qf1 Qg4 31. Rf4 Qg5 32. Rd3 Qf6 33. Bd2 Ba8 34. h4 Qc6 35. Kh2 {"I
started to feel I was getting outplayed." (Caruana)} Bd6 36. Rf2 Be5 37. Bc3
Bxc3 38. Rxc3 Re8 39. f6 g6 40. Rcc2 (40. Rd3) 40... Re4 41. Rfe2 Qe6 42. Rxe4
Bxe4 43. Rf2 (43. Rd2 $5 Bf5 44. Qf4 Qxf6 45. Qxh6 Be6 46. h5 Bxc4 47. hxg6
fxg6 {Caruana}) 43... Bf5 44. Qc1 Kh7 45. Qc3 h5 46. a3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E32"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 d5 7. Bg5 h6 8.
Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Nf3 c6 10. g3 $146 (10. e3 Nd7 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Qxc4 e5 13. O-O
exd4 14. Qxd4 Qxd4 15. Nxd4 Nf6 {Yu,Y (2751)-Ding,L (2777) Riadh 2017}) 10...
Nd7 11. Bh3 {"It is for me a new idea. It is just to play." (Mamedyarov)} b6 {
Afterward Aronian felt this was perhaps a bit risky.} (11... Qd8 12. O-O b6 {
Aronian}) 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Qc6 Rb8 {The critical moment of the game.} 14. O-O
({"I need to play} 14. Rc1 {and it must be not so easy for Black." (Mamedyarov)
} Rd8 (14... g5 $5 15. O-O (15. Qd6 $5) 15... Qg7 {"It it works, it will work
wonderfully!" (Aronian)}) 15. Qa4 a5 16. Rc7 Rb7 (16... Qe7 17. Ne5 Nc5 18. Qc6
Bd7 19. dxc5) 17. Qc6) 14... Rd8 15. Rfc1 Ba6 16. Bf1 Bc4 $1 {Mamedyarov had
missed this.} 17. Qa4 (17. Rc3 a5 {Aronian}) 17... a5 18. b3 b5 19. Qxa5 Bxb3
20. Rc7 ({After} 20. Rc6 Bc4 21. Qc7 {Black is absolutely fine with e.g.} g5)
20... Bc4 21. Qa7 Ra8 22. Qb7 Rab8 23. Qa7 Ra8 24. Qb7 Rab8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5
8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. h3 (9. Nc3 a5 (9... h6 10. Rd1+ Ke8 11. h3 Ne7 12. Be3 Ng6 13.
a3 Be7 14. Rd2 a6 15. Re1 Nh4 16. Nxh4 Bxh4 17. Ne2 Be7 18. Nf4 h5 19. e6 Bd6
20. e7 Kxe7 21. c4 Bxf4 22. Bxf4+ Be6 23. Bg5+ Kf8 24. b3 Kg8 {½-½ Kramnik,V
(2754)-Anand,V (2786) Monte Carlo MNC 2005}) (9... Ne7 10. h3 Ng6 11. Ne4 Be7
12. b3 h5 13. Re1 Bf5 14. Nd4 Bd7 15. Ng5 Bxg5 16. Bxg5+ Ke8 17. e6 fxe6 18.
Nxe6 Bc8 {1-0 (18) Kramnik,V (2729)-Aleksandrov,A (2634) Turin ITA 2006}) 10.
h3 a4 11. Rd1+ Ke8 12. a3 h6 13. Bf4 Be6 14. Ne4 Ra5 15. g4 Bd5 16. Re1 Ne7 17.
e6 Bxe4 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Rxe4 Ng6 20. Bxc7 Rb5 21. Ne5+ Nxe5 22. Bxe5 Bc5 23.
Bc3 Ra8 24. Rd1 Bf8 25. Rd7+ Kg8 26. Kg2 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2777)-Ivanchuk,V 
(2716) Monte Carlo MNC 2004}) 9... Ke8 10. Nc3 h5 11. Bf4 (11. Rd1 Be7 12. Ne2
Be6 13. Nf4 Bc8 14. Ne2 Be6 15. b3 a5 16. a4 Rd8 {Vachier Lagrave,M (2793)
-Nakamura,H (2781) Caleta 2018}) (11. Ne2 b6 12. Rd1 Ba6 13. Nf4 Bb7 14. a4 Be7
15. e6 Bd6 16. exf7+ Kxf7 17. Ng5+ Kf6 18. Ne4+ Kf7 19. a5 c5 {Kramnik,V (2811)
-Malakhov,V (2712) Sochi RUS 2017}) 11... Be7 12. Rad1 Be6 13. Ng5 Rh6 14. Rfe1
Bb4 15. a3 ({The main move is} 15. g4 {played six times by Vachier-Lagrave and
also once by Karjakin.}) 15... Bxc3 16. bxc3 Ne7 17. Nf3 Rh8 18. Bg5 $146 (18.
Nd4 a6 19. Bg5 c5 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. c4 Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Kxd8 23. a4 b6 {Yu,Y 
(2724)-Malakhov,V (2706) China 2015}) 18... c5 19. Nd2 {Kramnik's preparation
was roughly until here.} Kf8 20. Nf1 Nf5 (20... Nd5 21. f4 {is dangerous 
(Karjakin).}) 21. g3 {With the idea f3, Kg2 and push the pawns but...} (21. Re4
$5) 21... Ne7 $1 {Kramnik missed that Black can just go back.} 22. Kg2 {
"Black is holding by tempi. If I manage my knight on e3 here it's almost over.
" (Kramnik)} (22. Ne3 Bxh3 23. Bxe7+ Kxe7 24. Nd5+ Kf8 25. Nxc7 Rc8 26. e6 fxe6
27. Nxe6+ Bxe6 28. Rxe6 Re8 {should be a draw (Kramnik).}) 22... Nd5 23. c4 Nb6
24. Ne3 Nxc4 25. Nxc4 (25. Nd5 Nb2 26. Nxc7 Nxd1 27. Nxa8 Nb2 ({After} 27...
Nc3 28. Nc7 {Kramnik mentioned} Kg8 {but that doesn't seem to work tactically:}
29. Nxe6 fxe6 30. Re3 Nd5 31. Rb3 b6 32. c4 Nc7 33. Rd3) 28. Nc7) 25... Bxc4
26. g4 hxg4 27. hxg4 Bb5 28. Kg3 Re8 29. f4 {Here Kramnik thought his position
was close to winning.} b6 (29... Ba4 {Karjakin}) 30. f5 ({Karjakin was a bit
worried about} 30. Bd8) 30... Ba4 31. Rc1 (31. Rh1 Rxh1 32. Rxh1 Kg8 33. Kf4
Bxc2 34. f6 Rd8 {Karjakin/Kramnik}) (31. Kf4 Kg8) 31... Kg8 32. c4 Bc6 33. Rcd1
Ba4 34. Rc1 Bc6 35. Bh4 Ba4 36. Rc3 Bc6 37. Rce3 Rh6 38. Bg5 (38. Rd3 f6 39. e6
g5 $1 {Kramnik} 40. fxg6 Kg7) 38... Rh7 ({One journalist suggested} 38... Rh1
39. Rxh1 Bxh1 {but that's very dangerous:} 40. Kf4 Bc6 41. Rh3 $1 {followed by
42.f6.}) 39. R3e2 (39. Bf4 Rd8 40. e6 fxe6 41. fxe6 {Kramnik} Rd2 $1 42. R1e2
Rd1) 39... Ba4 40. Re3 Rh8 41. Bh4 (41. e6 fxe6 42. Rxe6 Rxe6 43. Rxe6 Rh1 {
Kramnik}) (41. Rd3 f6 42. Bf4 fxe5 43. Bxe5 Kf7) 41... Rh6 42. e6 fxe6 43. g5
Rh8 44. Rxe6 (44. g6 Rh5) 44... Rf8 $1 45. R6e5 $6 ({It looks like Kramnik
missed a big chance here. He had seen} 45. Kg4 $1 Bd7 46. g6 $3 Bxe6 47. fxe6
Rh6 48. Kg5 Rf6 {"Here I stopped [calculating], but maybe I shouldn't have
stopped." (Kramnik)} 49. e7 Rhxg6+ 50. Kh5 Re6 51. e8=Q+ Rxe8 52. Rxe8+ Kh7 53.
Re7 {with winning chances.}) 45... Bc2 46. f6 gxf6 47. gxf6 Rh7 48. Rg5+ Kh8
49. Re7 Rg8 50. Rxh7+ Kxh7 51. Rxg8 Kxg8 52. Kf2 Bb3 53. Bg3 Bxc4 54. Bxc7 Bd5
55. Bb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.12"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[Annotator "Bojkov,Dejan"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 {If Aronian only knew what this surprise would lead to....} e5 2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O ({The other way to develop is} 6. Nbd2
Bg4 7. h3 Bh5 8. Nf1 Nd7 9. Ng3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 g6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. O-O (12. O-O-O
O-O-O 13. Ne2 Rhe8 14. Kb1 b6 15. h4 Kb7 {½-½ Anand,V (2775)-Carlsen,M (2870)
Chennai IND 2013}) 12... Bd6 13. a4 c5 14. c3 O-O-O 15. Rfb1 Kb8 16. a5 a6 17.
Nf1 Qe6 18. Qd1 f5 19. f3 Be7 20. Qa4 Nf6 {1/2-1/2 Jakovenko,D (2710)-Almasi,Z
(2707) Germany 2018}) 6... Qe7 7. h3 {Kramnik: "The thing is, Black wants ...
Bg4 after Nbd2. I always considered 7.h3 as a very serious move and I actually
spent a lot of time analyzing it, and it was not so easy. But then, a couple
of years ago, I found this very strong resource:} Rg8 $1 {"g7-g5-g4 is a big
threat" (Kramnik). Apparently, White is not capable of opening the center,
otherwise this whole concept will fail. Ironically, it is the pawn on h3 which
makes this idea so strong. The weakened kingside and the fast long-ranged
black pieces put White in a huge danger.} 8. Kh1 {Both players could not find
anything better. Here are some lines to convince that Black's attack is not a
joke:} ({The attempt to get a better version of the game continuation with} 8.
c3 {would be met with} g5 9. d4 ({The pawn is immune due to} 9. Bxg5 Bxh3 {
this is a frequently occurring theme in the attack.}) 9... exd4 $1 ({If now
Black continues as in the game} 9... Bd6 10. dxe5 Bxe5 11. Nxe5 Qxe5 12. Qd4 {
White would be indeed OK.}) 10. cxd4 Bb6 {when the white center is about to
crumble at any moment and the captures on g5 are always bad.} 11. Bxg5 ({Or} 
11. Nxg5 h6 12. Nf3 Bxh3) 11... Bxh3 $1 {with huge advantage for Black.}) (8.
Be3 {trades the good bishop but doe snot slow down the attack-} Bxe3 9. fxe3 g5
) ({If} 8. Nc3 g5 9. Bxg5 Bxh3 $1 10. gxh3 h6 {is similar to the first line
above and excellent for Black.}) 8... Nh5 $146 {Technically speaking this is
the novelty.} ({As this all has been seen previously in a correspondence game,
which Black won after:} 8... h6 9. Nbd2 g5 10. Nc4 Bd6 11. d4 Nxe4 12. dxe5 Bc5
13. Qe2 f5 {etc., Kazoks,A (2345)-Calio,M (2334) corr. 2015}) 9. c3 {Obviously
White needs to do something and do it fast. This move is aiming for a quick
central counter-blow.} ({Aronian "Maybe I should have gone for"} 9. Nc3 {
"It will be like the game" said Kramnik and suggested} g5 10. Nxe5 g4 11. d4
Bd6 ({The other suggestion of the former world champion is not as good-} 11...
gxh3 12. g3 ({Or even} 12. g4 $1) 12... Nf6 13. dxc5 Qxe5 14. Bf4 Qxc5 15. Bxc7
{and here it might be White who is better.})) 9... g5 10. Nxe5 ({If} 10. d4 {
Black can always go for} exd4 ({Or even} 10... g4 11. dxc5 gxf3 12. Qxf3 Qh4 {
"with dangerous threats" (Kramnik)}) 11. cxd4 Bb6 12. Nh2 Nf6 13. e5 Nd5 {
with clear advantage as the kingside attack proceeds without any problems
after Bc8-e6 and 0-0-0.}) 10... g4 ({Of course not:} 10... Qxe5 11. d4 Qe7 12.
Qxh5) 11. d4 ({The captures on g4 lead to mate after} 11. Nxg4 Bxg4 12. hxg4
Qh4+ 13. Kg1 Ng3) 11... Bd6 ({Wrong is} 11... gxh3 12. g3 $1) 12. g3 ({Another
mating picture occurs after} 12. Nxg4 Bxg4 13. hxg4 Qh4+ 14. Kg1 Qh2#) 12...
Bxe5 13. dxe5 Qxe5 14. Qd4 Qe7 $1 {Kramnik wants mate!} ({Aronian was hoping
for a slightly worse endgame after} 14... Qxd4 15. cxd4 gxh3) 15. h4 c5 16. Qc4
{"A terrible blunder; I forgot that Black is threatening ...f5." (Aronian)} ({
The best chance according to Kramnik was} 16. Qd3 Bd7 17. c4 O-O-O 18. Nc3 Bc6
19. Nd5 Qe5 {when Black is better but the game goes on.}) 16... Be6 17. Qb5+ c6
18. Qa4 (18. Qe2 {will be met as well with} f5 $1) ({White's best was still} 
18. Qd3 Rd8 19. Qe3 {although Black is clearly better here after}) 18... f5 $1
19. Bg5 ({"The main point was"} 19. exf5 Nxg3+ $1 {which lead to mate after}
20. fxg3 Bd5+ 21. Kg1 Qe2 22. Rf2 Qe1+ 23. Rf1 Qxg3# {(Kramnik)}) 19... Rxg5 $1
{Not slowing down at all. White's position is in ruins, Kramnik accurately
finishes the game.} 20. hxg5 f4 21. Qd1 ({Or} 21. gxf4 Nxf4 22. Qc2 Qxg5) ({And
} 21. Kg2 Qxg5 {with decisive attack in both cases.}) 21... Rd8 22. Qc1 fxg3
23. Na3 Rd3 24. Rd1 Bd5 25. f3 ({Or mate after} 25. Rxd3 Qxe4+) 25... gxf3 26.
exd5 ({"The main idea was to win with"} 26. Rxd3 Qxe4 27. Re3 f2+ 28. Rxe4+
Bxe4# {(Kramnik)}) 26... Qe2 27. Re1 g2+ ({Aronian resigned because of} 27...
g2+ 28. Kh2 g1=Q+ 29. Kxg1 f2+ 30. Kg2 fxe1=Q#) 0-1

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.12"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. f3 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Be3
Be7 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. g4 O-O 11. g5 Nh5 12. O-O-O b5 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 f6 15.
gxf6 Bxf6 16. Kb1 (16. Na5 Qc7 17. Nc6 Nf4 18. c4 bxc4 19. Bxc4 a5 20. a3 Nb6 {
Hracek,Z (2613)-Dziuba,M (2584) Czech Republic 2017}) 16... Nf4 17. Rg1 Kh8 18.
Bd3 Bg5 19. Na5 Bh6 20. Nc6 $146 (20. Be4 Qh4 21. Nb7 Qe7 22. Rge1 Nf6 23. Na5
Qe8 24. Bxf4 Nxe4 25. fxe4 Rxf4 26. Qb4 Qd7 {Karg,H (2183)-Kuosa,N (2568) corr.
2009}) 20... Qh4 21. Qb4 Rf6 22. a4 Qxh2 23. Be4 Qe2 24. Bxf4 Bxf4 25. Qa5 Nc5
26. Qc7 Bh6 27. Nd8 Nxe4 ({Initially Mamedyarov was planning} 27... bxa4 28.
Nf7+ Rxf7 29. Qxf7 Qb5 {with a possibly winning attack, but then he suddenly
noticed}) (27... bxa4 28. Qe7 $1 Qb5 29. Qxf6 $1 {and Black can resign.}) ({
Besides,} 27... Rf8 28. Nf7+ Rxf7 29. Qxf7 Nxe4 {wasn't a good move order
because of} 30. Qb7 $1 {preventing ...Rc8.}) 28. fxe4 Rf8 29. Nf7+ ({Strong was
} 29. Rde1 $1 Qh5 (29... Qc4 30. Nf7+ {is the same as in the game but with an
extra pawn for White}) {but somehow both players misevaluated} 30. Ne6 {
which according to engines is close to winning.}) 29... Rxf7 30. Qxf7 Rc8 31.
Rc1 Qxe4 32. Rgf1 ({Engines don't agree with Caruana that Black is better, and
go} 32. Rg3 $5 {e.g.} bxa4 33. Qe6) 32... Bf4 33. Rg1 Bh6 34. Rgf1 Rg8 35. Rcd1
bxa4 36. Qe7 Qg6 37. Rf8 Bg5 38. Rxg8+ Kxg8 39. Qd7 h5 40. Rg1 e4 41. Qxa4 e3
42. Qxa6 Qf5 43. Qa8+ Kh7 44. Qe8 Bf4 45. Qe6 g6 ({The players had seen that} 
45... Qxe6 46. dxe6 Kg8 47. e7 Kf7 48. Rxg7+ Ke8 49. Rg1 h4 50. c3 Bg3 51. Kc2
e2 52. Kd2 e1=Q+ 53. Rxe1 Bxe1+ 54. Kxe1 Kxe7 55. Ke2 {is a draw.}) 46. Rf1 Kg7
$6 ({Caruana was worried about} 46... Kh6 {when he has to play} 47. b4 {
which is also risky in timetrouble.}) {But now White has} 47. Qxf5 $1 gxf5 48.
c4 Bg3 (48... h4 $2 49. Kc2) 49. Rg1 h4 ({The players agreed to a draw due to
the following line:} 49... h4 50. Kc2 e2 51. Kd2 e1=Q+ 52. Rxe1 Bxe1+ 53. Kxe1
h3 54. Kf2 f4 55. b4 Kf6 56. c5 dxc5 57. bxc5 Ke5 58. d6 Ke6 59. Kf3 Kd7 60.
Kf2) 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.12"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C89"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Re1 Bd6 13. d3 Bf5 14. Qf3 Qh4
15. g3 Qh3 16. Be3 Bxd3 17. Nd2 Qf5 18. Bd4 Rfd8 $5 (18... Rfe8 19. a4 h6 20.
Qxf5 (20. h4 Rxe1+ 21. Rxe1 Rd8 22. Qxf5 Bxf5 23. axb5 axb5 24. Bxd5 cxd5 {
Saric,I (2662)-Aronian,L (2801) Hersonissos GRE 2017}) 20... Bxf5 21. Nf3 Be6
22. Be5 Bc5 {Caruana,F (2811) -Svidler,P (2768) Wijk aan Zee 2018}) 19. a4 h6
20. h4 $146 (20. Kg2 Bf8 21. Re5 Qxf3+ 22. Kxf3 b4 23. Rd1 bxc3 24. bxc3 Rab8 {
Alekseenko,K (2609)-Matlakov,M (2709) Moscow 2018}) 20... Rac8 ({Ding didn't
like} 20... Bf8 21. Re5 Qxf3 22. Nxf3) 21. axb5 axb5 22. Bxd5 (22. Qxf5 Bxf5
23. Ne4 c5 $5 24. Nxd6 (24. Bxg7 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 c4) 24... Rxd6 25. Be5 Rd7 {Ding
}) (22. Ra7 Ra8 23. Rea1 Rxa7 24. Rxa7 Re8 25. Qxf5 Bxf5 26. Ra6 Ne7) 22...
cxd5 23. Qxf5 Bxf5 24. Ra5 b4 25. Rxd5 Be6 26. Ra5 (26. Rb5 Ra8 {So}) 26...
bxc3 27. Bxc3 Rb8 28. Nf1 Bb4 29. Raa1 Bc5 (29... Bxc3 30. bxc3 Rb2 {is
another way to draw. "I was not sure about my calculation so I decided to play
it simple." (Ding)}) 30. Ne3 Rd3 31. Red1 Rbd8 32. Rxd3 Rxd3 33. Rd1 Rxd1+ 34.
Nxd1 Bb3 35. Ne3 Bxe3 36. fxe3 Kf8 37. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.12"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Nc3 h6 6. h3 d6 7. Na4 Bb6 8. a3
Ne7 (8... O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. Re1 Bxc4 11. dxc4 Nd4 12. Nh4 Nd7 13. g3 Qf6 {
Artemiev,V (2691)-Mamedyarov,S (2799) Huaian 2017}) 9. b4 $146 (9. Nxb6 axb6
10. O-O O-O 11. Nh4 g5 12. Qf3 Kg7 13. Nf5+ Bxf5 14. exf5 Qd7 15. g4 Qc6 {
Neiksans,A (2503)-Ivanchuk,V (2764) Warsaw 2010}) 9... Ng6 10. O-O O-O 11. c3
c6 12. Nxb6 axb6 13. Bb3 Re8 14. Re1 Be6 15. Bc2 d5 16. exd5 ({"I could have
played} 16. Be3 {but I felt it is also dangerous for White. I didn't like my
position very much." (Karjakin)}) 16... Nxd5 17. Bd2 Bf5 18. d4 Bxc2 (18... e4
$6 19. Nh2 Nf6 20. Nf1 {Grischuk/Karjakin}) 19. Qxc2 exd4 20. Rxe8+ Qxe8 21.
Nxd4 b5 22. a4 bxa4 23. Rxa4 Rxa4 24. Qxa4 Ngf4 25. Qd1 (25. c4 Qe4 26. Qa8+
Kh7 27. Nf3 {is also OK for White.}) 25... Qe4 26. Qf1 Ne6 (26... Nxb4 $2 {
fails to} 27. Bxf4 Qxf4 28. Ne2) 27. f3 Qg6 28. Nxe6 Qxe6 29. Qd3 b5 30. c4
bxc4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D39"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6 13. h4 Qb4 14.
Rb1 $6 ({Karjakin mixed up the line. White should play} 14. Rh3 {first:} a6 15.
Be2 Ne5 16. Rb1 Qd6 17. Rc3 O-O 18. h5 Rd8 19. Qb3 Bd7 {Giri,A (2769)
-Harikrishna,P (2758) Shenzhen 2017}) 14... Qd6 15. Rh3 a6 16. Be2 Nc5 $1 $146
{This moves makes things different. Black threatens 17...e5 and is much better.
} (16... Ne5 17. h5 b5 18. Rc3 Bd7 19. Nb3 Qxd1+ 20. Rxd1 Ke7 21. f4 Nc4 22.
Nc5 Bc6 23. Bxc4 bxc4 24. a4 Rhc8 25. Rd4 {½-½ Lalith,B (2502)-Bindrich,F 
(2522) Chotowa 2010}) 17. Rc3 Nxe4 18. Rd3 O-O 19. Qc1 Qe5 20. Bf3 f5 21. Qh6
Qf6 22. Qxf6 Nxf6 23. Bxb7 Bxb7 24. Rxb7 Rac8 25. Rg3+ Kh8 26. Rgb3 Ne4 27. Rb2
Rfd8 28. Nb3 Rd1+ 29. Ke2 Nc3+ 30. Ke3 Kg7 31. g3 Kf6 32. Ra7 Rc6 33. Kf3 Nb5
34. Ra8 e5 35. Kg2 e4 36. a4 Na3 37. Rd2 Rxd2 38. Nxd2 e3 39. Nf3 Rc2 40. Rxa6+
Kg7 41. Nd4 Rxf2+ 42. Kg1 Nc2 43. Nxc2 Rxc2 44. Kf1 Rf2+ 45. Ke1 Rg2 46. Rb6
Rxg3 47. Rb4 Rg2 48. Rf4 Kg6 49. Rf3 Rg4 50. Rxe3 Rxa4 51. Kf2 Rxh4 52. Re8 Rg4
53. Kf3 Kg7 54. Re5 Kf6 55. Re8 h5 56. Rh8 Kg6 57. Kf2 Rg5 58. Kf3 Kg7 59. Ra8
h4 60. Kf2 h3 61. Ra3 Rh5 62. Kg1 Kg6 63. Kh2 f4 64. Ra7 f3 65. Ra1 f2 66. Rf1
Rf5 67. Kxh3 Kg5 68. Kg3 Rf4 0-1

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "102"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. Be2 Bb7 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Ne5 Bg7 (11... a6 12. f4 gxf4 13. Bxf4 Bg7 14. Nxf7
Kxf7 15. e5 Rf8 16. exf6 Nxf6 {Grischuk,A (2737)-Korobov,A (2692) Doha 2016})
12. Nxf7 Kxf7 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4 Qb6 15. Nd6+ Ke7 16. a4 $146 (16. Bg4 h5 (
16... Raf8 17. Qc2 Qxd4 18. Qg6 Qxg4 19. Qxg7+ Kd8 20. Nxb7+ Kc8 21. a4 b4 {
Topalov,V (2780)-Kramnik,V (2799) Wijk aan Zee NED 2008}) 17. Bxh5 Raf8 18. Qg4
Bh6 19. h4 Rhg8 20. hxg5 Bxg5 21. Ne4 Ne3 22. Qxg5+ Rxg5 23. Bh4 Kd8 {Shirov,A
(2740)-Karjakin,S (2732) Foros 2008}) 16... Raf8 17. Bf3 a6 18. Bxd5 cxd5 19.
axb5 axb5 20. Kh1 Bc6 ({"Black should play} 20... Ba6 21. f4 b4 {and in fact
White doesn't have threats.} 22. Qc2 gxf4 23. Bh4+ Bf6 {and Black is OK." 
(Grischuk)}) 21. f4 gxf4 22. Rxf4 ({Winning was} 22. Bh4+ $1 Bf6 23. Qg4 $1
Rhg8 24. exf6+ Kxd6 25. Qxf4+ e5 26. dxe5+) 22... Rxf4 23. Bxf4 Kd8 (23... Ra8
24. Rxa8 Bxa8 25. Nc8+ {Grischuk}) 24. Qg4 Rf8 25. Bd2 (25. h3 Qxd4 26. Bg5+
hxg5 27. Qxd4 Bxe5 {Grischuk} 28. Qg4 Bxd6 29. Qxe6 Rf6 {and "probably Black
is winning even." (Grischuk)}) 25... Kc7 26. h3 (26. Ne8+ Rxe8 27. Ba5 Qxa5 28.
Rxa5 Kb6 {is highly unclear.}) 26... b4 27. Qxg7 Qxd4 28. Bxb4 Qxb2 29. Ba5+
Kb8 30. Rg1 c3 {"I was just not too afraid of this pawn somehow. I thought I
will block it." (Grischuk)} ({After} 30... d4 {(Grischuk) White has to find}
31. Qe7 $1 (31. Nxc4 Qb3) (31. Qg4 Qa2 $1 32. Be1 c3)) 31. Qe7 c2 32. Bd2 Qxe5
33. Bxh6 Rg8 34. Nf7 Qc3 35. Qd6+ Kb7 36. Qxe6 d4 37. Nd6+ Kb6 38. Ne4 (38. Bd2
c1=Q 39. Rxc1 Bxg2+ 40. Kg1 Bd5+ 41. Qxg8 Qxc1+ 42. Bxc1 Bxg8 {"and draw" 
(Grischuk)}) 38... Nc5 39. Qxg8 ({Grischuk said he was "very stupid" that he
didn't go for} 39. Qxc6+ Kxc6 40. Nxc3 dxc3 41. Rc1 {"but I just misjudged 
[the game continuation]. I think I barely survived."}) 39... Nxe4 40. Kh2 d3
41. Be3+ Kb5 42. Qb8+ Kc4 43. Qc7 Qf6 44. Rf1 Qd6+ 45. Qxd6 Nxd6 46. Rf6 Kd5
47. Rxd6+ Kxd6 48. Kg3 Kd5 49. Kf2 Kc4 50. Bd2 Kb3 51. Ke3 Bxg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Nf3 (10. e3 Qf6 11. f3 Qh4+ 12. g3 Nxg3 13. Qf2 Nf5
14. Qxh4 Nxh4 15. b4 a5 {Morozevich,A (2675)-Harikrishna,P (2737) Biel 2017})
10... Qf6 11. e3 Bg4 12. Be2 O-O 13. O-O Rfe8 14. Bd2 d4 15. Rad1 Nxd2 16. Rxd2
$146 (16. Qxd2 Rad8 17. Qc1 d3 18. Rxd3 Rxd3 19. Bxd3 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Ne5 21. Be4
Nxf3+ 22. Bxf3 Qxf3 23. Qd1 Qf5 {Bareev,E (2683)-Ivanchuk,V (2741) Havana 2006}
) 16... dxe3 17. Rd6 Re6 18. fxe3 Rxd6 19. cxd6 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Qxd6 21. Qb3 Qe7
22. Bd5 Nd8 23. Rc1 Qd7 24. Qc4 Ne6 25. Bxe6 fxe6 26. Qd4 Qxd4 27. exd4 Rf8 28.
Rc7 Rf7 29. Rc8+ Rf8 30. Rc7 Rf7 31. Rc8+ Rf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "132"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 {A pet line of Boris Spassky.
He tried it twice against Tigran Petrosian in their second world championship
match in 1969. Both games were easily held by Black.} Qe7 6. Nc3 ({Carlsen
opted for the more conventional} 6. d3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 g6 9. Nd4 a6
10. Bf4 Bg7 11. h3 Bd7 12. Bf3 Nc6 {but did not get much in Carlsen,M (2834)
-Caruana,F (2811) Wijk aan Zee 2018}) 6... Nxc3 7. dxc3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Nc6 9.
Be3 Be7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. Rhe1 ({Another recent top game saw} 11. Rhg1 a6 12.
g4 Re8 13. h4 Be6 14. Ng5 Bd7 15. Kb1 Ne5 {with an eventual draw, Artemiev,V 
(2697)-Khalifman,A (2614) Moscow 2018}) 11... Bf6 $146 {A logical novelty in
comparison to an earlier correspondence game.} ({The predecessor saw:} 11...
Bd7 12. Nd4 Bf6 13. f4 Rfe8 14. Bf3 a6 15. Bf2 g6 16. g4 {with some pressure
for White, Lehtinen,P (2180)-Halme,O (2316) corr. 2005}) 12. Nd2 {At first
sight it seems that Black should not worry at all. The position is symmetrical
and not much is going on.} Re8 13. Bf3 Ne5 14. Bf4 {However, the slight lead
in the development for White forces Caruana to play carefully. 15.Nd2-c4 is a
threat now.} Kf8 15. Bd5 ({The timid} 15. Be2 Ng6 16. Bg3 Bd7 {is already a
bit more equal for Black.}) 15... c6 16. Bb3 Bf5 ({Black cannot close the
bishop with} 16... d5 17. c4 d4 $2 {due to} 18. Ne4) 17. h3 g5 {Energetic play
by Black. He intends to find counter-play on the kingside.} 18. Bh2 Kg7 19. c4
(19. f4 {was safer, with approximate equality.}) 19... g4 $1 20. Ne4 $1 {
Kramnik is ready to enter the huge complications which materialize seemingly
out of thin air.} ({After} 20. hxg4 Nxg4 21. Bg3 Bg5 {Black's active pieces
compensate him for the slight structural weaknesses.}) 20... Bxe4 21. Rxe4 Bg5+
22. Kb1 gxh3 23. c5 $1 {Another exclam, for the courage. "I've noticed this,
but I thought it was very risky for White." (Caruana) Kramnik undermines the
central knight but at a very high price. Not only is he losing a couple of is
kingside pawns, but the survivor on g2 is just a step closer to becoming a
queen.} ({The American GM expected instead something like} 23. gxh3 f5 24. Re2
({Or} 24. Ree1 Nf3 25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Bxd6 Nd2+ 27. Ka1 Ne4 28. Bb4 (28. Bg3 $2
f4) 28... Nxf2 {when Black is better.}) 24... Nf3 25. Rxe8 Rxe8 26. Bxd6 Re2 {
where indeed Black is doing great.}) 23... f5 ({Also good for Black was} 23...
hxg2 24. cxd6 Nf3 25. Rg4 Re2 26. Rxg2 h6 {but apparently Caruana wants more.})
24. Rb4 hxg2 25. Rxb7+ Kh8 {Best.} (25... Kf8 $2 {gets on the road of the
white pieces and White is clearly better after} 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. cxd6 ({
Or the preliminary check} 27. Rf7+ Ke8 28. cxd6)) ({"Perhaps I can just go"} 
25... Re7 {suggested Caruana after the game. Then the most likely outcome is a
draw after} 26. Rxe7+ Bxe7 27. Rg1 {although it is White who needs to prove it.
}) 26. cxd6 Nf3 27. Ba4 ({Kramnik's original plan} 27. Bg1 {fails to} Re2 {
For example} 28. d7 Rd2 29. Rxd2 (29. Rc1 Rd6 {traps the rook.}) 29... Nxd2+
30. Ka1 Nf3) 27... Nxh2 28. Bxc6 {For a moment it seems as Kramnik outsmarted
his opponent. The g2 pawn is stopped and the one on d6 has everyone around it
for support.} Rad8 $3 {A fantastic resource. All black pieces are now into the
game and help each other.} ({Indeed, bad was} 28... Red8 29. Bxg2 {when White
has all the fun.}) ({However, besides the text move the where a couple of very
interesting alternatives. Caruana spent his last three minutes trying to make
the move:} 28... Re4 {work. It does indeed in case of:} 29. Bxe4 ({But he
could not find anything after} 29. Rg1 $1 Rae8 ({Maybe the simple} 29... Re6 {
when Black is much better is a good idea though.}) 30. Bxe4) 29... fxe4 30. Rg1
e3 31. fxe3 Rf8 {(Caruana)}) (28... Nf1 $5 {was the other idea, with advantage
for Black after} 29. Bxg2 Nd2+ 30. Ka1 Rad8) 29. d7 {The only move, as tactics
works well for Black.} ({After both} 29. Bxg2 Rxd6 $1) ({and} 29. Bxe8 Rxd6 $1
30. Rd7 Rxd1+ 31. Rxd1 Nf1 {and Black wins.}) 29... Re2 30. Bxg2 Rxf2 31. Bc6 {
Caruana preserved the extra piece and even kept two dangerous passers on the
kingside. But it ain't over yet, moreover because Black is in serious time
trouble.} Ng4 ({Another idea was to send the knight to the queenside after} 
31... Nf1 32. Rxa7 Nd2+ 33. Ka1 Nc4 {with serious winning chances for Black.})
({Both players considered the forcing} 31... f4 32. Rxa7 f3 33. Ra3 Rd2 34.
Rxd2 Bxd2 35. Bxf3 Nxf3 36. Rxf3 Rxd7 {when Black is better, but Kramnik
believed he should hold.}) 32. Rxa7 Ne3 {"A nice knight, but it cost me a lot
of time to get there." (Caruana)} 33. Rg1 h6 {In order to bring the king into
the play. But as Kramnik summarized it, Black has no time to waste.} ({Caruana
was not sure what to do after} 33... Rxc2 $1 34. Rc7 (34. Ba4 {is better
although Black is once again close to winning after} Rf2) {and apparently both
missed the strong} 34... Bf6 $1 {which wins for Black.}) 34. Rc7 Kg7 35. a4 {
All of a sudden the white pawns started to run too fast and it is not clear
who is better at all.} Kf7 ({Instead} 35... Rxc2 {could have led to a curious
draw after} 36. Rc8 Rxc6 37. Rxd8 Rd6 38. Re8 Ng4 (38... Rxd7 $2 39. Rxe3) 39.
Rf1 Ne3 (39... Kg6 40. Rg8+ Kh7 41. Re8) 40. Rg1) 36. Bb5 Ke7 37. a5 Rf4 38. c3
$1 ({Correctly avoiding the counterplay after} 38. a6 Rb4 39. Rb7 ({Or} 39. Bc6
Bf6) 39... Bf6) 38... Kd6 39. Rb7 ({Kramnik thought that} 39. Rc6+ Ke7 40. Rb6
{leads to a win, but this might not be the case after} ({However} 40. a6 $1 {
is clear edge for White.}) 40... Re4 41. a6 Nc4) 39... Rg4 40. Re1 (40. Rh1 {
"finishes it immediately" (Kramnik)}) 40... f4 41. a6 {Finally, the time
trouble is over. However, the position remains enormously complicated with
loads of nuances and this determined the following drama.} h5 42. a7 Ra8 43. b4
{A first step in the wrong direction. Once again Kramnik decides to deprive
his opponent of any counterplay, but this time it turns out to be wrong.} ({
Correct was:} 43. c4 $1 {with the idea:} h4 ({Caruana was planning the
desperate} 43... Kc5 44. b4+ Kd4 {although here too, White should win after}
45. Bc6 Bd8 (45... Kc3 46. Rc7) 46. Rc7 $1 Bxc7 47. Bxa8 Rg8 48. Bb7) 44. c5+
Kxc5 45. Rc1+ Kd6 46. Rc8 {and White wins.}) ({The straightforward} 43. Rb8
Rxa7 44. d8=Q+ Bxd8 45. Rxd8+ Ke5 {leads only to a draw.}) 43... h4 44. c4 {
Going for another forcing line. Things are not that clear anymore.} ({For
example} 44. Re2 h3 {(Caruana)}) ({Or} 44. Be2 Rg3 45. b5 h3 46. b6 h2 47. Rb8
Rg1 {and here Kramnik mentioned only} 48. Bf3 $3 {which leads to an utterly
fantastic position after} Rxe1+ 49. Ka2 Ng2 $1 {Then} 50. Bxg2 Re2+ 51. Kb3
Rxg2 52. d8=Q+ ({Not} 52. Rxa8 Bd8 $3 53. Rxd8 h1=Q 54. a8=Q Qb1+ {and Black
mates....}) 52... Bxd8 53. Rxa8 Rg8 $1 (53... Bxb6 {is a draw after} 54. Rd8+
$1 Bxd8 55. a8=Q h1=Q 56. Qxd8+ {with perpetual...}) 54. b7 h1=Q 55. b8=Q+ Ke6
{leads to a position where Black fights for the win.}) ({Therefore, for
practical purposes most likely best was to (somewhat) clarify matters with} 44.
d8=Q+ Bxd8 (44... Rxd8 $2 45. Rb8) 45. Rd7+ Ke6 46. Bc6 Rxa7 47. Rxa7 {with
winning chances for White.}) 44... h3 45. c5+ Ke5 46. Rb8 (46. c6 h2 47. c7 Rg1
{is a draw according to the computer. Say} 48. Bc6 Rxe1+ 49. Ka2 Re2+ 50. Kb3
Nd5 51. Bxd5 Kxd5 52. c8=Q Re3+ 53. Kc2 (53. Ka4 h1=Q 54. Qc5+ Ke6 55. Rb6+
Kxd7 56. Qd6+ {and perpetual.}) 53... Re2+ 54. Kd3 Re3+) ({Nothing is clear
after} 46. Bc6 h2) 46... Rxa7 47. Rg8 {"And I thought it just finishes the
game" (Kramnik). However...} Bf6 $3 {A second shocker for the former world
champion.} 48. d8=Q {The only move.} ({It transpires that the rook is
invinsible due to the sudden discovery} 48. Rxg4 $2 Kf5 {and the threat of Ra1
mate wins for Black.}) (48. Rxe3+ $2 {is bad as well after} fxe3 49. Rxg4 h2)
48... Bxd8 49. Rxg4 Bf6 50. Rg6 Rb7 {Caruana became ambitious. It was Kramnik
who was low on time now.} ({The American GM rejected the possible draw after} 
50... Kf5 51. Bd3+ Ke6 52. Rxf6+ Kxf6 53. b5) 51. Be2 Rxb4+ 52. Ka2 {"All of a
sudden I am better again." (Kramnik) "I completely underestimated how fast is
the c-pawn" (Caruana)} Nc2 ({Actually, it is still most likely a draw after} 
52... Be7 {say} 53. c6 Ra4+ 54. Kb3 Rb4+ 55. Kc3 Nd5+ 56. Kd2 Bh4 57. Rc1 Rd4+
58. Bd3 h2) 53. Rc1 (53. Rb1 Re4 $1 {holds for Black (Caruana)}) 53... Nd4 54.
Bd3 (54. Bg4 $5) 54... Ra4+ 55. Kb1 {In time trouble Kramnik decided to repeat
the moves.} ({His original intention} 55. Kb2 {would have probably led to a
draw after} Ke6 56. c6 (56. Rh1 Rb4+ 57. Kc3 Nc6+ 58. Rxf6+ Kxf6 59. Rxh3 Kg5 {
(Caruana, Kramnik)}) 56... Nxc6+ 57. Rxf6+ Kxf6 58. Rxc6+ Kg5 {(Caruana,
Kramnik)}) 55... Nb3 $1 {Black is taking his chance! The king hunt creates a
myriad of tactical opportunities, even in the endgame.} 56. Re1+ ({Like the
one after} 56. Rd1 $2 Ra1+ 57. Kc2 Nd4+ $1 {An important maneuver.} 58. Kd2
Nf3+ 59. Ke2 Rxd1 60. Kxd1 h2 61. Rh6 Nh4 {and all of a sudden the h-pawn
queens!}) ({Safe was} 56. Rc2 Ke6 57. Rh2 Ra1+ 58. Kc2 Ra2+ 59. Kxb3 Rxh2 60.
c6 {with a draw.}) 56... Kd5 57. Kc2 ({Kramnik suggested another "draw line"} 
57. Rxf6 Ra1+ 58. Kb2 Rxe1 59. Kxb3 h2 60. Bb5 $2 {but there is a nasty little
spoiler} (60. Bc4+ Kxc5 61. Rf5+ {instead is a draw.}) 60... f3 $3 {
interference theme that wins for Black!}) 57... Nd4+ 58. Kb1 (58. Kc1 $1 {
would have still shared the point.}) 58... Nf3 59. Rd1 $4 {With two seconds
left on his clock Kramnik blunders!} ({He could have still saved the game with
} 59. Rxf6 Nxe1 60. Bf1 h2 61. Rh6 Kxc5 62. Rxh2) ({At the very last moment
the former world champion saw} 59. Rf1 Nd2+ 60. Kc2 Ra2+ $1 {which wins for
Black.} (60... Nxf1 61. Bxf1 Ra2+)) 59... Ra1+ 60. Kc2 Rxd1 {An echo from the
line from above (see the line on move 56). Now Caruana wins this hugely
dramatic game.} 61. Ba6 ({Since} 61. Kxd1 h2 62. Rh6 Bh4 {promotes the pawn.})
61... Rd2+ 62. Kc1 Bb2+ 63. Kb1 Kxc5 64. Bb7 Ne5 65. Rf6 f3 66. Rf5 f2 0-1

[Event "FIDE Berlin Candidates"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.03.15"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[WhiteClock "1:11:37"]
[BlackClock "0:09:25"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. e4 e6 6. Nc3 exd5 7. cxd5 Bg7 8. Nge2 {
Let's quickly skip the opening phase, the interesting is still to come.
Apparently both players were happy with sharp and complex opening.} Nbd7 ({
Aronian had also tried the alternative} 8... a6 9. a4 Nbd7 10. Ng3 Nh5 11. Nxh5
gxh5 12. Bd3 O-O 13. O-O f5 14. exf5 Ne5 15. Bc2 Bxf5 16. Bxf5 Rxf5 17. Ne4 {
and Black held the draw in Aronian,L (2801)-Svidler,P (2763) Palma de Mallorca
2017}) 9. Ng3 h5 10. Be2 Nh7 11. Bf4 $146 ({Aronian improves on a game of his
own:} 11. Be3 h4 12. Nf1 O-O 13. Qd2 Re8 14. Bh6 {which later ended in a draw,
Aronian,L (2809)-Li,C (2735) Geneva 2017}) 11... Qe7 (11... h4 12. Nf1 Qe7 13.
Qd2 {would transpose into the game.}) 12. Qd2 (12. O-O Bd4+ 13. Kh1 Bxc3 $1 (
13... h4 14. Nb5 {is less clear.}) 14. bxc3 h4 {would be embarrasing for the
knight.}) 12... h4 {Otherwise White will castle and transfer the g3-knight to
the optimal f2 square.} 13. Nf1 g5 {In order to cause confusion into White's
camp.} (13... O-O {would allow the regroupment} 14. Ne3 {As} (14. Bh6 $5 {also
looks good for White.}) 14... g5 $2 {comes short to} 15. Nf5) 14. Be3 Ne5 {
However now White has a chance to expand on the kingside, which he takes at
once.} 15. g3 Bd7 ({Grischuk disliked} 15... f5 {due to} 16. f4 $1 ({Aronian's
line} 16. gxh4 {is not convincing due to} f4 $1 ({Rather than} 16... gxh4 17.
f4) ({Nor} 16... g4 17. f4) 17. Bf2 gxh4) 16... Ng4 17. e5 {with strong
initiative for White.}) ({Instead of the text move, Aronian considered} 15...
Bh3 {to be best, with the idea} 16. gxh4 g4 17. f4 Nf3+ 18. Bxf3 gxf3 {where
Black looks OK.}) ({One more option was} 15... Ng6 {in order to keep the
blockade as much as possible.}) 16. gxh4 gxh4 $6 ({It was not too late for} 
16... g4 17. f4 Nf3+ 18. Bxf3 gxf3 19. Rg1 {and now say} f5 $5 {with unclear
play.}) ({At the post mortem both players analyzed} 16... Qf6 17. hxg5 ({
However here} 17. O-O-O {looks strong with the idea} Nxf3 18. Bxf3 Qxf3 19. Ng3
gxh4 (19... Bh3 20. hxg5 Be5 {looks like Black's best chance although White
should be better here too.}) 20. Rdf1 Qg4 21. Rhg1 $1 {with big advantage for
White.}) 17... Nxf3+ 18. Bxf3 Qxf3) 17. Rg1 f5 ({Here} 17... Rg8 {is not
convincing due to} 18. f4 Ng6 19. e5 $1 {and "this is worse than in the game" 
(Grischuk)}) 18. f4 Ng4 19. e5 $1 {You do not need to ask Aronian twice to
start an attack. Nor Grischuk.} dxe5 (19... Nxe3 {simply brings more white
pieces into the game} 20. Nxe3) 20. d6 Qe6 $5 {"Setting a trap" (Aronian)} ({Or
} 20... Qf7 21. Nd5 {with large advantage for White.}) 21. Nb5 ({Black's idea
is revealed in the line} 21. h3 exf4 22. Bxf4 Bd4 {"when Black is back in
business" (Aronian)}) 21... Rc8 ({After} 21... Bxb5 22. Bxb5+ Kf7 23. Rc1 {
"the black king has no good square" (Aronian)}) 22. Nc7+ Rxc7 23. dxc7 exf4 {
At this point Grischuk was already very low on time, while his opponent had
almost an hour on his clock.} 24. Rd1 {It is hard to call this a mistake, but
according to the computer it is.} (24. Bxf4 {allows Black time to cement the
position with} Bd4) ({However, the computer suggestion:} 24. O-O-O {would most
likely have won after} fxe3 25. Nxe3 $3 ({Rather than} 25. Qxd7+ $2 Qxd7 26.
Bb5 Bxb2+ 27. Kc2 Qxb5 28. c8=Q+ Ke7 29. Qc7+ Kf6 30. Rd6+ Kg5 {where it is
even Black who wins and which was seen by both the opponents.}) 25... Bh6 ({
Aronian was not sure about} 25... Bd4 26. Nxg4 ({Apparently he missed the
killing blow} 26. Nxf5 $1 {and Black's position collapses} Bxg1 27. Ng7+) 26...
Qxa2 {this is indeed unclear, but there was a win before that.}) ({The
captures lose quickly} 25... Qxe3 26. Qxe3+ Nxe3 27. Rxg7) ({Or} 25... Nxe3 26.
c8=Q+ Bxc8 27. Qd8+ Kf7 28. Bh5+ {and mate.}) 26. Bb5 $1 Bxe3 27. c8=Q+ Kf7 28.
Qxh8 {and White wins.}) 24... Ng5 $1 {With seconds on the clock Grischuk finds
the best defense.} ({Instead} 24... fxe3 {loses to} 25. c8=Q+ Bxc8 26. Qd8+ Kf7
27. Qc7+ Kg6 28. Rd6 {(Aronian)}) ({Similar is} 24... b6 25. c8=Q+ Bxc8 26.
Qd8+ Kf7 27. Qc7+ Kg6 28. Rd6) 25. c8=Q+ Bxc8 26. Qd8+ Kf7 27. Qc7+ (27. Qxg5 {
leads only to a draw after say this peculiar line} fxe3 28. Rxg4 fxg4 29. Qf4+
Qf6 30. Bc4+ Ke8 31. Bb5+ Kf7 32. Qc7+ Kg6 33. Rd6 Be6 34. Bd3+ Kh6 35. Rxe6
Qxe6 36. Qf4+ Kh5 37. Bf5 Qf6 38. Ng3+ hxg3 39. Qxg4+ Kh6 40. Qh3+ Kg5 41. Qg4+
) 27... Kg8 {Now Black loses.} ({Both players missed the resource} 27... Qe7
28. Bc4+ Kf6 29. Qxf4 (29. Qxe7+ Kxe7 30. Bxc5+ {would most likely be a draw.})
29... Nh3 30. Rd6+ Be6 31. Bd4+ ({White should likely survive after} 31. Qxg4
fxg4 32. Rxe6+ Qxe6 33. Bxe6 Kxe6 34. Rxg4 Bxb2 35. Bxc5) 31... cxd4 32. Qxd4+
Kf7 33. Bxe6+ Qxe6+ 34. Rxe6 Bxd4 {and it is Black who wins here.}) 28. Rd6 ({
Aronian saw a similar winning line} 28. Rxg4 $1 fxg4 29. Rd6 {with the main
idea} Qf5 (29... Qf7 30. Qxc8+ {"and the g4 pawn is hanging" (Aronian) is also
curtains.}) 30. Bd3 Ne4 31. Rd8+ Kh7 32. Qe7 (32. Qxc8 {wins as well.}) 32...
Be6 33. Nd2 fxe3 34. Nxe4 $1 {and it is over. Apparently, the nerves played
huge role in this game!}) 28... Qf7 {Now comes the strangest move of the event
so far.} 29. Qd8+ {Aronian refuses to capture the bishop with a check and to
win! Unbelievable...} ({The explanation lies in the line:} 29. Qxc8+ Kh7 30.
Qxc5 ({Also winning for White is the line that Grischuk calculated-} 30. Qd7
Qxd7 ({Or} 30... fxe3 31. Rxg4 fxg4 32. Bd3+ Kg8 33. Qc8+ Bf8 34. Rg6+ {and
Black has to part with his queen.}) 31. Rxd7 fxe3 32. Nxe3 $1 {(Grischuk)})
30... Ne4 {It seems as Black is even taking over the initiative, but} 31. Rxg4
$3 {clarifies matters. White wins almost the whole chess-set after} Nxc5 32.
Rxh4+ Kg8 33. Rd8+ Bf8 34. Rxh8+ Kxh8 35. Bxc5) 29... Qf8 30. Bxf4 Ne6 31. Bc4
Qxd8 32. Rxd8+ Kh7 33. Rxh8+ Bxh8 {Now the worst is over for Grischuk and he
is the only one to play for the win. One can only imagine the enormous
pressure that all the candidates are facing. Yesterday Grischuk missed a
relatively simple tactical win, today Aronian. Huge attacking players like
them will never allow such "clicks" in usual tournaments, but here it is
different.} 34. Bd6 {In Grischuk's time-trouble both players place their
pieces optimally.} Ng5 35. Rg2 Ne4 36. Bb8 Bd4 37. h3 (37. Bxa7 Ne5 $1) 37...
Ne5 38. Bd5 Nd3+ {The position is still extremely complicated.} ({Check this
line for example} 38... Bxb2 $5 39. Nd2 Bc3 40. Bxe4 fxe4 41. Kd1 Bxh3 42. Rh2
Ng4 43. Rxh3 Nf2+ 44. Kc2 Nxh3 45. Kxc3 {when it should be a draw somehow...})
39. Ke2 Nc1+ ({Or} 39... Nxb2 40. Ne3 Nc3+ 41. Kd2 Nxd5 42. Nxd5 Be6 43. Nf4
Nc4+ 44. Ke1 Bf7 45. Re2 {when again, nothing is clear but Black is playing
for a win.}) 40. Kd1 Nd3 41. Nd2 Nf6 ({Grischuk spent a lot of time checking
the line} 41... Nef2+ 42. Ke2 Nc1+ 43. Kf3 Nfd3 44. Rg8 Ne1+ 45. Kf4 Ncd3+ 46.
Kg5 Be3+ 47. Kf6 {but realized in time that it will not end well for him.}) 42.
Bf3 {They agreed to a draw due to the line:} (42. Bf3 Nf2+ ({Instead} 42...
Nxb2+ 43. Kc2 f4 44. Rg5 Bxh3 {is risky for Black after} 45. Bxf4 ({Or} 45. Nb3
$5)) 43. Kc1 (43. Ke1) 43... Nxh3 44. Rh2 Ng5 45. Rxh4+) 1/2-1/2


[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.15"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Qb3 c6 7. O-O dxc4 {
Karjakin played this since he knew the position would be the same as in lines
with Qc2.} 8. Qxc4 b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 {Generally Black's big goal is to get in ...
c5 to remove both his backward pawn and the outpost on c5.} 10. Nbd2 (10. Rd1 {
at least hopes to prevent the freeing move}) 10... c5 $1 {Well, that was easy!
Caruana wanted to get a "grip on the position by piling up on c5 with moves
like Nb3, but Black couldn't let that happen. Black will recover the pawn
without issue.} 11. dxc5 Na6 12. Nb3 Be4 13. Qc3 Rc8 14. Be3 Nd5 15. Qd2 Bxf3
16. Bxf3 Nxe3 17. Qxe3 Nxc5 {All of this was known exactly to Karjakin.} 18.
Nxc5 (18. Nd4 Bg5 {--Karjakin}) 18... Bxc5 19. Qb3 Qb6 20. e3 Be7 21. Rfd1 Rc7
22. Rac1 Rfc8 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Kg2 g6 25. Rd2 Kg7 26. Rc2 Rxc2 27. Qxc2 Qc5
28. Qxc5 Bxc5 29. b3 f5 30. a4 bxa4 31. bxa4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.15"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14.
Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bb3 Re8 16. h3 (16. Re3 Nf6 17. Qd3 b5 18. d5 exd5 19. e5 Ne4 20.
Qxb5 Qb6 21. Qxb6 axb6 {So,W (2788)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2017})
16... Nf6 17. Qf4 Nh5 $146 (17... Qc7 18. Qh4 h6 19. Re3 b5 20. Ne5 a5 21. a4
bxa4 22. Bxa4 Red8 23. f3 Ba8 {Epishin,V (2574)-Del Rio de Angelis,S (2489)
Calvia 2005}) 18. Qe5 Nf6 19. Qf4 Nh5 20. Qh2 {Kramnik was still in his
preparation here.} h6 21. d5 exd5 22. exd5 (22. e5 g6 23. Nd4 Qd7 {Kramnik})
22... Rxe1+ 23. Nxe1 Qf6 24. Nd3 Ba6 {"The pawn looks dangerous but I'm in
time." (Kramnik)} 25. Qe5 {"The best try." (Kramnik)} (25. Nb4 Be2) (25. d6
Bxd3 26. d7 Rd8 27. Rxd3 Nf4 {Kramnik}) 25... Bxd3 26. Qxh5 Bc2 27. Rc1 Bf5 28.
Rxc8+ Bxc8 29. d6 {"Important." (Kramnik)} (29. Qd1 Qd6) 29... g5 {Stopping
Qd5.} 30. Qd1 (30. h4 gxh4) (30. Qe2 Qxd6 31. Qe8+ Qf8 32. Bxf7+ Kg7 {Kramnik})
30... Bd7 31. Qd5 Kg7 ({Kramnik wanted both ...a5 and ...Kg7 "and at least I
can try."} 31... a5 32. Bd1 Qa1 33. Kh2 Qc1 34. Bg4 Qf4+ 35. Kg1 Qc1+ {Kramnik}
) 32. Qb7 Qa1+ 33. Kh2 Qe5+ 34. Kg1 Qxd6 35. Qxa7 h5 36. Qb7 h4 37. Qf3 Qe7 38.
Qc3+ f6 39. Qc4 Qe8 40. Qb4 b5 41. a3 Qe5 42. Bd1 Bc6 43. Bf3 Be8 44. Kf1 Bf7
45. Be2 Be8 46. Bf3 f5 47. Kg1 Bf7 48. Qd2 Kg6 49. Qc1 Be6 50. Qc6 Kf6 51. Qe8
Qa1+ 52. Kh2 Qxa3 53. Qd8+ Qe7 54. Qh8+ Qg7 55. Qd8+ Kg6 56. Qe8+ Qf7 57. Qxb5
Qc7+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.15"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E05"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4
Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bf4 Bd6 11. Bg5 Nbd7 12. Nc3 h6 13. Bc1 {An uncommon move,
as you might expect. The idea is to spend the extra tempos to reroute the
bishop to b3 rather than have it get in the way on, say, d2.} a5 (13... e5 14.
e4 {Was Ding's idea. "I didn't expect [Mamedyarov] to play this line."}) 14. b3
Qe7 15. Bb2 Rfd8 16. Rac1 {Mildly criticized by Mamedyarov as passive, as it
also allows Black, who is a little short on space, to exchange bishops despite
weakening c7.} Ba3 17. Bxa3 Qxa3 18. Nb5 Qe7 $1 19. Qc2 (19. Nxc7 Nb6 20. Qc2
Rac8 {was the line that Black thought White has missed, but in face Ding
admitted that he didn't see the ...Ba3 idea at all.}) 19... Bxf3 20. Bxf3 c6
21. Nc3 Nb6 22. e3 e5 23. dxe5 Qxe5 24. Rfd1 g6 25. Rd2 Rd7 26. Rxd7 Nbxd7 27.
Rd1 h5 28. Rd4 (28. h4 {was Ding's preference after the game, as you'll
understand below.}) 28... Nc5 29. h4 (29. Nd5 $2 Ne6 $1 30. Nxf6+ Qxf6 {and
Black wins due to the twin threats [Mamedyarov]. Ding again admitted that he
didn't see this, otherwise he would have played 28. h4 instead.}) 29... Kg7 30.
Kg2 Ne6 31. Rd1 {Mamedyarov joked that if the game continued he would have
played 31...Rh8 and "fake" playing ...g5. But an homage to Kramnik this was
not; he would have simply toggled the rook on the next move! Why not trading
rooks with 31...Rd8? Mamedyarov thought White would swap, then play the exotic
maneuver Nc3-b1-d2-c4, targeting the weak queenside pawns.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "155"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. a4
b4 9. a5 d6 10. d3 Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 Rb8 {This line was heavily
discussed last year in St. Louis.} 13. Nb3 ({Carlsen chose instead} 13. c3 Qe8
14. Nc4 Qg6 15. h3 Nd7 16. Be3 d5 17. Ncd2 bxc3 18. bxc3 Nc5 19. Bxc5 Bxc5 20.
Qa4 {and went on to win later, Carlsen,M (2822)-Aronian,L (2809) Saint Louis
2017. However, there remained a lot of questions about White's chances in this
game.}) 13... Qc8 14. h3 $146 {So improves on another St. Louis game.} ({In
that one the world champion defended the black color after} 14. Qe2 Nd8 15. d4
exd4 16. Nbxd4 c5 17. Nb3 e5 18. Nbd2 Ne6 {Caruana,F (2807) -Carlsen,M (2822)
Saint Louis 2017}) 14... Nd8 15. Be3 c5 16. Nbd2 Nc6 17. c3 Rb5 18. d4 ({White
can of course keep the pawn with either} 18. Nc4) ({Or} 18. Nb3 {but Black
would have no problems at all in these lines.}) 18... exd4 {An ambitious move.}
({Aronian saw that he can equalize with:} 18... bxc3 19. bxc3 exd4 20. cxd4 c4
({Probably also good is} 20... cxd4 21. Nxd4 Nxd4 22. Bxd4 Nd7) ({Maybe even} 
20... Nxa5 21. dxc5 dxc5 22. Qa4 {is a better version of the game continuation
for Black. Although with so many weaknesses White still has decent
compensation for a pawn.}) 21. Nxc4 Nxe4 {"should be around equal" (Aronian)})
(18... Nxa5 $2 {should be avoided though as it drops a piece after} 19. dxe5
dxe5 (19... bxc3 20. bxc3 dxe5 21. c4) 20. c4) 19. cxd4 Nxa5 20. dxc5 dxc5 {In
return for the pawn White has active pieces and can exploit the many
weaknesses in the opponent's camp.} 21. Ra2 {"I kind of prepared this line" 
(So). He later revealed that he considered the position equal.} Qb7 ({Here and
on the next moves Aronian avoids} 21... Nc6 {in order to keep the c4 square
under control and not to let the white queen there.}) ({The American GM
expected} 21... Nd7 {with the idea Nd7-b8-c6.}) 22. b3 ({If} 22. Qa1 Bd8) 22...
Kh8 {"I was a little surprised by this, but it is probably a good move." (So)}
({Aronian disliked the position after:} 22... Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Qxe4 24. Bg5 Qb7
25. Qe2 Bxg5 26. Nxg5 {"maybe it holds somehow but it was not the position I
wanted to get" (Aronian)} Qd5 27. Nxe6) ({Black also disliked} 22... Nd7 23.
Qe2 {as he felt he should keep the knight on f6.}) 23. Qc2 {So is combining
threats against the weaknesses on the queenside with threats on the opposite
wing. Now e4-e5 followed by Nf3-g5 is always a threat.} Nd7 ({If} 23... Nc6 {
to centralize this knight, then either} 24. Nc4 ({Or} 24. Ng5)) 24. Rea1 Bd8
25. Nc4 ({Aronian saw the excellent reply to} 25. e5 c4 26. Nxc4 Nxc4 27. Qxc4
Rxf3 $1 {with a fantastic counter-attack.}) 25... Nxc4 26. Qxc4 Bf6 ({After} 
26... a5 27. Rd1 $1 {is strong.} ({Rather than} 27. Qxe6 Rb6 28. Qc4 Rd6 {
although here too, White is better.})) 27. Rd1 Qc6 28. Rad2 {Little by little
the white pieces occupied commanding positions.} Nb6 (28... Ne5 {is unpleasant
for Black after} 29. Nxe5 Bxe5 30. Rd8 {(Aronian, So)}) 29. Qc2 Qc7 {After
this move Black's position becomes too loose.} ({Black rejected} 29... Qc8 $1 {
on the account of} 30. e5 Bd8 31. Bg5 {But this seems way better than the game
continuation after} (31. Bxc5 $2 Rxc5 32. Rxd8 Rxc2 {wins for Black.}) 31...
Nd5 $1 {This was probably Black's best chance.}) ({After} 29... e5 30. Bg5 $1 {
is strong for White (Aronian)}) 30. e5 $1 {So breaks open the position for his
active pieces. The rook on b5 and the knight on b6 are out of the game and So
attacks practically with an extra rook.} ({Also quite unpleasant for the
second player was the resource} 30. Bg5 $5 {(Aronian) with the threat e4-e5
and if} c4 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32. Nd4 Re5 33. f4 {wins material for White.}) 30...
Be7 (30... Bxe5 $2 {drops material heavily after} 31. Ng5 g6 32. Nxe6) ({Here} 
30... Bd8 {does not work (see the line from the previous comment) due to} 31.
Bxc5 $1 Rxc5 32. Rxd8 Rxc2 33. Rxf8#) 31. Nd4 Rc8 ({Perhaps the last chance
was the eventual endgame after} 31... Qxe5 32. Nxb5 axb5 33. Re2 Qc3) 32. Nxe6
$1 {White keeps playing for the attack.} ({"It does not make any sense to take
the exchange"} 32. Nxb5 axb5 33. f4 Nd5 {"as Black is at least equal" (Aronian,
So). The black connected passers are perfectly supported by all his pieces.})
32... Qxe5 33. Nf4 {Aronian did not expect this and "relaxed too soon" after
seeing it. He later called the move "excellent practical chance."} ({Aronian
spend almost all his remaining time on the sharp and beautiful lines:} 33. Rd6
$1 {with the threat Be3-f4! (So did not see this) If} Kg8 ({The main tactical
point of the move is that} 33... Bxd6 $1 34. Ng5 {is a nasty double attack.}) (
{Probably} 33... Re8 {leaves defensive chances to Black.}) 34. Bf4 Qf6 35. Ng5
{wins for White.}) ({Black was also afraid of} 33. Nd8 {when after} Kg8 34. Rd7
c4 ({Aronian intended} 34... Qf6 {but this loses to} 35. Bg5 $3 Qxg5 36. Qe2 $1
) (34... h6) 35. Bd4 Qf5 $2 ({However} 35... Nxd7 $1 36. Bxe5 Nxe5 {provides
Black drawing chances.}) 36. Rxe7 Rxd8 (36... Qxc2 37. Re8#) 37. Rxg7+ {and
White should win.}) 33... Rf8 {This is "bad" (So); "a terrible move." (Aronian)
} (33... Kg8 $1 {was mandatory} 34. Re2 Bf8 {when Black can cement his
position.}) 34. Re2 $1 {Now the black pieces are once again loose.} Qc3 ({Last
chance was} 34... Bf6 $5) ({Aronian's initial plan was} 34... Qf5 35. Qxf5 Rxf5
{but then he spotted} 36. Bc1 $1 {"and Black can resign"(Aronian). For example}
Bf8 37. Rd8 Kg8 38. Ree8 c4 39. g4 Rf6 40. Ne6) 35. Qb1 $1 (35. Qa2 {with the
same idea was also very strong as indicated by the Armenian GM.}) 35... Qf6 ({
Or} 35... Nc8 36. Bd2 Qf6 37. Ne6 Rg8 38. Bg5 Qf7 39. Bxe7 Nxe7 (39... Qxe7 40.
Nd4) 40. Ng5 Qg6 41. Qxg6 Nxg6 42. Nf7#) 36. Bc1 $1 {"Here the game is already
finished. It is just (white) pieces coming." (Aronian)} c4 ({A curious line is
} 36... Qf7 37. Bb2 Bf6 38. Bxf6 Qxf6 39. Ne6 Rg8 40. Nc7 Ra5 41. Ne8 Qg5 42.
Nd6) 37. bxc4 Nxc4 ({Alas,} 37... Rg5 {does not work due to} 38. Re6 $1 {
(Aronian)} ({But not} 38. Ne6 $2 Rxg2+ $1 39. Kxg2 Qf3+)) 38. Re6 Qg5 {
Sacrifices the queen in the vain hope of a fortress.} ({Or else Black will
lose material on the pin} 38... Qf7 39. Rd7 Re8 40. Qe4) 39. Ng6+ ({There was
an alternative win} 39. Rd7 Bf6 40. Rf7 $1 Rbb8 (40... Rg8 41. Rexf6) 41. Rxf8+
Rxf8 42. Qxb4 Rc8 43. Qxc4 $1) 39... Qxg6 40. Rxg6 hxg6 41. Qe4 {This is the
problem. More material is lost.} Bf6 42. Qxc4 b3 43. Ba3 Rfb8 ({If} 43... b2
44. Bxf8 b1=Q 45. Rxb1 Rxb1+ 46. Kh2) 44. Rb1 b2 45. h4 {The rest is good
technique by So.} (45. Qa4 $5 a5 46. h4) 45... Ra5 (45... a5 46. Bd6 R8b7 47.
g4 Rb3 48. Kg2 {(Aronian, So)}) 46. Qd3 Rd8 (46... Bxh4 47. Rxb2) 47. Qb3 Rc8
48. Qb7 Rd8 49. Qb3 Rc8 50. Qb4 Rb5 51. Qg4 Rc3 (51... Rcb8 52. Qxg6) 52. Bxb2
Rxb2 53. Rxb2 Rc1+ 54. Kh2 Bxb2 55. Qxg6 Ra1 56. g4 a5 57. Qh5+ Kg8 58. Qb5 Ba3
({The utility of the kingside pawns is revealed after} 58... Bf6 59. Qe8+ Kh7
60. g5 Bc3 (60... Bb2 61. Qe4+ Kg8 62. g6 Kf8 63. Qe6) 61. Qh5+ Kg8 62. g6 Kf8
63. Qc5+) 59. Qe5 Rd1 60. Qe6+ Kh7 61. Qe4+ Kh8 62. Qa8+ Kh7 63. Qxa5 Bd6+ 64.
Kg2 Rd4 65. Qf5+ Kh8 66. Qh5+ Kg8 67. g5 Kf8 68. Qg6 Be7 69. Qf5+ Ke8 70. Kh3
Rd6 71. Qh7 Kf7 72. f4 Rd4 73. Qf5+ Ke8 74. Qe5 Rb4 75. Kg4 Kf8 76. Qf5+ Ke8
77. Qe6 Rd4 (77... Kf8 78. Qc8+ Kf7 79. g6+ Kxg6 80. Qf5+ Kh6 81. Qh5#) 78. Qe5
1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D73"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. c4 dxc4 6. O-O O-O 7. Na3 c5 8. dxc5
c3 9. Nb5 Na6 10. Nxc3 Nxc5 11. Nd4 $146 {"White is not objectively better but
at least the game gets more complicated than in the main line." (Karjakin)} ({
Karjakin wasn't afraid of} 11. Be3 Nfe4 12. Nxe4 Nxe4 13. Bd4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4
Qxd4 15. Nxd4 Nd6 {Kramnik,V (2787)-Wei,Y (2743) Wijk aan Zee 2018}) 11... Qb6
12. Be3 Qxb2 {"A typical manever." (Karjakin)} 13. Ncb5 (13. Ndb5 Nce4) 13...
Ne6 ({Karjakin wasn't sure about} 13... Ng4 14. Rb1 Nxe3 15. fxe3 Qxa2 16. Qc1)
14. Rb1 Qxa2 15. Ra1 Qb2 (15... Qc4 16. Ra4) 16. Rb1 (16. Qd3 Bd7 {Karjakin})
16... Qa2 17. Ra1 Qb2 18. Rb1 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "127"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8.
Bb5+ (8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bc4 Qc7 10. Qe2 a6 11. O-O b5 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. a4 bxa4 14.
Bf4 Qc8 {Carlsen,M (2832)-So,W (2815) Chess.com Speed Chess Ch 2017}) 8... Bd7
9. Bd3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Be2 $146 (11. Nf3 Nb4 12. O-O Bc6 13. Bc4 b5 14.
Ne5 bxc4 15. Rxb4 Bxe4 16. Qa4+ Kf8 {Naroditsky,D (2626)-Shimanov,A (2646)
Saint Louis 2017}) 11... Rc8 12. Nf3 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Bb4 14. Rb2 Bxd2+ 15. Qxd2
Qxd2+ 16. Kxd2 Na5 {Kramnik considered the endgame equal.} 17. Rbb1 Ke7 18.
Rhc1 f6 19. h4 Rhd8 20. Bd3 a6 21. Ke3 b5 22. g4 Be8 23. Ng1 Nc6 24. Ne2 Rd6 {
And here Kramnik thought he was better.} 25. Rd1 (25. a4 bxa4 26. Bxa6 Ra8 27.
Bb7 Ra7) 25... Rcd8 26. Bc2 Na5 27. Bd3 Nc6 28. Bc2 h5 29. g5 fxg5 30. e5 R6d7
31. hxg5 h4 32. g6 Na5 (32... h3 33. f4 Na5) 33. Rbc1 Rc7 34. Bd3 Rdc8 $2 {A
blunder based on a strange oversight. As Kramnik pointed out, he had many
alternatives.} (34... Bc6 35. Nf4 Rdc8) (34... Rxc1 35. Rxc1 Bc6 (35... h3 $5)
36. Nf4 Rh8 37. Bf1 Nc4+) (34... Nc4+ 35. Bxc4 Rxc4 36. Rxc4 bxc4 37. Rh1 Bxg6
38. Rxh4 {Mamedyarov}) 35. Rxc7+ Rxc7 36. Rh1 Nc4+ 37. Kf4 {In his earlier
calculations, Kramnik "had a hallicunation," thinking his rook was on c8
instead of c7. Therefore he had planned 37...Bc6 38.Rxh4 Rf8+ here, winning
back the pawn.} Nb2 38. Be4 b4 39. Rxh4 Nd1 40. f3 (40. Rh7 $1) 40... Nc3 41.
Nxc3 bxc3 42. Rh2 (42. Rh7 Kd8 43. Bc2 Rb7 44. Rh8 Ke7 45. Ke3 Rb2 46. Be4 Rg2)
42... Rc8 43. Ke3 Bb5 44. f4 Bc4 45. Rh7 Rg8 46. a3 a5 (46... Bb3 47. Kd3) 47.
Bc2 (47. d5 $1 exd5 48. Bc2 Ke6 49. Kd4 Rf8 50. f5+ Rxf5 51. Bxf5+ Kxf5 52.
Kxc3 Kxg6 53. Rh2) 47... Kd7 48. d5 Bxd5 49. Kd4 Ba2 (49... Kc6 50. f5) (49...
Bf3 50. Kxc3 Bg4 51. Kd4 Bf5 52. Bxf5 exf5 53. Kd5) 50. Kxc3 Kc6 51. Rh2 Kc5
52. Rd2 Rh8 (52... Rf8 53. Rd7 Rxf4 54. Rxg7 Rg4 55. Rd7) 53. Rd7 Rh3+ 54. Kb2
Bd5 55. Rxg7 Kd4 (55... Rg3 56. Ra7) 56. Rh7 Rg3 57. Rh5 Rg2 58. Rg5 Rf2 59. g7
Be4 60. g8=Q Rxc2+ 61. Kb3 Rc3+ 62. Ka4 Rc5 63. Rg2 $1 ({More aaccurate than} 
63. Rg3 Bc2+ 64. Rb3 Rc4+ 65. Kxa5 Bxb3 66. f5) 63... Bf3 64. Qd8+ 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E60"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. Be2 c5 (5... d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e4
Nb6 8. O-O Bg4 9. Nbd2 $1 {was one of Grischuk's ideas when he played this
system as White.}) 6. d5 e6 7. Nc3 exd5 (7... b6 8. O-O exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10.
Nd2 Ba6 11. Re1 d6 12. e4 Qc8 13. a4 c4 {Nakamura,H (2787)-Nepomniachtchi,I 
(2751) Moscow 2018}) 8. cxd5 d6 9. Nd2 Na6 10. O-O Nc7 11. e4 Re8 12. a4 Rb8
13. f3 a6 14. a5 Bd7 15. Nc4 Bb5 16. Bg5 {"A very nice move" (Grischuk) which
prevents ...Nd7.} Bxc4 17. Bxc4 b5 18. axb6 Rxb6 19. Na4 $146 (19. Qc2 h6 20.
Bh4 g5 21. Bf2 Nd7 22. Ra2 Qf6 23. Be2 Reb8 24. Be3 Ne5 {Hamitevici,V (2430)
-Jumabayev,R (2599) London 2015}) ({Also interesting was} 19. f4 Rxb2 20. e5
dxe5 21. f5 e4 (21... Rb4 $5) 22. d6 Nb5 23. fxg6 hxg6 24. Nd5 Re6 25. Nxf6+
Rxf6 {and here the players missed the killer move} 26. Bxf7+ $1 Kxf7 27. Qd5+
Kf8 28. Rxf6+ Bxf6 29. Bh6+ Ke8 30. Qe6+ Be7 31. d7+ Qxd7 32. Qg8+) 19... Rb4 (
{Grischuk didn't like} 19... Rb7 20. Qd3 Qb8 21. Rae1) 20. b3 Qc8 (20... Qb8
21. Bf4) 21. Bf4 ({Grischuk also suggested} 21. Nxc5 dxc5 22. d6 Nb5 (22... Rd8
23. e5) 23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. d7 Bd4+ 25. Qxd4 Nxd4 26. dxc8=Q Rxc8 27. Ra3 Rcb8 (
27... Rd8) (27... Nc2) 28. Rxa6 Nxb3 29. Bd5 {Grischuk}) (21. Ra2 Nd7 22. Nb2
Ne5 23. Nd3 Nxc4 24. Nxb4 Nb2 25. Rxb2 Bxb2 26. Nc6 Qd7 {Caruana}) 21... Qd7 (
21... Nh5 $5 22. Bxd6 Nb5 23. Nb6 Qb7 24. Bxc5 Nc3 25. Qd2 Rxb6 26. Kh1 {
Caruana}) 22. Ra2 Nh5 23. Be3 Rbb8 24. Qd2 Nb5 25. g4 ({Also here Grischuk
seriously considered} 25. Nxc5 dxc5 26. Bxc5 {("This looks so desparate." -
Caruana)}) 25... Nf6 26. Nb2 Qc8 (26... Nxe4 27. fxe4 Nc3 {"and the computer
is showing zeros," said FIDE's Nastja Karlovich. Caruana: "If the computer is
showing zeros it's probably winning for Back."}) 27. Bf4 Nd7 (27... Rb6 28. Bd3
(28. Na4)) 28. Bxb5 axb5 29. Bxd6 Rb6 30. Bg3 c4 31. bxc4 (31. Qc2 $5 Ra6 32.
Rxa6 Qxa6 33. bxc4 bxc4 {Grischuk: "I thought at least practically it's very
nice. Against computer you are going to lose any position so it also doesn't
matter."}) 31... bxc4 {Grischuk thought he had great compensation here but he
had missed...} 32. Qe2 $1 {when...} Rb4 {was the only move, he thought.} (32...
c3 33. Nc4 Rb4 {Caruana}) 33. Bd6 ({If White wants to continue (which he
should, according to engines) it's with} 33. Rc1 c3 34. Nd3 (34. Nd1 f5 {
didn't look appealing to Caruana in time trouble}) 34... Rc4 {when Caruana
didn't see a move.}) 33... Rb6 34. Bg3 Rb4 35. Bd6 Rb6 36. Bg3 1/2-1/2






[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.18"]
[Round "7.3"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D38"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bg5 h6 {Mamedyarov said he played
this for the first time.} 6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 Ne4 8. Qc2 h5 9. h3 Nc6 (9... c6 10.
e3 Qa5 11. Nd2 Nxg3 12. fxg3 Qc7 13. O-O-O Qxg3 14. e4 Nd7 {Matlakov,M (2691)
-Yu,Y (2737) Moscow 2016}) 10. e3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nxg3 12. fxg3 Qd6 13. Qf2 $146
(13. Kf2 h4 14. g4 Bd7 15. Bd3 Qg3+ 16. Kf1 dxc4 17. Bxc4 Rg8 {Azmaiparashvili,
Z (2650)-Nikolaidis,I (2565) Pula 1997}) 13... Qa3 14. Qc2 Qd6 15. Qf2 Qa3 16.
Qc2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.18"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E51"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 O-O 5. Nf3 d5 6. Bd2 c5 7. a3 cxd4 {
Karjakin was surprised by this.} (7... Bxc3 8. Bxc3 Ne4 9. Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3
cxd4 11. Nxd4 dxc4 12. Bxc4 Bd7 13. O-O Nc6 {Riazantsev,A (2671)-Inarkiev,E 
(2709) Doha 2016}) 8. axb4 dxc3 9. Bxc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Qxd1+ 11. Kxd1 $146 (11.
Rxd1 Bd7 12. Ne5 Rc8 13. Be2 Ba4 14. Ra1 Be8 15. Nc4 Nbd7 16. Nd6 Rcb8 {
Sandipan,C (2569)-Visakh,N (2389) Kolkata 2015}) 11... Bd7 12. Ke2 Rc8 13. Bd3
Nd5 14. Ne5 Be8 {"I realized I don't have anything." (Karjakin)} 15. Bd2 f6 16.
Nc4 Rd8 17. Rhc1 Nc6 18. Be4 Ndxb4 (18... a6 19. b5 $5 {Karjakin}) 19. Bxb4
Nxb4 20. Bxb7 Rab8 21. Rxa7 Rd7 22. Na5 Nd3 23. Rd1 Nxb2 24. Rxd7 Bxd7 25. Bc6
Bxc6 26. Nxc6 Re8 (26... Rb6 27. Nd4 Nc4 {seemed easier to Karjakin.}) 27. e4
Nc4 28. Kd3 Nd6 29. f4 Kf8 30. e5 fxe5 31. fxe5 Nf5 (31... Nf7 32. Kc4 Nd8 33.
Nd4 Nf7 {Karjakin}) 32. g4 Nh4 33. Kc4 Nf3 34. Ra2 Rc8 35. Kb5 Ke8 $4 ({As
Karjakin pointed out, the way to draw was} 35... Rc7 $1 36. Kb6 (36. Rf2 Rf7)
36... Rd7 37. Rf2 Rd3) 36. Kb6 $1 g5 37. h3 Nxe5 38. Nxe5 Rc3 39. Rh2 Ke7 40.
Kb5 Re3 {So lost on time here but according to Karjakin it was a technical win
for White.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.18"]
[Round "7.2"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8.
Bxc4 c5 9. O-O cxd4 10. e5 Qd8 11. Ne4 O-O 12. Qe2 Be7 13. Rad1 ({White can
also place the other rook on d1, as in this fascinating game:} 13. Rfd1 Qa5 14.
Ng3 Rd8 15. Qe4 Nd7 16. Bd3 Nf8 17. Nh5 Bd7 18. Qg4 g6 19. Nf4 Bc6 20. Bxg6
fxg6 21. Nxg6 Bxf3 22. Nxe7+ Kf7 23. Qxf3+ Kxe7 24. Qf6+ Ke8 25. Rd3 Rd7 26.
Rf3 Qc5 27. Qxh6 Rc8 28. Qh5+ Kd8 29. Qg5+ Ke8 30. Qh5+ Kd8 31. Qg5+ {1/2-1/2 
(31) Grandelius,N (2653)-Bluebaum,M (2643) Germany 2018}) 13... Qc7 14. Bd3
$146 {A novelty, which is backed up by deep opening preparation.} ({White did
not get much in this game:} 14. Ng3 Rd8 15. Nh5 g6 16. Nf4 Nc6 17. Qe4 Bf8 18.
h4 Bg7 19. Rfe1 Bd7 20. Bd3 Be8 {Moiseenko,A (2671)-Meier,G (2644) Jerusalem
2017}) 14... Nd7 15. Rc1 Qa5 16. g4 {"A complete surprise" (Caruana). Albeit
typical, Aronian's idea is nevertheless very impressive. It is very obvious
that White needs to attack on the kingside. But as we have seen in the games
from above the pure piece attack with the heavy pieces lifts leads White
nowhere. Aronian wants to clear the road for them. This is risky for two
reasons: it gives Caruana time to finish his development and opens the white
king as well. And of course, it drops another pawn.} Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Qxe5 18. f4
Qa5 $1 {The best square for the queen.} (18... Qd5 {"does not work" (Caruana,
Aronian) due to the beautiful idea} 19. g5 Bd7 20. gxh6 gxh6 21. Rc5 $1 {
"always an annoying resource" (Caruana)} Bxc5 22. Nf6+) 19. g5 Qd8 ({Both
players agreed that the other defensive set up} 19... g6 20. h4 h5 {is not
good for Black after} 21. Ng3 {with the f4-f5 ideas in the air as well as the
knight sacrifice on h5.}) 20. h4 ({Later on Aronian regretted that he did not
lift the rook:} 20. Rf3 {[%cal Gf3g3]} Bd7 21. Rg3 Bc6 22. gxh6 g6 {which
would have helped him to establish a strong attacking knight on g5.} 23. Ng5 {
"I wanted to place the knight like that later" (Aronian)} Qd5 24. Kf2 {[%cal
Gh2h4,Gh4h5] Intending h2-h4-h5. It is not clear how strong White's attack is
but it is definitely dangerous.}) 20... Bd7 21. gxh6 g6 {Missed by White.} ({
He expected} 21... f5 {instead when after} 22. Ng5 Bxg5 23. hxg7 {both} Kxg7 ({
As well as the exchange sacrifice} 23... Bh6 24. gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 25. Rf3 {which
is also unclear.}) 24. hxg5 Qb8 25. Bb5 {lead to unclear game which Aronian
considered favorable for him.}) 22. h5 {The most straightforward way to
continue the attack.} ({Although} 22. Ng5 $5 {deserved attention as well, to
which Caruana intended the prophylactic move} Kh8) 22... Kh8 {Another useful
prophylactic move.} 23. Kh2 {Aronian did not like his choice right after the
game. The move clears the road for the heavy pieces on the g-file, but is slow.
} ({The obvious continuation} 23. hxg6 fxg6 24. Qg4 ({Instead} 24. Nc5 Bxc5 25.
Rxc5 Bc6 26. Rg5 {is approximately equal.}) {was not to Aronian's liking as
his opponent can start bugging him on the other side with} 24... Rc8) 23... Bc6
24. Rf3 {Perhaps this is the real mistake.} ({Caruana expected the following:} 
24. hxg6 fxg6 25. Qg4 Qd5 (25... Bxe4 26. Bxe4 Bd6 {might be interesting as
well, albeit risky.}) 26. Rc5 $1 ({Here they both saw the brilliancy} 26. Rxc6
bxc6 27. Qxg6 Rg8 28. Qf7 Raf8 29. Ng5 $1 {seems like mate-} Rxf7 ({Until one
discovers the counter-brilliancy} 29... Qg2+ $3 30. Kxg2 Rxf7 {and the king is
pinned (Aronian, Caruana)}) 30. Nxf7#) 26... Bxc5 27. Qxg6 Qd7 28. Nxc5 Qe7 29.
Qg7+ $1 Qxg7 30. hxg7+ Kxg7 31. Nxe6+ {with a draw. Objectively, this was the
best that White could do.}) 24... Bd6 ({Caruana discarded} 24... Qd5 {since
after} 25. Rg3 Qxh5+ 26. Qxh5 gxh5 27. Rg7 {"White has enough for the pawn."
Still} f5 $1 {seems promising for the second player. For example} 28. Rxe7 fxe4
29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. Bxe4 Rxf4 {when the compensation should not be enough.}) 25.
Qf2 Bc7 $1 {Caruana liked the bishop here.} 26. Kh3 Qe7 {A strong resource,
missed by Aronian.} (26... Qd5 27. Rc5 $1) 27. Ng5 {Finally, the knight lands
on g5, but it is a bit late.} ({Maybe} 27. Rg1 Rg8 28. Rfg3 {was White's best
hope.}) 27... e5 $1 {Central powerplay.} ({But not} 27... Bxf3 28. Qxf3 Bd6 29.
Qe4 {when White gets all then light squares.}) 28. Rxc6 $1 {Not even thinking
about a retreat.} bxc6 29. Nxf7+ Rxf7 30. hxg6 {White is down a rook but his
pawns look scary!} Rf6 {Surprisingly, this should have led to a draw.} ({
Aronian felt too pessimistic at this stage of the game and believed that Black
is winning after} 30... Rxf4 $1 31. Rxf4 exf4 {but things are not that simple
and White can escape after} 32. Qxd4+ (32. Qc2 Qe6+ {wins for Black after} 33.
Kg2 f3+ $1 34. Kxf3 Rf8+ {and mate.}) 32... Qe5 33. g7+ Kg8 {and now} 34. Bc4+
({Not} 34. Qd7 Qh5+ 35. Kg2 Qd5+ {(Aronian)}) 34... Kh7 35. Qd3+ Kxh6 36. g8=Q
Rxg8 37. Bxg8 {with likely draw.}) 31. g7+ Kg8 32. Bc4+ ({The drawing line was
} 32. Qh4 $1 e4 33. h7+ ({Not} 33. Bxe4 $2 Qxe4) 33... Kxg7 34. Rg3+ Kh8 35.
Rg8+ $1 Rxg8 36. hxg8=Q+ Kxg8 37. Bc4+ Kg7 38. Qg5+ {when Black cannot escape
the perpetual-} Kh7 (38... Kf8 $4 39. Qg8#) 39. Qg8+ Kh6 40. Qg5+) 32... Kh7 {
Now Black wins.} 33. Qh4 e4 34. Rg3 Bxf4 35. g8=Q+ (35. Rb3 {loses to} Rxh6)
35... Rxg8 36. Bxg8+ Kh8 37. Rg7 Qf8 $1 ({Avoiding the last trap:} 37... Qd6
38. Rh7+ Kxg8 39. Qg4+ Rg6 40. Rg7+ $1 {and Black gets checkmated.}) 0-1

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.18"]
[Round "7.4"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A28"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "147"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d6 8. b3 (
8. Rb1 a5 9. a3 Re8 10. Nd2 Be6 11. Nd5 Qd7 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Ne4 Bg7 14. Bh6
Bh3 {Iturrizaga Bonelli,E (2650)-Mamedyarov,S (2804) chess.com INT 2018}) 8...
Nd4 9. Nd2 c6 10. e3 Ne6 11. Bb2 $146 ({Voorganger (4):} 11. Ba3 Re8 12. Nde4
Nxe4 13. dxe4 Qa5 14. Bb2 Qc7 15. Qd2 Nc5 {Malakhov,V (2694)-Ding,L (2710)
China 2014}) 11... Nc5 12. Qc2 a5 13. Rae1 Re8 14. h3 Bf5 15. e4 Bd7 16. Ne2 b5
17. d4 exd4 18. Nxd4 (18. Bxd4 bxc4 19. Bxc5 cxb3 20. Nxb3 dxc5 21. Nxc5 Bc8)
18... Rc8 19. N4f3 $2 {"A blunder." (Kramnik)} ({Kramnik though he had a good
version of a King's Indian but Ding wasn't so sure after e.g.} 19. Re3 d5)
19... d5 $1 {Missed by Kramnik.} 20. exd5 Rxe1 21. Rxe1 cxd5 (21... Bf5 22. Qd1
Nd3 {was also interesting.}) 22. cxb5 Bf5 23. Qd1 Nd3 24. Bd4 Rc1 (24... Nxe1)
(24... Ne4 $5) 25. Qxc1 Nxc1 26. Rxc1 Ne4 27. Nf1 {A move Ding missed. Also
here Kramnik thought he was better and Ding did not agree.} Bxd4 28. Nxd4 Qb6 (
28... Bd7 $5 {Ding} 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. Ne3 Qb6 31. Rc4) 29. Bxe4 dxe4 (29...
Bxh3 $5 30. Bxd5 Qxd4) ({Kramnik was also very optimistic after} 29... Bxe4 30.
Rd1 {but Ding played like the computer does:} a4 31. bxa4 (31. b4 a3 32. Ne3
Qd6) 31... Qa7) 30. Nxf5 gxf5 31. a4 Qe6 32. Ne3 $6 (32. Rc3 h5 33. h4 {Kramnik
}) 32... Qxb3 33. Rc4 (33. Nxf5 h5 34. Rc7 Kh7) 33... h5 34. h4 Kh7 35. Kg2 f6
36. Rd4 Kg6 37. Rc4 Kf7 38. Kh2 Kg6 39. Kg1 Qb1+ 40. Kg2 Qb3 41. Rd4 Kf7 42.
Rd5 Qxa4 43. Rxf5 Kg6 44. b6 (44. g4 hxg4 45. h5+ Kh7 46. Rc5 (46. Nxg4 e3)
46... Qb3) 44... Qb3 45. Rxa5 Qxb6 46. Rd5 Qb2 47. Rf5 Qa2 48. Rc5 Qe2 49. Rc4
Qa2 50. Rb4 Qa5 51. Rb8 Qa2 52. Rd8 Qa5 53. Rd5 Qa2 54. Rf5 Qe6 55. Rd5 Qa6 56.
g4 hxg4 57. h5+ Kf7 58. Rd7+ Ke6 59. Rg7 Qe2 60. h6 Qf3+ 61. Kg1 g3 62. Rxg3
Qh5 63. Rg7 f5 64. h7 f4 65. Ng4 Qh3 66. Rg6+ Kf5 67. Rg7 Ke6 68. Rg6+ Kf5 69.
Nh6+ Kxg6 70. h8=Q Qxh6 71. Qe8+ Kf5 72. Qb5+ Kg4 73. Qe2+ Kf5 74. Qb5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 c6 {Here
Mamedyarov's prep ended.} (7... a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Qxc4 Bc6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bxf6
Bxf6 12. Nc3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Qxd4 14. Qxc7 Nc6 {Mamedyarov,S (2804)-Wei,Y (2743)
Wijk aan Zee 2018}) 8. a4 b6 9. Nbd2 Bb7 10. Nxc4 c5 $146 (10... Nbd7 11. Rd1
Rc8 12. Nfe5 Nd5 13. Qb3 Ba6 14. e4 N5f6 15. Bg5 h6 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Rac1 Qc7
{Poulopoulos,I (2212)-Erenberg,A (2359) Pardubice 2016}) 11. Rd1 Nbd7 12. b3 {
The first small surprise for Karjakin.} Rc8 (12... Be4 13. Qb2 cxd4 14. Nxd4
Bxg2 15. Kxg2) 13. dxc5 ({Karjakin expected} 13. Bf4 cxd4 14. Qb2 (14. Nxd4 $2
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 e5)) 13... Bxc5 14. Nfe5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 Qc7 16. Nxd7 Nxd7 (16...
Qb7+ 17. f3 Nxd7 18. e4) 17. Qe4 Nf6 18. Qf3 Qc6 19. Qxc6 Rxc6 20. f3 (20. Rd3
$5 Rfc8 21. Bb2 Kf8 22. Rad1 {Mamedyarov}) 20... Rfc8 21. e4 Kf8 22. Bf4 Be7
23. Rd3 Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Bxd8 25. Rd1 Be7 26. Ne5 Rc2+ 27. Rd2 Rc3 28. Rd3 Rc2+
29. Rd2 Rc3 30. Rd3 Rc2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. Qa4+ Bd7 6. Qxc4 c5 7. d4 Bc6 8.
dxc5 Nbd7 9. Be3 Bd5 10. Qc2 Be4 11. Qc1 Ng4 $146 (11... Bxc5 12. Bxc5 Rc8 13.
b4 b6 14. Nc3 bxc5 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Qc4 Nef6 {Zhou,J (2566)-Adams,M (2729)
Khanty-Mansiysk 2007}) 12. b4 {"This came as a surprise. I thought this
shouldn't work." (Aronian)} (12. O-O Bxf3 (12... Nxe3 13. Qxe3 Bxb1 14. c6) 13.
Bg5 Bxg2 14. Bxd8 Bxf1 15. Ba5) 12... a5 13. Bg5 {"Good move." (Aronian)} f6
14. Bd2 (14. Nbd2 $5 Bc6 (14... Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Nge5 16. Bxb7 fxg5 17. c6) 15.
Qc4 Nxf2 16. O-O) (14. Qc4 Nxf2 15. Kxf2 Bd5 {Ding}) 14... axb4 15. Bxb4 Nxc5
16. Bxc5 Rc8 {"I felt this position should be good for Black." (Aronian)} ({
Aronian wasn't sure about} 16... Qa5+ 17. Nbd2 Bxc5 18. O-O Nxf2 19. Rxf2) 17.
Qc4 (17. Qf4 Bxc5 18. Qxg4 f5 19. Qxg7 Bf8 20. Qb2 Bg7 {Aronian}) 17... Bxc5
18. Qxe6+ Kf8 {Aronian thought this was OK for Black. "I promised my team to
play solid today!"} 19. Qxg4 Bb4+ 20. Nbd2 Bxd2+ 21. Nxd2 Bxg2 22. Rg1 Bd5 (
22... Bc6 {Aronian}) 23. Rd1 Qc7 24. Ne4 $1 {Missed by Aronian.} Rd8 (24...
Bxa2 $5) 25. f3 Qe5 (25... Kf7 $6 26. Ng5+ $1) 26. Qf4 Qxf4 27. gxf4 Kf7 28.
Nc3 Bc4 29. a4 (29. Rb1 b5 30. Nxb5 Rhe8 31. Nc3 Re3 32. Rc1 Rde8) 29... Rxd1+
30. Kxd1 Rd8+ 31. Kc2 Rc8 32. Kd2 Ba6 33. Ne4 Kf8 34. f5 Rd8+ 35. Ke3 Rd5 36.
Rc1 (36. Ng3 Ra5 37. Rc1 Rxa4 38. Rc8+ Kf7 39. Rc7+ Kf8 40. Nh5 Ra2 41. Nf4 Kg8
{"If I don't get mated I will make a draw." (Aronian)}) 36... Rxf5 37. Rc8+ Ke7
38. Rc7+ Kf8 39. Rc8+ Ke7 40. Rc7+ Kf8 41. Rc8+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.19"]
[Round "8"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 Qe7 6. d3 (6. Nc3 Nxc3 7.
dxc3 Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 Nc6 9. Be3 Be7 10. O-O-O O-O 11. Rhe1 Bf6 12. Nd2 Re8 {
Kramnik,V (2800)-Caruana,F (2784) Berlin GER 2018}) 6... Nf6 7. Nc3 Qxe2+ 8.
Bxe2 g6 9. Bg5 (9. Nd4 a6 10. Bf4 Bg7 11. h3 Bd7 12. Bf3 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc6 14.
Bxc6+ bxc6 {Carlsen,M (2834)-Caruana,F (2811) Wijk aan Zee 2018}) 9... Bg7 10.
O-O-O O-O $146 (10... h6 11. Bd2 Bd7 12. Rde1 O-O 13. Bd1 a6 14. Ne4 Nxe4 15.
Rxe4 Nc6 {Foisor,C (2427)-Foisor,M (2217) Warsaw 2011}) 11. Rhe1 h6 12. Bh4 {
So regretted this as the bishop will be badly placed. "I should play better
earlier on."} (12. Be3 Ng4) 12... Nc6 {Caruana Black was aleady more
comfortable here.} 13. d4 a6 14. a3 Bd7 15. d5 Na7 (15... Ne7 16. Bxa6) 16. Nd4
Nc8 17. Nb3 (17. f3 Re8 18. Bf2) 17... g5 (17... Re8 18. f3) 18. Bg3 Re8 19.
Na5 (19. f3 Nh5 20. Bf2 Nf4 21. Bf1 Nb6) 19... b5 {"Principled." (Caruana)} ({
Caruana was surprised about Na5 until he saw} 19... b6 20. Nc4 Ne7 21. Ne3 {
and the knight is well placed on e3.}) 20. f3 Nh5 21. Bf2 Nf4 22. Bf1 Nb6 (
22... Rxe1 23. Bxe1 Nb6 24. g3 Bxc3 25. Bxc3 Nfxd5 26. Bd4 {with enough
compesation.}) 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. Bxb6 cxb6 25. Nb7 {"Very critical but also
risky for White." (Caruana)} Be5 (25... Bxc3 $5 26. bxc3 Re5 27. Nxd6 (27. c4
bxc4 28. Bxc4 Nxg2 29. Nxd6) 27... Nxd5 28. Ne4 Bc6 29. c4) 26. Ne4 Rb8 27.
Nexd6 Ng6 28. g3 Ne7 29. a4 Nf5 (29... Nc8 30. Nxc8 Rxc8 31. axb5 axb5 32. d6
Rb8 33. Bg2 {Caruana}) 30. Nxf5 Bxf5 31. Re1 f6 32. Rxe5 fxe5 33. Nd6 Bd7 34.
axb5 axb5 (34... a5 $5 35. Bd3 Kg7 36. Kd2 Kf6 {is also OK for White.}) 35.
Bxb5 Bxb5 36. Nxb5 Rf8 37. Kd2 Rxf3 38. Ke2 g4 39. Nd6 h5 40. Nc4 b5 41. Nxe5
Rf5 42. Ng6 Kf7 43. Nf4 h4 {This knight move, which reminds of Karpov's famous
Ng2 against Kasparov, "completely shocked" Caruana.} 44. Ng2 $5 (44. Ke3 Re5+ (
44... h3 $5) 45. Kd4 (45. Kd2) 45... Re1 46. gxh4 Rh1 {Caruana}) 44... hxg3 45.
hxg3 Rf3 (45... Rxd5 46. Ne3) 46. Ne3 Rxg3 47. c4 bxc4 48. d6 (48. Nxc4 Kf6 49.
d6 Rh3 50. d7 Rh8 {Caruana}) 48... Ke6 49. Nxc4 Rf3 50. d7 {With some accurate
moves So is going for a rather clear draw.} Rf8 51. Ne3 g3 52. d8=Q Rxd8 53.
Kf3 Rd3 54. Kf4 Rb3 55. Ng2 Kd5 56. Nh4 Kc4 57. Kg4 Rd3 58. b4 Rb3 59. b5 Kd5
60. b6 Ke4 61. b7 Rxb7 62. Kxg3 Rg7+ 63. Kf2 Rg4 64. Ng2 Rxg2+ 65. Kxg2 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.19"]
[Round "8.2"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D40"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "181"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 a6 7. Bb3 ({Instead,
the world champion chose:} 7. O-O b5 8. Be2 Bb7 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11.
Nd2 {against Wesley So and later won, Carlsen,M (2832)-So,W (2815) chess.com
INT 2017}) 7... b5 8. e4 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bb7 {The opening that Kramnik chose is
somewhat provocative as he is lagging in development. Grischuk has every right
to play aggressively.} 10. e5 $146 ({Therapeutic measures do not yield White
anything:} 10. O-O Nc6 11. Be3 Bd6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Bd4 Qc7 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15.
Qh5 O-O {with equality in the predecessor Maljush,A (2344)-Kupreichik, V (2464)
Minsk 2004}) 10... Ne4 {The alternatives were:} (10... Bxg2 $2 {which drops a
piece after} 11. Rg1) (10... Nd5 {which gives full control to White after} 11.
Nxd5 Bxd5 12. O-O Bxb3 13. axb3) ({And} 10... Nfd7 {which allows the dangerous
sacrifice} 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nxe6 Qc8 13. O-O) 11. O-O ({Safer and easier seems
} 11. Nxe4 Bxe4 12. O-O {with the idea to exploit the position of the black
bishop for further tempo-gainers, such as Qd1-g4 at the proper moment. If} Nc6
13. Nxc6 Bxc6 ({Better is} 13... Qxd1 14. Rxd1 Bxc6 15. Be3 {although White is
a bit better in the endgame as well.}) 14. Qg4 {with advantage for White.})
11... Nxc3 12. bxc3 Nc6 13. a4 ({Also interesting is} 13. Qf3 Rc8 {with the
idea} 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 ({The cunning} 14... Qh4 $5 {to deprive White of the
Qf3-g3 maneuver is answered by the even more cunning} 15. Bd5 $5 exd5 16. Nd4 {
when White is better.}) 15. Qg3) 13... Bc5 $1 {Kramnik catches up with the
development as quickly as he can.} 14. axb5 axb5 ({Weaker is} 14... Nxd4 15.
cxd4 Bxd4 16. Ra4 Bxe5 17. Qh5 {when White gets everything that he wants.}) 15.
Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Nxb5 O-O {Just sacking the pawn.} ({White wins a pawn after} 
16... Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Nxe5 18. Nc7+ Ke7 19. Bg5+ f6 20. Nxe6 fxg5 21. Nxc5 Rc8
22. Na4) ({However} 16... Nxe5 {looks solid enough. For example:} 17. Qe2 ({
White has nothing in case of:} 17. Qxd8+ Kxd8 18. Rd1+ (18. Bg5+ f6) 18... Ke7)
17... Nd7 18. Rd1 O-O) 17. Qxd8 Rxd8 18. Bf4 h6 19. h4 Ne7 {For the pawn Black
has more active pieces and the c3 pawn is far from dangerous.} 20. Rd1 Rb8 $1 {
The black rook is more valuable than his counterpart.} ({Surely not} 20...
Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1) 21. Bc4 ({After} 21. c4 Bc6 22. Ba4 Nf5 {Black gets strong
counter-play on the kingside. Say:} 23. h5 Nh4 24. g3 Nf3+ 25. Kf1 Nh2+ 26. Kg1
Ng4 $1) 21... Bc6 22. Nd4 Be4 (22... Bxd4 23. cxd4 Nf5 {should be easy to draw
for Black (Svidler).}) 23. h5 (23. Re1 $5 Bg6 24. Be3 {might be better.}) 23...
Nd5 24. Bxd5 ({In the coming time-trouble Grischuk wants to keep the black
rook away from the second rank:} 24. Bd2 Rb2 25. Bxd5 Bxd5 26. Be3) 24... Bxd5
{With the gain of the bishop pair Black's compensation became more obvious.
Experienced players know that the power of the pair often compensates for a
pawn.} 25. Be3 Rc8 ({If} 25... Rb2 26. Ra1 $1) 26. Re1 Bc4 27. Nf3 Ba3 28. Bd4
Bd3 29. Nd2 Bb2 30. Nf1 Rc4 ({Or} 30... Kf8 31. Re3 Bh7) 31. Re3 Bf5 ({Kramnik
rejected} 31... Bxc3 32. Bxc3 Rxc3 {because he could not see a way to break
the pin after} 33. f3 {However, there is no progress either as White cannot
win without the king but whenever he tries to activate it , say like this-} g6
34. hxg6 fxg6 35. Kh2 {then the rook escapes-} Rc1 {with a draw.}) 32. Ng3 Bh7
33. Kh2 $1 {Now the king enters the battle in a slightly unusual way and Black
has to fight for his life.} Bc1 34. Re2 Bf4 35. Kh3 Ra4 (35... Bg5 $5 {was
interesting with the idea to generate counterplay after} 36. Kg4 Bd3 37. Ra2 f6
) 36. Kg4 Bc1 37. Kf3 Bd3 38. Re1 Bb2 39. Ke3 Bc2 40. Kd2 Bb3 $6 {Kramnik
believed this was wrong and suggested to keep the bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal.
} (40... Bh7 41. Ne4) 41. Rb1 {The first time control is finally reached and
Grischuk starts improving everything that he can.} Ra2 42. Kd3 Ba4 43. Ne4 Ba3
44. Ke3 Bc2 45. Re1 Bb3 46. g4 Bd5 47. Kd3 Be7 48. Rb1 Ra8 49. f4 Bh4 50. Rh1
Bd8 51. Rb1 Bc7 52. Ke3 Kh7 53. Nd6 Kg8 ({The opposite-colored bishop endgame
after} 53... Bxd6 $2 54. exd6 Rd8 55. Rb6 {is lost for Black.}) 54. Rb5 Bc6 55.
Rb4 Bd8 56. Bb6 Bh4 57. Bd4 Bg2 58. Rb2 Bc6 59. Rb6 Bg2 60. Rb2 Bc6 61. Rb3 Bg3
{So far so good, but here White hurried to push the pawn.} 62. c4 $6 ({Instead
he should have prepared it for one more move-} 62. Ne4 Bh4 ({Here} 62... Bh2 {
is just bad due to} 63. Rb2 Bg1+ 64. Kd3 Bxd4 65. Kxd4) 63. c4 {with decent
winning chances.}) 62... Bh2 $1 {Now Black is back in business.} 63. f5 ({
White has nothing more than repetition in the line} 63. c5 Bd5 64. Rc3 Bc6)
63... exf5 64. Nxf5 ({According to Kramnik, Grischuk should have gone for} 64.
gxf5 f6 65. Rb6) 64... Kh7 65. Bb2 {Once again the players entered the
low-time phase.} Re8 (65... Ra2 $5) 66. Nd6 Re7 67. Rb8 f6 68. Rc8 Bh1 $6 {
Getting overly ambitious again.} ({Instead} 68... Bxe5 69. Bxe5 Rxe5+ 70. Kf4
Bd7 {"should be a draw" (Kramnik) although it is evident that Black needs to
suffer for it.}) ({However Kramnik's second idea} 68... Bd7 $1 {was strong
when after} 69. Rc7 fxe5 70. c5 e4 $1 {would be the correct move order. Here
Black is perfectly fine.} ({Rather than} 70... Bf4+ {which allows the
interesting resource:} 71. Ke4 (71. Kf2 e4) 71... Bf5+ 72. gxf5 Rxc7 73. Kd5))
69. Nf5 Rb7 70. exf6 ({Even stronger was:} 70. e6 $1 Rb3+ 71. Bc3) 70... Rb3+ {
This was the position that Black evaluated in his favor, but..} 71. Bc3 $1 {
Kramnik completely missed this study-like idea.} ({Instead} 71. Kd4 Bg1+ 72.
Ke5 {is perpetual after} gxf6+ 73. Kxf6 Rxb2 74. Rc7+) ({While} 71. Kf2 {drops
the bishop} Rxb2+) 71... gxf6 (71... Rxc3+ 72. Kd4 {wins for White.}) 72. Kd2
Bf4+ 73. Kc2 {Grischuk kept the extra pawn but what's more important has nasty
threats in the time-trouble.} Rb8 74. Rxb8 Bxb8 75. Ne7 $1 {"Very strong
practical chance." (Kramnik)} (75. Bxf6 {is a draw after} Bf3 76. Ne3 Ba7 77.
Kd3 Bxe3 78. Kxe3 Bxg4) 75... Be4+ ({Kramnik's suggestion} 75... Ba7 {does not
seem convincing here:} 76. Kd3 Bf3 77. Nd5) ({Best seems to be} 75... Bf3 76.
Nd5 Be5 77. Bxe5 fxe5 78. Ne3 Kg7 {when Black has chances to hold.}) 76. Kd2
Bf4+ {White soon won second pawn and the game.} 77. Ke2 Kg7 (77... Bg5 78. c5)
78. Nf5+ Kf7 79. Bd2 Be5 80. Bxh6 Ke6 81. Be3 Bxf5 82. gxf5+ Kxf5 83. h6 Kg6 ({
Or} 83... Ke4 84. h7 f5 85. c5 Kd5 86. Kd3) 84. c5 f5 85. Kf3 Kf7 86. Bf4 Bd4
87. c6 Ke7 88. c7 Kd7 89. h7 Kc8 90. Ke2 Kd7 91. Kd3 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5
8. Rxe5 O-O 9. d4 Bf6 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bf4 (11. Rxe8+ Nxe8 12. c3 d5 13. Bf4 c6
14. Nd2 g6 15. Bd3 Ng7 16. h3 Bf5 {Anand,V (2776)-Grischuk,A (2767) Moscow 2018
}) 11... Rxe1 12. Qxe1 Ne8 13. c3 d5 14. Bd3 g6 15. Qe2 c6 16. Nd2 Ng7 17. Re1
Bf5 18. Bxf5 Nxf5 19. Nf3 Ng7 20. Be5 Ne6 (20... Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Qd6) 21. Bxf6
Qxf6 22. Ne5 Re8 23. g3 $146 (23. Ng4 Qd8 24. Qe5 Ng7 25. Qxe8+ Nxe8 26. Rxe8+
Qxe8 27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Nxe8 Kxe8 29. Kf1 (29. f4 f5 30. Kf2 b5 31. b4 Kf7 32. h3
(32. g3 Kf6 33. Kf3 Ke6 34. Ke3 Kf6 35. Kf3 Ke6 {1/2-1/2 (35) Carlsen,M (2872)
-Anand,V (2773) Zurich SUI 2014}) 32... h6 33. h4 h5 {1/2-1/2 (33) Carlsen,M 
(2870)-Anand,V (2775) Chennai IND 2013}) 29... Ke7 30. Ke2 Ke6 31. Ke3 Kf5 {
½-½ Motylev,A (2658)-Potkin,V (2594) Fufeng 2017}) 23... Ng7 24. Kg2 Re6 25.
Qd1 Qe7 26. Nd3 Rxe1 27. Qxe1 Qxe1 28. Nxe1 Nf5 29. Nd3 Kf8 30. g4 Nd6 31. h4
h6 32. f3 Ke7 33. Kf2 g5 34. hxg5 hxg5 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 b6 {
Aronian got surprised by this.} 8. Qxc4 Bb7 9. Nc3 c5 10. Rd1 Nbd7 (10... cxd4
11. Bf4 Qc8 12. Qxc8 Rxc8 13. Nb5 {Mamedyarov}) 11. Ne5 (11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. b4
Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Rc8 14. Qf4 Rxc3 15. Bb2 Rc7 {Bu,X (2710)-Bacrot,E (2715)
Tbilisi 2017}) 11... Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Qc8 13. Nxd7 Qxd7 14. dxc5 Qc6+ 15. f3 $146
(15. e4 a6 16. Qe2 Bxc5 17. Bg5 Be7 18. Rac1 Qb7 19. Qf3 h6 20. Bf4 Rfd8 {
Fridman,D (2607)-Rambaldi,F (2544) Bergamo 2016}) 15... Qxc5 16. Qxc5 Bxc5 17.
Bf4 Rfd8 18. e4 Ne8 19. Kf1 Kf8 20. Ke2 Ke7 $6 (20... f6 {Mamedyarov}) 21. Nb5
Rdc8 22. Rac1 a6 23. Nc3 b5 24. a4 (24. e5 $5 {(Dreev)} Bb6 $1 25. Ne4 Rxc1 26.
Rxc1 Bd4) 24... Bd6 25. Be3 Rab8 (25... Be5 26. axb5 axb5 27. Nxb5 Bxb2 28.
Bc5+ Kf6) 26. axb5 axb5 27. Ba7 Rb7 28. Bd4 Rc4 29. e5 Bc5 30. Nd5+ exd5 31.
Bxc5+ Ke6 32. b3 $2 {"Crazy blunder." (Aronian)} (32. Bd4 Rbc7 33. Ra1 Ra4)
32... Rxc1 33. Rxc1 Kxe5 34. Kd3 Ke6 35. Bb4 Kd7 36. Kd4 (36. Re1 Nc7 37. Re7+
Kc6 38. Rxf7 Na6 39. Rf4 (39. Be7 Nc5+) 39... Nxb4+ 40. Rxb4 Rf7) 36... Nc7 37.
Ba5 Ne6+ 38. Kxd5 Ra7 39. b4 Ra6 40. f4 Rd6+ 41. Ke4 Rd4+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1 Be7 8.
Nf3 (8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bd3 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. Be2 Rc8 12. Nf3 Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Bb4
{Mamedyarov,S (2809)-Kramnik,V (2800) Berlin GER 2018}) 8... O-O 9. h4 $146 {
"Our preparation. An idea of my second Alexander Riazantsev. It's also
important that the computer doesnt really show it."} (9. Bc4 Qc7 10. Qe2 a6 11.
O-O b5 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. a4 bxa4 14. Bf4 Qc8 {Carlsen,M (2832)-So,W (2815) chess.
com INT 2017}) 9... cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6 11. h5 f5 $5 {"Very hard to expect but I
don't really believe it." (Karjakin)} ({"Of course we expected} 11... h6 {
to prevent h6." (Karjakin)}) 12. exf5 ({"I could have played} 12. e5 {as I
discussed with Alexei Shirov [who visited the tournament today - PD], but I
didn’t like that he will play} b6 {and gradually block d5, put the bishop on
b7..." (Karjakin)}) 12... Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qxf5 14. Bc3 $1 {An important move. Now
d4 is protected, and Bd3 is threatened.} h6 (14... Qg4 15. Be2 Qxg2 16. Rg1 Qh3
17. d5 $1 {Karjakin}) (14... b6) 15. Bd3 Qg4 16. Kf1 e5 {"Interesting, but too
sharp and I think bad, but practically interesting." (Karjakin)} 17. d5 e4 (
17... Nd4 18. Nxe5 Qf4 19. Bxd4 Qxd4 20. Bh7+) 18. dxc6 exf3 19. gxf3 Rxf3 ({
Relatively better was} 19... Qxf3 20. Qxf3 Rxf3 21. Ke2 Rxd3 22. Kxd3 Bf5+ 23.
Ke2 bxc6 {Karjakin}) 20. Be2 ({"To play} 20. cxb7 Bxb7 21. Qb3+ Kh8 22. Qxb7
Raf8 23. Qe4 Rxf2+ 24. Ke1 {over the board was a bit too much." (Karjakin)})
20... Rxf2+ (20... Rh3 21. Rg1 Qf4 22. Qd5+) 21. Kxf2 Bc5+ 22. Kf1 Qf4+ (22...
Qg3 23. Qd5+ Be6 24. Qxe6+ Kh8 25. Qxh6+) 23. Bf3 bxc6 {"Somehow it wasn't so
easy." (Karjakin)} 24. Be1 $1 {Good defense.} Be6 25. Bh4 Rf8 26. Kg2 Kh8 {
"A brilliant move." (Karjakin)} 27. Rc1 ({Karjakin didn't like} 27. Bg3 Qg5 {
because Black threatens to take on f3 but there is the move} 28. Re1 $1 {
with the idea} Rxf3 29. Qxf3 Bd5 30. Re4) 27... Rf5 $1 {In time trouble
Kramnik finds another good try.} 28. Rc3 Rd5 (28... Bd4 29. Rxc6 Rg5+ 30. Bxg5
Qxg5+ 31. Kf1 Bh3+ 32. Ke1 Qg3+ 33. Kd2 Qf4+ 34. Kc2 Bf5+ 35. Kb3 Qe3+ 36. Ka4
{Karjakin}) (28... Bb6 $5) 29. Bxd5 Bxd5+ 30. Rf3 Qg4+ 31. Bg3 Bd6 32. Rh3 Be7
33. Qe2 Be4 34. Qf2 a5 35. a4 ({Karjakin played this move because he calculated
} 35. Rh1 Bc5 36. Rh4 Qxh4 37. Bxh4 Bxf2 38. Kxf2 Bxf3 39. Kxf3 g6 40. Ke4 gxh5
41. Kd4 Kg7 (41... a4 $5) 42. Kc5 Kg6 (42... a4 $5) 43. Kxc6 Kf5 (43... a4 $5)
44. Kb5 Kg4 45. Bd8 h4 46. Kxa5 h3 47. Bc7 {and he imaged it would be nice to
have his pawn on a4!}) (35. Rh1) 35... c5 36. Rh1 Bf6 37. Re1 Bc6 38. Ree3 c4
39. Qe2 Qxh5 40. Qxc4 Bd7 41. Rd3 {"I didn’t see any draw for him so maybe I
didn’t play perfectly but I never lost an advantage." (Karjakin)} 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "133"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qb3
b6 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Ne5 Bb7 12. Rfc1 ({The alternative is:} 12. Qa4
a6 13. Qb3 Nfd7 14. Nxd7 Nxd7 15. Rfc1 {Ortega,M (2443)-Jakubowski,K (2529)
Figueira da Foz 2017}) 12... Nc6 {Allows a forcing continuation.} ({Ding
disliked the line:} 12... Nfd7 13. Nd3 {which Caruana considered "playable,
but probably equal."}) 13. Nxd5 Nxd4 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15. Qc4 Bxg2 16. Qxd4 Rfd8
17. Qf4 $146 ({Both players calculated the line:} 17. Qb4 Qxb4 18. Bxb4 Bb7 19.
Rc7 Ba6 {which would lead to "the same" (Ding) after:} 20. Rac1 (20. Nxf7 Nd5
21. Nxd8 Nxc7 22. Nc6 {1/2-1/2 (22) Gleizerov,E (2545)-Farago,I (2515)
Oberwart 1996}) 20... Nd5 21. Rxf7 $1 Bxe2 $1 ({But not} 21... Nxb4 $4 22. Rcc7
{with quick mate.})) 17... Bb7 18. Bb4 Qe8 19. Rc7 Nd5 20. Qxf7+ Qxf7 21. Rxf7
Ba6 22. Ba3 Bxe2 23. Rc1 {Straight from the opening White entered a promising
endgame where he can play for a win without any risk. A dream situation for
Caruana and his tournament position!} Bh5 24. Rb7 Be8 25. Kg2 a5 26. h4 Rdb8
27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. g4 b5 ({Here strong was} 28... h5 $1 29. g5 b5 30. b3 b4 31.
Bb2 Ne7 {"followed by Ne7-f5" (Caruana)}) 29. b3 b4 (29... h5 $1) 30. Bb2 a4 {
Ding: "I played this move too quickly. I did not realize the danger after...}
31. h5 $1 {...when it is very unpleasant for Black to defend." "Black cannot
really clarify the situation and lacks any counterplay" (Caruana)} Ra8 32. Kg3
{This endgame somehow reminded the experts of the classic Kasparov-Petrosian,
Niksic 1983. The future world champion managed to win even without the
queenside pawns, with the same pieces left on the board. Another difference
was that the e6 pawn stands on d5, which probably favors White. But in any
case the presence of the opposite-colored bishops is not necessary helping
Black, but quite the opposite. It provides White extra attacking chances.} Kf8
33. Nf3 Bd7 34. Rc4 Kg8 35. Ne5 Bb5 36. Rc5 Be8 37. Nc4 Bd7 38. Ne5 Be8 39. Bd4
Kf8 40. f3 Ke7 41. Kh4 $1 ({At first White wanted to play:} 41. Nd3 g6 (41...
Kf8 {might be better.}) 42. h6 {but he disliked} g5 43. Nf2 Bg6 {Still, White
is better after} 44. Ne4 axb3 45. axb3 Ra3 46. Nxg5 Rxb3 47. Rc6) 41... Kf8 42.
Kg5 {Provoking a weakening.} h6+ 43. Kh4 Kg8 44. Kg3 Kh7 {Here Caruana
regretted about his provocation as he thought the king is safer on h7. But it
turned out it is not.} 45. Nd3 Kg8 46. Rc1 axb3 47. axb3 Kh7 48. Nc5 Bf7 49.
Re1 Ne7 $1 50. Bb2 ({Black's idea is revealed in the line:} 50. Nxe6 Nc6 51.
Bc5 Re8 52. Nf8+ Kg8 {with a draw (Caruana)}) 50... Nc6 51. f4 Ra2 52. Nd3 e5
$1 {Correctly trading pawns.} 53. fxe5 {Ding is within a reach of the draw,
but now starts to slowly slip.} Bxb3 ({Safer was} 53... Nd8 54. Re4 Bxb3 55.
Rxb4 Bf7 {(Caruana)}) 54. e6 Ra7 ({White saw the correct defense} 54... Bc4 $1
55. e7 Nxe7 56. Rxe7 Bxd3 57. Rxg7+ Kh8 58. Bd4 b3 {There are many discovered
checks, but none of them is lethal:} 59. Rb7+ Kg8 60. Rxb3 Be2 {(Caruana)}) 55.
Nc5 Bc4 {This loses.} ({Bad was} 55... Bd5 56. Nd7 Ne7 57. Rf1 $1) ({Strangely,
the only defense was:} 55... Ba2 56. Nd7 Ra8 57. Rf1 Nd8 58. e7 Nf7) 56. Nd7
Bb5 {"Very good defense" (Caruana). But Black might be lost already.} ({
They both saw the beautiful line} 56... Ra2 57. e7 Bf7 58. Rf1 $1 ({Not} 58.
e8=Q Bxe8 59. Rxe8 Rxb2 60. Nf8+ {when the king escapes} Kg8) 58... Kg8 59.
e8=Q+ Bxe8 60. Rf8+ Kh7 61. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 62. Bxf6 {with study-like mate.}) ({
Black also loses after} 56... Ne7 57. Re4 Bb5 (57... Bd5 58. Rf4) 58. Rf4 Bxd7
59. Rf7 $1 {(Caruana)}) (56... Bxe6 $2 57. Nf8+) 57. Nf8+ ({Caruana misses the
strong idea} 57. Re3 Bc4 58. Rf3 $1 {with unstoppable Rf3-f7!} Bxe6 59. Nf8+)
57... Kg8 58. Ng6 Ne7 {An oversight, just very close to the draw.} ({Both} 
58... Ra8 $1) ({Or} 58... Bd3 $1 {should have held.}) 59. Ra1 $1 {"I missed
this move, but I was very lucky that I have...} Nc6 {...and I did not lose
immediately." (Ding)} (59... Rxa1 {drops a piece after} 60. Nxe7+ Kf8 61. Ng6+)
60. Rd1 {Going for the king once more.} (60. e7 {does not even win a pawn but
definitely draws due to the opposite-colored bishops after} Kf7 61. e8=Q+ Kxe8
62. Rxa7 Nxa7 63. Bxg7 b3) 60... Kh7 $1 {The most tenacious defense, which
prevents the maneuver Rd1-d5-f5-f8 (with a check). (Caruana)} 61. Rd5 Ba4 (
61... Bc4 {loses to} 62. Rc5) ({And} 61... Rb7 {to} 62. Rf5 Bd3 63. Rf7 {
(Caruana)}) 62. Kf4 ({Caruana missed the study-like win after} 62. Rd2 $3 {
This takes away the c2 square and preserves the knight on g6. Both players saw
the move, but not the follow-up:} Bb5 (62... Bb3 63. Rf2 {with the threat
Rf2-f8-h8 is decisive since} Ra8 {weakens the seventh rank and is equaly bad
after} 64. Rf7) 63. Rf2 Bd3 64. Nf8+ $1 Kg8 65. Nd7 $3 {This is extremely
difficult to find. White ruins the mating net, in order to create another one.
After} Bc4 66. Rf8+ Kh7 67. Re8 $1 {the return of the Jedi to g6 (sorry, the
knight) will finish the game.}) 62... Bc2 63. Rc5 ({Caruana thought he should
have tried the endgame after} 63. Ne5 Nxe5 64. Kxe5 {although he considered it
drawish, but unplesant.}) 63... Ba4 64. g5 hxg5+ ({Correct was the preliminary
} 64... Ra8 65. Rf5 hxg5+ 66. Kxg5 Nd8 67. e7 Ne6+ 68. Kg4 Kg8 {when Black
should hold.}) 65. Rxg5 Nd8 {Now a second chance is given to Caruana.} 66. Re5
{And he misses it!} ({They both got extremely tired and missed the final move
in the line} 66. Nf8+ Kg8 67. h6 Kxf8 68. h7 $1) 66... Be8 67. e7 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 a6 6. Nd5 ({The move:} 6. a3 {
led to surprisingly sharp game after} h6 7. h3 Qe7 8. Ne2 d6 9. c3 Ba7 10. Ng3
Bd7 11. b4 O-O-O 12. a4 {Godena,M (2513)-Carlstedt,J (2442) Berlin 2015}) 6...
Nxd5 7. Bxd5 d6 $146 {This logical move is a novelty.} ({Previously:} 7... O-O
8. Bg5 Be7 9. h4 d6 10. Qd2 Bg4 11. c3 Qd7 12. O-O-O {has been tested in Benda,
H (2274)-Kilgus,G (2354) Austria 2007}) 8. Be3 Bxe3 9. fxe3 O-O {Now an
approximately equal game emerges. White's plan is clear: to castle, then bring
the queen on g3, knight on h4 and eventually f5, double the rooks on the
f-file and eventually mate. Black on his turn has many ways to try and prevent
this.} 10. O-O Nb8 $5 {A nice maneuver.} ({Safer looks} 10... Ne7 11. Bb3 Ng6
12. Qe1 Be6 {although then the knight on g6 does not do much.}) 11. b4 {
An agressive try, which however makes it easier for Black to find counterplay
on the queenside.} ({After} 11. a3 Nd7 12. Qe1 Nf6 13. Ba2 Be6 {the position
will be equal.}) 11... Nd7 12. Qd2 (12. Qe1 c6 13. Bb3 a5 14. a3) 12... c6 13.
Bb3 a5 14. a3 Nf6 15. h3 h6 16. Rab1 b5 17. Qc3 Bd7 {Aronian wants to play for
more than a draw.} ({Safe was to get rid of the light squared bishops as soon
as possible with:} 17... Qb6 18. Rbe1 (18. Kh2 Be6 ({Or} 18... Bd7 $5)) 18...
Be6 {with equality.} ({While} 18... Ra7 $5 {would lead to a sharp game as well
after} 19. Nh4)) 18. Rf2 {From here on Kramnik is consistently preparing the
exchange sacrifice on f6.} Qb6 19. Re1 Rfe8 {Preparing c6-c5.} (19... c5 $6 20.
bxc5 {leaves the central pawn hanging.}) 20. Nh4 c5 21. Ref1 {More preparation
is needed.} ({This was the first moment in which the exchange sacrifice was a
serious option:} 21. Rxf6 gxf6 22. Bd5 {would be well met with:} cxb4 $1 ({
This is better than} 22... Ra7 23. Rf1 cxb4 24. Qe1) 23. axb4 Ra7 {and Black
should repel the attack.}) 21... cxb4 {"I thought this is awfully dangerous." 
(Kramnik)} ({Kramnik spent all his time on the idea:} 21... c4 {either at once,
}) ({or the preliminary} 21... axb4 22. axb4 c4 {For example:} 23. dxc4 bxc4 (
23... Nxe4 $2 {is bad due} 24. c5 {(Kramnik)}) 24. Qxc4 Be6 25. Qe2 (25. Qd3
Qxb4 {"is equal" (Kramnik)}) 25... Nxe4 26. Rxf7 $5 {Then the former world
champion continued with his interesting calculations:} Ng3 $2 {(This actually
loses)} ({However} 26... d5 $1 {is very strong when Black takes over.}) {Here}
27. Qf3 $1 {was rejected by Kramnik on the account of} (27. Qd3 e4 (27... Nxf1
28. Rxg7+ Kf8 $1 {save Black indeed.} ({Rather than} 28... Kxg7 $2 29. Qg6+ Kf8
30. Qf6+ Kg8 31. Nf5 Ra7 32. Bxe6+ Rxe6 33. Qxe6+ Kh7 34. Qxh6+ Kg8 35. Qg6+
Kf8 36. Kxf1 {with clear advantage for White.})) 28. Bxe6 exd3 29. Rf8+ Kh7 30.
Bg8+ Kh8 31. Ng6# {(Kramnik)}) 27... Nxf1 {but there is a mate after} 28. Rf8+
$1 Rxf8 29. Bxe6+ Kh7 (29... Kh8 30. Ng6+ {loses for Black as well.}) 30. Qe4+
Kh8 31. Ng6+ Kh7 32. Nxf8+ Kh8 33. Qh7#) 22. Qe1 d5 $1 {It is mandatory to
bring the queen into the defense.} (22... bxa3 $2 {loses after the forcing:}
23. Rxf6 gxf6 24. Qg3+ Kh7 ({Or} 24... Kf8 25. Ng6+ $1 fxg6 26. Qxg6 Qxe3+ 27.
Kh2 Be6 28. Qxf6+ Kg8 29. Bxe6+ Rxe6 30. Qxe6+ {and Black will be mated soon.})
25. Rxf6 Re7 26. Rxf7+ Rxf7 27. Qg6+ Kh8 28. Qxh6+ Kg8 29. Ng6 {with mate on
h8 coming.}) 23. axb4 ({After} 23. Bxd5 {Black can sacrifice the exchange with}
bxa3 ({Or simply take the dangerous bishopat once} 23... Nxd5 24. exd5 f6) 24.
Bxa8 Rxa8 {with compensation in either case.}) ({Once more} 23. Rxf6 {deserves
serious investigation, and once more it appears a bit too early for it-} gxf6
24. Bxd5 bxa3 $1 {(Kramnik)} ({Or} 24... Ra6 25. axb4 a4 {as Aronian intended
to play.} (25... axb4 $5))) 23... dxe4 24. bxa5 Rxa5 ({On} 24... Qxa5 {Kramnik
intended} 25. Qd1 $1 {which creates the threat of finally capturing on f6
followed by Qd1-h5.} ({While Aronian did not like the possibility:} 25. Qxa5
Rxa5 26. Rxf6 {"with probable draw" (Kramnik, Aronian)})) 25. Ng6 $1 {Both
sides are walking into a minefield and whoever steps wrong first...} ({Here} 
25. Rxf6 {is plain wrong as the king escapes after} gxf6 26. Qg3+ Kf8 27. Ng6+
fxg6 28. Qxg6 Ke7) ({Kramnik also considered} 25. d4 {but the line that he
suggested seems suspect to say at least-} exd4 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Ng6 dxe3 28.
Kh1 {Now} b4 $1 {brings the black rook on the kingside and there is no attack
whatsoever.}) 25... Be6 {Instinctively, Aronian tries to neutralize the
pressure on the diagonal.} ({None of the players mentioned the move} 25... exd3
{which could have led to massive complications after} 26. Rxf6 gxf6 27. Qg3 Be6
{Here is a possible line:} 28. Rxf6 d2 29. Ne7+ Kf8 30. Nf5 $3 (30. Ng6+ Kg7)
30... d1=Q+ 31. Kh2 Re7 $1 {The only move.} ({If the rook goes to any other
square, say} 31... Rd8 {then} 32. Rxf7+ $1 {mates} Bxf7 33. Qg7+ Ke8 34. Qxf7#)
32. Qg7+ Ke8 33. Bxe6 $1 Qxe6 (33... Kd8 34. Nxe7) 34. Rxe6 Rxe6 35. Qg8+ Kd7
36. Qxf7+ Kd8 37. Qxe6 {when White can play for a win.}) 26. Nxe5 ({White's
initial idea:} 26. Rxf6 {deserves serious attention:} gxf6 27. Bxe6 ({Both
players thought that} 27. Qg3 $1 {loses to} Bxb3 28. cxb3 ({However here White
has the fantastic} 28. Nxe5+ $3 Kh8 29. Nd7 Qa7 30. Nxf6 Ra8 31. Qf4 {with
huge attack.}) 28... Kh7 $1 {(Kramnik, Aronian)}) 27... Rxe6 28. Nh4 Qd8 29.
Nf5 Kh7 30. Qh4 (30. Qg3 Qf8) 30... Qf8 31. Qxe4 {when it is anyone's game.})
26... exd3 ({Not} 26... Bxb3 27. Rxf6 gxf6 28. Nd7 $1 {(Kramnik)}) 27. Rxf6 $1
{Finally! If this was boxing I do not really want to imagine how they would
look like at the end...} gxf6 28. Rxf6 d2 $1 ({There is no need to bring the
white bishop in after} 28... dxc2 $2 29. Qg3+ Kf8 30. Bxc2) 29. Qg3+ ({Not} 29.
Qxd2 Ra1+ 30. Kf2 (30. Kh2 $2 {loses to} Qc7 31. Qd4 Bxb3 32. Qxa1 Bd5) 30...
Qa5 {when White's attack peters out.}) 29... Kf8 (29... Kh7 {is bad due} 30. c4
$1 {(Kramnik)}) 30. Rf1 $3 {"I thought this just finishes the game." (Kramnik)}
({Instead} 30. Nd7+ Ke7 31. Nxb6 {would see Black playing for a win after} Ra1+
$1 ({But not the instant:} 31... d1=Q+ 32. Rf1 Qd2 33. Bxe6 fxe6 (33... Kxe6
34. Qf4) 34. Qc7+) 32. Kh2 Rh1+ $3 33. Kxh1 d1=Q+ 34. Kh2 Kxf6) (30. c4 $5 {
"might be very interesting here" (Kramnik)} Qd8 (30... Ra1+ 31. Kh2 d1=Q 32.
Bxd1 Rxd1 33. Rxh6 {(Kramnik) White felt he should be mating here, but it
seems the king slips away after} Ke7) ({The Russian GM missed the defense} 
30... Ke7 $1 {when Black is doing more than fine.}) 31. Qf4 d1=Q+ 32. Bxd1
Qxd1+ 33. Kh2 {(Kramnik) This is indeed a win for White.}) 30... Ra7 $1 {
The only fighting defense.} ({Black loses after} 30... d1=Q 31. Rxd1) ({
Neither good is} 30... Qd6 31. Ng6+ $1) (30... Rd8 $5 {is harder to refute. In
fact after} 31. Qf4 d1=Q 32. Qxh6+ Kg8 33. Qg5+ {The draw seems the right
result, as if Black tries to play for a win with-} Kf8 34. Qh6+ Ke8 35. Qh8+
Ke7 36. Ng6+ $1 fxg6 37. Qf6+ Ke8 38. Qf8+ Kd7 39. Rxd1+ Bd5 $1 (39... Kc8 40.
Bxe6+) 40. Rxd5+ Kc8 41. Rc5+ Kb7 42. Qe7+ {he may end up losing.}) 31. Ng6+
Kg7 32. Nf4+ ({No repetition even considered:} 32. Ne7+ $2 Kh7) 32... Kh8 (
32... Kf8 $2 {drops the rook after} 33. Nxe6+ Rxe6 34. Bxe6 Qxe6 35. Qb8+) 33.
Nh5 f6 ({Again the only move as} 33... Rg8 34. Qe5+ Kh7 35. Nf6+ Kh8 36. Nd5+ {
wins loads of material for White.}) 34. Nxf6 Rf8 (34... Bxb3 $2 35. Nxe8) (
34... Ree7 {was suggested by Aronian and now rather than} 35. Bxe6 (35. Qg6 $2
Qxe3+ 36. Kh1 Bxb3 {wins for Black.}) ({White should do} 35. Qf4 $1 Bg8 36.
Qxh6+ Rh7 37. Qf4 $3 {with strong attack for the exchange.}) 35... Qxe6 36.
Qb8+ Kg7 37. Nh5+ Kh7 {(Kramnik)}) (34... Rd8 $1 {was also a resource with the
devilish idea} 35. Qf4 Bf5 $3 36. Nd5 Qg6) 35. Qf4 Rh7 36. Qe5 {The
culmination of the game.} Qc7 $2 {A blunder which puts an abrupt end of a
great game.} (36... Rg7 $1 {was the only move. Then after} 37. Bxe6 Qc6 {
The game should have objectively ended in a draw:} (37... Rg5 {is also OK as
long as Black goes for} 38. Nd7+ Rxe5 39. Rxf8+ Kh7 40. Rf7+ Kh8 $1 ({And not} 
40... Kg6 41. Nxe5+ Kh5 42. Rf5+ Kh4 43. Ng6+ Kg3 44. Rf3#)) (37... Qc7 38. Qd4
{is advantage for Black.}) 38. Bg4 (38. Bd5 Rxf6 $1 39. Bxc6 Rxf1+ 40. Kxf1 ({
But White still has a draw after} 40. Kh2 $1 d1=Q 41. Qe8+ Rg8 42. Qe5+) 40...
d1=Q+ {wins for Black.}) 38... d1=Q (38... Rxf6 39. Qxf6) 39. Rxd1 Qxf6 40.
Qxf6 Rxf6 {"should be a draw" (Kramnik, Aronian)}) 37. Ne8+ $1 {Black resigned
due to:} (37. Ne8+ Qxe5 38. Rxf8+ Bg8 39. Rxg8#) (37. Nh5+ $1 {would also do.})
1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O Rb8 7. e3 Be7 (7...
b5 8. b3 cxb3 9. axb3 Be7 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Bd2 Bb7 12. Rc1 a6 {Radjabov,T (2722)
-Cheparinov,I (2677) Monzon 2016}) 8. Nfd2 e5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. dxe5 Ng4 11.
Nxc4 Be6 12. Nbd2 $146 (12. Qxd8+ Rxd8 13. Nbd2 Bb4 14. e4 Bxd2 15. Nxd2 Nxe5
16. f4 Nd3 17. f5 Nxc1 18. Raxc1 Bxf5 19. exf5 Rxd2 20. Rxc6 Kd7 21. Rfc1 {
½-½ Van der Stricht,G (2424)-Hausrath,D (2507) Belgium 2008}) 12... h5 (12...
Rb4 13. b3 h5 14. f3 $6 (14. h3) 14... Nxe3 $1 15. Nxe3 Qd4 {Mamedyarov}) 13.
f3 (13. h3 Qd3 14. b3 h4 15. hxg4 hxg3 16. Qf3 Qh7 17. Qg2 Bd5 18. e4 Bc5 {
Caruana}) 13... Qd3 14. fxg4 Bxc4 15. Nxc4 Qxc4 16. gxh5 Qe6 17. Qf3 (17. b3
Qxe5 18. Qc2 Qxa1 19. Bb2 Qxa2 20. Qxc6+ Kd8 (20... Kf8 21. Rxf7+ $1) 21. Rd1+
{Mamedyarov}) 17... Rb5 18. Qf5 (18. Bd2 Rxb2 19. Bc3 Rc2 20. Rfc1 {Mamedyarov}
Rxc1+ 21. Rxc1 O-O 22. Bd4 c5 23. Bxc5 Bxc5 24. Rxc5 Qxa2) 18... Rxe5 19. Qxe6
Rxe6 (19... fxe6 20. Bd2 Rhxh5 21. Kg2) 20. Rf5 (20. g4 $6 g6 $1) 20... Rd6 (
20... Rf6 $5) 21. Kg2 Rd1 22. b3 g6 $6 {Mamedyarov thought he had a winning
position after this.} 23. Re5 (23. hxg6 fxg6 24. Rf2 Rf8) 23... c5 24. hxg6
fxg6 25. e4 Rh7 26. h4 {Missed by Caruana.} (26. Rd5 Re1 27. Rd2 Bf6 {Caruana/
Mamedyarov}) 26... Rf7 (26... c6 27. Re6 {Caruana/Mamedyarov}) 27. Kh3 Rff1 (
27... c6 28. Re6 Kd7 29. Rxg6 Rff1 30. Bg5 Rxa1 31. Rg7 {Caruana/Mamedyarov})
28. Bg5 Rxa1 29. Rxe7+ Kf8 30. Rxc7 Rxa2 31. Be7+ (31. e5 Re2 32. Bf4 Rf3 33.
Kg4 Rxb3 34. Kg5 Rb6 35. Rxc5 a6 36. g4 Kf7 {Caruana/Mamedyarov}) 31... Kg8 32.
Rc8+ (32. e5 Rb2 {Caruana/Mamedyarov}) 32... Kg7 33. Bxc5 Re2 34. e5 (34. Re8
a5 35. e5 Rc1 $1 36. Bd6 Rc3 {Caruana/Mamedyarov}) 34... Rd1 35. Re8 Rd5 36.
Bd6 (36. b4 a5 37. e6 g5 $1 38. e7 axb4 39. Rc8 b3 {Caruana/Mamedyarov}) 36...
Re3 37. Re7+ Kg8 38. Re8+ Kf7 39. Re7+ Kg8 40. b4 Rdd3 41. Kg4 Rxg3+ 42. Kf4
Rgf3+ 43. Ke4 Rfe3+ 44. Kf4 Rf3+ 45. Kg5 Rf7 46. e6 Rd5+ 47. Kxg6 Rxd6 48. Rxf7
Rxe6+ 49. Rf6 Re4 50. b5 Rxh4 51. Ra6 Rh7 52. b6 Rg7+ 53. Kh6 Rh7+ 54. Kg5 Rg7+
55. Kf5 axb6 56. Rxb6 Rf7+ 57. Rf6 Rxf6+ 58. Kxf6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D37"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. cxd5 (7. Bd3)
7... Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 (8... exd5 9. Bd3 c5 10. O-O c4 11. Bb1 Nc6 12. b3 Be6
13. bxc4 dxc4 14. Qa4 Qd7 {Fedoseev,V (2724)-Friedel,J (2562) chess.com INT
2018}) 9. Be2 $5 {This confused So.} (9. Bxc7 Bb4+ 10. Nd2 Ba6 11. f3 Bxf1 12.
Rxf1 Nc6 13. a3 Rac8 {Jorczik,J (2405)-Baramidze,D (2613) Eppingen GER 2014})
9... Bb7 (9... Bb4+ 10. Nd2 Bxd2+ (10... Qxg2 11. Bf3 Bxd2+ 12. Kxd2 Qxf2+ 13.
Kc3 {Ding}) 11. Qxd2 Qxg2 12. O-O-O Ba6 13. Rhg1 Qc6+ 14. Kb1) 10. Bxc7 (10.
O-O Rc8) 10... Qa5+ $146 (10... Bb4+ 11. Kf1 Nc6 12. Qa4 Rfc8 13. Bg3 a6 14. h3
b5 15. Qd1 Na5 {Injac,T (2277)-Goczo,M (2176) Novi Sad 2017}) 11. Kf1 Nd7 12.
h4 Rac8 13. Bf4 (13. Bg3 $5 {So} Nf6 14. Ne5 Ne4 {Ding}) 13... Rfd8 (13... Bf6
14. Bd3 {So}) 14. Kg1 (14. a3 $5 {So}) 14... Bxf3 (14... Bf6 15. a3) 15. Bxf3
e5 16. Bg5 (16. Bg3 exd4 17. Bb7 Rc4 18. e4 Nf6 19. e5 Nd5) 16... Bxg5 (16...
f6 17. Qb3+ Kh8 18. Qf7 Qb4 19. Be4 {might be too dangerous (So).}) 17. hxg5
exd4 18. Qxd4 (18. g6 fxg6 19. Qxd4 Ne5) 18... Qxg5 19. Rh5 Qf6 20. Rd5 Qxd4
21. Rxd4 Ne5 22. Bd5 (22. Bb7 Rxd4 23. exd4 Rc7 24. Ba6 Ng4 25. d5 Nf6 26. d6 (
26. Rd1 Ne8) 26... Rd7 27. Rc1 g5 28. Rc7 Rxd6 29. Rxa7 Rd2) 22... Nc6 23. Rdd1
Kf8 24. Bxc6 (24. Rac1 Ke7) 24... Rxd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rxc6 26. Rd7 Rc2 27. Rxa7 Rxb2
28. a4 Ra2 29. Rb7 Ra1+ 30. Kh2 Rxa4 31. Rxb6 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.22"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E00"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8.
Qc2 c6 9. Rc1 (9. a4 a5 10. Rc1) 9... b6 10. a4 (10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Bf4 Bb7 12.
Qb3 Rc8 13. Rxc8 Qxc8 14. Nc3 Nh5 {Karjakin,S (2753)-Wei,Y (2743) Wijk aan Zee
2018}) 10... Ne4 $146 (10... Ba6 11. b3 c5 12. a5 Bb7 13. a6 Bc6 14. Ne5 Nxe5
15. dxe5 Nd7 {Pustovoitova,D (2382)-Gunina,V (2507) Moscow 2018}) 11. Be1 a5
12. Nbd2 Nxd2 13. Nxd2 Bf6 14. cxd5 (14. Qd3 Ba6) 14... cxd5 15. e4 Bxd4 16.
Nb3 (16. exd5 Nc5 17. Nb3 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 Ra7) 16... Bf6 17. exd5 exd5 18. Bxd5
Ra7 19. Bg2 (19. Bc3 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Nf6 21. Bf3 Rd7 22. Rd1 Nd5) 19... h6 (19...
Ba6 20. Bc3 Rc7 (20... Ne5) 21. Bxf6 Rxc2 22. Bxd8 Rxc1+ 23. Rxc1 Rxd8 24. Bf1)
20. Bc3 Rc7 21. Bxf6 Rxc2 22. Bxd8 Rxc1+ 23. Rxc1 Rxd8 24. Rd1 Kf8 25. f4 Ke7
26. Re1+ Kf8 27. Rd1 Ke7 28. Re1+ Kf8 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.23"]
[Round "11.1"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "194"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "China"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "CHN"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[WhiteClock "0:01:24"]
[BlackClock "0:06:07"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. d4 d5 6. a3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. O-O
b5 9. Ba2 Bb7 10. Qe2 Qc7 11. Bd2 Be7 $146 {A novelty in comparison to a very
fresh game.} ({There Black comfortably held after} 11... Rd8 12. Rfc1 cxd4 13.
exd4 Be7 14. d5 exd5 15. Bg5 O-O 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxd5 Qd6 18. Re1 Nd4 19.
Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 {Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Gelfand,B (2695) Moscow 2018}
) 12. Rac1 c4 13. e4 Rd8 14. Be3 Ng4 15. e5 Na5 {Perhaps it is here where
Grischuk messed up with his preparation.} ({The move that he mentioned later
was possible at once:} 15... f5 $5 {since} 16. exf6 {does not work anyway due
to} Nxd4 $1 17. Bxd4 Bxf3 {and Black wins.}) 16. Bf4 {"This is supposedly good
for Black, but I do not know (remember) how." (Grischuk) See the previous note.
} ({"I think I had this in preparation. If"} 16. Bb1 f5 $1 {"is good for Black
as"} 17. exf6 Bxf3 18. Qxf3 Qxh2# {(Grischuk)}) 16... Qb6 17. Rcd1 h5 {The
idea is to secure a square for the black knight, but it "is obviously bad." 
(Grischuk)} 18. h3 Nh6 19. Bb1 {Now the black king may never castle and White
is eager to open the center files.} Nb3 (19... Kd7 $2 20. d5 $1) 20. Be3 Qc7 {
Black saw what will happen next but he thought he may "get lucky."} ({In
desperation Grischuk even considered a la Petrosian sacrifices like} 20... Bd5
21. Nxd5 Rxd5 22. Be4 Nf5 23. Bxd5 exd5 {but realized that "he will slowly
lose." Indeed he cannot keep the position blocked forever.}) 21. Rfe1 Kf8 (
21... O-O 22. Bxh6 gxh6 23. Qe3 Kg7 24. Ne4 {is a crushing attack for White.})
22. d5 $1 {Thematic and very strong.} exd5 (22... Bxd5 23. Nxd5 exd5 24. e6 {
would not change anything.}) 23. e6 fxe6 24. Ng5 $1 Qd7 ({From afar Grischuk
intended to try:} 24... Bc8 {but then realized that} 25. Nxd5 $1 {would be
nasty enough. For example:} ({Ding saw a safer win:} 25. Qf3+ $1 Kg8 26. Bf4 {
and if} Qb7 27. Nxe6 Bxe6 28. Rxe6 {where Black is completely hopeless.}) 25...
exd5 ({However} 25... Rxd5 $1 26. Rxd5 exd5 27. Qf3+ Bf6 28. Qxd5 g6 $1 {
is not that clear.}) 26. Bb6 {this indeed wins for White.}) ({And if} 24...
Bxg5 25. Bxg5 Re8 26. Nxd5 $1 {is decisive.}) 25. Bg6 $1 {Both players agreed
that this was a very strong move.} Bf6 (25... Kg8 26. Bb6 {"and then I
immediately resign" (Grischuk) Say} Rf8 27. Nxe6 Rf6 28. Nf4 $1 Rxf4 29. Qxe7
Qxe7 30. Rxe7 {and Black has hardly any moves.}) 26. Bb6 Rc8 {"This move
totally surprised me" (Ding)} ({The alternative was losing on the spot:} 26...
Bxg5 27. Bxd8 Bxd8 28. Qxe6 Qxe6 29. Rxe6 Nf7 (29... Be7 30. Nxd5 Bxd5 31. Rxd5
Nf7 32. Rd7 Nc5 33. Rexe7 Nxd7 34. Rxf7+ {(Ding)}) 30. Rde1 {(Grischuk)}) 27.
Nxe6+ Kg8 28. Nxd5 ({Missing the beautiful win} 28. Nd8 $1 Bc6 (28... Rxd8 29.
Bxd8 Qxd8 30. Qe8+ Qxe8 31. Rxe8#) 29. Rxd5 $1 {and Black can resign.}) 28...
Bxd5 29. Nf4 {This is also winning but it does complicate matters.} ({Once
again:} 29. Nd8 $1 {"was not only winning, but winning brilliantly." (Grischuk)
}) ({Also nice was:} 29. Rxd5 Qxd5 30. Nd8 $1 {with mate.}) 29... Nc1 $3 {
An excellent practical chance. Now both players levelled on the clock and
played the next 11 moves practically on increment.} 30. Qxh5 ({"If takes"} 30.
Rxc1 {"then"} Bf7 {"and there is suddenly no mate" (Grischuk)} 31. Rcd1 Qc6 {
"this is not so clear" (Ding) However simple move like} 32. Ba5 {leaves Black
absolutely hopeless as he has no reasonable moves. For example} Bxg6 33. Nxg6
Rh7 34. Qxh5) 30... Nd3 31. Nxd5 Nf7 32. Qe2 ({Grischuk's suggestion} 32. Re7
Bxe7 33. Bxf7+ Kf8 34. Qxh8+ Kxf7 {wins if we continue the line:} 35. Qh5+ g6
36. Qh7+ Ke6 37. Nf4+ Ke5 38. Nxd3+ cxd3 39. Qg7+ Ke6 40. Re1+ Kd5 41. Qd4+ Kc6
42. Rc1+ {and it is over.}) ({Also winning is} 32. Nxf6+ gxf6 33. Bxf7+ Qxf7
34. Qg4+ Kh7 35. Qf5+ Kg7 36. Re4 {with mating threats and healthy extra pawn.}
) 32... Nfe5 33. Be4 Rh4 {Now, in timetrouble, more miracles happen.} 34. f4 (
34. Qe3 $1) 34... Rxf4 $1 35. Nxf4 Nxf4 36. Bh7+ {"This of course shocked me."
(Grischuk)} Kh8 (36... Kxh7 {drops the queen after the in-between check} 37.
Qe4+) 37. Qe4 Qc6 38. Bd4 (38. Be3 $1 Qxe4 39. Bxe4 Ned3 40. Bxf4 Nxf4 41. Rf1
{would have kept solid advantage for White.}) 38... Nxh3+ {Getting overly
excited with a few seconds left on his clock.} ({Correct was} 38... Ned3 {
when Black is not worse at all. Of course} 39. Qxc6 $2 {fails to} Bxd4+) 39.
Kh2 ({Even} 39. gxh3 Nf3+ 40. Kh1 $1 Nxd4 41. Bg6 {is advantageous for White.})
39... Ng5 40. Qxc6 Rxc6 41. Bc2 Ngf7 42. Bxe5 $2 {"I do not understand this." 
(Grischuk) Indeed, why was this trade needed? White can take on e5 in any
given moment.} (42. Bc3 {"I thought there is almost no hope. White will just
win slowly." (Grischuk)}) 42... Nxe5 43. Rd5 Re6 44. Kh3 Kg8 45. b3 ({Black
was more afraid of} 45. Bf5 Re8 46. Bd7 Re7 47. Bc8 g6 48. g3 {when the pin
might be indeed more than unpleasant for him.}) 45... Kf7 46. bxc4 Nxc4 47.
Rd7+ Be7 48. Rxe6 Kxe6 49. Ra7 Nxa3 50. Rxa6+ Kd5 {"This is like my dream.
Everything is exchanged and I have very good drawing chances." (Grischuk)} 51.
Bh7 Nc4 52. Kg4 Bf6 53. Ra7 {As Grischuk explained White will be winning if he
manages to take away all the pawns from the board. However, this will never
happen as the b-pawn is too strong.} Kd4 54. Bg8 Nd6 55. Kf3 Kc5 56. Ra8 {
In the remainder, Ding tried everyhting that he could but the win had slipped
away.} b4 57. Ke2 Bc3 58. Kd3 Kb6 59. Ke3 Kc6 60. Kf4 Nb7 61. Kf5 Nc5 62. g4
Kb5 63. g5 b3 64. Kg6 Kb4 65. Bd5 Bd4 66. Kh7 Kc3 67. g6 b2 68. Ba2 Kc2 69. Rb8
Ne4 70. Rb4 Nc3 71. Be6 Kc1 72. Bf5 Be5 73. Rb7 b1=Q ({Shuffling the bishop
left and right was the easiest draw as White cannot make progress.} 73... Bf6)
74. Bxb1 Nxb1 75. Rxg7 Nc3 76. Re7 Bd4 {This is also a draw as the bishop will
always have enough squares on the diagonals as Grischuk explained.} 77. Rd7 Be5
78. Kh6 Kc2 79. Kg5 Kb3 80. Kf5 Bh8 81. Rb7+ ({Or} 81. Rh7 Bd4 82. Re7 Bh8)
81... Kc2 82. Rh7 Bd4 83. Ke6 Kb3 84. Rd7 Bh8 85. Rd8 Bg7 86. Kf7 Be5 87. Re8 (
87. Rd3 Kc2) 87... Bd4 88. Rb8+ Kc2 89. Rb7 Be5 90. Rb6 Bd4 91. Rf6 Bxf6 92.
Kxf6 Nd5+ 93. Kf7 Ne3 94. Kf6 Nd5+ 95. Kf7 Ne3 96. g7 Nf5 97. g8=Q Nh6+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.23"]
[Round "11.2"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]
[WhiteClock "1:50:10"]
[BlackClock "1:33:28"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 c6 8. Qxc4
b5 9. Qc2 Bb7 10. Nc3 (10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 c5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Rac1 Qb6 {
Vitiugov,N (2722)-Riazantsev,A (2650) St Petersburg 2017}) 10... Nbd7 11. Rd1
Qb6 {Mamedyarov: "I prepared this line for white for my game with Karjakin.
"It was time to play it with black!"} 12. Ne5 (12. e4 c5 13. d5 exd5 (13... c4)
14. e5 d4 15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Ne2 Be4) 12... Rfd8 13. Be3 $146 (13. Nxd7 Rxd7 14.
a4 a5 15. e4 b4 16. Ne2 c5 17. d5 exd5 18. e5 Ne8 19. Bh3 Rdd8 {Bazeev,G (2285)
-Koryakin,E (2369) Peterhof 2009}) (13. Bg5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Ng4 15. Bxe7 Qxf2+
16. Kh1 c5 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8 18. Ne4 Qxg2+ 19. Kxg2 Ne3+ 20. Kf2 Nxc2 21. Rc1)
13... Nd5 {"Black is OK."} 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. Rac1 Rac8 16. Qd3 b4 17. Rxc8 Bxc8
18. Qc2 Nxe5 19. dxe5 d4 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 21. Qxc8+ Rd8 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Qxd8+
Bxd8 24. b3 Bc7 25. f4 Bb6+ 26. Kf1 Be3 27. h4 h5 28. Bh3 Kf8 29. Kg2 Ke7 30.
Kf3 Bd2 31. e3 Be1 {Here Mamedyarov offered a draw. "But spectators might
wonder why draw, White is up a pawn." (So)} 32. f5 exf5 33. Bxf5 g6 34. Bd3 Bc3
35. Kf4 Be1 36. Bc4 Bf2 37. Bd5 Be1 38. g4 hxg4 39. Kxg4 Bc3 40. Kf4 Be1 41.
Kg4 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.23"]
[Round "11.3"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "United States"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "USA"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[WhiteClock "0:51:56"]
[BlackClock "0:04:42"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 c6 4. e4 dxe4 5. Nxe4 c5 $5 {Virtually a novelty, as
early as move five.} (5... Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Na6 9. Bd6 b6
10. Nf3 Bb7 {Jobava,B (2702)-Lu,S (2627) Doha 2016}) 6. Nxc5 Nc6 $146 (6...
Bxc5 7. dxc5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1 Nf6 9. Be2 Bd7 10. b4 O-O 11. Be3 Rd8 {Hutt,A (2122)
-Moas,H Villa Carlos Paz 2003}) 7. Nf3 ({Caruana didn't like} 7. Be3 e5 8. dxe5
Qa5+ 9. Qd2) (7. Ne2 Nxd4 8. Nxb7 (8. Ne4 $5) 8... Nf3+ 9. gxf3 Qxd1+ 10. Kxd1
Bxb7 11. Bg2 Ne7 {Kramnik}) 7... Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Qxd4 9. Nxd4 Bxc5 10. Nb5 Ke7 11.
Bd2 ({Since everyone is using computers these days, Kramnik didn't see a
reason to keep it a secret that} 11. Nc7 {gives White an advantage.}) 11... Bd7
{Here the players agreed that Black is not worse.} 12. b4 Bxb5 13. cxb5 Bd6 ({
Kramnik didn't like} 13... Bd4 14. Rc1 Rd8 15. Rc7+ Rd7 16. Rc8 (16. Rxd7+ Kxd7
17. Be2 Ne7 18. Bf3 Rc8)) 14. g3 Rc8 (14... Nf6 15. Bg2 Nd5 {is equal.}) 15.
Bg2 b6 16. Ke2 Nh6 (16... h5 17. Rhc1 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Nf6 19. Bg5 {Kramnik} (19.
a4 h4 20. a5 hxg3 21. hxg3 Rh5 22. Bc6 {Caruana})) 17. Rac1 Nf5 (17... Rxc1 18.
Rxc1 Nf5 19. a4 h5 20. Rc4 Be5 (20... Rd8) 21. f4 Bb8 22. Bc3) 18. Bc3 f6 19.
f4 $6 {Caruana wasn't happy with this.} (19. Be4 h5 20. h4 Rc7 21. a4 Rhc8 22.
Bc6 Be5 $5 {Kramnik}) 19... h5 20. Bc6 Rcd8 (20... Rcg8 21. Rcd1 g5 22. fxg5
Rxg5 23. Rhf1 Rf8 24. Rf4 $5) 21. a4 h4 22. Kf3 (22. g4 Nh6 23. Kf3 Nf7 24.
Rhe1 (24. a5 g5 25. axb6 axb6 26. Ra1 Bb8) 24... g5 25. Bd5 Bxf4 26. Rxe6+ Kf8)
22... hxg3 (22... Bb8 23. g4 Nd4+ 24. Ke3 e5 25. f5 h3) 23. hxg3 Rxh1 24. Rxh1
Bb8 ({Kramnik almost played} 24... Be5 {but then he didn't like} 25. fxe5 Rd3+
26. Kf2 Rxc3 27. Rd1) 25. Be4 Kf7 (25... Rc8 26. Bc6 Kf7 27. Rd1 {Caruana}) 26.
Rc1 Ne7 (26... g5 27. fxg5 fxg5 28. Be1 Rd4 29. g4 Nd6 {(Kramnik) and now} 30.
Bg3 $1 {is equal too.}) 27. Be1 f5 28. Bb1 Rd4 (28... g5 $5 29. fxg5 Rd4 30. a5
Bd6 {Kramnik}) 29. Bc3 Rc4 30. Ba2 Rc8 31. Bb2 Rd8 32. Bc4 Rc8 33. Bb3 Rxc1 34.
Bxc1 Bd6 35. Bd2 Nd5 36. Bxd5 exd5 37. Bc3 Be7 38. a5 Bf6 39. Bxf6 Kxf6 40. Ke3
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.23"]
[Round "11.4"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "148"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Armenia"]
[BlackTeam "Russia"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "ARM"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]
[WhiteClock "0:29:32"]
[BlackClock "0:22:12"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Qa4+ c6 6. Qxc4 b5 7. Qb3 (7. Qc2
Bb7 8. a4 a6 9. Nc3 Nbd7 10. O-O Be7 11. d3 O-O 12. e4 h6 {Sargissian,G (2677)
-Xu,Y (2538) Moscow 2018}) 7... Bb7 8. O-O Be7 9. d4 O-O 10. Rd1 Nbd7 11. Ne5
Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. Bf4 $146 (13. Nc3 Qc7 14. Bf4 Rfd8 15. Qc2 Qb6 16. Ne4 c5
17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Nxg5 Nf8 {Sargissian,G (2679)-Houska,J (2372) Douglas 2015})
13... Qc7 14. Nd2 Rfd8 15. Rac1 a6 16. Qe3 c5 17. Bxb7 Qxb7 18. Ne4 c4 19. h4
h6 20. Rd4 Nf8 ({Karjakin mentioned} 20... Nb6 {as an option.}) 21. b3 Rxd4 22.
Qxd4 Rd8 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. exd6 f6 {"A totally equal position." (Karjakin)} 25.
Be3 e5 26. Qb2 (26. Qg4 $11) 26... Qc6 27. bxc4 bxc4 28. Qb4 (28. Qc2 Rc8 29.
Rd1) 28... Rc8 $1 {"I already felt Black can play a bit," said Karjakin.} (
28... Rxd6 29. Bc5 Rd8 30. Bxf8 Rxf8 31. Rxc4 {is a draw.}) 29. f3 h5 30. Kf2
Kf7 31. Rd1 Nd7 32. Qb1 g6 33. g4 {Karjakin didn't like this as the resulting
structure change is favorable for Black.} Rh8 34. g5 f5 35. Qc2 Rc8 36. Qc3 Ke6
37. Kg2 Qa4 38. Qd2 Qb5 39. a4 Qc6 40. Qc2 Rb8 41. Bd2 Rb3 42. Bc3 $2 ({
White didn't need to give up the a-pawn. Karjakin expected} 42. a5 {but didn't
consider} Kxd6 {when} 43. Bb4+ Kc7 44. Be7 {is unclear.}) 42... Qxa4 43. Ra1
Qc6 44. Ra5 Rb5 45. Qa4 Nb6 46. Qa1 Rxa5 47. Qxa5 Qb5 48. d7 Kxd7 49. Qa3 Nd5
50. Bxe5 Qc6 {"I realised it's not easy at all, but I think I didn't spoil
anything." (Karjakin)} 51. Qf8 Qe6 52. Qb8 c3 53. Qb7+ Ke8 54. Qb8+ Kf7 55.
Qb7+ Ne7 56. Bxc3 Qxe2+ 57. Kh3 Qb5 58. Qc7 Qc6 59. Qe5 Qxf3+ 60. Kh2 Qf2+ 61.
Kh1 Qxh4+ 62. Kg1 Qxg5+ 63. Kh2 Qh4+ 64. Kg1 Qe4 65. Qg7+ Ke6 66. Bf6 Nd5 67.
Bb2 f4 68. Kh2 Kf5 69. Qf8+ Kg5 70. Qd8+ Kg4 71. Qc8+ Kh4 72. Bg7 Qe2+ 73. Kh1
Qf3+ 74. Kh2 Qg3+ 0-1

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 cxd4 8.
cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. O-O b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14.
Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bb3 Re8 16. h3 (16. Re3 Nf6 17. Qd3 b5 18. d5 exd5 19. e5 Ne4 20.
Qxb5 Qb6 21. Qxb6 axb6 {So,W (2788)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739) Saint Louis 2017})
16... Nf6 17. Qf4 Nh5 $146 (17... Qc7 18. Qh4 h6 19. Re3 b5 20. Ne5 a5 21. a4
bxa4 22. Bxa4 Red8 {Epishin,V (2574)-Del Rio de Angelis,S (2489) Calvia 2005})
18. Qh2 h6 19. Ne5 (19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 Rxe1+ 21. Nxe1 Qf6 22. Nd3 Ba6 23. Qe5
Bxd3 24. Qxh5 Bc2 {So,W (2799)-Kramnik,V (2800) Berlin GER 2018}) 19... Nf6 20.
Qf4 b5 21. Re3 (21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. e5 a5 23. exf6 Qxf6 {is just equal.}) 21...
Rc7 22. Nd3 Rc3 23. Nc5 Rxe3 24. Qxe3 {After this trade Ding felt quite
comfortable.} (24. fxe3 Bc6 25. d5 e5 {Ding}) 24... Bc6 25. Rc1 Qb6 26. f3 Rd8
27. Kf2 a5 28. g4 a4 29. Bc2 (29. Bd1 $5 Qb8 30. Kg2 Qd6 {Mamedyarov} 31. Be2
$1 Qxd4 32. Qxd4 Rxd4 33. Nxe6) 29... Nd7 {Here Ding thought Black is already
better.} 30. Bd3 Nxc5 31. Rxc5 b4 32. Bc4 Bd7 33. g5 hxg5 34. Qxg5 Be8 35. Qe7
b3 $1 36. axb3 a3 $1 {Missed by Mamedyarov.} 37. b4 Ra8 38. d5 {Ding had
missed this, and said he was lucky he had 43...Qa7+.} a2 39. dxe6 a1=Q 40.
exf7+ Bxf7 41. Bxf7+ Kh7 42. Qh4+ Qh6 43. Rh5 Qa7+ $1 (43... Qd4+ $2 44. Kg2 {
is a draw in fact.}) 0-1

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
d6 9. Bd2 (9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. h3 Re8 12. d4 Nd7 13. d5 Bf8 {Alekseev,E 
(2616)-Kovalev,V (2639) Tallinn 2018}) 9... Kh8 $146 (9... Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11.
Qxf3 Nd4 12. Qd1 a5 13. c3 Nxb3 14. axb3 Nd7 {Calzetta Ruiz,M (2317)-Atalik,E 
(2393) Turin 2006}) 10. h3 Nd7 11. Nc3 Na5 12. Nd5 Nxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. c4 f5
15. Ba5 Rc8 16. Rc1 bxc4 17. bxc4 fxe4 18. dxe4 Nc5 {Aronian thought this
should be "sufficient for equality."} 19. Bc3 {Grischuk thought this was the
critical moment, and he felt White is better here.} (19. b4 $5) ({He spent a
lot of time on} 19. Bb4 $5 Ne6 20. Nxe5 c5 21. Ba5 Qxa5 22. Ng6+ hxg6 23. Nxe7
Qc7 24. Nxg6+ Kg8 25. Nxf8 Rxf8 {but didn't like it.}) 19... Qe8 20. b4 Ne6 21.
Bd2 c6 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Be3 ({After} 23. c5 dxc5 24. bxc5 Rcd8 {Grischuk
"couldn't find a way" to continue, which might be} 25. Re3 Nxc5 26. Qe2 Ne6 27.
Ba5) 23... c5 24. bxc5 Nxc5 25. Bxc5 Rxc5 26. Nd2 Bc8 27. Nf1 Be6 28. Ne3 Rc6
29. Qa4 Rfc8 30. Rb1 h6 31. Rb8 Rxc4 32. Rxc8+ Rxc8 33. Qxa6 Qc7 34. Rd1 Rd8
35. Qd3 Qc5 36. Kh2 Qc7 37. Kg1 Qc5 38. Rd2 Qc7 39. Qa3 Qe7 40. Rd1 Kh7 41. Qb4
Qc7 42. Rd3 Kg8 43. Qd2 Qe7 44. Kh2 Qf8 45. Kg1 Qe7 46. Qd1 Kh7 47. Rd2 Qf8 48.
Rd3 Qe7 49. Rd2 Qf8 50. Nf1 Rd7 51. Ng3 Qb8 52. Kh2 Qf8 53. Kg1 Qb8 54. Kh2 Qf8
1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C42"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[PlyCount "95"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7
8. Qd2 Be6 9. O-O-O Qd7 ({In another top game Black decided to castle short
recently:} 9... a6 10. b3 h6 11. Be2 Qd7 12. Kb1 Bf6 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4
15. Qxd4 O-O 16. c4 Rfe8 17. Bf3 {but Black could not equalize in full, Anand,
V (2776)-Mamedyarov,S (2809) Moscow 2018}) 10. a3 h6 {A surprise for the first
player.} ({Karjakin expected} 10... a6) 11. Nd4 $146 {Technically speaking, a
novelty, although this is the most common move in the line.} ({Notably, the
predecessor is a game of Caruana's coach:} 11. Kb1 Rg8 12. Bd3 O-O-O 13. Qe2
Bf6 14. Bb5 Kb8 15. Rhe1 g5 16. Nd2 {with advantage for White in Kasimdzhanov,
R (2698)-Li,D (2488) Chengdu 2017}) 11... Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Rg8 ({With the pawn on
h6 it is not advisable to castle short at all.} 12... O-O {White will quickly
start pushing the g-pawn and the hook on h6 will give him a chance to quickly
open files against the opponent's king. [Karjakin's second Alexander
Riazantsev thought this might still have been better than the next move. - PD]}
) 13. Be2 ({White did not like} 13. c4 c5 14. Bc3 O-O-O {followed by d6-d5
with equality.}) 13... c5 {"I am not sure if this is best in this position." 
(Karjakin)} ({"Maybe I can just play"} 13... a6 {(Caruana)}) ({Or} 13... Qa4 $5
{(Karjakin)}) 14. Be3 d5 15. f4 O-O-O 16. Bf3 Bg4 {The most obvious and
logical move, but it has a flaw.} ({Instead Caruana suggested} 16... f5 17. Qf2
Qc7 18. Rd3 Rd7 19. Rhd1 Rgd8 20. h3 {which both players considered slightly
better for White.}) 17. Bxd5 $1 {"I think this is very interesting at least
from a practical point of view." (Karjakin) "Yeah, I should not have allowed
this. It becomes very difficult to play." (Caruana)} ({It is also practically
forced as if White allows the trade of the bishops with} 17. Qe2 Bxf3 18. Qxf3
{Black will easily level the chances after say} Qc6) 17... Bxd1 18. Rxd1 Qc7
19. c4 {For the exchange White has a pawn and the bishop pair. Especially
valuable is his light-squared bishop. It blocks the black rooks' way out while
at he same time exerts strong pressure on the opponent's position. Furthermore,
White has the obvious plan of advancing his kingside pawns and improving on
that part of the board.} Rge8 20. Qf2 b6 21. g4 Bf6 22. Kb1 {A useful,
prophylactic move which avoids any problems along the c1-h6 diagonal.} Rd7 23.
Rd3 {Not only defending the bishop in advance but also preparing further
improvement of the rook itself. It can be both useful for the kingside assault
or queenside attack after Rd3-b3 and a3-a4-a5.} g5 24. Ka2 $1 {Just in case,
avoiding the back-rank checks. Karjakin makes the most unpleasant moves for
his opponent, slowly but steadily improving everything. At the same time,
Caruana can clearly see he has nothing to do against this slow play.} Ree7 (
24... Rde7 {drops a pawn after} 25. fxg5 Bxg5 26. Bxg5 hxg5 27. Qf5+ Kb8 28.
Qxg5 {since} Qxh2 {fails tactically after} 29. Bxf7 $1 Rxf7 30. Rd8+ Rxd8 31.
Qxd8+ Kb7 32. Qd5+) 25. Qf3 Kd8 26. Bd2 Kc8 27. Qf1 $1 {With the threat Rd3-h3.
"I was very proud of this idea." (Karjakin)} Rd6 {Caruana decided to sacrifice
a second pawn in order to get some air for his pieces.} 28. fxg5 Bxg5 29. Bxg5
hxg5 30. Qf5+ Rdd7 (30... Qd7 31. Qxg5) 31. Qxg5 Qe5 ({Once more} 31... Qxh2 {
fails tactically after} 32. Qg8+ Kc7 (32... Rd8 33. Be6+ $1) 33. Qa8 $1 {
for example} Qxc2 34. Qxa7+ Kc8 35. Qa8+ Kc7 36. Qc6+ Kb8 37. Rh3 {and mate
follows.}) 32. Qh6 Kd8 ({On} 32... f6 {White intended to mount pressure with
the simple} 33. h4 {when "it is probably just lost." (Caruana)}) ({There is a
constant problem with the black king:} 32... Kc7 33. Qc6+ Kd8 34. Qa8+) 33. g5
Qd6 34. Qh8+ Re8 35. Qh4 ({Avoiding} 35. Qh3 Qf4 $1 ({Rather than} 35... Qg6 $2
36. Qxd7+ $1 Kxd7 37. Bxf7+ Qd6 38. Bxe8+) {But} 36. Rf3 {(Caruana) should be
winning as well.} (36. Bc6 Qxc4+ {(Karjakin)})) 35... Qg6 36. Qg4 {White can
combine the advance of the kingside pawns with threats against the opponent's
king. Caruana's rooks had a terrible destiny today; it was basically
outperformed by the gorgeous bishop on d5.} Re5 37. h4 Ke7 38. Rd2 (38. Qg3 Re2
39. Qb8 {would had won as well.}) 38... b5 {The last try in timetrouble, but
Karjakin calculated everything till the end.} 39. Bxf7 $1 Qf5 40. Rxd7+ Kxd7 ({
After} 40... Qxd7 {White has a choice between} 41. Qxd7+ ({And} 41. Qg3)) 41.
Qxf5+ Rxf5 42. g6 Ke7 43. cxb5 Rh5 44. c4 Rxh4 45. a4 Rg4 46. a5 Kd6 47. a6 {
With the threat b5-b6.} Kc7 48. Kb3 {Black resigned as the white king's march
towards his g-pawn cannot be stopped.} 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.24"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. g4 Be6 8. Qb3
$146 (8. h4 Bxh4 9. Qb3 g5 10. Be5 f6 11. Bh2 Bxg4 12. Qxb7 Qe7 13. Qxe7+ Nxe7
14. Be2 Bxe2 15. Kxe2 Nd7 {Giri,A (2785)-So,W (2815) chess.com INT 2017}) 8...
Qb6 9. f3 g5 (9... Qxb3 10. axb3 Nd7 11. h4 {"and White has free play for
nothing." (Kramnik)} f5 12. g5) 10. Be5 f6 11. Bg3 Qxb3 12. axb3 h5 13. gxh5
Rxh5 (13... Nh6 14. Bd3 Nf5) 14. Bd3 Kf7 $6 (14... f5 15. h4 Nd7 {Kramnik}) 15.
h4 f5 16. Nh3 f4 (16... gxh4 17. Nf4 Rh6 18. Bf2) 17. exf4 Bxh3 (17... gxh4 18.
Ng5+ Bxg5 19. fxg5) 18. fxg5 Bd7 19. Kf2 Na6 20. Bxa6 (20. Rae1 Nb4 21. Bb1)
20... bxa6 21. Ne2 Bd8 22. Be5 (22. Nf4 Rh8 23. Nd3) 22... Ne7 23. Nf4 Rh7 24.
h5 Kg8 25. Rag1 (25. g6 Rh6 26. Rxa6 Bc8) 25... Nf5 26. h6 Be8 27. g6 Rxh6 28.
Rxh6 Nxh6 29. Rh1 Bg5 30. Ne6 Bxg6 31. Nxg5 Nf7 32. Ne6 (32. Nxf7 Kxf7 33. Ke3)
32... Nxe5 33. dxe5 Re8 34. Nf4 {Kramnik thought this was practically winning..
.} Bc2 $1 {...but had completely missed this move.} 35. Rg1+ (35. Rh5 Bxb3 36.
Nd3 d4) 35... Kf7 36. e6+ Kf6 37. Nh5+ Ke5 38. f4+ Kd6 39. Ng7 Rf8 40. Ke3 d4+
41. Kf3 Ke7 42. b4 Kf6 ({A possible line is} 42... Kf6 43. Ke2 Rh8 44. f5 Rh2+
45. Kf3 Rh6 46. Ne8+ Ke7 47. Nc7 Kf6 48. Ne8+) 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Black "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D77"]
[WhiteElo "2809"]
[BlackElo "2767"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d5 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3 c3 8. bxc3
c5 9. Re1 Nc6 10. Bb2 Nd5 11. Qc2 (11. e4 Nb6 12. Rb1 Bg4 13. d5 Ne5 14. c4 e6
15. Qb3 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 exd5 17. exd5 Re8 {Meier,G (2647)-Van Wely,L (2656)
chess.com INT 2018}) 11... cxd4 $146 (11... Nb6 12. Rad1 Bf5 13. e4 Bg4 14. h3
Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Qc8 16. Bg2 e6 {Dreev,A (2652)-Puranik,A (2509) Bastia 2017}) 12.
Nxd4 Nf6 $1 {"After this Black is OK but I played a bit stupidly." (Grischuk)}
13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. c4 Bf5 15. Qc1 Qc7 16. Nc2 Rab8 17. Bc3 {Grischuk had missed
that White is threatening 18.Nb4 here.} Bxc2 18. Qxc2 Ne8 19. h4 c5 20. Red1
Bxc3 21. Qxc3 Nf6 22. Bf3 h5 23. Rab1 Rxb1 24. Rxb1 Rb8 25. Rb5 Ne8 (25... a6
26. Qa5 {Grischuk}) 26. Qe3 Rxb5 27. cxb5 Nd6 (27... c4 $5 {Grischuk}) 28. a4
c4 29. Kg2 (29. Qc3 Qc5) 29... c3 30. Bc6 Qa5 (30... a6 31. Qxc3 axb5 32. axb5
Nxb5 {is an immediate draw, but that was equally valuable as a loss for
Grischuk.}) 31. Qc5 a6 32. e4 axb5 33. axb5 Kh7 34. e5 Nxb5 $2 (34... Nf5 {
still draws.} 35. Be4 e6) 35. e6 $1 {Suddenly White is winning in all lines.}
Qa3 36. Qxb5 c2 37. exf7 Kg7 38. Be4 c1=Q 39. Qe8 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Ding, Liren"]
[Black "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2769"]
[BlackElo "2800"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 b6 5. e4 Bb7 6. d3 d6 7. Bg2 g6 8. O-O Bg7
9. Re1 O-O (9... e5 10. d4 Nc6 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nd5 Nd7 13. Bh3 Nf8 14. Qa4
Ne6 {Cordova,E (2606)-Terry,R (2492) Lima 2018}) 10. d4 cxd4 11. Nxd4 a6 12. b3
Nbd7 13. Ba3 $146 (13. Bb2 Qc7 14. Re2 Rad8 15. Qe1 Qb8 16. Rd1 Nc5 17. f3 Rfe8
18. Kh1 {½-½ Portisch,L (2655)-Spassky,B (2615) Mexico City 1980}) 13... Nc5
14. b4 Ncd7 15. b5 {Kramnik seemed to suggest this was a positional mistake 
("let's put it this way, unusual") He thought he was better here.} Ne8 (15...
Ne5 16. Qb3 Rc8 {Kramnik} 17. Rad1 Nxc4 18. e5 {Ding}) 16. Rc1 Ne5 17. Qe2 axb5
18. Ndxb5 g5 {"Totally came as a surprise." (Ding) "A typical Hedgehog idea" 
(Kramnik) to cement the knight on e5 with g5-g4.} (18... Rc8 19. Red1 Nxc4 20.
Bb4 {Ding}) 19. h3 $6 (19. Red1 {should give White at least a slight edge.})
19... f5 {"I thought it was almost gone." (Kramnik)} 20. exf5 Bxg2 21. Kxg2
Rxa3 $1 {Ouch. From this point, Ding can only hope for a draw.} 22. Nxa3 Qa8+
23. Qe4 Qxa3 24. fxe6 Nf6 25. Qe2 Qa8+ 26. f3 h5 27. e7 Re8 28. Ne4 g4 29. hxg4
hxg4 30. fxg4 Nfxg4 $6 ({Black should won slowly with} 30... Rxe7 31. g5 {
and now} Nfd7 $1 ({and not} 31... Nxe4 32. Qxe4 {as Kramnik suggested})) 31.
Qd1 $1 Bh6 32. Rc3 Rxe7 $6 ({And here} 32... Kg7 33. Re2 Rxe7 34. Qd5 Qe8 {
was stronger.}) 33. Qd5+ Qxd5 34. cxd5 {The worst is over for Ding, who
manages to avoid any further danger now.} Ra7 35. Re2 Nf7 36. Kh3 Nge5 37. Nxd6
Nxd6 38. Rxe5 Bg7 39. Rg5 Ne4 40. Rc8+ Kh7 41. Rh5+ Kg6 42. Rh4 Ng5+ 43. Kg2
Rxa2+ 44. Kf1 Ra1+ 45. Ke2 Ra2+ 46. Kf1 Ra1+ 47. Ke2 Ra2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "So, Wesley"]
[Black "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E37"]
[WhiteElo "2799"]
[BlackElo "2763"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2 c5 8.
dxc5 Nc6 9. Nf3 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Qxc5 11. e3 Nxd2 12. Nxd2 dxc4 13. b4 $146 (13.
Bxc4 O-O 14. b4 Qe7 15. Bd3 h6 16. Qc3 a6 17. O-O Bd7 18. Nc4 Rab8 19. Nb6 Rfd8
20. Rac1 Be8 21. Be4 Na7 22. a4 Qd6 23. Nc4 Qe7 24. Nb6 Qd6 25. Nc4 Qe7 26. Nb6
Qd6 {1/2-1/2 (26) Giri,A (2784)-Adams,M (2737) London 2015}) 13... Qf5 14. Qxf5
exf5 15. Bxc4 Ke7 16. Nf3 Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Ke2 Rhc8 19. Rhc1 Nd8 20. Ne5
Nf7 21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. e4 Kf6 23. Ke3 g5 24. g3 h5 25. h3 g4 26. hxg4 hxg4 27.
f3 gxf3 28. Kxf3 Ke5 29. exf5 exf5 30. Re1+ Kf6 31. Rac1 Rxc1 32. Rxc1 Rd8 33.
Rc7 Rd3+ 34. Kf4 Rxa3 35. Rxb7 Ra4 36. Rb5 a5 37. Rxf5+ Kg7 38. Rg5+ Kf6 39.
Rf5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.26"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Caruana, Fabiano"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C88"]
[WhiteElo "2784"]
[BlackElo "2794"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. d3
{Of course, Anti-Marshall. No computers, please.} d6 9. Bd2 {Caruana borrowed
this "brilliant" idea from Grischuk, who tried it in the previous round
against Aronian himself.} ({Other options for White are:} 9. c3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5
11. h3 Re8 12. d4 {Alekseev,E (2616)-Kovalev,V (2639) Tallinn 2018}) ({Or} 9.
a4 Bd7 10. c3 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 Re8 13. d4 exd4 14. cxd4 Bg4 15. h3 {
which was discussed by the two players six years back, Caruana,F (2773)
-Aronian,L (2816) Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012}) 9... Bg4 ({Black deviates from his
early game at once. That game saw:} 9... Kh8 10. h3 Nd7 11. Nc3 Na5 12. Nd5
Nxb3 13. axb3 Bb7 14. c4 f5 15. Ba5 {Grischuk,A (2767)-Aronian,L (2794), 2018})
10. c3 d5 11. h3 Bh5 12. Qe2 $146 {A novelty.} ({Previously} 12. exd5 Nxd5 13.
g4 {was tested, when White won a pawn, but Black had typical Marshall
compensation:} Bg6 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Nb6 16. d4 Bd6 {Jackson,S (2185)
-Littlewood,P (2435) London 1984}) 12... Rb8 13. Bg5 dxe4 (13... d4 $5) 14.
dxe4 h6 {Asking the bishop where is it going.} (14... Nd7 15. Be3 $5) 15. Bc1
$1 {There is no better square for this bishop. Up to here Caruana was in his
preparation.} (15. Bh4 Nd7 {looks good for Black here without the option
Bg5-e3.}) ({Naturally, White is not happy with the trade of this bishop:} 15.
Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Nbd2 Na5 {with comfortable play for Black.}) 15... Bg6 {The
bishop leaves the road for the black knight.} ({Black cannot play in
Chigorin-style} 15... Na5 16. Bc2 {as} c5 {drops the central pawn after} 17. g4
) ({But there was this interesting regroupment after} 15... Qc8 $5 16. Nbd2 Rd8
17. Nf1 Na5 18. Bc2 Qe6) (15... Nh7 {with the idea Be7-g5 can be answered} 16.
Bd5 {and there is a problem with the e5 pawn:} Na5 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nxe5) 16.
Nbd2 Nh5 ({On} 16... Bc5 17. a4 {is unpleasant.}) 17. Nf1 Bc5 ({The immediate} 
17... Nf4 {leads to clear advantage for White after} 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. Rad1 Qc8
20. Qd2) 18. g3 {Sensibly depriving Black of the Nh5-f4 option. The question
is: can the second player exploit the weakening of the f-file?} (18. a4 $5)
18... Kh7 19. Kg2 Qe7 ({So far} 19... f5 {does not work due to} 20. exf5 Rxf5
21. Bc2) 20. Bc2 $1 {Now it is stopped for good.} Rfd8 21. b4 {Once that
stability was achieved on the kingside Caruana shifts his attention to the
opposite wing. In particular, towards the weak pair on a6 and b5.} Bb6 22. a4
Nf6 {Aronian abandoned the ill pawns and decided to bet on the kingside attack.
} (22... Qe6 {in order to defend the knight in the line} 23. axb5 axb5 {
would be most likely met with} 24. Be3 $1 {with advantage for White.} (24. Qxb5
Bxf2 $1)) 23. Nh4 {A very good move.} ({"I did not want to get the game too
out of control after"} 23. axb5 axb5 24. Qxb5 Bxf2 25. Qxc6 Bxe1 26. Nxe1 {
"which I managed to do anyway. But maybe it was good." (Caruana) Indeed, the
two pieces are more vaulable than the rook here as the endgame is not likely
going to happen any time soon.}) 23... Qe6 24. Bd3 (24. axb5 axb5 25. Qxb5 $2 {
is no longer an option as the black knight is defended and he can simply grab
material} Bxf2) ({However Caruana mentioned the worthy alternative} 24. Nxg6
fxg6 25. Bd3 Rf8 {and now, say,} 26. f3 {with advantage for White.}) 24... Bh5
$1 {Now it gets messy.} ({"An important line is:"} 24... Ne7 25. Nxg6 Nxg6 26.
axb5 axb5 27. Bxb5 Bxf2 28. Bc4 $1 {(Caruana)} ({Black's idea is} 28. Kxf2 Qb6+
{(Caruana)})) 25. g4 Bxg4 {This is what the bishop came for at h5.} (25... Bg6
{"is the worst of the options as after"} 26. Ng3 {" (Black) is losing a pawn
and I have consolidated my center" (Caruana)}) 26. hxg4 Nxg4 ({White would be
happy with the endgame after} 26... Qxg4+ 27. Qxg4 Nxg4 28. Be2 Bxf2 29. Rd1
Bxh4 30. Bxg4 {"the black pawns are not moving and the knight on c6 is still
bad. White should be technically winning here" (Caruana)}) 27. Nf5 Nxf2 ({
Caruana expected another attacking idea:} 27... Qg6 28. N1g3 Bxf2 29. Rf1 Bxg3
30. Nxg3 {but once again the black pawns are not going anywhere, and the
bishop is worth more than the pawns. Besides, b5 will drop later, explaned the
winner of the game.}) 28. Bc2 g6 29. N1e3 ({Both players spoted a curious draw
after} 29. N5e3 Nh3 30. Nd5 Ng1 31. Qd3 Ne7 32. Nfe3 Qh3+ 33. Kxg1 Qg3+) (29.
Be3 {"would be the most desirable option, but it drops all the pawns"} Nxe4 30.
Bxe4 gxf5 {(Caruana)}) 29... gxf5 30. exf5 Qf6 31. Qxf2 {All of this was
basically forced and this position is the critical test of the sacrifice.} (31.
Kxf2 {suprisingly loses after} Qh4+ 32. Kf1 Nd4 $3 33. cxd4 Rxd4 {with a
decisive attack for Black.}) 31... e4 $2 {After this Black's initiative
quickly evaporates.} ({The critical idea was not spoted by the humans, but by
the AI:} 31... Nxb4 $1 32. cxb4 Rd4 $3 {to insert the rook into the attack.
Then anything can happen. For example:} 33. Kh3 ({I especially like this
artificial line:} 33. Bb2 Qg5+ 34. Qg3 Rd2+ 35. Kf3 Qh5+ 36. Ke4 Rg8 37. Bd1
Rxd1 38. Qxg8+ Kxg8 39. Raxd1 {Go figure what's going on at the end...}) 33...
Rg8 (33... Qg5 $5) 34. Nd5 Rxd5 35. Qf3 Rd4 {with compensation for the piece.})
(31... Nd4 {might transpose into the same after} 32. cxd4 ({However White has
extra choice} 32. Be4 $1 {and it is good enough for the advantage.}) 32... Rxd4
({Aronian was only considering} 32... exd4 {but it does not work due to} 33.
Ng4 $1)) ({Also bad for Black is} 31... Rg8+ 32. Kf1 Nd4 33. cxd4 exd4 34. Nd5
{(Aronian)}) 32. Rh1 {"I do not have any ideas here." (Aronian) In fact it is
White who is attacking.} Rd6 ({Maybe Black should have tried} 32... Nxb4 33.
cxb4 Rg8+ 34. Kf1 Qxa1 35. Ke2) 33. Bxe4 Rg8+ 34. Kf1 Ne5 35. Qf4 {The white
pices are clearly beter prepared than the opponent's ones. The end is near.} c6
36. axb5 ({Aronian suggested a "trivial" win instead:} 36. Rxh6+ $1 Qxh6 37.
f6+ Rg6 38. Qxh6+ Kxh6 39. Nc4+ $1 ({Somewhat worse, but probably also winning
is} 39. Nf5+ Kh5 40. Nxd6 Rxf6+ 41. Nf5)) ({The American GM spent some time to
make this line work:} 36. Nd5 cxd5 ({However he could not find anything after} 
36... Rg1+ $1) 37. Rxh6+ Qxh6 38. f6+ $1) 36... Rg5 (36... axb5 {would have
forced White to find} 37. Rxh6+ $1 ({Or} 37. Qxh6+)) 37. bxa6 Qd8 38. f6+ Ng6
39. Rxh6+ $1 {A neat finish of a crucial game!} (39. Rxh6+ Kxh6 40. Qh2+ Rh5
41. Nf5+ Kh7 42. Qxh5+ Kg8 43. Ne7+ Nxe7 44. Qh7+ Kf8 45. Qh8+ Ng8 46. Qg7+ Ke8
47. Qxg8+ Kd7 48. Qxf7+ Kc8 49. Qb7#) 1-0

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.27"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Aronian, Levon"]
[Black "So, Wesley"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2794"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. e3 Nf6 5. d4 cxd4 6. exd4 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8.
Qb3 Nxc3 9. Bc4 e6 10. bxc3 Bd7 11. Be2 Na5 12. Qc2 Bg7 13. Ba3 Bf8 14. Bb2 Bg7
15. Ba3 Bf8 16. Bb2 Bg7 17. Ba3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.27"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Karjakin, Sergey"]
[Black "Ding, Liren"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C84"]
[WhiteElo "2763"]
[BlackElo "2769"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3
O-O 9. Nc3 Bg4 10. Be3 Nd4 11. Bxd4 exd4 12. Nd5 c5 (12... Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Rc8
14. Bc6 Bf6 15. a4 Rb8 16. h3 Be6 17. axb5 axb5 {Caruana,F (2799)-Aronian,L 
(2805) London 2017}) 13. a4 Be6 14. Nxf6+ Bxf6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qe2 Qd7 17. b3
e5 $146 (17... Qc7 18. Rfe1 Be5 19. g3 h6 20. Nh4 Qf7 21. Ng2 Bf6 22. Ra2 e5 {
Motylev,A (2687)-Eljanov,P (2732) Poikovsky 2014}) 18. Ra2 b4 19. Nd2 Rae8 20.
Raa1 Bd8 21. g3 g5 22. Nc4 Re6 23. a5 Ref6 24. f3 h5 25. Nb6 Qf7 26. Kg2 h4 27.
Nd5 $2 ({White should continue} 27. gxh4 gxh4 28. Nc4 Bc7 {and now} 29. Kh1 $1
{is fine because} Rxf3 30. Nd2 {is good for White.}) 27... h3+ $1 {Winning a
pawn.} 28. Kg1 (28. Kxh3 g4+) 28... Rxf3 29. g4 $1 {Luckily for Karjakin he
has this move, which ends up saving him the game.} Kg7 30. Rxf3 Qxf3 31. Qxf3
Rxf3 32. Rf1 Rxf1+ 33. Kxf1 Bxa5 34. Ne7 Kf6 35. Nf5 Ke6 36. Ng3 Bd8 37. Nh1 a5
38. Ke2 d5 39. Nf2 Kd6 40. exd5 Kxd5 41. Ne4 Kc6 42. Kd2 Be7 43. Kc1 Kb5 44.
Kb2 a4 45. Ka2 a3 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.27"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Kramnik, Vladimir"]
[Black "Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E06"]
[WhiteElo "2800"]
[BlackElo "2809"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 d5 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Ne5 Qd6 8. Na3
Rd8 (8... Nbd7 9. Naxc4 Qa6 10. b3 Nd5 11. Bb2 Rd8 12. Qc2 Nb4 13. Qe4 Rb8 {
Khismatullin,D (2609)-Alekseenko,K (2570) Sochi 2016}) 9. Naxc4 Qa6 10. Qc2
$146 (10. Qb3 Rxd4 11. Bf4 Nbd7 12. Rac1 c6 13. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 14. Rxd1 h6 15. e4
Nb6 {So,W (2674)-Ljubojevic,L (2572) Amsterdam 2010}) 10... Rxd4 11. Bg5 Nbd7
12. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 13. Rxd1 Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qa5 15. Bf4 Nd5 16. Be4 g6 17. Bh6 Qc5
18. Qd2 Qb4 19. Qc2 Qc5 20. Qd3 Qd6 21. Nc4 Qc5 22. Qf3 c6 23. Bd3 Nf6 24. e4
e5 25. Be3 Qb4 26. Nxe5 Qxb2 27. Bf4 Be6 28. Rb1 Qxa2 29. Rxb7 Bc5 30. Kg2 Re8
31. h3 ({The relatively simple} 31. Bg5 Nh5 32. Nxc6 {is good for White.})
31... Bxf2 $1 32. Qxf2 Bxh3+ 33. Kg1 Qxf2+ 34. Kxf2 Rxe5 35. Bxe5 Ng4+ 36. Kg1
Nxe5 37. Be2 Kg7 38. Rxa7 Kf6 39. Ra5 Bd7 40. Kf2 Ke6 41. Ke3 Kd6 42. Ra1 h5
43. Rd1+ Ke7 44. Kd4 f6 45. Kc5 Bh3 46. Ra1 Bg2 47. Ra4 Ke6 48. Rd4 Nf3 49. Rd8
Ng5 50. Bc4+ Ke7 51. Rg8 Nxe4+ 52. Kxc6 Nd6+ 53. Kc5 Nxc4 54. Kxc4 Kf7 1/2-1/2

[Event "FIDE Candidates 2018"]
[Site "Berlin GER"]
[Date "2018.03.27"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Grischuk, Alexander"]
[Black "Caruana, Fabianio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C43"]
[WhiteElo "2767"]
[BlackElo "2784"]
[Annotator "Bojkov, Dejan"]
[PlyCount "138"]
[EventDate "2018.03.10"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {A perfect forecast- a couple of days ago in our show for
the Chess.com audience with Alex Yermolinsky, I predicted the Petroff defense ;
-) Why not, this line kept Caruana save throughout the (almost) whole
tournament.} 3. d4 Nxe4 4. dxe5 {A very fighting line which keeps almost all
the pieces on board.} d5 5. Nbd2 Nxd2 6. Bxd2 Be7 7. Bd3 ({The alternative is} 
7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O c5 9. Bf4 Nc6 10. Qd2 Be6 11. c3 Qd7 {with equality in
Nepomniachtchi,I (2751)-Mamedyarov,S (2809) Moscow 2018}) 7... c5 8. c3 Nc6 9.
O-O Bg4 10. Re1 Qd7 11. h3 Bh5 $146 {And Black uncorks a novelty. This should
not have come as a surprise to Grischuk though.} ({The other option seems
better for White after} 11... Bf5 12. Qc2 (12. Bxf5 Qxf5 13. b4 $5) 12... Bxd3
13. Qxd3 O-O 14. Rad1 Qe6 15. a3 a6 16. Be3 Rad8 17. b4 cxb4 18. axb4 {with
advantage for White in Vallejo Pons,F (2696)-Perez Garcia,R (2426) Lugo 2009})
12. Bf4 Qe6 13. a3 {Grischuk follows Vallejo's footprints.} ({White can also
play something like} 13. Be2 O-O 14. Qd2 Bg6 15. Rad1) 13... O-O 14. b4 h6 $1 {
An important move.} ({This move rules out any tactical problems based on the
knight jump on g5:} 14... Bg6 15. bxc5 Bxc5 16. Ng5 $1) 15. Bg3 {This prepares
White's next idea.} b6 16. Nd4 $5 {Creative as usual Grichuk finds tactical
chances. At this point he was already down to 13 minutes.} (16. Qc2 Bg6 17.
Bxg6 {would force Black to take a la Rubinstein:} fxg6 $1 {But this is very
good for him.}) 16... Bxd1 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Raxd1 c4 19. Bc2 b5 {White got
the two-bishop advantage but Black has good pieces and his remaining bishop is
not obstructed by his own pawns. The game is even.} 20. a4 a6 ({Interesting was
} 20... a5 $5 21. axb5 Nxb4 22. cxb4 axb4 {but this is for another game and
another tournament...}) 21. f3 Bg5 ({Caruana said that he saw} 21... Nxb4 22.
cxb4 Bxb4 23. Rf1 Bc5+ 24. Bf2 Bxf2+ 25. Kxf2 b4 {but didn't consider it
seriously.}) 22. Bf2 Bf4 {Pointing at the fact that the e5 pawn is a potential
weakness.} 23. Bc5 Rfd8 {Prepares the d5-d4 advance for the future.} 24. Bd6
Bg3 25. Re2 g5 26. Kf1 Kf7 27. Bc7 {Normally, the only creative plan that
White has is to open and seize the a-file.} Re8 (27... Rd7 28. Bd6) 28. Bd6
Rac8 $1 {A mysterious rook move. What is it doing there?} 29. Ra1 Red8 30. Bb1
(30. axb5 axb5 31. Ra6 $2 {might easily backfire as the black pieces are
exceptionally well placed:} Ra8 $1 32. Rxc6 Ra1+ {will be mate.}) 30... Rd7 31.
Ra3 $6 {Now the white pieces turn out to be unprepared for what follows next.}
({Apparently both players spent a lot of time calculating the consequences of} 
31. axb5 axb5 32. Ra6 Ra7 {when best seems to be to sacrifice the pawn at once
with} 33. Rxa7+ ({Worse is} 33. Rea2 Rca8 34. Rxa7+ Rxa7 35. Rxa7+ Nxa7 {
when after Na7-c6 there will be neither pawn, nor compensation for White.})
33... Nxa7 34. Ra2 Nc6 35. Ra6 Nxe5 36. Ra7+ Kg8 37. Bh7+ Kh8 38. Bb1 {with
compensation for a pawn thank to his more active pieces.}) 31... d4 $1 {
Suddenly the rooks on the c- and the d- files start to make perfect sense.} 32.
axb5 ({Since} 32. cxd4 Nxd4 33. Rea2 Nc6 {would transpose into the game.})
32... axb5 33. cxd4 Nxd4 34. Rea2 Nc6 35. Be4 Bxe5 ({Better than} 35... Nxe5
36. Ra7) 36. Bxc6 Rxd6 37. Bxb5 Rd1+ (37... c3 {would allow a chance to White
to organize some defense with} 38. Ra7+ Kf6 39. Ba4) 38. Ke2 Rg1 39. Ke3 Rb1
40. Ra7+ Kf6 {The first time-trouble is over and it is obvious who is playing
for a win. Caruana will snatch the b4 pawn, has a strong passer and chances
for mating attack. Further-on there is no chance at all the he loses the game!}
41. Bd7 Bf4+ ({Black could have also gone for the piece with:} 41... Rd8 42.
R2a6 Bf4+ 43. Ke2 Rb2+ 44. Kf1 Rxd7 45. Rxd7 c3 46. Rd1 c2 47. Re1 c1=Q 48.
Rxc1 Bxc1 {and this should be winning for White.}) 42. Ke2 Rd8 43. Rc2 Rxb4 {
Very safe approach.} ({There was an alternative-} 43... Rg1 44. Kf2 Rd1 45. Bb5
R8d2+ 46. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 47. Kf1 c3) 44. Bc6 c3 45. Rd7 Rc8 46. Be4 h5 $1 {To fix
a second weakness on g2. The game is basically decided.} 47. Kd3 Rb2 48. Ke2 h4
49. Rd1 Ke5 50. Ra1 Rd8 51. Rd1 {Somewhere around here Mamedyarov agreed to a
draw with Kramnik which meant that Caruana only needed a draw to book his
London ticket. The camera showed him debating for a moment if he should do it
or not, but afterward he said: "If my position wasn't completely winning I
might offer a draw. There was no counterplay for him either. I thought it
would be a shame to not play this position, especially since it was just so
automatic."} Rdb8 {The moment did not last for long. There is a message to be
delivered for the world champion as well.} 52. Ra1 Bd2 53. Ra6 Rd8 54. Rc6 Rb1
55. Kf2 ({The other wy to prevent the king's march towards the vital g3 spot is
} 55. Rc4 {but then} Ra1 {followed by Rd8-b8-b1 should suffice.}) 55... Ra1 56.
Rc4 Rd4 57. Rc8 Rb4 58. Ke2 Kf4 {In order to lure the rook on the f-file.} ({
Avoiding the trap} 58... Rbb1 $2 59. R2xc3 $1 Bxc3 60. Bxb1) 59. Kf2 {Whenever
the black king gets on g3 it is immediately game over.} (59. Rf8+ Kg3) 59...
Rbb1 {Caruana is combining positional threats with mating attack.} ({Or} 59...
Be1+ 60. Ke2 Rd4) 60. Rf8+ Ke5 61. Bd3 ({After} 61. Rc8 {Black has a pleasant
choice between} Re1 ({Or the more forcing} 61... Rf1+ 62. Ke2 Rfe1+ 63. Kd3 (
63. Kf2 Be3#) 63... Ra4)) 61... Rb2 62. Ke2 Re1+ 63. Kf2 Rc1 $1 64. Rxb2 ({
Nothing is changed after} 64. Rxc1 Bxc1+ 65. Kf1 Bf4) 64... cxb2 65. Rb8 Bc3
66. Be4 Bd4+ 67. Ke2 Kf4 68. Rb4 e5 69. Rb7 Kg3 {Handshake and Caruana became
the first U.S. challenger since 1972 [if we do not count the 1996
Karpov-Kamsky match - PD]! Congrats to Fabiano for the remarkable achievement!
I would like to thank all the participants for the most interesting
Candidates' Tournament that I have followed live!} 0-1

