Ding Liren plays the open Catalan against Mamedyarov ⎸2018 Candidates, Round 5

March 15, 2018 NHaselton Uncategorized

Hanging PawnsThu, March 15, 2018 10:57pmURL:
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The Catalan Opening has become the new Ruy Lopez on top level! Alpha Zero’s match against Stockfish made everyone take it up and completely change their repertoire. It’s now onw of the most often played openings on higher levels and players on in the Candidates Tournament seem to want to play like an AI as well.

This game was completely drwish from move one, and neither player has shown a will to attack or struggle for a full point, which is most dissapointing. The whole rounf 5 didn’t have a single decisive result as well. This means that Caruana remains the sole leader for now, which I think is great as I consider him the most serious opponent to Magnus Carlsen of all eight candidates.

Standings after round 5:

1. Fabiano Caruana 3.5/5
2. Vladimir Kramnik 3/5
3. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 3/5
4. Ding Liren 2.5/5
5. Levon Aronian 2.5/5
6. Alexander Grischuk 2.5/5
7. Wesley So 1.5/5
8. Sergey Karjakin 1.5/5

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