A textbook Berlin Defense draw by Wesley So and Grischuk ⎸2018 Candidates, Round 9

March 20, 2018 NHaselton Uncategorized

Hanging PawnsTue, March 20, 2018 5:54pmURL:
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Wesley So – Alexander Grischuk, Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense, C67
2018 Chess Candidates Tournament, Round 9

Alexander Grischuk has played a professional game today. And by professional I mean a quick draw with black in a completely risk-free fashion. He chose the Berlin Defense and Wesley So didn’t go for the “Berlin endgame”, but they entered a similarly boring variation which offers neither side a chance to attack.

What surprised me the most is that Wesley So obliged to this passive play by Grischuk. He didn’t show any ambition to win, and he ended up drawing two games in a row, after his draw against Fabiano yesterday. And he played both games with the white pieces! I think it’s safe to say that he will not be challenging Magnus for the title, nor did he deserve it with passive and defensive chess he’d shown so far.

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