Alexander Grischuk – Vladimir Kramnik, Queen’s Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch (D40)
2018 Chess Candidates Tournament, Round 8
Vladimir Kramnik has stopped playing his best chess it would seem. After starting the Candidates Tournament with several impressive victories, he now seems to be playing much weaker, and going for strange middle game positions which he must know aren’t that solid. It might be due to his claim that he isn’t really a favorite here, and that his performance is more exhibitional, but I must say I highly doubt that. He must have a strong wish to compete for the title once more and if he had the chance to win I’m sure he wouldn’t miss it for the world.
In this game he was playing the creative genius Alexander Grischuk who had the white pieces. They opened with the English, Agincourt Defense, but the position quickly transposed into a classical Queen’s Gambit Declined in which Kramnik went for the Semi-Tarrasch Defense.
Grischuk won a pawn in a thematic way for the opening and Kramnik failed to regain it while he had the chance. He instead went for complication, wanting to secure his king first, and then didn’t take the pawn again, wanting to put more pressure on Grischuk’s position. This risky play cost him a worse position in which white had an extra passed c pawn which he then easily converted into a full point.
With this victory Alexander Grischuk has come one point away from the tournament leader, Caruana, who is at 5.5/8, and he now stands a good chance to catch up to him if he continues to play precise attacking chess. And Vladimir Kramnik, the tournament wild card is at 3.5/8, sharing fifth place.
2018 Chess Candidates, standings after round 8:
Fabiano Caruana 5.5/8
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 5/8
Alexander Grischuk 4.5/8
Ding Liren 4/8
Sergey Karjakin 3.5/8
Vladimir Kramnik 3.5/8
Levon Aronian 3/8
Wesley So 3/8