Chess

THE big sponsorship and media pulling-power of Magnus Carlsen looks to have finally won over Fide, as they bowed to the Norwegian World No 1’s demands to change the format to the World Championship Candidates rules that clears the way for him to re-enter the fray for a possible 2013 title clash.

The 2011 Candidates in Kazan was settled by knockouts that made a mockery of the system, with many games ending in short draws. It reinforce Carlsen’s original decision to boycott the cycle. Subsequently elite grandmasters supported him by voting for an all-play-all format. Fide looks to have succumbed to the pressure switching to an eight-player, double-round all-play-all.

The all-play-all format clearly favours Carlsen as his tournament record is peerless while 14 games would give far less chance of a fluke result than four. “If the changes that are predicted come true, I am ready to fight for the World Championship title,” said Carlsen in a statement released through his manager last week. Carlsen will also have as a requirement a “waterproof contract”, as Fide was unilaterally changing the terms and conditions of for players with scant regard to their contracts.

Meanwhile the 12th Karpov International in Poikovsky, Russia, ended with Étienne Bacrot of France catching top seed Sergey Karjakin of Russia with a win in the final round, as both finished on 5.5/9. The prize-money was shared, but Bacrot took the bragging rights to the title with the better tiebreak scores.

A Motylev - V Laznicka

12th Karpov Int., (7)

Sicilian Paulsen

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nc3 Qc7 6 Be3 a6 7 Qd2 Nf6 8 0–0–0 Be7 9 f3 0–0 10 g4 b5 11 g5 Nh5 12 Kb1 Ne5 13 f4 Ng4 14 e5 Bb7 15 Rg1 Nxe3 16 Qxe3 b4 17 Ne4 Bxe4 18 Qxe4 d5 19 exd6 Bxd6 20 f5 exf5 21 Nxf5 Rfe8 22 Qf3 Bc5 23 Rg4 Rad8 24 Bd3 g6 25 Nh6+ Kf8 26 Rf1 f6 27 gxf6 Re3 28 Qh1 Bd4 29 Bxg6 hxg6 30 Rxg6 Qh7 31 Qb7!! Qxg6 32 Qxb4+ Ke8 33 f7+ 1–0