Chess - The Sctosman 14/06/12

OVER the past few years, watching chess live over the internet has developed from a novelty into a way of life thanks to the marvels of modern technology that allows us to enjoy: commentary from various prominent Grandmasters; a video feed of the action; and candid post-game press conferences.

Some of the best coverage, though, seems to be reserved for Russian events, with their new-found wealth seemingly giving us the best in all the chess multimedia experience Moscow can offer, from last month’s world championship match between Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand, to the current main attraction just now of the 7th Mikhail Tal Memorial at the Pashkov House in Red Square.

Gone is the time when everything was in slow motion when it would take days for individual games to be seen in the public domain. The global village now makes chess very accessible to the masses; and each day during the Tal Memorial, on Chesstv.com, the globetrotting Australian GM Ian Rogers is providing excellent live English commentary by breaking down all the action with lots of analysis, player profiles and anecdotes.

Standings: 1-2. A Morozevich and T Radjabov, 3/4; 3. V Kramnik, 2.5; 3-6. M Carlsen, L Aronian and F Caruana, 2; 7-9. L McShane, A Grischuk and H Nakamura, 1.5; 10. E Tomashevsky, 1.

L McShane - T Radjabov

7th Mikhail Tal Memorial, (2)

Sicilian Rossolimo

1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 e6 4 Bxc6 bxc6 5 b3 d6 6 e5 dxe5 7 Nxe5 Qd5 8 Nf3 Qe4+ 9 Kf1 Qf5 10 Nc3 Nf6 11 d3 Be7 12 Qe2 Nd5 13 Bd2 Nb4 14 Be1 0–0 15 Ne4 f6 16 h3 e5 17 Kg1 Rb8 18 Kh2 Qg6 19 Ng3 Qf7 20 Bc3 Bd7 21 Rhe1 Rfe8 22 Qd2 Bf8 23 Ng1 Rbd8 24 Bb2 Nd5 25 Kh1 Be6 26 a3 Qc7 27 Qd1 Nf4 28 N3e2 g5 29 Nxf4 gxf4 30 Qh5 Qg7 31 Ne2 Be7 32 Nc3 Kh8 33 Rg1 Qg6 34 Qf3 Qh6 35 g4 Rg8 36 Ne4 Rg6 37 Rg2 Rdg8 38 Rag1 Qg7 39 a4 Rh6 40 Kh2 Rh4! 41 Kh1 h5 42 Rh2 hxg4 43 Qd1 Qh7 44 Rgg2 Rg6 45 Qg1 Rgh6 46 hxg4 Bxg4 47 Nd2 f3 48 Rxh4 fxg2+ 0–1