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London Chess Classic (2009) The 1st London Chess Classic was an 8-player round robin held at the Olympia Conference Centre in Kensington, London, England, 8-15 December 2009, as part of the London Chess Classic Festival. Rest day: 11 December. To discourage draws, the players received 3 points for a win and 1 point for a draw (Bilbao rules). Time control: 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 more minutes for the next 20 moves, then 15 more minutes for the rest of the game, with 30 seconds added per move from move 61. Total prize fund: 100,000 euros, with 25,000 euros to the winner. Dress code: Suit and tie or just suit. Obligatory press conference after each game for both players. Tournament director: Malcolm Pein. Chief press officer: John C Saunders. Festival organizer: Adam N Raoof. Best game prize judges: John Nunn, Jonathan Rowson and Jonathan Speelman. Guest of honour: Viktor Korchnoi, who held two simuls. Magnus Carlsen won with 13/21 points. The brilliancy prize of 10,000 euros went to McShane for Nakamura vs McShane, 2009. Elo 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 1 Carlsen 2801 * 3 1 1 3 3 1 1 13 2 Kramnik 2772 0 * 1 1 3 3 1 3 12 3 Howell 2597 1 1 * 1 1 3 1 1 9 4 Adams 2698 1 1 1 * 3 1 1 1 9 5 McShane 2615 0 0 1 0 * 0 3 3 7 6 Ni Hua 2665 0 0 0 1 3 * 1 1 6 7 Nakamura 2715 1 1 1 1 0 1 * 1 6 8 Short 2707 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 * 5 Category: XVIII (2696). Chief arbiter: Albert Vasse Official site: https://www.londonchessclassic.com/... Regulations 1: https://www.londonchessclassic.com/... Regulations 2: https://www.londonchessclassic.com/... Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/car... ChessBase: https://en.chessbase.com/post/londo... Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYM... TWIC: https://theweekinchess.com/chessnew... Next: London Chess Classic (2010)  page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 28  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. McShane vs Short 1-0 163 2009 London Chess Classic C45 Scotch Game 2. Nakamura vs H Ni ½-½ 46 2009 London Chess Classic D11 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav 3. D Howell vs Adams ½-½ 45 2009 London Chess Classic C45 Scotch Game 4. Carlsen vs Kramnik 1-0 43 2009 London Chess Classic A29 English, Four Knights, Kingside Fianchetto 5. Carlsen vs McShane 1-0 61 2009 London Chess Classic E94 King's Indian, Orthodox 6. Kramnik vs H Ni 1-0 48 2009 London Chess Classic D10 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav 7. Short vs D Howell ½-½ 44 2009 London Chess Classic C42 Petrov Defense 8. Adams vs Nakamura ½-½ 60 2009 London Chess Classic C03 French, Tarrasch 9. D Howell vs Carlsen ½-½ 79 2009 London Chess Classic B22 Sicilian, Alapin 10. McShane vs Kramnik 0-1 36 2009 London Chess Classic C24 Bishop's Opening 11. Nakamura vs Short ½-½ 43 2009 London Chess Classic E44 Nimzo-Indian, Fischer Variation, 5.Ne2 12. H Ni vs Adams ½-½ 36 2009 London Chess Classic C89 Ruy Lopez, Marshall 13. McShane vs D Howell ½-½ 40 2009 London Chess Classic A15 English 14. Short vs H Ni ½-½ 64 2009 London Chess Classic C11 French 15. Kramnik vs Adams ½-½ 46 2009 London Chess Classic D37 Queen's Gambit Declined 16. Carlsen vs Nakamura ½-½ 45 2009 London Chess Classic D17 Queen's Gambit Declined Slav 17. D Howell vs Kramnik ½-½ 53 2009 London Chess Classic C42 Petrov Defense 18. H Ni vs Carlsen 0-1 42 2009 London Chess Classic B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky (Rossolimo) Attack 19. Nakamura vs McShane 0-1 55 2009 London Chess Classic E94 King's Indian, Orthodox 20. Adams vs Short ½-½ 43 2009 London Chess Classic C80 Ruy Lopez, Open 21. Carlsen vs Adams ½-½ 61 2009 London Chess Classic E46 Nimzo-Indian 22. Kramnik vs Short 1-0 40 2009 London Chess Classic D38 Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin Variation 23. D Howell vs Nakamura ½-½ 41 2009 London Chess Classic C03 French, Tarrasch 24. McShane vs H Ni 0-1 80 2009 London Chess Classic C07 French, Tarrasch 25. Short vs Carlsen ½-½ 71 2009 London Chess Classic B76 Sicilian, Dragon, Yugoslav Attack  page 1 of 2; games 1-25 of 28    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)   < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 71 OF 71 ·  Later Kibitzing> Dec-16-09    Mr. Bojangles: <I would say the strangling of Kramnik in round one qualifies as brilliant.> And McShane's play against Naka isn't? Dec-16-09    kevinatcausa: It may also just have been that they didn't want to award the brilliancy prize and the tournament's top payout to the same person (i.e. Carlsen-Kramnik would have won the brilliancy award if Kramnik had won in the last round and taken top prize in the tournament). Dec-16-09    Jim Bartle: At least we see that Carlsen has yet to take on one facet of Kasparov's style. Had this happened to Kasparov, he would have screamed to high heaven. Dec-16-09    rogge: He'll have to work on that. Dec-16-09    Mr. Bojangles: <At least we see that Carlsen has yet to take on one facet of Kasparov's style.> I wouldn't hold my breath; the kid has already taken after Kasparov with piece-move controversies a la Tal blitz. Both master and student have integrity issues. Dec-16-09    tenroke: rogge: LOL. Dec-16-09    tamar: When Carlsen replaces OJ with gaudy watches, then the transformation will be complete :=) Dec-16-09    Ezzy: It wont be the last time I say this, but - Congratulations to Magnus Carlsen for winning the London Chess Classic. Looks like he's first in line for the chess oscar I think. This year he's achieved one of the highest tournament performances of all time and the youngest ever person to reach the number 1 position in the world rankings. WOW!! WOW!! and triple WOW!! It's been a history making year for Magnus. How could he not win the chess oscar. Can't wait to see what the year ahead is going to bring. Great times to be a chess fan. Dec-17-09    Atking: Thanks <Eyal> for that answer. I was interested by your approach. My point of view differs a little. To say Kf8 is a computer move (It seems it was for you) I suspect that Steinitz at his best was able to play such "excentric" move which is connected to b3 and the control of the d1 square (After all the d file control was the price of the a4 pawn). I still have the impression that Kramnik could have played it as he gave the pawn on the purpose of d1 but Carlsen never suspect such possibility (Quite subjective of course). In other hand Kramnik didn't suspect he should have force himself to this level (My lazy theory) that your first paragraph may explain too. Kramnik won when he got an advantage. He never force himself as Carlsen does in equal position. But as matter of chess understanding I still have the feeling that Kramnik (And probably Anand) have the lead. Indeed a little lead that the young and beautifull fighting spirit of Carlsen could overreach. Dec-18-09    siamesedream: The European Rapid Championship 2009 will take place on the 19th and 20th of December in Warsaw: http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2... Participants: http://www.chessvibes.com/tabellen/... Dec-18-09    Rolfo: <The European Rapid Championship 2009 will take place on the 19th and 20th of December in Warsaw: http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2... Participants: http://www.chessvibes.com/tabellen/... > Where is slomarko? Expecting excellent live commentary from him .. Dec-18-09    AuN1: malakhov is my dark horse favorite. Dec-18-09    Hovik2009: Malakhov is not a black horse, he is a white dude, and he will win this tournament. Gashimov and Movsessian are good but not in rapids, Chucky is unpredictable than ever, maybe a homeboy Polish GM will share the price with Malakhov, cross my fingers I hope... Dec-18-09    turbo231: Nakamura should play in that Blitz tournament, he's a fairly good Blitz player. Dec-18-09    parisattack: <Ezzy: It wont be the last time I say this, but - Congratulations to Magnus Carlsen for winning the London Chess Classic. Looks like he's first in line for the chess oscar I think. This year he's achieved one of the highest tournament performances of all time and the youngest ever person to reach the number 1 position in the world rankings. WOW!! WOW!! and triple WOW!! It's been a history making year for Magnus. How could he not win the chess oscar. Can't wait to see what the year ahead is going to bring. Great times to be a chess fan.> Lordy only knows how high he can go! He'll be the first of the true computer-era world champs. No disernable style, just strong moves. Dec-19-09    siamesedream: <Nakamura should play in that Blitz tournament, he's a fairly good Blitz player.> Japan is not European country. Dec-19-09    Rolfo: ..and it is rapid (25 minutes or so), not blitz Dec-19-09    Octavia: <<Nakamura should play in that Blitz tournament, he's a fairly good Blitz player.> Japan is not European country.> and its not in the USA either, not yet! lol Dec-19-09    Red October: Drawkamura!!!!! Dec-19-09    rogge: Nokamera!!! Dec-19-09    siamesedream: After 8 rounds: 1. Malakhov - 8 2-8. Stupak, Dreev, Krasenkow, Rozentalis, Bartel, Zherebukh, Aleksandrov - 7 9-30. (among the others) Gashimov, Ivanchuk, Movsesian, Shirov, Soæko Bartosz - 6,5 Last 5 rounds tomorrow. Dec-19-09    Blunderdome: It's 15+10 Dec-20-09    returnoftheking: R 12 Malakhov still leading with half a point. Movsesian 9,5, Ivanchuk, Gashimov and others on 9. Dec-20-09    siamesedream: Malakhov won European Rapid Championship 2009 with 11,5/13. 2nd: Ivanchuk 11 http://www.poloniachess.pl/amplico2... Dec-21-09    AuN1: < AuN1: malakhov is my dark horse favorite> oh yeah; this guy knew what he was talking about. 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