Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players · Kibitzing

World Championship Candidates (2018) Played between 10–28 March 2018 at the Kühlhaus in Berlin, Germany and organized by Agon, this World Championship Candidates tournament determined who would be the challenger for the World Championship title in 2018. The qualifiers were the loser of the Carlsen - Karjakin World Championship Match (2016) (Karjakin), the top two finishers of the World Cup (2017) (Aronian and Ding Liren), the top two finishers in the FIDE Grand Prix 2017 (which ended with the FIDE Grand Prix Mallorca (2017)) (Mamedyarov and Grischuk), the next two highest rated players, based on the average of their monthly FIDE ratings in 2017 (Caruana and So), and one wildcard nominated by Agon (former world champion Kramnik). The tiebreak criteria in order of priority were: head-to-head results, number of wins, Sonneborn-Berger score, rapid/blitz playoffs. Prize fund: €420,000, with €95,000 to the winner. Chief arbiter: Klaus Deventer. Four candidates still had chances to win leading into the final round: Caruana (leading by a half point), Mamedyarov (with various favorable tiebreaks in head-to-head and Sonneborn-Berger score), Karjakin (with a favorable head-to-head score against Caruana) and Ding Liren (with the remote chance to win a three-way tie with Caruana and Mamedyarov). Fabiano Caruana staved off any tiebreak scenarios by winning his last-round game against Grischuk. He qualifed for the Carlsen - Caruana World Championship Match (2018). Elo 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 1 Caruana 2784 ** ½½ ½0 ½½ 1½ ½1 1½ 11 9 2 Mamedyarov 2809 ½½ ** 1½ ½0 1½ ½1 ½½ ½½ 8 3 Karjakin 2763 ½1 0½ ** ½½ ½1 ½½ 1½ 01 8 4 Ding Liren 2769 ½½ ½1 ½½ ** ½½ ½½ ½½ ½½ 7½ 5 Kramnik 2800 0½ 0½ ½0 ½½ ** 10 ½½ 11 6½ 6 Grischuk 2767 ½0 ½0 ½½ ½½ 01 ** 1½ ½½ 6½ 7 So 2799 0½ ½½ 0½ ½½ ½½ 0½ ** 1½ 6 8 Aronian 2794 00 ½½ 10 ½½ 00 ½½ 0½ ** 4½ Wikipedia article: Candidates Tournament 2018 Chess-Results: http://chess-results.com/tnr339689.... Chess.com: https://www.chess.com/news/view/bre... ChessBase 1: https://en.chessbase.com/post/candi... ChessBase 2: https://en.chessbase.com/post/candi... Chess24: https://chess24.com/en/embed-tourna... Tisdall: http://mattogpatt.no/2018/04/03/can... TWIC: http://theweekinchess.com/chessnews... FIDE: https://ratings.fide.com/tournament... Wikipedia article: Candidates Tournament 2018 Previous: World Championship Candidates (2016). Next: World Championship Candidates (2020/21)  page 1 of 3; games 1-25 of 56  Game   Result Moves Year Event/Locale Opening 1. Karjakin vs Mamedyarov 0-1 71 2018 World Championship Candidates C60 Ruy Lopez 2. Aronian vs Ding Liren ½-½ 22 2018 World Championship Candidates A18 English, Mikenas-Carls 3. Caruana vs So 1-0 33 2018 World Championship Candidates E00 Queen's Pawn Game 4. Kramnik vs Grischuk 1-0 48 2018 World Championship Candidates A48 King's Indian 5. Ding Liren vs Caruana ½-½ 46 2018 World Championship Candidates E06 Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3 6. Mamedyarov vs Aronian ½-½ 24 2018 World Championship Candidates E32 Nimzo-Indian, Classical 7. Grischuk vs So 1-0 44 2018 World Championship Candidates C78 Ruy Lopez 8. Kramnik vs Karjakin ½-½ 55 2018 World Championship Candidates C67 Ruy Lopez 9. Aronian vs Kramnik 0-1 27 2018 World Championship Candidates C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defense 10. So vs Ding Liren ½-½ 37 2018 World Championship Candidates C89 Ruy Lopez, Marshall 11. Caruana vs Mamedyarov ½-½ 49 2018 World Championship Candidates B90 Sicilian, Najdorf 12. Karjakin vs Grischuk ½-½ 30 2018 World Championship Candidates C50 Giuoco Piano 13. Karjakin vs Aronian 0-1 68 2018 World Championship Candidates D39 Queen's Gambit Declined, Ragozin, Vienna Variation 14. Mamedyarov vs So ½-½ 31 2018 World Championship Candidates E37 Nimzo-Indian, Classical 15. Grischuk vs Ding Liren ½-½ 51 2018 World Championship Candidates D44 Queen's Gambit Declined Semi-Slav 16. Kramnik vs Caruana 0-1 66 2018 World Championship Candidates C42 Petrov Defense 17. Caruana vs Karjakin ½-½ 31 2018 World Championship Candidates E06 Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3 18. Ding Liren vs Mamedyarov ½-½ 31 2018 World Championship Candidates E06 Catalan, Closed, 5.Nf3 19. So vs Kramnik ½-½ 57 2018 World Championship Candidates D41 Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Tarrasch 20. Aronian vs Grischuk ½-½ 42 2018 World Championship Candidates D70 Neo-Grunfeld Defense 21. Ding Liren vs Karjakin ½-½ 18 2018 World Championship Candidates D78 Neo-Grunfeld, 6.O-O c6 22. So vs Aronian 1-0 78 2018 World Championship Candidates C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed 23. Mamedyarov vs Kramnik 1-0 64 2018 World Championship Candidates D35 Queen's Gambit Declined 24. Caruana vs Grischuk ½-½ 36 2018 World Championship Candidates E60 King's Indian Defense 25. Kramnik vs Ding Liren ½-½ 74 2018 World Championship Candidates A28 English  page 1 of 3; games 1-25 of 56    REFINE SEARCH:   White wins (1-0) | Black wins (0-1) | Draws (1/2-1/2)   < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 119 OF 119 ·  Later Kibitzing> Mar-30-18    moronovich: 2016 : Car - Kar 2018 : Car - Car Mar-30-18    dm1991: I don't know if it's helpful or not for the discussion of Fabi/Sasha offering a draw but below is Peter Svidler's word on this (mind You, it was before the Mamedyarov's game finished). 30s or so later Jan Gustafsson said basically the same. https://youtu.be/Da0DBTizEro?t=17583 Here's after the Mamedyarov's game finished. https://youtu.be/Da0DBTizEro?t=19105 https://youtu.be/Da0DBTizEro?t=19321 Mar-30-18    not not: The question is not: would Kasparov or Fisher, being in Caruana's shoes, offer a draw to Grischuk. The question is: would Giri? Mar-30-18    Petrosianic: <Sally Simpson>: <I know you do not agree with that and are just citing it.> I suspected it at the time, but the fact that he never offered a draw seems to be a serious objection to the idea. Mar-30-18    Petrosianic: Now another example of gamesmanship is Ayluerkupp's story. Even though he needed a win, he played a line which allowed a forced draw, because he was confident that his opponent would not take it. Mar-30-18    Jambow: https://en.chessbase.com/post/carua... Mar-30-18    Jambow: If it really ends up in St Louis I will send pics I promise ;0] Mar-30-18    Jambow: Svidler only said that because he is biased for Fabiano... Mar-31-18    jphamlore: Caruana was still wearing his suit jacket at the end of his game with Grischuk; therefore, we can infer Caruana literally was not sweating the game even at the end. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8H... It's interesting that a fantastic player Leinier Dominguez came to help Caruana in his training camp in Miami. Although as has been suggested by <csmath>, if Caruana wants help from a player who has no fear of Carlsen, someone like Bu Xiangzhi would be excellent help. Mar-31-18    jphamlore: There is good news and bad news from a post-victory interview given by Caruana. The good news is that we now know that all the players at Candidates are without a shadow of a doubt scrupulously honest people who would never cheat. The bad news is we know this because according to Caruana, it would have been possible for spectators, who were allowed phones at the site, to have communicated with the players. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8H... Listen in around 17:00 where Caruana is saying that the bathroom was not soundproof. Mar-31-18    OhioChessFan: Whereas my take is I can't believe anyone thinks there was anything at all wrong with either player continuing. You can be sure Maggie is going to make Caruana work to win any won position, so Fab might as well get used to it now. Mar-31-18    Petrosianic: <OhioChessFan: Whereas my take is I can't believe anyone thinks there was anything at all wrong with either player continuing.> I can't believe you think anyone is saying that, when the exact opposite has been said about a half dozen times. I think it's the TV Talk Show Syndrome. They start with a Topic, taken from a news story, then rather than study the story to get the details, everyone just <guesses> what they are. Actually, it's a lot like a Game Show. But your guess is wrong, so that brings us to Miss Kilgallen... Mar-31-18    LameJokes55: Bobby Fisher was just 29, when he became the world champion. It was an era, where players from Soviet Union dominated the world chess. After FIDE came into being and in the non-computerized-chess age, he was the only one who had this distinction. Here non-computerized-chess age imply the period, where human capacity was superior to computer with regard to chess. Players from Soviet Union had better access to chess literature, coaching and high-rated sparring partners. Due to cumulative effect of these factors, it was very difficult for a non-Soviet player to rise high. That’s why Fisher is considered, by many, as one of the greatest of all time. Despite the reign at top being short-lived. I consider Fisher eccentric and not lunatic. The strange behavior witnessed, whether from an eccentric or a lunatic, is not deliberate. It happens. It is futile to look for logical reason behind eccentricities since none exist. We do not blame the person suffering from these conditions but empathize. Mar-31-18    Petrosianic: <I consider Fisher eccentric and not lunatic.> I didn't realize Fischer was even in this tournament. But the point you're missing is that it's important for Fischer to be considered crazy in order to be able to give him a pass for being a Nazi. You've left him no out. Apr-01-18    not not: Ding dong. Whos there? Almost Giri. Apr-03-18    5hrsolver: This turned out to be a very exciting candidates tournament. If they can figure out a way to hold the candidates tournament every year and for the world champion to defend the title every year it will be very good for the popularity of chess. Apr-04-18    Pulo y Gata: It would give more chances for your idol is what you mean, I'm sure. Apr-04-18    tuttifrutty: So Caruana took it all and he deserved it. Congratulations. Go push the weak viking off the cliff and snatch his crown... Apr-04-18    Tabanus: Tisdall writes again: http://mattogpatt.no/2018/04/03/can... Apr-05-18    chancho: Some reactions are priceless: https://makeagif.com/i/hWyDcw Apr-05-18    whiteshark: Thanks for the link, <Tabanus>! Apr-05-18    morfishine: Caruana's sweatshirt looks like a re-do of the Tennessee Titans logo Apr-18-18    Jambow: Just contented at the moment, three Americans leading the Indycar series, starting with Alexander Rossi (Italian American)who was dejected by Formula 1 after his team folded. I was initially irritated that Haas the new <American> F1 team didn't pick him up and have no American driver in either slot. Then Andretti (Italian American) gives him a last minute ride and he wins the 100th Indianapolis 500 as a Rookie. So now Italian American who like Rossi honed his craft in Europe is challenging for the world chess crown. Batti il ferro finché è caldo ! This should satisfy my checker pattern fetish... Grandpa Cerutti would be pleased. Perhaps Lasagna tomorrow with a hotdog on the side. May-29-18    mistermac: <<The Boomerang>: "It's quite simple, first to win 10 games or 7 is the champion...End of story. If they want to draw forever, then let them draw forever. " Nope...too expensive to run it forever.> And frightfully time consuming. Jun-19-20    wordfunph: "I used to study old games, but I then realized they're getting older and the computers are getting stronger." - GM Wesley So (during the 2018 Berlin Candidates) Source: New In Chess Magazine 2020 #4 Jump to page #    (enter # from 1 to 119) search thread:    < Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 119 OF 119 ·  Later Kibitzing> NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion. Please observe our posting guidelines: No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language. No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts. No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members. Nothing in violation of United States law. No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members. No trolling. The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited. Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers. Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times. See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator. NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific tournament only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café. Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors. All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration. Spot an error? Please suggest your correction and help us eliminate database mistakes! Home | About | Login | Logout | F.A.Q. | Profile | Preferences | Premium Membership | Kibitzer's Café | Biographer's Bistro | New Kibitzing | Chessforums | Tournament Index | Player Directory | Notable Games | World Chess Championships | Opening Explorer | Guess the Move | Game Collections | ChessBookie Game | Chessgames Challenge | Store | Privacy Notice | Contact Us Copyright 2001-2025, Chessgames Services LLC