In the starting round of the Tal Memorial three games out of five ended with a decisive result. True, the most colorful canvas could be seen by the spectators in the drawn game between Alexei Shirov and Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. As it happens so often in our computer-dominated time, the dizzy variation that occurred in their game had already stood on the board at home of one of the opponent’s. So it was Alexei Shirov who had to create over the board when he was surprised by his opponent’s novelty far in the game (on move 28). Shirov’s attempts to take the game beyond the explored territory proved unsuccessful. Having declined several drawing lines, Alexei nevertheless had to tread the path that his opponent had already trodden under comfortable ‘home’ conditions. 

Answering the question of our correspondent if he was sorry that he had not been able just to play chess this time, Shirov said ‘no’. Unlike his opponent, Alexei had to make decisions over the board, so for him there was enough playing.

Another draw was not particularly memorable. That Svidler was not too happy with the position he had could be seen by a witness to a rare occasion: the usually tactful Russian player suddenly told off some chatterers among the spectators. True, his opponent did not look very happy, either. After the game Leko confirmed this observation of our correspondent: it seemed that neither of the opponents liked his position, so a draw was the normal outcome. Svidler tried to avoid the line that was played in his game with Leko in San Luis, but, according to him, the new move is weaker than the tested one, which also draws, though.

The grandmasters are content with the draw

Half a point gained by Svidler turned out to be the only coin to put in the money-box of the Russian participants. Ruslan Ponomariov overpowered with the White pieces Alexander Grischuk. Unable to conceal his joy, Ruslan quickly left the tournament hall - to prepare for the future battles. It looks like the Ukrainian youth continues to improve his form. At any rate, outwardly, he exploited his advantage in the endgame both easily and spontaneously, like in his better years.

The slow course of that game was in sharp contrast with the exciting duel between Levon Aronian and Alexander Morozevich. These two somewhat bizarre players just could not pass each other in peace. The winner told us how the game had gone.

Q. Levon, how was the game tonight?

A. Having been surprised by the unexpected 2….e 6, I was taken aback and did not play the moves that are considered theoretical. I avoided the principled response to the Queen’s Gambit Accepted: 4. e4. I find it difficult to explain 5.a4 by any logical arguments… I am sitting at the board and see that I cannot get my usual positions. Then I provoked Alexander to try and wring the initiative by 11.b3. It seemed to me that sharp lines he could play would not lead to a good position for him, but, of course, I was wrong. The game proved about even, though more convenient for Black to play. Well, then Alexander started playing with too much risk, which did not do him any good…

Q. When did you understand that you were winning?

A. When I played 29.f3.

Q. How do you feel after this at the start?

A. All my friends are laughing at me, saying that the win should be viewed as a sensation - for I have not won a game since the Olympiad. The taste of victory is a pleasant feeling.

Q. Are there in the Tal Memorial players who are sure to end up with a minus score (less than 50 percent) or those who will be “in plus”?

A. No, there are no such players and this is something new for me. I’ve played in such even field for the first time.

Q. Can one map out any tournament strategy in such an even field?

A. Frankly, I do not think any one is mapping out a tournament strategy. Perhaps for the last round? I never make plans, I just play.

Q. What meaning do you put in the notion of “Tal chess”?

A. Very beautiful, romantic chess games. True, it is very hard to play thus today. Shirov does have many games to correspond to this definition, though.

Q. Which results in the first round may be called unexpected?

A. I think there will no surprises in this tournament. What is so unexpected about one strong player winning from another strong player? After all, there are no games without mistakes.

Q. On the one hand, the tournament field is indeed very even, on the other, it includes who are both creative and fighting. You think there’ll be many games with a decisive result?

A. You can never guess. I hope it will be a fighting tournament.

Q. Can you estimate your form from the first game?

A. I generally disagree with the concept of form. Say, you did not lose by chance, you are happy and it seems you are well prepared. Of course, it happens that you have something on your mind and cannot play, but unless there are some objective reasons, there should not be any significant fluctuations in one’s level of play what is form in any kind of sports? You have no injuries, yon are ready to fight, you are working on it. The same in chess.

The oldest (which sounds paradoxically) participant Boris Gelfand taught the fifteen- year-old debutante of super tournaments Magnus Carlsen a good lesson.

Boris was so kind as to share his impressions of the game with the visitors of our site.

Q. Boris, it seems that you have won relatively easily?

A. Yes, the game was not very complicated. When yon gain an advantage with Black by move 15…

Q. Have you surprised your opponent in the opening?

A. No, he has already had games in this variation, in particular, the one in which he played his trainer Nielsen. There White gained nothing from the opening either, so Magnus decided to surprise me with the move Bf1, the idea behind which I have not quite understood. In the Queen’s Gambit Accepted there is, I think, a similar variation, but there White is a tempo up… In the resulting position I had a big advantage which I had been able to exploit.

Q. What do you think, the fact that these players participate in one way or another?

A. Honestly, I do not think anyone recalls this at the board. Anyway we try to play according to the requirements of the position. As they say, if there is the best move in a position, it will be made both by Tal and by Petrosian…

Q. Is there a place to show one’s individuality in present - day chess?

A. Yes, now many young players are under the influence of the computer style, which may be styled as ‘anti-Tal’ and ‘anti-Petrosian’. It means very good short tactics, not very profound understanding of position, staunch defense, fear to sacrifice material… But this does not apply to the most brilliant representatives of the new generation - Karjakin, Carlsen: anyway the strongest players are able to find a balance between their own understanding of the game and the influence of the computer. As before, we play according to our personal style.

Q. Did you plan, before the start of the tournament, for any definite result?

A.Which result may one expect when the tournament is so even? You have to come every day and do your work, while the result will largely depend on the form each of the participants has.