The Spanish Torture | Vachier-Lagrave vs Ding Liren | FIDE Candidates 2020

[@PowerPlayChess]

If you ❤️ my videos do *subscribe* bit.ly/powerplaysubscription and do checkout the *supporting* *options* through Patreon: bit.ly/patreondanielking or through *PayPal* (links in the description)

[@tome57a]

GM King is at his riveting best when he tells the whole story of a game, instead of just reciting its moves and variations. This video is a such a great example!

[@johnfarragut2185]

The quarantined bishop! A convincing win by Maxime. He looks fresh and healthy. I think the “surprise“ invitation could turn out to be a blessing in disguise.

[@alframseysporndungeon8]

We learn so much from Danny about: pawn structures, weak squares, controlling the centre, Brentford FC, developing your pieces, controlling pawn chains. Van Morrison bass lines. The principle of two weaknesses. It's all there, like a great big tin of Quality Street. Marvellous stuff. Danny, is the Yoda of world chess. Genius he is. Thanks mate! You do a great job and we're all grateful. Will Max do a Denmark? ;)

[@sar14cos]

I love it when Daniel King analyzes Ruy Lopez games, each time I grab a new concept and I have something to apply in my games. He is the best teacher in town. As for Vachier-Lagrave; Go Go le français, he has a good start in this tournament.

[@aidanwoolley6101]

I feel there was a missed opportunity to call the video "The Spanish Inquisition"... Great like content like always though

[@bergmul]

Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!!!

[@ibrahimseck8520]

I really feel bad for Ding...Something is wrong with him !

[@matahari1576]

Ibrahim Seck In many tournaments the weak guy at the start gets slaughtered. That is normal. Chess is cruel. And these excuses wońt change a thing.

[@horrortackleharry]

An interesting dynamic in a tournament like this is that you always get someone who fails unexpectedly (e.g. Aronian in 2018). You then get a world-class player with 'nothing to play for' and a completely free hand, which can be VERY dangerous in the later rounds. Ding could well be that guy this year!

[@PowerPlayChess]

Predictions are made to be upset! And under these circumstances I think we are going to have more results that go against the norm. Also, the players are so diverse in their styles that I think there were bound to be some upsets.

[@amsterdam8486]

Very nice analysis, im sad to not watch you more on great tournaments as an official.

[@Jargonaught]

It's beautiful how whites pawn structure towards the end resembles something that would generally dreadful to have. But the pieces made it work beautifully.

[@everetmason7793]

Highly unusual to see Ding lose two games in a row.

[@JZChessVivaForever]

If he lost to Fabi in game 3, he's pretty much a goner. Let's see...

[@markmartinez2530]

We live in unusual times

[@thomasbauer6118]

When it rains , it pours !!! 19:10 comment of the day Great analysis and well spoken for maybe more than a really bad start in the candidates.. :`)

[@geonerd]

You're on a posting rampage! :)

[@mostleesimian3448]

That's a beautiful game and a really great analysis. THanks!

[@KrishnaKumar-np3tw]

Really exciting game again. Hope the trend continues. Thanks GM, great analysis as *always*.

[@PthagonalPie]

Thanks, Daniel, for another video for round 2 of the Candidates!

[@fabiobonetta5454]

I think It's safe to say " It never rains It pours" is mr King's quote of the day

[@eyalsegal5003]

In the post-game interview, MVL pointed out another line/idea important for the refutation of 15...f5? - 18...Bf6 (instead of Nf7)19.cxb5 Qf7 (in order to take on d5) 20.Bg5! with big advantage to White - e.g. 20...Bxd5 21.Bxd5 Qxd5 22.Bxf6 gxf6 23.Nh4 and White has a winning attack, since Black can't defend f5 (23...Qe6 24.Qh5).

[@Astrobrewster]

A fabulous game, well described. Thanks. Very instructive about the strengths and weaknesses of the minor pieces. With apologies to Philidor, the minor pieces are the soul of chess

[@AhmadKhomeisi-y7b]

Very nice analysis

[@mrnono5034]

Oh my God ! What a game. thanks Daniel. Always a pleasure.

[@lucagandossi7069]

Wonderful analysis!!! Thank you GM King!

[@sameermansour1659]

Aliens chess battele , with epic comentry ! thanks alot GM Daniel .

[@SBelaya]

GM Ding spent all his time preparing for Radjabov as he learnt in the World Cup finals he might have a problem with him.

[@trevorochmonek9024]

😁

[@adnan4688]

I got what I wanted,MVL is in!!! Not just that he is FRESH!!! 💪💪💪 😂😂

[@pazdziochowaty]

MVL won this in Karpov's style. Immobilising all opponent's pieces and finding a decisive tactic

[@clarenceyee3529]

Ding's first two game results remind me of Wesley So's first two games in the 2018 Candidates. So started out 0-2 and that was pretty much it for his tournament.

[@kencusick6311]

What a terrible start for Ding.

[@johnstdm1]

Hi Daniel, in the position after b7, I had presumed that the response to Nxb7 would be Ra1. Do you have any thoughts on that continuation? Thanks for the great content!

[@femioyekan8184]

Every picture tells a story!

[@andrewroberts8139]

How is it, Daniel, that you are able to explain this with such clarity ex post facto, but the commentators aren't able to do so while the game is going on?

[@binilgn5941]

Andrew Roberts I assume it’s because the commentators aren’t checking engine lines continuously while the games are going on. Also, the quality of the commentators of course varies depending on where you watch the games. For instance, Chess24 had Magnus Carlsen co-commentating the first round

[@esbenandersen2168]

It's all down to pace. Daniel takes a very measured approach and speaks slowly. That's more difficult when you have 4 games to cover and 2-3 casters vying for time on the mic. He also leaves out a few lines, which again helps with the pacing.

[@strong8705]

Outcome of combinations is known after game, plus engines can be trusted to a degree.

[@PowerPlayChess]

Hindsight is 20/20. A player's thoughts during a game are messy, full of guess work, oversights, blind alleys, beautiful ideas that don't come off, and some that do. Live commentary replicates this to some extent, but without the intense focus of the players. It's much easier to see the trends in a game afterwards. Just because I tell a story, don't be fooled into thinking that chess is easy for these top guys. In reality, it is messy and difficult - and still their level of play is outstanding.

[@abdurrahmanmehmeti6937]

When you explain the game is like you explain a book roman 😂😂

[@davide1426]

Is this the only sports event going on worldwide right now? Great explanations btw Mr. King

[@csarmii]

Such a beautiful game.

[@DimitrisAndreou]

A patzer like me would appreciate going through the variations (around move 17-19) ....Nxe5 dxe5 d6+ c4 --- then what about dxc4. Danny didn't say a word, is it so obviously refuted?

[@esbenandersen2168]

c4 threatens whites bishop, which forces dxc4 which means white doesn't have time to collect blacks darksquared bishop (it'll probably go to f6). White is therefore down a piece.

[@michajabonski8152]

@@esbenandersen2168 nope. After c4 white does not capture on c4 but he takes the bishop on e7 and threatens to take the knight on d8. Still black just takes on b3 and after exd8Q Rxd8 material is eqal but Black has a better position.

[@Ritzefeld]

I think you're thinking of: 20. dxc4 bxc4 21. Bxc4+ and then it's the "same" situation - black king is in check, and black bishop on e7 is threatened. But black doesn't have to recapture the pawn on c4. He can just go: 20. dxc4 Bxd6 (for example) 21. dxb5+ and king moves, and the black white-squared bishop is free to go, and White is a piece down for 2 pawns.

[@DimitrisAndreou]

@@Ritzefeld what about 21.c5+ and 22. cxd6 in that variation

[@DimitrisAndreou]

@@esbenandersen2168 thanks, that's probably the answer (Bf6 and all black pieces are safe)

[@TessaTestarossa]

I was planning to put a nice bet on Ding, but then the whole outbreak thing as well as his quarantine had me wonder if perhaps it can have some effect. I guess it did indeed, he really doesn't seem to be himself.

[@JZChessVivaForever]

On Ding's disastrous start, I am certain that the past months of quarantine had its toll. Staying indoors all the time with little exercise made him tired and meek. And game 2 hardly shows any resistance or counterattack. Wang Hao did not have the same experience as Ding and you can see it from his solid, positional moves.

[@ChessMasteryOfficial]

I am convinced, the way one plays chess always reflects the player’s personality. If something defines his character, then it will also define his way of playing.

[@bicyclethief]

you must be new to chess

[@hardcorecode]

Well you must have not since Ding's Miniatures. This play so far in the candidates is nothing like the Ding we know and respect

[@456death654]

Ding disliked this video

[@josephknecht]

It's too bad Maxime never played pawn b2-b3 at some point around move 22-23. I don't recall ever seeing a bishop surrounded by 4 of its own pawns on its diagonals like that. Would have been a great bishop starfish!

[@jackkrom]

Although King's analysis is usually enormously insightful, I pick a bone with one moment; that being 13 Nd5 After Nxd5 14 exd as Dan says, the Black N at d8 is just so terrible. It seems to me Ding would have done better with Ne6 giving up his dark-sq bishop by 14 Nxe7ch. At least here Black has activated his knight and perhaps better than what Ding played.

[@ShamaiOfer]

Maxim did not have time to prepare but the other participants did not prepare to him as well.

[@imelfo3945]

I still can't believe MVL was not the wildcard. He certainly deserves to be in the tournament.

[@manoftheforest7505]

I guess he isn't Russian enough for that.

[@salmarwow]

@@AnandSivaram22 Everyone is going to crush Kiril.

[@tribonian3875]

Klar ist MVL ein würdiger Spieler für das Kandidatenturnier, aber bitte nicht unfair gegenüber Kirill sein, der hat die Bedingungen für eine Wildcard mit dem 3ten Platz beim Grand Swiss erfüllt. Jede Nation hätte einem eigenen Staatsbürger die Wildcard gegeben, das ist vollkommen normal. Das hebt die Attraktivität des Turniers im eigenen Land.

[@AnandSivaram22]

@@tribonian3875 aththanneya enikkum Parayanollath... Sadya gambheeram aayirunnengilum saambaril uppu porarnnu...

[@trevorochmonek9024]

@@AnandSivaram22 xjdudu djke djje djjd. Fuiee kdk dkdk dj ufjeue ogir, ffuf fuis giiie. Djwks go sofke xlsl.☺ fhduis xk!!!!!!

[@andrewroberts8139]

Keep calm and tip Caruana

[@hooplehead1019]

at kzbin.info/www/bejne/m2K8hZqIqLyLnrM "Ahh, hes not gonna say it, is he? - Oh, yeah he is! Here it comes, wait for it - wuhooooo ...SPLIT ROOKS!" Watched that with my flatmate (ppl in the same household - not much sense in socially distancing here if you were about to admonish it) - and Danny´s signature move let the whisky glasses clink (do you say this in English?) this evening!

[@meathead919]

Its crazy how Ding is getting whacked so early. Is he done already?

[@nilsp9426]

The position after the opening looks so ugly for black, no one before the age of computers would have wanted to play like this, I guess... If I ended up with this awkward Bb7 and Nd8 against Maxime, I would not be surprised. But why did Ding opt into that? Also the position before b7! will surely appear in many books. What a beautiful combination.

[@paulgoogol2652]

"how often do you see the white light square bishop so useful in the Spanish?" what I see is a bad bishop protecting 2 isolated double pawns. but these pawns make blacks position much worse.

[@vikramsrinivasan8176]

What happened to Magnus Carlsen why is he not playing candidates is he already qualified ir something?

[@VoodooShilton]

um he is the world champion, qualified by default for the world championship match :)

[@trevorochmonek9024]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😁😁😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😁😂😁😂😁😂😁

[@mhaidah]

This is some lela chess stuff

[@AlonsoRules]

typical Spanish - black has to go into a long defence against the Spanish bishop even more deadly when you can alternate the bishop between c4 and a2 with no pawn threats

[@wolfgangganssauge7099]

Spielbar

[@adomaskuzinas2137]

is it only me, or does Ding suddenly look much older than he did in 2019? at first i thought maybe he exercised a lot, men usually look a bit older when they work on they start working on their physique more. But Ding might have forced it a bit too much with his preparation

[@ricardoaw18]

First!