Levon Aronian Wins Third Amber in the Farewell Edition -2011!

Levon Aronian of Armenia won, in style, The Twentieth and Final Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament. Following his earlier wins in 2008 and 2009 this is the third time the Armenian grandmaster claimed the first prize. Going into the final day, Aronian was leading Carlsen by 1 full point with 2 games to go. When Aronian drew the Blindfold game with Karjakin & Carlsen lost the blindfold game to Gelfand, he clinched the Amber overall title. Aronian also won the blindfold competition. The rapid section of the competition was won by Magnus Carlsen of Norway.

India's World Champion & World Number 1 Vishy Anand took the second spot in the Blindfold Section, behind Aronian with 7 points & the third place in the Rapid Section, behind Carlsen & Aronian - in that order - with 6points!Overall, Anand stood third with 13points, behind Aronian (15½) & Carlsen (14½). In the final round, Anand blanked Anish Giri of Netherlands 2-0 to have a creditable finish in the Farewell Edition -2011!!

ROUND - 11
Tournament: Amber 2011; Round: 11-Blind
White: Anish Giri (2690)
Black: Vishy Anand (2817)
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011; Result: 0-1
1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 5. d4 e6 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. Bg2 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Nxd4 10. cxd4 Bb4+ 11. Kf1 O-O 12. Bb2 Qe7 13. f4 Rb8 14. Kf2 b5 15. Qb3 a5 16. Rac1 a4 17. Qd3 Rd8 18. Rc2 Bd6 19. Rhc1 b4 20. Qc4 Qa7 21. e3 Ba6 22. Qc6 b3 23. axb3 axb3 24. Rc3 Bb7 25. Qc4 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Qa2 27. R1c2 Qa8+ 0-1


Tournament: Amber 2011; Round: 11-Rapid
White: Vishy Anand (2817)
Black: Anish Giri (2690)
Date: Thursday, March 24, 2011; Result: 1-0
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. c4 Nb4 9. Re1 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 c6 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Qb5+ Qd7 13. Qb3 O-O 14. Nc3 Nxc3 15. bxc3 Re8 16. Ba3 Bxa3 17. Qxa3 b6 18.Rab1 Qd8 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Rxb6 Bg4 21. Rb7 Bxf3 22. gxf3 h6 23. Rxa7 Rxa7 24. Qxa7 Qc8 25. Kg2 Qc6 26. Qb8+ Kh7 27. Qb1+ Kg8 28. Qf5 Qc4 29. a4 Qxa4 30. Qxd5 Qa6 31. Qe4 Qc4 32. d5 Qxc3 33. Qe8+ Kh7 34. Qxf7 Qe5 35. h4 h5 36. Qe6 Qxe6 37. dxe6 Kg6 38. f4 1-0

Thursday 24 March Round XI - The Final Round Result!

12.30 Blind
Ivanchuk-Topalov ½-½
Gashimov-Grischuk ½-½
Giri-Anand 0-1

14.00 Blind
Carlsen-Gelfand 0-1
Nakamura-Kramnik 0-1
Aronian-Karjakin ½-½

15.45 Rapid
Topalov-Ivanchuk 1-0
Grischuk-Gashimov ½-½
Anand-Giri 1-0

17.15 Rapid
Gelfand-Carlsen 0-1
Kramnik-Nakamura 0-1
Karjakin-Aronian ½-½


Final standings of the Farewell Edition -2011!

Blindfold:
1. Aronian 8½
2. Anand 7
3. Gashimov 6
Gelfand 6
Grischuk 6
4. Karjakin 5½
5. Carlsen 5
Ivanchuk 5
Nakamura 5
6. Topalov 4½
7. Kramnik 4
8. Giri 3½

Rapid:
1. Carlsen 9½
2. Aronian 7
3. Anand 6
Ivanchuk 6
Topalov 6
4. Nakamura 5½
5. Grischuk 5
6. Gashimov 4½
Gelfand 4½
Karjakin 4½
7. Kramnik 4
8. Giri 3½

Combined:
1. Aronian 15½
2. Carlsen 14½
3. Anand 13
4. Grischuk 11
Ivanchuk 11
5. Gashimov 10½
Gelfand 10½
Nakamura 10½
Topalov 10½
6. Karjakin 10
7. Kramnik 8
8. Giri 7