Chess: Alexander Donchenko withstands Magnus Carlsen

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A draw for self-confidence: The German chess professional Alexander Donchenko has fought for half a point against world champion Magnus Carlsen.

At the prestigious tournament in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands, Donchenko is still 14th and last place after five rounds, but is now unbeaten three games in a row.

Carlsen, number one in the world rankings, is fourth with three points.

The tournament is surprisingly led by the Swede Nils Grandelius.

Donchenko, currently the best German chess player as 64th in the live world rankings, only moved up two days before the start of the tournament for Russian Daniil Dubow, who had to cancel due to corona contact.

The 22-year-old didn't have much preparation time.

With two defeats and two draws, he started the tournament mixed.

Before the game against Carlsen, Donchenko told SPIEGEL that he was always looking for a chance to win, and that he wanted to keep that with Black against Carlsen.

Accordingly, Donchenko chose a complex opening, the Najdorf variant of the Sicilian Defense.

Donchenko wanted to prevent easy positions against Carlsen, in which the world champion plays particularly well.

The Najdorf variant should make the game as complicated as possible.

That succeeded at the beginning, Donchenko entrenched his king behind a pawn blockade.

Chess journalist Tarjei J. Svensen tweeted: "How in the world can Carlsen break the German wall?" Carlsen tried to put pressure on the king, which also succeeded when Donchenko ran out of time.

Even under pressure, Donchenko, who was 12th in the tournament, found the right defensive moves.

Donchenko had already managed a draw in his first game against Carlsen in 2018.

He played the first 30 moves well, said Donchenko after the draw in Wijk aan Zee.

After that it became more problematic.

"I made my life a little harder than necessary, but in the end it worked," says Donchenko.

The tournament in Wijk aan Zee is one of the great traditional tournaments and is also known as the »Wimbledon of Chess«.

The tournament, in which Fabiano Caruana, number two in the world, and top talent Alireza Firouzja also participate, will last 13 rounds until January 31st.

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