Chess (March): Candidates' Tournament begins in London on March 15

[Jack Rabbit]

20. Update from London (Thursday, March 28): Aronian loses, Magnus draws, Kramnik trails by ½ point

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Left : Stefan64 (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Stefan64) from Wikipedia (Creative Commons License, Attribution/Share Alike)
Center: Frank Hoppe in Wikimedia Commons (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Levon_Aronian) (Public Domain)
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Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik climbed to only a half point behind tournament leader Magnus Carlsen when he defeated Teimour Radjabov in 37 moves while Levon Aronian, who started the day in second place, dropped his second game in three rounds in today's eleventh round of the Candidates' Tournament in London.

Magnus, playing Black, drew his game against former Russian national champion Alexander Grischuk in 23 moves when the players repeated moves in a colorless and dead equal position.

Aronian, playing Black, lost his game to another former Russian national champion and the reigning World Cup champion, Peter Svidler, in 41 moves. Peter Veniaminovich was holding a slightly better position when P-n Aronian played a dubious queenside pawn advance on his 23rd move. Peter Veniaminovich regrouped his pieces to strike at the squares weakended by P-n Aronian's inaccurate play to take a commanding advantage that he converted to victory.

Vladimir Borisovich, playing White, had a small advantage after 28 moves over Cenab Radjabov when Black misplayed an opportunity to equalize and grabbed an unimportant pawn on the queenside. Vladimir Borisovich capialtized on the error and strengthened his center, quickly obtaining a winning position.

As result of today's decisive games, Vladimir Borisovich moves into second place with 7 points (+3 -0 =8), while P-n Aronian drops to third place with 6½ points (+4 -2 =5). Magnus remains in first place with 7½ points (+4 -0 =7).

In today's only other game, Vassily Ivanchuk and Boris Gelfand, both of whom are out of contention for all intents and purposes, played 17 moves to a draw by repetition.

Tomorrow's action, which will be broadcast live on the official tournment webite, features Vladimir Borisovich playing White against P-n Aronian in what will undoubtedly be the last direct clash of contenders for the right to challenge reigning world champion Vishy Anand for the title. Magnus will have White against Ivanchuk in the twelfth round's other important game, while Gelfand will play White against Peter Veniaminovich and Cenab Radjabov has White against Grischuk.