Sunday, December 28, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 13 (Final)

Eljanov,P (2720) - Inarkiev,E (2669) [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Nh4 e6 7.Nxf5 exf5 8.e3 Bb4 9.Bxc4 0-0 10.Qc2 g6 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.f3 Nb6 13.Bb3 a5 14.Na2 Be7 15.Kh1 Nh5 16.Nc3 Rc8 17.Rd1 Bb4 18.Qf2 Nf6 19.e4 fxe4 20.Nxe4 Nbd5 21.Nc5 Nd7 22.Nd3 Bd6 23.Bd2 Re8 24.Re1 Qb6 25.Bc4 Nb4 26.Bxb4 Bxb4 27.Rf1 Kg7 28.Rad1 Rcd8 29.f4 Re4 30.Ne5 f6 31.Nf3 Qc7 32.f5 Rde8 33.Bd3 R4e7 34.fxg6 hxg6 35.Nh4 Rh8 36.Bxg6 Rxh4 37.Qxh4 Kxg6 38.Rf4 Bd2 39.Qg4+ Kh7 40.Qh5+ Kg8 41.Qg6+ Rg7 42.Qe8+ Nf8 43.Rxf6 Qe7 44.Qxf8+ Qxf8 45.Rxf8+ Kxf8 46.Rxd2 Ke7 47.g3 Kd6 48.Kg2 b5 49.h4 Kd5 50.Kh3 bxa4 51.h5 Ke4 52.Kh4 Rd7 53.g4 c5 54.d5 c4 55.Rc2 Kd4 56.h6 a3 57.bxa3 c3 58.g5 Kd3 59.Rxc3+ Kxc3 60.g6 Rd6 61.h7 1-0

Elista Final Results:
Radjabov, Jakovenko, Grischuk (at +3) - 153.33
Gashimov (at +2) - 110
Wang, Mamedyarov, Bacrot, Leko, Kasimdzhanov (at 0) - 80
Cheparinov (at -1) - 50
Eljanov, Alekseev (at -2) - 35
Inarkiev, Akopian (at -3) - 15

Grand Prix Standings:
Teimour Radjabov 363.33 (3)
Wang Yue 353.33 (3)
Vugar Gashimov 328.33 (3)
Alexander Grischuk 303.33 (3)
Dmitry Jakovenko 243.33 (2)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 185.00 (2)
Levon Aronian 180.00 (1)
Gata Kamsky 180.00 (2)
Peter Svidler 175.00 (2)
Sergey Karjakin 150.00 (2)
Ivan Cheparinov 130.00 (3)
Etienne Bacrot 95.00 (2)
Peter Leko 80.00 (1)
Rustam Kasimdzhanov 80.00 (1*)
Vassily Ivanchuk 65.00 (1)
David Navara 50.00 (2)
Pavel Eljanov 35.00 (1*)
Evgeny Alekseev 35.00 (1*)
Boris Gelfand 30.00 (1)
Ernesto Inarkiev 30.00 (2)
Vladimir Akopian 15.00 (1)

(*) Eljanov, Alekseev and Kasimzhjanov came in mid-cycle and are down one tournament from where they should be. FIDE intends to rectify this by counting only 3 out of 4 tournaments to determine final winners.

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 12

Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) - Cheparinov,I (2696) [E92]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.Be2 e5 7.Be3 Ng4 8.Bg5 f6 9.Bh4 g5 10.Bg3 Nh6 11.d5 Nd7 12.0-0 f5 13.exf5 Nc5 14.Qd2 g4 15.Nh4 a5 16.f3 gxf3 17.Rxf3 Ng4 18.h3 Bh6 19.Qe1 e4 20.Rf1 [20.hxg4 exf3 21.Nxf3] 20...Ne5 21.Bxe5 dxe5 22.g4 Be3+ 23.Kh1 Ra6 24.Ng2 Bd4 25.Qg3 Qg5 26.Rad1 Bxf5 27.Nb5 Qg7 28.Kh2 Bg6 29.Rxf8+ Kxf8 30.Nxc7 Rf6 [30...Qxc7 31.Rxd4] 31.Nb5 Bxb2 32.g5 Rf5 33.Bg4 Rf7 34.Rb1 Nd3 [34...Bd4 35.Nxd4 exd4 36.Qb8+ Ke7 37.d6#] 35.Rxb2 Nxb2 36.Qa3+ Kg8 37.Qxb2 Rf1 38.Nd6 Qe7 39.Be6+ Kf8 40.Qxe5 Qg7 41.Qxg7+ Kxg7 42.Nxb7 Rf2 43.c5 Rd2 44.c6 e3 45.Kg3 e2 46.c7 1-0

Standings:
Jakovenko, Radjabov, Grischuk at +3
Gashimov at +2

Friday, December 26, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 11

Inarkiev,E (2669) - Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) [C92]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Re8 10.d4 Bb7 11.Nbd2 Bf8 12.Bc2 Nb8 13.b3 g6 14.a4 Nbd7 15.Ba3 c6 16.Nf1 Qc7 17.Ng3 Rad8 18.Qd2 Bg7 19.Rad1 c5 20.d5 bxa4 21.bxa4 a5 22.Qe3 Ba6 23.Nd2 Rb8 24.Ngf1 Nb6 25.Bb3 Nh5 26.c4 Rb7 27.Qc3 Nd7 28.Ne3 Nhf6 29.Rc1 Bh6 30.Qc2 Reb8 31.Ba2 Nb6 32.Bb3 Bf4 33.g3 Bh6 34.Kg2 Qd7 35.Rb1 Ra7 36.Qc3 Bc8 37.Rh1 Rbb7 38.Ra1 Qe8 39.Ng4 Bxg4 40.hxg4 Nbxd5 41.cxd5 Bxd2 42.Qd3 Bg5 43.f3 h5 44.gxh5 Nxh5 45.Bc4 Qxa4 46.Bxc5 Rb2+ 47.Bf2 Qd7 48.Ra2 Rab7 49.Qa3 Rxa2 50.Qxa2 Qc7 51.Rd1 Qb8 52.Qxa5 Rb2 53.Qe1 Kg7 54.Kg1 Qc8 55.Bf1 Qc2 56.Bd3 Qa4 57.Ra1 Qb3 58.Rb1 Bd8 59.Rxb2 Qxb2 60.Qe2 Qc1+ 61.Qe1 Qb2 62.Qe2 Qb4 63.Qe3 Nxg3 64.f4 exf4 65.Qxf4 Nh5 66.Qe3 Kg8 67.Kg2 Qb2 68.Be2 Qxe2 69.Qxe2 Nf4+ 70.Kf3 Nxe2 71.Kxe2 Bf6 72.Kf3 Be5 73.Kg4 f6 74.Be3 Kf7 75.Kf3 Ke7 76.Ke2 Kd7 77.Kd3 Kc7 78.Kc4 Kb7 79.Kb5 g5 80.Bg1 g4 81.Bf2 g3 82.Be3 g2 83.Bg1 Bb2 84.Ka4 Ka6 85.Kb4 Be5 86.Kc4 Ka5 0-1

Standings:
Jakovenko, Radjabov, Grischuk at +3
Gashimov at +2

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 10

Mamedyarov,S (2731) - Eljanov,P (2720) [D30]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Bg5 Bb4+ 5.Nbd2 dxc4 6.Qc2 b5 7.a4 c6 8.g3 Bb7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.0-0 Qc8 11.b3 c3 12.Ne4 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 c5 14.Qg4 h5 15.Qh4 f6 16.Be3 c4 17.axb5 Bd5 18.Ra4 Be7 19.bxc4 g5 20.Nxg5 Bxg2 21.Kxg2 fxg5 22.Qe4 Nf6 23.Qg6+ Kd8 24.Rfa1 h4 25.d5 h3+ 26.Kg1 Rg8 27.Qd3 exd5 28.cxd5 Ke8 29.d6 Bd8 30.Rxa7 Rxa7 31.Rxa7 c2 32.d7+ Nxd7 33.Qe4+ Kf8 34.Qf5+ Bf6 35.Bc1 Qc3 36.Qxh3 Rg7 37.Kg2 Qd4 38.Ba3+ Kg8 39.Ra8+ Kf7 40.Qf5 g4 41.Rd8 1-0

Leko,P (2747) - Gashimov,V (2703) [C42]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Be6 9.0-0-0 Qd7 10.h4 0-0-0 11.Ng5 Bxg5 12.hxg5 a6 13.b3 Kb8 14.c4 Rdf8 15.Bd3 Bf5 16.Be2 Bg4 17.f3 Be6 18.Qc3 f6 19.gxf6 Rxf6 20.b4 Ne7 21.Kb2 Nc8 22.b5 axb5 23.cxb5 Re8 24.Bd3 Bf5 25.Bc4 Be6 26.Bf1 Bg8 27.Bd4 Rf4 28.a4 Qf7 29.Qb3 Qf8 30.Bc4 Bxc4 31.Qxc4 Nb6 32.Qb3 d5 33.Rxh7 Nc4+ 34.Ka2 g5 35.Rh8 Qf7 36.Rxe8+ Qxe8 37.Bc3 g4 38.Rxd5 gxf3 39.gxf3 Nb6 40.Re5 Qd8 41.a5 Ra4+ 42.Kb2 Nc4+ 43.Kc1 Qf8 44.Kb1 Na3+ 45.Ka1 Rf4 46.Ka2 Nc4 47.Rh5 Rxf3 48.b6 cxb6 49.axb6 Nxb6 50.Rb5 Nd7 51.Rxb7+ Kc8 52.Rxd7 Kxd7 53.Qb7+ Ke6 54.Qc6+ Qd6 55.Qxf3 Qa6+ 56.Kb1 Qb6+ 57.Bb2 1-0

Cheparinov,I (2696) - Akopian,Vl (2679) [D18]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Nbd7 8.0-0 Bb4 9.Qe2 0-0 10.e4 Bg6 11.Bd3 Bh5 12.e5 Nd5 13.Nxd5 cxd5 14.Qe3 Be7 15.Ng5 Bxg5 16.Qxg5 Bg6 17.Be2 Qxg5 18.Bxg5 Nb8 19.a5 Nc6 20.Be3 Rfc8 21.Ra3 Nd8 22.Re1 Rc2 23.b4 Nc6 24.b5 Nb4 25.Rb3 Na2 26.h4 h5 27.Bf1 Rac8 28.b6 a6 29.Kh2 Kf8 30.Re2 Rxe2 31.Bxe2 Ke7 32.Bd2 Kd7 33.Rb2 Nc3 34.Bxc3 Rxc3 35.Bxa6 Kc8 36.Be2 Kb8 37.Bb5 Kc8 38.Rb4 Ra3 39.Ba4 f6 40.exf6 gxf6 41.a6 bxa6 42.Bd7+ Kb7 43.Bxe6 Ra5 44.Bd7 Bd3 45.Bc6+ Kb8 46.Rb2 Bc4 47.f3 Ra1 48.g4 hxg4 49.fxg4 Re1 50.h5 Re6 51.Bd7 Re7 52.Bf5 Kb7 53.h6 a5 54.h7 Re8 55.g5 fxg5 56.Rg2 a4 57.Rxg5 a3 58.Rg8 a2 59.Rxe8 1-0

Radjabov,T (2751) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2715) [A13]
1.c4 e6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.0-0 Be7 6.b3 0-0 7.Bb2 d5 8.e3 Nbd7 9.Nc3 a6 10.Qe2 Bd6 11.d3 Qe7 12.Nh4 g6 13.f4 c6 14.e4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Nf6 17.Bg2 Rad8 18.Rad1 Rfe8 19.Ba1 Rd7 20.Kh1 Nh5 21.Qb2 f6 22.d4 Qf8 23.Nf3 Qh6 24.Kg1 c5 25.Ne5 Bxg2 26.Nxd7 Bxf1 27.Rxf1 Qg7 28.Nxb6 g5 29.Qe2 Nxg3 30.hxg3 gxf4 31.Qh5 Rb8 32.Na4 cxd4 33.Bxd4 e5 34.Bf2 fxg3 35.Be3 Qf7 36.Qxf7+ Kxf7 37.Kg2 Rg8 38.Nc3 Ke6 39.Ne4 Be7 40.Bc5 Bd8 41.Nxg3 f5 42.Kh3 f4 43.Ne4 Kf5 44.Re1 h5 45.b4 Rg4 46.Bf2 Be7 47.c5 f3 48.c6 Bd8 49.Rd1 Bc7 50.Ng3+ Ke6 51.Rd7 Bd6 52.Nxh5 Rc4 53.Ng7+ Kd5 54.Bc5 1-0

Jakovenko,D (2737) - Inarkiev,E (2669) [D11]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 Bxf3 6.Qxf3 e6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.Bd2 Bb4 9.Bd3 0-0 10.0-0 Re8 11.Qd1 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nb6 13.Be2 Qe7 14.Qb3 Rad8 15.Bf3 e5 16.dxe5 Qxe5 17.Qxb4 Rxd2 18.Rad1 Red8 19.Rxd2 Rxd2 20.Na4 Qd6 21.Qxd6 Rxd6 22.Nc5 Rd2 23.Rd1 Rxd1+ 24.Bxd1 Nc4 25.Nxb7 Nxb2 26.Bf3 Nd5 27.Na5 Nc3 28.Nxc6 a6 29.Kf1 Nxa2 30.Be2 Nc3 31.Bxa6 Ne4 32.Ke2 Nd6 33.Bd3 Na4 34.e4 Nc3+ 35.Ke3 Nd1+ 36.Kf3 f6 37.Bc2 Nc3 38.Ke3 g5 39.Kd4 Ne2+ 40.Kd5 Nf7 41.Ke6 Kg7 42.g3 Ng1 43.Nd4 Nxh3 44.Nf5+ Kg6 45.Ne7+ Kg7 46.Nf5+ Kg6 47.f3 Nd8+ 48.Kd7 Nf7 49.Ke6 Nd8+ 50.Kd7 Nf7 51.Ke7 h5 52.Ba4 g4 53.f4 Nh6 54.Be8+ Kh7 55.Kxf6 Nxf4 56.gxf4 Nxf5 57.Bg6+ Kh6 58.Bxf5 1-0

Standings:
Jakovenko, Radjabov and Grischuk at +3
Gashimov at +2

Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 9

Jakovenko,D (2737) - Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Qd2 0-0 9.0-0-0 Ng4 10.Kb1 Be6 11.g3 Nc6 12.f4 Nxe3 13.Qxe3 Rc8 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.exd5 exf4 16.gxf4 Nb8 17.Bd3 Nd7 18.Qe4 g6 19.h4 Bf6 20.h5 Bg7 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.c3 Qf6 23.Nd4 Rfe8 24.Qf3 Nb6 25.f5 g5 26.Rdg1 Re5 27.Qh5 Kf8 28.Nf3 Rxc3 29.Nxe5 Rc7 30.Qxg5 Qxg5 31.Ng6+ Qxg6 32.fxg6 Nxd5 33.gxf7 Nf4 34.Rxg7 1-0

Eljanov,P (2720) - Radjabov,T (2751) [E99]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.d5 Ne7 9.Ne1 Nd7 10.f3 f5 11.g4 Kh8 12.h4 c6 13.Kg2 Nf6 14.Nd3 b5 15.b3 Rb8 16.Nf2 b4 17.Na4 Bb7 18.Bg5 Qd7 19.Qd2 cxd5 20.cxd5 Neg8 21.Rac1 Ba8 22.Qc2 Rf7 23.Qd3 Ne7 24.Kg1 h5 25.Bxf6 Rxf6 26.g5 fxe4 27.fxe4 Rf4 28.Rc4 Rxh4 29.Qg3 Rf4 30.Nd3 Bxd5 31.exd5 Rxc4 32.bxc4 Qxa4 33.c5 Qxa2 34.cxd6 Nf5 35.Rxf5 Qxe2 36.Rf2 Qe4 37.d7 Qxd5 38.Kh2 Kh7 39.Rf6 Qxd7 40.Nxe5 Qd2+ 0-1

Wang Yue (2736) - Cheparinov,I (2696) [E95]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 0-0 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.Re1 Re8 9.Bf1 h6 10.Rb1 c6 11.d5 c5 12.Bd2 Nh7 13.Qc1 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Bxh6 e4 16.Bxg7 Kxg7 17.Nd2 Nhf6 18.Be2 Ne5 19.Nf1 Nfg4 20.Bxg4 Nxg4 21.Ne2 Rh8 22.Qc3+ Qf6 23.f4 exf3 24.Qxf3 Bd7 25.Qc3 Ne5 26.Nf4 Kf7 27.Re3 Rh4 28.g3 Rg8 29.Kh1 Qg7 30.Nd3 f4 31.Nxe5+ dxe5 32.Rxe5 Qh6 33.gxh4 Qg6 34.Ng3 Qxb1+ 35.Re1 Qg6 36.Qe5 Qf6 37.Qc7 Rd8 38.Rf1 f3 39.Ne4 1-0
Gashimov,V (2703) - Mamedyarov,S (2731) [B63]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Qd2 Be7 8.0-0-0 a6 9.f4 Nxd4 10.Qxd4 b5 11.Bxf6 gxf6 12.Bd3 Qc7 13.Qe3 Bd7 14.Kb1 Qc5 15.Qg3 0-0-0 16.Ne2 Kb8 17.f5 Rdg8 18.Qf3 h5 19.Nf4 h4 20.Rhe1 Bd8 21.c3 Bc7 22.Bc2 Qe5 23.g3 Qc5 24.g4 Bc8 25.h3 Qe5 26.Nh5 Bb6 27.Qf1 Re8 28.Nf4 Rhg8 29.Re2 Bc7 30.Nd3 Qg3 31.Nf4 Bb6 32.Rde1 1-0

Standings:
Gashimov and Grischuk at +3
Jakovenko and Radjabov at +2

Monday, December 22, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 8

Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) - Akopian,Vl (2679) [D45]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.g4 Nxg4 8.Rg1 f5 9.h3 Ngf6 10.Rxg7 Ne4 11.Bd2 Qf6 12.Rg2 Nf8 13.Qb3 Ng6 14.0-0-0 b6 15.Kb1 Bb7 16.Qa4 Nxd2+ 17.Rxd2 0-0 18.Qd1 Rae8 19.cxd5 exd5 20.Bd3 Re7 21.h4 Kh8 22.Qh1 Rg7 23.Rd1 Rfg8 24.Rg5 Bc8 25.Ne2 f4 26.e4 dxe4 27.Bxe4 c5 28.Nc3 cxd4 29.Nxd4 Ne7 30.Bc2 Qh6 31.Ne4 Bb7 32.Qe1 Bb8 33.Rxg7 Rxg7 34.Ng5 Bd5 35.Nde6 1-0

Grischuk,A (2719) - Wang Yue (2736) [D17]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6 8.Ne5 a5 9.e3 g6 10.Bd3 Be6 11.Be2 Bg7 12.e4 Nfd7 13.Nf3 Bg4 14.0-0 0-0 15.h3 Bxf3 16.Bxf3 e5 17.d5 Re8 18.g3 Qe7 19.b3 Rad8 20.Be3 cxd5 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Qxd5 b6 23.Qb5 Bf8 24.Rad1 Qb4 25.Be2 Nc5 26.Qxb4 axb4 27.Bc4 Kg7 28.Kg2 f6 29.Bd5 Rb8 30.Rc1 Na6 31.Rc6 Bc5 32.a5 Bxe3 33.fxe3 Nc5 34.axb6 Nd7 35.Rc7 Re7 36.Bc6 Rxb6 37.Rxd7 1-0

Cheparinov,I (2696) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2715) [C95]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.a4 Bf8 14.Bd3 c6 15.b3 Qc7 16.Bb2 g6 17.Qc2 Rac8 18.Bf1 Qb8 19.Rad1 Bg7 20.g3 Ba8 21.axb5 axb5 22.b4 Bf8 23.Qb3 h6 24.dxe5 Nxe5 25.c4 bxc4 26.Nxc4 Nfd7 27.Nfxe5 Nxe5 28.Nxe5 dxe5 29.Rd7 Re7 30.Red1 Rce8 31.Bc4 Kg7 32.Qf3 c5 33.Qxf7+ Rxf7 34.Rxf7+ Kh8 35.Rdd7 1-0

Standings:
Grischuk at +3
Gashimov at +2
Radjabov and Jakovenko at +1

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 7

Inarkiev over Radjabov, Eljanov over Cheparinov in a 125 move marathon, and Grischuk over Alekseev with black.

Standings:
1-2. Gashimov, Grischuk 4.5 (+2)
3-4. Jakovenko, Radjabov 4 (+1)

The games are available at http://elista2008.fide.com/tourview/show-43.html

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 6

Grischuk,A (2719) - Eljanov,P (2720) [C67]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Be7 10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.h3 Be7 14.Kg2 h5 15.f3 hxg4 16.hxg4 f5 17.exf6 gxf6 18.Bf4 Be6 19.Bxc7 f5 20.gxf5 Rg8+ 21.Kf2 Bc5+ 22.Ke2 Rg2+ 23.Kd3 Bxf5+ 24.Ne4 Ke7 25.Rd2 Rxd2+ 26.Kxd2 Bxe4 27.fxe4 Rg8 28.Rh1 Bd4 29.b3 Rg2+ 30.Kd3 Bg7 31.Bf4 b5 32.Rh5 a6 33.a4 Rg4 34.Be3 Rg3 35.c4 Kd7 36.Ke2 bxa4 37.bxa4 Bc3 38.Rh7+ Ke6 39.Rc7 Ke5 40.Rxc6 Bd4 41.Bd2 Ra3 42.Bc1 Ra1 43.Kd2 a5 44.Rh6 Rb1 45.Rh4 Bf2 46.Rg4 Kd4 47.Kc2 Rb7 48.e5+ Kxe5 49.Bb2+ Kf5 50.Rg8 Bc5 51.Rd8 Bb4 52.Rd5+ Ke6 53.Bc3 Bxc3 54.Kxc3 Rb1 55.Kd4 Ra1 56.Rxa5 Kd6 57.Ra6+ Kc7 58.Kc5 Kb7 59.Rb6+ Kc7 60.Rb4 Rh1 61.Kb5 Rh5+ 62.c5 Rh1 63.a5 Kb7 64.a6+ Ka7 65.Rd4 Rb1+ 66.Kc6 Rh1 67.Rd8 Rh5 68.Kb5 Rh7 69.Rd5 Rh1 70.Rd7+ Kb8 71.c6 Rb1+ 72.Kc5 Rc1+ 73.Kb6 Rb1+ 74.Kc5 Rc1+ 75.Kd6 Rd1+ 76.Ke7 Rc1 77.Rd8+ Ka7 78.Kd7 Rd1+ 79.Kc8 1-0

Akopian,Vl (2679) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2715) [C95]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.h3 Nb8 10.d4 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Bb7 12.Bc2 Re8 13.Nf1 Bf8 14.Ng3 g6 15.b3 Bg7 16.d5 Rc8 17.c4 c6 18.Bd2 Nc5 19.Rb1 Qc7 20.Be3 a5 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.Bd3 bxc4 23.bxc4 Ba6 24.Qc2 cxd5 25.cxd5 c4 26.Bf1 Bf8 27.Ne2 Nd7 28.Nc3 Bb4 29.Red1 Qd6 30.Nd2 Kg7 31.a3 Bxa3 32.Nb5 Bxb5 33.Rxb5 Bb4 34.Nxc4 Qa6 35.Qa4 Nc5 36.Rxc5 Bxc5 37.d6 Rcd8 38.Nxe5 Qb6 39.Nc4 Bxf2+ 40.Kh1 Qa7 41.e5 Bg3 42.Qa1 Kg8 43.Qxa5 Qf2 44.Qc3 Bf4 45.Rb1 h5 46.Qe1 Qxe1 47.Rxe1 f6 48.Bd3 Kh7 49.g4 hxg4 50.hxg4 Bxe5 51.g5 Kg7 52.gxf6+ Bxf6 53.Rg1 Rh8+ 54.Kg2 Rh4 55.Rb1 Rd4 56.Bf1 Rc8 57.Rb7+ Kh6 58.Rc7 Ra8 59.Rf7 Kg5 60.Rb7 Ra2+ 61.Kg3 Rg4+ 0-1

Standings:
Gashimov and Radjabov at +2
Jakovenko, Grischuk and Alekseev at +1

Thursday, December 18, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 5

Inarkiev,E (2669) - Cheparinov,I (2696) [B90]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.Be2 Nbd7 8.f4 b5 9.f5 Ne5 10.fxe6 fxe6 11.0-0 Bd7 12.a4 bxa4 13.Nxa4 Be7 14.Nb3 Rb8 15.Nc3 0-0 16.Rxa6 Qc8 17.Ra7 Rb4 18.Rf4 Qb8 19.Ra1 Ng6 20.Rf3 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22.Nc5 dxc5 23.Qxd7 Nh4 24.Rxf8+ Bxf8 25.Bc4 Rxe3 26.Bxe6+ Kh8 27.Qf7 Bd6 28.Bd5 Bxh2+ 29.Kf2 Re8 0-1

Gashimov,V (2703) - Grischuk,A (2719) [B97]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Qd3 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.f5 Be7 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Be2 Qa5 13.Bd2 Qc7 14.0-0 0-0 15.Qc4 Qd7 16.Qb3 Kh8 17.Bc4 d5 18.exd5 b5 19.Be2 Bc5 20.Kh1 exd5 21.Be3 Nc6 22.Ne6 Qxe6 23.Bxc5 Re8 24.Bf3 Bb7 25.a4 Na5 26.Qb4 Nc4 27.Rbd1 Ne4 28.Nxe4 dxe4 29.Be2 e3 30.axb5 axb5 31.Qxb5 Ba6 32.Qb4 Rab8 33.Qa4 Ra8 34.Qb4 Nd2 35.Rfe1 Ne4 36.Kg1 Rab8 37.Qd4 Nf2 38.Ra1 Bxe2 39.Rxe2 Ng4 40.h3 Ne5 41.Rxe3 Rbd8 42.Qc3 Qc4 43.Qxc4 Nxc4 44.Rxe8+ Rxe8 45.Ra7 h6 46.Bd4 Ne5 47.c4 Kh7 48.c5 h5 49.Ra6 Nd3 50.Ra3 Nf4 51.Be3 Nd5 52.Kf2 Re4 53.Rd3 Nxe3 54.Rxe3 Rc4 55.Re5 Rc2+ 56.Kf3 h4 57.Ke4 Kg6 58.Kd5 Rd2+ 59.Ke6 Rxg2 60.c6 Rc2 61.Kd6 Kf6 62.Rd5 g5 63.c7 g4 64.Rc5 1-0

Standings:
Gashimov, Radjabov at +2
Jakovenko at +1

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 4

Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2715) [E58]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 0-0 7.0-0 Nc6 8.a3 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Qc7 10.Bb2 dxc4 11.Bxc4 e5 12.h3 Bf5 13.Ba2 Rad8 14.Qe2 Rfe8 15.d5 Rxd5 16.Bxd5 Nxd5 17.Rfd1 Nb6 18.a4 a6 19.c4 a5 20.Bc3 f6 21.Nd2 Nb4 22.Bxb4 cxb4 23.Rdc1 Rd8 24.c5 Bd3 25.Qe1 Nd5 26.Nb3 h6 27.Ra2 e4 28.Raa1 Ra8 29.Nd4 Rc8 30.Qd2 Kh7 31.f4 Nc3 32.Nb3 Ne2+ 33.Kf2 Nxc1 34.Rxc1 Qd7 0-1

Bacrot,E (2705) - Leko,P (2747) [B19]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.h4 h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.h5 Bh7 9.Bd3 Bxd3 10.Qxd3 e6 11.Bf4 Qa5+ 12.Bd2 Bb4 13.c3 Be7 14.c4 Qc7 15.0-0-0 Ngf6 16.Ne4 0-0 17.g4 Nxg4 18.Qe2 f5 19.Rdg1 Rae8 20.Ne1 e5 21.Ng3 exd4 22.Nxf5 Rxf5 23.Qxg4 Rf7 [23...Rg5 24.Bxg5 Bxg5+ 25.Kb1 Ne5 26.Qf5 Nxc4 ] 24.Bxh6 Bf6 25.Bd2 Ne5 26.Qe2 d3 27.Qe4 Qb6 28.b3 Qc5 29.h6 Qa3+ 30.Kd1 Qxa2 31.Qh7+ 1-0

Wang Yue (2736) - Eljanov,P (2720) [D38]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Rc1 c6 8.e3 Qa5 9.Qb3 Ne4 10.Bd3 Nxg5 11.Nxg5 Nf6 12.0-0 0-0 13.h3 Re8 14.Rfe1 h6 15.Nf3 Qb6 16.Na4 Qa5 17.Nc3 Qb6 18.Qc2 Bd6 19.a3 Qd8 20.Nd2 Bd7 21.Na4 b6 22.Nc3 Rc8 23.Nf3 Qe7 24.Bf5 Bxf5 25.Qxf5 g6 26.Qd3 Ne4 27.Qa6 Rc7 28.Nxe4 dxe4 29.Nd2 c5 30.dxc5 Rxc5 31.Rxc5 Bxc5 32.Qa4 Bd6 33.Rd1 Be5 34.Nc4 Rc8 35.b3 Rc7 36.Qb5 Bf6 37.a4 Rc5 38.Qd7 Rc7 39.Qxe7 Bxe7 40.g4 Kg7 41.Rd5 Bh4 42.Nd6 Rc2 43.Nxe4 Rb2 44.Rb5 Kf8 45.Kg2 Kg7 46.Kf3 Kf8 47.a5 bxa5 48.Rxa5 Rxb3 49.Rxa7 Rb2 50.Rd7 Kg7 51.Rd2 Rxd2 52.Nxd2 Kf6 53.Ke2 Ke6 54.Nf3 Bd8 55.Nd4+ Kd5 56.Kd3 Bb6 57.f3 Ba5 58.e4+ Kd6 59.f4 Be1 60.Kc4 Bd2 61.e5+ Ke7 62.f5 gxf5 63.gxf5 Bg5 64.Kd5 Kf8 65.f6 Bd2 66.Ke4 Bc1 67.Kf5 Bd2 68.Nf3 Bc3 69.Ng1 Bd4 70.Ne2 Bb2 71.Nf4 Bc1 72.e6 fxe6+ 73.Nxe6+ Kf7 74.Nd8+ Ke8 75.Nc6 1-0

Standings:
Radjabov at +2
Jakovenko, Grischuk, Gashimov at +1

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 3

Eljanov,P (2720) - Alekseev,Evgeny (2715) [E32]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 0-0 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d6 7.f3 c5 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.Bg5 Nc6 10.e3 e5 11.Bd3 h6 12.Bxf6 Qxf6 13.Be4 Bf5 14.Bd5 Ne7 15.Ne2 Nxd5 16.cxd5 Qd6 17.e4 Bd7 18.0-0 Rfe8 19.a4 Qa6 20.Ng3 c4 21.Kh1 Rac8 22.a5 Qd6 23.h3 Rc5 24.Rfc1 Rec8 25.Nf1 f5 26.Ne3 f4 27.Ng4 Bxg4 28.hxg4 Kf7 29.Qb4 Qc7 30.Ra4 Ke8 31.Qc3 Kd7 32.Rca1 Kd6 33.Qa3 Kd7 34.Qc3 Kd6 35.Qa3 Kd7 36.Rb4 Kd8 37.Qa4 Ke7 38.Qa3 Kd8 39.Qa4 Ke7 40.Kh2 Kd6 41.Qa3 Kd7 42.Qc3 Kd6 43.b3 cxb3 44.Qxb3 Rc3 45.Qb1 Rb8 46.Rb5 Kd7 47.Qb4 Rc4 48.Qb3 h5 49.g5 h4 50.Rd1 h3 51.d6 Qc6 52.Rb4 1-0

Radjabov,T (2751) - Kasimdzhanov,R (2672) [B78]
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.f3 Nc6 8.Qd2 0-0 9.Bc4 Bd7 10.0-0-0 Rc8 11.Bb3 Ne5 12.h4 h5 13.Kb1 Re8 14.g4 hxg4 15.h5 Nxh5 16.Bh6 Kh7 17.Bxg7 Kxg7 18.fxg4 Bxg4 19.Nf5+ Bxf5 20.exf5 Rh8 21.fxg6 Nxg6 22.Ne4 Nf6 23.Rdf1 Rxh1 24.Rxh1 d5 25.Nxf6 Kxf6 26.Qf2+ Kg7 27.Rf1 f6 28.Qf5 Rc6 29.Rg1 Qe8 30.Bxd5 Rc5 31.Qe6 Rb5 32.c4 Rb6 33.Qh3 e6 34.Bf3 Qd8 35.Qg2 1-0

Leko,P (2747) - Cheparinov,I (2696) [B12]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 c5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Ne7 8.c4 Nbc6 9.Qa4 a6 10.Nc3 dxc4 11.0-0-0 Qa5 12.Qxa5 Nxa5 13.Nxf5 Nxf5 14.Bb6 Nc6 15.f4 Rc8 16.Rd2 Be7 17.Bf3 g5 18.g3 gxf4 19.gxf4 Nb4 20.Kb1 Rg8 21.Rhd1 Nd3 22.Bxb7 Rb8 23.Bc6+ Kf8 24.Ba7 Rc8 25.Be4 Nxf4 26.Na4 c3 27.Nxc3 Ng6 28.Re2 Kg7 29.Rf1 Bc5 30.Bxc5 Rxc5 31.Bxf5 exf5 32.Rxf5 Re8 33.Ref2 Re7 34.Kc2 Rcxe5 35.b4 Rxf5 36.Rxf5 Re6 37.a4 Ne7 38.Rf2 f5 39.Kb3 Kf6 40.b5 axb5 41.axb5 Re3 42.Rd2 Re6 43.Na4 f4 44.b6 Nc6 45.Nc5 Re3+ 46.Ka4 f3 47.b7 Kg5 48.Kb5 Nb8 49.Rd8 Re1 50.Rxb8 f2 51.Rf8 f1Q+ 52.Rxf1 Rxf1 53.Ka4 1-0

Standings:
Radjabov at +2
Grischuk, Jakovenko, Gashimov at +1

Monday, December 15, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 2

Grischuk,A (2719) - Leko,P (2747) [E15]
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Nc3 0-0 8.Rc1 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Bg2 Bb7 11.0-0 Nbd7 12.Qc2 Re8 13.Rfd1 c6 14.Ne1 Nf8 15.Bg5 Ne6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.e3 a5 18.Nd3 Be7 19.Rb1 Ba3 20.b4 axb4 21.Nxb4 Qe7 22.Qb3 Ra7 23.Nc2 b5 24.Bxd5 cxd5 25.Nxb5 Ra6 26.Nbxa3 Bc8 27.Nb4 Ng5 28.Nxa6 Qe4 29.Qb5 Rf8 30.Nc5 Qf3 31.Kf1 Nh3 32.Rd2 Qh1+ 33.Ke2 Qxh2 34.Kd3 Nxf2+ 35.Kc3 Qxg3 36.Qe2 Ng4 37.Rf1 Qc7 38.Kb2 Qa5 39.Nb3 1-0

Bacrot,E (2705) - Radjabov,T (2751) [A10]
1.c4 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nc3 d6 5.Rb1 e5 6.b4 a6 7.a4 Nf6 8.b5 axb5 9.axb5 Ne7 10.Nf3 0-0 11.0-0 Be6 12.d3 h6 13.Qb3 c6 14.Ba3 Re8 15.Ra1 Rc8 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.Rfb1 g5 18.Nd2 d5 19.Bc5 Nf5 20.Bb6 Qd6 21.Qa3 dxc4 22.Nxc4 Bxc4 23.dxc4 Qe6 24.Rd1 e4 25.e3 Qxc4 26.Rac1 Qe6 27.Bc5 Ra8 28.Qb4 Reb8 29.Ra1 Nd5 30.Nxd5 Bxa1 31.Nb6 Bg7 32.Qxe4 Ra1 33.Rxa1 Bxa1 34.Qxe6 fxe6 35.Bxc6 Kf7 36.Bf3 Bf6 37.Kg2 Be7 38.Bxe7 Nxe7 39.Nc4 Kf6 40.Nd6 Rd8 41.Ne4+ Ke5 42.Nc5 Nf5 43.Kf1 Rd2 44.Bg4 Ng7 45.Nb3 Rb2 46.Nd4 Kf6 47.h3 e5 48.Ne2 Rc2 49.Bf3 h5 50.Ke1 Rc4 51.Bd5 Rc5 52.Bf3 Rc4 53.Bd5 Rc2 54.Kd1 Rc8 55.Kd2 Nf5 56.Nc3 Nd6 57.Bf3 Rh8 58.Kd3 h4 59.gxh4 gxh4 60.Nd5+ Kg6 61.Bg2 Re8 62.Be4+ Kg7 63.Nc3 Rf8 64.f3 Rd8 65.f4 Nb5+ 66.Nd5 Nc7 67.Kc4 Nxd5 68.Bxd5 exf4 69.exf4 Kf6 70.Kc5 Kf5 71.Kc6 Kxf4 72.Be6 Rd2 73.Kc5 Ke5 0-1

Grischuk, Radjabov, Gashimov, Jakovenko in lead at +1

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Elista Grand Prix Round 1

Jakovenko,D (2737) - Wang Yue (2736) [C67]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Nc3 Ke8 10.h3 Be7 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Rd1 Be7 14.Kg2 h5 15.f3 Be6 16.Ne2 Rd8 17.Be3 a6 18.Nf4 g6 19.Rxd8+ Kxd8 20.Rd1+ Kc8 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.f4 b5 23.b3 Rh7 24.Bf2 hxg4 25.hxg4 Rh8 26.Rh1 Rxh1 27.Kxh1 Kd7 28.Kg2 Bb4 29.Kf3 Ke8 30.Ke4 Ke7 31.Bh4+ Ke8 32.f5 gxf5+ 33.gxf5 exf5+ 34.Kxf5 Bc3 35.Bf2 Ke7 36.e6 Ke8 37.Bg3 Ba5 38.Be5 Bb6 39.c3 c5 40.c4 Ba5 41.Kf6 c6 42.e7 Be1 43.Ke6 Bh4 44.Kd6 Bxe7+ 45.Kxc6 bxc4 46.bxc4 Kd8 47.Bd6 Bh4 48.Bxc5 Kc8 49.Kb6 a5 50.Kxa5 Kb7 51.Kb5 Bg3 52.a4 Ka8 53.Be3 Bd6 54.Bd2 Kb7 1-0

Gashimov,V (2703) - Eljanov,P (2720) [C65]
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.0-0 Be7 6.e5 Ne4 7.Nxd4 0-0 8.Nf5 d5 9.Nxe7+ Nxe7 10.f3 Nc5 11.Re1 c6 12.Bf1 Ng6 13.Be3 Ne6 14.Bf2 Re8 15.Nc3 Qg5 16.Qc1 Qxc1 17.Raxc1 Nef8 18.Bg3 h5 19.h4 Ne7 20.Bf2 Nfg6 21.g3 Nf5 22.f4 Nh6 23.Ne2 Ne7 24.b4 Ng4 25.Nd4 a5 26.a3 Nf5 27.Bd3 Nxd4 28.Bxd4 Nh6 29.b5 Bf5 30.Bf1 Rec8 31.bxc6 bxc6 32.Bc5 Rcb8 33.Re3 Rb2 34.Rc3 Be4 35.Bf2 Ra2 36.Be2 Ng4 37.Bb6 Rb2 38.Rxc6 Rb8 39.Bxg4 hxg4 40.Bxa5 d4 41.Rc4 Bf5 42.Bb4 Rd8 43.Bd6 Ra2 44.Rd1 Bxc2 45.Rdxd4 Bf5 46.Bb4 Ra8 47.Rc5 Be6 48.Rc1 Kh7 49.Rcd1 Rb2 50.R4d2 Rb3 51.Rd3 Rb2 52.R1d2 Rb1+ 53.Kf2 Rc8 54.Rc3 Rxc3 55.Bxc3 Rb3 56.Bb4 Bf5 57.Rd4 Rf3+ 58.Kg2 Re3 59.Kf2 Rf3+ 60.Kg2 Re3 61.Rc4 Be6 62.Rc3 Re2+ 63.Kf1 Rb2 64.Ke1 Kg6 65.Bf8 Rb8 66.Bb4 Kf5 67.Kd2 Ke4 68.Re3+ Kd5 69.Rd3+ Ke4 70.Re3+ Kd5 71.Re1 Kd4 72.Bc3+ Kd5 73.Re3 g6 74.Rd3+ Ke4 75.a4 Rb3 76.Re3+ Kd5 77.Rd3+ Ke4 78.Re3+ Kd5 79.Re1 Bf5 80.a5 Kc4 81.Rc1 Kb5 82.Ra1 Ka6 83.Ra4 Rb5 84.Rd4 Rb8 85.Ke3 Rc8 86.Rd6+ Kb5 87.Rb6+ Kc4 88.Bd4 Rd8 89.a6 Ra8 90.Rd6 Rb8 91.Rc6+ Kd5 92.a7 Ra8 93.Rb6 1-0

Thursday, December 11, 2008

Grand Prix Dead?

First Carlsen dropped out. Now Adams dropped out. Presumably AlModiakhi (who was Qatar's nominee) and Pelletier (who was Montreux's nominee) have been kicked out, since he was Qatar's nominee and Qatar is no longer a sponsor. Akopian is in, but that still leaves the circuit three players (each of whom had already participated in one event) down.

Edited 12/14 to add: Eljanov, Alekseev and Kasimdzhanov have been added on the basis of their ratings. That's actually a good thing as far as the chess is concerned, since Pelletier and AlModiakhi were very weak compared to the rest of the field, rated 100 and 200 points below average respectively. However, this still leaves unresolved the problem that three of the new players (Akopian is the exception since Pelletier had not yet participated) are down one tournament. I assume they are going to get around this by dropping each participant's lowest score in determining the overall winner? Whatever.

Furthermore, Kiev's participation as a replacement venue for Montreux is still unverified. FIDE as usual has f'ed this up royally. I predict (big stretch here) that the GP series will NOT be completed.