Leko-Gashimov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nf3 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 Bd7 7.Nc3 g6 8.O-O Bg7 9.Nc2 Ng4N 10.Bd2 h5 11.h3 Nge5 12.b3 Qc8 13.Kh2 f5 14.h4 (14.f4) g5 15.hxg5 h4 16.f3 Kf7 17.Rh1 Rh5 18.Nd5 Qh8 19.Rc1 Rg8 20.Qf1 Ke8 21.gxh4 Ng6 22.f4 e6 23.Nc7+ Ke7 24.Kg3 a6 25.Rh3 Rxh4 26.Qh1 Rxh3+ 27.Qxh3 Qxh3+ 28.Bxh3 Kd8 29.Na8 Rh8 30.Nb6 Be8 31.e3 Kc7 32.Na4 Bd7 33.Bg2 Nh4 34.Bh1 Ng6 35.Nc3 Nce7 36.Nb4 a5 37.Nd3 Bc6 38.Nf2 Kd7 39.Na4 e5 40.Bxc6+ Nxc6 41.Rh1 Rg8 42.Nb6+ Ke6 43.Nd5 Nce7 44.Nc7+ Kd7 45.Nb5 Nc6 46.Rd1 Ke6 47.Bc1 Rd8 48.Ba3 Bf8 49.Nd3 Be7 50.Nb2 Rh8 51.Bxd6 Rh4 52.Nd3 Bxd6 53.Nxd6 Rg4+ 54.Kf2 b6 55.fxe5 Ncxe5 56.Nb5 Rxg5 57.Nxe5 Kxe5 58.Rd5+ Kf6 59.Nd4 f4 60.Rd6+ Kf7 61.Rxb6 fxe3+ 62.Kxe3 Rg3+ 63.Kf2 Rd3 64.Nf3 Rc3 65.a4 Kg7 66.Rb5 Nf4 67.Nd2 Ne6 68.Rxa5 Nd4 69.Ra7+ Kg6 70.Rb7 Kf5 71.a5 Rd3 72.Ke1 Re3+ 73.Kd1 Rh3 74.Kc1 Rc3+ 75.Kb1 Rd3 76.a6 Rxd2 77.a7 Rd1+ 78.Kb2 Rd2+ 79.Kc3 1-0
Inarkiev-Svidler
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Qb3 O-O 7.O-O Qb6 8.Nc3 Rd8 9.Rd1 Bf5 10.Ne1 dxc4N 11.Qxc4 Na6 12.e4 Bg4 13.Bf3 Be6 14.d5 Bg4 15.Bxg4 Nxg4 16.Qe2 Ne5 17.Bg5 Qc5 18.Rac1 Re8 19.dxc6 Nxc6 20.Rd5 Qb6 21.Be3 Qc7 22.Nb5 Qb8 23.Nd3 Rd8 24.a3 e6 25.Rxd8+ Qxd8 26.b4 Qe7 27.Kg2 Nab8 28.e5 Nd7 29.f4 f6 30.exf6 Nxf6 31.Nd4 Nxd4 32.Bxd4 Qd7 33.Bb2 b6 34.Kg1 Rd8 35.Re1 Ne8 36.Nf2 Bxb2 37.Qxb2 Kf7 38.Ne4 h6 39.Nf2 Nf6 40.Qe2 Qd6 41.Rd1 Nd5 42.Qb2 Qf8 43.Ng4 Qg7 44.Qc2 Kg8 45.Qe4 Rd6 46.Ne5 Kh7 47.Rc1 Qf6 48.Rc8 Qf5 49.Qe1 b5 50.Qa1 g5? (50...Ra6) 51.Nc4! bxc4 52.Qh8+ Kg6 53.Rg8+ Kh5 54.Rxg5+ Qxg5 55.fxg5 c3 56.Qxh6+ Kg4 57.g6 e5 58.g7 1-0
Final Results:
1 Eljanov (8) - 180 GP points
2-6 Ponomariov, Jakovenko, Mamedyarov, Alekseev, Radjabov (7) - 116 GP points
7-9 Leko, Gashimov, Wang (6.5) - 70 GP points
10-11 Gelfand, Svidler (6) - 45 GP points
12-14 Ivanchuk, Inarkiev, Akopian (5.5) - 20 GP points
Overall Grand Prix Results:
1 Levon Aronian (ARM) 500
2 Teimour Radjabov (AZE) 419⅓
3 Alexander Grischuk (RUS) 363⅓
4 Dmitry Jakovenko (RUS) 359⅓
5 Wang Yue (CHN) 353⅓
6 Vugar Gashimov (AZE) 333⅓
7 Peter Leko (HUN) 320
8-9 Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (AZE) and Evgeny Alekseev (RUS) 301
10 Pavel Eljanov (UKR) 285
11 Vassily Ivanchuk (UKR) 265
12 Boris Gelfand (ISR) 255
13 Etienne Bacrot (FRA) 240
14 Gata Kamsky (USA) 235
15-16 Sergey Karjakin (UKR) and Peter Svidler (RUS) 230
17 Rustam Kasimdjanov (UZB) 200
18 Vladimir Akopian (ARM) 195
19 Ivan Cheparinov (BUL) 130
20 Ernesto Inarkiev (RUS) 55
Monday, May 24, 2010
US Championship Round 10 - Both Games Drawn
Kamsky and Shulman tied at 7/10.
ETA: Kamsky won the tiebreak and was crowned 2010 US Champion.
ETA: Kamsky won the tiebreak and was crowned 2010 US Champion.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
US Chess Championship Round 9
Top Quad:
Shulman beat Nakamura
Kamsky beat Onischuk
Other Results:
3 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 1-0
6 GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 0-1
8 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 1-0
9 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 1-0
12 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 1-0
Shulman beat Nakamura
Kamsky beat Onischuk
Other Results:
3 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 1-0
6 GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 0-1
8 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 1-0
9 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 1-0
12 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 1-0
Grand Prix Round 12
Svidler-Gelfand
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nxd4 exd4 7.Nd5 Nd7 8.O-O g6 9.a3N Bg7 10.d3 O-O 11.Ba2 Nc5 12.Nf4 Kh8 13.Bd2 c6 14.Kh1 a5 15.f3 a4 16.Bb4 Na6 17.Be1 Nc7 18.Bf2 Bd7 19.Qd2 Qg5 20.h4 Qa5 21.Qc1 f5 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Nxg6+ Kg7 24.Nxf8 Kxf8 25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.c3 Bf6 27.Rfe1 f4 28.d4 Ne6 29.e5 dxe5 30.Qxh7+ Kd8 31.Qf7 1-0
Mamedyarov-Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 c5 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.O-O Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ba6 14.Rfd1 Qc5 15.e4 Bc4 16.Qa4 Nb6 17.Qb4 Qh5 18.Re1 c5 19.Qa5 Rfc8 20.Be3 Be2 21.Bf4 Bd3N 22.Rad1 Be2 23.Rc1 Bg4 24.c4 Bh3 25.Bxh3 Qxh3 26.Qb5 f6 27.e5 f5 28.a4 Rc7 29.Red1 Rb8 30.Qa6 Kf7 31.Rb1 Qh5 32.a5 Nc8 33.h4 Rb3 34.Rdc1 Qf3 35.Rxb3 Qxb3 36.Qb5 Qf3 37.Qb8 Qb7 38.Qxb7 Rxb7 39.Be3 Rc7 40.Rb1 a6 41.h5 h6 42.Kg2 Ke8 43.Rb8 Kf7 44.Rb2 Ke8 45.Kf1 Kf7 46.Ke2 Ke8 47.Kd2 Kf7 48.Kc3 Ke8 49.f3 Kf7 50.g4 fxg4 51.fxg4 Ke8 52.Rb8 Kf7 53.Ra8 Rc6 54.g5 hxg5 55.Bxg5 Ke8 56.Kb3 Rc7 57.Rxa6 Rb7+ 58.Kc3 Kd7 59.Ra8 Rb1 60.a6 Ra1 61.Kb3 Rb1+ 62.Ka2 Rb4 63.Bd2 Rxc4 64.Kb3 Rh4 65.a7 Nxa7 66.Rxa7+ Kc6 67.Ra6+ Kd5 68.Bc3 Rxh5 69.Rd6+ Ke4 70.Rxe6 g5 71.Rg6 Kf5 72.Rf6+ Ke4 73.e6 1-0
Akopian-Ivanchuk
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Bxc4 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.e5 Qd8 11.Ne4 Nc6 12.a3N Be7 13.Qe2 O-O 14.Bd3 g6 15.h4 Kg7 16.h5 g5 17.Ned2 Rh8 18.Nh2 b6 19.f4 gxf4 20.Rxf4 Bg5 21.Raf1 Bxf4 22.Rxf4 a5 23.Ng4 1-0
Alekseev-Inarkiev
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.O-O Nbd7 9.e3 O-O 10.Rd1 Ne4 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Ne1 e5N 13.Nd3 Rad8 14.g4 Bg6 15.f4 exf4 16.exf4 Ndf6 17.f5 Rxd4 18.Be3 Nxg4 19.Qxg4 Nf2 20.Qxd4 Nxd1 21.fxg6 Bf6 22.Qe4 Rd8 23.Na3 Nxe3 24.Re1 Bd4 25.Rxe3 hxg6 26.Nc2 Bb6 27.Kh1 Bxe3 28.Qxe3 Qd7 29.Nce1 b6 30.b3 Re8 31.Qf2 c5 32.Bf3 Qd6 33.Kg2 Qe6 34.Qd2 c4 35.bxc4 Qxc4 36.Nf2 Qe6 37.Ned3 Rd8 38.Qc2 Qe3 39.Qc4 Rd6 40.Qc8+ Kh7 41.Qc7 Qg5+ 42.Kf1 Qf6 43.Be4 a6 44.Qc2 Qh4 45.Kg1 Qg5+ 46.Kh1 b5 47.Qe2 Qf6 48.Ne5 Re6 49.Nf3 Kg8 50.Kg2 Qf4 51.Qc2 Qd6 52.h4 Kf8 53.Ng5 Re7 54.Qc8+ Re8 55.Qb7 Re7 56.Qa8+ Re8 57.Nh7+ Ke7 58.Qa7+ Qd7 59.Qxa6 Rh8 60.Qa3+ Kd8 61.Qa8+ Qc8 62.Qd5+ Qd7 63.Ng5 Qxd5 64.Bxd5 Rxh4 65.Nxf7+ Kc7 66.Bb3 Kb6 67.Kg3 Rd4 68.Ne5 g5 69.Kf3 Rh4 70.Ke3 Ka5 71.Nc6+ Kb6 72.Ne7 Kc5 73.Nd5 Kc6 74.Ne4 Rh3+ 75.Kd4 g4 76.Nf4 Rf3 77.Nd3 Kb6 78.Ne5 Rf4 79.Ke3 g5 80.Bd1 Ka5 81.Bxg4 Rxg4 82.Nxg4 Kb4 83.Ne5 g4 84.Nd3+ Ka3 85.Nc3 g3 86.Kf3 b4 87.Nxb4 Kxb4 88.Nb1 1-0
Standings:
Eljanov - +3
Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Gashimov, Ponomariov, Jakovenko, Alekseev - +1
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.Bb5 Nd4 5.Bc4 d6 6.Nxd4 exd4 7.Nd5 Nd7 8.O-O g6 9.a3N Bg7 10.d3 O-O 11.Ba2 Nc5 12.Nf4 Kh8 13.Bd2 c6 14.Kh1 a5 15.f3 a4 16.Bb4 Na6 17.Be1 Nc7 18.Bf2 Bd7 19.Qd2 Qg5 20.h4 Qa5 21.Qc1 f5 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Nxg6+ Kg7 24.Nxf8 Kxf8 25.Qh6+ Ke7 26.c3 Bf6 27.Rfe1 f4 28.d4 Ne6 29.e5 dxe5 30.Qxh7+ Kd8 31.Qf7 1-0
Mamedyarov-Leko
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.g3 c5 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Bg2 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Qb3 Qa5 10.Bd2 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.O-O Bxc3 13.bxc3 Ba6 14.Rfd1 Qc5 15.e4 Bc4 16.Qa4 Nb6 17.Qb4 Qh5 18.Re1 c5 19.Qa5 Rfc8 20.Be3 Be2 21.Bf4 Bd3N 22.Rad1 Be2 23.Rc1 Bg4 24.c4 Bh3 25.Bxh3 Qxh3 26.Qb5 f6 27.e5 f5 28.a4 Rc7 29.Red1 Rb8 30.Qa6 Kf7 31.Rb1 Qh5 32.a5 Nc8 33.h4 Rb3 34.Rdc1 Qf3 35.Rxb3 Qxb3 36.Qb5 Qf3 37.Qb8 Qb7 38.Qxb7 Rxb7 39.Be3 Rc7 40.Rb1 a6 41.h5 h6 42.Kg2 Ke8 43.Rb8 Kf7 44.Rb2 Ke8 45.Kf1 Kf7 46.Ke2 Ke8 47.Kd2 Kf7 48.Kc3 Ke8 49.f3 Kf7 50.g4 fxg4 51.fxg4 Ke8 52.Rb8 Kf7 53.Ra8 Rc6 54.g5 hxg5 55.Bxg5 Ke8 56.Kb3 Rc7 57.Rxa6 Rb7+ 58.Kc3 Kd7 59.Ra8 Rb1 60.a6 Ra1 61.Kb3 Rb1+ 62.Ka2 Rb4 63.Bd2 Rxc4 64.Kb3 Rh4 65.a7 Nxa7 66.Rxa7+ Kc6 67.Ra6+ Kd5 68.Bc3 Rxh5 69.Rd6+ Ke4 70.Rxe6 g5 71.Rg6 Kf5 72.Rf6+ Ke4 73.e6 1-0
Akopian-Ivanchuk
1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.Bxc4 c5 9.O-O cxd4 10.e5 Qd8 11.Ne4 Nc6 12.a3N Be7 13.Qe2 O-O 14.Bd3 g6 15.h4 Kg7 16.h5 g5 17.Ned2 Rh8 18.Nh2 b6 19.f4 gxf4 20.Rxf4 Bg5 21.Raf1 Bxf4 22.Rxf4 a5 23.Ng4 1-0
Alekseev-Inarkiev
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Qb3 dxc4 5.Qxc4 Bf5 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.O-O Nbd7 9.e3 O-O 10.Rd1 Ne4 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Ne1 e5N 13.Nd3 Rad8 14.g4 Bg6 15.f4 exf4 16.exf4 Ndf6 17.f5 Rxd4 18.Be3 Nxg4 19.Qxg4 Nf2 20.Qxd4 Nxd1 21.fxg6 Bf6 22.Qe4 Rd8 23.Na3 Nxe3 24.Re1 Bd4 25.Rxe3 hxg6 26.Nc2 Bb6 27.Kh1 Bxe3 28.Qxe3 Qd7 29.Nce1 b6 30.b3 Re8 31.Qf2 c5 32.Bf3 Qd6 33.Kg2 Qe6 34.Qd2 c4 35.bxc4 Qxc4 36.Nf2 Qe6 37.Ned3 Rd8 38.Qc2 Qe3 39.Qc4 Rd6 40.Qc8+ Kh7 41.Qc7 Qg5+ 42.Kf1 Qf6 43.Be4 a6 44.Qc2 Qh4 45.Kg1 Qg5+ 46.Kh1 b5 47.Qe2 Qf6 48.Ne5 Re6 49.Nf3 Kg8 50.Kg2 Qf4 51.Qc2 Qd6 52.h4 Kf8 53.Ng5 Re7 54.Qc8+ Re8 55.Qb7 Re7 56.Qa8+ Re8 57.Nh7+ Ke7 58.Qa7+ Qd7 59.Qxa6 Rh8 60.Qa3+ Kd8 61.Qa8+ Qc8 62.Qd5+ Qd7 63.Ng5 Qxd5 64.Bxd5 Rxh4 65.Nxf7+ Kc7 66.Bb3 Kb6 67.Kg3 Rd4 68.Ne5 g5 69.Kf3 Rh4 70.Ke3 Ka5 71.Nc6+ Kb6 72.Ne7 Kc5 73.Nd5 Kc6 74.Ne4 Rh3+ 75.Kd4 g4 76.Nf4 Rf3 77.Nd3 Kb6 78.Ne5 Rf4 79.Ke3 g5 80.Bd1 Ka5 81.Bxg4 Rxg4 82.Nxg4 Kb4 83.Ne5 g4 84.Nd3+ Ka3 85.Nc3 g3 86.Kf3 b4 87.Nxb4 Kxb4 88.Nb1 1-0
Standings:
Eljanov - +3
Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Gashimov, Ponomariov, Jakovenko, Alekseev - +1
Saturday, May 22, 2010
US Championship Round 8
Top Quad:
Nakamura-Kamsky and Onischuk-Shulman were both drawn
Other Results:
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 1-0
GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 1-0
GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 IM Krush, Irina 2455 1-0
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
Nakamura-Kamsky and Onischuk-Shulman were both drawn
Other Results:
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 1-0
GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 1-0
GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 IM Krush, Irina 2455 1-0
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
Grand Prix Round 11
Radjabov-Mamedyarov
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Qf6 6.d4 exd4 7.Bg5 Qd6 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Nc3 Qg6 10.Qd2 Be7 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Rad1N O-O-O 13.Qe3 Kb8 14.Na4 b6 15.Nf3 c5 16.Rxd7 Rxd7 17.Ne5 Qe6 18.Nxd7+ Qxd7 19.Nc3 Qd4 20.Qf4 Rf8 21.Rd1 Ng6 22.Qf3 Qe5 23.g3 Qg5 24.Nd5 Ne7 25.a4 Nxd5 26.exd5 Rd8 27.a5 b5 28.d6 Rxd6 29.Rxd6 cxd6 30.Qc6 Qd8 31.Qxa6 b4 32.h4 Qc7 33.h5 Qd8 34.c3 bxc3 35.bxc3 Qc7 36.c4 Qd8 37.Qc6 Qc7 38.Qe8+ Kb7 39.Qe4+ 1-0
Ponomariov-Gashimov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Ne4 7.Qd3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Bf4N d6 10.Nb5 e5 11.c5 exf4 12.cxd6 O-O 13.dxe7 Qxe7 14.Bg2 Rd8 15.Nd4 Qc7 16.O-O fxg3 17.hxg3 Nc6 18.Rab1 Bd7 19.Rfd1 Na5 20.Be4 g6 21.Qf3 Bc6 22.Nxc6 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Nxc6 24.Bd5 Re8 25.c4 Qe7 26.Kg2 h5 27.Rd3 Kg7 28.Qf4 Rf8 29.Re3 Qd7 30.a3 Qd8 31.Rb3 Qd7 32.e4 Qe7 33.Qd2 Kh7 34.Qb2 Nd8 35.Rf3 Nc6 36.e5 a5 37.e6 f5 38.Qb6 Re8 39.Re3 Rc8 40.Rd3 Kg8 41.Qe3 g5 42.Bxc6 bxc6 43.Rd7 Qf6 44.Rf7 Qg6 45.Qe5 f4 46.Rf5 f3+ 47.Kh2 1-0
Standings:
Eljanov - +3
Ponomariov, Jakovenko, Gashimov, Radjabov - +1
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.O-O Qf6 6.d4 exd4 7.Bg5 Qd6 8.Nxd4 Bd7 9.Nc3 Qg6 10.Qd2 Be7 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Rad1N O-O-O 13.Qe3 Kb8 14.Na4 b6 15.Nf3 c5 16.Rxd7 Rxd7 17.Ne5 Qe6 18.Nxd7+ Qxd7 19.Nc3 Qd4 20.Qf4 Rf8 21.Rd1 Ng6 22.Qf3 Qe5 23.g3 Qg5 24.Nd5 Ne7 25.a4 Nxd5 26.exd5 Rd8 27.a5 b5 28.d6 Rxd6 29.Rxd6 cxd6 30.Qc6 Qd8 31.Qxa6 b4 32.h4 Qc7 33.h5 Qd8 34.c3 bxc3 35.bxc3 Qc7 36.c4 Qd8 37.Qc6 Qc7 38.Qe8+ Kb7 39.Qe4+ 1-0
Ponomariov-Gashimov
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 Ne4 7.Qd3 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Bf4N d6 10.Nb5 e5 11.c5 exf4 12.cxd6 O-O 13.dxe7 Qxe7 14.Bg2 Rd8 15.Nd4 Qc7 16.O-O fxg3 17.hxg3 Nc6 18.Rab1 Bd7 19.Rfd1 Na5 20.Be4 g6 21.Qf3 Bc6 22.Nxc6 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Nxc6 24.Bd5 Re8 25.c4 Qe7 26.Kg2 h5 27.Rd3 Kg7 28.Qf4 Rf8 29.Re3 Qd7 30.a3 Qd8 31.Rb3 Qd7 32.e4 Qe7 33.Qd2 Kh7 34.Qb2 Nd8 35.Rf3 Nc6 36.e5 a5 37.e6 f5 38.Qb6 Re8 39.Re3 Rc8 40.Rd3 Kg8 41.Qe3 g5 42.Bxc6 bxc6 43.Rd7 Qf6 44.Rf7 Qg6 45.Qe5 f4 46.Rf5 f3+ 47.Kh2 1-0
Standings:
Eljanov - +3
Ponomariov, Jakovenko, Gashimov, Radjabov - +1
Friday, May 21, 2010
Grand Prix Round 10
Gashimov-Inarkiev
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.d5 c4 13.b4 cxb3 14.axb3 Bd7 15.Bd3 Rfb8 16.Re2 Nb7 17.b4 Qc8N 18.Rea2 Nd8 19.Ra3 Ne8 20.Nbd2 g6 21.Qe1 f5 22.exf5 gxf5 23.c4 bxc4 24.Nxc4 Nf7 25.Bf1 Bf6 26.Bd2 Nc7 27.Rc1 Qd8 28.Na5 Nxd5 29.Bc4 Nb6 30.Ba2 d5 31.Be3 Qe8 32.Bxb6 Rxb6 33.Bxd5 Rab8 34.Nc4 Re6 35.Rd1 Rb5 36.Bxe6 Qxe6 37.Rad3 Bc6 38.Nd6 Bxf3 39.gxf3 Rb8 40.f4 e4 41.Rg3+ Kf8 42.Nxf7 Kxf7 43.Qe2 Rb7 44.Qh5+ Kf8 45.Qh6+ Ke8 46.Rc1 Rf7 47.Rg8+ Kd7 48.Rgc8 Qb6 49.Qh5 Rg7+ 1-0
Eljanov-Leko
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Bb2 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Nge2 b6N 9.O-O Bb7 10.Ng3 c5 11.Nb5 Be7 12.Qe2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nb8 14.Qe3 Nc6 15.Rac1 Rc8 16.Rfd1 Re8 17.Bf1 Bf8 18.h3 Qd7 19.Be2 Red8 20.Bf1 a6 21.Nc3 Na5 22.cxd5 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 Qxd5 24.Ne2 b5 25.Nf4 Qg5 26.Nd3 Qxe3 27.fxe3 Be4 28.Nc5 Bxc5 29.dxc5 Rd5 30.Bc3 Nc6 31.b4 Rb8 32.a4 f6 33.Rxd5 Bxd5 34.axb5 axb5 35.Ra1 Kf7 36.Bd3 Bc4 37.Be4 Bd5 38.Bd3 Bc4 39.Be4 Bd5 40.Bxd5 exd5 41.Ra6 Ne7 42.Rb6 d4 43.Bxd4 1-0
Akopian-Radjabov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 f5 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.Bd3 Be6 11.O-O Nf6 12.Nc2 Qd7 13.Bg5 O-O 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne3 f5 16.Ned5 Bd8N 17.Qh5 Qg7 18.Rad1 Kh8 19.Kh1 Rc8 20.f3 Ba5 21.Ne2 e4 22.Bb1 exf3 23.gxf3 Qf7 24.Qxf7 Rxf7 25.b3 Bd7 26.Ndf4 Bb4 27.Nd5 Bc5 28.f4 Ne7 29.Ng3 Bc6 30.Kg2 Rg8 31.Rfe1 Rg4 32.h3 Rxf4 33.Rf1 Rxf1 34.Kxf1 Nxd5 35.cxd5 Bd7 36.Nh1 Rg7 37.Nf2 Rg3 38.Nd3 Be3 39.Ke2 f4 40.Ne1 Rxh3 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +3
Gashimov - +2
Jakovenko, Memadyarov - +1
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 O-O 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.d5 c4 13.b4 cxb3 14.axb3 Bd7 15.Bd3 Rfb8 16.Re2 Nb7 17.b4 Qc8N 18.Rea2 Nd8 19.Ra3 Ne8 20.Nbd2 g6 21.Qe1 f5 22.exf5 gxf5 23.c4 bxc4 24.Nxc4 Nf7 25.Bf1 Bf6 26.Bd2 Nc7 27.Rc1 Qd8 28.Na5 Nxd5 29.Bc4 Nb6 30.Ba2 d5 31.Be3 Qe8 32.Bxb6 Rxb6 33.Bxd5 Rab8 34.Nc4 Re6 35.Rd1 Rb5 36.Bxe6 Qxe6 37.Rad3 Bc6 38.Nd6 Bxf3 39.gxf3 Rb8 40.f4 e4 41.Rg3+ Kf8 42.Nxf7 Kxf7 43.Qe2 Rb7 44.Qh5+ Kf8 45.Qh6+ Ke8 46.Rc1 Rf7 47.Rg8+ Kd7 48.Rgc8 Qb6 49.Qh5 Rg7+ 1-0
Eljanov-Leko
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.b3 Nbd7 6.Bb2 Bd6 7.Bd3 O-O 8.Nge2 b6N 9.O-O Bb7 10.Ng3 c5 11.Nb5 Be7 12.Qe2 cxd4 13.exd4 Nb8 14.Qe3 Nc6 15.Rac1 Rc8 16.Rfd1 Re8 17.Bf1 Bf8 18.h3 Qd7 19.Be2 Red8 20.Bf1 a6 21.Nc3 Na5 22.cxd5 Nxd5 23.Nxd5 Qxd5 24.Ne2 b5 25.Nf4 Qg5 26.Nd3 Qxe3 27.fxe3 Be4 28.Nc5 Bxc5 29.dxc5 Rd5 30.Bc3 Nc6 31.b4 Rb8 32.a4 f6 33.Rxd5 Bxd5 34.axb5 axb5 35.Ra1 Kf7 36.Bd3 Bc4 37.Be4 Bd5 38.Bd3 Bc4 39.Be4 Bd5 40.Bxd5 exd5 41.Ra6 Ne7 42.Rb6 d4 43.Bxd4 1-0
Akopian-Radjabov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.c4 Be7 7.N1c3 a6 8.Na3 f5 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.Bd3 Be6 11.O-O Nf6 12.Nc2 Qd7 13.Bg5 O-O 14.Bxf6 gxf6 15.Ne3 f5 16.Ned5 Bd8N 17.Qh5 Qg7 18.Rad1 Kh8 19.Kh1 Rc8 20.f3 Ba5 21.Ne2 e4 22.Bb1 exf3 23.gxf3 Qf7 24.Qxf7 Rxf7 25.b3 Bd7 26.Ndf4 Bb4 27.Nd5 Bc5 28.f4 Ne7 29.Ng3 Bc6 30.Kg2 Rg8 31.Rfe1 Rg4 32.h3 Rxf4 33.Rf1 Rxf1 34.Kxf1 Nxd5 35.cxd5 Bd7 36.Nh1 Rg7 37.Nf2 Rg3 38.Nd3 Be3 39.Ke2 f4 40.Ne1 Rxh3 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +3
Gashimov - +2
Jakovenko, Memadyarov - +1
Thursday, May 20, 2010
US Championship Round 7
GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 0-1
GM Hess, Robert 2590 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 1-0
GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 1-0
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Lenderman, Alex 2598 1-0
IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 0-1
Nakamura, Kamsky, Onischuk and Shulman are the four players who enter the final quad, each with 5 points. Not surprisingly, they are the top four seeds.
GM Hess, Robert 2590 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 1-0
GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 1-0
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Lenderman, Alex 2598 1-0
IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 0-1
Nakamura, Kamsky, Onischuk and Shulman are the four players who enter the final quad, each with 5 points. Not surprisingly, they are the top four seeds.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
US Championship Round 6
GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2733 GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 1-0
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Shulman, Yuri 2613 0-1
GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 1-0GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 1-0
GM Lenderman, Alex 2598 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 1-0GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 IM Krush, Irina 2455 1-0
IM Altounian, Levon 2454 GM Hess, Robert 2590 0-1
Standings:
Nakamura, Kamsky, Onischuk, Schulman - 4.5
Christiansen - 4
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Shulman, Yuri 2613 0-1
GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 1-0GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 1-0
GM Lenderman, Alex 2598 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 1-0GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 IM Krush, Irina 2455 1-0
IM Altounian, Levon 2454 GM Hess, Robert 2590 0-1
Standings:
Nakamura, Kamsky, Onischuk, Schulman - 4.5
Christiansen - 4
Grand Prix Round 9
Radjabov-Eljanov1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 c5 8.e3 c4 9.Nd2 g5 10.Bg3 Bf5 11.Be5 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nbd7 13.Bd6 Qb6 14.Bg3 Qb2 15.Qc1 Qxc1+ 16.Rxc1 b5 17.f3 O-O 18.Kf2 Rfe8 19.a4 a6 20.Be2 Re6 21.Rhe1 Nb6 22.axb5 axb5 23.Ra1 Na4 24.Ra3 Bg6 25.Bf1 Nd7 26.h4 f5 27.hxg5 hxg5 28.f4 g4 29.Rb1 Ra5 30.Be2 Rea6 31.Bh4 Nab6 32.Rxa5 Rxa5 33.Bd8 Be8 34.Ke1 Ra8 35.Be7 Kf7 36.Bb4 Ra2 37.Bd1 Ke6 38.Rc1 Nb8 39.Rc2 Ra1 40.Rb2 Na6 41.Rb1 Ra2 42.g3 Nd7 43.Be2 Nxb4 44.Rxb4 Nf6 45.Kd1 Ra1+ 46.Rb1 Rxb1+ 47.Nxb1 Ne4 48.Bf1 Nxg3 49.Bg2 Ne4 50.Ke2 Kd6 51.Bxe4 dxe4 52.Na3 Kc6 53.Nc2 Kb6 54.Kf2 Ka5 55.Kg3 Ka4 56.d5 Bd7 0-1
Inarkiev-Mamedyarov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.Nc3 Nd4 5.g3 Ne7 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Ne2 Nc6 8.Bg2 Rb8 9.O-O b5 10.d3 bxc4 11.dxc4 e5 12.b3 a5 13.f4 Bc5 14.Kh1 d6 15.Bd2 Bg4 16.Bf3 Bxf3+ 17.Rxf3 f5 18.Qc2 Qe7 19.Re1 O-O 20.Nc1 Nb4 21.Bxb4 Bxb4 22.Re2 Qb7 23.Kg1 Ba3 24.Rf1 Rbe8 25.Rfe1 Bb4 26.Rf1 Ba3 27.Rfe1 d5 28.cxd5 Rc8 29.Qb1 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 d3 31.Qxd3 Bxc1 32.fxe5 f4 33.gxf4 Bxf4 34.e6 Be5 35.Qe3 Qb4 36.Kg2 h6 37.Qd2 Qc5 38.Qe3? 39.Qd2 Qe7 40.h3 Qh4 41.Qe3 Rf6 42.Rf2 Rg6+ 43.Kf1 Rg3 44.Qa7 Qxh3+ 45.Ke2 Kh7 46.Qf7 Re3+ 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Jakovenko, Memadyarov, Gashimov, Leko - +1
Inarkiev-Mamedyarov
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 Nc6 4.Nc3 Nd4 5.g3 Ne7 6.Nxd4 cxd4 7.Ne2 Nc6 8.Bg2 Rb8 9.O-O b5 10.d3 bxc4 11.dxc4 e5 12.b3 a5 13.f4 Bc5 14.Kh1 d6 15.Bd2 Bg4 16.Bf3 Bxf3+ 17.Rxf3 f5 18.Qc2 Qe7 19.Re1 O-O 20.Nc1 Nb4 21.Bxb4 Bxb4 22.Re2 Qb7 23.Kg1 Ba3 24.Rf1 Rbe8 25.Rfe1 Bb4 26.Rf1 Ba3 27.Rfe1 d5 28.cxd5 Rc8 29.Qb1 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 d3 31.Qxd3 Bxc1 32.fxe5 f4 33.gxf4 Bxf4 34.e6 Be5 35.Qe3 Qb4 36.Kg2 h6 37.Qd2 Qc5 38.Qe3? 39.Qd2 Qe7 40.h3 Qh4 41.Qe3 Rf6 42.Rf2 Rg6+ 43.Kf1 Rg3 44.Qa7 Qxh3+ 45.Ke2 Kh7 46.Qf7 Re3+ 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Jakovenko, Memadyarov, Gashimov, Leko - +1
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Grand Prix Round 8
Standings:
Gashimov, Leko, Eljanov, Jakovenko - +1 (definitely not a high scoring tournament)
Mamedyarov-Alekseev1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.Qc2 O-O 8.O-O b6 9.b3 Nbd7 10.Rd1 Ba6 11.a4 Rc8 12.a5 c5 13.axb6 Qxb6 14.Qa2 Bb7 15.Ba5 Qa6 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.b4 Nce4 18.c5 Ng4 19.Nd4 e5 20.Nf5 Qf6 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.f3 Qg5 23.Qb3 Nxg3 24.hxg3 Ne3 25.Nd2 Nxd1 26.Nf1 f5 27.Rxd1 f4 28.Bh3 fxg3 29.Bxc8 Rxc8 30.e4 Rf8 31.exd5 e4 32.f4 Qxf4 33.Qxg3 1-0
Eljanov-Ponomariov1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bd6 6.Nf3 c6 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Qc2 O-O 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.Nbd2 b6 12.e4 Be7 13.e5 Nd7 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Rfc1 Bb7 16.Qc7 Ba6 17.a4 Bb4 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 19.Rc7 Kf8 20.Bf1 Bxf1 21.Nxf1 Ke8 22.Rac1 Rdb8 23.Ne1 b5 24.axb5 Ba5 25.R7c2 Rxb5 26.Nd2 Nb6 27.Nd3 Bxd2 28.Rxd2 Nc4 29.Rdc2 a5 30.Kf1 Rab8 31.Ra1 f6 32.Re2 Kf7 33.exf6 gxf6 34.Rae1 R8b6 35.Nf4 e5 36.dxe5 fxe5 37.b3 exf4 38.bxc4 dxc4 39.Re7+ Kg6 40.Rc7 Rb4 41.Kg2 a4 42.Ree7 Ra6 43.g4 a3 44.Rg7+ Kf6 45.Rce7 a2 46.Rgf7+ Kg5 47.Rf5+ Kxg4 48.Ree5 Rb3 0-1
Akopian-Inarkiev1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.h3 O-O 7.Bd3 b6 8.O-O Bb7 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nbd7 11.Re1 Re8 12.Neg5 c5 13.d5 b5 14.b3 Nxd5 15.Nxf7 Kxf7 16.Ng5+ Kg8 17.Ne6 Nb4 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Bb2 Bxb2 20.Qb1 Nd3 21.Nxd8 Raxd8 22.Qxd3 Bxa1 23.Rxa1 Nf8 24.Qe2 bxc4 25.Qxc4+ Rd5 26.Qb5 Rb8 27.Re1 Kf7 28.Qa5 a6 29.Qc7 Nd7 30.Qf4+ Rf5 31.Qc7 Rd5 32.Rc1 Rd6 33.Rc4 Bd5 34.Rf4+ Kg7 35.Qa5 Rf8 36.Qe1 Re6 37.Qc3+ Rff6 38.Rg4 Re4 39.Rg5 Rd4 40.b4 e6 41.bxc5 Rc4 42.Qe3 Nxc5 43.f3 Rff4 44.Qe5+ Rf6 45.Qe3 Rff4 46.Rg4 Rxg4 47.hxg4 Kf7 48.a3 a5 49.Qh6 Nd3 50.Qh7+ Kf6 51.Qh8+ Kf7 52.Qh7+ Kf6 53.Qh8+ Kf7 54.g5 Nf4 55.Qf6+ Ke8 56.g3 Rc1+ 57.Kf2 Nh3+ 58.Ke3 Kd7 59.Qxg6 Ng1 60.Qg7+ Kd6 61.f4 Rf1 62.Qf8+ Kc6 63.g6 Rf3+ 64.Kd4 Rxg3 65.Ke5 Nf3+ 66.Kf6 Nh4 67.Qe8+ Kc5 68.g7 e5 69.fxe5 Rf3+ 70.Kg5 Nf5 71.Qc8+ Kb6 72.Qd8+ Kc5 73.Qxa5+ Kd4 74.Qxd5+ Kxd5 75.g8=Q+ Kxe5 76.Qe8+ Kd4 77.Qe2 Rxa3 78.Qb2+ Rc3 79.Kxf5 Kd3 80.Kf4 Rc4+ 81.Kf3 Rc5 82.Qb3+ Kd4 83.Qe3+ Kd5 84.Qe4+ Kd6 85.Qd4+ Rd5 86.Qf6+ Kc5 87.Ke4 Rd7 88.Qc3+ Kb5 89.Ke5 Kb6 90.Ke6 Rc7 91.Qb4+ Kc6 92.Qd6+ Kb7 93.Kd5 Rh7 94.Qc6+ Kb8 95.Qb6+ Kc8 96.Qe6+ Kb7 97.Kd6 Rg7 98.Qe4+ Kb8 99.Kc6 Rb7 100.Qe5+ Ka8 101.Qa1+ Kb8 102.Qa5 Rb1 103.Qe5+ Ka8 1-0
There's some great analysis at http://www.chessok.com/broadcast/?key=Astr08.pgn&game=0
Gashimov, Leko, Eljanov, Jakovenko - +1 (definitely not a high scoring tournament)
Mamedyarov-Alekseev1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 c6 7.Qc2 O-O 8.O-O b6 9.b3 Nbd7 10.Rd1 Ba6 11.a4 Rc8 12.a5 c5 13.axb6 Qxb6 14.Qa2 Bb7 15.Ba5 Qa6 16.dxc5 Nxc5 17.b4 Nce4 18.c5 Ng4 19.Nd4 e5 20.Nf5 Qf6 21.Nxe7+ Qxe7 22.f3 Qg5 23.Qb3 Nxg3 24.hxg3 Ne3 25.Nd2 Nxd1 26.Nf1 f5 27.Rxd1 f4 28.Bh3 fxg3 29.Bxc8 Rxc8 30.e4 Rf8 31.exd5 e4 32.f4 Qxf4 33.Qxg3 1-0
Eljanov-Ponomariov1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bd6 6.Nf3 c6 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Qc2 O-O 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bxf6 Nxf6 11.Nbd2 b6 12.e4 Be7 13.e5 Nd7 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.Rfc1 Bb7 16.Qc7 Ba6 17.a4 Bb4 18.Qxd8 Rfxd8 19.Rc7 Kf8 20.Bf1 Bxf1 21.Nxf1 Ke8 22.Rac1 Rdb8 23.Ne1 b5 24.axb5 Ba5 25.R7c2 Rxb5 26.Nd2 Nb6 27.Nd3 Bxd2 28.Rxd2 Nc4 29.Rdc2 a5 30.Kf1 Rab8 31.Ra1 f6 32.Re2 Kf7 33.exf6 gxf6 34.Rae1 R8b6 35.Nf4 e5 36.dxe5 fxe5 37.b3 exf4 38.bxc4 dxc4 39.Re7+ Kg6 40.Rc7 Rb4 41.Kg2 a4 42.Ree7 Ra6 43.g4 a3 44.Rg7+ Kf6 45.Rce7 a2 46.Rgf7+ Kg5 47.Rf5+ Kxg4 48.Ree5 Rb3 0-1
Akopian-Inarkiev1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 g6 5.Nf3 Bg7 6.h3 O-O 7.Bd3 b6 8.O-O Bb7 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nbd7 11.Re1 Re8 12.Neg5 c5 13.d5 b5 14.b3 Nxd5 15.Nxf7 Kxf7 16.Ng5+ Kg8 17.Ne6 Nb4 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Bb2 Bxb2 20.Qb1 Nd3 21.Nxd8 Raxd8 22.Qxd3 Bxa1 23.Rxa1 Nf8 24.Qe2 bxc4 25.Qxc4+ Rd5 26.Qb5 Rb8 27.Re1 Kf7 28.Qa5 a6 29.Qc7 Nd7 30.Qf4+ Rf5 31.Qc7 Rd5 32.Rc1 Rd6 33.Rc4 Bd5 34.Rf4+ Kg7 35.Qa5 Rf8 36.Qe1 Re6 37.Qc3+ Rff6 38.Rg4 Re4 39.Rg5 Rd4 40.b4 e6 41.bxc5 Rc4 42.Qe3 Nxc5 43.f3 Rff4 44.Qe5+ Rf6 45.Qe3 Rff4 46.Rg4 Rxg4 47.hxg4 Kf7 48.a3 a5 49.Qh6 Nd3 50.Qh7+ Kf6 51.Qh8+ Kf7 52.Qh7+ Kf6 53.Qh8+ Kf7 54.g5 Nf4 55.Qf6+ Ke8 56.g3 Rc1+ 57.Kf2 Nh3+ 58.Ke3 Kd7 59.Qxg6 Ng1 60.Qg7+ Kd6 61.f4 Rf1 62.Qf8+ Kc6 63.g6 Rf3+ 64.Kd4 Rxg3 65.Ke5 Nf3+ 66.Kf6 Nh4 67.Qe8+ Kc5 68.g7 e5 69.fxe5 Rf3+ 70.Kg5 Nf5 71.Qc8+ Kb6 72.Qd8+ Kc5 73.Qxa5+ Kd4 74.Qxd5+ Kxd5 75.g8=Q+ Kxe5 76.Qe8+ Kd4 77.Qe2 Rxa3 78.Qb2+ Rc3 79.Kxf5 Kd3 80.Kf4 Rc4+ 81.Kf3 Rc5 82.Qb3+ Kd4 83.Qe3+ Kd5 84.Qe4+ Kd6 85.Qd4+ Rd5 86.Qf6+ Kc5 87.Ke4 Rd7 88.Qc3+ Kb5 89.Ke5 Kb6 90.Ke6 Rc7 91.Qb4+ Kc6 92.Qd6+ Kb7 93.Kd5 Rh7 94.Qc6+ Kb8 95.Qb6+ Kc8 96.Qe6+ Kb7 97.Kd6 Rg7 98.Qe4+ Kb8 99.Kc6 Rb7 100.Qe5+ Ka8 101.Qa1+ Kb8 102.Qa5 Rb1 103.Qe5+ Ka8 1-0
There's some great analysis at http://www.chessok.com/broadcast/?key=Astr08.pgn&game=0
US Championship Round 5
GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 1-0
GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 1-0
GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 0-1
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Lenderman, Alex 2598 1-0
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 0-1
GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 0-1
GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Hess, Robert 2590 1-0
Standings:
Kamsky, Onischuk - 4
Nakamura, Shulman, Stripunsky, Kraai - 3.5
GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 1-0
GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 0-1
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Lenderman, Alex 2598 1-0
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 0-1
GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 0-1
GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Hess, Robert 2590 1-0
Standings:
Kamsky, Onischuk - 4
Nakamura, Shulman, Stripunsky, Kraai - 3.5
Monday, May 17, 2010
US Championship Round 4
GM Hess, Robert 2590 GM Shulman, Yuri 2613 0-1
GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 0-1
GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 0-1
GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 1-0
GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 1-0
Standings:
Nakamura, Kamsky, Onischuk, Shulman, Akobian, Christiansen, Stripunsky - 3
Yermolinsky, Kraai - 2.5
GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 0-1
GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 0-1
GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 1-0
GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 1-0
Standings:
Nakamura, Kamsky, Onischuk, Shulman, Akobian, Christiansen, Stripunsky - 3
Yermolinsky, Kraai - 2.5
Grand Prix Round 7
Alekseev-Akopian
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Bd7 13. b3 Nb7 14. Nbd2 g6 15. Nf1 Nh5 16. Bh6 Ng7 17. g4 f6 18. Ng3 Nd8 19. Kh2 Nf7 20. Be3 c4 21. Qd2 Ng5 22. Nxg5 fxg5 23. bxc4 Qxc4 24. Bb3 Qc8 25. c4 bxc4 26. Rec1 h5 27. Bxc4 Qe8 28. Be2 Rf4 29. f3 hxg4 30. hxg4 Nh5 31. gxh5 gxh5 32. Bxf4 exf4 33. Nf5 Bxf5 34. exf5 Bf6 35. Rab1 g4 36. Rb7 Qe5 37. Qd3 Re8 38. Qe4 Qxe4 39. fxe4 Kf8 40. Kg2 1-0
Inarkiev-Eljanov
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6 7. Nc3 Qxb2 8. Qb1 Qxb1+ 9. Rxb1 c4 10. Rxb7 Nc6 11. Kd2 Bb4 12. Rb1 Ba5 13. g4 Bxg4 14. Rxf7 Bxf3 15. Rxf3 Nge7 16. Rg1 Rg8 17. Rh3 Nf5 18. Bg4 Ncxd4 19. Bxd4 Nxd4 20. Kc1 Bxc3 21. Rxc3 Ke7 22. f4 g6 23. Rh3 Rg7 24. Kd2 Rf7 25. Rb1 Rd8 26. c3 Nc6 27. Ke3 h5 28. Be2 Kf8 29. Rg3 Ne7 30. Rgg1 d4+ 31. cxd4 Nd5+ 32. Kd2 Nxf4 33. Bxc4 Rxd4+ 34. Kc3 Rd8 35. Kb4 Kg7 36. Rgd1 Rc8 37. Bb3 Rb7+ 38. Ka5 Rc5+ 39. Ka6 Rf7 40. Rd6 Rxe5 41. Rbd1 Re2 42. Rd7 Rxh2 43. Kxa7 Rb2 44. Rxf7+ Kxf7 45. Kb6 g5 46. Kc5 h4 47. Kb4 Nd5+ 48. Kc5 h3 49. Bxd5 exd5 50. Kxd5 Re2 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Alekseev, Inarkiev, Jakovenko - +1
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Bd7 13. b3 Nb7 14. Nbd2 g6 15. Nf1 Nh5 16. Bh6 Ng7 17. g4 f6 18. Ng3 Nd8 19. Kh2 Nf7 20. Be3 c4 21. Qd2 Ng5 22. Nxg5 fxg5 23. bxc4 Qxc4 24. Bb3 Qc8 25. c4 bxc4 26. Rec1 h5 27. Bxc4 Qe8 28. Be2 Rf4 29. f3 hxg4 30. hxg4 Nh5 31. gxh5 gxh5 32. Bxf4 exf4 33. Nf5 Bxf5 34. exf5 Bf6 35. Rab1 g4 36. Rb7 Qe5 37. Qd3 Re8 38. Qe4 Qxe4 39. fxe4 Kf8 40. Kg2 1-0
Inarkiev-Eljanov
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Be2 c5 6. Be3 Qb6 7. Nc3 Qxb2 8. Qb1 Qxb1+ 9. Rxb1 c4 10. Rxb7 Nc6 11. Kd2 Bb4 12. Rb1 Ba5 13. g4 Bxg4 14. Rxf7 Bxf3 15. Rxf3 Nge7 16. Rg1 Rg8 17. Rh3 Nf5 18. Bg4 Ncxd4 19. Bxd4 Nxd4 20. Kc1 Bxc3 21. Rxc3 Ke7 22. f4 g6 23. Rh3 Rg7 24. Kd2 Rf7 25. Rb1 Rd8 26. c3 Nc6 27. Ke3 h5 28. Be2 Kf8 29. Rg3 Ne7 30. Rgg1 d4+ 31. cxd4 Nd5+ 32. Kd2 Nxf4 33. Bxc4 Rxd4+ 34. Kc3 Rd8 35. Kb4 Kg7 36. Rgd1 Rc8 37. Bb3 Rb7+ 38. Ka5 Rc5+ 39. Ka6 Rf7 40. Rd6 Rxe5 41. Rbd1 Re2 42. Rd7 Rxh2 43. Kxa7 Rb2 44. Rxf7+ Kxf7 45. Kb6 g5 46. Kc5 h4 47. Kb4 Nd5+ 48. Kc5 h3 49. Bxd5 exd5 50. Kxd5 Re2 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Alekseev, Inarkiev, Jakovenko - +1
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Grand Prix Round 6
Eljanov-Alekseev1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 Qc8 8. Nc3 Ne4 9. Bd2 f5 10. d5 Na6 11. Nd4 Bf6 12. e3 Nd6 13. b3 c6 14. Rc1 Qe8 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. Qb1 Qf7 17. Rcd1 Rfd8 18. Bc1 Nc5 19. Ba3 Nce4 20. dxe6 dxe6 21. Nxe4 Nxe4 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. c5 Rd5 24. Qxe4 bxc5 25. Ne2 Rcd8 26. Rc1 Rd2 27. Rc2 Ba6 28. Rxd2 Rxd2 29. Nf4 e5 30. Bc1 Rxa2 31. Qb1 Ra5 32. Ne2 Rb5 33. Qa1 Bc8 34. Nc3 Rxb3 35. Ne4 Bh3 36. Nxf6+ gxf6 37. Qa4 c4 38. Qxc6 Kg7 39. Qe4 Qb7 40. Qxb7+ Rxb7 41. f3 Be6 42. e4 c3 43. Kf2 a5 44. Re2 Rb8 45. Ke3 Bb3 46. Kd3 Rc8 47. Re3 a4 48. f4 Kf7 49. fxe5 fxe5 50. g4 Kg7 51. Rf3 c2 52. Kd2 Rc4 53. Re3 Rd4+ 54. Kc3 Kf6 55. Kb2 Ke6 56. g5 Kf7 57. h4 Kg6 58. Rf3 Kh5 59. Rf6 Kxh4 60. Rh6+ Kg4 61. Rxh7 Rxe4 62. Rh6 Re1 63. g6 Kf5 64. g7 Rg1 65. Rh7 Kf6 0-1
Akopian-Wang1. 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. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 h6 17. Qc1 Qd7 18. Qb2 Bd6 19. Bxd6 cxd6 20. Nh4 Be6 21. Rad1 d5 22. Bd3 b6 23. Bb1 Qd8 24. Nf3 Qf6 25. Qb5 g6 26. Re3 Bxh3 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxd5 Bg4 29. Re1 Rd8 30. Qe4 Bxf3 31. Qxf3 Qxf3 32. gxf3 Kf8 33. Kg2 Ne7 34. Kg3 Nd5 35. c4 Nc3 36. d5 Re8 37. Rh1 Ne2+ 38. Kg2 h5 39. Bc2 Nf4+ 40. Kg3 Ne2+ 41. Kg2 Rc8 42. Bb3 Nd4 43. Ba2 Ke7 44. Rd1 Nf5 45. a4 Kd6 46. a5 Kc5 47. axb6 axb6 48. Bb1 Nd6 49. Bd3 Ra8 50. Rc1 Ra3 51. Be2 Ra2 52. Bf1 g5 53. Kg1 Rd2 54. Kg2 f5 55. Kg1 f4 56. Rb1 Rc2 57. Rd1 Ra2 58. Rb1 Rd2 59. Kg2 g4 60. fxg4 hxg4 61. Kg1 f3 62. Kh2 Ne4 63. Rb5+ Kd4 64. d6 Kc3 65. Re5 g3+ 66. Kg1 gxf2+ 67. Kh2 Rd1 68. Rxe4 Rxf1 69. Re3+ Kxc4 70. Rxf3 Rd1 71. Rf4+ Kc5 72. Rxf2 Rxd6 73. Rc2+ Kb4 74. Rb2+ Kc4 0-1
Gelfand-Inarkiev1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nd4 Neg4 15. g3 Bc5 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Bf4 Qb6 18. Nce2 Rfe8 19. a4 a6 20. a5 Qa7 21. f3 Ne5 22. Kg2 Bf8 23. Nf5 c5 24. Nc3 c4 25. Bxe5 Rxe5 26. Qc1 b4 27. Qf4 Rxf5 28. Qxf5 Bc8 29. Qe5 bxc3 30. bxc3 Qb8 31. Qxb8 Rxb8 32. Rd4 Rb2+ 33. Kh1 Bh3 34. Rg1 Be6 35. Rd8 g6 36. Ra8 Kg7 37. g4 Rf2 38. Rxa6 Rxf3 39. Rc6 Rxc340. Rg3 Rc1+ 41. Rg1 Rc3 42. Rg3 Rd3 43. Rxd3 cxd3 44. Rc3 d2 45. Rd3 Bb4 46. a6 Bc8 47. a7 Bb7 48. Kg1 Bc5+ 49. Kf1 Ba6 0-1
Jakovenko-Ponomariov
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Rc1 Rd8 11. d5 e6 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bf4 Nc6 14. Bc4 b5 15. Be2 g5 16. Bg3 exd5 17. exd5 Ne7 18. d6 Bb7 19. Qc2 Ng6 20. O-O Qb6 21. Rfd1 Qc6 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Rb1 Qc6 24. Qb3+ c4 25. Qxb7 Qxb7 26. Rxb7 f5 27. Nxg5 f4 28. Ne6 Be5 29. Nxd8 Rxd8 30. Rc7 fxg3 31. hxg3 Bxc3 32. Rxc4 Ba5 33. Rd5 Bb6 34. a4 Rd7 35. a5 Bd8 36. f4 Kf7 37. Re4 Nf8 38. g4 h6 39. Kh2 Nh7 40. Rf5+ Kg7 41. Rd4 Nf6 42. g5 hxg5 43. Rxg5+ Kf7 44. Rb5 Ne8 45. a6 Nxd6 46. Rb7 Ke7 47. Rxd7+ Kxd7 48. g4 Ke6 49. Kg3 Bb6 50. Rb4 Bc5 51. Ra4 Bb6 52. Kf3 Nb5 53. Re4+ Kf7 54. g5 Nc7 55. f5 Bc5 56. Ra4 Be7 57. Kg4 Bf8 58. Rd4 Nxa6 59. Rd7+ Kg8 60. f6 Nc5 61. Rxa7 Ne4 62. Kf5 Nd6+ 63. Ke6 1-0
Standings:Inarkiev - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Eljanov, Jakovenko - +1
Akopian-Wang1. 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. Be2 O-O 10. a3 Nc6 11. cxd5 Qxd5 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bf5 14. Re1 Rfe8 15. Bf4 Rac8 16. h3 h6 17. Qc1 Qd7 18. Qb2 Bd6 19. Bxd6 cxd6 20. Nh4 Be6 21. Rad1 d5 22. Bd3 b6 23. Bb1 Qd8 24. Nf3 Qf6 25. Qb5 g6 26. Re3 Bxh3 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qxd5 Bg4 29. Re1 Rd8 30. Qe4 Bxf3 31. Qxf3 Qxf3 32. gxf3 Kf8 33. Kg2 Ne7 34. Kg3 Nd5 35. c4 Nc3 36. d5 Re8 37. Rh1 Ne2+ 38. Kg2 h5 39. Bc2 Nf4+ 40. Kg3 Ne2+ 41. Kg2 Rc8 42. Bb3 Nd4 43. Ba2 Ke7 44. Rd1 Nf5 45. a4 Kd6 46. a5 Kc5 47. axb6 axb6 48. Bb1 Nd6 49. Bd3 Ra8 50. Rc1 Ra3 51. Be2 Ra2 52. Bf1 g5 53. Kg1 Rd2 54. Kg2 f5 55. Kg1 f4 56. Rb1 Rc2 57. Rd1 Ra2 58. Rb1 Rd2 59. Kg2 g4 60. fxg4 hxg4 61. Kg1 f3 62. Kh2 Ne4 63. Rb5+ Kd4 64. d6 Kc3 65. Re5 g3+ 66. Kg1 gxf2+ 67. Kh2 Rd1 68. Rxe4 Rxf1 69. Re3+ Kxc4 70. Rxf3 Rd1 71. Rf4+ Kc5 72. Rxf2 Rxd6 73. Rc2+ Kb4 74. Rb2+ Kc4 0-1
Gelfand-Inarkiev1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. e4 e5 13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Nd4 Neg4 15. g3 Bc5 16. Bxg4 Nxg4 17. Bf4 Qb6 18. Nce2 Rfe8 19. a4 a6 20. a5 Qa7 21. f3 Ne5 22. Kg2 Bf8 23. Nf5 c5 24. Nc3 c4 25. Bxe5 Rxe5 26. Qc1 b4 27. Qf4 Rxf5 28. Qxf5 Bc8 29. Qe5 bxc3 30. bxc3 Qb8 31. Qxb8 Rxb8 32. Rd4 Rb2+ 33. Kh1 Bh3 34. Rg1 Be6 35. Rd8 g6 36. Ra8 Kg7 37. g4 Rf2 38. Rxa6 Rxf3 39. Rc6 Rxc340. Rg3 Rc1+ 41. Rg1 Rc3 42. Rg3 Rd3 43. Rxd3 cxd3 44. Rc3 d2 45. Rd3 Bb4 46. a6 Bc8 47. a7 Bb7 48. Kg1 Bc5+ 49. Kf1 Ba6 0-1
Jakovenko-Ponomariov
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Nf3 c5 8. Be3 Qa5 9. Qd2 O-O 10. Rc1 Rd8 11. d5 e6 12. Bg5 f6 13. Bf4 Nc6 14. Bc4 b5 15. Be2 g5 16. Bg3 exd5 17. exd5 Ne7 18. d6 Bb7 19. Qc2 Ng6 20. O-O Qb6 21. Rfd1 Qc6 22. Bxb5 Qxb5 23. Rb1 Qc6 24. Qb3+ c4 25. Qxb7 Qxb7 26. Rxb7 f5 27. Nxg5 f4 28. Ne6 Be5 29. Nxd8 Rxd8 30. Rc7 fxg3 31. hxg3 Bxc3 32. Rxc4 Ba5 33. Rd5 Bb6 34. a4 Rd7 35. a5 Bd8 36. f4 Kf7 37. Re4 Nf8 38. g4 h6 39. Kh2 Nh7 40. Rf5+ Kg7 41. Rd4 Nf6 42. g5 hxg5 43. Rxg5+ Kf7 44. Rb5 Ne8 45. a6 Nxd6 46. Rb7 Ke7 47. Rxd7+ Kxd7 48. g4 Ke6 49. Kg3 Bb6 50. Rb4 Bc5 51. Ra4 Bb6 52. Kf3 Nb5 53. Re4+ Kf7 54. g5 Nc7 55. f5 Bc5 56. Ra4 Be7 57. Kg4 Bf8 58. Rd4 Nxa6 59. Rd7+ Kg8 60. f6 Nc5 61. Rxa7 Ne4 62. Kf5 Nd6+ 63. Ke6 1-0
Standings:Inarkiev - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Eljanov, Jakovenko - +1
US Championship Round 3
GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 0-1
GM Shulman, Yuri 2613 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 1-0
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 1-0GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Robson, Ray 2569 0-1
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 0-1
Standings:
Kamsky, Nakamura, Onischuk, Akobian - 2.5
Christiansen, Ehlvest, Schulman, Hess, Stripunsky - 2
GM Shulman, Yuri 2613 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 1-0
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 IM Altounian, Levon 2454 1-0
GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 1-0GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Robson, Ray 2569 0-1
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 0-1
Standings:
Kamsky, Nakamura, Onischuk, Akobian - 2.5
Christiansen, Ehlvest, Schulman, Hess, Stripunsky - 2
Saturday, May 15, 2010
US Championship Round 2
GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2733 GM Hess, Robert 2590 1-0
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 0-1
GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 1-0 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 1-0
GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 0-1
GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 0-1 GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 0-1
Leaders:
Nakamura, Kamsky - 2
Onischuk, Akobian, Ehlvest, Shabalov, Christiansen, Kudrin, Krush - 1.5
GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 0-1
GM Akobian, Varuzhan 2599 GM Kraai, Jesse 2492 1-0 GM Shabalov, Alexander 2585 GM Finegold, Benjamin 2539 1-0
GM Bhat, Vinay 2547 GM Kudrin, Sergey 2571 0-1
GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 0-1 GM Robson, Ray 2569 GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 0-1
Leaders:
Nakamura, Kamsky - 2
Onischuk, Akobian, Ehlvest, Shabalov, Christiansen, Kudrin, Krush - 1.5
Friday, May 14, 2010
US Championship Round 1
This looks like a much better event than in the recent past, the first REAL championship event since I started this blog in 2004, without the lightweights that have polluted recent swiss formats.
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2733 0-1
GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 GM Robson, Ray 2569 1-0
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 0-1
GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 0-1
GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Lenderman, Alex 2598 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 0-1
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 1-0
GM Stripunsky, Alexander 2570 GM Nakamura, Hikaru 2733 0-1
GM Kamsky, Gata 2702 GM Robson, Ray 2569 1-0
GM Benjamin, Joel 2565 GM Onischuk, Alexander 2699 0-1
GM Yermolinsky, Alex 2528 GM Ehlvest, Jaan 2591 0-1
GM Christiansen, Larry 2578 GM Gurevich, Dmitry 2488 1-0
GM Hess, Robert 2590 IM Shankland, Samuel 2507 1-0
IM Lenderman, Alex 2598 GM Khachiyan, Melikset 2539 0-1
IM Krush, Irina 2455 GM Kaidanov, Gregory 2577 1-0
Grand Prix Round 5
Wang-Eljanov
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qc7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. O-O-O a6 12. c5 Nbd7 13. Na4 Rb8 14. Bd3 Rxh2 15. g4 Bd8 16. g5 Nh5 17. f4 Rxh1 18. Rxh1 Nf8 19. Rg1 Qc8 20. Qc2 Bc7 21. Kb1 Ke7 22. Bc1 Qe8 23. b3 Nd7 24. Nc3 a5 25. Ba3 Ra8 26. Na4 Kf8 27. Qh2 Ke7 28. Nb6 Ra7 29. Be2 Kd8 30. Bxh5 gxh5 31. Qxh5 g6 32. Qh7 Nxb6 33. cxb6 Bxb6 34. Qg7 a4 35. Kb2 axb3 36. axb3 Rxa3 37. Kxa3 Kc7 38. Rh1 Qe7+ 39. Kb2 Ba5 40. Rh7 Qb4 41. Qxf7+ Kb8 42. Rh2 Qc3+ 43. Ka2 Bb4 44. Qe8+ Ka7 45. Qxg6 Qxe3 46. Qc2 Bc3 47. g6 Qe1 48. b4 Bxd4 49. Qd3 Qg1 50. Re2 Kb8 51. Kb3 Qa1 52. f5 exf5 53. Qxf5 Qc3+ 0-1
Ponomariov-Ivanchuk
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qe7 10. h3 c5 11. Rd1 b6 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. e4 Bb7 14. Bg5 Rfd8 15. Qe2 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Nf8 18. Ne5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Bd3 Bd4 21. Bb1 a6 22. h4 gxh4 23. Bf4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Ng6 25. Bd4 b5 26. a3 Nf4 27. Qf3 N6h5 28. Be3 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qg5 30. Qf3 e5 31. Nd5 Bc8 32. Kh2 Bg4 33. Bxf4 exf4 34. Qd3 f3 35. gxf3 Be6 36. Qe3 Qe5+ 37. f4 Qxb2 38. Bd3 Bxd5 39. exd5 Nf6 40. Kh3 Qa1 41. Be4 Nxe4 42. Qxe4 Qxa3+ 43. Kxh4 Qd6 44. Qf5 b4 45. Qg4+ Kf8 46. Qc8+ Kg7 47. Qc4 a5 48. Kg3 a4 49. Qc6 Qg6+ 50. Kf3 Qd3+ 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Gelfand, Inarkiev - +1
1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Be4 7. f3 Bg6 8. Qb3 Qc7 9. Bd2 Be7 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. O-O-O a6 12. c5 Nbd7 13. Na4 Rb8 14. Bd3 Rxh2 15. g4 Bd8 16. g5 Nh5 17. f4 Rxh1 18. Rxh1 Nf8 19. Rg1 Qc8 20. Qc2 Bc7 21. Kb1 Ke7 22. Bc1 Qe8 23. b3 Nd7 24. Nc3 a5 25. Ba3 Ra8 26. Na4 Kf8 27. Qh2 Ke7 28. Nb6 Ra7 29. Be2 Kd8 30. Bxh5 gxh5 31. Qxh5 g6 32. Qh7 Nxb6 33. cxb6 Bxb6 34. Qg7 a4 35. Kb2 axb3 36. axb3 Rxa3 37. Kxa3 Kc7 38. Rh1 Qe7+ 39. Kb2 Ba5 40. Rh7 Qb4 41. Qxf7+ Kb8 42. Rh2 Qc3+ 43. Ka2 Bb4 44. Qe8+ Ka7 45. Qxg6 Qxe3 46. Qc2 Bc3 47. g6 Qe1 48. b4 Bxd4 49. Qd3 Qg1 50. Re2 Kb8 51. Kb3 Qa1 52. f5 exf5 53. Qxf5 Qc3+ 0-1
Ponomariov-Ivanchuk
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 Qe7 10. h3 c5 11. Rd1 b6 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. e4 Bb7 14. Bg5 Rfd8 15. Qe2 h6 16. Bh4 g5 17. Bg3 Nf8 18. Ne5 Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Rd8 20. Bd3 Bd4 21. Bb1 a6 22. h4 gxh4 23. Bf4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Ng6 25. Bd4 b5 26. a3 Nf4 27. Qf3 N6h5 28. Be3 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qg5 30. Qf3 e5 31. Nd5 Bc8 32. Kh2 Bg4 33. Bxf4 exf4 34. Qd3 f3 35. gxf3 Be6 36. Qe3 Qe5+ 37. f4 Qxb2 38. Bd3 Bxd5 39. exd5 Nf6 40. Kh3 Qa1 41. Be4 Nxe4 42. Qxe4 Qxa3+ 43. Kxh4 Qd6 44. Qf5 b4 45. Qg4+ Kf8 46. Qc8+ Kg7 47. Qc4 a5 48. Kg3 a4 49. Qc6 Qg6+ 50. Kf3 Qd3+ 0-1
Standings:
Eljanov - +2
Gashimov, Leko, Gelfand, Inarkiev - +1
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Grand Prix Round 4
Ivanchuk-Inarkiev
1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nd7 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ne4 c5 15. f3 c4 16. Kf2 Nb6 17. Rd2 Ba6 18. Rc1 Nd5 19. Be3 Rfc8 20. a3 h6 21. g3 Rc7 22. Bd4 Rd8 23. h4 Nb6 24. Bxb6 Rxd2+ 25. Nxd2 axb6 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. Nd6 Bd5 28. Ke3 f6 29. f4 fxe5 30. fxe5 Kh7 31. Rc3 Kg6 32. g4 h5 33. g5 Rc5 34. Kf4 Kh7 35. Rc1 Kg6 36. Rc2 Kh7 37. Ke3 Bh1 38. Kd4 Rd5+ 39. Kc3 Rd3+ 40. Kxc4 Rh3 41. Kb5 Rxh4 42. Kxb6 Kg6 43. Rc7 Rf4 44. b4 h4 45. Rc8 Bf3 0-1
Standings:
Inarkiev, Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
1. c4 c6 2. e4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 e6 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Qxd1+ 11. Rxd1 Nd7 12. Bb5 O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. Ne4 c5 15. f3 c4 16. Kf2 Nb6 17. Rd2 Ba6 18. Rc1 Nd5 19. Be3 Rfc8 20. a3 h6 21. g3 Rc7 22. Bd4 Rd8 23. h4 Nb6 24. Bxb6 Rxd2+ 25. Nxd2 axb6 26. Ne4 Bb7 27. Nd6 Bd5 28. Ke3 f6 29. f4 fxe5 30. fxe5 Kh7 31. Rc3 Kg6 32. g4 h5 33. g5 Rc5 34. Kf4 Kh7 35. Rc1 Kg6 36. Rc2 Kh7 37. Ke3 Bh1 38. Kd4 Rd5+ 39. Kc3 Rd3+ 40. Kxc4 Rh3 41. Kb5 Rxh4 42. Kxb6 Kg6 43. Rc7 Rf4 44. b4 h4 45. Rc8 Bf3 0-1
Standings:
Inarkiev, Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Grand Prix Round 2
Svidler-Ponomariov
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. b3 c5 12. Rd1 Kc8 13. a4 a5 14. Nd5 g5 15. Bb2 Be6 16. c4 b6 17. Kh2 Ne7 18. g4 Ng6 19. Kg3 Be7 20. Nf6 Kb7 21. Nh5 Rhg8 22. Ng1 Rad8 23. Ne2 Bd7 24. Rd2 Bxa4 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1
Eljanov-Akopian
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bd3 c5 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. a4 bxa4 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Rxa4 Bb7 19. Bd2 Rfd8 20. Bc3 Be7 21. Raa1 Nd5 22. Ba5 Rdc8 23. Nd4 g6 24. g3 Nb4 25. Bf1 Kf8 26. Ra4 Nd5 27. e4 Nf6 28. f3 e5 29. Nb3 Rab8 30. Rc4 Bc6 31. Rc3 Ba4 32. Rxc8+ Rxc8 33. Rc1 Rxc1 34. Nxc1 Bc5+ 35. Kg2 Bd4 36. b3 Bb5 37. Bxb5 axb5 38. Ne2 Bb2 39. Bb4+ Ke8 40. Bc3 Bxc3 41. Nxc3 Kd7 42. Nxb5 Kc6 43. Nc3 Kc5 44. g4 h6 45. h4 Nd7 46. Nd5 f5 47. b4+ Kd4 48. exf5 gxf5 49. Ne7 fxg4 50. fxg4 e4 51. Nf5+ Kd3 52. b5 Kc4 53. Nxh6 Kxb5 54. g5 Ne5 55. h5 e3 56. Nf5 e2 57. Nd4+ Kc4 58. Nxe2 Kd5 59. Kg3 Ke6 60. Nd4+ Kf7 61. Kf4 Nc4 62. Nf5 Nb6 63. g6+ Kf6 64. Ne3 1-0
Leko-Alekseev
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Ne5 16. Nxc8 Raxc8 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bh6 Rfe8 19. Qd2 Qb7 20. Rfe1 Qxb2 21. Qxb2 Bxb2 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rb1 Be5 24. Kf1 Rd8 25. Rb7 Rxd5 26. Rxa7 Rd8 27. a4 c4 28. Re7 Bg7 29. Bf4 h5 30. Rc7 c3 31. Be3 Rb8 32. Ke2 Rb4 33. a5 Ra4 34. Rc5 Bf8 35. Rc8 Kg7 36. Bb6 Bb4 37. Kd3 Ra2 38. Bd4+ f6 39. Rc7+ Kf8 40. a6 Rxa6 1-0
Gelfand-Mamedyarov
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. d4 Bf5 9. Ne1 Be6 10. e3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bd5 12. Bxd5 Qxd5 13. Qb3 Rfd8 14. Nd3 b6 15. Qxd5 Rxd5 16. c4 Ra5 17. a4 e5 18. Bd2 Ra6 19. f4 exd4 20. e4 Bf8 21. Kf2 f6 22. Rfb1 Nd8 23. Kf3 Nb7 24. e5 fxe5 25. fxe5 Re8 26. Re1 Na5 27. Bxa5 Rxa5 28. Ke4 Bg7 29. Kxd4 a6 30. Ra2 b5 31. c5 Rd8+ 32. Ke4 Bf8 33. Rea1 b4 34. Rc2 b3 35. Rc4 Rb8 36. Rb1 Kf7 37. Kd4 Ke6 38. Kc3 Kd5 39. Nb4+ 1-0
Standings:
Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 h6 10. h3 Bd7 11. b3 c5 12. Rd1 Kc8 13. a4 a5 14. Nd5 g5 15. Bb2 Be6 16. c4 b6 17. Kh2 Ne7 18. g4 Ng6 19. Kg3 Be7 20. Nf6 Kb7 21. Nh5 Rhg8 22. Ng1 Rad8 23. Ne2 Bd7 24. Rd2 Bxa4 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 0-1
Eljanov-Akopian
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9. O-O a6 10. Rd1 b5 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bd3 c5 15. dxc5 Qxc5 16. a4 bxa4 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Rxa4 Bb7 19. Bd2 Rfd8 20. Bc3 Be7 21. Raa1 Nd5 22. Ba5 Rdc8 23. Nd4 g6 24. g3 Nb4 25. Bf1 Kf8 26. Ra4 Nd5 27. e4 Nf6 28. f3 e5 29. Nb3 Rab8 30. Rc4 Bc6 31. Rc3 Ba4 32. Rxc8+ Rxc8 33. Rc1 Rxc1 34. Nxc1 Bc5+ 35. Kg2 Bd4 36. b3 Bb5 37. Bxb5 axb5 38. Ne2 Bb2 39. Bb4+ Ke8 40. Bc3 Bxc3 41. Nxc3 Kd7 42. Nxb5 Kc6 43. Nc3 Kc5 44. g4 h6 45. h4 Nd7 46. Nd5 f5 47. b4+ Kd4 48. exf5 gxf5 49. Ne7 fxg4 50. fxg4 e4 51. Nf5+ Kd3 52. b5 Kc4 53. Nxh6 Kxb5 54. g5 Ne5 55. h5 e3 56. Nf5 e2 57. Nd4+ Kc4 58. Nxe2 Kd5 59. Kg3 Ke6 60. Nd4+ Kf7 61. Kf4 Nc4 62. Nf5 Nb6 63. g6+ Kf6 64. Ne3 1-0
Leko-Alekseev
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 c5 4. d5 d6 5. Nc3 exd5 6. cxd5 g6 7. h3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Bd3 b5 10. Bxb5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qa5+ 12. Nfd2 Qxb5 13. Nxd6 Qa6 14. N2c4 Nd7 15. O-O Ne5 16. Nxc8 Raxc8 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bh6 Rfe8 19. Qd2 Qb7 20. Rfe1 Qxb2 21. Qxb2 Bxb2 22. Rxe8+ Rxe8 23. Rb1 Be5 24. Kf1 Rd8 25. Rb7 Rxd5 26. Rxa7 Rd8 27. a4 c4 28. Re7 Bg7 29. Bf4 h5 30. Rc7 c3 31. Be3 Rb8 32. Ke2 Rb4 33. a5 Ra4 34. Rc5 Bf8 35. Rc8 Kg7 36. Bb6 Bb4 37. Kd3 Ra2 38. Bd4+ f6 39. Rc7+ Kf8 40. a6 Rxa6 1-0
Gelfand-Mamedyarov
1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nc6 8. d4 Bf5 9. Ne1 Be6 10. e3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bd5 12. Bxd5 Qxd5 13. Qb3 Rfd8 14. Nd3 b6 15. Qxd5 Rxd5 16. c4 Ra5 17. a4 e5 18. Bd2 Ra6 19. f4 exd4 20. e4 Bf8 21. Kf2 f6 22. Rfb1 Nd8 23. Kf3 Nb7 24. e5 fxe5 25. fxe5 Re8 26. Re1 Na5 27. Bxa5 Rxa5 28. Ke4 Bg7 29. Kxd4 a6 30. Ra2 b5 31. c5 Rd8+ 32. Ke4 Bf8 33. Rea1 b4 34. Rc2 b3 35. Rc4 Rb8 36. Rb1 Kf7 37. Kd4 Ke6 38. Kc3 Kd5 39. Nb4+ 1-0
Standings:
Ponomariov, Eljanov, Leko, Gelfand, Gashimov - +1
Anand at the finish, 6.5-5.5
Topalov,Veselin (2805) - Anand,Viswanathan (2787) [D56]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.dxc5 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxc5 19.Qc2N Bb7 20.Nd2 Rfd8 21.f3 Ba6 22.Rf2 Rd7 23.g3 Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bd3 25.Qc1 Ba6 26.Ra3 Bb7 27.Nb3 Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8 29.Nc4 e5 30.e4 f5 31.exf5 [Now the position will crumble in a flash. 31.Nd2 fxe4 32.Nxe4 Bxe4 33.fxe4 Rd4 34.Qe3= ] e4 32.fxe4?? [Topalov loses his nerve and now it is all over. 32.Re3 exf3+ 33.Kg1 Qg5 34.Qc2 Rcd7 35.Re1] Qxe4+ 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3 Qe8! 35.g4 h5 36.Kh4 g5+ 37.fxg6 Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Nf5+ Kh7 42.Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2 47.Kxg2 Qe2+ 48.Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 51.Nh6+ Kg7 52.Rb6 Qe4 53.Kh2 Kh7 54.Rd6 Qe5 55.Nf7 Qxb2+ 56.Kh3 Qg7 0-1
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6326
So that's that ... Anand won the FIDE tournament, Anand beat Kramnik, Anand beat Topalov. We have an undisputed champion of the world. Vishy, thanks for cleaning up the mess caused by Kasparov and Short in 1993.
1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 0-0 7.e3 Ne4 8.Bxe7 Qxe7 9.Rc1 c6 10.Be2 Nxc3 11.Rxc3 dxc4 12.Bxc4 Nd7 13.0-0 b6 14.Bd3 c5 15.Be4 Rb8 16.Qc2 Nf6 17.dxc5 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 bxc5 19.Qc2N Bb7 20.Nd2 Rfd8 21.f3 Ba6 22.Rf2 Rd7 23.g3 Rbd8 24.Kg2 Bd3 25.Qc1 Ba6 26.Ra3 Bb7 27.Nb3 Rc7 28.Na5 Ba8 29.Nc4 e5 30.e4 f5 31.exf5 [Now the position will crumble in a flash. 31.Nd2 fxe4 32.Nxe4 Bxe4 33.fxe4 Rd4 34.Qe3= ] e4 32.fxe4?? [Topalov loses his nerve and now it is all over. 32.Re3 exf3+ 33.Kg1 Qg5 34.Qc2 Rcd7 35.Re1] Qxe4+ 33.Kh3 Rd4 34.Ne3 Qe8! 35.g4 h5 36.Kh4 g5+ 37.fxg6 Qxg6 38.Qf1 Rxg4+ 39.Kh3 Re7 40.Rf8+ Kg7 41.Nf5+ Kh7 42.Rg3 Rxg3+ 43.hxg3 Qg4+ 44.Kh2 Re2+ 45.Kg1 Rg2+ 46.Qxg2 Bxg2 47.Kxg2 Qe2+ 48.Kh3 c4 49.a4 a5 50.Rf6 Kg8 51.Nh6+ Kg7 52.Rb6 Qe4 53.Kh2 Kh7 54.Rd6 Qe5 55.Nf7 Qxb2+ 56.Kh3 Qg7 0-1
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6326
So that's that ... Anand won the FIDE tournament, Anand beat Kramnik, Anand beat Topalov. We have an undisputed champion of the world. Vishy, thanks for cleaning up the mess caused by Kasparov and Short in 1993.
Monday, May 10, 2010
Grand Prix Round 1
I can't believe it already started and I had heard nothing. If somebody who follows such things pretty closely isn't aware it's going on, then FIDE is clearly not doing its job.
Anyway, the 6th and final Grand Prix event is underway in Astrakhan, which means all six events ended up taking place in a tiny little-known corner of the world. Not very good for world chess.
As I speculated back in August (wow, it really has been a long time since the last one), Aronian was left out of this event since he already had first place guaranteed. However, Kasimdhanov appears to have skipped this event and been replaced with Ruslan Ponomariov (his name is misspelled on the official website), who has not taken part in any of the five preceding events. Not sure I understand that.
In any event, in round 1 the only decisive result was Gashimov over Ivanchuk:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ba2 Bf8 14. Ng5 Re7 15.f4 h6 16. Nf3 d5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Bf4 Re8 20. e5 Nh7 21. d4 Ng5 22. Ng3 Ne6 23. Be3 g6 24. Rf1 Bg7 25. c3 c5 26. Qg4 Rc8 27. Rf2 Rc7 28. Raf1 Bc8 29. Qd1 c4 30. Bb1 Qh4 31. Kh2 a5 32. Ne2 Rf8 33. Qd2 Kh7 34. Rf6 Re7 35. R6f4 Nxf4 36. Rxf4 1-0
Anyway, the 6th and final Grand Prix event is underway in Astrakhan, which means all six events ended up taking place in a tiny little-known corner of the world. Not very good for world chess.
As I speculated back in August (wow, it really has been a long time since the last one), Aronian was left out of this event since he already had first place guaranteed. However, Kasimdhanov appears to have skipped this event and been replaced with Ruslan Ponomariov (his name is misspelled on the official website), who has not taken part in any of the five preceding events. Not sure I understand that.
In any event, in round 1 the only decisive result was Gashimov over Ivanchuk:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. h3Bb7 9. d3 d6 10. a3 Nb8 11. Nbd2 Nbd7 12. Nf1 Re8 13. Ba2 Bf8 14. Ng5 Re7 15.f4 h6 16. Nf3 d5 17. fxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Rxe5 19. Bf4 Re8 20. e5 Nh7 21. d4 Ng5 22. Ng3 Ne6 23. Be3 g6 24. Rf1 Bg7 25. c3 c5 26. Qg4 Rc8 27. Rf2 Rc7 28. Raf1 Bc8 29. Qd1 c4 30. Bb1 Qh4 31. Kh2 a5 32. Ne2 Rf8 33. Qd2 Kh7 34. Rf6 Re7 35. R6f4 Nxf4 36. Rxf4 1-0
Sunday, May 09, 2010
Game 11 Drawn
Anand,V (2787) - Topalov,V (2805) [A29]
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 Be6 10.d3 f6 11.Ne4 Qe8 12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nde7 16.Rab1 Ba2 17.Rbc1 Qf7 18.Bc3 Rd7 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Be6 21.Rd2 h6 22.Qb1 Nd5 23.Rb2 b6 24.cxb6 cxb6 25.Bd2 Rd6 26.Rbc2 Qd7 27.h4 Rd8 28.Qb5 Nde7 29.Qb2 Bd5 30.Bb4 Nxb4 31.axb4 Rc6 32.b5 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Be6 34.d4 e4 35.Nd2 Qxd4 36.Nxe4 Qxb2 37.Rxb2 Kf7 38.e3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4 gxf4 41.exf4 Rd4 42.Kf2 Nf5 43.Bf3 Bd5 44.Nd2 Bxf3 45.Nxf3 Ra4 46.g4 Nd6 47.Kg3 Ne4+ 48.Kh4 Nd6 49.Rd2 Nxb5 50.f5 Re4 51.Kh5 Re3 52.Nh4 Nc3 53.Rd7+ Re7 54.Rd3 Ne4 55.Ng6 Nc5 56.Ra3 Rd7 57.Re3 Kg7 58.g5 b5 59.Nf4 b4 60.g6 b3 61.Rc3 Rd4 62.Rxc5 Rxf4 63.Rc7+ Kg8 64.Rb7 Rf3 65.Rb8+ Kg7 ½-½
I have to say even the draws have been very exciting chess. Kudos to both players.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6321
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.0-0 Be7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 Be6 10.d3 f6 11.Ne4 Qe8 12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.bxc5 Nd5 14.Bb2 Rd8 15.Qc2 Nde7 16.Rab1 Ba2 17.Rbc1 Qf7 18.Bc3 Rd7 19.Qb2 Rb8 20.Rfd1 Be6 21.Rd2 h6 22.Qb1 Nd5 23.Rb2 b6 24.cxb6 cxb6 25.Bd2 Rd6 26.Rbc2 Qd7 27.h4 Rd8 28.Qb5 Nde7 29.Qb2 Bd5 30.Bb4 Nxb4 31.axb4 Rc6 32.b5 Rxc2 33.Rxc2 Be6 34.d4 e4 35.Nd2 Qxd4 36.Nxe4 Qxb2 37.Rxb2 Kf7 38.e3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4 gxf4 41.exf4 Rd4 42.Kf2 Nf5 43.Bf3 Bd5 44.Nd2 Bxf3 45.Nxf3 Ra4 46.g4 Nd6 47.Kg3 Ne4+ 48.Kh4 Nd6 49.Rd2 Nxb5 50.f5 Re4 51.Kh5 Re3 52.Nh4 Nc3 53.Rd7+ Re7 54.Rd3 Ne4 55.Ng6 Nc5 56.Ra3 Rd7 57.Re3 Kg7 58.g5 b5 59.Nf4 b4 60.g6 b3 61.Rc3 Rd4 62.Rxc5 Rxf4 63.Rc7+ Kg8 64.Rb7 Rf3 65.Rb8+ Kg7 ½-½
I have to say even the draws have been very exciting chess. Kudos to both players.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=6321
Saturday, May 08, 2010
Andor Lilienthal, RIP
Just three days after his 99th birthday the world's oldest grandmaster has passed away. Andor Lilienthal was born in Moscow but spent most of his life in Hungary. In his long career he recorded wins against Emanuel Lasker, José Raúl Capablanca, Max Euwe, Mikhail Botvinnik and Vasily Smyslov.
Lilienthal was the last living member of the Capablanca Club. Truly the end of an era.
Lilienthal was the last living member of the Capablanca Club. Truly the end of an era.
Friday, May 07, 2010
Game 10 Drawn
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Bc4 c5 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.Be3 0-0 10.0-0 b6 Deviating from game one where he had instead continued with 10...Na5.
11.Qd2 Bb7 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qd6N For all practical purposes, this is the novelty.
15.d5 Na5 16.Bb5 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.h3 Rxc1+ 19.Qxc1 e6 20.Nf4 exd5 21.Nxd5 f5 22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 Qe5 24.Bd3 Nc6 25.Ba6! Though this move should not give White an edge against best play, the maze Black must steer through is complex, and anything less leaves Topalov better.
25...Nd4?! Wishing to avoid unnecessary complications, but best was 25...Bxa6 26.Qxc6 Qa1+ 27.Kf2 Qxa2+ 28.Kg3 Qa3! 29.Qa8+ Qf8 30.Qxa7 Be5+ 31.Kh4 Qf1 32.g3 Bc8 33.g4 Bf6+ 34.Nxf6+ Qxf6+=
26.Qc4 Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Qxd5 28.exd5 White has a very favorable endgame thanks to his bishop pair now.
28...Be5 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.Bg5 Nf5 31.g4 Nd6 32.Kf3 Ne8 33.Bc1 Nc7 34.Bd3 Bd6 35.Ke4 b5 36.Kd4 a6 37.Be2 Ke7 38.Bg5+ Kd7 39.Bd2 Bg3 40.g5 Bf2+ 41.Ke5 Bg3+ 42.Ke4 Ne8 43.Bg4+ Ke7 44.Be6 Nd6+ 45.Kf3 Nc4! Topalov had undoubtedly missed this move, and now the World Champion has almost equalized. There is still play left, but Anand can certainly start breathing calmer now.
46.Bc1 Bd6 47.Ke4 a5 48.Bg4 Ba3 49.Bxa3+ Nxa3 50.Ke5 Nc4+ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Be2 Na3 53.h4 Nc2+ 54.Kc3 Nb4 55.Bxb5 Nxa2+ 56.Kb3 Nb4 57.Be2 Nxd5 58.h5 Nf4 59.hxg6 hxg6 60.Bc4 1/2-1/2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2010/sofia/games/sofia10.htm
11.Qd2 Bb7 12.Rac1 Rc8 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.cxd4 Qd6N For all practical purposes, this is the novelty.
15.d5 Na5 16.Bb5 Rxc1 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.h3 Rxc1+ 19.Qxc1 e6 20.Nf4 exd5 21.Nxd5 f5 22.f3 fxe4 23.fxe4 Qe5 24.Bd3 Nc6 25.Ba6! Though this move should not give White an edge against best play, the maze Black must steer through is complex, and anything less leaves Topalov better.
25...Nd4?! Wishing to avoid unnecessary complications, but best was 25...Bxa6 26.Qxc6 Qa1+ 27.Kf2 Qxa2+ 28.Kg3 Qa3! 29.Qa8+ Qf8 30.Qxa7 Be5+ 31.Kh4 Qf1 32.g3 Bc8 33.g4 Bf6+ 34.Nxf6+ Qxf6+=
26.Qc4 Bxd5 27.Qxd5+ Qxd5 28.exd5 White has a very favorable endgame thanks to his bishop pair now.
28...Be5 29.Kf2 Kf7 30.Bg5 Nf5 31.g4 Nd6 32.Kf3 Ne8 33.Bc1 Nc7 34.Bd3 Bd6 35.Ke4 b5 36.Kd4 a6 37.Be2 Ke7 38.Bg5+ Kd7 39.Bd2 Bg3 40.g5 Bf2+ 41.Ke5 Bg3+ 42.Ke4 Ne8 43.Bg4+ Ke7 44.Be6 Nd6+ 45.Kf3 Nc4! Topalov had undoubtedly missed this move, and now the World Champion has almost equalized. There is still play left, but Anand can certainly start breathing calmer now.
46.Bc1 Bd6 47.Ke4 a5 48.Bg4 Ba3 49.Bxa3+ Nxa3 50.Ke5 Nc4+ 51.Kd4 Kd6 52.Be2 Na3 53.h4 Nc2+ 54.Kc3 Nb4 55.Bxb5 Nxa2+ 56.Kb3 Nb4 57.Be2 Nxd5 58.h5 Nf4 59.hxg6 hxg6 60.Bc4 1/2-1/2
http://www.chessbase.com/news/2010/sofia/games/sofia10.htm
Thursday, May 06, 2010
Anand misses a win ... TWICE!!
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0-0 5.Bd3 c5 6.Nf3 d5 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Re1 Nbd7 12.Rc1 Rc8 This position also occured in the Kramnik-Kasparov WC 2000 match where Kramnik chose 13.Qb3.
13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4 Nh5 17.Ng5 g6 18.Nh3 The novelty. In Psakhis-Hillarp Person, 2000, White chose 18.Qd2 instead.
18...e5 19.f3 Qd6 20.Bf2 exd4 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rxe8+ Nf8 This exchange of queen for two rooks, yields a complicated middlegame almost entirely centered around piece-play. The reason is that the queenside pawns of both sides are fairly vulnerable if ignored, and the best way to protect them is via active play with the pieces. Obviously neither side will go about committing suicide by opening up the kingside pawns since mating patterns have a nasty way of turning up at lightning speed when one does. So bottomline, who is better? If one had to choose a side, it would be White, not so much for the bishop pair, which are doing little here, but for the rooks, which can often coordinate to overwhelm the queen's ability to hold the fort.
23.cxd4 Nf6 24.Ree1 Ne6 25.Bc4 Bd5 26.Bg3 Qb4 27.Be5 Nd7 28.a3 Qa4 29.Bxd5 Nxe5 30.Bxe6 If 30.dxe5 Black would recover the piece with 30...Qd4+ 31.Nf2 Qxd5
30...Qxd4+ Although this is the obvious move, it may not be best. The reason is that this materialistic grab of d4 followed by the capture on e6 will open the Bulgarian's king to rook threats on the 7th, precisely what White wants. 30...Nd3 31.Rc4 Qxa3 32.Bxf7+ Kxf7 33.Ng5+ Kf6 34.Ne4+ Ke6 35.d5+ Ke5 36.Rf1 and the difference here is that Black's king is not locked in a cage, awaiting the killing blow.
31.Kh1 fxe6 32.Ng5 Qd6 33.Ne4 Qxa3 34.Rc3 Qb2 35.h4 b5 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.Rc7+ Kf8 38.Ng5 Veselin is now in deep trouble, maybe even objectively lost.
38...Ke8 39.Rxh7 Qc3 40.Rh8+? Argh! The collective sound of groans and comments of consternation by kibitzing amateurs and GMs was heartfelt. Right on the 40th move, to make the time-control, the World Champion does the unthinkable. He unlocks the cage and sets the Challenger's king free. Better was 40.Re4 b4 41.Rxa7 b3 42.Rb7 b2 43.Kh2 Qc1 44.Ra4 Nd7 45.Rab4 which would pretty much quash Black's hopes for good.
40...Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Re4 b4 43.Nxe6 Kb6 44.Nf4 Now Topalov is at a fulcrum and must choose the best way to proceed. There is no question the position is treacherous.
44...Qa1+?! Alas for the fans of the Bulgarian genius this is second best. This plan with Qa1+ is to support the queenside advance with a5 and push both a and b pawns. The problem is that this plan is too slow, and the king is still exposed. More incisive was 44...Qc1+! 45.Kh2 Nc6 46.Nxg6 b3! and the racing b-pawn doesn't allow White time to dictate the proceedings. 47.Nf4 Qd2 48.Rh6 b2 49.Rc4 b1Q 50.Rhxc6+ Ka5 51.R6c5+ Ka6 52.Rc6+ Ka5
45.Kh2 a5 46.h5! Opening lines for the rook.
46...gxh5 47.Rxh5 Nc6 48.Nd5+ Kb7 49.Rh7+ White is winning now.
49...Ka6 50.Re6 Kb5 51.Rh5 Nd4 52.Nb6+ Ka6 53.Rd6 Kb7 54.Nc4 Nxf3+ 55.gxf3 Qa2+ 56.Nd2 Kc7 57.Rhd5 This is an imprecision. It isn't that Black is suddenly doing well, but the rooks would work better if they could threaten from afar.
57...b3 58.Rd7+ Kc8 59.Rd8+ Kc7 60.R8d7+ Kc8 61.Rg7 a4 62.Rc5+?? This is a blunder, and suddenly Topalov can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The straightforward 62.Rdd7 was preferable. For example: 62...a3 63.Kg3 Qa1 64.Rc7+ Kb8 65.Rb7+ Ka8 66.Nxb3
62...Kb8 63.Rd5 Kc8 64.Kg3?? Twice offered the chance to finish his opponent off, and twice he slips. One could point to any number of factors to account for this: rustiness (hardly), age (not likely), nerves (possibly), and physical preparation. Nerves would be the obvious explanation, and could easily be the correct one, but the last one, physical preparation, cannot be overlooked. The blunders we are seeing, barring the odd first game, have begun appearing in the latter part of the match, and at later stages of the game, when the players have been sweating it out for hours already. Fatigue, and thus conditioning, could also easily explain these lapses of concentration.
64...Qa1 65.Rg4 b2 66.Rc4+ Kb7 67.Kf2 b1Q 68.Nxb1 Qxb1 69.Rdd4 Qa2+ 70.Kg3 a3 71.Rc3 Qa1 72.Rb4+ Ka6 73.Ra4+ Kb5 74.Rcxa3 Qg1+ 75.Kf4 Qc1+ 76.Kf5 Qc5+ 77.Ke4 Qc2+ 78.Ke3 Qc1+ 79.Kf2 Qd2+ 80.Kg3 Qe1+ 81.Kf4 Qc1+ 82.Kg3 Qg1+ 83.Kf4 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
13.Bd3 Re8 14.Qe2 Bxc3 15.bxc3 Qc7 16.Bh4 Nh5 17.Ng5 g6 18.Nh3 The novelty. In Psakhis-Hillarp Person, 2000, White chose 18.Qd2 instead.
18...e5 19.f3 Qd6 20.Bf2 exd4 21.Qxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rxe8+ Nf8 This exchange of queen for two rooks, yields a complicated middlegame almost entirely centered around piece-play. The reason is that the queenside pawns of both sides are fairly vulnerable if ignored, and the best way to protect them is via active play with the pieces. Obviously neither side will go about committing suicide by opening up the kingside pawns since mating patterns have a nasty way of turning up at lightning speed when one does. So bottomline, who is better? If one had to choose a side, it would be White, not so much for the bishop pair, which are doing little here, but for the rooks, which can often coordinate to overwhelm the queen's ability to hold the fort.
23.cxd4 Nf6 24.Ree1 Ne6 25.Bc4 Bd5 26.Bg3 Qb4 27.Be5 Nd7 28.a3 Qa4 29.Bxd5 Nxe5 30.Bxe6 If 30.dxe5 Black would recover the piece with 30...Qd4+ 31.Nf2 Qxd5
30...Qxd4+ Although this is the obvious move, it may not be best. The reason is that this materialistic grab of d4 followed by the capture on e6 will open the Bulgarian's king to rook threats on the 7th, precisely what White wants. 30...Nd3 31.Rc4 Qxa3 32.Bxf7+ Kxf7 33.Ng5+ Kf6 34.Ne4+ Ke6 35.d5+ Ke5 36.Rf1 and the difference here is that Black's king is not locked in a cage, awaiting the killing blow.
31.Kh1 fxe6 32.Ng5 Qd6 33.Ne4 Qxa3 34.Rc3 Qb2 35.h4 b5 36.Rc8+ Kg7 37.Rc7+ Kf8 38.Ng5 Veselin is now in deep trouble, maybe even objectively lost.
38...Ke8 39.Rxh7 Qc3 40.Rh8+? Argh! The collective sound of groans and comments of consternation by kibitzing amateurs and GMs was heartfelt. Right on the 40th move, to make the time-control, the World Champion does the unthinkable. He unlocks the cage and sets the Challenger's king free. Better was 40.Re4 b4 41.Rxa7 b3 42.Rb7 b2 43.Kh2 Qc1 44.Ra4 Nd7 45.Rab4 which would pretty much quash Black's hopes for good.
40...Kd7 41.Rh7+ Kc6 42.Re4 b4 43.Nxe6 Kb6 44.Nf4 Now Topalov is at a fulcrum and must choose the best way to proceed. There is no question the position is treacherous.
44...Qa1+?! Alas for the fans of the Bulgarian genius this is second best. This plan with Qa1+ is to support the queenside advance with a5 and push both a and b pawns. The problem is that this plan is too slow, and the king is still exposed. More incisive was 44...Qc1+! 45.Kh2 Nc6 46.Nxg6 b3! and the racing b-pawn doesn't allow White time to dictate the proceedings. 47.Nf4 Qd2 48.Rh6 b2 49.Rc4 b1Q 50.Rhxc6+ Ka5 51.R6c5+ Ka6 52.Rc6+ Ka5
45.Kh2 a5 46.h5! Opening lines for the rook.
46...gxh5 47.Rxh5 Nc6 48.Nd5+ Kb7 49.Rh7+ White is winning now.
49...Ka6 50.Re6 Kb5 51.Rh5 Nd4 52.Nb6+ Ka6 53.Rd6 Kb7 54.Nc4 Nxf3+ 55.gxf3 Qa2+ 56.Nd2 Kc7 57.Rhd5 This is an imprecision. It isn't that Black is suddenly doing well, but the rooks would work better if they could threaten from afar.
57...b3 58.Rd7+ Kc8 59.Rd8+ Kc7 60.R8d7+ Kc8 61.Rg7 a4 62.Rc5+?? This is a blunder, and suddenly Topalov can see a light at the end of the tunnel. The straightforward 62.Rdd7 was preferable. For example: 62...a3 63.Kg3 Qa1 64.Rc7+ Kb8 65.Rb7+ Ka8 66.Nxb3
62...Kb8 63.Rd5 Kc8 64.Kg3?? Twice offered the chance to finish his opponent off, and twice he slips. One could point to any number of factors to account for this: rustiness (hardly), age (not likely), nerves (possibly), and physical preparation. Nerves would be the obvious explanation, and could easily be the correct one, but the last one, physical preparation, cannot be overlooked. The blunders we are seeing, barring the odd first game, have begun appearing in the latter part of the match, and at later stages of the game, when the players have been sweating it out for hours already. Fatigue, and thus conditioning, could also easily explain these lapses of concentration.
64...Qa1 65.Rg4 b2 66.Rc4+ Kb7 67.Kf2 b1Q 68.Nxb1 Qxb1 69.Rdd4 Qa2+ 70.Kg3 a3 71.Rc3 Qa1 72.Rb4+ Ka6 73.Ra4+ Kb5 74.Rcxa3 Qg1+ 75.Kf4 Qc1+ 76.Kf5 Qc5+ 77.Ke4 Qc2+ 78.Ke3 Qc1+ 79.Kf2 Qd2+ 80.Kg3 Qe1+ 81.Kf4 Qc1+ 82.Kg3 Qg1+ 83.Kf4 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
Tuesday, May 04, 2010
Topalov evens the score 4-4
1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 e6 7.f3 c5 8.e4 Bg6 9.Be3 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qxd4 11.Bxd4 Nfd7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bxc4 Rc8 So far, both players had been repeating games three and five, where Anand had opted for 13...a6. In those games, he had found himself with a very cramped position which had left him mostly trying not to lose, hardly inspiring. Presumably he found no significant improvement, hence 13...Rc8.
14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7. Obviously, 13...a6 was designed to prevent this, so the question is whether the bishop pair will compensate for the king in the center, and the lack of development. Note how the g6 bishop is still hemmed in, and the g7 bishop still has to cover g7 for at least another move.
16.Ke2 f6 17.Rhd1 Ke8 GM Amonatov played this twice before as Black a few years ago, drawing once and losing another. Anand must be familiar with the games, so what has he found?
18.a5N Be7 19.Bb6 Rf8 20.Rac1 f5 21.e5 Bg5. The World Champion had clearly played this with his next move in mind, but as it turned out, he had committed a very serious oversight.
22.Be3 f4. Anand completely and uncharacteristically missed White's next move, and now finds himself in a world of pain. Even if he had realized his mistake in time, and exchanged the bishop with 22...Bxe3 GM Dorfman commented that even after 23.Kxe3 f4+ 24.Kd4! Ke7 25.Ne4! Bxe4 26.Kxe4 he would much prefer to be White, but this was still the lesser evil.
23.Ne4! Topalov must have been mentally rubbing his hands in glee as his knight gets a free pass to d6.
23...Rxc1 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Bxc1 Kc6 26.Bd2 Be7 27.Rc1+ Kd7 28.Bc3. This move came as a bit of a shock to the GM commentators, and Seirawan even refused to believe it was the move played when he was first informed. They had expected 28.Bb4! expecting to counter 28...Bxd6 with 29.Rd1! and it would be much harder on Black.
28...Bxd6 29.Rd1 Bf5 30.h4 A good move designed to prevent Black from consolidating his f4 pawn. The bishop on d6 is going nowhere.
30...g6. This move on the other hand is a mystery as all it does is create weaknesses and a target for a possible h5. Was Vishy dreaming of a possible h6 and g5?
31.Rxd6+ Kc8 32.Bd2 Rd8 33.Bxf4 Rxd6 34.exd6 Kd7 The debate as to whether White could win this was huge. Granted it is an opposite-colored bishop ending, which is a significant argument, but there is no denying Black has work to do as the Bulgarian will soon show.
35.Ke3 Bc2 36.Kd4 Ke8 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Be3 Ba4 39.Kf4 Bb5 40.Bc5 Kf6 41.Bd4+ Kf7 42.Kg5 Bc6 43.Kh6 Kg8 44.h5 Be8 So far, so good. White has put into action his best chance to try and take the full point, but Black has kept his cool and should hold. If Topalov takes on g6 they may as well shake hands right then and there, so he pulls back and hopes for a miracle.
45.Kg5 Kf7 46.Kh6 Kg8 47.Bc5 gxh5 48.Kg5 Kg7 49.Bd4+ Kf7 50.Be5 h4! This masterly shot is enough to draw.
51.Kxh4. If the challenger were to try 51.Kh6 h3 52.gxh3 Kg8 and there would be no way to get through.
51...Kg6. With the king now on g6, White can no longer try to squeeze Black off the board, and Veselin must have been getting ready to accept that a draw was all he was getting today.
52.Kg4 Bb5 53.Kf4 Kf7 54.Kg5 Bc6?? And here comes his miracle: Black absolutely had to be able to protect the h7 pawn with his bishop. By being forced to retreat with Kg8, the game is now lost. Tragically, Anand played the only losing move.
55.Kh6 Kg8 56.g4 The resignation caused a good deal of confusion to many spectators, and no doubt, for their benefit, a few more moves could have been played to make it clearer. However, no doubt demoralized by his several blunders, and the impending defeat, Anand wanted no more of this game. So how would Topalov win from here? 56.g4 Bd7 57.g5 Be8 58.Bg7 Bd7 59.g6 hxg6 60.Kxg6 Be8+ 61.Kf6 Bd7 62.Ke7 Bc6 63.d7 Bxd7 64.Kxd7 Kxg7 65.Kxe6
[Analysis by Chessbase]
14.Bb5 a6 15.Bxd7+ Kxd7. Obviously, 13...a6 was designed to prevent this, so the question is whether the bishop pair will compensate for the king in the center, and the lack of development. Note how the g6 bishop is still hemmed in, and the g7 bishop still has to cover g7 for at least another move.
16.Ke2 f6 17.Rhd1 Ke8 GM Amonatov played this twice before as Black a few years ago, drawing once and losing another. Anand must be familiar with the games, so what has he found?
18.a5N Be7 19.Bb6 Rf8 20.Rac1 f5 21.e5 Bg5. The World Champion had clearly played this with his next move in mind, but as it turned out, he had committed a very serious oversight.
22.Be3 f4. Anand completely and uncharacteristically missed White's next move, and now finds himself in a world of pain. Even if he had realized his mistake in time, and exchanged the bishop with 22...Bxe3 GM Dorfman commented that even after 23.Kxe3 f4+ 24.Kd4! Ke7 25.Ne4! Bxe4 26.Kxe4 he would much prefer to be White, but this was still the lesser evil.
23.Ne4! Topalov must have been mentally rubbing his hands in glee as his knight gets a free pass to d6.
23...Rxc1 24.Nd6+ Kd7 25.Bxc1 Kc6 26.Bd2 Be7 27.Rc1+ Kd7 28.Bc3. This move came as a bit of a shock to the GM commentators, and Seirawan even refused to believe it was the move played when he was first informed. They had expected 28.Bb4! expecting to counter 28...Bxd6 with 29.Rd1! and it would be much harder on Black.
28...Bxd6 29.Rd1 Bf5 30.h4 A good move designed to prevent Black from consolidating his f4 pawn. The bishop on d6 is going nowhere.
30...g6. This move on the other hand is a mystery as all it does is create weaknesses and a target for a possible h5. Was Vishy dreaming of a possible h6 and g5?
31.Rxd6+ Kc8 32.Bd2 Rd8 33.Bxf4 Rxd6 34.exd6 Kd7 The debate as to whether White could win this was huge. Granted it is an opposite-colored bishop ending, which is a significant argument, but there is no denying Black has work to do as the Bulgarian will soon show.
35.Ke3 Bc2 36.Kd4 Ke8 37.Ke5 Kf7 38.Be3 Ba4 39.Kf4 Bb5 40.Bc5 Kf6 41.Bd4+ Kf7 42.Kg5 Bc6 43.Kh6 Kg8 44.h5 Be8 So far, so good. White has put into action his best chance to try and take the full point, but Black has kept his cool and should hold. If Topalov takes on g6 they may as well shake hands right then and there, so he pulls back and hopes for a miracle.
45.Kg5 Kf7 46.Kh6 Kg8 47.Bc5 gxh5 48.Kg5 Kg7 49.Bd4+ Kf7 50.Be5 h4! This masterly shot is enough to draw.
51.Kxh4. If the challenger were to try 51.Kh6 h3 52.gxh3 Kg8 and there would be no way to get through.
51...Kg6. With the king now on g6, White can no longer try to squeeze Black off the board, and Veselin must have been getting ready to accept that a draw was all he was getting today.
52.Kg4 Bb5 53.Kf4 Kf7 54.Kg5 Bc6?? And here comes his miracle: Black absolutely had to be able to protect the h7 pawn with his bishop. By being forced to retreat with Kg8, the game is now lost. Tragically, Anand played the only losing move.
55.Kh6 Kg8 56.g4 The resignation caused a good deal of confusion to many spectators, and no doubt, for their benefit, a few more moves could have been played to make it clearer. However, no doubt demoralized by his several blunders, and the impending defeat, Anand wanted no more of this game. So how would Topalov win from here? 56.g4 Bd7 57.g5 Be8 58.Bg7 Bd7 59.g6 hxg6 60.Kxg6 Be8+ 61.Kf6 Bd7 62.Ke7 Bc6 63.d7 Bxd7 64.Kxd7 Kxg7 65.Kxe6
[Analysis by Chessbase]
Monday, May 03, 2010
Game 7 Drawn
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7. The third time this position is reached in the match, and Topalov tries yet a third line, this time going into a Bogo-Indian kind of Catalan. In game four he had chosen 5...a5, which had gone all wrong for him to say the least, and in game six he opted for 5...a6, which also didn't yield anything to his taste.
6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 dxc4. Though hardly a stranger to this line, Veselin goes down the less trodden path which will lead to extremely sharp play. In previous games, he had chosen the mainline 8...Nbd7 or 8...b6.
9.Ne5 b5. This extremely sharp move leads to a piece sac for a slew of passed pawns. Though the one game to record was between Gelfand and Ivanchuk no less, its only test was in their *blindfold* rapid game at Amber earlier this year.
10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7. This is the official novelty, as in Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Amber (blindfold) 2010, Ivanchuk had played 11...Ba6.
12.Bxa8 Qxa8 13.f3 Nd5 14.Bd2 e5 15.e4 Bh3 16.exd5 Bxf1 17.Qxf1 exd4 18.a4 Qxd5 19.axb5 Qxb5 20.Rxa7 Re8 21.Kh1 Until now, Topalov had no reason to complain. His opponent had clearly not expected this, and while he had spent a mere three minutes up until now, Anand had used up well over an hour on his clock. Furthermore, the position was exactly the type of sharp double-edged position he relishes. This last move by the Indian was not to Kasparov's liking, one that he said he couldn't understand, but it also clearly took the challenger out of his preparation, as he now spent over twenty minutes on his next move.
21...Bf8. His first move out of his preparation, as was obvious by the sudden deep think, and he plays the wrong move. Why not 21...Qxb2? Though it may not win, it would not lead to the difficult position that ensued where he was a piece down and his passed pawns neatly blockaded. 22.Qe1 h6 23.Na3 23.Rxe7 would also lead to a draw after 23...Rxe7 24.Qxe7 Qxb1+ 25.Kg2 Qb2 26.Qe8+ Kh7 27.Qe4+ g6 28.Qe8! Qxd2+ 29.Kh3 Kg7 30.Qe5+ Kf8 31.Qb8+ Kg7 32.Qe5+ and Black cannot prevent the perpetual.
22.Rc7 d3 23.Bc3 Bd6 24.Ra7 h6 25.Nd2. Kasparov felt that Anand missed his chance here, and could have maintained good winning chances instead after 25.Qh3!
25...Bb4! This move is about as poisoned as could be, and the title-holder has only one move that doesn't lose.
26.Ra1! A very fine move by Vishy and showing that his mine detector is on and working. Other moves such as 26.Ne4 would fail to 26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 f5 28.Nd6 Qc5 29.Rxg7+ Kxg7 30.Nxe8+ Kf7 and the combination of doomed knight and protected passed pawn would be the end. Or 26.Qc1 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Re1+ 28.Kg2 Re2+ 29.Kf1 Qc5 30.Ne4 Qf5 and White would get mated.
26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 Re2 28.Rd1 Qa4 29.Ne4 Qc2 This admittedly looks scary, but the World Champion has seen it in advance and knew what he was doing.
30.Rc1 Rxh2+ 31.Kg1 Rg2+ 32.Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33.Qf1 Qe3+ 34.Qf2 Qc1+ 35.Qf1 Qe3+ 36.Kg2 f5 37.Nf2 Kh7 38.Qb1 Qe6 39.Qb5 g5 40.g4 fxg4 41.fxg4 Kg6 42.Qb7 d2. This seals the draw, since White can neither take the pawn, nor Black force it through.
43.Qb1+ Kg7 44.Kf1 Qe7 45.Kg2 Qe6 46.Qd1 Qe3 47.Qf3 Qe6 48.Qb7+ Kg6 49.Qb1+ Kg7 50.Qd1 Qe3 51.Qc2 Qe2 52.Qa4 Kg8 53.Qd7 Kf8 54.Qd5 Kg7 55.Kg3 Qe3+ 56.Qf3 Qe5+ 57.Kg2 Qe6 58.Qd1 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
6.Bg2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Bf4 dxc4. Though hardly a stranger to this line, Veselin goes down the less trodden path which will lead to extremely sharp play. In previous games, he had chosen the mainline 8...Nbd7 or 8...b6.
9.Ne5 b5. This extremely sharp move leads to a piece sac for a slew of passed pawns. Though the one game to record was between Gelfand and Ivanchuk no less, its only test was in their *blindfold* rapid game at Amber earlier this year.
10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 Bd7. This is the official novelty, as in Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Amber (blindfold) 2010, Ivanchuk had played 11...Ba6.
12.Bxa8 Qxa8 13.f3 Nd5 14.Bd2 e5 15.e4 Bh3 16.exd5 Bxf1 17.Qxf1 exd4 18.a4 Qxd5 19.axb5 Qxb5 20.Rxa7 Re8 21.Kh1 Until now, Topalov had no reason to complain. His opponent had clearly not expected this, and while he had spent a mere three minutes up until now, Anand had used up well over an hour on his clock. Furthermore, the position was exactly the type of sharp double-edged position he relishes. This last move by the Indian was not to Kasparov's liking, one that he said he couldn't understand, but it also clearly took the challenger out of his preparation, as he now spent over twenty minutes on his next move.
21...Bf8. His first move out of his preparation, as was obvious by the sudden deep think, and he plays the wrong move. Why not 21...Qxb2? Though it may not win, it would not lead to the difficult position that ensued where he was a piece down and his passed pawns neatly blockaded. 22.Qe1 h6 23.Na3 23.Rxe7 would also lead to a draw after 23...Rxe7 24.Qxe7 Qxb1+ 25.Kg2 Qb2 26.Qe8+ Kh7 27.Qe4+ g6 28.Qe8! Qxd2+ 29.Kh3 Kg7 30.Qe5+ Kf8 31.Qb8+ Kg7 32.Qe5+ and Black cannot prevent the perpetual.
22.Rc7 d3 23.Bc3 Bd6 24.Ra7 h6 25.Nd2. Kasparov felt that Anand missed his chance here, and could have maintained good winning chances instead after 25.Qh3!
25...Bb4! This move is about as poisoned as could be, and the title-holder has only one move that doesn't lose.
26.Ra1! A very fine move by Vishy and showing that his mine detector is on and working. Other moves such as 26.Ne4 would fail to 26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 f5 28.Nd6 Qc5 29.Rxg7+ Kxg7 30.Nxe8+ Kf7 and the combination of doomed knight and protected passed pawn would be the end. Or 26.Qc1 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Re1+ 28.Kg2 Re2+ 29.Kf1 Qc5 30.Ne4 Qf5 and White would get mated.
26...Bxc3 27.bxc3 Re2 28.Rd1 Qa4 29.Ne4 Qc2 This admittedly looks scary, but the World Champion has seen it in advance and knew what he was doing.
30.Rc1 Rxh2+ 31.Kg1 Rg2+ 32.Qxg2 Qxc1+ 33.Qf1 Qe3+ 34.Qf2 Qc1+ 35.Qf1 Qe3+ 36.Kg2 f5 37.Nf2 Kh7 38.Qb1 Qe6 39.Qb5 g5 40.g4 fxg4 41.fxg4 Kg6 42.Qb7 d2. This seals the draw, since White can neither take the pawn, nor Black force it through.
43.Qb1+ Kg7 44.Kf1 Qe7 45.Kg2 Qe6 46.Qd1 Qe3 47.Qf3 Qe6 48.Qb7+ Kg6 49.Qb1+ Kg7 50.Qd1 Qe3 51.Qc2 Qe2 52.Qa4 Kg8 53.Qd7 Kf8 54.Qd5 Kg7 55.Kg3 Qe3+ 56.Qf3 Qe5+ 57.Kg2 Qe6 58.Qd1 1/2-1/2
[Analysis by Chessbase]
Saturday, May 01, 2010
Game 6 Drawn
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 Topalov deviates from the previous Catalan line which had led to a nasty defeat. The question now is what Anand would have in store.
6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Though the official novelty only takes place a move later, this can be described as the real novelty and the essence of what the World Champion had prepared.
10...h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6N 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Qa4
13...Nc6 [The enticing fork with 13...b5 falls flat to 14.Qc2 bxc4 15.Qxc4 and the rook on a8 is lost.]
14.Rac1 e5 15.Bxc6 b5 16.Qc2 Qxc6 17.Ncxe5 Qe4 18.Qc6 Bb7 19.Qxe4 Bxe4 20.Rc2 We now have a very complex fight between the bishop pair and the knight pair.
20...Rfe8 21.Rfc1 f6 22.Nd7 This seemingly innocuous move is in fact the first move in a masterly plan by Anand to regroup his knights. While said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, this does actually begin the longest run of consecutive knight moves ever seen in a World Championship match with no less than thirteen!
22...Bf5 23.N7c5 Bb6 24.Nb7 Bd7 25.Nf4 Rab8 26.Nd6 Re5 27.Nc8 Ba5 28.Nd3 Re8 29.Na7 "It seems that with this Vishy has lost his 'faith' in the position. Surprising. I liked it." – GM Yasser Seirawan
29...Bb6 30.Nc6 Rb7 31.Ncb4 a5 32.Nd5 a4 33.Nxb6 Rxb6 34.Nc5 Bf5 35.Rd2 Finally giving the cavalry a rest.
35...Rc6 36.b4 axb3 37.axb3 b4 38.Rxd4 Rxe2 39.Rxb4 Bh3! Despite being a pawn down, it is now White who must tread carefully with the unpleasant threats around his king. This is all that is needed to neutralize Anand's winning ambitions.
40.Rbc4 Rd6 41.Re4 Rb2 [Black could even play 41...Rc2 illustrating the back rank weakness. 42.Rc4 Re2=]
42.Ree1 Rdd2 At this point Topalov can be considered the moral victor, since even though he is hardly winning, his position appears preferable.
43.Ne4 Rd4 44.Nc5 Rdd2 45.Ne4 Rd3 And by refusing the repetition, he says exactly what he thinks.
46.Rb1 Rdxb3 47.Nd2 Rb4 48.f3 Opening the escape route for the king.
48...g5 49.Rxb2 Rxb2 50.Rd1 Kf7 51.Kf2 h5 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Ra6 Bf5 55.Rd6 Rc3+ 56.Kf2 Rc2 57.Ke3 Rc3+ 58.Kf2 Rc2 1/2-1/2
Analysis on Chessbase
6.Ne5 c5 7.Na3 cxd4 8.Naxc4 Bc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.Bg5 Though the official novelty only takes place a move later, this can be described as the real novelty and the essence of what the World Champion had prepared.
10...h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6N 12.Nd3 Ba7 13.Qa4
13...Nc6 [The enticing fork with 13...b5 falls flat to 14.Qc2 bxc4 15.Qxc4 and the rook on a8 is lost.]
14.Rac1 e5 15.Bxc6 b5 16.Qc2 Qxc6 17.Ncxe5 Qe4 18.Qc6 Bb7 19.Qxe4 Bxe4 20.Rc2 We now have a very complex fight between the bishop pair and the knight pair.
20...Rfe8 21.Rfc1 f6 22.Nd7 This seemingly innocuous move is in fact the first move in a masterly plan by Anand to regroup his knights. While said somewhat tongue-in-cheek, this does actually begin the longest run of consecutive knight moves ever seen in a World Championship match with no less than thirteen!
22...Bf5 23.N7c5 Bb6 24.Nb7 Bd7 25.Nf4 Rab8 26.Nd6 Re5 27.Nc8 Ba5 28.Nd3 Re8 29.Na7 "It seems that with this Vishy has lost his 'faith' in the position. Surprising. I liked it." – GM Yasser Seirawan
29...Bb6 30.Nc6 Rb7 31.Ncb4 a5 32.Nd5 a4 33.Nxb6 Rxb6 34.Nc5 Bf5 35.Rd2 Finally giving the cavalry a rest.
35...Rc6 36.b4 axb3 37.axb3 b4 38.Rxd4 Rxe2 39.Rxb4 Bh3! Despite being a pawn down, it is now White who must tread carefully with the unpleasant threats around his king. This is all that is needed to neutralize Anand's winning ambitions.
40.Rbc4 Rd6 41.Re4 Rb2 [Black could even play 41...Rc2 illustrating the back rank weakness. 42.Rc4 Re2=]
42.Ree1 Rdd2 At this point Topalov can be considered the moral victor, since even though he is hardly winning, his position appears preferable.
43.Ne4 Rd4 44.Nc5 Rdd2 45.Ne4 Rd3 And by refusing the repetition, he says exactly what he thinks.
46.Rb1 Rdxb3 47.Nd2 Rb4 48.f3 Opening the escape route for the king.
48...g5 49.Rxb2 Rxb2 50.Rd1 Kf7 51.Kf2 h5 52.Ke3 Rc2 53.Ra1 Kg6 54.Ra6 Bf5 55.Rd6 Rc3+ 56.Kf2 Rc2 57.Ke3 Rc3+ 58.Kf2 Rc2 1/2-1/2
Analysis on Chessbase
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