Edmonton International 2014

**Hans Jung** · Tuesday, 24th June, 2014, 03:33 PM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Big game tonight. Wesley So - Vassily Ivanchuk. The two leaders do battle.

**Micah Hughey** · Tuesday, 24th June, 2014, 06:55 PM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Live games here: http://edmonton-international.com/Games.html
Starts in about an hour. 6 PM local time, 8 PM eastern.

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 24th June, 2014, 09:56 PM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Edmonton International 2014

No Press Coverage

I have done a search of the major Edmonton newspapers and found no stories on the tournament and no interviews. To be fair, there is nothing in the Toronto Star or Globe and Mail either.

In contrast, there are several Philippine newspapers online with stories about Wesley So, mostly from the point of view of his participation in the coming Olympiad.

This from The Philippine Star

“This is So’s first tournament since he announced his plans to switch federations.

The National Chess Federation of the Philippines, however, maintained that So will be bannering the country’s campaign in the World Chess Olympiad set Aug. 1-15 in Tromso, Norway.

So has been seeded into the squad along with US-based GMs Julio Catalino Sadorra and Oliver Barbosa.

The other two slots are still being disputed by 11 players in the ongoing Battle of Grandmasters or Olympiad qualifiers at the PSC Administration building at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

After four rounds, Olympiad veteran GM Eugene Torre paces the tournament with IM Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Woman FIDE Master Janelle Mae Frayna with nine points apiece.”

**Wayne Komer** · Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, 12:31 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Edmonton International 2014

Round Four
June 24, 2014
So, Wesley – Ivanchuk, Vassily
B46 Sicilian, Taimanov Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Qd2 e5 8. Nf5 d5 9. exd5 Nb4 10. Ng3 Nfxd5 11. a3 Nxe3 12. fxe3 Qxd2 13. Kxd2 Nc6 14. Bc4 Bg4 15. h3 Rd8 16. Ke1 Bd7 17. Rf1 f6 18. Ke2 Na5 19. Ba2 Rc8 20. Kd3 b5 21. Nd5 Nc4 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. Nb6 Rc6 24. Nxd7 Kxd7 25. c3 g6 26. Ne4 Be7 27. Ke2 Ke6 28. g4 h5 29. Rh1 a5 30. Nd2 b4 31. axb4 axb4 32. c4 b3 33. g5 fxg5 34. Ra7 Rb8 35. Rc1 g4 36. hxg4 hxg4 37. Rg1 Rh8 38. Rg2 Bb4 39. Rxg4 Kf5 40. Rg2 Bxd2 41. Rf7 Ke6 42. Rg7 Rxc4 43. R2xg6 Kd5 44. Rd7 Kc5 45. Rc7 Kb5 46. Rxc4 Kxc4 47. Rg4 Kd5 48. Kxd2 Rc8 49. Kd3 Rc2 50. Rb4 Rxb2 51. Rb5 Kd6 52. Kc3 Rb1 53. Rxb3 Rxb3 54. Kxb3 Kd5 55. Kc3 Ke4 56. Kd2 Kf3 57. Kd3 Kf2 58. Ke4 Ke2 59. Kxe5 Kxe3 ½-½

Chessbomb viewers around move 26:

- Let’s see if Ivanchuk's experience gets him the win.

- Chucky's 40ish. He has databases just like the 20yr olds.

Later, a chess joke: - We are doing endurance chess in our club to fight obesity, the distance between the clock and the board is approximately 100 meters.

(After move 42 for White) - Almost unbelievable that Wesley saw this position with just a few minutes before time control
______

According to Stockfish, the only weak move in the game was Black’s 38…Bb4, 38..g3 was recommended. Ivanchuk was better until that point. So had defended very well in an inferior, defensive position.

A good fighting game, enjoyable to watch.

It ended with solitary kings and the players were so full of fighting spirit at the end that they probably threw them at each other!
________
Krush, Irina-Shankland, Samuel
D35 QGD, Exchange, Positional Line (5..c6)

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Kd2 Nd7 11. Bd3 Nb6 12. b3 a5 13. a4 Rg8 14. g3 Bb4 15. Ne2 Rc8 16. Rac1 Ke7 17. Nf4 Nd7 18. Ke2 Bd6 19. Rhg1 Bxf4 20. gxf4 Bxd3 21. Kxd3 f5 22. Rg3 Nf6 23. Rcg1 Rg6 24. f3 Rcg8 25. Rg5 h6 26. Rxg6 Rxg6 27. Rxg6 fxg6 28. h4 Kd6 29. Ne2 Nh5 30. Kc3 Kc7 31. Kd2 Ng7 32. Nc1 Ne6 33. Nd3 Kd6 34. Ne5 c5 35. dxc5 Kxc5 36. Nxg6 Kb4 37. Kc2 Nc5 38. Ne7 d4 39. exd4 Nxb3 40. Nxf5 Kxa4 41. h5 b5 42. d5 Ka3 43. Nxh6 Nd4 44. Kd3 b4 45. Ng4 b3 46. Ne5 Ka2 47. Nc4 Nf5 48. Kc3 a4 49. Kb4 a3 50. Nxa3 b2 51. Ka4 Nd6 52. h6 Nc4 53. h7 Nxa3 54. h8=Q b1=Q 55. Qh2 Nc2 56. Qd2 Qb3 57. Ka5 Qc4 58. Kb6 Kb3 59. d6 Nd4 60. Qd1 Kb4 61. Qe1 Kb3 62. Qb1 Ka3 63. Qa1 Kb3 64. Qb1 Ka3 65. Qa1 ½-½

Krush misplayed her winning ending and it is a draw.

Other results:

Dale Haessel- Richard Wang 0-1
Vladimir Pechenkin – Raja Panjwani 0-1
Anton Kovalyov – Alex Yam 1-0

Round Five Pairings

Wang-Kovalyov
Shankland-Haessel
Panjwani-Krush
Ivanchuk-Pechenkin
Yam-So

**Gus U** · Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, 09:39 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

This tourney is up for grabs for Chucky or Wesley... they are expected to win the rest of the games. A draw would be a setback which could mean 2nd place :p

**Hans Jung** · Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, 10:51 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Kudos to Chucky for taking the fight to Wesley and kudos to Wesley for sharp resourceful defence!

**Vlad Dobrich** · Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, 11:14 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Originally posted by Gus U View Post

This tourney is up for grabs for Chucky or Wesley... they are expected to win the rest of the games. A draw would be a setback which could mean 2nd place :p

Your comment suggests that you are tutored by Andy Shaw. This is a tough field and no player could be expected to win all their remaining five games. Want to bet on it?

**Gary Ruben** · Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, 11:42 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

That was the game I watched and it was exciting. I thought Chucky had a small advantage but he couldn't break through.

**Wayne Komer** · Wednesday, 25th June, 2014, 11:43 PM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Edmonton International 2014

Round Five
June 25, 2014

All the Philippine dailies seemed to have a story on So-Ivanchuk from yesterday. They must assign sports reporters for the write-ups. This from the Philippine Star:

MANILA, Philippines – Wesley So and Ukrainian Vassily Ivanchuk battled to a marathon 60-move draw in a slam-bang Sicilian duel to continue to share lead after four rounds of the ninth Edmonton Chess Festival in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada on Wednesday.

In a critical showdown between the tournament's top two players, So, 20, had to sacrifice a pawn and a piece hoping for some kingside and central counterplay but Ivanchuk, a former World Challenger, returned his material advantage several moves later to force a draw.

The standoff though kept So, ranked 15th in the world after topping the Capablanca Memorial in Cuba a few weeks back, and Ivanchuk, the World No. 20, at the helm with 3.5 points apiece after four rounds in this nine-round event.

________

The first game to end today was this one:

Edmonton International 2014
Round Five
June 25, 2014
Shankland, Samuel – Haessel, Dale
A37 English, Symmetrical, Botvinnik System Reversed

1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. Nf3 e5 6. O-O Nge7 7. a3 d6 8. b4 Nxb4 9. axb4 cxb4 10. Qa4 Nc6 11. Nd5 1-0
_____
Edmonton International 2014
Round Five
June 25, 2014
Ivanchuk, Vassily-Pechenkin, Vladimir
C14 French, Classical, Steinitz Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bxe7 Qxe7 7. f4 a6 8. Nf3 Nb6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. Bd3 c5 11. Qe3 cxd4 12. Qxd4 Qd8 13. a3 Nc6 14. Qf2 h6 15. O-O O-O 16. Rae1 Nc8 17. Na4 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxa4 19. f5 Qb6 20. Re3 exf5 21. Qxf5 Qxe3 22. Kh1 Qxd3 23. cxd3 Ne7 24. Qg4 Bc6 25. h4 Ng6 26. Nxc6 bxc6 27. Re1 Ra7 28. Re3 Ne7 29. Rg3 g6 30. h5 Kh7 31. Qd4 Rb7 32. Qf6 g5 33. b4 Rc7 34. Re3 1-0

A critical point in the game came at move 19. Ivanchuk played f5 and Stockfish showed that Pechenkin had to play f6 to hold. He instead played 19…Qb6.

On move 24, a comment from the gallery: This is a strategic method that Vlad knows well. It’s called Lasker’s Exchange because Lasker did it so often. It consists of trading R plus P plus P for the queen. You have to get the pawn as well or you’re lost.

Ivanchuk piled on the pressure and Pechenkin resigned with 33 seconds left on this clock at move 34.
________
The chessbomb guys earlier were kibitzing about the players during play and one mentioned that Ivanchuk was World Blitz Champion 2007. The deciding game was against Anand and the link is:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/ivanchu...p-anand-second

_________

Edmonton International 2014
Round Five
June 25, 2014
Yam, Alex – So, Wesley
E54 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3, Gligoric System, Main Line

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. Bd3 dxc4 8. Bxc4 O-O 9. O-O b6 10. Bg5 Bb7 11. a3 Bxc3 12. bxc3 Nbd7 13. Bd3 Qc7 14. c4 Qd6 15. Re1 h6 16. Bc1 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rad8 18. Be3 Nh5 19. Bf1 Nb8 20. Qa4 Qc7 21. Rad1 Nf4 22. Qb5 Nd7 23. a4 a6 24. Qb2 Ng6 25. Be2 Rfe8 26. Rb1 Nh4 27. a5 bxa5 28. Qb7 Qxb7 29. Rxb7 Nf5 30. c5 Nb8 31. Rc1 Nc6 32. Bxa6 Kf8 33. Bb5 Nfxd4 34. Bxd4 Nxd4 35. Bxe8 Ne2 36. Kg2 Nxc1 37. Bxf7 Ne2 38. f4 Rd3 39. f3 Nxf4 40. Kg3 g5 41. h4 Rd2 42. hxg5 hxg5 43. Bxe6 0-1

Other Results

Wang – Kovalyov 0-1
Panjwani – Krush 1-0

Standings After Five Rounds

Ivanchuk 4.5/5
So 4.5/5
Kovalyov 3.5/5
Shankland 3.5/5
Panjwani 3.0/5
Krush 2.5/5
Wang 2.0/5
Pechenkin 1.5/5
Yam 0/5
Haessel 0/5

Pairings for Round Six

Kovalyov-So
Pechenkin-Yam
Krush-Ivanchuk
Haessel-Panjwani
Wang-Shankland

**Gus U** · Thursday, 26th June, 2014, 07:36 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

@Vlad D... tough field ?? LOL..are you kidding ? when you have four 2300 players or lower out of 10 participants ? Look at the quality of the games. One of the low rated players got bested in 11 moves because he made a senseless sacrifice on the 8th move. You don't do this in an "international tournament". It is embarrassing.

**Vlad Dobrich** · Thursday, 26th June, 2014, 08:12 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

I didn't hear you accept the wager.

**Gus U** · Thursday, 26th June, 2014, 12:38 PM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

No I didn't.. you could be right. I just find your "tough field" a bit inaccurate..well, maybe it is for the 2300 and lower players

In the end, it's either Chucky and Wesley anyway.. Hey, if this tourney is for training and exposing players to stronger chess , I'm OK with it. I guess every tournament has its objectives.

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 27th June, 2014, 02:33 AM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Edmonton International 2014

Round Six
June 26, 2014

Colin Crouch comments on Round Five:

http://crouchnotes.blogspot.co.uk/20...-dominate.html

ChessBomb comments as the games progress:

- I admire GM Ivanchuk and wish he would play quicker. Love his style

- For him the clock is just this annoying thing that keeps him from thinking for 2 hours every move

- strange event - 2 great players, 3 average players, and 5 people who should be in the spectator seats. Odd.

- “average player” meaning..?

- Average compared to So and Ivanchuk..random GMs usually don’t play in round robins with So and Ivanchuk and especially not 2150-2350

- This is a rare event to have such players – it’s cool, upsets are possible but many mismatches
_______

- Kovalyov was originally from Ukraine

- rating 2636, born in Ukraine on March 4, 1993. Currently lives in Montreal, Canada, where he became a citizen and a 2008 Grandmaster. In 2008 played in Chess Olympiad for Argentina and in 2013 he switched federation to Canada.

- If Kovalyov can switch federation then Wesley can likewise change federation also lol!

- If the NCFP rejects his request and won’t play in FIDE-sponsored events, Wesley can still play in FIDE-sanctioned tourneys, not just those organized by FIDE

- Wesley just won’t be able to play in the FIDE tournaments for the world championships

- which is okay, because in the meantime, he can work on his ELO

- what about the old saying that you can only get better by playing people better than you? Could he sort of atrophy?

- you can get better by playing computer

- he can play in any other high-level tourney except the FIDE-sponsored/organized tourneys

- what other tourneys are there at that level?

- If Wesley is in the top 10, he’ll probably be invited to Linares, Norway and the other elite tourneys

- Does Linares still exist?

- Not sure, just an example.

- There’s also Wijk and the Tal Mem, or course. Assuming that Tal Mem doesn’t get cancelled every single year

- He will be the emergency alternate for the Sinquefield Cup
_______

Edmonton International 2014
Round Six
June 26, 2014
Krush, Irina – Ivanchuk, Vassily
E41 Nimzo-Indian, 4.e3 c5

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 cxd4 7. exd4 dxc4 8. Bxc4 Qc7 9. Qd3 O-O 10. O-O Bxc3 11. bxc3 Nbd7 12. Bg5 b6 13. Bh4 Nh5 14. Bb3 Bb7 15. Ng5 Ndf6 16. f3 Rac8 17. Rac1 Rfd8 18. Rfe1 Bd5 19. Ne4 Qf4 20. Nxf6 Nxf6 21. Bf2 Bxb3 22. axb3 Nd5 23. Bg3 Qf6 24. Qd2 a5 25. c4 Nb4 26. Bf2 h6 27. Rcd1 Rd7 28. Qe2 Qf5 29. Rd2 b5 30. d5 bxc4 31. dxe6 Rxd2 32. Qxd2 cxb3 33. Qd7 Rf8 34. Qa4 fxe6 35. Qxb3 Rf6 36. Bd4 Nc2 37. Re4 Nxd4 38. Rxd4 Qc5 39. Qe3 Qb6 40. Kf2 Rf5 41. Re4 Qb2 42. Qe2 Qxe2 43. Kxe2 Kf7 44. Rc4 Rb5 45. Rc7 Kf6 46. Ra7 Rb2 47. Kf1 Ra2 48. h4 g6 49. Kg1 a4 50. Kh2 a3 51. Ra5 Ke7 52. Ra6 Kd7 53. Kg3 Ke7 54. Kh3 Ra1 55. Kg3 Kf6 56. Kf4 Ra2 57. g4 g5 58. hxg5 hxg5 59. Kg3 Ra1 60. Ra5 e5 61. Kg2 Ke6 62. Kf2 Ra2 63. Kg3 Kd6 64. Kh3 Kc6 65. Rxe5 Kb6 66. Re6 Kb5 67. Re5 Kb4 68. Re4 Kc3 69. Re3 Kd2 70. Re5 Ra1 71. Kg2 a2 72. Ra5 Kc3 73. Ra8 Kb3 74. Rb8 Kc3 75. Rc8 Kb3 76. Rb8 Kc3 77. Rc8 Kb3 78. Rb8 Kc3 79. Ra8 Kb3 80. Rb8 Kc3 ½-½

An entertaining game. The last dozen moves before the first time control were rushed. There was always the thought that Chucky might lose on time.

Irina was born in 1983 in Odessa, learned to play chess at age five and emigrated with her parents to Brooklyn that same year (1989).

However, revenons à nos moutons - both players seem to be tired after the time control was reached. Stockfish questions 53…Ke7, recommending 53..Ra1. And SF calculates equality if White plays 54.Kh2 instead of her 54.Kh3

When this game was at move 60, Kovalyov resigned to So. Ivanchuk needed to win but was not his old precise self in the resulting ending and there was a draw by repetition.
________
Edmonton International 2014
Round Six
June 26, 2014
Kovalyov, Anton – So, Wesley
E05 Catalan, open, Classical Line

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O dxc4 7. Qc2 a6 8. a4 Bd7 9. Rd1 Bc6 10. Nc3 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Nc6 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. a5 Nd5 14. Na2 Nf6 15. Nc3 Nd5 16. Na4 Qb8 17. Bd2 Qb5 18. Rdc1 c5 19. dxc5 c3 20. Nxc3 Qxc5 21. Na4 Qb5 22. Qc4 Rfb8 23. Qxb5 Rxb5 24. e4 Nf6 25. f3 Bd6 26. Rc2 Nd7 27. Kg2 Rd8 28. Bc3 Ne5 29. Kf2 Nc6 30. f4 Nxa5 31. e5 Bf8 32. Bxa5 Rxa5 33. Ke3 Rb8 34. Ra2 g5 35. Nc3 gxf4 36. gxf4 Bc5 37. Kf3 Rxa2 38. Nxa2 Rb3 39. Kg4 Bd4 40. Rxc7 Rxb2 41. Nc1 Rxh2 42. Nb3 Be3 43. Rc3 Bf2 44. f5 h5 45. Kg5 exf5 46. Kxf5 Kg7 47. Rd3 h4 48. Nd2 a5 49. Ne4 Rg2 50. Rd7 h3 51. e6 Bh4 52. Rxf7 Kg8 53. Nf6 Bxf6 54. Kxf6 Rf2 55. Ke7 h2 56. Rxf2 h1=Q 57. Rf5 a4 58. Rg5 Kh7 59. Kf6 Qh6 0-1
_____

Edmonton International 2014
Round Six
June 26, 2014
Wang, Richard – Shankland, Samuel
A46 Queen’s Pawn, Yusupov-Rubinstein System

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O d5 6. b3 Be7 7. Bb2 O-O 8. Ne5 Nbd7 9. Nd2 c5 10. f4 cxd4 11. exd4 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Bc4 Bd5 14. Qe2 f5 15. Rad1 Qc7 16. Ba6 Rad8 17. c4 Ba8 18. a3 Bf6 19. b4 Nb8 20. Bb5 Bc6 21. Nxc6 Nxc6 22. d5 Bxb2 23. Qxb2 exd5 24. cxd5 Ne7 25. Qd4 Qd6 26. Bc4 Rc8 27. Bb3 Ng6 28. g3 Rc7 29. Rc1 Rff7 30. Rfd1 Rxc1 31. Rxc1 Ne7 32. Qe5 Rf6 33. Rc7 Kf8 34. Rxa7 g5 35. Ra8 Kf7 36. Ra7 Kf8 37. Rd7 1-0

The fifteen-year old beats the grandmaster.
________
Standings

So 5.5/6
Ivanchuk 5/6
Panjwani 3.5/6
Kovalyov 3.5/6
Shankland 3.5/6
Krush 3/6
Wang 3/6
Pechenkin 2.5/6
Haessel 0.5/6
Yam 0/6

Round Seven Pairings

Shankland-Kovalyov
Panjwani-Wang
Ivanchuk-Haessel
Yam-Krush
So-Pechenkin

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 27th June, 2014, 11:53 PM

Re: Edmonton International 2014

Edmonton International 2014

Round Seven
June 27, 2014

There is a guy on chessgames.com with the nom “Edmontonchessclub”. He has been giving anecdotal snippets from the tournament.
Some of these:

(Krush-Ivanchuk) Jun-27-14 The last game to finish.

After the game, they both stayed at the board past midnight, analyzing the game in Russian. When the last person with a car was leaving the chess club, I walked up to the board and offered them a ride to their hotel. Irina said they wanted to analyze a bit longer, and said they would walk (about a 15 minute walk).

Jun-27-14 GM Kovalyov was 17 minutes late to today's game vs GM So, and 23 minutes late to yesterday's game. That is his right, but I think time pressure will cost him rating points in the long run.

(Wang-Kovalyov) Jun-26-14 - The last game to finish. GM Kovalyov arrived 23 minutes late, but was ahead on the clock by the end.

Jun-26-14 GM Wesley So, FM Pechenkin and a bunch of us local club players have gone to a restaurant, Boston Pizza.

Wesley is playing blitz against the Chief Arbiter, with a bunch of local players ready to take him on in the next game.

A very friendly atmosphere at this tournament...so far.

Wesley won two blitz games, and then his steak arrived. Time to eat.

Jun-25-14 IM Panjwani just beat GM Krush for the first upset of the tournament. They are analyzing in the skittles room now.

Jun-25-14 GM Ivanchuk just won against FM Pechenkin, and is actually doing a post-mortem for the first time in the tournament. I think he is happy to analyze, but he just wants to be asked (as Pechenkin did). They are analyzing in Russian, so unfortunately I don't understand it.
____________

Edmonton International 2014
Round 7
June 27, 2014
Ivanchuk, Vassily-Haesser, Dale
C42 Petrov, Classical Attack, Marshall Variation

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Re8 9. c4 c6 10. Qb3 b6 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Rxe8 Qxe8 13. Qxc3 Ba6 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. c5 Bxd3 16. cxd6 Be4 17. Qxc6 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Nf6 19. Rc1 Kf8 20. Qb7 1-0

(Possible continuation 20... Nd7 21. Qxd5 Nf6 22. Qb7 Rd8 23. Rc7 Qe6 24. Re7 Qd5 25. Qc7 Qxd6 26. Rxf7 Ke8 27. Qxa7 Rd7 28. Rxd7 Nxd7 29. Qa8 Kf7 30. Qe4 Nf6 31. Qd3 Qe6 32. Qa6 h6 33. Qb7 )

_________

Edmonton International 2014
Round 7
So, Wesley – Pechenkin, Vladimir
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 8. Qd2 b5 9. a3 Qa5 10. Ra2 Qb6 11. Ne2 Qc7 12. Ng3 h5 13. c3 h4 14. Ne2 c4 15. Neg1 Ne7 16. Nh3 Nf5 17. Bf2 a5 18. Be2 Be7 19. O-O a4 20. Bd1 Nf8 21. Bc2 Ng6 22. Raa1 Bd7 23. Nhg5 Ra6 24. Rae1 Qc8 25. Be3 f6 26. Nh3 Kf7 27. Bf2 Qg8 28. Bxf5 exf5 29. Re3 Qh7 30. Rfe1 Qh6 31. exf6 gxf6 32. Nxh4 Bd6 33. Nxg6 Kxg6 34. Bg3 Raa8 35. Ng5 Rae8 36. Ne6 Kf7 37. Nc5 Rxe3 38. Qxe3 Re8 39. Qf2 Rxe1 40. Qxe1 Bc8 41. Qf1 Qh5 42. h3 Ke7 43. Kf2 Kd8 44. Ke1 Kc7 45. Kd2 Kc6 46. Qf2 Bf8 47. Qe3 Bd6 48. Qf2 Bf8 49. Bh4 Qh6 50. Kc2 Qg6 51. Qe2 Bd6 52. Qf3 Bf8 53. Bf2 Bd6 54. Kd2 Qh6 55. Ke3 Qg6 56. Qg3 Qxg3 57. Bxg3 Bf8 58. Bh4 Bg7 59. Kf3 Kd6 60. g4 fxg4 61. hxg4 Ke7 62. Bf2 f5 63. Bh4 Bf6 64. Bxf6 Kxf6 65. g5 Kg7 66. Kg3 Kh7 67. Kh4 Kg6 68. Kh3 Kg7 69. Kg3 Kh7 70. Kf3 Kg7 71. Ke3 Kg6 72. Ke2 Kg7 73. Ke1 Kh7 74. Kd2 Kg6 75. Kc2 Kh5 76. Kd1 Kg6 77. Kd2 Kh5 78. Kc2 Kg6 79. Kd1 Kh5 80. Ke2 Kg6 81. Kf2 Kg7 82. Kf3 Kh7 83. Kf2 Kg7 84. Ke3 Kg6 85. Kd2 Kh5 86. Kc1 Kg6 87. b3 axb3 88. Kb2 Kh5 89. Kb1 Kg6 90. Kc1 Kh5 91. Kd2 Kg6 92. Kc1 Kh5 93. Kb2 Kg6 94. Kb1 Kh5 95. Kc1 Kg6 96. Kd1 Kh5 97. Kd2 Kg6 98. a4 bxa4 99. Nxa4 Be6 100. Nc5 Bg8 101. Nd7 Kg7 102. Ne5 Be6 103. Kc1 Kh7 104. Kb2 Kg7 105. Nc6 Kg6 106. Ne7 Kf7 107. Nc6 Kg6 108. Ne7 Kf7 109. Nc6 ½-½

Chessbomb viewers have singled out So’s 15th move of Neg1 as turning around the game.

After 35.Ng5, Stockfish gives it as the strongest move and one of the Chessbomb guys says, “Will someone please check Wesley’s shoes?”

He has 29 minutes for the next five moves and Pechenkin has only 2 min.

Pechenkin is playing well under time pressure and they reach move 40.

A draw after every one else had gone to bed!

Pairings for Round Eight

Kovalyov-Pechenkin
Krush-So
Haessel-Yam
Wang-Ivanchuk
Shankland-Panjwani

Standings after Round Seven

So, Wesley 6/7
Ivanchuk, Vassily 6/7
Panjwani, Raja 4.5/7
Shankland, Samuel 4.5/7
Kovalyov, Anton 3.5/7
Krush, Irina 3/7
Wang, Richard 3/7
Pechenkin, Vladimir 3/7
Yam, Alex 1/7
Haessel, Dale 0.5/7

Edmonton International 2014

Edmonton International 2014

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