Biel 2014

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 1st July, 2014, 03:06 PM

Re: Biel 2014

I shall be watching the Biel tournament mainly for Anish Giri. He is both a good player and a good writer.

I found today that New In Chess is to publish a book of his early years entitled Anish Giri – My Junior Years in 20 Games.

A photo of the book cover and a selection of Giri articles can be found at:

http://www.anishgiri.eu/html/eng/news.html

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 14th July, 2014, 12:04 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round One
July 14, 2014

A mild sensation as Hou Yifan beats Anish Giri. The Dutch grandmaster goes wrong as early as his eighth move.

Biel 2014
July 14
Round One
Yifan Hou (2629) – Giri, Anish (2750)
B51 Sicilian Canal-Sokolsky (Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo)

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5 Nd7 4. d4 cxd4 5. Qxd4 a6 6. Be2 Ngf6 7. O-O e5 8. Qe3 d5 9. exd5 Bc5 10. Qd2 O-O 11. c4 e4 12. Nd4 Ne5 13. b4 Ba7 14. Nc3 Bg4 15. c5 a5 16. a3 Nxd5 17. Nxe4 Bb8 18. f3 Nf4 19. Nd6 Bxd6 20. cxd6 Nxe2 21. Qxe2 Qxd6 22. Nb5 Qf6 23. fxg4 Nf3 24. Qxf3 Qxa1 25. Be3 Qf6 26. Qxf6 gxf6 27. Nc7 Rac8 28. Nd5 1-0

Hou Yifan is the World Women’s Chess Champion, 20 years old. Some one online is calling this the battle of the 20-year olds! Sort of makes you feel old doesn’t it?

Alexander Motylev – Radoslaw Wojtaszek 0-1 (40)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave – Pentala Harikrishna 0.5-0.5 (51)

http://www.bielchessfestival.ch/en/home/

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 15th July, 2014, 04:29 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Two
July 15, 2014

They are still talking about Hou Yifan’s victory in Round One over Anish Giri. Her life score over him now is two wins and two draws! There was Tata Steel 2013, a win in 85 moves. The win yesterday in 28 moves and two draws in the 16th Unive Tournament, Hoogeveen (2012).

Today’s Results

Pentala Harikrishna – Anish Giri 1-0
Radoslaw Wojtaszek - Yifan Hou 0.5-0.5
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - Alexander Motylev 0.5-0.5

(chess.com) - Flash report from day two -- All three games ended right after the time control. The two leaders, Hou and Wojtaszek, drew in an opposite-colored bishop ending. They retain their lead at 1.5/2.
---
Vachier-Lagrave also drew in a rook ending to Motylev. Giri fell to 0-2 after an inspired pawn sac and slow-burning attack by Harikrishna.

Biel 2014
Round Two
July 15, 2014
Harikrishna, Pentala – Giri, Anish
C50 Guioco Piano

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. Nd5 Qd8 9. c3 a6 10. d4 exd4 11. cxd4 Ba7 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Bxa6 Re8 14. O-O Rxe4 15. Bd3 Re8 16. Bb5 Be6 17. Ne3 Bd7 18. Nd5 Be6 19. Ne3 Bd7 20. Bc4 Rf8 21. Re1 Ne7 22. Qd3 c6 23. Bb3 b5 24. h3 Bb6 25. Bc2 f5 26. g4 g6 27. gxf5 Nxf5 28. Nxf5 gxf5 29. Bb3 Kh7 30. Be6 Rf6 31. d5 cxd5 32. Bxd5 Rg6 33. Kh1 Rc8 34. Rxc8 Qxc8 35. Nd4 Qf8 36. Ne6 Qf6 37. Qf3 Rg8 38. Nf4 Rc8 39. Qh5 Bd8 40. Rg1 Be7 41. Rg6 1-0

Biel 2014
Round Two
July 15, 2014
V-Lagrave, Maxime – Motylev, Alexander
D10 QGD Slav Defence

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. e3 Bg4 7. Qb3 Na5 8. Qa4 Bd7 9. Qc2 e6 10. Bd3 Be7 11. Nf3 Nc6 12. Qe2 Nh5 13. Be5 f6 14. Bg3 f5 15. Bb5 O-O 16. Bxc6 Bxc6 17. Ne5 Be8 18. Rc1 Rc8 19. O-O Bd6 20. Rc2 Qc7 21. Nd3 Nxg3 22. hxg3 Ba4 23. Rcc1 Qa5 24. Nxa4 Qxa4 25. g4 Qxa2 26. gxf5 exf5 27. Ra1 Qb3 28. Rxa7 Qb6 29. Rfa1 f4 30. exf4 Bxf4 31. Nxf4 Rxf4 32. Qe5 Rxd4 33. Rxb7 Qxb7 34. Qxd4 Rc4 35. Qe5 Re4 36. Qh5 h6 37. Rd1 Qf7 38. Qxf7 Kxf7 39. Rxd5 Re1 40. Kh2 Re2 ½-½

Tomorrow’s Pairings

Alexander Motylev - Pentala Harikrishna
Yifan Hou – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave
Anish Giri – Radoslaw Wojtaszek

Standings after Round Two

Wojtaszek 1.5/2
Hou 1.5/2
Harikrishna 1.5/2
V-Lagrave 1.0/2
Motylev 0.5/2
Giri 0/2

**Wayne Komer** · Wednesday, 16th July, 2014, 11:41 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Three
July 16, 2014

Results of Round Three

Alexander Motylev – Pentala Harikrishna 1-0 (44)
Yifan Hou – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 0-1 (63)
Anish Giri – Radoslaw Wojtaszek 1-0 (84)

Ranking after Three Rounds

1. Vachier-Lagrave 2.0/3
2. Yifan Hou 1.5/3
3. Wojtaszek 1.5/3
4. Motylev 1.5/3
5. Harikrishna 1.5/3
6. Giri 1.0/3

Three hard-fought games today. Motylev-Harikrishna was a Berlin Defence. Pentala said he had a good position and slipped on one move and lost.

Daniel King said that Vachier-Lagrave played a great positional game today.

After seven hours the Giri-Wojtaszek game finished. Giri had a great position out of the opening. Radoslaw sacrificed two pawns and gave Anish a passed pawn. When the game started to be very, very long Anish worried because he has lost very long games with supposedly drawn endings before in his short career.

White won with K, R, white square B and d pawn against K, R and white square B.

Biel 2014
Round Three
July 16, 2014
Giri, Anish – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams Attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 e5 7. Nde2 h5 8. g3 Be6 9. Bg2 b5 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Be3 Nb6 12. b3 Be7 13. Qd2 Qc7 14. a4 bxa4 15. Nxa4 Nxa4 16. Rxa4 O-O 17. Rfa1 Rfc8 18. c4 Rcb8 19. R4a3 Nd7 20. Nc3 Qc8 21. Qd1 Nf6 22. Kh2 h4 23. gxh4 Nd7 24. h5 Nc5 25. Na4 Nxa4 26. Rxa4 Rb7 27. Rc1 Rab8 28. Rc3 Rb4 29. Rxb4 Rxb4 30. f4 Kh7 31. f5 Bd7 32. h6 g6 33. Qd5 Qe8 34. fxg6 fxg6 35. Qd2 Be6 36. Rd3 Rb7 37. Qa5 Qc6 38. Qd2 Bf8 39. Bg5 Rf7 40. Qe1 Qb6 41. Be3 Qc7 42. Qg3 a5 43. Bd2 a4 44. bxa4 Qxc4 45. a5 Qa2 46. Qe3 d5 47. exd5 Bf5 48. Rb3 e4 49. Qc3 Bd6 50. Kh1 e3 51. Qxe3 Re7 52. Qc3 Be5 53. Ra3 Bxc3 54. Rxa2 Re2 55. a6 Bxd2 56. Bf3 Re1 57. Kg2 Be3 58. a7 Bxa7 59. Rxa7 Kxh6 60. h4 Re3 61. Kf2 Rd3 62. Rf7 Rd4 63. Kg3 Bc2 64. Rf4 Rd2 65. Rb4 Bd1 66. Be4 g5 67. Rb6 Kh5 68. Bg6 Kh6 69. Be4 Kh5 70. hxg5 Kxg5 71. Rg6 Kh5 72. Kf4 Rf2 73. Ke5 Re2 74. Rc6 Ba4 75. Rc8 Kh6 76. Rc7 Be8 77. Rh7 Kg5 78. Rg7 Kh6 79. Rg3 Re1 80. d6 Kh5 81. Kf4 Kh6 82. Rg8 Ba4 83. Rg6 Kh5 84. Re6 1-0

__________

The brief biographical notes for Wojtaszek on the official site are these:

Radoslaw Wojtaszek, POL, 27 years, Elo 2733, FIDE #22

He is not as well known as the other players in this tournament. Searching, I came across an interview he gave to a magazine called MAT

http://www.chessintranslation.com/20...anands-second/

Wojtaszek – quick pronunciation guide: Voy-tash-ek (rhyming with boy-cash-[d]eck) – has now been Anand’s second in both Bonn and Sofia, and as he says in the interview, he’s hoping to push for 2700.

The interview is after the World Chess Championship, Anand-Topalov 2010 in Sofia, Bulgaria.

According to FIDE regulations, reigning champion Viswanathan Anand had the right to refuse Sofia as a suitable location, as that would give Topalov the "home field" advantage. However, Anand raised no objections. The match was delayed due to air travel disruptions caused by the eruption of the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull, which offset the entire schedule by one day.

“Make that five coffees!”

Radosław Wojtaszek interviewed by Grzegorz Gajewski:

Congratulations! How did you feel after the final game?

Thanks! The joy we felt is hard to express in words. All those long months of preparation and sleepless nights finally bore fruit. It’s worth training hard for such moments.

How did you get Anand prepared? To what degree was it about openings, and to what degree about the middlegame and endgame? Did you devote a lot of time to analysing Topalov’s playing style, looking for weaknesses?

Of course an analysis of Topalov’s style was the basis of our preparations. Then we tried to adapt appropriate openings to it. That was where we placed the greatest emphasis during our sessions. Vishy also played a lot of training games, and also occasionally solved combinations.

How much of all of this was “computerised”? Was the equipment you were operating far removed from the standard equipment a chess player uses?

Of course working on the openings without computers nowadays misses the point. They’re essential, but it strikes me that it only makes chess more attractive, as it’s not so easy to surprise your opponent. At the same time, you can’t allow yourself to go crazy, so we also looked at the positions, and not only the moves that the computer was suggesting. As for standards, of course we had access to good equipment, though it would be hard to compare it to the computer Topalov used.

What did the help of Kasparov, Carlsen, Kramnik and Giri actually consist of? Was it really significant? It’s hard to avoid the impression that publishing those revelations was more about building an image – I (Anand) was supported by the whole world of chess, while Topalov was only supported by a supercomputer and those he paid.

Magnus Carlsen and Anish Giri mainly played training games with Vishy before the match. That was really important given that Anand had very little experience e.g. in the Catalan. Kasparov and Kramnik helped out with our opening preparation. No doubt it also gave Vishy a boost to know that those who were, after all, recently his rivals, were offering to help.

The hotel where Anand's team stayed

What was your reception like on “enemy” territory. The hotel, the conditions etc. There was no lack of scandals in previous Topalov matches, while this time round we didn’t hear about any clashes. Perhaps something actually did happen, but you simply didn’t want to broadcast it?

It always works both ways – “the walls help” [this mainly Russian saying is variously translated, e.g. as “A man’s home is his castle”] but it also puts greater pressure on the home player. We couldn’t really complain as it would be pretty hard to blame the Bulgarians for the volcano erupting in Iceland, though if that was “their doing”, then it was a brilliant move ;-) Seriously, I think the match passed without scandals because there were no grounds for them. The location of the match had long been known and we were suitably prepared. The hotel had previously been checked by Aruna, so there were no reasons to worry. The only friction was at the end of game 3, though in the end that didn’t have any significant consequences.

Exactly. What was the “Sofia Rules” incident in game 3 all about? Was it a demonstration of the Bulgarian’s views? After all such matters are previously agreed upon in the match regulations.

There was nothing about “Sofia Rules” in the contract, so they weren’t actually in force. Topalov announced, however, that he wouldn’t propose draws or talk to Anand. That was his right, but it didn’t mean that Vishy had to agree to draws only through the mediation of the arbiter, as the Bulgarian wanted. Later the whole affair was blown out of proportion by the media who reported that the players didn’t shake hands after the game. That’s true, but as Vishy said, they simply forgot about it in all the confusion. By the next day everything was already fine again, so there’s not much point dwelling on it. It was more interesting than in that game there was no light for around 10 minutes after a power cut. How’s that for the perversity of inanimate objects ;-) [I think the power cut was actually a day later, in game 5, though there was no need for Sofia rules in Game 4!]

The opening of the match wasn’t a great success for you. Anand forgot his analysis and was simply wiped off the chessboard. In the second game Vishy again didn’t impress in the opening. Although you didn’t say it directly, everything points to the fact that he forgot his analysis again. What could be considered an accident in the first game was already becoming something of a rule. What mistakes were made in preparation? Was there too much to “cram”, or was there perhaps too little “cramming”?

Vishy didn’t want to use it as an explanation, but we can no doubt be excused a little by the whole turmoil connected to the journey. We lost 2-3 days that would no doubt have been devoted to memorising variations. On the other hand, at the start of the match there are so many that unfortunately accidents sometimes occur… Luckily for us it all passed off without any significant consequences. After two games it was level again.

(the interview lasts 13 pages and is too long to quote in its entirety)

Perhaps Wojtaszek is the perfect second, being with Anand against Kramnik in 2008, against Topalov in 2010 and against Gelfand in 2012!

**Wayne Komer** · Thursday, 17th July, 2014, 04:42 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Four
July 17, 2014

Results of Round Four

Yifan Hou – Pentala Harikrishna 0.5-0.5 (70)
Anish Giri – Alexander Motylev 1-0 (53)
Radoslaw Wojtaszek – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 0.5-0.5 (38)

Ranking after Round Four

1. Vachier-Lagrave 2.5/4
2-5 Yifan Hou 2.0/4
2-5 Wojtaszek 2.0/4
2-5 Giri 2.0/4
2-5 Harikrishna 2.0/4
6. Motylev 1.5/4

Pairings for Round Five (18.07.2014)

Harikrishna-Wojtaszek
V-Lagrave-Giri
Motylev-Yifan Hou
_________

Biel 2014
Round Four
July 17, 2014
Giri, Anish – Motylev, Alexander
D12 QGD Slav 4. e3 Bf5

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 Bg6 7. Qb3 Qc7 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. g3 Nbd7 10. Bg2 Be7 11. O-O O-O 12. cxd5 exd5 13. f3 b5 14. Ne2 Qb6 15. Kh1 c5 16. Qd1 Rfe8 17. g4 Rad8 18. Bd2 g5 19. a4 b4 20. a5 Qb8 21. dxc5 Bxc5 22. Nd4 Ne5 23. b3 Rc8 24. Ra2 Nc6 25. Rc2 Nxa5 26. Qb1 Bb6 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Nf5 Bc5 29. Qb2 Bf8 30. e4 dxe4 31. Bxg5 exf3 32. Bxf3 Qb5 33. Rd1 Rd8 34. Rg1 Rd3 35. Qe2 Nh7 36. Nd4 Qd7 37. Qxd3 Nxg5 38. Rd1 Bc5 39. Nc6 Qxd3 40. Rxd3 Nxc6 41. Bxc6 Ne6 42. Rd7 Bb6 43. Bd5 Nd8 44. Re7 Kf8 45. Re4 a5 46. Kg2 g5 47. Kf3 f6 48. h3 Bc7 49. Rc4 Bb6 50. Re4 Bc7 51. Re2 Be5 52. Ra2 Bc7 53. Rc2 1-0

(53... Bb6 54. Re2 Bc5 55. Ke4 Ke7 56. Ra2 Bb6 57. Kf5 Kd6 58. Bc4 Nb7 59. Rd2 Kc5 60. Ke6 Bc7 61. Bd5 Bf4 62. Rc2 Kb6 63. Bxb7 Kxb7 64. Kxf6 a4 65. bxa4 Kb6 66. h4 gxh4 67. Rc4 Bd2 68. g5)

Motylev had the advantage up until move 30 or so, then thought too long and the game drifted away from him after that.

_________

Just published is Anish Giri My Junior Years in 20 Games by Anish Giri. NIC, 2014, 124 pages, pb.

I like what I have seen of Anish Giri in the past two years. He has a sense of humour, writes and analyzes well and is very clear in his explanations.

A book by such a 20-year-old is very collectable.

His father, Sanjay Giri, writes the Preface:

“Anish not only likes to play, he also writes about chess with passion. Over the years he has regularly contributed to various magazines and websites, including his own. Since January 2013 his main platform has been New in Chess. His writings as a contributing editor are not only a contribution to the chess world, they are also a part of his development. Likewise, this book on his junior years, which will end when he turns 20 on June 28th, serves a dual purpose.”

Anish has an 11-page introduction, which is followed by eight pages of photographs and a game collection of 20 games. They begin with one when he was 10 against Vladimir Domnin and end with his game against Hikaru Nakamura, Wijk aan Zee 2014.

The proceeds of this book will go to an educational project for children in Nepal.

I can’t think of a better book to give as a prize to a promising young junior.

It is rare these days to have an up-to-date grandmaster tome for well under $20!

I shall end with one quote about an influential book of his early years:

“I had a beautiful hardcover edition of Garry Kasparov’s My Great Predecessors, Part 2, with his hypnotizing face on the cover, and I can understand why I managed to slowly but steadily raise my level of play.

I have special memories of that book. My Russian coach at that time, Andrei Sergeevich Praslov, picked the second part of the series and sent it to me over the post. I already possessed all the necessary ingredients of a great player, such as general laziness and an incredible passion for chess. Being too impatient to read the book from the beginning till the end, I once again decided to stick to the good old reading method that I had used back then. The method was simple. You open a book at a random page and read that game (without a chessboard, of course, I was too lazy for that too!). Then you do it again and again ..... Still one way or another, this study definitely contributed to my chess development, and the absence of a board helped my blindfold play.”

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 18th July, 2014, 04:24 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Five
July 18, 2014

Results of Round Five

Pentala Harikrishna – Radoslaw Wojtaszek 0.5-0.5 (47)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - Anish Giri 1-0 (61)
Alexander Motylev - Yifan Hou 0.5-0.5 (41)

Pairings for Round Six

Harikrishna - V-Lagrave
Wojtaszek - Motylev
Giri - Yifan Hou

Ranking after Round Five

1. V-Lagrave 3.5/5
2-4 Wojtaszek 2.5/5
2-4 Harikrishna 2.5/5
2-4 Yifan Hou 2.5/5
5-6 Giri 2.0/5
5-6 Motylev 2.0/5

Biel 2014
Round Five
July 18, 2014
Vachier-Lagrave-Giri, Anish
Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Nxe5 Be7 7. Bf1 Nxe5 8. Rxe5 O-O 9. Nc3 Ne8 10. Nd5 Bd6 11. Re2 c6 12. Ne3 Bc7 13. Nf5 d5 14. Ne7 Kh8 15. Nxc8 Rxc8 16. d3 f5 17. g3 Qf6 18. Bd2 Nd6 19. Bc3 d4 20. Bd2 Nf7 21. f4 Rce8 22. Bg2 Nd6 23. a3 Bb6 24. Rxe8 Rxe8 25. Qf1 Kg8 26. Re1 Re6 27. a4 a6 28. Bf3 g6 29. Kg2 Kf7 30. Rxe6 Qxe6 31. Qa1 Bc5 32. b4 Bb6 33. Be1 Nc8 34. Bf2 Qd7 35. h3 h5 36. b5 axb5 37. axb5 cxb5 38. Qa8 Bc5 39. Bxb7 Nb6 40. Qa2 Kg7 41. Qa6 b4 42. Bf3 Kf8 43. Qa5 Qe7 44. Kf1 Kf7 45. Kg2 Kf8 46. g4 hxg4 47. hxg4 fxg4 48. Bxg4 Qc7 49. Bf3 Kg7 50. Qb5 Nc8 51. Qc4 Qb6 52. Qd5 Qd6 53. Qe5 Qxe5 54. fxe5 Na7 55. Bd5 Nb5 56. Bh4 g5 57. Bxg5 Kg6 58. Bd8 Kf5 59. e6 Na3 60. Bb3 Nxc2 61. Bxc2 Kxe6 1-0

(62. Bb3 Ke5 63. Bc7 Kf5 64. Kf3 Ba7 65. Ke2 Kg6 66. Bd5 Kf6 67. Kd2 Ke7 68. Kc2 Kd7 69. Be5 Bc5 70. Kb3 Be7 71. Kc4 Bf8 72. Bxd4 Be7 73. Bc5 b3 74. Bd4 Kd6 75. Be4 Ke6 76. Kxb3 Bg5 77. Kc4 Bf4 78. Bc5 Ke5 79. Bc6 Kf5 80. Bd7 Kf6 81. d4)

Both players made some questionable moves near the end of the game. Anish was in time trouble and Vachier-Lagrave polished him off.

After move 38. Qa8 chess-news.ru says, “The initial part of the plan is executed - the queen is activated, white seized the initiative. After a long struggle the viscous Frenchman managed to win on the 61 th move.” My translator gives the word “viscous”. Does it mean “vicious”? Anyway he is "вязкой".

MVL today stands at World Number 8/9 on the Live Chess Ratings list with 2772.0 tied with Topalov and ahead of Kramnik.

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 19th July, 2014, 10:39 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Six
July 19, 2014

Results of Round Six

Pentala Harikrishna – Maxime Vachier-Lagrave 0.5-05 (40)
Radoslaw Wojtaszek – Alexander Motylev 0.5-0.5 (29)
Anish Giri – Yifan Hou 0.5-0.5 (69)

Ranking after Round Six

1. Vachier-Lagrave 4/6
2-4 Wojtaszek 3.0/6
2-4 Harikrishna 3.0/6
2-4 Yifan Hou 3.0/6
5-6 Giri 2.5/6
5-6 Motylev 2.5/6

Tomorrow is a rest day.

(Chessbase) Despite the three drawn results today, it is clear that the day was far from peaceful. For starters the game between Pentala Harikrishna and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave had "sacrifice" as the name of the game. Black sacrificed an exchange for activity, only for the Indian player to counter-sacrifice a piece! At the end Black had to be winning at some point in the endgame, but with time pressure looming MVL could not convert.

The last game of the day was an intense fight. The players blitzed out their moves and then on move 17 Anish Giri uncorked a new idea the Scheveningen Sicilian and it was clear that Hou Yifan was in trouble. Somehow or another the World Champion mustered resources and defenses and despite her clear disadvantage she was able to make a draw; albeit a very suffered one!

Giri confessed himself confused after today’s game, he is used to either winning or losing and he needs the rest day to digest the fact that he drew!

Biel 2014
Round Six
July 19, 2014
Giri, Anish – Hou, Yifan
B85 Sicilian, Scheveningen, Classical Main Line

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be2 a6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Be3 Be7 9. f4 d6 10. Qe1 O-O 11. Kh1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 13. Qg3 Bb7 14. a3 Rad8 15. Rae1 Rd7 16. Bd3 Re8 17. a4 b4 18. Na2 Qa5 19. Nc1 Qh5 20. Nb3 Qg6 21. Qh3 Qg4 22. Qxg4 Nxg4 23. Na5 Ra8 24. Be2 Nf6 25. Bf3 Ne8 26. c3 bxc3 27. bxc3 Bd8 28. Nxb7 Rxb7 29. e5 d5 30. c4 Rb4 31. Rc1 Rxa4 32. g3 g5 33. Bg1 Nc7 34. Bb6 Ne8 35. Be3 Nc7 36. fxg5 Rb8 37. Ba7 Rb7 38. Be3 Rb8 39. Ba7 Rb7 40. Bc5 Bxg5 41. Rc2 Rb3 42. cxd5 Nxd5 43. Bh5 f5 44. exf6 Bxf6 45. Bd6 Rc3 46. Rb2 Rc8 47. Rb7 Rd8 48. Bc5 Rc4 49. Bg1 Rf8 50. Be2 Rc6 51. Bd3 Rc7 52. Bxa6 Rxb7 53. Bxb7 Kg7 54. Bc6 Rf7 55. Re1 Re7 56. Re4 Kf7 57. Rc4 Be5 58. Rh4 Kg7 59. Rh5 Bf6 60. Bxd5 exd5 61. Rxd5 Re2 62. h4 Kg6 63. Rd6 Kf5 64. g4 Ke5 65. Rd7 Bxh4 66. Rxh7 Bg5 67. Rf7 Ke6 68. Rg7 Bf6 69. Rg8 Kf7 ½-½

Biel 2014
Round Six
July 19, 2014
Harikrishna, Pentala – Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Qd3 Nbd7 7. Bg5 e6 8. O-O-O Be7 9. f4 Qc7 10. Be2 b5 11. Bf3 b4 12. e5 dxe5 13. Bxa8 exd4 14. Ne2 h6 15. Bh4 O-O 16. Kb1 e5 17. Qf3 exf4 18. Nxf4 Ne5 19. Qe2 g5 20. Bg3 gxf4 21. Bxf4 Bd6 22. Rxd4 Re8 23. Rhd1 Bg4 24. Qxa6 Bxd1 25. Rxd1 Nc4 26. Bxd6 Qxd6 27. Qxd6 Nxd6 28. Bf3 Nc4 29. b3 Ne5 30. Rd4 Nxf3 31. gxf3 Rb8 32. Kb2 Kf8 33. c3 bxc3 34. Kxc3 Ke7 35. b4 Ke6 36. a4 Nd5 37. Kb3 Rc8 38. Rc4 Rxc4 39. Kxc4 Kd6 40. a5 Ne3 ½-½

Would you play on here?

(41. Kd3 Nf5 42. Ke4 Ne7 43. b5 h5 44. Kd4 Nf5 45. Ke4 Nh4 46. a6 Kc7 47. a7 Kb7 48. b6 Ng6 49. Kf5 h4 50. Kf6 h3 51. Kxf7 Ne5 52. Ke6 Nxf3 53. Kd6 Nxh2 54. a8=B Kxb6 55. Ke5)

_________

Profile of Harikrishna from Chess24.com:

Pentala Harikrishna

Born: May 10, 1986 (Age 28) Guntur, India
FIDE Title: Grandmaster
Federation: India
Peak Rating: 2726 (July 2014)
Rating: 2726 (July 2014)
Rank: 27 (July 2014)

Harikrishna is one of a wave of India chess talents to follow in Vishy Anand’s footsteps. Harikrishna won the World U10 Championship in 1996, became a grandmaster at 15 and crowned his junior achievements in 2004 by becoming the first Indian player since Anand to win the World Junior Championship.

His first place in the B Tournament in Wijk aan Zee 2012 was one of his most important victories as it qualified him for the 2013 Wijk aan Zee supertournament. A highly respectable 50% score saw him finish ahead of players like Anish Giri, Wang Hao and Fabiano Caruana and cross 2700 on the rating list for the first time. Harikrishna followed that success by winning the Biel Masters Open later in the same year.

Apart from chess Harikrishna has studied Political Science, Sociology and Public Administration and worked for an Indian oil company.

**Jack Maguire** · Monday, 21st July, 2014, 11:03 AM

Re: Biel 2014

The live Hou - Wojtaszek game today is an incredibly interesting affair and well worth checking out at ChessBomb.

**David Steer** · Monday, 21st July, 2014, 12:03 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Yes an interesting game. Yifan up a pawn but is it enough to win? I am glad to see that she is more than holding her own in this tournament.

Wayne - Your reports are appreciated. Thank you.

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 21st July, 2014, 01:22 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Seven
July 21, 2014

The first game to finish was Giri-Harikrishna, a draw in 25 moves. It looked like Giri prepared a queen sacrifice, which, however, gave him no appreciable advantage. One of the first rules of chess is: Don’t spend hours in home preparation on a queen sacrifice that will just net you a draw in twenty-five moves!

Next to follow is Motylev – MVL. It is more or less equal for the first two dozen moves and then Motylev plays a few weak moves, culminating in 35. Nc5, which causes his immediate resignation. Vachier-Lagrave wins the game.

He is world number 8 and has accepted an invitation to play in the Sinquefield Cup 2014, August 27 to September 7. He will be testing his mettle against Carlsen, Aronian, Caruana, Nakamura and Karjakin!

Biel 2014
Round Seven
July 21, 2014
Motylev, Alexander – Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne Attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be3 Ng4 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Bg7 10. Be2 h5 11. h4 Nc6 12. Nb3 gxh4 13. Bxh4 Be6 14. Qd2 Qb6 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16. exd5 Nd4 17. c3 Nf5 18. Bxg4 hxg4 19. Qg5 e6 20. Qxg4 Bf6 21. dxe6 Nxh4 22. O-O-O Qxf2 23. Rxd6 Rd8 24. Rxd8 Bxd8 25. Nd2 Qe3 26. exf7 Kxf7 27. Rf1 Bf6 28. Qd7 Qe7 29. Qd3 Kg7 30. Ne4 Be5 31. Qe2 Ng6 32. g3 Re8 33. Qg4 Qe6 34. Qh5 Qxa2 35. Nc5 Qa1 0-1

Hou’s game against Wojtaszek was exciting - both had under 10 minutes at move 25 to make the time control.

Times at move 29 – Hou 3 minutes, Wojtaszek 9 minutes

Hou blunders in time trouble and plays 29. Qxc2 instead of Bxd5 (29. Bxd5 Qxd5 30. Re8 g5 31. R8e5 Qf3 32. Rc5 Qd3 33. Rc1 Re8 34. Qxc2 Qxc2 35. R1xc2 Re1 36. Kg2 Kg7 37. Rb2 Rd1 38. Rd5 h5 39. f4 gxf4 40. gxf4 Rd3 41. Ne5 Bxe5 42. fxe5 Kf8 43. Rd6 Rxd6 44. exd6 h4 45. b6 h3 46. Kf2 Rxd4)

What is funny is that all the guys on chessbomb kibitzing the game championed Hou Yifan. These are some of the comments as her seconds ticked down to zero.

Kibitzer1: hurry up hou

Kibitzer1: HURRY

Kibitzer2: 20 secs!!

Kibitzer3: omg

Kibitzer4: yifan will play for safety

Kibitzer1: faster

Kibitzer3: seconds!!

Kibitzer5: I still prefer Judit's way of handling time pressure compared to Hou, those sharp stare downs during critical moments of the game are way incomparable to this girl here

Kibitzer2: guys I never thought watching chess could give you heart attack

Kibitzer3: rook endgame is drawn

Kibitzer2: this looks so disappointing

Kibitzer3: she needs to be more aggressive like a crocodile

Hou blunders with 39. Kf1 (39. Nb4 hxg3 40. hxg3 Kf8 41. Nc6 Ke8 42. Ne5 Bxe5 43. dxe5 Ke7 44. f4 g5 45. fxg5 Rb5 46. Re4 Ke6) indicated

Biel 2014
Round Seven
July 21, 2014
Hou, Yifan – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw
A08 Reti, King’s Indian Attack (with…c5)

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. c4 d4 4. e3 Nc6 5. exd4 cxd4 6. Bg2 e5 7. O-O Nf6 8. d3 Nd7 9. Na3 Be7 10. Nc2 O-O 11. Rb1 a5 12. b3 Rb8 13. Re1 Re8 14. a3 Qc7 15. b4 axb4 16. axb4 b5 17. Nfxd4 exd4 18. Bf4 Nce5 19. Nxd4 bxc4 20. Nc6 c3 21. Qa4 Rb6 22. Bxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 Be6 24. Rbe1 Bf6 25. R5e3 Rf8 26. b5 Qd6 27. d4 c2 28. Be4 Bd5 29. Qxc2 Bxe4 30. Rxe4 Rxb5 31. Re8 g6 32. Qc4 Qd5 33. Rxf8 Kxf8 34. Rc1 Qxc4 35. Rxc4 h5 36. Kg2 Rb3 37. Nb4 Kg7 38. Nc2 h4 39. Kf1 Rb1 40. Kg2 Rd1 41. Kf3 Rd2 42. h3 Rd3 43. Kg4 Rd2 44. Kf3 Rd3 45. Kg2 hxg3 46. fxg3 Kg8 47. h4 Kg7 48. Kh3 Be7 49. Ne1 Rb3 50. Rc6 Bf6 51. Rd6 Re3 52. Nc2 Rd3 53. Kg4 ½-½

__________

Standings after Round Seven

1. Vachier-Lagrave 5/7
2-4 Harikrishna 3.5/7
2-4 Wojtaszek 3.5/7
2-4 Hou Yifan 3.5/7
5. Giri 3.0/7
6. Motylev 2.5/7

Jumping the Gun – In a posting earlier today, I was under the mistaken impression that Round Seven was the final round! This is not true. Rounds 8, 9 and 10 will take place on 22.07.2014 to 24.07.2014 incl.

Pairings for Round Eight are:

Harikrishna-Motylev
Vachier-Lagrave-Hou Yifan
Wojtaszek-Giri

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 22nd July, 2014, 03:56 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Eight
July 22, 2014

Results of Round Eight

Pentala Harikrishna – Alexander Motylev 0.5-0.5 (29)
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave - Yifan Hou 0.5-0.5 (41)
Radoslaw Wojtaszek – Anish Giri 0.5-0.5 (50)

Ranking after Round Eight

1. Vachier-Lagrave 5.5/8
2-4 Wojtaszek 4.0/8
2-4 Harikrishna 4.0/8
2-4 Yifan Hou 4.0/8
5. Giri 3.5/8
6. Motylev 3.0/8

Daniel King commenting on Giri’s game with Harikrishna yesterday said that White was in danger of having his queen trapped on the queenside and eventually gave it up for a rook and bishop with 16. Qxc6. Black’s development was very bad, also Black’s queenside pawns were shattered and White had two bishops. The only disadvantage was that White didn't have a queen! Daniel King liked White’s position a lot. I give the game since I didn’t do so yesterday.

Biel 2014
Round Seven
July 21, 2014
Giri, Anish – Harkrishna, Pentala
E04 Catalan, Open (5.Nf3)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Ne5 Bc6 7. Nxc6 Nxc6 8. e3 Qd7 9. O-O O-O-O 10. Nd2 e5 11. Nxc4 exd4 12. exd4 Qe6 13. Qa4 Rxd4 14. b3 Ne4 15. Bb2 Nc5 16. Qxc6 bxc6 17. Bxd4 Ne4 18. Rae1 f5 19. f3 Qd5 20. fxe4 Qxd4 21. Kh1 Bb4 22. Rd1 Qc3 23. Rc1 Qd4 24. Rcd1 Qc3 25. Rc1 Qd4 26. Rcd1 ½-½

According to Stockfish, in the three games played today, there were no weak moves and they all ended in draws.

Tomorrow’s Round Nine Pairings

Wojtaszek – Harikrishna
Giri – Vachier-Lagrave
Yifan Hou – Alexander Motylev
_________

Alexander Motylev was born in Russia, June 17, 1979.

He was interviewed by Misha Savinov in 2005 for Chess Café. Excerpts from that interview:

MS: You give the impression that you are very modest man and rather withdrawn, an introvert...

AM: I simply try to limit my conversation because I’m afraid to say something stupid. No, I’m kidding. I am indeed an introvert, but I am able to change when in the company of trusted friends.

MS: Does playing chess at a high level break one’s character? Can one keep their personality intact, despite fighting at the board regularly?

AM: Chess certainly breaks one’s character, like any other highly competitive sport. It also develops some character traits that are not always useful in ordinary life. For instance, people discuss the notorious “killer instinct” – saying, one is a good player, but if one doesn’t possess it, he’s hopeless. Bad luck.

MS: Could “prophylactic thinking” at the board develop into a general feeling of jealousy?

AM: Of course, one has to find the right balance. I like the title of Vassily Smyslov’s book: In Search of Harmony. This phrase describes my own creative approach in the best way possible.

MS: You are known to be a very strong football player, even approaching a professional level. Is that true?

AM: I think I’m good only among other chess-playing football amateurs... I’ve never played against professionals.

MS: What other grandmasters are strong football players?

AM: Pavel Tregubov is good. In general, football is probably the favorite sport of chessplayers. For example, during the recent Russian team championship in Sochi we played football every day – and the lineup was quite strong.

MS: How did you develop your football skills?

AM: I just played with friends. I don’t have any club preferences, I just enjoy watching good matches such as Chelsea – Barcelona, although playing is still more exciting. When I was a kid I liked football just as much as chess. I studied chess in a group for half a year and then dropped out. However, my first trainer, Anatoly Ivanovich Litovsky, suggested I return to the chess school after I defeated one of his pupils at a tournament. I strongly objected, but then he approached my physical training teacher, who was an authority figure, and asked him to reassure me. The teacher just came to me and said: “Sasha, you should study chess.” And I said: “OK.”

MS: And you didn’t quit chess again?

AM: I started to enjoy it. It is also kind of a family tradition: my father is a candidate master, and my grandfather was also very interested in chess. My grandfather helped me a lot and he traveled to competitions with me; even though he was an invalid because of the war and needed a walking stick. My second trainer Anatoly Timofeyevich Terentjev greatly assisted my improvement.

MS: Korotylev said that you started as a combinational player, but have recently drifted towards positional play. Tell me about this evolution of your style, what is the reason for it?

AM: It’s simple – before I only could play for a mate. Now I’m trying to play according to the position. If it demands sacrifices, I sacrifice, otherwise I play positionally. Nevertheless, I still prefer to sacrifice!

MS: Style is normally influenced by favorite players. Did you have any?

AM: Initially I liked games of Tal and Kasparov, later I added Petrosian and Smyslov.

MS: When should one start learning chess?

AM: Children should start playing at ages 3 or 4. The most important thing is whether a kid likes it!

MS: Should the parents work with their child if they can play at reasonable level, but have no teaching experience?

AM: The parent’s level has no relevance to their teaching skill, and vise versa. The answer is different in each individual case.

MS: When did you start? What were your first official results?

AM: My father taught me the rules when I was 4 ½. At 6, I studied chess in a group for half a year, then quit, and returned the next year. I became a candidate master at the age of 11. My best official results were winning the Russian junior championships under 16 and under 18.

MS: What would be your advice for young players who choose a professional career in chess?

AM: That they do so only if they love it.

**Jack Maguire** · Wednesday, 23rd July, 2014, 12:39 PM

Re: Biel 2014

With Giri beating Vachier-Lagrave today, while both Hou and Wojtaszek secured wins, the 10th and final round will still be a battle for 1st. Both Hou and Wojtaszek are now within a 1/2 point of Vachier-Lagrave.

I was particularly impressed with Hou's win today. After 24 moves she had to find 25.Bf3 (presumably not particularly onerous for a strong GM) just to have drawing chances. After seeing that move, I stopped watching the game, assuming it was now nothing but a draw. When I subsequently checked back she had a totally winning position. Her penchant for finding nothing but 'blue' moves (according to Stockfish) ultimately allowed her to prevail.

**Wayne Komer** · Wednesday, 23rd July, 2014, 12:50 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Nine
July 23, 2014

Chess.com’s introduction to Vachier-Lagrave’s game with Motylev (Round Seven) began this way:

“Though he is more likely to call the bilingual Swiss town "Bienne," its French name, chess fans are seeing that his recent play is more than just "bien." According to his FIDE profile, he has not lost a game in all of 2014, and in fact his unbeaten streak has just hit 50 games!

The best French player of all time won again today, surviving a scary assault on his pawnless king against the current European Champion.”

The best French player of all time was starting to run away with the tournament. Today, short on time before the control, he played 36…Nd6 and Giri had a winning game.

Biel 2014
Round Nine
July 23, 2014
Giri, Anish – Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime
E60 King’s Indian Defence

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 e6 4. e4 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Nc3 dxe4 7. fxe4 Bb4 8. Bd3 Nxe4 9. Qe2 O-O 10. Bxe4 Re8 11. Nf3 Bf5 12. Bg5 Bxc3 13. bxc3 f6 14. Nd2 fxg5 15. O-O Nd7 16. Qc4 Be6 17. Bd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 Kh8 19. Rae1 c6 20. Qb3 Nb6 21. Nf3 Rxe1 22. Rxe1 Qf6 23. Qe6 Qxe6 24. Rxe6 g4 25. Ne5 Nd5 26. c4 Nf4 27. Re7 Ne2 28. Kf2 Nxd4 29. Rxb7 a5 30. Nd7 Ne6 31. Kg3 Rd8 32. Nf6 Ng5 33. Kxg4 h6 34. Nd7 Nf7 35. Kf4 g5 36. Ke3 Nd6 37. Rb8 Rxb8 38. Nxb8 Nxc4 39. Kd4 Nb6 40. Nxc6 a4 41. Kc5 Nc8 42. Kb4 Nb6 43. Kc5 Nc8 44. Kb4 Nb6 45. Kb5 Nd5 46. Kxa4 Kg7 47. Nb4 Ne3 48. Kb5 Kf7 49. a4 Ke6 50. a5 Kd7 51. a6 Kc8 52. Kc5 1-0

Biel 2014
Round Nine
July 23, 2014
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw – Harikrishna, Pentala
D85 Grunfeld Exchange Variation 7.Bb5 ch

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bb5 Nc6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. O-O Na5 10. Bf4 Bd7 11. Be2 c5 12. d5 Bg4 13. e5 Qd7 14. Re1 Rad8 15. h3 Bf5 16. c4 e6 17. Qd2 b6 18. d6 Be4 19. Ng5 Bb7 20. Rad1 Kh8 21. Qe3 Nc6 22. Nf3 Nb4 23. Rd2 Qa4 24. Bd1 Qa6 25. Bg5 Rd7 26. Bf6 Bxf6 27. exf6 Bxf3 28. Bxf3 Qc8 29. Qe4 Rg8 30. a3 Na6 31. Bd1 Nb8 32. Ba4 Rdd8 33. g4 Qa6 34. Qc2 Qb7 35. Qc3 Nc6 36. Bxc6 Qxc6 37. Rxe6 Rgf8 38. Qe5 Qf3 39. Qe3 Qc6 40. Re7 Rd7 1-0

Biel 2014
Round Nine
July 23, 2014
Hou Yifan - Motylev, Alexander
B18 Caro-Kann, Classical Variation

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. N1e2 Nf6 7. Nf4 e5 8. Nxg6 hxg6 9. dxe5 Qa5 10. Bd2 Qxe5 11. Qe2 Nbd7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. Qxe5 Nxe5 14. h3 Bc5 15. f4 Ned7 16. Bc4 Bf2 17. Nf1 Rhf8 18. Bb4 Bc5 19. Bxc5 Nxc5 20. Ng3 b5 21. Rxd8 Kxd8 22. Be2 Kc7 23. Rd1 Nd5 24. Rf1 f5 25. Bf3 Nxf4 26. Bxc6 Nfd3 27. cxd3 Kxc6 28. Kc2 Re8 29. Kd2 Rd8 30. Rf3 Nb7 31. Ne2 Nd6 32. Nf4 Nc4 33. Kc2 Ne5 34. Re3 Kd6 35. Rg3 Rf8 36. d4 Rc8 37. Kd1 Nd7 38. Rxg6 Nf6 39. Rxg7 Rc4 40. Ne2 Ra4 41. a3 b4 42. axb4 Rxb4 43. Kc2 Nd5 44. g3 Ne3 45. Kd3 Nd1 46. b3 Nf2 47. Kc3 a5 48. Ra7 Nd1 49. Kd2 Nf2 50. Kc2 1-0

On Chessbomb, Hou Yifan has an enthusiastic gallery:

Kibitzer1: IMHO Hou is already better than Judit and would win a match against her

Kibitzer2: Hou Hou

Kibitzer3: This is hou you do it, boys!

Kibitzer4: And a hearty thanks to Giri, who beat the tournament leader

Kibitzer5: So Hou has a chance to win the championship in the last round?

Kibitzer6: If VL loses..

Standing after Round Nine

Vachier-Lagrave 5.5/9
Wojtaszek 5.0/9
Hou Yifan 5.0/9
Giri 4.5/9
Harikrishna 4.0/9
Motylev 3.0/9

Round Ten Pairings

Harikrishna – Hou Yifan
Motylev – Giri
V-Lagrave - Wojtaszek

**Wayne Komer** · Thursday, 24th July, 2014, 01:44 PM

Re: Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Round Ten
July 24, 2014

The first game to finish is Motylev-Giri. White is better, Motylev is in last place though and so, a draw by repetition.

Biel 2014
Round Ten
July 24, 2014
Motylev, Alexander – Giri, Anish
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f4 b5 10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12. Qe3 Be7 13. f5 Qa5 14. Kb1 b4 15. Ne2 Qe5 16. Qb6 Qb5 17. Qf2 Qe5 18. Qb6 Qb5 19. Qf2 Qe5 ½-½

Biel 2014
Round Ten
July 24, 2014
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw
B92 Sicilian, Najdorf, Opocensky Variation

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be7 8. Bg5 Be6 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Qd3 Be7 11. Nd5 Nd7 12. Rd1 Bxd5 13. Qxd5 Qc7 14. Qc4 Qxc4 15. Bxc4 Nf6 16. Bd5 Nxd5 17. Rxd5 Rc8 18. c3 g6 19. Ke2 Kd7 20. Rhd1 Ke6 21. Nd2 f5 22. a4 Rhd8 23. c4 Rc6 24. b3 Rf8 25. f4 exf4 26. Kf3 Rc5 27. Re1 Kd7 28. Rxc5 dxc5 29. exf5 Rxf5 30. Ne4 h5 31. Nc3 g5 32. h3 Bd6 33. Nd5 Be5 34. h4 gxh4 35. Rh1 Rg5 36. Rxh4 Rg3 37. Ke4 Bd6 38. Rxh5 Rxb3 39. Rh6 Rb2 40. Nf6 Kc6 41. Kf5 Bb8 42. a5 ½-½

Biel 2014
Round Ten
July 24, 2014
Harikrishna, Pentala – Hou, Yifan
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Lipnitzky Attack

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Qe2 d5 10. Bb3 Be7 11. Ba4 Bd7 12. e5 Ng8 13. Qg4 g6 14. Ne2 h5 15. Qf3 Nh6 16. Bxh6 Rxh6 17. c4 Kf8 18. Nd4 Rc8 19. Rac1 c5 20. Bxd7 Qxd7 21. Ne2 d4 22. b4 h4 23. bxc5 Rh5 24. Rfd1 Rxe5 25. Nxd4 Qe8 26. Qf4 Rcxc5 27. Nb3 Rf5 28. Qh6 Kg8 29. Nxc5 Bxc5 30. Rc2 Be7 31. Qe3 Qc6 32. Kh1 Kh7 33. Rd4 Kg7 34. Qe4 Qb6 35. Rd1 Bf6 36. Qe3 Qc6 37. c5 Kh7 38. h3 Be7 39. Rd4 Kg8 40. Rdc4 a5 41. Qc3 Rd5 42. Qf3 Qd7 43. Rc1 Rf5 44. c6 Rxf3 45. cxd7 Rd3 46. Rc7 Bd8 47. Rb7 Kf8 48. Kg1 Ke7 49. Kf1 Rd2 50. Rc8 g5 51. Ke1 Rd5 52. Ke2 f5 53. Ke3 Rd1 54. Ke2 Rd4 55. Rbb8 Rxd7 56. Rc3 Rd4 57. Rd3 Re4 58. Kd2 Rf4 59. f3 Bc7 60. Rb7 Rc4 61. Rc3 Rxc3 62. Kxc3 Kd6 63. Kc4 Kc6 64. Ra7 Bb6 65. Ra8 Bc7 66. Ra7 Kb6 67. Ra8 Kc6 68. a4 Kd7 69. Ra6 Bd8 70. Kb5 Bc7 71. Kc5 Bd8 72. Ra7 Bc7 73. Rb7 1-0

At move 29 Yifan had 5 minutes left on the clock against Harikrishna’s 46 mins. She played 29…Bxc5 when there was a bishop fork available with this interesting line: (29... Bg5 30. Qxg5 Rxg5 31. Ne4 Qe7 32. Nxg5 Qxg5 33. c5 h3 34. g3 Qg4 35. Kf1 Qe4 36. Rc3 Qh1 37. Ke2 Qe4 38. Kd2 Qd5 39. Kc1 Qxa2 40. Rdd3 Qa5 41. g4 Qc7 42. Rxh3)

Her online fans cheered her on chessbomb.com, at one point a kibitzer pleading with Harikrishna not to keep finding computer moves to beat her!

At a certain time, with Giri having drawn and Vachier-Lagrave not doing well against Wojtaszek, it looked well for Hou winning everything but finally her time troubles and Harikrishna ground her down.

Kibitzer1: Do you realize that Hou Yifan has gained 36 rating points?!

Kibitzer2: She’s shown she can play with the guys and hold her own. She usually comes in somewhere in the middle of the pack in the Chinese champs.

Kibitzer3: China is in trouble at the top of chess. They actually have too many players competing for too few international spots with Wang Hao blocking everyone’s advancement.

The game continues with Harikrishna having a winning evaluation but not winning and the kibitzers criticizing his technique.

Finally, Hou Yifan resigns.

Final Standing

1. Vachier-Lagrave 6/10
2. Wojtaszek 5.5/10
3-5 Harikrishna 5.0/10
3-5 Hou Yifan 5.0/10
3-5 Giri 5.0/10
6. Motylev 3.5/10

Vachier-Lagrave is now World Number 9 and has added to his reputation. Hou Yifan has garnered a number of elo rating points and is close to Judit Polgar’s standing. Hou has proved she can play among the men and do well. Giri is having growing pains evidently. His next big test is playing in the Olympiad where he would be top board for the Netherlands.

_________
Post-script

Just two quotes on the tournament:

From Jan Gustafsson:

Sad ending for Hou Yifan. Still the best female Biel performance since Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

and he posts a YouTube clip of Jessica Biel from the Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

_______

After the Round Nine game where Giri beat MVL after the infamous 36….Nd6:

"I'm not really upset," Vachier-Lagrave said. "Anish played a really good game."

"You're lying -- you are upset, I know this," Giri laughed.

Biel 2014

Biel 2014

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment