World Mind Games Beijing 2014

[Wayne Komer]

World Mind Games Beijing 2014

December 11, 2014

The SportAccord World Mind Chess Games 2014 are taking place 11-17th December 2014 in Beijing, China.

The sports covered are bridge, chess, draughts, Go and xiangqi. It is rather interesting to read, “The 4th edition of the World Mind Games opens with the big one - last year’s draughts sensation at the World Mind Games, N’Cho Joel Atse of Ivory Coast taking on reigning world champion, Aleksandr Georgiev from Russia in the opening game of the draughts rapid first round”.

http://www.worldmindgames.net/en/

But let us return to our sheep – chess - one of the strongest rapid and blitz events of the year has Levon Aronian, Alexander Grischuk, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Vassily Ivanchuk, Lenier Dominguez Perez, Ruslan Ponomariov, Teimour Radjabov, Boris Gelfand, Petar Leko, Etienne Bacrot, Anish Giri, Yue Wang, Radoslaw Wojtaszek and Hao Wang.

The chess schedule:

Thursday, 11 Dec.
Rapid tournament (men and women)
Rounds 1 – 4

Friday, 12 Dec.
Rapid tournament (men and women)
Rounds 5 – 7

Saturday 13 Dec.
Blitz (men and women)
Rounds 1 – 10

Sunday 14 Dec.
Blitz (men and women)
Rounds 11 – 20

Monday 15 Dec.
Blitz (men and women)
Rounds 21 – 30

Tuesday 16 Dec.
Basque System
Men and Women (Rounds 1 – 3)

Wednesday 17 Dec.
Basque System
Men and Women (Rounds 4 – 5)

“Two players, twenty minutes and two chess boards”, is how the World Mind Games introduces the Basque system.

Blitz has got some criticism lately. To have 30 rounds in three days seems more like a Festivus feat of strength than tournament chess, but what can you do? I would dearly love for Vassily Ivanchuk to come through big time in that marathon.

In the rapids, the first four games have finished today and Vassily has tied with Bacrot, lost to Mamedyarov and Gelfand and drawn with Harikrishna.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Mind Games Beijing 2014

World Mind Games 2014 Rapid

December 12, 2014

Chess24 reported the result:

“Russian flags were flying in Beijing as Russian number ones Alexander Grischuk and Valentina Gunina both came from behind to win the chess rapid section of the 2014 SportAccord World Mind Games. That meant two days’ work earned Grischuk $18,000 and Gunina $10,000, with two more events – blitz and Basque (players play each other on two boards simultaneously) – to come.”

The Final Standing

1. Grischuk, Alexander 5/7
2. Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime 4.5
3. Wang Hao 4.5
4. Aronian, Levon 4.5
5. Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar 4.5
6. Nepomniachtchi, Ian 4
7. Ivanchuk, Vassily 4
8. Wang Yue 3.5
9. Gelfand, Boris 3.5
10. Dominguez, Perez Leinier 3
11. Leko, Peter 3

Grischuk was unbeaten with three wins and four draws. A victory over Ivanchuk in the penultimate round was crucial to his first place standing.

Because of the time difference, it was possible on the East Coast here to watch Ivanchuk vs Harikrishna before going to bed – if you didn’t mind the opening giving you nightmares!

World Mind Games 2014 Rapid
Round 4, Dec. 12, 2014
Harikrishna, P. – Ivanchuk, Vassily
A80 Dutch, 2. Bg5 Variation

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 g5 4. e3 Nf6 5. Be2 d6 6. Bh5+ Kd7 7. Bg3 Nxh5 8. Qxh5 Qe8 9. Qe2 Kd8 10. Nc3 Nd7 11. h4 g4 12. e4 fxe4 13. Nxe4 Nf6 14. Nxf6 exf6 15. O-O-O h5 16. Qxe8+ Kxe8 17. Ne2 Kf7 18. d5 Bh6+ 19. Bf4 Re8 20. Bxh6 Rxe2 21. Rd2 Re7 22. g3 Bf5 23. Be3 Rae8 24. Rd4 Re4 25. Rhd1 b6 26. Rxe4 Rxe4 27. b3 Ke7 28. Rd4 Rxd4 29. Bxd4 Be4 30. c4 a5 31. Kd2 Bb1 32. Kc1 Be4 33. Kd2 Bb1 ½-½

World Mind Games 2014 Rapid
Round 6, Dec. 12, 2014
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Grischuk, Alexander
D86 Grunfeld, Exchange, Classical Variation

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 O-O 10. O-O b6 11. Qd2 Bb7 12. Rfd1 e6 13. Bh6 Rc8 14. Rac1 Bxh6 15. Qxh6 cxd4 16. cxd4 Na5 17. Bd3 Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Nc6 19. Qe3 Qd6 20. e5 Qe7 21. Be4 Nb4 22. a3 Bxe4 23. axb4 Bb7 24. Qd2 Rd8 25. f3 Kg7 26. h4 h6 27. b5 a6 28. bxa6 Bxa6 29. Nf4 Bb7 30. Rb1 Qc7 31. Qb2 Ba8 32. Ne2 Rb8 33. Qb4 Qd8 34. h5 gxh5 35. Rc1 Bd5 36. Qd2 Qg5 37. Qf4 b5 38. Kf2 Bc4 39. Ng3 h4 40. Qxg5+ hxg5 41. Ne4 Kg6 42. Nd6 Bd5 43. Nc8 b4 44. Ne7+ Kg7 45. Nxd5 exd5 46. f4 g4 47. f5 b3 48. Ke3 b2 49. Rb1 Rb3+ 50. Kf4 h3 51. gxh3 gxh3 52. f6+ Kf8 53. Kf5 h2 54. e6 h1=Q 55. e7+ Ke8 0-1

Grischuk is World #3 in Rapid after Caruana and Carlsen and just edging out Nakamura.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Mind Games Beijing 2014

Sport Accord World Mind Games Blitz 2014
Round One
December 13, 2014
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
C00 French Defence

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. d4 Nc6 5. h3 Be6 6. Bd3 Qd7 7. O-O O-O-O 8. Nbd2 f6 9. Nb3 g5 10. Re1 g4 11. Nh4 Kb8 12. Qe2 Bf7 13. Bf5 Qd6 14. Bxg4 Nge7 15. c3 h5 16. Be6 Bg6 17. Nc5 b6 18. Nxg6 Nxg6 19. Qb5 Nh4 20. Kf1 Rh7 21. g3 Ng6 22. Bf5 Nce7 23. Bxg6 Nxg6 24. Re6 1-0

Round 2 Blitz, Dec. 13
Radjabov, Teimour – Ivanchuk, Vassily
B02 Alekhine Defence, Scandinavian Variation

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. exd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 Nb6 7. O-O Nc6 8. a4 a5 9. d4 O-O 10. Be3 Bf5 11. Qe2 Nb4 12. Rac1 c6 13. Ne5 N6d5 14. Nxd5 Nxd5 15. Bd2 Qb6 16. Bc3 Rad8 17. Rfe1 Rfe8 18. h3 h5 19. Rcd1 Qc7 20. Rc1 c5 21. dxc5 Nxc3 22. bxc3 Qxc5 23. c4 b6 24. Qe3 Qxe3 25. Rxe3 Rd2 26. Nc6 Kf8 27. Rb3 Bd7 28. c3 Bxc6 1-0

Round 3 Blitz, Dec. 13
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Wang Yue
D40 QGD Tarrasch Defence

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c5 5. e3 a6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Be2 Nc6 8. O-O Bd6 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. b3 O-O 11. Bb2 Ba7 12. Rc1 h6 13. Qd3 d4 14. exd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. Qxd4 Bxd4 17. Bf3 Rb8 18. Rfd1 Ba7 19. Ba3 Re8 20. Bd6 Ra8 21. h3 g5 22. Re1 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Bf5 24. Bxb7 Rd8 25. Be5 Rd2 26. Re2 Rxe2 27. Nxe2 Nd7 28. Bd4 Bxd4 29. Nxd4 Bd3 30. b4 Kf8 31. f3 Ke7 32. Kf2 Bc4 33. a3 Kd6 34. Nf5+ Kc7 35. Be4 h5 36. h4 gxh4 37. Nxh4 Nf6 38. Nf5 Nxe4+ 39. fxe4 f6 40. g3 Ba2 41. Ke3 Kd7 42. Kd4 Kc6 43. Kc3 Bb1 44. Kd4 Kb5 45. Ng7 Ka4 46. Nxh5 Kxa3 47. Nxf6 Kxb4 48. g4 a5 49. g5 a4 50. g6 Ba2 51. Nd5+ Bxd5 52. Kxd5 a3 53. g7 a2 54. g8=Q a1=Q 55. Qb8+ 1-0

Round 4 Blitz, Dec. 13
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime – Ivanchuk, Vassily
C15 French Defence, Exchange Variation

1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Ne2 Nge7 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 Bf5 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Qd6 11. Bf3 Rad8 12. Bg5 Qg6 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Re1 Qf6 15. Qd2 c6 16. Ne2 Nc8 17. Ng3 Nd6 18. b3 Rfe8 19. c3 Bg6 20. a4 h6 21. h3 Qg5 22. Qb2 Nf5 23. Nxf5 Bxf5 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. Qc1 Qg6 26. Kh2 Qd6+ 27. Kg1 Qg6 28. Kh2 Bc2 29. a5 Be4 30. Bxe4 Rxe4 31. Qd2 Qe6 32. Qd3 Re2 33. Qg3 Kh7 34. Rf1 Qe7 35. Qd3+ g6 36. Qf3 a6 37. b4 h5 38. Rd1 Kg7 39. Rd3 Re4 40. Re3 Rxe3 41. fxe3 Qd6+ 42. Qf4 Qxf4+ 43. exf4 h4 44. g4 hxg3+ 45. Kxg3 Kh6 46. Kg4 f6 47. f5 g5 48. h4 gxh4 49. Kxh4 Kh7 50. Kg4 1/2-1/2

Round 5 Blitz, Dec. 13
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Wojtaszek, Radoslaw
A30 English Symmetrical, Hedgehog System

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 c5 6. O-O Be7 7. Re1 Ne4 8. Nxe4 Bxe4 9. d3 Bb7 10. e4 Nc6 11. d4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 O-O 14. b3 Bc5 15. Qd3 Qe7 16. Bb2 Bc6 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Re2 a5 19. h4 f6 20. Kh2 e5 21. Bh3 Rf7 22. f3 Rdf8 23. Bc1 Rd8 24. Be3 Bxe3 25. Qxe3 Qc5 26. Be6 Qe7 27. Bxf7+ Qxf7 28. Qxb6 Rf8 29. Qe3 f5 30. Rdd2 Qh5 31. exf5 Rxf5 32. Rf2 Bxf3 33. Rxd7 h6 34. Rdd2 Qg4 35. c5 e4 36. c6 Rh5 37. Rg2 Qc8 38. Rc2 Qc7 39. Qf4 Qc8 40. c7 Rd5 41. Rgd2 Rxd2+ 42. Qxd2 Kh7 43. Qd8 Qa6 44. c8=Q Qf1 45. Qf5+ 1-0

Round 6 Blitz, Dec. 13
Leko, Peter – Ivanchuk, Vassily
B03 Alekine’s Defence, Exchange Variation

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bd3 c6 8. Nge2 Na6 9. b3 d5 10. c5 Nd7 11. a3 Nc7 12. b4 O-O 13. O-O Re8 14. Re1 Nf8 15. h3 Bg5 16. Bxg5 Qxg5 17. Qc1 Qf6 18. Qf4 Qxf4 19. Nxf4 Bd7 20. Rxe8 Rxe8 21. f3 Nce6 22. Nfe2 Ng6 23. Kf2 Ngf4 24. Bc2 g5 25. Re1 Nxe2 26. Nxe2 Ng7 27. g4 h5 28. Ng3 Rxe1 29. Kxe1 h4 30. Ne2 Kf8 31. Kf2 Ke7 32. Ke3 f6 33. Bd3 Ne6 34. Bf5 Ng7 35. Bd3 Ne6 36. Bf5 Ng7 1/2-1/2

Round 7 Blitz, Dec. 13
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Aronian, Levon
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bd6 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 O-O 7. Nbd2 b5 8. Bc2 Re8 9. Nf1 Bf8 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 g5 12. Bg3 d5 13. N3d2 d4 14. Nb3 a5 15. a3 Be6 16. h4 dxc3 17. bxc3 b4 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. axb4 axb4 20. Rxa8 Qxa8 21. c4 Rd8 22. Ne3 Bg7 23. Nd5 Qa3 24. Qd2 Qb2 25. Ke2 Bxd5 26. cxd5 Nd4+ 27. Nxd4 Qxd4 28. Qxg5 Qb2 29. Qc1 Qc3 30. Qd2 Nd7 31. Rb1 Qxd2+ 32. Kxd2 Bf8 33. f4 Bh6 34. Ke2 exf4 35. Be1 Bf8 36. Bxb4 Bxb4 37. Rxb4 Ne5 38. d4 Ng4 39. Kf3 Ne3 40. Bd3 Ra8 41. Kxf4 Nxg2+ 42. Ke5 Re8+ 43. Kf6 Nf4 44. Bb1 Nh5+ 45. Kg5 Ng3 46. Kf4 Ne2+ 47. Kf3 Nc3 48. Bd3 f5 49. exf5 Nxd5 50. Bc4 Rd8 51. Rb5 c6 52. Rc5 Kf8 53. Rxc6 Nb4 54. Rf6+ Ke7 55. Re6+ Kf8 56. Ke4 Rc8 57. Bb5 Rc1 58. Ke5 Re1+ 59. Kd6 Rd1 60. Kc5 Nc2 61. Ba4 Rc1 62. Bxc2 Rxc2+ 63. Kd6 Rf2 64. d5 Rxf5 65. Kc6 Kf7 66. Re1 Rf2 67. d6 Rc2+ 68. Kd7 Ra2 69. Rf1+ Kg7 70. Ke8 1-0

Round 8 Blitz, Dec. 13
Gelfand, Boris – Ivanchuk, Vassily
E11 Bogo-Indian, Gruenfeld Variation

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 a5 5. a3 Be7 6. e4 d5 7. e5 Nfd7 8. Bd3 c5 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 cxd4 11. cxd5 Nc5 12. Bb5 Qxd5 13. Nc4 O-O 14. Nb6 Qb3 15. Qxb3 Nxb3 16. Rb1 Rb8 17. Bf4 Rd8 18. Rbd1 Bd7 19. Bc4 Nc5 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21. Rxd4 Bc6 22. Be3 Rxd4 23. Bxd4 Rd8 24. Be3 Nd3 25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. Nc4 a4 27. f3 Bd5 28. Nd6 f6 29. Nc8 Bf8 30. exf6 gxf6 31. Nb6 Bb3 32. Kf2 e5 33. Rc1 Rxe3 34. Nd7 Rd3 35. Nxf6+ Kf7 36. Ne4 Rd7 37. h4 Bd5 38. Ng5+ Kg6 39. Rd1 Bc5+ 40. Kg3 Bd4 0-1

Round 9 Blitz, Dec. 13
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Grischuk, Alexander
B51 Sicilian, Canal-Sokolsky

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. O-O a6 5. Bd3 Ngf6 6. c3 b5 7. Bc2 Bb7 8. Re1 Rc8 9. d3 e5 10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Nf1 O-O 12. Ng3 Re8 13. h3 Bf8 14. Nh2 d5 15. Ng4 d4 16. cxd4 cxd4 17. Bg5 h6 18. Bxf6 Nxf6 19. Bb3 g6 20. Qf3 Bg7 21. Rac1 Qe7 22. a3 h5 23. Nxf6+ Qxf6 24. Qxf6 Bxf6 25. Ne2 Bg5 26. Rxc8 Rxc8 27. g3 Rc7 28. f4 Bf6 29. Rc1 Rxc1+ 30. Nxc1 Kf8 31. Ne2 Ke7 32. Kg2 Bc8 33. Bd5 Bg7 34. b4 f5 35. h4 fxe4 36. Bxe4 Bg4 37. Kf2 Kf7 38. Bd5+ Ke7 39. Be4 Kf7 40. Bb7 Bh6 41. Bxa6 Bxe2 42. Kxe2 exf4 43. Bxb5 fxg3 44. Bc6 g5 45. hxg5 Bxg5 46. a4 Be7 47. b5 Bd8 48. Kf3 h4 49. Kg4 Ke6 50. b6 Bxb6 51. Kxh4 Bc7 52. Kh3 Kd6 53. Bb5 Kc5 54. Kg2 1/2-1/2

Round 10 Blitz, Dec. 13
Dominguez Perez, Leinier – Ivanchuk, Vassily
C07 French, Tarrasch, Open Variation

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nf6 5. e5 Ne4 6. c3 Nc6 7. Bd3 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Qb6 9. O-O c4 10. Bc2 Qxb2 11. Rb1 Qxa2 12. Ng5 h6 13. Ra1 Qb2 14. Rb1 Qa3 15. Qh5 Nd8 16. f4 g6 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18. Qxg6+ Kd7 19. Nxe6 Nxe6 20. f5 Kc7 21. fxe6 Be7 22. Rf7 a5 23. Bc1 Qxc3 24. Rxe7+ Kc6 25. Rf7 Qxd4+ 26. Rf2 Kc7 27. Qg7+ Kc6 28. Bb2 Qd3 29. Rbf1 Bxe6 30. Qe7 Rhe8 31. Qd6+ Kb5 32. Ba3 c3 33. Bc5 Ra6 34. Qc7 Rc6 35. Qxb7+ Kxc5 36. Qa7+ Kb4 37. Ra1 Ra6 38. Rf4+ Kb5 39. Qb7+ Kc5 40. Qc7+ Kb5 41. Qb7+ Kc5 42. Qc7+ Kb5 43. Qb7+ Kc5 1/2-1/2

Standing After Round 10

Ivanchuk 7/10
Leko 7
Aronian 7
Mamedyarov 6
Vachier-Lagrave 6
Grischuk 5.5
Wang Hao 5.5
Radjabov 5
Nepomniachtchi 4.5

(Pavel Eljanov) - It's very nice to see Chuky on the lead in blitz in the World Mind Games! I’n looking forward to another renaissance - we need him very much!

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Mind Games Beijing 2014

World Accord Mind Games 2014
Blitz
Rounds 11 – 20
December 14, 2014

(Press Release)

At the SportAccord World Mind Games 2014, blitz chess requires an extremely fast-paced end game. When the time clock approaches the 0 second mark, a player must react to avoid losing the game on time. Today, Ivanchuk forgot that.

Ahead for the most of the afternoon, and playing in an advantageous position against his opponent Vachier-Lagrave (one of the highest ranked blitz players), the clock read 0:00 and the arbitrator called the end of the match. Ivanchuk, deep in his thoughts and foreseeing his next moves, had not realised his time was up.

Vachier-Lagrave now sits in first with 14 out of 20 points. He showed great skill today but nothing can tell who will take the medals.

It seems at this year’s World Mind Games, Hou Yifan and Valentina Gunina have declared battle. The two ladies are here to win and nothing or no one seems to be stopping them.

Hou Yifan currently leads the board with 15.5 out of 20 while Gunina sits 1.5 points behind. It appears that the cold Beijing weather plays a purpose in this tournament, as we watch Yifan quickly jog to the entrance to grab a breath of “fresh” air in between rounds. Something to consider should your chess play be disappointing you.

In order to give Ivanchuk the ChessTalk “bump”, here are all his games:

Round 11 Blitz, Dec. 14
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
B11 Caro-Kann, Two Knights (3..Bg4)

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.d3 Nd7 7.a3 d4 8.Nb1 c5 9.g3 Ngf6 10.Nd2 Rc8 11.Qe2 b5 12.a4 a6 13.axb5 axb5 14.e5 Nd5 15.Bg2 Nb4 16.Nf3 Be7 17.O-O O-O 18.Bd2 Nc6 19.h4 Qc7 20.Rfe1 h6 21.Bf4 Ra8 22.Rab1 Ra2 23.Nh2 Rc8 24.Qh5 Nf8 25.Be4 Nb4 26.Ng4 Nd5 27.Bxd5 exd5 28.e6 Qb7 29.Qxf7+ Kh8 30.Be5 Nxe6 31.Qxe6 1-0

Round 12 Blitz, Dec. 14
Bacrot, Etienne – Ivanchuk, Vassily
D39 QGD, Ragozin, Vienna Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.Bg5 Bb4 6.e4 c5 7.Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9.bxc3 Qa5 10.Bxf6 Qxc3+ 11.Kf1 gxf6 12.Rc1 Qa5 13.Nb5 a6 14.Nd6+ Ke7 15.h4 Rd8 16.Nxc8+ Rxc8 17.Rh3 Nd7 18.Bb3 Qe5 19.Rg3 Qf4 20.Rcc3 Qxh4 21.Kg1 Qf4 22.Bxe6 Kxe6 23.Qd5+ Ke7 24.Rg7 Ne5 25.Qxb7+ Kf8 26.Rgg3 Rcb8 27.Rc8+ Rxc8 28.Qb4+ Ke8 29.Rg8+ Kd7 30.Qb7+ Kd6 31.Rxc8 Rxc8 32.Qxc8 Qxe4 33.Qxa6+ Qc6 34.Qa3+ Qc5 35.Qh3 Qc1+ 36.Kh2 Qh6 37.Qxh6 Ng4+ 38.Kg3 Nxh6 39.Kf4 Ng8 40.Kf5 Ke7 41.a4 Nh6+ 42.Kf4 Kd6 43.g4 Kc5 44.f3 Kb4 45.Ke4 Kxa4 46.Kd5 Kb4 47.Kd6 Kc4 48.Ke7 Kd4 49.Kxf6 Ke3 50.g5 Nf5 51.Kxf7 Kxf3 52.Kg8 Kf4 53.Kxh7 Kxg5 1/2-1/2

Round 13 Blitz, Dec. 14
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Wang, Hao
B14 Caro-Kann, Panov-Botvinnik Attack (5…e6)

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.cxd5 Nxd5 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nf3 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 Bf6 11.Be4 Nce7 12.Ne5 Bd7 13.Qd3 h6 14.Ng4 Bc6 15.Qg3 Kh8 16.Qh3 Nf5 17.Nxh6 gxh6 18.Bxh6 Nh4 19.Bxf8 Qxf8 20.Bxd5 exd5 21.g3 Qh6 22.Kf1 Rg8 23.Rad1 Qh5 24.gxh4 Rg4 25.Qf3 Qxh4 26.Re3 Bxd4 27.Rxd4 Rxd4 28.Qxf7 Rf4 29.Re8+ Bxe8 30.Qxe8+ Kh7 31.Qd7+ Kh6 32.Qd6+ 0-1

Round 14 Blitz, Dec. 14
Ponomariov, Ruslan – Ivanchuk, Vassily
E39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical, Pirc Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 O-O 6.Nf3 Na6 7.g3 Nxc5 8.Bg2 b6 9.O-O Bb7 10.Nb5 Be4 11.Qd1 Nb7 12.Bf4 a6 13.Nd6 Bxd6 14.Bxd6 Nxd6 15.Qxd6 Qb8 16.Qd4 Qb7 17.Rac1 Rac8 18.Rfd1 Rc7 19.Ne1 Bxg2 20.Nxg2 Rfc8 21.Ne3 d5 22.b3 h6 23.Qb2 dxc4 24.Rxc4 b5 25.Rcd4 Rd7 26.Ng4 Nd5 27.e4 Nb6 28.Rxd7 Nxd7 29.Qd4 Nb8 30.Ne3 Nc6 31.Qd7 Qxd7 32.Rxd7 Nb4 33.a3 Nc2 34.a4 Nxe3 35.fxe3 Rc3 36.axb5 axb5 37.Kf2 Rxb3 38.e5 Rb2+ 39.Kf3 Rxh2 40.Rb7 Rb2 41.g4 b4 42.Kg3 b3 43.Kf3 Rb1 44.Kg3 b2 45.Kg2 Kh7 0-1

Round 15 Blitz, Dec. 14
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Harikrishna, Pentala
A28 English, Nenarokov Variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.d4 exd4 5.Nxd4 Bb4 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne5 9.f4 Ng6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.g3 Nf8 12.Bg2 Ne6 13.Qd2 O-O 14.Rb1 Nc5 15.Nb3 d6 16.Qd4 Qg6 17.O-O Bf5 18.Rb2 Na4 19.Rd2 Rae8 20.Bxb7 c5 21.Qxd6 Re6 22.Qc7 Nxc3 23.Bf3 Ne4 24.Rd8 Rxd8 25.Qxd8+ Kh7 26.Qh4 Nc3 27.g4 Be4 28.Nxc5 Bxf3 29.f5 Rxe2 30.fxg6+ 1-0

Round 16 Blitz, Dec. 14
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Ivanchuk, Vassily
B04 Alekhine’s Defence, Modern, Larsen Variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 dxe5 5.Nxe5 c6 6.c4 Nb4 7.Be3 Bf5 8.Nd3 e5 9.Nxb4 Bxb4+ 10.Nc3 Qa5 11.Qb3 Na6 12.Be2 exd4 13.Bxd4 O-O-O 14.Rd1 Rxd4 15.Rxd4 Nc5 16.Qd1 Na4 17.O-O Nxb2 18.Qb3 Bxc3 19.Rf4 Re8 20.c5 g6 21.Bg4 Bxg4 22.Rxg4 f5 23.Rg3 Bf6 24.Re3 Rxe3 25.Qxe3 Qd8 26.Qe6+ Kb8 27.h3 Na4 28.Qc4 Nc3 29.Re1 Ne4 30.Qe6 a6 31.Rb1 Ka7 32.Qb3 Nxc5 33.Qb4 Bd4 34.Rd1 Ne6 35.Qb3 Qd5 36.Qc2 c5 37.a4 Nf4 0-1

Round 17 Blitz, Dec. 14
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Radjabov, Teimour
C48 Four Knights, Rubinstein Counter-Gambit

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nd4 5.Ba4 Bc5 6.Nxe5 O-O 7.Nd3 Bb6 8.e5 c6 9.exf6 Re8+ 10.Kf1 Qxf6 11.b4 d6 12.Bb2 Qh4 13.h3 Bf5 14.g4 Bxd3+ 15.cxd3 Nb3 16.Rh2 Nxa1 17.Bxa1 d5 18.Ne2 Bc7 19.Rh1 Bb6 20.Ng3 g6 21.Kg2 Re6 22.Qf3 Rae8 23.b5 Qe7 24.bxc6 bxc6 25.Bb2 Qb4 26.Bb3 Qxd2 27.Bc1 Qc3 28.Bg5 Qd4 29.Rf1 Qe5 30.Bf4 Qd4 31.Bg5 Qe5 32.h4 Qg7 33.Rc1 Qb2 34.Rc2 Qd4 35.h5 a5 36.a4 Qb4 37.Ba2 Qxa4 38.Rb2 Qd4 39.Rb1 a4 40.hxg6 hxg6 41.Rh1 a3 42.Rh6 0-1

Round 18 Blitz, Dec. 14
Wang, Yue – Ivanchuk, Vassily
E00 Queen’s Pawn Game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.Nf3 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qc7 6.Bg2 Qxc4 7.O-O Nc6 8.Nc2 Be7 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Bf4 d5 11.Rc1 Rd8 12.Na3 Qb4 13.Nab5 e5 14.Bg5 d4 15.a3 Qxb2 16.Bxf6 dxc3 17.Qa4 Bxf6 18.Rc2 e4 19.Rxb2 cxb2 20.Bxe4 Bh3 21.Rb1 Rac8 22.f3 a6 23.Bxc6 Rxc6 0-1

Round 19 Blitz, Dec. 14
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime
A29 English, Bremen

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Be7 8.d3 O-O 9.Be3 Re8 10.Rc1 Bf8 11.Ne4 Nd4 12.Nc5 Bxc5 13.Rxc5 Bg4 14.Qd2 Bxf3 15.exf3 c6 16.Re1 Qd6 17.Rcc1 Rad8 18.f4 exf4 19.Bxf4 Qd7 20.Be3 Ne6 21.Qa5 Nc8 22.Qb4 a6 23.Qb3 h6 24.Bh3 Re7 25.Red1 Nd4 26.Bxd4 Qxh3 27.Bc5 Re5 28.Qxb7 Rh5 29.Qxc6 Qxh2+ 30.Kf1 Rhd5 0-1

Round 20 Blitz, Dec. 14
Wojtaszek, Radoslaw – Ivanchuk, Vassily
E19 Queen’s Pawn Game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 Bd6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Bg5 h6 8.Bh4 Bc7 9.e3 d6 10.Be2 Nbd7 11.O-O Re8 12.Nd2 a6 13.a4 Nf8 14.h3 Ng6 15.Bg3 Rb8 16.Qc2 Bd7 17.Rab1 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.b4 cxb4 20.Rxb4 Ba5 21.Qb2 Ne5 22.Ra1 Bxb4 23.Qxb4 Bf5 24.Ra6 Rb6 25.Rxb6 Qxb6 26.Bxb5 Bd3 27.Qd4 Qxd4 28.exd4 Bxb5 29.dxe5 dxe5 30.Nxb5 Nxd5 31.Ne4 f6 32.Nbc3 Ne7 33.f4 exf4 34.Bxf4 Nf5 35.Nd6 Nxd6 36.Bxd6 Kf7 37.Kf2 Rd8 38.Bf4 Rd7 39.Ne2 Rd8 40.Nc3 Rd7 41.Ne2 Rd8 1/2-1/2

Standing After 20 Rounds

Vachier-Lagrave 14
Grischuk 13
Ivanchuk 13
Aronian 11.5
Mamedyarov 11.5

Some ChessBomb Kibitzing today:

- I just wanted to point out Ivanchuk’s performance. It is impressive taking into account his age

- It's because Chuky’s starting number is 8 and 8 is considered a lucky number in China

- He’s the clear leader now

- True, Ivanchuk on his best day can beat anyone

- That’s a lie. Ivanchuk on his best day would probably lose to Carlsen on his best day

- I think you meant to say Ivanchuk on his best day can beat anybody else on their worst day

- No, I did not specify the day, but of course go ahead and disagree with Kasparov, who was of the opinion that Ivanchuk on his best day could beat anyone – including Kasparov himself.

- Gelfand said the same thing a few years ago and I tend to agree with him

- And whichever is the case, I admire Ivanchuk’s creative genius more than I admire Carlsen’s precision and stamina, and I do admire Carlsen.

- It’s a matter of opinion anyway

- I also like Ivanchuk’s creativity but a lot of top players like Jobava and Nakamura are equally creative. Besides, that is unrelated to what I was saying. Kasparov, Gelfand and other GMs praised Ivanchuk in that way to highlight his inconsistent chess.

- It is more of an exaggerated euphemism than a candid statement.

[Wayne Komer]

Re: World Mind Games Beijing 2014

World Mind Games 2014
Blitz
Rounds 21 – 30
December 15, 2014

From chess24.com:

Alexander Grischuk has added the SportAccord World Mind Games blitz title to his rapid crown after scoring 19.5/30 in the gruelling three-day event. Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also repeated his rapid result to finish second a point behind, while Teimour Radjabov sprung a surprise by climbing from rock bottom in rapid to third in blitz. In the women’s event World Champion and local hero Hou Yifan swapped places with Valentina Gunina to claim gold by a full three points, while Anna Muzychuk took bronze.

The World Mind Games blitz tournaments were 16-player, 30-round double round-robins split over three days, and with the fast-even-for-blitz time control of 3 min + 2 sec a move some unpredictability was inevitable.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave took the lead after twenty rounds, with Grischuk and Ivanchuk only a point behind. The table would have looked a little different, though, if Ivanchuk hadn’t lost on time to Vachier-Lagrave in a perfectly good position.

Perhaps that weighed on the Ukrainian genius, since Ivanchuk went on to lose his first four games on the final day, leaving a two-horse race between Grischuk and Vachier-Lagrave. In the end Grischuk had the greater stability, drawing his final three games to clinch the title, since Maxime lost to Dominguez in the penultimate round.

Ian Nepomniachtchi was the only player to win both games against Grischuk, but that was nothing compared to making a draw a piece down in a 109-move game against Wang Yue!

Final Standing
Grischuk 19.5
Vachier-Lagrave 18.5
Radjabov 18
Aronian 17.5
Ivanchuk 17
Mamedyarov 17
Nepomniachtchi 17

I’ll give all of Ivanchuk’s games as usual, to see how he pulled out of the four-game slide:

Round 21 Blitz, Dec. 15
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Leko, Peter
E15 Queen’s Indian, Nimzowitsch Var.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.b3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Be7 7.Bg2 c6 8.Bc3 d5 9.Nbd2 Nbd7 10.Qc2 c5 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Ne5 Nxe5 13.Bxe5 O-O 14.O-O Rc8 15.e3 Qb6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Rac1 Bb7 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Bb2 Qe6 20.Re1 h6 21.e4 d4 22.Nc4 Nd7 23.f4 Nb6 24.Bf1 Re8 25.Bd3 Bf8 26.Re2 Ba6 27.Ne5 Bxd3 28.Qxd3 Bd6 29.Nf3 Rb8 30.Rcc2 a5 31.Bc1 a4 32.f5 Qd7 33.Bf4 axb3 34.axb3 Ra8 35.Kg2 Bf8 36.Ne5 Qb7 37.Nf3 Nd7 38.Bc1 Nf6 39.e5 Nd5 40.e6 Nb4 41.exf7+ Qxf7 42.Rxe8 Rxe8 43.Qd2 Nxc2 44.Qxc2 Qd5 45.Kf2 0-1

Round 22 Blitz, Dec. 15
Aronian, Levon – Ivanchuk, Vassily
A04 Reti

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 g6 3.g3 f5 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.c3 Bg7 6.Qb3 e6 7.Nbd2 O-O 8.O-O Kh8 9.Re1 Ne4 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Ng5 d5 12.f3 h6 13.Nh3 e5 14.dxe5 Nc6 15.f4 Na5 16.Qd1 b6 17.Nf2 Bb7 18.b3 Qe7 19.e3 Rfd8 20.Bb2 Ba6 21.Qg4 Kh7 22.c4 c6 23.h4 Bc8 24.Qe2 Be6 25.Rac1 Rac8 26.h5 g5 27.Bh3 Bxh3 28.Nxh3 Nb7 29.cxd5 cxd5 30.Qg4 Rxc1 31.Rxc1 Nc5 32.Ba3 d4 33.exd4 Rxd4 34.fxg5 Qxe5 35.Bxc5 bxc5 36.gxh6 Bf6 1-0

Round 23 Blitz, Dec. 15
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Gelfand, Boris
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Adams Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.h3 e5 7.Nb3 Be6 8.f4 g6 9.Be2 Nc6 10.O-O exf4 11.Bxf4 d5 12.exd5 Nxd5 13.Nxd5 Qxd5 14.Bf3 Qc4 15.c3 Rd8 16.Qe1 Bg7 17.Bg5 Rd7 18.Qe3 Ne5 19.Be2 Qc8 20.Bf6 Bxf6 21.Rxf6 Qc7 22.Nc5 Re7 23.Nxe6 Rxe6 24.Rxe6+ fxe6 25.Re1 O-O 26.Bd1 Rf5 27.Bc2 Nf3+ 28.Kf2 Rf6 29.gxf3 0-1

Round 24 Blitz, Dec. 15
Grischuk, Alexander – Ivanchuk, Vassily
D02 Queen’s Bishop Game

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 c6 3.e3 Bf5 4.Nf3 e6 5.Be2 Bd6 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.O-O Nd7 8.c4 Ngf6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Nh4 Be4 11.Rc1 Rfd8 12.a3 h6 13.b4 Bh7 14.Nf3 dxc4 15.Bxc4 a5 16.Qb3 axb4 17.axb4 Ne4 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Nd2 Bd5 20.b5 Nb6 21.Qb2 Ra4 22.Bxd5 cxd5 23.Qc2 Rc8 24.Qd3 Qa3 25.Qxa3 Rxa3 26.Rxc8+ Nxc8 27.h3 Nd6 28.b6 Rd3 29.Nf3 Rb3 30.Rc1 Nc4 31.Ne5 Rxb6 32.Nxc4 Rc6 33.Rb1 dxc4 34.Rxb7 c3 35.Rb1 Ra6 36.Rc1 Ra3 37.Kf1 f5 38.Rc2 Kf7 39.Ke2 Kf6 40.Kd3 e5 41.dxe5+ Kxe5 42.Rxc3 Ra2 43.Rc5+ Ke6 44.Rc2 Ra3+ 45.Ke2 Kf6 46.Rc6+ Kf7 47.Kf3 Ra4 48.g4 fxg4+ 49.hxg4 Rb4 50.Kg3 Ra4 51.f4 Rb4 52.Kf3 Rb3 53.f5 Ra3 54.Kf4 Ra1 55.Rc7+ Kf6 56.Rc6+ Kf7 57.e4 Rf1+ 58.Ke5 Rg1 59.Rc7+ Kg8 60.Kd6 Rxg4 61.e5 Rd4+ 62.Ke7 h5 63.e6 h4 64.Rc8+ Kh7 65.Kf7 h3 66.e7 Rd7 67.Rc3 1-0

Round 25 Blitz, Dec. 15
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Dominguez, Leinier
A04 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 c5 2.e3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 O-O 6.Be2 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.O-O Nc6 9.Bf4 dxc4 10.d5 Na5 11.Be5 Bf5 12.Qd4 Qb6 13.Rfe1 Rfd8 14.Rad1 Qxd4 15.Nxd4 Nxd5 16.Nxf5 Bxe5 17.Rxd5 Bxc3 18.Nxe7+ Kf8 19.bxc3 b6 20.Bf3 Re8 21.Rdd1 Rad8 22.Rxd8 Rxd8 23.Nd5 Rd6 24.g4 h6 25.Nb4 Rd2 26.Kg2 b5 27.Re5 a6 28.Rc5 Kg7 29.Rc7 Kf6 30.Ra7 Rd6 31.h4 g5 32.hxg5+ hxg5 33.Rxa6 Ke5 34.Rxa5 1-0

Round 26 Blitz, Dec. 15
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Ivanchuk, Vassily
D90 Grunfeld, Three Knights Variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.Nc3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg5 c5 7.Rc1 h6 8.Bh4 Nc6 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Rxc5 Qxa2 11.e3 Qxb2 12.Bc4 Qb4+ 13.Nd2 O-O 14.O-O g5 15.Bg3 e5 16.Rb5 Qe7 17.d5 a6 18.Rb6 Qc5 19.Qb1 Na5 20.Ba2 Bf5 21.Rc1 Qa3 22.e4 Rac8 23.Re1 Bd7 24.h4 g4 25.Nf1 Rc3 26.Kh2 Rfc8 27.Ne3 Rc1 28.Rxc1 Rxc1 29.Qb2 Qxb2 30.Rxb2 b5 31.d6 Nb7 32.Rd2 Kf8 33.Nf5 f6 34.Nxg7 Kxg7 35.Bd5 Nc5 36.f4 exf4 37.Bxf4 b4 38.e5 Re1 39.Rc2 Ne6 40.Bxe6 Bxe6 41.Rc7+ Kg6 42.Re7 Kf5 43.exf6 Kxf6 44.Bxh6 Rd1 45.Bf4 b3 46.Rb7 a5 47.h5 a4 48.h6 Bf5 49.Rb6 a3 50.d7+ Kf7 51.Be5 b2 52.Rf6+ Ke7 53.Rxf5 b1=Q 54.h7 1/2-1/2

Round 27 Blitz, Dec. 15
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Bacrot, Etienne
A33 English, Symmetrical Variation

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 e6 6.a3 Bc5 7.Nf3 O-O 8.b4 Be7 9.Bb2 d6 10.e3 e5 11.Bd3 h6 12.O-O Be6 13.Qe2 Rc8 14.Rfd1 a6 15.Rac1 Qc7 16.b5 Na5 17.Nd5 Qd8 18.bxa6 bxa6 19.Nxf6+ Bxf6 20.Nd2 Be7 21.c5 Rxc5 22.Rxc5 dxc5 23.Bxe5 Qb6 24.Rb1 Qc6 25.Bc3 Qa4 26.Bxa6 c4 27.Bxa5 Qxa5 28.Bxc4 Bf5 29.Rf1 Qxa3 30.Nf3 Qc5 31.Nd4 Be4 32.Bd3 Ba8 33.Rb1 Bf6 34.Nf3 g6 35.h3 Rd8 36.Rd1 Rc8 37.Rb1 Kg7 38.Rd1 h5 39.Rf1 Rd8 40.Rd1 Rc8 41.Rb1 Qc3 42.Rd1 Rb8 43.Qd2 Qc5 44.Rc1 Qa3 45.Bf1 Rb2 46.Qd1 Qa2 47.Ra1 Bxf3 48.gxf3 Qe6 49.Rb1 Ra2 50.Qb3 Qxb3 51.Rxb3 Bh4 52.f4 Bxf2+ 53.Kh1 h4 54.Bc4 Ra7 55.Bd5 f5 56.e4 Bg3 57.exf5 gxf5 58.Rb7+ 1/2-1/2


Round 28 Blitz, Dec. 15
Wang Hao – Ivanchuk, Vassily
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack, Keres Variation

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3.Bg2 Nd7 4.O-O e6 5.d3 Bd6 6.c4 c6 7.Qb3 Qb6 8.Be3 Qxb3 9.axb3 a6 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Ne7 12.Bd2 Nc5 13.Ra3 e5 14.b4 Ne6 15.e3 dxc4 16.dxc4 f5 17.Bc3 O-O-O 18.Nd2 Rd7 19.Raa1 e4 20.Be2 Kb8 21.Nb3 Rhd8 22.Rfd1 Ng6 23.b5 axb5 24.cxb5 Be5 25.Rxd7 Rxd7 26.Bc4 Ng5 27.bxc6 bxc6 28.Nc5 Ra7 29.Na6+ Kc8 30.h4 Nf3+ 31.Kg2 Bxc3 32.bxc3 Kd8 33.Rd1+ Ke7 34.Nb4 Nge5 35.Be2 g6 36.h5 Ra3 37.Rc1 Kf6 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.c4 Rb3 40.Na2 Rb2 41.Nc3 Ng4 42.Kf1 Nfe5 43.Ra1 Rc2 44.Ra3 Rc1+ 45.Nd1 Nd3 46.Kg2 Nge5 47.Ra6 Rxc4 48.Kf1 Rc1 49.Kg2 Rc2 50.Kf1 Ke7 51.Ra3 c5 52.f4 Nc4 53.Ra7+ Kf6 54.Ra6+ Kg7 55.Ra7+ Kh6 56.Rd7 Nd2+ 57.Kg1 Nf3+ 58.Bxf3 Rd2 59.Kf1 exf3 60.Nb2 Rf2+ 0-1

Round 29 Blitz, Dec. 15
Ivanchuk, Vassily – Ponomariov, Ruslan
A49 King’s Indian, Fianchetto (without c4)

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.O-O O-O 6.Re1 c5 7.dxc5 dxc5 8.Qxd8 Rxd8 9.c3 Bf5 10.Be3 Nbd7 11.Nbd2 Nd5 12.Nf1 Be4 13.Rad1 Nxe3 14.Nxe3 Nb6 15.Ng5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Na4 17.Rb1 b5 18.Nf3 c4 19.Red1 Rxd1 20.Nxd1 Rd8 21.Kf1 Kf8 22.Rc1 e6 23.Ke1 Ke7 24.e3 e5 25.Ke2 a5 26.Rc2 Nc5 27.Rd2 Nd3 28.Rc2 a4 29.e4 Bh6 30.Ne3 Ke6 31.Nd5 Rd7 32.g4 f5 33.gxf5+ gxf5 34.Nh4 fxe4 35.Ne3 Bf4 36.Nhg2 Bxh2 37.f3 exf3+ 38.Kxf3 Rf7+ 39.Kg4 Rf2 40.Rxf2 Nxf2+ 41.Kf3 Nd3 42.Nd1 Bf4 43.Ke4 Bc1 44.b4 axb3 45.axb3 Nc5+ 0-1

Round 30 Blitz, Dec. 15
Harikrishna, P. – Ivanchuk, Vassily
B02 Alekhine’s Defence, Scandinavian Variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 Nxd5 4.Nf3 g6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 Nb6 7.O-O Nc6 8.a4 a5 9.Nb5 O-O 10.d4 Be6 11.Re1 Bd5 12.Bf4 Rc8 13.c3 Qd7 14.b3 Rfd8 15.Qc2 e6 16.Rad1 Ne7 17.Bg5 c6 18.Na3 h6 19.Bf4 Nf5 20.h4 Qe7 21.Qb2 c5 22.dxc5 Qxc5 23.Nb5 Bxc3 24.Nxc3 Qxc3 25.Qe2 Qxb3 26.Rb1 Bxf3 27.Bxf3 Qa3 28.Bxb7 Nd5 29.Be5 Nc3 30.Qc2 Nxb1 31.Bxc8 Nd2 32.Bb7 Qb4 33.Rd1 Qxb7 34.Rxd2 Rxd2 35.Qxd2 Qb6 36.Bc3 e5 37.Bxe5 Qc5 38.Bc3 Kh7 39.Bxa5 Nxg3 40.Qe3 Qxa5 41.Qxg3 Qxa4 42.Kg2 Qe4+ 43.Kh2 h5 44.Kg1 Qg4 45.Qxg4 hxg4 46.Kg2 Kh6 0-1

Round 19 Blitz, Dec. 14
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Wang Yue
B48 Sicilian, Taimanov Variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qf3 Nf6 8.O-O-O Ne5 9.Qg3 b5 10.f4 Neg4 11.Bg1 h5 12.e5 b4 13.Na4 Nd5 14.Nb3 Bb7 15.Nac5 Rc8 16.Bd3 a5 17.Kb1 Bc6 18.Na6 Qd8 19.Nd4 a4 20.f5 Qa5 21.fxe6 dxe6 22.h3 Nxe5 23.Nxc6 Rxc6 24.Be4 Rxa6 25.Bxd5 Bd6 26.Qxg7 Rf8 27.Bb7 b3 28.Bd4 bxc2+ 29.Kxc2 Qc7+ 30.Kb1 Qxb7 31.Rhe1 Nc4 32.Rxe6+ Kd7 33.Rxd6+ Rxd6 34.Qxf8 Qe4+ 35.Ka1 Rxd4 36.Qxf7+ Kc6 37.Qf6+ Rd6 38.Rxd6+ Nxd6 39.Qf1 Nc4 40.a3 Qd4 41.Qc1 Kb6 42.g4 hxg4 43.hxg4 Qxg4 44.Qc3 Na5 45.Qe3+ Kb5 46.Qe5+ Kb6 47.Qe3+ Kb7 48.Qe7+ Kc6 49.Qe8+ Qd7 50.Qe4+ Kb6 51.Qe3+ Kb7 52.Qe4+ Qc6 53.Qe7+ Kb6 54.Qe3+ Qc5 55.Qe6+ Kb5 56.Qe8+ Qc6 57.Qe2+ Qc4 58.Qe5+ Ka6 59.Qf6+ Nc6 60.Qd6 Kb5 61.Qd1 Nd4 62.Qh5+ Qc5 63.Qd1 Nb3+ 64.Ka2 Qc4 65.Qd7+ Qc6 66.Qd3+ Ka5 67.Qf5+ Nc5 68.Ka1 Qd6 69.Qh5 Qd4 70.Qf5 Kb5 71.Qf1+ Qc4 72.Qh1 Nb3+ 73.Ka2 Nd4+ 74.Ka1 Qc6 75.Qf1+ Kc5 76.Qc1+ Kd5 77.Qh1+ Kc4 78.Qf1+ Kc5 79.Qc1+ Kb5 80.Qf1+ Qc4 81.Qh1 Nb3+ 82.Ka2 Nc5+ 83.Ka1 Qd3 84.Ka2 Ne4 85.Ka1 Kc4 86.Qe1 Nc5 87.Qb4+ Kd5 88.Qe1 Qe4 89.Qd1+ Ke5 90.Qg1 Nb3+ 91.Ka2 Nd4 92.Qg7+ Kf4 93.Qh6+ Kf3 94.Qh3+ Ke2 95.Qh2+ Kd3 96.Qh3+ Qf3 97.Qh7+ Kd2 98.Qh6+ Qe3 99.Qd6 Qb3+ 100.Kb1 Qd3+ 101.Ka2 Qc4+ 102.Kb1 Qd3+ 103.Ka2 Kc1 104.Qf4+ Qd2 105.Qf1+ Qd1 106.Qc4+ Nc2 107.Qf4+ Qd2 108.Qxd2+ Kxd2 109.b3 1/2-1/2