FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

**Wayne Komer** · Thursday, 27th December, 2018, 10:45 AM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 27, 2018

Rounds Six and Seven

Carlsen won his game in Round 6 but pressing too hard, lost his game in Round 7:

Round 6, Dec. 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Salgado Lopez, Ivan
A37 English, symmetrical variation

1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O Bf5 7.h3 Nf6 8.d3 O-O 9.Rb1 a6 10.a3 Rb8 11.b4 cxb4 12.axb4 b5 13.e4 Bd7 14.cxb5 axb5 15.Bd2 Ne5 16.Nxe5 dxe5 17.Kh2 Ne8 18.Be3 Nc7 19.Qd2 Bc6 20.Rfc1 Qd7 21.Ra1 Ne6 22.Nd5 Bxd5 23.exd5 Nd4 24.Bxd4 exd4 25.Qf4 Qf5 26.Qxf5 gxf5 27.d6 exd6 28.Ra7 Rbc8 29.Rxc8 Rxc8 30.Bd5 f4 31.gxf4 Bh6 32.Rxf7 Rc3 33.f5 1-0

Round 7, Dec. 27
Zubov, Alexander – Carlsen, Magnus
D31 QGD

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Nf6 5.Ne2 c6 6.a3 Ba5 7.Ng3 O-O 8.Bd3 dxc4 9.Bxc4 e5 10.O-O Nbd7 11.Ba2 Bc7 12.d5 cxd5 13.Bxd5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5 Nb6 15.Nxc7 Qxc7 16.Bd2 Rd8 17.Rc1 Qe7 18.Bb4 Rxd1 19.Bxe7 Rd2 20.Rfd1 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Be6 22.Ne4 f6 23.Nc5 Kf7 24.Bd6 Nc4 25.Nxb7 Nxb2 26.Rc1 Nc4 27.Bc5 Kg6 28.h3 a5 29.Nd6 Nb2 30.Bb6 Ra6 31.Bc7 h5 32.h4 Ra7 33.Rc5 a4 34.Kf1 Nd3 35.Rc3 Bb3 36.Nc8 Ra6 37.Ke2 Nb2 38.Nd6 Kh7 39.Rc5 Kg6 40.e4 Ra7 41.g3 Bd1+ 42.Ke3 Kh7 43.f3 Bb3 44.f4 Be6 45.fxe5 fxe5 46.Kd2 Bg4 47.Nf7 Nd1 48.Ng5+ Kg8 49.Bxe5 Nf2 50.Rb5 Rd7+ 51.Kc3 Kf8 52.Rb8+ Ke7 53.Rg8 Rd3+ 54.Kb4 Rb3+ 55.Kxa4 Bd1 56.Rxg7+ Ke8 57.Ka5 Rxa3+ 58.Kb6 Rb3+ 59.Kc7 Ng4 60.Bd4 Rb5 61.Kd6 Bb3 62.Ra7 Rb8 63.Ne6 Bxe6 64.Kxe6 Kf8 65.Rh7 Re8+ 66.Kf5 1-0

Two old masters were paired

Round 7, Dec. 27
Kamsky, Gata – Shirov, Alexei
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 Bf5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Qb3 Qc8 8.Be2 h6 9.O-O e6 10.Nbd2 Be7 11.Rfe1 O-O 12.h3 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.Nd2 Bg6 15.a4 Rd8 16.a5 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Rxd6 18.Qa3 Qc7 19.Nb3 Rad8 20.Bb5 f6 21.Nc5 Bf7 22.a6 bxa6 23.Bxa6 Rb8 24.Bf1 Ra8 25.b4 Nd8 26.Qa5 Rb6 27.Na4 Rc6 28.Qxc7 Rxc7 29.Nc5 Nb7 30.Ra6 e5 31.Rea1 Nxc5 32.dxc5 d4 33.cxd4 exd4 34.Bd3 Rb8 35.Rxa7 Rxa7 36.Rxa7 Be8 37.Ra6 Rxb4 38.c6 Kf7 39.c7 Bd7 40.Ra8 1-0

**Hans Jung** · Thursday, 27th December, 2018, 04:10 PM

GM Gareev continues to provide entertainment. In round 4 and 6 as white he played 1.g4 against 2700 players. Mind boggling.

**Wayne Komer** · Thursday, 27th December, 2018, 05:02 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 27, 2018

Rapids

Open Ranking after Round Ten

Rk. Name FED RtgI Pts.

1 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian RUS 2771 7.5
2 GM Andreikin Dmitry RUS 2725 7.5
3 GM Wang Hao CHN 2782 7.5
4 GM Yu Yangyi CHN 2758 7.5
5 GM Artemiev Vladislav RUS 2812 7.5
6 GM Dubov Daniil RUS 2723 7.5
7 GM Matlakov Maxim RUS 2690 7.5
8 GM Timofeev Artyom RUS 2668 7
9 GM Giri Anish NED 2739 7
10 GM Korobov Anton UKR 2740 7
11 GM Gelfand Boris ISR 2715 7
12 GM Oparin Grigoriy RUS 2701 7
13 GM Anton Guijarro David ESP 2708 7
14 GM Salem A.R. Saleh UAE 2682 7
15 GM Anand Viswanathan IND 2723 7
16 GM Saric Ivan CRO 2661 7
17 GM Carlsen Magnus NOR 2903 7
18 GM Firouzja Alireza IRI 2412 6.5
19 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar AZE 2786 6.5
20 GM Zubov Alexander UKR 2681 6.5
21 Bazeev German RUS 2418 6.5
22 GM Nakamura Hikaru USA 2844 6.5
23 GM Karjakin Sergey RUS 2774 6.5
24 GM Alekseev Evgeny RUS 2650 6.5
25 GM Harikrishna Pentala IND 2758 6.5
26 GM Kamsky Gata USA 2757 6.5
27 GM Svidler Peter RUS 2753 6.5
28 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof POL 2683 6.5
29 GM Petrosian Tigran L. ARM 2676 6.5
30 GM Alekseenko Kirill RUS 2635 6.5
31 GM Guseinov Gadir AZE 2732 6.5
32 GM Sargissian Gabriel ARM 2674 6.5
33 GM Motylev Alexander RUS 2697 6.5
34 IM Yakubboev Nodirbek UZB 2364 6.5
35 GM Jakovenko Dmitry RUS 2731 6.5
36 GM Zhigalko Sergei BLR 2724 6.5
37 GM Cheparinov Ivan GEO 2697 6.5
38 GM Goganov Aleksey RUS 2545 6.5
39 GM Hovhannisyan Robert ARM 2549 6
40 GM Bocharov Dmitry RUS 2683 6
41 IM Khanin Semen RUS 2594 6
42 GM Shirov Alexei ESP 2674 6
43 GM Sjugirov Sanan RUS 2722 6
44 GM Amonatov Farrukh TJK 2688 6
45 GM Grischuk Alexander RUS 2732 6

Women’s ranking after Round Eight

Rk. Name FED RtgI Pts.

1 GM Ju Wenjun CHN 2584 7
2 GM Muzychuk Mariya UKR 2493 6.5
3 GM Muzychuk Anna UKR 2595 6
4 GM Tan Zhongyi CHN 2442 6
5 FM Assaubayeva Bibisara RUS 2153 6
6 IM Khademalsharieh Sarasadat IRI 2402 6
7 IM Abdumalik Zhansaya KAZ 2444 6
8 GM Goryachkina Aleksandra RUS 2477 6
9 GM Lagno Kateryna RUS 2539 6
10 IM Saduakassova Dinara KAZ 2381 5.5
11 GM Stefanova Antoaneta BUL 2466 5.5
12 GM Gunina Valentina RUS 2396 5.5
13 IM Mammadova Gulnar AZE 2382 5.5
14 GM Koneru Humpy IND 2479 5.5
15 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra RUS 2540 5.5
16 GM Khotenashvili Bela GEO 2428 5.5
17 IM Galliamova Alisa RUS 2363 5.5
18 GM Lei Tingjie CHN 2545 5.5
19 WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung VIE 2268 5.5
20 WGM Bivol Alina RUS 2314 5.5
21 GM Zhao Xue CHN 2425 5.5
22 IM Ovod Evgenija RUS 2190 5
23 WGM Girya Olga RUS 2425 5
24 IM Nakhbayeva Guliskhan KAZ 2252 5
25 WGM Paramzina Anastasya RUS 2106 5
26 WIM Komiagina Maria RUS 2049 5
27 IM Arabidze Meri GEO 2431 5
28 GM Ushenina Anna UKR 2471 5
29 GM Zhukova Natalia UKR 2306 5
30 WGM Ambartsumova Karina RUS 2369 5
31 WGM Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim UZB 2317 5
32 FM Voit Daria RUS 2367 5
33 GM Cramling Pia SWE 2420 5
34 GM Batsiashvili Nino GEO 2382 5
35 WFM Romanovskaya Anna RUS 2280 5
36 IM Gaponenko Inna UKR 2320 5

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 28th December, 2018, 12:23 AM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 27, 2018

Rapid

Rounds Six to Ten

Three straight wins for Carlsen. I certainly would not have wanted to play him after his loss in Round Seven!

Round 8, Dec. 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Petrov, Nikita
A22 English, Bremen, Smyslov System

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e4 Bxc3 5.dxc3 d6 6.f3 Be6 7.Nh3 h6 8.Nf2 a5 9.f4 Na6 10.f5 Bd7 11.Bg2 b5 12.cxb5 Bxb5 13.b3 a4 14.c4 Bc6 15.Be3 axb3 16.axb3 Nc5 17.Bxc5 dxc5 18.Qxd8+ Kxd8 19.Rxa8+ Bxa8 20.Kd2 Ke7 21.Kc3 Bc6 22.Re1 Ra8 23.Nd3 Nd7 24.Kb2 Kd6 25.Bf3 Ke7 26.h4 Rh8 27.g4 g5 28.Rh1 Rg8 29.hxg5 hxg5 30.Rh6 f6 31.Kc3 Kf7 32.Rh7+ Rg7 33.Rh2 Rg8 34.Ne1 Kg7 35.Nc2 Rh8 36.Rxh8 Kxh8 37.Ne3 Kg7 38.Nd5 Bxd5 39.cxd5 Kf7 40.Kc4 Ke7 41.Kb5 Kd6 42.Be2 Nb6 43.Ka6 Nd7 44.Bc4 Nb6 45.Kb7 Kd7 46.Bb5+ Kd6 47.Kb8 Nd7+ 48.Bxd7 Kxd7 49.Kb7 Kd6 50.Kc8 c6 51.dxc6 Kxc6 52.Kd8 Kb5 53.Ke7 Kb4 54.Kxf6 Kxb3 55.Kxe5 c4 56.f6 c3 57.f7 c2 58.f8=Q c1=Q 59.Qf7+ Kb2 60.Qf5 Qc7+ 61.Kf6 Qd8+ 62.Kg6 Qg8+ 63.Kh6 Kc3 64.Qc5+ Kb2 65.Qb6+ Ka1 66.Qf6+ Kb1 67.e5 Qc4 68.Kxg5 1-0

Round 9, Dec. 27
Melkumyan, Hrant – Carlsen, Magnus
D30 Queen’s Gambit declined

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nc3 h6 6.Bf4 Nf6 7.Qb3 Bd6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.e3 O-O 10.Bd3 b6 11.O-O Nbd7 12.Rfd1 Bb7 13.Rac1 Rfd8 14.Qc2 c5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.Bf5 Rac8 17.Ne2 Qe7 18.Qb3 Rc7 19.Bxd7 Rdxd7 20.Ng3 Qe6 21.Qa3 Qb6 22.Ne5 Rd8 23.Nc4 Qb5 24.Na5 Ba8 25.Nb3 Rdc8 26.Qa5 g6 27.Qxb5 axb5 28.a3 h5 29.h3 h4 30.Ne2 Kg7 31.Rc2 c4 32.Nbd4 Rb8 33.b4 Ra7 34.Ra2 Ne4 35.f3 Nd6 36.Nc3 Kf6 37.Kf2 Rb6 38.Raa1 Ke5 39.Nc2 Rba6 40.Rd2 Bc6 41.Rad1 Nf5 42.Nxb5 Bxb5 43.Rxd5+ Kf6 44.Rxb5 Rxa3 45.Nxa3 Rxa3 46.Rd2 Rb3 47.e4 c3 48.Rb6+ Kg7 49.exf5 cxd2 50.Ke2 g5 51.b5 Rd3 52.Kd1 Rd5 53.Rb7 Kf6 54.b6 Rd6 55.Rb8 Kxf5 56.b7 Rd7 57.Rf8 Rxb7 58.Kxd2 Kf4 59.Ke2 Kg3 60.Rg8 f6 61.Rg6 Rb6 62.f4 Kxf4 63.Kf2 Rb2+ 64.Kf1 Kg3 65.Rxf6 Rxg2 0-1

Round 10, Dec. 27
Carlsen, Magnus – Amonatov, Farrukh
B07 Pirc-Queen’s Pawn-KID-East Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nbd2 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bb5+ c6 6.Bd3 O-O 7.O-O Qc7 8.Re1 e5 9.c3 Nbd7 10.a4 b6 11.Nf1 Bb7 12.h3 Rfe8 13.Ng3 a6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bd2 b5 16.b4 Nb6 17.a5 Nbd7 18.Qc1 Kh7 19.c4 Rac8 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Be3 Qb8 22.Rd1 Nf8 23.Bb6 N6d7 24.c5 Ne6 25.Bb1 Nd4 26.Ra3 Nf8 27.Nxd4 exd4 28.f4 Re7 29.e5 Rce8 30.Ne4 Ne6 31.Nd6 Nxf4 32.Qxf4 Bxe5 33.Qf2 Bxd6 34.cxd6 Qxd6 35.Bc5 1-0

Chat Room Comments

Exciting games today
Magnus still has decent chances
Magnus had some thrillers today
They all have chances, but MC unlikely to win
Maybe top 3 for Dubov but not first
Yu Yangyi is the favorite
Who can say that Naka, Mama, Duda, Fija cannot make 5/5
Who can stop His Maghusty now?
Only himself
Wow, queen sac by andreikin against svidler
Allegedly Dubov was MC’s secret second for the WC Match
How can Magnus be only ½ game back? Is he human?
Fun – Dubov – Magnus
And the Muzychuk sisters are playing each other
What a MC comeback!
3 future World Championship Candidates below the top 100, would you believe!
Esipenko 101st, Nihal Sarin 109th and Abdussutarov 112th.

Round 10, Dec. 27
Svidler, Peter – Andreikin, Dmitry
A30 English, symmetrical, hedgehog

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 g6 5.O-O c5 6.e3 Bg7 7.d4 O-O 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Ne2 Nc6 10.Nf4 e6 11.Re1 f5 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 Ne7 14.Nf4 Qc7 15.a4 g5 16.Nh5 g4 17.Nh4 Ng6 18.Nxg7 Nxh4 19.gxh4 Kxg7 20.Qc2 Rf6 21.b3 Rh6 22.Bb2+ Kf7 23.Bxe4 Bxe4 24.Qc3 Rg8 25.a5 Qxh2+ 26.Kxh2 Rxh4+ 27.Kg3 Rh3+ 28.Kf4 Rf3+ 29.Ke5 Rg6 0-1

Position after White’s 25.a5

Peter Svidler (tweet) - Judging by the amount of love my moment of admiration for Dmitry's combination is getting, I should be getting mated, spectacularly, in the center of the board more often.

Seriously though - that final position is fabulous, have a look if you haven't yet

Gareyev’s Grobs

Round 4, Dec. 26
Gareyev, Timur – Makarov, Marat
A00 Grob’s Attack

1.g4 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.c4 d4 4.b4 c6 5.Qb3 Be6 6.h3 Nd7 7.Nf3 a5 8.Ba3 b5 9.bxa5 bxc4 10.Qc2 Qxa5 11.Bxf8 Kxf8 12.O-O f6 13.e3 d3 14.Qd1 Ne7 15.Nc3 Kf7 16.Nh4 Nc5 17.f4 e4 18.f5 Bd5 19.g5 fxg5 20.f6 gxh4 21.Qh5+ Ng6 22.Nxd5 Ne6 23.Bxe4 cxd5 24.Bxd5 Qa6 25.Rab1 Ra7 26.Qf5 Re8 27.Rb4 Qd6 28.Rb5 1-0

Round 6, Dec. 27
Gareyev, Timur – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
A00 Grob, Romford Counter-Gambit

1.g4 d5 2.Bg2 Bxg4 3.c4 d4 4.Bxb7 Nd7 5.Bxa8 Qxa8 6.f3 e5 7.d3 f5 8.Qa4 Bh5 9.Na3 c6 10.Bd2 Ngf6 11.O-O-O Be7 12.Bb4 c5 13.Ba5 O-O 14.Nh3 e4 15.Nf4 Bf7 16.fxe4 fxe4 17.Rhg1 Ne5 18.Bc7 Ng6 19.Qa6 Kh8 20.Nb5 Nxf4 21.Bxf4 Bh5 22.Qe6 Qd8 23.Nxa7 Re8 24.Nc6 Qb6 25.Nxd4 Qa5 26.Rxg7 Bd8 27.Re7 Bxe7 28.Nc6 Qxa2 29.Be5 Qa1+ 30.Kd2 e3+ 31.Ke1 Qa8 32.b4 Rg8 33.Bxf6+ Bxf6 34.Qxf6+ Rg7 35.Ra1 Qxc6 36.Qf8+ Rg8 37.Qf1 cxb4 38.Kd1 Qd6 39.Kc2 Qd4 40.Ra6 Bxe2 41.Qxe2 Qc3+ 0-1

Wang Hao is unbeaten in the first ten rounds

Round 9, Dec. 27
Andreikin, Dmitry – Wang Hao
A06 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.d4 b6 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 Bb7 8.Qe2 Nbd7 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Bxe4 12.Qxe4 h6 13.Rd1 Qe7 14.b3 Nf6 15.Qe2 a5 16.a4 Rfd8 17.Bb2 c6 18.Ne5 Bxe5 19.Qxe5 Qd6 20.Qe2 Qf4 21.Rd3 b5 22.Rf3 Qe4 23.Re3 Qf4 24.Bc3 bxc4 25.bxc4 Qg4 26.Qc2 c5 27.h3 Qh4 28.dxc5 Qxc4 29.Qe2 Qxc5 30.Bxf6 gxf6 31.Rb1 Rab8 32.Rg3+ Kf8 33.Rxb8 Rxb8 34.Qd2 Ke7 35.Kh2 h5 36.Rd3 Qc7+ 37.f4 Rb4 38.Rd4 Rxd4 39.Qxd4 h4 40.Qf2 Qc3 41.Qxh4 Qd4 42.Qg3 Qxa4 43.h4 Qb5 44.Qa3+ Qb4 45.Qe3 Kf8 46.Qg3 Qc5 47.Qg4 a4 48.h5 Qf5 49.Qf3 Kg7 50.g4 Qc2+ 51.Kg1 Qb1+ 52.Kf2 Qb2+ 53.Ke1 a3 54.h6+ Kh7 55.Qd3+ Kxh6 56.g5+ fxg5 57.fxg5+ Kg7 0-1

Round 5, Dec. 27
Ju Wenjun – Muzychuk, Anna
A81 Dutch Defence

1.d4 f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 d6 7.Bb2 Ne4 8.Nbd2 Nc6 9.e3 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 e5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Rfd1 Qxd2 13.Nxd2 e4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.f3 exf3 16.Nxf3 Rd8 17.Ng5 Re8 18.Bxc6 bxc6 19.Rd3 h6 20.Nf3 c5 21.Rad1 Be6 22.Rc3 c4 23.bxc4 Kf6 24.Kf2 Reb8 25.Nd4 Rb2 26.a3 Rd8 27.Ke1 Bf7 28.Nb5 Rxd1+ 29.Kxd1 Rb1+ 30.Ke2 Bxc4+ 31.Rxc4 Rxb5 32.Rxc7 Ra5 33.Rc3 h5 34.h4 Ra4 35.Kf3 Ke5 36.Rc6 Rxa3 37.Rxg6 a5 38.Rh6 Rc3 39.Rxh5 Rxc2 40.g4 1-0

Round 7, Dec. 27
Ju Wenjun – Muzychuk, Mariya
E11 Bogo-Indian Defence

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Bg2 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Qc2 b6 9.Rd1 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Bb7 11.Ne5 Nh5 12.Bd2 Nhf6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.Nc6 Bxc6 15.Qxc6 Qc8 16.Qxc8 Raxc8 17.Nc3 a6 18.a4 Ne8 19.e3 Nd6 20.b3 Nb8 21.Rac1 Nc6 22.Na2 a5 23.Bf1 Nb8 24.f3 f5 25.Nc3 Kf7 26.Kf2 Rc7 27.Nb5 Nxb5 28.Bxb5 Rfc8 29.Rxc7 Rxc7 30.Rc1 Rxc1 31.Bxc1 Bd6 32.e4 h6 33.Ke3 Ke7 34.Bd3 fxe4 35.fxe4 dxe4 36.Bxe4 Nd7 37.Kd3 Nf6 38.Bf3 Kd7 39.Kc4 Kc7 40.Be3 g5 41.Bg2 Ng4 42.Bg1 Nf6 43.Bh3 Kd7 44.Bg2 Kc7 45.Bf3 Be7 46.Be3 Bd6 47.Bd2 Kd7 48.Kb5 Kc7 49.Kc4 Kd7 50.Be3 Kc7 51.Bf2 Be7 52.Be1 Bd6 53.Bf2 Be7 54.g4 Bd6 55.h3 Bf4 56.Be1 Ne8 57.b4 axb4 58.Bxb4 Nd6+ 59.Kd3 Kd7 60.Bd1 Kc7 61.Bb3 Kd7 62.Ke2 Bc1 63.Kd3 Bf4 64.Bc2 Kc7 65.Kc3 Kd7 66.Bd3 Bg3 67.Bc2 Be1+ 68.Kb3 Bf2 69.Bc3 Kc6 70.Kb4 Kd5 71.Bb3+ Ke4 72.Bc2+ Kf3 73.Bb3 Ke4 74.Bc2+ Kf3 75.Bb3 Ke4 1/2-1/2

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 28th December, 2018, 12:25 AM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 27, 2018

Rapid

Round Eleven Pairings (Open)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts.Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Dubov Daniil 2723 7½ - 7 GM Carlsen Magnus 2903
2 GM Artemiev Vladislav 2812 7½ - 7½ GM Wang Hao 2782
3 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2771 7½ - 7½ GM Yu Yangyi 2758
4 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2725 7½ - 7½ GM Matlakov Maxim 2690
5 GM Oparin Grigoriy 2701 7 - 7 GM Korobov Anton 2740
6 GM Giri Anish 2739 7 - 7 GM Salem A.R. Saleh 2682
7 GM Anton Guijarro David 2708 7 - 7 GM Anand Viswanathan 2723
8 GM Gelfand Boris 2715 7 - 7 GM Saric Ivan 2661
9 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2786 6½ - 7 GM Timofeev Artyom 2668
10 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2844 6½ - 6½ GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof 2683
11 GM Karjakin Sergey 2774 6½ - 6½ GM Zubov Alexander 2681
12 GM Harikrishna Pentala 2758 6½ - 6½ GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2676
13 GM Kamsky Gata 2757 6½ - 6½ GM Sargissian Gabriel 2674
14 GM Alekseenko Kirill 2635 6½ - 6½ GM Svidler Peter 2753
15 GM Guseinov Gadir 2732 6½ - 6½ GM Alekseev Evgeny 2650
16 GM Jakovenko Dmitry 2731 6½ - 6½ GM Goganov Aleksey 2545
17 Bazeev German 2418 6½ - 6½ GM Zhigalko Sergei 2724
18 GM Cheparinov Ivan 2697 6½ - 6½ IM Yakubboev Nodirbek 2364
19 GM Firouzja Alireza 2412 6½ - 6½ GM Motylev Alexander 2697
20 GM Ragger Markus 2632 6 - 6 GM Grischuk Alexander 2732
21 GM Sjugirov Sanan 2722 6 - 6 GM Antipov Mikhail Al. 2628
22 GM Akopian Vladimir 2707 6 - 6 GM Inarkiev Ernesto 2624
23 GM Amonatov Farrukh 2688 6 - 6 GM Sarana Alexey 2617
24 GM Bocharov Dmitry 2683 6 - 6 GM Sakaev Konstantin 2621
25 GM Paravyan David 2611 6 - 6 GM Fridman Daniel 2677
26 GM Riazantsev Alexander 2677 6 - 6 GM Hovhannisyan Robert 2549
27 GM Rakhmanov Aleksandr 2613 6 - 6 GM Shirov Alexei 2674
28 GM Petrov Nikita 2502 6 - 6 GM Ponkratov Pavel 2650
29 GM Grigoriants Sergey 2640 6 - 6 IM Khanin Semen 2594
30 GM Tang Andrew 2281 6 - 6 GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil 2637
31 GM Potkin Vladimir 2635 6 - 6 GM Van Foreest Jorden 2401
32 GM Fedoseev Vladimir 2810 5½ - 6 GM Predke Alexandr 2566
33 GM Vallejo Pons Francisco 2628 5½ - 5½ GM Aronian Levon 2802
34 GM Mamedov Rauf 2739 5½ - 5½ GM Kovalev Vladislav 2624
35 GM Tomashevsky Evgeny 2737 5½ - 5½ GM Levin Evgeny A. 2563
36 GM Moiseenko Vadim 2583 5½ - 5½ GM Jobava Baadur 2718
37 GM Postny Evgeny 2599 5½ - 5½ GM Dreev Aleksey 2671
38 IM Demidov Mikhail 2595 5½ - 5½ GM Grachev Boris 2669
39 GM Savchenko Boris 2660 5½ - 5½ GM Bosiocic Marin 2584
40 GM Zvjaginsev Vadim 2573 5½ - 5½ IM Bocharov Ivan 2657

Round Nine Pairings (Women’s)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts.Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Ju Wenjun 2584 7 - 6 GM Lagno Kateryna 2539
2 GM Muzychuk Mariya 2493 6½ - 6 GM Muzychuk Anna 2595
3 IM Abdumalik Zhansaya 2444 6 - 6 GM Goryachkina Aleksandra 2477
4 FM Assaubayeva Bibisara 2153 6 - 6 GM Tan Zhongyi 2442
5 GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2466 5½ - 6 IM Khademalsharieh Sarasadat 2402
6 GM Lei Tingjie 2545 5½ - 5½ GM Gunina Valentina 2396
7 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2540 5½ - 5½ IM Galliamova Alisa 2363
8 GM Koneru Humpy 2479 5½ - 5½ WGM Nguyen Thi Mai Hung 2268
9 IM Mammadova Gulnar 2382 5½ - 5½ GM Khotenashvili Bela 2428
10 IM Saduakassova Dinara 2381 5½ - 5½ GM Zhao Xue 2425
11 WGM Bivol Alina 2314 5½ - 5 GM Ushenina Anna 2471
12 IM Arabidze Meri 2431 5 - 5 WGM Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim 2317
13 WGM Girya Olga 2425 5 - 5 GM Zhukova Natalia 2306
14 IM Nakhbayeva Guliskhan 2252 5 - 5 GM Cramling Pia 2420
15 GM Batsiashvili Nino 2382 5 - 5 WFM Romanovskaya Anna 2280
16 WGM Ambartsumova Karina 2369 5 - 5 WGM Paramzina Anastasya 2106
17 IM Ovod Evgenija 2190 5 - 5 FM Voit Daria 2367
18 IM Gaponenko Inna 2320 5 - 5 WIM Komiagina Maria 2049
19 GM Dzagnidze Nana 2515 4½ - 4½ IM Vasilevich Irina 2228
20 WIM Styazhkina Anna 2213 4½ - 4½ GM Harika Dronavalli 2484
21 WFM Sviridova Vlada 2205 4½ - 4½ IM Bodnaruk Anastasia 2442
22 WFM Shafigullina Zarina 2132 4½ - 4½ IM Mkrtchian Lilit 2378
23 WIM Petrova Irina 2113 4½ - 4½ WGM Berend Elvira 2342
24 WGM Maltsevskaya Aleksandra 2247 4½ - 4½ WGM Michna Marta 2320
25 WFM Doan Thi Van Anh 2022 4½ - 4½ WGM Guichard Pauline 2319
26 WGM Kovanova Baira 2317 4½ - 4½ WFM Protopopova Anastasiya 2112
27 WIM Dordzhieva Dinara 2298 4½ - 4½ WGM Nebolsina Vera 2158
28 WIM Tomilova Elena 2270 4½ - 4½ WFM Nazarova Anastasia 1893
29 IM Mammadzada Gunay 2261 4½ - 4½ FM Garcia Martin Marta 1977
30 WIM Shuvalova Polina 2411 4 - 4 WFM Kabanova Ekaterina 2169
31 IM Javakhishvili Lela 2388 4 - 4 WIM Maletina Tatiana 2239
32 WIM Solozhenkina Elizaveta 2198 4 - 4 WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab 2330
33 IM Tsolakidou Stavroula 2188 4 - 4 WFM Gritsayeva Oksana 2303
34 WFM Munkhzul Turmunkh 1862 4 - 4 WIM Badelka Olga 2245
35 WIM Khomeriki Nino 2248 3½ - 3½ IM Paehtz Elisabeth 2506

**Hans Jung** · Friday, 28th December, 2018, 03:51 PM

Magnus tied for second after spotting first two.

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 28th December, 2018, 04:31 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 28, 2018

Rapid

Rounds Eleven to Fifteen

Round Eleven Result (Open)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts. Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Dubov Daniil 2723 7½ ½ - ½ 7 GM Carlsen Magnus 2903
2 GM Artemiev Vladislav 2812 7½ ½ - ½ 7½ GM Wang Hao 2782
3 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2771 7½ 0 - 1 7½ GM Yu Yangyi 2758
4 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2725 7½ ½ - ½ 7½ GM Matlakov Maxim 2690
5 GM Oparin Grigoriy 2701 7 0 - 1 7 GM Korobov Anton 2740
6 GM Giri Anish 2739 7 1 - 0 7 GM Salem A.R. Saleh 2682
7 GM Anton Guijarro David 2708 7 ½ - ½ 7 GM Anand Viswanathan 2723
8 GM Gelfand Boris 2715 7 1 - 0 7 GM Saric Ivan 2661
9 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2786 6½ 1 - 0 7 GM Timofeev Artyom 2668
10 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2844 6½ ½ - ½ 6½ GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof 2683
11 GM Karjakin Sergey 2774 6½ ½ - ½ 6½ GM Zubov Alexander 2681
12 GM Harikrishna Pentala 2758 6½ 0 - 1 6½ GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2676
13 GM Kamsky Gata 2757 6½ ½ - ½ 6½ GM Sargissian Gabriel 2674
14 GM Alekseenko Kirill 2635 6½ 0 - 1 6½ GM Svidler Peter 2753
15 GM Guseinov Gadir 2732 6½ ½ - ½ 6½ GM Alekseev Evgeny 2650

Round Twelve Result (Open)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts. Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Carlsen Magnus *) 2903 7½ ½ - ½ 7½ GM Anand Viswanathan 2723
2 GM Yu Yangyi 2758 8½ ½ - ½ 8 GM Gelfand Boris 2715
3 GM Matlakov Maxim 2690 8 ½ - ½ 8 GM Artemiev Vladislav 2812
4 GM Wang Hao 2782 8 ½ - ½ 8 GM Giri Anish 2739
5 GM Korobov Anton 2740 8 0 - 1 8 GM Dubov Daniil 2723
6 GM Zhigalko Sergei 2724 7½ ½ - ½ 8 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2725
7 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2786 7½ 1 - 0 7½ GM Anton Guijarro David 2708
8 GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2676 7½ ½ - ½ 7½ GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2771
9 GM Svidler Peter 2753 7½ 0 - 1 7½ GM Firouzja Alireza 2412
10 GM Riazantsev Alexander 2677 7 0 - 1 7 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2844
11 GM Timofeev Artyom 2668 7 0 - 1 7 GM Karjakin Sergey 2774
12 GM Saric Ivan 2661 7 ½ - ½ 7 GM Kamsky Gata 2757
13 GM Ponkratov Pavel 2650 7 1 - 0 7 GM Guseinov Gadir 2732
14 GM Sargissian Gabriel 2674 7 1 - 0 7 GM Jakovenko Dmitry 2731
15 GM Alekseev Evgeny 2650 7 0 - 1 7 GM Oparin Grigoriy 2701

Round Thirteen Result (Open)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts. Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Oparin Grigoriy 2701 8 0 - 1 8 GM Carlsen Magnus 2903
2 GM Giri Anish 2739 8½ ½ - ½ 9 GM Yu Yangyi 2758
3 GM Dubov Daniil 2723 9 ½ - ½ 8½ GM Artemiev Vladislav 2812
4 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2725 8½ ½ - ½ 8½ GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2786
5 GM Firouzja Alireza 2412 8½ ½ - ½ 8½ GM Wang Hao 2782
6 GM Gelfand Boris 2715 8½ ½ - ½ 8½ GM Matlakov Maxim 2690
7 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2844 8 1 - 0 8 GM Sargissian Gabriel 2674
8 GM Karjakin Sergey 2774 8 1 - 0 8 GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2676
9 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2771 8 0 - 1 8 GM Salem A.R. Saleh 2682
10 GM Anand Viswanathan 2723 8 ½ - ½ 8 GM Korobov Anton 2740
11 GM Zubov Alexander 2681 8 ½ - ½ 8 GM Zhigalko Sergei 2724
12 GM Harikrishna Pentala 2758 7½ 0 - 1 8 GM Ponkratov Pavel 2650
13 GM Kamsky Gata 2757 7½ 1 - 0 7½ GM Mchedlishvili Mikheil 2637
14 GM Shirov Alexei 2674 7½ 0 - 1 7½ GM Svidler Peter 2753
15 GM Mamedov Rauf 2739 7½ 0 - 1 7½ GM Saric Ivan 2661
16 GM Alekseenko Kirill 2635 7½ 0 - 1 7½ GM Grischuk Alexander 2732

Round Fourteen Result

Bo. Name Rtg Pts. Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Carlsen Magnus *) 2903 9 1 - 0 9 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2725
2 GM Yu Yangyi 2758 9½ 0 - 1 9 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2844
3 GM Wang Hao 2782 9 0 - 1 9½ GM Dubov Daniil 2723
4 GM Artemiev Vladislav 2812 9 1 - 0 9 GM Gelfand Boris 2715
5 GM Salem A.R. Saleh 2682 9 0 - 1 9 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2786
6 GM Ponkratov Pavel 2650 9 ½ - ½ 9 GM Karjakin Sergey 2774
7 GM Matlakov Maxim 2690 9 ½ - ½ 9 GM Giri Anish 2739
8 GM Korobov Anton 2740 8½ 1 - 0 9 GM Firouzja Alireza 2412
9 GM Zhigalko Sergei 2724 8½ ½ - ½ 8½ GM Kamsky Gata 2757
10 GM Svidler Peter 2753 8½ ½ - ½ 8½ GM Anand Viswanathan 2723
11 GM Grischuk Alexander 2732 8½ ½ - ½ 8½ GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof 2683
12 GM Saric Ivan 2661 8½ ½ - ½ 8½ GM Anton Guijarro David 2708
13 GM Zubov Alexander 2681 8½ ½ - ½ 8 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2771
14 GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2676 8 1 - 0 8 GM Guseinov Gadir 2732
15 GM Savchenko Boris 2660 8 0 - 1 8 GM Jakovenko Dmitry 2731

(to be continued)

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 28th December, 2018, 04:33 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 28, 2018

Rapid

Rounds Eleven to Fifteen

Round Fifteen Result (Open)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts. Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2844 10 ½ - ½ 10 GM Carlsen Magnus 2903
2 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2786 10 ½ - ½ 10½ GM Dubov Daniil 2723
3 GM Karjakin Sergey 2774 9½ ½ - ½ 10 GM Artemiev Vladislav 2812
4 GM Ponkratov Pavel 2650 9½ ½ - ½ 9½ GM Yu Yangyi 2758
5 GM Giri Anish 2739 9½ ½ - ½ 9½ GM Korobov Anton 2740
6 GM Kamsky Gata 2757 9 ½ - ½ 9½ GM Matlakov Maxim 2690
7 GM Wang Hao 2782 9 ½ - ½ 9 GM Cheparinov Ivan 2697
8 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof 2683 9 1 - 0 9 GM Svidler Peter 2753
9 GM Paravyan David 2611 9 0 - 1 9 GM Grischuk Alexander 2732
10 GM Jakovenko Dmitry 2731 9 1 - 0 9 GM Salem A.R. Saleh 2682
11 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2725 9 ½ - ½ 9 GM Zubov Alexander 2681
12 GM Firouzja Alireza 2412 9 1 - 0 9 GM Zhigalko Sergei 2724
13 GM Anand Viswanathan 2723 9 ½ - ½ 9 GM Fridman Daniel 2677
14 GM Gelfand Boris 2715 9 0 - 1 9 GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2676
15 GM Anton Guijarro David 2708 9 1 - 0 9 GM Rakhmanov Aleksandr 2613

Final Ranking after Fifteen Rounds (Open)

Rk. Name FED RtgI Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 K rtg+/-

1 GM Dubov Daniil RUS 2723 11 2860 132.5 140.5 20 55.8
2 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar AZE 2786 10.5 2846 131.5 138.5 20 24
3 GM Nakamura Hikaru USA 2844 10.5 2833 125.5 131 20 -1.4
4 GM Artemiev Vladislav RUS 2812 10.5 2828 131.5 139 20 9
5 GM Carlsen Magnus NOR 2903 10.5 2779 121.5 127 20 -34.4
6 GM Firouzja Alireza IRI 2412 10 2848 130 136 20 157.4
7 GM Yu Yangyi CHN 2758 10 2820 132 138.5 20 26.4
8 GM Giri Anish NED 2739 10 2815 129.5 135.5 20 30.2
9 GM Karjakin Sergey RUS 2774 10 2794 126.5 133.5 20 6.8
10 GM Petrosian Tigran L. ARM 2676 10 2791 125 132 20 44.8
11 GM Korobov Anton UKR 2740 10 2780 132 139 20 19
12 GM Matlakov Maxim RUS 2690 10 2765 124.5 132 20 31.6
13 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof POL 2683 10 2759 117.5 124 20 32.6
14 GM Anton Guijarro David ESP 2708 10 2750 124 130 20 17.6
15 GM Grischuk Alexander RUS 2732 10 2746 122 129.5 20 5.6
16 GM Jakovenko Dmitry RUS 2731 10 2731 114 119 20 -0.4
17 GM Ponkratov Pavel RUS 2650 10 2679 112.5 118 20 14.4
18 GM Andreikin Dmitry RUS 2725 9.5 2801 134 139.5 20 33.6
19 GM Wang Hao CHN 2782 9.5 2772 130 136 20 -0.6
20 GM Zubov Alexander UKR 2681 9.5 2770 124 129.5 20 39
21 GM Oparin Grigoriy RUS 2701 9.5 2764 129 135.5 20 27.4
22 GM Kamsky Gata USA 2757 9.5 2745 127.5 134 20 -1.6
23 GM Anand Viswanathan IND 2723 9.5 2741 126 131 20 10
24 GM Alekseenko Kirill RUS 2635 9.5 2712 122.5 128 20 35
25 GM Fridman Daniel GER 2677 9.5 2707 117.5 123 20 13.4
26 GM Jobava Baadur GEO 2718 9.5 2679 110.5 116.5 20 -14
27 GM Cheparinov Ivan GEO 2697 9.5 2676 119.5 126 20 -4.6
28 GM Kovalenko Igor LAT 2665 9.5 2564 96 101 20 -33.6
29 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian RUS 2771 9 2775 133 140 20 2.8
30 GM Gelfand Boris ISR 2715 9 2746 124.5 130 20 13.2
31 GM Sargissian Gabriel ARM 2674 9 2720 123.5 130.5 20 21.8
32 GM Shirov Alexei ESP 2674 9 2710 119 125 20 16
33 GM Salem A.R. Saleh UAE 2682 9 2708 124 130 20 13
34 GM Rakhmanov Aleksandr RUS 2613 9 2704 117.5 123.5 20 38.2
35 GM Alekseev Evgeny RUS 2650 9 2704 116.5 121.5 20 25
36 GM Svidler Peter RUS 2753 9 2703 127.5 132.5 20 -16.2
37 GM Guseinov Gadir AZE 2732 9 2702 116.5 122.5 20 -11.4
38 GM Saric Ivan CRO 2661 9 2699 121 128 20 19.6
39 GM Savchenko Boris RUS 2660 9 2687 115.5 121.5 20 12.6
40 GM Inarkiev Ernesto RUS 2624 9 2680 116 122 20 24.2

Final Ranking after Twelve Rounds (Women)

Rk. Name FED RtgI Pts. TB1 TB2 TB3 K rtg+/-

1 GM Ju Wenjun CHN 2584 10 2708 88 92.5 20 34.4
2 IM Khademalsharieh Sarasadat IRI 2402 9 2585 83 87 20 58.4
3 GM Goryachkina Aleksandra RUS 2477 9 2563 84 89 20 27.2
4 GM Muzychuk Anna UKR 2595 8.5 2577 83.5 89.5 20 -3
5 GM Tan Zhongyi CHN 2442 8.5 2565 85 89 20 39.8
6 IM Abdumalik Zhansaya KAZ 2444 8.5 2533 86 90.5 20 28.8
7 GM Lagno Kateryna RUS 2539 8.5 2488 79 83 20 -10.6
8 GM Lei Tingjie CHN 2545 8.5 2472 77 82 20 -16.8
9 IM Bodnaruk Anastasia RUS 2442 8.5 2459 67.5 72.5 20 6.4
10 IM Saduakassova Dinara KAZ 2381 8 2555 86.5 92.5 20 56.2
11 GM Muzychuk Mariya UKR 2493 8 2547 90.5 97 20 17.8
12 GM Gunina Valentina RUS 2396 8 2505 82 86.5 20 37.8
13 IM Arabidze Meri GEO 2431 8 2440 75.5 80.5 20 3.4
14 GM Harika Dronavalli IND 2484 8 2398 70.5 75.5 20 -23
15 WIM Shuvalova Polina RUS 2411 8 2334 69.5 74.5 20 -21.8
16 IM Gaponenko Inna UKR 2320 8 2297 72.5 76 20 -1.4
17 FM Assaubayeva Bibisara RUS 2153 7.5 2524 90.5 97.5 20 108.2

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 28th December, 2018, 05:47 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 28, 2018

Comments On-line

(Peter Doggers) - In round 12 Dubov played what he called "an important game" for the tournament. He was under slight pressure against Ukrainian GM Anton Korobov, and never was close to winning chances until his opponent suddenly blundered (38.Qxe4??)

Round 12, Dec. 28
Korobov, Anton – Dubov, Daniil
D31 QGD

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Nf6 5.a3 Be7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.b4 c6 9.Bb2 dxc4 10.Bxc4 a5 11.bxa5 Rxa5 12.O-O b6 13.Ne2 Bb7 14.a4 Qa8 15.Bc3 Ra7 16.Ng5 Ba6 17.Bxa6 Rxa6 18.Nf4 Bd6 19.Nd3 h6 20.Nf3 Rc8 21.Rfc1 Ra7 22.Qb3 Be7 23.h3 c5 24.dxc5 Nxc5 25.Nxc5 Rxc5 26.Rcb1 Ra6 27.Bb4 Rc7 28.Bxe7 Rxe7 29.Nd4 Ne4 30.Rc1 Nc5 31.Qb5 Rea7 32.Nc6 Rc7 33.Ne5 Rca7 34.a5 Rxa5 35.Rxa5 Rxa5 36.Qxb6 Ne4 37.Qd4 Rd5 38.Qxe4 Rd1+ 39.Rxd1 Qxe4 40.Rd8+ Kh7 41.Nxf7 Qb1+ 42.Kh2 Qf5 43.Rh8+ Kg6 44.Rf8 Qc5 45.Nh8+ Kh7 46.Rf4 g5 47.Re4 Qd6+ 48.g3 Qd2 49.Kg2 Qd5 0-1

Position after 37….Rd5

Saleh Salem beats Nepo entirely on the increment in the endgame

Round 13, Dec. 28
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Salem, Saleh
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.O-O O-O 9.Qd3 Be6 10.Bd2 Nbd7 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 a5 13.a4 g6 14.Be3 Ne8 15.Nd2 Bg5 16.Nc4 Bxe3 17.Qxe3 f5 18.c3 Qc7 19.b4 b6 20.Na3 Ndf6 21.Rfd1 Ng7 22.Nb5 Qd8 23.bxa5 Rxa5 24.c4 Ne4 25.Bd3 Nc5 26.Bc2 f4 27.Qh3 Nf5 28.Re1 h5 29.Kh1 Kg7 30.g3 fxg3 31.fxg3 Nh6 32.Qg2 Ng4 33.Re2 Qf6 34.h3 e4 35.Rae1 Ne5 36.Bxe4 Rxa4 37.Bb1 Rb4 38.Nd4 Rxc4 39.Ne6+ Nxe6 40.dxe6 Rc3 41.Qb7+ Kh6 42.Qg2 Ra3 43.Ra2 Rxa2 44.Bxa2 b5 45.Bd5 Kg7 46.Rc1 Qe7 47.Qd2 h4 48.g4 g5 49.Qe3 Kh6 50.Qb3 b4 51.Rd1 Rf4 52.Bg2 Nc4 53.Re1 Ne5 54.Rd1 Rc4 55.Bf1 Rf4 56.Bg2 Kg7 57.Ra1 Qc7 58.Qd5 Kf6 59.Qa8 Ng6 60.Ra7 Qc1+ 61.Kh2 Qc5 62.Rf7+ Ke5 63.e7 Nxe7 64.Rxe7+ Kd4 65.Qa1+ Kc4 66.Qc1+ Kb3 67.Re3+ Ka4 68.Qa1+ Kb5 69.Bf1+ Kb6 70.Qa6+ Kc7 71.Qe2 Kb6 72.Bg2 Rc4 73.Qf3 Rc1 74.Qb7+ Ka5 75.Qa8+ Kb6 76.Qd8+ Ka6 77.Qe7 Kb6 78.Qe8 Ka6 79.Bf3 Kb6 80.Qd8+ Qc7 81.Qxg5 d5+ 82.Qe5 Qxe5+ 83.Rxe5 b3 84.Bxd5 b2 85.Ba2 Ra1 86.Re6+ Kc5 87.Re5+ Kb4 88.Re4+ Ka3 89.Bb1 Rxb1 90.Re8 Ra1 91.Ra8+ Kb3 92.Rb8+ Kc3 93.Kg2 b1=Q 0-1

Hikaru Nakamura beats Yu Yangyi in 120 moves (!) to join Carlsen, Artemiev and Mamedyarov half a point behind Dubov going into the final round!

Round 14, Dec. 28
Yu, Yangyi – Nakamura, Hikaru
B01 Scandinavian (Centre Counter) Defence

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qd8 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 g6 6.Be2 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.h3 Nc6 9.a3 e6 10.Bf4 b6 11.Nb5 a6 12.Nc3 Bb7 13.Qd2 Ne7 14.Rad1 Nf5 15.Be5 Qe7 16.Qf4 Rac8 17.Nh4 Nxh4 18.Qxh4 Nd5 19.Qxe7 Nxe7 20.Bxg7 Kxg7 21.Bd3 Rfd8 22.Be4 Bxe4 23.Nxe4 Rd7 24.c3 Rcd8 25.Rde1 Nc6 26.f4 Na5 27.g4 Nc4 28.Re2 Rd5 29.b3 Nd6 30.Nxd6 R8xd6 31.Re5 c5 32.dxc5 Rxc5 33.Rxc5 bxc5 34.Kg2 Kf6 35.b4 c4 36.a4 Ke7 37.Re1 Rd3 38.Re5 Rxc3 39.Rc5 Ra3 40.Rxc4 Rxa4 41.Rc7+ Kf8 42.Rb7 Ra2+ 43.Kg3 Ra3+ 44.Kg2 h5 45.gxh5 gxh5 46.h4 Rb3 47.Rb6 Kg7 48.Rxa6 Rxb4 49.Kf3 Rb3+ 50.Kg2 Rb5 51.Ra8 Kf6 52.Rh8 Kg7 53.Ra8 Rd5 54.Kf3 Rd3+ 55.Kg2 Kf6 56.Ra5 Rd5 57.Ra7 Kg6 58.Re7 Rd3 59.Ra7 f6 60.Ra5 Rd5 61.Ra3 Kf5 62.Kf3 Rb5 63.Kg3 Rc5 64.Rb3 Rd5 65.Kf3 Ra5 66.Kg3 Rc5 67.Ra3 Rd5 68.Kf3 Rd4 69.Ra5+ e5 70.fxe5 fxe5 71.Ra8 Rxh4 72.Rf8+ Ke6 73.Re8+ Kf6 74.Rf8+ Ke7 75.Rh8 Rf4+ 76.Ke3 h4 77.Rh6 Kf7 78.Ra6 Kg7 79.Ra7+ Kg6 80.Ra8 Rf7 81.Rg8+ Rg7 82.Re8 h3 83.Re6+ Kf5 84.Rh6 Rg3+ 85.Kf2 Ra3 86.Rh4 Kg5 87.Rh8 Kg4 88.Rg8+ Kf4 89.Rf8+ Ke4 90.Rg8 Kf5 91.Rf8+ Kg6 92.Rg8+ Kf6 93.Rf8+ Ke7 94.Rh8 Kd6 95.Rd8+ Kc5 96.Rc8+ Kd4 97.Rd8+ Ke4 98.Rh8 Rc3 99.Rh7 Kf4 100.Rh4+ Kg5 101.Rh8 e4 102.Rg8+ Kf5 103.Rf8+ Ke5 104.Re8+ Kd4 105.Rd8+ Kc4 106.Rc8+ Kd3 107.Rd8+ Kc2 108.Ke2 h2 109.Rh8 Kb1 110.Rb8+ Ka2 111.Ra8+ Kb3 112.Rb8+ Kc4 113.Rh8 Ra3 114.Rc8+ Kd4 115.Rd8+ Kc5 116.Rc8+ Kd6 117.Rd8+ Ke5 118.Rh8 Kf4 119.Rf8+ Kg3 120.Rg8+ Kh3 0-1

Carlsen wins an endgame masterclass against Andreikin to go into the last round half a point behind Dubov, alongside Mamedyarov, Artemiev & potentially Nakamura

Round 14, Dec. 28
Carlsen, Magnus – Andreikin, Dmitry
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Ba4 O-O 6.O-O d6 7.c3 Bb6 8.Nbd2 Ne7 9.Nc4 Ng6 10.h3 h6 11.Bc2 Be6 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.d4 b5 14.Be3 c6 15.Re1 Qc7 16.a3 Rad8 17.Qd2 Rfe8 18.Rad1 Qe7 19.Qc1 Nh5 20.dxe5 dxe5 21.Rxd8 Rxd8 22.Rd1 Nhf4 23.Kh2 f6 24.Rxd8+ Qxd8 25.Qd2 Qc8 26.Ng1 Bf7 27.g3 Ne6 28.h4 Qd8 29.Qxd8+ Nxd8 30.Nf3 Nf8 31.Nd2 g5 32.f4 gxf4 33.gxf4 exf4 34.Bxf4 Ng6 35.Kg3 Nxf4 36.Kxf4 Kf8 37.e5 Ke7 38.exf6+ Kxf6 39.Ne4+ Ke7 40.Nf2 Be6 41.Bf5 Nf7 42.Ng4 h5 43.Ne3 Kf6 44.Bxe6 Kxe6 45.Nf5 Kf6 46.Ng3 Kg6 47.b3 Nh6 48.Ke5 Ng4+ 49.Kd6 Ne3 50.Kc7 c5 51.Kxb7 c4 52.b4 Nd1 53.Ne2 Kf5 54.Kc6 Kg4 55.Kxb5 Kxh4 56.a4 Kg4 57.a5 Ne3 58.a6 Nd5 59.a7 h4 60.Kc6 h3 61.a8=Q 1-0

Daniil Dubov beats Wang Hao with Black and looks set to go into the final round of the World Rapid Championship as the sole leader!

Round 14, Dec. 28
Wang, Hao – Dubov, Daniil
A15 Reti, Bremen

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c6 5.d4 d5 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.O-O a5 8.b3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Bf5 10.Nh4 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 Be6 12.f4 Nd7 13.f5 gxf5 14.Nxf5 Bxf5 15.Rxf5 e6 16.Rff1 f5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Rac1 Nf6 19.Bf3 a4 20.Qe3 Qd7 21.Rc2 axb3 22.Qxb3 Rac8 23.Rfc1 Bh6 24.Rxc8 Rxc8 25.Rc5 Bf8 26.Rb5 Rc7 27.Rb6 Ne4 28.Bxe4 fxe4 29.Kg2 Bg7 30.Rb5 Qf7 31.Rb6 Bh6 32.Qd1 Be3 33.Qf1 Qh5 34.Rxe6 Rc2 35.Kh1 Rxb2 36.Re5 Qf7 37.Rf5 Qe6 38.Re5 Qd7 39.Qf6 Rb1+ 0-1

Carlsen and Nakamura draw their last round game

Round 15, Dec. 28
Nakamura, Hikaru – Carlsen, Magnus
D30 Queen’s Gambit declined

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 a6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Bxe7 Nxe7 6.e3 O-O 7.Nc3 Nd7 8.Rc1 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.dxc5 Nxc5 11.b4 Qxd1+ 12.Rxd1 Nd7 13.O-O b5 14.Bb3 Nf6 15.Ne5 Ra7 16.Nd3 Bb7 17.Nc5 Bd5 18.Nxd5 Nfxd5 19.a3 a5 20.e4 Nc3 21.Rd2 axb4 22.axb4 Rfa8 23.Rc2 Na2 24.Bxa2 Rxa2 25.Rxa2 Rxa2 26.g3 Nc6 27.Rc1 Nxb4 28.Rb1 Rc2 29.Nxe6 Rc4 30.Nc7 Rxc7 31.Rxb4 Rb7 32.Kf1 Kf8 33.Ke2 Ke7 34.e5 Ke6 35.f4 Kd5 36.Kd3 Kc5 37.Re4 b4 38.Kc2 Ra7 39.Kb2 Rd7 40.Re2 g6 41.g4 Ra7 42.f5 Kd5 43.e6 fxe6 44.Rxe6 gxf5 45.gxf5 Rf7 46.Kb3 h5 47.Kxb4 Rxf5 48.Re3 Kd4 49.Rh3 Re5 50.Kb3 Re3+ 51.Rxe3 Kxe3 52.h4 Kf3 53.Kc2 Kg3 54.Kd2 Kxh4 55.Ke1 Kg3 56.Kf1 h4 57.Kg1 h3 58.Kh1 h2 1/2-1/2

Daniil Dubov wins $60,000, while Mamedyarov, Nakamura, Artemiev and Carlsen get $36,250 each
Congratulations to Ju Wenjun on retaining her Women's World Rapid Championship title & claiming the $40,000 first prize!
On tiebreak, which was performance rating, Mamedyarov took silver and Nakamura bronze. Artemiev and Carlsen just missed out on the medals. This group of four shared prizes and got $36,2500 each.

Ian Nepomniachtchi - Congratulations to Daniil Dubov, well deserved! As for me, I can only hope that this day has accumulated all imaginable bad luck for years

Congrats to Dubov, Firouzja was a beast coming in 6th, a half point behind contention for medals, expecting him to do even better in coming years after all he is only 16 (or 15 I’m not sure).
Carlsen on Dubov: "It's super cool! If anyone else would win, it's fun that it's someone in my team. Big congrats to him. I wanted this for him."
Carlsen tells #nrksjakkthat he "definitely didn't deserve more". And being paired against Nakamura wasn't ideal: "I expected him to play extremely solidly, and I guess he was hoping that I would take big risks. At least I played better later in the tournament."

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 28th December, 2018, 09:54 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 28, 2018

Blitz

Round One Pairings (Open)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts.Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Carlsen Magnus *) 2939 0 - 0 GM Popov Ivan 2560
2 GM Frolyanov Dmitry 2557 0 - 0 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2889
3 GM Aronian Levon 2858 0 - 0 GM Jumabayev Rinat 2554
4 GM Kazhgaleyev Murtas 2553 0 - 0 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2846
5 GM Anand Viswanathan 2832 0 - 0 GM Kovalev Vladislav 2553
6 GM Sakaev Konstantin 2551 0 - 0 GM Artemiev Vladislav 2825
7 GM Grischuk Alexander 2825 0 - 0 GM Al-Sayed Mohammed 2547
8 IM Demidov Mikhail 2546 0 - 0 GM Yu Yangyi 2804
9 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2777 0 - 0 GM Huzman Alexander 2543
10 GM Potapov Pavel 2542 0 - 0 GM Wang Hao 2775
11 GM Svidler Peter 2770 0 - 0 GM Goganov Aleksey 2539
12 GM Levin Evgeny A. 2539 0 - 0 GM Karjakin Sergey 2759
13 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2754 0 - 0 GM Maslak Konstantin 2537
14 GM Kryakvin Dmitry 2536 0 - 0 GM Giri Anish 2751
15 GM Fedoseev Vladimir 2750 0 - 0 GM Yudin Sergei 2533
16 GM Fridman Daniel 2530 0 - 0 GM Le Quang Liem 2749
17 GM Sjugirov Sanan 2748 0 - 0 IM Kevlishvili Robby 2530
18 GM Tukhaev Adam 2529 0 - 0 GM Dubov Daniil 2743
19 GM Mamedov Rauf 2741 0 - 0 GM Geller Jakov 2528
20 GM Iljin Artem 2525 0 - 0 GM Zubov Alexander 2729
21 GM Morozevich Alexander 2728 0 - 0 GM Mikhalevski Victor 2521
22 IM Nozdrachev Vladislav 2521 0 - 0 GM Gelfand Boris 2722
23 GM Jones Gawain C B 2722 0 - 0 GM Miton Kamil 2520
24 GM Vishnu Prasanna. V 2519 0 - 0 IM Bocharov Ivan 2715
25 GM Guseinov Gadir 2708 0 - 0 IM Anisimov Pavel 2519
26 GM Belozerov Andrei 2518 0 - 0 GM Jobava Baadur 2705
27 GM Harikrishna Pentala 2702 0 - 0 GM Bocharov Dmitry 2517
28 GM Tregubov Pavel V. 2516 0 - 0 GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2700
29 GM Melkumyan Hrant 2699 0 - 0 GM Yilmaz Mustafa 2515
30 GM Salgado Lopez Ivan 2513 0 - 0 GM Shirov Alexei 2699
31 GM Vitiugov Nikita 2696 0 - 0 IM Zubritskiy Artyom 2513
32 IM Seliverstov Vladimir 2512 0 - 0 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof 2694
33 GM Kovalenko Igor 2693 0 - 0 GM Carlsson Pontus 2511
34 FM Anikonov Dmitry 2511 0 - 0 GM Zhigalko Sergei 2693
35 GM Ponkratov Pavel 2688 0 - 0 IM Drygalov Andrey 2509
36 IM Sokolin Leonid 2508 0 - 0 GM Korobov Anton 2677
37 GM Ragger Markus 2677 0 - 0 IM Sokolov Andrei 2507
38 GM Nihal Sarin 2506 0 - 0 GM Adly Ahmed 2675
39 GM Dreev Aleksey 2675 0 - 0 GM Makarov Marat 2505
40 GM Tang Andrew 2501 0 - 0 GM Inarkiev Ernesto 2674

Round One Pairings (Women)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts.Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Dzagnidze Nana 2580 0 - 0 IM Vega Gutierrez Sabrina 2221
2 Sukhareva Evgeniya 2219 0 - 0 GM Lagno Kateryna 2560
3 GM Muzychuk Anna 2559 0 - 0 WGM Tsatsalashvili Keti 2211
4 IM Vasilevich Irina 2207 0 - 0 GM Ju Wenjun 2558
5 GM Zhao Xue 2539 0 - 0 WFM Lysenko Margarita 2205
6 WFM Sviridova Vlada 2204 0 - 0 GM Koneru Humpy 2499
7 GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2496 0 - 0 WIM Tomilova Elena 2202
8 WGM Tokhirjonova Gulrukhbegim 2200 0 - 0 GM Tan Zhongyi 2494
9 GM Harika Dronavalli 2490 0 - 0 IM Nomin-Erdene Davaademberel 2186
10 WIM Bezgodova Svetlana 2184 0 - 0 GM Gunina Valentina 2489
11 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2475 0 - 0 IM Guseva Marina 2183
12 FM Assaubayeva Bibisara 2182 0 - 0 GM Lei Tingjie 2458
13 WGM Michna Marta 2433 0 - 0 WIM Badelka Olga 2181
14 WIM Injac Teodora 2177 0 - 0 GM Goryachkina Aleksandra 2422
15 GM Ushenina Anna 2419 0 - 0 WIM Gromova Iulia 2176
16 WGM Kovanova Baira 2172 0 - 0 IM Galliamova Alisa 2417
17 IM Buksa Nataliya 2401 0 - 0 WFM Chernyak Viktoria 2150
18 WIM Solozhenkina Elizaveta 2148 0 - 0 IM Skripchenko Almira 2396
19 GM Muzychuk Mariya 2395 0 - 0 WFM Gritsayeva Oksana 2145
20 WFM Romanovskaya Anna 2145 0 - 0 GM Danielian Elina 2390
21 WGM Ambartsumova Karina 2387 0 - 0 WGM Nebolsina Vera 2144
22 WIM Komiagina Maria 2143 0 - 0 GM Cramling Pia 2382
23 WGM Berend Elvira 2382 0 - 0 WFM Gvanceladze Anna 2142
24 WGM Bogumil Tatiana 2140 0 - 0 WGM Guichard Pauline 2378
25 IM Khademalsharieh Sarasadat 2377 0 - 0 WIM Styazhkina Anna 2137
26 WGM Molchanova Tatjana 2135 0 - 0 IM Abdumalik Zhansaya 2371
27 GM Zhukova Natalia 2369 0 - 0 FM Garcia Martin Marta 2134
28 WGM Paramzina Anastasya 2126 0 - 0 IM Bodnaruk Anastasia 2366
29 IM Paehtz Elisabeth 2366 0 - 0 WGM Belenkaya Dina 2122
30 WIM Sirotkina Nina 2122 0 - 0 WGM Girya Olga 2363

____________

Open – 21 games over two days 1-12, 13-21
Women – 17 games over two days 1-9, 10-17
Time - 3 min + 2 seconds increment per move, starting with move 1
* Magnus Carlsen is always at Board 1

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 29th December, 2018, 11:51 AM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 29, 2018

Blitz

Rounds One to Twelve

Round Seven

The sensation on the first day of blitz is the Iranian GM Firouzja who was leading the tournament, so paired against Carlsen and beaten quite handily by Magnus.

Alireza Firouzja (born 18 June 2003), a chess prodigy, he won the Iranian Chess Championship at age 12 and earned his grandmaster title at the age of 14.

The coverage is on chess24:

https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-to...hip-2018/8/1/1

with Evgeny Miroshnichenko and Peter Leko as the commentators.

World Blitz
5+2
Carlsen, Magnus – Firouzja, Alireza
E62 King’s Indian, Fianchetto, Uhlmann variation

1.c4 g6 2.g3 Bg7 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nc3 O-O 5.Nf3 d6 6.d4 Nc6 7.O-O e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.Bg5 Be6 10.Qa4 Qb8 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Nd2 Bg7 13.Rfd1 Rd8 14.Nb3 Nd4 15.Nc5 c6 16.e3 Bg4 17.exd4 exd4 18.N3e4 Bxd1 19.Rxd1 Qc7 20.Qb3 b6 21.Nd3 Rab8 22.c5 bxc5 23.Qc4 Qa5 24.Nexc5 Bf8 25.b4 Qa3 26.Ne5 Qxb4 27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Qf6+ Bg7 29.Qg5 Re8 30.Nxc6 Qc4 31.Nxb8 Qe2 32.Qd2 1-0

Final position

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 29th December, 2018, 02:52 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz 2018

December 29, 2018

Blitz

Rounds One to Twelve

First, I will give the standings after Rounds Four, Eight and Twelve:

Rank after Round Four

Rk. Name FED RtgI Pts.

1 GM Postny Evgeny ISR 2657 4
2 GM Mamedov Rauf AZE 2741 4
3 IM Bilguun Sumiya MGL 2469 3.5
4 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian RUS 2846 3.5
5 GM Andreikin Dmitry RUS 2777 3.5
6 GM Kovalenko Igor LAT 2693 3.5
7 GM Nakamura Hikaru USA 2889 3.5
8 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof POL 2694 3.5
9 GM Carlsen Magnus NOR 2939 3.5
10 GM Jobava Baadur GEO 2705 3.5
11 GM Firouzja Alireza IRI 2667 3.5
12 GM Shirov Alexei ESP 2699 3.5
13 GM Svidler Peter RUS 2770 3.5
14 GM Vitiugov Nikita RUS 2696 3.5
15 GM Alekseev Evgeny RUS 2634 3.5
16 GM Le Quang Liem VIE 2749 3.5
17 GM Dreev Aleksey RUS 2675 3.5
18 IM Kevlishvili Robby NED 2530 3
19 GM Aronian Levon ARM 2858 3
20 GM Tomashevsky Evgeny RUS 2602 3
21 IM Vokhidov Shamsiddin UZB 2414 3
22 GM Maghsoodloo Parham IRI 2642 3
23 GM Karjakin Sergey RUS 2759 3
24 GM Riazantsev Alexander RUS 2633 3
25 GM Alekseenko Kirill RUS 2665 3
26 GM Anand Viswanathan IND 2832 3

Rank after Round Eight

Rk. Name FED RtgI Pts.

1 GM Firouzja Alireza IRI 2667 6.5
2 GM Andreikin Dmitry RUS 2777 6.5
3 GM Carlsen Magnus NOR 2939 6.5
4 GM Aronian Levon ARM 2858 6.5
5 GM Wang Hao CHN 2775 6.5
6 GM Le Quang Liem VIE 2749 6.5
7 GM Vitiugov Nikita RUS 2696 6
8 GM Korobov Anton UKR 2677 6
9 GM Kovalenko Igor LAT 2693 6
10 GM Cheparinov Ivan GEO 2618 6
11 GM Karjakin Sergey RUS 2759 6
12 GM Zhigalko Sergei BLR 2693 6
13 GM Artemiev Vladislav RUS 2825 6
14 GM Adly Ahmed EGY 2675 6
15 GM Svidler Peter RUS 2770 6
16 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar AZE 2754 6
17 GM Mamedov Rauf AZE 2741 5.5
18 GM Jobava Baadur GEO 2705 5.5
19 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian RUS 2846 5.5
20 GM Yudin Sergei RUS 2533 5.5
21 GM Zubov Alexander UKR 2729 5.5
22 GM Demchenko Anton RUS 2572 5.5
23 IM Nozdrachev Vladislav RUS 2521 5.5
24 GM Grischuk Alexander RUS 2825 5.5
25 GM Giri Anish NED 2751 5.5
26 GM Kazhgaleyev Murtas KAZ 2553 5.5

Rank after Round Twelve

Rk. Name FED RtgI Pts.

1 GM Carlsen Magnus NOR 2939 9.5
2 GM Artemiev Vladislav RUS 2825 9.5
3 GM Andreikin Dmitry RUS 2777 9
4 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian RUS 2846 9
5 GM Svidler Peter RUS 2770 9
6 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof POL 2694 9
7 GM Giri Anish NED 2751 9
8 GM Wang Hao CHN 2775 8.5
9 GM Karjakin Sergey RUS 2759 8.5
10 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar AZE 2754 8.5
11 GM Korobov Anton UKR 2677 8.5
12 GM Aronian Levon ARM 2858 8
13 GM Jobava Baadur GEO 2705 8
14 IM Golubov Saveliy RUS 2574 8
15 GM Cheparinov Ivan GEO 2618 8
16 IM Tsydypov Zhamsaran RUS 2573 8
17 GM Kovalev Vladislav BLR 2553 8
18 GM Smirin Ilia ISR 2582 8
19 GM Le Quang Liem VIE 2749 8
20 GM Nakamura Hikaru USA 2889 8
21 GM Maghsoodloo Parham IRI 2642 8
22 GM Adly Ahmed EGY 2675 8
23 GM Matlakov Maxim RUS 2653 8
24 GM Grischuk Alexander RUS 2825 8
25 GM Dreev Aleksey RUS 2675 8
26 GM Gelfand Boris ISR 2722 8
27 GM Amin Bassem EGY 2659 8
28 GM Vitiugov Nikita RUS 2696 7.5
29 GM Demchenko Anton RUS 2572 7.5
30 GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan IRI 2582 7.5
31 GM Hovhannisyan Robert ARM 2588 7.5
32 GM Anand Viswanathan IND 2832 7.5
33 GM Sarana Alexey RUS 2616 7.5
34 IM Yakubboev Nodirbek UZB 2388 7.5
35 GM Dubov Daniil RUS 2743 7.5

Firouzja started well and then had three losses to Carlsen Wang Hao and Nepomniachtchi. Baadur Jobava, a name we haven’t heard for quite some time, started off well and then fell to Firouzja and Aronian.

Magnus beat Firouzja handily, pulled off a draw against Andreikin, beat Svidler and Aronian and right now is top dog, playing Anish Giri tomorrow. Artemiev, who also has 9.5/12, is playing Peter Svidler tomorrow.

Round Thirteen pairings in the next post.

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 29th December, 2018, 03:19 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz 2018

December 29, 2018

Blitz

Rounds One to Twelve

Standings after Round Nine (Women)

Rk. Name FED Rtg Pts.

1 GM Lagno Kateryna RUS 2560 7.5
2 IM Khademalsharieh Sarasadat IRI 2377 7.5
3 GM Ju Wenjun CHN 2558 7
4 GM Lei Tingjie CHN 2458 7
5 GM Tan Zhongyi CHN 2494 7
6 WCM Garifullina Leya RUS 2120 6.5
7 GM Cramling Pia SWE 2382 6.5
8 GM Harika Dronavalli IND 2490 6.5
9 IM Arabidze Meri GEO 2323 6.5
10 WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab AZE 2271 6.5
11 GM Gunina Valentina RUS 2489 6.5
12 WGM Guichard Pauline FRA 2378 6.5
13 GM Ushenina Anna UKR 2419 6.5
14 IM Abdumalik Zhansaya KAZ 2371 6.5
15 IM Bodnaruk Anastasia RUS 2366 6
16 GM Koneru Humpy IND 2499 6
17 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra RUS 2475 6
18 WGM Vo Thi Kim Phung VIE 2320 6
19 FM Voit Daria RUS 2334 6
20 GM Goryachkina Aleksandra RUS 2422 6
21 IM Galliamova Alisa RUS 2417 6
22 WGM Girya Olga RUS 2363 6
23 GM Khotenashvili Bela GEO 2355 6
24 WGM Bivol Alina RUS 2285 6
25 WIM Drozdova Dina RUS 2046 5.5
26 IM Gaponenko Inna UKR 2314 5.5
27 GM Muzychuk Anna UKR 2559 5.5
28 WIM Solozhenkina Elizaveta RUS 2148 5.5
29 WGM Paramzina Anastasya RUS 2126 5.5
30 GM Dzagnidze Nana GEO 2580 5.5
31 GM Zhao Xue CHN 2539 5.5
32 WFM Munkhzul Turmunkh MGL 1936 5.5
33 GM Stefanova Antoaneta BUL 2496 5.5
34 WIM Maletina Tatiana RUS 2248 5.5
35 WGM Mirzoeva Elmira RUS 2295 5.5
36 IM Paehtz Elisabeth GER 2366 5.5
37 IM Buksa Nataliya UKR 2401 5.5
38 WGM Ambartsumova Karina RUS 2387 5.5
39 GM Muzychuk Mariya UKR 2395 5

Round Ten Pairings (Women)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts.Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Lagno Kateryna 2560 7½ - 7 GM Tan Zhongyi 2494
2 GM Lei Tingjie 2458 7 - 7½ IM Khademalsharieh Sarasadat 2377
3 GM Ju Wenjun 2558 7 - 6½ GM Harika Dronavalli 2490
4 IM Abdumalik Zhansaya 2371 6½ - 6½ GM Gunina Valentina 2489
5 WGM Mamedjarova Zeinab 2271 6½ - 6½ GM Ushenina Anna 2419
6 GM Cramling Pia 2382 6½ - 6½ IM Arabidze Meri 2323
7 WGM Guichard Pauline 2378 6½ - 6½ WCM Garifullina Leya 2120
8 GM Koneru Humpy 2499 6 - 6 WGM Girya Olga 2363
9 WGM Bivol Alina 2285 6 - 6 GM Kosteniuk Alexandra 2475
10 GM Goryachkina Aleksandra 2422 6 - 6 GM Khotenashvili Bela 2355
11 IM Galliamova Alisa 2417 6 - 6 FM Voit Daria 2334
12 IM Bodnaruk Anastasia 2366 6 - 6 WGM Vo Thi Kim Phung 2320
13 WGM Mirzoeva Elmira 2295 5½ - 5½ GM Dzagnidze Nana 2580
14 WIM Maletina Tatiana 2248 5½ - 5½ GM Muzychuk Anna 2559
15 IM Gaponenko Inna 2314 5½ - 5½ GM Zhao Xue 2539
16 WIM Solozhenkina Elizaveta 2148 5½ - 5½ GM Stefanova Antoaneta 2496
17 WGM Paramzina Anastasya 2126 5½ - 5½ IM Buksa Nataliya 2401
18 WFM Munkhzul Turmunkh 1936 5½ - 5½ WGM Ambartsumova Karina 2387
19 IM Paehtz Elisabeth 2366 5½ - 5½ WIM Drozdova Dina 2046
20 WIM Lelekova Olga 2261 5 - 5 WGM Michna Marta 2433
21 IM Skripchenko Almira 2396 5 - 5 IM Mammadzada Gunay 2256
22 WIM Haussernot Cecile 2233 5 - 5 GM Muzychuk Mariya 2395

Round Thirteen Pairings (Open)

Bo. Name Rtg Pts.Result Pts. Name Rtg

1 GM Carlsen Magnus *) 2939 9½ - 9 GM Giri Anish 2751
2 GM Svidler Peter 2770 9 - 9½ GM Artemiev Vladislav 2825
3 GM Nepomniachtchi Ian 2846 9 - 9 GM Duda Jan-Krzysztof 2694
4 GM Andreikin Dmitry 2777 9 - 8½ GM Karjakin Sergey 2759
5 GM Mamedyarov Shakhriyar 2754 8½ - 8½ GM Wang Hao 2775
6 GM Aronian Levon 2858 8 - 8½ GM Korobov Anton 2677
7 GM Nakamura Hikaru 2889 8 - 8 GM Amin Bassem 2659
8 GM Grischuk Alexander 2825 8 - 8 GM Maghsoodloo Parham 2642
9 GM Matlakov Maxim 2653 8 - 8 GM Le Quang Liem 2749
10 GM Cheparinov Ivan 2618 8 - 8 GM Gelfand Boris 2722
11 GM Smirin Ilia 2582 8 - 8 GM Jobava Baadur 2705
12 GM Adly Ahmed 2675 8 - 8 IM Golubov Saveliy 2574
13 GM Dreev Aleksey 2675 8 - 8 GM Kovalev Vladislav 2553
14 GM Anand Viswanathan 2832 7½ - 8 IM Tsydypov Zhamsaran 2573
15 GM Sarana Alexey 2616 7½ - 7½ GM Dubov Daniil 2743
16 GM Demchenko Anton 2572 7½ - 7½ GM Jones Gawain C B 2722
17 GM Melkumyan Hrant 2699 7½ - 7½ GM Paravyan David 2629
18 GM Vitiugov Nikita 2696 7½ - 7½ GM Jakovenko Dmitry 2616
19 IM Yakubboev Nodirbek 2388 7½ - 7½ GM Inarkiev Ernesto 2674
20 GM Indjic Aleksandar 2643 7½ - 7½ GM Hovhannisyan Robert 2588
21 GM Mamedov Rauf 2741 7 - 7½ GM Ghaem Maghami Ehsan 2582
22 GM Sjugirov Sanan 2748 7 - 7 GM Oparin Grigoriy 2641
23 GM Zubov Alexander 2729 7 - 7 GM Christiansen Johan-Sebastian 2635
24 GM Yudin Sergei 2533 7 - 7 GM Petrosian Tigran L. 2700
25 GM Savchenko Boris 2639 7 - 7 GM Shirov Alexei 2699
26 GM Riazantsev Alexander 2633 7 - 7 GM Kovalenko Igor 2693
27 GM Zhigalko Sergei 2693 7 - 7 IM Sychev Klementy 2594
28 GM Vallejo Pons Francisco 2673 7 - 7 GM Nihal Sarin 2506
29 GM Firouzja Alireza 2667 7 - 7 IM Nozdrachev Vladislav 2521
30 GM Kamsky Gata 2657 7 - 7 GM Potkin Vladimir 2494

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 29th December, 2018, 11:33 PM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz 2018

December 29, 2018

Blitz

Rounds One to Twelve

This is one of the last games to finish. How many moves more after this position (Black’s 58…Kxg7) was reached did the players make?

The game was between German Bazeev (2422) and Alexander Riazantsev (2633) in Round 12. It is a draw, you cannot mate with two knights. But either from ignorance or bloody-mindedness, it went on until move 109 when the arbiters stepped in and stopped the battle!

Chessbase - Carlsen showed his prowess in blitz converting small advantages and holding draws when that was what the position called for. However, in round nine, he obtained the last ingredient necessary to have a good day in a blitz tournament: luck. In an absolutely winning endgame, Dmitry Andreikin missed the chance to take down Magnus by playing two moves in inverted order:

Position after 72...Kd5

The Russian needed to queen first with 73.f8Q in order to follow 73...Rxf8 74.Kxf8 Ke6 75.Kg7, shouldering the black king away and winning with the h-pawn. Instead, Andreikin played 73.h5?? first, allowing 73...Ke6 74.f8Q Rxf8 75.Kxf8 Kf6 76.h6 Kg6, with a draw.

____________

Leko and Miro related a little bit of chess history before the Carlsen-Svidler game:

“Peter Svidler historically has done relatively well against Magnus Carlsen. You’ll recall that he created a drama at the Candidates Tournament in London in 2013. Carlsen and Kramnik were tied before going into the last round. Carlsen with White lost against Svidler and Vassily Ivanchuk, who had no hope of winning the tournament, beat Kramnik. Carlsen had the better tiebreak and he went on to play Anand, won and has been World Champion since then.”

See: http://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1714070

World Blitz 2018
Round 10, Dec. 29
Carlsen, Magnus – Svidler, Peter
A37 English, symmetrical variation

1.c4 g6 2.g3 c5 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O e6 7.e3 Nge7 8.d4 O-O 9.Re1 Rb8 10.b3 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Nxd4 12.exd4 Nf5 13.Be3 Nxe3 14.Rxe3 a6 15.Rc1 Bh6 16.f4 Bg7 17.Rd3 b6 18.Qd2 Bd7 19.h4 Qe7 20.Kh2 Rfc8 21.a4 Be8 22.Re1 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.Nxb5 Bxb5 25.cxb5 Rxb5 26.d5 e5 27.f5 Rcb8 28.Qc2 gxf5 29.Rf3 f4 30.Rxf4 Rxb3 31.Qf5 Rb1 32.Rxb1 Rxb1 33.Rg4 Rb2 34.Kh3 h5 35.Rg5 Qa7 36.Be4 Qg1 37.Qc8# 1-0

(Peter Doggers) This was decided in time trouble, where Black was doing OK but the position was just slightly tougher to play. Svidler, who is playing in the city where he lives, must have completely missed the last move, which turned out to be checkmate.

Jobava is playing. He won three games with his Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack but then against Svidler went down.

Round 12, Dec. 29
Jobava, Baadur – Svidler, Peter
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Modern variation

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 g6 4.h4 h5 5.c4 Bg7 6.Nf3 d6 7.d3 Nf6 8.Nc3 a6 9.Be2 Ne7 10.Qc2 Nf5 11.O-O-O Ng4 12.Ne4 O-O 13.Nfg5 c6 14.Bxg4 hxg4 15.h5 f6 16.hxg6 fxg5 17.Rh5 Qe8 18.Rdh1 d5 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.Qc7 Bd7 21.Kb1 dxe4 22.dxe4 Nh4 23.Rxg5 Rc8 24.Qd6 Rc6 25.Qd3 Nxg6 26.f4 gxf3 27.gxf3 Rxf3 28.Rhg1 Qf7 29.Qd5 Qxd5 30.exd5 Rcf6 0-1

(Peter Doggers) - The Grand Chess Tour and Speed Chess winner is on a disappointing 8/12 as his first day included losses against Anton Korobov and Ahmed Adly, and a draw against the aforementioned Tsydypov.

Korobov knew exactly what to do against what seems to be Nakamura's favorite setup in blitz these days. The Ukrainian played a Saemisch formation as is done with the white pieces against the King's Indian:

Round 6, Dec. 29
Nakamura, Hikaru – Korobov, Anton
A06 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.Bb2 f6 4.g3 e5 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.O-O Be6 7.c4 d4 8.e3 Nge7 9.d3 Ng6 10.exd4 cxd4 11.Ba3 Bxa3 12.Nxa3 O-O 13.Nc2 Qd7 14.Nd2 Bh3 15.b4 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 f5 17.b5 Nd8 18.Qf3 Nf7 19.Nb4 e4 20.dxe4 Nfe5 21.Qb3 fxe4 22.c5+ Kh8 23.Qd5 Qxb5 24.Qxd4 Rad8 25.Qc3 Qe2 26.Nb3 Ng4 27.Qe1 Qf3+ 28.Kg1 Nf4 0-1

(Peter Doggers) – In the Women’s, Ju Wenjun is not dominating this time. As fourth seed, she is currently in third place, half a point behind the leaders.

21-year-old Iranian IM Khademalsharieh is doing very well, after she took the silver medal at the world rapid yesterday. One of her victims today was none other than Ju in round seven. The Chinese was positionally bankrupt when her attack came too late:

Women’s Blitz
Round 7, Dec. 29
Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat – Ju Wenjun
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bxf6 Qxf6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e3 O-O 10.Rc1 Qg6 11.Qd1 Bg4 12.Be2 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 Ne7 14.O-O c6 15.a3 Bd6 16.Na4 Rab8 17.Nc5 Rfd8 18.Qa4 a6 19.Qc2 Qf6 20.b4 Nf5 21.Bg4 Bxc5 22.bxc5 Ne7 23.Rb1 Qg5 24.Be2 f5 25.g3 Ng6 26.Rb3 Rf8 27.Kh1 h5 28.Rfb1 h4 29.Rxb7 Rxb7 30.Rxb7 hxg3 31.hxg3 Rf6 32.Rb8+ Kh7 33.Kg2 f4 34.exf4 Rxf4 35.Bd3 Rxd4 36.Bxg6+ Qxg6 37.Rh8+ 1-0

___________

The two tournaments have been very enjoyable. From the technical aspect there have been no sound or picture problems. Games and pairings are quickly downloadable and you can replay the commentary back if you wish to hear something again.

Peter Leko and Evgenyi Miroshnichenko are fluent in English and knowledgeable in all aspects of the game. They have coached and Peter has been in the World Championship cycle. I hope that chess24 has tied them up with contracts for the future. Perhaps they have and this is why Jan Gustafsson can just sit at home now and watch the profits roll in!

Kateryna Lagno (Russia) and Sarasadat Khademalsharieh (Iran) are leading the women’s section of the King Salman World Blitz Championship after the 1st day of play with 7,5/9. Women’s section has 17 rounds in total, 8 more rounds to follow tomorrow.
3 losses in a row now for Firouzja after his brilliant start - the last of them was Nepo winning R+B vs. R
A huge win for Carlsen against Aronian! He'll play co-leader Artemiev next. Magnus recently said of him: "Yeah, he’s good. He has a very good natural feel for the game, which is great in blitz. I think he’s legit"
Svidler: "This is the purest fun you can have playing chess!"
wow, tang played 10 russians
After Day 1 of the World Blitz Championship Carlsen and Artemiev lead on 9.5/12, with 5 players half a point back. Day 2 will get off to a fun start, as it's Carlsen vs. Giri! :)
Finally! The game we’ve all been waiting for (Carlsen-Giri). They should up the stakes. How about the loser will not be allowed to use Twitter until the Tata Steel Tournament

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 30th December, 2018, 09:47 AM

FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Championships 2018

December 30, 2018

Rounds Thirteen to Twenty-One

Carlsen’s games today

Round 13, Dec. 30
Carlsen, Magnus – Giri, Anish
A28 English four Knights, Nimzowitsch variation

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e4 Bc5 5.Nxe5 Nxe5 6.d4 Bb4 7.dxe5 Nxe4 8.Qf3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Be7 10.Qg3 g6 11.Bh6 d6 12.Be2 Be6 13.Rd1 Qd7 14.exd6 cxd6 15.O-O O-O-O 16.Be3 Qa4 17.Qf3 Qc6 18.Qf4 b6 19.a4 Rd7 20.a5 bxa5 21.Rb1 Rc7 22.c5 dxc5 23.Bf3 Qd6 24.Qe4 Rd8 1-0

Round 14, Dec. 30
Wang Hao – Carlsen, Magnus
B31 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 Nf6 7.Nc3 Nd7 8.Be3 e5 9.Qd2 h6 10.O-O b6 11.a3 Nf8 12.b4 Ne6 13.bxc5 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.Qe1 O-O 16.Rb1 e4 17.dxe4 f4 18.Rd1 Qe7 19.Bd4 Nxd4 20.Nxd4 Ba6 21.Nxc6 Qxc5 22.Nd5 Rae8 23.Ncb4 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 Qc4+ 25.Qe2 Rxe4 26.Qxc4 Rxc4 27.Ke2 a5 28.Nd3 Rxc2+ 29.Kf3 Ra2 30.Nxb6 Rxa3 31.Nc4 Rc3 32.Nxa5 Rd8 33.Ke2 Rd5 34.Nb7 Bf8 35.Rd2 Rb3 36.Nbc5 Bxc5 0-1

Round 15, Dec. 30
Carlsen, Magnus – Tsydypov, Zhamsaran
A28 English, Four Knights, Nimzowitsch variation

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e4 Bb4 5.d3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O h6 9.Rb1 b6 10.Ne1 Ne7 11.f4 exf4 12.Bxf4 Ng6 13.Bg3 Re8 14.Nc2 Bb7 15.Ne3 c6 16.Nf5 Re6 17.Qd2 d5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.c5 Qc8 20.cxb6 Rxb6 21.Rxb6 axb6 22.Nxh6+ gxh6 23.Rxf6 d4 24.Qxh6 Qe8 25.Bd1 Bd5 26.c4 Bc6 27.Bb3 Ba4 28.Bxa4 Rxa4 29.Rxb6 Ra8 30.h4 Qe7 31.h5 Nf8 32.Rb5 Ne6 33.Be5 Qh4 34.Qh8# 1-0

Tsydypov is a Russian player, born in 1996

Round 16, Dec. 30
Golubov, Saveliy – Carlsen, Magnus
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 e6 4.e3 Bd6 5.Bg3 c5 6.c3 Qc7 7.Nbd2 Nbd7 8.Bd3 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.Bxd6 Qxd6 11.e4 dxe4 12.Nxe4 Qc7 13.Nxf6+ Nxf6 14.dxc5 Qxc5 15.O-O O-O 16.Rad1 Rfd8 17.h3 h6 18.Bc2 a5 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Rd1 Rxd1+ 21.Qxd1 Qd5 22.Qxd5 Bxd5 23.a3 Bxf3 24.gxf3 Nd5 25.Be4 Nf4 26.h4 f5 27.Bc6 Kf7 28.b4 Ne2+ 29.Kg2 Nxc3 30.bxa5 bxa5 31.f4 Ke7 32.Kf3 Kd6 33.Be8 Nb1 34.a4 Nc3 35.Ke3 Nd5+ 36.Kf3 Nc7 37.Bh5 Kc5 38.Ke3 Nd5+ 39.Kf3 Kb4 40.Be8 Nb6 41.Bf7 Nxa4 42.Bxe6 Nc5 43.Bxf5 a4 44.Bb1 a3 45.Ba2 Kc3 46.f5 Kb2 47.Bd5 Nb3 0-1

Round 17, Dec. 30
Carlsen, Magnus – Nakamura, Hikaru
D37 QGD, Hastings variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.d4 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 b6 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.Qe2 Qc8 11.O-O c5 12.Nb5 Qb7 13.a3 Ne4 14.Rac1 Rac8 15.Ne5 Nd6 16.Nxd6 Bxd6 17.Qg4 cxd4 18.Rxc8 Rxc8 19.Nxf7 Bxf4 20.Qxe6 Nc5 21.Nh6+ Kh8 22.Nf7+ Kg8 23.Nh6+ Kh8 1/2-1/2

Round 18, Dec. 30
Carlsen, Magnus – Gelfand, Boris
B44 English, Sicilian Szen

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Nc6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.e4 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 e5 9.O-O O-O 10.Qe2 Re8 11.Na4 d5 12.a3 Bd6 13.Bg5 h6 14.Bxf6 Qxf6 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.Nc3 d4 17.Nd5 Qg5 18.Rac1 Bh3 19.Qf3 Be6 20.Rc6 Rad8 21.Bc4 Kh8 22.Ra6 Bb8 23.b3 Rf8 24.Qg3 Qd2 25.h3 Bc8 26.Ra4 Bd7 27.Ra6 Bc8 28.Ra4 Bd7 1/2-1/2

In eighteen rounds of Blitz, Magnus has not lost a game!

Standings after Round Eighteen

1 Carlsen 14.5
2 Duda 13.5
3 Nakamura 13
4-6 Aronian, Svidler, Giri 12.5
7-11 Nepo, Mamedyarov, Gelfand, Zubov, Grischuk 12

Carlsen playing Mamedyarov in Round Nineteen