World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 20, 2019

Round Four

Game One

From the official site:

First Rest Day

On the first rest day at the World Cup, tournament guests were offered a sightseeing trip around Khanty-Mansiysk with stops at Archeopark, river boat station, the Resurrection of Christ cathedral, and biathlon track. The main destination was the Torum Maa – an ethnographic open-air museum that re-enacts everyday life of Ob-Ugric people.

In the evening those who enjoy hockey went for a Supreme Hockey League match between Ugra (Khanty-Mansiysk) and Molot-Prikamye (Perm). One of the rating favorites of the tournament, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, watched the match from a stand, while his recent opponent, Ugra representative Dmitry Jakovenko threw down the ceremonial first puck.

The home team won 4-3 in the overtime.

The mascot of local team, Parkhom the Mammoth, gave the chess players a special gift: hockey pucks with autographs of hockey players.

Game One

Curiously, all victories of the day were achieved with White.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave defeated Peter Svidler. White got a comfortable game in the opening and won a pawn in the middlegame. Approaching the control move, Black, being in a difficult position, sacrificed a piece, but did not manage to get any compensation, as Vachier-Lagrave found the most accurate defensive moves. The Russian resigned on the 42nd move.

Jan-Krzysztof Duda had White against Jeffrey Xiong. Soon after the opening Duda captured a poisoned pawn, missing a strong reply of his opponent, and ended up an exchange down. However, in the subsequent game the American first allowed White to achieve a dynamic equality, and then made a fatal mistake on the 34th move. Duda capitalized on it, got an overwhelming advantage and won the game.

Nikita Vitiugov outplayed Wesley So in an attractive positional style. The Russian was slowly increasing the pressure and ended up with a dangerous passed pawn on b7. Black managed to block the pawn, but it cost him two pawns. So defended tenaciously, but on the 58th move his king got caught into a mating net. Black resigned on the 60th move.

In the longest game of the day, Alexander Grischuk defeated Lenier Dominguez. The Russian outplayed his opponent in a dry ending with rooks and opposite-colored bishops, and won a pawn. Black retained good drawing chances after the rooks were exchanged, however, being under the strong time pressure, Dominguez committed a fatal mistake and lost.

Four games ended peacefully: Le Quang Liem-Aronian, Mamedyarov-Radjabov, Nepomniachtchi-Yu Yangyi, and Ding Liren-Alekseenko.

Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
Ding, Liren – Alekseenko, Kirill
E01 Catalan, Closed

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Be7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.O-O Nbd7 8.Qc2 c6 9.Rc1 a5 10.a3 h6 11.e3 Re8 12.b3 a4 13.b4 Ne4 14.c5 Bf6 15.Nc3 e5 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Nxe5 Nxe5 18.dxe5 Bxe5 19.Bc3 Bxc3 20.Qxc3 Bg4 21.Ra2 Qe7 22.Rd2 Rad8 23.Rd4 Rxd4 24.Qxd4 Be2 25.Qc3 Qe6 26.Qc2 Bd3 27.Qxa4 Qa2 28.Bf1 Re5 29.Qd1 Rf5 30.Qe1 Qxa3 31.Ra1 Qb2 32.Ra8+ Kh7 33.Rd8 Bxf1 34.Kxf1 Rd5 35.Rxd5 cxd5 36.Qd1 Qxb4 37.Qxd5 Kg8 38.Kg2 g6 39.g4 Qb1 40.h3 Kg7 41.Qe5+ Kh7 42.Qd5 Kg7 43.Qe5+ Kh7 44.Qe8 Kg7 45.Qb8 Qb5 46.Qe5+ Kg8 47.Qxe4 Qxc5 48.Qxb7 h5 49.Qb8+ Kg7 50.Kg3 hxg4 51.hxg4 Qc1 52.Qe5+ Kh7 53.Kg2 Qc6+ 54.e4 Qd7 55.Qf4 Kg7 56.g5 Qd4 57.Kg3 Qc3+ 58.Kg4 Qc8+ 59.Kf3 Qc3+ 60.Qe3 Qa1 61.Kg2 Qe5 62.Kf3 Qa1 63.Kf4 Qb2 64.Qc5 Qd2+ 65.Kg3 Qd3+ 66.f3 Qd2 67.Qe5+ Kg8 68.Qf6 Qe1+ 69.Kf4 Qc1+ 70.Kg4 1/2-1/2

Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
Grischuk, Alexander – Dominguez, Leinier
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.c4 O-O 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.Nc3 h6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Rfd1 Bd5 14.Qd3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 c6 16.Kg2 Qa5 17.e3 Rfd8 18.Qc4 Rac8 19.Rab1 Nd5 20.Qb3 Qb4 21.Qc2 a5 22.h4 Nf6 23.h5 Rc7 24.Ne2 Qb6 25.Nf4 Nd5 26.Rbc1 Bd6 27.Nd3 Nb4 28.Qb3 Rcd7 29.Be4 Qc7 30.Rh1 Nxd3 31.Bxd3 Be7 32.Bb1 Qd6 33.Qc2 Bf6 34.Qc5 Qxc5 35.Rxc5 Rd5 36.Rc4 e5 37.Be4 R5d7 38.dxe5 Bxe5 39.b4 axb4 40.Rxb4 Ra8 41.Rhb1 Ra7 42.Bf5 Re7 43.Bc8 c5 44.Rb5 Rc7 45.Bxb7 Rxa4 46.Bd5 Kf8 47.f4 Bc3 48.e4 Bd4 49.e5 c4 50.Rb8+ Ke7 51.R1b7 Ra7 52.Bc6 f5 53.Rxc7+ Rxc7 54.Ba4 Ra7 55.Rb4 Rc7 56.Kf3 Ke6 57.Bc2 Ba7 58.Ra4 Bb6 59.Ke2 Kd5 60.Bxf5 Ra7 61.Rxa7 Bxa7 62.Kf3 Bc5 63.Bh7 c3 64.Kg4 Bf2 65.Bg8+ Kc6 66.Bb3 Kd7 67.Kf3 Be1 68.g4 Bd2 69.Ke4 Ke7 70.Kf5 Be3 71.g5 hxg5 72.Kxg5 Bd2 73.Kg4 Be3 74.Kf3 Bd2 75.h6 gxh6 76.f5 c2 77.f6+ Kf8 78.Bxc2 Bc3 79.Kf4 h5 80.Bd1 h4 81.Bg4 Ba5 82.Kf5 Bc7 83.e6 Bd8 84.Bh5 h3 85.Bg4 h2 86.Bf3 Kg8 87.Kg6 Kf8 88.Bc6 1-0

Position after 76…c2 ?



76….Bg5 would have kept the draw but Dominguez was terribly short of time

Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
Vitiugov, Nikita – So, Wesley
C43 Petrov, Modern Attack, symmetrical variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nc3 Nxe5 7.dxe5 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.f4 f5 11.Be3 Be6 12.a4 Qd7 13.Qf3 Rfd8 14.Rfd1 c5 15.Kh1 g6 16.h3 Qc7 17.Qf2 b6 18.Qe1 Kh8 19.Be2 Rg8 20.Bf3 Rad8 21.a5 b5 22.a6 Rd7 23.Rdb1 Rb8 24.Bf2 Rdd8 25.Qe2 Qb6 26.Rb2 Rd7 27.Qf1 Rc7 28.Be2 Bd7 29.Qd1 Qe6 30.Ra5 Kg7 31.Qa1 g5 32.Bxb5 Rxb5 33.Raxb5 Bxb5 34.Rxb5 gxf4 35.Qa5 Qxe5 36.Rb7 Rxb7 37.axb7 f3 38.gxf3 Bd6 39.Kg2 Qh2+ 40.Kf1 Qxh3+ 41.Ke2 Qh2 42.Qxa7 Kf6 43.Qb6 Ke7 44.Qc6 Kd8 45.Qc8+ Ke7 46.Qxf5 Kd8 47.Kf1 Qh1+ 48.Bg1 Bh2 49.Qg4 Bd6 50.Ke2 Ke7 51.Bxc5 Qh2+ 52.Bf2 h5 53.Qf5 Kd8 54.Qc8+ Ke7 55.Qf5 Kd8 56.Qf7 h4 57.Qg8+ Kd7 58.Qg4+ Kc6 59.Qc8+ Kb5 60.b8=Q+ 1-0

Final position



Evgenij Miroshnichenko on Nikita Vitiugov's win over Wesley So: "A positional masterpiece."

Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Yu, Yangyi
B33 Sicilian, Pelikan, Chelyabinsk variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Bf4 e5 8.Bg5 a6 9.Na3 b5 10.Nd5 Be7 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.c4 b4 13.Nc2 O-O 14.g3 Bg5 15.Bg2 a5 16.O-O Ne7 17.Nce3 Bxe3 18.Nxe3 Be6 19.b3 Ra7 20.Qd3 Nc6 21.Rfd1 Nd4 22.Nc2 Nxc2 23.Qxc2 a4 24.Rab1 Qb6 25.Rd2 axb3 26.axb3 Rfa8 27.h3 h6 28.Rbd1 Ra1 29.Kh2 Qc5 30.Bf3 f6 31.Rxa1 Rxa1 32.Qd3 Ra6 33.Bg4 Bf7 34.Bd7 Kf8 35.Bb5 Ra3 36.Kg2 Kg8 37.Qf3 Kh8 38.h4 Ra8 39.Qg4 Qc7 40.h5 Kg8 41.Qd1 Rd8 42.Kh2 Be6 43.g4 Kh7 44.Ra2 Qb7 45.f3 Ra8 46.Rxa8 Qxa8 47.Qxd6 Qa2+ 48.Kg3 Qxb3 49.g5 Qe3 50.g6+ Kh8 51.Qxe6 Qg1+ 52.Kh3 1/2-1/2

Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Xiong, Jeffery
A35 English, symmetrical, Four Knights System

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Nc7 7.O-O g6 8.Na4 Ne6 9.d3 Ncd4 10.Be3 Bg7 11.Rc1 O-O 12.Nxc5 Nf5 13.Nxe6 Bxe6 14.Bc5 Bxb2 15.Rb1 Bg7 16.Rxb7 Qc8 17.Rb5 a6 18.Ra5 Bc3 19.Qa4 Rb8 20.d4 Bxa5 21.Qxa5 Rb2 22.e4 Nd6 23.Qa3 Rxa2 24.Qe3 f6 25.Rc1 Qd7 26.d5 Bh3 27.Bxh3 Qxh3 28.Bxd6 exd6 29.Nd4 Rc8 30.Nc6 Re8 31.Nd4 Rc8 32.Rb1 Ra4 33.Ne6 Rac4 34.Re1 g5 35.e5 dxe5 36.Qa7 Qh6 37.d6 Rc1 38.Rxc1 Rxc1+ 39.Kg2 g4 40.h4 gxh3+ 41.Kh2 Qg6 42.Qa8+ 1-0

Position after 34….g5?



(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 20, 2019

Round Four

Game One (continued)

Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Radjabov, Teimour
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

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.d4 Bf6 10.Re1 Re8 11.c3 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Qe8 13.Qxe8+ Nxe8 14.Bf4 d5 15.Nd2 Be7 16.Re1 Kf8 17.Bd3 Bd6 18.Bxd6+ Nxd6 19.f3 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Nxf5 21.Re5 Ne7 22.Re1 Nf5 23.Re5 Ne7 24.Re1 Nf5 25.Re5 Ne7 1/2-1/2

Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
MVL – Svidler, Peter
C99 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Chigorin

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d6 9.h3 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 Qc7 12.Nbd2 cxd4 13.cxd4 Nc6 14.Nb3 a5 15.Be3 a4 16.Nbd2 Bd7 17.Rc1 Rac8 18.Bd3 Qb7 19.Qe2 h6 20.a3 exd4 21.Nxd4 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 b4 24.Nc4 bxa3 25.bxa3 Bb5 26.Nxd6 Bxd3 27.Qxd3 Bxd6 28.Bxf6 Bf4 29.Rb1 Qc7 30.Bc3 Rd8 31.Qf3 Rc8 32.Bb4 Qc1+ 33.Qd1 Qc4 34.g3 Qxe4 35.gxf4 Rc6 36.f5 Qxf5 37.Bd6 Qxh3 38.Rb4 Rc3 39.Rd4 Kh7 40.Qxa4 Qf3 41.Qd1 Qc6 42.Qf1 1-0

Position after Black’s 34….Qxe4



Round 4, Game 1, Sept. 20
Le, Quang Liem – Aronian, Levon
C88 Ruy Lopez, Closed, anti-Marshall

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.a4 b4 9.d4 d6 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nbd2 Nxf3+ 12.Nxf3 Bb7 13.e5 Nd7 14.Bf4 Nc5 15.exd6 Bxd6 16.Bxd6 cxd6 17.Bd5 Bxd5 18.Qxd5 Ne6 19.Nd4 Nxd4 20.Qxd4 Rc8 21.Re2 a5 22.g3 h6 23.b3 Rc6 24.Rd1 Qc7 25.Rdd2 Rc8 26.h4 Rc5 27.Qxd6 Qxd6 28.Rxd6 Rxc2 29.Rxc2 Rxc2 30.Rd5 Rc3 31.Rxa5 Rxb3 1/2-1/2

____________

Chris Bird – Bad day for U.S. Chess at the World Cup. Leinier is fighting to hold his game against Grischuk, while both Xiong and So went down with the black pieces against Duda and Vitiugov respectively so need to win tomorrow to take their matches to tiebreaks.

Lawrence Trent to Jan Gustafsson on the broadcast:

Lawrence: If you’re in heaven and you get to play one chess player…

Jan: I go to heaven and I still have to play chess? That sounds like a “The Good Place” situation – ‘welcome to heaven, now play 10 games against Rubinstein!’

Chess24 – 21-year-old Jan-Krzysztof Duda is on fire and at 2752.9 is now the highest rated Polish player ever!

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 21, 2019

Round Four

Game Two

From the official site:

In the second game of Round 4 three players advanced to the next stage directly, and we saw two comebacks.

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave had Black against Peter Svidler, made a draw and became the first player to reach the Quarterfinals of the World Cup, winning the match 1.5 to 0.5.

So-Vitiugov had a similar plot. The American, playing White, was unable to create serious problems for his opponent. The game ended in a draw, and the grandmaster from St. Petersburg advances to the next stage.

Yu Yangyi won as White against Ian Nepomniachtchi and also advanced to the Quarterfinals. In the Gruenfeld Defense, the Chinese player sacrificed two pawns and got a certain compensation. After trading the queens Black made a serious mistake that cost him dearly. Despite defending tenaciously, Nepomniachtchi was unable to save the day and resigned on the 43rd move.

Jeffrey Xiong managed to come back against Jan-Krzysztof Duda after a painful loss in the first game. The American surprised the opponent with a rare Bishop's Opening, got an opening advantage, and the rest of the game was basically one-sided. After the queens were exchanged, Xiong got a material advantage and converted it easily. This match will be decided on tie-break.

Leinier Dominguez won against Alexander Grischuk. These players will also continue tomorrow on tie-break. The game was double-edged, and at some point the Russian had an advantage. However, he spent too much time thinking and under heavy time pressure did not find the most accurate moves. After a fatal mistake on the 28th move, Black ended up in a very difficult position, which he was unable to hold.

The games Radjabov-Mamedyarov, Aronian-Le Quang Liem, and Alekseenko-Ding Liren ended peacefully.

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
Alekseenko, Kirill – Ding, Liren
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 a5 8.h3 h6 9.Nbd2 Be6 10.Bb5 Qb8 11.Nf1 Qa7 12.d4 exd4 13.Bxc6 dxc3 14.Ba4 Bxf2+ 15.Kh2 Bxe1 16.Qxe1 d5 17.Be3 Qa6 18.e5 Ne4 19.bxc3 Qc4 20.Bb3 Qxc3 21.N1d2 a4 22.Rc1 Qa5 23.Bc2 Bf5 24.Qh4 Rfe8 25.Qf4 Bg6 26.Nxe4 dxe4 27.Bxe4 Bxe4 28.Qxe4 c6 29.a3 Re6 30.Rc4 Qd5 31.Qxd5 cxd5 32.Rd4 Rb6 33.Rxd5 Rb3 34.Bc5 Rb5 35.Nd4 Rba5 36.Nf5 Kh7 37.Ne7 Rb5 38.Bb4 Rxd5 39.Nxd5 Re8 40.Bd6 Ra8 41.Kg3 Ra6 42.Nb4 Rb6 43.Kf4 f6 44.Ke4 fxe5 45.Kd5 Rb5+ 46.Kc4 Ra5 47.Bc7 Ra8 48.Bxe5 g5 49.Nd5 h5 50.g3 Kg6 51.h4 Kf5 52.Bf6 Rc8+ 53.Kb4 Ke6 54.Ne7 gxh4 55.gxh4 Rc1 56.Bg5 Rb1+ 57.Kxa4 b5+ 58.Ka5 Rb3 59.Kb6 Rxa3 60.Kxb5 1/2-1/2



Position after Black’s 29…Re6. White should have replied with 30.Rb1 or Rc5

Ding and Alekseenko go to tiebreaks tomorrow

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
Dominguez, Leinier – Grischuk, Alexander
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.Bg5 h6 7.Bh4 a6 8.a4 Ba7 9.Nbd2 Qe7 10.O-O g5 11.Bg3 Nd7 12.b4 Nf8 13.b5 Nd8 14.d4 Ng6 15.h3 h5 16.Bd5 c6 17.Bb3 g4 18.hxg4 Bxg4 19.Qb1 Rc8 20.bxa6 bxa6 21.Qd3 h4 22.Bh2 Ne6 23.Bd1 Nef4 24.Qxa6 O-O 25.Nxe5 dxe5 26.Bxg4 Qg5 27.Bf3 Ra8 28.Qc4 Nxg2 29.Kh1 Qxd2 30.Rad1 Ne3 31.fxe3 Qxe3 32.Rd3 Qh6 33.Bg4 Rae8 34.Rdf3 Re7 35.Bf5 Nf4 36.Bxf4 exf4 37.Rxf4 Rb8 38.Rg4+ Kf8 39.Bg6 Rbb7 40.Qxc6 Qe3 41.Rxh4 1-0

Chess24: Leinier Dominguez hits back to reach tiebreaks after Alexander Grischuk self-destructed in time trouble!

Grischuk and Dominguez go to tiebreaks tomorrow

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
So, Wesley – Vitiugov, Nikita
C88 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.a4 Bd7 9.c3 O-O 10.d4 h6 11.Nbd2 exd4 12.cxd4 Nb4 13.Nf1 c5 14.e5 dxe5 15.dxe5 Nh7 16.e6 Bxe6 17.Bxe6 Qxd1 18.Bxf7+ Kxf7 19.Rxd1 Bf6 20.Bd2 Nd3 21.Bc3 c4 22.Bxf6 Nxf6 23.b3 Ne4 24.bxc4 bxc4 25.Ne3 Nexf2 26.Rf1 Ne4 27.Nxc4 Kg8 28.Nfe5 Rxf1+ 29.Rxf1 Nxe5 30.Nxe5 Nc5 1/2-1/2

Vitiugov goes through to Round Five

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
Yu, Yangyi – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.Rb1 O-O 10.d5 Ne5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.O-O a6 13.Be2 Bxc3 14.Be3 Qa5 15.h4 Rb8 16.h5 Bd7 17.f4 Qxa2 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.Bg4 f5 20.Bh3 Qa4 21.Qxa4 Bxa4 22.Bxc5 Rf7 23.Rb6 Kh7 24.Rf3 Ba5 25.Re6 fxe4 26.Rg3 Rg8 27.f5 g5 28.Bxe7 Bc7 29.d6 Bb6+ 30.Kh2 Bd7 31.Rg6 e3 32.R3xg5 Rgg7 33.Rxg7+ Rxg7 34.Rh5+ Kg8 35.f6 Bg4 36.Rh8+ Kxh8 37.fxg7+ Kxg7 38.Bxg4 Bc5 39.Kg3 a5 40.Kf3 a4 41.Bd7 a3 42.Be6 b6 43.Bb3 1-0

Yu Yangyi goes through to Round Five

Nepo tweets: Little bit sad to leave the World Cup after having nearly winning positions in both games, but this is what the KO system is about. Finally some rest is ahead.

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
Xiong, Jeffery – Duda, Jan-Krzyztof
C24 Bishop’s Opening Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Bc4 Nf6 3.d3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.Bb3 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Qxd2 Qd6 8.Qg5 Nbd7 9.exd5 cxd5 10.d4 e4 11.Ne5 O-O 12.Nc3 Nb6 13.f3 Be6 14.O-O-O Rac8 15.Qd2 a6 16.Rhe1 exf3 17.gxf3 Nfd7 18.h4 f6 19.Nd3 Bf7 20.Qf4 Rc6 21.Qxd6 Rxd6 22.Nc5 Rb8 23.Re7 Kf8 24.Rde1 Nxc5 25.dxc5 Rd7 26.Rxf7+ Kxf7 27.cxb6 Rbd8 28.Nxd5 Kg6 29.c4 Kh5 30.Re4 Rc8 31.Kd2 g5 32.Ke3 Rf7 33.hxg5 fxg5 34.Ba4 Kh6 35.Be8 Rf8 36.Bd7 Rb8 37.b4 Kg6 38.Nc7 Rfd8 39.Re7 Rh8 40.Be8+ Kf6 41.Nd5+ 1-0

Players meet in the tiebreaks tomorrow

Olimpiu Urcan tweets: Today, !8-year-old Jeffrey Xiong struck back brilliantly against Jan-Krzysztof Duda by using 1.e4 e5 2.Bc4, a relic opening system first analyzed in the late 1400s and early 1500s by pioneers such as Luis Ramirez de Lucena and Ruy Lopez de Segura.

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
Radjabov, Teimour – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
D85 Grunfeld, Modern Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Nf3 c5 8.Rb1 O-O 9.Be2 cxd4 10.cxd4 Qa5+ 11.Qd2 Qxd2+ 12.Bxd2 b6 13.Rc1 Bb7 14.Bd3 Rd8 15.Rc7 Rd7 16.Rxd7 Nxd7 17.Ke2 Nf6 18.d5 Nd7 19.Be3 Rc8 20.Rc1 Rxc1 21.Bxc1 Nc5 22.Ba3 Nxd3 23.Kxd3 Kf8 24.Nd4 Bxd4 25.Kxd4 Ke8 26.Bc1 Kd7 27.Ba3 Ke8 28.Bc1 Kd7 29.Ba3 Ke8 30.Bc1 1/2-1/2

Another short draw between the two compatriots but surely tomorrow the gloves come off in tiebreaks

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 21, 2019

Round Four

Game Two (continued)

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
Svidler, Peter – MVL
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Nb3 Nbd7 7.Be3 h5 8.a4 g6 9.a5 Bg7 10.Be2 b5 11.axb6 Nxb6 12.h3 Qc7 13.Qd4 Rb8 14.Bxa6 O-O 15.Qd3 Bxa6 16.Rxa6 Nc4 17.Bc1 e6 18.O-O Nd7 19.Rd1 Rfc8 20.Qe2 Rb6 21.Rxb6 Qxb6 22.Qd3 Nde5 23.Qe2 Nd7 24.Qd3 Nde5 25.Qg3 Nc6 26.Ne2 Nxb2 27.Rxd6 Qb4 28.Nd2 Nc4 29.Nxc4 Qxc4 30.Qd3 Qxd3 31.Rxd3 1/2-1/2

Sorry to see Peter go, but that is life. Maxime goes on to Round Five.

Round 4, Game 2, Sept. 21
Aronian, Levon – Le, Quang Liem
B31 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 Nf6 5.Qe2 Bg7 6.O-O O-O 7.d4 cxd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.e5 Ne4 10.Nc3 Bf5 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Nh4 e6 13.Nxf5 exf5 14.Na4 c5 15.Nxc5 Nxc5 16.dxc5 Qc7 17.f4 Qxc5+ 18.Be3 d4 19.Rac1 Qd5 20.Rfd1 Qxa2 21.Ra1 Qb3 22.Rxd4 Rfb8 23.Rd3 Qb7 24.Bc5 Bf8 25.b4 a5 26.Bxf8 Rxf8 27.bxa5 Rxa5 28.Rxa5 Qb6+ 29.Qf2 Qb1+ 30.Qf1 Qb6+ 31.Qf2 Qb1+ 32.Qf1 Qb6+ 1/2-1/2

The players go to tiebreaks tomorrow

_________

Round Four tiebreaks

Ding Liren-Alekseenko
Xiong-Duda
Aronian-Le
Radjabov-Mamedyarov
Dominguez-Grischuk

(5 matches)

Waiting in the wings…

Vitiugov
Yu Yangyi
MVL

[Hans Jung]

Nice comebacks by Xiong and Dominguez

[Hans Jung]

Yu Yangyi takes out Nepo! Wow!

[Hans Jung]

5 playoff games. Should be exciting.

[Hugh Brodie]

Xiong shows how to lose a won game. I always think of the old Foghorn Leghorn cartoons when I see the name "Duda". :-)

[Grey Guo]

really love Xiong's game, not for draw, game 7 is the first draw between Xiong and Duda, now game 8

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 22, 2019

Round Four

Tiebreaks

From the official site:

Two out of five matches were decided in rapid chess.

Alexander Grischuk and Leinier Dominguez drew their first game. Grischuk won the second one, playing White, and advanced to the Quarterfinals.

Ding Liren defeated Kirill Alekseenko is both rapid games and also moved forward to the Quarterfinals. His next opponent is Alexander Grischuk.

Levon Aronian and Le Quang Liem drew both rapid games. Aronian, the defending champion of the World Cup, was at risk of losing the second game, but luck was on his side. The Armenian grandmaster prevailed in 10-minute games and advanced to the next round.

The Azerbaijani derby Mamedyarov-Radjabov started with two draws in rapid chess. The first 10-minute game also ended in a draw, however, the streak was broken in the next game, won by Teimour Radjabov.

Jeffrey Xiong and Jan-Krzysztof Duda did not lose their fighting spirit on the tie-break day, as they exchanged blows in both rapid games and 10-minute games, all victories coming to a player with the white pieces. The first blitz game ended in a draw, in the second one Xiong celebrated a victory and advanced to the next stage.

Round 4, Game 3, Sept. 22
25+10
Ding, Liren – Alekseenko, Kirill
A20 English Opening

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nc6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Bg2 d6 5.e3 Bg7 6.Nge2 h5 7.h4 Be6 8.b3 Nf6 9.d4 exd4 10.exd4 Bg4 11.O-O Qd7 12.Bg5 O-O 13.Qd2 Rae8 14.Rae1 a6 15.d5 Ne5 16.Bxf6 Bxe2 17.Bxg7 Bxf1 18.Qh6 f6 19.Qh8+ Kf7 20.Bxf8 Nf3+ 21.Bxf3 Rxe1 22.Bh6 Bd3+ 23.Kh2 Qe7 24.c5 1-0

Round 4, Game 4, Sept. 22
25+10
Alekseenko, Kirill – Ding, Liren

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Re1 a6 8.a4 Ba7 9.Nbd2 Ng4 10.Re2 Kh8 11.h3 f5 12.Nf1 fxe4 13.dxe4 Nh6 14.Re1 Qf6 15.Ng3 Bxh3 16.Bg5 Qg6 17.gxh3 Rxf3 18.Qxf3 Qxg5 19.Kh2 Ne7 20.Rg1 Ng6 21.Nf5 Qf6 22.Nxh6 Qxf3 23.Nf7+ Qxf7 24.Bxf7 Nf4 25.a5 Rf8 26.Bd5 c6 27.Bc4 Rf6 28.Raf1 g6 29.Rg3 d5 30.Bd3 Nh5 31.Rg4 Nf4 32.Bc2 Kg7 33.h4 h5 34.Rg3 Ne2 35.Rg5 d4 36.Bd1 d3 37.f3 Rf4 38.Kh3 Kf6 39.Rg2 Nc1 40.Re1 Bc5 41.Rd2 Kg7 42.Ba4 Rxf3+ 43.Kg2 Be3 44.Kxf3 Bxd2 45.Rd1 Bf4 46.b4 d2 47.c4 Na2 48.Ra1 Nc3 49.Bc2 Kf6 50.Ra3 d1=Q+ 51.Bxd1 Nxd1 52.Rd3 Ne3 53.Rd6+ Ke7 54.Rxg6 Nxc4 55.Rg7+ Kd6 56.Rxb7 Nd2+ 57.Ke2 Nxe4 58.Ra7 Nc3+ 59.Kd3 Nd5 60.Ke4 Nxb4 61.Rh7 c5 62.Rxh5 c4 0-1

Ding Liren goes on to Round 5

Round 4, Game 3, Sept. 22
25+10
Dominguez, Leinier – Grischuk, Alexander
C53 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 d5 7.Bb5 Ne4 8.cxd4 Bb6 9.Nc3 O-O 10.Be3 Bg4 11.h3 Bh5 12.Qc2 Nxc3 13.bxc3 f6 14.exf6 Qxf6 15.Be2 Na5 16.O-O Bxf3 17.Bxf3 c6 18.Rae1 Nc4 19.Bc1 Bc7 20.Bg4 Rae8 21.g3 Bd6 22.h4 Qf7 23.h5 Ba3 24.Bg5 h6 25.Bf4 Bd6 26.Rxe8 Rxe8 27.Bc1 Ba3 28.Bf4 Bd6 29.Bc1 Ba3 30.Bf4 Bd6 31.Bd2 Re4 32.Bd1 b5 33.Kg2 a5 34.Bf3 Re6 35.Bc1 Ba3 36.Bf4 Bd6 37.Bc1 Ba3 38.Bf4 Bd6 39.Bc1 1/2-1/2

Round 4, Game 4, Sept. 22
25+10
Grischuk, Alexander – Dominguez, Leinier
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.O-O Be7 5.c4 O-O 6.d4 dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bg5 Nbd7 11.Nc3 h6 12.Bxf6 Nxf6 13.Rfd1 Bd5 14.Qd3 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 c6 16.e3 a5 17.h4 h5 18.e4 g6 19.Qe3 Re8 20.Kg2 Kg7 21.Rd3 Qb6 22.Rad1 Rad8 23.e5 Nd7 24.Ne2 c5 25.Rb3 cxd4 26.Rxb6 dxe3 27.Rxb7 Nxe5 28.Rxe7 Rxd1 29.Rxe8 Nd3 30.Nc3 Rd2 31.Be2 Nxb2 32.Kf1 exf2 33.Rb8 Rc2 34.Rb3 Kf6 35.Kxf2 Nd3+ 36.Ke3 Nc5 37.Ra3 Ke5 38.Bb5 Rg2 39.Kf3 Rd2 40.Ra2 Rd4 41.Re2+ Kf5 42.Ke3 Ke5 43.Rf2 f5 44.Rf4 Rd8 45.Rc4 Nb3 46.Ne2 Kf6 47.Rc6 1-0

Grischuk goes on to Round 5

Round 4, Game 3, Sept. 22
25+10
Xiong, Jeffery – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
C43 Petrov, Modern Attack, symmetrical variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 Nxe4 4.Bd3 d5 5.Nxe5 Nd7 6.Nxd7 Bxd7 7.O-O Be7 8.Bf4 O-O 9.Nd2 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 Bg4 11.Rfe1 c6 12.Re3 Bf6 13.Rae1 Qd7 14.h3 Bf5 15.Bxf5 Qxf5 16.Bd6 Bg5 17.Bxf8 Bxe3 18.Rxe3 Rxf8 19.Re7 Rb8 20.Qd3 Qxd3 21.cxd3 Kf8 22.Rc7 a5 23.g3 a4 24.a3 g5 25.Kf1 h5 26.h4 gxh4 27.gxh4 Kg7 28.Kg2 Kg6 29.Kg3 f6 30.Kf4 b5 31.Rxc6 b4 32.Ra6 bxa3 33.bxa3 Rb3 34.Rxa4 Rxd3 35.f3 Kf7 36.Ra7+ Kg6 37.Ra4 Kf7 38.Kg3 Ke6 39.Kf2 Rd2+ 40.Ke3 Rh2 41.Ra6+ Ke7 42.a4 Rxh4 43.a5 Rh1 44.Ra8 Kd7 45.a6 Kc7 46.Rf8 Ra1 47.Rxf6 h4 48.Kf4 h3 49.Rh6 Rh1 50.Ke5 Kb8 51.Rh7 h2 52.Kxd5 Rf1 53.Rxh2 Rxf3 54.Rb2+ Ka7 55.Ra2 Rf8 56.Ke6 1-0

Round 4, Game 4, Sept. 22
25+10
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Xiong, Jeffery
A00 Anderssen’s Opening

1.a3 g6 2.e4 c5 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Bc4 Nc6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bg5 d6 7.Nge2 Bd7 8.Qd2 h6 9.Bh4 Nd4 10.Nxd4 cxd4 11.Ne2 Qb6 12.Bb3 Rc8 13.h3 a5 14.a4 Bc6 15.O-O Nd7 16.f4 Nc5 17.Bc4 Nxa4 18.e5 Nxb2 19.Bb3 a4 20.Ba2 Qc5 21.Bf2 dxe5 22.fxe5 Bxe5 23.Bxf7+ Kd7 24.Nf4 Rcf8 25.Be6+ Ke8 26.Nxg6 Rf6 27.Nxe5 Qxe5 28.Rae1 Qd6 29.Qa5 Rhf8 30.Qh5+ Kd8 31.Qa5+ Ke8 32.Qa8+ Qd8 33.Qxd8+ Kxd8 34.Bxd4 Rxf1+ 35.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 36.Kxf1 a3 37.Bc5 Nd1 38.g4 Ba4 39.Ke1 Bxc2 40.Kd2 Ba4 41.h4 Ke8 42.g5 hxg5 43.hxg5 Kf8 44.Bd4 1-0

Round 4, Game 5, Sept. 22
10+10
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Xiong, Jeffery
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Be3 e6 5.Nd2 Ne7 6.c3 Bg6 7.f4 h5 8.Ngf3 h4 9.Be2 Nd7 10.Bf2 Nf5 11.Nb3 Be7 12.O-O Bh5 13.Ne1 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 g5 15.Nd3 Rg8 16.fxg5 Bxg5 17.a4 Bh6 18.Be1 Be3+ 19.Kh1 Qg5 20.Na5 O-O-O 21.b4 Rg7 22.Ra2 Rh8 23.Rf3 f6 24.b5 cxb5 25.axb5 fxe5 26.dxe5 Bb6 27.Nb3 Qg4 28.Nf4 Re8 29.c4 dxc4 30.Qxc4+ Kb8 31.Qe2 Ne3 32.Bf2 Nxg2 33.Bxb6 Nxf4 34.Bxa7+ Kc8 35.Qc4+ Nc5 36.Rf1 Reg8 37.Bxc5 1-0

Position after 28.Nf4



A very exciting game. It was torture watching the initiative pass back and forth. At move 28, Xiong could have played Ng3+ and White could have taken with the pawn or the bishop. It is worth setting this up and looking for the mate.

Round 4, Game 6, Sept. 22
10+10
Xiong, Jeffery – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
C42 Petrov, French Attack

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d3 Nf6 6.d4 Be7 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O c5 9.Nc3 Bg4 10.h3 Bh5 11.g4 Bg6 12.d5 Nfd7 13.Re1 Na6 14.Bf4 Nc7 15.Bxg6 fxg6 16.Bg3 Rf7 17.Ne4 Nb6 18.Ne5 dxe5 19.d6 Ncd5 20.dxe7 Qxe7 21.Qd3 c4 22.Qd2 Raf8 23.Rad1 Nf4 24.Kh2 h6 25.Qa5 Nc8 26.Qb5 Qc7 27.Nc3 g5 28.Qxe5 Qb6 29.Qb5 Qg6 30.Ne4 Rc7 31.Rd4 a6 32.Qa5 Qc6 33.Qd2 Re7 34.Bxf4 Rxf4 35.Rd8+ Rf8 36.Ng3 Rxe1 37.Rxf8+ Kxf8 38.Qxe1 Ne7 39.Qe5 Qd5 40.Qc7 Ng6 41.Nf5 Qe5+ 42.Qxe5 Nxe5 43.Kg3 g6 44.Nd6 b5 45.f4 gxf4+ 46.Kxf4 Nc6 47.c3 Ke7 48.Ne4 a5 49.a4 bxa4 50.Nd2 Kd6 51.Nxc4+ Kc5 52.Ne3 Na7 53.g5 hxg5+ 54.Kxg5 Nb5 55.Kxg6 Nxc3 56.h4 Ne2 57.Kg5 Ng3 58.Nf5 Kb4 59.Nxg3 Kb3 60.h5 Kxb2 61.h6 a3 62.h7 a2 63.h8=Q+ Kb1 64.Qb8+ Kc2 65.Qc7+ Kb2 66.Qb6+ Kc2 67.Qc5+ Kb2 68.Qd4+ Kb1 69.Ne4 a1=Q 70.Nd2+ Ka2 71.Qa4+ Kb2 72.Nc4+ Kb1 73.Qd1+ 1-0

Position after White’s 65.Qc7+



Round 4, Game 7, Sept. 22
5+3
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Xiong, Jeffery
B12 Caro-Kann, Advance variation

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Be3 e6 5.Nd2 Ne7 6.c3 Nd7 7.f4 Qb6 8.Nb3 a5 9.Qd2 Be4 10.Nf3 Nf5 11.Bf2 a4 12.Nc1 c5 13.Bd3 Bxf3 14.gxf3 g6 15.Bxf5 gxf5 16.Rg1 Be7 17.Ne2 c4 18.Qc2 Nf8 19.Kd2 Ng6 20.Rab1 Qc6 21.Rg3 Kd7 22.a3 Ra6 23.Be3 Rb6 24.Rbg1 h5 25.Kd1 h4 26.R3g2 Ra6 27.Bc1 Raa8 28.Rf1 Qc8 29.Ng1 Qf8 1/2-1/2

Round 4, Game 8, Sept. 22
5+3
Xiong, Jeffery – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
B03 Alekhine’s Defence, Four Pawns Attack, Trifunovic variation

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.f4 Bf5 6.Nc3 e6 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Be3 O-O 9.Be2 dxe5 10.fxe5 Nc6 11.O-O f6 12.exf6 Bxf6 13.b3 Qe7 14.Qe1 Rad8 15.Rd1 Bg4 16.Ne4 h6 17.Qg3 Bf5 18.Nxf6+ Rxf6 19.Nh4 Bc2 20.Rxf6 Bxd1 21.Rg6 Nxd4 22.Bd3 Ne2+ 23.Bxe2 Bxe2 24.Bxh6 Rd1+ 25.Kf2 Qf8+ 26.Nf3 Rd7 27.Kxe2 Kh7 28.Ng5+ Kh8 29.Nxe6 Qf5 30.Bxg7+ Kg8 31.Bd4+ Kf7 32.Rf6+ 1-0

Xiong goes on to Round 5

This series was worth the price of the ticket, so to speak. Jeffery said that if you lost as Black, you always knew that you would win as White next game.

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 22, 2019

Round Four

Tiebreaks (continued)

Justin Horton on the English Chess Forum calls this pairing Madge v Radge

Round 4, Game 6, Sept. 22
10+10
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Radjabov, Teimour
D36 QGD, Exchange, Modern line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 c6 8.Nge2 Nbd7 9.Qc2 Re8 10.O-O Nf8 11.f3 g6 12.Bh4 Ne6 13.Kh1 b5 14.Rac1 Bb7 15.Nd1 Rc8 16.Qd2 a6 17.b4 Ne4 18.Bxe4 Bxh4 19.Bb1 a5 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 Qe7 22.f4 Nf8 23.Ng1 Nd7 24.Nf3 Bf6 25.Ne5 Nb6 26.Nb2 Nc4 27.Nbxc4 bxc4 28.e4 Bg7 29.Rce1 Qc7 30.h4 Ba6 31.Rf2 Rb8 32.h5 Qd6 33.Qd1 dxe4 34.Bxe4 Rxb4 35.Nxf7 Kxf7 36.f5 Bf6 37.fxg6+ Kg7 38.gxh7 Qg3 39.Rf3 Qh4+ 40.Rh3 Rxe4 41.Rf1 Rb3 42.Rxh4 Rxh4+ 43.Kg1 Bxd4+ 44.Rf2 Rb2 0-1

And Radjabov goes on to Round 5

Round 4, Game 5, Sept. 22
10+10
Le, Quang Liem – Aronian, Levon
A28 English, Four Knights, Romanishin variation

1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 Bxc3 6.bxc3 O-O 7.d3 d6 8.Be2 Ne8 9.O-O f5 10.Ne1 Nf6 11.c5 d5 12.d4 e4 13.c4 Be6 14.Rb1 Rb8 15.f4 Na5 16.cxd5 Qxd5 17.Qc3 b6 18.Ba3 Qxa2 19.cxb6 Nd5 20.Qb2 Qxb2 21.Rxb2 Rfe8 22.bxc7 Rxb2 23.Bxb2 Nxe3 24.d5 Bxd5 25.Rf2 Nec4 26.Be5 Rc8 27.g4 Nxe5 28.fxe5 fxg4 29.Bxg4 Rxc7 30.Rd2 Bb7 31.Nc2 Nc6 32.e6 g6 33.Ne3 Ne5 34.Kf2 Kf8 35.Bh3 Ke7 36.Ra2 a6 37.Ra4 Nd3+ 38.Kg3 Rc3 39.Ra5 Kd6 40.Ra1 Nc5 41.Kf2 Nxe6 42.Rb1 Nc5 43.Rb6+ Kc7 44.Rf6 a5 45.Rf7+ Kb6 46.Rxh7 a4 47.Rg7 Nd3+ 48.Kg3 a3 49.Rxg6+ Ka7 50.Rg5 Nc5 51.Rxc5 Rxc5 52.Be6 Bd5 53.Bxd5 Rxd5 54.Nxd5 a2 55.Kf4 a1=Q 56.Kxe4 Qh1+ 0-1

Aronian goes through to Round 5

The pairings for Round Five, Game One:

Grischuk-Ding Liren
Xiong-Radjabov
Aronian-MVL
Vitiugov-Yu Yangyi

________

Just looking at the Live ELOs of my two favourite players at the moment:

32. Xiong 2716
33. Firouzja 2713

__________

The kibitzers on chessbomb usually talk about a wide variety of subjects in the chat – not just the game. I laughed at this bit of history:

columbeau: carlsen won everything and will still be champ in 2024

athene: carlsen nearly not winning Candidates sounds a bit like the remark by Louis XIV when his carriage pulled up as he exited a building: "I nearly had to wait"

columbeau: lol athene

__________

Today, the commentators on the official site were Miro and Daniil Yuffa. The site had this interview with him:

Russian grandmaster Daniil Yuffa got out of the third round of the FIDE World Cup by losing to the Azeri Teimour Radjabov. However, it was not the end for Daniil at the World Cup as he is now participating in it as a commentator. Daniil joined grandmaster Evgeny Miroshnichenko. They are commenting on the battles of 1/8 of the World Cup in the English studio. Before the beginning of tie-break, we managed to talk to Daniil and find out about his plans and his friendship with the grandmaster Kirill Alekseenko.

- Daniil, you are already out of the FIDE World Cup as a chess player but you are still in as a commentator. Tell us, please, how it all happened and about your quick switch from one role to another.

- Everything’s very trivial: I was asked and I said yes. Moreover, Evgeny Miroshnichenko and I worked together at the FIDE Grand Prix leg in Moscow in May. Another reason for staying here longer is Kirill Alekseenko. I support him much. He is playing with the tournament’s favourite Ding Liren. I hope Kirill will keep playing further. As to my role of the commentator, I can say it wasn’t difficult. I’d say this Cup is like a warm-up to me before my commentator job. During the tournament, I’ve managed to get in shape and now it’s easier for me to explain to people what’s going on at the chess boards in 1/8. It’s also very useful for me because I get experience as I watch the masters’ games. Of course, I am more accustomed to the chess player role but I also try not to miss commenting opportunities.

- Why have you chosen the English broadcast booth? Is this language more comfortable to you?

-Let’s say, the Russian one is already solidly occupied by Sergey Shipov, so I was guided by the circumstances (laughs). I must say it’s very hard to comment in English, especially alongside such a professional as Evgeny who is very fluent in English. At the same time, it helps me to master the language.

- What makes you more tired: long hours of playing or commenting? You have to be in shape all the time and react quickly.

- I wouldn’t say you can get tired morally. Sometimes it looks like routine and you only want to sit down at the table and show them how to play. However, I always have the wish to comment. The game is a much more nervous thing, especially at the Cup. When you comment, you don’t take any responsibilities for the result compared to when you sit at the chess board and your moves make the final result. I enjoy commenting on chess as I love this game and it’s a pleasure for me to share it with the audience in English. I mix business with pleasure.

- How exciting is it to watch your friend Kirill Alekseenko’s games? How long have you known each other?

-We’ve been friends since we were ten. I’m not going to be surprised if he wins against Ding Liren tonight. I guess people who are not devoted that much would consider it sensational. I wouldn’t. I just know what he is capable of. I don’t want to jinx it, I’m going to support him and enjoy the game instead.

- How did you make friends with Kirill?

-We played a game at the Russian championship in Sochi.

- Let’s get back to your performance at the Cup. How do you evaluate it?

-A few people expected me to get to the second round. It’s funny that I prepared only for the first round game as I thought it would be a great success to pass it. My opponent was David Navara, #28 in the World rating. So after I won him within the main time, I got an extra impulse to play. I was feeling relaxed in the second round. It was hard to win two rounds in this Cup considering the game pairing I had.

The third-round game against Teimour Radjabov was tough for me. I didn’t recreate after the hard game with English Luke McShane because I couldn’t sleep at night, I constantly thought of the game highlights. So I wasn’t feeling fresh enough to play. In general, I’m content with my performance but I don’t think I did everything at this Cup. The las games showed my flaws to work at. I hope I can do better next time and make a better result. In the knock-out system, the rating number doesn’t mean the player is invincible. The initial preparation has it all at the World Cup. Sensation is when a person who sees chess for the first time wins the World Champion.

- In conclusion, tell us a bit about your future plans. What are you going to do after you have left Khanty-Mansiysk tomorrow?

-It’s time to go now, although I’ve had many good moments here. Tomorrow I’m going to visit my parents in Tumen. This year I’ve moved to Moscow, so I don’t frequently visit Tumen now.

As for the next year, well, after doing my Master degree, at the age of 23 it’s finally the right time to dedicate myself to chess. I hope, it’s not too late. I gave up chess when I was 13 but then I got back a couple of years later. I wish I could disprove the opinion that if you haven’t reached something at 15, you have zero chances in big sport. Everybody makes one’s own way. I like doing things no one expects me to do (in a good sense). I hope I can reach some significant heights this year.

- We wish you luck.

-Thanks.

https://khantymansiysk2019.fide.com/en/news/377/

[Hans Jung]

Wow! Jeffery Xiong in the quarter finals! and he's playing wonderful, exciting (and brilliantly swindling!) chess. It doesnt get better (but Im hoping it does!)

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 23, 2019

Round Five

Game One

From the official site:

Xiong - Radjabov was a relatively quiet draw. Minor pieces were exchanged quite early. Black managed to invade White's camp with his queen, forcing the opponent to demonstrate certain accuracy. However, the game remained objectively even and ended in a draw by repetition on the 30th move.

Levon Aronian and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also produced a solid draw in the Gruenfeld Defense. After mass exchanges early in the opening, a minor pieces ending arose. With accurate play Black neutralized all possible threats, and then sacrificed a pawn, which led to a drawn ending with opposite-coloured bishops. The players then agreed to a draw.

Alexander Grischuk and Ding Liren discussed a sharp line of the Catalan, in which Black sacrifices a pawn for the initiative. At the critical moment of the game White was ready to sacrifice an exchange, but Black, instead of accepting the offer, gave a rook for a knight himself. It led to a dynamic maneuvering battle with unbalanced material, which ended in a draw right after the control was passed.

Nikita Vitiugov and Yu Yangyi played the Najdorf Sicilian. Initially White got a certain plus, however, after the game the Russian confessed that he was dissatisfied with his actions after the opening. Later in the game, Black sacrificed an exchange, obtaining a powerful bishop pair that secured him sufficient compensation. A draw was agreed on the 43rd move.

Round 5, Game 1, Sept. 23
Grischuk, Alexander – Ding, Liren
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 a6 6.O-O Nc6 7.e3 Rb8 8.Nfd2 e5 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.dxe5 Ng4 11.Nxc4 Be6 12.Qe2 h5 13.Rd1 Qc8 14.Qf3 Rb6 15.Nxb6 cxb6 16.h4 Nxe5 17.Qf4 Ng6 18.Qe4 Be7 19.Nc3 Bf5 20.Qh1 Ne5 21.f3 Bc2 22.Rd2 Bg6 23.Qg2 O-O 24.Rd1 Qf5 25.Rf1 Qe6 26.Ne2 Nd3 27.Kh2 Rd8 28.e4 f5 29.exf5 Qxf5 30.Nf4 Bf7 31.Nxd3 Rxd3 32.Bf4 Bxh4 33.Rad1 Rxd1 34.Rxd1 Bf6 35.b3 g5 36.Bc7 Bd5 37.Qe2 g4 38.Qd3 Qxd3 39.Rxd3 gxf3 40.Bxb6 Be5 41.Bd4 Be4 1/2-1/2

Round 5, Game 1, Sept. 23
Vitiugov, Nikita – Yu, Yangyi
B91 Sicilian, Najdorf, Zagreb variation

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e5 7.Nde2 Be7 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O b5 10.Nd5 Nxd5 11.Qxd5 Ra7 12.Be3 Rb7 13.Qd2 Nd7 14.Nc3 Nf6 15.Bg5 Be6 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5 Bg5 18.Qd3 a5 19.a3 Qc8 20.c3 Qc6 21.Rfd1 Kh8 22.Qe2 Qc4 23.Qh5 Bh6 24.Qf3 Qb3 25.Qe2 Qc4 26.Qc2 f5 27.b3 Qc5 28.b4 Qa7 29.exf5 Bxf5 30.Qe2 Rbf7 31.Rf1 Be6 32.Qxb5 Rxf2 33.Kh1 Qa8 34.Rxf2 Rxf2 35.Nf4 Rxg2 36.Nxg2 axb4 37.Qxb4 Bd5 38.Qb2 Be3 39.a4 h6 40.h3 Bc5 41.Kh2 Bc4 42.Qc2 Qf3 43.Nh4 Qe3 1/2-1/2

Final position



44.a5 and 44.Ng6+ are good tries here. Sorry that Vitiugov went for the draw


Round 5, Game 1, Sept. 23
Xiong, Jeffery – Radjabov, Teimour
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Na3 Bxa3 8.bxa3 Bd7 9.Ne5 Bc6 10.Nxc6 Nxc6 11.Bxc6 bxc6 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Qxf6 14.Rc1 c5 15.dxc5 Qb2 16.Rxc4 Qxa2 17.Ra4 Rad8 18.Qc1 Qxe2 19.Rxa7 c6 20.Re1 Qa2 21.Rd1 Rxd1+ 22.Qxd1 Qc4 23.Qd6 Qe4 24.h4 Qe1+ 25.Kg2 Qe4+ 26.Kg1 Qe1+ 27.Kg2 Qe4+ 28.Kh2 Qf5 29.Kg1 Qb1+ 30.Kg2 Qe4+ 1/2-1/2


Round 5, Game 1, Sept. 23
Aronian, Levon – MVL
D91 Grunfeld

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bg5 Ne4 6.Bf4 Nxc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.cxd5 Qxd5 9.e3 O-O 10.Be2 cxd4 11.cxd4 Nc6 12.O-O Bf5 13.Qa4 Qa5 14.Qxa5 Nxa5 15.Nd2 Rac8 16.Rfc1 Rxc1+ 17.Rxc1 Rc8 18.Rxc8+ Bxc8 19.Bf3 Nc6 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21.Bb8 a6 22.Ne4 f6 23.f3 Kf7 24.Kf2 Bf8 25.Ba7 f5 26.Ng5+ Ke8 27.f4 Bh6 28.Nxh7 Be6 29.a3 a5 30.Ke2 Bg8 31.Ng5 Bxg5 32.fxg5 a4 33.Kd3 Bb3 34.Kc3 Kf7 35.Kb4 Bc2 36.Bb8 Bb3 37.h4 Kg7 38.e4 fxe4 39.Bf4 e3 40.Bxe3 Kf7 41.g4 Bd1 42.h5 e6 43.Bf4 Kg7 44.Be5+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

__________

Best Game Prize

The game Firouzja – Dubov was considered to be the most beautiful one in the first poll.

A new competition is up for the best game of Rounds 3-4. Both Vitiugov and Xiong have two games each in the running.

Alekseenko – Harikrishna Rd 3, Game 1
Yu Yangyi – Nepomniachtchi Rd 4, Game 2
Vitiugov – Karjakin Rd 3, Game 1
Xiong – Duda Rd 4, Game 2
Vitiugov – So Rd 4, Game 1
Giri – Xiong Rd 3, Rapid 2

__________

From the official site:

Interview with Wayne Xiong (Jeffery’s father)

18-year old American grandmaster Jeffery Xiong evened the score in the second game of the fourth round at the World Cup against his Polish opponent Jan-Krzysztof Duda. Tomorrow, September 22, they are playing the tie-break to get to the 1/4. While Jeffery is giving an interview after his successful game, we are talking to his father, Wayne Xiong. He follows his son to every single game and shares the most stressful moments with him.

- We are talking to you now after Jeffery has won the game against Duda. Tomorrow he is to play the tie-break. How does your son usually prepare for the decisive games?

- Oh, I don’t know all the details. I’m not aware of the professional preparation as I’m not the best chess player. I know some things about the game because I’ve been following my son to all the tournaments for the last several years. However, my knowledge in this area is very limited.

- So you’re just a support unit here.

- Yes, exactly.

- I’ve noticed that you come to each game of your son. Is it a tradition?

- Yes, and not only mine but his mother’s as well. We always accompany him.

- Around the world?

- Yes, that’s true.

- Do you have enough time for such long trips?

- We make a schedule of all his tournaments beforehand and I work distantly during this time. Actually, I’m a bank worker and have to go to the office every day. However, I know that Jeffery needs me, so I set this up with bank management. My position allows me to work distantly.

- What do you usually do when waiting for your son?

- As you have noticed, I don’t spend all the time here. I always leave Jeffery at the Chess Academy and get back to the hotel where I can work. At the same time, I always try to be by his side during tie-breaks. Jeffery talks to me during breaks.

- Do you watch his games while working?

- Actually, I’m focused only on work matters while working. Sometimes during the broadcast, the computer shows the right moves to make and I instantly get nervous as I begin to think: How will my son deal with it? Will he be able to make that right move? That’s why I don’t watch games but rather concentrate on my job. It’s very useful.

- How do you evaluate this tournament? What can you say about Jeffery’s first results? Are you proud of him?

- Sure. I’m really proud. It’s his second World Cup. The first one was in Tbilisi two years ago. That time he didn’t show such good results. You know, he has been working hard ever since with his coach. Now, two years later, he is much more professional.

- I guess it was said enough about the tournament. Tomorrow’s tie-break will figure everything out. Instead, we’d like to know the way you spent your first day-off here?

- We just went to a shopping centre and relaxed shopping. We like doing it.

- What did you buy? Some souvenirs?

- Right, some souvenirs, a new T-shirt for Jeffery and a couple other of things.

- Have you already been to Khanty-Mansiysk before?

- Yes, we were there two years ago at the World Team Championship and we stayed at the same hotel. So everything is familiar here. We like the city, especially at this time of the year. It’s just way too cold in winter here but now we feel like if we were at the resort.

https://khantymansiysk2019.fide.com/en/news/375/

[Hans Jung]

Quarterfinals game 2. Jeffery Xiong continues to play exciting chess. Love the knight wheeling.

[Hans Jung]

Ding is grinding away at Grischuk. Will he win?