World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

[Hans Jung]

Hans: A couple of us non-Masters were wondering how Grischuk ulmitaely breaks though (we followed Stockfish's analysis - but still don't see the concrete finishing punch)

Another way to solve the final position in the Grischuk game is to put the white king on a6. Once you see that is winning. Then you can also find Black's tries (moving queenside pawns or Ne7 or Nxf6) and figure out how White wins in all those lines. Its a good exercise (and basically how I did it). An interesting idea is playing h4 and when do you play that move

[Hans Jung]

Shipov interview - well said.

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 17, 2019

Round Three

Game Two (continued)

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Yuffa, Daniil – Radjabov, Teimour
E21 Nimzo-Indian, Three Knights

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 b6 5.Bd2 Bb7 6.e3 Bxc3 7.Bxc3 Ne4 8.Bb4 d6 9.Bd3 O-O 10.O-O f5 11.Be1 Nd7 12.Nd2 Qg5 13.f4 Qg6 14.Nxe4 Bxe4 15.Bxe4 fxe4 16.Qa4 Nf6 17.Qc6 Qh5 18.Bf2 Rac8 19.b4 Qe8 20.d5 exd5 21.cxd5 Qxc6 22.dxc6 Nd5 23.a3 b5 24.Rfd1 Nb6 25.Rd4 Rfe8 26.g4 Rb8 27.Rc1 a6 28.Be1 Nc4 29.Rcxc4 bxc4 30.Rxc4 h5 31.Kg2 hxg4 32.Kg3 d5 33.Rc5 Rb5 34.f5 Rd8 35.Kf4 Rxc5 36.bxc5 d4 37.exd4 Rxd4 38.Ke5 Rd8 39.Ba5 Re8+ 40.Kd4 Re7 41.Bd2 Kf7 42.Bg5 Re8 43.Bf4 e3 44.Bxe3 Kf6 45.Bf4 Rd8+ 46.Ke4 Re8+ 47.Kd5 Rd8+ 48.Ke4 Re8+ 49.Kd5 Rd8+ 50.Ke4 Re8+ 1/2-1/2

In the interview after winning yesterday’s game, Teimour says that he still hasn’t regained the motivation he had before London (2013). He sees a lot of the players he played with leaving chess for other things and he wonders if it is time for him to say bye-bye.

Radjabov on to Round 4

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
MVL – Jakovenko, Dmitry
C67 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence, open variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.h3 Ne7 10.Nc3 Bd7 11.b3 Ng6 12.Bb2 Kc8 13.Rae1 h6 14.Nd2 Nf4 15.Ne2 Bb4 16.c3 Nxe2+ 17.Rxe2 Be7 18.c4 h5 19.e6 Bxe6 20.Bxg7 Rg8 21.Bc3 Bd6 22.Kh1 b5 23.cxb5 Bd5 24.Ne4 cxb5 25.Nxd6+ cxd6 26.f3 Kd7 27.Rd1 Be6 28.Re5 Rac8 29.Bb4 d5 30.Rxh5 Rc2 31.Rd2 Rxd2 32.Bxd2 Rc8 33.Be3 a5 34.f4 Rc3 35.Bb6 Rc1+ 36.Kh2 Rf1 37.Kg3 a4 38.Bf2 Kd6 39.Rh6 Kd7 40.Rh5 Kd6 41.f5 Bd7 42.Rh7 Bxf5 43.Rxf7 Ke6 44.Rb7 Ra1 45.bxa4 bxa4 46.Rb2 Bd3 47.Bd4 Rd1 48.Kf4 Bf1 49.Bc5 d4 50.a3 d3 51.Bb4 Rc1 52.Rf2 Be2 1/2-1/2

Players have tiebreak match tomorrow

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Svidler, Peter – Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter
C17 French, Winawer, Advance

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Ba5 6.b4 cxd4 7.Nb5 Bc7 8.f4 Bd7 9.Nxc7+ Qxc7 10.Bd3 Ba4 11.Bb2 Ne7 12.Nf3 Nbc6 13.Qd2 a6 14.O-O Qb6 15.Qf2 Bb5 16.Bxd4 Nxd4 17.Qxd4 Qxd4+ 18.Nxd4 Bxd3 19.cxd3 Rc8 20.Rac1 Kd7 21.Kf2 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rc8 23.Rxc8 Nxc8 24.Ke3 Ne7 25.a4 Nc6 26.Nxc6 Kxc6 27.d4 b5 28.a5 Kd7 29.g4 Ke7 30.h4 g6 31.h5 1/2-1/2

Players go to tiebreak tomorrow

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Matlakov, Maxim – Aronian, Levon
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.exd5 Nxd5 8.Re1 Bg4 9.Nbd2 Nb6 10.h3 Bh5 11.Bb3 Kh8 12.Ne4 Be7 13.Ng3 Bxf3 14.Qxf3 f5 15.a4 a5 16.d4 f4 17.Nh5 g6 18.dxe5 gxh5 19.Qxh5 Qd3 20.Bf7 Rxf7 21.Qxf7 Rf8 22.Qh5 Bc5 23.Qf3 Qxf3 24.gxf3 Rf5 25.Re4 Nxe5 26.Bxf4 Bd6 27.Kg2 Nd5 28.Bg3 Ng6 29.Rd1 Kg7 30.h4 Kf7 31.Rd2 Nf6 32.Red4 Nf4+ 33.Kh2 Ne6 34.Rc4 Bxg3+ 35.fxg3 Rxf3 36.Kg2 Re3 37.g4 Ke7 38.Rf2 Ne4 39.Rf5 Nd6 0-1

Aronian to Round 4

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Artemiev, Vladislav – Le, Quang Liem
B44 English, Sicilian Szen

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.e4 Bb4 7.Nxc6 bxc6 8.Bd3 e5 9.O-O O-O 10.h3 h6 11.Na4 d5 12.a3 Bd6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.exd5 e4 15.Bc2 Qe7 16.Re1 Bf5 17.Nc3 Rab8 18.Be3 Be5 19.Bd4 Rfd8 20.Bxe5 Qxe5 21.Qc1 Rbc8 22.Qb1 Rb8 23.Qc1 Bg6 24.Qe3 Rxb2 25.Bxe4 Nxe4 26.Nxe4 Qxd5 27.Nc3 Qa5 28.Rad1 Rc8 29.Nd5 Kh7 30.Nf4 Rcc2 31.Nxg6 fxg6 32.Rf1 Re2 33.Qf3 Qe5 34.Qa8 Qb8 35.Qxb8 Rxb8 36.Rd7 Ra2 37.Rxa7 Rb3 38.a4 Rb4 39.a5 1/2-1/2

The players go on to the tiebreak

Third Round, TieBreaks

Ding Liren-Firouzja
Xiong-Giri
Jakovenko-MVL
Tomashevsky-Nepo
Wang Hao-Dominguez
Artemiev-Le Quang Liem
Yu Yangyi-Wei Yi
Nispipeanu-Svidler

(eight matches)
__________

From the official site:

Interview with grandmaster, commentator and coach Shipov:

-Sergey, today the players are continuing their fight in the third round of the World Cup. What do you think has been the most memorable thing at the Tournament so far?

-This tournament, as well as all the other Cups, is special because the battle is really unpredictable. No top player is guaranteed to get to the top. The biggest surprise at the last World Cup was that the world champion Magnus Carlsen lost in the second round. Now we’re not having that many real sensations except for maybe Hikaru Nakamura, who lost in the second round. In general all the strongest players are going up. At the same time now I have a suspicion that the third round would be fateful for many top players. For example, now, while I’m giving this interview, Karjakin is close to losing after his misfortunate first game.

-What’s the reason for such a shaky situation?

-The thing is that there are many strong players. At the same time there are only few names known to the public – Carlsen, Karjakin and a couple of others. Chess-lovers can name maximum of 10 players like there are nobody else. However, we – professionals – know that even 50th, 100th and even 150th rating numbers are very strong and are capable of anything. In knockout system every mistake can cost you getting out of the tournament and there’s no time to win it back. There is a possibility of randomness but it’s purely sportive. Mistakes are not brought by the wind, it’s the player’s responsibility. Yesterday Sergey Karjakin made a mistake himself in the drawing position. It was not tournament’s fault; it was his own fault. He has to make amends today. Fortunately to Sergey, there is another game today. Spectators and commentators adore such emotional intensity. There are no pass-through games. The best thing about knockout system is that each move is important. I always feel excitement at such tournaments, I just really enjoy watching them and every day is memorable. I’m a big fan of World Cups and I wish there were more Cups. Once in two years is not enough.

-Let’s get back to chess players. There are many young grandmasters at the World Cup this time. It requires well-developed self-control as it is hard to resist such pressure. Have you noticed anyone outstanding?

-Indeed, the knockout system requires maximum self-control. A chess player can play well but if he can’t stand the pressure, he would never be able to show what he is capable of. At this World Cup we see that the players do really well. I’m speaking about those with the nerves of steel. I’d like to notice Kirill Alekseenko from Saint-Petersburg. He has never been a star nor was he on the media but step by step he has been getting stronger and now it’s obvious that he is the experienced player. Now he is playing in the third round. Many other young players would be out of breath in his place. One would be terrified to play against the Indian player Harikrishna who is 100 points higher in rating than you. But look at Kirill – he keeps calm, cold-blooded and strong. In the first game he won him almost clean off. I hope he can make it through the second game. It’s clearly seen that he can keep himself together. Another good example is Alireza Firouzja, the 16-year-old player from Iran who is predicted to become the next world champion. His direction of change is just amazing and the thing he does at his age is really impressive. He was to play with the top seed of the tournament Ding Liren and made the draw in the first game. I wouldn’t be much surprised if he would be the one to knock out the leader of the tournament.

-Are there any reverse examples?

Yes, of course. Nihal Sarin, the 15-year-old Indian boy. You could see the clear nervous breakdown, the roughest miss of the piece. I am sure he would never miss this bishop in a casual game but it’s clear that this time the tension overwhelmed him and knocked him out.

-So, there’s possibility that the tournament’s favourite can lose his positions. Can you call it the Cup’s peculiarity?

-This is the peculiarity of the knockout system. Let’s take all 128 chess players who have come to Khanty-Mansiysk and put them into one round tournament in which everyone would play with everyone. In this case I’m sure Ding Liren would be among three best players or, at least, among five. Anyway, this format is unacceptable as it would take 6-12 months. Here, otherwise you can get out with each of your steps and that’s why this pattern is exciting and interesting.

- Russian Chess Federation and the company AB InBev Efes initiated the Brilliancy Prize at the World Cup. Among the nominees you can see the games by Svidler-Albornos, Firouzja – Dubov, Sarin-Cori, Mamedyarov – Kasimdzhanov and Navara – Yuffa. Would you name anyone else? And how can be the ‘fascination of the game’ measured?

-Experts were considering the games from the chess point of view. If the game was lost with the rough mistakes, it wouldn’t impress anyone much. The fascination of the game is measured in interesting combinations, sacrifices and suddenness. They are the criteria for the expert group. I would also add the game in which Nisipeanu beat Nakamura. It was a fantastic game and also important as one of the rating favourites was knocked out of the tournament.

- One last thing, it’s rainy and cold now in Khanty-Mansiysk. Does it affect your mood and the air time?

- You know, it was -35 degrees during my last visits here, so this is like resort now, I’m even enjoying it and my mood is fine. September is ideal time for Khanty-Mansiysk as there are no mosquitos and it’s not cold yet. This is just perfect for holding tournaments.

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 17, 2019

Round Three

Game Two

Some biographic details from Yermolinsky:

Born in 1958 in Leningrad, The USSR. (Of course, now it's St. Peterburg, Russia). Began to play chess at 8, progressed slowly, but established myself in the top ten in the country by my high school years. Quit college after a couple of years, took a factory job. Scored my USSR Master of Sports (roughly USCF Senior Master) norm at 19. Worked as a chess coach 1981-1988, worked with Levitina and Khalifman. Played reasonably well, but could never qualify for the USSR Premier League.

Emigrated to the US in 1989 and took a job with a New Jersey pharmaceutical company. Played chess on weekends, got my FIDE up to 2615, was awarded the GM title during the Manila Olympiad in 1992. Became a full-time chessplayer in 1993. Won a lot of money in various opens and spent it all!

http://web.archive.org/web/200202020...rmo/diary.html

And an interesting note by Carlos Alberto Colodro in ChessBase:

Mednyi Vsadnik (Bronze Horseman), a club based in Saint Petersburg, are the current European and Russian champions, and no less than five of their members are still going strong in the World Cup: Peter Svidler, Leinier Dominguez, Nikita Vitiugov, Maxim Matlakov and Kirill Alekseenko.

While Dominguez and Matlakov signed rather quick draws, Vitiugov and Alekseenko scored remarkable wins over Sergey Karjakin and Pentala Harikrishna. Meanwhile, the long-time leader of the team, Peter Svidler, saved a half point in a complicated queen endgame against Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu. Curiously, no pair of teammates would meet in the next round even if they all go through. It's been a superb couple of years for the club, and there is a good chance one of their members will represent them in the next Candidates Tournament.

https://en.chessbase.com/post/world-cup-2019-r3-d1

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Ding, Liren – Firouzja, Alireza
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Nc6 9.Qxc4 Na5 10.Qc2 b6 11.Ne5 Bb7 12.Bxb7 Nxb7 13.Nc6 Qe8 14.Rd1 Bc5 15.Ne5 Bd6 16.Nc3 c5 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 cxd4 19.Nc4 Nc5 20.Nxd6 Nxe4 21.Nxe8 Rfxe8 22.Rxd4 Nf6 23.Be3 Rec8 24.Rd6 Rc2 25.Rc1 Rxb2 26.Rxb6 Rxb6 27.Bxb6 h6 28.a5 Nd5 29.Rc6 Ne7 30.Rd6 Rc8 31.e4 Rc1+ 32.Kg2 Nc6 33.Kf3 Kf8 34.Ke2 1/2-1/2

Players go to tiebreak tomorrow

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Harikrishna, Pentala – Alekseenko, Kirill
C84 Ruy Lopez, Closed

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Nc6 9.Qxc4 Na5 10.Qc2 b6 11.Ne5 Bb7 12.Bxb7 Nxb7 13.Nc6 Qe8 14.Rd1 Bc5 15.Ne5 Bd6 16.Nc3 c5 17.Ne4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 cxd4 19.Nc4 Nc5 20.Nxd6 Nxe4 21.Nxe8 Rfxe8 22.Rxd4 Nf6 23.Be3 Rec8 24.Rd6 Rc2 25.Rc1 Rxb2 26.Rxb6 Rxb6 27.Bxb6 h6 28.a5 Nd5 29.Rc6 Ne7 30.Rd6 Rc8 31.e4 Rc1+ 32.Kg2 Nc6 33.Kf3 Kf8 34.Ke2 1/2-1/2

Alekseenko to Round 4

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Wang, Hao – Dominguez, Leinier
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.Rxe8+ Nxe8 12.d5 b6 13.a4 a5 14.Na3 Nd6 15.c3 Bg5 16.Nb5 Nxb5 17.Bxb5 Bb7 18.Qd3 Bxc1 19.Rxc1 c6 20.Bc4 Qg5 21.Rd1 Re8 22.Qh3 cxd5 23.Qxd7 Qe7 24.Qxe7 Rxe7 25.f3 Rd7 26.Bb5 Rd6 27.b4 Kf8 28.bxa5 bxa5 29.c4 Ke7 30.c5 Re6 31.Kf2 g5 32.h3 h6 33.Rc1 Bc8 34.g4 Kd8 35.Rd1 Re5 36.Bc6 Be6 37.Rd4 Kc7 38.Bb5 f5 39.Rd2 f4 40.Rd3 Bf7 41.Rd1 1/2-1/2

Players go to tiebreaks tomorrow

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Grischuk, Alexander – Xu, Xiangyu
E10 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.O-O O-O 7.b3 Nc6 8.Bb2 b6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Rc1 Ne7 11.Qc2 Rc8 12.Rfd1 Re8 13.Ne5 Nd7 14.Nd3 Nf6 15.Ne5 h5 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 c6 20.Qf3 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Qc7 22.h3 Rcd8 23.Qf6 Nc8 24.Rd6 Qe7 25.Qxe7 Nxe7 26.Rcd1 Rb8 27.Bc1 c5 28.Bg5 Rb7 29.g4 Rc7 30.Rd8 Rxd8 31.Rxd8+ Kh7 32.Bf6 Ng8 33.g5 1-0

Grischuk goes on to Round 4

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Vidit, Gurathi – So, Wesley
A29 English, Bremen

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Bg2 Bc5 7.O-O O-O 8.d3 Re8 9.Nxd5 Qxd5 10.Bd2 Qd8 11.Rc1 Bb6 12.b4 Nd4 13.a4 a6 14.Bc3 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 c6 16.b5 cxb5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Qb3 Bd7 19.Bxb7 Rb8 20.Be4 Qf6 21.e3 Bf5 22.Bb4 Bxe4 23.dxe4 h5 24.Qd1 Qg6 25.Qf3 Bd8 26.Rfd1 Be7 27.Rb1 Bxb4 28.Rxb4 Qg4 29.Kg2 f6 30.Rd5 Qxf3+ 31.Kxf3 g5 32.Ke2 Rec8 33.f4 exf4 34.gxf4 gxf4 35.Rxh5 fxe3 36.Kxe3 Kf7 37.h4 Rh8 38.Rbxb5 Rxb5 39.Rxh8 Kg7 40.Ra8 Rh5 41.Ra7+ Kg6 42.Ra6 Kg7 43.Ra7+ Kg6 44.Ra6 Kg7 45.Ra7+ 1/2-1/2

So goes on to Round 4

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Karjakin, Sergey -Vitiugov, Nikita
C54 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O a6 7.a4 Ba7 8.Re1 O-O 9.h3 Kh8 10.b4 Ng8 11.Nbd2 f5 12.b5 Nce7 13.bxa6 bxa6 14.Ba2 Nf6 15.exf5 Nxf5 16.Ng5 Qe8 17.d4 h6 18.Ngf3 Bb7 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.Rxe5 Qg6 21.Qc2 Nh5 22.Re6 Bxf2+ 23.Kxf2 Qg3+ 24.Kg1 Nf4 25.Nf1 Nxh3+ 26.Kh1 Nf2+ 27.Kg1 Nh3+ 28.Kh1 Nf2+ 29.Kg1 Nh3+ 30.Kh1 Nf2+ 1/2-1/2

Vitiugov the Round 4

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Tomashevsky, Evgeny
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 Ne8 13.d5 Qe7 14.Qd1 b6 15.Na3 Bb7 16.g3 Nd6 17.Bg2 Bg5 18.Nc2 Re8 19.Be3 Nf5 20.d6 Nxd6 21.Bxg5 Qxg5 22.Bxb7 Nxb7 23.Qxd7 Qe7 24.Qc6 Qe4 25.Qxe4 Rxe4 26.Kf1 Kf8 27.Rd1 Re8 28.Rd7 Re7 29.Rd5 c6 30.Rd1 Re6 31.Rd7 Re7 32.Rd4 g6 33.h4 h5 34.Rd1 Re6 35.f3 Nc5 36.b3 Ke7 37.Kf2 1/2-1/2

Players on to tiebreaks tomorrow

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Wei, Yi – Yu, Yangyi
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 d6 8.c3 O-O 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.a3 Rfc8 18.Bd3 Qb7 19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Nxe5 dxe5 21.Nf3 Bc6 22.Nxe5 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Nxe4 24.Qf3 Nd6 25.Qxb7 Nxb7 26.Rad1 Na5 27.Rd5 b4 28.axb4 Bxb4 29.Red1 f6 30.Rb5 Rab8 1/2-1/2

Players on to tiebreaks tomorrow

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Xiong, Jeffery – Giri, Anish
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.Rxe8+ Nxe8 12.d5 d6 13.Nd2 a5 14.a4 Bd7 15.Ra3 Bg5 16.Nc4 Bxc1 17.Qxc1 Nf6 18.Qd1 Qe7 19.Re3 Qf8 20.b3 b5 21.axb5 Bxb5 22.Rc3 Qb8 23.Qd4 a4 24.bxa4 Bxa4 25.Ne3 Bd7 26.Qc4 Ra7 27.h3 h6 28.Rb3 Rb7 29.Rxb7 Qxb7 30.Bd3 Kf8 31.Kh2 Qb6 32.g4 Bc8 33.Qb5 Qxb5 34.Bxb5 Ne4 35.Kg2 g5 36.Bd3 Nc3 37.Kg3 Bb7 38.Bc4 Kg7 39.Nf5+ Kf6 40.Nxh6 Bxd5 41.Bxd5 Nxd5 42.Nf5 Ke5 43.h4 gxh4+ 44.Nxh4 Nb4 45.f4+ Kd5 46.c3 Na2 47.c4+ Kxc4 48.g5 Nc3 49.Kg4 Ne4 50.f5 Kd5 51.Kf4 Nc5 52.Ng2 Nd3+ 53.Ke3 Nb4 54.Kf4 Nd3+ 55.Ke3 Nc5 56.Kf4 Nd7 57.Ne3+ Kd4 58.g6 fxg6 59.fxg6 Nf8 60.Nf5+ Kd3 61.Nxd6 Nxg6+ 62.Kf5 Nf8 1/2-1/2

Final position



Players go on to tiebreaks tomorrow

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Andreikin, Dmitry – Duda, Jan-Krzysztof
D30 QGD Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 e6 5.Nbd2 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.O-O Be7 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Nxe4 11.Bxe4 Nf6 12.Bc2 O-O 13.Qe2 c5 14.Rad1 cxd4 15.Be5 Nd7 16.Bxd4 Qc7 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Qc6 19.Qg4 g6 20.Rd3 Qe4 21.Qxe4 Bxe4 22.Rd7 Bxc2 23.Rxe7 f6 24.Bc3 e5 25.f4 Bd3 26.Rf3 Bxc4 27.fxe5 fxe5 28.b3 Rxf3 29.gxf3 Bf7 30.Rc7 a5 31.Bxe5 a4 32.bxa4 Bxa2 33.Rg7+ Kf8 34.Rxh7 Rxa4 35.Rb7 Ra6 36.Kf2 Bd5 37.Rd7 Be6 38.Bd6+ Kg8 39.Re7 Bd5 40.Re5 Ra2+ 41.Re2 Rxe2+ 1/2-1/2

Duda to Round 4

Round 3, Game 2, Sept. 17
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Safarli, Eltaj
A04 Reti, Dutch

1.Nf3 f5 2.d3 Nc6 3.d4 e6 4.g3 Nf6 5.Bg2 g6 6.c4 Bg7 7.d5 exd5 8.cxd5 Ne7 9.Nc3 c6 10.d6 Ned5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.O-O Qf6 13.Ng5 h6 14.Bxd5 cxd5 15.Nf3 Qxd6 16.Bf4 Qe6 17.Nd4 Qb6 18.Nf3 Qe6 19.Nd4 Qb6 20.Nf3 Qe6 21.Nd4 1/2-1/2

Mamedyarov to Round 4

(to be continued)

[Hans Jung]

Ive got a feeling MVL missed a win in that endgame but end result is a draw.

[Hans Jung]

I liked Jeffrey Xiong's confident play and the nice way he played the endgame (even though it was a draw).

[Hans Jung]

Give Aronian two knights and he can work miracles. The computer pointed out better move along the way but I like Levon's play.

[Hans Jung]

The computer doesnt give good lines. Its virtually zugzwang. The slow way is white K to the A-file and up. The black queenside pawns cant move or at least one will be lost and the black rook has to stay on the 7th. If the black N xBf6 then e5xf6 and eventual Re7.

[Fred McKim]

In the second game of round 3 Grischuk scored first - a beautiful strategic win. Ne5 then the e4 break opening the play, exchanges and then his opponent had the choice to defend passively or capture Ne5 with the bishop. After the capture Grischuk played Qf6 and Rd6 and doubled rooks with a hugh black square bind that won the game. Pretty as a picture.

Hans: A couple of us non-Masters were wondering how Grischuk ulmitaely breaks though (we followed Stockfish's analysis - but still don't see the concrete finishing punch)

[Hans Jung]

Radjabov's play with the knight and weak pawns is impressive, in the tradition of Nimzovitch. With this game the last of the real underdogs, Yuffa, is eliminated.

[Hans Jung]

I like Shak's approach. d3-d4-d5-d6. The offending D pawn is finally eliminated but White has too much play on the dark squares = draw offer. The Shak advances to round 4.

[Hans Jung]

Congratulations to Firouzja for holding Ding Liren to two draws. Now come the playoffs tomorrow for the two of them.

[Hans Jung]

In the second game of round 3 Grischuk scored first - a beautiful strategic win. Ne5 then the e4 break opening the play, exchanges and then his opponent had the choice to defend passively or capture Ne5 with the bishop. After the capture Grischuk played Qf6 and Rd6 and doubled rooks with a hugh black square bind that won the game. Pretty as a picture.

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 16, 2019

Round Three

Game One (continued)

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Safarli, Eltaj – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
C41 Philidor, Exchange variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.Be2 O-O 7.O-O Re8 8.Re1 Bf8 9.Bg5 h6 10.Bh4 g5 11.Bg3 Nxe4 12.Nxe4 Rxe4 13.Bf3 Rxe1+ 14.Qxe1 c6 15.Rd1 Qf6 16.c4 Na6 17.b4 Nxb4 18.Qxb4 c5 19.Qb2 cxd4 20.Bd5 Bg7 21.Re1 Be6 22.Qxb7 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Rc8 24.Bxd6 Rd8 25.Be7 Rxd5 26.Bxf6 Rc5 27.Bxg7 Kxg7 28.Rc1 Kf6 29.Kf1 Ke5 30.Ke2 Ra5 31.Rc2 Ra3 32.Kd2 Kd6 33.Rb2 Kc5 34.Rb7 Kxc4 35.Rc7+ Kd5 36.Rd7+ Ke5 37.Rxf7 Rxa2+ 38.Kd3 Ra3+ 39.Kd2 a5 40.Re7+ Kd6 41.Rh7 a4 42.Rxh6+ Kc5 43.Ra6 Kb5 44.Ra8 Rc3 45.Rb8+ Kc4 0-1

Some people surprised that Safarli resigned here. Final position



Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Radjabov, Teimour – Yuffa, Daniil
B11 Caro-Kann, Two Knights

1.e4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.Be2 Bc5 7.O-O Ne7 8.Qg3 O-O 9.d3 Nd7 10.Kh1 f5 11.Bg5 Bd4 12.Qd6 Bf6 13.f4 Rf7 14.Bxf6 Rxf6 15.e5 Rf7 16.d4 Nc8 17.Qb4 Qb6 18.a3 c5 19.Qxb6 Ncxb6 20.Nb5 Re7 21.b3 cxd4 22.Nxd4 Nc5 23.g4 Ne4 24.Rg1 Rf8 25.gxf5 exf5 26.h4 g6 27.Rg2 Kf7 28.h5 Rh8 29.Rag1 Ree8 30.a4 a6 31.a5 Nd7 32.c4 dxc4 33.e6+ Rxe6 34.Bxc4 Nf8 35.hxg6+ hxg6+ 36.Rh2 Rg8 37.Nxe6 Nxe6 38.Rh6 Nf2+ 39.Kg2 Ne4 40.Kh2 Nf2 41.Bxe6+ Kxe6 42.Rhxg6+ Rxg6 43.Rxg6+ Kd7 44.Rb6 Kc7 45.Kg3 1-0

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Jakovenko, Dimitry – MVL
A15 English Opening

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d4 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Nc3 Qc7 8.Qd3 Nc6 9.O-O d6 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bf4 Nh5 12.Bg5 Rb8 13.b3 Qa5 14.Bd2 Bb7 15.b4 Qc7 16.Rab1 Nf6 17.Bf4 Ng4 18.c5 Ne5 19.cxd6 exd6 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Rfc1 Qe7 22.e3 Rfd8 23.a4 d5 24.Ne2 Ba8 25.Nd4 Rxb4 26.Nxc6 Bxc6 27.Rxb4 Qxb4 28.Rxc6 Qxa4 29.Rc5 Qa1+ 30.Bf1 Qa2 31.Bg2 Qa1+ 32.Bf1 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Nisipeanu, Liviu-Dieter – Svidler, Peter
C91 Ruy Lopez, Closed, Bogolyubov variation

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.d4 d6 9.c3 Bg4 10.Be3 exd4 11.cxd4 Na5 12.Bc2 Nc4 13.Bc1 c5 14.b3 Nb6 15.Nbd2 Nfd7 16.h3 Bh5 17.a4 bxa4 18.bxa4 a5 19.dxc5 Nxc5 20.Rb1 Re8 21.Rb5 Qc7 22.Bb2 Bf8 23.Qa1 Bg6 24.Nh4 d5 25.Nxg6 hxg6 26.e5 Nc4 27.Nxc4 dxc4 28.Rc1 Rab8 29.Qa2 Nd7 30.Rxb8 Qxb8 31.Bxg6 fxg6 32.Rxc4 Re6 33.Rc6 Nc5 34.Rxe6 Nxe6 35.Qxe6+ Kh7 36.Bd4 Qb4 37.Qd7 Bc5 38.Bxc5 Qe1+ 39.Kh2 Qxe5+ 40.g3 Qxc5 41.Kg2 Qc4 42.Qg4 Qc6+ 43.Kh2 Qc5 44.Qf4 Qc2 45.h4 Qc5 46.Kg1 Qd5 47.Qg4 Kg8 48.Qc8+ Kh7 49.Qc2 Kh8 50.Kf1 Kh7 51.Ke2 Qd4 52.Qc6 Qb4 53.Kf3 Qb3+ 54.Kg2 Qb4 55.f3 Qd4 56.Qe4 Qd2+ 57.Kh3 Qd1 58.Qc6 Qd4 59.Qc2 Qg1 60.Qd3 Qa1 61.Qc4 Qb1 62.Qc3 Qd1 63.Qxa5 Qxf3 64.Qd2 Qh1+ 65.Kg4 Qe4+ 66.Qf4 Qe6+ 67.Kf3 Qb3+ 68.Kg2 Qc2+ 69.Kh3 Qc6 70.Qd4 Qf3 71.Qc4 Qh1+ 72.Kg4 Qd1+ 73.Kf4 Qd6+ 74.Kf3 Qd1+ 75.Kg2 Qd2+ 76.Kh3 Qe1 77.Qd5 Qf1+ 78.Kh2 Qf2+ 79.Qg2 Qe1 80.Qc2 Qe5 81.Qd2 Qa1 82.a5 Qa4 83.Qd5 Qc2+ 84.Kh3 Qe2 85.Qc6 Qe1 86.Qd5 Qe2 87.Qh1 Qe6+ 88.Kh2 Qa2+ 1/2-1/2

Final position



- These are the two oldest players now (with Gelfand out)

- While Peter Svidler is fighting a pawn down against Nisipeanu his second Kirill Alekseenko is close to beating Harikrishna!

- "I almost resigned" Peter can be overheard saying in the postmortem after his game vs. Nisipeanu ends in an 88-move draw!

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Aronian, Levon – Matlakov, Maxim
A09 Reti, Advance variation

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 c5 4.Bb2 Nf6 5.g3 Qc7 6.Bg2 e5 7.O-O Nc6 8.b5 Ne7 9.e3 Ng6 10.a4 Be7 11.a5 Rb8 12.d3 O-O 13.Nbd2 Bf5 14.Qb3 h6 15.Rfe1 b6 16.Ra3 Rfd8 17.Qa2 Rd7 18.Nf1 Rbd8 19.N3d2 Bf8 20.exd4 cxd4 21.axb6 axb6 22.Rb3 Re7 23.Ra3 Red7 24.Rb3 Re7 25.Ra3 Red7 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Le, Quang Liem – Artemiev, Vladislav
C60 Ruy Lopez, Fianchetto (Smyslov-Barnes) Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.c3 a6 5.Ba4 d6 6.d4 Bd7 7.Bg5 f6 8.Be3 Bh6 9.Qd2 Bxe3 10.Qxe3 Kf8 11.dxe5 fxe5 12.c4 Kg7 13.Nc3 Nf6 14.h3 Nb4 15.a3 b5 16.Bd1 Nc6 17.Be2 bxc4 18.Bxc4 Qb8 19.Nd5 Qa7 20.Nxf6 Qxe3+ 21.fxe3 Kxf6 22.O-O Nd8 23.Rac1 a5 24.Rc2 Ke7 25.Ng5 Be8 26.Bf7 Ra7 27.Bxe8 Kxe8 28.Rcf2 h6 29.Nf7 Rh7 30.Nxd8 Kxd8 31.Rf8+ Ke7 32.Rb8 Rf7 33.Rxf7+ Kxf7 34.Kf2 Ke6 35.Ke2 Ra6 36.Kd3 Rc6 37.Rg8 Kf6 38.Ra8 Rc5 39.h4 1/2-1/2

The broadcast team of Miroshnichenko and Yermolinsky has been a pleasant surprise. They go well together and Yermo has a fund of great chess stories.

[Wayne Komer]

World Cup 2019 Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia

September 16, 2019

Round Three

Game One

From the official site:

The biggest surprise of the day was Kirill Alekseenko (Russia) beating the higher-rated Pentala Harikrishna (India).

Alexander Grischuk (Russia) defeated Xu Xiangyu (China), Teimour Radjabov (Azerbaijan) won against Daniil Yuffa (Russia), Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) was stronger than his compatriot Eltaj Safarli, Dmitry Andreikin (Russia) lost to Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), Nikita Vitiugov (Russia) beat Sergey Karjakin (Russia), and Welsey So (USA) outplayed Santosh Vidit (India).

Tomashevsky-Nepomniachtchi, Jakovenko-Vachier-Lagrave, Ding Liren-Firouzja, Aronian-Matlakov, Dominguez-Wang Hao, Yu Yangyi-Wei Yi, Le Quang Liem-Artemiev, Giri-Xiong, and Nisipeanu-Svidler ended peacefully.

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Firouzja, Alireza – Ding, Liren
E20 Nimzo-Indian, Kmoch variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3 c5 5.d5 O-O 6.e4 b5 7.Nh3 bxc4 8.Bxc4 Nxd5 9.Bxd5 exd5 10.Qxd5 Nc6 11.O-O Ba6 12.Rf2 Re8 13.Bg5 Qb6 14.Be3 Ne5 15.Na4 Qa5 16.b3 c4 17.Nf4 Bb5 18.Nb2 cxb3 19.Qxb3 Rab8 20.Qd5 Qa3 21.Qb3 Qa5 22.Qd5 Qa3 23.Qb3 Qa5 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Alekseenko, Kirill – Harikrishna, Pentala
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a6 7.a4 h6 8.Re1 O-O 9.h3 Re8 10.a5 Ba7 11.Qb3 Qe7 12.Be3 Bxe3 13.Rxe3 Rb8 14.d4 b5 15.axb6 cxb6 16.Nbd2 b5 17.Bf1 Qc7 18.d5 Ne7 19.c4 b4 20.Qa4 Nd7 21.Qa5 Qxa5 22.Rxa5 f5 23.Nb3 fxe4 24.Nfd2 Nf6 25.Nxe4 Nxe4 26.Rxe4 Bf5 27.Re1 Bc2 28.Nd2 Nf5 29.Rxa6 Red8 30.Rea1 Nd4 31.Ra7 Rf8 32.R1a6 Rbd8 33.Rb6 b3 34.Rbb7 g5 35.c5 dxc5 36.Bc4 Rf6 37.Re7 Kf8 38.Rxe5 Rf7 39.Ra6 Kg7 40.f3 Rdd7 41.d6 Rf8 42.Rxc5 Rfd8 43.Rd5 Nf5 44.Bxb3 Ne3 45.Re5 Rxd6 46.Rxd6 Rxd6 47.Rxe3 Rxd2 48.Bxc2 Rxc2 49.Rb3 h5 50.h4 gxh4 51.Kh2 Rc1 52.Rb4 1-0

Final position



Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Dominguez, Leinier – Wang, Hao
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berln Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.O-O Qe7 7.Nbd2 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.a3 a5 10.Nc4 Nd7 11.g4 Bg6 12.b4 Bb6 13.Nxb6 cxb6 14.Be3 O-O 15.Qd2 f6 16.Rab1 axb4 17.axb4 b5 18.Nh4 Ra2 19.Kh2 Rfa8 20.Rg1 Nf8 21.Nf5 Qd7 22.h4 h6 23.h5 Bxf5 24.gxf5 Kh8 25.Qd1 Nh7 26.Rg6 Nf8 27.Rg3 Nh7 28.Rg6 Nf8 29.Rg2 Nh7 30.Rg6 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Xu, Xiangyu – Grischuk, Alexander
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 d5 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Qc2 b6 8.Bd2 Bb7 9.a3 Bd6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.Bd3 a6 12.Ne2 Ne7 13.Bc3 Ne4 14.Bxe4 dxe4 15.Ng5 Nd5 16.Nxe4 Qh4 17.N4g3 Nxc3 18.Nxc3 Bxg2 19.Rg1 Bf3 20.Nf5 Qxh2 21.Rxg7+ Kh8 22.Ne4 Bh5 23.Nf6 Bg6 24.O-O-O Be7 25.Qc6 Bxf5 26.Rdg1 Bg6 27.R1xg6 hxg6 28.Rh7+ Qxh7 29.Nxh7 Kxh7 30.Kd2 Bd6 31.e4 Rad8 32.Ke3 Rfe8 33.f4 Re6 34.e5 Kg7 35.Qb7 c5 36.d5 Re7 37.Qxb6 Bxe5 38.fxe5 Rxe5+ 39.Kf3 Rexd5 0-1

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
So, Wesley – Vidit, Gujrathi
D38 QGD, Ragozin

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Qc2 Re8 8.Bd2 a6 9.a3 Bd6 10.Rd1 Bd7 11.h3 h6 12.c5 Bf8 13.Ne5 Nxe5 14.dxe5 Ne4 15.Nxe4 dxe4 16.Ba5 Qc8 17.g4 Bc6 18.Bg2 Rd8 19.Rxd8 Qxd8 20.Bxe4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Bxc5 22.Qxb7 Rb8 23.Qxc7 Qxc7 24.Bxc7 Rxb2 25.O-O Rc2 26.Bd6 Bxd6 27.exd6 Rd2 28.Rb1 Rxd6 29.Rb8+ Kh7 30.Rb7 Kg6 31.Ra7 Kf6 32.h4 Rc6 33.Kg2 g5 34.Kg3 gxh4+ 35.Kxh4 Kg6 36.a4 Rc2 37.Kg3 Rc6 38.a5 Kf6 39.e4 Kg6 40.f3 Kf6 41.Kf4 e5+ 42.Kg3 Kg7 43.Ra8 Kh7 44.Rd8 Kg7 45.Ra8 Kh7 46.Kf2 Kg7 47.Kg2 Rc2+ 48.Kg3 Rc6 49.Ra7 Kf8 50.Kf2 Kg7 51.Kg2 Rc2+ 52.Kg3 Rc6 53.Rd7 Kf8 54.Rd5 Re6 55.Rc5 Ke8 56.Kh4 Kf8 57.Kh5 Kg7 58.g5 hxg5 59.Kxg5 Rh6 60.Kf5 Rf6+ 61.Kxe5 Rxf3 62.Rc6 Rh3 63.Kd5 Rd3+ 64.Kc5 Re3 65.Kd4 Ra3 66.Rxa6 Ra1 67.e5 Rd1+ 68.Kc5 Rc1+ 69.Kd5 Rd1+ 70.Kc6 Re1 71.Rb6 Rxe5 72.a6 Re7 73.Rb7 Re6+ 74.Kb5 Re5+ 75.Kb6 Re6+ 76.Ka5 Re5+ 77.Rb5 Re7 78.Rc5 Kg6 79.Kb6 f5 80.a7 Re8 81.Kb7 Kg5 82.Rc8 Re7+ 83.Kb8 Rxa7 84.Kxa7 Kf4 85.Kb6 Ke3 86.Re8+ Kd3 87.Rf8 Ke4 88.Kc5 f4 89.Kc4 Ke3 90.Kc3 f3 91.Re8+ Kf2 92.Kd2 Kf1 93.Ke3 1-0

Position after Black’s 72…Re7. Looks like White and Black don’t want to play together!



Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Vitiugov, Nikita – Karjakin, Sergey
C65 Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.d3 Bc5 5.Bxc6 dxc6 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.Qe2 Nd7 8.Nc4 Re8 9.Bd2 b5 10.Ne3 Nf8 11.h4 a5 12.a4 Bb6 13.h5 Ne6 14.Qd1 Nd4 15.h6 g6 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.axb5 cxb5 18.Qf3 Qd8 19.Nd5 f5 20.Nxb6 cxb6 21.exf5 Bxf5 22.Qb7 Re7 23.Qc6 Bd7 24.Qd5+ Re6 25.O-O Qe8 26.Rae1 Bc6 27.Qa2 Qf7 28.Re3 Rae8 29.Rfe1 R6e7 30.b3 b4 31.Qa1 Qf6 32.R1e2 Bd5 33.Qe1 Re6 34.Bc1 Qh4 35.Bb2 Bc6 36.Rh3 Qg5 37.Rg3 Qxh6 38.Bxe5 Qh4 39.Ree3 Qe7 40.Bd4 b5 41.Bb6 Qd6 42.Rxe6 Rxe6 43.Re3 Rxe3 44.Qxe3 a4 45.Bc5 Qd5 46.f3 axb3 47.cxb3 Qxb3 48.Qe5 Qf7 49.Bd4 Kf8 50.Bc5+ Kg8 51.Bd4 Kf8 52.Kf2 Qd5 53.Bc5+ 1-

Position after 52…Qd5?? 53.Bc5+



- Bad blunder by K.
- Big win for Vitiugov!
- Very impressive to crack Karjakin’s Berlin
- Wow. What a blunder! Maybe worst blunder ever by K.
- No Karjakin at next year’s Candidates.

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Tomashevsky, Evgeny – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
E60 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c6 5.Bg2 d5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Ne5 Ne4 8.Nd2 Nf6 9.Nb1 Ne4 10.O-O O-O 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qa4 Qb6 15.Ba3 Qa6 16.Qxa6 Bxa6 17.Rfb1 Rfb8 18.Bxe7 Bxe2 19.Bf1 Bxf1 20.Kxf1 Bf8 21.Bxf8 Kxf8 22.Ke2 Ke7 23.Kd3 Kd6 24.Rb3 Rb6 25.Re1 Rab8 26.Kc2 h5 27.h4 Kd7 28.Re3 Kd6 29.Re1 Kd7 30.Re3 Kd6 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Yu, Yangyi – Wei, Yi
D85 Grunfeld, Exchange variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.e4 Nxc3 6.bxc3 Bg7 7.Qa4+ Nd7 8.Nf3 O-O 9.Be2 Nb6 10.Qb4 Qd6 11.O-O Bd7 12.Be3 Qxb4 13.cxb4 Bc6 14.Nd2 f5 15.f3 Rfd8 16.b5 Be8 17.Nb3 Bf7 18.Rac1 fxe4 19.fxe4 Bxb3 20.axb3 Bxd4 21.Bxd4 Rxd4 22.Rxc7 Rxe4 23.Bf3 Re3 24.b4 Rf8 25.Rxb7 Rf4 26.Rb1 Nc4 27.Rxa7 Nd2 28.Rb2 Nxf3+ 29.gxf3 Rexf3 30.Kg2 Rf8 31.Re2 Rb3 32.Rexe7 Rb2+ 33.Kg3 Rb3+ 34.Kg2 Rb2+ 35.Kg3 Rb3+ 36.Kg2 1/2-1/2

- Call me crazy, but my money is on China in this matchup.

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Giri, Anish – Xiong, Jeffery
D26 QGA, Classical variation

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 a6 8.Re1 h6 9.d5 exd5 10.Nxd5 Ne4 11.Nc3 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Be7 13.Bd5 Bf6 14.Bxc6+ bxc6 15.Qxd8+ Kxd8 16.Rd1+ Kc7 17.e4 g5 18.Be3 Be7 19.Ne5 Be6 20.f4 Bd6 21.Nd3 c4 22.Nc5 gxf4 23.Rab1 Bc8 24.Bd4 Re8 25.Kf2 Rb8 26.Rxb8 Kxb8 27.Kf3 Rg8 28.Rb1+ Kc7 29.e5 Be7 30.Rb2 h5 31.Ne4 Be6 32.Bc5 Bxc5 33.Nxc5 Rg4 34.Nxa6+ Kc8 35.Rb8+ Kd7 36.Rb7+ Kc8 37.Rb8+ Kd7 38.Nc5+ Kc7 39.Rb7+ Kc8 40.Ra7 Bd5+ 41.Ne4 Rg5 42.Rxf7 Rxe5 43.Rxf4 Kc7 44.Ke3 c5 45.h4 1/2-1/2

Round 3, Game 1, Sept. 16
Duda, Jan-Krzysztof – Andreikin, Dmitry
C50 Giuoco Piano

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.O-O Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 a5 7.Re1 h6 8.Nbd2 O-O 9.Nf1 Be6 10.Bb5 Bb6 11.h3 Ne7 12.d4 exd4 13.cxd4 d5 14.e5 Ne4 15.Ng3 Nxg3 16.fxg3 Bf5 17.Bd3 c5 18.dxc5 Bxc5+ 19.Kh2 d4 20.Bxf5 Nxf5 21.Qc2 Qc8 22.g4 Ne3 23.Bxe3 dxe3 24.g5 Ba7 25.Qe4 Qe6 26.gxh6 Qxh6 27.Qxb7 Qf4+ 28.Kh1 Rfb8 29.Qd5 Rd8 30.Qxa5 Bd4 31.Qb5 Rab8 32.Qc4 Rbc8 33.Qe2 Bxe5 34.a4 Bd4 35.Nxd4 Rxd4 36.a5 Ra4 37.Qg4 Qxg4 38.hxg4 Rxg4 39.Rxe3 Rb4 40.a6 Kf8 41.Rc3 Ra8 42.Rc7 Rxb2 43.a7 g6 44.Rf1 Kg7 45.Rcxf7+ Kh6 46.Ra1 Kg5 47.Kh2 Rb3 48.Kg1 Rb2 49.Ra5+ Kh6 50.Kh2 Rb3 51.Re7 Rc3 52.Rb7 1-0

Position after 51….Rc3?



(to be continued)