Play For Russia 2020

[Wayne Komer]

Play For Russia 2020

May 13, 2020

At the initiative of the strongest Russian GMs, the Chess Federation of Russia, the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation, the Timchenko Foundation, the Ramax group of companies and Gazprombank (Switzerland) will co-support the first online charity tournament titled Play for Russia. The event is scheduled for May 12-14. The tournament will be played on Lichess.org.

The prize pool will be shared among regional hospitals and health workers fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. The participants will determine beforehand the amount and recipients of the donation, depending on the needs of a particular institution. The entire prize fund is distributed equally among the regions, regardless of the final standings.

Participants:

Vladimir Kramnik (Krasnodar Krai)
Ian Nepomniachtchi (Bryansk region)
Alexander Grischuk (Moscow)
Sergey Karjakin (Crimea)
Peter Svidler (St. Petersburg)
Evgeny Tomashevsky (Saratov region)
Ernesto Inarkiev (Caucasus)
Alexander Riazantsev (Ural and Siberia)

The tournament will be a double round-robin event featuring 5 minutes per game plus a 2-second increment per move. The GMs will first play the round-robin part to reveal the strongest four to qualify into a knockout play-off.

Tournament Schedule:

May 12 – first half (7 rounds)
May 13 – second half (7 rounds)
May 14 - semifinals and a final.

Games start at 05:00 Pacific / 08:00 Eastern / 14:00 CEST/ 15:00 Moscow.

https://ruchess.ru/en/news/all/first...ent_completed/

Rounds One to Seven

The first games of the Play For Russia charity tournament in aid of the doctors were played on May 12 on Lichess.org.

Having scored 5.5 points out of 7, Alexander Grischuk became the sole leader. On the first tournament day, he defeated Peter Svidler, Vladimir Kramnik, Alexander Riazantsev and Sergey Karjakin. Vladimir Kramnik, who beat Alexander Riazantsev, Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ernesto Inarkiev and Evgeny Tomashevsky, is half a point behind. Evgeny Tomashevsky is on the third place with 4 points. He started with four draws but then won against Ernesto Inarkiev and Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Results

Round One

Kramnik-Riazantsev 1-0
Nepomniachtchi-Inarkiev 0.5-0.5
Karjakin-Tomashevsky 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Svidler 1-0

Round Two

Riazantsev-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Tomashevsky-Grischuk 0.5-0.5
Inarkiev-Karjakin 0.5-0.5
Kramnik-Nepomniachtchi 1-0

Round Three

Nepomniachtchi-Riazantsev 1-0
Karjakin-Kramnik 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Inarkiev 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Tomashevsky 0.5-0.5

Round Four

Riazantsev-Tomashevsky 0.5-0.5
Inarkiev-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Kramnik-Grischuk 0-1
Nepomniachtchi-Karjakin 0.5-0.5

Round Five

Karjakin-Riazantsev 0.5-0.5
Grischuk-Nepomniachtchi 0.5-0.5
Svidler-Kramnik 0.5-0.5
Tomashevsky-Inarkiev 1-0

Round Six

Grischuk-Riazantsev 1-0
Svidler-Karjakin 0.5-0.5
Tomashevsky-Nepomniachtchi 1-0
Inarkiev-Kramnik 0-1

Round Seven

Riazantsev-Inarkiev 0.5-0.5
Kramnik-Tomashevsky 1-0
Nepomniachtchi-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Karjakin-Grischuk 0-1

Standings

1. Grischuk 5.5
2. Kramnik 5
3 Tomashevsky 4
4-6 Karjakin, Svidler, Nepo 3
7 Inarkiev2.5
8 Riazantsev 2

Selected Games

Round 1, May 12
Kramnik, Vladimir – Riazantsev, Alexander
D02 Queen’s Pawn game

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c3 c6 4.Bf4 g6 5.e3 Bg7 6.h3 O-O 7.Nbd2 Bf5 8.Be2 Nbd7 9.g4 Be4 10.g5 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Ne8 12.h4 e5 13.Bg3 Nd6 14.Bg4 Re8 15.Qf3 Nb6 16.O-O-O Nbc4 17.Nxc4 Nxc4 18.Qe2 a5 19.Qc2 a4 20.Be2 b5 21.dxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.a3 Qe7 24.Kb1 Re8 25.Bd3 Nd6 26.Rh3 c5 27.Rdh1 b4 28.cxb4 cxb4 29.Qxa4 bxa3 30.Qxa3 Rb8 31.h5 Nc4 32.Qxe7 Rxe7 33.Bxc4 dxc4 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.Kc2 Reb7 36.Kc3 Rc8 37.Rh4 Rb3+ 38.Kc2 Rb5 39.Rg4 Rcb8 40.Rb1 Rf8 41.Rxc4 Rxf2+ 42.Kc3 Rxg5 43.b4 Rf3 44.Re4 Rb5 45.Kc4 Rb6 46.b5 Rf5 47.Re7 h5 48.Rc7 h4 49.Rc6 Rxc6+ 50.bxc6 Kg7 51.c7 Rf2 52.Kd3 Rf8 53.Rb8 1-0

Round 1, May 12
Grischuk, Alexander – Svidler, Peter
A07 Reti, King’s Indian Attack, Pachman System

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c3 c6 4.Bf4 g6 5.e3 Bg7 6.h3 O-O 7.Nbd2 Bf5 8.Be2 Nbd7 9.g4 Be4 10.g5 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Ne8 12.h4 e5 13.Bg3 Nd6 14.Bg4 Re8 15.Qf3 Nb6 16.O-O-O Nbc4 17.Nxc4 Nxc4 18.Qe2 a5 19.Qc2 a4 20.Be2 b5 21.dxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxe5 Rxe5 23.a3 Qe7 24.Kb1 Re8 25.Bd3 Nd6 26.Rh3 c5 27.Rdh1 b4 28.cxb4 cxb4 29.Qxa4 bxa3 30.Qxa3 Rb8 31.h5 Nc4 32.Qxe7 Rxe7 33.Bxc4 dxc4 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.Kc2 Reb7 36.Kc3 Rc8 37.Rh4 Rb3+ 38.Kc2 Rb5 39.Rg4 Rcb8 40.Rb1 Rf8 41.Rxc4 Rxf2+ 42.Kc3 Rxg5 43.b4 Rf3 44.Re4 Rb5 45.Kc4 Rb6 46.b5 Rf5 47.Re7 h5 48.Rc7 h4 49.Rc6 Rxc6+ 50.bxc6 Kg7 51.c7 Rf2 52.Kd3 Rf8 53.Rb8 1-0

Round 2, May 12
Kramnik, Vladimir – Nepomniachtchi, Ian
A36 English, ultra-symmetrical variation

1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.e3 e6 6.b3 Nge7 7.Ba3 b6 8.Nge2 O-O 9.O-O Bb7 10.d4 d6 11.Qd2 Na5 12.d5 exd5 13.cxd5 Ba6 14.Bb2 Bxe2 15.Nxe2 Nf5 16.e4 Bxb2 17.Qxb2 Ng7 18.Rad1 Qe7 19.Rfe1 Rfe8 20.f4 Rad8 21.Nc3 Qf6 22.e5 dxe5 23.Ne4 Qf5 24.fxe5 Rxe5 25.Rf1 Qxe4 26.Bxe4 Rxe4 27.Qf6 Rd7 28.Rde1 Ne8 29.Qf3 Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Nd6 31.Qf6 Nab7 32.h4 h5 33.g4 hxg4 34.h5 Kh7 35.Kg2 Nf5 36.hxg6+ fxg6 37.Rh1+ Kg8 38.Rh8# 1-0

Final Position



Round 3, May 12
Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Riazantsev, Alexander

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.exd6 cxd6 5.c4 Nb6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.Be2 O-O 9.O-O Nc6 10.Be3 d5 11.c5 Nc4 12.Bxc4 dxc4 13.h3 Bf5 14.Qa4 Bd3 15.Rfd1 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Bxd4 17.Rxd3 cxd3 18.Bxd4 Re8 19.Rd1 e5 20.Be3 e4 21.Nxe4 b5 22.cxb6 axb6 23.Qxe8+ 1-0

Round 4, May 12
Kramnik, Vladimir – Grischuk, Alexander
A10 English Opening

1.c4 g6 2.Nc3 Bg7 3.g3 e5 4.Bg2 d6 5.d3 f5 6.e3 Nf6 7.Nge2 a5 8.b3 O-O 9.Bb2 c6 10.Qd2 Na6 11.f4 Bd7 12.O-O Re8 13.e4 Nc5 14.Rae1 Qb6 15.Kh1 a4 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.exf5 Bxf5 18.d4 Nce4 19.Nxe4 Nxe4 20.Qd1 a3 21.Ba1 exd4 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Qxd4 Qxd4 24.Nxd4 Nc3 25.Nxf5 gxf5 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Bf3 Rd8 28.Rf2 Kg7 29.Kg2 Kg6 30.Rc2 Rd3 31.b4 Kf6 32.b5 cxb5 33.cxb5 b6 34.Bc6 Ke5 35.Kh3 f4 36.Kg4 h5+ 37.Kh4 fxg3 38.hxg3 Kd4 39.Rf2 Re3 40.Bd7 Re5 41.Rf6 Nxa2 42.Rxb6 Nb4 43.Rd6+ Rd5 44.Rxd5+ Nxd5 45.b6 Nxb6 46.Be6 Nd5 0-1

Round 6, May 12
Grischuk, Alexander – Riazantsev, Alexander
A06 Reti, Old Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 Nc6 3.g3 e5 4.a3 Nf6 5.Bg2 a5 6.O-O g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Nd2 d4 11.Na4 O-O 12.c3 dxc3 13.bxc3 Be7 14.Qb3 Ra7 15.Nc4 Be6 16.Qb5 Bd7 17.Nc5 Nd4 18.Qxd7 Nxe2+ 19.Kh1 Bxc5 20.Qb5 b6 21.Qb2 Nxc3 22.Nxe5 Bd4 23.Nc6 Qf6 24.Rac1 Rd8 25.Nxa7 Nb5 26.Qxb5 1-0

Round 7, May 12
Karjakin, Sergey – Grischuk, Alexander
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf, Byrne Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be3 e6 7.a4 b6 8.Be2 Bb7 9.f3 Nbd7 10.O-O Be7 11.Qe1 Qc7 12.Qg3 O-O 13.Rad1 Rae8 14.Kh1 Rc8 15.Bg5 Rfe8 16.f4 Nc5 17.Bd3 Nfxe4 18.Bxe4 Nxe4 19.Nxe4 Bxe4 20.Bxe7 Qxe7 21.c3 f5 22.Nf3 h6 23.Qf2 b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.Nd2 d5 26.Qd4 b4 27.cxb4 Rb8 28.b3 Rxb4 29.Qf2 Qf6 30.Rc1 Qd4 31.Rc7 Qxf2 32.Rxf2 Kf8 33.Rf1 Re7 34.Rc8+ Kf7 35.Ra1 Rbb7 36.Rac1 Ra7 37.Kg1 Ra2 38.Rd1 Rea7 39.Kf2 Bc2 40.Rc1 Bxb3 41.R1c7+ Rxc7 42.Rxc7+ Kf6 43.Ke3 d4+ 44.Kd3 Bd5 45.g3 g5 46.Rh7 Kg6 47.Rh8 g4 48.Rg8+ Kf7 49.Rh8 Kg7 50.Rb8 h5 51.Rb1 h4 52.gxh4 Kf6 53.h5 Ra3+ 54.Kxd4 Rh3 55.Nf1 Rf3 56.Ne3 Rxf4+ 57.Kc5 Rf2 58.Rb6 Be4 59.h6 Rxh2 60.Kd4 Rd2+ 61.Kc4 Rh2 62.Kd4 Bf3 63.Rb8 Rxh6 64.Rf8+ Ke7 65.Rc8 Kf6 66.Rf8+ Kg5 67.Ke5 g3 68.Rg8+ Rg6 69.Rc8 g2 70.Rc1 f4 71.Nc2 Kg4 72.Nd4 Bd5 73.Nc2 Kg3 74.Nd4 f3 0-1

________

Alexander Riazantsev was born in Moscow in 1985. He is a grandmaster who won the Russian Chess Championship and the European Rapid Chess Championship in 2016. He is one of the coaches of the Russian women’s national chess team.

[Wayne Komer]

Play For Russia 2020

May 13, 2020

Rounds Eight to Fourteen

The second half of the Play For Russia charity tournament in aid of the doctors took place on Lichess.org on May 13.

Having scored 10.5 points out of 14, Vladimir Kramnik became the winner the round-robin event. The 14th world champion won five games out of seven on the second match day. Peter Svidler finished on the second place with 9 points. Evgeny Tomashevsky and Alexander Grischuk scored 8 points each.

Results

Round Eight

Riazantsev-Kramnik 0-1
Inarkiev-Nepo 1-0
Tomashevsky-Karjakin 0-1
Svidler-Grischuk 1-0

Round Nine

Svidler-Riazantsev 1-0
Grischuk-Tomashevsky 0.5-0.5
Karjakin-Inarkiev 1-0
Nepo-Kramnik 0-1

Round Ten

Riazantsev-Nepo 0-1
Kramnik-Karjakin 1-0
Inarkiev-Grischuk 0.5-0.5
Tomashevsky-Svidler 0.5-0.5

Round Eleven

Tomashevsky-Riazantsev 1-0
Svidler-Inarkiev 1-0
Grischuk-Kramnik 0-1
Karjakin-Nepo 1-0

Round Twelve

Riazantsev-Karjakin 0.5-05
Nepo-Grischuk 0.5-0.5
Kramnik-Svidler 0.5-0.5
Inarkiev-Tomashevsky 0.5-0.5

Round Thirteen

Inarkiev-Riazantsev 1-0
Tomashevsky-Kramnik 1-0
Svidler-Nepo 1-0
Grischuk-Karjakin 0-1

Round Fourteen

Riazantsev-Grischuk 0-1
Karjakin-Svidler 0-1
Nepo-Tomashevsky 0.5-0.5
Kramnik-Inarkiev 1-0

Final Standings

1 Kramnik 10.5
2 Svidler 9
3-4 Tomashevsky, Grischuk 8
5 Karjakin 7.5
6 Inarkiev 5.5
7 Nepo 5
8 Riazantsev 2.5

Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, Evgeny Tomashevsky, and Alexander Grischuk will determine the winner in the playoff on May 14. A higher-placed player chooses the colour.

Semifinal matches:

Vladimir Kramnik - Alexander Grischuk (Start at 3 PM Moscow time)

Peter Svidler - Evgeny Tomashevsky (Start at 3:45 PM Moscow time)

There will be two games in the semifinal matches and four games in the final. In case of an equal score, the Armageddon games will be played to determine the winner with White having 4 minutes and Black having 3 minutes with a 2-second increment after move 61. If the game is drawn, Black is announced the winner.

Selected Games

Round 8, May 13
Svidler, Peter – Grischuk, Alexander
B31 Sicilian, Nimzowitsch-Rossolimo Attack

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 g6 4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 Bg7 6.h3 h6 7.a3 Qc7 8.Nc3 Nf6 9.Be3 b6 10.Qd2 e5 11.b4 Nd7 12.bxc5 f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.O-O f4 15.Bxf4 exf4 16.Rfe1+ Kf7 17.d4 Rd8 18.Qd3 Nxc5 19.Qe2 Ba6 20.Qd2 Ne6 21.Re4 Re8 22.Rae1 Ng5 23.Ne5+ Kg8 24.Rxf4 Rf8 25.h4 Rxf4 26.Qxf4 Nf7 27.Qg3 Nxe5 28.dxe5 Rf8 29.f4 Bc8 30.Ne4 Bf5 31.Nd6 Qd7 32.c4 Qe6 33.Qf3 c5 34.Qd5 Kh8 35.g3 Bg4 36.Qxe6 Bxe6 37.Kf2 h5 38.Kf3 Kh7 39.Ke4 Kg6 40.Rf1 Bh3 41.f5+ Kh7 42.Rf2 Bh6 43.e6 Rg8 44.e7 Rxg3 45.Re2 Bg2+ 46.Ke5 Bg7+ 47.f6 Bxf6+ 48.Kxf6 Rg6+ 49.Ke5 Bc6 50.e8=Q Bxe8 51.Nxe8 Kh6 52.Kd5 Rg4 53.Re6+ 1-0

Round 10, May 13
Inarkiev, Ernesto – Grischuk, Alexander
A40 Queen’s Pawn game

1.d4 e6 2.Nf3 c5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bd3 d5 5.O-O c4 6.Be2 b5 7.b3 Bb7 8.a4 a6 9.c3 Nc6 10.Ba3 Be7 11.Bxe7 Nxe7 12.Na3 Bc6 13.Ne5 Rb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.Nc2 O-O 16.Nb4 Bb7 17.Qc2 Ne4 18.bxc4 bxc4 19.Ra7 Nd6 20.Rfa1 f6 21.Nf3 Qb6 22.Nd2 Ra8 23.Rxa8 Rxa8 24.Rxa8+ Bxa8 25.e4 Qa5 26.Qb2 Kf7 27.exd5 exd5 28.Bf3 Bb7 29.g3 Bc8 30.Nf1 Be6 31.Ne3 g6 32.h4 Ndf5 33.Ng2 Ng7 34.Nf4 h6 35.Qb1 Qd8 36.h5 g5 37.Nxe6 Kxe6 38.Qh7 Ngf5 39.Bg4 Qf8 40.Nxd5 Kxd5 41.Bxf5 Kd6 42.Be4 f5 43.Bg2 Qf6 44.Kh2 g4 45.f3 Ke6 46.f4 Kd6 47.Kh1 Ke6 48.Kh2 Kd6 49.Bf1 Kd5 50.Bg2+ Kd6 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 50….Kd6



Grischuk saves himself with an amazing fortress – White’s queen has no moves!

Round 11, May 13
Grischuk, Alexander – Kramnik, Vladimir
A06 Reti, Old Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.d3 Nf6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.O-O O-O 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 Bg4 9.h3 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Rfd8 12.Be3 Nd7 13.Nd5 Rac8 14.c3 e6 15.Nf4 Nb6 16.Rxd8+ Rxd8 17.Rd1 Rxd1+ 18.Bxd1 Nc4 19.Bc1 Bh6 20.Be2 Nd6 21.f3 e5 22.Nd3 Bxc1 23.Nxc1 f5 24.exf5 gxf5 25.Kf2 Kf7 26.Nb3 b6 27.Nd2 Ne7 28.f4 exf4 29.gxf4 Nd5 30.Kf3 Ke6 31.Bd1 Kf6 32.Bb3 Ne7 33.Nf1 Ne4 34.Bc2 Nc5 35.Ne3 c6 36.Nc4 Nb7 37.Ne5 c5 38.Nd7+ Kg7 39.a3 Nd6 40.Ne5 Ng6 41.Nc6 a5 42.Bd3 Kf6 43.b4 cxb4 44.cxb4 axb4 45.Nxb4 Ne7 46.Ke3 Ke6 47.Kd4 Nb7 48.Nd5 Nc6+ 49.Kc4 Nd6+ 0-1

Position after Black’s 47….Nb7



6 wins in a row now for Kramnik, after Grischuk blunders with 48.Nd5

Round 13, May 13
Grischuk, Alexander – Karjakin, Sergey
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.exd4 Qb6 7.Nb3 Bg4 8.Be2 e6 9.O-O Be7 10.a4 a6 11.a5 Qd8 12.Ne5 Bxe2 13.Qxe2 O-O 14.Rfd1 Rc8 15.c3 Ne4 16.Nd3 Bg5 17.Bxg5 Qxg5 18.Nbc5 Nxc5 19.Nxc5 Qe7 20.b4 Rfe8 21.Rd3 Na7 22.Re1 Nb5 23.Rh3 Nd6 24.Qh5 h6 25.Rg3 Nf5 26.Rf3 g6 27.Qg4 Kg7 28.Qf4 Qc7 29.Qd2 h5 30.g3 Ra8 31.h3 Rac8 32.Qg5 Nd6 33.Qf6+ Kh7 34.g4 Qe7 35.Qf4 Rg8 36.Kf1 Rg7 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.Re5 Kg8 39.Rxh5 Nf5 40.Qd2 Qf6 41.Qf4 Qg6 42.Qg4 Qf6 43.Rhxf5 exf5 44.Qxf5 Qc6 45.Re3 Re8 46.Rxe8+ Qxe8 47.Qxd5 Rg6 48.Nxb7 Qa4 49.Qf3 Qa1+ 50.Ke2 Qb2+ 51.Kd3 Qb1+ 52.Kc4 Qa2+ 53.Kc5 Qe6 54.Qd5 Qc8+ 0-1

Position after Black’s 53…Qe6



Grischuk had a won position vs. Karjakin but blundered into mate in the end. Made it into the final with a last round win over Riazantsev.

Chat Comments

- big diff btw yesterday and today ! Sasha was leading today was bad day for him , Peter the contrary , only Kramnik did well both days !

- Big Vlad proves form is temporary class is permanent.

- Very strong play by Tomashevsky too... Semifinals will be thrilling

- The whole Charity Event idea is wonderful. Russia is suffering at the moment more than many other countries because of Covid-19. Great stuff from the players and the organizers

- Thanks Fiona and Evgeny for the commentary!

[Wayne Komer]

Play For Russia 2020

May 14, 2020

Semifinal Matches

The Play For Russia charity tournament in aid of the doctors finished on Lichess.org on May 14. Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Svidler, Evgeny Tomashevsky, and Alexander Grischuk were determining the winner in the playoff.

Vladimir Kramnik started his semifinal match against Alexander Grischuk with a win as Black but his opponent managed to fight back in the second game. Then Alexander Grischuk outplayed his rival in the Armageddon game with the white pieces. In the second semi-final, Evgeny Tomashevsky beat Peter Svidler 1.5-0.5.

Semifinals, May 14
Round 1, 5+2
Grischuk, Alexander – Kramnik, Vladimir
A97 Reti, King’s Indian Attack

1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O e5 5.d3 Nc6 6.c3 Nge7 7.e4 O-O 8.b4 dxe4 9.dxe4 Qxd1 10.Rxd1 Be6 11.Bb2 Rfd8 12.Nbd2 f6 13.Bf1 Nc8 14.a3 Nb6 15.Rab1 a5 16.Rdc1 Bh6 17.Rc2 Rd7 18.Bc1 Rad8 19.Kg2 Kg7 20.Be2 axb4 21.axb4 Ra8 22.Nb3 Bxb3 23.Bxh6+ Kxh6 24.Rxb3 Nd8 25.Rbb2 Ne6 26.Ra2 Rdd8 27.Nd2 c5 28.Bg4 Nc7 29.bxc5 Na4 30.Nb3 Nb5 31.Rd2 Nbxc3 32.f3 Nxa2 33.Rxa2 Nc3 34.Rc2 Nd1 35.Rc1 Ra3 36.Be6 Ra2+ 37.Kg1 Re2 38.Bd5 Re1+ 39.Kg2 Ne3+ 40.Kf2 Rxc1 41.Kxe3 Rxd5 42.exd5 Rc3+ 43.Kd2 Rxb3 44.d6 Ra3 0-1

Semifinals, May 14
Round 2, 5+2
Kramnik, Vladimir – Grischuk, Alexander
A46 Queen’s Pawn

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.g3 Nbd7 4.Bg2 e5 5.c4 c6 6.O-O e4 7.Nfd2 d5 8.Nc3 Be7 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f3 exf3 11.Nxf3 O-O 12.Ne5 Nb6 13.a4 a5 14.Qb3 Be6 15.Bf4 Rc8 16.Rac1 h6 17.Qb5 g5 18.Be3 Nc4 19.Nxc4 Rxc4 20.Qxb7 Rb4 21.Qa7 Rxb2 22.Rb1 Rxb1 23.Rxb1 Bb4 24.Bd2 Re8 25.Rf1 Kg7 26.Qa6 Bg4 27.e3 Re6 28.Qd3 Bh5 29.Nb5 Bg6 30.Qe2 Qe7 31.Re1 Ne4 32.Bxb4 Qxb4 33.Nc7 Rc6 34.Nxd5 Qxa4 35.Rf1 Rc2 36.Qf3 g4 37.Qf4 Rxg2+ 38.Kxg2 Qa2+ 39.Kg1 Qxd5 40.Qe5+ Qxe5 41.dxe5 Nc3 42.Kf2 Bd3 43.Ra1 a4 44.Ke1 Bb5 45.Kd2 Ne4+ 46.Kc2 Ng5 47.Rb1 Bd7 48.Rb7 Be6 49.Kb2 Nf3 50.Ka3 Nxh2 51.Rb1 Bb3 52.Rc1 Nf3 53.e6 fxe6 54.Kb4 Kg6 55.Rc3 h5 56.Kc5 Kf6 57.Rc1 Ke5 58.Rh1 h4 59.gxh4 g3 60.h5 g2 61.Rc1 g1=Q 0-1

Final Position



Semifinals, May 14
Round 3, Armageddon
Grischuk, Alexander – Kramnik, Vladimir
D35 QGD, Exchange (Tartakower System)

1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 h6 7.Bh4 O-O 8.Bd3 Re8 9.Nge2 b6 10.O-O Bb7 11.Qc2 Nbd7 12.Rad1 c6 13.a3 Nf8 14.b4 Ne6 15.Qb2 Rc8 16.a4 Rc7 17.a5 Rd7 18.Ra1 Bd6 19.Bg3 Ng5 20.Rfc1 Nh5 21.Bxd6 Rxd6 22.axb6 axb6 23.Ra7 Qb8 24.Rca1 Nf6 25.h3 Rdd8 26.Qd2 Bc8 27.Nf4 Ne6 28.Nce2 Nxf4 29.Nxf4 Qd6 30.Qc3 Ne4 31.Bxe4 Rxe4 32.Rc1 Bd7 33.b5 Rc8 34.Qb3 g5 35.Nh5 Re6 36.Ng3 Rf6 37.bxc6 Rxc6 38.Rxc6 Qxc6 39.Qa3 Qd6 40.Nh5 1-0

Semifinals, May 14
Round 1, 5+2
Tomashevsky, Evgeny- Svidler, Peter
A20 English, Kingside Fianchetto

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 4.Nc3 c6 5.e3 O-O 6.Nge2 d5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Nxd5 cxd5 9.d4 exd4 10.Nxd4 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.O-O Bf5 13.Bd2 Qb6 14.Rc1 Be7 15.Bc3 Rfd8 16.Qa4 a5 17.Rfd1 Be6 18.Rd2 Bf8 19.h4 h6 20.Rcd1 Bb4 21.Qc2 Qc5 22.Rc1 Rdc8 23.e4 Bxc3 24.Qxc3 Qxc3 25.Rxc3 Rab8 26.b3 Kf8 27.Rc5 a4 28.bxa4 dxe4 29.Bxe4 Rb4 30.Bxc6 Rxa4 31.Bxa4 Rxc5 32.Bb3 Bxb3 33.axb3 Rc1+ 34.Kg2 Rb1 35.Rd3 Ke7 36.Kf3 Kf6 37.Kf4 g5+ 38.hxg5+ hxg5+ 39.Ke4 Rb2 40.f3 Ke6 41.g4 f6 42.Re3 Rb1 43.Kd4+ Kd6 44.Kc4 Rc1+ 45.Rc3 Rb1 46.b4 Ke5 47.Kc5 f5 48.gxf5 Kxf5 49.b5 Ke6 50.Kc6 1-0

Semifinals, May 14
Round 2, 5+2
Svidler, Peter – Tomashevsky, Evgeny
A01 Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, Classical variation

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bf5 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.c4 Be7 6.Be2 h6 7.O-O O-O 8.Nc3 c6 9.Rc1 a6 10.Ne5 Nbd7 11.f4 Nxe5 12.fxe5 Ne4 13.Nxe4 Bxe4 14.c5 Bg6 15.Bd4 Kh7 16.Bg4 Qd7 17.Qf3 f5 18.exf6 Bxf6 19.Qg3 Bf5 20.Bh5 Bxd4 21.exd4 Rf6 22.Rf2 Raf8 23.Rcf1 Qd8 24.b4 Be4 25.Qd6 Rxf2 26.Rxf2 Qxd6 27.cxd6 Rd8 28.Rf7 b5 29.Rc7 Rxd6 30.Be8 e5 31.dxe5 Re6 32.Bxc6 Rxe5 33.d4 Rg5 34.g3 Rf5 35.Bb7 Rf3 36.Bxa6 Ra3 37.Bxb5 Rxa2 38.Bc6 Rb2 39.b5 Kg6 40.Rb7 Kg5 41.Rxg7+ Kf6 42.Rb7 Kf5 43.b6 Kg4 44.Bd7+ Kf3 45.Bh3 Ke3 46.Bf1 Rb1 47.Rb8 Kxd4 48.Kf2 Rb2+ 49.Be2 Bd3 50.Re8 Rxb6 51.Bxd3 Kxd3 52.Re3+ 1/2-1/2

Grischuk meets Tomashevsky in the final

Final

The final match saw only three games instead of four. Alexander Grischuk pulled out a victory in a dramatic fight in the first game and followed up his success winning the second encounter. Evgeny Tomashevsky had some chances to come back in the third one but lost on time.

Final, May 14
Round 1, 5+2
Tomashevsky, Evgeny – Grischuk, Alexander
E90 King’s Indian

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.d4 O-O 6.h3 e5 7.d5 a5 8.g4 Na6 9.Be3 Nc5 10.Nd2 c6 11.Be2 a4 12.Qc2 Qa5 13.a3 Bd7 14.Kf1 cxd5 15.cxd5 b5 16.Kg2 Rac8 17.f3 Ne8 18.Rhc1 f5 19.b4 axb3 20.Nxb3 Nxb3 21.Qxb3 Nf6 22.Qb4 Qd8 23.Nxb5 Rb8 24.a4 h5 25.exf5 gxf5 26.g5 Nxd5 27.Bc4 Be6 28.Bxd5 Bxd5 29.Rd1 f4 30.Rxd5 Qxg5+ 31.Kh2 Qg3+ 32.Kh1 Qxf3+ 33.Kh2 Qg3+ 34.Kh1 Qxh3+ 35.Kg1 Qxe3+ 0-1

(to be continued)

[Wayne Komer]

Play For Russia 2020

May 14, 2020

Final (continued)

Final, May 14
Round 2, 5+2
Grischuk, Alexander – Tomashevsky, Evgeny
D02 Queen’s Bishop game

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 e6 5.Nbd2 Qb6 6.Rb1 cxd4 7.exd4 Bd7 8.Be2 Bb5 9.c3 Bxe2 10.Qxe2 Nc6 11.O-O Be7 12.Ne5 O-O 13.Bg5 Rfe8 14.f4 Rac8 15.Kh1 Qa6 16.Qxa6 bxa6 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nb3 Be7 19.Nxc6 Rxc6 20.Nc1 a5 21.a4 Bd6 22.Nd3 g6 23.g4 Kg7 24.Kg2 Rc4 25.Ra1 Rh8 26.f5 exf5 27.gxf5 Re8 28.Rfe1 Rxe1 29.Nxe1 Kf6 30.Nc2 Bf4 31.fxg6 fxg6 32.h4 Rc8 33.Kf3 Kf5 34.Re1 Rb8 35.Ne3+ Bxe3 36.Rxe3 Kf6 37.Re5 Rd8 38.Ke3 h6 39.b3 g5 40.hxg5+ hxg5 41.c4 Rb8 42.Rxd5 Rxb3+ 43.Ke4 Rb4 44.Rd6+ Ke7 45.c5 g4 46.Rg6 Rxa4 47.Kd5 Ra1 48.Rxg4 a4 49.Rg7+ Kd8 50.Rxa7 Kc8 51.Kc6 Kb8 52.Ra5 1-0

Final Position



Mate in 14 moves for White after either 52…Rh1 or Rf1

Final, May 14
Round 3, 5+2
Tomashevsky, Evgeny – Grischuk, Alexander
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 Nb6 9.a3 a5 10.Bd2 a4 11.Ne4 Be7 12.Rc1 f6 13.b4 axb3 14.Qxb3+ Kh8 15.Bb4 Re8 16.Rfd1 Be6 17.Qb1 Bd5 18.e3 Nxb4 19.axb4 Bd6 20.Nc5 Qe7 21.Nd2 Bxg2 22.Kxg2 Ra7 23.Ndb3 Nd7 24.d4 Bxc5 25.Nxc5 Nxc5 26.dxc5 Raa8 27.Qe4 b6 28.cxb6 cxb6 29.Rc6 Rab8 30.b5 Red8 31.Rxd8+ Qxd8 32.h4 h6 33.h5 Rc8 34.Qc4 Rb8 35.Qf7 Qd3 36.Qg6 Qd5+ 37.e4 Qxb5 38.Rc7 Rg8 39.Rb7 Qe8 0-1

White lost on time

Position after 37…Qxb5



Having got such a convincing victory in the final match, Alexander Grischuk became the winner of the Play For Russia charity tournament in aid of the doctors.

Alexander Grischuk: "All three final games turned out to be very complex. Evgeny had an advantage both in the first and third games, and the second one was more or less equal. I was lucky to win. But the most important thing that his event took place in general. The struggle was very exciting in all its stages. I'd like to thank the participants, everyone involved, everybody who gave donations and, of course, Vladimir Kramnik as he was the main initiator of the event".

24,670,000 rubles have come as donations by the end of the event. The prize pool will be shared among regional hospitals and health workers fighting the COVID-19 epidemic. The participants determined beforehand the amount and recipients of the donation, depending on the needs of a particular health institution. Protective gear and medical supplies will be delivered to 13 institutions in 10 regions of Russia.
__________

24,670,000 rubles at today’s exchange rate is $469,690 Canadian.

There were technical glitches in the broadcast today but Fiona finally got to interview Alexander at the end and she wished him all the best in the Steinitz Memorial he is playing in, starting tomorrow. He is second-ranked behind Magnus Carlsen and ahead of Bu, Svidler and Xiong.

Sasha reminded her that he is playing in two tournaments tomorrow, the Steinitz Memorial and as a member of the Canadian Chessbrahs in the 2020 Pro Chess League. I believe other members of his team are: Anish Giri, Alireza Firouzja, Robin van Kampen, Ivan Saric, Evgeny Bareev, Aryan Tari, Eric Hansen and Nikolay Noritsyn.

It is hard to keep track of all the chess activity going on online!