Superbet Chess Classic 2021

**Wayne Komer** · Saturday, 5th June, 2021, 01:02 PM

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 5, 2021

Round One

The commentators are Yasser Seirawan, Alejandro Ramirez and Maurice Ashley.

Round 1, June 5
Radjabov, Teimour – Caruana, Fabiano
D38 QGD, Ragozin, Marshall variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bxf6 Qxf6 7.e3 O-O 8.Rc1 dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5 10.O-O cxd4 11.Nxd4 Bd7 12.Qb3 Nc6 13.Nxc6 Bxc3 14.Rxc3 Bxc6 15.Bb5 Bd5 16.Bc4 Bc6 17.Bb5 Bd5 18.Bc4 Bc6 1/2-1/2

Round 1, June 5
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – So, Wesley
D27 QGA, Classical

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 dxc4 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4 a6 6.O-O c5 7.dxc5 Bxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Be2 Ke7 10.Rd1 Nbd7 11.Nd4 Ne5 12.b3 Bd7 13.Bb2 Nc6 14.Nxc6+ Bxc6 15.Rc1 Bb4 16.Na3 Nd7 17.Nc4 Bd5 18.a3 Bc5 19.b4 Ba7 20.Na5 Rhc8 21.Bd3 f5 22.Bc4 Bxc4 23.Nxc4 b5 24.Na5 g6 25.Kf1 Bb6 26.Nb3 e5 27.Ke2 Rxc1 28.Rxc1 Ra7 29.e4 Rc7 30.Rxc7 Bxc7 31.f3 Ke6 32.Bc1 f4 33.g3 g5 34.g4 Bb6 35.h3 Kd6 36.Kd3 Bf2 37.Ke2 Bb6 38.Kd3 Bg1 39.Bb2 Nb6 40.Na5 Na4 41.Ba1 Bb6 42.Nb3 Be3 43.Bc3 Bb6 44.Ba1 Be3 45.Bc3 Bb6 46.Ba1 Be3 1/2-1/2

Round 1, June 5
Grischuk, Alexander – MVL
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.Bd2 Qxa2 12.O-O Bg4 13.Rxb7 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxd4 15.e5 Na6 16.Rxe7 Rad8 17.e6 fxe6 18.Qe1 Bf6 19.Rxa7 Rxd2 20.Rxa6 Qxa6 21.Qxd2 Qb6 22.g3 Bd4 23.Qe2 Rf6 24.Kg2 Qb2 25.Qxb2 Bxb2 26.Rd1 Kg7 27.Rd8 Rf8 28.Rd6 Kf6 29.h4 Re8 30.Be2 Be5 31.Rc6 Rd8 32.f4 Bd6 33.Bg4 e5 34.fxe5+ Kxe5 35.Rc8 Rxc8 36.Bxc8 Kf6 37.g4 g5 38.hxg5+ Kxg5 39.Kf3 h5 40.gxh5 Kxh5 41.Ke4 Bf4 42.Bd7 Kh4 43.Bh3 Kxh3 44.Kxf4 1/2-1/2

Round 1, June 5
Lupulescu, Constantin – Aronian, Levon
E39 Nimzo-Indian, Classical (without a3)

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 O-O 6.Nf3 Na6 7.g3 Nxc5 8.Bg2 Nce4 9.O-O Nxc3 10.bxc3 Be7 11.e4 d6 12.e5 dxe5 13.Nxe5 Qc7 14.Qe2 Nd7 15.Bf4 Nxe5 16.Bxe5 Bd6 17.Bxd6 Qxd6 18.Qe3 Qc7 19.Rfb1 Qxc4 20.Bxb7 Bxb7 21.Rxb7 h6 22.Rxa7 Rxa7 23.Qxa7 Qxc3 24.Rb1 Qc2 25.Rb8 Qd1+ 26.Kg2 Qd5+ 27.Kg1 Qd1+ 28.Kg2 Qd5+ 29.Kg1 Qd1+ 1/2-1/2

Round 1, June 5
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel (2627) – Giri, Anish (2780)
D43 QGD, Semi-Slav

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.Qc2 Nh5 11.Rd1 Nxg3 12.hxg3 Na6 13.a3 Bg7 14.e5 Qe7 15.Ne4 O-O-O 16.Nd6+ Rxd6 17.exd6 Qxd6 18.O-O g4 19.Ne5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Qxe5 21.Bxg4 h5 22.Rfe1 Qf6 23.Bf3 h4 24.b3 cxb3 25.Qxb3 hxg3 26.fxg3 Qg7 27.Qd3 Nc7 28.Qd6 c5 29.Qd7+ Kb8 30.Bxb7 Kxb7 31.Rxe6 Qxg3 32.Qc6+ Kb8 33.Qd6 Qxd6 34.Rexd6 Kb7 35.Rf6 Rh7 36.Rd7 b4 37.axb4 cxb4 38.Kf2 a5 39.Ke2 Rg7 40.Rfxf7 Rxg2+ 41.Kd1 Rg1+ 42.Kc2 Rg2+ 43.Kb1 Rg1+ 44.Kb2 Rg2+ 45.Kb1 Rg1+ 46.Kb2 Rg2+ 47.Kb1 Rg1+ 1/2-1/2

Position after Black’s 28….c5

What is White’s winning move from this position?

It's seems it's gone wrong for Giri with 23...h4!? and 24.b3! Can late replacement Bogdan-Daniel Deac claim a huge scalp?

If Deac finds 29.Re5! Qxg3 and now 30.Rh5! he should simply be winning!

But Deac plays 29.Qd7+?! instead and Giri is right back in the game!

29.Re5 Bd5 30.Bxd5 Nxd5 31.Qxc5+ Kb8 32.Qd6+ Ka8 33.Qc6+ Kb8 34.Rdxd5 exd5 is a possible line

Standings after Round One

Everyone is tied for first, each with a draw.

**Hans Jung** · Saturday, 5th June, 2021, 07:01 PM

It seems you can never study enough tactics. 29.Re5 is a very useful move threatening Rxc5 so it should be easy to find. Also its a double threat and on Qg3 a discovery. It becomes stronger (more attractive) when you look for useful black moves and discover there arent many.

**Wayne Komer** · Sunday, 6th June, 2021, 01:56 PM

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 6, 2021

Round Two

Yasser Seirawan, Alejandro Ramirez and Maurice Ashely in St. Louis and Cristian Chirila and Almira Skripchenko in Bucharest.

Round 2, June 6
Caruana, Fabiano – Lupulescu, Constantin
C11 French, Burn variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nbd7 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bxf6 Nxf6 8.Bd3 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 c5 10.Qe2 Qa5+ 11.c3 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Be7 13.O-O-O O-O 14.Kb1 Rd8 15.Bc2 Bd7 16.Qe4 g6 17.h4 Ba4 18.Bxa4 Qxa4 19.h5 g5 20.Qxb7 Bc5 21.Qc6 Qxc6 22.Nxc6 Rxd1+ 23.Rxd1 Bxf2 24.Rd7 f6 25.Nd8 Bb6 26.Nf7 Rf8 27.Nxh6+ Kh8 28.Kc2 1-0

Round 2, June 6
So, Wesley – Aronian, Levon
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.Qc2 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.O-O-O Qe7 13.Kb1 Be6 14.Bxe6 Qxe6 15.f3 Rad8 16.e4 Rd7 17.Bc1 Rfd8 18.Rxd7 Qxd7 19.Ne2 c6 20.Be3 Bc7 21.Rc1 Bb6 22.Bg5 Qe6 23.Qb3 h6 24.Qxe6 fxe6 25.Bf4 Nh5 26.Be5 Rd2 27.Rc2 Rd1+ 28.Rc1 Rd2 29.Rc2 Rd1+ 30.Rc1 Rd2 1/2-1/2

Round 2, June 6
Giri, Anish – Radjabov, Teimour
E05 Catalan, open, Classical line

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O dxc4 7.Qc2 a6 8.a4 Bd7 9.Qxc4 Bc6 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Nc3 Nbd7 12.Rfd1 Bxf4 13.gxf4 Nb6 14.Qd3 a5 15.Ne5 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Nbd5 17.Qf3 c6 18.e3 Qe7 19.h3 Nd7 20.Nxd7 Qxd7 21.Ne4 Qe7 22.Kh2 b6 23.Rac1 Rac8 24.Rc4 Rc7 25.Rdc1 Rfc8 26.b3 Qa3 27.Qd1 Qe7 28.Qf3 Qa3 29.Qd1 Qe7 30.Qf3 1/2-1/2

Round 2, June 6
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Grischuk, Alexander
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.Be3 Bxc3 11.bxc3 d6 12.c5 d5 13.exd5 Nxd5 14.Re1 Nxe3 15.Rxe3 Qd5 16.Bc2 Qxc5 17.Qh5 g6 18.Qxe5 Qxe5 19.Rxe5 a5 20.Rc5 Be6 21.a4 Rfc8 22.Be4 Bd5 23.Bxd5 cxd5 24.Rxd5 Rxc3 25.g3 Rc4 26.Kg2 Kg7 27.Kg1 Kg8 28.Kg2 Kg7 29.Kg1 Kg8 30.Kg2 Kg7 31.Kg1 1/2-1/2

Round 2, June 6
MVL – Deac, Bogdan-Daniel
C83 Ruy Lopez, open, Classical

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Be7 10.c3 O-O 11.Bc2 f5 12.exf6 Nxf6 13.a4 b4 14.Re1 Bg4 15.Nf1 Bc5 16.Be3 d4 17.cxd4 Nxd4 18.Bxd4 Bxf3 19.Qxf3 Qxd4 20.Rad1 Qxb2 21.Re2 Qc3 22.Rd3 Qa1 23.Rd1 Qc3 24.Rd3 Qa1 25.g4 b3 26.Bxb3+ Kh8 27.g5 Ng8 28.Qd5 Bd6 29.Rh3 g6 30.Qd3 Rf5 31.Qc3+ Qxc3 32.Rxc3 Rxg5+ 33.Ng3 Nf6 34.Kf1 Rb8 35.h3 Re5 36.Bc4 Rc5 37.Rcc2 Ra5 38.Ne4 Nxe4 39.Rxe4 Rxa4 40.h4 Kg7 41.h5 gxh5 42.Re1 Rbb4 43.Be2 Rh4 44.Bf3 a5 0-1

Position after Black’s 24…Qa1

Here MVL played 25.g4 which the commentators thought was a brilliant way of pressing his advantage. But, Deac found an equally impressive defence with 25…b3. MVL started to lose confidence and eventually blundered with 30.Qd3 and lost the game.

Standings after Round Two

1-2 Caruana, Deac 1.5
3-8 Aronian, Giri, Grischuk, So, Mamedyarov, Radjabov 0.5
9-10 MVL, Lupulescu 0.5

The majority of players don’t seem to have come to play. There are no 5 hour games. It’s a pity that the young guns Rapport and Firouzja couldn’t be here.

Bogdan-Daniel Deac was born in October of 2001 and is 19 years old. He became the world's youngest International Master (2014) when he gained the title at the age of 12 years 10 months and 15 days. He then became the world's youngest Grandmaster when he gained the title in June 2016 at the age of 14 years 7 years and 27 days.

Almira Skripchenko is a Moldovan-French chess player who holds the titles of International Master and Woman Grandmaster. She won the European Women's Individual Chess Championship in 2001, and is a six-time French Women's Chess Champion.

Cristian Chirilă (born 6 January 1991) is a Romanian chess player. He was awarded the title of Grandmaster by FIDE in 2009. Chirilă served as one of the seconds of Fabiano Caruana during the 2018 World Chess Championship match.

**Hans Jung** · Sunday, 6th June, 2021, 05:06 PM

Deac played a marvelous game. Timing is everything. Also it gives the home fans something to cheer about (and a win as Black to boot!). Cristian must be enjoying commentating in his home country. I have fond memories of my time with him.

**Wayne Komer** · Monday, 7th June, 2021, 01:51 PM

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 7, 2021

Round Three

Round 3, June 7
Aronian, Levon – Caruana, Fabiano
D26 QGA, Classical variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 a6 8.Ne5 Qc7 9.Nxc6 Qxc6 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 b5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bd5 Rb8 14.e4 Be7 15.a4 O-O 16.axb5 Rxb5 17.Ra3 Rb6 18.Rf3 Qe5 19.Bd2 Rg6 20.Bc3 Qc7 21.Rg3 Bb7 22.Rxg6 hxg6 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Qg4 c4 25.e5 Bb4 26.Bxb4 Qxb4 27.e6 Qxb2 28.Qxc4 Qf6 29.Qxa6 Qxe6 30.Qxe6 fxe6 31.Kh1 Kh8 32.Kg1 Kg8 33.Kh1 Kh8 34.Kg1 Kg8 1/2-1/2

It felt like Levon Aronian had a serious advantage for a while, but leader Fabiano Caruana holds a draw and again only the games with the Romanian players remain in progress

Round 3, June 7
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nd5 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.O-O Rb8 10.Na3 O-O 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qe8 14.Rfc1 Nd5 15.e4 Na5 16.Nxc7 Nxc4 17.Nxe8 Rfxe8 18.exd5 exd5 19.b3 Nd6 20.Ne5 Bb7 21.Nc6 Bxc6 22.Rxc6 Nb5 23.Bxd5 Re7 24.Bc4 Nxd4 25.Rd6 Nf3+ 26.Kg2 Ne1+ 27.Kf1 Nf3 28.h3 g5 29.Rad1 Ne5 30.R6d5 h6 31.Ba6 Kg7 32.Kg2 Rbe8 33.a4 Rc7 34.a5 Re6 35.Re1 Kf6 36.axb6 axb6 37.Re4 Rc3 38.Rb5 Nd7 39.Rxe6+ Kxe6 40.Rb4 Kd6 41.Bc4 f6 42.Rb5 Ke7 43.f4 Rc2+ 44.Kf3 Rc3+ 45.Kg2 Rc2+ 46.Kf3 Rc3+ 47.Kg2 Rc2+ 48.Kf3 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Grischuk, Alexander – So, Wesley
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 Be7 10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Nc3 h5 14.g5 f6 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Ne4 fxg5 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Ke7 19.Re1+ Kf6 20.Ne4+ Kf7 21.Ng5+ Kf6 22.Ne4+ Kf7 23.Ng5+ Kf6 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Radjabov, Teimour – MVL
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.Bd2 Qxa2 12.O-O Bg4 13.Rxb7 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxd4 15.e5 Na6 16.Rxe7 Rad8 17.e6 fxe6 18.Qe1 Nc5 19.Be3 Nd3 20.Bxd4 Nxe1 21.Rg7+ Kh8 22.Rd7+ Kg8 23.Rg7+ Kh8 24.Rd7+ Kg8 25.Rg7+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Lupulescu, Constantin – Giri, Anish
A28 English, Four Knights, Romanishin variation

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 Qe7 7.d4 Ne4 8.Qd3 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.Qd1 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 O-O 12.Be2 b6 13.O-O Bb7 14.f3 a5 15.Bd2 f5 16.Rad1 d6 17.b3 Rae8 18.Rf2 Rf6 19.Bd3 Qf7 20.Re2 Qh5 21.Be1 Be4 22.Bb1 Rg6 23.Bg3 Bxb1 24.Rxb1 Ne4 25.Rbe1 Nxg3 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.hxg3 Rxg3 28.e4 Qxf3 29.Qf7 Rg8 30.exf5 Qc6 31.Rf2 Qc5 32.Re7 Qd4 33.Re8 Rxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Qg4+ 35.Kh2 Qh4+ 36.Kg2 Qg4+ 37.Kf1 Qh3+ 38.Ke1 Qc3+ 39.Rd2 1-0

Position after Black’s 31…Qc5?

31...Qc5? and the computer says 32.Re7! now would be winning for Lupulescu!

And he's played it! Lupulescu has completely turned the tables in a game where earlier he was on the verge of defeat...

33.Re8! and it's mate-in-10 for Lupulescu vs. Giri!

And it's over! Romanian no. 1 Constantin Lupulescu takes down Anish Giri

I don’t think it is a question of the Romanian Chess Federation feeding their players raw meat. Their advantage is being off chess for a year and hungry to play and having home field.

Standings after Round Three

1-2 Caruana, Deac 2
3-8 Aronian, Grischuk, So, Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Lupulescu 1.5
9-10 Giri, MVL 1

**Hans Jung** · Monday, 7th June, 2021, 02:39 PM

Congratulations to Lupulescu for giving the local fans something extra to cheer about! Both Romanians are very much in the mix!

**Wayne Komer** · Tuesday, 8th June, 2021, 02:22 PM

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 8, 2021

Round Four

Round 4, June 8
Giri, Anish – Aronian, Levon
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.dxc5 Qxd1 8.Rxd1 Bxc5 9.Nbd2 c3 10.bxc3 O-O 11.Nb3 Be7 12.c4 Bd7 13.a4 Rad8 14.Bb2 Bc8 15.Nfd4 Nxd4 16.Bxd4 b6 17.a5 Nd7 18.axb6 axb6 19.Bc6 Bf6 20.Bb5 g5 21.f4 gxf4 22.gxf4 Bxd4+ 23.Rxd4 Nf6 24.Ra7 e5 25.fxe5 Ng4 26.Ra8 Rxd4 27.Nxd4 Nxe5 28.Rb8 Be6 29.Rxb6 Bxc4 30.Bxc4 Nxc4 31.Rc6 Ne5 32.Rb6 Nc4 33.Rc6 Ne5 34.Rb6 Nc4 1/2-1/2

Round 4, June 8
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Radjabov, Teimour
E60 King’s Indian

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 Bg7 4.g3 c5 5.Bg2 cxd4 6.Nxd4 O-O 7.Nc3 Qc7 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.cxd5 d6 10.O-O Qb6 11.Nb3 Qa6 12.Re1 Nd7 13.e4 Ne5 14.Bg5 Bg4 15.f3 Bd7 16.Bf1 Qb6+ 17.Be3 Qb4 18.Bd2 Qb6+ 19.Be3 Qb4 20.Bd2 Qb6+ 21.Be3 1/2-1/2

Round 4, June 8
MVL – Lupulescu, Constantin
C11 French, Steinitz, Boleslavsky variation

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Qb6 9.Qd2 Qxb2 10.Rb1 Qa3 11.Bb5 Nxd4 12.Bxd4 a6 13.Bxd7+ Bxd7 14.Rxb7 Bb4 15.O-O Bc8 16.Rb6 O-O 17.Rb1 Bc5 18.R6b3 Qa5 19.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 20.Qf2 Qxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Bd7 22.Ne2 Ba4 23.Rc3 Rfc8 24.Rxc8+ Rxc8 25.Nd4 g6 26.Ke3 Rc4 27.a3 Bxc2 28.Rc1 Bd3 29.Rxc4 Bxc4 30.g4 Kf8 31.Nc2 Bb3 32.Nb4 Bc4 33.g5 Kg7 34.Kd4 h5 35.Nc6 Bb5 36.Na5 Kf8 37.Kc5 Ke7 38.Nb3 Bc4 39.Nd4 Bd3 40.a4 Bf1 41.a5 Bd3 42.Kc6 Bc4 43.Kc5 Bd3 44.Kc6 Bc4 45.Kc5 Bd3 1/2-1/2

Lupulescu's fine start continues with a draw vs. MVL

Chirila: "How much risk were you willing to take in this game?"
MVL: "Well, not to the point of losing by force..."

Giri: "In this day and age, with people knowing so much theory the definition of 'risk' is changing to some extent. There are no more risky lines that nobody has studied, Trompowsky everybody knows, 1.b3 people also know, and if you play King's Gambit well it's an insane risk..."

Round 4, June 8
So, Wesley – Caruana, Fabiano
A20 English, Kingside Fianchetto

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bc5 4.d3 c6 5.Nf3 d6 6.O-O O-O 7.Nc3 a5 8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd4 a4 10.Rb1 Re8 11.e3 Qa5 12.Bd2 Bg4 13.f3 Bh5 14.Ne4 Qd8 15.Nxc5 dxc5 16.Ne2 Qd3 17.Nf4 Qxc4 18.b3 axb3 19.axb3 Qb5 20.e4 Bg6 21.Bc3 Na6 22.h4 h5 23.Qc1 Kh7 24.Rd1 Rad8 25.Qb2 c4 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Qxf6 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Qc5+ 29.Kh2 Qe7 30.Qxe7 Rxe7 31.bxc4 Kg7 32.Bh3 Nc5 33.Rd6 f6 34.Ne6+ Nxe6 35.Bxe6 Be8 36.c5 Bf7 37.Bc8 Re5 38.Bxb7 Rxc5 39.Rxc6 Rb5 40.Ba6 Rb2+ 41.Kg1 Be8 42.Rc5 Kh6 43.Kf1 Bd7 44.Be2 Be8 45.Kf2 Rb3 46.Rd5 Ra3 47.Bd3 Kg7 48.Ke3 Rb3 49.Kf4 Rb4 50.Rc5 Bf7 51.Rc7 Kg6 52.g4 1-0

Wesley So defeats former leader Fabiano Caruana in the first decisive game between the heavyweight stars of the #GrandChessTour!

Wesley So: "I'd like to thank the Lord Jesus because I don't think I'd capable of beating guys like Caruana personally"

Round 4, June 8
Grischuk, Alexander – Deac, Bogdan-Daniel
D41 QGD, Semi-Tarrasch

1.Nf3 d5 2.d4 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c5 5.cxd5 cxd4 6.Qxd4 exd5 7.Bg5 Be7 8.e3 O-O 9.Be2 Nc6 10.Qd3 h6 11.Bh4 Be6 12.O-O Qb6 13.a3 Rfd8 14.Rfd1 Ne4 15.Bxe7 Nxe7 16.Nd4 Nxc3 17.Qxc3 Rac8 18.Qd2 Nf5 19.Bf3 Rc4 20.Nxf5 Bxf5 21.Bxd5 Be6 22.e4 Bxd5 23.exd5 Qb5 24.h3 Rd6 25.b4 Rc7 26.Qf4 Rcd7 27.Rac1 Rxd5 28.Rxd5 Qxd5 29.Qb8+ Kh7 30.Qxa7 Qd2 31.Qc5 g6 32.Qc3 Qf4 33.Re1 Rd2 34.Qe3 Qd6 35.Qf3 Qc7 36.Qf6 Rd6 37.Qe7 Rd7 38.Qe5 Qd8 39.g3 b6 40.a4 Rd4 41.Re4 Rd1+ 42.Kh2 Qa8 43.b5 Rf1 44.Qd4 Qb7 45.Qe3 Ra1 46.Qd4 Rf1 47.Qe3 Ra1 48.g4 Rd1 49.Qf3 Rd4 50.Re3 Qc7+ 51.Qg3 Qd7 52.Qb8 Rxa4 53.Qxb6 Rf4 54.Kg3 g5 55.Rf3 Rb4 56.Qc6 Qe6 57.Kg2 Kg8 58.Qa8+ Kh7 59.Qf8 Rf4 60.Rxf4 gxf4 61.Qa8 h5 62.Qc6 1-0

Position after White’s 52.Qb8

Deac has 2 minutes (+ increment) for 17 moves vs. Grischuk!

Alexander Grischuk beats Bogdan-Daniel Deac in an intense game full of twists and turns in time trouble to join Wesley So in the lead!

Endgames are tough business: against Alexander Grischuk, Bogdan-Daniel Deac could have maintained the balance with 52...Qd5! (keeping the threat of ...Rd1 alive), instead of the losing 52...Rxa4.

Standings at the end of Round Four

1-2 So, Grischuk 2.5
3-8 Caruana, Lupulescu, Deac, Mamedyarov, Aronian, Radjabov 2
9-10 MVL, Giri 1.5

**Pargat Perrer** · Tuesday, 8th June, 2021, 04:57 PM

Originally posted by Wayne Komer View Post

Wesley So: "I'd like to thank the Lord Jesus because I don't think I'd capable of beating guys like Caruana personally"

Ah, this may be further proof of my theory that God created the entire Universe just to bring about this current age, where he can watch movies and TV shows and sports events to his heart's content. It was a 13.8 billion year wait, but it was worth every second.

Of course, there may be billions of other planets with life forms that are also producing such shows and sporting events. Perhaps God and Jesus even have friendly bets on sports outcomes. Jesus obviously favored So over Caruana for this one game.

**Hans Jung** · Tuesday, 8th June, 2021, 06:29 PM

Finally a well played endgame. Oh those Russians!

**Wayne Komer** · Wednesday, 9th June, 2021, 01:09 PM

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 9, 2021

Round Five

Round 5, June 9
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – So, Wesley
D24 QGA

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.e4 Bb4 6.Bxc4 Nxe4 7.O-O Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Ne5 O-O 10.Qg4 Nc6 11.Re1 f5 12.Qf3 Nxe5 13.Rxe5 Kh8 14.Bf4 Bd6 15.Re2 Bxf4 16.Qxf4 Qd6 17.Qxd6 cxd6 18.Bxe6 Re8 19.Rae1 Bxe6 20.Rxe6 Rxe6 21.Rxe6 Rc8 22.Rxd6 Kg8 23.h4 Rxc3 24.Rd8+ Kf7 25.Rd7+ Kf6 26.Rxb7 Ra3 27.d5 Rxa2 28.d6 Rd2 29.Rxa7 Rxd6 30.g3 h5 31.Kg2 Re6 32.Ra8 Rd6 33.Rf8+ Kg6 34.Re8 Kf6 35.Rf8+ Kg6 36.Re8 Kf6 37.Rf8+ 1/2-1/2

Round 5, June 9
Radjabov, Teimour – Grischuk, Alexander
D37 QGD, Hastings variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bf4 O-O 6.e3 Nbd7 7.c5 Nh5 8.Bd3 Nxf4 9.exf4 b6 10.b4 a5 11.a3 c6 12.O-O Ba6 13.Bxa6 Rxa6 14.Qe2 Qa8 15.b5 cxb5 16.Qxb5 Ra7 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.cxb6 Nc4 19.bxa7 Qxa7 20.f5 Qxd4 21.Qd7 Nd2 22.Qxe7 Nxf1 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.Qxe6+ Kh8 25.Rxf1 Qxc3 26.Qxd5 Qxa3 27.g3 Qb4 28.Ra1 a4 29.Qc6 Qb2 30.Qxa4 Qxf2+ 31.Kh1 Qf3+ 32.Kg1 Qf2+ 33.Kh1 Qf3+ 34.Kg1 Qe3+ 35.Kh1 Qf3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 5, June 9
Lupulescu, Constantin – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
A06 Reti Opening

1.Nf3 d5 2.e3 e6 3.c4 Be7 4.b3 Bf6 5.Nc3 Ne7 6.Bb2 c5 7.Qc2 Nbc6 8.Na4 b6 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.cxd5 Qxd5 11.Nc3 Qh5 12.Ne4 Qg6 13.Nh4 Qh6 14.Nd6+ Kf8 15.Nxc8 Rxc8 16.g3 Rd8 17.Be2 Kg7 18.a3 Rd6 19.f4 Rhd8 20.Rd1 f5 21.Nf3 Nd5 22.O-O Kg8 23.Rb1 a5 24.Bb5 Nce7 25.Rfd1 Nf6 26.Bf1 Ng4 27.h3 Nf6 28.d3 Nc6 29.Re1 Qg7 30.Qf2 Kh8 31.Kh2 Rg8 32.Be2 Nd5 33.Bf1 e5 34.fxe5 Rg6 35.Nh4 Rxg3 36.d4 Qg5 37.Ng2 cxd4 38.exd4 Nxd4 0-1

Position after Black’s 35…Rxg3

Shakhriyar Mamedyarov crashes through and will join Wesley So and Alexander Grischuk in the lead going into tomorrow's rest day!

A couple of slips by Lupulescu in time trouble, and Mamedyarov unleashed a crushing attack to join the leaders!

If Lupulescu had played 36.Nxf5, how would Mamedyarov have finished off the game? Black to play & win! (Hint: 36…Rf3)

Standings after Round Five

1-3 So, Grischuk, Mamedyarov 3
4-7 Deac, Caruana, Radjabov, Aronian 2.5
8-10 Lupulescu, MVL, Giri 2

No play tomorrow – rest day.

**Hans Jung** · Wednesday, 9th June, 2021, 01:58 PM

You cant miss tactics against the Shak. The end position is a horror show.

**Kerry Liles** · Wednesday, 9th June, 2021, 09:31 PM

Originally posted by Wayne Komer View Post

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 7, 2021

Round Three

Round 3, June 7
Aronian, Levon – Caruana, Fabiano
D26 QGA, Classical variation

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 Nf6 4.Bxc4 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.O-O Nc6 7.Nc3 a6 8.Ne5 Qc7 9.Nxc6 Qxc6 10.d5 exd5 11.Nxd5 b5 12.Nxf6+ Qxf6 13.Bd5 Rb8 14.e4 Be7 15.a4 O-O 16.axb5 Rxb5 17.Ra3 Rb6 18.Rf3 Qe5 19.Bd2 Rg6 20.Bc3 Qc7 21.Rg3 Bb7 22.Rxg6 hxg6 23.Bxb7 Qxb7 24.Qg4 c4 25.e5 Bb4 26.Bxb4 Qxb4 27.e6 Qxb2 28.Qxc4 Qf6 29.Qxa6 Qxe6 30.Qxe6 fxe6 31.Kh1 Kh8 32.Kg1 Kg8 33.Kh1 Kh8 34.Kg1 Kg8 1/2-1/2

It felt like Levon Aronian had a serious advantage for a while, but leader Fabiano Caruana holds a draw and again only the games with the Romanian players remain in progress

Round 3, June 7
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
E04 Catalan, open

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 dxc4 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.Qa4 Bb4+ 7.Bd2 Nd5 8.Bxb4 Nxb4 9.O-O Rb8 10.Na3 O-O 11.Qb5 b6 12.Qxc4 Ba6 13.Nb5 Qe8 14.Rfc1 Nd5 15.e4 Na5 16.Nxc7 Nxc4 17.Nxe8 Rfxe8 18.exd5 exd5 19.b3 Nd6 20.Ne5 Bb7 21.Nc6 Bxc6 22.Rxc6 Nb5 23.Bxd5 Re7 24.Bc4 Nxd4 25.Rd6 Nf3+ 26.Kg2 Ne1+ 27.Kf1 Nf3 28.h3 g5 29.Rad1 Ne5 30.R6d5 h6 31.Ba6 Kg7 32.Kg2 Rbe8 33.a4 Rc7 34.a5 Re6 35.Re1 Kf6 36.axb6 axb6 37.Re4 Rc3 38.Rb5 Nd7 39.Rxe6+ Kxe6 40.Rb4 Kd6 41.Bc4 f6 42.Rb5 Ke7 43.f4 Rc2+ 44.Kf3 Rc3+ 45.Kg2 Rc2+ 46.Kf3 Rc3+ 47.Kg2 Rc2+ 48.Kf3 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Grischuk, Alexander – So, Wesley
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 Be7 10.Rd1+ Ke8 11.g4 Nh4 12.Nxh4 Bxh4 13.Nc3 h5 14.g5 f6 15.exf6 gxf6 16.Ne4 fxg5 17.Bxg5 Bxg5 18.Nxg5 Ke7 19.Re1+ Kf6 20.Ne4+ Kf7 21.Ng5+ Kf6 22.Ne4+ Kf7 23.Ng5+ Kf6 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Radjabov, Teimour – MVL
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.Bd2 Qxa2 12.O-O Bg4 13.Rxb7 Bxf3 14.Bxf3 Bxd4 15.e5 Na6 16.Rxe7 Rad8 17.e6 fxe6 18.Qe1 Nc5 19.Be3 Nd3 20.Bxd4 Nxe1 21.Rg7+ Kh8 22.Rd7+ Kg8 23.Rg7+ Kh8 24.Rd7+ Kg8 25.Rg7+ 1/2-1/2

Round 3, June 7
Lupulescu, Constantin – Giri, Anish
A28 English, Four Knights, Romanishin variation

1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.e3 Bb4 5.Qc2 Bxc3 6.Qxc3 Qe7 7.d4 Ne4 8.Qd3 exd4 9.Nxd4 Nc5 10.Qd1 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 O-O 12.Be2 b6 13.O-O Bb7 14.f3 a5 15.Bd2 f5 16.Rad1 d6 17.b3 Rae8 18.Rf2 Rf6 19.Bd3 Qf7 20.Re2 Qh5 21.Be1 Be4 22.Bb1 Rg6 23.Bg3 Bxb1 24.Rxb1 Ne4 25.Rbe1 Nxg3 26.Qd5+ Kh8 27.hxg3 Rxg3 28.e4 Qxf3 29.Qf7 Rg8 30.exf5 Qc6 31.Rf2 Qc5 32.Re7 Qd4 33.Re8 Rxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Qg4+ 35.Kh2 Qh4+ 36.Kg2 Qg4+ 37.Kf1 Qh3+ 38.Ke1 Qc3+ 39.Rd2 1-0

Position after Black’s 31…Qc5?

31...Qc5? and the computer says 32.Re7! now would be winning for Lupulescu!

And he's played it! Lupulescu has completely turned the tables in a game where earlier he was on the verge of defeat...

33.Re8! and it's mate-in-10 for Lupulescu vs. Giri!

And it's over! Romanian no. 1 Constantin Lupulescu takes down Anish Giri

I don’t think it is a question of the Romanian Chess Federation feeding their players raw meat. Their advantage is being off chess for a year and hungry to play and having home field.

Standings after Round Three

1-2 Caruana, Deac 2
3-8 Aronian, Grischuk, So, Mamedyarov, Radjabov, Lupulescu 1.5
9-10 Giri, MVL 1

It took me a little while to realize why an immediate 32. Re8 doesn't work (I believe it is because Rg2+) wow - what a complex position.

**Réjean Tremblay** · Wednesday, 9th June, 2021, 10:31 PM

Originally posted by Kerry Liles View Post

It took me a little while to realize why an immediate 32. Re8 doesn't work (I believe it is because Rg2+) wow - what a complex position.

I have the same reaction during few seconds (why not 32. Re8? ) and now i think after 32...Rxg2+ why not 33. Kh1!? but Black have 33...Rh2+!! The black rook dance on the second rank!

**Wayne Komer** · Friday, 11th June, 2021, 01:34 PM

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

June 11, 2021

Round Six

Round 6, June 11
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar – Aronian, Levon
D38 QGD, Ragozin variation

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Qa4+ Nc6 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 Bd6 9.Qc2 e5 10.dxe5 Nxe5 11.Nxe5 Bxe5 12.f4 Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Ng4 14.Bd4 c5 15.Bxc5 Re8 16.O-O Nxe3 17.Bxe3 Rxe3 18.Rfe1 Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Bd7 20.Qb3 Qf6 21.Qxb7 Qd4+ 22.Kh1 Re8 23.Rxe8+ Bxe8 24.Bxf7+ Kf8 25.Bb3 Qc5 26.Qd5 Qc1+ 27.Bd1 Qxf4 28.Qc5+ Kg8 29.Qxa7 h5 30.h3 Bc6 31.Bb3+ Kh7 32.Qf7 Qc1+ 33.Kh2 Qc5 34.Qg8+ Kh6 35.Qe6+ g6 36.Qf6 Bd7 37.h4 Qc7+ 38.g3 Qc8 39.Qf4+ Kh7 40.Qf7+ 1-0

Levon Aronian finally resigns, but in truth the game was over a long time ago! Shakhriyar Mamedyarov moves up to +2

Round 6, June 11
So, Wesley – Giri, Anish
E49 Nimzo-Indian, Botvinnik System

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 c5 9.Nf3 Qc7 10.Be2 b6 11.Bb2 cxd4 12.cxd4 Ba6 13.O-O Bxe2 14.Qxe2 Nbd7 15.e4 Rac8 16.Rfc1 Qb7 17.Re1 h6 18.Rab1 Rc7 19.Nd2 Rfc8 20.Nf1 Qc6 21.f3 Qc2 22.Qb5 Qc6 23.Qe2 Qc2 24.Ne3 Qxe2 25.Rxe2 Ne8 26.d5 Nc5 27.dxe6 Nxe6 28.Rd2 b5 29.Kf2 Rb7 30.h4 h5 31.Nd5 f6 32.Rbd1 a5 33.Bc3 Ra8 34.Rb2 Kf7 35.Be1 Ra6 36.Ne3 Nd6 37.Bxa5 Rxa5 38.Rxd6 Rxa3 39.Rd5 Nf4 40.Rdxb5 Rxb5 41.Rxb5 g6 42.Rb7+ Ke6 43.Rb6+ Kf7 44.Rc6 Ra2+ 45.Rc2 Rxc2+ 46.Nxc2 g5 47.hxg5 fxg5 48.Nd4 h4 49.g3 hxg3+ 50.Kxg3 Nd3 51.Nc6 Kg6 52.Ne7+ Kf6 53.Nd5+ Kg6 54.Ne3 Kf6 55.Ng4+ Ke6 56.Kg2 Nf4+ 57.Kf2 Nd3+ 58.Ke3 Nf4 59.Nh2 Ng2+ 60.Kf2 Nf4 61.Nf1 Nd3+ 62.Ke3 Nf4 63.Nd2 Ng2+ 64.Kd4 Nh4 65.Ke3 Ng2+ 66.Kf2 Nf4 67.Nc4 Nd3+ 68.Ke3 Nf4 69.Nb2 Ng2+ 70.Ke2 g4 71.fxg4 Ke5 72.Kf3 Nh4+ 73.Kg3 Ng6 74.Kf3 Nh4+ 75.Kg3 Ng6 76.g5 Kxe4 77.Kg4 Ne5+ 78.Kh5 Kf5 79.Kh6 Nf7+ 80.Kh5 Nxg5 81.Nc4 Ke4 82.Ne3 Kxe3 1/2-1/2

Round 6, June 11
Grischuk, Alexander – Lupulescu, Constantin
B67 Sicilian, Richter-Rauzer

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Bd7 7.Qd2 a6 8.O-O-O e6 9.f4 b5 10.Bxf6 gxf6 11.Kb1 Qb6 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.f5 b4 14.Ne2 e5 15.Ng3 Qc5 16.b3 h5 17.h4 Bb5 18.Qe1 Rc8 19.Bxb5+ axb5 20.Qe2 Ra8 21.Rd5 Qa7 22.Qxb5+ Kd8 23.a4 bxa3 24.Rhd1 Be7 25.Qe2 Rc8 26.c4 Rg8 27.Nxh5 a2+ 28.Ka1 Rb8 29.R5d3 Qa3 30.Qc2 Rg4 31.c5 Rc8 32.Rc3 d5 33.Rxd5+ Ke8 34.g3 Qb4 35.Rc4 Qe1+ 36.Rd1 Qe3 37.Qd3 1-0

Grischuk has beaten Lupulescu to join Mamedyarov in the lead

Grischuk: "I think optimism is better than pessimism, but unfounded optimism is the worst!"

Round 6, June 11
MVL – Caruana, Fabiano
C78 Ruy Lopez, Moeller Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Bc5 6.c3 b5 7.Bc2 d5 8.a4 dxe4 9.axb5 Bg4 10.bxc6 exf3 11.gxf3 Bh3 12.Re1 O-O 13.Ra5 Qd6 14.b4 Bxf2+ 15.Kxf2 e4 16.Kg1 Rae8 17.Re3 Nh5 18.f4 Nxf4 19.Rg5 f5 20.d4 Bg4 21.Rxg4 fxg4 22.Qxg4 Nd3 23.Bxd3 exd3 24.Rxe8 Rxe8 25.Bf4 Qxc6 26.Be5 Qh6 27.Bf4 Qc6 28.Be5 Qh6 29.Bf4 Qc6 1/2-1/2

Round 6, June 11
Deac, Bogdan-Daniel – 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.Bf4 Rxe1 12.Qxe1 Ne8 13.c3 d5 14.Bd3 g6 15.Nd2 Ng7 16.Qe2 c6 17.Re1 Bf5 18.Nf3 Qd7 19.Be5 Re8 20.Qd2 Bxe5 21.Nxe5 Qd8 22.Bxf5 Nxf5 23.g3 f6 24.Nd3 Nd6 25.h4 Rxe1+ 26.Qxe1 Kf7 27.f3 Qe7 28.Kf2 Nf5 29.Qd2 Qd6 30.Qf4 Qxf4 31.Nxf4 g5 32.hxg5 fxg5 33.Nd3 h5 34.g4 hxg4 35.fxg4 Nd6 36.Ke2 Ke7 37.Ne5 Nc4 38.Nxc4 dxc4 39.Ke3 b5 40.Ke4 Ke6 41.a3 a5 42.Kf3 Kd5 43.Ke3 Kd6 44.Ke4 Ke6 45.Kf3 Kd5 46.Ke3 Kd6 47.Ke4 Ke6 1/2-1/2

Quite a long game, but Teimour Radjabov's 6th draw in a row wasn't any more interesting!

Standings after Round Six

1-2 Grischuk, Mamedyarov 4
3 So 3.5
4-6 Deac, Caruana, Radjabov 3
7-9 Giri, MVL, Aronian 2.5
10 Lupulescu 2

Superbet Chess Classic 2021

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